Full and reduced coactions of locally compact groups on C*-algebras

We survey the results required to pass between full and reduced coactions of locally compact groups on C*-algebras, which say, roughly speaking, that one can always do so without changing the crossed-product C*-algebra. Wherever possible we use definitions and constructions that are well-documented and accessible to non-experts, and otherwise we provide full details. We then give a series of applications to illustrate the use of these techniques. We obtain in particular a new version of Mansfield's imprimitivity theorem for full coactions, and prove that it gives a natural isomorphism between crossed-product functors defined on appropriate categories

'The divorce program': gendered experiences of HIV positive mothers enrolled in PMTCT programs - the case of rural Malawi

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>For HIV infected mothers in developing countries, choosing to enroll in a prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV program is supposed to represent the first step towards protecting their child from possible transmission of HIV from mother to child. Counseling and testing enable HIV infected mothers to learn about their status and to obtain the benefits of a PMTCT package. The study on which this article is based explored experiences of HIV positive women and their partners linked to Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs in Chiradzulu district, Southern Malawi.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A qualitative study using in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussion (FGDs) and case studies was carried at two PMTCT sites. IDIs and FGDs were recorded and transcribed. The case studies involved a deeper inquiry into the past, present and situational factors of selected participants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In a context of customary matrilineal kinship, matrilocal residence patterns and complete male absence from the PMTCT program, the demand by the PMTCT program for partner disclosure played up fears of rejection among men given accusations of infidelity by the wives' relatives. This situation led many men to abandon their families. Mothers enrolled in PMTCT programs hence faced not only the fear of transmitting the virus to their infants, but also the loss of income and support associated with a departed husband and the social disgrace of a ruined family. Community members referred to the PMTCT program as 'the divorce program'</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>PMTCT programs may vary in effectiveness in different contexts unless they fundamentally respond to socio-cultural factors as lived out in communities they intend to serve. The PMTCT program in rural southern Malawi is a case in point.</p

A PLACE IN SOCIETY? STRENGTHENING LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR STREET CHILDREN – A RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH

Most peoples’ encounter with street children is at a robot or walking along the pavement, wherethey try and avoid neglected-looking young boys or girls sleeping, begging or walkingunsteadily while sniffing on plastic bottles filled with cobbler’s glue. We know little of theirlives as our interactions are often brief and withdrawn. Whether we think of them as homeless,desperate, “victims of harsh circumstances” or a nuisance in need of care and rehabilitation, weswiftly delete their presence from our minds and move on. As Glauser (cited in Van Beers,1996:195) suggests, “in the eyes of a large proportion of society, including policy makers andimplementers, street children disrupt the tranquillity, stability and normality of society”.Because of this public perception, children of the street are often convenient culprits and atarget of blame for our own sense of insecurity, fear and inadequacy in a competitive world thatdemands ever more

Loont passie? Een onderzoek naar de sociaaleconomische positie van professionele kunstenaars in Vlaanderen

Het rapport brengt de sociaal-economische positie van de professionele kunstenaars in kaart. Via een online-enquête werd gepolst naar het sociaal-demografisch profiel van de kunstenaars, hun diverse activiteiten (artistiek en niet-artistiek), de inkomsten die daar tegenover staan, hun beroepskosten, arbeidstevredenheid en hun noden tot ondersteuning

Why did mainstream economics miss the crisis? The role of epistemological and methodological blinkers

Purpose - In this paper, we show how the translation of a logical positivist epistemology into neoclassical economics has had profound methodological consequences which over-determine an inability to predict cusps and their associated crises. Design/methodology/approach - Based on a review of epistemological and methodological literature, we argue that the financial crises of the past 20 years ought to initiate a questioning of the epistemological foundations of the discipline. Findings - As an alternative, we suggest that an economics methodology informed by critical realism would increase the probability of a timely prediction of crises. Originality/value - It de-emphasises falsification as a key criterion for assessing the quality of knowledge, provides more space for non-quantified reflections on relationships, a thicker model of human agency, a well-specified model of collective human economic behaviour as well as an endogenous possibility of dramatic change within the economic domain

Digital Twins: Towards an Overarching Framework for the Built Environment

Digital Twins (DTs) have entered the built environmentfrom more established industries like aviation and manufacturing,although there has never been a common goal for utilising DTs at scale.Their assimilation into the built environment lacked its very ownhandover documentation: how should DTs be implemented into aproject and what responsibilities should each project stakeholder holdin the realisation of a DT vision. What is needed is an approach totranslate these requirements into actionable DT dimensions. This paperpresents a foundation for an overarching framework specific to thebuilt environment. For the purposes of this research, the projecttimeline is established by referencing the Royal Institute of BritishArchitects (RIBA) Plan of Work from 2020, providing a foundationfor delineating project stages. The RIBA Plan of Work consists of eightstages designed to inform on the definition, briefing, design,coordination, construction, handover, and use of a built asset. Similarproject stages are utilised in other countries; therefore, therecommendations from the interviews presented in this paper areapplicable internationally. Simultaneously, there is not a singlemainstream software resource that leverages DT abilities. Thisambiguity meets an unparalleled ambition from governments andindustries worldwide to achieve a national grid of interconnected DTs.For the construction industry to access these benefits, it necessitates adefined starting point. This research aims to provide a comprehensiveunderstanding of the potential applications and ramifications of DT inthe context of the built environment. This paper is an integral part of alarger research aimed at developing a conceptual framework for theArchitecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector following aconventional project timeline. Therefore, this paper plays a pivotal rolein providing practical insights and a tangible foundation for developinga stage-by-stage approach to assimilate the potential of DT within thebuilt environment. First, the research focuses on a review of relevantliterature, albeit acknowledging the inherent constraint of limitedsources available. Secondly, a qualitative study compiling the views of14 DT experts is presented, concluding with an inductive analysis ofthe interview findings - ultimately highlighting the barriers andstrengths of DT in the context of framework development. As paralleldevelopments aim to progress net-zero-centred design and improveproject efficiencies across the built environment, the limited resourcesavailable to support DTs should be leveraged to propel the industry toreach its digitalisation era, in which AEC stakeholders have afundamental role in understanding this, from the earliest stages of aproject