Secondary Sources Research Articles

The World Health Organization as an engine of ideational robustness

Abstract The paper focuses on the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in promoting a healthy world population as a generative and robust idea within health policy. The WHO’s health credo transcends national boundaries to promote health globally. It is embedded in norms, values, and standards promulgated by the organization and contributes in shaping the health responses of national governments. Ideational robustness refers to the ability of the WHO to adapt its health credo to changing contexts and circumstances, thus promoting the legitimacy of an international health order. Disturbances, including the Covid-19 pandemic, test the credo’s robustness, forcing the WHO to constantly work at reframing ideas to adapt to political forces and competing logics that structure the field of international health. Empirically, the paper is based on an historical analysis of the evolution of the health credo of the WHO since its inception. Qualitative content analysis of secondary sources, such as policy documents, explores how ideational work performed by WHO leaders impacts on the organization’s position and legitimacy. Ideational robustness appears to be largely influenced by leadership vision, preexisting organizational structure, and the political economy of international health. Ideational robustness appears as a powerful yet insufficient ingredient of policy success.

Boko Haram insurgency and sustainable development in north-east, Nigeria, 2014-2022

The problem of insecurity and terrorism became heightened in 2014 after a series of attacks by Boko Haram on individuals, properties; government installations, etc. especially in North-East Nigeria. The study examines Boko Haram Insurgency and sustainable development in North East Nigeria, using the thematic approach of Insurgency and sustainable development. Qualitative analysis was strictly used based on purposive sampling gathered from four states of the northeastern part of Nigeria; Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Gombe. The Sustainable Development Theory was used to analyze the Insurgency's impact on economic, social, and human development, and the climate/environmental challenges. The researcher used both primary and secondary sources to collect information. The research findings indicate that the North East region and its people suffered grievous economic and political damages from the activities of the insurgents, with the catastrophic collapse of economic, social, and political structures, and processes, and a likelihood of the State itself collapsing and breaking into fragments if the insurgency had continued unabated for a more extended period. The study recommended that the provision of immediate and comprehensive mental health diagnosis, treatment, and counselling will play an essential and critical role in helping people exposed to insurgency recover quickly from the emotional pains and trauma that come with such exposure.

Tesla Corporate Management Review: Analysis of Tesla’s Marketing Strategy in Chinese Market

Tesla is one of the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing companies. Its market entry into China has been marred with several challenges and wins, some of which are discussed in this document. Drawing from a secondary literature review analysis, the findings of this document demonstrate that Tesla's market entry strategy into China has been multipronged with tenets in celebrity advertisement, collaborative marketing, and hunger campaigns. This multifaceted marketing campaign has enabled Tesla to reach different consumer groups within the Chinese EV market. Key sections of this paper further interrogate the firm's marketing campaign in China, relative to the 4Ps of marketing. The findings of this discussion equally discuss the establishment of the Tesla brand in the Chinese market, its development over the years, and the current market situation. The goal is to identify key strengths and weaknesses associated with the brand that could be useful in consolidating its market position and exploiting emerging opportunities in the EV market.

Traumatic Healing Responsiveness in Frost’s “Birches”

Robert Frost’s poem “Birches” raises the issue of nature conservation to disengage mankind from the humdrum of the mundane world, advocating a symbiotic world that encompasses trivial and sublime things of the world. Frost's concern for wildlife conservation aims at providing a sanctuary for all people who are struggling against the onslaught of socio-economic challenges, family predicaments, and the inescapable effects of social media. This article argues that the turbulent mind does not work for the supportable advancement of humanity; Frost’s poem is a plea for a return to the pristine glory of nature as a healing agent for the miseries and dismays perpetrated on human beings by modern civilization. The poet appeals to the public apprehension for the benefit of the human race through verse. Using the ecocritical lens, this paper engages the qualitative research methodology to analyze the poem. The interpretation is based on the data pooled from secondary sources by reviewing the literature existing in the paradigm of eco-critical theory.  Critical readings are based on the concept that nature is tantamount to spiritual therapy providing emotional alliance with it. This study incorporates critics' versions, text, and reference books as the sources to justify the argument. It contributes to the development of ecological cognizance for nature preservation that in turn provisions for reducing the psychological trauma among the modern people. The findings support the policy designers to take effective steps to reduce the damaging facets and provision to plan for sustainable development.

Impact of the armed conflict in Ukraine on rail freight between Asia and Europe

In 2021, the rail freight industry proved its competitiveness despite the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In the segment of rail freight transport between Asia and Europe, this was achieved by positive transport results. Container transport in international rail traffic was increased. The railways carried out work on the development and organization of the transport of high-capacity containers in international traffic, including the organization of container block trains in the Eurasian space. The year 2022 has brought about fundamental changes in the perception of safety and the role of rail transport in traffic between Asia and Europe. An unexpected armed conflict caused chaos in trade, production and transport. In the corridors connecting Asia with Europe, problems arose, supply chains were disrupted. The geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe remains tense and unpredictable. This results in lasting consequences for production, supply and demand chains, transport corridors in the Eurasian space. This also applies to rail transport as part of the New Silk Road concept. The aim of this article is to provide a synthetic analysis of the impact of geopolitical changes and the armed conflict in Ukraine on the functioning of the Silk Railroad and transport volumes in rail freight traffic between Asia and Europe. The above analysis was carried out on the basis of research on secondary sources and available source materials obtained from OSJD member countries that participate in rail transport on the Silk Road.

Chemical composition, sources and formation mechanism of urban PM2.5 in Southwest China: a case study at the beginning of 2023

Abstract. Despite significant improvements in air quality in recent years, the Sichuan Basin (SCB) is still facing frequent haze pollution in winter, and the causes of severe haze formation have not yet been fully investigated. In this study, the chemical components of PM2.5 (i.e., particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm) in a typical pollution period at the beginning of 2023 in Chengdu, a megacity in the SCB, were characterized by bulk-chemical and single-particle analysis, and the PM2.5 sources and formation mechanism of pollution were analyzed. The average mass concentration of PM2.5 during the study period was 95.6 ± 28.7 µg m−3. Organic matter (OM) was the most abundant component (35.3 %), followed by nitrate (22.0 %), sulfate (9.2 %) and ammonium (7.8 %). The individual aerosol particles were classified into five categories, i.e., mineral, OM, secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA), soot and fly ash/metal particles, and most of them were in the state of being internally mixed. The entire observation period could be divided into two non-pollution periods (NP-1 and NP-2) and two haze periods (Haze-1 and Haze-2). With the evolution of pollution, the bulk-chemical and single-particle analysis exhibited similar characteristics, suggesting that Haze-1 was mainly caused by pollutants related to fossil fuel combustion, especially local mobile sources, while Haze-2 was triggered by the rapidly increasing secondary pollutants, which mainly came from regional transmission. The PM2.5 sources included dust (8.5 %), biomass burning (3.5 %), coal combustion (15.4 %), industrial processes (6.5 %), vehicular emissions (25.6 %) and secondary sources (40.5 %). Analysis of Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model results showed that the average contributions of local sources and regional transmission to pollution in Chengdu were the same (50 % vs. 50 %). In addition, the source composition and WRF-Chem simulation results in different periods confirmed our analysis of the formation mechanisms of the two haze events. This study confirms that further significant reductions in PM2.5 in Chengdu are still needed, and more effective policies for local emission reduction or joint prevention and control of regional air pollution will be necessary in the future.

Economic Importance of Migrant Labor in Kerala

people travel to Kerala each year to work as seasonal labourers. They play a significant part in the growth and survival of Kerala’s economy. Changes in the labour market, increased tax income for the government, and overall economic expansion are connected with worker movement. To examine the current pattern of worker migration and the availability of local workers in rural economies. The researcher selected a descriptive research technique that relied heavily on secondary sources to gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. Publications such as books, newspapers, journals, articles, and internet platforms such as blogs and wikis are examples of secondary sources. This article examines the frequency and relevance of migrant workers in the state’s current labour market and the availability of local labour in Kerala’s informal rural labour market. By segmenting the labour market in Kerala by industry, this study will assist in determining the extent to which migrants have affected the state’s economy. The rural Indian labour market has shifted from agriculture to service and industrial industries. The number of persons employed in manufacturing and services is growing yearly, while employment in agriculture is deteriorating. The government is in trouble because poor people are willing to perform physical labour. There was a need for low-cost physical labour in Kerala; therefore, migrant workers from other countries arrived to fill the need. Without the assistance migrant workers give in areas with a severe shortage of local staff, firms would fail.

Effect of Leadership on Employee Performance in Rwanda Revenue Authority

The general objective of this research study was to assess the Effect of leadership on employee performance in Rwanda Revenue Authority. The study used a multiple linear regression model. This study used a descriptive research design since it provides a researcher with first-hand primary data that is collected, maintained, and analyzed for the research goals. The current research was compassed by the following specific objectives: To establish the effect of leadership personality on employee performance at Rwanda Revenue Authority; To examine the effect of leadership styles on employee performance at Rwanda Revenue Authority; To analyze the effect of leaders’ competency on employee performance at Rwanda Revenue Authority; To analyze the influence of leaders’ commitment on employee performance at Rwanda Revenue Authority. The target population in this study was 1248 who are staff at Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA). The researcher used purposive sampling. The sample size of the study was 269 Rwanda Revenue Authority staff selected from the known population of 1248 staff. Simply, in this study data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The researcher distributed 269 questionnaires to the respondents, however, 265 respondents submitted in their responses while 4 respondents did not submit their responses. 56.2% of respondents strongly agreed that Leaders at RRA are considerate when dealing with subordinates which motivate staff to work and meet deadlines, 31.7% agreed with the statement, none of respondents were undecided, and 8.7% disagreed with the statement while 3.4% strongly disagreed with the statement. About the second item, 25.7% of respondents strongly agreed that Leaders at Rwanda Revenue Authority live a life of integrity at work and outside work which ignites workers to provide  a quality work; 27.9% agreed with the statement, 14.7% were undecided, 24.2% disagreed with the statement while 7.5% strongly disagreed with the statement. 62.3% agreed with the statement that leaders at RRA use transformational leadership style to assist employees meet deadlines, 3.8% of respondents were undecided, and 32.8% disagreed with the statement while 1.1% strongly disagreed with the statement. Moreover, 12.1% of respondents strongly agreed that Transactional Leadership is used in Rwanda Revenue Authority by Leaders and have contributed to Quality of work; 86.8% agreed with the statement, none of respondents were undecided, 1.1% disagreed with the statement and none of respondents strongly disagreed with the statement. 63.8% agreed with the statement that leaders at RRA exhibit work expertise which makes also employees to excel in meeting deadlines, none of respondents were undecided, and 11.7% disagreed with the statement while 23.8% strongly disagreed with the statement. Likewise, 32.5% of respondents strongly agreed that Leaders at Rwanda Revenue Authority are results oriented which also encourages all employees to strive for achieving departmental goals; 67.5% agreed with the statement, none of respondents were undecided, none of respondents disagreed with the statement and none of respondents strongly disagreed with the statement. The researcher used questionnaire as data collection instrument. SPSS version 23.00 (Statistical Package for Social Scientists) was used to analyze the coded data.

Paths Towards LGBT Rights Recognition in Brazil

Abstract Introduction This article addresses the processes that led to the recognition of LGBT rights in Brazil, the role played by civil society mobilization, and the interaction between the Federal Supreme Court and the National Congress in these processes. Methods The study’s primary method is document analysis. Our sample was established in 2021 and includes four court decisions and 93 law proposals presented from 2011 to 2020 by 83 legislators whose profiles are also analysed (data collected in 2021). Moreover, the article references secondary source interviews conducted in 2017 and 2018. Results The Federal Supreme Court was responsible for all the LGBT rights recognized at the federal level in Brazil. Our data shows that federal legislators, on the other hand, have been unable to make bills focused on LGBT rights (pro or against) pass. Some highlights from the results show that 46.2% of the proposals on the matter are contrary to those rights, and 48.2% of the legislators who mobilize the matter are affiliated with the Evangelical Bench, an influential conservative institution in the Brazilian National Congress. Although not yet able to make law proposals pass, those legislators with a conservative profile tend to use LGBT rights as political currency by presenting bills or making speeches against these rights. They also play a role in not allowing pro-LGBT rights achievements in the legislative arena. Aware of the legislators’ profile, civil society organizations tend not to focus all their efforts on this arena and to take or create legal opportunities, even though the path through courts still represents several obstacles. Moreover, although the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court has shown a willingness to decide on LGBT rights, the outcomes of the rulings depend on the composition of the body, which is influenced by nominations made by the president. That is, the same court Brazil has relied on to recognize LGBT rights could be responsible for denying them had it had the same powers but different members. Conclusions While the deadlock in the Federal Congress persists, and the judicial decisions that recognized LGBT rights remain effective, LGBT persons continue to exercise their conquered rights. However, the conservative wave in Brazil places the country in a context of uncertainty and vulnerability with regard to LGBT rights. Policy Implications This study’s contribution lies in showing why Brazil is an unpaired case when it comes to LGBT rights recognition and how vulnerable these conquered rights are in the country. The article provides an overview of the recognition processes taking multiple arenas and actors into account. Therefore, the analyses and the database of law proposals fill a gap in the literature and can contribute to future work from both scholars (for example, other studies from the database) and practitioners (for example, the development of legal mobilization frames and strategies).

Public Service Accountability at the Youth Sports Service, Culture and Tourism of Majene Regency

The purpose of this research is to analyze the Accountability of public services in the Department of Youth Sports, Culture and Tourism of Majene Regency. The type of research used in this research is explanatory research. This research uses data collection techniques in the form of secondary literature studies with qualitative analysis techniques. The end result of this research is a description of the causal context or cause-effect relationship. The results of this research indicate that public service accountability is not yet optimal and needs to be improved in terms of visitor interview results and direct inspection of tourism sector facilities. The author found that tourist facilities such as places of worship, toilets and In addition, the consistency of levies set on each tourist attraction is not optimal, which differs from visitors, and there are still many waste scattered around tourist attractions, disrupting the comfort of visitors.

Selectivity of lanthanum and ytterbium in binary and multi-component system by modified sericin/alginate/poly (vinyl alcohol) adsorbent beads

Rare earths are essential for important industrial applications and for producing high-tech materials. Its recovery from secondary sources is fundamental from an environmental and economic perspective. Biosorption is a promising method that can be used to remove and recover rare earth at low concentrations in an aqueous medium due to its low cost, simplicity, and efficiency. Recently, natural biomaterials based on sericin/alginate began to be investigated as a biosorbent for rare-earths uptake. Sericin is a natural protein of silkworm cocoons, usually discarded along with silk industry effluents, and alginate is a natural carbohydrate extracted from abundant sources of brown algae. The particles produced by the sericin/alginate blend were crosslinked with poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), which promotes better properties to this biomaterial. In this study, modified beads of a sericin/alginate/PVA blend were produced by ionic imprinting (Ca(NO3)2, Ca(NO3)2/La(NO3)3, or La(NO3)3) and leaching with HNO3 (0.1 mol/L). The developed particles were applied to remove ytterbium and lanthanum from aqueous solutions through adsorptive affinity and selectivity tests. The results indicated that the modified particles showed superior removal efficiency for lanthanum. For ytterbium, the highest removals were obtained for sericin/alginate/PVA-La(NO3)3 (94.33 ± 0.05%), sericin/alginate/PVA-Ca(NO3)2/La(NO3)3 (94.05 ± 3.12%), and sericin/alginate/PVA-Ca(NO3)2 (92.06 ± 2.01%). For lanthanum, higher removal values were obtained for sericin/alginate/PVA-La(NO3)3 (100.71 ± 0.77%), sericin/alginate/PVA-Ca(NO3)2/La(NO3)3 (99.21 ± 0.28%), and sericin/alginate/PVA-Ca(NO3)2 (98.45 ± 2.98%). In the binary system of rare earths, selectivity between the metals was not observed, however the modified beads showed great selectivity performance for lanthanum and ytterbium in multi-metal solution. Additionally, the modified beads with ionic imprinting were characterized by SEM, EDS, FTIR, XPS, and TGA/DTG. Thus, the results indicated that modified sericin/alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) beads could be used as an alternative and promising biosorbent to remove and recover rare earths.

Characterization of water-soluble organic carbon absorption at an urban background site in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula

Measurements of absorption coefficients (σap,λ) and carbonaceous components (OC, EC, WSOC and levoglucosan) in PM1 were conducted at an urban background site in southeastern Spain throughout 2021. The main goal of this research was to determine the contribution from different sources to WSOC light absorption (σWSOC). For this, σBrC,λ values were previously obtained. The mean contribution of BrC to total aerosol absorption was ∼29% at 370 nm, revealing a significant influence of BrC to light absorption in the study area. Assuming that BrC light absorption was from WSOC and WIOC, a multilinear regression (MLR) model was used to estimate σWSOC and σWIOC. Average values (mean ± SD) were very similar for both components: σWSOC,370 = 1.6 (±0.7) Mm−1 and σWIOC,370 = 1.9 (±0.7) Mm−1. Finally, the PMF technique coupled with MLR analysis was used to identify the sources of WSOC light absorption and estimate their contribution. Our findings point to biomass burning as the dominant source of σWSOC during the cold season, with a contribution of ∼37%. The Mineral Dust and Secondary Nitrate sources, that were not included in the model due to their low contribution to WSOC mass concentrations, accounted for a significant percentage of σWSOC during this period. Secondary organic aerosol was the major source during the warm season (∼56%), followed by traffic emissions (∼30%).

Meeting economic and social viability goals in regional airline schemes through hub-and-spoke network connectivity

AbstractWe examine the viability of regional connectivity schemes by considering both social and economic objectives. In India the scheme is called UDAN (loosely translated affordable air travel) which is designed to include economically backward communities in India into the air travel grid. Using secondary data sources from the airline sector in India, and qualitative interviews of knowledgeable personnel in the airline industry, we demonstrate the importance of hub-and-spoke network design in comparison to point-to-point connectivity for regional connectivity networks. Specifically, we develop Viable Hub Location Problem for Regional Connectivity (VHLPRC) for resilience and sustainability through bilevel optimization with single leader and two independent followers. We test our proposed approach using datasets from USA and India. Our analyses suggest strategically choosing primary hubs and re-routing traffic through regional hubs for long-term commercial viability or survivability of regional connectivity schemes. The introduction of regional hubs had mixed effects. On the positive side, it improved reach, albeit at considerable (hidden) costs. On the negative side, several sub-programs had to be abandoned for a variety of reasons, including lack of demand traffic. The lessons learned from this study inform policy makers, academics, and practicing managers on how to remain viable and sustain operations in regional connectivity schemes. With the introduction of social variables, commercial viability has been shown to face specific real-life challenges. An attempt to help solve these problems is also presented in this paper through risk reduction, capacity augmentation, and by continuing fare subsidies.

Spatial distribution, source identification, ecological risk assessment, and air–seawater/seawater– Sediment exchange rates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Pars special economic energy zone, Iran

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been introduced as major pollutants released by the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. Against this background, the present study examined the coastal air, seawater, and sediments in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ), Iran, in terms of pollution caused by such compounds. Considering the industrial facilities and residential areas in this region, the total suspended particulate (TSP), seawater, and sediments were sampled (n = 10) and then analyzed over the course of two seasons via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The total concentrations in the TSP, seawater, and sediments were found to be in the range of 346-739ngPAH/gTSP, ND-84.87 µg/L, and ND–306.7 ngg−1(dw), respectively. The positive correlation coefficients between sediment organic matter (OM) and concentrations did not show a significant relationship. Crude oil and its derivatives and biomass-coal combustion were identified as the main sources of pollution. Carcinogenic PAHs (CPAHs) were further detected at much higher concentrations near industrial facilities. Sediment qualityguidelines (SQGs) and risk quotients (RQs) showed that coastal seawater and sediments posed acceptable and moderate ecological risks. According to the fugacity diagrams, the seabed and seawater served as secondary sources of pollution. The total concentration and values obtained in earlier investigations were also comparable. Nonetheless, most maximum points could provide a point-form of the pollutant concentration. Therefore, preventive measures are required to ensure the protection of the environment.

FeS-assisted restructuring of zinc-bearing phases into sulfated compounds for efficient zinc extraction from hazardous electric furnace dust

Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is a hazardous solid waste generated as a byproduct in the steelmaking process, containing significant amounts of zinc and iron, making it a primary secondary source of zinc. The separation of zinc and iron in an environmentally-friendly and efficient manner poses a crucial technological challenge for the safe disposal and resource utilization of EAFD, facilitating the recovery of valuable zinc and the direct reuse of iron as raw materials for ironmaking. In this study, a novel method for restructuring zinc-bearing phases into sulfated compounds through low-temperature roasting by introducing FeS in EAFD were proposed. Simultaneously, the iron-containing phases undergo a transformation into Fe2O3. Subsequently, efficient separation of zinc and iron is achieved through a leaching process using dilute sulfuric acid. The conditions for the theoretical transformation of zinc-containing phases into ZnSO4 and iron-containing phases into Fe2O3 in EAFD were determined by thermodynamic calculations incorporating FeS. The temperature range for sulfation calcination was determined to be within 550–700 °C based on TG-DSC analysis and the evaluation of SO2 release during the decomposition of FeS. The optimal conditions for the roasting process were determined as an E/F ratio of 1:3, a temperature of 650 °C, and a duration of 3 h. In addition, the optimal conditions for the leaching process were determined as the addition of 1 mL of 1 M H2SO4 and a liquid–solid ratio of 25 mL/g. Under these conditions, the extractions of Zn and Fe reached 95.33 % and 0.17 %, respectively. The mechanism of phase reconstruction from zinc-containing phases to sulfate phases in EAFD was thoroughly analyzed, revealing that the Zn species in EAFD were transformed into Zn3O(SO4)2 through solid–solid and gas–solid reactions, while the majority of Fe species in EAFD and FeS were converted into Fe2O3. Effective separation of zinc and iron was achieved by dissolving Zn3O(SO4)2 in diluted sulfuric acid while retaining Fe2O3 in the residue. This study provides a fresh perspective on the recovery of zinc from zinc-containing solid waste resources, offering significant potential for the sustainable management and utilization of EAFD.

Insecurity and Voter Turnout in Governorship Elections in Rivers State, Nigeria

Elections (especially Governorship elections) in Rivers State since 1999 have continued to experience declining curve of voter turnout. Therefore, this study interrogated the effect of insecurity on voter turnout in Rivers State gubernatorial elections from 1999 to 2023. The specific objectives of the study were to; examine the state of insecurity during elections and assess the impact of insecurity on the conduct of elections in Rivers State since 1999. The ‘Structural Functionalism’ theoretical framework was employed in analysing the variables (insecurity, voter turnout, and elections) contained in this work. The qualitative research design method was employed in this paper involving the use of secondary sources of data collection while graphs, charts, simple percentages and tables were used in analysing the generated data. The major research findings were that; elections in Rivers State since 1999 have been characterized by insecurity, declining level of voter turnout due to insecurity in Rivers State; and election-related insecurity is usually caused by desperate members of the political class in connivance with both the State and non-state security actors. In addressing this, the study proposed a number of recommendations including the following; establishment of election offences commission, scaling up of anti-electoral violence advocacy, de-registration of perpetuators of elections insecurity in the voters’ register, and life ban on convicts from political participation, among others.

Long‐Emission‐Wavelength Humic‐Like Component (L‐HULIS) as a Secondary Source Tracer of Brown Carbon in the Atmosphere

AbstractThe optical properties of secondary brown carbon (BrC) aerosols are poorly understood, hampering quantitative assessments of their impact. We propose a new method for estimating secondary source of BrC using excitation‐emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and partial least squares regression (PLSR). Experiments were conducted on a collection of PM2.5 samples from urban areas in five Chinese cities during winter and summer. The humic‐like component with long‐emission wavelengths (L‐HULIS) was identified as a secondary source tracer of BrC. This was confirmed by correlating PARAFAC components with secondary organic aerosol tracers and molecular oxidation indices obtained from Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry analysis. Using L‐HULIS as a secondary tracer of BrC, it was determined that the contribution of secondary sources to water‐soluble BrC (WS‐BrC) in source emission samples is significantly smaller than in PM2.5 from five Chinese cities, supporting our method. In the five cities, secondary source derived via L‐HULIS contributes a dominant potion (80% ± 3.5%) of WS‐BrC at 365 nm during the summer, which is approximately twice as high as during the winter (45% ± 4.9%). Radiocarbon isotope (14C) analysis provides additional constraints to the sources of L‐HULIS‐derived secondary WS‐BrC in urban PM2.5, suggesting that aged biomass burning is the dominant contributor to secondary WS‐BrC in winter, and biogenic emission is dominant during summer. This study is the first report on identification of secondary sources of BrC using the fluorescence technique. It demonstrates the potential of this method in characterizing non‐fossil source secondary BrC in the atmosphere.

Radical movement-parties, political change and the epistemology of elections: evidence from Lebanon

ABSTRACT A growing literature seeks to bring agency into the study of movement-parties (M-Ps). Yet studies pay little attention to radical M-Ps which confront acute dilemmas when deciding to contest parliamentary elections in systems they deem illegitimate. This article problematizes radical M-Ps’ entry in elections and the meaning they attribute to the role and function of elections – their epistemology of elections. We examine three M-Ps – Beirut Madinati, LiHaqqi, and Muwatinun wa Muwatinat fi Dawla. We demonstrate that radical M-Ps with a coherent strategy for political change, one that includes an epistemology of elections, are more likely to mitigate and survive electoral dilemmas when entering elections. Radical M-Ps lacking such a strategy risk fragmentation and potential dissolution. Methodologically, we chose Lebanon because 1) during the period under study, it is a democracy and, consequently, a relevant case study for theories of party formation; and 2) it offers a controlled comparison of M-Ps in elections. Moreover, all three M-Ps emerged during a similar time-period, with similar social bases, and, at least originally, radical positions. Research is based on participation in, and observation of, protests and elections between 2011 and 2022, as well as primary and secondary sources.

Helmholtz and the Conservation of Energy: Contexts of Creation and Reception

HELMHOLTZ AND THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY: Contexts of Creation and Reception by Kenneth L. Caneva. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2021. 735 pages, including notes (138 pages), bibliographies of primary and secondary sources (80 pages), and an index (17 pages). Hardcover; $125.00. ISBN: 9780262045755. *By examining the pagination details mentioned above, one could easily surmise that one will be reading and examining a book grounded in textual detail. And one would be spot on. The weight of the author's research is, quite honestly, breathtaking. Kenneth L. Caneva has devoted his academic life to an examination of energy concepts. He is a professor in the Department of History at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. A former student of Thomas S. Kuhn, he has also authored two other books: The Form and Function of Scientific Discoveries (Dibner Library Lecture, 2000) and an authoritative biography, Robert Mayer and the Conservation of Energy (Princeton University Press, 1993). Helmholtz and the Conservation of Energy is his latest contribution. *Before we examine the book proper, the obvious question arises: Who was Hermann von Helmholtz? To answer that question one can best turn to the 937-page scientific biography of Helmholtz by David Cahan (Helmholtz: A Life in Science, The University of Chicago Press, 2018). Helmholtz (1821-1894), a German physiologist and physicist, is described by Steven Shapin in his review of Cahan's book as "a theorist of (not quite) everything." Helmholtz had an immense range of scientific and cultural interests: physics, physiology, psychology, aesthetics, philosophy. He invented the ophthalmoscope, measured the nervous impulse, contributed to meteorology and atmospheric physics, and helped build some of Germany's scientific and technological institutions. *Caneva wants to explore the context and reception of one of Helmholtz's early (1847) seminal essays, "Über die Erhaltung der Kraft" ["On the Conservation of Force"] by examining how this essay shaped the discussion and acceptance of a physical principle: the conservation of energy. How was "conservation of force" eventually transformed into a principle of energy conservation? Caneva offers us a contextualist historiography of this long and complex transition by providing an in-depth analysis of Helmholtz's contribution and influence in the discovery process. *The discovery of the principle of energy conservation is a classic case in the history of nineteenth-century science. Although overshadowed in the public mind by Charles Darwin's principle of natural selection, its historical development raises similar issues. Who discovered the principle of energy conservation? An easy question to pose, but a very complicated one to answer. And more to Caneva's point of interest: Is conservation of energy what Helmholtz initially meant by the conservation of force? *Caneva offers this book as an example "of how what is generally accepted as scientific knowledge is reshaped as it passes through the hands of people with different agendas using different language." It is not an individualistic process, but rather reflects a "collective construction of scientific knowledge." Caneva concludes the book with this assertion: "The cumulative force of this study has implicitly rendered otiose the question of who discovered the conservation of energy" (p. 466). In a real sense, no one individual has discovered the conservation of energy: one could reference Robert Meyer (1842), Helmholtz (1847), William Thomson (1851) [force to energy], and Helmholtz (1853) again. With meticulous detail Caneva highlights the terminological shifts that have taken place as well as the rhetorical skills exercised when the "law" or "principle" was presented to various publics, even in popular scientific settings. *The book has eleven chapters, followed by a "Historiographical Excursus: How Others Have Interpreted Helmholtz's Achievement" (pp. 471-99). In chapter 1, "Helmholtz's Self-Described Principal Concerns," Caneva traces out four factors that were central to Helmholtz's thinking: (1) a conviction that the construction of a perpetuum mobile is impossible, (2) a concern with the nature of heat and the source of animal heat, (3) a belief in the illegitimacy of a vital force, and (4)the application of rational mechanics' principles of vis viva [mv2] and its conservation. According to Caneva, Kantian philosophical concerns do not dominate, nor does Helmholtz's reliance on industrial mechanical steam-engine considerations or metaphors. Succeeding chapters (2-6) trace out the broader and more immediate contexts, the question of Kantian influence, and what Helmholtz believed he had accomplished. *Chapters 7-9 consider the reception of "The Conservation of Force." In chapter 9, "Helmholtz's Place in the Acceptance of the Conservation of Energy--by far the longest (pp. 235-428) and most important chapter--Caneva traces how Helmholtz's formulation in his 1847 essay, "The sum of the existing living and tensional forces is thus always constant" (p. 239), has been transformed into a principle of the conservation of energy. How does a paper first rejected by the physics community, yet hoping to find unifying elements in nature, lead finally to the conservation of energy (the first law of thermodynamics)? Even if one looks closely at the phrase, "tensional" forces, one notices that Helmholtz integrates force over distance, that is, force is thought of in terms of the velocity of a body rather than its acceleration. Force, for Helmholtz, is a measure of the quantity of motion rather than a cause of motion. Caneva's goal is to render intelligible Helmholtz's role and significance in the complicated transition to the final expression of the conservation law. *Near the end of the book, in the "Historiographical Excursus," Caneva critically assesses the work of earlier commentators who have written about Helmholtz and the conservation of energy. Thomas Kuhn (Caneva's advisor), Yehuda Elkana, Peter Harman, Norton Wise, all are subject to criticism. Caneva detects anachronistic tendencies, lack of sound textual evidence, and a desire to confirm a preconceived idea that lie at the root of most failed interpretations (p. 499). *The book is not an easy read. Amidst all the intricate detailed analysis and convoluted arguments what can an ASA member profitably learn? First, clarification of concepts can be a long and complicated process. Think just of the historical development of the concept of biological evolution. Secondly, ideas and concepts are shaped by a myriad of causes and influences. The art or skill lies in learning how to weigh the stunning array of causes. In the case of Helmholtz, historians have identified several causes: philosophical, physical, technological, physiological, and even cultural. How to accurately weigh each factor without becoming ahistorical, that is, misreading an author's intent by reading modern concepts into it and becoming anachronistic, has been Caneva's goal. *Reviewed by Arie Leegwater, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.

Creative Destruction and Built Environment Heritage in Makhanda, South Africa

Heritage conservation is recognised as an important component of sustainable development but is often considered a lower priority compared to other development imperatives, and societal issues. The prioritization of economic and urban development threatens urban heritage through a process known as creative destruction. This research uses the concept of creative destruction to explore the interplay between market forces and urban planning and management practices on the heritage conservation of the city of Makhanda in South Africa. Makhanda has a rich and varied cultural heritage landscape, including many individual buildings and streetscapes. A qualitative approach, including semi-structured key informant interviews and secondary sources was employed. The study found that municipal dysfunction and other urban management challenges result in difficultly in enforcing legislation and policy, and thereby threatens heritage conservation. The fates of three buildings within the historic urban fabric of the city are explored in terms of the impacts of neoliberal urbanism occurring within this context. The research contends that for heritage management to be successful, there needs to be a balanced approach through improvements in stakeholder relationships, governance, institutional capacity, knowledge sharing and community involvement in decision-making processes.