bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trilateral Dynamics of India–China–Nepal: Assessing Geo-strategic Relations in South Asia
Authors: Barik Muralidhar , Laishram Chinglen
Published: November 2024

The strategic importance of South Asia stems from its natural resources and advantageous location. However, in recent years, China and India’s rivalry in the subcontinent has altered the geo-strategic landscape in the region. Though much had been explored in the trilateral dynamics of India–China–Nepal, comparative analyses to empirically assess the relative strength of the relationships have been overlooked. Hence, the current paper examined the dynamics of these three countries by evaluating their ability to uphold their ties. It looked at India’s neighbourhood first policy with a particular focus on Nepal, and it further examined how China uses the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a springboard to utilise it as a geopolitical manoeuvre to offset India’s hegemony in the area. On the empirical front, the paper examined the pattern of investment from China’s BRI in Nepal and contrasted it with China’s overall investment trends in Nepal. The paper argues that although BRI investment in Nepal is increasing, there is a significant decline in the overall investment from China. In contrast, India’s investment in Nepal had an upward trajectory that surpassed China’s investment volume. The paper discussed potential ways to achieve trilateral relations among these three countries by promoting sustained cooperation.
Authoritarian Surveillance and Public Support for Digital Governance Solutions
Authors: Karpa David , Rochlitz Michael
Published: November 2024

This study investigates factors influencing support for digital governance solutions and compares this support between autocracies and democracies. We conduct survey experiments in Russia, Germany, Turkey, the United States, and Estonia, and find that awareness of potential misuse of digital governance tools by the government reduces support. Importantly, while this effect has previously been documented for China, we find it irrespective of regime type for an autocracy, a hybrid regime and three democracies. Individuals relying on government-controlled information sources are more likely to endorse digital governance tools. Our study challenges prior findings by indicating that gaps in public service quality do not boost support. Instead, satisfaction with government services correlates with trust in the government’s capacity to implement digital governance solutions.
The economics of pandemics: Some useful lessons from the past
Authors: Miotti Delio
Published: November 2024

The mortality crisis induced by historical pandemics has had relevant effects. It expressed a regulatory role in the balance between population and available resources. It reduced the human capital available to work, making greater its bargaining capacity, resulting in an increase in wages. The disappearance of some of the landowners favoured a process of unification of landed properties and a concentration of wealth. The regulatory function of economic processes fostered by the mortality crisis is attenuated with the start of the Industrial Revolution, to the point of almost extinguishing itself in today's pandemic crisis. This notwithstanding, the strategies to combat mortality impose high economic costs and intervene to alter the functionality of a globalized economy. Pandemics continue to represent an element of caesura between historical periods, with a clear distinction between a before and an after. This article describes past pandemics and identifies possible lessons that can be drawn in the economic field from those events, being aware of how distant our connected and globalized world is from those times. Covid-19 has so far caused the deaths of more than two million people. In relative terms the figure is very low in comparison to previous pandemics. The much lower mortality is matched by an incomparable economic damage.
L’aspetto vero della Sicilia: Nature and aristocracy in Tomasi di Lampedusa's Il Gattopardo
Authors: Ferrini Roberto
Published: November 2024

This paper examines the representation of the Sicilian natural environment in Tomasi di Lampedusa’s Il Gattopardo. I first highlight the anti-anthropocentric stance that emerges from the novel. Next, I explore the ambivalent relationship between Sicilian nature and the class conflict between aristocracy and bourgeoisie central to the narrative, also emphasizing the influence of Leopardi’s late works, particularly La ginestra. On the one hand, through the contemplation of the natural environment, the protagonist, Fabrizio, manages to ‘zoom out’ from contemporary historical events, gaining a perspective that diminishes social conflicts by comparing human insignificance to the eternity and magnificence of nature. On the other hand, nature in the novel shares key characteristics with aristocracy, creating a striking affinity between the two. Consequently, nature becomes entangled in the same class conflict it seemed to transcend. By aligning itself with the aristocracy, nature serves as a tool for the resentment of a historically defeated class, with the bourgeoisie's modernizing mission in Sicily ultimately undermined by the inherent qualities of the Sicilian landscape.
Intelligent-based approach for parameters identification and control of fractional order systems
Authors: Kanzari Bilel , Taieb Adel , Telmoudi Achraf Jabeur , Chaari Abdelkader
Published: November 2024

The optimization algorithms for identification and control processes take more and more place in the industrial domain. However, determining a control law for fractional systems remains challenging for researchers today. This paper presents a simple method for using a fractional PID (FOPID) corrector to regulate a class of fractional systems that show a stable step response. The procedure is based on an algorithmic identification to assimilate the fractional system into a simple model. Optimization methods were used. Using techniques like Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) to ascertain the parameters of the basic model, a first-order system with delay. Then, the FOPID controller will be calculated using Ziegler–Nichols methods and optimization algorithms to stabilize the real process. Better performance Overshoot and Settling time as well as minimal Energy control effort are benefits of the proposed design. To confirm that the fractional regulator is robust which is optimized by the best-chosen method (PSO), the parameters of the chosen process will be randomly varied. Through two numerical simulations, the efficiency of the suggested method has been confirmed.
Forum on Canada and the United Nations: Why Canada should marginalize the UN
Authors: Cunningham Jack
Published: November 2024

The history and current workings of the United Nations suggest it is not an effective vehicle for the promotion of Canadian interests and values. As it has generally been, the Security Council is paralyzed by great power vetoes, while the General Assembly has an overwhelming majority that reliably votes against the West, and against Canada. The creation of the postwar liberal international order owed more to other multilateral organizations and groupings with which Canada is associated than the UN. In its core function of underwriting global security and stability, the UN has generally failed and often been irrelevant, with the crucial understandings reached between the great powers directly. In an age of increased international polarization, the UN will remain of only modest utility and Canada would be better advised to forward its values and interests primarily through other multilateral vehicles, working with like-minded states.
A small neighborhood fabric recommender system based on user historical behavior and preference
Authors: He Zhenzhen , Ma Yunjiao , Xiang Jun , Zhang Ning , Pan Ruru
Published: November 2024

In the current landscape, textile companies need rapid, precise, and personalized assistance, especially as digitalization and information, such as e-commerce and websites, are developing rapidly. Textile enterprises can mine user preferences to make personalized recommendations of appropriate textile fabrics; this is not only in keeping with current trends, but more importantly, can control production costs and improve user satisfaction. To support the transformation of textile enterprises to a small-batch and multi-variety business model, this paper proposes a fabric recommendation system; specifically, a fabric recommender system based on user historical behavior and preference is proposed. The proposed method is mainly based on the integration of preference, user activity, and rating; firstly, according to the fabric products purchased by the user, the features of the fabric are mined using a neural network to obtain the user’s preferences; secondly, neighbors with similar user behaviors are found according to similarity in users’ activity; and finally, understanding of the fabric is enhanced through a matrix based on the fabric ratings of the user. A focus on recommendation algorithm parameterization, including selection, thresholding, and neighborhood optimization, elevates the recommendation quality. A user–fabric dataset was used for experimental verification, and included the user’s purchase score of the fabric and the image of the fabric. Comparative analyses demonstrate superior precision with fewer neighborhoods, achieving a score of up to 0.93. Our research provides insights into user behavior and personalization, guiding future recommender system design and optimization.
The ‘bad’ pasts of ‘good’ norms: explaining the opium ban through the postcolonial lens
Authors: Sharma Devika
Published: November 2024

The global proscription of the opium trade and its non-medical consumption took almost a century to evolve. Within International Relations, opium’s ban is explained as part of the normative order that culminated in the global anti-drugs prohibition regime of the 1900s. The conventional view presents the history of opium’s ban as a ‘bad’ imperial and local practice discontinued through the activism of ‘good’ transnational actors. However, seen through the postcolonial lens, this simplistic narrative is upended. By centering hierarchical power relations, the postcolonial lens demands a reflective interrogation into ‘global’ standards to expose parochial subjectivities that are otherwise couched in the universalistic language of modernity, rationality and progress. Though the ban on opium challenged an imperial practice, this article shows that it did so with the help of discourses that were themselves imperialistic. An analysis of the underlying evangelical, racial and scientific discourses illustrate how it was in the context of a specific worldview that opium came to be vilified. It also explains how the anti-opium views of the newly decolonized countries like India and China were suffused with the ethical visions of the anti-colonial and nation-building movements. A granular interrogation into opium’s history is necessary as we try and work our way toward a more nuanced and textured understanding of the international normative order while eschewing a one-dimensional, unproblematic, and simplified understanding of norms in IR.
A Note on the Equipment and Machinery for Democracy in Classical Athens: A Rhetorical Perspective on Material Evidence
Authors: Enos Richard Leo
Published: November 2024

The relationship between democracy and literacy is a longstanding topic of interest both to contemporary communication scholars as well as historians of rhetoric. Democracy and literacy are both social activities. Focusing on the Classical Period of Athens ( ca. 480–323 BCE) as a specific site of study, this essay argues that the dynamic interaction of these two activities was facilitated by the development and application of technological equipment. That is, technology, in this case, refers to the equipment and machinery ancient Athenians utilized that enhanced their literate skills in order to facilitate the performance of democratic activities. Archaeological excavations over the last century, especially at the Agora, have yielded artifacts that provide evidence of the technological implements used in democratic activities. This study offers an analysis of recently excavated artifacts arguing that Athenians developed and employed equipment that utilized literacy in order to enhance the civic processes of democracy. This field study advances the conclusion that the relationship between democracy and literacy in classical Athens requires an understanding of a third factor: the impact of technology.
Scrub typhus masquerading as acute acalculous cholecystitis in a child – a case report
Authors: Balasubramanian Padma Chitra , Guduru Lasya , Reddy Mounika , Sundaramurthy Raja , Arora Abhishek J
Published: November 2024

We describe a case of scrub typhus in a 12-year old boy who presented with symptoms mimicking acute acalculous cholecystitis. He tested positive for anti-scrub typhus IgM antibodies. Treatment with oral azithromycin led to significant improvement and resolution of symptoms. Thus it is important to consider scrub typhus as a differential diagnosis for an acute abdomen in endemic areas. Timely diagnosis may avoid unnecessary suffering.
The Effects of Age and Cultural Differences on the Relationship Between Aging Anxiety and Ageism: Focusing on Social Identity Theory
Authors: Kikuchi Akari , Martin Peter , Gondo Yasuyuki
Published: November 2024

This study aims to test the hypothesis that the association between aging anxiety and ageism will be enhanced by age differently in the United States and in Japan. Data were obtained from online surveys in the United States ( Mage = 40.44, SD = 14.98; 39.7% women; n = 886) and in Japan ( Mage = 50.32, SD = 16.38; 52.7% women; n = 556). Our findings illuminate that the levels of aging anxiety in the Japanese participants were positively associated with their levels of ageism regardless of their age. On the other hand, for the American participants, the level of aging anxiety was positively associated with higher ageism only among older adults, and not among younger adults. Differences in lifespan or traditional values are thought to have alleviated the strength of the association between aging anxiety and ageism.
Who We Are and How We Talk About Volunteering: Older Adult Volunteers’ Perspective
Authors: Han Molly , Zhang Yan Bing
Published: November 2024

Guided by the Communicative Ecology Model of Successful Aging (CEMSA), we conducted an interview study with 25 older adult volunteers ( M = 71.8 years old, SD = 5.19) to explore how they discursively negotiated their identities and communicated about volunteering during the aging process. The conventional view of old age and aging tends to be negative, however, our findings from the older adult volunteers’ accounts revealed positive themes regarding their self-categorization and volunteering experiences. These themes include: (a) positive representations of self and other older adult volunteers, (b) transcendence of negative perceptions of old age and aging through volunteering involvement, and (c) communication about engaging in selection, optimization, and compensation in managing volunteer work. Our findings carry significant theoretical and practical implications, underscoring how positive self-categorization and adaptive management of volunteering remarkably contribute to building an ecology of successful aging.
Predictors of parental stress in families with gifted children: The role of cognitive and emotional challenges
Authors: Renati Roberta , Pfeiffer Steven , Bonfiglio Natale Salvatore
Published: November 2024

This study examines the unique challenges of raising gifted children, focusing on two child-related risk factors for parental stress: cognitive asynchrony and stress management abilities. Path analysis revealed that poor stress management in children is associated with greater parental stress, as measured by the Difficult Child (DC) and Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction (PCDI) scales of the Parenting Stress Index. Cognitive discrepancies, particularly between Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) and Processing Speed Index (PSI), were found to increase maternal stress but not paternal stress, highlighting a differential impact on parents. Additionally, the study identified a spillover effect, in which stress in one parent influences the other, amplifying family stress. These findings suggest that cognitive and emotional factors act as independent sources of stress, underscoring the need for interventions tailored to families of gifted children, with a focus on enhancing emotional competence to promote resilience and family well-being.
Advances in the use of dexmedetomidine during the perioperative period to improve postoperative sleep quality in patients undergoing surgery
Authors: Ji Chengying , Su Xiaodong , Gao Chaohui , Liu Qijing , Liu Ying , Fu Qian , Gao Boxiong , Liu Yatao
Published: November 2024

There is a high incidence of postoperative sleep and sleep architecture disorders in patients undergoing surgery, and dexmedetomidine (DEX) is commonly used to improve postoperative sleep quality and ameliorate the adverse effects of poor sleep on various organ systems. The continuous intraoperative intravenous infusion of DEX, the addition of DEX to postoperative intravenous analgesia pumps, and the continuous infusion of DEX after admission to the intensive care unit are often used clinically to improve postoperative sleep quality at doses of 0.1 to 0.7 μg/kg/hour, but the effects of DEX on sleep quality and structure identified in these studies have been inconsistent. Thus, it is unclear whether DEX improves postoperative sleep quality. The various methods of administering DEX to improve postoperative sleep quality have differing effects, the route used modifies the effect of DEX on sleep structure, and the intrinsic mechanism whereby DEX improves sleep quality remains to be fully investigated. In the present review, we describe new directions for future research into the effects of DEX on postoperative sleep quality and the mechanisms involved, which should help guide the design of further studies. This narrative review was completed according to the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA).
The challenges of cascade genetic testing in hereditary cancer syndromes: A few ethical considerations
Authors: Battistuzzi Linda
Published: November 2024

Progress in the discovery and understanding of cancer susceptibility genes and ever-cheaper genomic technologies are generating precious opportunities to optimize the identification of individuals with a hereditary cancer predisposition.

Any such effort will have a more significant impact if it prioritizes those most at risk of developing cancer. This premise is central to cascade genetic testing, in which healthcare professionals encourage cancer patients carrying a predisposing gene variant to discuss the implications of their test results with their at-risk relatives so that, ideally, all the at-risk individuals in that family have the option to seek genetic counseling and testing in turn. Among the relatives found to have the gene variant, those who have developed cancer can then access targeted treatment and follow-up, those who are asymptomatic can benefit from enhanced preventive measures, while those who test negative can avoid unnecessary, costly, and time-consuming screening.

Despite its life-saving potential, cascade genetic testing in hereditary cancer syndromes is often reported to have disappointing uptake rates, particularly among historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities, for reasons that include barriers in intrafamilial genetic risk communication and low health and genetic literacy.

This paper will discuss the challenges of cascade genetic testing in hereditary cancer syndromes, addressing some of the ethical questions arising from its current model, from strategies aimed at improving its uptake, as well as from alternative approaches to identifying asymptomatic individuals who may carry a cancer- associated pathogenic variant.
The Cross-Sectional Association of Health Literacy With Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in the Turkish Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ünlü Gazi , Altındiş Selma
Published: November 2024

Objective

To meta-analytically investigate the cross-sectional association between health literacy (HL) and healthy lifestyle behaviors (HLBs) in the Turkish population.

Data Source

Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, DergiPark, TRDizin, and Türkiye Council of Higher Education Thesis Center.

Exclusion Criteria

Not accessible in Turkish or English in full text; not on the Turkish population; addressed e-HL, digital HL, mobile HL or corporate HL; addressed HL in a specific context; did not seek any association between HL and HLBs.

Inclusion Criteria

Cross-sectional studies that reported a correlation coefficient or any convertible equal statistical measure for the association between HL and HLBs.

Data Extraction

Two reviewers independently screened the articles, extracted the data from the included studies into a structured form and assessed their methodological quality.

Data Synthesis

We conducted meta-analyses and reported the characteristics, outcomes, and quality assessment of studies.

Results

Of 3833 records accessed we included 52 that fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Our primary findings demonstrated positive low-to-moderate associations between HL and health-promoting behaviors (r = .32 [CI:.30-.35; I2 = .00]), HL and physical activity (r = .23 [CI:.18-.27; I2 = .12]), and HL and vaccination (r = .12 [CI:.07-.17; I2 = .00]). In contrast, HL was not significantly associated with non-smoking (r = .02 [CI:-.02-.36; I2 = .09]), healthy diet (r = .02 [CI:-.01-.06; I2 = .00]), and screening (r = .07 [CI:.04-.11; I2 = .07]). However, our sensitivity and meta-regression analysis results suggested that the association of HL with healthy diet seems to increase with age. On the other hand, we failed to find any convincing evidence of any of the included variables affecting the association between HL and all types of HLBs (r = .17, I2 = 95.81%).

Conclusion

HL has the potential to improve the HLBs of Turkish individuals, however, there is a need for better understanding of the possible underlying determinants of the association between them.
Varieties of Digital Capitalism and the US–China Rivalry: The Rise of Competing Technological Spheres
Authors: Schmalz Stefan
Published: November 2024

The rise of China as a global high-tech nation is challenging US hegemony. While US tech companies like Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft have expanded globally and have integrated most world regions into US-led digital capitalism, China has developed its own variety of digital capitalism. Shielded by the ‘Great Firewall’, Chinese corporations such as Alibaba, Huawei, and Tencent have emerged as innovative high-tech companies. Instead of relying on a US-style liberal-internationalized mode of governance, China’s state-managed digital capitalism was domestic market-based. However, since the mid-2010s, Chinese tech companies have emerged as global competitors. In response, both Trump and Biden administrations enacted sanctions and investment controls to ban Chinese companies from the US market while pressuring their allies to follow suit. In this article, we argue that beyond the development of distinct US and Chinese varieties of digital capitalism, two separate digital technological spheres are emerging. After examining these distinct varieties of digital capitalism, it will be investigated how the US have weaponized institutional differences to sanction Chinese digital companies. In a third step, the emergence of a US and Chinese digital technological sphere will be analyzed, with a focus on 5G network equipment.
The Politics of Governance by Quantification Infrastructure
Authors: Liu Jun , Liu Chuncheng
Published: November 2024

Governance by quantification has a long history in human society. However, two critical issues remain underexplored in the sociology of quantification. First, while the social conditions and consequences of governance by numbers have been widely addressed, the politics of the ‘middle ground’ – quantification infrastructure itself, particularly with the rise of digitalization – are not fully elaborated. Second, the power dynamics that underpin and shape institutionalized quantification politics remain understudied, as numeracy and statistics are always preceded by political judgments about what to measure and how. This symposium advances discussions on governance by quantification infrastructure by offering a critical, reflective perspective on state quantification infrastructures and shedding new light on contested issues in the sociology of quantification globally.
A modified human shoulder model considering the migration of the humeral head from the scapular glenoid fossa for the design of shoulder exoskeletons
Authors: Pramod Avinash S , Mohan Santhakumar , Thondiyath Asokan
Published: November 2024

The wearable upper limb exoskeletons designed using the traditional shoulder model have a serious issue related to joint axis misalignment with the human shoulder. The misalignment is primarily due to the limited degrees of freedom model assumed for the shoulder. The glenohumeral joint in the conventional upper limb model is considered a single spherical joint, which, when considering the human anatomy, neglects the humeral head translation from the glenoid fossa of the scapula. This shoulder model cannot be used for designing the wearable upper limb exoskeletons, which can damage the shoulder joint due to interactive forces generated from the human-exoskeleton joint misalignment. This paper presents a modified, anatomically similar, human upper limb model where the single spherical joint of the glenohumeral joint is modified into two spherical joints connected by a prismatic joint. The kinematic and dynamic model of the proposed shoulder model is explained in detail. The elbow reachable space for this model has been calculated and compared with that of the existing models, and it is found to be closer to the actual workspace. The proposed model is simulated with a conventional exoskeleton attachment to show the effect of misalignment during humeral head translation and the benefits of using the proposed model in the design of the shoulder exoskeleton. An exoskeleton test bench that uses the modified shoulder model is also presented.
Investigation on the mechanical uncertainty of resistance spot weldings and its effect on structure crashworthiness of automotive B-pillars under side impacts
Authors: Zhai Mingyang , Li Zhikai , Li Meiying
Published: November 2024

Resistance spot welding (RSW) is the main connection method for the white body structure of automobiles. Understanding the mechanical uncertainty of RSWs and its effect on structure crashworthiness design is of great significance for vehicle safety and lightweight design. In this work, the mechanical uncertainty of RSW was experimentally investigated and its effect on automotive B-pillar crashworthiness under side impacts was numerically analyzed based on a hybrid response surface model (HRSM). Firstly, the mechanical uncertainty of RSWs and associated failure mechanism were investigated and the fluctuation range of RSW strength under different loading conditions were quantified according to experimental results. Then, a reasonable RSW modeling method and subsystem collision simulation approach were demonstrated and the univariate sensitivity analysis was carried out to reveal the effect of RSWs’ mechanical property on B-pillar crashworthiness. Finally, a HRSM integrating Kriging polynomial and deep neural network (DNN) were proposed as surrogate model, based on which the multi-factor analysis was conducted to explore effects of RSW strength uncertainty on structure crashworthiness design.
Research on aging mechanism and capacity attenuation of automotive lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Ruan Guanqiang , Liu Shiwen , Hu Xing , Fu Xiaoyu , An Zhongxun
Published: November 2024

In order to investigate the internal mechanism and the variation law of capacity attenuation of LIBs, a simplified electrochemical model of the LIBs was established using the nickel-cobalt-aluminum LIBs as the research object, and the aging model of solid electrolyte interface SEI growth and lithium evolution was added to simulate the electrochemical behavior of the batteries. The results showed that the porosity of the anode/diaphragm reduced continually at the start of the cycle, while the SEI film grew continuously. The loss of active materials accelerated as the number of cycles increased, while the side reaction of lithium development continued. Finally, the aging mechanism was confirmed by using microscopic morphology. The results show that the negative particles are obviously crushed and contain white deposited substances. The formation of these compounds increases the oxygen content, reduces the carbon content, reduces the porosity of the electrode, increases the overpotential of the electrolyte transport, and becomes the main reason for the attenuation of the battery life. Finally, the positive particles expand and break, which leads to the sudden reduction of the battery capacity. This study determined the evolution process of aging mechanism in the whole life cycle, and provided a theoretical basis for the establishment of mechanism aging model.
Developing an accurate finite element model for brake disc in contact with the pad using experimental modal analysis
Authors: Noohi Fahimeh , Nikoobin Amin , Ashory Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2024

The brake system is a critical safety component in cars, and its performance is essential for the safety of both the driver and passengers. The stability of the brake disc and understanding the contact area between the disc and the brake pads are crucial aspects of brake system design and performance. This paper aims to create an accurate model of the brake system, especially the contact area between the disc and the pads. This model can be used to investigate the effects of increasing braking pressure and changing the contact surface. Moreover, this model can calculate the dynamic responses of the system when an angular velocity is applied to the disc. First, a braking system was tested experimentally several times. Then a finite element model of the structure was created in ANSYS commercial software with defining suitable elements for the contact area between the disc and the pads. In the following, by an identification process a distribution of contact parameters at different braking pressures was obtained. The results shows that when the braking pressure increases, the dynamic responses of the structure increase, as well as the contact stiffness. A further increase in braking pressure does not have much effect on the contact stiffness and the contact area becomes like a new support.
Multi-scale texture filtering-based quantitative machining mechanism characterisation for ultra-precision machined surfaces
Authors: Guo Pan , Xiong Zhiwen , Dong Zengwen , Zhang Shaojian
Published: November 2024

Ultra-precision machined surfaces with nanometric surface texture have realised widespread applications. However, it is still challenging to quantitatively characterise the complex generation mechanisms due to the coupling of the machining factors. To address this issue, this work developed a multi-scale texture filtering-based method for ultra-precision machined surfaces. First, experiments were conducted including diamond turning, diamond milling, and ultra-precision grinding. Next, power spectrum density was utilised to reveal the multi-scale characteristics of surface texture generation. Then, the discrete wavelet transform was proposed for multi-scale texture filtering. Finally, root mean square height Sq was evaluated on S-F surfaces according to ISO 25178-2 and the machining mechanisms were quantitatively characterised by the contribution percentages of each scale. The results demonstrated that surface texture generation was dominated by multi-scale machining mechanisms to manifest as cutting residual, tool mark, material effect, spindle vibration, and ductile-brittle transition. Surface texture characterisation quantitatively indicated that small-scale features (cutting residuals and material effects) are crucial factors at low material removal volume (MRV). Due to the increased MRV, there is a transition since the middle/large-scale features (tool marks, spindle vibration, and ductile-brittle transition) gradually play their important role. This work provides novel thoughts to quantify machining mechanisms by multi-scale surface texture metrology for ultra-precision machining.
On the control of thickness in gas blow metal sheet forming processes: A review
Authors: Giuliano Gillo , Polini Wilma
Published: November 2024

Although the advantages of formability are notable, blow-forming processes, which are classified as sheet metal stretching processes, present limits in terms of uniformity of the thicknesses of the produced product. This is a review paper that collects the numerical and experimental studies of the literature on the new metal sheet forming techniques to improve formability and production efficiency. In particular, the focus is on (a) the multi-phase forming technique and (b) the techniques involving a blank with a profile of variable initial thickness. These techniques promote a strategic decrease of the thickness in some areas of the part to be formed to improve the final distribution of thicknesses in those most critical areas of the component to be made. The paper presents the finite element modelling works of the literature to predict the accuracy of a formed part in terms of the uniformity of its thickness that avoids breakups; thus, allowing to design and establish the feasibility of new forming techniques. The parameters influencing the forming processes were analysed by comparing the results of the finite element simulations in terms of the thickness distribution of the finished product and forming times. This paper presents also the experimental forming tests that verified these forming techniques and provided a thickness profile that reduces maximum thinning and forming times in comparison with the traditional processes. The conclusion of the paper demonstrates that these forming techniques allow to obtain a more uniform thickness of the formed part in a shorter processing time.
Nursing advocacy and activism: A critical analysis of regulatory documents
Authors: Mainey Lydia , Richardson Sarah , Essex Ryan , Dillard-Wright Jessica
Published: November 2024

Background: Advocacy and activism are dynamic terms representing a spectrum of political action, aiming to achieve social or political change. The extent to which nursing advocacy and activism are legitimate nursing roles has been debated for around 50 years. Nursing regulatory documents, such as codes of conduct and professional standards, may provide direction to nurses on how they should act in the context of advocacy and activism.

Aim: To explore what regulatory documents say about advocacy and activism, either explicitly or implicitly, and how they shape advocacy and activism.

Research design: We used a Reflexive Qualitative Document Analysis approach with a Critical Feminist lens to analyse contemporary nursing regulatory documents from the USA, UK and Australia.

Ethical considerations: This article has no human participants, and informed consent was not required.

Findings: We identified eight nursing regulatory documents from the American Nurses Association, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. We constructed two major themes that reveal how nursing advocacy and activism are conceived and shaped in regulatory documents. Theme 1, Ideological arena describes the gendered and neoliberal subtexts influencing advocacy and activism. Theme 2, A five-pointed star, describes the shape of advocacy and activism in the regulatory documents.

Conclusions: Regulatory documents from the USA, UK and Australia support diplomatic nursing advocacy and activism for people, equity, ourselves (nurses), the profession and systems change. However, more oppositional and disruptive advocacy and activism are potentially constrained by gendered and neoliberal subtexts that depoliticise nurses’ roles.
Why the public might doubt the idea of unjust enrichment
Authors: Peari Donna , Peari Sagi
Published: November 2024

Restitutionary claims are important. They are even relevant to such scenarios as restitution of improperly collected taxes and mistaken payments. However, what is the organising idea behind these claims? This question is critical for clarifying the existing law and setting the scene for legal reform. For the first time, this article empirically tests the public’s perception of the current predominant rationale behind restitutionary claims – the notion of unjust enrichment. Since the findings question whether the public supports this rationale, the article joins the growing volume of literature which is sceptical of unjust enrichment.
“Because of HIV, It Opened My Mind”: Intersectional Stigma Experiences Among Filipino Gay and Bisexual Men Living With HIV
Authors: Pamoso Aron Harold G. , Scholz Brett , Ferolino Austin
Published: November 2024

Previous work has demonstrated that gay, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) living with HIV are likely to experience intersectional stigma. However, mainstream systems often fail to recognize how power and privilege shape this experience. Such a complex psychological phenomenon requires an in-depth reflective inquiry that acknowledges individuals as experts in their own experiences. To explicate this matter, this study aimed to develop an understanding of how intersectional stigma impacts the experiences of GBM living with HIV and to illuminate how contexts (un)fuel inequities. The semi-structured interviews with five Filipino GBM living with HIV were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Exploration of their accounts elucidated how cultural elements fueled power dynamics and privilege, which in turn shaped intersectional stigma and their experiences. Narratives accentuated how Filipino GBM living with HIV situate themselves from victims to agents of change who empower and liberate others in the community. Insights from this study underscore the critical role of collective actions in bridging gaps in inequities and guiding the improvement of policies and interventions that are well-suited to the context and culturally appropriate for people living with HIV and other multiply marginalized populations.
Participatory Action Research and Knowledge Dissemination in Virtual Photovoice: Methodological Insights
Authors: Oliffe John L. , Gao Nina , Fernandez Calvin C. , Sha Matthew , Yap Celene Y. L. , Sharp Paul , McKenzie Sarah
Published: November 2024

Despite the methodological spread of virtual photovoice, alignments to and potential advances for the participatory action research (PAR) and knowledge dissemination (KD) components of in-person photovoice are poorly understood. Detailing the PAR and KD processes, practices, and products drawn from a virtual photovoice study examining men’s experiences of and perspectives about equitable intimate partner relationships, the current article offers three thematic findings. The first theme Processes and pragmatics for selecting representative photographs describes adapting established analytics of preview, review, and cross-photo comparisons to categorize and select images from a large collection of participant-produced photographs ( n = 714). Specifically, detailed are the reconciling of researchers deciding which images and accompanying narratives to include guided by PAR principles. Theme 2, Democratizing and disrupting in-person PAR with virtual focus group polls (VFGPs), chronicles participant voting through Zoom to collectively decide and subsequently discuss their favorite photographs. While anonymity for the poll was democratizing in terms of participant equality for voting on the photographs, connecting men virtually from diverse locales could differentiate cultural norms. The third theme KD pledges and pitfalls with online photovoice exhibitions details the potential benefits and challenges for reaching diverse end-users. Evident was the importance of marketing and media for driving traffic to the online exhibition, and the centrality of interactivity for fostering engagement to build and adjust photovoice e-health interventions. With virtual photovoice continuing to grow in popularity post COVID-19, this article offers important methodological lessons for adapting and advancing components of in-person PAR and KD.
Primary Liposarcoma of the Spleen: Case Report With Review of the Literature
Authors: Wächtershäuser Elisa M. , Köhler Gabriele , Böhmer Verena , Marx Alexander , Hellinger Achim
Published: November 2024

We present a 55-year-old woman with a palpable mass in the right upper abdomen. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a highly vascularized and primary resectable tumor of the spleen. We performed an open splenectomy with locoregional lymphadenectomy. Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation did not reveal classic markers of angiosarcoma, littoral cell angioma, or follicular dendritic cell sarcoma, but showed MDM2-amplification by FISH in all tumor cells as a marker for liposarcoma. The tumor showed growth limited to the spleen tissue. No MDM2-amplification was detectable in the perisplenic adipose tissue, so that infiltration of the spleen by retroperitoneal liposarcoma could be excluded. In summary, well-differentiated liposarcoma confined to the spleen was diagnosed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of a primary liposarcoma of the spleen reported in the literature. Due to the local recurrence risk of liposarcomas, even after R0 resection, we recommended long-term periodic follow-up.
Heterotopic Ossification with Intrathyroidal Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in Multifocal Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Histopathological Findings and Literature Review
Authors: Díaz Vico Tamara , Grao Torrente Irene , Martínez Izquierdo María Ángeles , García Muñoz-Nájar Alejandro , Castellón Pavón Camilo José , Durán Poveda Manuel
Published: November 2024

In recent decades, there has been an increase in the identification of thyroid nodules, both benign and malignant, due to the rise in imaging studies and complementary tests. Among thyroid gland tumors, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) stands out as the most prevalent. Degenerative changes, mainly in the form of nodular goiter, have been recorded, occasionally including areas of calcification and, more rarely, ossification; although the latter seldom progresses to calcinosis. Ectopic bone formation, known as osseous metaplasia, is a rare phenomenon in the thyroid gland, even more so when associated with extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH), characterized by the presence of hematopoietic elements outside the bone marrow. We present the first documented instance in our country of a patient diagnosed with malignant thyroid nodule, specifically PTC, exhibiting areas of heterotopic ossification with EMH on histopathological examination of the surgical specimen. A possible relationship between heterotopic ossification, EMH, and PTC is suggested. Various growth factors such as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), specific BMP subtypes, and associated receptors could play a crucial role in initiating and developing ectopic bone formation in the context of PTC. However, further research is needed to fully elucidate its clinical significance and impact on the therapeutic management of these patients.
Prevalence and Clinicopathological Features of Autoimmune Metaplastic Atrophic Gastritis in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A Regional Study
Authors: Alruwaii Zainab I , Alsayed Anwar , Albagashi Jafar , Poveda Julio , Suliman Wael AL , Al-Obaidy Khaleel I , Aljaroudi Mahdi , Montgomery Elizabeth
Published: November 2024

Introduction. Autoimmune metaplastic atrophic gastritis (AMAG, also termed autoimmune gastritis) is a chronic gastritis of autoimmune pathogenesis. Although its clinical and pathological features are well-documented in many countries, data from Middle Eastern populations remain scarce. This study examined the prevalence of AMAG in gastric specimens from the region, specifically from Saudi Arabia. Methods. We conducted a retrospective review of the pathology database of gastric specimens with a diagnosis of AMAG between 2020 and 2023. Detailed clinical, endoscopic, and pathological features of identified features were described. Result. Of the 978 gastric biopsies received, 17 patients were diagnosed with AMAG. The cohort comprised 11 women (64.7%) and 6 men (35.3%), presenting at a median age of 50 years (range: 32-85). Clinical manifestations varied widely, from abdominal pain (n = 6), dyspepsia (n = 2), symptomatic anemia with significant vitamin B12 deficiency (2 of 17) to asymptomatic/incidentally diagnosed patients (5 of 17). The tissue samples showed varying histological characteristics, with some showing lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, mucosal atrophy, and hyperplasia of enterochromaffin-like cells. Conclusion. The observed prevalence of AMAG in our study aligns with global averages reported for other populations. The diverse clinical presentations highlight the need for awareness of findings in AMAG in gastric biopsies to ensure appropriate clinical management.
Pancreatic Heterotopia in the Biliary Cyst Wall of a Pregnant Patient and Literature Review
Authors: Dogu Dogukan , Dincer Hilmi Anil , Parlak Erkan , Uner Meral , Terzioglu Havva Gokce , Dogrul Ahmet Bulent
Published: November 2024

Pancreatic heterotopia is the presence of pancreatic tissue in a different anatomical location with no connection to the main pancreas. The most common locations in the gastrointestinal system are duodenum, stomach, and Meckel diverticulum. However, it is quite rare in the hepatobiliary system. Here we present a patient with pancreatic heterotopia who we treated with left hemihepatectomy and extrahepatic bile duct resection for Todani type 4a bile duct cyst. Heterotopic pancreatic tissue was present in dilated cystic bile ducts on pathological examination. A 22-year-old 26-week pregnant patient presented to the emergency department with right upper quadrant pain. There was massive dilatation of the left lobe bile ducts and common bile duct, and multiple stones were observed distal to the common bile duct. The patient was hospitalized for definitive surgical treatment 4 months after giving birth. The patient underwent left hemihepatectomy, extrahepatic bile duct resection, and hepaticojejunostomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological examination of the specimen showed heterotopic pancreatic tissues in the wall of the dilated cystic intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. One of the most accepted hypotheses in the etiology of biliary tract cysts involves the abnormal union of the pancreatic duct and common bile duct. This lesion is unique in the absence of pancreaticobiliary junction anomaly. We think that cystic dilation of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts is likely secondary to recurrent inflammation due to the release of digestive enzymes by heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the biliary tract. It is also the first example in the literature diagnosed during pregnancy.