Present-day Realities Research Articles

Custody: Law Enforcement Issues and Human Rights Protection

The purpose of this study includes the investigation and solving of a set of issues concerning custody from the standpoint of observing and protecting human rights and freedoms. The general scientific, legal, and socio-political tools for investigating public processes, judicial decisions and the practice of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine were used for a generalising analysis of the present-day realities of custodial issues in institutions of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine and the activities of various subjects. An in-depth study of the human rights mechanism in Ukraine upon ensuring and guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of a person in custody has determined the practical significance and originality of the materials of this paper. The subject of this study, related to the violation of the rights and freedoms of citizens during their illegal custody in pre-trial custody centres and temporary detention facilities.

ISSUES OF DESIGNING INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS CONSIDERING THE RISK OF LOCAL DESTRUCTION OF THEIR BEARING STRUCTURES

Problem statement. The present-day realities show that the design of buildings and structures with regard to possible local collapses of their bearing structures is becoming more and more realistic and thus an increasingly urgent challenge. The need to solve this issue is an important component in ensuring the safety of buildings and structures under operational and emergency loads. Local destruction is interpreted as a global result that can lead to the destruction of the entire frame or a significant part of it and cause loss of life. The peculiarity of calculations for progressive collapse of steel-framed buildings is that, unlike monolithic reinforced concrete, in a steel frame, the nodes of connection of elements are usually hinged, and this can lead to transformation of the structural scheme into a geometrically variable structural scheme. In this case, structural failure may occur not due to loss of material strength, but due to loss of load-bearing capacity of the structural connection joints. The purpose of the article is to analyse the main specific peculiarities occurring in the design (reinforcement) of industrial buildings with steel frames, considering the possibility of their local destruction. Conclusion. The article considers some problems that need to be solved during the designing or reconstructioning industrial buildings with a steel frame, the operation of which may be associated with some local destruction of the bearing structures. Prospective constructive ways of effectively solving these problems are presented.

Modelling business performance from marketing practices of architecture firms in Nigeria

PurposeThis study aims to establish marketing practices which predict business performance of architecture firms within the Nigerian Construction Industry (NCI) to address the sustained poor business performance of firms, which affects allied professionals as many projects in the built environment depend on design proposals from architects.Design/methodology/approachSurvey responses from 86 firms were used to model business performance measured as total revenue of the firms from 40 commonly deployed marketing practices in construction.FindingsTwo-thirds of the marketing practices most used by architectural firms were ineffective in predicting business performance. The model also explains up to half the variance in business performance (37.4–49.9%), supporting the view that marketing in the CI affects business performance. Researching client needs and competitors emerged as the only significant positive predictor of business performance (β = 0.827, p = 0.043). Using social media (β = −1.247, p = 0.004), regular participation in awards/competitions (β = −1.420, p = 0.013) and inclusion of political offers in bids (β = −1.050, p = 0.016) negatively predicted business performance.Practical implicationsArchitecture and allied professional bodies in Nigeria need to rethink existing restrictions regarding marketing based on traditional code of ethics in light of present-day realities of digital and internet business environments. Principals and management of architecture firms require a paradigm shift in deploying the appropriate marketing practices, especially as it relates to research regarding changing client expectations and current competition within the NCI.Originality/valueThe study established marketing practices which model business performance and demonstrate their value in a framework for improving the financial sustainability of architecture firms within the NCI.

Anti-Chinese Racism and the Structure of White Supremacy: An Anti-essentialist Antiracist Perspective on Canadian History

Racisms are among the social structures that shaped Canada’s past and are shaping Canada’s present. Anti-essentialist antiracism accounts for these structures by recognizing that there are many different racisms, but all racisms meet conditions of racialization, of the organization of racializations into exclusions, and of the enactment of negative consequences on the excluded. These conditions lead to strategies for antiracist research, which are key to rebuilding the linkages between people that racisms destroy. This paper builds a theoretically informed argument while examining the historical and present-day experiences of Chinese Canadians. Engaging with present-day realities, moving beyond common-sense explanations that individualize racism, and building on the sources of the racialized and excluded make evident the structure of racism. Chinese language sources document the “apartheiding” of Canada and its effects. They also enable the dialogical re-reading of dominant sources to pinpoint moments of organizing this structure into the world. Today, historically produced cultural narratives and the cultural landscapes of modern cities mark those racialized as Chinese as people who either do not belong or whose presence needs explanation. These narratives and landscapes are the products of the anti-Chinese racism that was built into the settler colonialism that made Canada.

Assessment of Claimants’ Attitudes towards Compulsory Land Acquisition and Compensation in Osogbo, Nigeria

Comprehending the attitudes of claimants towards compulsory land acquisition and compensation is crucial in assessing the overall efficacy of the process. This exploration aids not only in gauging public sentiment but also in shaping policies and approaches that foster cooperation and equitable outcomes. This study focused on the assessment of claimants’ attitudes towards compulsory land acquisition in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. Data on claimants were obtained from 244 landholders whose lands were compulsorily acquired for rail track construction at Phase I, Osogbo. Frequency distribution, weighted mean scores, and factor analysis were employed to analyze the collected data in order to examine the behaviors exhibited by claimants and the factors contributing to those behaviors. The study revealed that the lack of a resettlement plan, inadequate time given for relocation, and insufficient compensation award to replace assets were triggers for the various behaviors exhibited by claimants. Factor analysis was used to analyse a 14-item factor instrument employed to examine the factors influencing claimants' behavioral attitudes toward compulsory land acquisition and compensation in the study area. The result yielded four distinct factors which include “Preliminary Factors leading to Inadequate Compensation” as Factor 1, "Factors Leading to Resistance by Claimants," as Factor 2, "Factors Leading to Inadequate Relay of Notices," and "Inadequacies in the provisions of the Land Use Act on Valuation Methods for Compulsory Land Acquisition and Compensation," as Factors 3 and 4 respectively. The study recommended that the Land Use Act be amended to align with present-day realities, incorporating considerations for land values and associated impacts, including the costs of claimants' relocation. This would alleviate the stress and social challenges faced by those affected by land acquisition, dousing the society tensions associated with it.

Echoes of Exile

This article delves into the intricacies of memory, resistance, and identity within the context of Palestinian experiences, as portrayed in Hala Alyan’s novel, Salt Houses. This study examines the profound impact of rememory on the collective consciousness of a Palestinian family haunted by forced expulsions, upheavals, and the enduring cycle of occupation and forced migrations. The essay underscores that residual elements of past are not a passive recollection but active agents that shape the present and future. It highlights how traumatic pasts, passed down through generations, become an enduring legacy, connecting history with contemporary realities. Drawing on the characters’ experiences, it showcases how the struggle for identity and resistance against displacement is interwoven with the memory of ancestral trauma. Furthermore, the research explores the role of elder Palestinians, especially grandmothers, in preserving cultural heritage and transmitting stories that bridge generations. These narratives serve not only to understand history but also as a means of challenging occupation and advocating for the right of return. The article investigates the dissonance between imagined homelands and present-day realities, shedding light on the challenges faced by subsequent generations attempting to reclaim their heritage.

A Critique on the Legal Framework for Combating Human Trafficking in Nigeria

Human trafficking is a menace that affects the global community, because of its adverse effect on the members of the society. It is therefore a violation of the human rights of persons and is believed to oppress thousands of people globally. In Nigeria, there is a legal framework to combat human trafficking, however, human trafficking still remains a major concern that has eaten so deep into the fabric of Nigeria and has become very complex to tackle. Human trafficking just like any other crime has evolved and is still evolving as society evolves. Therefore, there is an expectation that laws are constantly in conformity with the current trends and practices of human trafficking in a community. This study aims to critically critiquethe position of the law on human trafficking in Nigeria, the gaps present in these laws and make recommendations to effectively fight against human trafficking. This study also recommends that further amendments of the extant laws should comply with the present-day realities.

Anchored in History: Understanding the Persistence of Eco-Violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt through Collective Memory

The Nigerian Middle Belt is the epicentre of violent conflicts between Fulani herders and sedentary farmers over land and agricultural resources called eco-violence; existing research has not adequately addressed the persistence of these conflicts. Using Social Representations Theory (SRT), this paper examines empirical case studies conducted in April 2018 and May 2022 in Benue State, Nigeria, to determine why these conflicts persist. The paper argues that contending parties anchor, objectify, and socially represent past contestations in pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial Nigeria in present-day realities and events in the Middle Belt, leading to the re-experience of collective memories and their consequences on people’s violent collective behaviour. Consequently, people resort to violence to redress present grievances viewed through the prism of past events. To promote sustainable peace when tackling deeply-rooted conflicts, it is essential to comprehend the historical context and the significance of collective memory while employing a comprehensive strategy for conflict resolution. Implementing the Cognitive Reappraisal Technique to address issues related to collective memories is critical to this approach.

Teacher Education beyond the Pandemic in Spain

In the wake of the pandemic, there has been a clear need to understand the “new normal” contexts of teaching and learning and how they affect teacher education. In order to rethink and reimagine teacher education, a priority should be to have a firm grasp on the traits that young people bring with them when they enroll in Education degree programs. In other words, we must understand their distinctive generational traits and how the various crises of recent years have affected them. This paper has three main aims, each of which is addressed in a corresponding section of the article. The first objective is to gain a better understanding of the educational needs and learning styles of this new generation of students and to examine how they are influenced by present-day realities. A second section strives to identify the most prominent challenges that are reshaping teacher education programs on a global scale. The third and final part explores the bidirectional interaction between these two previous variables by examining the educational approaches and methodologies that have been implemented recently in Spain and discussing the extent to which they have been able to meet students’ evolving needs. Given that these changes, transformations and pedagogical concerns are observable worldwide, these analyses and reflections are potentially relevant beyond the Spanish context.

The Key Administrative Competencies of Managers Required for Company Development in the Bani World

Abstract When describing the state of the modern world, we can name it “marginal”, i.e. the one where there are hardly any orientations, with organizations having to face barriers in the business processes, which makes them constantly revise the strategies, methods or approaches to the achievement of their goal. It was in 2016 that Jamais Cascio, a futurologist and a researcher from the Institute of Future, brought forward a new conception being in perfect conformity with the present-day situation, dominated by the pandemic provoked by COVID-19, political imbalances, resource deficit, climatic disasters and the war that keeps us in tension. The new term that he proposed to use consisted of the abbreviations, i. e. BANI (brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible world without a clear structure). Given that the development of organizations in BANI environment requires from managers the ability to use a symbiosis of various administrative competencies, the article defines the essence of various categories of competencies needed by an effective manager of today and analyses specific ways of their fostering in BANI environment. Three groups of competencies required for an effective manager were outlined. The analysis of conditions in which the Ukrainian business had to operate in the first year of the Russian-Ukrainian war, when businessmen and managers had to take administrative decisions concerned with the fate of their organizations and employees in the situation of survival, to exert extreme effort due to the simultaneous change in many business aspects and the impracticability of any kind of projection, with lack of mental and emotional support, allowed for categorizing the Ukrainian business environment in time of the war as BANI environment. Many companies had to close, but many of them could transfer their facilities and adapt to the present-day realities, change the vector of management and even introduce on new markets in spite that the Ukrainian economy had reduced by one third. This could be possible thanks to skilful actions of managers. The authors’ research allowed for a revision of the key competencies of effective managers in BANI environment with consideration to the Ukrainian realities for doing business. A set of administrative competencies allowing companies for not only keep afloat but to develop new business processes in the realities of war was defined. It is stressed that today Ukrainian managers are urgently in need to develop administrative competencies that help support and expand business, bring the staff together in consolidated and highly professional teams, set up business communications.

STYLISTIC AND GRAMMATICAL POTENTIAL OF ENGLISH TOURISM DISCOURSE

Purpose. The paper aims at discovering stylistic and grammatical peculiarities in tourism discourse based on VisitBritain.com text corpus; analyzing its application scope and mission; specifying “tourism discourse” as a notion.
 Methodology. Used in the paper are general scientific methods (synthesis, generalization), analysis of the text corpus, method of linguistic analysis.
 Results. The issue of tourism discourse as a separate unit, not a subtype of advertising discourse, remains highly disputable nowadays. The present paper analyses the theoretical basis of notions of “discourse” and “tourism discourse”; determines the levels and communication means in tourism; substantiates the hypothesis on multi-component and multi-modal structure of tourism discourse as a linguistic phenomenon. In the practical part of the research, the author draws special attention to the specifics of the English tourism discourse in terms of typology, lexicology and morphology. The paper concludes by saying that tourism discourse is different from advertising one as well as requires further investigation into the issue.
 Practical implications. The results presented in the article can be used both in theory and applications, i.e., further inquiry into the pragmatic constituent of tourism discourse and its interdisciplinarity; compilation of corpora of tourist texts in the English language; adaptation of the English tourism discourse for present-day realities and addressees’ demands.

POTENTIAL NATURAL FIBER POLYMER COMPOSITES FOR WIND TURBINE BLADE DEVELOPMENT: A SHORT REVIEW

The wind turbine blade which is currently developed with carbon and glass fiber-filled composites, is a key part of the wind turbine system used in the production of wind energy. Present-day realities have necessitated the need for the replacement of these materials which are costly, scarce, non-biodegradable, non-eco-friendly, with natural fibers which are more available, and eco-friendly, hence, this research. This study gives an overview of the wind energy industry, the systems of production with the blades in particular. It describes the attributes of natural fibers, their composites, and hybrids of the natural fibers, their defects, and their possible application in the development of wind turbine blades.

Some Reflections on the 40th Anniversary of the War in the South Atlantic : Interview with Boris F. Martynov, Dr. of Sc. (Political Sciences), Professor, Head of the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy of Russia, MGIMO University. Interviewed by A. A. Eremin

The 40th anniversary of the British-Argentinian war in the South Atlantic is a proper time to speak about some unresolved regional questions. One of them is how are the results of that far-off conflict connected with the present-day realities? To answer it, we turned to a renowned specialist in the region of Latin America, Boris Fedorovich Martynov. His profound regional expertise and extensive academic background helped to establish some logical connections that explain unobvious links between the Malvinas war of 1982 and today’s regional troubles. According to Professor Martynov, it was then that the “solidarity” between the United States and Britain first manifested itself so openly, outlining the true position and priority (or the lack of it) for Latin American countries in the so-called “Western” world. In the course of the interview we came to the conclusion that the present state of international relations doesn’t allow to expect much as for a peaceful resolution of this conflict between Argentina and UK in short or medium term. At the same time, there remains some hope of growing solidarity of the Latin American countries with the Argentinian case, which could provide the country with an opportunity to reshape the current balance of power in the long run. This interview suggests that the crisis in the South Atlantic has had a significant impact on the current state of world politics and international law.

Mitigating Misogynoir: Inclusive Professionalism as a Health Equity Strategy.

As Obstetrics and Gynecology begins to recognize how structural racism drives inequitable health outcomes, it must also acknowledge the effects of structural racism on its workforce and culture. Black physicians comprise ~5% of the United States physician population. Unique adversities affect Black women physicians, particularly during residency training, and contribute to the lack of equitable workforce representation. Eliminating racialized inequities in clinical care requires addressing these concerns. By applying historical context to present-day realities and harms experienced by Black women (ie, misogynoir), Obstetrics and Gynecology can identify interventions, such as equity-focused recruitment and retention strategies, that transform the profession.

¿Por qué Quédate? Frontiering through development in Guatemala

Across the global south, regimes of labour and mobility control are reforming that attempt to manage the northern movement of people. By combining financing development projects with explicit forms of border enforcement (including border personnel training and new securitization technologies), western governments and southern elites attempt to encourage publics (invariably poorer people of colour) to stay in local regions, rather than seek better livelihoods elsewhere. By reference to the USAID funded Centros Quédate or Stay Here Centres in Guatemala, this paper explores the merging of development and migration governance regimes through the concept of “frontiering through development.” The paper argues that initiatives such as these fail to consider the root causes of colonialism and imperialism that have long led people to migrate in the first place. Moreover, migration is cast as something problematic under discourses of populist economic nationalist sentiment, rather than beneficial to migrants, country-of-origin and destination regions. However, rather than passive recipients of patronising development, I show how participants rework the Quédate programme to fit their own onward goals. Paternalist development paradigms should take into account how crucial and embedded mobile livelihoods are in present-day realities.

Approaches to the interpretation of the classical model of the experience economy

Subject. This article deals with the theory of the experience economy and its place in the system of modern economic models. Objectives. The article aims to substantiate the need to develop tools to support and stimulate the experience economy in Russia. Methods. For the study, we used a content analysis, aspect analysis, and systematization of approaches of Russian and foreign authors. Results. The article systematizes the results of research of domestic and foreign authors, complementing the classical approach to the interpretation of the content of the experience economy. It also substantiates the relevance and significance of the study of the experience economy in the conditions of the present-day realities of the Russian economy, taking into account the sectoral aspect. Conclusions and Relevance. The classical model of the experience economy and the traditionally identified spheres of consumer experience get reflected in various sectors of the economy. The concept of the experience economy is the basis for the development of applied tools aimed at achieving a certain reaction of the consumer, which determines the prospects for the development of the experience economy in Russia. The study results obtained are the theoretical basis for the development of applied industry tools to support and stimulate the experience economy in Russia, and can also be used to further conceptualize the theory of the experience economy.

Morphological Characteristics and Fear of Crime: A Case of Public Spaces in the Global North and South

The morphological characteristics of a city have a direct relationship with the human activities happening in the public spaces. If, however, the public spaces become unsafe, people may avoid them. On the other hand, safe public spaces allow free movement for everyone, which is the most basic human need and a crucial part of social sustainability. By focusing on the present-day realities that create the link between the implications for ownership and the provision of the public spaces, this research aims to understand the nature of the morphological characteristics of cities in the Global North and South and its impact on and association with fear of crime. Two case study streets in Stockholm, Sweden, and Karachi, Pakistan, are selected to establish a hypothesis. The study draws upon comprehensive data through a questionnaire survey and morphological analysis. The results suggest that the selected streets in the Global North and South show a similar morphological structure in terms of street layout, land use, plot patterns, and heights of the buildings but difference in pedestrian flows. In relation to the fear of crime, both streets show parks as risky places to visit at night. The results also show some differences in terms of people's responses to the fear of crime in relation to the city's morphology. For instance, people avoid vacant plots and petrol pumps in Karachi, while entrances to metro stations and hidden corners of buildings are considered risky places in Stockholm.

Problems of Defining the Object of Bribery and the Specifics of Its Detection in the Present-Day Realities

Digital currency, including such its variety as cryptocurrency, has become a part of our life. It is legal thanks to the Federal Law «On Digital Financial Assets, Digital Currency and Amendments to Some Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation» of July 31, 2020 № 259-ФЗ. However, alongside the advantages connected with any achievements in digitization, this phenomenon has got a dark side. Cryptocurrency has become not just a means of payment in the virtual world, but also an object of criminal infringements. In connection with this, it became necessary to provide for an opportunity to recognize cryptocurrency as a possible object in the crimes of corruption. The purpose of our study is to examine the current state and to identify the problems in the legal regulation of bribing a public officer on duty by transferring cryptocurrency. The authors also review the possibility of classifying the extortion of sexual services through the abuse of official authority as a manifestation of corruption. The study is based on the analysis of Russian and foreign research publications in law and economics journals. The empirical part of the study is based on the research of the Decrees of the Plenary Sessions of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and the resolutions of the courts of general jurisdiction. Besides, the authors conducted a content-analysis of electronic mass media on the use of cryptocurrency as an object of crimes and on blockchain technology that counteracts corruption on the Internet. The conducted research allowed the authors to come the following conclusions: 1) cryptocurrency can be recognized as an object of criminal corruption, and an obligatory condition for this recognition is the monetary evaluation of the transferred currency; 2) the mechanism of giving and receiving bribes of cryptocurrency has been determined; 3) Art. 133 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation «Compulsion to Perform Sexual Actions» cannot act as an effective instrument in fighting the extortion of sexual services as an object of bribery; 4) the criteria for differentiating between a bribery and gift have been defined; 5) law enforcement bodies need to change the methodology for the identification and investigation of crimes in cyberspace.

Training Human Service Professionals: Using Intersectionality as a Strategy for Eliminating Anti-Black Racism

ABSTRACT As the country continues to reckon with the historical and present-day realities of systemic oppression, particularly as it impacts Black individuals and communities, it is critical that human service organizations advance beyond statements condemning forms of anti-Black racism. Institutional efforts to address anti-Black racism must embody learning as integral to becoming more than a compliant organization, that represents symbolic change, to one that focuses on structural change. This article uses intersectionality along with Patricia Hill Collins’ Matrix of Domination as frameworks to explore a strategy for ongoing workplace learning that can be deployed to address and eliminate anti-Black racism within human service organizations. Collins’ Matrix of Domination explains the ways that systems marginalize groups in a society. A fully inclusive organization embodies shared power among different groups that reflects its mission, policies, and practices. Training to address and eliminate anti-Black racism is a vital activity that organizations should deploy in order to contribute to a just society.

Investigating gender stereotypes and musicality in Esan, Edo State, Nigeria

This article examines the Ijieleghe and Igbabonelimin acrobatic dances for female and male ensembles. The data was obtained through ethnographic research techniques which include research in the library, interviews, focus group discussions, the use of interlocutors and participant observation. We found that both genres stem from the same source and are similar in dance patterns, repertory and musical instruments. While Ijieleghe performers wear light costumes, those of Igbabonelimin are heavy and sometimes accompanied by male and female masquerades. In Igbabonelimin, however, women are not admitted into any of its departments; while in Ijieleghe, male participants are confined to drumming and singing. Only the female participants perform the dance. This paper asks: Why is it that women cannot be admitted into the membership of the sonic space of men in the Igbabonelimin? What will happen if these ensembles admit members of the opposite sexes into gender restricted areas? These questions are what this paper intends to answer. However, while we are aware that there are gender-based restrictions that are not conducive to integration in this day and age, it is our view that in the light of present-day realities in Nigeria, gender restrictions should be challenged to lengthen and enhance the longevity of these ensembles.