Reflecting on the link between religion and religious tradition(s) on the one hand and school and education on the other, and reflecting on the reasoning strategy to make sense of this link, people seem to tend strongly to think, argue and reflect in a deductive mode (this point is elaborated in par. 3). This part of the argument is followed by considering the religious claims people make concerning the impact of religion on the day-to-day educational practice, it is, empirically speaking. It is apparently wrong to take this deductive reasoning serious as a road to undisputable and unambiguous links between claims and practices (this point is elaborated in par. 4). Having identified deductive reasoning as wishful thinking or as a supposed but inadequate religious legitimatization of educational practices, which is demonstrated by the empirical educational praxis itself, the final part of the article deals with the question that arises again and anew, viz. how educational practices could be understood in their connection to religious beliefs (see par. 5). Here a paradigm-shift is needed.
From the website of the publisher: "Botanicals, which are basis of many plant food supplements (PFS), constitute the major part of worldwide and historically founded traditional medicines (TM) used to cure diseases and maintain health. A recently published trilogy called “The Art and Science of Traditional Medicine”, published by Science/AAAS (2015a, b, 2014) reveals many research aspects and examples of TM including the complexity of efficacy and safety testing of botanicals. It also exemplifies currently available innovative options to ensure and improve quality of TM (from Traditional Chinese Medicine, to Ayurveda and classic Greek, Roman and Celts’ medicines). The WHO, who in view of their Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023 triggered this trilogy, aims to promote TM as a worldwide affordable health care option." Co-authors Mario Dell’AgliEmail authorChiara Di LorenzoEnrico SangiovanniGary WilliamsonPaolo MeoniPatrizia Restani
The research proposal aims to improve the design and verification process for coastal protection works. With global sea levels rising, the Netherlands, in particular, faces the challenge of protecting its coastline from potential flooding. Four strategies for coastal protection are recognized: protection-closed (dikes, dams, dunes), protection-open (storm surge barriers), advancing the coastline (beach suppletion, reclamation), and accommodation through "living with water" concepts. The construction process of coastal protection works involves collaboration between the client and contractors. Different roles, such as project management, project control, stakeholder management, technical management, and contract management, work together to ensure the project's success. The design and verification process is crucial in coastal protection projects. The contract may include functional requirements or detailed design specifications. Design drawings with tolerances are created before construction begins. During construction and final verification, the design is measured using survey data. The accuracy of the measurement techniques used can impact the construction process and may lead to contractual issues if not properly planned. The problem addressed in the research proposal is the lack of a comprehensive and consistent process for defining and verifying design specifications in coastal protection projects. Existing documents focus on specific aspects of the process but do not provide a holistic approach. The research aims to improve the definition and verification of design specifications through a systematic review of contractual parameters and survey methods. It seeks to reduce potential claims, improve safety, enhance the competitiveness of maritime construction companies, and decrease time spent on contractual discussions. The research will have several outcomes, including a body of knowledge describing existing and best practices, a set of best practices and recommendations for verifying specific design parameters, and supporting documents such as algorithms for verification.
Verduurzaming van de chemische en landbouwsector is essentieel om klimaat- en circulaire doelstellingen te halen. Eén van de mogelijkheden om de chemische sector te vergroenen is om hernieuwbare grondstoffen als ‘feedstock’ voor productie te gebruiken. Biopolymeren die gemaakt worden uit hernieuwbare grondstoffen zijn een interessant groen alternatief voor fossiele plastics. Een veelbelovende groep ‘biobased plastics’ zijn polyhydroxyalkanoaten (PHA). PHAs worden door micro-organismen geproduceerd en kunnen verschillende samenstellingen hebben die de eigenschappen van dit materiaal beïnvloeden. Hierdoor zijn PHA's, blends van PHA en andere biobased materialen voor vele toepassingen geschikt te maken en derhalve een serieuze uitdager van fossiele plastics. Zodra deze biobased producten aan het einde van hun gebruikersfase komen, of als single-use materiaal in bijvoorbeeld de agrarische sector worden toegepast, is het belangrijk naast de mogelijkheden voor hergebruik en recycling inzicht te hebben in de snelheid en volledigheid van de biologische afbraak. In het voorgestelde KIEM-onderzoek wordt biologische afbraak middels industriële en kleinschalige compostering en in natuurlijke milieus bepaald. Onder verschillende omstandigheden, zoals in mariene, estuariene en zoetwatermilieus, en in verschillende bodemtypen zoals zand, klei en veenbodems wordt vastgesteld of effectieve afbraak plaatsvindt. Afbraak tot bouwstenen voor nieuwe polymeren of volledige mineralisatie, de snelheid daarvan en of mogelijk sprake is van vorming van microplastics wordt onderzocht. Stimuleren van biologische afbraak door bio-augmentatie wordt eveneens onderzocht. Een succesvol project draagt bij aan het verbeteren van de business case van zowel producenten van biobased polymeren (Paques Biomaterials) als van de maakindustrie die producten maken van deze groene ‘plastics’ (Maan Biobased Products; Happy Cups). Het projectresultaat geeft aanwijzingen over de impact die het onvermijdelijke PHA--zwerfafval zal hebben op het milieu en hoe deze impact zich verhoudt tot die van fossiel-gebaseerd zwerfplastic. Daarnaast vormt dit project ook de basis voor een nieuwe business case voor gecontroleerde end-of-life verwerkingsmethodieken.
The production, use, disposal and recovery of packaging not only generates massive volumes of waste, it also consumes raw materials, water and energy (Fitzpatrick et al. 2012). Simultaneously, consumers have shown an increasing interest in products incorporating sustainable and social attributes (Kletzan et al., 2006). As a result, environmentally friendly packaging, also called ecofriendly or sustainable packaging, has become mainstream. In this context, packaging is more than just ensuring the product's protection and easing transportation, it is also a communicative tool (Palmer, 2000) and it becomes associated with multiple drivers of the purchasing process. Consequently, companies face pressure to innovate responding to consumer demands, and focusing on sustainable solutions that reduce harmful materials and favour green alternatives for both, the product and the packaging. Although the above has triggered research on consumer choice for sustainable products and alternatives on sustainable packaging, the relation between sustainable packaging and consumer behaviour remains underexplored. This research unpacks this relationship, i.e., empirically verifies which dimensions (recyclability, biodegradability, reusability) of sustainable packaging are perceived and valued by consumers. Put differently, this research investigates consumer behaviour towards the functions of sustainable packaging in terms of product protection, convenience, reliability of information and promotion, and scrutinises the perceived credibility of the associated ethical responsibility claims. It aims to identify those packaging materials and/or sustainability characteristics perceived as more sustainable by consumers as well as the factors influencing actual consumer choice towards sustainable packaged products. We aim to gain more insights in the perceptual frame that different types of consumers apply when exposed to sustainable packaging. To this end, we will make use of revealed preference methods to measure consumer valuations of sustainable packaged products. This game-theoretic approach should provide a more complete depiction of consumers' perceptions and preferences.