Traditional Confines Research Articles

Biotechnology Innovation in Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Gene Editing: A Call for a New Regulatory Framework

The expansion of do-it-yourself (DIY) gene editing, facilitated by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology, has catalyzed a significant shift in scientific research and biotechnology innovation. This movement is propelled by a community-driven approach that challenges the traditional confines of scientific exploration, allowing amateur scientists to perform sophisticated biological experiments. While this democratization fosters inclusivity and accelerates innovation, it simultaneously introduces significant biosecurity risks. The possibility of unregulated gene editing leading to the unintentional creation of harmful organisms or the deliberate engineering of pathogens underscores the need for a new regulatory framework. This paper explores the implications of DIY biology within the context of public health, environmental safety, and biosecurity, highlighting the urgency for adaptive policies that balance scientific freedom with security. It proposes integrating community-driven regulatory practices with formal oversight mechanisms by examining biosecurity implications, ethical considerations, and the potential for misuse. Additionally, the role of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) is explored as a novel approach to transforming governance within the domain of DIY gene editing, particularly in the context of CRISPR research.

Introduction: Gender and Popular Music Knowledge

ABSTRACT This special issue of Popular Music and Society on gender and popular music knowledge considers feminized ways of listening to and knowing about popular music that have occupied the margins of media representations and popular music studies. By way of introduction, we consider classic and recent work on gender and popular music, the traditional confines of popular music knowledge-making, and how centering the knowledge of women and girls broadens our understanding of popular music.

Crystallization of molecular layers produced under confinement onto a surface

It is well known that molecules confined very close to a surface arrange into molecular layers. Because solid-liquid interfaces are ubiquitous in the chemical, biological and physical sciences, it is crucial to develop methods to easily access molecular layers and exploit their distinct properties by producing molecular layered crystals. Here we report a method based on crystallization in ultra-thin puddles enabled by gas blowing, which allows to produce molecular layered crystals with thickness down to the monolayer onto a surface, making them directly accessible for characterization and further processing. By selecting four molecules with different types of polymorphs, we observed exclusive crystallization of polymorphs with Van der Waals interlayer interactions, which have not been observed with traditional confinement methods. In conclusion, the gas blowing approach unveils the opportunity to perform materials chemistry under confinement onto a surface, enabling the formation of distinct crystals with selected polymorphism.

The Sacred Elixir: Christian Biblical Wine for Holy Communion

This comprehensive examination delves into the diverse definitions and applications of wine, interweaving scientific, biblical, and cultural perspectives to contextualize its significance within the Christian sacrament. Exploring the chemical, microbiological, oenological, geographical, and physicochemical facets of wine, the study provides a nuanced understanding of its multifaceted nature. Scientific inquiry illuminates the myriad uses of wine, ranging from culinary and biomedical contexts to analytical chemistry and environmental considerations. The discourse extends to the symbolic depth of red wine, theological perspectives, and the pivotal role wine plays in both the Old and New Testaments. Notably, the viewpoints of evangelical theologians are meticulously examined, culminating in a poignant exploration of the sacred communion ritual, particularly its profound relevance for individuals in their final moments. This examination transcends the traditional confines of wine analysis, intertwining its scientific complexities with the spiritual and cultural dimensions encapsulated in biblical narratives. The symbolic richness of wine emerges as a common thread, connecting its chemical composition to profound theological implications. The discerning gaze of evangelical theologians further enriches the discourse, shedding light on the theological nuances surrounding wine within the Christian tradition. Finally, the exploration culminates in a poignant consideration of the sacred communion, offering profound insights into its transformative significance, particularly when administered to individuals nearing the culmination of their earthly journey. Fundamentally, this inquiry reveals the intricate interplay of meanings intricately woven into the essence of wine. It goes beyond the mere material substance, encapsulating a symbolic resonance that extends across the domains of science, spirituality, and culture.

Examining Undergarment Preferences During Confinement Period towards Designing Caesarean Undergarment Design for Plus-Size Patients

A purposive sampling method on experienced Malaysian plus-size patients with a BMI of 30 to 40 and aged between 20 to 49 years old was conducted to investigate the preferences of undergarment design used during the confinement period and the influencing factors of clothing comfort throughout the recovery period. Results show that although 89.29% of respondents practised traditional confinement rituals, 93% of respondents preferred basic undergarments as opposed to compression garments due to the existence of an apron belly. Based on the result, a theoretical framework for plus-size caesarean undergarment design was developed.

Teachers Leading Beyond the Classroom

The role of teachers has evolved significantly, extending far beyond the traditional confines of the classroom. This paper explores the multifaceted role of teacher leaders who embrace a more comprehensive and influential position within the education system. Teacher leadership is a term that encompasses various roles and responsibilities, and its definition can vary depending on the organizational structure of the school. This study delves into how teacher leaders catalyze change within their classrooms and at broader levels, such as the school, district, and national levels. Teachers leading beyond the classroom underscores the essential role that teacher leaders play in shaping the future of education by leveraging their passion, expertise, and experience to bring about positive change in various facets of the educational system. It emphasizes the need for schools to recognize and harness the potential of teacher leaders to create a more dynamic, inclusive, and effective learning environment for all stakeholders in education.

Embodied Environmental Crisis in Design Activism: the Influence of Digital Media Design Affordances on Information Dissemination and Public Engagement

Addressing the urgent environmental crisis is at the heart of this exploration, where design activism and the impact of digital media design on information dissemination and public engagement take center stage. With rising carbon emissions and human activities exacerbating environmental degradation, the role of designers in this context becomes crucial. The essay commences by underscoring human activities as major contributors to environmental decline, particularly within the Creative Industries. Despite initiatives such as the Ad Net Zero report, fundamental questions persist regarding the evolving role of designers amid this crisis. This study navigates through the complexities by delving into sustainable design approaches and challenging the traditional confines of graphic design. It extends the conversation to design activism, advocating for a broader role for graphic designers inspired by the principles of the "First Things First Manifestos." The essay also explores the transformative potential of technology, empowering designers to optimize information dissemination and enhance public engagement for a more sustainable society. Through insightful analysis and innovative exploration, this paper offers invaluable guidance for future designers, equipping them with essential insights and technology to positively impact the environment.

Erving Goffman: The Social Science Maverick. Assessing the Interdisciplinary Impact of the Most Cited American Sociologist

Erving Goffman has a reputation as an intellectual maverick who did not fit neatly into any disciplinary mold. His failure to adhere to professional conventions and occasionally off-putting demeanor are mentioned as an aside that has little to do with his oversize influence on the science of society. This paper advances a thesis that Goffman’s status as the most cited American sociologist and widespread influence across social science is related to his principled refusal to fit his scholarship into prevailing scholarly canons. The argument is made that Goffman shared with his mentor, Everett Hughes, misgivings about the narrow professional focus in contemporary sociology, that his cross-disciplinary approach advanced social inquiry beyond its traditional confines, and that his colloquial style and penchant for long essays helped disseminate his ideas. The discussion starts with an overview of Goffman’s professional career, after which it moves to the reception of his ideas by fellow sociologists and the impact of his work on neighboring disciplines. The study draws on the interviews, correspondence, and other documents assembled in the Erving Goffman Archives, as well as on several social science citation indexes and datasets illuminating Goffman’s stature in various fields of scholarship.

High Key Transgression: Queerness, Disability Justice, and Music to Reimagine Our Selves

This article examines the intersection of music, Queer and trans students, and the transdisciplinary potential of maker-education for liberating students in our traditional confines of biopolitical schooling enclosures. For many disabled and Queer students, there is success with vocal training as well as radical imaginings with instrumentation to allow for non-canonical musical expression. Music education can help validate students’ identities, though we often hit limitations because of financial hurdles, the white cis-heteronormative canon of music education, and other accessibility issues. Through an extensive interrogation of heteroracist ableism, we will research the determinants for students’ creative potential through music as a radical instrument of reimagining and implementing theory as praxis.

The Performative Outreach of Tifocracy: Ultras Winners

In recent years, performance art has transcended the traditional confines of the theater and expanded into new realms, unleashing the potential of diverse acts and actors. Among them are the ultras, a group of laypeople whose untrained yet powerful voices ring out in unison, shaking the walls of fear and inspiring awe. Their performances, whether in support or protest of their teams, have captured the hearts and minds of academics and politicians alike, drawing attention to the complex dynamics that govern their actions. In this paper, we explore the world of Ultras Winners, one of the leading groups supporting Wydad Athletic Club, shedding light on the motivations, methods, and meaning behind their performances. Through interviews and focus groups, we give the ultras the floor, allowing them to speak for themselves and others without censoring or silencing their voices. We argue that ultras represent a unique form of popular expression that is more representative of the people than some political bodies and that studying their performances offers valuable insights into the workings of power and resistance in contemporary society. By painting a vivid picture of the whole paraphernalia surrounding ultras, we aim to offer a fresh perspective on a phenomenon that has long captivated and mystified us.

The effects of the inclusion of ensiled and dehydrated grape pomace in beef cattle diet: Growth performance, health, and economic viability

The present study aimed to determine whether the inclusion of 100 g/kg of grape pomace silage (GPS) and grape pomace bran (GPB) as a feed ingredient in place of wheat bran and soybean hulls would improve performance, health, fermentation parameters, and digestibility of steers in a feedlot. Thus, 24 crossbred steers (Charolais x Nellore) with an initial average body weight of 248 kg were allocated in a randomized controlled design (n = 8 steers/treatment) into three experimental groups: control group (traditional confinement diet), GPS diet (confinement diet with 100 g/kg of grape pomace silage, DM basic) and GPB group (confinement diet with 100 g/kg of grape pomace bran, DM basic). Diets did not influence dry matter intake; however, steers fed the GPB diet consumed higher starch and ether extract (EE). Steer fed the GPS diet had higher EE consumption. There was lower starch and EE digestibility with the GPS diet. The growth performance and rumen fermentation of the animals that received the GPS diet were not affected, unlike those consuming the GPB diet, which had a lower concentration of total short-chain fatty acid in the rumen. The diets influenced animal health, demonstrated by the modulation of the immune and inflammatory responses. The GPS steer showed higher lymphocyte counts but lower concentrations of ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, and higher antioxidant capacity, represented by higher serum, hepatic, and intestinal protein thiols. GPS steers also showed decreased reactive oxygen species (in the liver and serum) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (in the liver). It was challenging to determine how significant the benefits of the GPB diet were on health and antioxidant capacity because these animals gained less weight. Finally, GPS improved economic viability, providing more significant revenue from feed costs, an effect not observed with GPB. We conclude that including GPS as an ingredient in steer diets can reduce feed costs and improve animal health in feedlot cattle.

Chicken meat quality raised in an integrated organic production system

This work aimed to evaluate and compare the meat quality of chicken raised by traditional confinement (CR) and integrated (FR) conditions. Eighty chickens (40 for each group) were slaughtered, and parts yield, chemical composition, and meat quality parameters were measured. There was no significant difference in parts yield. Protein content in the breast of the CR group was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of the FR group. The ash content of chicken thighs in the FR group was significantly higher than in the CR group. The cooked chicken breast from the FR group was significantly more tender than that from the CR group. The TBARS values of breast and thigh meats on the sixth day after grinding did not differ between CR and FR groups. However, the chickens raised in the FR had better appearance (color), fatty acids composition, and tenderness perspective than those in the CR system. All these results indicated that the plant-animal integrated system is a good alternative to the traditional confinement production system that can enhance farm diversity, land use efficiency, and sustainability of farm agriculture.

Inhaled volatile anesthetics in the intensive care unit.

The discovery and utilization of volatile anesthetics has significantly transformed surgical practices since their inception in the mid-19th century. Recently, a paradigm shift is observed as volatile anesthetics extend beyond traditional confines of the operating theatres, finding diverse applications in intensive care settings. In the dynamic landscape of intensive care, volatile anesthetics emerge as a promising avenue for addressing complex sedation requirements, managing refractory lung pathologies including acute respiratory distress syndrome and status asthmaticus, conditions of high sedative requirements including burns, high opioid or alcohol use and neurological conditions such as status epilepticus. Volatile anesthetics can be administered through either inhaled route via anesthetic machines/devices or through extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuitry, providing intensivists with multiple options to tailor therapy. Furthermore, their unique pharmacokinetic profiles render them titratable and empower clinicians to individualize management with heightened accuracy, mitigating risks associated with conventional sedation modalities. Despite the amounting enthusiasm for the use of these therapies, barriers to widespread utilization include expanding equipment availability, staff familiarity and training of safe use. This article delves into the realm of applying inhaled volatile anesthetics in the intensive care unit through discussing their pharmacology, administration considerations in intensive care settings, complication considerations, and listing indications and evidence of the use of volatile anesthetics in the critically ill patient population.

Beyond Negation and Excluded Middle: An exploration to Embrace the Otherness Beyond Classical Logic System and into Neutrosophic Logic

As part of our small contribution in dialogue toward better peace development and reconciliation studies, and following Toffler Toffler’s War and Antiwar (1993), the present article delves into a realm of logic beyond the traditional confines of negation and the excluded middle principle, exploring the nuances of Otherness that transcend classical and Nagatomo logics. Departing from the foundational premises of classical Aristotelian logic systems, this exploration ventures into alternative realms of reasoning, specifically examining Neutrosophic Logic and Klein bottle logic (cf. Smarandache, 2005). The study challenges conventional boundaries and explores the implications of embracing paradoxes and self-reference in logic systems, aiming to redefine approaches to understanding truth and reasoning. The paper investigates how these alternative logics open avenues for philosophical inquiry, redefining entropy, and potentially influencing innovative perspectives in free energy systems. Through this exploration, it seeks to expand the discourse on logic, welcoming a broader spectrum of thought beyond established frameworks; and we also discuss shortly a number of possible implementations including in risk management and also Klein bottle entropy redefinition (Tang et al, 2018).

Preserving The Conventional Indigenous Postnatal Care: A Case Of Sarawak's Malay Practices

In Sarawak’s Malay society, the conventional ways of treating mothers in confinement include the use of Malay traditional herbs of herbal treatments and age-old ways of physical care. However, the underlying philosophies of most do’s and don’ts on traditional confinement care from the perspective of Sarawak’s Malays are not clearly explained by the midwife or elderly, and neither published in any academic publication. Hence, realising the need for the preservation of indigenous knowledge, this paper aims to document and explain the conventional Sarawak Malays’ ways of postnatal care. The conventional practices of postnatal care as discussed in this paper are qualitative in nature, where they are narrated through autoethnographic experiences, based on a self-reflective form of record by the first author. Sarawak’s Malay postnatal care is classified into five care routines for the mother, which include healing, cleansing, heating and toning, energising, and gastronomy. Significantly, the findings would assure that with proper postnatal care, the risk of meruyan (postnatal blues) could be reduced, and to convey two essential benefits of longevity and fertility of the womenfolk. Conservation and preservation of conventional social elements are significant as tutelage for the future generations as well as for establishing a national identity. It is vital to ensure that the indigenous (postpartum care) knowledge is properly documented with the hope that the social identity, especially among Sarawak’s Malays would be preserve.

Dance, mobility and social change in Billy Elliot: The Musical

Billy Elliot: The Musical addresses the issue of class that, while seldom analysed as a theme in Broadway musicals, has been a key trope of the majority of British musicals since the première of The Shop Girl in 1894. The article examines how the dialectic of dance as an emblem of individual freedom opposed to the rigidity of the British class system is expressed through movement within the mining community of Easington. By utilizing various aspects of Rudolf Laban’s effort theory, including the kinetic personality patterns of his associate, Warren Lamb, the article examines the cultural gendering of movement via the strict regimes of boxing (for boys) and ballet (for girls). With brief references to Bourdieu’s notion of habitus and Brecht’s praxis of Gestus, the article illustrates how Billy’s ability to embrace a supposedly ‘feminine’ kinetic vocabulary constitutes the flexibility to free himself from the rigid and inherently homophobic definition of conventional masculinity. In promoting movement beyond the confines of an outmoded tradition of working-class behaviour, Billy embraces a classless notion of postmodern masculinity represented in the bohemian milieu of the metropolitan artist. By ‘dancing’ his freedom for the Royal Ballet’s audition panel in ‘Electricity’, Billy embodies his own liberation from the repetitive pattern of movement that inevitably sends the miners to early graves while he flies upwards to defy the typical destiny of a miner. The article explicates key moments of movement and dance in order to exemplify the embodiment of the musical’s central tropes in kinetic terms.

Blended Learning: A Need for Change in Education System

Immediate access to people and knowledge through technology is increasing, and this is often transforming our everyday lives. Using connected mobile tools like smartphones, tablets, and laptops, we purposefully “blend” physical and online activities to make optimal experiences. This is often what blended education is all about: situating learning experiences online or onsite based on the relative strengths and weaknesses of each mode. Research suggests that blended courses can have a positive impact on efficiency, convenience, and learning outcomes. By moving more of the training to online environments, blended courses add flexibility to participants’ schedules, provide learning benefit through automated and asynchronous online tools, and may tap into the modern, social Web to assist learners venture beyond the traditional confines of the classroom. To consistently achieve such benefits, teachers have to go beyond a simple “digital facelift.” Instead, teachers should aim to make transformative blends through an intentional course redesign process.

Reconceptualizing and reimagining citizenship education in light of youth-led global movements

Citizenship education (CE) has been largely an a-political endeavour reduced to learning primarily about laws and values. Learners were on the receiving end of knowledge but have not been prompted to engage in enacting citizenship beyond some charitable and community activities and more recently environmental ones. However, with the revolutions and mass social and political movements that shock various regions around the world since 2019, there is a need more than ever to reimagine political CE and to rethink with young people the definition and practice of citizenship beyond just reciting some tokenistic values. This Special Issue aims to position CE within this fast-changing and highly politicized environment where youth are playing a major role in ongoing mobilizations. It initiates a critical conversation between the different manifestations and facets of mass social movements led by youth and CE. It also seeks to re-envision the meanings and conceptualizations of CE, inspired by the radical changes happening globally in reclaimed and imagined spaces by young people, as well as the impact of CE on political engagement beyond the traditional confines of nation states and institutions. Our aim is also to understand how youth perceive, formulate and practice active citizenship, and what kind of education young people seek to realize through their mobilization. We seek to understand how young people express notions of citizenship in different modalities of expression, such as art, theatre, music, dance, reclaiming of public spaces, social media, etc.

A descriptive qualitative study exploring the postpartum confinement experiences among first-time mothers from the three major ethnic groups in Singapore

ObjectiveModern Singaporean mothers still embrace traditional confinement practices after childbirth, which often marks a significant milestone in maternal experiences. However, limited studies have explored in-depth the collective confinement experiences of mothers in Singapore. This study hence aimed to explore the postpartum confinement experiences of first-time mothers from the three major ethnic groups in Singapore, namely Chinese, Malay, and Indian. DesignA descriptive qualitative study was conducted. Purposive sampling was adopted to recruit participants. Individual semi-structured face-to-face/telephone interviews were used to collect data, which were analysed using thematic analysis. Setting and participantsSixteen first-time mothers were recruited from two obstetric clinics in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. FindingsFive themes emerged: “Specific diets adopted and avoided for different purposes”, “Complexity of various traditional confinement practices (TCPs) adopted”, “Reasons for adopting TCPs”, “Reasons for modifying TCPs”, and “Postpartum challenges”. Key conclusionsOur study provided unique insights about Singapore's Chinese, Malay and Indian first-time mothers’ postpartum confinement experiences. While confinement practices were still observed, many mothers no longer subscribed to guidelines followed by previous generations and were modifying or forgoing practices they deemed impractical. Mothers faced challenges adapting to new motherhood and often felt restrained or stressed by confinement practices. Implications for practiceHealthcare professionals should take the lead to educate mothers and their families on harmful traditional confinement practices and their misconceptions. Future studies could explore alternative methods of postpartum check-up to improve first-time mothers’ confinement experiences, and focus specifically on lower-income families to explore their unique confinement experiences.

Ocean and land grabbing in Ghana's offshore petroleum industry: From the agrarian question to the question of industrialization

AbstractGhana's petroleum industry is located several nautical miles offshore in the Western Region of the country. Yet, the mechanisms and processes of production and transportation of crude petroleum are accompanied by the dispossessing of the adjoining coastal communities of their means of (re)production both on the ocean and on land. Although the insights of agrarian political economy have been deployed fruitfully to analyse land grabs in Africa, similar efforts are rare when it comes to ocean grabs. With reference to the new development thinking on the ocean economy—or ‘blue economy’—as the new frontier of resource‐based industrialization in Africa, we re‐frame the agrarian question and apply it to the offshore petroleum industry, expanding agrarian political‐economic theory of industrialization beyond its traditional confines of land and agriculture. Our paper makes two main theoretical contributions. First, it contributes to efforts in agrarian political economy to incorporate the ocean and fisheries. Second, we contribute a fresh theoretical framework for analysing offshore petroleum industries and their potential to contribute to industrialization in Africa.