bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anesthesia Management in a Low Weight Patient with Parkinson's Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Tu Hong
Published: July 2024

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disease related to the destruction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, basket spot and other brain regions, which is mainly characterized by motor neurological disorders and non-motor neurological disorders. Middle-aged and elderly people are more common, with more women than men. Polypharmacy in PD patients may lead to potential interactions with anesthetic drugs, so perioperative management is very important. Case presentetion: An 80-year-old female with a medical history of PD weighing 28kg, planed to undergo elective peritoneoscopically assisted transvaginal uterine abdominal wall suspension under general anesthesia. Antiparkinsonian medications continued until just before the induction of anesthesia. Preoperative examinations were completed and they showed no obvious abnormality. Vital signs, train-of-four (TOF) and bispectral index (BIS) were monitored to guide the administration of anesthesia. Appropriate sedatives, analgesics, muscle relaxants and antiemetics were selected after fully assessed the patient's condition and drug interactions during the perioperative period. The patient successfully completed the surgery and discharged from hospital. Conclusions: General anesthesia (GA) is the main anesthesia method for patients with Parkinson's disease undergoing surgery. When patients with PD undergo surgery, the anesthesiologists should fully and carefully evaluate the patient's status and preoperative combination of medications. Perioperative drugs that aggravate Parkinson's disease should be avoided in order to facilitate a smooth recovery after surgery.
Rare Case of Testicular Metastasis of Prostate Carcinoma after 13 Years of Prostatectomy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Rustamov Rizvan , Mireskandari Masoud , Petersen Iver
Published: July 2024

Metastasis of prostate cancer to the testes is a rare phenomenon, often indicating advanced-stage disease. This case report details a 79-year-old man with a history of prostate cancer, who underwent endoscopic-extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection. The patient subsequently received radiation therapy for local recurrences. Thirteen years post-surgery, a testicular ultrasound revealed a cystic mass in the left testis, initially suspected to be a primary neoplasm. However, pathology with immunohistochemical analyses confirmed metastasis from prostate adenocarcinoma. Testicular metastasis of prostate cancer is uncommon, underscoring the aggressiveness and potential spread of the tumor. Clinically evident testicular metastases develop in only a small percentage of prostate cancer patients. This case report highlights the importance of considering metastatic disease in the differential diagnosis of testicular masses and the necessity of clinicopathologic correlation in such evaluations. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for managing testicular metastasis and improving patient outcomes. The case also emphasizes the significance of long-term follow-up in prostate cancer patients, as metastasis can occur many years post-initial treatment. Furthermore, it illustrates the critical role of advanced imaging techniques and thorough pathological assessments in identifying and managing metastatic spread. This report contributes to the limited but growing body of literature on testicular metastasis from prostate cancer, providing insights for clinicians in recognizing and managing this rare but serious complication. It underscores the need for ongoing research to better understand the mechanisms of metastatic spread and develop targeted therapeutic strategies.
Link Between Autoimmunity and Epilepsy: Neuronal Autoantibodies
Authors: Ramos Silvia , Novoa Viviana , Aranda Claudio
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Autoimmune epilepsy remains under-recognized, and its true incidence remains uncertain. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of neuronal autoantibodies in patients with epilepsy of unknown etiology. Materials and Methods: An observational, longitudinal, prospective, and analytical study was conducted to assess the presence of autoantibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis, glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD65), and onconeural antibodies in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of consecutive patients with epilepsy of unknown etiology. Results: Sixty patients and 80 controls (30 healthy individuals, 30 with multiple sclerosis, 10 with systemic lupus erythematosus, and 10 with Sjögren's syndrome) were included to detect neuronal antibodies. Among epilepsy patients, 28 out of 60 (47%) tested positive for antibodies against N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), contactin-associated protein 2 (CASPR2), leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1), and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), which was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in the combined control cohort. No onconeural antibodies were detected in epilepsy patients except for 6 cases of epilepsy, 1 case of multiple sclerosis, and 3 cases of lupus with positive GAD by immunofluorescence assay and immunoblotting. There was no significant difference in antibody incidence between male and female epilepsy patients. The incidence of positive autoantibodies was significantly higher in patients with focal epilepsy compared to those with generalized epilepsy (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The findings indicate the presence of antibodies against NMDAR, VGKC-associated proteins (LGI1, CASPR2), and intracellular antigens (GAD65) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with epilepsy, suggesting an autoimmune etiology. These results underscore the need for further research to elucidate the role of autoantibodies in epilepsy pathogenesis and to explore immunotherapeutic interventions.
Glycemic Index Evaluation of Flaxseed Oats Sourdough Bread
Authors: Johari Sa’ida , Jia Chua , Jin Khoo , Yeng Low
Published: July 2024

Background: Glycemic index (GI) is a numerical system that ranks carbohydrate-containing foods by how much they raise blood glucose level. Understanding GI is beneficial in diet management, especially for weight loss or diabetic people. Various types of food, such as functional foods, have recently gained attention for their health benefits, with sourdough bread being a notable example. As sourdough bread becomes a preferred option for weight and diabetes management, disclosing its glycemic index is crucial. Objective: This study aims to assess the glycemic index of a newly available bread, the flaxseed oats sourdough bread. Methodology: Ten healthy subjects aged between 23 to 37 years old were recruited (mean 28.7 ± 4.4 years) and required to fast and then consume 50 g of available carbohydrate portions of test and reference foods. Finger capillary blood samples were collected at the start (fasting, 0 minute) and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after consumption. The GI was calculated from the ratio of incremental area under the curve (iAUC) to reference food. Result: The results show that flaxseed oats sourdough bread has a GI of 37.3 which is classified as low GI. Conclusion: Determining the GI value of this bread provides valuable data that can enhance dietary recommendations for weight and diabetes management. Implementing a low GI diet nationwide necessitates ongoing research, public education, and collaboration with food manufacturers to ensure consumers have access to healthier carbohydrate options.
Assessing the Effectiveness of the Plastic Ban in the City of Bangalore in Addressing the Market Failure Associated with It
Authors: Rai Sinchana
Published: July 2024

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Solid Waste Management (BBMP-SWM) Bye-laws, 2019 was passed by the BBMP in 2019 to ensure proper waste management in the city alongside new rules on the consumption of plastic. According to the Karnataka state plastic board, every citizen, on an average, consumes 16kgs of plastic every month. The extended essay aims towards answering the question “To what extent has the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Solid Waste Management (BBMP-SWM) Bye-laws, 2019 helped in reducing the negative externalities caused by the overconsumption of single-use plastic.” This study will be examining the effects of this law on the production and consumption of single-use plastics. Through this policy, the BBMP aims to revise the 2016 Karnataka State plastic Ban and enforce it in a stricter manner. This topic is significant as an estimated 20% of the 4000-tonne waste produced by the city consists of plastic. Plastics are not biodegradable, which increases pollution. Through this ban, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike aims to reduce the external cost caused by reducing plastic consumption. Even if the plastic is marked as “recyclable” over 90% of the plastic is never actually recycled. India has been generating over 3.5 million tonnes of plastic every year. In 2017, plastic resulted in over 2.3 million premature deaths in India because of this, India made it onto the top 10 list along with China and The United States. Hence, the topic is of significant investigation. Over the years, there have been a lot of plastic bans implemented by the government. The most recent one is the Central plastic ban of 2021. Single use plastic does not biodegrade, it breaks down into smaller microplastics which continue polluting the environment.
Short-Term Traffic Flow Prediction Based on Wavelet Analysis and XGBoost
Authors: Wang Xin , Fang Fang
Published: July 2024

Traffic flow prediction is of great significance for urban planning and alleviating traffic congestion. Due to the randomness and high volatility of urban road network short-term traffic flow, it is difficult for a single model to accurately estimate traffic flow and travel time. In order to obtain more ideal prediction accuracy, a combined prediction model based on wavelet decomposition and reconstruction (WDR) and the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model is developed in this paper. Firstly, the Mallat algorithm is applied to perform multi-scale wavelet decomposition on the average travel time series of the original traffic data, and single branch reconstruction is performed on the components at each scale. Secondly, XGBoost is used to predict each reconstructed single-branch sequence, so as to obtain multiple sub-models, and the Bayesian algorithm is used to optimize the hyperparameters of the sub-models. Finally, the algebraic sum of the predicted values of all sub-models is used to obtain the overall traffic prediction result. To test the performance of the proposed model, actual traffic flow data has been collected from a certain link of the Brooklyn area in New York, USA. The performance of proposed WDR-XGBoost model has been compared with other existing machine learning models, e.g., support vector regression model (SVR) and single XGBoost model. Experimental findings demonstrated that the proposed WDR-XGBoost model performs better on multiple evaluation indicators and has significantly outperformed the other models in terms of accuracy and stability.
Response of Durum Wheat to Deficit Irrigation
Authors: Kebede Solomon , Tefera Ashebir , Molla Gebeyehu
Published: July 2024

Deficit irrigation trial has been conducted to see the response of durum wheat to the extent of deficit irrigation at Debre Zeit research center for three successive seasons from 2016 to 2018. Establishment irrigations were given for all plots after swing and irrigation water application events were monitored using long term meteorological data and soil moisture readings. Irrigation water application depths (amount of water applied) were calculated from cumulative crop evapotranspiration (ETc) values in a given period and plots were irrigated with depths that was replenish 100 %, 75%, and 50 % of the cumulative ETc as per the treatment to be applied. Measured amount of irrigation water applied to every plot measured by using 3 inch Parshall flume. Results indicated those grain yields significantly affected by deficit irrigation levels and furrow irrigation methods. The highest mean grain yield of 5.8 t/ha attained from 75% ETc irrigation level with alternate furrow irrigation method while the lowest mean yield of 3.989 t/ha was obtained from treatment irrigated with 50% ETc and conventional furrow irrigation method. Therefore, based on the current findings, the highest grain yield was obtained at 75% ETc with alternate furrow irrigation system while the highest WUE was recorded at irrigating 100% ETc with alternate furrow system.
Level of Contamination and Alteration of Cuttlefish Fished and Processed in Companies in Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Lucien Kablan , Toto Kouame , Taunin Goore
Published: July 2024

This study was carried out from 2019 to 2021. Its aim was to assess the quality of cuttlefish intended for local and international markets in a company processing fishery products in Côte d'Ivoire. The biochemical analyses (Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVBN)) were based on the distillation method of an extract deproteinised by perchloric acid (HClO4). Microbiological analyses (total aerobic mesophilic flora (TAMF), staphylococci (SPP), anaerobic sulphite-reducing bacteria (RAS), faecal coliforms (FC) and salmonella) involved isolation and identification techniques. The various analyses carried out by the National Laboratory for Support to Agricultural Development (LANADA) made it possible to assess the median contamination values and satisfaction percentages (TAMF, FC, SPP), which are respectively 2.2.104 CFU/g with 94%; less than 10 CFU/g with 94%; less than 100 CFU/g with 100%. RSA and salmonella were absent in all the products analysed. The temperature of the cuttlefish was high just after processing. The maximum temperature value (26.4°C) was obtained after processing, while the minimum temperature value (1.6°C) was recorded during storage in a positive cold room. However, it is essential to improve manufacturing practices and preservation methods in order to avoid poisoning the population. These data should also encourage fishermen to practise good preservation methods.
Determination of Optimal Irrigation Scheduling for Durum Wheat in the Central Highland Vertosol of Ethiopia
Authors: Kebede Solomon , Tefera Ashebir , Molla Gebeyehu
Published: July 2024

The field trial was conducted for three years from 2014/15 to 2016/17 to determine optimal irrigation scheduling. There were five levels of irrigation water application; 60%, 80%, 100%, 120%, and 140% of the allowable soil moisture depletion levels (ASMDL) for each of the treatments laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In the study, the combined year analysis result showed that there is a significant yield difference among the irrigation water applications at a P < 0.05 level of significance. The highest yield (5.269 tone ha-1) was obtained by applying irrigation water of 80% ASMDL followed by 120% ASMDL (4.734 tone ha-1) however the least yield (4.165 tone ha-1) was observed at irrigation water application of 60% ASMDL of the recommended level which means the application of 40% less water than the FAO recommended level. There is no significant difference in water use efficiency between the treatments, but the highest water use efficiency has been observed at 80% ASMDL. The overall result of this experiment suggests that the application of irrigation water using 20% less than the FAO recommendation (100% ASMDL) can sufficiently be used for irrigation scheduling of irrigated durum wheat under central highland vertosol conditions. Therefore, to have a higher yield of irrigated durum wheat it was recommended to flush frequently before critical depletion occurred.
Research Progress on Influencing Factors of Erosion Corrosion in Oil Pipelines
Authors: Zhu Hongbo
Published: July 2024

Original sentence: "Erosion corrosion is a significant factor contributing to the thinning and failure of oil pipelines. This paper addresses the issue of erosion corrosion of oil pipelines in oil fields under the action of multiphase flow, the main factors affecting the erosion corrosion are introduced, including the hydrodynamic factors, solid particle properties, fluid medium properties and temperature, It summarizes and analyzes the mechanisms through which these different factors affect the erosion corrosion of oil pipelines. The paper points out that increased fluid velocity in oil pipelines, sudden changes in flow patterns, and turbulent kinetic energy can accelerate erosion corrosion to some extent, With the increase of flow rate, erosion corrosion mechanism will change from electrochemical corrosion dominant to erosion accelerated corrosion, There is a maximum value for erosion corrosion based on the solid particle impact angle. The harder and sharper the solid particles are, the stronger their impact on the pipeline, especially the impact of low Angle impact is more significant; however, the diameter and quantity of particles can affect the development of erosion corrosion due to 'particle size effect' and 'shielding effect.' Additionally, lower pH values and higher temperatures of the fluid medium will increase pipeline erosion corrosion. Finally, future research directions for studying erosion corrosion in oilfield pipelines under multiphase flow conditions are discussed in light of existing research."
Geometric Thinking of Prospective Mathematics Teachers: Assessing the Foundation Built by University Undergraduate Education in Ghana
Authors: Armah Robert
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the geometric thinking levels of final year prospective mathematics teachers in Ghana, utilizing the van Hiele model to evaluate their proficiency. The main purpose was to assess whether university undergraduate mathematics education provides a sufficiently strong foundation for teaching senior high school geometry. A descriptive survey design was employed, involving 1,255 prospective mathematics teachers from three universities: University of Education Winneba (UEW), University of Cape Coast (UCC), and Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED). The van Hiele Geometry Test (VHGT) was administered to measure participants’ levels of geometric thinking. The results revealed that 8.8% of participants attained van Hiele Level 1 (visualization), 30.0% reached Level 2 (analysis), and 32.4% achieved Level 3 (abstraction). However, only 15.9% and 12.9% of prospective teachers reached Levels 4 (deduction) and 5 (rigor), respectively. These findings indicate a significant gap between the current geometric thinking skills of prospective teachers and the expectations of the Ghanaian mathematics curriculum, which anticipates higher-order thinking skills. The study concludes that the current undergraduate mathematics education programs in Ghanaian universities may not be adequately preparing future teachers to teach senior high school geometry effectively. It is recommended that these programs be revised to include more focus on developing higher-order geometric thinking skills, with an emphasis on deductive reasoning, formal proof-based learning and rigor in geometry thinking. Enhancing the curriculum and teaching methods could narrow this gap and improve the overall quality of geometry education in Ghana.
Does Guilt Affect Performance? Evidence from Penalty Kicks in Football
Authors: Caspi Itamar , Mazar Yuval , Michelson Noam , Tsur Shay
Published: July 2024

Does guilt affect performance? In our study, we exploit a new measure of justification for penalty decisions in football and find that unjustified penalty calls negatively impact penalty conversion rates. This effect escalates in relation to social norms of trust. To add a layer of complexity, we incorporate the variance originating from players who do not play in their countries of origin. This allows us to include the norms of both the league and the kickers’ countries of origin. From this, we divide the constraints on egoism into two categories: internal sanctions, such as guilt, and external sanctions, such as shame. Our findings reveal that both guilt and shame significantly influence the performance of penalty kickers.
Timing Matters: Exploring the Age-Graded Effects of Juvenile Arrest on Educational Attainment
Authors: Kopf Samantha
Published: July 2024

Scholars have spent considerable time studying barriers to educational attainment. This work has highlighted the deleterious effects of juvenile arrest on educational attainment but has overlooked the importance of timing of first arrest in this age-graded process. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY97), this study examines the age-graded nature of arrest experiences on educational attainment. The analysis reveals that age at first arrest is a predictor of educational outcomes, emphasizing the detrimental effects of early arrests. These findings highlight the importance of addressing juvenile delinquency through supportive interventions rather than punitive measures. Given the current educational and juvenile justice landscape, the implications of this study are even more relevant.
Optimal control technique applied to the minimization of uncertainty measurements in surveying instruments
Authors: Feumo Achille Germain , Wounba Jean François , Talla André , Tueguem S Gervis Roméo
Published: July 2024

The objective of this study was to develop an optimal control approach by numerical calculus to predict how to reduce the overall uncertainty of survey instruments unable to directly measure inaccessible points. To reach our goal, two approaches were used to attain the objective. The first was inspired by mathematical models related to three methods appropriately selected and contained in Zhuo’s work proposed in 2012. These were Remote Elevation Measurement (REM), Remote Elevation Dual Measurement (REDM), and Front-to-Back Measurement (FBM) methods whose uncertainties on the measurements of points were deduced using error propagation equations. Optimal control technique helps us to show that for the REM, the height h of the prism contributed more than 70% compared to the global uncertainty for ranges [Formula: see text] from the prism. For the REDM, when the distance between two consecutive stations increases, the weight of the contribution of the two zenith angles [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] tends to 50% each for [Formula: see text] close to [Formula: see text], which is to be avoided. For the FBM, the weight of the contribution during the front measurement process before is negligible. The second approach used the Swedish regulation of SIS-TS 21143:2009 which classified total stations according to types of uncertainty to compare the results given by the total station of class T3 unable to directly measure inaccessible points with the more sophisticated class T1 station with direct measurements. Thus, for small spans at the rear measurements [Formula: see text], the height [Formula: see text] of the front prism has the greatest relative contribution more than 90% for zenithal differences [Formula: see text]. This results of our analysis were convincing and provided designers with the data to minimize the overall uncertainties essential in the conception of total stations.
Seeking opportunity or socio-economic status? Housing and school choice in Sweden
Authors: Andersson Fredrik W , Mutgan Selcan , Norgren Axel , Wennberg Karl
Published: July 2024

Residential choices and school choices are intimately connected in school systems where school admission relies on proximity rules. In countries with universal school choice systems, however, it remains an open question whether families’ residential mobility is tied to the choice of their children’s school, and with what consequences. Using administrative data on all children approaching primary-school age in Sweden, we study to what extent families’ financial and socio-economic background affects mobility between neighbourhoods and the characteristics of schools chosen by moving families. Our findings show that families do utilise the housing market as an instrument for school choice over the year preceding their firstborn child starting school. However, while families who move do ‘climb the social ladder’ by moving to neighbourhoods with more households of higher socio-economic status, their chosen schools do not appear to be of higher academic quality compared to those their children would otherwise have attended.
A conceptual framework for understanding neighbourhoods in the digital age
Authors: Hatuka Tali
Published: July 2024

Digital platforms are a central infrastructure that has dramatically changed our daily lives. Like any other urban infrastructure and amenity, the digital platform has a heterogeneous influence on social groups. Studies exploring the influence of the digital on the mundane tend to focus on users, their socioeconomic status and their digital skills. However, digitisation is not an exogenous force; rather, it relates to culture and place. The departure point of this article is to conceptualise the idea of neighbourhood in the digital age, which offers a path towards understanding the role of the digital in our daily lives in relation to places. The article starts by discussing the neighbourhood and digitisation, addressing gaps and links that connect these themes. This discussion is followed by presentation of a framework linking the material with the virtual in understanding neighbourhoods. This framework is based on gathering data on four key issues: spatial configuration, digital infrastructure, demographic profile and digital participation in a neighbourhood. Jointly, these four issues are viewed as the means to contextualise and expand the way we think about the interplay between infrastructures and the agency of the neighbourhood’s inhabitants.
Examining collaborative planning processes and outcomes in urban regeneration: A deliberative turn in China?
Authors: Zhou Xiaomeng , Lin Yanliu , Monstadt Jochen , Hooimeijer Pieter , Wang Shifu , Liu Zheng
Published: July 2024

Collaborative planning practices have recently emerged in China to deal with the complexity and conflicts of interest in urban regeneration. Building on the concept of authoritarian deliberation, this study develops a conceptual framework to examine the reasons for initiating collaborative planning, and its processes and outcomes. Through the case study of Guangzhou’s Enning Road micro-regeneration project, this research deepens understanding of collaborative planning in an authoritarian context. It reveals that deliberative methods were used by the local government to mitigate conflicts and improve governance performance in urban regeneration. While deliberations in an authoritarian context met many process criteria of collaborative planning, the collaborative processes had limited influence on planning outcomes. In addition, this study marks the increased level of participation in Chinese urban regeneration and discusses the limitation of deliberative practices in an authoritarian context. Lastly, this study reflects on the adoption of collaborative planning approaches as a state strategy to balance various interests and reinforce its dominance in market-driven urban regeneration, ultimately to achieve goals beyond economic benefits.
Socioeconomic Status Plays a Moderating Role in the Association Between Multimorbidity and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Cancer Patients
Authors: Ren Xiao-Qing , Sun Shi-Jie , Wei Shen-Ao , Fang Shuo-Wen , Xu Ling-Feng , Xiao Jian , Lu Man-Man
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to explore the moderating role of socioeconomic status (SES) in the association between multimorbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among cancer patients in Anhui China. A total of 560 cancer patients were recruited for the cross-section study. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Tobit regression analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between multimorbidity and HRQOL as well as to assess the moderating effect of SES. The research findings indicated that 76.61% of cancer patients experienced multimorbidity, with psychological multimorbidity being the most prevalent (45.54%), followed by physical-psychological multimorbidity (20.89%). Moreover, physical-psychological multimorbidity had the most substantial adverse effect on HRQOL ( P < .001). The presence of multimorbidity was correlated with a significant decline in HRQOL, with a 17.5% ( P < .001) decrease in HRQOL for each additional multimorbidity. Additionally, SES played a significant role in moderating the impact of multimorbidity on HRQOL in cancer patients. (Marginal effect = −0.022, P < .01). The high SES group exhibited a higher overall HRQOL than the low SES group (Marginal effect = 0.068, P < .001). And with the increase of multimorbidity, HRQOL in the higher SES showed a more pronounced downward trend, compared with the lower SES ( β = −.270 vs β = −.201, P < .001). Our findings underscore the importance of preventing and managing multimorbidity in cancer patients, particularly those with low SES. Furthermore, it is essential to consider the impact of the rapid decline in HRQOL as the number of multimorbidity increases in individuals with higher SES. It is imperative to explore interdisciplinary and continuous collaborative management models.
Interventions of post-colonial states in the normative structure of world politics: the case of Iran and the norm of democracy
Authors: Huber Daniela
Published: July 2024

Within Global IR a constructivist-postcolonial literature is emerging which inquires into how postcolonial states intervene into the normative structure of world politics. This research programme has less covered the question how postcolonial states relate to the international norm of democracy, how and in which ways do they contest this norm, and to which effects? This question is important both to study how the ‘postcolonial condition’ can be overcome, as well as to understand which contours and shapes the norm of democracy might be taking in a multiplex world. To study this multifaceted question from a perspective which acknowledges the shadow of the past, as well as the agency of postcolonial states, Wiener’s concept of norm contestation is applied and further developed in three respects: firstly, by staking out various forms of contestation, that is rejection, strategic contestation and the construction of alternative meaning; secondly, by bringing in identity as a mediating device which impacts the forms of contestation; and thirdly, by studying various sites of contestation where actors beyond the state are also taken into account. This framework is then applied to heuristically study the case of Iran which is of particular interest as it intervenes in the global contestation of the norm of democracy on a dual level of external resistance and internal dissent. Studying Iranian contestation at the UN, within Iran and in Iranian-EU engagement, it becomes evident that during times of geopolitical confrontation with the US, the spectre of the past is produced as present and the form of contestation features dialectics of hypocrisy which harm the norm of democracy. At the same time, we also see a strengthening of the norm of democracy through hybridity both in Iranian encounters with the EU, as well as in the contestation of meanings of democracy within Iran itself.
Partners in Love/War: An Explorative Study of Ukrainian Soldiers’ Lived Experiences of Being in a Romantic Relationship in the Russo-Ukrainian War
Authors: Mangold Marcel
Published: July 2024

This article explores the lived experiences of Ukrainian soldiers in a romantic relationship with another soldier in the same unit in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Contributing to scholarship on military couples, embodied experiences of war, human dimensions of warfare, and soldierly love, the study aims to understand how these soldiers are affected emotionally and as soldiers by having a relationship on the frontline. Drawing upon the Grounded Theory method, based on eight semi-structured interviews with soldiers from four couples, the findings visualize these experiences through four theoretical constructs. Having a relationship while serving on the frontline endowed these soldiers in Ukraine with an existential purpose that was protective and motivating, making them cautious and feel less dehumanized but also stressed from fear of loss. The findings have implications for how armed forces understand soldiers’ emotional needs and relations at war.
Policy Control as a Strategy for Controlling Inherent Vices of Policy-Making
Authors: Fitz Verploegh Roderick , Budding Tjerk , Wassenaar Mattheus
Published: July 2024

Policy makers face inherent vices in the policy-making process that can affect the outcomes of the policy process. While it is widely recognized in the literature that these vices lead to policy volatility, to date, virtually no attention has been paid to how these vices can be controlled. In the Netherlands, policy control was introduced as a mechanism to increase the likelihood of implementing effective policy by involving policy controllers at all stages of the policy process. This study shows that policy control can be an mechanism to control inherent vices.
A feature sample screening and local outlier factor fusion method for detecting tidal stream turbine blade impact fault
Authors: Wu Zhen , Wang Tianzhen , Cai Youming
Published: July 2024

The impact fault caused by ocean creatures poses a risk to the safe operation of tidal stream turbine blades. However, it is difficult to detect the weak impact fault directly because the collected signal is disturbed by the waves, turbulence, and continuously variable flow velocity. To solve this problem, a fusion method of feature sample screening and local outlier factor is proposed in this paper. This method consists of three main parts. First, the Teager–Kaiser energy operator and the sliding window technique are introduced to extract the envelope statistical features from the current signal. Second, a parameter optimized density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm is proposed to perform feature sample screening before detecting. Notably, the conventional DBSCAN algorithm is sensitive to the parameter selection and lacks the capability of adaptive screening, so this paper proposes an adaptive sand cat swarm optimization algorithm to optimize the parameters. Finally, the local outlier factor is utilized to detect faults based on the screened feature samples. The experimental results show that the proposed method stands out in reducing the false alarm rate compared with traditional methods. Specifically, within the flow velocity ranges of 1.0–1.3 m/s and 1.3–1.6 m/s, the false alarm rates can reach 0% and 0.17%, respectively.
Remaining useful life prediction of slewing bearings using attention mechanism enabled multivariable gated recurrent unit network
Authors: Shao Yiyu , Qian Qinrong , Wang Hua
Published: July 2024

It is difficult to obtain the damage information on large slewing bearings only from vibration signals. In addition, deep learning models trained on old samples do not achieve high accuracy in new tasks. Therefore, this paper uses vibration, temperature, and torque signals of slewing bearings to build a model. Meanwhile, we add attention mechanism to capture internal correlation of them to consider the related factors of remaining useful life (RUL) from multiple angles. The multivariable gated recurrent unit (GRU) based on attention mechanism gated recurrent unit (attention-MGRU) model is adopted to improve the prediction performance. On this foundation, a fine-tuning strategy is introduced to improve the generalization ability of the model. A full-life accelerated test is carried out on the slewing bearing test bench. The model proposed in this paper is compared with GRU prediction model, which utilizes vibration signals and multivariable GRU prediction model. Mean absolute error (MAE) and root-mean-square error (RMSE) are used as measurement indicators. Among different methods, three indicators generated by attention-MGRU show significant superiority. Moreover, the fine-tuned model performs better in new tasks compared with the original model.
A Note on Standard Errors for Multidimensional Two-Parameter Logistic Models Using Gaussian Variational Estimation
Authors: Xiao Jiaying , Wang Chun , Xu Gongjun
Published: July 2024

Accurate item parameters and standard errors (SEs) are crucial for many multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) applications. A recent study proposed the Gaussian Variational Expectation Maximization (GVEM) algorithm to improve computational efficiency and estimation accuracy ( Cho et al., 2021 ). However, the SE estimation procedure has yet to be fully addressed. To tackle this issue, the present study proposed an updated supplemented expectation maximization (USEM) method and a bootstrap method for SE estimation. These two methods were compared in terms of SE recovery accuracy. The simulation results demonstrated that the GVEM algorithm with bootstrap and item priors (GVEM-BSP) outperformed the other methods, exhibiting less bias and relative bias for SE estimates under most conditions. Although the GVEM with USEM (GVEM-USEM) was the most computationally efficient method, it yielded an upward bias for SE estimates.
A Synthesis of Academic Interventions for High School Students With Behavioral and Learning Difficulties
Authors: Payne S. Blair , Yoon Na Young
Published: July 2024

Many students who experience behavioral difficulties (BD) also experience learning difficulties (LD) in school; however, little research exists on how to support the academic achievement of students with co-occurring BD/LD. Even less research exists for students who experience these co-occurring difficulties at the high school or secondary level. The goal of this synthesis was to explore the effects of academic interventions on the academic outcomes (i.e., reading, mathematics, and writing) of high school students with co-occurring BD/LD. A total of nine, single-case design studies met criteria for this synthesis, including two dissertations. Four studies examined mathematics outcomes, four studies assessed reading outcomes, and two studies targeted spelling outcomes, with one study examining both mathematics and spelling. The calculated Tau-U effect sizes ranged from 0.54 to 1.0 across studies. Implications for research and practice are discussed with the goal of contributing to the small body of research on secondary-aged students with co-occurring BD/LD.
QAnon and the Epistemic Communities of the Unreal: A Conceptual Toolkit for a Sociology of Grassroots Conspiracism
Authors: Baća Bojan
Published: July 2024

The messy politics of combating the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by the confusion caused by the global (dis)infodemic, have propelled conspiracism from the fringes of society into the public mainstream. Despite the growing political impact of digitally enabled conspiracy theories, they are predominantly delegitimized on three fronts – as psychopathology, pseudoscience, and/or parapolitics. In contrast, this article employs three non-pathologizing conceptual counteroffers borrowed from critical theory, deconstructionist historiography, and citizenship studies – namely, cognitive mapping, narrative emplotment, and performative citizenship – to politicize conspiracy theorizing ‘from below’. Using QAnon as a case-in-point, the article introduces two novel concepts that invite a sociological approach to conspiracism: first, the epistemic communities of the unreal, which designates the participatory, interactive, and decentralized nature of collaboratively creating unreal explanations of the real world; and second, grassroots conspiracism, which denotes the ways in which these bottom-up, horizontal, and collective meaning-making practices and knowledge-production processes are expanding spaces of and for politics.
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Arabic convergence insufficiency symptom survey (Arab-CISS) in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aljohani Saeed , Alnawmasi Mohammed M
Published: July 2024

Background:

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a common binocular vision disorder characterized by difficulty maintaining close visual focus. The Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) is widely used to assess the presence and severity of CI symptoms, yet its applicability across different linguistic and cultural groups requires validation. This study aimed to translate, validate, and culturally adapt the CISS for Arabic-speaking populations, focusing on a sample from Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

Following established guidelines for questionnaire adaptation, the CISS was translated into Arabic and back-translated to ensure accuracy. The Arab-CISS underwent rigorous validation processes, including expert review and pre-testing. A sample of 104 participants from Qassim University, aged 18–40 years, was recruited with a Best-Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) of 0.1 (20/25) or better in both eyes. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, and test–retest reliability was assessed through the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC).

Results:

The Arab-CISS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88) and test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69–0.97). The Bland–Altman analysis supported these findings, showing minimal mean difference between test and retest scores (−0.1 ± 1.51), indicating stable and consistent responses over time without significant bias.

Conclusion:

The Arab-CISS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing CI symptoms among Arabic-speaking individuals. Its introduction is a significant step toward improving the diagnosis and management of CI in Arabic-speaking populations.
Experiences and perspectives of individuals involved in Camp Abilities: A scoping review
Authors: Caron Valerie , Lieberman Lauren , Beach Pamela , Conroy Paula
Published: July 2024

Camp Abilities (CA) is an educational camp for children and youth with visual impairment (VI). Since its inauguration in 1996, CA has expanded nationally and internationally with three central objectives: (1) to offer a specific summer camp for youth with VI, exposing them to different sports through adapted teaching and modified equipment; (2) to enable young teachers to gain experience in teaching adapted physical activity; and (3) to conduct research on a geographically dispersed population. A first systematic review was carried out to summarize 24 quantitative studies conducted on CA. This second review aimed to identify and summarize qualitative studies conducted at CA ( n = 16 articles). Using thematic analysis, a qualitative synthesis was conducted to identify themes and main findings. Narrative conclusions were extracted from the studies to present the perspectives and lived experiences through the voice of the participants involved, namely, the athletes with visual impairment (AVI), the stakeholders (directors, coaches), and the parents of the athletes with VI. Findings indicated that AVI have reported meaningful experiences enabling them to connect with peers with VI, have experimented with a wide range of sports, outdoor activities, and self-determination opportunities through adapted teaching. The directors reported that CA had enabled them to develop a community service combining teaching and research on adapted physical activity and VI. Finally, parents reported that CA had helped their child overcome barriers to physical activity.
Polycratic governance in hybrid organisations: The re-enchantment of collegiality
Authors: Koehne Florian , Birrell Ivory Sarah
Published: July 2024

Due to urgent societal challenges, organisations increasingly prioritise principles of hybrid value creation over capitalist efficiency rationales. Bureaucratic governance arrangements are widely regarded as detrimental to these organisations and their capacity to drive social change and innovation. Yet, bureaucratic governance continues to dominate the organisational landscape, while alternative approaches remain largely absent or underdeveloped. In this article, we address this puzzle and explore the re-enchantment of collegiality as a polycratic intra-organisational governance concept. Our research is based on empirical evidence from two social enterprises, of which one failed and one succeeded, with a collegiality governance approach. We find that certain elements of traditional collegiality can be particularly problematic in practice and propose a neo-collegial framework that we regard as particularly suitable for the governance of hybrid organisations.
Unified force-impedance control
Authors: Haddadin Sami , Shahriari Erfan
Published: July 2024

Unified force-impedance control (UFIC) aims at integrating the advantages of impedance control and force control. Compliance and exact force regulation are equally important abilities in modern robot manipulation. The developed passivity-based framework builds on the energy tank concept and is suitable for serial rigid and flexible-joint robots. Furthermore, it is able to deal either with direct force measurements or model-based contact force estimation. Thus, in this theoretical framework, the most relevant practical systems are covered and shown to be stable for arbitrary passive environments. Particular focus is also laid on a robust impedance-based contact/non-contact stabilization methodology that prevents abrupt, unwanted, and potentially dangerous movements of the manipulator in case of contact loss, a well-known problem of both impedance and force control. The validity of the approach is shown in simulation and through various experiments. Our work roots in Haddadin (2015); Schindlbeck and Haddadin (2015), where the basic UFIC regulation controller was proposed. In the present paper, we significantly advance this idea into a complete theoretical UFIC tracking framework, including rigorous stability analysis and extensive experimental evidence.
Change in Depression Severity Among Depressed Older Crime Victims
Authors: Fiallo Olivia , Culver Clare , Galo Caroline , Berman Jaquelin , Abramson Tobi , Sirey Jo Anne
Published: July 2024

The crime rates in urban centers are rising. The psychological impact of crime can range from distress to longstanding mental health impairment. Despite the rising crime rates and psychological impact on victims, little research has been conducted on older adult crime victims’ mental health. In this manuscript we describe the profile of older adult crime victims in New York City referred for mental health services, their rates of depression, and the preliminary outcome data from a brief therapy intervention (PROTECT) targeting depression among victims. Building on prior research demonstrating the efficacy of PROTECT for depressive symptom reduction in elder abuse victims, the present study hypothesized elder crime victims who completed PROTECT therapy would demonstrate clinically meaningful depression symptom reduction as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Additionally, it was hypothesized that these clinically significant depression symptom reductions would be demonstrated regardless of sex, gender, victimization type, victimization frequency, or living status. The results demonstrate that 67.7% (21/31) of participants had a clinically significant reduction in PHQ-9 scores (≥5 points) upon completion of PROTECT. There were no significant group differences in clinically significant depression symptom reduction, suggesting that PROTECT is an effective intervention for a diverse sample of elder crime victims. Future research should focus on the mental health impact of crime against older adults and explore reductions in anxiety and PTSD symptoms among crime victims. Through our partnerships we aim to bridge the divide between victim service providers, and mental health service providers to assist victims to recover, heal, and thrive.