Varying Degrees of Animal Reification by Stakeholders in Experimental Research

The attitude towards animals in research depends on both the role of the stakeholder and their personal characteristics. Most studies on the subject have been carried out on stakeholders from biomedical research institutes with comparatively few sociological studies on stakeholders from agricultural research centers. Previous findings suggest that animal caretakers at agricultural research centers felt undervalued by the hierarchy, and that animal reification was present in the sector. This may indicate that a lack of consideration for the animal subjects correlates with an inadequate sensitivity towards humans. Since these findings were published twenty years ago, there has been an increasing emphasis on the importance and actions of ethics committees in research, animal welfare bodies, and public concern for animals, which may have impacted the current perspective. To better understand current degrees of animal reification amongst stakeholders of agricultural research, we conducted semi-directive interviews at a leading agricultural research institute in France (INRAE). The interviews targeted both animal caretakers and researchers who were involved in the study of infectious diseases in livestock, or the behavior of horses and quails. After having transcribed the recorded interviews into text, semi-automatized analyses were carried out to categorize them into distinct groups, from which the most characteristic words and sentences were extracted. Three groups of stakeholders were identified: (i) animal caretakers involved in invasive infectious disease research; (ii) animal caretakers involved in behavioral research; and (iii) researchers. The findings show that animal caretakers felt acknowledged by their hierarchy. It is possible the increased skill criteria for people recruited into this position over the years, combined with greater prospects for continuous learning and development in the profession, may have fostered a more respectful regard across the hierarchy. The animal caretakers clearly expressed that their primary objective was to successfully execute the research protocols and that the animals were viewed as prototypes for research, with which they could, on occasion, develop a bond with. The bond was more important for animal caretakers involved in behavioral studies than for those involved in the study of infectious diseases, where invasive biological sampling and restraining of the animals is required. Researchers prioritized the procurement of robust data to test hypotheses, analyze phenomena, and publish their results. Their concern for the animals rather reflected the views of the general public opposed to thought-out personal opinions on the matter; this is possibly due to their comparatively limited interaction with the animals. They considered the animals in abstract terms that were indicative of reification. This study concludes that animal reification is still present, albeit to varying degrees amongst the stakeholders.

Design and Application of Electrical Machines

Design and Application of Electrical Machines is a Special Issue of Energies. In this Special Issue, authors from various research centers present the results of their scientific research on electrical machines. In eighteen papers, they presented simulation studies, design works, and experimental tests on built prototypes.

Different forms of hydrogen production: a review and future perspectives

There was a significant increase in the concern with climate issues, among them highlighted as the derivation of greenhouse gases from the burning fossil fuels, leading several research centers and researchers to seek new sources of less polluting energy, independent of the burn-based matrix of fuels. In this context, the present work has as main presenter a literature review, perspective and comparisons regarding the use of hydrogen as a clean energy source, presenting three main ways of obtaining it: a) through electrolysis using renewable sources; b) biohydrogen production, based on the photosynthesis of plants and algae; c) production through biodigesters.

Interview with Jack Santino

Isabel Machado interviews Jack Santino on Public Performances: Studies in the Carnivalesque and Ritualesque (2017). Interview Date: Sep 17, 2020 Dr. Jack Santino is professor of folklore and popular culture and has served as director of the Bowling Green Center for Popular Culture Studies. He was the Alexis de Tocqueville Distinguished Professor at the University of Paris, Sorbonne, 2010–2011. He was a Fulbright Scholar to Northern Ireland and has conducted research in Spain and France. His documentary film on Pullman Porters, Miles of Smiles, Years of Struggle, received four Emmy awards. His research centers on rituals and celebrations, with a particular focus on carnival and political and public ritual as reflective of political, social, and cultural identity. He is the author of numerous books and articles. (Maybe also mention that he is in the JFS board?)

World-level ecologists in Chile: Oldtimers, newcomers, and the bypassed

Background A team of 3 scientometrists led by John Ioannidis published in 2020 an extensive and updated database (ca. 6.9 million researchers in 22 disciplines and 176 sub-disciplines), ordering them according to a composite bibliometric index that measures their whole trajectory (career-long) impact and their annual impact at year 2019. They reported the top 100,000 scientists (1.45% across all disciplinary fields) or the top 2% of each subfield discipline, thus publishing the ranking of ca. 150,000 researchers worldwide. Methods and findings We filtered that information for the disciplinary and sub-disciplinary areas corresponding to Ecology and identified a total of 14 ecologists with residence in Chile that appear in either of those two worldwide rankings. We report their measured productivity as both whole trajectory (career-long) and as annual impact at year 2019. We attribute their high registered productivity to their training at the doctoral level in prestigious foreign universities, their academic positions in internationally recognized Chilean universities, and their participation in state-funded research centers of scientific excellence. Exceptions to the rule are presented. Conclusions The 14 ecologists identified with the scientometric algorithm proposed by Ioannidis and coworkers include, but are not restricted, to the most cited ecologists in Chile. We put forth possible reasons for some puzzling omissions from these rankings.

Innovation Dynamics Through the Encouragement of Knowledge Spin-Off From Touristic Destinations

The present approach aims to explore the innovation dynamic that may lead to knowledge opportunities in a specific regional cluster characterized by a strong touristic positioning. The new technology-based companies, namely the spin-out created from university research, represent a possible and reliable approach to the economy stimulation. This said, it is mandatory to explore the topics that will allow a reflection on the networks associated with innovation processes, developed from the relations between the public universe (including universities and research centers), and the new technology or humanistic based companies. This chapter intends to be a contribution to the discussion of innovation clusters and sets the preliminary issues to discuss and implement an innovation ecosystem. This chapter explores and reflects the importance of regional innovation clusters dynamics, setting and describing the steps and specific strategical procedures in order to implement an innovation ecosystem, using as example a specific touristic territory.

Educational System and Institutions in Persian Civilization: An Historical Description and its Impacts on Present Iran

Persian civilization had its rich culture since the pre-Islamic era. It left its impacts on those areas where the Persian language had adopted like contemporary India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Tajikistan, and the Central Asian States. Its pre and post-Islamic educational system-generated hundreds of scholars which are well-nominated all over the world along with their inventions, philosophies, literature, and poetry. This article highlights an educational system in the Persian civilization since 2500 BC. Educational institutions before the conquest of Islam and post-Islamic changing patterns in it are going to be discussed in this article. There is also a focus upon educational institutions in modern Iran before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 that became the reason for the end of Pehlavi dynasty. Its hypothesis is that the present socio-economic and political development in Iran is a reason to strengthen the educational system that is protecting Persian civilization for centuries. The research is based on theoretically and historically descriptive, analytical, comparative, and qualitative and methods. The data is collected from books, research journals, newspapers, internet interviews, results of different dissertations, and personal visits to Iran in which attending several seminars, workshops, and training classes including visiting several universities and Research Centers in Qom and Tehran

Historiography of Arabic influences on Mozarabic: theory and history (711–1492)

The present research focuses on the historiographic aspect of Arabic influence on Mozarabic between 711 and 1492. Among the goals of the present research, we cannot but mention: 1) consideration of the most explored issues in Mozarabic studies; 2) identification of the research centers and names related to Mozarabic studies; 3) systematization of contents of the most significant works and research papers on the above-mentioned topic; 4) review of the language contacts that have taken place during the selected period as reflected in the accessible literature. The studies of this topic are far from being numerous while the trace of medieval Arab Spain remains visible by now in a variety of forms that make the chosen topic relevant. Regarding the outcomes of the work, it has been shown that the problem under analysis is not among the most researched ones; geographically it is mostly connected with Spain; the suggested works of scholars have some noticeable drawbacks and, lastly, the sphere of language contact being applied to the issue is underdeveloped and can be viewed via or on the level of three dimensions: 1) phonetical; 2) lexical and 3) graphical.

Consequences of COVID-19 on my experiment of gene overexpression in beans

<p>My name is Salma Meléndez and I am currently a graduate in Agrogenomic Sciences. In March 2020, when COVID-19 was detected in Mexico, I was in my eighth semester of my undergraduate degree. At that time, he had an experiment of overexpression of a gene in bean roots, in order to explore its function during symbiosis with rhizobial bacteria. Unfortunately, the laboratory and the entire campus canceled their face-to-face activities in order to reduce the risk of contagion. An alternative was to take the experimental plants to my house to give the proper care, however, the situation became difficult as I did not have the space or the required conditions at home. On the other hand, other research centers with which we had collaboration agreements also canceled access, such is the case of the Optical Research Center, where we used the confocal microscope to detect subcellular location of proteins. The closure of institutions allowed me to write theoretical parts of my thesis, however, the experimental phase was definitely affected for at least six months. The experiment with the plants was almost completely lost. In the subsequent months I had the opportunity to re-enter my institution; however, under strict conditions and on staggered days, which made certain measurements that require daily continuity difficult. Currently, the laboratory is not as it used to look, full of colleagues sharing results and difficulties, exchanging advice and even certain materials. I think the pandemic has pushed us to do our work more individually and slowly. Consequently, my degree was delayed and transferred from 2020 to 2021. There are still many challenges to overcome, although activities have not been fully restored, science does not stop and we have found a way to face it, slowly but surely.</p>

Reality jurisprudence and its impact on legalizing matrimonial property

This research paper discusses the jurisprudence of reality and the reality of legalizing matrimonial property, along with expected familial problems upon application of matrimonial property. It concludes that it is prohibited to legalize or codify matrimonial property. The necessity of establishing research centers that follow the fatwa institutions or academies. It is no longer sufficient for understanding reality to follow up on social, historical, political, and possibly economic and medical studies subject to jurisprudence research. Rather, it has gone beyond that into the necessity of engaging realistic critical study.