bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient and secure data transmission: cryptography techniques using ECC
Authors: Alhaj Abdullah Ahmad , Alrabea Adnan , Jawabreh Omar
Published: July 2024

Data transmission has become a crucial aspect of our daily lives in the current digital age. However, this transmission comes with the risk of security breaches, which can result in data theft and unauthorized access. This issue can be addressed by using cryptographic techniques such as elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). In comparison to other cryptosystems, ECC is a potent cryptographic tool that provides high levels of security with comparatively reduced key sizes. This paper discusses the use of ECC in efficient and secure data transmission. It provides a comprehensive overview of ECC, including its mathematical background and how it can be applied to encryption and decryption processes. The paper also presents a comparison of ECC with other cryptographic techniques and highlights its advantages, including its resistance to attacks and efficiency in resource-constrained environments. Finally, the paper discusses the implementation of ECC in real-world scenarios and its potential to revolutionize secure data transmission.
Tourism itinerary recommendation using vehicle routing problem time windows and analytics hierarchy process
Authors: Nasution Surya Michrandi , Septiawan Reza Rendian , Azmi Fairuz
Published: July 2024

Bandung and Lembang are cities that are chosen by tourists as their destinations. Even though these cities are located side-by-side, each city has different characteristics. Bandung has many hotels and culinary spots, meanwhile, Lembang has many scenery spots. Tourists usually have limited time to visit all the destinations on holiday, which makes them choose several destinations. This paper proposes a tourism itinerary recommendation system based on the calculation of the most optimal route between destinations using the vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW). Later, the optimal route is defined using the shortest path algorithm (Dijkstra). Data for the algorithm came from the collaboration between the several road information and criteria weights that are determined using the analytics hierarchy process (AHP). According to the simulation, the criteria weights are 6.9%, 62.7%, 18.6%, and 11.9% for route length, traffic condition, travel time, and weather condition, respectively. Moreover, the optimal number of tourism itinerary plans is 4 destinations. As the usage of computational resources, it takes 31.8% and 61.9% of CPU and memory usage. The time processing increases exponentially as the increment of the number of requested stops. The output of this research is expected to be a solution to the tourist itinerary plan.
Identification of faults in rotating machines using high precision FBG vibration sensor: a case study on PM schemes
Authors: Nayak Dipak Ranjan , Ghuge Nilam N. , Mohapatra Ambarish G. , Sharma Pramod , Nayak Narayan , Satapathy Satyapriya , Khanna Ashish
Published: July 2024

Predictive maintenance (PM) is a data-driven approach to performing proactive maintenance by analyzing the condition of the equipment in any industrial setting. The high-precision sensors are widely adapted to meticulously analyze critical maintenance conditions using such a data-driven approach. In a similar context, a fiber brag grating (FBG) sensor is a passive and high-precision sensor that is widely used in industries where conventional sensors are not preferred. Broadly, this article presents four sub elements of the proposed integrated system such as the design of the sensor element, signal processing scheme (SPS), machine learning (ML) model for predicting anomalies, and decision support system (DSS) to suggest maintenance actions. Also, this article highlights an experimental case study on vibration monitoring and analysis of real-time signals for making proactive maintenance decisions. An FBG vibration sensor of center wavelength 1,550 nm is designed and utilized to acquire real-time vibration signatures of a rotating machine under test. A piezoelectric vibration sensor is used with the FBG sensor to compare the vibration response obtained during the test. Pre-processing of raw signals is performed using a moving average filter (MAV) followed by a low pass filter to nullify the effect of noise. To obtain proactive maintenance decisions, a DSS model is prepared by considering the processed vibration signatures. Various maintenance conditions are tested during the experimental analysis and detailed results analysis are presented.
Improved dung beetle optimization algorithm and finite element analysis for spindle optimization
Authors: Haohao Ma , As’arry Azizan , Xuping Wu , Shah Ismail Mohd Idris , Ramli Hafiz Rashidi , Saad Mohd Sazli , Delgoshaei Aidin
Published: July 2024

This research introduces an integrated optimization methodology for spindle design, combining the improved dung beetle optimization (IDBO) algorithm with finite element analysis (FEA). The IDBO algorithm, enhanced in population initialization and convergence factors, minimizes total deformation and mass, addressing a multi-objective optimization model. The obtained optimal parameters guide the construction of a finite element model, considering additional factors like stiffness and maximum stress. The ensuing FEA produces a foundation for constructing a response surface, further optimized to refine the initial design. Through the combination of the IDBO algorithm and FEA method, the mass of the spindle is reduced from 46.582 kg obtained by the IDBO algorithm solution to 28.479 kg, a total reduction of 38.86%, while meeting design requirements such as maximum total deformation. Modal analysis up to the sixth order validates the design correctness reveals dynamic spindle behavior and guarantees the design requirements. The study demonstrates the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed IDBO algorithm in conjunction with FEA, providing a versatile framework for engineering optimization.
A novel framework for MOOC recommendation using sentiment analysis
Authors: Uthamaraj Sujatha , Ranganathan Gunasundari
Published: July 2024

Massive open online courses (MOOC) are the largest initiative in eLearning, with the support of universities across the world. To increase course satisfaction in MOOCs, learners’ must relate to the courses that best suit their needs and interests. The goal of recommendation systems is to suggest items to users based on their preferences and past behaviour. A course recommender system makes recommendations based on the similarity of courses and past interactions with the MOOC platform. With a huge volume of online courses on multiple learning platforms, it has been difficult for learners to identify the course of their interest. To address these challenges, a novel framework for hybrid MOOC course recommendations is proposed to recommend courses from multiple learning platforms. It uses web scraping techniques to collect course data from various MOOC providers, such as Coursera, Udemy, and edX platforms. With the real time dataset, a deep learning chatbot captures the personalized learning requirements of learners and recommends using a user-user collaborative approach with the valence aware dictionary and sentiment reasoner (VADER) for sentiment analysis. It enhances the accuracy of recommendations with an root-mean-square error (RMSE) value of 0.541.
Culturally inclusive prototyping for higher education institutions: navigating language and gender dynamics
Authors: Malkawi Aminah Rezqallah , Abu Bakar Muhamad Shahbani , Dahlin Zulkhairi Md
Published: July 2024

This article explores the crucial intersection of cultural inclusivity in designing and developing e-learning prototypes for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in developed countries, such as Saudi Arabia (SA), emphasizing language and gender dynamics. It delves into the deliberate design of prototypes that accommodate linguistic diversity and address gender biases prevalent in educational systems. Real-world examples illustrate innovative solutions institutions use to navigate the complexities of language and gender dynamics during the prototype design process. Notably, the prototypes discussed have undergone rigorous evaluation, ensuring they meet technical benchmarks while aligning with the diverse linguistic and gender aspects inherent to developed nations. By synthesizing cultural sensitivity with cutting-edge design, this article encourages educators, developers, and decision-makers to adopt holistic approaches in creating HEI prototypes. Incorporating cultural inclusivity fosters equitable learning environments and positions higher education to be both forward-thinking and deeply rooted in the cultural tapestry it serves.
Alzheimer’s prediction via CNN-SVM on chatbot platform with MRI
Authors: Kadafi Muhammad Syaekar , Yaqubi Ahmad Khalil , Purbandini Purbandini , Astuti Suryani Dyah
Published: July 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI), consisting of models and algorithms capable of concluding data to produce future predictions, has revolutionary potential in various aspects of human life. One application is an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prediction chat robot (chatbot). Only now has a method provided very accurate findings and recommendations regarding the early detection of AD using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore, this research aims to measure AD prediction performance in four stage classes, namely very mild demented, mild demented, moderate demented, and non-demented, using brain MRI images trained in the convolutional neural network (CNN)- support vector machine (SVM) model. The research involved nine combination schemes of dataset proportions and preprocessing in the CNNSVM model. Evaluation shows that scheme 1 produces the highest accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, namely 98%, 99%, 98%, and 98%. The chatbot, trained using CNN, achieved 99.34% accuracy in question responses, and was then combined with AD prediction models for improved accuracy. The test results show that the chatbot functionality runs well for each transition, with a functionality score reaching 99.64 points out of 100.00. This success shows excellent potential for early detection of AD. This research brings new hope in preventing AD through AI, with potential positive impacts on human health and quality of life.
An NFMF-DBiLSTM model for human anomaly detection system in surveillance videos
Authors: Angadi Sanjeevkumar , Moorthy Chellapilla V. K. N. S. N. , Tripathi Mukesh Kumar , Tingare Bhagyashree Ashok , Kadam Sandeep Uddhavrao , Misal Kapil
Published: July 2024

In response to the increasing demand for an intelligent system to avoid abnormal events, many models for detecting and locating anomalous behaviors in surveillance videos have been proposed. Nevertheless, significant flaws of inadequate discriminating ability are present in the majority of these models. A novel newton form and monotonic function based deep bidirectional long short-term memory (NFMF-DBiLSTM) human anomaly recognition system was discussed in this paper to tackle those issues. Initially, videos are transformed into frames; after that, the duplicate frames are removed, and by utilizing the shannon entropy centered contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (SE-CLAHE) algorithm, the contrast has been elevated. By using the probabilistic matrix factorization kernel density estimation (PMF-KDE) technique, the background is subtracted after estimating only the motion of the object. After this, the silhouette function is performed utilizing the dirac depth silhouette function (DDSF). In addition, clustering is done by sorting and average-based K-means (SA-KM). The features are extracted from the suspected human and are then chosen by utilizing Poisson Eurasian oystercatcher optimization (PEOO). For classifying normal or anomaly, the selected features are subjected directly into the NFMF-DBiLSTM. When contrasted with the prevailing methodologies, the proposed model is found to be more efficient.
Proposed model to predict preeclampsia using machine learning approach
Authors: Aditya Rahman Raden Topan , Lakulu Muhammad Modi , Panessai Ismail Yusuf , Yuandari Esti , Ulfa Ika Mardiatul , Ningsih Fitriani , Tambunan Lensi Natalia
Published: July 2024

Pregnancy complications, which are the biggest cause of death in productive women, are more common in developing countries with low incomes. One of the contributors to death in pregnant women is preeclampsia which contributes 2-8% every day. Based on research results, more than 70% of the use of technology can be a solution for early prevention in detecting cases of pregnancy. The aim of this research is to build a model for early detection of preeclampsia using a machine learning approach. Sample using retrospective data with sample size 1.473. Based on the result, decision tree (DT) is the best model with accuracy 92.2% (area under curve (AUC): 0.91; Spec: 92.3; and Sens: 83.6), according to weigh correlation we can show 3 (three) highest features causes preeclampsia is history of hypertension, history of diabetes mellitus, and history of preeclampsia. The health of pregnant women is essential in the development of the fetus, so it needs optimal monitoring. Monitoring during pregnancy can now be done through technology-based examinations for assist health workers in making decisions during pregnancy.
Development process of decision support systems using data mining technology
Authors: Asgarova Bahar , Jafarov Elvin , Babayev Nicat , Ahmadzada Allahshukur , Abdullayev Vugar , Triwiyanto Triwiyanto
Published: July 2024

Decision support systems (DSS) play a pivotal role as computerized tools, guiding and enhancing decision-making processes vital for organizational progress. This research focuses on developing a system tailored for dynamic decision-making, particularly emphasizing the integration of data mining technology. Decision algorithms and neural networks are discussed in depth, providing a comprehensive understanding of the analytical tools crucial for effective decision support. Additionally, the research sheds light on potential risks, ensuring a nuanced view of challenges that may impact the development of DSS. A significant portion of the study is dedicated to the design of DSS architecture and the strategic integration of data mining within the database. The proposed development stages for a business information system, ranging from feasibility study to release, serve as a structured framework for practical implementation. Details within each stage, including data analysis, cleaning, and module development, are meticulously examined. Emphasis is placed on critical steps such as system design, database design, and extract, transform, load (ETL) process design, elucidating their importance in the holistic development of DSS. The conclusion reinforces the paramount importance of leveraging data mining technology in the process of developing decision support systems.
Dossiê Questões de gênero e políticas da terra: apresentação
Authors: Carneiro Ana , Ayoub Dibe , Nobrega Marcia , Dainese Graziele
Published: July 2024

¿Qué pasa con las reflexiones sobre la tierra y la territorialidad cuando reconocemos que sus “usos, costumbres y tradiciones” están informados, sobre todo, por las relaciones de género? Este dossier explorará este tema a partir de un enfoque de género que sitúa, en el centro del análisis, los principios de distinción y composición implicados en la creación de cuerpos y personas. En este sentido, ¿cómo las relaciones de género producen y son producidas por la tierra donde vives? La “casa”, como lugar por excelencia de las prácticas femeninas de creación y cuidado del cuerpo, aparece así en su dimensión pragmática, performativa. En la vida cotidiana o en los momentos rituales, los modos de hospitalidad y circulación de los alimentos, las personas y las conversaciones informan a una determinada “hacer comunidad” involucrada en la pertenencia a la “tierra”. Buscando así observar las implicaciones mutuas entre "tierra" y "género", pretendemos reunir obras con diferentes cortes subdisciplinares para explorar contrastes y aproximaciones.
O antirracismo como valor: das cotas étnico-raciais às cotas epistêmicas – entrevista com José Jorge de Carvalho
Authors: Silva Rafael Afonso da , Barros Nelson Filice de
Published: July 2024

Trata-se de entrevista com José Jorge de Carvalho. Antropólogo, Professor Titular no Departamento de Antropologia da Universidade de Brasília (UnB), o entrevistado esteve engajado desde o início no debate de cotas na UnB, em 1999, atuando na elaboração da proposta (pioneira) de cotas para negros e indígenas nessa instituição, em 2003, e, posteriormente, na projeção e qualificação do movimento de ações afirmativas em outras instituições do ensino superior público brasileiro. Personagem incansável e sempre criativa do antirracismo no espaço acadêmico, continuou e continua a estudar perspectivas e modelos para expansão e aprofundamento das cotas e ações afirmativas. Foi o idealizador de outro modelo de inclusão, o Encontro de Saberes, orientado para inclusão de mestras e mestres de saberes tradicionais, sobretudo, das matrizes indígenas e afro-diaspóricas, na qualidade de docentes e pesquisadores. A entrevista versa sobre temas interrelacionados dentro do que, nela, é denominado como “horizonte do antirracismo”: as cotas étnico-raciais; as cotas epistêmicas; o sentido do antirracismo em diversos contextos ou “níveis” do espaço acadêmico; a revolução epistêmica, corpo-relacional e cosmológica provocada pela presença viva de mestras e mestres dos saberes do “cosmos vivo”; interculturalidade e transculturalidade etc.
Qual é o sentido do direito de resistência em Hobbes? Uma aparente armadilha
Authors: Furlan Lorenzo Emanuelli
Published: July 2024

This paper is about the meaning of right of resistance in Thomas Hobbes political theory. It is reasonable to say that right of resistance it might be a trap, put up by Hobbes himself, and taken as the basis of his theory. But what is the limit for that idea? I try to point out how to dissolve that apparent trap and show that an invitation to right of resist it is not what Hobbes was doing at that time.
Dinah Silveira de Queiroz, Literatura e História: algumas concepções
Authors: Steffen Ana Cristina
Published: July 2024

Dinah Silveira de Queiroz (1911-1982), in a literary career spanning more than 40 years, wrote novels, short stories, theater, science fiction and children's literature. One of the literary genres that brought her the most notoriety, however, was historical fiction. An example of this is The women of Brazil (1954), which has as background the Emboabas War. Another example is Os invasores (1965), a plot based on the events surrounding the French invasion of Rio de Janeiro in 1710. The author's connection with historical fiction, however, is not restricted to these two novels: Queiroz also reflected, through different texts for the press, on the relationship between literature and history and on the concept of the historical novel itself. Thus, the main objective of this work is firstly to recover these author’s reflections. Hence, her notes will be compared with the proposals of scholars such as Hayden White and Paul Ricoeur, and also with what Dinah in fact accomplished in The women of Brazil and Os invasores.
“Autora de Seus Dias”: a Mobilização Crítica de Maria Firmina dos Reis no Romantismo Brasileiro
Authors: Faustino Leliane
Published: July 2024

Este artigo teve como foco investigativo analisar como a escritora e professora maranhense Maria Firmina dos Reis (1825-1917) construiu seu ethos autoral e se auto inseriu no Romantismo brasileiro. Por meio da análise de sua historicidade e leitura de seus textos, podemos afirmar que a autora correspondia à estética e ao discurso românticos. Contudo, devido aos mecanismos racistas e sexistas de seleção dos cânones historiográfico e literário, pouco figurou nas produções da historiografia e literatura brasileiras, o que nos impediu, por um longo tempo, o acesso ao seu importante olhar sobre a história do Brasil, oferecido pelo texto literário. Com isso, nosso objetivo foi demonstrar, através da mobilização política de Maria Firmina dos Reis dentro da literatura romântica brasileira, com recorte no romance Úrsula (1859) e no conto A escrava (1887), como a criação literária abarca o viés crítico da escritora, sendo, portanto, uma contribuição epistêmica para os estudos literários e a trajetória da historiografia brasileira.
Françoise Ega e Maryse Condé em Migrações Caribenhas, uma relação glissantiana
Authors: Bezerra Maria Letícia Macêdo
Published: July 2024

This article aims to comparatively analyze the connection expressed through writing between migrant voices in the texts of two Caribbean and French-speaking writers, Françoise Ega and Maryse Condé, who emigrated from the French overseas departments of Martinique and Guadeloupe, respectively, for different reasons. We will seek to articulate, identify, and interpret notions of world literature and Relation (developed by Glissant, 2021), considering that they are implemented and inscribed as marks in the authors' narratives. In Cartas a uma negra (2021), Ega establishes an imaginary dialogue (and overseas/beyond language) with another writer, the Brazilian Carolina Maria de Jesus, as a premise for her letters, published posthumously (1978). In Le coeur à rire et à pleurer (1999) and La vie sans fards (2012), Condé revisits her childhood in Guadeloupe and later her migrations and travels, particularly those that occurred during the 1960s, a turbulent period in her life and before to her first published novel, Hérémakhonon (1976). Both writers are subjects set adrift, whose writing maps their connections with other displaced subjects and finds refuge in the other's difference, attesting to a world-literature. Our work will be based on excerpts from the aforementioned works and on criticism and theoretical discussions from decolonial perspectives, primarily those of the Martinican essayist Édouard Glissant.
Uma Crítica à Noção de Educação Estética Iluminista: os argumentos feministas de Hélène Cixous e Virginia Woolf como Suplemento no Debate da Bildung.
Authors: Pivanti Mariana Muniz
Published: July 2024

Neste artigo, tomamos a noção de suplemento do filósofo Jacques Derrida para demonstrar como a escrita das autoras Virginia Woolf e Hélène Cixous aponta para a ausência de argumentos e críticas feministas no debate sobre a autoformação do indivíduo moderno e iluminista constituído pelo que se convencionou chamar como Bildung. Traçaremos a importância de uma educação estética para a construção da identidade nacional, como postulado por Friedrich Schiller, para então, contrapor a defesa do indivíduo racional, educado, patriota e moderno como o modelo ideal para a construção de uma ideia de nação através das críticas do filósofo pós-estruturalista Jean-François Lyotard e seu conceito de metarrelatos. Finalmente, recorreremos aos escritos de Virginia Woolf e Hélène Cixous, além de relacioná-las com as ideias da filósofa contemporânea Gayatri Spivak, para investigar como tais autoras fazem uso também da ficção e agem como suplemento à crítica aos metarrelatos de Lyotard ao indicar que o sujeito ideal da modernidade e da Bildung iluminista pressupõe a subjugação do feminino e se constitui como necessariamente masculino.
A Construção da Autoria a Partir da Crítica: leitura dos Ensaios de George Eliot
Authors: Costa Monica Chagas da
Published: July 2024

This work analyzes the construction of the concept of authorship developed from [Mary Anne Evans] George Eliot's essays. Based on the analysis of the criteria Eliot utilizes to define parameters which beacon authors' practices, it is noticeable how her own work as a literary critic influences her subsequent performance as a novelist. It is also remarkable how her judgment values in face of literature produced by her contemporaries is aligned to her commitment to realist poetics hinged on artistic engagement to a social reality. In this interlacement, the aspects in which gender impacts on her aesthetic reflections are highlighted.
Assessment of the status of Spodoptera species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Armyworm) in India through DNA barcoding technique
Authors: Nalage Dinesh , Kudnar P.S. , Sontakke Tejswini , Chittapure Ishwar , Gowda Yashdeep , Kharbal Shantanu , Alamwar Yashashri
Published: July 2024

Insects constitute the majority of animal fauna worldwide, but quantifying their species diversity is still incomplete. A few recent studies indicate a marked decrease in the population of insects which calls for urgent efforts to document and understand insect diversity to get a complete picture of Earth’s ecosystems. Modern technology can accelerate species identification beyond traditional methods’ limitations. Hence, a focused and expedited approach through DNA barcoding coupled with morphological identification is necessary. This present research highlights the gaps that exist and it examines the current status of Spodoptera species barcode in India. Six Spodoptera species were studied confirming their presence in India including two invasive species. That means less than 50% of taxa or described Spodoptera species are covered by genetic data from barcoded specimens after analysis. Therefore, comprehensive DNA barcoding should be achieved from all insect species occurring on the Indian subcontinent to speed up the discovery and documentation of new species by involving both traditional taxonomists and molecular biologists working towards a common goal.
Rare encounters: Jungle Cat Felis chaus Schreber, 1777 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in the lower reaches of the Jordan River, Jordan
Authors: Eid Ehab , Alayyan Mohammad Farid
Published: July 2024

The Jungle Cat Felis chaus is classified as critically endangered in Jordan due to its limited distribution and presumed population decline. We present new evidence for its presence in the lower Jordan River region, where it was recorded opportunistically during a monitoring program focused on the Golden Jackal Canis aureus. Five photographs of the Jungle Cat were obtained between June 2020 and February 2022, primarily during night-time and early morning hours. In view of these findings, we recommend urgent implementation of conservation measures, including other effective area-based conservation measures, particularly in military-controlled zones with limited accessibility where confirmed sightings occurred.
A gradient of hemisphere-specific dorsal to ventral processing routes in parieto-premotor networks
Authors: Jüchtern Marvin , Shaikh Usman Jawed , Caspers Svenja , Binkofski Ferdinand
Published: July 2024

Networks in the parietal and premotor cortices enable essential human abilities regarding motor processing, including attention and tool use. Even though our knowledge on its topography has steadily increased, a detailed picture of hemisphere-specific integrating pathways is still lacking. With the help of multishell diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, probabilistic tractography, and the Graph Theory Analysis, we investigated connectivity patterns between frontal premotor and posterior parietal brain areas in healthy individuals. With a two-stage node characterization approach, we defined the network role of precisely mapped cortical regions from the Julich-Brain atlas. We found evidence for a third, left-sided, medio-dorsal subpathway in a successively graded dorsal stream, referencing more specialized motor processing on the left. Supplementary motor areas had a strongly lateralized connectivity to either left dorsal or right ventral parietal domains, representing an action-attention dichotomy between hemispheres. The left sulcal parietal regions primarily coupled with areas 44 and 45, mirrored by the inferior frontal junction (IFJ) on the right, a structural lateralization we termed as “Broca’s-IFJ switch.” We were able to deepen knowledge on gyral and sulcal pathways as well as domain-specific contributions in parieto-premotor networks. Our study sheds new light on the complex lateralization of cortical routes for motor activity in the human brain.
Changes in the SST Seasonal Cycle in a Warmer North Pacific without Ocean Dynamical Feedbacks
Authors: Yu Wen-Xiao , Liu Fukai , Luo Yiyong , Lu Jian , Song Fengfei
Published: July 2024

Climate models project a significant intensification of the sea surface temperature (SST) seasonal cycle over the subpolar North Pacific due to global warming, with the shallower mixed layer widely recognized as the dominant factor. However, employing slab ocean experiments with only ocean–atmosphere thermal coupling, we find a substantial contribution from changes in surface heat flux to this seasonal cycle intensification. In particular, the stronger Newtonian cooling effect in winter acts as a more potent damping than in summer. This differential damping inhibits the warming in colder seasons, significantly contributing to the intensified SST seasonal cycle in the subpolar North Pacific. In addition, consistent phase shifts in the North Pacific are identified across CMIP6 models. In the northwest North Pacific, a phase advance is associated with anomalous heating in early spring, driven by enhanced warm atmospheric advection from lower latitudes and sea ice melting in marginal seas. In contrast, the southeast North Pacific exhibits a phase delay attributed to the anomalous cooling in spring relative to autumn. This cooling is due to weakened trade winds and increased presence of high clouds. The former leads to stronger evaporative cooling in spring, while the latter impedes shortwave radiation from reaching the ocean.
On Not Having it All: Exploring the Fetishization of Trans Women by Heterosexual Men
Authors: Lemma Alessandra
Published: July 2024

The appeal of transgender pornography, especially involving “pre-op”(erative) trans women, has steadily increased placing it in the top six most searched categories. In this paper I explore one unconscious function of the “pre-op” trans woman sexual fantasy that I have observed in some young heterosexual gynandromorphophilic men (i.e., men sexually drawn to the MtF “pre-op” body) who use transgender pornography and/or escorts. In contrast to a psychoanalytic reading of gynandromorphophilia in which the “pre-op” trans woman’s body is understood to be “missing nothing” because she has breasts and a penis, I suggest that what is psychically compelling and sexually arousing for some men is quite the opposite: because the “pre-op” trans woman has a penis, she therefore has no vagina/womb. It is the triumph over what is missing and that should be there. The penis in lieu of the vagina/womb is evidence of her damaged procreative potential. In these cases, I propose that the sexual preference exposes the man’s underlying womb envy. The “pre-op” trans woman is projectively identified with a felt-to-be “infertile” part of the man. The phantasized damaged woman’s procreative body temporarily relieves the man of his sense of inadequacy and anxieties about his capacity to create and enliven. I illustrate this dynamic with clinical examples.
Re-Engaging Law and Theology: Walter Dennis and the Need for an Episcopal Church Theology and Praxis of the Law
Authors: Brownridge Walter BA
Published: July 2024

On the question whether the Anglican Communion/The Episcopal Church has a theology of abortion, an important factor overlooked. It is the relationship between theology and law as understood in the Episcopal Church/Anglicanism. On reproductive choice, theologians, pastors, politicians, and activists rarely display an interest in the law, except on how to use it as a tool for a specific goals. I contend that the discourse on abortion (within the Church, and the body politic) would benefit from a more comprehensive understanding of the law. This practicing theology essay will introduce readers to the meaning and purpose of the law in a pluralistic and multiracial society. Through the work of William Stringfellow and Stanley Hauerwas and with special focus on the work and witness of Bishop Walter D. Dennis (Suffragan Bishop of New York 1979–1998), I seek to develop an Anglican/Episcopal synthesis for a theological praxis of the law
Cepstral Analysis of Voice in Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders
Authors: Jamshidpour Parizad , Moradi Negin , Raiesian Shahrokh , Shaterzadeh Yazdi Mohammad Jafar , Soltani Majid , Seyedtabib Maryam , Masoudrad Mahdis , Nourbakhsh Mandana
Published: July 2024

Objectives:

This study aimed to assess the voice quality of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) compared with healthy subjects using cepstral analysis and investigate the relationship between the TMD severity and the values of cepstral analysis.

Methods:

Subjects who met the inclusion criteria completed a general health questionnaire and the Fonseca Anamnestic Index. Patients who had TMDs with FAI were subjected to an examination based on the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. The final sample included 65 subjects, 31 TMDs patients (with a mean age ± standard deviation of 36.64 ± 13.67 years), and 34 healthy individuals in the control group (with a mean age ± standard deviation of 30.35 ± 7.78 years). Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPP) and Smoothened Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPPS) of a sustained vowel and connected speech were computed using Praat software.

Results:

TMD patients indicated lower cepstral values and lower voice quality compared to the control group. Significant differences were found between TMD and control groups for all cepstral parameters ( P < .001) and cepstral measurements showed a moderate to strong negative correlation with TMD severity ( P < .001, rho =  −0.57 to −0.88).

Conclusion:

The outcomes of the present study indicate that cepstral analysis can accurately distinguish the reduced voice quality of TMD patients from normal voice.
Forum on Heikki Patomäki’s World Statehood: The Future of World Politics
Authors: Albert Mathias , Crawford Ian , Erman Eva , Kessler Oliver , Bartelson Jens , Sienknecht Mitja , Patomäki Heikki
Published: July 2024

In this forum, six scholars discuss Heikki Patomäki’s book World Statehood: The Future of World Politics, published in 2023. The editor’s introduction situates it in the discursive contexts of cosmopolitanism, deep history and functional differentiation. Ian Crawford looks at the concept of world statehood from an astrobiologist’s point of view, putting the debate in the context of research on the possibility of life existing beyond Earth. Eva Erman notes that there are methodological issues that primarily derive from a missing distinction between theoretical and practical normativity in Patomäki’s thought. Oliver Kessler offers a critical perspective on underlying, and possibly unrealistic, assumptions about a universal translatability of specialized knowledges and vocabularies that he argues underlines Patomäki’s project. Jens Bartelson argues that the concept of world community has probably accumulated too much conceptual baggage to be useful in building world statehood. Mitja Sienknecht observes that the evolution of artificial intelligence is insufficiently addressed in World Statehood and probes possible implications in this respect. Heikki Patomäki then replies to these contributions.
A Relative Deprivation-Based Theory of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism: Policy Implications for Program Design and Deradicalization Work
Authors: Koehler Daniel
Published: July 2024

The theory of Relative Deprivation (RD)—introduced by Walter Runciman in the late 1960s—is one of the most widely established theoretical concepts explaining political violence. Criminology has mostly abandoned RD theory despite many valuable contributions it could still make to the field. This theoretical article applies the RD theory in Ted Gurr’s version to the field of preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) practice and policy through a combination of meta-narrative and integrative literature reviews. By studying P/CVE through the lens of RD, this article demonstrates the continuous value of RD theory as a link between criminology and terrorism research on the one hand and advances evidence-based concepts in the P/CVE field on the other.
The “Faceless, Undifferentiated Mass” Thesis and the Victim-Offender Relationship
Authors: Burrow John D. , Boehme Hunter , Leasure Peter
Published: July 2024

This study uses Justice Stewart’s “faceless, undifferentiated mass” thesis to examine differences between defendants sentenced to death and life without parole. We argue that important differences between defendants may be revealed through the victim-offender relationship and other case-level attributes. The study uses 1,310 first degree murder defendants from Florida that were sentenced to either death or life without parole. Logistic regression was used to examine the victim-offender relationship and case-level attributes including race and gender. There are important differences between these defendants with respect to gender, age, and the victim-offender relationship. The “faceless, undifferentiated mass thesis” offers a new avenue for examining the victim-offender relationship. The implications for research will be discussed.
Using a Peer-Led Trainer Model to Improve the Effectiveness of the Prison Rape Elimination Act
Authors: Smith Hayden P. , Ferdik Frank
Published: July 2024

Aside from providing education on complex subjects, peer-led trainer models can also improve the effectiveness of policies. Sexual violence remains a problem within corrections, despite passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). To acquire insight into ways of improving this policy, focus group data were collected from ( n = 16) male and ( n = 16) female residents of a Southeastern United States prison system who had recently completed a peer-led trainer model on PREA. Thematic analysis of the data revealed how PREA could be improved by training staff to be more knowledgeable of the traumas endured by sexual assault victims, and by guaranteeing the privacy of victims who report their abuse. Policy implications are discussed.
The Threatening Path to Inequality: A Multilevel Path Analysis of Minority Threat Theory, Threat Mediation, and Displacement on Ethnic Sentencing
Authors: Stringer Richard J. , Holland Melanie M.
Published: July 2024

This study aspires to address three important gaps in the Minority Threat literature by using Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling (MSEM) to develop separate perceptual measures of economic and political threat, exploring the indirect path from population characteristics to sentencing severity via perceived threat, and assessing the transference of immigrant threat onto LatinX offenders. The findings support many, but not all, of the theorized propositions. Specifically, threat indicators definitively load into distinguishable economic and political threat measures. Population composition predicts LatinX sentencing outcomes but is mediated by perceived threat. Evidence also suggests immigrant threat is displaced onto LatinX drug defendants. However, the directionality of these paths is more convoluted than theorized. The corresponding theoretical and methodological implications are explored.
A Quantitative Analysis on the Sentencing Disparity in Online Romance Scam Cases in United States: A Focal Concern Theory Perspective
Authors: Wang Fangzhou
Published: July 2024

An online romance scam occurs when a criminal creates a fake online identity to manipulate a victim into developing affection and trust before financially exploiting them. It has resulted in billions of dollars in losses globally, impacting victims financially emotionally. Based on focal concern theory, this study is the first to examine the fairness of sentencing for this group of scammers in the United States. The study quantitatively analyzes 148 sentencing cases, which is the current most comprehensive dataset available, obtained from Pacer Monitor. The findings indicate that sentencing outcomes for scammers in the United States are primarily influenced by legal considerations. A comparison with similar studies conducted in China shows a consistent overall conclusion, although there are slight differences in the specific legal factors that have an impact. This study contributes to academic literature by addressing a notable gap in research within Western countries. The application of focal concern theory provides additional contextual insights, enriching the current understanding of this complex issue. Recommendations include prioritizing international collaborations, conducting detailed assessments of victim numbers and defrauded amounts, and proposing specialized laws to address the complexities of online romance scams.
Depression during the COVID pandemic in La Manouba Governorate, Tunisia: A community survey
Authors: Carta Mauro G , Kovess Viviane , Aissa Amina , Larnaout Amine , Zgueb Yosra , Alnasser Lubna A , Moro Maria Francesca , Sancassiani Federica , Cantone Elisa , Rjaibi Salsabil , Zoghlami Nada , Zid Mejdi , Aounallah-Skhiri Hajer , Ouali Uta
Published: July 2024

Background:

It is difficult to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health as many community surveys have limited quality, rely on screening tests to measure mental health conditions and distress, and often use convenience samples. Moreover, robust surveys come mainly from high-income countries.

Aim:

To measure the prevalence of depressive disorders with onset during the pandemic in a community of a Lower-Middle-income country (LMIC)-Tunisia.

Methods:

Clinical semi-structured face-to-face interviews were carried out during the pandemic (September–December 2021) by medical doctors among a representative sample of the general population in the governorate of La Manouba, Tunisia. Psychiatric diagnoses were established according to DSM-IV.

Results:

The prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) started or recurred after the pandemic was 5.66%. The factors associated with MDD were loss of job and considerably diminished income due to the pandemic (OR = 2.1, 95% CI [1.5, 2.9]) and the perception of having the family’s financial situation below the Tunisian average (OR = 2.3, 95% CI [1.7, 3.2]). Female sex, marital status as separated/divorced, and having a COVID-19 infection were associated with MDD only in the overall sample and urban areas, but not in rural areas. Age and having loved ones who passed away due to COVID-19 were not associated with MDD.

Conclusion:

In Tunisia, the pandemic seems to have increased the risk of depression in people experiencing a precarious financial situation, also due to the pre-existing economic crisis. Specific local level factors, such as not establishing a rigid lockdown for an extended period, may have protected young people and allowed for better mourning in families suffering the loss of a loved one.
Do Mathematics and Reading Skills Impact Student Science Outcomes?
Authors: Doabler Christian T. , Rojo Megan , Gersib Jenna A. , Fall Anna-Maria , Longhi Maria A. , Lovette Gail E. , Roberts Greg , Uy Jasmine , Johnson Katharina , Ghafghazi Shadi , Phelps Jason B. , Powell Sarah R. , Therrien William J.
Published: July 2024

Establishing validated science programs for students with or at risk for learning disabilities requires testing treatment effects and exploring differential response patterns. This study explored whether students’ initial mathematics and reading skills influenced their treatment response to a whole-class, second-grade science program called Scientific Explorers (Sci2). The original Sci2 study employed a cluster randomized controlled design and included 294 U.S. students from 18 second-grade classrooms. Differential effects of the program by initial mathematics and reading skill levels were not observed for an interactive science assessment and a distal science outcome measure. However, based on initial reading skill levels, moderation results were found on a science vocabulary measure, suggesting the effects of Sci2 were greatest for students with higher initial reading skills. Similar results were found using initial mathematics skill levels as a predictor of differential response such that students with higher mathematics skills reaped stronger treatment effects on the vocabulary measure. Further, we found initial mathematics skills also influenced outcomes on the proximal science content assessment, where students with higher initial mathematics skills led to higher outcomes. Overall, findings suggest Sci2 produced robust effects for all students ( g = 0.24–1.23), regardless of initial skill proficiencies. Implications for exploring differential response in science intervention research are discussed.
Navigating Identities: The Musical Lives of Four Second-Generation Immigrant Children
Authors: Adorno Sandra Sanchez
Published: July 2024

This collective case study explored the musical lives of second-generation immigrant children in Miami, Florida, USA, to gain greater insight into music’s role in the negotiation, construction, and expression of their “identities in music” and “music in identities.” Four children between the ages of 8 and 12 who had at least one parent born outside of the United States participated in the study. Data were collected through participant-created artifacts, observations, and semistructured interviews with the children and other key figures in their homes and communities. Findings suggest that the children explored and evaluated their musical identities through a continuous cycle of musical experiences and social comparisons and that formal, informal, and nonformal music experiences in school, at home, and with the media informed the children’s understandings and expressions of musical identities. Additionally, music allowed the children to explore the values, traditions, and expectations of particular social groups. Children’s musical experiences also served as a source for understanding, maintaining, and expressing their ethnic, gender, and youth identities.
Radiating Truthiness: Authenticity Performances in Politics in Brazil and the United States
Authors: Sposito Henrique
Published: July 2024

Political authenticity is connected to higher levels of political trust from electorates and can influence political outcomes, but it is often overlooked as a relevant factor for electoral behavior. To date, discussions of how authenticity appears and changes in politics typically remain at the theoretical level and are rarely comparative. This article develops a framework to identify and compare how authenticity is performed in political discourses over time and across settings by politicians. To demonstrate the usefulness of the framework, this article investigates authenticity performances in 21,496 political texts of electoral debates, interviews, campaigns, and official speeches by presidents and presidential candidates in Brazil and the United States since 1988. The findings indicate that authenticity is generally performed with greater frequency by presidents and presidential candidates in Brazil than in the United States, though authenticity performances are not more prevalent during election years in either country.
25-Year Evaluation of an In-Person Therapeutic Community Program in the Southwest United States between 1994 and 2019
Authors: Wiese Amanda L. , Sease Thomas B. , Knight Kevin
Published: July 2024

This study investigated the effect of therapeutic community programming and aftercare treatment completion on rearrest rates in the Southwest United States across 25 years. The asymptote of rearrest trajectories did not occur until 10 years post-release, although this varied by risk classification. Treatment receipt was not related to 25-year rearrest trajectories. However, people classified as higher risk were more likely to be rearrested than those classified a low risk while controlling for treatment receipt. Aftercare completion extended the time to arrest; individuals completing an aftercare program were less likely to be arrested, and high-risk participants that completed aftercare showed a similar rearrest trajectory as low-risk participants.