Though formal life sentences have been abolished in Norway, forvaring (post-conviction indefinite preventive detention) – a type of informal life sentence – can be imposed on individuals convicted of certain offenses who are considered to be at high risk of future offending. While great attention has been paid to Norway as an “exceptional” penal outlier globally, there is a notable lack of comprehensive knowledge about its indefinite penal sanction. Drawing on extensive historical research and legal and policy documentary analysis as well as leveraging a unique national dataset on the total forvaring population, this article provides the first international in-depth assessment of the evolution and implementation of Norway’s ultimate penalty. In so doing, it highlights significant disparities between policy ambitions and current practice and questions the extent to which the sanction of forvaring can be considered an “exceptional” approach to life imprisonment. It is argued that the development and growth of this type of informal life sentence can be seen as the epicenter of the impact of a more punitive ideology in Norway, emphasizing the need to move away from the concept of penal exceptionalism to better understand the full spectrum and practice of Norwegian and Nordic penality.

The debate over whether leaders are born or made remains a persistent theme within academic literature. In an era shaped by rapid digitalisation and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), new opportunities have emerged to advance both leadership theory and practice. This study explores the composition and development of leaders in society, with a particular focus on how technology, specifically AI, can enhance leadership learning and development. As digital technologies become increasingly integrated into all facets of life, this research addresses existing knowledge gaps by re-examining the longstanding debate on the origins of leadership. It uses this debate as a foundational analysis to assess the potential of AI in training and developing future leaders. The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether leaders are inherently born or developed through experience and learning, while simultaneously examining the role of AI as a tool for leadership training. By reviewing existing literature and assessing how technological tools can support leadership development, the study aims to contribute both to theoretical understanding and practical application. A Grounded Ethnography methodology was employed, gathering participant reflections from trials using the ChatGPT AI application to support leadership learning. This approach generated primary data on user experience and evaluated the feasibility of AI as a development tool. Additionally, Grounded Theory techniques were applied to analyse Likert scale responses measuring participants perceived growth in leadership knowledge through chatbot interactions. A total of 12 participants engaged in a series of questionnaires and a live AI chatbot session, providing insights into user experience, knowledge acquisition, and the practical application of AI in leadership development. Findings from this doctoral study suggest that AI chatbots can be effective, supportive tools for enhancing leadership knowledge. While the study does not definitively resolve whether leaders are born or made, it proposes that this debate may become increasingly irrelevant in the face of advancing technology. The capacity of AI to supplement or even reshape traditional leadership development models signals a shift in focus toward leveraging innovation for training. This research underscores the transformative impact of AI on leadership development. It demonstrates that AI can deliver scalable, cost-effective, and personalised training, tailored to individual strengths and learning needs. The study contributes to Theory by integrating AI with leadership and learning frameworks, notably enriching Cognitive Load Theory and operational leadership strategies. Practically, it introduces AI-driven, adaptive learning pathways that facilitate real-time feedback and reflection. As digitalisation and AI continue to evolve, this research offers future leaders access to global best practices and interdisciplinary knowledge, fostering more dynamic and responsive leadership development.

Introduction: Evidence-based practice (EBP) plays a crucial role in improving care outcomes in critical care settings. However, its integration into nursing practice remains challenging due to organisational hierarchies, workload pressures, and uneven access to formal knowledge. This study explores how critical care nurses access, use, and integrate knowledge, with a focus on how organisational culture, leadership, and team dynamics influence EBP implementation across two acute care sites in England. Methods: The study adopted a focused ethnographic design, guided by Spradley’s Developmental Research Sequence. Data were collected over eight months through 210 hours of non-participant observation, 36 semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. Analysis was supported using NVivo 12, applying iterative thematic coding. Reflexivity and member checking were used to ensure analytical rigour and trustworthiness. Results: Five central themes were identified: access to formal guidelines, the role of peer learning, organisational culture and hierarchy, the value of experiential knowledge, and barriers to EBP. While both sites demonstrated reliance on blended sources of knowledge, they differed in how organisational factors shaped access and engagement. Site A showed stronger support through mentorship, simulation-based learning, and active leadership. In contrast, Site B was marked by rigid structures and informal, inconsistent communication of evidence. Conclusion: Critical care nurses draw on both formal evidence and informal knowledge, but the conditions of their work environment influence how and when this knowledge is used. Investment in leadership, protected learning time, and inclusive communication practices is essential to support sustainable engagement with EBP in high-pressure settings.

Editorial for special issue on relationships between people and their companion animals.

‘Biphenyl-2-ol’ and ‘Sodium 2-biphenylolate’ (CAS/EC No. 90-43-7/201-993-5 and 132-27-4/205-055-6) are known with the INCI names ‘o-Phenylphenol’ and Sodium ‘o-Phenylphenate’, respectively, as cosmetic ingredients. The use of o-Phenylphenol as a preservative is currently authorised in entry 7 of Annex V to the Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No.1223/2009, with a maximum concentration of 0.15 % (as phenol) in leave-on and 0.2 % (as phenol) in rinse-off cosmetic products. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) adopted an opinion on o-Phenylphenol (OPP), Sodium o-Phenylphenate (SOPP), and Potassium o-Phenylphenate (POPP) (SCCS/1555/15) in June 2015, later revised on 15 December 2015, with the following conclusion: ‘Based on the information provided, no conclusions of safe use can be drawn for Sodium o-Phenylphenate and Potassium o-Phenylphenate’. In 2018, the SCCS released an addendum to the above scientific opinion, specifically addressing Sodium o-Phenylphenate, Potassium o-Phenylphenate, and MEA o-Phenylphenate. The SCCS concluded that ‘Due to the lack of relevant information, the SCCS is unable to answer the question regarding the safe use level of sodium-OPP, potassium-OPP, and MEA-OPP. In the SCCS's view, a direct comparison between the safety of o-Phenylphenate (OPP) and its three compounds cannot be made’. The conclusions of this opinion resulted in amending entry 7 of Annex V to the Cosmetics Regulation, removing from the list the previously authorised OPP salts. It should be noted that o-Phenylphenol, Sodium and Potassium o-Phenylphenate are active ingredients in broad-spectrum fungicides surface biocides. Under EU biocidal Regulation (EU) 528/2012, o-Phenylphenol has been evaluated for the different product types (PTs) such as PT 1, PT 2, PT4, PT 6 as a preservative ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 % w/w. The European Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of ECHA issued in December 2022 an opinion recommending among others a classification for o-Phenylphenol as ‘Carcinogen of Category 2’. Following the RAC opinion, the European Commission may propose a classification for o-Phenylphenol as a ‘Carc.2’ (CLP Regulation Annex VI entry). According to Article 15(1) of the Cosmetics Regulation ‘the use in cosmetic products of substances classified as CMR substances, of category 2, under Part 3 of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 shall be prohibited. However, a substance classified in category 2 may be used in cosmetic products where the substance has been evaluated by the SCCS and found safe for use in cosmetic products’. In view of these provisions, regulatory measures must be adopted by the Commission services within 15 months of the classification as CMR 1A or 1B of the substance(s) concerned in Part 3 of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. In December 2023, the Commission services received a dossier to defend the safe use of o-Phenylphenol, as well as its sodium salt (CAS/EC No. 90-43-7/201-993-5 and 132-27-4/205-055-6) as preservatives in cosmetic products according to Article 15(1) of the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. The Commission, therefore, requests the SCCS to carry out a safety assessment on these ingredients in view of the information provided.

This article reviews Fernando Bermejo-Rubio’s monograph, They Suffered under Pontius Pilate: Jewish Anti-Roman Resistance and the Crosses at Golgotha (2023). This book is the latest publication arguing for the ‘seditious Jesus’ hypothesis, the idea that Jesus was an armed revolutionary. It is argued that the volume rightly critiques some theological tendency in New Testament scholarship to downplay or ignore violence inherent in the Jesus tradition, but the argument that the men crucified with Jesus were either some of his disciples or sympathetic to his violent cause fails to convince. Despite arguing for historical minimalism in relation to the Gospel material, Bermejo-Rubio builds his case on the material he judges to be historical, but that is better explained by the imagination of the evangelists.

Academics have regularly debated the question of how the Galli, priests of Magna Mater/Cybele, fit into the Roman social milieu. Several have argued that membership of the Galli was restricted to foreign citizens only (citing Domitian’s legislation) whilst others have argued that the chief priests—the Archigalli—were Roman citizens, while the ‘lower’ Galli were non-citizens, thus separating both within the Cybele cult. These views remain prevalent in modern discussions on the cult, and have not undergone significant scrutiny or analysis. By assessing these views and the existing material and literary evidence for the Galli, this article argues that the Archigalli and Galli were indistinct in terms of behaviour and affiliation. Moreover, this article uses archaeological and literary evidence to suggest that the Galli most likely included Roman citizens among their members, contrasting with the prevailing view of them as foreign residents in Rome.

This study investigated the relationship between isokinetic muscle strength metrics, landing biomechanics, and their asymmetries, in females. Twenty-three female team sport athletes completed unilateral forward drop landings, and isokinetic muscle strength assessment of the knee extensors and flexors, on both limbs. Discrete two-dimensional kinematics of the trunk, hip, knee, and ankle in the sagittal and frontal plane and peak GRF were recorded during the drop landings. Novel, task-specific isokinetic strength metrics related to the landing task, such as peak concentric and eccentric torque, angle specific torque (AST), functional range and traditional/functional ratios were quantified. Asymmetry for kinematic and muscle strength data were quantified based on the individual variability of the task and the population mean and smallest worthwhile change. Functional concentric flexor range explained 15–18% of the variance in peak frontal trunk (P = 0.003) and hip motion (P = 0.007) and 22% in peak frontal knee motion (P = 0.005), when combined with the functional flexion ratio. Peak eccentric extensor torque explained 13–14% of the variance in peak sagittal hip (P = 0.014) and knee (P = 0.009) motion. Asymmetry in concentric extensor AST explained 28% of the variance in peak knee frontal plane asymmetry (P = 0.010), however the direction of asymmetry was rarely present on the same side for kinematic and strength variables. Novel and task specific isokinetic strength metrics explained small but significant variances in sagittal and frontal plane landing kinematics and asymmetry, which have previously been related to ACL injury risk.

E-Waste management in Nigeria remains predominantly informal, with unlicensed collectors focusing on extracting valuable materials, primarily for export. Despite policy interventions, including the revised 2022 E-Waste framework and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project, which introduced collection centers in Lagos and bolstered Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), progress has been uneven. This comparative longitudinal study examined informal E-Waste processing practices over a six-year period (2017–2023) to evaluate the impact of these initiatives. Using a mixed-methods approach, including content analysis and field interviews with informal collectors, government officials, and NGOs, our findings reveal that profit is the primary motivator for informal collectors, while E-Waste fractions that are not considered profitable are often discarded in environmentally harmful ways. The findings indicate persistent noncompliance with regulations and stagnant or declining income levels for informal collectors. The revised 2022 regulation resulted in a significant increase in registrations, with EPRON recording its highest number of producers, with 39 in total, including 25.6% renewals and 74.4% new registrations. Although the revised framework and EPR efforts have achieved limited success, critical gaps in implementation and outreach remain, with minimal improvements in collectors’ awareness of health and environmental risks. This study underscores the need for targeted training and financial incentives to redirect E-Waste flows toward formal channels, thereby more effectively safeguarding the environment and wellbeing.

While we were completing this special issue, in spring 2025, three possible changes to the Italian citizenship law developed that could lead to a deep transformation in the way Italian citizenship has been historically ruled and produce multiple effects on the citizenship/mobility nexus. We therefore felt the need to acknowledge them through adding this collective post-script, even if it is too early to provide a comprehensive in-depth analysis.