Universal Concept Research Articles

Breaking the chains: women’s writing against patriarchy in Saudi narratives

ABSTRACT Patriarchy in the Arab, mainly Saudi culture, is charged with complexities and contradictions as it thrives on the instrumentalisation of strict religious discourses and social norms, which are often used to legitimize the patriarchal oppression of women and the denial of their rights. This article examines patriarchy in two Saudi novels, one written by a male author and the other by a female author within their contexts: Hend and the Soldiers and Ikhtīlas. It also seeks to distinguish between patriarchal norms and Islamic teachings. The analyses draw on Islamic feminist theory, benefit from its cultural and literary dimensions that align with the Saudi context, and use an interdisciplinary approach; the study explores how women’s writing strategies in the selected novels challenge sociocultural and patriarchal perceptions and stereotypes of Saudi women’s roles and status and seek change in the male-dominated Saudi sociocultural system. The article challenged stereotypes of Saudi women by emphasizing their diversity and complexity. It also showed that women’s issues are universal concepts that can be expressed in ways that respect different cultural contexts.

ARRANGING REGULATORY POLICIES TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH, INVESTMENT, INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 4.0, SOCIETY 5.0, AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY WITH OMNIBUS LAW

<p>Arranging regulatory policies to support economic growth, investment, the Industrial Revolution 4.0, Society 5.0, and the global economy using the omnibus law turned out to be problematic. Among the people, there are pros and cons because it is not following the Indonesian legal system, which follows the "civil law" tradition. It is necessary to research the pros and cons of this research. The purpose of this research is to analyze the effectiveness of the omnibus law policy in managing regulations to support economic growth, investment, Industrial Revolution 4.0, Society 5.0, and the global economy. The research method used is normative legal research with a literature study approach. This study concludes that implementing the omnibus law policy in managing regulations to support economic growth, investment, the Industrial Revolution 4.0, Society 5.0, and the global economy is very effective and efficient because the formation is cheaper, faster, and avoids various political conflicts. Law policies formed using the omnibus law method are part of the national legal system. Therefore, the omnibus law policy in managing regulations must refer to the provisions and principles regulated in Law Number 12 of 2011 on the Establishment of Legislation as amended by Law Number 15 of 2019 and Law Number 13 of 2022 and its implementing regulations, Presidential Regulation Number 87 of 2014 and Number 76 of 2021, as well as general and universal principles, the principles and concepts of customary law or, in some instances, the principles and concepts of Islamic law. Everything is elaborated in a direction based on the omnibus law method so that the law developed based on the omnibus law method can create happiness for the Indonesian people, as mandated in the fourth paragraph of the opening of the 1945 Constitution.</p>

Embracing Complexity

The aim of the article is to propose a posthumanist approach to the issue of (non/religious) identity. Reflections at the intersection between post-humanism, study of religion, and identities help to better understand and clarify how core elements of posthumanism such as the decentring and relativization of the Human and the Anthropos do not mean that human beings don’t matter at all, but they point out a specific, supposedly universal concept of Man. In this sense, central is an intersectional approach to identity and difference. While identity has always been constructed on dichotomies, Posthumanism, following previous forms of deconstruction, emphasizes the multiplicity of identities, their constructedness, and their constant multiple recombinations in innovative forms. An integrated posthumanist approach to the intersection of different aspects and components of identity, including non/religious ones, has the potential for highlighting both the idea that identity is not a monolithic concept, and the risks linked to a reification of something ultimately constructed—as it happens with identity politics, but also with its critics.

9.D. Practice session: Luton, a Marmot town – Lessons from using a whole-system approach to tackle health equity

Abstract Objective To share learnings from our Health Equity Town journey, including opportunities and challenges. To allow stimulating discussion on whole system approaches to health inequalities and the social determinants of health. To include discussion on where and how public health influences or leads, the importance of impact measures, and of shared vision. Added value Luton’s 2040 strategy, and being a health equity town, are long term visions. It has been 18 months since we launched Luton’s health equity ambition, and during that time we have taken great strides forward in how we deliver against the Marmot principles and create a movement around health equity in Luton. Organisations nationally and internationally are grappling with approaches to doing this. This workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss some of the key learnings, challenges and opportunities so far in taking this approach, and how to continue to maintain momentum and buy in across sectors at local level. The workshop will include discussion on the following: 1. Taking a whole-system approach to health inequalities - working across system leaders and strategic partners including health, care, voluntary sector, businesses, housing, police and others, as well as across the local authority departments. This takes clear articulation of the problem and actions, as well as clarity on where public health professionals are most effective to support, influence, and lead. 2. There is increasing recognition of the building blocks of health and the importance of ensuring action to improve health outcomes is taken across the whole system to tackle health inequalities - including employment, education, and housing. Discussion on specific actions being taken in some of these areas to tackle health inequalities as part of the health equity town approach. 3. Working with the community to understand health inequalities. 4. How we will measure progress. 5. The concept of proportionate universalism is now well known, however making this a reality is a challenge. 6. East London Foundation Trust, the mental health provider in Luton, is also embedding Marmot Policy objectives across the Trust, and is a key partner in Luton. Work is underway to establish projects with joint aims such as skills passport to increase employment in mental health service users. Format Presentation followed by opportunity for question and answer and discussion with panel. Key messages • Whole system approaches to tackling health equity are possible through shared vision and coordinated approach. • Action across the building blocks of health is vital, the complex and long term nature is challenging.

Intersectional inequalities in child social-emotional health: a case for proportionate universalism

Abstract Background Social-emotional difficulties in early childhood are associated with a range of outcomes across the life course and are related to socioeconomic factors. The aim of this study was to examine intersectional inequalities in social-emotional problems in preschool children relating to their parents’ income, education and country of birth in addition to investigating the public health implications. Methods This population-based study with a repeated cross-sectional design in the Västerbotten County of Sweden used the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE) for children aged 3 in child health care services over the years of 2014-2018 and socio-economic information from national population registers. The effective sample of 8,823 individuals was analyzed using additive binomial regression in combination with an analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (AIHDA) approach to estimate risk differences for social-emotional problems across 27 intersectional groups and discriminatory accuracy. Results Average risk differences generally increased in the groups where multiple dimensions of social inequality intersected, with risk differences as high as 18% (95% CI 8 to 28%) and 25% (95% CI 14 to 37%) compared to the most advantaged category. The discriminatory accuracy of all three included regression models was estimated as moderate, but improved in a slight but statistically significant way with the addition of social inequalities. Conclusions This study increases our understanding of intersectional and social inequalities in social-emotional problems in preschool children. It supports the need for universal public health policies in addition to policies targeting more vulnerable groups when addressing this issue, consistent with the concept of proportionate universalism. An intersectional research perspective including discriminatory accuracy could increase our knowledge of health inequities and improve public health effectiveness. Key messages • Intersecting dimensions of social inequalities are associated with an increased risk of social-emotional problems in children aged 3. • Universal public health policies are needed in addition to policies targeting vulnerable population groups with regards to social-emotional problems in young children.

A BRIEF GLIMPSE UPON THE "PARADIGM SHIFT" REGARDING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES - TALES OF CONSISTENCY

The article provides a detailed analysis of the paradigm shift introduced by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD, adopted in 2006, is recognized as a significant human rights treaty that reaffirms the universal concept of human dignity, applying it to all individuals, including those with mental disabilities. The convention emphasizes the need for legal frameworks to evolve, ensuring that persons with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others. The historical context leading up to the CRPD is outlined, noting that earlier UN declarations and principles laid the groundwork by gradually recognizing rights of persons with disabilities. This development can be divided into three stages: the initial recognition of legal personality, the establishment of principles for mental health care, and finally, the CRPD's comprehensive approach to legal capacity. A key focus of the article is the controversy surrounding Article 12 of the CRPD, which grants persons with disabilities the right to legal capacity in all aspects of life. This provision challenges traditional systems of guardianship and substitute decision-making, which have historically been used to manage the affairs of individuals with mental disabilities. The article discusses the debates and misunderstandings among national legislators regarding the implementation of this "paradigm shift," particularly the move from substitute to supported decision-making. Overall, the article argues that the CRPD represents a culmination of decades of evolving legal principles aimed at ensuring equality and dignity for persons with disabilities. The author emphasizes the need for national laws to align with this new approach, ensuring that legal capacity is universally recognized, regardless of an individual's mental or physical condition.

Objectivity and truth in Ernst Cassirer’s ethics

AbstractCassirer’s view on ethical objectivity is puzzling. In his scarce comments on Kantian ethics, he defines the “pure will” as a “function of consciousness,” which he considers a prerequisite for the possibility of objective ethical normativity embedded in empirical reality. In the existing body of literature, we find two different interpretations of Cassirer’s account of ethical objectivity. The “meta-philosophical” interpretation takes objectivity as a telos that humanity gradually approaches, thereby emphasizing the historically relative truth standards to which the teleologically-evolving symbolic forms respond. The “Kantian” interpretation takes objectivity as a concept inherent to the conduct of the moral law, highlighting the evaluative and prescriptive aspects of his philosophical method. In this paper, I defend the thesis that, by interpreting Cassirer’s ethics through the lens of Hermann Cohen’s mature ethical theory, we can see that ethical deliberation in Cassirer involves a notion of universality that is a priori and depends on a substantiated concept susceptible to change. The proposed “contingent conception of universality” thesis accounts for both: the evaluative and teleological features of Cassirer’s ethical theory, grounding an a priori account of ethical objectivity conceptualized relative to contingent truth standards that gradually improve.

Statistical Support for Federal and Regional Decisions on the Well-Being Standard

Modern Russia is going through difficult trials and as a state, as a civil society, it is in search of new ideas, meanings and goals for further development. Therefore, a more mature approach to the implementation of social policy is needed both at the federal, regional and local levels. This approach can become a standard of well-being. The general idea of the welfare standard implies equal access of citizens to public goods in any locality of the country. At the moment, programs are being implemented in a number of regions of Russia that can be called components of the well-being standard, but no universal concept has been created that would describe this standard. The authors of the study offer their vision of the standard of well-being and show that the process of its creation requires the efforts of the scientific community and active discussion. The result of the implementation of the well-being standard may be a gradual solution to the accumulated problems that concern Russian citizens. The study presents the successful experience of the regions, as well as analyzes the most common difficulties that hinder the successful implementation of state social projects and the development of individual regions. In the course of the study, it was proposed to supplement the federal standard with regional standards of well-being due to the specifics of a particular region.

“She Feels not Half What We Feel”: Oriental Affect Aliens and the Unhappy Queers in Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse

In Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf’s portrayal of Lily Briscoe’s and Elizabeth Dalloway’s “Chinese eyes” has drawn critical attention, but the lack of affective expressiveness in these characters needs further examination. Borrowing Xine Yao’s term “unfeeling,” this essay explores the relationship between Woolf’s use of Oriental imagery and disaffection. It argues that Woolf’s depiction of Oriental unaffectedness critiques Victorian patriarchal conventions and their constructed notions of happiness. However, in doing so, Woolf simultaneously perpetuates the stereotype of Oriental inscrutability. Drawing on Sara Ahmed’s critique of happiness and her concept of the “unhappy queer,” this essay first examines Elizabeth’s restrained affective expressiveness, suggesting that Woolf’s characterization challenges the white sentimentality linked to the heterosexual definition of happiness in the late Victorian era. Yet, through the lens of Yao’s analysis of Oriental alienness, the essay contends that Woolf’s narrative still subscribes to Orientalism. Likewise, Lily Briscoe’s negotiation of her capacity for sympathy—especially in contrast to Mrs. Ramsay—highlights Woolf’s critique of patriarchal norms. However, Lily’s artistic vision is ultimately realised through her alignment with the Western affective economy, suggesting the author’s acknowledgement of sympathy and affectability as universal concepts—yet ones that are underpinned by a racial hierarchy.

Test of universality at first order phase transitions: The Lebwohl-Lasher model.

Finite size scaling for a first order phase transition, where a continuous symmetry is broken, is tested using an approximation of Gaussian probability distributions with a phenomenological "degeneracy" factor. Predictions are compared to the data from Monte Carlo simulations of the Lebwohl-Lasher model on L × L × L simple cubic lattices. The data show that the intersection of the fourth-order cumulant of the order parameter for different lattice sizes can be expressed in terms of the relative degeneracy q = 4π of the ordered and disordered phases. This result further supports the concept of universality at first order transitions developed recently.

Blinded by the Light: A critique on the universality, normativity, and hegemony of paradox theory and research

This paper intervenes in paradox theory and research by problematizing the taken-for-granted premises that currently dominate the field. Building on the “growing pains” of paradox theory, the paper offers three provocations for current paradox theory and research: it questions the conceptual universality of paradox, reveals the implicit normativity of some of its key assumptions, and problematizes the hegemony of the conception of both/and as core to responses to paradox. Deliberately stepping beyond the established guardrails of paradox theory, the paper critically assesses these premises and reflects on their potential risks and blind spots. Building on these three provocations, the paper offers in turn a set of distinct pathways for theoretical development, including interpreting presupposed features of paradox in light of ontological positions, integrating normative approaches into paradox management, and introducing much greater granularity to the study of paradox responses.

A Qualitative Exploration of Undergraduate Students’ Experiences of Using Virtual Reality for Dementia Inclusive Education

Abstract Background Dementia prevalence is expected to exponentially increase over the coming decades. Across society, an increased awareness of dementia inclusive environments is important, to promote inclusivity and foster empathy. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of undergraduate students using virtual reality (VR) for dementia inclusive education. Methods Purposive sampling was employed in one University in Ireland to recruit first year undergraduate students who had completed a VR workshop on dementia inclusive environments. Five semi-structured in-person interviews were conducted during February 2024. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed. Results Three themes were identified. The first theme ‘Food for thought’ represented participants’ greater understanding, as a result of using VR, of the potential for design to impact the dementia experience. Participants felt as though they were able to virtually place themselves in someone else’s shoes, which was described as “eye-opening”. The second theme ‘Impact variation’ revealed that although participants’ showed enhanced levels of awareness, empathy and understanding of this global health issue, the depth of learning depended on the participants’ prior exposure to dementia. The final theme related to ‘The VR experience’ as a whole. Students described the VR experience as positive, engaging, easy to use, and revealed that they were excited to take part in the workshops. Conclusion The student experience of using VR for dementia inclusive education was positive and enlightening. Using VR to introduce universal design concepts could be integrated into a range of undergraduate programmes to foster understanding and has the potential to empower future designers and policymakers to create environments that are accessible and inclusive for everyone. While this is a small-scale study, the difference in impact of this VR initiative on students with prior personal exposure to people with dementia and those without was an interesting finding and requires further research.

Analysis of Similarities and Discrepancies Between Chinese and Western Hermits Based on Tao Yuanming and Thoreau

Throughout history, the word “hermit” has been a universal concept in both Chinese and western cultures. Chinese and western hermits keep harmony in diversity. To some extent, in terms of some core values, they step on the same paths. At the same time, differences also make them shine uniquely. In ancient societies and modern world, their simple lifestyle and unshakable pursuit of inner purification have inspired people to seek for the real themselves. Their great minds, unique attitudes towards life and extraordinary contributions have significantly promoted the fields of literature, arts and philosophy. This thesis takes Tao Yuanming and Henry David Thoreau, who were typical figures of hermits as main examples, uses a comparative analysis approach, shedding light on the similarities and discrepancies between Chinese and western hermits. Additionally, it provides suggestions on how to live peacefully and easily. In our modern society full of involution and competition, it is of great significance to learn, inherit and internalize the precious spirits, thoughts and ideas from hermits.

Trimodal Multiplexed Lateral Flow Test Strips Assisted with a Portable Microfluidic Centrifugation Device.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of lateral flow assays (LFAs) expanded significantly, offering testing beyond traditional health care. Their appeal lies in the ease of use, affordability, and quick results. However, LFAs often have lower sensitivity and specificity compared with ELISA and PCR tests. Efforts to improve LFAs have increased detection times and complexity, limiting their use in large-scale point-of-care settings. To address this, we propose a novel approach using probes that generate multiple signals to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity. This concept also allows multiplexed LFAs to detect multiple analytes concurrently. We developed a trimodal probe that integrates fluorescence, color, and magnetism into a single nanohybrid. The strong plasmonic absorption and high fluorescence of Au nanoparticles and polymer dots enable qualitative and semiquantitative diagnosis, while the magnetic signal facilitates accurate quantitative measurements. As proof-of-concept targets, we selected CYFRA 21-1 and CA15-3, biomarkers for lung and breast cancer, respectively. This trimodal LFA demonstrated a remarkable detection limit of 0.26 ng/mL for CYFRA 21-1 and 2.8 U/mL for CA15-3. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first platform of a trimodal LFA with multiplexing ability. The platform's accuracy and reliability were validated using clinical serum samples, showing excellent consistency with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay results. This universal concept can be applied to other targets, paving the way for the next-generation LFAs.

Holy transmedia! - the many faces of Batman in 1960s Finland

ABSTRACT Superheroes exist in multiple narratives and storyworlds at the same time. Some of the stories and iterations are part of the character’s canon, while different adaptations and alternative versions inhabit other timelines and fictional worlds. Using the concept of transmedia universe, this article explores how fan-made and corporate-made adaptations of the character of Batman occupied the same universe and expanded the world inhabited by the character. Approaching the historical phenomenon of the 1960s Batmania from the point of view of adaptation studies, the article sheds light on local adaptations in a transmedia context.

Click metamaterials: Fast acquisition of thermal conductivity and functionality diversities

In material science, the development of metamaterials is crucial for advancing various technological applications. However, most metamaterial designs are still case by case due to lacking a fundamental mechanism for achieving reconfigurable thermal conductivities, largely hindering design flexibility and functional diversity. Inspired by the principles of click chemistry, known for its modular and efficient approach to creating molecular diversity, here we propose a universal concept of click metamaterials for fast realizing various thermal conductivities and functionalities. Tunable hollow-filled unit cells are constructed as the modified building blocks to change the thermal conductivity locally. Different configurations of unit cells with variable fill fractions can generate convertible thermal conductivities from isotropy to anisotropy, allowing click metamaterials to exhibit environment-free and reconfigurable thermal functionalities. The straightforward structures enable full-parameter regulation and simplify engineering preparation, making click metamaterials a promising candidate for practical use in other diffusion and wave systems.

Taking flight!

Understanding the origins of novel complex traits, the evolutionary transitions they enabled, and how those shaped the subsequent course of evolution, are all foundational objectives of evolutionary biology. Yet how developmental systems may transform to yield the first eye, limb, or placenta remains poorly understood. Seminal work by Courtney Clark-Hachtel, David Linz, and Yoshinori Tomoyasu published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2013 used the origins of insect wings - one of the most impactful innovations of animal life on Earth - to provide both a case study and a new way of thinking of how novel complex traits may come into being. This paradigm-setting study not only transformed the way we view insect wings, their origins, and their affinities to other morphological structures; even more importantly, it created entryways to envision innovation as emerging gradually, not somehow divorced from ancestral homology, but through it via the differential modification, fusion, and elaboration of ancestral component parts. In a conceptual universe of descent with modification, where everything new must ultimately emerge from the old, this work thereby established a powerful bridge connecting ancestral homology and novelty through a gradual process of innovation, sparking much creative and groundbreaking work to follow since its publication just a little over a decade ago.

Keynote 1: Chris GidlowThinking about inclusion - learning from physical activity research and beyond

Abstract Certain individuals and population subgroups are ‘under-served’; not sufficiently included in society, health-enhancing opportunities or associated research to have the same chances of a healthy life as others. This presentation uses data from England to illustrate the reduction of public spending and worsening of the social determinants that has created conditions that exacerbate such exclusion and corresponding poor health outcomes. Specifically, learning will be shared from multiple disadvantage research, where people find themselves at the extreme margins of social disadvantage through a combination of traumatic and health-damaging life experiences (e.g., homelessness, substance misuse, mental health problems). Lessons with wider relevance to physical activity and other health promotion will be shared: the simultaneous exclusion from programmes and the research on which they are based; the critical role of lived experience to identify and understand the needs of those excluded; and applying Marmot’s concept of proportionate universalism to move from services/programmes that target equity, rather than equality, as a means of improving inclusion.

THE CONCEPT OF SECURITY IN GERMAN FOREIGN POLICY

The Ukrainian crisis escalation in February 2022 became an impetus for securitizing German foreign and domestic policies. An appeal to the notion of security is present in most significant discussions on the state development. Germany’s national security strategy securitized all major spheres of life in German society, making security a universal and comprehensive concept. This is also reflected in other guiding documents, such as the White Paper of the Bundeswehr, the Guiding Principles of Feminist Foreign Policy, the Cybersecurity Strategy. The «change of eras» concept announced by Olaf Scholz updated the security debate by addressing traditional military threats, launching a general revision of the security concept in German politics. Consequently, the boundaries of use of the security concept have expanded, making it commonly used by all participants of domestic political debates and, at the same time, significantly relativizing it. An illustrative example is the migration crisis, where both supporters and opponents of Berlin’s liberal migration policy appeal to German security interests. The further development of the security concept in German foreign policy will be determined by the development of the party-political system of the country, Berlin’s role in key international crises (Ukrainian conflict, Palestinian-Israeli conflict), and processes within German society.

Label-Free Mode Based on Ferrocene/PEDOT:PSS-PPy for Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemically Ultrasensitive Detection of Amino Acids.

Generally, molecularly imprinted (MIP) electrochemical sensors for amino acids operate in a "label-like" mode. That is, after an amino acid is specifically recognized by an imprinted cavity at the sensing interface, the amino acid itself provides the sensing signal for quantitative detection. However, poorly electroactive amino acids impede electron transfer at the sensing interface and require high potentials to drive the reaction; thus, more interfering reactions tend to be triggered in practical applications, causing enhanced background noise in the detection. To address these issues, a "label-free" mode of the MIP sensor based on the ferrocene (Fc)/PEDOT:PSS-polypyrrole (PPy) composite was designed for the first time. The Fc/PEDOT:PSS-PPy is drop coated on the electrode surface as a substrate, and MIP polymers with specific recognition ability are immobilized on the substrate via electrostatic adsorption. As a proof of concept, l-tyrosine (l-Tyr) was selected as a model analyte and the "label-free" mode MIP/Fc/PEDOT:PSS-PPy sensor was constructed. The limit of detection (LOD) and linearity range of the MIP/Fc/PEDOT:PSS-PPy sensor were 2.31 × 10-11 M and from 100 pM to 5 mM, respectively. Compared with the label-like mode, the LOD was three orders of magnitude lower, the linear range was increased by three orders of magnitude, and the sensitivity was improved by more than four times. This work provides a universal and effective concept for MIP electrochemical sensing of amino acids.