522 research outputs found
Thinking international relations differently - Introduction
Son muchas las voces que se alzan para enfrentarse al dominio de Occidente, al que podríamos
también llamar el núcleo o el centro, en el campo de las Relaciones Internacionales. Que
esta disciplina es indiferente a las prácticas académicas y a las cuestiones políticas ajenas
a dicho núcleo, e incluso las desprecia, y que sus herramientas conceptuales primarias,
categorías analíticas y conceptos están escasamente preparados para comprender muchos
de los problemas globales más importantes, es algo que no discuten más que un número
sorprendentemente pequeño de académicos, incluso de los que pertenecen a corrientes
mayoritarias. Y sin embargo, la estructura centro-periferia que gobierna el aparato de
producción intelectual de las Relaciones Internacionales se ha mostrado relativamente
inmune a estas acusacionesA host of voices has risen to challenge Western or core dominance of the field of International
relations (IR). That the field is indifferent to scholarly practices and policy issues outside the
core and even dismissive of them, and that its primary conceptual tools, analytical categories,
and concepts are ill-equipped for understanding many of today’s key global problems, is
disputed by shockingly few scholars, even those that represent the “mainstream”. And yet,
the core-periphery structure that governs the apparatus of intellectual production in IR has
proven relatively immune to these charge
Pensar la Diferencia - Introducción
Son muchas las voces que se alzan para enfrentarse al dominio de Occidente, al que podríamos también llamar el núcleo o el centro, en el campo de las Relaciones Internacionales. Que esta disciplina es indiferente a las prácticas académicas y a las cuestiones políticas ajenas a dicho núcleo, e incluso las desprecia, y que sus herramientas conceptuales primarias, categorías analíticas y conceptos están escasamente preparados para comprender muchos de los problemas globales más importantes, es algo que no discuten más que un número sorprendentemente pequeño de académicos, incluso de los que pertenecen a corrientes mayoritarias. Y sin embargo, la estructura centro-periferia que gobierna el aparato de producción intelectual de las Relaciones Internacionales se ha mostrado relativamente inmune a estas acusaciones
The precautionary principle in environmental science.
Environmental scientists play a key role in society's responses to environmental problems, and many of the studies they perform are intended ultimately to affect policy. The precautionary principle, proposed as a new guideline in environmental decision making, has four central components: taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty; shifting the burden of proof to the proponents of an activity; exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions; and increasing public participation in decision making. In this paper we examine the implications of the precautionary principle for environmental scientists, whose work often involves studying highly complex, poorly understood systems, while at the same time facing conflicting pressures from those who seek to balance economic growth and environmental protection. In this complicated and contested terrain, it is useful to examine the methodologies of science and to consider ways that, without compromising integrity and objectivity, research can be more or less helpful to those who would act with precaution. We argue that a shift to more precautionary policies creates opportunities and challenges for scientists to think differently about the ways they conduct studies and communicate results. There is a complicated feedback relation between the discoveries of science and the setting of policy. While maintaining their objectivity and focus on understanding the world, environmental scientists should be aware of the policy uses of their work and of their social responsibility to do science that protects human health and the environment. The precautionary principle highlights this tight, challenging linkage between science and policy
The SKA Particle Array Prototype: The First Particle Detector at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory
We report on the design, deployment, and first results from a scintillation
detector deployed at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO). The
detector is a prototype for a larger array -- the Square Kilometre Array
Particle Array (SKAPA) -- planned to allow the radio-detection of cosmic rays
with the Murchison Widefield Array and the low-frequency component of the
Square Kilometre Array. The prototype design has been driven by stringent
limits on radio emissions at the MRO, and to ensure survivability in a desert
environment. Using data taken from Nov.\ 2018 to Feb.\ 2019, we characterize
the detector response while accounting for the effects of temperature
fluctuations, and calibrate the sensitivity of the prototype detector to
through-going muons. This verifies the feasibility of cosmic ray detection at
the MRO. We then estimate the required parameters of a planned array of eight
such detectors to be used to trigger radio observations by the Murchison
Widefield Array.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, 3 table
Do trees in UK-relevant river catchments influence fluvial flood peaks?: a systematic review
This report describes a systematic review of the evidence in support of the primary question “Do trees in UK-relevant river catchments influence fluvial flood peaks?
Reclaiming the political : emancipation and critique in security studies
The critical security studies literature has been marked by a shared commitment towards the politicization of security – that is, the analysis of its assumptions, implications and the practices through which it is (re)produced. In recent years, however, politicization has been accompanied by a tendency to conceive security as connected with a logic of exclusion, totalization and even violence. This has resulted in an imbalanced politicization that weakens critique. Seeking to tackle this situation, the present article engages with contributions that have advanced emancipatory versions of security. Starting with, but going beyond, the so-called Aberystwyth School of security studies, the argument reconsiders the meaning of security as emancipation by making the case for a systematic engagement with the notions of reality and power. This revised version of security as emancipation strengthens critique by addressing political dimensions that have been underplayed in the critical security literature
Evidence for the effectiveness of nature-based solutions to water issues in Africa
There is increasing global interest in employing nature-based solutions, such as reforestation and wetland restoration, to help reduce water risks to economies and society, including water pollution, floods, droughts and water scarcity, that are likely to become worse under future climates. Africa is exposed to many such water risks. Nature-based solutions for adaptation should be designed to benefit biodiversity and can also provide multiple co-benefits, such as carbon sequestration. A systematic review of over 10 000 publications revealed 150 containing 492 quantitative case studies related to the effectiveness of nature-based solutions for downstream water quantity and water quality (including sediment load) in Africa. The solutions assessed included landscape-scale interventions and patterns (forests and natural wetlands) and site-specific interventions (constructed wetlands and urban interventions e.g. soakaways). Consistent evidence was found that nature-based solutions can improve water quality. In contrast, evidence of their effectiveness for improving downstream water resource quantity was inconsistent, with most case studies showing a decline in water yield where forests (particularly plantations of non-native species) and wetlands are present. The evidence further suggests that restoration of forests and floodplain wetlands can reduce flood risk, and their conservation can prevent future increases in risk; in contrast, this is not the case for headwater wetlands. Potential trade-offs identified include nature-based solutions reducing flood risk and pollution, whilst decreasing downstream water resource quantity. The evidence provides a scientific underpinning for policy and planning for nature-based solutions to water-related risks in Africa, though implementation will require local knowledge
A novel approach to evaluating the UK childhood immunisation schedule: estimating the effective coverage vector across the entire vaccine programme
Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Neuropilin-1 Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) Interaction†
We report the molecular design and synthesis of EG00229, 2, the first small molecule ligand for the VEGF-A receptor neuropilin 1 (NRP1) and the structural characterization of NRP1-ligand complexes by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Mutagenesis studies localized VEGF-A binding in the NRP1 b1 domain and a peptide fragment of VEGF-A was shown to bind at the same site by NMR, providing the basis for small molecule design. Compound 2 demonstrated inhibition of VEGF-A binding to NRP1 and attenuated VEGFR2 phosphorylation in endothelial cells. Inhibition of migration of endothelial cells was also observed. The viability of A549 lung carcinoma cells was reduced by 2, and it increased the potency of the cytotoxic agents paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil when given in combination. These studies provide the basis for design of specific small molecule inhibitors of ligand binding to NRP1
Spectral modeling of scintillator for the NEMO-3 and SuperNEMO detectors
We have constructed a GEANT4-based detailed software model of photon
transport in plastic scintillator blocks and have used it to study the NEMO-3
and SuperNEMO calorimeters employed in experiments designed to search for
neutrinoless double beta decay. We compare our simulations to measurements
using conversion electrons from a calibration source of and show
that the agreement is improved if wavelength-dependent properties of the
calorimeter are taken into account. In this article, we briefly describe our
modeling approach and results of our studies.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure
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