bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“I Do Believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to Be the Word of God”: Holy Scripture, John Webster, and the Prayer Book Tradition
Authors: Brownfield Jack
Published: October 2024

This essay explores the theology of Holy Scripture in the current and historic liturgies of the Episcopal Church and argues that the tradition of our prayer books is largely in line with John Webster’s proposed “dogmatic ontology of Holy Scripture.” The Episcopal Church’s liturgies describe and use Scripture in a way which suggests a theological account of Scripture’s nature and purpose, as well as the proper attitude of Christians in their encounters with Scripture. Such a liturgical theology suggests that Holy Scripture exists in the divine economy as the means for God’s saving self-revelation, through which God exercises soteriological authority and confronts the church ab extra, and toward which Christians should adopt a trusting attitude of teachableness.
The impact of childhood abuse on future military sexual assault and PTSD symptomology in Australian veterans
Authors: Kerr Katelyn , Mellor Rebecca , Bennett Darcy , Wellauer Richard , McGaw Violette
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

The trauma most commonly associated with the military is combat-related trauma. It is increasingly recognised that childhood sexual and physical abuse and military sexual assault may influence or exacerbate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when military members are exposed to combat.

Aims:

The study aimed to determine whether a history of childhood sexual and physical abuse would increase the likelihood of military sexual assault (MSA) and determine whether a history of sexual abuse (childhood or military) impacted the incidence and severity of post-trauma sequelae compared to veterans without this history.

Method:

A retrospective correlational analysis was performed on baseline data collected from clinical case records of a cohort of 134 Australian veterans with PTSD who had attended an outpatient Military Service Trauma Recovery Day Programme between October 2020 and May 2022.

Results:

Almost half (48.5%) of veterans reported a history of abuse. Prevalence rates of military sexual abuse, child sexual abuse and child physical abuse were 14.9%, 13.4% and 23.1% respectively. The relationship between those who experienced childhood abuse and those who experienced military sexual abuse was not significant. No significant differences were observed between those who experienced any sexual abuse and those who did not on intake scores of psychological symptoms.

Conclusion:

This is the first Australian study to investigate the prevalence of childhood abuse and military sexual abuse and its impact on PTSD and associated psychopathology in a sample of veterans seeking mental health treatment. No additional risks of experiencing military sexual assault were found for those who had survived childhood sexual abuse.
An Exploratory Study of Contextual Control Modes in Teamwork
Authors: Kannally Connor , Paladugu Abhinay , Nijveldt Renske , McSherry Luke , IJtsma Martijn
Published: October 2024

Objective

This study investigated the relationship between human team member contextual control and team performance under time constraints.

Background

Contextual control modes, which describe different strategies for action selection in dynamic environments, characterize how humans maintain performance under variable demands. Control modes have not yet been studied in teamwork settings. Modeling of the cross-level interaction between team members’ control modes and emerging team behaviors can improve understanding of effective teamwork in dynamic environments.

Method

A human-subjects study explored the relationship between individual contextual control and team performance. Questionnaires about contextual control were used to elicit individual control modes. Analysis compared team members’ control modes and investigated how control modes changed under varying time pressures.

Results

Participant’s control modes differed in their look ahead horizon, the extensiveness of prior action evaluation, and their prior experience. Many team members shifted control modes during trials, resulting in both convergence and divergence of paired control modes. No effects on communication rate were found due to changes in team members’ control modes, but partially significant findings may suggest that the control mode divergence affects performance.

Conclusion

Teams can operate in multiple control mode configurations that change dynamically according to context. Further research with an increased sample size is warranted to analyze how time constraints influence team members’ control modes and overall teaming processes and whether divergence of team control mode is favorable under time pressures.

Application

Further study of contextual control in teams may help improve team design to better support teams in coping with time constraints in dynamic environments.
Optimizing performance of hybrid fiber reinforced overwrapped pressure vessel
Authors: Warkina Reta , Regassa Yohannes
Published: October 2024

Composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) offer significant weight advantages over traditional all-metal vessels particularly in industries like aerospace, automotive and pharmaceutical, but pose unique challenges in mechanical design, fabrication, and testing. Despite their benefits, COPVs are susceptible to stress rupture failure, which can lead to catastrophic consequences during operation. This failure mode is not fully understood, with burst pressure-induced extreme stress concentrations and dynamic loading primarily contributing to rapid deformation and strain. To address these concerns, a comprehensive investigation was conducted, focusing on optimizing and examining the effects of optimum winding angle and lay-up pattern configuration on burst pressure in vessels under internal pressure. Finite element modeling analyzed the burst pressure behavior of COPVs with a 4 mm thick aluminum core cylinder and varying layers of carbon/fiber epoxy, each with a constant thickness. ABAQUS composite modeler generated 18 COPV models with carbon fiber/epoxy plies, ensuring uniform thicknesses while exploring different fiber orientations. The effects of ply stacking sequence were analyzed through finite element analysis for all models, comprising varying layers with uniform thicknesses. Attention was paid to failure criteria, methodically evaluating the burst strength of the Al/CFRPC COPVs This exhaustive analysis yielded an optimal COPV design profile characterized by a precisely calibrated ply stacking sequence of [24.50, −24.50] PP winding pattern and six (6) arranged layers. The stress-strain distribution analysis of the Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) revealed both a uniform distribution of stress across its surface and extreme stress concentration, particularly peaking towards the polar boss region. This concentration is discernible due to variations in ply thickness induced by the overwrapped fiber orientation. This investigation provides valuable insights for optimizing COPV design and enhancing its performance and reliability in various applications.
Lockdown and Unrest: Inequality, Restrictions and Protests During COVID-19
Authors: Iacoella Francesco , Justino Patricia , Martorano Bruno
Published: October 2024

This paper analyses how pre-pandemic levels of inequality across US counties have shaped the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of protests. The results from difference-in-differences and instrumental variable models using high-frequency weekly data show that more stringent measures to contain the pandemic increased the incidence of protests, but only in US counties with high levels of inequality before the start of the pandemic where grievances may have been initially stronger. The impact of government responses to COVID-19 on protests is largely explained by adverse changes in economic conditions in counties with the highest levels of pre-pandemic inequality. Policy stringency measures were also associated with more protests in the most unequal counties which voted for the Republican party in the 2016 elections and exhibited, at the start of the pandemic, lower levels of trust in the president and lower satisfaction with democracy.
Who uses Internet propaganda in civil wars and why?
Authors: Walter Barbara F , Phillips Gregoire
Published: October 2024

This article explores who is likely to benefit from Internet propaganda in civil wars. It argues that the global reach of the Internet, its lack of regulation and its filtering tools are more likely to help transnational rebel groups with external support and radical aims than local groups with home-grown support and moderate aims. The paper then introduces a new dataset on rebel propaganda that includes every available piece of public, downloadable Internet communication produced by every major rebel group in the Iraqi civil war between January 2011 and December 2015. A preliminary analysis of group-level Internet communication during the war revealed a number of striking patterns. Internet propaganda was not equally used by all rebel groups in Iraq during this time period. Groups with potentially larger international backing and low levels of local support were much more likely to produce Internet propaganda than those with strong in-country support. Ideologically extreme groups were also more likely to generate a higher volume of Internet propaganda than other types of groups. Finally, rebel groups that were new to a war tended to rely more heavily on Internet propaganda than more well-established groups. The article concludes by discussing the potential implications this new media environment could have for civil wars moving forward.
Loss of a Parent in Disney and Pixar Films: What We Can Learn?
Authors: Sgier Corina , Tyebally Fang Mirriam , Glässel Andrea , Monteverde Settimio
Published: October 2024

Early parental loss is a tragic experience for children causing complex reactions to the loss. Providing a supportive environment where they can express their feelings is crucial to help them cope with this challenging experience. This study analyses the depiction of parental death in animated films by Disney and Pixar using a multimethod design and including the QUAGOL approach. We identified 13 films showing the death of one or both parents. The qualitative analysis of the films, published from 1937 until 2022, revealed seven concepts that potentially affect the way children see their grieving process reflected in the films: The representational techniques, finding protection and relationships, searching for identity, being different and having alternative skills, talking about death, dealing with emotions and coping with the loss. The identified films can be used to open a conversation with children who have lost one or both parents to discuss their situation.
Digital-twin co-simulation framework to support informed decision in healthcare planning and management
Authors: Anyene Ginikachi , Schultz Celeste , Nepomuceno Anthony , Kim Inki
Published: October 2024

This manuscript aims to show the proof-of-concept for the integration of digital twin (DT) and discrete event co-simulation through its application to forward simulation of physical activities of care providers and robots in an intensive care unit (ICU). Co-simulation focuses on modular integration of heterogeneous simulation components to capture the complexity inherent in systems. Advancing this conception, the proposed co-simulation attempted to narrow gaps with real-world systems by using DT while simultaneously leveraging the forward simulation capacity of discrete event simulation (DES). In particular, we created a co-simulation for human–robot interactions in a simulated ICU facility, which modeled the hospital layout including the facility, robot, avatars for healthcare professionals, equipment, patient bed, and vital signs, which comprise physical twin (PT). In addition, specific patient-care scenarios were defined to drive PT for which the states of interest were represented in the DT, and then used for a dynamic input to the discrete event co-simulation. At the onset of the co-simulation, the parameters needed to run DES were manually configured to align the parameters with those of the DT. For internal validation, this DES was replicated under different work-system policies, and the co-simulation outcomes were interpreted in clinical context. Our co-simulation approach has potential for application to a broader class of problems in healthcare planning and management by supporting informed decision-making. Methodologically, timely information exchanges of PT with DT, and ensuing model updates in the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) is a promising approach for co-simulation, to maintain robustness against perturbations to real-world systems.
Social Participation in Community Corrections: A Qualitative Analysis of Justice Practices in China
Authors: Xu Haoran , Liu Xiaomei
Published: October 2024

In China, the widespread implementation of community corrections is a key strategy designed to reduce the burden on the criminal justice system. This strategy prominently features social participation as a critical element. This study delves into the effects of social participation on correctional practices by conducting in-depth interviews with a diverse group of stakeholders, including community corrections officials, judicial police, community workers, and counselors. Our findings reveal a predominant government-led approach to social participation, where government-funded social organizations play a major role. The research also highlights significant role conflicts and jurisdictional ambiguities within the system, which may arise from unclear criminal policies. These conflicts and ambiguities underline the challenges in the current implementation of community corrections. By examining these dynamics, the study suggests that refining the government-led model of social participation could provide more effective strategies for enhancing civic engagement and improving the efficacy of community correction.
A reactive melamine-DOPO based flame retardant for superior thermal stability and flame retardancy in rigid polyurethane foam
Authors: Vakili Maryam , Alavi Nikje Mir Mohammad , Hajibeygi Mohsen , Vahabi Henri
Published: October 2024

The flame-retardant effect of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and its derivatives in reducing the flammability of polymeric materials are well known. In this study, flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foams (FR-RPUF) were synthesized using a melamine-DOPO-based flame-retardant (MDFR). Additionally, MDFR was also used for preparation of a flame-retardant elastomeric polyurethane (FR-PUE). The chemical structure and thermal properties of the FR-RPUF and FR-PUE samples were studied with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA results revealed that the incorporation of MDFR into the PU matrix significantly increased the char residue. The char residue of FR-RPUF with 0.5 wt% MDFR increased from 4.75% to 44.36%, as compared to the pure RPUF. Results from the microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) test illustrated that the peak of heat release rate (pHRR), total heat release (THR), and heat release capacity (HRC) of the FR-RPUF and FR-PUE samples were reduced, as compared to the pure PU samples. The pHRR value of FR-RPUF with 3 wt% of MDFR decreased 12%, as compared to the pure RPUF, while the pHRR was obtained 34% lower than of the pure PUE. Furthermore, FR-RPUFs successfully passed the UL94 testing, achieving a V-0 grade.
Transnational labour governance: Crafting the authority and regulatory effectiveness of global agreements
Authors: Casey Catherine , Delaney Helen , Fiedler Antje
Published: October 2024

The development of cross-border social dialogue to improve conditions for global workers includes transnational company agreements. These private governance agreements, inter alia, encourage company and union parties to share responsibility for protecting labour rights and standards throughout their operations. In particular, the Global Framework Agreement (GFA), with declared global reach inclusive of suppliers and robust joint measures for regulatory compliance, contributes a significant resource of potentiality for actor utility and local application. This article shows that concrete asymmetries of political-economy power in multinational companies are affected by attribution and expression of moral-political authority engendered by the GFA, and diverse actor responses to that authority. Generation and distribution of that authority among parties facilitates action toward more responsible and effective multilevel transnational labour governance.
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhino Sinusitis with Nasal Polyps: Predictive Factors of Recurrence
Authors: Bouatay Rachida , Bouaziz Nawres , Abdelali Mabrouk , Zrig Ahmed , El Korbi Amel , Ferjaoui Mehdi , Kolsi Naourez , Harrathi Khaled , Koubaa Jamel
Published: October 2024

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is an inflammatory condition which may have a significant impact on quality of life. Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is usually indicated for patients’ refractory to maximal medical treatment and presents high recurrence and revision surgery rates. Objective: The aims of this study are to evaluate ESS outcome in CRSwNP management and to assess independent predictive factors for recurrence. Methods: Retrospective medical chart review of patients who underwent ESS for recalcitrant CRSwNP, from January 2002 to December 2021, with a minimum follow-up time of 12 months. Results: This study enrolled 280 patients; 52.5% of whom were males, with a mean age of 41.44 ± 14.25 years. Asthma was the most common comorbidity (36.4%, n = 102) and aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease was present in 16.8% (n = 47) of the study population. We found a recurrence rate of 20.7% (n = 58) and 8.9% (n = 25) of patients required revision surgery. Multivariate analysis identified as independent variables of recurrence (95% CI): no compliance with medication after surgery using topical steroids (OR = 16.056; CI 7.887-32.684; P < .001). Conclusions: ESS proved to be an effective treatment in CRSwNP but with a considerable rate of recurrence. These results indicated an important correlation of postoperative topical steroids compliance with disease recurrence.
Characteristics of Economic Fairness in the Music Streaming Economy: A Comparative Analysis of Current Distribution Models
Authors: Connerth Richard Arthur
Published: October 2024

This article compares current distribution models in the music streaming economy. The models presented are the pro rata model, the user-centric model (UCM), a progressive extension of the UCM and an alternative model. It focuses on a critique of the UCM as an alternative remuneration model, arguing that the UCM has the potential for economic devaluation, which can be exposed through simple logical analysis. It also provides criteria for fair remuneration in a distribution model.
Effect of anti-inflammatory molecules from food on organoids derived from adenomatous polyps of FAP subjects
Authors: Illescas Oscar , Belfiore Antonino , Varinelli Luca , Battistessa Davide , Zanutto Susanna , Brignola Clorinda , Segrado Francesco , Cafferati Irene , Ricci Maria Teresa , Sabella Giovanna , Milione Massimo , Ladisa Vito , Signoroni Stefano , Vitellaro Marco , Pasanisi Patrizia , Gariboldi Manuela
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

Individuals with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) or APC-associated polyposis, an autosomal dominant inherited condition, develop multiple adenomatous polyps and have an increased colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. A change in diet can help reduce cancer risk, and several dietary components have an antitumor effect. We aimed to evaluate the potential of the anti-inflammatory and anticancer substances quercetin (QER), epigallocatechin gallate (EGG) and fisetin (FIS) in decreasing the risk of CRC by reducing the growth of polyps in an organoid model.

Methods:

Patient-derived organoid (PDO) lines were generated from polyps obtained from patients with FAP undergoing prophylactic colectomy. PDOs were treated with QER, EGG, or FIS to determine their effect on cell growth. Changes in caspase 3/7 activity and expression of inflammation and apoptosis mediators were assessed by luminescent and colorimetric assays.

Results:

Three PDO lines with different inactivating pathogenic variants in the APC gene were developed using a combinatorial approach. FIS was the most active of the three substances tested, presenting the lowest IC50 in all PDO lines (range: 42.6-9.2 uM). The IC50 was defined as the concentration required to halve the number of cells after 72 hours. All molecules tested induced apoptosis through activation of caspases 3/7.

Conclusions:

QER, EGG, and FIS can be easily taken from foods or dietary supplements, show toxicity on PDOs derived from adenomatous polyps, while they are known to be harmless on normal cells. Diets enriched with these substances could be potential supplemental treatments to reduce the risk of CRC in individuals with FAP.
Consistency in Subjective Judgments of Service Vehicle Type Based On Vehicle and Flashing Light Colors
Authors: Bullough John D. , Das Adway , Skinner Nicholas P. , Guler S. Ilgin , Rea Mark S.
Published: October 2024

The present study focused on the consistency in perceiving the intended function of a simulated service vehicle when its color, the color of its flashing lights, and its flashing light pattern varied. Tests were conducted during the day and at night. Participants driving along a test track were presented with a red or yellow vehicle equipped with either red or yellow flashing lights. Although driving speed differed only between ambient lighting conditions (daytime and nighttime), consistency in the participants’ perceptions of the simulated situation (emergency or nonemergency) was higher when the color of the vehicle was the same as the flashing lights. Ambient lighting conditions also significantly influenced participants’ judgments of each situation because the color of the vehicle was more apparent during the day than during the night with only headlight illumination on the vehicle. The flash pattern (faster or slower) had a negligible impact on participants’ perception of the simulated situation. These results reinforce previous findings that coordinating the colors of the flashing lights and the vehicle better informs drivers about the situations they encounter along the road, improving the safety of emergency responders and other service workers.
Built Environment’s Non-Linear Impact on Subway Passenger Flow Through Improved Interpretable Machine Learning
Authors: Li Peikun , Chen Xumei , Lu Wenbo , Wang Hao , Yu Lei
Published: October 2024

Understanding the complex correlation between the built environment and subway passenger flow can provide unique insights for the development of transportation operations and urban coordination policies. Few studies have systematically analyzed the rationality of selecting built environment variables and further explored the non-linear relationships. In this study, we integrated various sources of built environmental factors and developed an interpretable machine learning analysis framework using backward elimination extreme gradient boosting and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values analysis (BE-XGBoost-SHAP). The framework was validated by analyzing passenger flows during the morning peak, non-peak, and evening peak periods at the station level. The research results indicate that there are significant differences between built environment factors and the time-varying passenger flow. Land use characteristics significantly dominate across all three temporal periods. The importance of other variable types in relation to passenger flows varies significantly across the three time periods. It is worth noting that the relationships between all variables and passenger flow at different time periods are non-linear, with the majority displaying threshold effects. Compared with the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) and ordinary least squares (OLS) models, the proposed interpretive framework performs better as regards R-square, root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) metrics. This study offers valuable insights, elucidating the pivotal land use attributes that notably affect passenger flow, the significance of varied built environment factors across distinct time spans, and the acknowledgment of non-linearities and threshold effects within these relationships. These findings are imperative for urban planning and the enhancement of station area design.
Refining Cellular Data for Accurate Trip Chain Identification: A Novel Approach for Urban Travel Analysis
Authors: Wan Xuejin , Lei Chao , Liu Yong , Qiu Qian , Wang Jia
Published: October 2024

Cellular data play a crucial role in supporting travel demand assessment and urban traffic planning because of their cost-effectiveness and extensive coverage. However, inherent inaccuracies, such as imprecise positioning, data duplication, and abnormal communication frequencies, hinder their ability to depict travelers’ trips accurately. In this paper, we present a novel approach to mitigate these issues by employing base station mapping to refine positioning data, eliminating duplicates and abnormal frequency records. This refinement enables more effective utilization of cellular data for trip chain identification. We address the ping-pong handover effect by employing a finite automaton machine and an approximate nearest neighbor searching method with carefully selected seeds to identify activities. Our method’s accuracy is validated through ground truth value analysis, focusing on permanent resident population estimation and metro passenger flow estimation. Furthermore, we demonstrate the practical effectiveness and value of our proposed method through a series of representative applications in a real-world case study in the city of Nanning, Guangxi Province, China.
Dynamic modeling of variable speed left ventricular assist devices coupled to the cardiovascular system
Authors: Su Chengxuan , Li Shulei , Gui Xingmin , Jin Donghai , Liu Guangmao
Published: October 2024

Background:

Most of the modeling of the Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) coupled with the cardiovascular system is based on the assumption of constant rotational speed. Compared with the traditional inertial model, the validated hysteresis model can take into account the unsteady characteristics of LVADs, but it fails to work under the condition of variable speed modulation.

Method:

This study takes into consideration the impact of speed variations on the unsteady hysteresis effects. The time constant in the hysteresis model is treated as a time-varying parameter, thereby developing a new model applicable to variable speed modulation. Under sinusoidal speed modulation at various phases, a comparative analysis was undertaken among the steady-state model, inertial model, and the new model. Transient Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and existing experimental results are used for validation.

Results:

The new model provides a more accurate method for the predicting the characteristics of LVAD in the coupled model under varying pump speeds, and exhibits higher linearity in the work done by the left ventricle and the blood pump, and [Formula: see text], which is aligning closely with the experimental results. This enhancement renders it applicable for proactive control predictions and passive control validations.
Effects of Collaborative Support on Learning in Serious Games for Programming
Authors: Toukiloglou Pavlos , Xinogalos Stelios
Published: October 2024

This study examines the effectiveness of a collaborative support method in enhancing programming learning outcomes in a serious game. The game Code Hasp was developed to facilitate the comparison between two support methods, worked examples and a collaborative peer support approach. A total of 111 elementary school students participated, divided into two groups. The experimental group received collaborative support from teammates alongside worked examples, while the control group relied solely on worked examples. Pre- and post-test results and in-game data revealed that the collaborative support method improved learning efficiency and problem-solving skills. A notable effect of the process was the emergence of a leadership role in most collaborative groups. The game’s support design and shared goal structure mitigate potential problems associated with unbalanced participation. These findings suggest that collaborative support systems in serious games are a promising strategy for promoting engagement and improving learning outcomes in programming education.
Self-Perceived Employability and Psychological Well-Being Among Italian Students and Graduates: A Three-Wave Cross-Lagged Study
Authors: Petruzziello Gerardo , Chiesa Rita , Guglielmi Dina , van der Heijden Beatrice I. J. M. , de Jong Jeroen P. , Mariani Marco Giovanni
Published: October 2024

This study investigated the reciprocal relationship between self-perceived employability (SPE) and psychological well-being (PWB), a connection previously suggested by theory but not yet explored empirically in early career research. Drawing from the Conservation of Resources theory, we analysed the reciprocal effects between SPE and PWB. Using data collected from 376 Italian university students and graduates, we tested the hypotheses with the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to analyse the SPE-PWB reciprocal linkage at both the between-person and within-person levels. While we observed a reciprocal SPE-PWB association across three waves at the between-person level, we obtained mixed findings at the within-person level. This study is the first to test the reciprocal associations between SPE and PWB among labour market entrants adopting a within-person approach. The findings offer new empirical insights into SPE during early career stages, with implications for both future research and practical applications.
Can the Two Karls – Karl Polanyi and Karl Marx Meet? A Critical Examination of Chinese Vocational Education, Internship Regimes, and Labor Forms
Authors: Xinmiao Song
Published: October 2024

Can the two Karls – Karl Polanyi and Karl Marx meet? Sociological debates tend to provide a negative answer and prioritize Karl Polanyi in current education and labor studies. This article poses an alternative approach by examining how the commodification of human life, the central postulation of Karl Polanyi, can be bridged into Karl Marx’s labor process theory where different forms of commodified student-labor will eventually end up in the production sphere, producing variegated internship and labor regimes. Using China’s vast vocational education system as an anchor to ground the theoretical dialogue, I contribute not only to raising an intellectual puzzle, but disclosing complex school-to-work phenomena that internship regimes, namely, the dual-despotic, market despotic or hegemonic, shapes the world’s largest young working class. By studying the complex configuration of the student-labor regimes, I argue that commodification process of human life could hardly escape the class perspective, as Karl Polanyi put it.
The multi-dimensionality of citizen satisfaction: A conjoint experimental approach
Authors: Dvir Rotem , Liu Xinsheng , Geva Nehemia , Vedlitz Arnold
Published: October 2024

Current research demonstrated that many factors affect public satisfaction of government services. One central challenge for scholars is that citizen satisfaction is a multi-dimensional concept, yet most empirical tests focus on a small number of factors, and do not account for the simultaneous effects of the many factors. In this study, we present a comprehensive approach that accounts for this multi-dimensionality, and views satisfaction as dependent on two categories of factors: service-specific attributes, and performance comparisons. We assess the multi-dimensional nature of citizen satisfaction with a conjoint experiment, a methodological tool that allows us to test the causal effect of multiple factors operating at the same time. We use the conjoint design to investigate citizen satisfaction from every-day government services. The findings suggest that citizen satisfaction is driven by both groups of variables. Also, we find evidence for a negativity bias in public evaluations when service-specific attributes are involved: individuals' reported satisfaction is more sensitive to negative information like higher costs or unprofessional behavior by service providers compared to positive description of these factors. At the same time, we find that factors in the performance comparisons category create more balanced effects on satisfaction with respect to the information valence. The analysis reveals the drivers of public satisfaction of government services and the importance of key factors. The use of a conjoint design provides a more appropriate tool to tackle the multi-dimensional nature of a central public administration concept of citizen satisfaction.
Enhanced Hessian locally linear embedding method for rolling bearing fault diagnosis based upon novel variational mode decomposition
Authors: Ge Chao , Lu Baochun
Published: October 2024

Due to the plenty of redundant information contained in the fault feature sets of the original vibration signals of rolling bearings, the diagnostic accuracy is reduced and computational complexity is increased, making it very difficult to achieve accurate and fast fault recognition. So as to address the hard issue, this article develops an Enhanced Hessian Locally Linear Embedding (EHLLE) method for rolling bearing fault diagnosis based upon Novel Variational Mode Decomposition (NVMD). Firstly, NVMD method is utilized to denoise sample vibration signals and the sensitive modes containing main fault information are obtained. Secondly, some time-domain and frequency-domain statistical features are used to construct sample high-dimensional features, the dimensionality of which is reduced by EHLLE. Ultimately, K-Means algorithm is employed to cluster the low-dimensional features, which are utilized to train Support Vector Machine (SVM), and then the trained SVM is applied to the recognition of testing sample low-dimensional features. Two experiments of rolling bearing fault diagnosis demonstrate the effectiveness of NVMD-EHLLE method. Additionally, the superiority of the developed method is verified by comparing with other three typical methods.
Research the lubrication characteristics on the modified main thrust roller of the slewing bearings
Authors: Zhou Peng , Li Wen , Wang Zinan , Xu Jiacan , Wang Qian
Published: October 2024

The load capacity and lubrication performance of the slewing bearing are fairly sensitive to edge effects at both ends of the main thrust rollers. Therefore, quantitative investigations of the edge effect at both ends of slewing bearing is practically important. In this study, an elastic fluid lubrication model of the slewing bearing that considered the external load and internal structural parameters is established. A modification function of rollers is included in a finite long-line contact elastic fluid lubrication model to perform the dynamic analysis. The simulated oil film’s thickness and pressure distributions are compared under different working conditions. And the edge effect is eliminated by modifying the rollers’ construction. The results indicate that under the large eccentric load, the speed of the slewing bearing must be decreased to ensure elastic fluid lubrication performance. A genetic algorithm that used to discover the optimal modification length shows the best busbar of the main thrust roller is 12 μm, which could decrease the vibration amplitude of the unmodified roller by 8.13%. This result gives a significant way for slewing bearing’s structural design.
Dynamic wheel-rail interaction of a train crossing a turnout under traction/braking behaviour and research on rail wear of the turnout
Authors: Xiang Kailai , Li Tianyi , Shen Binran , Zheng Zhaoguang , Yan Zheng , Ma Qiantao , Xu Jingmang , Wang Ping , Qian Yao
Published: October 2024

In order to study the dynamic behaviour of a vehicle passing through turnouts under traction and braking conditions, as well as its influence on the wear of turnout rails, a high-speed vehicle-turnout rigid-flexible coupling dynamic model is established based on the coupling dynamic theory of vehicle and turnout, using China’s No. 18 high-speed turnout and CRH380 high-speed EMU as prototypes. The model is used to analyse wheel-rail creep characteristics, wheel-rail contact mechanics, and wheel-rail wear under traction and braking conditions. The results indicate that when a high-speed train passes through a turnout under traction or braking conditions, the longitudinal creepage of the wheel-rail will change due to the rotative speed difference generated by traction or braking. Furthermore, due to the existence of the lead curve, the longitudinal creep rate of the wheel-rail becomes even more complex when passing through the turnout in the diverging route. The calculations reveal that the traction behaviour of the train leads to a significant increase in wear at the front of the switch rail and nose rail, while the wear number of the switch rail in the heel of the frog after 6m increases significantly under braking conditions. The different impact characteristics of vehicle traction and braking conditions on turnout rail wear obtained in this study can provide guidance for optimizing and grinding the profiles of turnout rails at the throat of railway stations.
Selective Cytotoxicity and Gene Expression Profiles in Response to Methanolic Extract of Phyllanthus amarus Extract against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Chen Wei , Hong Qing , Chen Jianing , Bi Yinghui
Published: October 2024

Background

Breast cancer, a malignant tumor, is the most common cancer type among women worldwide. Conventional chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer often cause adverse side effects in normal tissues and can lead to treatment failure. Plant-derived natural compounds offer an effective alternative with fewer side effects for cancer patients. Phyllanthus amarus is a medicinal plant widely distributed in China, India, and Brazil and reported to be used for the treatment of various types of cancer.

Purpose

This study was aimed to investigate the anticancer efficacy of methanolic extract of P. amarus against MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Methods

We probed the anticancer activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by isolating the methanolic extract of P. amarus leaf extract (MEPA). The standard chemotherapy drug docetaxel is combined with MEPA to increase the drug efficacy. Moreover, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), nuclear condensation, and apoptotic activation were investigated in MCF-7 cells. Additionally, the customized PCR array comprising of cell cycle, apoptosis, mTOR, and JAK-STAT-related genes was studied during different MEPA treatments.

Results

In the MCF-7 breast cancer cells, the MEPA and docetaxel combination demonstrated strong cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 45 and 2.6 µg/mL, respectively. MEPA and docetaxel together exhibited enhanced alterations in MMP and increased generation of ROS in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the combination of docetaxel with MEPA induces nuclear condensation and apoptotic cell death. During MEPA treatment, the gene expression profiles in MCF-7 cells were accessed. The JAK-STAT, mTOR signaling pathway, apoptosis, and cell growth-related genes were strongly affected by the dose-dependent administration of MEPA.

Conclusion

This study suggests that MEPA could be a useful alternative treatment for breast cancer. When combined with traditional chemotherapy, MEPA might offer better results with fewer side effects. More in vivo studies are needed to confirm MEPA’s effectiveness in animal models.
Multidimensional Adult and Child Poverty in India—Establishing Consensus About Socially Perceived Necessities for a New Measure of Poverty
Authors: Pomati Marco , Nandy Shailen , Jose Sunny , Reddy Bheemeshwar
Published: October 2024

This article describes the use of the Consensual Approach to poverty measurement in a pilot survey conducted in Telangana state in 2020/21. Respondents were asked about whether a series of items and activities, ranging from two pairs of all-weather shoes to attending important social functions were essential for adults and children and whether they had them or could take part. Households that answered negatively were then asked why. Following the approach pioneered by Mack and Lansley, households whose lack was enforced were identified as deprived. We found high levels of endorsement for a wide range of items such as three meals a day, school uniforms and equipment, health facilities and transport access as well as the ability to afford clothing, social activities and savings. We also found similar levels of consensus over a wide range of necessities across religion, location, caste and education. The results underscore the importance of dimensions and specific deprivations that are not entirely captured by existing monetary and multidimensional poverty approaches used in India. This reinforces the call for child-centric methodologies such as United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF’s) Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis (MODA), which distinguish between age groups and their evolving needs. Our results also suggest that simply relying on existing Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) surveys leads to underestimation of the extent to which widely endorsed needs are satisfied. Furthermore, our findings challenge policymakers to consider expanding the measurement of poverty to include the public’s perception of necessities, which will enrich the index with culturally specific and socially validated indicators.
Women in Legal Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Female Participation and Advancement in the Legal Profession in Japan and India
Authors: Sharma Richa , Fukui Kota
Published: October 2024

The social advancement of women in the legal field is a critical indicator of societal modernisation. Despite the progress made globally in the pursuit of gender equality, there are still substantial disparities, particularly in Asian countries such as India and Japan. In this article, the participation and advancement of female legal professionals in these two nations are analysed, with a particular emphasis on the persistent gender disparity and the influence of cultural and institutional barriers on their professional development. The study employs a comparative analysis using data from the White Paper on Lawyers published by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, alongside statistical data from Indian state bar councils. Findings indicate a significant disparity in the level of female counsel participation between Japan and India. The proportion of female lawyers in India was less than 11% of the total legal professionals in 2010, a figure that increased marginally to 15% by 2020. The study reveals that in order to address the gender disparity in the legal profession, it is imperative that both Japan and India take proactive measures. This study contributes to the limited corpus of comparative research on female legal professionals in Asian countries. The study provides a nuanced comprehension of the socio-legal dynamics that influence women’s advancement in the legal profession by contrasting the legal landscapes of Japan and India. It urges a joint endeavour to achieve gender equality, underscoring the importance of data-driven policies in the development of an inclusive legal environment.
Aftermath of the Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis: Media Discourse Analysis of Taiwan and India’s Perception of China’s Threat
Authors: Tu Chang-Ching , Lin Hsiao-Chen , Chang Chen-Yuan , Doddi Chandu
Published: October 2024

This study examines Taiwan and India’s media discourse and political elite statements from 1 July 2022 to 1 October 2023, starting from the fourth Taiwan Strait crisis in 2022. We conducted a discourse analysis of over 121,901 news texts using extensive data analysis and text-mining software. Additionally, our research team conducted expert focus group discussions with renowned think tanks and research centres in New Delhi, India. Building upon the data text analysis findings, we further explored India’s stance on the Taiwan Strait conflict, its perception of the Chinese threat and the impact of the ongoing ‘new normal’ crisis on India’s Indo-Pacific strategic layout. The aim was to uncover common security needs and intersecting interests between the two countries, considering their different national interests and geopolitical considerations.

Based on the analysis of textual mining and expert discussions, this study reveals the following: First, India is concerned about the current situation in the Taiwan Strait. Second, the current tensions in the Taiwan Strait will influence India’s strategic layout. Third, there is a growing consensus within India regarding the Chinese threat. In light of these findings, this study suggests that Taiwan and India share interests in democratic values, maritime traffic security and high-tech industry supply chains. Taiwan possesses expertise in China studies and a deep understanding of China’s military threat, while Taiwan and India possess specific technological capabilities. Based on these foundations, there are potential opportunities for further dialogue, exchange and cooperation in relevant fields between India and Taiwan.
Low-value surgical innovation under peer-review: A sham study of abstracts on proximal humerus fractures submitted to scientific meetings
Authors: Razaeian Sam , Zhang Dafang , Krettek Christian
Published: October 2024

Background

Innovation has in common the promise of benefit for patients; however, past experience has shown that this promise is not always delivered. Instead, low-value innovation might encourage treatment variation and dilute the available body of evidence. This study aims to investigate (1) whether the peer-review process is capable of filtering out low-value innovation appropriately, and (2) whether low-value surgical innovation would be preferred more often than nonoperative innovation by peer-reviewers in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures in the elderly.

Materials and methods

Two duplicated sham scientific abstracts, respectively introducing a low-value surgical innovation and a valuable nonsurgical innovation, were submitted to nineteen peer-reviewed scientific meetings worldwide for orthopedic trauma surgery with submission deadlines between 01/01/2022 and 31/12/2022. Decision regarding abstract acceptance was compared.

Results

There was a high acceptance rate for the abstract introducing low-value surgical innovation (12 out of 19 (63.2 %)), which was higher than that of a nonoperative duplicate (10 out of 19 (52.6 %)), but this difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.5). The majority of the ten meetings that accepted both abstracts placed both in equivalent programmatic tiers (oral presentation (4) and poster presentation (2)). In three meetings, the surgical abstract received superior program placement (oral presentation). In one case, it was the opposite.

Conclusion

There is a high acceptance rate for low-value surgical innovation among peer-reviewed scientific meetings. However, we can not conclude that low-value surgical innovation is preferred more often than nonoperative innovation by peer-reviewers as the differences in acceptance rate were small and not statistically significant. The peer-review process may be suitable as value-based medicine emerges. Scientists should be encouraged to pursue value-based innovation.