Faculty Scholarship Celebration 2025

This book sets out on an intellectual journey, with each chapter acting as a unique compass to lead the reader through the critical perspectives on resistance waiting to be discovered in 21st-century British literature. As such, the book appeals to general readers, including undergraduates, researchers, professionals, and anyone who is interested in cultural studies, literary studies, the humanities, and sociology, particularly resistance and discourse studies.

This study explores the perspectives of philology teachers in secondary private education (tutoring centers) regarding the effectiveness of teaching philological subjects via videoconferencing platforms, prompted by the shifts brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. The widespread use of videoconferencing under emergency conditions created a need to examine issues related primarily to new instructional methods for synchronous teaching of philological subjects, in comparison with in-person instruction. The research also evaluates teachers’ perceptions of remote versus in-person teaching in private education, and identifies the factors that contributed to more effective teaching through synchronous videoconferencing. A qualitative approach was adopted, using semi-structured interviews with a sample of 11 female philology instructors. Inductive analysis revealed that most teachers had no prior experience with distance education platforms, which posed significant challenges. Factors such as internet connectivity, technological equipment, and student engagement impacted the quality and effectiveness of instruction. Lastly, nearly unanimous consensus emerged regarding the urgent need for immediate training in both the use of digital platforms and educational tools.

This paper explores the integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools in educational contexts through three case studies spanning K-12 to graduate-level education. Having experimented with GenAI as a research assistant, the authors designed classroom assessments based on lessons learned regarding the transformative potential of GenAI tools while emphasizing the need for the development of critical AI literacy.

Background: Virtual Reality (VR) is transforming neuropsychological assessment by providing immersive environments that closely replicate real-world conditions. This study presents the Trail Making Test in VR (TMT-VR), a novel adaptation of the traditional TMT, aimed at evaluating cognitive functions in adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We examined the ecological validity, convergent validity, usability, and user experience of the TMT-VR compared to the traditional version. Methods: Fifty-three adults (18–40 years old), including 25 with ADHD and 28 neurotypical controls, completed both the traditional and VR versions of the TMT. The participants also provided feedback on the VR experience via standardized questionnaires. Results: The statistical analyses demonstrated a significant positive correlation between TMT-VR scores and both the traditional TMT and ADHD symptomatology as measured by the Adult Self-Report Scale, confirming the TMT-VR’s ecological and convergent validity. High usability and positive user experience ratings indicated strong acceptability of the VR platform. Notably, the ADHD group exhibited greater performance differences in the VR environment, suggesting that VR may more effectively capture real-world cognitive challenges. Conclusions: These findings suggest that TMT-VR is a valid, engaging, and ecologically valid tool for cognitive assessment in ADHD and other clinical populations, offering enhanced insights over traditional methods.

The two last decades of the eighteenth century were marked by increased tensions between the United States and the Ottoman Regencies of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, and the Kingdom of Morocco. This period of hostile relations between the nations, commonly referred to from the American perspective as the Barbary crisis, saw approximately 137 American citizens held in foreign captivity following the Moroccan capture of the Betsey in 1784, and the Algerine captures of the Maria and Dauphin in 1785 and eleven more ships in quick succession in October and November 1793. The capture of the American citizens and vessels came about as a result of the corsairing policies of the North African nations, which authorised attacks on the vessels of enemy nations with whom they were at war, or the vessels of nations who did not pay tribute. The vessels would be seized and all on board would be taken captive, held in North African bagnios, or prison-houses, and put to work. Peace and the redemption of the captives would then be demanded through the payment of ransoms, or through the negotiation and conclusion of annual tributes stipulated by treaties of peace and amity. While treaties between the North African nations and Great Britain had protected the North American colonies, following independence the US found itself alone in facing the corsairing threat without a treaty to protect its interests.

Within the corpus of Aegean Bronze Age seals, there are only a handful of exam- ples of the so-called ‘chest gesture’ or ‘hands to the chest gesture’, where (predominantly) male figures are shown with both hands raised and either held towards the chest or touch- ing the chest. This paper examines the chronological and iconographic development of this gesture in conjunction with the contexts and/or provenances of the seals in question. As a re- sult, the possibility of identifying two distinct Cretan regional variations as well as a un- ique ‘mainland adaptation’ of the ‘chest gesture’ is proposed, while possible interpretations of its religious and/or social significance in the Aegean visual repertoire are also discussed against comparative material from the contemporary cultures of Near East and Egypt.

Description of performance: "Ecotone" is a Butoh performance presented at the Bionic Festival 2024, rooted in my ongoing artistic research in the notion of the Butoh body. The Butoh body is one of constant transformation - porous, responsive, and in an ongoing dialogue with the environment. It embraces slowness, stillness, micro-movements, and sculptural forms to reveal an inner landscape of sensations, memories, and states of being. Inspired by the ecological concept of an ecotone - where two biological communities meet - this work explores the relationship between the human body and nature, blurring the boundaries between species. Through a deep physical presence, the performance creates a hybrid space of interaction and integration, where a tree on a mobile base becomes an active participant and co-dancer. "Ecotone" offers a poetic meditation on coexistence, resilience, and the delicate balance between nature and humanity, inviting audiences to reflect on the power of transitional spaces in fostering new possibilities for connection and growth.

This contribution intends to examine the intersection between migration and religion from two different perspectives, particularly with regard to the rights of entry and residence. The first part offers a legal point of view of the migrationreligion binomial, through the analysis of the copious jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, while the second part will address the issue from a sociological and socio-political point of view, taking a well-known case as a starting point, which can be described as extreme, but which highlights well the real and potential problems that the Court has to face in the management of migration, whether religiously related or not.

Religious education (RE) is frequently a topic of intense political debate and a focal point of party politics in the Greek context. This article presents the latest chapter in political contestation over the teaching of religion in Greek public schools, one which entails a new dimension—that of intense judicialization. Since 2015, the issue of religious education in Greek public schools has been the subject of multiple court cases addressed by the Greek high court, the Council of State, with one case addressed by and one case pending before the European Court of Human Rights. Beyond teasing out links between Greek Orthodoxy and nationalism underpinning each of these cases, this article also seeks to locate this example of judicialization of politics and religion in a broader theoretical context. It engages with another phenomenon at play in the Greek case as in many other cases globally, the culturalization of religion. Through the example of the Greek legal battles over religious education, we see how the judicialization of a particular political question on religion (policy on RE) rests on a culturalization of religion, which, in the legal domain, entails a rebranding of ‘religion’ as ‘culture’ so as to protect ‘religion’ from limitations placed on it by expectations of liberal state neutrality. The inherent difficulties in defining religion and culture, both individually and in relation to one another, are fundamental to both the theoretical and the practical, socio-legal challenges arising from such developments.

Is the 21st Century Religious, as Some Predicted? Has God and religion returned—even in Western societies—leading to a religious resurgence? Could it be that the secularization thesis was not as flawed as some claimed? And ultimately, what do we really know about secularization itself? This collective volume seeks to address these questions, along with many others that arise when public discourse touches on issues such as the relationship between politics and religion, church-state relations, migration, gender, religious symbols, and more. It is the first Greek publication dedicated to the theme of secularization in the 50 years since the Metapolitefsi (the post-dictatorship period in Greece), tackling a subject that has sparked intense debate and conflict. The volume features contributions by distinguished professors and researchers from Greece and abroad, representing a variety of academic disciplines. Together, they aim to shed light—clearly and critically—on diverse aspects of the topic. This book fills a significant gap in Greek scholarship and is addressed to academics, students, journalists, and the wider public interested in the issue.

This book considers post-19th-century Athens as a unique instance of a secret side of metropolitan capitalism. With a focus on modern antiquity as the hidden element of the dialectic between the past and the present, it suggests that the sociological study of one of the great European capital cities – a city not intended as a modern capital – and its architectural representations may expose part of the veiled processes of the reconstruction of the past, thus shedding light on the abuse of antiquity for the celebration of European capitalist metropolitan modernity. From the "glorious" white-marble cityscape of the 19th century that aimed at "re-enchanting" metropolitan modernity, to the inglorious grey reinforced-concrete 21st-century metropolis, modern Athens exposes the battle between the modern and a modern image of antiquity: a false, socially constructed historiography born of the dialectics between the ancient and the modern, the new and the old, collective memory and collective forgetting. As such, The Building of a Modern Antiquity will appeal to scholars of sociology with interests in social and critical theory, urban studies, sociology of architecture, and visual sociology.

An online, interactive, platform that integrates female portraits retrieved from archival material, published in the Greek press during the 1970s and 1980s, along with photographs derived from personal collections and family photo albums from the same decades. The project is supported by and under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture. It was launched in The Hellenic Centre, London in May 2024 with the support of the American College of Greece, Frances Rich School of Fine & Performing Arts.

Episode 3 of The Day the Earth Caught Data was an interactive installation involving audience participation using primarily online material shared by different users through Google Street View Photosphere. The research is focused on Jökulsárlón, the famous glacial lake in the southern part of Iceland, which is undergoing unprecedented changes due to global warming. The use of the satellite images generated by Google Earth along with screenshots taken from the online photos shared by the visitors in Google Earth’ Photosphere, construct a different, more dystopian narrative. The landscape resembles that of another planet, or that of a doomsday movie setting, where the individuals strolling around look lost, exhausted and disoriented amidst the melting glaciers and barren, uninviting surroundings. The audience was encouraged to participate, by taking their own selfies on the mirror opposite the printed backdrop.

As the field of behavioral health continues to evolve beyond the confines of traditional outpatient office settings, there is a growing need for providers who are adept at delivering evidence-based services across various specialty environments. This need is particularly pronounced when it comes to pediatric populations, where the consequences of unidentified or untreated behavioral health issues can be severe and long lasting. Recognizing these challenges, this book edition aims to facilitate workforce and skills development for professionals working in multiple specialty settings where pediatric behavioral health concerns frequently arise.The text will serve as a comprehensive resource for supervisors and trainees, emphasizing a discrete skill and competency-based approach tailored to the unique demands of each setting. By focusing on the development of specific competencies, the text will ensure that providers are equipped to address the diverse needs of pediatric patients effectively. This includes settings such as schools, hospitals, primary care clinics, and community-based programs, where early identification and intervention are crucial.In schools, for example, behavioral health providers need to be proficient in collaborating with educators and understanding the educational impacts of behavioral health issues. They must also be skilled in implementing school-wide interventions and working directly with students who exhibit behavioral or emotional difficulties. In hospital settings, providers must be prepared to address the complex interplay between physical and mental health, often working as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide holistic care to young patients.Primary care clinics represent another critical setting, where behavioral health concerns are often first identified. Providers in these environments need to be skilled in integrating behavioral health services into routine medical care, conducting screenings, and offering brief interventions. Community-based programs, on the other hand, require providers to engage with diverse populations, often in under-resourced areas, necessitating a high degree of cultural competence and adaptability.Overall, this text will highlight the importance of specialized training and continuous professional development to meet the evolving needs of pediatric populations in various specialty settings. By promoting a competency-based approach, it will empower providers to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care, ultimately improving outcomes for children and adolescents facing behavioral health challenges.

Despite the urgent need to teach, support and research the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) in business education, only 3.83% of universities worldwide have committed to integrating the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) into their curriculum by 2024. This statistic highlights the limited progress in aligning business education with the 17 SDGS. Whether through Critical Management Education (CME) or PRME, it is evident that 17 years after the global economic recession of 2008, more wicked problems have emerged and/or worsened. It seems that we are far from preparing our graduates to position themselves ethically to address these crises with the requisite criticality and tenacity. In the midst of such challenges, critical coaching is proving to be a valuable pedagogical tool for working in teams of students. Coaching student teams to create a safe (courageous) space for fostering critical dialog can empower young people to tackle issues at the local, national or international level. A recent doctoral study suggests and supports this approach using critical pragmatism, action research, and team coaching to foster higher order thinking skills in student teams. Through critical dialog, students can better manage crises and develop the skills necessary to tackle complex problems.

This scoping review examines the broad applications, risks, and ethical challenges associated with Extended Reality (XR) technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), within the context of Metaverse. XR is revolutionizing fields such as immersive learning in education, medical and professional training, neuropsychological assessment, therapeutic interventions, arts, entertainment, retail, e-commerce, remote work, sports, architecture, urban planning, and cultural heritage preservation. The integration of multimodal technologies—haptics, eye-, face-, and body tracking, and brain–computer interfaces—enhances user engagement and interactivity, playing a key role in shaping the immersive experiences in the Metaverse. However, XR’s expansion raises serious concerns, including data privacy risks, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, cybersickness, addiction, dissociation, harassment, bullying, and misinformation. These psychological, social, and security challenges are further complicated by intense advertising, manipulation of public opinion, and social inequality, which could disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals and social groups. This review emphasizes the urgent need for robust ethical frameworks and regulatory guidelines to address these risks while promoting equitable access, privacy, autonomy, and mental well-being. As XR technologies increasingly integrate with artificial intelligence, responsible governance is essential to ensure the safe and beneficial development of the Metaverse and the broader application of XR in enhancing human development.

Contemporary Issues in Social Media Marketing provides the most cutting-edge findings in social media marketing, through original chapters from a range of the world’s leading specialists in the area. This second edition has been fully updated with new features such as discussion questions, global case studies and examples, and material reflecting the key trends in the field, including:The growth in user-generated content. The growing influence of AI in content creation, including virtual influencers. The development and utilization of social media analytics. The use of social media as the primary search engine. The relationship between social media and the customer experience of the brand. Highly regarded for its breadth of topics, range of perspectives and research-based approach, this text is perfect recommended reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying Digital and Social Media Marketing, Contemporary Issues in Marketing and Strategic Marketing. It will also be valuable reading for academics in the field and reflective practitioners.

AI-enabled decision-making has become increasingly pervasive within the field of Human Resource Management. The main rationale behind the adoption of AI-enabled decision-making is multifaceted, including economizing on time and costs, mitigating risks, increasing effectiveness, and amplifying decision-making confidence. However, relying exclusively on algorithmic decision-making engenders the prospect of discrimination and inequity. This dichotomy between the enthusiasm surrounding the efficiency of AI decision-making and the apprehensions regarding potential discrimination and inequity presents an intricate challenge. The aim of the chapter therefore is to increase awareness regarding AI’s potential proclivity towards biases and discrimination but also elucidate strategies whereby practitioners and scholars specializing in EDI can contribute to the confrontation of challenges that are inherently associated with AI in HRM and the amelioration of workplace environments.

The discourse on workforce sustainability gains significance amid concerns of overwork, stress, and well-being in the contemporary ‘New World of Work.’ However, there is a significant gap in understanding how workers perceive sustainable work, what characteristics they attribute to it and also what are the organizational practices that contribute to the development of sustainable work. This study investigates which bundles of practices contribute to perceptions of sustainable work, focusing on common good HRM as a mechanism for explaining how organizational factors influence these perceptions. The focus of common good HRM may raise concerns about diminished efficiency and employee performance and the connection between good work and productivity is inconclusive and may depend on the influence of the quality of management and organizational practices. Consequently, the study also aims to theorize and explore the relationship between common good HRM, employee perceptions of sustainable work, work engagement and in-role performance. The empirical evidence of a study supports our theoretical model and affirms the plausible sequential mediation effect of employee perceptions of sustainable work and work engagement in connecting SHRM-CGV with in-role performance.

With 70% of the world's population expected to live in urban environments by 2050, cities are poised to become the most significant spaces to shape personal and communal identity. As contemporary cities become "event destinations" a dialogue is emerging between the performing arts and the urban context and social fabric. Inspired by the principles of Psychogeography, this collection of essays highlights the performative aspects of cities as landscapes of creative inspiration where curiosity, imagination, playfulness, and the energy of the street combine with contemporary performance practices to create immersive public art experiences. Written by an international cohort of scholar-artists, these essays offer arts practitioners, urban specialists, and general readers a practical guide to experiencing the cityscape as the Artscape

This book sets out on an intellectual journey, with each chapter acting as a unique compass to lead the reader through the critical perspectives on resistance waiting to be discovered in 21st-century British literature. As such, the book appeals to general readers, including undergraduates, researchers, professionals, and anyone who is interested in cultural studies, literary studies, the humanities, and sociology, particularly resistance and discourse studies.

The words fear, risk and safety have come to define our contemporary age and have been construed as a dynamic background in the human sciences against which most risk narratives, imaginative or otherwise, can be read. This volume brings together original articles to investigate “cultures of fear” in post-millennial works and covers a wide variety of topics ranging from post-millennial political fictions, post-humanist and postcolonial rewritings to trauma narratives, risk narratives, literary disaster discourses and apocalyptic scenarios. Featuring theoretical and analytical approaches with insights borrowed from multiple disciplines, this book will be of interest for scholars and researchers working in the fields of literary and cultural studies, as well as the general reader.

Background

Up-to-date estimates of stroke burden and attributable risks and their trends at global, regional, and national levels are essential for evidence-based health care, prevention, and resource allocation planning. We aimed to provide such estimates for the period 1990-2021.

Methods

We estimated incidence, prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) counts and age-standardised rates per 100 000 people per year for overall stroke, ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, and subarachnoid haemorrhage, for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. We also calculated burden of stroke attributable to 23 risk factors and six risk clusters (air pollution, tobacco smoking, behavioural, dietary, environmental, and metabolic risks) at the global and regional levels (21 GBD regions and Socio-demographic Index [SDI] quintiles), using the standard GBD methodology. 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for each individual future estimate were derived from the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles of distributions generated from propagating 500 draws through the multistage computational pipeline.

Findings

In 2021, stroke was the third most common GBD level 3 cause of death (7·3 million [95% UI 6·6-7·8] deaths; 10·7% [9·8-11·3] of all deaths) after ischaemic heart disease and COVID-19, and the fourth most common cause of DALYs (160·5 million [147·8-171·6] DALYs; 5·6% [5·0-6·1] of all DALYs). In 2021, there were 93·8 million (89·0-99·3) prevalent and 11·9 million (10·7-13·2) incident strokes. We found disparities in stroke burden and risk factors by GBD region, country or territory, and SDI, as well as a stagnation in the reduction of incidence from 2015 onwards, and even some increases in the stroke incidence, death, prevalence, and DALY rates in southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania, countries with lower SDI, and people younger than 70 years. Globally, ischaemic stroke constituted 65·3% (62·4-67·7), intracerebral haemorrhage constituted 28·8% (28·3-28·8), and subarachnoid haemorrhage constituted 5·8% (5·7-6·0) of incident strokes. There were substantial increases in DALYs attributable to high BMI (88·2% [53·4-117·7]), high ambient temperature (72·4% [51·1 to 179·5]), high fasting plasma glucose (32·1% [26·7-38·1]), diet high in sugar-sweetened beverages (23·4% [12·7-35·7]), low physical activity (11·3% [1·8-34·9]), high systolic blood pressure (6·7% [2·5-11·6]), lead exposure (6·5% [4·5-11·2]), and diet low in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (5·3% [0·5-10·5]).

Interpretation

Stroke burden has increased from 1990 to 2021, and the contribution of several risk factors has also increased. Effective, accessible, and affordable measures to improve stroke surveillance, prevention (with the emphasis on blood pressure, lifestyle, and environmental factors), acute care, and rehabilitation need to be urgently implemented across all countries to reduce stroke burden.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background

Smoking is the leading behavioural risk factor for mortality globally, accounting for more than 175 million deaths and nearly 4·30 billion years of life lost (YLLs) from 1990 to 2021. The pace of decline in smoking prevalence has slowed in recent years for many countries, and although strategies have recently been proposed to achieve tobacco-free generations, none have been implemented to date. Assessing what could happen if current trends in smoking prevalence persist, and what could happen if additional smoking prevalence reductions occur, is important for communicating the effect of potential smoking policies.

Methods

In this analysis, we use the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's Future Health Scenarios platform to forecast the effects of three smoking prevalence scenarios on all-cause and cause-specific YLLs and life expectancy at birth until 2050. YLLs were computed for each scenario using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 reference life table and forecasts of cause-specific mortality under each scenario. The reference scenario forecasts what could occur if past smoking prevalence and other risk factor trends continue, the Tobacco Smoking Elimination as of 2023 (Elimination-2023) scenario quantifies the maximum potential future health benefits from assuming zero percent smoking prevalence from 2023 onwards, whereas the Tobacco Smoking Elimination by 2050 (Elimination-2050) scenario provides estimates for countries considering policies to steadily reduce smoking prevalence to 5%. Together, these scenarios underscore the magnitude of health benefits that could be reached by 2050 if countries take decisive action to eliminate smoking. The 95% uncertainty interval (UI) of estimates is based on the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile of draws that were carried through the multistage computational framework.

Findings

Global age-standardised smoking prevalence was estimated to be 28·5% (95% UI 27·9–29·1) among males and 5·96% (5·76–6·21) among females in 2022. In the reference scenario, smoking prevalence declined by 25·9% (25·2–26·6) among males, and 30·0% (26·1–32·1) among females from 2022 to 2050. Under this scenario, we forecast a cumulative 29·3 billion (95% UI 26·8–32·4) overall YLLs among males and 22·2 billion (20·1–24·6) YLLs among females over this period. Life expectancy at birth under this scenario would increase from 73·6 years (95% UI 72·8–74·4) in 2022 to 78·3 years (75·9–80·3) in 2050. Under our Elimination-2023 scenario, we forecast 2·04 billion (95% UI 1·90–2·21) fewer cumulative YLLs by 2050 compared with the reference scenario, and life expectancy at birth would increase to 77·6 years (95% UI 75·1–79·6) among males and 81·0 years (78·5–83·1) among females. Under our Elimination-2050 scenario, we forecast 735 million (675–808) and 141 million (131–154) cumulative YLLs would be avoided among males and females, respectively. Life expectancy in 2050 would increase to 77·1 years (95% UI 74·6–79·0) among males and 80·8 years (78·3–82·9) among females.

Interpretation

Existing tobacco policies must be maintained if smoking prevalence is to continue to decline as forecast by the reference scenario. In addition, substantial smoking-attributable burden can be avoided by accelerating the pace of smoking elimination. Implementation of new tobacco control policies are crucial in avoiding additional smoking-attributable burden in the coming decades and to ensure that the gains won over the past three decades are not lost.

Funding

Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background

Regular, detailed reporting on population health by underlying cause of death is fundamental for public health decision making. Cause-specific estimates of mortality and the subsequent effects on life expectancy worldwide are valuable metrics to gauge progress in reducing mortality rates. These estimates are particularly important following large-scale mortality spikes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. When systematically analysed, mortality rates and life expectancy allow comparisons of the consequences of causes of death globally and over time, providing a nuanced understanding of the effect of these causes on global populations.

Methods

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 cause-of-death analysis estimated mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) from 288 causes of death by age-sex-location-year in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations for each year from 1990 until 2021. The analysis used 56 604 data sources, including data from vital registration and verbal autopsy as well as surveys, censuses, surveillance systems, and cancer registries, among others. As with previous GBD rounds, cause-specific death rates for most causes were estimated using the Cause of Death Ensemble model—a modelling tool developed for GBD to assess the out-of-sample predictive validity of different statistical models and covariate permutations and combine those results to produce cause-specific mortality estimates—with alternative strategies adapted to model causes with insufficient data, substantial changes in reporting over the study period, or unusual epidemiology. YLLs were computed as the product of the number of deaths for each cause-age-sex-location-year and the standard life expectancy at each age. As part of the modelling process, uncertainty intervals (UIs) were generated using the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles from a 1000-draw distribution for each metric. We decomposed life expectancy by cause of death, location, and year to show cause-specific effects on life expectancy from 1990 to 2021. We also used the coefficient of variation and the fraction of population affected by 90% of deaths to highlight concentrations of mortality. Findings are reported in counts and age-standardised rates. Methodological improvements for cause-of-death estimates in GBD 2021 include the expansion of under-5-years age group to include four new age groups, enhanced methods to account for stochastic variation of sparse data, and the inclusion of COVID-19 and other pandemic-related mortality—which includes excess mortality associated with the pandemic, excluding COVID-19, lower respiratory infections, measles, malaria, and pertussis. For this analysis, 199 new country-years of vital registration cause-of-death data, 5 country-years of surveillance data, 21 country-years of verbal autopsy data, and 94 country-years of other data types were added to those used in previous GBD rounds.

Findings

The leading causes of age-standardised deaths globally were the same in 2019 as they were in 1990; in descending order, these were, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lower respiratory infections. In 2021, however, COVID-19 replaced stroke as the second-leading age-standardised cause of death, with 94·0 deaths (95% UI 89·2–100·0) per 100 000 population. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the rankings of the leading five causes, lowering stroke to the third-leading and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to the fourth-leading position. In 2021, the highest age-standardised death rates from COVID-19 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa (271·0 deaths [250·1–290·7] per 100 000 population) and Latin America and the Caribbean (195·4 deaths [182·1–211·4] per 100 000 population). The lowest age-standardised death rates from COVID-19 were in the high-income super-region (48·1 deaths [47·4–48·8] per 100 000 population) and southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania (23·2 deaths [16·3–37·2] per 100 000 population). Globally, life expectancy steadily improved between 1990 and 2019 for 18 of the 22 investigated causes. Decomposition of global and regional life expectancy showed the positive effect that reductions in deaths from enteric infections, lower respiratory infections, stroke, and neonatal deaths, among others have contributed to improved survival over the study period. However, a net reduction of 1·6 years occurred in global life expectancy between 2019 and 2021, primarily due to increased death rates from COVID-19 and other pandemic-related mortality. Life expectancy was highly variable between super-regions over the study period, with southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania gaining 8·3 years (6·7–9·9) overall, while having the smallest reduction in life expectancy due to COVID-19 (0·4 years). The largest reduction in life expectancy due to COVID-19 occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean (3·6 years). Additionally, 53 of the 288 causes of death were highly concentrated in locations with less than 50% of the global population as of 2021, and these causes of death became progressively more concentrated since 1990, when only 44 causes showed this pattern. The concentration phenomenon is discussed heuristically with respect to enteric and lower respiratory infections, malaria, HIV/AIDS, neonatal disorders, tuberculosis, and measles. Interpretation Long-standing gains in life expectancy and reductions in many of the leading causes of death have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the adverse effects of which were spread unevenly among populations. Despite the pandemic, there has been continued progress in combatting several notable causes of death, leading to improved global life expectancy over the study period. Each of the seven GBD super-regions showed an overall improvement from 1990 and 2021, obscuring the negative effect in the years of the pandemic. Additionally, our findings regarding regional variation in causes of death driving increases in life expectancy hold clear policy utility. Analyses of shifting mortality trends reveal that several causes, once widespread globally, are now increasingly concentrated geographically. These changes in mortality concentration, alongside further investigation of changing risks, interventions, and relevant policy, present an important opportunity to deepen our understanding of mortality-reduction strategies. Examining patterns in mortality concentration might reveal areas where successful public health interventions have been implemented. Translating these successes to locations where certain causes of death remain entrenched can inform policies that work to improve life expectancy for people everywhere.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background

Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021.

Methods

The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws.

Findings

Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP).

Interpretation

Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background

Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period.

Methods

22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution.

Findings

Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations.

Interpretation

Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background

The six global nutrition targets (GNTs) related to low birthweight, exclusive breastfeeding, child growth (ie, wasting, stunting, and overweight), and anaemia among females of reproductive age were chosen by the World Health Assembly in 2012 as key indicators of maternal and child health, but there has yet to be a comprehensive report on progress for the period 2012 to 2021. We aimed to evaluate levels, trends, and observed-to-expected progress in prevalence and attributable burden from 2012 to 2021, with prevalence projections to 2050, in 204 countries and territories.

Methods

The prevalence and attributable burden of each target indicator were estimated by age group, sex, and year in 204 countries and territories from 2012 to 2021 in the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, the most comprehensive assessment of causes of death, disability, and risk factors to date. Country-specific relative performance to date was evaluated with a Bayesian meta-regression model that compares prevalence to expected values based on Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of societal development status. Target progress was forecasted from 2021 up to 2050 by modelling past trends with meta-regression using a combination of key quantities and then extrapolating future projections of those quantities.

Findings

Interpretation

Based on current levels and past trends, few GNTs will be met by 2030. Major reductions in attributable burden for exclusive breastfeeding and anthropometric indicators should be recognised as huge scientific and policy successes, but the comparative lack of progress in reducing the prevalence of each, along with stagnant anaemia in women of reproductive age and widespread increases in child overweight, suggests a tenuous status quo. Continued investment in preventive and treatment efforts for acute childhood illness is crucial to prevent backsliding. Parallel development of effective treatments, along with commitment to multisectoral, long-term policies to address the determinants and causes of suboptimal nutrition, are sorely needed to gain ground.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This chapter explores the intersection of human health, climate change, and artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing AI's role in safeguarding human health amidst climate challenges. It explores AI's potential as a solution and its contribution to climate change which poses significant health risks, including shifts in disease patterns and increased threats from infectious diseases. These risks manifest through extreme weather events and disruptions to essential services like water and food supplies. By leveraging AI technologies, tailored responses can enhance human health resilience, including early warning systems and optimized resource allocation. The review underscores AI's promise in transforming human health resilience and readiness. However, it stresses the need to address ethical and equity concerns for responsible deployment at the individual, public or global health level. Collaboration across sectors is crucial for maximizing AI's potential in safeguarding human health.

The European olive tree, Olea europaea L., and its polyphenols hold great therapeutic potential to treat neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. This review examines the evidence for the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions of olive polyphenols and their potential in the treatment of long COVID and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Key findings suggest that olive polyphenols exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antiviral properties, making them promising candidates for therapeutic intervention, especially when formulated in unique combinations. Recommendations for future research directions include elucidating molecular pathways through mechanistic studies, exploring the therapeutic implications of olive polyphenol supplementation, and conducting clinical trials to assess efficacy and safety. Investigating potential synergistic effects with other agents addressing different targets is suggested for further exploration. The evidence reviewed strengthens the translational value of olive polyphenols in conditions involving cognitive dysfunction and emphasizes the novelty of new formulations.

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare presents challenges and opportunities for patient welfare. New policies, governance, and interoperability standards have been introduced necessitating patient and stakeholder engagement. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries have prioritized health transformation through the use of health data, digital tools, and AI-driven healthcare innovation. AI has enormous potential to improve activities from research to treatment, administration, patient welfare, and value for money. However, responsible development is crucial to avoid misuse. This chapter explores the ethical considerations of AI-generated healthcare innovation, emphasizing the need for a balance between AI-driven progress and patient welfare. It examines progress in OECD countries, with a specific focus on enhancing patient welfare in Greece. Challenges related to treatment, data privacy, transparency, fairness, algorithmic bias, informed consent, and impact on healthcare professionals are discussed. Regulatory frameworks are considered as well as professional guidelines in the context of international collaboration. This chapter provides insights and recommendations for a responsible and patient-centric approach, prioritizing patient welfare while navigating ethical dimensions.

In the evolving landscape of open-access scientific journals, the roles of editors and reviewers are crucial in ensuring quality and integrity. This chapter analyzes the experiences of two college professors—a cell biologist/biophysicist and a computer scientist—who, in addition to various fields of study, have edited and reviewed over 50 high-impact journal manuscripts related to digital health (DH) and precision/personalized medicine (PM). Their journey underscores the importance of multi-disciplinary approaches and artificial intelligence (AI) in evaluating complex research. The chapter highlights specific cases of DH and PM illustrating how digital solutions and AI have shaped their perspectives. Key elements of robust manuscript evaluation, such as methodological rigor and clinical relevance, are discussed. The chapter explores the emerging role of AI in enhancing the editorial process, from initial screening to detailed analysis. The findings advocate for active participation in peer review and editorial roles, emphasizing their benefits.

Global health is a complex and interconnected field encompassing a wide range of policies, initiatives, and innovations aimed at improving health outcomes worldwide. As the healthcare of populations becomes a global issue, worldwide efforts have emerged aimed at addressing the health challenges that transcend national boundaries. Research in global health initiatives hopes to improve healthcare outcomes and disparities while promoting equity, collaboration, and sustainability in medical practices. Policies, Initiatives, and Innovations for Global Health provides insights into effective global healthcare initiatives, including practices in governance, equity, accessibility, and service. It explores the positive impacts of technology on world populations, with discussion on global health threats and health determinants. Covering topics such as precision health and AI, healthcare technology, and policy response and learning, this book is a useful resource for policymakers, public health professionals, researchers, academicians, students, healthcare practitioners, and government officials.

The evolving healthcare landscape is now challenging healthcare providers and researchers to deliver personalized care considering individual genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. To tailor treatments and interventions to each patient's unique profile in a timely manner, they need to harness the vast amounts of readily available data. Artificial intelligence (AI) has immense potential to revolutionize precision health by enabling the analysis of large datasets and generating actionable insights for personalized care. However, implementing AI in healthcare comes with challenges, including ethical considerations, regulatory frameworks, and the need for healthcare professionals to develop competencies in AI technologies. Precision Health in the Digital Age: Harnessing AI for Personalized Care offers a comprehensive solution for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers seeking to leverage AI in precision health. The book explores the latest advancements in AI technologies, showcases their applications in precision medicine, and provides a roadmap for integrating AI into healthcare systems. It offers practical insights for improving patient outcomes through case studies and real-world examples of successful implementations of AI-driven precision medicine and health solutions.

Enhancing college students' awareness of human reproduction, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is crucial in today's prevalent STI landscape, with significant economic and social implications. Understanding young people's views and experiences toward sexual health and education's role in preventing STIs is pivotal. This study piloted a learning object (LO) on STIs as part of a lab activity in an Introductory Biology course. We surveyed college students to gauge their awareness of these topics and examine the role of education in promoting sexual health. Methods included qualitative analysis of a student survey, instructor reflections on educational practices, and the use of LOs related to STIs. Findings highlighted the need for education on STIs, contraception methods, and human reproduction, focusing on emotive learning and behavioral change rather than solely on knowledge, which may lead to fear. The survey, primarily completed by female students, may not fully represent the student population. Further studies are needed with a larger and more diverse respondent pool. A primary recommendation is to employ LOs, a framework for education and action for STI prevention, involving experiential learning addressing knowledge, emotions, relevance, and empowerment. This study contributes to the limited knowledge base on experiential learning and sexual health.

After professor P. Valavanis retired from the Department of History and Archeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, many of his students wanted to express a token of their gratitude for Valavanis’s selfless and years-long contribution to academia. This book, “KALLINIKOS, honorary volume for professor Panos Valavanis by his students”, a collective work edited by Mrs. Irene M. Dimitriades and Mr. Nicholas Dimakis, consists of 53 articles written in Greek and English. Its content covers the honoree’s research and teaching field. It has seven thematic subjects: 1. Vases and iconography, 2. Vases and pottery, 3. Topography of the city of Athens, 4. Topography and architecture outside the city of Athens, 5. Worship, Politics-Ideology, 6. Ancient athletics, 7. Various topics. “KALLINIKOS” derives from the academic discipline that is probably Valavanis’s biggest love: ancient athletics and the Olympic Games –where the audience was cheering the winning athletes Tinela Kallinikos (tinela is a word with no meaning, made up by Archilochos). The glorious winners, applauded and “deified” by the audience, felt aggrandized.

The aim of this paper is to consolidate aspects of our understanding of how glass was produced, traded, and used from the Late Bronze Age through the Roman times in Greece. It is meant to concisely present the existing knowledge with respect to glass, critically assess the advancements in the field, and offer a springboard for further developing the theoretical framework gradually developed based on the existing data.

We revisit the hypotheses that conservatism positively correlates with amygdala and negatively with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) gray matter volume.Using diverse measures of ideology and a large and representative sample (Amsterdam Open MRI Collection [n = 928]), we replicate a small positive relationship between amygdala volume and conservatism. However, we fail to find consistent evidence in support of the ideology-ACC volume link. Using a split-sample strategy,we conducted exploratory whole-brain analyses on half the data, preregistered the findings, and then conducted subsequent confirmatory tests that additionally highlight weak, positive associations between the right fusiform gyri and conservatism. This is the largest preregistered replication study in the context of political neuroscience. By using Dutch as opposed to British or American data, we also extend the amygdala-conservatism link to a multiparty, multidimensional political context. We discuss the implications for future investigations of the neural substrates of ideology.

This paper explores how discourses of discrimination against sex workers are discursively reproduced or challenged in polylogal (multi-participant) interactions in digital environments such as YouTube. Drawing on stancetaking (Du Bois 2007) and the stance dimensions of evaluation and alignment (Kiesling 2018, 2021), we analyze how commenters’ stances towards sex work can be linked to (banal) whorephobia — i.e., the discursive manifestation of discriminations against sex workers. Focusing on two threads of comments found under a YouTube video, we suggest that whorephobia operates along a scalar continuum, with aggression against sex work/ers ranging from explicitly negative stances to more subtle and banalized ones that may even go unnoticed. In our data, (banal) whorephobia was traced in stances that indexed: (a) low evaluation of/low alignment with participants expressing sex-positive views or supporting that sex workers’ rights advocacy can be compatible with feminist agendas; and/or (b) high evaluation of/high alignment with participants who view sex work as inherently immoral or exploitative in line with Christian conservative or radical feminist discourses. We conclude that what makes banal whorephobia particularly concerning is that it manifests through stances that, though not explicitly hostile, may still reinforce sex workers’ stigmatization and social exclusions, often in ways that may seem socially acceptable or well justified.

In this chapter, I employ corpus linguistic techniques to examine (affective) identity construction processes in a corpus of 510 online reviews authored by heterosexual male clients of female sex workers. More specifically, departing from a conceptualization of such reviews as storytelling practices that are rich in affective identity work, I explore how male clients position themselves and sex workers as subjects and/or objects of heterosexual desire. To do so, I draw theoretical and analytical insight from the sociolinguistic theorization of desire-as-affect within the field of language, gender and sexuality (Mortensen & Milani 2021) as well as the concept ‘affective positioning’ (Giaxoglou 2020) in its connections with the small stories research paradigm (Georgakopoulou 2015). As reviewers/storytellers, male clients were found to construct themselves as the object of sex workers’ desire (in the story-world of past sexual encounters with sex workers) and, at the same time, to position themselves holistically/relationally as members of a broader community of practice (in the here-and-now of the story-telling world). My analysis suggests that in this way they legitimize the very ethics of purchasing sexual services, they resist dominant discourses that view female sex workers as victims of male exploitation, and they navigate heteronormative discourses through which hetero-masculinity and male heterosexual desire are constructed as mutually constitutive.

Nobel Laureate in Literature (2005) Harold Pinter is best known for his theatrical works, though few are aware of his substantial engagement with cinema. This book explores the majority of Pinter’s theatrical and cinematic oeuvre, from the mid-1940s—when he began publishing short stories and poems—up until his death in 2008. Employing Phenomenological Theory as developed by third-generation phenomenologist Maurice Merleau-Ponty, the author seeks to illuminate aspects of Pinter’s uniquely original and often seemingly enigmatic writing. A valuable resource for professionals and theatre enthusiasts alike.

Effective oral communication requires the systematic cultivation of oracy skills as well as sub-skills, such as vocabulary selection, grammatical structures and sociocultural understanding (Al-Roud, 2016). Ibrahim (this volume) offers Mercer and Dawes’s (2018) definition of ‘oracy education’, acknowledging the need to teach oracy in a wide range of social settings. Čengić (this volume) underlines the need to enhance learners’ ‘interaction strategies’ when teaching oracy, confirming that the immediate interactive nature of oral discourse (Payette & Ross, 2016) renders the teaching of oracy demanding.

This article examines the relation between music and the transgenerational trauma of the Pontic Greeks – the descendants of the 1923 Black Sea [Karadeniz] refugees. More specifically, the article concerns the 1921 destruction of the Santa locality, in Gümüşhane province, and how the memory of this violence is negotiated in the practice of dialogical and participatory singing called parakathi or muhabeti. It is demonstrated how muhabeti enables Pontians to cultivate an empathic postmemory of the 1920s refugees’ Santa trauma and what this might mean for trauma theory in general.

In social sciences and the humanities, community has lost its analytical objectivity. Nevertheless, or exactly because of this ontological relativization, “community” remains a key concept in a multitude of discourses. In opposing political ideologies (e.g., conservative populism, neoliberalism, grassroots environmentalism, and anarchism), applied fields, and identity narratives, community remains a central idea, often contradictorily used both for new collectivities and as a remedy for modernity’s alleged social decline (Bauman 2001; Creed 2006a; Delanty 2010). Inconsistencies and contradictions between academic and public uses characterize most enduring deconstructed “black boxes” (Bateson 2000), but community emerges most persistently across fields, theories, and ideologies.

The Routledge Handbook of Popular Music and Politics of the Balkans is a comprehensive overview of major topics, established debates and new directions in the study of popular music and politics in this region. The vibrant growth of this subject area since the 1990s has been intertwined with the region’s political and socio-economic transformations, including the collapse of state socialism in much of the region, the break-up of Yugoslavia, the advent of neoliberal capitalism, the rise of Romani activism, the complex politics of ‘Europeanization’ before and after the global financial crisis, and the region’s relationship to the European Union border regime. The handbook illustrates the wide range of disciplines and methods that contribute to this field’s interdisciplinary dialogue and highlights emerging approaches such as the study of Black diasporas in the region, popular music’s links with LGBTQ+ communities, and the impact of digital technologies on musical cultures. This volume will benefit specialist researchers, tutors creating or refreshing courses on popular music in the region, and students interested in these topics, especially those who are at the point of developing their own independent research projects

When is it ethically permissible for clinicians to surgically intervene into the genitals of a legal minor? We distinguish between voluntary and nonvoluntary procedures and focus on nonvoluntary procedures, specifically in prepubescent minors (“children”). We do not address procedures in adolescence or adulthood. With respect to children categorized as female at birth who have no apparent differences of sex development (i.e., non-intersex or “endosex” females) there is a near-universal ethical consensus in the Global North. This consensus holds that clinicians may not perform any nonvoluntary genital cutting or surgery, from “cosmetic” labiaplasty to medicalized ritual “pricking” of the vulva, insofar as the procedure is not strictly necessary to protect the child’s physical health. All other motivations, including possible psychosocial, cultural, subjective-aesthetic, or prophylactic benefits as judged by doctors or parents, are seen as categorically inappropriate grounds for a clinician to proceed with a nonvoluntary genital procedure in this population. We argue that the main ethical reasons capable of supporting this consensus turn not on empirically contestable benefit–risk calculations, but on a fundamental concern to respect the child’s privacy, bodily integrity, developing sexual boundaries, and (future) genital autonomy. We show that these ethical reasons are sound. However, as we argue, they do not only apply to endosex female children, but rather to all children regardless of sex characteristics, including those with intersex traits and endosex males. We conclude, therefore, that as a matter of justice, inclusivity, and gender equality in medical-ethical policy (we do not take a position as to criminal law), clinicians should not be permitted to perform any nonvoluntary genital cutting or surgery in prepubescent minors, irrespective of the latter’s sex traits or gender assignment, unless urgently necessary to protect their physical health. By contrast, we suggest that voluntary surgeries in older individuals might, under certain conditions, permissibly be performed for a wider range of reasons, including reasons of self-identity or psychosocial well-being, in keeping with the circumstances, values, and explicit needs and preferences of the persons so concerned. Note: Because our position is tied to clinicians’ widely accepted role-specific duties as medical practitioners within regulated healthcare systems, we do not consider genital procedures performed outside of a healthcare context (e.g., for religious reasons) or by persons other than licensed healthcare providers working in their professional capacity.

In this paper I argue that in her new book, Why Delusions Matter, Lisa Bortolotti offers us a new way to dispel a major objection to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, the Comforting Delusions Objection.

One of the characteristic aspects of Daniel Dennett’s thought is his belief in the explanatory power of science. For Dennett, in order to make progress with certain philosophical problems, e.g. questions about the nature of consciousness, philosophers need to engage with the findings of empirical science. In this paper, I will take up the question of the relation between science and philosophy and I will start by giving a general overview of Dennett’s view of this relation while also addressing the question of whether he can properly be said to embrace scientism. In the second part of this paper, I will argue that philosophical thinking is continuous with science and that, though at the level of theoretical frameworks the intension of the words “philosophy” and “science” are the same, there is a distinction that can be made in practice if we look at the extensions of the terms.

The neoliberal reality of the past 40 years has caused changes in the workplace, restricting people’s freedom and compromising their well-being, often not allowing them to develop their human abilities in the way they choose to. This paper focuses on a neglected aspect of neoliberalism that contributes to this problem: the orientation of the core values of neoliberalism. I contend that the value system of neoliberalism is structured on what can be characterized as ‘male’ values, and this leads to a fragmentation of the labour experience, altering the lived experience of work for the vast majority of people. I argue that to reverse this state of affairs, a fundamental shift in our values is required that goes beyond just implementing policies and changing wage relations. Some important insights for this shift can be found in the capabilities approach and the ethics of care.

This dataset comprises information about 1242 lung cancer patients collected by the Medical Oncology Department of the Puerta de Hierro University Hospital of Majadahonda in Madrid, Spain. It includes information about cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as personal and medical data recorded during anamneses. The dataset could assist in data analysis with the aim of discovering relationships between the applied treatment(s), the evolution of the disease, and the associated adverse effects. A greater understanding of treatment effects based on the particular conditions of the patient and the diagnosis could directly impact the healthcare system, helping to improve expectations about lung cancer as well as reducing treatment toxicities and adverse effects.