bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanomechanical characterization of hemp fiber with atomic force microscopy
Authors: Chowdhury Sowmik , Wang Xinnan , Rahman Md Atikur , Ulven Chad A.
Published: October 2024

Hemp and its composites are becoming increasingly popular for their environmental benefits and mechanical strength, making them critical in the development of sustainable materials. This study investigated the nanomechanical properties of industrial hemp fibers through the application of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). An AFM-based examination of individual fibers allows for the accurate assessment of nanoscale characteristics without interference from extraneous particles, providing a clear insight into individual fiber features. Using Sneddon’s analytical model for a paraboloid shape AFM tip geometry, the elastic moduli of the hemp fiber were calculated at different indentation depths. The maximum elastic modulus of [Formula: see text] GPa was observed at the lowest indentation depth. These findings demonstrated the mechanical nature of hemp fibers, showing that radial measures deviate significantly from longitudinal measurements commonly reported in the literature.
“The Invisible Gate”: Experiences of Well-Being in the Context of Kink Sexuality
Authors: Sprott Richard A. , Randall Anna
Published: October 2024

Past research has examined the incidence of psychological distress and mental disorders among people who practice alternative sexualities known as “kink” or BDSM, but there are very few studies of the positive impact of kink sexuality on psychological well-being. A total of 1,402 individuals participated in the 2016 National Kink Health Survey; 1,003 participants were included in the analysis presented here. Participants were included if they answered the survey question: (a) Do you feel that your involvement in kink has affected your mental health, either positively or negatively? Two other follow-up questions were asked: (b) If yes, has that effect been positive or negative or both?; (c) Please comment, if you would like, to expand on your experiences related to the last question. Results indicated that 66% of the 1,003 participants found that kink sexuality had a positive impact on their mental health, and qualitative analyses found that the impact focused on four areas of well-being: autonomy, positive relations with others, personal growth, and self-acceptance. Negative impacts were also noted, mostly in the area of difficult/negative relations with others that included stigma/prejudice, interest discrepancies within intimate relationships, and poor treatment or abuse from intimate partners. This research indicates that participation in kink sexuality can be a source of personal growth and healing, at least for some individuals.
Gait coordination control of bipedal modular reconfigurable robot based on adaptive neural network
Authors: Li Yuanchun , Guo Yang , An Tianjiao , Zhu Mingchao , Ma Bing
Published: October 2024

This paper proposed an adaptive neural network (NN) control method to track the desired trajectory of a bipedal modular reconfigurable robot (MRR), which can solve the gait coordination problem of bipedal MRR. The leg dynamic model and the body dynamic model of bipedal MRR are established based on the Newton–Euler iterative method, and the global dynamic model is subsequently established. Aiming at the gait coordination problem between double support phase (DSP) and single support phase (SSP), the desired trajectory is generated based on the zero-moment point (ZMP) method. The adaptive NN controller is designed to track the generated desired trajectory, which also compensates interconnected dynamic coupling (IDC) effects of the bipedal MRR. The stability of bipedal MRR system is proved by Lyapunov theory. In the end, the effectiveness of the control method is verified by comparative simulation. The simulation results show that the proposed adaptive NN method reduces the position tracking error by [Formula: see text] and the control torque by [Formula: see text] compared with the existing control methods.
Techno-environmental optimal sizing and dynamic behavior of a hybrid system feeding a large-scale SWRO desalination system: The case of Djerba Island, Tunisia
Authors: Hamdi Mohamed , Gtari Oumayma , Hazami Majdi
Published: October 2024

The environment, energy, and water are the three essential pillars of sustainable development. In light of the freshwater scarcity faced by numerous countries, desalination emerges as a practical solution. As a result, countries are increasingly establishing desalination facilities along their coastlines. However, these initiatives are energy-intensive, and their chosen locations may not be optimal for harnessing renewable energy resources. With a daily output capacity of 50,000 m3, the recently operational seawater desalination plant in Djerba, Tunisia, accounts for 13.6% of the region's total electrical energy consumption. In this study, we have considered both the specific and the overall desalination consumption to find the optimal architecture and assess the reliability of the hybrid energy generator supplying the unit. The economic optimization has been performed using hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources, and the dynamic study of the complete system has been achieved using the transient system simulation tool environment. On- and off-grid scenarios using various hybrid power system combinations with and without batteries were proposed and examined. Results showed that the optimum case consists of on-grid 60.513 MWp solar panels and 13.64 MW wind turbines with battery storage. The water produced by the most cost-effective strategy with regard to environmental protection for a 25-year project life cycle costs 0.414 $/m3 against 0.585 $/m3 for current consumption. This significant reduction in water production costs makes desalination more affordable and accessible. The dynamic behavior of the optimal architecture is designed by considering the real meteorological data of Djerba Island. In terms of productivity, the maximum photovoltaic and wind energy production reached 11.31 GWh in July and 0.51 GWh in April, respectively. The findings demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of powering large-scale desalination plants with hybrid renewable energy systems, reducing their environmental impact and energy costs. The optimal system proposed in this study can serve as a model for future desalination projects in Tunisia and other water-scarce regions.
Electoral rules and the two-party system: A methodological inquiry with reference to Duverger’s law
Authors: Golosov Grigorii V
Published: October 2024

The law of Duverger posits that the single-member plurality electoral system favours the two-party system. The empirical tests of Duvergerian effects often rely on the effective number of parties as the most common measure of party system fragmentation. This study, proceeding from the notion that more focused measures of two-partyness could be of greater utility for this purpose, examines the build-up of two already existing, albeit underused, indices that are intended to operationalize the concept of the two-party system and introduces a new family of party-system indices for the purpose of cross-validation. The quantitative analysis performed on simulated and real-life datasets shows that the measures of two-partyness can improve the methods of inquiry in research on Duvergerian effects, and that some of the indices introduced in this study can serve as useful supplements to the toolkit of political science.
Correlation analysis of sacrococcygeal pressure and operation time in patients undergoing general anesthesia in the supine position
Authors: Lu Xiuying , Yang Qing , Zhu Lin , Liu Lu , Tang Honghua , Deng Jiaying , Lu Xiulan
Published: October 2024

Objective

This prospective study was performed to explore the change in sacrococcygeal pressure during an operation under general anesthesia in the supine position and identify the correlation between pressure injury and body mass index.

Methods

This study involved 99 patients who underwent general anesthesia. Sacrococcygeal pressure was measured and recorded at seven time points: before general anesthesia, 5 minutes after general anesthesia, and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours after the beginning of the operation. The pressure change at each time point was compared, and the factors affecting the pressure were analyzed.

Results

The correlation analysis showed that the operation time was significantly and positively associated with the occurrence of pressure injury.

Conclusion

Perioperative management should be strengthened to speed up the surgical process and shorten the operation time, which will help to reduce the occurrence of intraoperative pressure injury.
Indoor Test and Evaluation of Asphalt Pavement Compaction Measurements Using Ground-Penetrating Radar-Based Density Profiling System
Authors: Takahashi Kazunori , Roberts Roger , Cist David , Shimeno Shigeru
Published: October 2024

A density profiling system (DPS) based on ground-penetrating radar was tested simulating the in-place DPS measurement in an indoor setting. The test investigated two types of asphalt mixture commonly used in Japan. Eight 15 cm (6 in.) diameter gyratory pucks were made for mix calibrations, and ten 50 × 50 × 5 cm (20 × 20 × 2 in.) wheel tracking slab specimens were fabricated for simulating the DPS measurement at the job site. Observation of the data showed that puck heterogeneity might cause calibration errors when compaction is too low. Furthermore, the test illustrated that the surface texture influences the measurement, and a correction may need to be applied when it is significant. With careful treatment of data and the surface texture correction, the DPS achieved a mean error of approximately 0.1% or less in air void content with respect to that based on bulk specific gravity obtained from cores using the saturated surface dry method.
Evaluating the Effects of Motion Cues in Virtual Truck Driver Training
Authors: Jabbari Yasaman , Mohrenschildt Martin von
Published: October 2024

The integration of simulation technology into professional training has transformed learning in various sectors. Although prior research has explored motion cueing in simulators such as aviation training, driver navigation and performance, there is limited investigation into the impact of motion stimuli in VR-based truck driver training. This study investigates the driving performance of truck drivers in two virtual driving tasks, comparing conditions with and without motion cues. Participants wore virtual reality headsets and were situated within an immersive motion simulator. They completed two driving tasks involving truck docking and highway driving. Simulator sickness, stress, and user experience were assessed using the simulator sickness questionnaire, subjective unit of distress scale, and user experience questionnaire, respectively. Our findings suggest that motion cues hold potential to enhance subjective experiences, making driving more engaging, stimulating, and mitigating motion sickness. However, they did not significantly affect overall driving performance, except for steering behavior. Participants exhibited more engaged steering during highway driving when motion cues were present. Our findings suggest that the impact of motion cues is task-dependent, with their absence not showing a significant detrimental effect on driving performance in the simulated environment. Further validation with field-observed data is necessary to confirm these findings. These insights can guide future policies and regulations governing virtual truck driver training, ultimately ensuring improved safety and performance in the industry.
Une « dinosaure chercheuse » dans le milieu libertaire allemand. Effets d’une double casquette de chercheuse et de militante
Authors: Fourment Emeline
Published: October 2024

Cet article s’appuie sur une intervention faite le 20 mai 2015 dans le cadre du séminaire « Les sciences sociales en question : grandes controverses épistémologiques et mé-thodologiques ». Il revient sur une enquête ethnographique effectuée entre 2013 et 2014 dans la gauche libertaire de Göttingen (Allemagne). A la fois militante et chercheuse sur son terrain, l’auteure s’intéresse aux apports, implications et problèmes de cette double casquette. Dans un contexte hostile aux chercheurs, souvent assimilés aux services secret, la casquette de militante s’est avérée être une condition même de l’accès aux enquêtés et a permis d’adopter une perspective singulière sur le militantisme libertaire. Elle a nécessité cependant la mise en place d’un certain nombre de procédés d’objectivation, permettant une distanciation vis-à-vis du terrain. Enfin, elle a posé un certain nombre de questions éthiques sur le rapport enquêtrice/enquêtés.
Using Cognitive Interview Data to Assess Data Quality and the Cultural Norms of Survey Participants
Authors: Biagas David E.
Published: October 2024

Cognitive interviews have become the gold standard in the federal statistical system for evaluating the performance of surveys. The current study draws on cognitive interview data to demonstrate how cognitive interviews can be used to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural norms of survey participants. Drawing on interviews conducted in preparation for the 2017 Census of Agriculture, this study identifies the disproportionate rates by which male and female agricultural operators are underreported on the form, and the cultural underpinnings of these patterns of reporting. While male agricultural operators are more likely to be underreported because of differentials in decision-making authority within the operation, females are more likely to be underreported for arbitrary reasons. The value of understanding the cultural norms in which participants are embedded and their effects on the quality of the data provided by respondents is discussed.
Bangalore International Airport Limited: A Hub for the Future
Authors: Mittal Ankur , Heggde Githa S.
Published: October 2024

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has been operating the Kempegowda International Airport near Bengaluru, India, since 2008. Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is a major hub for startups and the IT industry. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the aviation industry, including BIAL, leading to a substantial decline in passenger traffic and cargo handling, weakening profitability.

Mr Agarwal, the Corporate Strategist for BIAL, has been tasked with developing new strategies to address the various challenges the company faces. These challenges include the impending expiration of a concession agreement, decreasing non-aeronautical revenues and making critical strategic decisions related to infrastructure development.

This case allows students to explore strategic decision-making using the Ansoff matrix. It encourages them to identify the key pillars of airport business growth that are internationally recognized, which can help BIAL expand its business portfolio, meet increasing demand, ensure infrastructure development in the right direction and achieve sustainability over the next 30 years.
Does Dialysis Therapy Cause Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults? A Propensity Score Matching Retrospective Study From a Japanese Long-Term Care Insurance Certification Survey
Authors: Shimokihara Suguru , Tabira Takayuki , Maruta Michio , Han Gwanghee , Sagari Akira , Iso Naoki , Okabe Takuhiro , Minami Takuma , Kawagoe Masahiro
Published: October 2024

This study explored the longitudinal connection between dialysis therapy in older adults and the incidence of cognitive impairment, and trends of general abilities. We conducted a retrospective propensity score matching (PSM) analysis of data from the care-needs certification survey in City A, Japan, spanning 2017 to 2021. Our sample comprised 11 443 initially cognitively intact older adults from the baseline year 2017. Among them, individuals had received dialysis therapy at baseline, and 216 individuals were included after PSM. The dialysis group had a significantly lower incidence of cognitive impairment during follow-up than the control group ( P = 0.02). The competing risk of death was significantly higher in the dialysis group than in the control group ( P < .001). Both groups showed a decline in their comprehensive ability over the time. There have been several reports of a negative association between dialysis and cognitive impairment, but more detailed investigation of the longitudinal relationship may be needed. Comprehensive support remains critical for both dialysis and non-dialysis older adults.
Influence of Tibial Component Design Features and Interference Fit on Implant-Bone Micromotion in Total Ankle Replacement: A Finite Element Study
Authors: Clarke Gabriel , Johnson Joshua E. , de Cesar Netto Cesar , Anderson Donald D.
Published: October 2024

Background:

Implant survivorship in uncemented total ankle replacement (TAR) is dependent on achieving initial stability. This is because early micromotion between the implant and bone can disrupt the process of osseointegration, leading to poor long-term outcomes. Tibial implant fixation features are designed to resist micromotion, aided by bony sidewall retention and interference fit. The goal of this study was to investigate design-specific factors influencing implant-bone micromotion in TAR tibial components with interference fit.

Methods:

Three implant designs with fixation features representative of current TAR tibial components (ARC, SPIKES, KEEL) were virtually inserted into models of the distal tibias of 2 patients with end-stage ankle arthritis. Tibia models were generated from deidentified patient computed tomography scans, with material properties for modeling bone behavior and compaction during press-fit. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to simulate 2 fixation configurations: (1) no sidewalls or interference fit, and (2) sidewalls with interference fit. Load profiles representing the stance phase of gait were applied to the models, and implant-bone micromotions were computed from FEA output.

Results:

Sidewalls and interference fit substantially influenced implant-bone micromotions across all designs studied. When sidewalls and interference fit were modeled, average micromotions were less than 11 µm, consistent across the stance phase of gait. Without sidewalls or interference fit, micromotions were largest near either heel strike or toe-off. In the absence of sidewalls and interference fit, the amount of micromotion generally aligned inversely with the size of implant fixation features; the ARC design had the largest micromotion (~540 µm average), whereas the KEEL design had the smallest micromotion (~15 µm).

Conclusion:

This study presents new insights into the effect of TAR fixation features on implant-bone micromotion. With sidewalls and interference fit, micromotion is predicted to be minimal for implants, whereas with no sidewalls and no interference fit, micromotion depended primarily on the implant design.

Clinical Relevance:

This study presents new insights into the effect of TAR primary fixation features on implant-bone micromotion. Although design features heavily influenced implant stability in the model, their influence was greatly diminished when interference fit was introduced. The results of this study show the relative importance of design features and interference fit in the predicted initial stability of uncemented TAR, potentially a key factor in implant survivorship.
From Premium to Mass: How Service Robots Shift Brand Premiumness
Authors: Hoang Chi , Liu Xiaoyan (Jenny) , Ng Sharon
Published: October 2024

Service robots and other automation technologies are increasingly being deployed in premium retail and service establishments. While these technologies may signal a brand’s innovativeness and thus enhance its premium image, they can also lead to perceptions of standardization, which dilute the brand’s perceived premiumness. These opposing effects make it unclear whether premium brands should adopt automation technologies, specifically service robots. To address this gap, we conduct seven studies, including an experiment using a real-life service robot, and reveal that the negative effect of perceived standardization, induced by a brand’s adoption of service robots, overrides the positive effect of its perceived innovativeness, resulting in an overall dilution of the brand’s perceived premiumness. We further demonstrate that the diluting effect of robot adoption can be mitigated (1) when humans work alongside the robots or (2) when the robots are deployed by a brand that is viewed as innovative.
Behaviors suggestive of pain: the perceptions and veterinary-related decisions of cat guardians in the USA
Authors: Kogan Lori R , Currin-McCulloch Jen , Hellyer Peter
Published: October 2024

Objectives

The aim of the study was to assess cat guardians’ concern levels and veterinary care decisions pertaining to behaviors that might signify pain before and after receiving brief pain-related educational information. The secondary aims were to evaluate cat guardians’ perceptions of the usefulness of a modified version of the Colorado State University Feline Acute Pain Scale (CSU-FAPS) in identifying their cat’s pain level, determining if they should take their cat to the veterinarian and describing their cat’s pain to their veterinarian.

Methods

Participants were recruited through Prolific. An electronic survey was created in Qualtrics and distributed via a link offered in Prolific.

Results

A total of 362 surveys were completed by participants who resided in the USA and were the primary caretaker of at least one cat. Significant differences between participants’ concern levels before and after pain-related educational information were found for two of the three scenarios. Significant differences were found between participants’ veterinary-related behavior choices before and after pain-related educational information for all three scenarios. The most common reasons for not seeking immediate veterinary care included elements related to cost and stress for guardian and cat during veterinary visits. The majority of participants reported finding the CSU-FAPS useful for identifying their cat’s pain level (90%), determining if they should take their cat to the veterinarian (86%) and describing their cat’s pain to their veterinarian (92%).

Conclusions and relevance

Guardians’ interpretations of and subsequent actions to behaviors that might suggest pain carry great implications for feline health and wellbeing. After exposure to brief pain-related educational material, guardians in our study reported significant increases in stated concern related to their cat’s change in behavior and intention to seek veterinary care. These findings suggest that even very brief pain-related educational material can have a positive impact on cat guardians’ perceptions of feline behavior changes and increase the possibility they obtain appropriate veterinary care.
Giant Congenital Ovarian Cyst Presenting as an Abdominal Mass
Authors: Lodhia Jay
Published: October 2024

Adnexal masses are uncommon in children but are increasingly recognized due to advancements in diagnostic facilities. Such masses in the pediatric population often raise concerns about malignancy. Typically, these masses are small and can resolve spontaneously; however, larger ones can pose a diagnostic dilemma due to their signs and symptoms, requiring clinicians to be particularly vigilant. Simple ovarian cysts are seen in 1 in 2500 live births. They are commonly diagnosed prenatally as intra-abdominal masses by ultrasonography. While there are no established guidelines for management, larger cysts are generally managed surgically (either open or laparoscopic) with the aim of protecting the ovaries and ensuring future fertility. Herein, we present a case of an unusually large congenital ovarian cyst in a newborn that mimicked an abdominal mass, leading to respiratory compromise.
Metalinguistic explanations and their impact on incidental grammar acquisition: An eye-movement study
Authors: Ryu Hyeran , Choi Sungmook
Published: October 2024

Recent research highlights the value of metalinguistic explanations in facilitating second language (L2) grammar acquisition. Nevertheless, a notable research gap persists regarding how these explanations influence incidental grammar acquisition and their impact on overall reading processes and comprehension. Furthermore, whether the potentially positive effects of metalinguistic explanations transfer to the acquisition of subsequent constructions without explicit guidance is an unexplored domain. This study addresses these research gaps by recruiting 42 Korean undergraduate students and assigning them to the metalinguistic or baseline groups. The metalinguistic group read an English text supplemented with bottom-margin metalinguistic explanations, which elucidated the first half of the target grammar (without explanations for the second half), whereas the baseline group read the same text without explanations. This study used eye-tracking technology to register participants’ eye movements during reading, followed by an announced reading comprehension test and an unannounced error correction test. Statistical analyses using linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) and t-tests revealed that metalinguistic explanations significantly enhanced incidental grammar acquisition in L2 learners without compromising overall reading processes and comprehension. However, the benefits of metalinguistic explanations in the metalinguistic group failed to extend to the incidental learning of other unexplained constructions.
Handling complainable matters in palliative care interactions
Authors: England Ruth , Pino Marco
Published: October 2024

The article uses conversation analysis to investigate how patients and companions complain in palliative care interactions recorded in a UK palliative care setting, and how healthcare professionals (HCPs) respond. The patients’ and companions’ actions do not overtly state, and rather imply, complainable matters for which the co-present HCPs can be seen as responsible. This implicitness affords the HCPs opportunities to address the patients’ and companions’ conveyed concerns as problems in search of practical solutions – rather than grievances. We thus witness the somewhat paradoxical outcome that complaints mobilise remedial actions, but in the process, the one complaining is not treated as complaining after all. We propose that this is a way in which institutional realities pre-empt the overt articulation of nascent complaints. Our analyses show that this is very much the outcome of the interactional work collaboratively accomplished by patients, companions and HCPs. The interactions are in British English.
Downgrading commitment: The final particle ba in complying responses to directives in Mandarin Chinese conversation
Authors: Yang Shuai
Published: October 2024

Mandarin Chinese is a particle-rich language. Using conversation analysis as its research method, the present study examines one of the Mandarin final particles, namely the particle ba, and illustrates its interactional imports in complying responses to three types of directive actions including requests, suggestions, and proposals. It is argued that the particle ba serves as a conversational resource that is employed at the end of compliance tokens like hao or xing (good or okay) to modify or, to put it more specifically, downgrade its speaker’s commitment. By indicating the reserved or downgraded commitment in an off-record way, participants show their orientation to preserving and maintaining social solidarity. This study contributes to the understanding of commitment in social interaction, especially in responsive actions. Together with other conversation analytic studies on the particle ba, this study also contributes to the understanding of the core meaning and function of the particle ba as a conversational object.
Influence of tungsten carbide spray treatment on anti-wear performance of Francis turbine runner blades surface
Authors: Yao Bing , Gang Yuanyuan , Xiao Ming , Yu Zhishun , Jiang Dengyun , Pang Jiayang , Liu Xiaobing
Published: October 2024

Based on the velocity similarity theory, a test system for sediment wear flow around Francis turbine runner blades was established. The sediment wear test was carried out on the surface of Francis turbine runner blades with severe sediment wear before and after tungsten carbide spraying. The wear rate prediction model was established, and the effect of tungsten carbide spraying on the wear resistance of runner blades was analyzed. The results show that the serious wear position of Francis turbine runner blade by sediment appears in the head and tail, and the greater the load, the more serious the wear; after tungsten carbide spraying treatment, the sediment wear of runner blades is reduced by more than 90%, and the wear life is greatly improved. The sprayed tungsten carbide coating treatment is effective in reducing the effects of sediment wear.
Case study: Condition-based maintenance using cyclostationary analysis and numerical modeling with innovative indicators
Authors: Kebabsa Tarek , Babouri Mohamed Khemissi , Djebala Abderrazek , Ouelaa Nouredine
Published: October 2024

Early detection and prompt intervention by maintenance engineers to mitigate the impact of breakdowns while enhancing overall operational efficiency remain critical challenges. This study proposes an innovative approach aiming at improving the diagnosis of gear faults. The objective is to assess the sensitivity and performance of traditional indicators in comparison to cyclostationarity, examining their impact on noise levels and vibrational signatures. The initial phase involves simulating gear signals under various conditions such as amplitude, rotation frequency, and meshing frequency, providing the foundation for a thorough analysis of indicator sensitivity and performance. In the second phase, both scalar and cyclostationary indicators were calculated. First, these indicators were compared against simulated signals, and second, their sensitivity and roughness were evaluated using signals measured on the bearings of 101 BJR reducers. This approach revealed that cyclostationary indicators are more sensitive than scalar indicators, suggesting an opportunity to improve the prediction of signal roughness throughout the production process. By introducing new possibilities to enhance the reliability of vibrational measurements, this method contributes to advancing the diagnosis of gear faults.
Theorizing Food Sovereignty from a Class-Analytical Lens: The Case of Agrarian Mobilization in Argentina
Authors: Gürcan Efe Can
Published: October 2024

Where do the conceptual ambiguities of food sovereignty lie and how can they be overcome? This article identifies a total of five challenges that underlie these ambiguities, namely the challenge of determining how food sovereignty as a research framework can address the tensions between: (a) state–movement relationships, (b) local–national interests, (c) rural–urban conflicts, (d) individual–collective choices and (e) political intermittence–organizational continuity. Using the method of integrative review, I argue that these challenges could be overcome if the criteria for addressing these tensions were based on the interests of the classes of labour by re-envisioning food sovereignty as a social mobilization outcome that potentially leads to agrarian class formation. A class-analytical approach to food sovereignty is thus deployed to study the case of Argentina in order to contribute to a more in-depth theoretical refinement and resolution of the conceptual ambiguities of food sovereignty.
Migration and Rural Differentiation: A Case Study of Two Selected Villages in Noakhali Region of Bangladesh
Authors: Mahapatro Mausumi
Published: October 2024

This article explores rural differentiation in two selected villages in the Noakhali region of southeastern Bangladesh. The findings are based on a resurvey of 120 households selected from Hasanpur and Purbalach villages. Using conditions of reproduction in assessing the nature of rural differentiation, this article argues that migration can and does support simple commodity production in certain contexts. However, given that migrants sell their landholdings in order to generate money for migration, this results in landlessness. Migration can also be representative of a distinct condition of reproduction in formation, whose sole aim is no longer restricted to providing the means to cling to the land but rather to escape its clutch.
The Metamorphosis of the Revolutionary Intellectual
Authors: Shivji Issa G.
Published: October 2024

It is argued in this article that different types of intellectuals have existed over time—organic, revolutionary and ‘public’. Revolutionary intellectuals are organic intellectuals of the dominated classes, who are committed to the transformation of society. In the South, organic intellectuals have had difficulty becoming ‘public’ intellectuals, given the exceptionally repressive conditions prevailing in peripheral societies seeking liberation, democratization and revolutionary transformation. Yet, even revolutionary intellectuals can undergo metamorphosis over time, whether in NGOs, state bureaucracies or universities.
The Disrupted Passage from an Agrarian Rural to an Industrial Urban Workforce in Most Countries in the Global South
Authors: Scherrer Christoph
Published: October 2024

In many late industrializing countries, most of those who leave agriculture do not find gainful employment. In fact, many of the late industrializers are prematurely de-industrializing. Explanations for the lack of absorption capacity of industries and productive services range from overregulated labour markets to globalization. On the basis of a comparison between the conditions prevalent among the early industrializers and present-day latecomers to industry and advanced services, this article highlights other factors: demographic pressures, restrictions on migration, productivity differentials vis-à-vis the Global North and the few successful late industrializers and the constraints on the promotion of industry stemming from neoliberal globalization. It also points to challenges for a state-led industrial policy stemming from the colonial heritage like lack of societal trust.
Book review: Aillón, Lorgio Orellana (2016), Resurgimiento y caída de la gente decente: Un sendero en la formación de una clase-etnia dominante en Bolivia
Authors: Cosenza Apoena C.
Published: October 2024

Aillón, Lorgio Orellana (2016), Resurgimiento y caída de la gente decente: Un sendero en la formación de una clase-etnia dominante en Bolivia, 1940–2003 [Rise and fall of the decent people: The path to the formation of a dominant class-ethnicity in Bolivia, 1940–2003]. La Paz: IESE, p. 371, 2016, US $7.18. ISBN: 9789990540789.
The Legacy of Ashok Mitra
Authors: Patnaik Prabhat
Published: October 2024

Ashok Mitra, the renowned Indian economist, passed away on 1 May 2018. Mitra was a keen analyst of the relationship between economics and politics, which he understood as being inextricably enmeshed, with the latter having a degree of relative autonomy. It followed, for Mitra, that class struggle ‘in society at large’ underlay ‘every aspect’ of economic life, including the determination of economic variables. He focused his analytical sights on distributional dynamics, specifically on the relative shares of the different classes in national income and the role of the State. He took issue with, and went beyond, Kalecki’s theory of ‘degree of monopoly’, which Mitra did not take as a given but as determined by factors that included the real wage rate. He also advanced, beyond the main approaches, to the issue of the terms of trade, including that of Prebisch, by illuminating the class differentiation within the sectors, especially agriculture, and the political clout of the rural rich. Mitra was also passionate for economic decentralization, at a time when the Third World was in a special, early post-war and post-colonial conjuncture, which bestowed a higher degree of manoeuver for state intervention and policymaking. Mitra will be remembered as a theorist of the ‘dirigiste’ phase of Third World development.
Class Dynamics of Rural Transformation in Brazil: A Critical Assessment of the Current Agrarian Debate
Authors: Escher Fabiano
Published: October 2024

The election of Jair Bolsonaro represents the culmination of a conjuncture featuring the rise of right-wing populism and authoritarian neoliberalism in Brazil. This article analyzes the role played by dominant and subaltern rural social classes in a process that brought the country to this situation by critically assessing the current Brazilian agrarian debate. A segmentation of distinct class fractions within the categories of patronal agriculture and family farming is proposed. The origin and significance of the institutional ambiguity that marked Brazilian agri-food policies, as well as the reasons behind their dismantling, are explored. The agrarian question remains the key to understanding the contradictory dynamics of Brazilian capitalism and the challenges of its national formation.
Political Economy of Capitalist Development in Punjab’s Agriculture
Authors: Singh Paramjit , Singh Inderjeet
Published: October 2024

This article addresses the dynamics between three interrelated questions of agrarian transition in Punjab. The first concerns the role and nature of the state and the market mechanism for the transformation of traditional agriculture into its capitalist counterpart, by the development of the productive forces and changes in production structure. The second dwells on the impact of the state-driven capitalism on the production structure of agriculture and its contradictions. The third deals with the process of class formation and the precise nature of emerging classes in rural Punjab.
Küttner’s Tumor and Autoimmune Pancreatitis as Metachronous Manifestations of IgG4-Related Disease
Authors: Bathobakae Lefika , Bashir Rammy , Farhan Heba , Shahid Aneeqa , Villegas Katrina , Melki Gabriel , Amer Kamal , Cavanagh Yana
Published: October 2024

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a multiorgan, fibro-inflammatory condition that presents with painless organ swelling, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, and obliterative phlebitis, often showing a favorable response to corticosteroid therapy. The most affected organs include the pancreas, kidneys, retroperitoneum, lacrimal glands, and salivary glands. Diagnosis relies on serological, imaging, and histopathological findings, with glucocorticoids as the primary treatment. Despite its reversible nature and good prognosis in many cases, long-term complications such as organ dysfunction or malignancy can still occur. International collaborative efforts have enhanced the understanding, diagnosis, and management of IgG4-RD, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive diagnostic criteria and appropriate therapeutic strategies. Herein, we present an interesting case of a geriatric male who was referred to our clinic because of concern for pancreatic cancer. We diagnosed the patient with autoimmune pancreatitis, a manifestation of IgG4-RD. The patient experienced a dramatic response to steroid therapy and is currently on maintenance therapy.
Double Hit in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma With Germline Pathogenic ATM Mutation and Somatic VHL Mutation
Authors: Chan Kok Hoe , Clavijo Nicolas Duque , Ayala Gustavo , Hall Ryan , Wray Curtis , Cen Putao
Published: October 2024

While renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is often linked to smoking, obesity, and hypertension, hereditary forms also account for about 3% of RCC cases. Notably, NCCN guidelines identify 7 major hereditary syndromes associated with an increased RCC risk. Inherited mutations in DNA repair genes, such as ATM, BRCA, and TP53, significantly increase the risk of various cancers. Biallelic pathogenic mutations in ATM cause Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) syndrome, while heterozygous germline pathogenic ATM mutations, present in about 1% of the population, also elevate cancer risk. RCC has not traditionally been associated with germline pathogenic ATM mutations, only limited retrospective analyses have identified such mutations. This case report presents a 68-year-old woman with a germline pathogenic ATM mutation (c.8786+1 G>A) who developed high-risk clear cell RCC followed by an acquired somatic VHL mutation in RCC and a 3-cm serous cystadenoma, illustrating the double-hit phenomenon. Her brother, who shares the same germline pathogenic mutation, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer. This case highlights the potential use for enhanced screening protocols for RCC in patients who have germline pathogenic ATM mutations and the importance of research in targeted treatments for tumors driven by dual genetic mechanisms. Increased awareness and vigilant screening for RCC are crucial in managing hereditary cancer syndromes effectively.
The Relationship Between Hearing Experiences, Music-Listening Behaviors, and Chord-Discrimination Abilities for Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Lam Cynthia , Moore Brian C. J. , Salorio-Corbetto Marina , Vickers Deborah A.
Published: October 2024

The main pre-implant factors that relate to speech perception outcomes in adults with cochlear implants (CIs) are well known. However, it is not clear if these same factors are related to music perception and enjoyment. This study explored the relationship between self-reported pre-implant hearing and music experiences, and post-implant chord discrimination and music enjoyment. An online platform was used to deliver the Munich Music Questionnaire (MUMU), run a chord-discrimination task, and obtain demographic information. The chord-discrimination task involved detection of an upward change of one, two or three semitones in the third note, or a downward change of one, two, or three semitones in the middle note of a three-note major chord, using synthesized harmonic tones. Twenty-five CI users participated, aged 29–86 years. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three hearing-related variables (duration of hearing difficulty, age characteristics, and years of hearing with a CI), and three music-related variables (music quality from the CI, extent of music engagement, and music-listening habits). Chord-discrimination scores increased with increasing frequency change of the varying note. It was likely that some CI users used beats between tones as a discrimination cue. Chord discrimination was also better for individuals listening via loudspeakers and headphones than for those listening via Bluetooth streaming, perhaps because of artifacts produced by the latter. Chord-discrimination was better for older participants with longer experience of hearing with an implant. Those with longer duration of hearing difficulty who liked the sound quality of their CIs had higher music enjoyment scores.
Resolving land use conflicts in developing photovoltaic
Authors: Zhang Lu , Hussein Heba , Zhang Haiping
Published: October 2024

China is implementing ambitious solar energy development plans, with the goal of exceeding 2200–2800 GW by 2030. However, the development of solar energy necessitates substantial land use. An estimated 64,900 km2 of land would be required, posing significant challenges, particularly in balancing energy production with environmental and agricultural priorities. Without a commitment to sustainable land management, the broader goal of sustainable development in renewable energy cannot be achieved. Our findings highlight the need for policies that ensure photovoltaic developments are compatible with environmental conservation and land preservation.
Cost-effectiveness of follow-up algorithms for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in pulmonary embolism survivors
Authors: Luijten Dieuwke , van den Hout Wilbert B. , Boon Gudula J.A.M. , Barco Stefano , Bogaard Harm Jan , Delcroix Marion , Kreitner Karl-Friedrich , Held Matthias , Huisman Menno V. , Jara-Palomares Luis , Konstantinides Stavros V. , Kroft Lucia J.M. , Mairuhu Albert T.A. , Meijboom Lilian J. , van Mens Thijs E. , Ninaber Maarten K. , Nossent Esther J. , Pruszczyk Piotr , Valerio Luca , Vonk Noordegraaf Anton , Klok Frederikus A.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Achieving an early diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in pulmonary embolism (PE) survivors results in better quality of life and survival. Importantly, dedicated follow-up strategies to achieve an earlier CTEPH diagnosis involve costs that were not explicitly incorporated in the models assessing their cost-effectiveness. We performed an economic evaluation of 11 distinct PE follow-up algorithms to determine which should be preferred.

Materials and methods

11 different PE follow-up algorithms and one hypothetical scenario without a dedicated CTEPH follow-up algorithm were included in a Markov model. Diagnostic accuracy of consecutive tests was estimated from patient-level data of the InShape II study (n=424). The lifelong costs per CTEPH patient were compared and related to quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for each scenario.

Results

Compared to not performing dedicated follow-up, the integrated follow-up algorithms are associated with an estimated increase of 0.89–1.2 QALYs against an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of EUR 25 700–46 300 per QALY per CTEPH patient. When comparing different algorithms with each other, the maximum differences were 0.27 QALYs and EUR 27 600. The most cost-effective algorithm was the InShape IV algorithm, with an ICER of EUR 26 700 per QALY compared to the next best algorithm.

Conclusion

Subjecting all PE survivors to any of the currently established dedicated follow-up algorithms to detect CTEPH is cost-effective and preferred above not performing a dedicated follow-up, evaluated against the Dutch acceptability threshold of EUR 50 000 per QALY. The model can be used to identify the locally preferred algorithm from an economical point-of-view within local logistical possibilities.
Biological correlates of radiological features of systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease
Authors: Volkmann Elizabeth R. , Tashkin Donald P. , Leng Mei , Kim Grace Hyun J. , Goldin Jonathan , Harui Airi , Roth Michael D.
Published: October 2024

Background and objectives

The extent and pattern of radiological features (e.g.fibrosis and ground glass) can influence treatment approaches for systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). However, the pathobiology underlying these radiological features is poorly understood and warrants further investigation.

Methods

68 proteins were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from 103 SSc-ILD participants in Scleroderma Lung Study I. Quantitative image analysis calculated the extent of fibrosis (QLF) and ground-glass opacity (QGG) from concurrent high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. The relationship between BAL proteins and quantitative HRCT scores was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

QLF scores correlated weakly with the extent of QGG, suggesting two distinct processes. In a univariate analysis, 25 proteins from several biological pathways correlated with QLF scores, including profibrotic factors, tissue remodelling proteins, proteins involved in monocyte/macrophage migration and activation, and proteins linked to inflammation and immune regulation. In contrast, QGG scores correlated with only six proteins, of which four were unique and related to granulocyte activation, mobilisation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and activation of T-cells, B-cells, macrophages and eosinophils. In the multivariate models, interleukin-4, CCL7, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB and tumour necrosis factor-α were independently associated with QLF, whereas interferon-γ was independently associated with QGG.

Interpretation

QLF and QGG represent distinct radiological features of SSc-ILD, a conclusion reinforced by the presence of different biological pathways present within BAL fluid that associate with each. The identified proteins and related biological pathways may represent important therapeutic targets.