bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CHARACTER TRANSFORMATION IN THE GAME MOBILE LEGENDS: BANG BANG! (MLBB) AND ITS IMPACT
Authors: Irwanto Benediktus Rengga , Wuryandari Nurni Wahyu
Published: October 2024

Chinese culture thrives on a lot of popular culture including gaming. One of the games that contain Chinese culture is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang! or MLBB, developed by Moonton as the developer company from Shanghai. Moonton elevates Chinese culture in MLBB through hero characters that gamers can choose from. There are 11 hero characters with Chinese culture, including the hero characters Chang'e, Sun, and Zilong who have the highest popularity. The three hero characters are based on mythical, literature and historical characters related to China, namely: (1) the mythical figure Chang'e as the hero character Chang'e, (2) the literature figure Sun Wukong as Sun, and (3) the historical character Zhao Yun as the hero character Zilong. The hero characters have undergone transformation from the name to the story background so there are differences from the figures. This transformation aims to be an adjustment to the game conceptualization as well as a marketing strategy to attract the players’ attention. This research will examine the figures’ transformation into selected MLBB hero characters (Chang'e, Sun, and Zilong), and it is concluded that the transformations made by the developers not only attract the players’ attention, but also eventually became MLBB's strategy to develop the market.
Abdominal Cocoon: a rare case of small bowel obstruction, a case report
Authors:   Department of Surgery, King Salman Specialty Hospital, Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Abbas AR
Published: October 2024

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP), or abdominal cocoon syndrome (ACS), is an uncommon disorder marked by a thick fibrotic membrane that completely or partially envelops the small bowel. For surgeons, preoperative diagnosis is difficult and challenging. The majority of documented, diagnosis were made during a laparotomy. We present a case of SEP that was diagnosed preoperatively. The patient had a complete small bowel obstruction that necessitated urgent surgery. We review the literature and discuss the causes, clinical manifestation, and management of the condition.
The use of isotretinoin increases the risk of inflammatory bowel disease. A narrative review
Authors:   Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia, Duarte-Arias Manuel Enrique , Ospina-Gómez Juan Esteban ,   Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia, Saavedra-Díaz María Paula ,   Department of Medicine, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Acne vulgaris represents a prevalent dermatological condition capable of exerting a profound impact on an individual's quality of life. Isotretinoin, despite its well-established status as a highly effective remedy for severe acne, concerns surrounding the potential linkage with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have led to inquiries about its association. Objective: The primary objective of this review is to critically assess the existing body of evidence pertaining to the efficacy and safety of isotretinoin, with a particular emphasis on its association with IBD. Methods: A literature review was undertaken to examine the utilization of isotretinoin in the management of acne and to evaluate the subsequent risk of inflammatory bowel disease, aiming to determine the relevance of considering this factor when utilizing this treatment. Conclusions: Isotretinoin is widely recognized as the most effective therapeutic approach to treat acne. This compound competently addresses all underlying factors contributing to acne pathogenesis. Over time, extensive deliberation has arisen concerning concerns related to its potential correlation with the onset of IBD. The currently available evidence conveys a paucity of substantial scientific support for a causal relationship between the use of isotretinoin and the development of IBD.
MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF DIFFERENT COTTON GENOTYPES UNDER NORMAL AND SALT STRESS CONDITIONS
Authors: RAFIQUE M , NISA A , MUNSHA A , BATOOL Z , ASLAM I , FAHEEM J , NOFAL M , IMRAN M , ALI S , REHMAN A
Published: October 2024

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that badly affects the growth and production of cotton worldwide. This scenario is not different in the case of Pakistan. This research was conducted to examine the effects of different salinity levels on the morpho-physiological characters of six cotton genotypes i.e. shoot and root length, fresh shoot and root weight, photosynthesis rate, and transpiration rate. A pot experiment was arranged with three salinity treatments of NaCl i.e. control (0 dS/m), T1 (4.5 dS/m), and T2 (8.5 dS/m) with three replications of each treatment. Highly significant decreases in shoot length, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, photosynthesis rate, and transpiration rate were observed with increasing salinity levels across all genotypes. The genotype MNH-786 showed the highest reduction in all morpho-physiological characters, indicating it was highly sensitive to salinity stress. On the other hand, FH-87 and FH-142 maintained relative performance for all discussed morpho-physiological traits under both moderate and high salinity, demonstrating that these are relatively more tolerant. These findings provided valuable insights into the salinity tolerance of cotton genotypes and highlighted the potential of FH-87 and FH-142 for cultivation in saline-prone areas and for use in breeding programs to improve salinity tolerance in cotton.
IMPACT OF DIFFERENT ZINC APPLICATION METHODS AND PHOSPHORUS DOSES ON GROWTH, YIELD AND GRAIN ZINC CONTENTS OF WHEAT
Authors: SHAHBAZ MA , ZAFAR M , AZIZ S , ULLAH F , TARIQ M , UMAR F , SATTAR A , KHOKHAR MI , TIPU ALK , ALAM S
Published: October 2024

Wheat is a staple crop of around half of the world's population. About 30 percent of the world’s population is suffering from Zn deficiency. Zn deficiency problems can be encountered by agronomic and genetic biofortification. Phosphorus (P) is an important plant macronutrient and has an antagonistic relationship with Zn. A field study was performed to evaluate the impact of different Zn application methods and P doses on growth, yield, and grain Zn contents of wheat at the Agronomic Research Farm, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, using a high accumulation wheat variety Zincol-2016. Three doses of P (100, 150, and 200% of recommended P) along with three Zn application methods (seed priming, soil mixing, and foliar application) were applied to wheat using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates under split-plot arrangement. All agronomic practices were kept normal and uniform for all treatments. Parameters including growth, yield, and Zn content in wheat grains were monitored using standard protocols. The results were evaluated using Fisher’s analysis of variance at a 5% probability level.  A comparison of means of treatments was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) test. The highest value of SPAD reading (56.38) was noted in treatment where Zn was applied as priming and P was applied at 200%. Maximum crop growth rate (63.17) was observed in P3 where Zn was applied as mix in soil. Maximum spike length (14.25), spikelets per spike (17.67), and Zn concentration were observed in P3 as a result of foliar application of Zn. Highest grain weight per spike (1.89g), no. of tillers (691.01), grain yield (4.09 t ha-1), biological yield (11.01 t ha-1), harvest index (36.54%) and NDVI (0.42 were observed in P3 where Zn was applied as soil mix.
SOME PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS OF CANNIBALISM IN MOSQUITO POPULATIONS COLLECTED FROM URBAN AREAS OF DISTRICT SHEIKHPURA, PAKISTAN
Authors: AMIN S , ALEEM A , REHMAN A , ARSHAD S , HUSSAIN SM , MAAN NA , MUDASSER M , AHMAD M , AYUB MM , ABDIN ZU
Published: October 2024

In the population of mosquitoes, there is substantial research documentation on cannibalism between larval stages therefore, in our research work cannibalism in mosquito populations was studied in the laboratory experiments comparing old (third and fourth-instars) and young (first-instar) larvae of the mosquito species occurring dominantly in urban areas of District Sheikhupura. Although mosquitoes can grow in temporary aquatic habitats having wildly varied topologies, the significance of the site shape in which cannibals and victims coexist has not received enough attention from researchers. Then, experimental trials in the containers were performed, and the cannibalism rate was estimated at 24 and 48hrs. The effect of spatial form on cannibalism in mosquito larvae of the A. albopictus species was assessed, adding a new essential element to those influencing ecological interactions in these habitats. Our data reveals that cannibalism was observed mostly between the fully mature and fully immature larvae of the mosquito population and a decline was observed between the mature population. These basic findings of our work would help devise sustainable control strategies for mosquito population (A. albopictus and A. aegypti) etc. in vector management programs.
Time Fuzzy Soft Sets and its application in design-making
Authors:   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, Jadara University, Irbid, Jordan, Ayman.A Ayman
Published: October 2024

In this study, we define time-fuzzy soft set (T-FSS) as an extension of fuzzy soft set. We will also define and investigate the features of its main operations (complement, union intersection, ”AND” and ”OR”). Finally, we’ll apply this approach to decision-making difficulties.
Neutrosophic Lognormal Distribution with Applications in Complex Data Modeling
Authors:   Department of Mathematics, College of Science and Humanities, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia, Yassen Mansour F. ,   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta 34517 Damietta, Egypt
Published: October 2024

This study develops a new version of the lognormal distribution, the neutrosophic lognormal distribution (NLND), to address uncertainties commonly exist in reliability studies within the engineering field. The NLND is suitable for analyzing complex data with symmetrical or right-skewed patterns. The paper discusses the mathematical characteristics of the NLND, including concepts of reliability like mean time failure, hazard rate, cumulative failure rate, and reliability function. The model is based on real-life examples from life-test data and uses the maximum likelihood method to determine two key parameters. A simulation experiment was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the estimated parameters, showing that maximum likelihood estimators can effectively estimate unknown parameters, especially with a large sample size. Finally, a real-world data is used to demonstrate the adequacy of the proposed model in a practical scenario.
Fixed Point Theorems with its Applications in Fuzzy Complete Convex Fuzzy Metric Spaces
Authors:   Department of Mathematics College of Education Mustansiriyah University, Iraq, Jaafer Jaafer ,   Department of Mathematics, College of Computer Science and Mathematics, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq,   Department of Applied Sciences, University of Technology, Iraq, Hameed Ehsan M. , Kider Jehad R.
Published: October 2024

In this paper, the basic properties of the convex fuzzy metric space will be presented. In particular, the proof of the fixed-point theorem for the fuzzy contraction single valued functions will be discussed. Furthermore, the solution system of linear equations, Volterra equations and Fredholm integral equations will be obtained as a direct application of the fixed-point theorem.
Fixed point results of Geraghty type contractions with equivalent distance
Authors:   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Jadara University, Irbid, Jordan, Anwar Anwar
Published: October 2024

In this manuscript, we present the concept of E -Geraghty contractions, demonstrating several fixed point results.Additionally, we provide an illustrative example to highlight our principal findings.
The Impact of Stigma, Impacting Factors, and Measures to Reduce Stigma
Authors: Yu Jingxuan
Published: October 2024

This review illustrates definitions of stigma, types, effects of different aspects, factors contributing to different effects and ways to reduce stigma. There are three types of stigmas amongst mental illness stigma, physical deformation stigma, and stigma associated with broader social identities. Moreover, it shows two different effects of stigma, it then explains the consequences of different factors, including psychoglogical consequences and social practical consequences. At the end of the article,it shows the factors that influence stigma and measures to reduce it,and also have summary for the article and future development direction. To sum up, this review tells us a stigma is a negative attitude or idea about a mental, physical, or social feature of a person or group of people that involves social disapproval. We can know that stigma is the dynamic process by which one group imposes human inferiority on another group and maintains it. It is the stereotyping of the group's negative characteristics and thus the masking of other characteristics. Despite the negative effects of stigma, there are strategies to help cope with and overcome these challenges.
The Impact of Social Media on Romantic Relationships in China
Authors: Liang Zhenning
Published: October 2024

The vast majority of people worldwide regularly access social media on their smartphones. The increasing popularity of social media has undoubtedly impacted people's social relationships and is gradually becoming a new hotspot for research in communication, sociology, and psychology. This study sought to understand to what extent social media has affected the emotional health and relationships of real-life couples, utilizing several literature reviews and factual case studies. The study's results suggest that an individual's likelihood of experiencing negative effects on their overall emotional well-being and declining quality in their romantic relationships was positively correlated with the amount of time they spent on social media. Social media can contribute to the development and maintenance of romantic relationships to a certain extent. However, at the same time, over-reliance and blind use can hurt people's emotions, including disappointment, frustration, and social comparisons. It can cause couples to spend less time together offline in a relationship, become distracted and irritated, and erupt into more conflict. An analysis of these results and their respective implications are discussed in this research.
Expatriates Management of Mengniu
Authors: Wan Zichen
Published: October 2024

With the development of the globalization of the world market, the study of cross-cultural communication is becoming more and more important. This report is discussing about the expatriate Management of a Chinas company Mengniu. Mengniu is one of the largest Milk companies in China, At present, Mengniu has established factories in several countries, and also acquired a number of foreign companies, and has operations in several countries. The report is mainly based on Mengniu's analysis in Australia. This report has two parts. In the first part, the Hofstede Model is used to evaluate Mengniu's overseas employee management in Australia, including overseas employee failure (about culture shock and ethics), performance and reward Management, talent management and other aspects. The second part discusses the selection of Mengniu's global staffing, including Mengniu's business strategy, the selection of EPRG, international staffing methods and the formulation of effective international staffing plans. Finally, it is suggested that Mengniu should improve and adjust its overseas staff training, rewards, talent management and international personnel allocation.
The Enactment of Sustainable Development Goals at a Local Scale Leads to Various Implications
Authors: Wu Weiming
Published: October 2024

The hallmark of global sustainable development efforts is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) initiative, so the SDGs were proposed after this. Early initiatives highlighted the need for a more comprehensive and globally applicable set of goals, thus laying the groundwork for the SDGs. Among them are sustainability, ecological environment protection and so on. This article explores the local implementation and impact of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The main questions are how to effectively implement SDGs policies in different social cultures, and the role of local government and community organizations is carefully analyzed. These are also areas where SDGs can be effectively promoted at the local level through muti-stakeholder collaboration, inclusive policies and innovative approaches. And there are three field examples to prove its effectiveness. For example, sustainable transport and energy management in Barcelona, participatory planning in Kerala and community conservation in Kenya. The significance of the study highlights the key role of local action in achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals, and provides concrete cases for analysis.
Revolutionizing Finance: The Comprehensive Impact and Application of Machine Learning
Authors: Zhao Mingyu
Published: October 2024

The adoption of ML in finance has great potential to reform financial practices. This paper delves into the pivotal role of machine learning (ML) in revolutionizing the financial domain, including enhancing predictive accuracies, reducing cost, catalyzing financial innovation, and improving customer relationships. By dissecting the advantages, this paper summarizes the application of ML in finance like stock market forecasting, fraud detection, credit risk prediction, portfolio management and asset evaluation. Meanwhile, it also acknowledges existing obstacles such as data quality, transparency of models, and output homogenization. Finally, the paper seeks to provide comprehensive insights into the future landscape shaped by ML technologies in finance.
The Impact of Live-Streamed Selling on Consumer Purchasing Behavior
Authors: Xiao Shitong
Published: October 2024

In recent years, with the rapid development of the Internet and major e-commerce platforms, "live-streamed selling" as a novel marketing method has entered the vision of consumers and gradually become an important way to market goods to consumers. In addition, economic development has enriched people's material life and increased the frequency of people using the Internet, which further increases the possibility of live streaming to attract consumers and increase purchasing behavior. This paper aims to discuss the impact of live-streamed selling on consumer behavior, mainly focusing on the impact of commodity characteristics, anchor characteristics, atmosphere and after-sales service on consumer behavior in the process of live delivery. In addition, this paper also discusses the impact and distress of live delivery on consumer behavior and puts forward some countermeasures. However, live-streamed selling faces challenges like information asymmetry, false propaganda, and counterfeiting due to inadequate supervision. The study suggests strict product quality checks, enhanced after-sales services, and improved supervision mechanisms to ensure reliable, authentic, and safe sales practices.
Exploring New Paths for the Internationalization of Vocational Colleges in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Qiang Wang , Yuzhong Yao
Published: October 2024

This study analyzes the internationalization development changes of one vocational college in China over the past 10 years. Based on the new requirements and trends of vocational education in the era of artificial intelligence , effective suggestions are proposed for the internationalization development of vocational education from the aspects of establishing international consulting organizations, attracting international capital investment, learn from other vocational colleges, formulating international cooperation plans, building industry education integration communities, constructing international curriculum resource databases, shortening students' learning time in school, changing classroom learning modes, increasing online practical training time, and building international cooperation alliances. This study is expected to promote the improvement of vocational colleges in curriculum construction, teaching resources, learning modes, school enterprise cooperation, and platform construction, ultimately achieving sustainable development of vocational education.
O anacronismo e subjetividade nas fotografias de rua de Vivian Maier
Authors: Ferreira Dandara da Costa
Published: October 2024

Partindo de um olhar anacrônico para interpretar as imagens no presente, este artigo fará uma breve análise teórica de algumas acepções sobre o espaço urbano como espaço de visibilidade e criação artística para a fotógrafa americana Vivian Maier. Ela, que também trabalhava como cuidadora de crianças, fotografou muito as cidades por onde passou e seus personagens, incluindo ela mesma. Sempre acompanhada de sua câmera, cada saída fotográfica era uma nova experiência. Sua obra dialoga com o seu tempo e com a história da fotografia.
Is Magnetic Resonance Imaging Overused Among Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty?
Authors: Mukkamala Lekya , Schaffer Sabina L. , Weber Matthew G. , Wilde Jeffrey M. , Rosen Adam S.
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

With increasing healthcare costs, it is important to quantify the number of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients who have MRIs that are not considered clinically necessary. The purpose of this study was to determine the number of unnecessary preconsultation MRIs done among TKA patients at our institution.

Methods:

Eight hundred and sixty-nine patients who underwent a primary TKA were identified. Review of medical records and imaging results was conducted to determine which patients had received preconsult MRIs and whether they were necessary or unnecessary.

Results:

Of the 869 TKA, 177 (20.4%) presented with a preconsultation MRI, of which, 112 met the study inclusion criteria. Of the 112 MRIs, 18 (20.7%) were done without radiographic imaging, and 69 (79.3%) were completed after radiographically evident moderate-to-severe arthritis. Overall, 87 MRIs (10.0%) were deemed clinically unnecessary.

Conclusions:

Referring physicians are overusing MRIs before consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon. The 87 patients who had unnecessary MRIs at our institution over a one-year period represented a cost of $20,706. Extrapolating that number to the scale of patients affected by arthritis each year is potentially a staggering amount of money. Evidence-based guidelines should be put into place to optimize healthcare utilization.
Priorities of Political Communication in Armenia’s Internal Politics
Authors: Aghayan Narine
Published: October 2024

Currently, the effective use of political communication to confront internal threats to national security is an important issue in the Republic of Armenia (RA). Among the internal threats, the author singled out the absence of a stable civil society, the non-establishment of the multi-party system, the neglect of the feedback mechanism in the state’s political communication, etc. In particular, the following are the main reasons for the weakness of the multi-party system in RA:  weak connection with voters, being active only during election periods,  unclear ideological orientation,  personnel policy, the weak structure of internal democracy and autonomy.  not sufficient representation in all provinces  non-transparency of political and financial activities,  weak control over the activity of parties.
Formation and Development of the Armenian Lobbying Organizations in the USA: Historical Context
Authors: Abrahamyan Avetik
Published: October 2024

The United States has one of the most developed Armenian communities, which, since its formation, has strongly supported Armenia and Armenians by lobbying for Armenian interests within the US legislative and executive branches, both at local and federal levels. Lobbying is a vital part of the American political system, playing a decisive role in both domestic and foreign affairs. The significance of lobbying in US political processes, combined with the current political circumstances in Armenia, underscores the importance of studying ethnic lobbying. The article presents the historical context of the formation and development of the Armenian lobby in the US.
Judicial Review of Administrative Regulations: Constitutional Justice vs Administrative Justice
Authors: Zarikyan Karen
Published: October 2024

The main purpose of the article is to discuss two forms of judicial control over administrative regulation (constitutional and administrative justice) and identify the problems related to the distribution of functions between them. The core of the research is the theoretical characterization of judicial review of administrative regulations and examination of Armenian practice. In particular, the article explains the essence and the features of administrative regulations and, on this basis, attempts to provide a scientifically grounded answer to the question of how their legality should be verified. As a result of the research, the author’s approach to the separation of the mechanisms of constitutional and administrative justice during judicial control over administrative regulations is presented. It is stated that the legality of administrative regulations can be verified within the framework of constitutional justice only in case the protection of human rights has not been ensured by the mechanisms of administrative one. This includes cases where legality of administrative regulations is discussed regarding their compliance with constitutional requirements.
ChatGPT versus strabismus specialist on common questions about strabismus management: a comparative analysis of appropriateness and readability
Authors: Dizdar Yigit Didem , Aykut Aslan , Sevik Mehmet Orkun , Çerman Eren
Published: October 2024

Objective: Patients widely use artificial intelligence-based chatbots, and this study aims to determine their utility and limitations on
questions about strabismus. The answers to the common questions about the management of strabismus provided by Chat Generative
Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT)-3.5, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, were compared to answers from a strabismus
specialist (The Specialist) in terms of appropriateness and readability.
Patients and Methods: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, a list of questions from strabismus patients or caregivers in outpatient
clinics about treatment, prognosis, postoperative care, and complications were subjected to ChatGPT and The Specialist. The answers
of ChatGPT were classified as appropriate or not, considering the answers of The Specialist as the reference. The readability of all the
answers was assessed according to the parameters of the Readable online toolkit.
Results: All answers provided by ChatGPT were classified as appropriate. The mean Flesch Kincaid Grade Levels of the respective
answers given by ChatGPT and The Specialist were 13.75±1.55 and 10.17±2.17 (p
Migrant housing struggle and racial discrimination: The case of postsocialist Leipzig and Riga
Authors: Allsopp Harriet , Astolfo Giovanna , Haase Annegret , Laksevics Karlis , Schmidt Anika , Nasya Bahanur , Khalil Ayesha
Published: October 2024

The civic mobilisation welcoming Ukrainian refugees after Russia’s invasion in February 2022 has shown how housing is a social infrastructure based on care and solidarity. But it has also shown its discriminatory face. By drawing on our recent collaborative research in Leipzig and Riga and conceptual reflections from previous research, this paper elaborates on how practices of welcoming and housing refugees intertwine with state racism and everyday discrimination. It is grounded in two intersecting lines of inquiry. The first one focuses on migrant housing struggles in the context of increased financialisation, privatisation and austerity urbanism. The second expands on the intersection of race and discrimination with housing, asking how race and racial discrimination intersect and affect migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers’ access to and experiences with housing. The underlying argument is that while housing is the site where this type of discrimination becomes spatialised and visible (and thus can be challenged), there is still a missing discourse around discrimination in migration and housing policy.
Rent controls in comparative perspective: Reflections on an international symposium
Authors: Kallin Hamish , Gray Neil , Beswick Joe , Dempsey Damian , Donnachie Siobhan , Gavin Tommy , Gustafsson Jennie , Kholodilin Konstantin , Mironova Oksana , Monroy Edna , Palomera Jamie , Persdotter Maria , Vilenica Ana , Wallstam Maria
Published: October 2024

In Scotland, the policy landscape around rent controls is rapidly evolving and full of uncertainty. At this critical moment, an international symposium in Edinburgh brought together activists and academics in similar contexts living with or fighting for rent controls from across Europe and North America. This contribution is organised around reflections from the participants on (1) the history of rent controls in their area; (2) the current rent regulations in operation and their effectiveness; (3) the role of tenants’ organisations and (4) landlord and other pro-real estate lobbies in shaping the discourse around rent controls; and (5) reflections on what a satisfactory resolution on the rent control issue might look like and how it relates to other dimensions of the housing system. Our collective hope is that these reflections contribute to sharpening and clarifying the re-emergence of demands for rent control in Europe and North America as a powerful tool––if insufficient by itself––for shaping a decommodified housing system.
Crisis of housing cooperatives in Mexico City: A struggle for Palo Alto
Authors: Márquez Cruz Luis , Carrera Fabiola , Vilenica Ana , Montes de Oca Pedro
Published: October 2024

This article features a conversation with Luis Márquez Cruz and Fabiola Carrera from the Palo Alto Cooperative, delving into the history and ongoing struggles of one of Mexico City's oldest housing cooperatives. Formed in the 1980s based on principles of solidarity, mutual aid, and self-management, the cooperative provided affordable housing to working-class families. However, changes to cooperative laws in 1994 halted new cooperative projects and shifted government support to private developers. Today, Palo Alto faces internal divisions as some members push for the cooperative's dissolution and sale of property amidst rising real estate prices, while others fight to preserve collective ownership. The article explores the cooperative’s international alliances, political training, and grassroots organizing efforts, highlighting the urgency of defending cooperative housing as an alternative to Mexico City's increasingly commodified and exclusionary housing market.
Norita is the first of many self-managed community neighbourhoods to come: A conversation with organizers and residents of Barrio Norita Cortiñas in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area (Part II)
Authors:   Organizers and residents of Barrio Norita Cortiñas, Vilenica Ana , Quiroz Moisés
Published: October 2024

These two conversations with organizers and residents of Barrio Norita Cortiñas in Buenos Aires reflect the ongoing struggle for housing rights in Argentina. The discussions detail the development of the self-managed community, which emerged from land occupations in Guernica during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants highlight the collective efforts to secure land through self-organization and assembly-based decision-making, ultimately purchasing land to establish a neighbourhood for 62 families. The conversations explore the obstacles faced, including government repression, real estate speculation, and economic challenges, while also emphasizing the critical role of feminist leadership and multisectoral collaboration in their fight for land and housing rights. Additionally, the residents connect their local struggle to broader national and international movements for land reclamation and workers' rights. This underscores the urgency of solidarity and collective action in confronting neoliberal policies and housing precarity.
Book Review - Housing, Homelessness, and Social Policy in the Urban North by Julia Christensen, Sally Carraher, Travis Hedwig and Steven Arnfjord (Eds.), 2024
Authors: Jain Khushboo
Published: October 2024

Christensen et al.’s edited volume, Housing, Homelessness, and Social Policy in the Urban North (University of Toronto Press, 2024), critically examines homelessness, challenging traditional approaches and advocating for context-specific solutions. Through case studies from the Canadian North, Alaska, and Greenland, the book explores how historical and structural factors perpetuate homelessness in the face of urbanization and social policy. Organized into three regional sections, it critiques interventions that focus mainly on larger urban centers, neglecting rural communities impacted by colonial policies. The authors argue against one-size-fits-all solutions, promoting culturally sensitive approaches tailored to specific contexts. Key themes include the regional geography of homelessness, definitional challenges of home, rural-urban mobility, welfare colonialism, and the adaptation of Housing First initiatives. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of community-based support structures, often overshadowed by external solutions. This volume is essential for understanding homelessness through a nuanced lens that incorporates cultural and contextual factors.
Fostering long-term conviviality for refugees in the city: Inclusive, collaborative housing in Vienna
Authors: Birkner Caroline
Published: October 2024

Vienna faces a ‘twofold housing and refugee crisis’ amid ongoing migration to Europe. As housing options become increasingly limited, refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers often struggle to find adequate housing, spending a disproportionate share of their income on substandard options. This research highlights progressive trends in Vienna’s refugee housing sector, particularly following the 2009 introduction of ‘Social Sustainability’ in building competitions by the City Council. This initiative has fostered several collaborative housing communities that support inclusive living. By analyzing four of these projects, the study identifies key factors that facilitate newcomers' social and spatial integration. Ultimately, the paper aims to advocate for newcomers’ right to quality housing, emphasizing the everyday and long-term challenges faced by inclusive communities striving for conviviality in a state of thrown togetherness.
Struggles of vehicle residents in Squamish: Challenging the capitalist and colonial institution of housing
Authors: Pidgeon Thomasina , Vilenica Ana
Published: October 2024

In this conversation, Thomasina Pidgeon discusses her decision to live in a vehicle in Squamish, north of Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada. This was a choice originally driven by the lack of affordable housing, but she continued with it after falling in love with life on the road. Her story sheds light on the broader issues of housing, gentrification, and societal attitudes toward non-sedentary life choices. For Thomasina, living in a vehicle offered a sense of freedom for her and her daughter, despite occasional problems, as well as a deep connection with nature that conventional housing couldn’t provide. However, as Squamish has grown more gentrified, particularly after the 2010 Olympics, the town has increasingly cracked down on vehicle residents, categorising them as unhoused and treating them as a problem. These restrictive regulations, according to Thomasina, are part of a larger system that prioritizes property values and profits over human needs, echoing colonial practices that forced nomadic communities to settle for the benefit of those in power. Her story calls for a shift in how we think about housing, urging us to go beyond housing as a capitalist and colonial institution, and towards a deeper understanding of the systemic issues that lead to the so-called housing crisis. Despite facing stress and anxiety due to these crackdowns, Thomasina continues to advocate for the rights of vehicle residents with the organization Vehicle Residents of Squamish, and to connect different struggles from Palestinian solidarity work to struggles against an LNG terminal.
El rol de la ciencia abierta ante las desigualdades. Aportes desde las ciencias sociales, las humanidades y las artes : la experiencia de CLACSO
Authors: Vommaro Pablo
Published: October 2024

La presente comunicación analiza el papel de la ciencia abierta en contextos atravesados por amplias desigualdades socioambientales y económicas y en entornos culturales en los que habitan y resisten las culturas indígenas, las diversidades lingüísticas y los conocimientos ancestrales. Desde la perspectiva de las ciencias sociales, las humanidades y las artes y a partir del caso del Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales (CLACSO), se exploran los alcances, las potencialidades y los desafíos de la ciencia abierta ante distintas dinámicas de exclusión.
Теоретичний конструкт нотаріату як складової державного управління
Authors: Красногор О. В.
Published: October 2024

У статті розглянуто теоретичні основи нотаріату, як окремої складової державного управління, який наділений функціями публічної влади і є корисним для суспільства. Відображено взаємозв’язок між суб’єктами та об’єктами, який виникає в процесі їхньої взаємодії та призводить до суспільних відносин. Водночас суспільно-корисна діяльність нотаріату розкривається саме через такі відносини. У контексті охоплення загальнометодологічних основ дослідження охарактеризовано сутність таких понять як «гідність», «етика», «мораль», що окреслює їх функціональну роль в понятті «деонтологія», про що зазначено у принципах системи нотаріату латинського типу. Зазначено, що сутнісне розкриття поняття «деонтологія» зумовлене з тенденціям розвитку суспільства, що пізнається на рівні етичної теорії. Для кращого розуміння сутності поняття «деонтологія» виокремлено його підвиди, а саме широкий, загальний і вузький. Зазначено, що сутнісне відображення терміну «нотаріальна деонтологія» співвідноситься з вузьким значенням, що ґрунтується на професійній діяльності нотаріусів. Проаналізовано заповіді та моральні вимоги, а також принципи системи латинського нотаріату, яких повинні дотримуватися нотаріуси у своїй професійній діяльності. Відмічено, що вони є взаємодоповнюючими один до одного та нерозривно пов’язані між собою. У статті представлено власне визначення поняття «нотаріальна деонтологія», в основі якої лежить суспільно-корисна діяльність нотаріуса при наданні професійної правової допомоги, яка враховує етичні та моральні правила, повагу до нотаріальної професії, а також убезпечує нотаріусів від неправомірних дій у професійній діяльності. З метою підвищення довіри до системи нотаріату та сприяння високого рівня уживання нотаріальної деонтології запропоновано проводити навчальні тренінги для нотаріусів та їх співробітників на предмет етичних стандартів, а також запровадити чітку внутрішню політику. Зазначено, що відкритими дискусійними питаннями сьогодення в сфері нотаріату залишаються перехід до єдиного нотаріату, запровадження Е-нотаріату в їхній професійній діяльності, корупційна складова.
Structural Functionalism in Rural Primary Education: An Inquiry into the Alleviation of Digital Dilemmas
Authors: 郑 郑坤芳
Published: October 2024

This paper thoroughly examines the educational challenges faced by China's rural primary schools in the modern digital context and suggests solutions based on the structural functionalism theory. The allocation of educational resources in rural primary schools is blatantly unequal under the dual structures of urban and rural areas, and the use of digital teaching also creates the dual issues of system imbalance and incomplete function. This paper, which is based on the structural functionalism theory, explains the challenges that digital education in rural primary schools faces, including a lack of resources, a shortage of skilled teachers, and an imperfect top-level educational design. In light of these challenges, the paper proposes some solutions, including enhancing the creation of digital education resources, enhancing teachers' capacity for digital teaching, creating and refining the digital management system for rural primary education, and fostering shared values to support the social identity of rural primary education digitization. In order to improve rural primary education in China, close the educational resource gap between urban and rural areas, advance educational equity, and raise the standard of rural primary education, this paper offers a theoretical and practical perspective on the digital transformation of rural primary schools.
Book Review: Introduction of Selected Chinese and Western Translation Theories
Authors: Xu Jie
Published: October 2024

As China further opens up and integrates into the world, the demand for translation professionals has increased significantly. Despite the development of translation disciplines, the existing teaching materials have not yet met the needs of undergraduate education in terms of quantity and quality, especially for graduate students and doctoral students. To make up for it, the book A Selected Introduction to Chinese and Western Translation Theories emerged at the right moment. This article briefly reviews this translation theory textbook edited by Professor He Xueyun from Hengyang Normal University and published by The Commercial Press in 2021, with the ISBN 9787100201100, using research methods such as literature review, comparative analysis, and case study analysis. The book is divided into three main parts: an introduction to Chinese translation theories, an introduction to Western translation theories, and the main schools of translation theory. It is characterized by its comprehensive content, concise introductions, clear layout, highlighted key points, and ease of self-study, making it an excellent introductory book for learners of translation theory.
CiteSpace-based Survey of International Advances in Chinese Traditional Culture Research in 1999-2019
Authors: He Wenjuan , Peng Huimin , WE Feifei
Published: October 2024

With the globalization strategy and the initiative “One Belt and One Road” in China, Chinese traditional culture has a great impact on the world. This study, based on CiteSpace, explores the total numbers, hotspots, characteristics and tendency of international research on Chinese traditional culture, by retrieving 866 articles from SSCI and A&HCI in the Web of Science (Core Collection). The results of the study revealed that: there is a strong increases in total output from 1999 to 2019 and the research on the theme of Chinese traditional culture has become interdisciplinary; the most productive authors aren’t the ones in the most cited documents and the journals on which the most cited documents publish aren’t the prolific journals; most of the researchers are from Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland of China, Canada and USA. In view of the results, it is obvious that it is a good way to spread Chinese traditional culture over the world. It is strongly recommended that we should do more analysis on the international literatures with different paradigms, methods and metrics in order to get a more comprehensive and correct domain visualization map of Chinese traditional culture research.
Moderating Role of Corporate Governance on the Effect of Innovation Investment to the Financial Performance among Publicly-listed Software Outsourcing Companies in China
Authors: 孟 京津 , M. Perez, CPA, Ph.D Jennifer
Published: October 2024

This study examines the relationship between innovation investment, corporate governance, and financial performance among publicly listed software outsourcing companies in China. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, the research integrates quantitative analysis of financial and governance data with qualitative insights from structured interviews with Chief Financial Officers (CFOs). The study explores how various corporate governance factors, such as board size, independence, meeting frequency, CEO duality, and compensation, influence the effectiveness of innovation investments in enhancing company performance. Findings indicate that while there is a positive correlation between innovation investment and financial performance, the relationship is not statistically significant. Moreover, corporate governance factors, except for board size, do not significantly moderate this relationship. The results suggest that aligning innovation strategies with strong corporate governance practices is essential but not sufficient to ensure enhanced financial outcomes. The study's findings have practical implications for industry practitioners, policymakers, and investors, emphasizing the need for optimized governance structures to support sustainable growth in the software outsourcing sector. However, limitations regarding data reliance, sample size, and sectoral focus are acknowledged, with recommendations for future research to address these constraints and explore additional variables influencing the innovation-performance link.
A Study of Chinese Translation of The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language from the Perspective of Grammatical Metaphor
Authors: Qiao Yizhuo
Published: October 2024

In Systemic Functional Linguistics, grammatical metaphor is categorized into ideational and interpersonal types. Translation, as a process of code-switching, involves choosing between congruent and metaphorical forms, each serving different communicative purposes. Distinguishing these forms clarifies their distinct functions. This paper explores the use and importance of grammatical metaphors in translating The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language based on the author’s independent translation practice. Given this, the study achieves three objectives through quantitative and qualitative analysis: (1) examining the distribution of grammatical metaphors in the translation of The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language; (2) exploring the reasons behind their emergence; and (3) analyzing the role these metaphors play in the translation. Translation strategies were classified into two types based on the retention of grammatical metaphors: congruent translation, which simplifies the text and reduces metaphors, and metaphorical translation, which sustains a formal, academic, and concise style. The study reveals that the same translation techniques can be applied across various word, sentence, and text types, with different contexts requiring different methods even for identical grammatical and semantic units. Regardless of whether metaphors are retained, it is essential to ensure faithfulness, fluency, and aesthetics of the translation. Translators should avoid rigid application and decide on metaphor preservation based on the specific context and text type to best convey the original meaning.