Sport and Active Living: Nature Challenge vis-à-vis Inter-human competition

Editorial - no abstrac

Thermodynamic properties of hydrogen containing systems and calculation of gas critical flow factor

Sonic nozzles are emerging as crucial reference devices in the calibration of flow meters designed for hydrogen service. In this research study we aim to investigate existing equations governing the critical flow factor (C∗) for hydrogen and assess the achievable uncertainty in determining this vital property. An examination of the literature has been undertaken to target experimental measurements related to hydrogen mixtures, setting the stage for a comprehensive gap analysis. We introduced C∗ values and validated our calculations with two calibration gases: nitrogen, and methane and their standardised C∗ values. Then, the verified methodology has been utilised for generating C∗ values for hydrogen. This study concluded that the integration of precise experimental data and the utilisation of representative equations and optimised thermodynamic models is essential for enhancing the accuracy of C∗ calculations, particularly in the context of the expanding role of sonic nozzles in hydrogen flow meter calibration

Cooperatives and Business Schools: Why the Disconnect?

Business schools are not neutral purveyors of teaching and research about how to organise. More often than not, they sell a very particular form of knowledge and act as outlets for a form of life in which a cooperative economy is ignored. Using international evidence, our paper shows that cooperatives lack adequate intellectual support from academia in terms of research or education. We explore the disconnect between academia and the cooperative economy in a search for explanations and justifications. Our analysis suggests that this state of affairs denies the cooperative sector an opportunity to both address its skill shortages and acquire the organisational capabilities needed to boost the impact of cooperative enterprises. Equally important, this normalises the situation where business schools can continue to ignore alternative business models. We conclude by suggesting that there would be societal and scholarly gains from accepting the cooperative sector as a legitimate and valuable constituent of any modern economy, and that this should be reflected in the teaching and research of business schools

Production of mortar with calcined alum sludge as partial cement replacement

Alum sludge is a largely generated and disposed waste from water treatment plants. This study aimed to produce mortar using alum sludge calcined at different temperatures (600 – 900 ºC). After the optimal calcination temperature was selected, the calcined alum sludge was used to replace 5, 10, and 15 % of cement by mass in mortar. The performance of the mortars was evaluated based on the workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, porosity, and percentage of water absorption. Mortars with alum sludge calcined at 800 ºC had the highest strength as compared to the other temperatures. The mechanical strength of mortars reduced while the porosity and percentage of water absorbed increased with increasing calcined alum sludge content. Although replacing 5 % of cement with calcined alum sludge would reduce the mechanical strengths by 13 – 15 %, it was still acceptable as it had negligible influence on the porosity and water absorption value of the mortar. In short, the partial substitution of cement with calcined alum sludge should be limited within 5 % to maintain the performance of the mortar

Oral tradition, ancient history and religious tourism knowledge

Religious tourism is one of the most longstanding forms of leisure related travel in the world with a history dating back to antiquity. However, there has been a hesitation amongst many tourism scholars to critically assess the role of ancient religious texts to understand the attitudes and behaviours of religious tourists and tourism destinations. With reference to literature on oral traditions, the aim of this exploratory paper is to critically consider the insights that can be derived from the Christian Bible for the management and scholarly understanding of contemporary religious tourism. This paper suggests that Christianity’s oral traditions and their ensuing written representation in the Bible provide an important means of understanding religion ‘as lived’ in the ancient world. Religious tourists are often driven by a pilgrim’s mentality to tread in the footsteps of the first apostles and other religious leaders. From a historical perspective, the oral formulation of the New Testament and its subsequent influence on the formation of the Bible as a religious text offers religious tourists an insight into such people and the places/ experiences that were important in the faith of the early church

Citizen Diplomacy Through Peace Tourism

Peace tourism is a niche form of tourist activity that, as its name suggests, is driven by an interest in peace. Peace tourism is a broad category of tourist activity that can have both positive and negative contributions to the host destination. This chapter explores the ways in which peace tourism enables individuals to satisfy this interest in peace by exercising citizen diplomacy. In doing so, it addresses a methodological gap in diplomacy research, which conventionally adopted a state-centric perspective and overlooked the political agency of the individual – and as such, the tourist. The chapter examines the ways in which citizen diplomacy is applied through peace tourism and whether it can positively contribute to sustainable peace within and beyond state boundaries. Using the case study of Israel/Palestine, this chapter identifies initiatives of citizen diplomacy through peace tourism and examines their impact using Anderson’s model of six levels to peace. The study’s findings show that citizen diplomacy through peace tourism can yield positive contributions to peace. The findings are discussed in reference to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework, and specifically SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Integrating DNA and Chemical Profiling to Trace Illicit Drug Manufacture and Distribution

Illicit drug materials represent a valuable but underutilized source of forensic intelligence. While chemical profiling is routinely used to trace drug composition and origin, the recovery of trace DNA offers the potential to link these substances directly to individuals involved in their manufacture and distribution. This study evaluates the forensic utility of integrating DNA profiling with chemical analysis to improve source attribution across different drug formulations. Pharmaceutical-grade simulants in the form of capsules, tablets, and powders were handled by volunteers under controlled deposition scenarios. DNA was recovered using moistened cotton swabs, extracted via automated silica-based workflows, and analyzed using STR profiling. In parallel, chemical fingerprints were generated through GC-MS and LC-MS, with sample classification based on retention time and mass spectral data. Capsules yielded the highest DNA recovery (median: 310 pg), followed by tablets (230 pg) and powders (18 pg), with single-source STR profiles obtained in over 85% of capsule and tablet cases. Chemical profiling achieved 85% accuracy for capsules, 78% for tablets, and 65% for powders. When integrated, the combined approach significantly outperformed individual methods, achieving classification accuracies of 97% for capsules, 85% for tablets, and 72% for powders (p < 0.01). These findings demonstrate the enhanced evidentiary value of dual profiling, particularly in cases involving degraded or limited DNA. The proposed framework supports a more comprehensive forensic strategy, enabling biological and chemical linkage of drug materials to persons of interest and manufacturing sources. This integrative approach offers critical advantages for law enforcement and prosecution in disrupting drug trafficking networks

Trauma-informed assessment and intervention with Indigenous youth: Exploring the impact of colonisation, culture, and adverse childhood experiences on behaviour

The aim of this PhD was to clarify the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and youth externalising behaviour with consideration for cultural differences, and to propose a conceptual framework for trauma-informed supports. A connection between ACEs and youth behaviour has been consistently observed (e.g., Basto-Pereira et al., 2016; Fox et al., 2015; Tsang, 2018). In North America, colonial impacts have increased the risk of ACEs for Indigenous youth (Burnette & Renner, 2017; Gone, 2013; 2023; Serin et al., 2011), who are also overrepresented within the juvenile justice system (StatsCan, 2023). Traditional developmental models of behaviour and delinquency lack a defined role for historical trauma (e.g., Farrington, 2003; Agnew, 2001; Hirschi, 1969), and most interventions inadequately account for cultural differences (Kumpfer & Alvarado, 2003; Thomas et al., 2019). The research commenced with two systematic reviews. The focus of the first was whether certain ACEs, some of which cultural minority youth may be more likely to be exposed to, were more strongly associated with particular externalising outcomes. The second examined trauma-informed group behavioural interventions, aiming to identify common and effective practices. Three themes were identified in the first systematic review: 1) a consistent association between ACEs and externalising behaviour, 2) disciplines differ in methodology and terminology, and 3) a lack of generalisability. Four themes were discussed in the second systematic review: 1) Externalising behaviour as a poorly defined construct, 2) effective approaches to address externalising behaviours in trauma-affected youth vary, 3) a lack of reference to trauma theory, and 4) limitations to cultural inclusivity. Minimal inclusion of Indigenous participants and consideration for cultural differences were noted across all reviewed studies. Next, a Delphi was conducted to survey practices in trauma-informed behavioural intervention with culturally diverse youth. Researchers and clinicians (n = 10) with experience addressing externalising behaviour in these populations were surveyed over three rounds regarding best practices across several topic areas. Consensus was reached on essential components of intervention, approaches to expanding cultural understanding and accounting for differences, and barriers to services. Theories consulted to inform practice differed. Overall results suggested common understandings and strategies when working inter-culturally, but little reference to non-Western theories and models. Study two was designed to address the absence of Indigenous and non-Western perspectives by explicitly seeking input from First Nations people. There were two components: a review of psychoeducational reports and interviews with First Nations and non-Indigenous educators, with most data being collected from on-reserve communities in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The reports evidenced the shortcomings of formalised assessment practices in capturing the experiences of First Nations youth (e.g., Dauphinais et al., 2018; Johnson, 1992). Findings from the interviews were examined using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019) with reference to Indigenous methodology (Kovach, 2020). Overall, First Nations and non-Indigenous perspectives differed regarding challenges in behavioural and mental health impacting youth as well as effective approaches to treatment. First Nations participants emphasised more holistic challenges (e.g., related to family and community) and the value of land-based, hands-on activities as treatment. Non-Indigenous contributors spoke more often to students’ individual needs and experiences, emphasising formal mental health services. Responses aligned with previously observed differences in worldview (e.g., Kirmayer, 2007; Linklater, 2017). The third study was designed to examine the relationship between treatment preferences and individualist and collectivist attitudes (Triandis & Gelfand, 1998). American and Canadian participants (n = 405) from five ethnic groups (i.e., Asian; Black; First Nations, Inuit, Metis, or Indigenous (FNIMI); White; and “I describe my ethnicity in another way” [IDAW]) were recruited using Prolific. Participants rated the helpfulness of and categorised (e.g., engagement vs. diversion) a selection of activities identified previously as useful to address trauma and behavioural symptoms. ACEs, intergenerational trauma, and treatment experience were also queried. Women, FNIMI, and IDAW participants reported significantly more ACEs. A Latent Class Analysis (LCA) indicated five classes: 1) Polyvictimised racialised women, 2) Emotional and observational adversities in racialised groups, 3) Non-racialised polyvictimisation, 4) Racialised low-adversity, and 5) Non-racialised low-adversity. Activity helpfulness ratings were somewhat associated with individualist or collectivist beliefs, with collectivism predicting higher helpfulness ratings for community events, cultural activities, or religious ceremonies. The programme of research culminated in the Framework for Relational and Reflexive Assessment and Intervention for Trauma (FRRAIT). It encourages practitioners and researchers to 1) practice reflexivity, 2) query differences in worldview, 3) prioritise relationship building, 4) consider alternatives to Western assessment and healing approaches, and 5) account for the impact of historical trauma. Finally, limitations and avenues for future exploration were outlined. Concerns including representativeness of sampling and recruitment strategies and the cultural relevance of the applied methodology are highlighted. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to continue challenging Western-centric epistemology and methodology alongside opposing the clinical and political status quo that restricts engagement with Indigenous ways of knowing and healing

All's Eco‐Friendly That Ends Eco‐Friendly (If Remembered as Such): Memory Processes in Retrospective Judgment of Environmentally Significant Sequences

Retrospective judgments of environmentally significant sequences are biased by recency: sequences ending with an environmentally friendly item are rated as more eco‐friendly than otherwise identical sequences with the same item earlier in the list. A corresponding primacy effect is typically absent. This may have applied consequences for how consumers perceive the environmental friendliness of their purchase decisions, for example. The aim of the present investigation was to reach a better understanding of why the recency but not the primacy effect manifests in eco‐judgments. We found that the recency effect is just as large when continual distraction takes place between item presentations as when it does not. Moreover, memory for recently presented items was better than that for older items, but a filled retention interval reduced the recency effect in both memory and retrospective judgments. These findings support a memory‐based explanation of the recency effect in retrospective judgments and suggest that poor memory of items early in the sequence is the reason why the primacy effect in judgments does not manifest