Bion’s O and His Pseudo-Mystical Path

In-between border spaces are numerous in the Levant region and are usually of two types: those resulting into buffer zones as a result of demilitarized spaces and those turning as a region under the occupation of a foreign state. But there is a lack of clear theoretical and analytical framework as they stayed somehow understudied territories and spaces that are generally located at the edges of the states and thus are poorly documented and sometimes can even be described as hidden geographies. This introduction explores three key concepts – space, power, and identity – as they provide three directions of investigation that are interlinked in this problem: the territoriality, the political power, and the issue of the relationship between the Self and the Others. Therefore, the general questioning aims at understanding what are the reasons for the appearance, the existence, and the persistence of in-between border spaces. The paper provides with various tools in several disciplines in order to shape and suggest ways of delineating the issue of in-between spaces in border regions.

The purpose of this qualitative metasynthesis is to integrate findings on science identity across multiple science learning contexts. The eighteen studies that were included address identity development in association with science learning and academic preparation for future schooling and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). A typology was constructed which classified the investigations according to research questions, theoretical framework, methodology, learning context and setting, subjects, and definitions of identity. Key concepts and themes were synthesized, resulting in several important conclusions. The metasynthesis revealed that many studies focus on interactions in classrooms, laboratories, or professional settings where students’ social interactions influence science identity development. Additionally, the research revealed critical factors that can either nurture or act as barriers to science identity development. Finally, a new longitudinal science identity development trajectory emerged which suggests the presence of a sequential process as participants transition from science novice to expert.

Healthy or Sick? Coevolution of Health Care and Public Health in a Comparative PerspectiveTrein, PhilippCambridge, Cambridge University Press (2018), 332 p., ISBN 978‐1108426497

As the market becomes more globalized and competitive, businesses are under increasing pressure to enhance efficiency, cut costs, and focus on what they do best. One strategy that has gained traction in both practice and research is logistics outsourcing, where companies hand over logistics functions to specialized third-party providers (3PLs). This approach allows businesses to tap into expert capabilities, utilize cutting-edge technology, and scale their operations more effectively. This paper offers a comprehensive review of research on logistics outsourcing decisions, delving into key concepts, theoretical frameworks, and emerging trends. To support this, the study employs VOSviewer, a powerful bibliometric analysis tool that helps visualize and map out the structure of research in this area. By analyzing co-authorships, keyword connections, and citation patterns, VOSviewer uncovers important topics, identifies leading researchers, and highlights new trends in the field. Ultimately, the goal of this paper is to provide insights that deepen our understanding of the evolving landscape of logistics outsourcing research and help shape future studies in this space.

This paper purports to narrow down the search for concepts and approaches relevant to the understanding of governance in tourism policy-making. It also endeavours to be a tool to relate to these concepts, approaches and theories and elaborate a theoretical framework for analysing the policy-making processes in tourism. An attempt has been made in this research to realise a theoretical framework to compare governance apparatuses in tourism policy making. Through an in-depth literature review, the key concepts and issues identified and a ‘Definitional Model of Governance’ and ‘Principles of Enquiry’ were established in order to assist the future case studies of tourism policy making. The models considered in this enquiry were three basic forms of governance: hierarchies, markets, and networks in the policy process and their influence on it. The enquiry listed a number of questions that corresponded to the key processes in policy-making and implementation.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to adopt an assemblage theory lens to examine the socio-material forces shaping the development of an infrastructure for the recovery of archived historical marine weather records for use in contemporary climate data sets.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopted a data journeys approach to research design, conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with climate scientists, citizen scientists and a climate historian who were engaged at key sites across the journey of data from historical record to the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set database. Interview data were complemented by further qualitative data collected via observations of working practices, a digital ethnography of citizen scientists’ online forums, and documentation relevant to the circulation and governance of climate data across emergent data infrastructures. Data were thematically analysed (Ryan and Bernard, 2003), with themes being informed primarily by the theoretical framework.FindingsThe authors identify and critically examine key points of friction in the constitution of the data recovery infrastructure and the circulation of data through it, and identify the reflexive and adaptive nature of the beliefs and practices fostered by influential actors within the assemblage in order to progress efforts to build an infrastructure despite significant challenges. The authors conclude by addressing possible limitations of some of these adaptive practices within the context of the early twenty-first century neoliberal state, and in light of current debates about data justice.Originality/valueThe paper draws upon original empirical data and a novel theoretical framework that draws together Deleuze and Guattari’s assemblage theory with key concepts from the field of critical data studies (data journeys, data friction and data assemblage) to illuminate the socio-material constitution of the data recovery infrastructure within the context of the early twenty-first century neoliberal state.

This short paper aims to introduce a theoretical framework in digital forensics based on “Philosophy of Information”. After a preliminary clarification of its key concepts, some general issues concerning “Information Quality” are outlined in digital and cloud forensics. At the end, I offer a few remarks on future researches' perspectives.

The purpose of the study is to investigate how sports audiences have been affected by being unable to attend competitions physically on site during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study shows how Swedish supporters, mainly football fans, have experienced the 2020 season, coinciding with the Covid-19 pandemic. The analysis highlights the importance of physical place for the audience and discusses the relationship between physical sports arenas and digital platforms during the pandemic. Finally, the effects of the suspension of live experiences are discussed. According to the persons studied, something essential—fellowship, solidarity, pulse, excitement—is lost when sporting events are held without an audience. The theoretical framework is derived from cultural sociology and draws inspiration from key concepts such as topophilia, space and place, and emotional attachments.

Background: Surrogate decision-makers (SDMs) take part in 1.5 million end-of-life (EOL) decisions per year. Most surrogates find the role burdensome, often do make decisions concordant with patients’ wishes and suffer negative psychological after-effects months to years subsequently. Objective: To review the literature and synthesize theoretical models of surrogate decision-making at adult EOL to identify an explanatory foundation for decision support interventions. Design: Literature published up to December 2011 was reviewed using PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE using the search terms “surrogate,” “proxy,” “end-of-life,” “life support withdrawal/withholding” and “decision-making”. Study selection: Selection criteria included: (a) studies or integrative reports of the empirical and theoretical research relevant to EOL surrogate decision-making; (b) description of a model of how SDMs make decisions for decisionally-incapacitated adults at EOL and (c) diagrammatic depictions of SDM models specifying key concepts and theoretical relationships. Results: Eight theoretical models met the selection criteria. Data synthesis: Five key insights were that: 1) more consistency is needed between diagrammatic maps of surrogate decision-making and model descriptions; 2) models focused on description of concepts with a lesser focus on relational linkages and propositions; 3) there is a need for greater integration of ethical concepts and their relationships in conceptual maps; 4) there has been little emphasis on how theoretical frameworks might guide intervention development and 5) minimal attempts have been made to situate surrogate decision-making within a grander conceptual framework of decision-making. Conclusions: Several theories of surrogate decision-making at adult EOL have been proposed, but further theory development is needed for these models to serve as the foundation for designing decision support interventions.

The focus of ethnobiological research is to understand the interactions between people and biota. Here we suggest that niche construction theory can provide an important “theoretical framework” for understanding these interactions from different perspectives. Niche construction is a process by which living beings, including humans, modify their own niches or those of other organisms through their activities and decisions. By altering their niches, organisms can also alter the natural selective pressures. In this chapter, we sought to explore the niche construction theory and its key concepts. We also sought to show how niche construction theory can illustrate the biological and cultural impacts of human populations on the environment and on its own species and how ethnobiology can benefit from this theory. Niche construction theory can serve as an integrating concept for different ethnobiological approaches.

Professional identity formation (PIF) is an essential concept in professional education. Many scholars have explored conceptual frameworks of PIF and conducted empirical studies to advance an understanding of the construct in medical education. Despite its importance, it is unclear what educational approaches and assessment practices are actually implemented in medical education settings. Therefore, we conducted a literature review of empirical studies reporting educational practices for medical learners’ PIF. We searched the Web of Science database using keywords and chose 37 papers for analysis based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thematic analysis was conducted. Most empirical papers (92%) were from North America and Western Europe and used qualitative research methods, including mixed methods (99%). The papers reported the use of reflection activities and elective courses for specific purposes, such as art as an educational activity. Patient and healthcare experiences were also found to be a central theme in medical learners’ PIF. Through an iterative analysis of the key themes that emerged from the PIF studies, we derived the following key concepts and implications: (1) the importance of creating informal and incidental learning environments, (2) ordinary yet authentic patient experiences, (3) a climate of psychosocial safety in a learning environment embracing individual learners’ background and emotional development, and (4) the reconceptualization of PIF education and assessment. In conclusion, research on PIF should be diversified to include various cultural and social contexts. Theoretical frameworks should also be diversified and developed beyond Kegan’s developmental framework to accommodate the nonlinear and dynamic nature of PIF.

ABSTRACTAlthough co-evolution is a key concept in contemporary economic geography because of its relevance for achieving deep contextualization and sound policy recommendations, it has not largely been taken up in recent empirical work. This is partly due to the lack of a comprehensive theoretical framework. This paper develops such a framework in which two key issues are stressed: the multi-scalarity of co-evolving populations and the nature of change. Moreover, an agenda is set for more theoretically informed future research on co-evolution.

There is a maternal health crisis in the US, the country with the highest rates of maternal deaths. This crisis disproportionately affects Black women, whose maternal death rate is three times higher than for white or Hispanic women. Black women are dying, and these deaths are preventable. Solutions are needed to address this maternal health crisis, which is not only a Black women’s issue but also a Black fathers’ issue. Black fathers are profoundly impacted by the death and sickness that Black women experience as a result of pregnancy-related complications. Yet we know too little about Black fathers’ experiences and roles in maternal health. The voice of Black fathers is largely silenced in maternal health and maternal health spaces. A knowledge gap results from this silencing, limiting opportunities to develop interventions to involve Black fathers. Thus, there remains a need to amplify the vital, necessary voice of Black fathers in maternal health. Involving Black fathers in the pregnancy period and in maternal health in a meaningful way can support Black mothers and optimize their health outcomes. Relevant theoretical frameworks can be used to give voice to Black fathers, to better understand how they are involved in the pregnancy period and how they want to be involved. The voice of Black fathers is necessary. This conceptual paper will describe a relevant theoretical framework that can be utilized to give, de-silence, and amplify the voice of Black fathers in maternal health, in order to better engage Black fathers as partners in maternal health. This conceptual paper will 1) provide a historical overview of relevant theory and key concepts, 2) describe the theory as a way to give voice and amplify the voice of Black fathers in maternal health, and 3) explain how the theoretical framework can be used to frame future research on the subject of Black fathers in maternal health.

Objective: To examine the impact of intraspecific diversity on the biological resilience and biodiversity of Musaceae production systems against pests and diseases in the Ecuadorian tropics, thereby improving the environmental sustainability of these agricultural systems. Theoretical Framework: Key concepts such as biological resilience, intraspecific diversity of Musaceae, and their relationship with soil health and pest and disease control were explored. The importance of mixed production systems versus monocultures in Musaceae agriculture was discussed. Method: An experimental design with completely randomized blocks was adopted in two locations (El Carmen and La Maná), comparing mixed and monoculture production systems. Three repetitions were used to collect data on the presence of arthropods, earthworms, and soil microorganisms, evaluating their diversity and quantity as indicators of biological resilience and environmental quality. Results and Conclusions: Mixed systems demonstrated greater biodiversity, particularly in the presence of Collembola, earthworms, and various beneficial microorganisms, indicating higher resilience and soil health compared to monocultures. Intraspecific diversity in mixed systems significantly contributes to the sustainability and resilience of Musaceae agroecosystems, suggesting a more resilient and ecologically sustainable production model for tropical agriculture. Originality/Value: This study provides empirical evidence on how intraspecific diversity and mixed production systems can enhance resilience and biodiversity in Musaceae crops, offering sustainable alternatives to face contemporary agricultural challenges in the Ecuadorian tropics.

In the extant literature, different perspectives and theories have been taken in explaining supply chain collaboration . In this chapter, we examine supply chain collaboration using the following ten theories: uncertainty reduction theory, transaction cost economics, resource based view, relational view, extended resource based view , resource dependence theory, social exchange theory, social dilemma theory, trust based rationalism, and learning and knowledge perspective. We describe and compare the relative strength and weakness of each theory in situating the phenomenon of supply chain collaboration . These multiple perspectives provide us with insights into the nature, forms, contents, and forces of supply chain collaboration . We also draw on the key concepts from theories and literature and use them to propose and develop the theoretical framework where supply chain collaboration is the central concept.