bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyse Comparative / Comparative Perspectives
Authors: Maureira Claudio Fuentes
Published: November 2024

Case management and managerial judging have been the subject of comparative procedural law for many years; as a matter of fact, case management as a legal institution is not foreign to either common law, European or Asian legal systems. However, most Latin American countries and procedural legal scholarship, with the prominent exception of Brazil, have not had a vigorous debate about its existence. More importantly, there is scarce empirical information regarding managerial judging and its operational dynamics in South American legal systems. The following article aims to fills that void by focusing on Chile’s legal system. In the last 20 years, Chile has initiated a series of procedural reforms that created new courts and radically changed procedural regulation by introducing oral proceedings and the concentrated trial hearing. This article presents original empirical evidence that shows the emergence of managerial judging practices at family and labour reformed courts. By identifying, characterising and examining in detail such practices, it is possible to understand when and how managerial judging takes place and to what end.
Judicial Reform in China: What Do Judges Think?
Authors: Chan Peter C.H.
Published: November 2024

This article assesses the extent to which the objectives of the Chinese Judicial Reform in the 2010s have been achieved, using the empirical data from a questionnaire survey of 43 judges. It provides a systematic overview of the Judicial Reform in the 2010s and examines the effectiveness of the reform. It finds that although the judicial reform slightly reduced the courts’ reliance on the government for certain resources and improved the quality of adjudication of civil and commercial cases, it did not fundamentally change government interference in court proceedings in China.
1. Introduction
Authors: Cohen Hart , Jana Ujjwal
Published: November 2024

This chapter introduces the main rationale for developing a collaboration between India and Australia in the Digital Humanities (DH). We argue that the time is right to reflect the expansion of the footprint of the Digital Humanities to the sub continent and to continue the collaborative ethos of DH in this ongoing exchange between India and Australia. We will provide an overview of the current state of the Digital Humanities in India and Australia and where the scholars from these research contexts fit in the global sphere of Digital Humanities studies.
5. Artificial Intelligence, ethics and empathy
Authors: Aulbach Linda
Published: November 2024

The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has sparked a huge debate about its impacts on individuals, cultures, societies and the world. Through AI, we now can either support, manipulate or even replace humans at a level we have not seen before. One of the core values of happy and thriving relationships between humans is empathy, and understanding another person’s feelings builds the foundation of human connection. Within the past few years, the field of AI has taken on the challenge of becoming empathic towards humans to create more trust, acceptance and attachment towards its applications. There are now ‘carebots’ with simple empathic chat features, which seem to be ‘nice to have’, but there is also a concerning development in the field of erobotics—the next (empathic) generation of sex robots, made for humans to fall in love with. The increase in emotional capacity within AI brings into focus how good or bad empathy really is. There is a high risk of manipulation of humans on a deep psychological level, yet there is also reason to believe that empathy is necessary to truly reach an ethical ‘gold’ standard. This chapter will examine empathic AI and its ethical issues with a focus on humanity. It will also touch on the question of what happens if AI becomes more human than humans.
7. ‘Aboutness’ and semantic knowledge
Authors: Nayak Gopa , Kaur Rana Navreet
Published: November 2024

This essay establishes the use of computational methods to study the semantics of a historical corpus compiled from the ancient Indian text of Yajnavalkya Smriti. Although the use of corpora has been extended to the study of computational semantics, in addition to grammar usage and patterns of language, they have mostly been limited to word-sense disambiguation, structural disambiguation or analysing a semantic space in terms of calculating semantic distances and determining relations between words within a corpus. This study adopts the use of computational semantics on ‘aboutness’ and ‘knowledge-free analysis’ within a limited aspect of ‘aboutness’ based on the methodology of Philips (1985). The text-only corpus of this study comprises 36,000 words of verses of the Yajnavalkya Smriti text translated by Vidyarnava (1918; 2010) from the original Sanskrit to English. In this study, ‘aboutness’ and ‘knowledge-free analysis’ aim to find the semantics of collocations and bring out bias-free information on the inheritance rights and the status of women in ancient India as described in the text. The application of the ubiquitous yet rarely applied concept of ‘aboutness’ is used to derive semantics in an unprecedented manner from an ancient historical text.This research on ‘aboutness’, which has seldom been used in computational semantics (Yablo, 2014), opens up avenues for further research on corpus analysis for extracting semantic knowledge from ancient texts to minimise knowledge bias.
10. Literary masterpiece as a literary bank
Authors: Ghosh Aditya , Jana Ujjwal
Published: November 2024

This chapter attempts to model a digital representation of all the intertextual references alluded to in T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land. It encompasses the references Eliot incorporated into this masterpiece, from Classical and Biblical texts to his contemporary literary texts, followed by an inventory of post-Waste Land texts which borrowed from the text in question. This work produced by Eliot throws any reader or scholar into a labyrinth of intertextuality and literary allusions, the sheer magnitude of which can potentially confuse as the range of the references reaches far and wide. There is a scholarly dispute about the changing paradigm of critical research works under the veneer of digital technology, as many are apprehensive about losing epistemological and ontological aspects of critical research work in the field of humanities under the sustained pressure of employing a digital medium.1 But, having the benefit of an archival digital repository and its capability to quickly access multiple texts from various resources corroborates the view that technology can facilitate the creation and dissemination of knowledge in the field of humanities. The main objective of this research is to create a repository where all the intertextual references of Eliot’s poem The Waste Land could be stored. This chapter will employ three different steps to demonstrate different sources of references and allusions that were used in the production of The Waste Land.
11. Hypertext as a ‘palimpsestuous’ construct
Authors: Saha Lopamudra , Jana Ujjwal
Published: November 2024

This chapter analyses how the hypertext fiction Patchwork Girl (1995) functions as a palimpsest in its postmodern multimodal rewriting of the myth of Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus (1818). Since digital culture is one of the major postmodern offshoots, and the idea of the hypertext is the product of literary culture and digital innovations, new possibilities have been brought about that unsettle the traditional conceptualisation of the novel as the printed word. This chapter, therefore, proposes the study of the concept of the hypertext as ‘palimpsestuous’ relativity, with special reference to Patchwork Girl. To serve this purpose, the traditional idea of the ‘palimpsest’ as a parchment undergoes revision in the light of the affordances of multimedia. This enquiry also uncovers the changing dynamics of readership that the new media intervention has brought about. Finally, the discussion highlights how hypertextual rewriting induces the ideas of multivocality, fragmentariness, non-linearity and interactivity through the application of the inter-semiotic paradigm.
13. Code against code
Authors: Edmond Cameron , Bednarz Tomasz
Published: November 2024

Machine writing—where computing methods are used to create texts—has risen in popularity recently, diversifying and expanding. Machine writing itself could be seen as a subset of the creative coding discipline. Emblematic of the contemporary turn in machine writing is Darby Larson’s Irritant. Impenetrable by traditional reading standards, the text is governed by code. The reader of Irritant faces similar challenges to the Digital Humanities scholar attempting to analyse large textual corpora. As such, Irritant becomes a useful case study for experimenting with reading methodologies. We approach Irritant from a computational criticism perspective, informed by the same creative coding methods that spawned it. Our objective is to reverse engineer Irritant, scraping its repetitions and variables using Python within a live coding environment. We position creative coding as a research methodology itself, especially suited for analysing machine written texts. This chapter details our process of back-and-forth iteration between the researcher and the text. The ‘hacking’ of the text becomes critical practice itself: an engagement with the coded artefact that meets it on even ground. What our analysis finds, however, is more questions. Our exploration of Irritant fails to unravel the novel’s code in the way we planned, but instead reveals more thematic depth. Far from the post-mortem of a failed experiment, this chapter presents creative coding as a research methodology and interrogates its benefits and challenges via the Irritant case study.
15. Online dating
Authors: Chand Asha
Published: November 2024

Marriage and migration are twin global forces that have reshaped Australia’s identity from a white nation to a multicultural melting pot. India has become the largest contributor to immigration in Australia, with 710,380 permanent migrants. Indians are Australia’s second largest migrant community (after England), equivalent to 9.5% of Australia’s overseas-born population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021). This study, built within the context of a postmodern society that is networked, mobile and global, examines the use of new media technologies in finding a marriage match, known to the Indian diaspora as a way of life. The research seeks to understand the sociological impacts of hyper communication, especially the use of dating sites and social media platforms such as Facebook, in forming intimate relationships online. This chapter evaluates the aspirations among the Indian diaspora to maintain cultural identities through marriage (which also feeds migration) by seeking life partners with similar background via online dating websites. Globalisation, while opening a world of possibilities, simultaneously helps to lock the Indian community into its own cultural cluster through online dating and marriage. Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), the community is basking in this newfound freedom to pick and choose, reinforcing the centuries old tradition of ensuring compatibility when forming relationships. Levels of education, professional status and family values stand out as key attributes being sought by men and women who engage on the dating sites in this study. This study builds on earlier research (Chand, 2012) that presents the fabric of family as vital to the Indian social structure. This study is important as it attempts to understand the cultural negotiations specific to the Indian diaspora, which is vibrant and growing in the Australian landscape. The influence of Bollywood, which has enraptured Western societies, coupled with India’s resurgence as a superpower, adds value and significance to this research which provides an understanding of the importance of marriage to Indians. This research is timely and relevant to the public, including Western societies, which not too long ago saw ‘matchmaking’ as backward.
16. The digital mediation of film archives from the Strehlow Research Centre
Authors: Cohen Hart
Published: November 2024

This chapter is concerned with the history of the Strehlow Research Centre (SRC) with a special emphasis on the how the film collection has been handled at various points in the institution’s history. As an archive and research centre, the SRC has evolved from an earlier series of controversies around cultural ownership to become a leading innovator of the digitisation of parts of its collection. The digitisation of the films of T.G.H. Strehlow have led the collecting institutions sector, not only in technological innovation but also in outreach and engagement with its Aboriginal constituency. The example of the Strehlow Film Collection, and its evolution as a database and focus for community engagement, resonate with the issues that have recently emerged around archive/counter archive projects and participatory archives (Huvila) which have re-capitulated the role of archives in recovering the space of cultural memory and cultural practice. The chapter will test the proposition that “[…] the archive as a site for creative intervention, is one that enables new possibilities for preserving and representing individual memory within a larger historical consciousness” (Kashmere, 2021).
Primary Modes of Northern Hemisphere Snowfall Particle Size Distributions
Authors: King Fraser , Pettersen Claire , Dolan Brenda , Shates Julia , Posselt Derek
Published: November 2024

A comprehensive understanding of snowfall microphysics is crucial for enhancing the accuracy of remote sensing snowfall retrievals. However, variations in regional and seasonal snow particle size distributions (PSDs) contribute substantial uncertainty. Here, we examine snowfall PSDs from across the Northern Hemisphere, applying principal component analysis (PCA) to disdrometer observations with the aim of identifying dominant modes of variability across varying regional climates. The PCA revealed three empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) that account for a combined 95% of the variability across the dataset, which are attributed to latent linear embeddings of snowfall intensity (EOF1), snowfall character (EOF2), and snowfall regime (EOF3). Examining point clusters with the highest combined EOF values reveals six distinct modes of variability [i.e., principal component (PC) groups] with unique PSD traits. These groups are then correlated with environmental factors using data from collocated vertically pointing radar, surface meteorology, and reanalysis to assist in assigning physical attributes. The first and second PC groups, linked to EOF1’s intensity embedding, are described by their PSD intercepts, snowfall rates, and reflectivity and Doppler velocity values, representing low- and high-intensity snowfall modes, respectively. The third and fourth PC groups, associated with EOF2’s character embedding, are defined by temperature, fall speed, and density, indicative of cold, fluffy snowfall and warm, dense snowfall, respectively. The fifth and sixth PC groups, related to EOF3’s regime embedding, are distinguished by their PSD slope, snowfall rate, and reflectivity profiles, signifying shallow, weak convective systems with small particles and deep, stratiform snowfall events with large aggregates, respectively.

Significance Statement

This research enhances our understanding of varying snow particle size distributions in the Northern Hemisphere, offering valuable new insights for improving future remote sensing–based snowfall retrieval algorithms. Using a statistical technique called principal component analysis, we found that 95% of the variability in observed snowfall could be explained by three primary features: how intense the snowfall is, how dense the particles are, and the depth of the storm. We identified six unique snowfall groups, each with its own set of traits, such as the snow being light and fluffy, or heavy and packed. By linking these traits to external environmental observations, we can better understand the driving physical mechanisms within each group.
How Do Model Biases Affect Large-Scale Teleconnections That Control Southwest U.S. Precipitation? Part II: Seasonal Models
Authors: Peings Y. , Dong C. , Magnusdottir G.
Published: November 2024

We explore the skill in predicting southwest United States (SWUS) October–March precipitation and associated large-scale teleconnections in an ensemble of hindcasts from seasonal prediction systems. We identify key model biases that degrade the models’ capability to predict SWUS precipitation. The subtropical jet in the Pacific sector is generally too zonal and elongated. This is reflected in the models’ North Pacific ENSO teleconnections that are generally too weak with exaggerated northwest–southeast tilt, compared to observations. Also, the models are too dependent on tropical, El Niño–like, wave train anomalies for producing high seasonal SWUS precipitation, when in observations there is a larger influence of zonal Rossby wave trains such as the one observed in 2016/17. Overall, this is consistent with biases in the basic-flow-inducing errors in the propagation of zonal wave trains in the North Pacific, which affects SWUS precipitation downstream. Although higher skill may be gained from reducing mean flow biases in the models, a case study of the 2016/17 winter illustrates the great challenge behind skillful seasonal prediction of SWUS precipitation. Unsurprisingly, the almost record-breaking precipitation observed that year in the absence of ENSO is not predicted in the hindcasts, and model perturbation experiments suggest that even a perfect prediction of tropical sea surface temperature and tropical atmospheric variability would not have sufficed to produce a reasonable seasonal precipitation prediction. On a more positive note, our perturbation experiments suggest a potential role for Arctic variability that supports findings from prior studies and suggests reexamining high-latitude drivers of SWUS precipitation.
Rethinking Regulation beyond the Normative Threshold: Mechanisms of Control and Access to the Central Market of Kinshasa
Authors: Mesa Héritier
Published: November 2024

The article explores regulation practices governing access to the central market of Kinshasa. It argues that, contrary to conventional ideas, urban trading places do not escape state regulation, nor are they outside the realm of legitimacy. These places and the economic activities that take place in them are highly regulated. Yet, their regulations do not always conform to official standards. The dominant binary divide of formal/informal obscures different processes and scales of effective regulation. Hence, to better understand how these places and activities are regulated, it is necessary to go beyond the binary divide. Drawing on practical norms’ literature, the article shows the multiplicity of overlapping norms, their corresponding logics, and how different actors navigate regulation. Regulations can have diverse effects on people. Some deviations from official laws have reassuring effects, leading to forms of organisation that serve traders’ needs or provide them with space for resistance against exclusion. However, certain other deviations serve to extract more resources from vendors and can lead to the (re)production of social inequalities.
Introducing the Rebels’ Armament Dataset (RAD): Empirical Evidence on Rebel Military Capabilities
Authors: Pamp Oliver , Mehltretter Andreas , Binder Paul , Thurner Paul W.
Published: November 2024

There is a scarcity of systematic data regarding the military equipment of rebel groups engaged in intrastate conflicts. This empirical gap has impeded the rigorous evaluation of (formal) theories concerning militarized interactions between governments and rebel groups. To address this deficiency, we have developed the Rebels' Armament Dataset (RAD). This dataset provides detailed information on the military arsenals of 270 groups over the period from 1989 to 2020, categorizing 15 different types of small arms, light weapons, explosives, and major weapons. In this article, we introduce RAD, compare it with existing datasets, elucidate the data collection process, present an initial overview of the information contained in it, and apply the data to examine civilian suffering in civil wars. Although this dataset is merely an initial step that can be expanded as additional public information becomes available, RAD offers the first organized compilation of data on the armament levels of rebels.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market outcomes of Indigenous persons living off-reserve in Canada
Authors: Lamb Danielle
Published: November 2024

The recent COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the labour force activity of many, but the effect of the crisis on the labour market outcomes of Indigenous peoples in Canada is relatively understudied. Using data from the master files of the Canadian Labour Force Survey (LFS), this analysis first considers the relative probability of four mutually exclusive labour force states: employed; unemployed; not in the labour force, but not discouraged; and not in the labour force due to being a discouraged worker. Differences in hours worked as well as earnings comparing Indigenous and non-Indigenous workers are then examined. The findings reveal that, regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous Canadians were relatively more likely to be either unemployed or not in the labour force (including being a discouraged worker) than to be employed as compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. Indigenous workers earned roughly 3 percent less than their non-Indigenous counterparts. The earnings penalty experienced by Indigenous workers, was slightly smaller at the bottom of the wage distribution at 2 percent, increasing to roughly 3.3 percent at the top 90th percentile of the earnings function. During the COVID-19 period, while the risk of unemployment was lower for Indigenous persons, the risk of being a discouraged worker was even higher for Indigenous Canadians during the pandemic. Using an ad-hoc supplement to the LFS conducted by Statistics Canada in response to the pandemic, this study finds that Indigenous respondents were less likely than non-Indigenous respondents to either work from home or receive any form of Canada relief benefit from April 2020 to October 2021. The implications of these findings suggest a role for policy makers to improve access to funding supports for Indigenous workers and students seeking to pursue higher education to improve labour market outcomes. Additionally, employers play an important role in ensuring that Indigenous workers have fair access to job opportunities.
Inertia in transformed times: Work health and safety amid climate change
Authors: Humphrys Elizabeth
Published: November 2024

Climate change will impact work health and safety conditions at an unprecedented scale, and the effects are already being felt. The most significant consequences are for workers labouring in higher temperatures and heatwaves. Other dangers include increased air pollution, vector-borne diseases and solar ultraviolet radiation. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says climate change and WHS ‘needs to top our list of global priorities’, requiring national planning and action to ensure successful workplace adaptation to limit injuries and deaths. If this is correct, why is so little happening in Australia to plan for these current and emerging issues? This article considers the findings of key ILO and Australian Government reports and initiatives in 2023 and 2024 to assess what action experts argue is needed and how Australia stacks up.
The Relationships Among Emotions, Self-Efficacy, and Engagement in Virtual Reality-Assisted Foreign Language Learning: A Social Cognitive Theory-Based Study
Authors: Wang Xuemei , Zhou Maojie
Published: November 2024

While many studies have identified multiple benefits and affordances in using virtual reality (VR) technology in language learning, most have been qualitative, with few providing evidence of factors that may impact VR effectiveness for language learning or of the role of learners’ unique psychological, environmental, and emotional experiences in language learning. Against this backdrop, we framed this study within social cognitive theory and surveyed 368 Chinese university students of English who were participating in VR-assisted language instruction to explore whether learners’ foreign language learning enjoyment and boredom related to their learning engagement; we also investigated the mediating role of learning self-efficacy in these relationships. Our results suggested that (a) students learning English through VR-assisted instruction experienced a relatively high level of enjoyment but moderate level boredom; (b) foreign language learning enjoyment significantly (positively) predicted foreign language learning self-efficacy and engagement; and (c) foreign language learning boredom significantly (negatively) predicted foreign language learning self-efficacy, but not engagement; and foreign language learning self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship between foreign language learning boredom and engagement, and partially mediated the significant relationship between foreign language learning enjoyment and engagement. Based on these findings, we suggest ways to improve VR-assisted language teaching and learning.
Heat and the city: Thermal control, governance and health in urban Asia
Authors: Clancey Gregory , Chang Jiat-Hwee , Chee Liz PY
Published: November 2024

This special issue focuses on the under-studied but increasingly pressing issue of urban heat. Cities are getting hotter, both due to the global crisis of climate change, and the related phenomena of Urban Heat Islands, which locally amplify increased global temperatures and exposure to solar radiation. We know a great deal about how heat is affecting cities from a scientific and public health perspective. Urban studies scholarship, however, has been slower to foreground heat as a social, spatial, and political category of analysis, at least in comparison to discussions of carbon emissions and their control, energy and infrastructure, rising sea levels or flooding, and activism towards sustainability. While many of these themes also figure in this collection, our focus is on the varied phenomena of urban dwellers feeling, avoiding, suffering under, mitigating, culturally interpreting and attempting to anticipate and plan for, the reality of elevated air temperatures and solar radiation. What we call thermal control, governance, and health is the multi-level and multivalent social and material response to uncomfortable and potentially injurious temperatures, an elusive topic this special issue makes visible and constitutes what we hope will be an ongoing urban research agenda.
Conceal and Don’t Feel as Much? Experiential Effects of Expressive Suppression
Authors: Jones Jessica L. , Isaacowitz Derek M. , Ayduk Özlem
Published: November 2024

Emotion regulation research has routinely pitted the antecedent-focused strategy of cognitive reappraisal against the response-focused strategy of expressive suppression. This research has largely yielded that reappraisal is an effective strategy by which to change emotional experience, but implications of expressive suppression are not as clear. This may be due to variations in experimental methodologies, which have not consistently evaluated suppression against a within-subject control condition, as well as conceptual limitations that have muddled the implications of significant findings. Across two high-powered, within-subject paradigms, the present study demonstrates that expressive suppression induces significant decreases in negative emotion relative to one’s general attempts to downregulate negative emotion (Study 1) and respond naturally (Study 2). Our findings add to a growing body of literature that demonstrate that suppression may facilitate emotion regulation at both the expressive and experiential levels, and underscore the importance of incorporating flexibility and goal-focused frameworks in future research.
Telepharmacy and remote medication management: An empirical study from patients’ perspectives
Authors: Alanzi Turki M , Alanzi Nouf , Saadah Amjad , Abdullah Almulhim Noufah , Almulhem Jawaher , Alshahrani Rana , Al Farraj Reef , Al Ghadeer Fatemah , Habib Hussam , Alqahtani Sadeem , Allehyani Rawan , Alamoudi Lamees , Gasem Sumaya
Published: November 2024

Background: Telepharmacy has emerged as a vital tool in healthcare, allowing remote medication management, especially for patients in rural areas. Despite its growing adoption, there is limited empirical evidence on its effectiveness and patient experiences in diverse healthcare settings. Aim: This study aims to investigate telepharmacy and remote medication management through the lens of patients, shedding light on their attitudes, challenges, and preferences. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design is adopted in this study. Survey participants included outpatients aged above 18 years, accessing telepharmacy services from public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The survey questionnaire focuses on evaluating patients’ experiences and perspectives regarding telepharmacy services for remote medication management. Excluding incomplete responses resulted in a final sample of 403. Results: Participants reported positive experiences with telepharmacy, rating it moderately to very effective (Mean = 3.12–3.21) across various factors. Significant age-related differences were observed, with younger participants perceiving telepharmacy more favorably ( P < 0.0001). Education levels did not significantly affect perceptions. Residential location also showed no significant impact. Patients suggested technical support and improved communication methods to enhance telepharmacy services. Implementing these suggestions increased patients’ likelihood of future telepharmacy use. Conclusion: Telepharmacy, by utilizing telecommunication technology, offers a transformative approach to remote medication management, significantly improving patient care across various healthcare environments.
Going the extra mile: Unveiling the roots of franchisee organisational citizenship behaviours in franchise systems
Authors: Grünhagen Marko , Watson Anna , Croonen Evelien
Published: November 2024

While researchers and practitioners have recognised the essential role of employee organisational citizenship behaviours (OCBs), there is an absence of their consideration within franchise systems as a unique context. We aim to address this gap by exploring the nature of franchisee OCBs and their antecedents. Through a set of semi-structured qualitative interviews, we find critical new evidence, not only of the existence of franchisee OCBs but also of franchisor OCBs, reflecting the reciprocal character of franchise relationships. Further, we reveal frequent shifts of franchisee OCBs from one referent to another, often from the franchisor to franchisee peers, or even industry groups outside the franchisor-franchisee dyad, in the wake of disappointed interactions with the franchisor. Ultimately, we point at the critical role of the franchisor’s field consultant as the liaison person who appears frequently mismanaged by franchisors in the eyes of franchisees.
Religion, secularization, and far-right support in the Netherlands, Hungary, and Italy
Authors: Vaughan Kenneth R
Published: November 2024

Academic evaluations of the relationship between religion, secularization, and far-right collective actors have grown increasingly complicated. New religious immigrants, seen as invaders importing contradictory values imposed on the populous by EU elites, may threaten Christian and irreligious Europeans. Europe has been secularizing for decades, concurrent with a resurgence in far-right collective action, but this far-right resurgence has also accompanied an increase in religious discourse in politics. In this study, I investigate the relationship between religion, secularization, and far-right collective action utilizing three case studies. I find, with some caveats, that in Hungary, Fidesz motivates Christian voters with religious nationalist appeals, while assertive secularization motivates irreligious voters in the Netherlands. Italy is more complex, where far-right collective actors are less able to monopolize social issues. These findings speak to the critical role religious values and institutions play in shaping voter preferences and present competing options for secularist politics moving forward.
Several components of postural control are affected by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo but improve after particle-repositioning maneuvers: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pauwels Sara , Casters Laura , Meyns Pieter , Lemkens Nele , Lemmens Winde , Meijer Kenneth , van de Berg Raymond , Spildooren Joke
Published: November 2024

Objective

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a vestibular disorder causing vertigo and imbalance. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to explore the impact of benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo and repositioning maneuvers on postural control.

Data Sources

In September 2024, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and reference lists of included studies were systematically searched. Articles comparing measures of postural control between patients and controls, and/or pre- and posttreatment were considered relevant.

Methods

Study selection, data extraction and identification of risk of bias were done by two researchers. If possible, meta-analysis was performed with Review Manager version 5.4.1 and standardized mean differences were calculated with a random-effects model.

Results

Twenty-one of the 37 included studies were useful for meta-analyses. Meta-analyses revealed that benign paroxysmal positional vertigo negatively affects perception of verticality (p < .001; SMD = 0.73; 95% CI = [0.39;1.08]) and sensory orientation (p < .001; SMD = −1.66; 95% CI = [−2.08, −1.23]). The perception of verticality (p < .001; SMD = 0.99; 95% CI = [0.76;1.21]) and sensory orientation (p < .001; SMD = −0.77; 95% CI = [−1.11, −0.44]) improved after treatment with repositioning maneuvers. Results of systematic review indicate stability in gait was impaired, vertigo but improve after repositioning maneuvers. Limits of stability were impaired in older patients, but did not improved after repositioning maneuvers.

Conclusion

Benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo affects several underlying components of postural control. Repositioning maneuvers can significantly improve the related postural control impairments. This may partly explain the increased odds of falling in these patients, and the positive treatment effect of repositioning maneuvers on falls and fear of falling.
Improving electrochemical corrosion resistance of AISI 304 using tungsten carbide-cobalt/silicon carbide high-velocity oxygen fuel coatings
Authors: Sudhakar Cherukupalli , Praveen Ayyappan Susila
Published: November 2024

This study offers an in-depth analysis of the electrochemical corrosion behaviour of tungsten carbide-cobalt/silicon carbide coatings on AISI 304 stainless steel, applied using high-velocity oxygen fuel spraying. The coatings were produced with varying silicon carbide concentrations (25%, 40%, 60% and 75%) to evaluate their effectiveness in enhancing corrosion resistance. Microstructural analyses were conducted using SEM and EDS, while corrosion behaviour was assessed through open-circuit potential and Tafel tests in a NaCl solution. The findings indicate that increasing the silicon carbide content increases surface roughness and coating thickness. Additionally, the corrosion results revealed that coatings with higher silicon carbide concentrations exhibited more negative potential values, indicating improved corrosion resistance due to passivation effects.
How the COVID-19 pandemic shaped Canadians’ preferences for setting of dying: Comparison of two panel surveys
Authors: Funk Laura M. , Mackenzie Corey S. , Rapaport Li-Elle , Cherba Maria , Cohen S. Robin , Krawczyk Marian , Rounce Andrea , Stajduhar Kelli I.
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this article is to assess whether COVID-19 shaped Canadians’ preferred settings of dying. We compared data collected using the same survey from two independent but comparable sets of panel respondents, prior to and after the onset of the pandemic. A vignette methodology was used to assess preferences for dying in each of four settings: home, acute/intensive care, palliative care, and long-term residential care. Although preferences for dying at home, in acute/intensive care and palliative care units did not change, preferences for dying in nursing homes significantly declined. In the pandemic’s first and second waves, the spread of knowledge about problems of poor care, visitation restrictions, and fears of contagion in Canadian long-term residential care may have shaped public perceptions of and preferences for dying these settings. If this change persists, it may influence advance care planning decisions. That preferences for dying at home did not shift is noteworthy.
The influences of alloying elements and processing conditions on the machinability of wrought aluminium alloys: A literature review
Authors: Demirpolat Havva , Binali Rüstem , Kuntoğlu Mustafa , Salur Emin , Makhesana Mayur A. , Yaghoubi Saeed , Usca Üsame Ali
Published: November 2024

Today, wrought aluminium alloys are ranked among the most important materials with low specific density, strength features, corrosion resistance, machinability and recyclability properties in numerous application fields. Machining process of these alloys involves a number of considerations to ensure the highest quality and productivity. Key machinability issues include the rate of tool wear, workpiece surface finish and integrity and machining process sustainability. Understanding and optimising these parameters can lead to improving the machinability, better surface finish, longer tool life, and overall, more efficient and cost-effective machining processes for wrought aluminium alloys. The machining of wrought aluminium alloys remains a challenging task due to their unique characteristics, such as high strength, thermal conductivity and refined grain structures with mechanical and/or heat treatment. Although considerable progress has been made in the development of cutting tool materials and machining techniques for wrought aluminium alloys, further research is required to improve the machinability of these materials and reduce the associated costs and time needed for production. Having access to relevant information about these characteristics can help industries and researchers make informed decisions and achieve better outcomes when machining of these important materials. Accordingly, in the current research work, a comprehensive study has been carried out on machining of wrought aluminium from different points of view.
Estimating an adjusted risk difference in a cluster randomized trial with individual-level analyses
Authors: Pereira Macedo Jules Antoine , Giraudeau Bruno , ESCIENT collaborators
Published: November 2024

In cluster randomized trials (CRTs) with a binary outcome, intervention effects are usually reported as odds ratios, but the CONSORT statement advocates reporting both a relative and an absolute intervention effect. With a simulation study, we assessed several methods to estimate a risk difference (RD) in the framework of a CRT with adjustment on both individual- and cluster-level covariates. We considered both a conditional approach (with the generalized linear mixed model [GLMM]) and a marginal approach (with the generalized estimating equation [GEE]). For both approaches, we considered the Gaussian, binomial, and Poisson distributions. When considering the binomial or Poisson distribution, we used the g-computation method to estimate the RD. Convergence problems were observed with the GEE approach, especially with low intra-cluster coefficient correlation values, small number of clusters, small mean cluster size, high number of covariates, and prevalences close to 0. All methods reported no bias. The Gaussian distribution with both approaches and binomial and Poisson distributions with the GEE approach had satisfactory results in estimating the standard error. Results for type I error and coverage rates were better with the GEE than GLMM approach. We recommend using the Gaussian distribution because of its ease of use (the RD is estimated in one step only). The GEE approach should be preferred and replaced with the GLMM approach in cases of convergence problems.
Digital Technology Adoption as a Game Changer for Community-based Tourism (CBT) Homestay Operators: A Qualitative Investigation
Authors: Samad Nur Azira Abdul , Zahari Mohd Salehuddin Mohd , Hanafiah Mohd Hafiz , Bashir Muhamad A’rif Aizat
Published: November 2024

Malaysia’s tourism industry has incorporated digital technology to attract, inform and serve travellers, but its adoption is limited among community-based tourism (CBT) providers. Because of its importance in the tourism industry, exploring the factors that trigger or hinder the adoption of digital technology among CBT operators is essential. A qualitative approach was utilised, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 CBT homestay operators selected through purposive sampling. The study found differences in the perception and usage behaviour of tourism-related technology among homestay operators. They find digital technology has improved their business operation efficiency and revenue performance. By improving internet connectivity and access to digital resources, homestay operators will be better positioned to utilise digital technology effectively, facilitating improved communication and marketing strategies. Besides, implementing targeted training programmes to enhance homestay operators’ digital literacy is crucial. The study also identified specific challenges that hindered homestay operators’ use of digital technology. Study implications and limitations are also discussed.
Developing identities in family musical involvement: A qualitative study
Authors: Gao Yili , MacDonald Raymond A.R. , Wilson Graeme B.
Published: November 2024

In both Chinese and Western cultures, the family plays an important role in shaping musical identity. However, family involvement in musical engagement is likely to be different in the two social and cultural contexts. We carried out a qualitative investigation into family musical involvement (FMI) in the Chinese context. A total of 16 members of six urban families in Chengdu, Sichuan, China took part in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using thematic analysis. All the participating families had experienced the one-child policy and their narratives included retrospective accounts. Our findings were consistent in suggesting that these Chinese families typically consist of a powerful mother, a weaker father, and an obedient child. Although the culture of Chinese family culture is traditionally considered to be male-dominated and patriarchal, mothers have a dominant status in FMI because they often provide key opinions and make decisions for the whole family. Children are at the core of FMI as a Chinese family’s FMI is often child-centered. The roles that individual family members play can reflect their status and how they perceive the status of music in the family, which is also helpful for understanding the mechanisms underlying FMI.
Co-designing Culturally Safe Indigenous Birth in High-Risk Obstetrics: Implementing Joyce’s Principle with Inuit and Cree Families and Their Medical Providers
Authors: Silver Hilah , Corman-François Mischa , Kapellas Sophia , Lemire Paasa , Pepin Jennifer , Sarmiento Ivan , Andersson Neil
Published: November 2024

Introduction. Maternal evacuation—the transfer of women from remote communities to urban hospitals for childbirth—negatively affects many Indigenous Peoples in Canada. A working group of perinatal service providers in Montreal sought to enhance cultural safety in a high-risk obstetrical unit serving evacuee Indigenous families. This article describes co-design, implementation, and evaluation of short-term cultural safety interventions with Indigenous stakeholders. Methods. Indigenous families and their non-Indigenous service providers displayed their recommendations for culturally safe birth using fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCMs). Joyce’s Principle—a framework for securing culturally safe healthcare for Indigenous Peoples—guided their implementation. Results. Four high-priority FCM recommendations included an Indigenous-led cultural safety training for hospital staff. Third party evaluation showed a positive influence on cultural safety knowledge and actions. Discussion. Health services designed with Indigenous stakeholders in accordance with Joyce’s Principle have the potential to enhance cultural safety of maternal evacuation.
Isolated Limb Infusion as First, Second, or Third or Later-Line Therapy for Metastatic In-Transit Melanoma
Authors: Boby Aleena , Dugan Michelle M. , Ghali Helana , Aflatooni Shaliz , DePalo Danielle K. , Fan Wenyi , Zager Jonathan S.
Published: November 2024

Background

Ten percent of patients with melanoma develop in-transit metastases (ITM). Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a well-established therapy for unresectable ITM on the extremities, but the ideal sequencing/line of therapy of ILI has not been defined. This study evaluates ILI as first-line, second-line, or third or later-line therapy.

Methods

A retrospective review included all patients with unresectable ITM who underwent ILI from 2006-2023.

Results

A total of 130 patients were identified, 61% female, median age of 71 (31-89) years. Median follow-up was 37.5 months. ILI was first-line therapy in 80% (n = 104), second-line in 15% (n = 19), and third or later-line in 5.4% (n = 7). Overall response rate (ORR) and complete response (CR) rates for ILI as any line of therapy were 74% and 41%, respectively. ORR for ILI as first, second, or third or later-line therapy were 78%, 63%, and 57%, respectively. CR rates for ILI as first, second, or third or later-line therapy were 42%, 37%, and 43%, respectively. There were no significant differences in ORR, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, or disease-free survival between therapy lines. Median PFS for ILI as first, second, or third or later-line therapy were 6.9, 5.4, and 18 months, respectively.

Conclusion

Patients responded well to ILI, whether or not they received previous therapies for unresectable ITM. First-line ILI appears to have a better ORR than later lines of ILI. Although sample size limited statistical significance, there was a 21% improvement in ORR when ILI was used as first-line vs third-line therapy, which is clinically meaningful. ILI is effective for unresectable melanoma ITM and can be used as salvage therapy.