Radicalization and Deradicalization

What is radicalization, and what drives individuals to become radicalized? Many individuals who hold radical beliefs will never become violent, yet others are compelled to enforce their ideology through violence. Drawing from existing literature, radicalization is defined as a transformation rooted in grievances, networks, enabling environments, and ideology that brings an individual to hold radical beliefs and support the use of violence. Conversely, deradicalization is defined as both a cognitive departure from radical ideology and a behavioral shift away from radical activities and group membership. Competing theories of radicalization and deradicalization have created a debate about whether or not these phenomena must be experienced in a linear fashion, and several scholars posit that strains caused by society can lead to both cognitive and behavioral forms of radicalization. The evidence supporting these theories is demonstrated in the counter-radicalization policies of several Western countries, which use localized policing and community members to address the social and political issues that breed radicalization. Moreover, radicalization and deradicalization are not “one size fits all” phenomena; instead, they are experiences that can differ between ideologies as well as within ideologies. For example, sociopolitical factors specific to one’s nationality can impact the radicalization and deradicalization of individuals and organizations belonging to the same ideology. Despite all this, there are still significant gaps in the study of radicalization and deradicalization that need to be addressed. In academia, two debates must be settled: how should radicalization be defined, and should radicalization be understood as occurring in a linear or nonlinear fashion? In the policy realm, professionals must understand and address the grievances that increase the risk for radicalization to occur through social programs and education initiatives. Finally, policymakers and academics must communicate with each other regarding the research needs for enacting sound policies that will reduce the occurrence of radicalization.

Intrinsic hydroquinone-functionalized aggregation-induced emission core shows redox and pH sensitivity

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorophores exhibit strong fluorescence in an aggregated state but emit no or weak fluorescence in dilute solutions. This emerging class of AIE optical materials comprise a variety of functionalities. Here an AIE luminescence core, 1-hydroquinol-1,2,2-triphenylethene (HQTPE), has been designed and synthesized. This AIE core is simple but is fundamentally important to chemistry because of its intrinsic redox and pH activities. The incorporation of hydroquinone (HQ) moiety into a common AIE core tetraphenylethene (TPE) yields HQTPE with unique fluorescent properties like nonlinear self-quenching over most other AIE-active fluorophores (AIEgens) so far reported. There are differences of photochemical properties between HQTPE, 1-benzoquinol-1,2,2-triphenylethene (QTPE, the oxidized counterpart) and its anions. Interestingly, as the solution concentration is increased, AIEgen HQTPE shows stronger fluorescence but QTPE exhibits rapid quenching of fluorescence in a nonlinear fashion, which are in agreement with theoretical studies. The fluorescence of HQTPE is also highly dependent on the pH value of media. We have further explored HQTPE as an ultrasensitive redox probe and efficient deoxidizer, which could lead to potential applications in health care, food security, environmental monitoring, optic and electronic devices.

Time Hurries on but Does not Fly in Older Age — No Effect of Depressive Symptoms

Research on the commonly known phenomenon of perceived accelerated time passage with increasing age has provided inconsistent results. This could be due to a mediating time-slowing effect of depressive symptoms as the prevalence of depression does also alter with age. Based on a large sample of 380 subjects covering a continuous range of age between 20 and 70 years, we tested whether the assumed age-related effect on time perception is being mediated by symptoms of depression. Cross-sectional differences indicate a weak, but significant nonlinear acceleration of the perceived passage of time especially during mid-adulthood, whereas no further alteration was observed above the age of 60. In contrast to our hypothesis, symptoms of depression did clearly not mediate the effects of age on perceived time passage. Moreover, neither time passage ratings nor age were significantly related to the severity of depressive symptoms. Our results are partly compatible with (and extend) several previous reports, indicating that subjective time passage changes over the life span in a nonlinear fashion; they do not provide evidence for a mediating time-slowing effect of depressive symptoms in nonclinical samples.

An Intrinsic Hydroquinone-Functionalized AIE Core with Dual Sensitivity via Integrated Molecular Design

A new aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminescence core, 1-hydroquinol-1,2,2-triphenylethene (HQTPE), has been designed and synthesized for the first time. This AIE core is amazingly simple but is fundamentally important to chemistry because of its intrinsic redox and pH activities. The incorporation of hydroquinone (HQ) moiety into a common AIE core tetraphenylethene (TPE) yields HQTPE with unique fluorescent properties over most other AIEgens so far reported. There are tremendous differences of photochemcical properties between HQTPE, 1-benzoquinol-1,2,2-triphenylethene (QTPE, the oxidized counterpart) and its anions. Interestingly, as the solution concentration is increased, AIEgen HQTPE shows stronger fluorescence but QTPE exhibits rapid quenching of fluorescence in a nonlinear fashion, which are in agreement with theoretical studies. The fluorescence of HQTPE is also highly dependent of pH value of media. We have further explored HQTPE as an ultrasensitive redox probe and efficient deoxidizer, which could lead to many potential applications in health care, food security, environmental monitoring, optic and electronic devices.

Given (No) Time: A Derridean Reading of Denis Villeneuve's Arrival

The central character of Denis Villeneuve's 2016 film Arrival, Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams), is a linguist tasked with deciphering a logographic alien language in time to avert a seemingly impending global war. I argue that the alien heptapods' logographs exemplify the understanding of language advanced by Jacques Derrida in seminal texts such as Of Grammatology (1976), while also engaging some of the themes concerning time and gift-giving that he develops in later, more explicitly political works. Derrida argues that written signifiers, rather than being a mere vehicle for representing speech, confer their own, supplemental meaning onto communication. Furthermore, he emphasizes that writing is not bound by the same linear temporality as spoken utterances, inasmuch as it is inscribed in a format which allows it to be revisited repeatedly. The significance of this disruption of linear temporality becomes clear in Derrida's later works such as Specters of Marx (1994) and On Cosmopolitanism (2001), where he describes such disruption as a necessary condition for the type of political change he believes is needed in the world. The ability to experience time in a nonlinear fashion allows Banks to prevent the looming war, in an illustration of the connection that Derrida draws between time, violence, and politics. However, it also puts humanity in the heptapods' debt, thus exemplifying the paradox of genuine gift-giving that Derrida claims is impossible. Despite the complex ethical questions it invokes, however, the unique nature of the gift in Arrival signals that this gift might be a genuinely altruistic offering after all.

Positivity Preserving Gradient Approximation with Linear Finite Elements

Preserving positivity precludes that linear operators onto continuous piecewise affine functions provide near best approximations of gradients. Linear interpolation thus does not capture the approximation properties of positive continuous piecewise affine functions. To remedy, we assign nodal values in a nonlinear fashion such that their global best error is equivalent to a suitable sum of local best errors with positive affine functions. As one of the applications of this equivalence, we consider the linear finite element solution to the elliptic obstacle problem and derive that its error is bounded in terms of these local best errors.

Metropolitan governance structure and growth–inequality dynamics in the United States

While much scholarly attention has been paid to ways in which metropolitan areas are politically structured and operated to achieve a dual goal, economic growth, and equality, relatively less is known about the complex relationship between metropolitan governance structures and growth–inequality dynamics. This study investigates how and to what extent metropolitan governance structures shape regional economic growth and inequality trajectories using data for 267 US metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2010. Findings from a two-stage least squares regression analysis suggest that economic growth is associated with governance structures in a nonlinear fashion, with relatively more rapid growth rates in both highly centralized and decentralized metropolitan areas. However, these regions are also found to experience a larger increase in income inequality, indicating an important trade-off to be considered carefully in exploring ways to reform existing governance settings. These findings further suggest that the so-called growth–inequality trade-off may exist not only in their direct interactions but through their connections via governance or other variables.

Kinect-Based Exergames Tailored to Parkinson Patients

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder where motor dysfunction gradually increases. PD-specific dopaminergic drugs can ameliorate symptoms, but neurologists also strongly recommend physiotherapy combined with regular exercise. As there is no known cure for PD, traditional rehabilitation programs eventually tire and bore patients to the point of losing interest and dropping out of those programs just because of the predictability and repeatability of the exercises. This can be avoided with the help of current technology, character-based, interactive 3D games promote physical training in a nonlinear fashion, and can provide experiences that change each time the game is played. Such “exergames” (a combination of the words “exercise” and “game”) challenge patients into performing exercises of varying complexity in a playful and interactive environment. In this work we present a Unity3D-based platform hosting two exergames tailored to PD patients with mild to moderate symptoms. The platform employs Microsoft Kinect, an affordable off-the-shelf motion capture sensor that can be easily installed in both home and clinical settings. Platform navigation and gameplay rely on a collection of gestures specifically developed for this purpose and are based upon training programs tailored to PD. These gestures employ purposeful, large-amplitude movements intended to improve postural stability and reflexes and increase upper and lower limb mobility. When the patient’s movements, as detected by Kinect, “match” a preprogrammed gesture, an onscreen 3D cartoon avatar responds according to the game context at hand. In addition, ingame decision-making aims at improving cognitive reaction.

Dance of Death

This chapter looks at Bob Fosse’s most ambitious film, the autobiographical All That Jazz. All That Jazz follows Joe Gideon, a director and choreographer very much like Fosse who is at a personal and professional crossroads as he prepares to direct a Broadway musical much like Chicago while simultaneously editing a film that looks a lot like Lenny. Following graphic footage of open-heart surgery and a series of metaphoric musical comedy turns by the women in his life, All That Jazz concludes with Gideon presiding over a combined funeral and wake for himself: a glamorous, high-energy floor show to end all floor shows. Here Fosse took the movie musical further than anyone had dared—not only in subject matter, but also in structure and pacing. Fosse tells this “putting on a show” musical in nonlinear fashion, with surprising juxtapositions, fragments, and time leaps.