Collection Practices Research Articles

Collective Translation as Forking (分岔)

Together with a Taiwanese working group, we have been producing a Chinese translation of Aesthetic Programming: A Handbook of Software Studies, a free and open source book first written by Winnie Soon and Geoff Cox in 2020, and released in English in a git repository, dynamic website, downloadable PDF and printed form. Apart from learning to code in p5.js, the book addresses the cultural and aesthetic dimensions of programming from its insides, as a means to think and act critically, and to understand the importance of programming as a cultural practice that can develop discussion of issues that are relatively under-acknowledged in technical subjects such as gender, race and sexuality. Importantly, the book is understood as a computational object, not released as a fixed and universal teaching resource, but rather a situated curriculum with the potential for extension and customization with other arts and coding communities. The use of Git has allowed the authors to formalize its production as an iterative process, allowing for reversioning and for others to fork a copy and customize with different references, examples, critical reflections and even new chapters. The interest is in forking a book like forking software, and incorporating local knowledge and examples, and how this resonates with a politics of cultural translation. This essay will elaborate on the process of running two open participatory workshops that were conducted in Taipei and London (in 2023) with the aim to challenge some of the normative social relations of production associated with translation, and explore other possibilities of collective practice. The politics of translation has been well-established in general, but what of the specifics of translating a book such as this? Aside from the technical and aesthetic challenges and implications, this raises the question of how the Chinese language model enforces particular hegemonic worldviews that occlude differences. With all the variants of Chinese language, how is this tied to expressions of colonial power that resonates with our use of English? Given the rich variations of Chinese and indigenous languages (not least in a Taiwanese context), we are curious how we might be sensitive to language diversity that challenges the Western-centrism of programming in English (and inherent nationalisms). We are also mindful of the way that “queer” politics has informed the way that terms can be appropriated/expropriated, as a means to “talk back” to the source codes of oppression. What are the implications of drawing the practices of forking and translating together?

The Public Interest in Environmental Decision-Making: A Pragmatist Turn

Abstract This study is concerned with a central question in administrative law, as well as environmental law; that is, how to conceptualise and determine the public interest in complex contexts where decisions concern collective action problems, involve multiple actors, cross-temporal and spatial scales, and occur under conditions of knowledge uncertainty. Here, it is argued against the use of trade-offs in the determination of the public interest in these contexts because trade-offs involve epistemological simplifications and de-contextualise interests dismissing the nature of knowledge as a situated and dynamic collective practice. To concretise the critique, the EU Habitats Directive’s site protection management provisions are relied on as an example where decisions in the public interest are underpinned by a problematic trade-off logic. To move beyond trade-offs, the article introduces Dewey’s thought. More precisely, it is argued that Dewey’s deliberative pragmatism presents a cogent conceptualisation of the public interest, and thereby constitutes a first intellectual step to overcome the key limitations of a trade-off logic in determining the public interest in environmental decision-making.

Freire, Critical Pedagogy, and Culture Circles

In celebration of our 20th Anniversary as a journal, the InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies editorial team opted to put forth a call on the work of Paulo Freire, critical pedagogy, and culture circles. It’s hard not to continue to see why critical pedagogy, a praxis of nurturing critical consciousness toward humanization and society towards justice, continues to be an essential aspect of education in P-20 settings in a healthy democracy. This issue was an opportunity to showcase contemporary work and research inspired by the legacy of Paulo Freire. Humanizing education is a collective practice in partnership with students and communities, redresses structures that maintain social inequalities and hierarchies of human life, and repairs the harm they have inflicted (Freire, 1970; Paris & Alim, 2017). The call to humanize education is especially urgent given our ongoing crises in education: unceasing youth gun violence and school shootings (Schildkraut & Muschert, 2019); the defunding divestment of public instruction and closures of public schools (George, 2024); the varied emergences COVID-19 variants and other looming pandemics (Pokhrel & Chhetri, 2021); corresponding deterioration of working conditions and livable wages for those working for our nation’s education systems (Schmitt & deCourcy, 2022; Souto-Manning & Melvin, 2021); book bans and bans misconstruing interpretations of Critical Race Theory, and acceptance and kindness towards LGBTQIA students, teachers, and their families (Morgan, 2022); proposed and implemented legislation to dehumanize queer, trans, nonbinary, and intersex children and parents (Goldberg & Abreu, 2024); and ongoing racialized hate and terror harming Black, Asian, and other nonwhite students, teachers, and their families, among others (Gillborn, 2006; Gover et al., 2020 ; Tuchinda, 2023; Wun, 2014). The urgency of critical pedagogy remains as relevant as ever.

Effect of mowing timing and clipping collection practices on azoxystrobin distribution, persistence, and efficacy

AbstractPrevious research suggests mowing practices following azoxystrobin application alter pest control and residue fate. Azoxystrobin, an acropetal penetrant quinone outside inhibitor fungicide, is commonly applied in turfgrass and other agricultural settings, protecting desired plants from fungal pathogens by inhibiting fungal growth. Field research was initiated in Raleigh, NC, and repeated in time to assess the effect of post‐application mowing timing and clipping collection practices on azoxystrobin residue persistence in tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus Schreb.). At trial initiation, azoxystrobin was applied at the maximum single application rate (0.61 kg ai ha−1) to tall fescue plots. To determine the effect of initial mowing timing, plots were mowed (9.5 cm) at 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, or 14 days after application (DAA). To determine the effect of clipping removal, plots were mowed at 3, 10, and 17 DAA and clippings were either returned to the canopy or bagged and removed. Concurrently, soil cores (92 cm2) were collected at 3, 7, 14, and 21 DAA and then segmented into remaining aboveground vegetation and soil (0.0‐ to 2.5‐cm depth) for residue analyses. Mowing timing affected azoxystrobin residue in the vegetation and in soil. When clippings were returned to the canopy, 5% more azoxystrobin was detected in the vegetation at 7 and 14 DAA. At 3 and 7 DAA, in the soil, returning clippings resulted in >3% more of the applied azoxystrobin compared to removing clippings. Data from this research may allow for extended fungicide intervals for brown patch suppression and demonstrate the importance of returning clipping to turf systems to retain azoxystrobin residues.

Beyond the blinders: Disclosing the episteme of land ownership to re-frame legal and economic values in planning

Among the values conceptualising and measuring planning processes and outcomes, two play a prominent role in liberal democracies: legal and economic. Current conceptions and practices framing these values face substantial challenges: civil law systems do not account for the variety of land use situations, increases in wealth inequalities, and human activities which threaten planetary boundaries. A way to tackle these challenges is to analyse the current theoretical discourse and legal norms framing values in planning, study alternative conceptions, and outline new responses. The present article investigates how a paradigm shift in planning theory may open new avenues for conceptualising legal and economic values. To do so, it first compares the episteme of land ownership defined by two theories applied to planning: law-and-economics and land master theory. Second, drawing upon the comparison, the article discusses how the strengths of each theory may contribute to filling the gaps of the others. Identified gaps are: the integration of political aspects into the analysis, the conceptualization of collective and use-specific forms of ownership, and methodological issues. These gaps mirror the western legal conception of land ownership, defined as individual and absolute. Fourth, based on collective and use-specific land management practices that develop within the western legal framework, and theoretical inputs from land master theory, the article puts forward a transduction of legal norms that foster a more sustainable conception of land ownership, known as land stewardship.

Your Turn As An Example Of Multi-Modal, Ethnographic And Collective Documentary

Documentary cinema is a film genre that aims to reproduce authentic reality and provide awareness to the audience by addressing real events, people or subjects with a claim of objectivity. Such films generally use a narrative language that is not based on fiction and reflect reality as it is. There are several standpoints a documentary film-maker may follow and adopt. These standpoints usually determine the formal characteristics of the film. A documentary may be ethnographic, journalistic, poetic, etc. Likewise, a documentary film-maker may seek to approach reality without any self-involvement and he/she may choose to observe rather than participate in the content or vice versa. Utilizing a number of methods, documentary cinema has flourished in both content and form in recent years. New ways of making documentaries are flourishing and minor realities as well as major ones are brought to the audience. One approach is the ethnographic documentary, where the filmmaker adopts a participant-observer role, immersing themselves in the socio-cultural phenomenon to authentically convey a particular truth. Taking ethnography as a starting point, a film-maker makes numerous stylistic choices and enrich his/her narrative following different patterns. This study aims to interrogate the prospects of documentary cinema in recent years and define the relationship between the film-maker’s standpoint and the stylistic choices he/she makes, using the film Your Turn (Capai, 2019) as a case study. The sample film was chosen via purposive sampling method and a textual analysis was conducted. The results of the analysis shows that Your Turn (Capai, 2019) utilizes ethnography and turn the participant-observation method into a collective practice which contributes to the overall aesthetics of the film as well as its narrative foundation.

Collective learning in pre-service teacher education: exploring challenges, negotiations, and co-constructed solutions towards continuing professional learning and development

ABSTRACT Despite extensive research on professional learning and development in education, there is a significant gap in adopting action research methods as a localised approach to explore professional learning, especially in the pre-service domain. This article delves into the process of collective experiences, joint negotiations, co-constructed solutions, and reflective practices among pre-service teachers, cooperating teachers, and the university mentor throughout the five-phase teaching practicum, driven by action research methods. Through first- and second-person inquiries, observations, reflective notes and sharing sessions as research instruments, findings reveal that joint reflective discourse among stakeholders led to a deeper understanding of unvoiced challenges in teaching practicum, including teaching approaches, classroom management, diversity, learner differences, multiple roles, and heavy workloads. Findings explore how interactive processes within and among individuals facilitate ongoing negotiation and the development of shared solutions, fostering a dynamic and transformative professional learning environment for both pre-service teachers and in-service educators. Creating a platform for the recursive sharing of perspectives is crucial for promoting continuous professional learning during a teaching practicum. This entails promoting active dialogues among school placements, universities, and local authorities, facilitating the exchange of critical reflections, and ultimately supporting continuing professional learning and development in education.

Comprehensive Analysis of Agricultural Practices in Adapting Soil, Water and Pest Management to Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa

Agriculture constitutes the primary economic sector in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, engaging over 70% of the population, predominantly vulnerable rural communities. For decades, agriculture in SSA has grappled with climatic constraints, intensifying the vulnerability of impoverished communities. In response, communities have developed indigenous practices to adapt to these climatic hazards, warranting greater recognition for potential optimization. This review identifies agricultural practices related to climate change adaptation, specifically focusing on soil management, water, and pests. The operational mechanisms of the most widely utilized practices were scrutinized through a thorough analysis. The study concludes by identifying nine practice categories. Results indicate that water collection practices and the use of organic fertilizers are the most prevalent in soil and water management. Additionally, agricultural and biological control practices dominate pest management. The comprehensive analysis underscores that the most frequently cited practices may not always be the easiest to implement. Nevertheless, these practices are agro-ecologically sustainable, contributing to soil health restoration, efficient water management, and pest control in Sub-Saharan African countries. The findings suggest a need for a research program that concentrates on the simultaneous application of these practices, enabling their optimization for more sustainable agriculture, particularly in the context of climate change adaptation and soil fertility restoration in Sub-Saharan Africa.

EuMAR stakeholder engagement: an analysis of medically assisted reproduction (MAR) data collection practices in EU countries†.

What are the current national medically assisted reproduction (MAR) data collection systems across EU Member States, and how can these countries contribute to a unique, cycle-by-cycle registry for the European Monitoring of Medically Assisted Reproduction (EuMAR) project? The study identified significant variation in MAR data collection practices across Member States, with differences in data types, collection methods, and reporting requirements; the EuMAR project emerges as an opportunity to enhance data standardization and improve MAR data collection in the EU. There is a need for new approaches in MAR data collection that include long-term and cross border follow-up. The EuMAR project intends to establish a unified, cycle-by-cycle registry of data on MAR treatments in EU countries, from which accurate cumulative outcomes can be calculated. This cross-sectional study involved a survey and interviews with stakeholders from 26 EU Member States conducted in 2023 over a period of seven months. Representatives from national competent authorities and professional associations involved in MAR data collection in EU countries were invited to complete the survey and interviewed to assess current data flows, information requirements, and their interest in the EuMAR project. Half of the participating countries reported having a national MAR registry with cycle-by-cycle data (n = 13), while 31% reported having a national registry with aggregated data (n = 8) and 19% reported having no national registry (n = 5). Of the countries with a national cycle-by-cycle registry, eight countries collect identifiable data, five countries collect pseudonymized data, and one country collects fully anonymized data. Informed consent is required in 10 countries. The main advantages that participants expected from a European registry like EuMAR were the possibility of obtaining national statistics in the absence of a national registry and improving the calculation of cumulative outcomes. The results of the study are based on self-reported data, which may be subject to bias, however, the validity of the collected information was verified with different means, including follow-up calls for clarifications and sharing final transcript reports. The feasibility of the proposed data flow models will be tested in a pilot study. Despite the heterogeneity of data collection practices across EU countries, the results show that stakeholders have high expectations of the benefits that the EuMAR registry can bring, namely the improvement of data consistency, cross-border comparability, and cumulative live birth rates, leading to better information for patients, health care providers and policy makers. The EuMAR project was co-founded by ESHRE and the European Commission (101079865-EuMAR-EU4H-2021-PJ2). No competing interests were declared. N/A.

Collective vision-making practice: A long-run dynamic process model for geothermal market transitioning

Michael Porter’s work on competition highlights how firms can become stagnant or ‘stuck.’ This study extends that concept to markets or fields of institutional activity, examining what occurs when an entire market becomes 'stuck.' Focusing on the geothermal energy market, the research investigates achieving long-term collective action by cultivating a shared vision and mutual understanding among stakeholders with diverse interests. The study employs a longitudinal ethnographic approach, presenting a long-run dynamic process model of collective vision-making practice. This model consists of six first-order dimensions and twelve second-order interactive behavioural practice, illustrating how stakeholders can collaboratively construct and enfold a long-term collective vision. The findings demonstrate the institutional capacity to engage stakeholders and strategically consider whole market possibilities, enabling the creation of a broadly defined collective vision. The research advances a dynamic process model that emphasises sustained institutional interactional practice. The study’s implications are to motivate thought leaders and policymakers, prompting two strategic questions: First, “How can market actors collaborate to unlock value co-creation and shape the future of a ‘stuck’ market?” This involves engaging diverse stakeholder perspectives and exploring future market-making opportunities. Second, “How can all market actors pivot in harmony with a collective vision, fostering long-term shared understandings and commitments in pursuit of market-making efforts?”, This alignment is important for progressing from research and development to the successful implementation of pilot projects and the realisation of sustainable market opportunities.

HARNESSING BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE DIGITAL ERA

In the fast-paced, data-driven landscape of modern business, the ability to harness the power of data analytics has become paramount for organizations seeking to gain a competitive edge, drive innovation, and navigate complex market dynamics. Business Data Analytics, the practice of collecting, analysing, and interpreting data to derive actionable insights, lies at the heart of this digital transformation journey. This presentation offers a comprehensive exploration of Business Data Analytics, providing insights into its foundational principles, cutting-edge methodologies, and real-world applications across diverse industries. This presentation serves as a roadmap for organizations seeking to unlock the transformative power of Business Data Analytics. By embracing a data-driven mindset, investing in cutting-edge analytics capabilities, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and experimentation, organizations can position themselves for success in an ever-evolving business environment. As we look to the future, the opportunities for Business Data Analytics are limitless, offering organizations the tools they need to thrive and innovate in the digital age.

Harnessing Business Data Analytics for Competitive Advantage in the Digital Era

In the fast-paced, data-driven landscape of modern business, the ability to harness the power of data analytics has become paramount for organizations seeking to gain a competitive edge, drive innovation, and navigate complex market dynamics. Business Data Analytics, the practice of collecting, analysing, and interpreting data to derive actionable insights, lies at the heart of this digital transformation journey. This presentation offers a comprehensive exploration of Business Data Analytics, providing insights into its foundational principles, cutting-edge methodologies, and real-world applications across diverse industries. This presentation serves as a roadmap for organizations seeking to unlock the transformative power of Business Data Analytics. By embracing a data-driven mindset, investing in cutting-edge analytics capabilities, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and experimentation, organizations can position themselves for success in an ever-evolving business environment. As we look to the future, the opportunities for Business Data Analytics are limitless, offering organizations the tools they need to thrive and innovate in the digital age.

Examining the Integrity of Apple’s Privacy Labels: GDPR Compliance and Unnecessary Data Collection in iOS Apps

This study investigates the effectiveness of Apple’s privacy labels, introduced in iOS 14, in promoting transparency around app data collection practices with respect to the GDPR. Specifically, we address two key research questions: (1) What special categories of personal data, as regulated by the GDPR, are collected and used by apps, and for which purposes? (2) What disparities exist between app-stated permissions and the apparent unnecessary data gathering across various categories in the iOS App Store? By analyzing a comprehensive dataset of 541,662 iOS apps, we identify common practices related to prevalent use of sensitive and special categories of personal data, revealing widespread instances of unnecessary data collection, misuse, and potential GDPR violations. Furthermore, our analysis uncovers significant inconsistencies between the permissions stated by apps and the actual data they gather, highlighting a critical gap in user privacy protection within the iOS ecosystem. These findings underscore the need for stricter regulatory oversight of app stores and the necessity of effective privacy notices to build accountability and trust and ensure transparency. This study offers actionable insights for regulators, app developers, and users towards creating secure and transparent digital ecosystems.

Emergency Department Use Following Self-Harm and Suicide Ideation: An Analysis of the Influence of Cultural and/or Linguistic Diversity Using Data From the Self-Harm Monitoring System for Victoria (2012-2019).

Self-harm and suicide ideation are global health concerns, significantly impacting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations. Emergency departments (EDs) play a role in intervening following such presentations, yet there is limited research focusing on the CALD population's use of these services in Australia. This study aimed to explore patterns in ED use for self-harm and suicide ideation, comparing CALD and non-CALD persons in terms of service use, presentation themes and likelihood of repeat presentations. This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from presentations for self-harm and suicide ideation to the ED of a major metropolitan hospital in Victoria, Australia, from 2012 to 2019. The study used thematic analysis of triage notes, recurrent event analysis and logistic and linear regressions to compare CALD and non-CALD presentations. CALD presentations comprised 1.3% (n = 202) of the total (n = 15 606). CALD presentations were more likely to occur during business hours, less likely to be triaged as urgent and more likely to result in ward admission. Occupation stressors were more common in CALD presentations. A lower likelihood of repeat presentations was observed among CALD persons. The study also highlighted the limitations of current data collection practices in capturing the full spectrum of CALD presentations. This study found variability in the recording of CALD status, warranting further investigation into how data collection in EDs may be improved. Increased ward admission rate and lower likelihood of repeat presentation by CALD persons also indicate that further research is required to understand help-seeking and clinical decision-making in the CALD population.

User Perception of Smart Home Surveillance: An Integrative Review

Smart Home Technologies (SHTs) have recently become popular for a variety of purposes, including healthcare, entertainment, and convenience, among others. While SHT manufacturers promise to provide a range of services relating to home security, health and wellness, automated domestic tasks, entertainment, and beyond, user perceptions vary widely in terms of benefits and drawbacks. Moreover, surveillance studies researchers have warned against normalizing technologies that may exacerbate uneven power dynamics between users and household members, marketing companies, insurance brokers, law enforcement, and others. Through an analysis of the interdisciplinary literature stemming from computer science and engineering, gerontology, the social sciences, and related fields, we explore the extent to which these potential risks and related concerns are reflected upon by smart home users. This scoping review aims to explore SHT user perceptions of privacy attitudes, the purposes of smart home surveillance, risks and benefits, and impacts on home safety. Through our review of sixty-eight relevant studies, we found that many smart home users reported satisfaction over perceived benefits such as an increased sense of safety and home security. Many others displayed limited understandings of data collection practices or expressed privacy concerns. Nonetheless, SHT usage prevailed among these users. Others report a perceived trade-off between privacy and other factors, such as convenience, and some may have resorted to privacy cynicism, a coping mechanism for dealing with ubiquitous surveillance. In order to better understand SHT adoption trends despite concerns, exploring the conflict between user perceptions of privacy, understanding of SHT data collection purposes, risks and benefits, and home safety, is essential.

Evidence-Based Recommendations for Tablet Recordings From the Bridge2AI-Voice Acoustic Experiments

BackgroundAs part of a larger goal to create best practices for voice data collection to fuel voice AI research, the objective of this study was to investigate the ability of readily available iOS and Android tablets with and without low-cost headset microphones to produce recordings and subsequent acoustic measures of voice comparable to “research quality” instrumentation. MethodsRecordings of 24 sustained vowel samples representing a wide range of typical and disordered voices were played via a head-and-torso model and recorded using a research quality standard microphone/preamplifier/audio interface. Acoustic measurements from the standard were compared to two popular tablets using their built-in microphones and with low-cost headset microphones at different distances from the mouth. ResultsVoice measurements obtained via tablets + headset microphones close to the mouth (2.5 and 5cm) strongly correlated (r’s > 0.90) with the research standard and resulted in no significant differences for measures of vocal frequency and perturbation. In contrast, voice measurements obtained using the tablets’ built-in microphones at typical reading distances (30 and 45cm) tended to show substantial variability in measurement, greater mean differences in voice measurements, and relatively poorer correlations vs. the standard. ConclusionFindings from this study support preliminary recommendations from the Bridge2AI-Voice Consortium recommending the use of smartphones paired with low-cost headset microphones as adequate methods of recording for large-scale voice data collection from a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings. Compared to recording using a tablet directly, a headset microphone controls for recording distance and reduces the effects of background noise, resulting in decreased variability in recording quality. Data Availability StatementData supporting the results reported in this article may be obtained upon request from the contact author.

Paving the way to establishing the digital-friendly health and care information model in Kazakhstan

IntroductionKazakhstan has made significant strides in digital health implementation since 2013, transitioning from paper-based systems to wide implementation of digital solutions. However, challenges persist, notably the misalignment between existing data collection requirements and ongoing digital transformations. To address this obstacle, the development of a new digital-friendly requirements for health data collection at provider levels was initiated. Material and methodsA comparative analysis of all existing requirements on health and care data collection set a foundation for further actions. A dedicated technical working group, established by the Ministry of Healthcare, oversaw this process, while several specialized expert groups participated in detailed discussions to ensure alignment with healthcare needs. We took as a basis the legislative act enforcing use of data forms inherited from pre-digital era. Data elements from most used forms were cataloged, checked for consistency, and standardized. ISO 13940 standard guided transformation of rigid paper-based forms into flexible digital-friendly data sets. ResultsAnalysis of the healthcare legislation reveals significant optimization opportunities. We categorized 157 forms into four groups by their content and role and focusing on clinical and administrative records for transformation. Data elements’ analysis led to developing 209 standardized classifications with data values. 83 data sets, encompassing clinical and administrative domains, were developed to substitute 63 (out of 157) forms. Therefore, the foundation for better data and structure interoperability was set. DiscussionThe top-down approach to digital health standardization, combined with open market policies, results in inconsistent data collection practices. Developed data sets align with the goal of developing the national Electronic Health Records system as enabler for interoperability and adds a bottom-up perspective to digital health standardization. This effort addresses the lack of guidance for digital data model development, however additional efforts required to change the current practice and finalize the national legislation transformation into digital-friendly mode.

Facilitators and barriers to monitoring and evaluation at syringe service programs

BackgroundSyringe services programs (SSPs) provide harm reduction supplies and services to people who use drugs and are often required by funders or partners to collect data from program participants. SSPs can use these data during monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to inform programmatic decision making, however little is known about facilitators and barriers to collecting and using data at SSPs.MethodsUsing the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), we conducted 12 key informant interviews with SSP staff to describe the overall landscape of data systems at SSPs, understand facilitators and barriers to data collection and use at SSPs, and generate recommendations for best practices for data collection at SSPs. We used 30 CFIR constructs to develop individual interview guides, guide data analysis, and interpret study findings.ResultsFour main themes emerged from our analysis: SSP M&E systems are primarily designed to be responsive to perceived SSP client needs and preferences; SSP staffing capacity influences the likelihood of modifying M&E systems; external funding frequently forces changes to M&E systems; and strong M&E systems are often a necessary precursor for accessing funding.ConclusionsOur findings highlight that SSPs are not resistant to data collection and M&E, but face substantial barriers to implementation, including lack of funding and disjointed data reporting requirements. There is a need to expand M&E-focused funding opportunities, harmonize quantitative indicators collected across funders, and minimize data collection to essential data points for SSPs.

Waste management from dental clinics: A case study in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Healthcare waste management is a critical aspect of public health and environmental protection, particularly in establishments such as dental clinics. This study examined the dental clinic waste (DCW) management processes in clinics within the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Utilizing data from Healthcare Waste Management Plans (HCWMP) provided by the Urban Cleaning Superintendence, the study investigated waste generation, segregation, storage, collection, treatment, and final disposal practices. The results revealed that hazardous DCW represented a significant portion (26.5 %) of waste generated in dental clinics, exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold. Biological waste (22.9 %), mainly consisting of cotton, gauze, and gloves contaminated with blood or body fluids, was the most generated hazardous waste group, followed by chemical (2.2 %) and sharps waste (1.3 %). Incineration was the predominant treatment method for hazardous DCW, raising concerns about environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. Non-hazardous waste, primarily destined for landfills, had limited recycling rates (2.4 %), emphasizing the need for improved waste management strategies to minimize environmental impacts and increase circular economy. Challenges in DCW management included inadequate segregation practices, limited recycling initiatives, and incomplete HCWMPs lacking descriptions of waste management beyond establishment boundaries. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive training programs, strengthened regulations, and increased environmental awareness among healthcare professionals. In conclusion, improving DCW management in dental clinics is crucial for mitigating occupational and environmental risks. Collective efforts are needed to enhance waste segregation, promote recycling, and ensure compliance with regulations, ultimately safeguarding public health and the environment.

Cultural Memory and Trauma: Commemorating the Past in Post-Conflict Bosnia Herzegovina

Post-conflict societies grapple with the complex interplay of cultural memory and trauma. Bosnia and Herzegovina, marked by the devastating 1992-1995 war, provides a poignant case study. This research delves into how collective memory shapes commemoration practices and influences the ongoing process of healing and reconciliation. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating qualitative data collection and analysis. In-depth interviews were conducted with survivors, community leaders, and cultural practitioners. Additionally, content analysis was performed on commemorative events, memorials, and public discourses. Findings highlight the dynamic nature of cultural memory. Commemoration practices serve as sites of contestation, reflecting diverse narratives and interpretations of the past. Trauma manifests in both individual and collective experiences, shaping identity and influencing social relations. In conclusion, the study underscores the crucial role of cultural memory in post-conflict societies. Commemoration serves as a vehicle for acknowledging suffering, promoting healing, and fostering reconciliation. However, it is essential to navigate the complexities of diverse narratives and ensure inclusive representation.