bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER MEDICAL EDUCATION ABROAD IN THE STUDIES OF UKRAINIAN COMPARATIVISTS
Authors: Snitovska O. Y.
Published: November 2024

The article presents a synthesized historiographical analysis of Ukrainian pedagogical comparativistsʼ works on the development of higher medical education in foreign countries, identifying trends, achievements, bottlenecks, and prospects for studying this problem. The presented sample of dissertations, monographs, and textbooks demonstrated their narrow country-specific vector and similarity in formulating the subject of research.
Historiographical and comparative analysis revealed similar approaches of scientists to determining trends in the development and functioning of national systems of professional training for doctors. These concern the preservation and expansion of decentralization in higher medical education management; strengthening the interaction of its various links; shifting emphasis in determining the prerequisites for the development of national higher medical education systems from “traditional” factors (political, socio-economic, cultural situation of the country, etc.) to clarifying the influences of international medical organizations and documents in the field of healthcare that substantiate general strategies for training doctors in higher medical education institutions, etc.
Scientists also propose original approaches to studying the functioning of national systems of higher medical education. These are manifested in the development of authors periodizations and classifications of the specified process; thorough characteristics of university environments for training future doctors in different countries; comprehensive understanding of the determinants of their formation and development, which, in addition to social, economic, and cultural factors of the country's development, relate to the level of education of the population, its multiculturalism, the specifics of educational systems, etc.
In these perspectives, the analyzed studies mark two main country-specific vectors of research in higher medical education: “overseas” (USA and Canada) and “European” (mainly Great Britain, Poland, and German-speaking countries).
ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ КЕЙС-МЕТОДІВ НАВЧАННЯ ЗІ СТОМАТОЛОГІЧНИХ ДИСЦИПЛІН
Authors: Древніцька Р. О. , Бойків А. Б. , Авдєєв О. В.
Published: November 2024

Основа педагогічної діяльності – це правильний вибір технологій навчання. Педагогічні новинки, якими би відпрацьованими вони не були, не можуть бути освоєними без необхідної організації інноваційних процесів. Однією з активних технологій навчання при проведенні практичних занять із терапевтичної, ортопедичної та дитячої стоматології є технологія аналізу клінічних ситуацій. Аналіз конкретних клінічних ситуацій – один із найбільш ефективних і поширених методів організації активної пізнавальної діяльності здобувачів вищої медичної освіти. Метод аналізу конкретних ситуацій (кейс-метод) розвиває здатність до аналізу життєвих і професійних завдань; допомагає розвивати компетентність та спроможність здобувачів вищої освіти до конкуренції, стимулює та заохочує їх до саморозвитку. Робота викладача над кейсом передбачає доаудиторну роботу над кейсом (складання кейсу) та аудиторну (проведення кейсу зі здобувачами вищої освіти на занятті). Під час доаудиторної роботи викладач має підготувати збірку кейсів, які відповідатимуть завданням конкретного курсу, зважаючи на вимоги до певних клінічних ситуацій. Для ефективної роботи здобувачів вищої освіти треба продумати домашнє завдання, яке передбачатиме або підготовку питання до конкретної ситуації, або письмовий аналіз самого кейсу. Також можна запропонувати огляд додаткової літератури з проблем, що стосуються конкретної ситуації. Велику увагу треба приділити організаційним моментам: підготувати в достатній кількості тексти самого кейсу, щоб кожен здобувач вищої освіти мав змогу за декілька днів отримати його для самостійного опрацювання; забезпечити інший роздатковий матеріал; продумати матеріально-технічне забезпечення роботи навчальної групи (результати додаткових методів обстеження пацієнтів, ортопантомограми, технічні засоби тощо); продумати розподіл часу (особливо на роботу в аудиторії).
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING SPEAKING SKILLS OF MEDICAL STUDENTS
Authors: Yelahina N. I.
Published: November 2024

This article explores the effectiveness of project-based learning (PBL) as a pedagogical approach to enhance speaking skills of medical students, emphasizing the practical application of language within professional field. In the context of evolving medical education, the need for proficient English language skills among healthcare professionals has become increasingly topical. By integrating constructivist, experiential, communicative, and task-based learning theories, PBL fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. Through active engagement in projects such as clinical simulations, case studies, and health campaigns, students not only acquire linguistic competence but also bridge knowledge across disciplines such as biology, pharmacology, ethics, etc. This study aims to analyze the methodologies, impacts, and potential obstacles of PBL in medical English education. The findings are intended to inform English language instructors in medical educational establishments, ultimately enhancing the quality of training for future healthcare professionals in a globalized surroundings. By promoting effective communication skills, PBL serves as a vital tool in preparing a new generation of adaptable and skilled practitioners.
LINGUISTIC AND DIDACTIC BASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE DOCTORSʼ SPEAKING COMPETENCY
Authors: Savaryn T. V. , Kichula M. Ya. , Peleshok K. Ye.
Published: November 2024

The article defines the content of the concept of “future doctorʼs speech competence” as an integral quality of a medical student, which is manifested in the general ability and readiness to use language means, the laws of their functioning for the construction and understanding of speech utterances in the context of professional activity of doctors; the linguodidactic principles of development of future doctorsʼ speech competence are substantiated. These include the laws of mother tongue acquisition that contribute to the intensive development of communicative and linguistic skills; general didactic and specific principles that determine the direction in the development of means of developing linguistic skills; forms, methods and techniques that correspond to the main forms of work in higher education; teaching aids, the use of which affects the effectiveness of the content of education. It is noted that the development of future doctorsʼ speech competence can be carried out using the following methods of language teaching: oral presentation by the teacher (narration, explanation, lecture), conversation, work with a textbook, observation and analysis of language phenomena, exercise method, programmed learning and interactive methods. The following interactive learning methods have become valuable for the development of medical students’ language competence: work in small groups, imitation, simulation, discussion, microphone, talk shows, rotating groups. All these methods combine into one whole the activities of the teacher and students, which are aimed at improving language knowledge, developing communicative and speech skills, allow to manage studentsʼ cognitive activity productively and realize educational, educational, developmental, motivational, control and correctional functions of learning in a higher education institution
Brasileiros no exterior: percepções sobre suas características e seus comportamentos
Authors: Escudero Camila , Ávila Otávio
Published: November 2024

El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar la percepción de los brasileños sobre las características, comportamientos y modos de vida de la población brasileña residente en el exterior. Se pretende identificar el nivel de conocimiento, las fuentes de información, las referencias y los estereotipos construidos. Se realizó una encuesta de opinión pública no probabilística, con la aplicación de un cuestionario. Destaca que la idea que se construye simbólicamente del emigrante brasileño está relacionada con la cuestión del origen común y el binomio espacio-tiempo, esenciales a la perspectiva migratoria. Sin embargo, la percepción del grupo se construye en un ambiente comunicacional que se compone de construcciones mentales previas, no necesariamente acordes a la realidad involucrada.
As feições organizacionais, a informação e os momentos negligenciados: o caso Braskem e as “demandas dinâmicas” para as relações públicas
Authors: Rodrigues Emanuelle , Leite Sandra Nunes
Published: November 2024

Este artigo analisa as feições organizacionais da Braskem diante da crise socioambiental em Maceió na perspectiva dos riscos. A partir de um estudo de caso sobre a comunicação da empresa, buscamos compreender como são produzidas tais feições, que contribuem para produzir sua identidade organizacional. Concluímos que a incapacidade de a companhia lidar com eventos negativos pode fazer da (des)informação uma estratégia de comunicação. O estudo demonstra que as relações públicas lidam com “demandas dinâmicas” do fazer comunicativo.
ESG e tecnologia: como empresas divulgam aspectos ambientais, sociais e de governança no mundo digital?
Authors: Farias Luiz Alberto de , Vergili Rafael , Attene Roberta Beatriz
Published: November 2024

This study aims to verify corporate actions to disseminate environmental, social, and governance practices in the digital world. It was supported by discussions on environmental, social, and governance practices; technology, and communication. The identification of the most responsible companies (2013-2022) was carried out using the corporate reputation business monitor, especially Natura, Itaú Unibanco, and Grupo Boticário. To analyze the pages about environmental, social, and governance practices, the platforms Semrush and SimilarWeb measured statistics and audiences, whereas Nielsen’s 10 heuristics guided the evaluation of user experience.
Mutações culturais na assessoria de imprensa: novos rumos no adensamento das tecnicidades
Authors: Costa Filho Ismar Capistrano
Published: November 2024

La construcción de un nuevo sensorium, es decir, nuevas formas de ver, oír y sentir caracteriza las mutaciones culturales, resultado de la omnipresencia de las tecnologías digitales en la vida social que buscan modular comportamientos. A partir de un estudio de caso en agencias de comunicación, se investigó cómo este entorno impacta en agencias de prensa en la ciudad de Fortaleza (Brasil), lo que permitió inferir que los cambios afectan al ámbito de actividad, desplazando principalmente a las redes sociales y la relación con los influenciadores digitales.
Moedas sociais no contexto da pandemia de covid-19: observação de iniciativas municipais no Rio de Janeiro, em plataformas de mídias sociais
Authors: Porém Maria Eugênia , Gonçalves Júnior Orlando Costa
Published: November 2024

A desigualdade socioeconômica no Brasil atinge grande parte da população e, segundo dados oficiais, agravou-se durante a pandemia da covid-19. Para enfrentar essa situação, governos criaram iniciativas para distribuição de renda, a fim de reduzir os impactos junto à população mais vulnerável e fomentar as economias locais. Um exemplo foi a implantação das chamadas moedas sociais no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Este estudo observou a divulgação dessas iniciativas realizada por prefeituras em seus canais em plataformas virtuais. O resultado mostrou que as populações beneficiadas foram comunicadas acerca das iniciativas, mas sem participar da concepção destas, além da divulgação nem sempre ter como foco, de fato, a orientação para o uso do benefício.
Reflexões sobre as tensões do conceito de comunicação pública: erosão democrática, fragmentação da esfera pública e horizontes comuns
Authors: Pimenta Laura Nayara
Published: November 2024

This study proposes a reflection [on the elements that strain the concept of public communication based on three central arguments: the erosion of democratic values, the fragmentation of the public sphere, and the difficulty of broadening common horizons between subjects. We depart from the concept of public communication as that which takes place in the public sphere and involves debate on issues of public interest. The discussion of this essay use authors such as Avritzer, Han, Habermas, Pariser, among others.
Perspectivas contemporâneas sobre marcas: um estudo sobre abordagens e dinâmicas na comunicação
Authors: Ferreira Dôuglas Aparecido
Published: November 2024

This study investigates contemporary approaches researchers in Communication use to study brands, reflecting on the multifaceted and dynamic concept of this theme. A systematic analysis of 77 articles published in Brazilian journals from 2018 to 2023 found and discussed five main thematic axes: culture and social values, economy and market, ethics and social responsibility, audience experience, and visual identity and symbolism. Results point to a wealth of perspectives that show the complexity of the subject and the possibility of approaching it in various ways.
Desafios e aprendizados da comunicação pública na pandemia de COVID-19: o caso de uma instituição do Estado Português
Authors: Almeida Cristiane d’Avila Lyra , Aguiar Adriana Cavalcanti de
Published: November 2024

This is a qualitative case study on the communication actions of the Portuguese state expressed in initiatives of Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA, Portuguese Ministry of Health) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (from 2020 to 2022). Its exploratory research employed documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews indicates how communication practices carried out in the context of infodemic and disinfodemic addressed this scientific institution with other public instances and the civil society and advanced public communication of science guided toward dialogue and the strengthening of citizenship.
Comunicação pública, emoções e afetos: estratégias de comunicação de universidades federais no Instagram
Authors: Spiazzi Sendi Chiapinotto , Pozobon Rejane de Oliveira
Published: November 2024

This study reflects on public communication based on the platform society. It analyzes the discourse of Brazilian federal public universities on Instagram by focusing on strategies for capturing emotion and forming emotion in persuasive speech. Results found the mobilization of affections around the speaker (ethos) and the audience (pathos) without dispensing with public communication information (logos).
Comunicação pública nos municípios brasileiros: canais, serviços e atendimento ao cidadão
Authors: Lima Ana Marusia Pinheiro , Faria Armando Medeiros de , Beraldo Paulo Eduardo Palma
Published: November 2024

How does the municipal public administration communicate to citizens in Brazil? Based on this research question, this study overviews remote communicational services from the city halls in the 5,570 Brazilian municipalities following data from the Municipal Basic Information Survey in 2019 and other investigations about the use of internet in the country. Its establishes a dialogue between public communication and the municipality. This study localizes gaps the public administration must address in its interface with the population.
Organização dos profissionais, capacitação e busca por regulamentação: a atuação da ABCPública
Authors: Comel Naiza
Published: November 2024

Uma comunicação voltada aos interesses do cidadão. Ainda que uma premissa da Comunicação Pública, este é um ainda é um desafio. Um desafio que envolve velhos problemas, como a instrumentalização dos canais do Estado por agentes políticos e partidos e a ausência de regulamentações específicas para a área, assim como novas disputas, caso da ampliação da desinformação. Estes são temas tratados nesta entrevista com Cláudia Lemos, que desde 2021 é presidente da Associação Brasileira de Comunicação Pública (ABCPública). Nela, Cláudia apresenta como a entidade busca fortalecer a área para que avanços sejam possíveis, o que envolve não apenas a organização dos profissionais, mas capacitações, estímulo ao compartilhamento de pesquisas e luta pela aprovação de leis. Jornalista concursada pela Câmara dos Deputados, Cláudia possui uma extensa experiência na área, que compreendeu, entre outros, atuações na Secretaria de Comunicação da Presidência da República, na Procuradoria-Geral da República, no Conselho Nacional do Ministério Público e na Associação Nacional dos Procuradores da República. Também é pesquisadora da área, com diversos estudos publicados.
A esfera pública hiperconectada e suas implicações na comunicação pública contemporânea
Authors: Mainieri Tiago , Ribeiro Eva Arantes
Published: November 2024

This study analyzed the hyperconnected public sphere, highlighting its implications in the context of public communication. Under social media, the public sphere has undergone significant transformations. This study examines the emerging dynamics of the hyperconnected public sphere, including the role of social media in disseminating information and disinformation and interactions between citizens. The literature review and empirical research on the livestreams of then-president Bolsonaro furthers the reflection on the hyperconnected public sphere.
Abordagens teóricas e definições mínimas na pesquisa em Comunicação Pública: construindo o conceito de Comunicação Pública de Estado
Authors: Miola Edna , Marques Francisco Paulo Jamil
Published: November 2024

Public communication is a rapidly developing scientific and professional field. However, the perception that it remains a concept under construction persists. To elucidate its definition, this study seeks to recognize and systematize the contributions of Brazilian research on public communication. The literature review found three aspects that delimit the area: the agents promoting communication, the content and production ethos, and the communication channels. Such aspects constitute minimum requirements for the concept of state public communication, which, in turn, includes a normative-democratic dimension that enables participation, transparency, accountability, defense of social rights, and governance; and an institutional dimension related to links and trust in institutions and democracy.
O impacto do Observatório de Comunicação Pública na democracia brasileira
Authors: Oliveira Paula Andressa de
Published: November 2024

Na busca por entender o papel e a importância da comunicação pública no Brasil, a professora Maria Helena Weber, coordenadora do Observatório de Comunicação Pública (OBCOMP), fala sobre o papel do Observatório criado em 2015, com o objetivo principal promover a discussão e a pesquisa no campo da comunicação pública, política e governamental. Durante a entrevista, Maria Helena Weber detalha os desafios enfrentados pelo Observatório ao longo de quase uma década de funcionamento, destacando as dificuldades financeiras e a importância do voluntariado na manutenção das atividades. Ela também explora como o Observatório contribui para a pesquisa e a extensão acadêmica, atuando em diversas universidades e estabelecendo parcerias internacionais. Além disso, a professora Weber aborda os principais projetos de extensão e ações desenvolvidas pelo OBCOMP, ressaltando a importância da comunicação pública para a democracia. A entrevista traz uma visão sobre o futuro do Observatório, enfatizando a necessidade de expandir e aprofundar suas atividades, sempre com foco no interesse público e na promoção do debate democrático. Por fim, Maria Helena Weber oferece uma análise crítica do cenário atual da comunicação pública no Brasil, destacando os desafios e avanços observados ao longo dos anos. Esta entrevista é uma oportunidade única para compreender a relevância do OBCOMP e o impacto de suas iniciativas na sociedade.
Gene Therapy in Cardiovascular Disease: Recent Advances and Future Directions in Science: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association
Authors: Kim Yuri , Landstrom Andrew P. , Shah Svati H. , Wu Joseph C. , Seidman Christine E. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association
Published: November 2024

Cardiovascular disease remains the foremost cause of morbidity and mortality globally, affecting millions of individuals. Recent discoveries illuminate the substantial role of genetics in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis, encompassing both monogenic and polygenic mechanisms and identifying tangible targets for gene therapies. Innovative strategies have emerged to rectify pathogenic variants that cause monogenic disorders such as hypertrophic, dilated, and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies and hypercholesterolemia. These include delivery of exogenous genes to supplement insufficient protein levels caused by pathogenic variants or genome editing to correct, delete, or modify mutant sequences to restore protein function. However, effective delivery of gene therapy to specified cells presents formidable challenges. Viral vectors, notably adeno-associated viruses and nonviral vectors such as lipid and engineered nanoparticles, offer distinct advantages and limitations. Additional risks and obstacles remain, including treatment durability, tissue-specific targeting, vector-associated adverse events, and off-target effects. Addressing these challenges is an ongoing imperative; several clinical gene therapy trials are underway, and many more first-in-human studies are anticipated. This science advisory reviews core concepts of gene therapy, key obstacles, patient risks, and ongoing research endeavors to enable clinicians to understand the complex landscape of this emerging therapy and its remarkable therapeutic potential to benefit cardiovascular disease.
Blood Pressure Regulation in Post–COVID POTS: Beyond Sinus Tachycardia
Authors: Johansson Madeleine , Ståhlberg Marcus , Ricci Fabrizio , Lewinter Christian , Hamrefors Viktor , Nilsson Peter M. , Sutton Richard , Fedorowski Artur
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND:

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a frequently diagnosed cardiovascular disorder after COVID-19 infection. POTS is characterized by the presence of excessive sinus tachycardia on standing without a fall in blood pressure (BP). We investigated the BP profile using 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring in patients with new-onset POTS after COVID-19 compared with prepandemic population-based controls.

METHODS:

We performed a case-control study in 100 patients (mean age, 40.0±12.9 years; 85% women) with verified post–COVID-19 new-onset POTS diagnosed by a positive head-up tilt testing versus 100 controls from a population-based cohort with a negative active standing test, no history of syncope, POTS, or endocrine disease (mean age, 42.3±14.0 years; 78% women). Twenty-four-hour BP profile was assessed for circadian BP variation including hypotensive systolic BP (SBP) episodes (<80, <90, and <100 mm Hg).

RESULTS:

Patients with post–COVID-19 POTS had significantly higher nighttime SBP, but not daytime SBP, and more daytime SBP hypotensive episodes compared with controls. Nondipping (34% versus 19%;
P
<0.001) and reverse dipping patterns (9% versus 0%;
P
<0.001) were more frequent in post–COVID-19 POTS. In the logistic regression, patients with post–COVID-19 POTS had significantly higher mean 24-hour SBP (odds ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.04–1.11];
P
<0.001) and nighttime SBP (odds ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.04–1.10];
P
<0.001), independent of age and sex.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with post–COVID-19 POTS demonstrate higher mean 24-hour and nighttime SBP and show disruptions of circadian BP rhythm regulation compared with population-based controls, as well as more daytime hypotensive episodes. Future studies are needed to test whether patients with post–COVID-19 POTS may benefit from tailored BP therapy.
Neuroprotective Effects of Rapid Local Ischemic Postconditioning in Successful Endovascular Thrombectomy Patients
Authors: Deng Jiangshan , He Guangchen , Yi Tingyu , Wei Liming , Lu Haitao , Zhou Qing , Yao Ye , Zhu Chengcheng , Levitt Michael R. , Mossa-Basha Mahmud , Yang Haibo , Shen Yi , Shi Feng , Wang Duolao , Lin Longting , Parsons Mark , Chen Wenhuo , Zhu Yueqi
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND:

We aim to assess the efficacy of rapid local ischemic postconditioning (RL-IPostC) following successful reperfusion in patients with acute ischemic stroke with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who underwent endovascular thrombectomy.

METHODS:

We conducted an ambidirectional cohort study with 78 prospectively enrolled patients with RL-IPostC and endovascular thrombectomy and 129 retrospectively enrolled patients with endovascular thrombectomy. The RL-IPostC procedure involved 5 cycles of 15-s balloon inflation and deflation in the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. The primary outcome was functional independence, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2. Secondary outcomes included excellent outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–1) and early therapeutic response. Imaging outcomes involved infarct volume changes and cerebral edema measurements. Outcomes were compared with postpropensity score matching (1:1) and assessed using univariable and multivariable regression models.

RESULTS:

In the matched cohort of 136 patients (mean age, 71±14 years; 70 men [51%]), RL-IPostC was associated with a higher rate of functional independence (adjusted odds ratio, 2.47 [95% CI, 1.10–5.68];
P
=0.030). The RL-IPostC group exhibited significantly reduced infarct volumes at 24 hours (difference, −12.2 [95% CI, −23.9 to −0.53];
P
=0.041) and less infarct growth (difference, −12.2 [95% CI, −23.9 to −0.45];
P
=0.042). Furthermore, RL-IPostC correlated with lower increases in net water uptake (difference, −0.04 [95% CI, −0.07 to −0.01];
P
=0.018), lower decrease cerebrospinal fluid volume (difference, −7.75 [95% CI, −11.7 to −3.84];
P
<0.001), and reduced midline shift at 24 hours (difference, −1.39 [95% CI, −2.48 to −0.30];
P
=0.013).

CONCLUSIONS:

RL-IPostC tends to promote functional independence and reduces infarct growth and cerebral edema in patients with acute ischemic stroke post-reperfusion.
“Why Is the Old Dying and the New Is Not Being Born?” The Church’s Struggle with Public Justice and Righteousness in Zimbabwe
Authors: Gaga John
Published: November 2024

This article attempts to present how the church has struggled with public justice and righteousness in Zimbabwe where the past and old dominate the national debate without giving room for emerging personalities and ideas. The church introduced programmes, organisations and documents in an attempt to theoretically break away with the past. The documents are results of transformative projects designed to address the holistic needs of people in Zimbabwe against both the localised and internationalised neoliberal paradigms of Capitalism, Colonialism and Christianity that disempowered rather than liberated followers. Being critical of the past, Derrida says: “To ask such questions, such difficult questions, requires that we change the most resistant, archaic structures of our desire”. The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD s) introduced the post-liberation discourse through the Zimbabwe We Want Document (ZWWD) in 2006, and a national economic discussion through the National Holistic Agenda for Renewal and Empowerment (NHARE) in 2019 against the idea that the Church must be confined in the pews and politicians in the public arena. These documents and programmes engaged with both politicians and citizens in critical ways to achieve both justice and righteousness. Justice and righteousness are big themes in the Bible and Christian doctrine. Breaking away with the past promised to reverse the slippery slope on public life in Zimbabwe that increased national poverty, class inequalities, and factionalised politics. The opening of space in public life by the ZHOCD allowed citizens to engage in all public life and justice struggles, which is “a revival of a voice that has been silenced after independence, or was send to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), paralysed, captured, neutralised or unauthorised”. It explored new alternatives to engaging state theology in relationship to the margins. Scripture has been useful in the church’s engagement with the state on public life goods, hence the question: “Why is the old dying and the new not being born”? The article pursues this question in view of the church programmes and documents.
A Theological and Contextual Exploration of James Torrance’s Covenant or Contract?
Authors: Maclean Hamish
Published: November 2024

The covenant concept is a central theme original to the Bible and is generally defined as a formal commitment between two parties. James Torrance’s theological definition of a covenant is employed in this article to highlight two critical characteristics. It then explores Torrance’s claim of a legacy of confusion between a covenant and a contract in theology and discovers that this ambiguity is true of some historical and current scholarship. Torrance’s insights are applied to a contentious contextual example that has played out in New Zealand around the Treaty of Waitangi: the case is made for identifying how Torrance’s theological understanding of a covenant can lead into positive steps forward and thus contribute to a public theology.
Introduction
Authors: Hornkohl Aaron D.
Published: November 2024

Despite the suitability of the standard division of Biblical Hebrew (BH) into pre-exilic Classical Biblical Hebrew (CBH) and post-Restoration Late Biblical Hebrew, which presupposes the linguistic unity of the classical phase in which most of the Hebrew Bible is written, there is some evidence pointing to diachronic diversity within CBH, according to which the Torah presents an earlier chronolect than the pre-exilic Prophets and Writings. The implications are significant, not just as they demand greater nuance in the accepted, fundamentally dichotomous theory of BH periodisation, but challenge entrenched theories of the Bible’s literary composition.

This introductory chapter surveys challenges presented by the data, emphasises the need for external controls and a robust methodology, responds to oft-raised objections to diachronic linguistic approaches, and previews the structure of the monograph.
11. Abstract Nouns Ending in -ūt
Authors: Hornkohl Aaron D.
Published: November 2024

Elitzur (2018a) examines the occurrence of abstract nouns ending in -ūt in the Masoretic tradition of the Hebrew Bible, noting a distinct pattern that distinguishes the Pentateuch from other biblical texts. His analysis highlights that these nouns are relatively rare in the Pentateuch and often written defectively, while they are more frequent and usually spelled plene (with waw) in the Prophets and Writings. Elitzur investigates specific examples such as גַּבְלֻת ‘twistedness’ and עֵדֻת ‘testimony’ to support this observation. He raises the question of whether the defective spelling in the Pentateuch signifies a historical mismatch between written and spoken forms or if many words with defective -ūt originally ended with a different suffix, later adapted under changing linguistic norms.

Building on and extending Elitzur’s study, the discussion reveals the complexities of diachrony in Hebrew, particularly regarding the -ūt endings, which are often deemed characteristic of later forms of the language. Cohen (2012) has challenged this characterisation, arguing that their distribution is comparable within both the Torah and later texts. The chapter problematises this viewpoint, suggesting that the focus should be on the frequency of tokens rather than on mere number of lexemes. Among other things, it is pointed out that the orthographic discrepancies in the usage of -ūt in the Torah could reflect underlying morphological differences, i.e., that they might represent a later reinterpretation of forms that originally had different suffixes. Ultimately, the evidence suggests a complex interplay between orthography and morphology, underscoring the challenges in tracing the historical development of these noun forms in biblical Hebrew.
Understanding Decadal-Scale Dynamics in the Bering Sea: Investigating Trends and Variability in Sea Ice, Winds, and Waves
Authors: Fischer Reint , Farrell Sinead L. , Kuhn John M. , Duncan Kyle
Published: November 2024

Despite the societal and economic importance of the Bering Sea, recent rapid changes in surface ocean conditions are not well documented. We address this gap by characterizing the Bering Sea winter ice–wind–wave climate using satellite observations and reanalysis data. Nine of the last 10 years (2014–23) have experienced anomalously low sea ice extent relative to the 1980–2023 mean. Between 2003 and 2023, gale force wind speeds have become more common and satellite altimeter observations show significant wave height (SWH) has increased ≥6 m, and has increased by 1 m between 2003 and 2023, while 20 days yr−1 exhibit SWH > 9 m. Winters between 2018 and 2023 were the six stormiest since 2003, and the sea ice season decreases by 1–4 days yr−1. Should ice loss in the Bering Sea continue to decline, we hypothesize that the frequency of extreme waves over the Bering Sea shelf would increase, severely impacting coastal communities. In September 2022, extratropical cyclone Merbok caused unprecedented SWH (>15 m) over the shelf which were uncharacteristic for the season, and caused widespread coastal inundation and property damage. Such anomalous wave conditions exemplify the emerging threat storms pose in a future where sea ice is absent more frequently in winter, when severe storms are most common. Satellite altimeters have improved the observation of surface ocean conditions in the Bering Sea during the most intense storms, and we demonstrate that a suite of five or more altimeters is required to capture regional events adequately.

Significance Statement

Although the Bering Sea region has recently endured rapid sea ice loss and the decline of several species important for subsistence and commercial fishing, it has relatively few resources to monitor and mitigate changing climatic conditions. In this article, we show that extreme wind and wave conditions in the Bering Sea have strongly increased in recent years, as sea ice has declined. This points to a need for reliable and continued monitoring, and with only two wave buoys providing year-round observations, an adequate constellation of ocean remote sensing instruments is required to capture extreme ocean–ice–atmosphere events in an isolated and challenging environment.
Establishment of a Predictive Model for Seroma Formation After TAPP Repair for Unilateral Indirect Inguinal Hernia in Males
Authors: Peng Xue-Feng , Yu Miao , Wang Deng-Chao
Published: November 2024

Background

Inguinal hernia repair, particularly using TAPP, is common in males, and acclaimed for minimal invasiveness but often complicated by seromas, significantly affecting recovery and health care costs.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed data from 266 male patients with unilateral indirect inguinal hernia who underwent transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair. We divided the patients into a training set (n = 188) and a validation set (n = 78). We employed logistic regression to identify independent risk factors for post-TAPP seroma and developed a nomogram to predict the occurrence of seromas. The model’s accuracy was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

Postoperatively, 20.3% of patients developed a seroma. Multivariate logistic regression analysis highlighted several independent risk factors for seroma formation: the use of anticoagulants, an internal ring defect ≥5 cm, scrotal hernia, incarcerated hernia, and transected hernia sac ( P < 0.05). The ROC curves for the training and validation sets demonstrated areas under the curve of 0.893 (95% CI: 0.845-0.942) and 0.864 (95% CI: 0.765-0.963), respectively, indicating good model fits ( P > 0.05). DCA confirmed significant clinical applicability of the model.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the use of anticoagulants, an internal ring defect ≥5 cm, scrotal hernia, incarcerated hernia, and transected hernia sac are significant independent risk factors for seroma formation after TAPP repair. Clinical consideration of these factors and proactive preventive measures are essential. Although many of these factors are non-modifiable, understanding them is crucial for preoperative risk assessment and patient management.
Unsettled South Asian Borders: Nepal’s Effort to Reconcile Its Colonial and Non-colonial Borders
Authors: Ghimire Bipin
Published: November 2024

While it is commonly accepted that the borders in South Asia are post-colonial borders established by colonial powers, the literature often skips the discussion of the non-colonial borders of the region. Many sources do not even acknowledge the existence of non-colonial borders at all, making such borders some sort of terra incognita. This has created an academic gap which limits the understanding of the borders of the region and sometimes leads towards hasty generalisation on the nature of South Asian borders. Nepal has two types of borders—a colonial border shared with India in the south and a non-colonial border shared with China that lies in the central Himalayan massif. This has resulted in the adoption of two different border policies that do not always align with each other. To delve into the intricacies of this situation, this article focuses on two main inquiries. First, the article studies Nepal’s border policies and approaches by examining the historical context of border delimitation with India and China, as well as the characteristics of these borders. Second, the article examines the extent to which Nepal is successful in reconciling its colonial and non-colonial border policies as well as the challenges it faces in this endeavour. It concludes the discussion by exploring the potential contribution of non-colonial borders to South Asia’s border narratives.
Navigating the Technological Tug-of-war: European Think Tanks’ Perspectives on the China–US Tech Competition
Authors: Lin Qin
Published: November 2024

The China–US Tech Competition has become a focal point of current international research. In the context of this technological competition, Europe faces the challenge of determining its positioning. As a significant force influencing European policy direction, the perspectives of European think tanks on the China–US technology competition deserve considerable attention from the academic and policy communities. This study examines research findings from eight prominent European think tanks as the sample and employs literature analysis approach to interpret the origins, impacts and prospects of the China–US technology competition from the viewpoint of European think tanks. Additionally, the study assesses Europe’s policy orientation within this technological rivalry. The research indicates that European think tanks are dedicated to providing comprehensive and objective information and recommendations to European decision-makers. Overall, European think tanks adopt a relatively neutral stance on the China–US technology competition, which may reflect certain resistance to the United States’ efforts to create a technological coalition against China by courting Europe. Looking ahead, it is crucial to further investigate the perspectives of European think tanks on the China–US technology competition in order to promote a clearer positioning of Europe’s role and responsibilities within this intense competition. Additionally, conducting research from a third-party perspective will help us gain a comprehensive understanding of the global impact of the China–US technology competition and Europe’s position and role in this context.
Why Good Governance Implementation in the Post-Taliban Administration in Afghanistan Failed?
Authors: Sultani Farhad
Published: November 2024

The article examines the obstacles and issues that led to good governance failure in Afghanistan in the past two decades. Afghanistan received considerable aid from the West in general and the USA in particular. Despite two decades of international community support, democracy and good governance were not institutionalised. Politics continues to be dominated by big money, goons and people with little background and training in informal politics. Power and authority were concentrated at the top echelons of government. Corruption has become so endemic that it has engulfed the entire society. President Karzai and President Ghani ethnicised the government and missed several opportunities to achieve democracy, good governance and economic growth in the past two decades. Lack of independence of the judiciary, accountability and transparency in the affairs of the State is a significant impediment to good governance implementation. The human rights situation remains unsatisfactory. One of the pressing problems of governance is the politicisation of the public bureaucracy, which adversely affects states performance. Notably, President Ghani failed to provide the country with a vision mission or to serve the nation with commitment and dedication. Bad leadership style led to the state collapse on 15 August 2021, as President Ghani fled the country and Taliban fighters captured the political power in Afghanistan.
Leveraging or Overcoming Distance? Global Strategy and Structure of Professional Services Firms
Authors: Sako Mari , Peo Jeffrey
Published: November 2024

In this study, geographic distance is an instructional logic that influences the international strategy and structure of professional service firms (PSFs). By drawing on three governance modes—global value chains, virtual teams, and ecosystems—we identify eight governance structures in use by PSFs, resulting from reliance on one of two distance logics: distance-as-enabler and distance-as-barrier. When the logic of distance-as-enabler is prioritized, PSFs choose a structure that is more unified at the global level. When the logic of distance-as-barrier is upheld, PSFs give greater autonomy to local units or establish loosely connected regionally autonomous partnerships. By highlighting the co-evolution between professional governance and professional practice we further show that greater distance necessitates professional work to be more codified and modularized, while proximity preserves professional work's bespoke nature. We apply this framework to demonstrate how external environmental factors trigger firms to shift from one specific governance-practice form to another.
The Expectational Liminality of Insecure College Graduates
Authors: Ayala-Hurtado Elena
Published: November 2024

Graduating from college is widely associated with social and personal advancement, yet many young graduates are not experiencing these benefits. Drawing on 127 interviews with college graduates in the United States and Spain who face employment precarity or economic instability, this study asks: How do these graduates understand their social positions and worth? How does the institution of higher education shape these understandings? The data demonstrate that respondents in both countries largely describe themselves as stalled or stuck. I argue that these are perceptions of “expectational liminality” stemming from the disjuncture between respondents’ expectations and their experiences as college graduates. In addition, I show how three narratives describing the professional/financial success, life course progression, and internal transformation expected of graduates shape respondents’ sense of expectational liminality. I discuss the effects of higher education on graduates’ self-perceptions in uncertain contexts and the relevance of expectational liminality to other contexts where there are disjunctures between expectations and reality.
The Development of Public Conscience: Hume’s Third Way Between Hobbes and Locke
Authors: Zubia Aaron Alexander
Published: November 2024

Hume devised a third way between Hobbes and Locke that bolstered the former’s defense of stability and the latter’s defense of rebellion. This feat remains underappreciated. Hume’s third way rests on the idea of the public conscience, which, like Hobbes’s idea of the public conscience, derives from communication and consensus. The public conscience orients us toward the public interest, which, in Hume’s theory, is the authoritative standard by which individuals and government alike must abide. In this paper, I elaborate on the moral psychological principles that underlie Hume’s concept of the public conscience, which is liable to both conservative liberal and progressive liberal interpretations. And I argue that Hume’s third way provides valuable insight into the logic of public political discourse in liberal societies.
Factors Influencing the Time to Treatment of Patients with Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Qin Feng , Guo Siquan , Guo Jinbao , Qiu Jibing
Published: November 2024

Objective: To identify the factors that influence the time to treatment (TT) in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Method: This study included a total of 324 patients with ISSNHL, who were treated at our department between September 2021 and May 2024. Basic information and audiological indicators of patients were collected, and their relationship with the TT was analyzed. Results: The patients were classified into long-term (TT >7 days, n = 75) and short-term groups (TT ≤7 days, n = 249). A significant difference was observed in sex, type of hearing loss, pretreatment hearing threshold, average improved hearing threshold, linear distance, and effective rate between the 2 groups. Conclusion: The average pretreatment hearing threshold and linear distance are related to the TT, and both of them are independent influencing factors. Patients with mild hearing loss and long linear distance from hospital may have a longer TT.
In Search of Deliberate Practice: Simulating Teaching in Three Teacher Education Programs
Authors: Wilson Kristyn , Yonas Anna M.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Mixed reality simulations (MRSs) offer a platform for novice teachers to practice teaching in the absence of real children. Though prior research suggests simulated practice can be beneficial for novice teachers, these studies describe widely varying designs and implementations across teacher education programs (TEPs). As such, we lack clarity about the relative benefits of different approaches to simulated practice for novices who are entering teaching via a growing array of pathways.

Purpose:

To better understand the influence of context on novice teachers’ experiences in simulations, we conducted a study of three teacher education programs that used simulations as a component of their teacher education curriculum. Specifically, we asked the following research questions: How do novices in three differently structured TEPs experience a series of parallel practice opportunities in MRSs? What contextual features into, through, and beyond the approximation contribute to variation, if any, in novices’ experiences of practice in MRSs?

Research Design:

This mixed methods study leverages postsimulation survey data from novices ( n = 160) in three TEPs to understand how they experienced a parallel series of simulation tasks paired with support in the form of coaching or self-reflection. We elaborate on survey findings with qualitative analysis of each teacher education program and interviews with a purposive sample of participants from each program ( n = 15).

Conclusions:

Findings highlight the influence of context and supports on novices’ simulation experiences. In particular, the sequencing of practice with other preparatory opportunities into and beyond the approximation, as well as the provision of feedback and level of challenge through the practice can promote more useful practice opportunities in teacher education.