bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Stocktake of Ocean Governance Fifty Years after Stockholm: New Challenges for International Law
Authors: Oral Nilüfer
Published: September 2024

The 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) was a milestone as the first global meeting of governments to address threats to the environment, including the ocean and seas. Over the fifty years since the adoption of the Stockholm Declaration, new pressing threats to the marine environment have emerged, such as loss of marine biodiversity, including in the high seas, marine plastic pollution, climate change, and illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing. This article will review the developments that have taken place at the International Maritime Organization and other bodies of the United Nations to address these new threats to the marine environment, reflecting how international law continues to play a vital role in promotion of ocean governance.
Legitimate Scientific Research: Objective Scientific Assessment of Marine Geoengineering Activities under the London Convention and London Protocol
Authors: Lyons Youna LBL , Santillo David , Catonini Federica
Published: September 2024

Overall interest in marine geoengineering (MGE) techniques and in their potential to mitigate the effects of climate change, as well as the multiple interests driving urgency for deployment, have intensified. This article considers the scientific, measured, transparent, and robust approach taken by the joint-meetings of the Governing Bodies of the 1972 London Convention and the 1996 London Protocol and the regulatory framework they are developing in response, with a particular focus on the regulation and guidelines for legitimate scientific research for MGE activities. It unpacks key attributes of the research assessment framework, particularly its acknowledging and accounting for scientific gaps and uncertainties, as well as its informed application of the precautionary approach. This is especially relevant in the context of rapidly growing interest in MGE as a means of climate mitigation.
Poetic ‘Hypertext’, Evocative ‘Figure-in-Landscape’, and the Reading of Illustrated Plays in the Late Ming
Authors: Wu Yinghui
Published: September 2024

Scholars of late Ming print culture have noted a ‘scenic’ shift in book illustrations of the late Wanli period. But how did the ‘scenic’ style vary across different genres of books, and what impact did such variations have on reading? This article examines a series of drama illustrations attributed to the Hangzhou publisher Rongyu tang (RYT), and explores the RYT’s subtle reconfigurations of the relationships between figures, landscapes, and poetic captions to produce new experiences of reading plays. I argue that the RYT developed its own repertoire of ‘figures-in-landscape’ that, while intersecting with visual motifs in a wide range of paintings and prints, distinguish themselves through the fine-tuning of the relative size of figure to landscape and the integrating of poetic ‘hypertexts’. Through close examination of three figure types – traveler, fisherman, and female performer – in landscape, I show that the images gave rise to a poetically recollective, visually evocative, and culturally contextualized mode of reading that appealed to varying levels of knowledge and interests. They afforded readers the flexibility to immerse themselves in the atmosphere or emotions of select scenes, to reflect on the overarching themes of the plays, or to take an imaginative flight out of drama to appreciate the images’ broader poetic and visual associations.
Contradictions of Culture and Oppression
Authors: Burke S. Maureen
Published: September 2024

Few early eighteenth-century Caribbean paintings survive. Among them is an important pair of previously unpublished Jamaican portraits of Chief Justice Thomas Fearon Jr., of Clarendon, and of his wife, Mary Peters Fearon, with their oldest son, Thomas Peters Fearon, from the 1730s. Colonial reflections of London art and society, although distorted by distance, occupied unique spaces where fantasies and realities collided. This article examines the historical context, provenance, and interpretation of the large, three-quarter-length paintings by an unidentified artist as well as the little that is known about the Jamaican art world at the time. Two unpublished drawings by Pierre du Simitière of Black West Indian women—one enslaved, one free—provide a counterpoint, as do other colonial depictions. The Fearon portraits form a rare pictorial record of a family at the apex of a transatlantic human pyramid of visible privilege and unseen pain, a century before that world ended.
Management of a Piriform Sinus Fistula With Chronic Neck Infection in an Adult
Authors: McMillan Alexandra , Chen Stephanie , Hua Xiaoyang
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

A pyriform sinus fistula (PSF) is a rare congenital anomaly due to failed obliteration of the third or fourth pharyngeal pouch. Diagnosis and management of PSF remains controversial. We present a case of PSF and discuss its diagnosis and management.

Methods:

Case report and literature review.

Results:

A 26-year-old female with a chronic left lateral neck abscess was diagnosed with a left PSF. She underwent surgery through a combined approach to close the openings of the PSF, internally and externally. We first placed a blunted ET tube into the internal opening of the PSF. We then performed an external transcervical approach to close the PSF at the cricothyroid membrane. Briefly, after a neck debridement and washout of the chronic neck infection, we identified the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in Lore’s triangle. We performed left hemithyroidectomy to facilitate the dissection and protection of the RLN to its entrance into the larynx. A flexible laryngoscope was then inserted into the left piriform sinus through the ET tube to guide external dissection by transillumination. The scar tissue attached to the superior pole of the left thyroid lobe was then ligated and divided along the cricothyroid membrane. Lastly, we cauterized the internal opening of the PSF. The patient has remained recurrence-free for 1.5 years with normal vocal cord mobility. Histopathology revealed presence of a squamous-lined tract adjacent to the thyroid tissue.

Conclusions:

Surgical treatment for patients with PSF should be aimed at closing the internal and external openings of the PSF, debriding chronic neck infection, and protecting the laryngeal nerves, instead of removing the entire tract. A concurrent hemithyroidectomy facilitates the identification and protection of the RLN, as well as excision of the tract. Differentiation between third and fourth branchial cleft fistulae may not be clinically necessary, as it is unlikely to alter the therapeutic plan.
Poverty Porn as Humanitarian Business: The Effects of Framing, Affect Intensity, and Spokesperson Characteristics
Authors: Shabbir Haseeb , Bennett Roger , Kottasz Rita , Vijaygopal Rohini , Gardasz Bettina , Adams Julian , Kendall Paddy
Published: September 2024

Motivated by controversies surrounding the continued employment of poverty porn in humanitarian business, we initiated two 2 × 2 × 2 experiments to examine the extent to which humanitarian ads that utilize poverty porn images weaponize fundraising. Informed by negative state relief and Affect Intensity Theory, the two investigations explored the effects on study participants of the inclusion within ad appeals of images of starving children, ad spokespeople of disparate gender and ethnicity, and different types of message frame. A 2 (protest emotive vs. informative message) × 2 (male vs. female announcer) × 2 (White British or Black African ethnicity) between-subjects eye track experiment ( n = 236) revealed that an informative message with a White female announcer attracted the most attention. Next, a survey ( n = 667) was completed, which recorded participants’ levels of affect intensity, advertising skepticism, and donation intention. The results suggested that a White British female announcer was more likely to engage potential donors than a male and/or non-White spokesperson. The implications of the findings are discussed in light of how poverty porn might work in practice.
Job Market in the Era of Illiberalism, Trade Wars, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data: A Study
Authors: Bhat Naseer Ahmad
Published: September 2024

This article aims to scrutinise the job markets and the impacts on jobs due to quite new themes which the world has witnessed, such as rise of illiberal democracies, trade wars between nations, artificial intelligence and big data. It is quite interesting to see the impact of ideologies of states on the jobs they create. Artificial intelligence is going to be a huge disruptor and so is managing of big data by companies. Based on the secondary data already available and the literature review, this article argues that job markets get impacted by the ideology of states, which in turn leads to trade wars. In a similar breath, data show that artificial intelligence and big data are going to create new ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ in the world. The answer to this problem lies in regulating the artificial intelligence climate and bringing in new rules for the game where big players operate, which amass humongous data. Rules should be framed in a way so that digitally deprived people do not lose their jobs.
Deter, detect, disrupt. An analysis of Nottinghamshire Police’s knife crime team
Authors: Andrews Tom
Published: September 2024

Nottinghamshire Police established the only dedicated team in the UK outside London, proactively locating those at higher likelihood of involvement in Knife-enabled crime. The team uses a mix of tactics under the banner of ‘deter, detect, and disrupt’ through intelligence-led and problem-oriented policing approaches. This article examines those tactics and assesses the effectiveness thereof as a case study, using a mix of statistics and wider academic research to identify potential benefits. It concludes that the approaches have reaped positive rewards, alongside other, softer, prevention and partnership approaches. There remains however a need to better define the team’s aims and purpose.
The Front and the Back Stage of Power: Formal and Informal Social Capital among Business Elites in the Three Largest Swiss Cities, 1890–2000
Authors: Benz Pierre , Araujo Pedro , Rossier Thierry , Strebel Michael Andrea
Published: September 2024

In the resurgence of elite sociology, formal (organizational-based network resources) and informal (non-organizational relations) social capital have garnered attention, but their mutual dynamics remain underexplored. This study addresses this gap, examining how both forms intersect among urban business elites, focusing on their roles on corporate boards, perceived as a front stage of power, and their places of residence, representing a back stage. Using multiple correspondence analysis, and thanks to social network analysis and geographic information systems, we examine the evolution of business elites (n = 2164) in Basel, Geneva and Zurich along the 20th century. Our findings identify two dominant elite fractions: the ‘heirs’ and the ‘established’. The heirs’ power is concentrated within a clearly defined spatial context especially through informal social capital, while the established derive their power from extensive possession of formal social capital. The varying presence of these two groups mirrors developments of Swiss capitalism in the 20th century.
Process Evaluation of Community-Based Nutrition Service for Under 2 Years Children in Degadamot District Using Qualitative Approach, Western Ethiopia, 2023
Authors: Demis Nimani Teshome , Muluneh Enyew , Asrade Geta , Zemene Tesfahun , Shasho Bayisa Feyisa , Debebe Jimma Sara
Published: September 2024

Malnutrition accounts for 45% of under-5 child morbidities in Ethiopia and is a more common issue in rural communities. In that regard, Ethiopia has implemented a CBN program at the community level to improve the nutrition status of children. Despite this, malnutrition still causes a significant rate of child morbidity and mortality. The implementation status of the CBN program is unknown. Thus, this evaluation aimed to evaluate the children under 2 years in Degadamot district health posts in northwest Ethiopia. A facility-based single-case study design with qualitative-method evaluation was employed from March 28 to April 28, 2023. The evaluation focused on the availability and compliance with multiple data sources. The qualitative data were transcribed, translated, and analyzed using thematic analysis with OPEN CODE version 4.02 software. Finally, the overall program implementation was determined based on predetermined judgmental criteria. According to the predetermined judgment parameter, the overall CBN program implementation level was 62.68%, measured by the availability of resources (71.36%) and compliance of service providers (54.0%). The overall community-based nutrition program implementation in the Degadamot district health post with 2 evaluation dimensions was judged as fair based on the presetting criteria. It is better to improve the service through training HEW and HDA, distributing nutritional supplies, providing regular support, and following up with HEWs for GMP performance in the Degadamot district.
Managing Social Equity: Insights from Local Public Managers
Authors: Humphrey Nicole M. , Portillo Shannon , Michaud Kasey
Published: September 2024

Since its genesis in public administration, social equity has framed the field’s discussions of fairness in governance and management. Here we explore how local public managers conceptualize and operationalize social equity as a public value in the communities they lead. Based on in-depth interviews with 23 local government leaders, we find that these managers often define social equity in ways that emphasize procedural fairness. In addition, while social equity was a priority among the public managers, several expressed that they often face resistance from their elected officials when attempting to prioritize equity.
Playing minds: Parental pretend play input and infants’ vocabulary development
Authors: Kızıldere Erim , Göksun Tilbe
Published: September 2024

This longitudinal study investigated parents’ different pretend play behaviors (substitution, animation, and role enactment) to their infants during free play and the bidirectional links with infants’ vocabulary development at 14 months (Time-1: N = 34, Mage = 14.23 months) and 20 months (Time-2: N = 34, Mage = 20.33 months), assessed by parental reports. Parents mostly engaged in animation and less frequently engaged in substitution and role enactment during play at both time points. At 14 months, parents’ animation input concurrently contributed to infants’ receptive vocabulary knowledge beyond parents’ overall language input. This relation did not hold for parents’ substitution and role enactment. Furthermore, parents’ earlier animation input at 14 months negatively predicted infants’ expressive vocabulary knowledge at 20 months, and infants’ earlier expressive vocabulary knowledge at 14 months negatively predicted parents’ animation input at 20 months. These findings suggest that parents might scaffold their infants’ vocabulary development through their pretend behaviors. However, only certain pretend behaviors contribute to vocabulary development, possibly due to the differential social and cognitive processes of different pretense forms. We discuss these potential underlying mechanisms and how parents might be sensitive to their infants’ vocabulary knowledge when shaping their pretense.
A cultural comparison of children’s emotion knowledge: Data from two cultures
Authors: Schapira Rotem , von Salisch Maria , Voltmer Katharina
Published: September 2024

Knowing about emotions is vital for children’s school adjustment, well-being, and future social relationships. Whereas experiencing emotions is a universal psychological process at the biological level, how emotions are categorized and communicated is shaped by culture. Most studies have investigated cultural differences in emotion (knowledge) in Western and Eastern cultures. To compare emotion knowledge within Western countries, N = 585 children from Germany and N = 100 children from Israel in the two age groups preschool (42–71 months) and primary school (72–89 months) were interviewed with the Adaptive Test of Emotion Knowledge for Three- to Nine-Year-Olds (ATEM 3-9). Generalized linear models (GLMs) indicate that children from Israel showed higher levels of emotion knowledge in the total score and in all seven components of emotion knowledge than their agemates from Germany. These results highlight the importance of differences in family structure and values within Western countries. It is important to determine the various factors and the socialization in the family and in educational institutions that influence emotion knowledge in Germany and Israel.
Sensory Reactivity Through the Lived Experiences of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Phenomenological Qualitative Study
Authors: Rajalakshmi Selvaganapathy , Ranjan Rajeev , Varghese Nidhi Joseph , Bharti Ayushi , Sinha Muskan , Kumar Pankaj , Ahmad Shamshad
Published: September 2024

Background:

The current sensory assessment measures for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have issues related to cultural and clinical applicability, which makes them difficult to apply in the Indian context consistently. The current study aimed to explore locally relevant themes for sensory reactivity in children with ASD.

Methods:

This exploratory phenomenological qualitative study was carried out on 15 parents of children with ASD visiting the child guidance clinic. An in-depth interview (IDI) guide was prepared on the conceptual framework based on Dunn, as well as, Miller’s models, which was then further refined based upon the inputs from the experts (psychiatrists, child psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists) working with children with ASD. IDIs were conducted with parents of children with ASD. The data was recorded in audio and video format. It was transcribed and translated from Hindi to English. Coding was done manually, and themes were extracted.

Results:

The findings identified four superordinate themes: sensory hyperreactivity, sensory hyporeactivity, sensory seeking, and socio-emotional response.

Conclusion:

The lived experience of parents aids in identifying and describing dimensions of sensory reactivity in children with ASD. It will help further in developing a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of sensory reactivity in children with ASD.
Which dose of calcium dobesilate is more effective and safe in chronic venous insufficiency? Multicenter retrospective clinical trial
Authors: Arslanturk Oguz , Uymaz Barıs , Gumus Fatih
Published: September 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different dosages of calcium dobesilate in the management of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) among patients in CEAP classes C3–C4.

Methods

A comprehensive multicenter retrospective analysis was conducted, including patients aged 18-70 with CEAP class C3–C4 CVI. Participants were divided into two groups: one receiving 500 mg of calcium dobesilate twice daily and the other 1000 mg twice daily. Patient progress was monitored using the Global Index Score, CIVIC-20 Score, and precise measurements of ankle and calf circumferences over a 12-month period.

Results

The higher dosage group (1000 mg twice daily) showed significant improvements in both symptom relief and edema reduction. Ankle circumference reduced notably at 6 months, while calf circumference and overall quality of life, measured by the Global Index Score, showed significant improvement by 12 months compared to the lower dosage group.

Conclusions

Higher doses of calcium dobesilate markedly enhance the management of CVI symptoms and reduce edema more effectively than lower doses, particularly in patients with advanced CVI. These findings support the use of higher dosages for optimal treatment, though further research is needed to fully evaluate long-term safety.
Place-based policies for the periphery? Policies for local development in sparsely populated areas in northern Sweden
Authors: Syssner Josefina , Erlingsson Gissur Ó
Published: September 2024

If a local government receives unconditional funding to design and implement a local development policy, what does it do? This quasi-experimental situation occurred in 2018 when the Swedish government started to allocate 70 million SEK per year to 39 municipalities in the most sparsely populated rural north of the country. The funds' purpose was to support local development initiatives, but they were unconditional and came without specific requirements. Against this backdrop, we analyse how local governments define and address problems related to local economic development, the solutions they develop to address these problems, and the analytical and normative frameworks that guide their decisions. We contrast the identified frameworks with the contemporary literature on place-based policy and planning to determine whether, and to what extent, local economic development policy in rural Sweden reflects the idea that policy and planning should take place-based conditions into account.
The effective dose of butorphanol tartrate in patients of different ages undergoing painless gastroscopy
Authors: Sun Yaorui , Liu Shujiao , Si Wenli , Zhang Quanyi , Yu Fei , Su Ming , Sun Chao
Published: September 2024

Objective

This study evaluated the 50% effective dose (ED50) and 95% effective dose (ED95) of butorphanol tartrate in patients undergoing painless gastroscopy.

Methods

Patients who underwent painless gastroscopy at Binzhou Medical University Hospital were divided into the youth, middle-aged, and older groups. The ED50 and ED95 required for successful sedation using butorphanol tartrate were measured using the Dixon up-and-down method in patients in the different age groups. Patients in each group were administered intravenous butorphanol 5 minutes before gastroscopy. Each patient was administered 2 mg/kg propofol. The ED50 and ED95 of butorphanol were calculated using probit analysis.

Results

In total, 95 patients were included. The ED50s of butorphanol in the youth, middle-aged, and older groups were 7.384, 6.657, and 6.364 μg/kg, respectively. The ED95s of butorphanol doses in these groups were 9.108, 8.419, and 7.348 μg/kg, respectively.

Conclusions

The ED50 and ED95 varied among the age groups, indicating that the effective dose decreases with age.
Comparative static analysis of functionally graded porous curved beams: Deterministic versus stochastic approaches
Authors: Amir Mohammad , Kim Sang-Woo , Choi Dongkuk
Published: September 2024

This study presents a comprehensive exploration of the comparative static analysis of functionally graded porous curved beams, examining deterministic versus stochastic approaches. The material randomness is incorporated using a stochastic finite element model. The formulation employed in this study utilizes three-noded elements and combines a higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) with the probabilistic first-order perturbation technique. The investigation focuses on an FGM curved beams incorporating various porosity models, including even, uneven, and sinusoidal distributions. The FGM porous curved beam is subjected to a uniform distributed load, and the study aims to determine the stochastic bending responses under these conditions. Additionally, various parameters influencing bending response, such as boundary conditions, geometric configurations, volume fraction indices, and porosity distributions, are examined. The uncertain bending responses are assessed in terms of material stochasticity using a stochastic finite element model, with validation through Monte Carlo simulation. Subsequent research endeavors within this field may investigate the impact of random fluctuations on both geometry and boundary conditions.
Numerical and experimental investigation on critical stresses due to rail cant
Authors: Narayanan Naveen , Vishwakarma Sanjay , Harsha S P
Published: September 2024

The track integrity is significantly affected by the internal stress state of the rail. The rail cant influences the flexural stress distribution on the rail foot, thereby shifting the critical stress locations. In this study, full-scale lab testing was done for heavy equivalent wheel loads (16–40 tonne) to measure the rail foot stresses. Further, the mathematical model for track design is modified considering the effect of rail cant on stress distribution and compared with the developed finite element model (FEM) and the experimental study conducted. It was observed that the FEM and modified model calculates the rail stresses with better accuracy of around 5% for heavy wheel loads. The rail cant cause redistribution of stresses, making the gauge corner critical to rail failures. It was observed that stresses at the gauge corner are 20% higher than at the field corner of the rail foot.
Polymer-fiber-reinforced polymers with enhanced interfacial bonding between polypropylene fiber and polyethylene matrix
Authors: Qiao Yao , Shin Yongsoon , Pallaka Madhusudhan R , Nickerson Ethan K , Fring Lisa D , Ko Seunghyun , Ramos Jose L , Wu Hanchang Felix , Simmons Kevin L
Published: September 2024

Self-reinforced composites (SRCs) consist of reinforcing fibers and a base matrix made of the same thermoplastic polymer, offering lightweight, recyclability, and sustainability benefits. However, limited research exists on composites where the reinforcing thermoplastic polymer fibers differ from the base thermoplastic matrix. This study focuses on investigating the mechanical behavior of such composites and exploring different surface modification methods to enhance the fiber/matrix interfacial bonding using polypropylene fibers and a polyethylene matrix as an example. It is shown that surface treatment with a commercial adhesion promoter containing n-butyl acetate significantly improves the interfacial shear strength between polypropylene fibers and the polyethylene matrix, increasing it by 145% compared to other methods investigated. Additionally, increasing the length of the embedded polymer fiber in the matrix leads to a notable increase in specific interfacial energy. Consequently, the thermoplastic polymer-fiber-reinforced polymers (PFRPs) using surface-treated woven polypropylene fabrics and a polyethylene matrix exhibit a 20% higher tensile strength and a 65% higher toughness compared to non-treated PFRPs. This study also shows that specific mechanical properties (normalized by the composite density) of the investigated woven PFRPs are similar to those of non-treated SRCs under uni-axial tension. Particularly, their ductility outperforms carbon-/glass-/aramid-fiber-reinforced polymers by at least 6 times at a same fiber volume fraction. The investigation of such composites and the exploration of surface modification methods present important progress in the field of thermoplastic PFRPs, which serve as a solution for addressing concerns related to recyclability and sustainability.
Recovery of pure PET from wool/PET/elastane textile waste through step-wise enzymatic and chemical processing
Authors: Boschmeier Emanuel , Mehanni Daniella , Sedlmayr Viktor Laurin , Vetyukov Yury , Mihalyi Sophia , Quartinello Felice , Guebitz Georg M , Bartl Andreas
Published: September 2024

Textile waste is mostly incinerated because few recycling processes are available to recover valuable materials. In this work, a feasible chemo-enzymatic recycling process of wool/polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/elastane blends to recover pure PET is for the first time successfully demonstrated. Two novel enzyme formulations were selected for wool hydrolysis, whereas the recovered amino acids were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography and two assays (Ninhydrin and Folin–Ciocalteu). Kinetic studies on the amino acid formation alongside reaction observations by scanning electron microscopy proved sufficient removal of wool within 8 hours with the new enzyme formulation, marking an acceleration compared to previous studies. Finally, elastane was separated with a non-hazardous solvent to obtain pure PET. Tensile tests on the recovered PET fibres reveal only slight changes through the enzymatic treatment and no changes induced by the applied solvent. The enzyme formulation was successfully tested on five different post-consumer wool/PET textile waste samples. This valorization approach enhances the circular economy concept for textile waste recycling.
Aesthetic grading causes food losses without financially benefiting farmers: Micro-level evidence from China’s fresh apple supply chain
Authors: Jia Xiangping , Schneider Felicitas , Ning Minghao , Ding Jiping
Published: September 2024

International literature is lacking quantified information about the impact of raising demands for attractive appearances and the private standards on food loss and associated effects on the economy, the environment and social issues. Given the global scale and significance to food consumption and health, fresh apples were selected for researching the issues. By focusing on China, the major production region of fresh apple in the world where the effects of aesthetic preference and shape abnormality are substantial, the present study aims to gain insights into the on-farm grading processes and different marketing channels for fresh apples in China. It was discovered that 35% of the volume in China’s major production areas of fresh apples were graded by aesthetic characteristics such as ripeness, colour, fragrance, bruising, intactness and appealing appearance. About 17.1% of production on average were considered as food losses mainly caused by such grading schemes. Favouring ‘perfect’ appearance; however, the grading did not yield economic benefits for smallholders. Lastly, direct procurement by supermarkets had a depressive effect on the price of fresh apples at the farm gate. The study has a unique value for global debates and actions against food loss and waste as it quantifies on-farm post-harvest losses of fresh apples by different agri-food chain organizations in China with respect to mass and economic value.
Network Issue Agenda Setting on Facebook: Exploring the Interplay Between Polarized Campaigns and Party Supporters
Authors: Arman Zahedur Rahman
Published: September 2024

This study undertook an analysis of network agenda setting during the 2020 U.S. Presidential campaign, focusing on the interactions between the campaigns and their respective supporters within the context of a polarized social media environment. By employing social network analysis techniques to examine issue agendas, the study revealed a relatively weak correlation between the agendas of the campaigns and their affiliated supporters on Facebook. Conversely, it found a notable association between entities sharing the same ideological orientation—party supporters displayed a higher degree of engagement with their own party’s campaign, and vice versa. The implications of these findings, from a theoretical, methodological, and practical standpoint, have been thoroughly discussed.
Immigrant Grassroots Associations in the Netherlands: A Sense-Making Approach to Understanding Exclusion From Endowed Foundation Funding
Authors: Davids Irene M. H. , Meijs Lucas C. P. M.
Published: September 2024

Despite a regional Dutch foundation’s inclusive mission to respond to the growing ethnic diversity in the Netherlands, its funding for immigrant grassroots organizations has fallen behind its funding for other grassroots organizations. Since 2011, the disparity in funding has been growing without any prior change in the foundation’s mission and goals. This study investigates why immigrant grassroots associations (IGAs) are more likely to be excluded from funding than other grassroots associations (GAs). It examines possible underlying causes from the perspective of grant-making foundation staff by comparing the written language they use when rejecting applications from IGAs with those of other GAs. We offer a sense-making perspective on grant-making to demonstrate a tendency toward groupism among grant-makers, particularly in ambiguous decision-making situations. Although the ethnic particularity of IGAs’ grant applications does not appear to be a dominant reason for rejection, foundation staff’s interpretation of their quality leads to a higher rejection rate of IGAs. This study helps the understanding of the role of sense-making in exclusionary assessment practices in endowed foundations and its implications for foundations’ pursuit of inclusive grant-making.
Unknowing (the End of) the World: Negative Eschatology and Political Theology
Authors: Leith Jenny , Leith Peter , Leung King-Ho
Published: September 2024

This article elucidates the significance of eschatology—particularly what may be called negative eschatology—for the task of political life. Through tracing some of the appeals to eschatological notions in recent political thinking and movements, we demonstrate some of the dangers of eschatology as a resource for political theology. The article then engages with the version of negative eschatology rendered by Vincent Lloyd, which holds out the possibility of experiencing a foretaste of the eschaton in moments of struggle against domination. The form of political activity in focus here is a struggle to dismantle that which does not belong to the eschatological order of justice—that is, struggling against what the eschaton is not. We bring this account of the relationship between the eschaton and the political into conversation with Emmanuel Levinas’s conception of infinity, and offer an account of negative eschatology as an invitation into living in relation to a fullness that is ever unfolding. Political activity undertaken in this light is oriented towards opening the conditions of possibility for the contingent transformation of injustice and led by those at the margins. We suggest, therefore, that in the dismantling of what eschatology is not, it is possible to glimpse what the eschaton might be.
Detection of residual stresses with impedance spectroscopy: A novel approach
Authors: Sofuoğlu Mehmet Alper , Haydarlar Gökhan , Sheikhi Mohammad Rauf , Hopali Cihan , Tekkalmaz Mesut
Published: September 2024

This study explored the relationship between residual stress and impedance in Hastelloy-X, Ti6Al4V, and Inconel-718 materials using the electromechanical impedance spectroscopy technique with normal and shear horizontal piezoelectric sensors. Root mean square deviation values, calculated from reactance measurements, were compared with normal and shear stresses. The results revealed strong correlations, with coefficients of 0.9, −0.89, and −0.88 between root mean square deviation and maximum normal stress (MPa) for Ti6Al4V, Inconel-718, and Hastelloy-X, respectively. Similar correlations were found for 45-degree shear stress (MPa), with coefficients of 0.9, −0.96, and −0.88. The regression analysis indicated that second- and third-degree equations best fit the correlation between maximum normal stress (MPa) and root mean square deviation, while third-degree equations were optimal for 45-degree shear stress (MPa) and root mean square deviation. These findings highlight the sensitivity and potential of the electromechanical impedance spectroscopy technique for non-destructive residual stress evaluation.
The effect of modified titanium dioxide, silica, and zinc oxide on the self-cleaning property of an acrylic resin-based paint
Authors: Shahgolzade Hoora , Ostad Movahed Saeed
Published: September 2024

Traffic paints hold paramount importance in road markings and ensuring efficient traffic flow. Self-cleaning marking traffic paints are a type of paint which recently developed to keep traffic lines clean with high visibility. Several paints were formulated with acrylic resin and self-cleaning agents, titanium dioxide (TiO2), silicon dioxide (SiO2), and zinc oxide (ZnO) individually and or in combination. All agents were treated in a furnace at 800°C for 2 hours before incorporating into the paint formulation. The effect of untreated and treated agents on several crucial properties of the formulated paints was assessed and compared. It revealed that heat treatment was effective on the crystallinity and impurity content of the agents evidenced by traditional characteristic techniques. The SEM-EDX analysis confirmed the presence and distribution of self-cleaning agents in the paint matrix. Water contact angles ranged from 68° to 97° for paints with self-cleaning agents, indicating improved hydrophilicity. Oil contact angles ranged from 27° to 42° for most paints with self-cleaning agents, showing some improvement in hydrophobicity. The qualitative assessment confirmed superior self-cleaning performance for paints with self-cleaning agents compared to the reference paint, especially for treated agents. Overall, the type and amount of self-cleaning agents significantly affect the hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, and self-cleaning performance of paints.
Impact of Financial Inclusion and ESG on the Sustainable Growth of the Nation: Moderating Role of Poverty
Authors: Jain Pooja , Kanoujiya Jagjeevan , Gautam Rahul Singh , Rastogi Shailesh
Published: September 2024

The literature has a strong foundation for the contributions that financial inclusion (FI) and environment social governance (ESG) provide to the sustainable growth (SG) of the nation. This study looks at the relationships between FI and ESG with SG through moderating role of poverty in the nation. The study performs a quantitative analysis by utilizing the panel data regression model on 140 countries with a time period of nine years, that is 2011–2019. In this study, models have been tested for consistency with FE (fixed effect) or RE (random effect). In it, ATMs are used as a proxy of FI, DW_EG is a proxy of statistical performance indicators (SPI), Agr_Land are used as a proxy of Environment Social and Governance (ESG) and Pov_surv are used as a proxy of poverty. GDP_grw are used as a proxy of GDP growth (GDP per capita growth) and RP are used as a proxy of rural population. This study establishes three models, that is, Models 1, 2 and 3. The empirical findings demonstrate a significant linkage between ESG, FI and SG, whereas poverty is found insignificant. Further research confirms that the development of careful co-curation of ICT infrastructure, FI programmes and economic growth strategies is necessary to promote nation’s SG.
Socio-cultural Factors Influencing Women Empowerment: A Cross-sectional Study Among an Ex-criminal Tribe in West Bengal, India
Authors: Jana Sila , Midya Dipak K.
Published: September 2024

This article critically examines whether socio-cultural factors like education, family type and earning opportunity influence women’s decision-making capacity, and thereby, their empowerment or not. It is established through earlier research that women are the most disempowered section in our society, and tribal women, especially the women from ex-criminal tribes, are relatively more deprived than others, and their decision-making ability is a significant criterion that reflects their empowerment status. The present cross-sectional study was carried out among 110 women of the Lodha, an ex-criminal tribe in India. The data of the earner women were compared with those of a control group who were not involved in any earning pursuit. The findings show that women’s participation in self-help groups (SHGs) and/or their involvement as wage laborers effectively enhance their decision-making ability within family, and education, family type and earning opportunity are significantly associated with the level of participation in decision-making.
Gendering of Space Through Indian History: A Geographical Perspective
Authors: Tewari Preeti , Siwach Prerna
Published: September 2024

Access to space is determined by a number of social, cultural, and economic factors. Feminists see gender as a key factor in determining how space can be used. Through much of Indian history, women have been confined to domestic space while men enjoyed freedom of movement in public space. This made the lives of women different from those of men. The close association between the superiority of a caste and the purity of its blood meant that upper-caste women were kept in seclusion in order to control their sexuality. Confinement of women denied them access to education and economic power. In the colonial period, an educated woman came to be seen as a better partner for the westernized male. Consequently, some women gained access to education. Participation in the freedom struggle further expanded their spaces, but the foundations of patriarchy were not challenged. Attitudes toward women and public spaces have changed in recent times. However, women face several obstacles in accessing public spaces, especially after dark. They are now resisting the restraints on their freedom, and are using various forms of protest against the denial of their right to equality.
Problem-Solving and Coping Skills Training for Youth with Deliberate Self-Harm Behaviors: A Scoping Review
Authors: Kpeno Audifax , Sahoo Surjeet , Sahu Amiya Krushna , Sahu Pratap Kumar
Published: September 2024

Background:

There has been an urgent need for the youths to be furnished with the capacity to apply the use of strategies such as problem- solving and coping skills in other to ameliorate their deliberate self-harming behavior inclinations. It is important to recognize the underlying emotional and psychological underpinnings of these self-harming behaviors.

Methods:

Three data bases; Scopus, Google Scholar advanced search, and PubMed, were searched using keywords such as “problem-solving,” “coping,” “youth,” and “deliberate self-harm.” The articles were then screened to ensure that they all met the inclusion criteria and only those published in the English language were selected and deliberate self-harm.”

Result:

Deliberate self-harm behaviors pose a substantial risk to the mental health of the individuals involved. Integrating emotional regulation and coping skills has been shown to improve mental health outcomes in these youths significantly. Problem-solving and coping skills programs have emerged as effective interventions for addressing deliberate self-harm behaviors in youth. Those who are engrossed in deliberate self-harm often struggle with problem-solving abilities and resort to maladaptive social problem-solving, such as self-harming, as a coping mechanism. Incorporating problem-solving techniques within therapy approaches can be an effective strategy to address deliberate self-harm behaviors and promote healthier coping mechanisms.

Conclusions:

There is the need for structured interventions to meet the unique and diverse need of the youths engaged in this act. Interventions can target the core issues, such as emotional dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, or trauma history.
The IoT Revolution: Redefining Online Relationships and Social Network Expansion
Authors: Trang Ta Thi Nguyet , Thang Pham Chien , Do Duc Anh
Published: September 2024

Although the Internet of Things (IoT) has been acknowledged to significantly affect the nature of human interaction, the associations between IoT technologies and aspects of social bonds between humans are still underexplored. This study examined the extent to which the IoT shapes online social interactions in the Vietnamese context. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 384 Vietnamese participants. Data were projected onto structural equation modelling to test the hypothesised relationships between perceived social presence (PS), media richness of IoT, quality of online relationships, and online social network expansion. The results show positive correlations between IoT richness, quality of human relationships and social media use. PS was significantly related to online social network expansion, but it could not predict the quality of bonds between social media users. The findings suggest that the IoT is designed and developed to enable meaningful social connections, expanding human knowledge of how IoT influences online social interactions.
Comparison of tissue factor–activated versus citrated native thromboelastography in dogs with suspected hemostatic abnormalities
Authors: Keith Marie T. , Chalifoux Nolan V. , Buriko Yekaterina
Published: September 2024

Viscoelastic testing methods, including thromboelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastometry, have an advantage over traditional tests of coagulation due to their ability to reflect in vivo hemostasis and predict need for transfusion of blood products more accurately. TEG in clinical settings is most often performed on citrated whole blood samples that are recalcified at the time of analysis, with or without the addition of an activator of coagulation. To date, superiority of the use of an activator in canine patients with abnormal hemostasis has not been demonstrated. We compared the use of tissue factor–activated (TF) TEG with citrated native (CN) TEG in dogs with suspected hemostatic abnormalities. Forty-five of 79 enrolled dogs with suspected abnormal hemostasis had an abnormal MA value. There was very high correlation between CN samples and TF-activated samples for alpha, K, MA, and R; there was a high correlation for LY30 and LY60. Categorical agreement for CN- and TF-activated TEG classification of hypercoagulable and hypocoagulable cases based on MA was good to very good, with 91% and 97% categorical agreement, respectively. No difference was found in the variance for any TEG variable between the 2 methods of analysis. For canine patients with suspected abnormal hemostasis, use of CN or TF-activated TEG appears acceptable. Monitoring of coagulation should be done with the same method; methods may not be used interchangeably.
Incidence and Pitfalls of Adipose Tissue Encountered in Urinary Bladder Biopsy/Transurethral Resection Specimens
Authors: Rizkalla Carol N. , Srinivas Sandy , Sangoi Ankur R.
Published: September 2024

Despite the College of American Pathologists’ recommendation against diagnosing “fat invasion” in urinary bladder biopsies and transurethral resection of bladder tumor specimens (TURBT), some pathologists still consider this scenario as pathologic stage T3. However, a formal evaluation of fat in biopsies/TURBT has not been performed. Material obtained from TURBT is considered as clinical staging (cT) and that obtained from cystectomy is true pathologic staging (pT). Herein, we analyze adipose tissue incidence/distribution, cancer involving fat, staging ramifications, and clinical outcomes in a large series of biopsies/TURBT. Among 366 biopsies/TURBT specimens, data on adipose tissue presence, location, and quantity were analyzed. An initial analysis of 200 consecutive biopsies/TURBT specimens (including benign/cancer), adipose tissue was identified in 37% of 200 specimens (22% biopsies, 78% TURBT), primarily in the lamina propria (57%) or both lamina propria/muscularis propria (32%). A subsequent analysis of 183 invasive cancer (cT1/cT2) biopsies/TURBT revealed adipose tissue in 40% of specimens, predominantly within both the lamina propria and muscularis propria. Among all cT1/cT2 specimens, 26% (23/88) had cancer involving fat. Clinical follow-up on these putative “cT3” specimens revealed 10 patients who underwent radical cystectomy of which only 1 of 10 remained pT3/pT4 (although 8 patients had neoadjuvant chemotherapy). Adipose tissue is commonly found in biopsies/TURBT, predominantly localized in the lamina propria and sometimes extending into the muscularis propria. Importantly, the presence of tumor “invading” fat on biopsies/TURBT does not necessarily indicate pT3 disease. This underscores the need for standardized reporting practices, emphasizing the importance of reserving pathologic staging for cystectomy specimens.