bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limits of Détente or Limits of Democracy? Belgium, the Netherlands, and NATO's Dual-Track Decision: 1977–1979
Authors: Spliet Bas
Published: November 2024

This article highlights the Belgian and Dutch roles in the so-called dual-track decision of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1979. At NATO headquarters on 12 December 1979, the leaders of the allied member-states unanimously agreed to deploy new intermediate-range nuclear missiles in five West European countries, including Belgium and the Netherlands. In the lead-up to this meeting, interactions among the three leading NATO members—the United States, the United Kingdom, and West Germany—produced a unique situation in which Belgium and the Netherlands gained key roles in the decision-making process. The two small countries challenged the fragile NATO consensus surrounding the dual-track decision and even jeopardized endorsement of the final agreement. In both Belgium and the Netherlands, public opinion was clearly against the deployments, and so were many members of the two countries’ legislatures. In each country, moreover, a major ruling coalition party insisted that NATO should make a positive deployment decision only after all arms control options were gone. Yet, despite these reservations, both countries eventually fell into line and endorsed the decision.
More than “Soul Catchers”: Understanding Eastern Europe through Audience and Opinion Surveys at Radio Free Europe during the Cold War
Authors: Macrea-Toma Ioana
Published: November 2024

In 1989, Radio Free Europe (RFE), an international anti-Communist shortwave radio broadcaster located in Munich and financed by the U.S. government, concluded after a vast survey operation that 53 percent of the adult population in East Europe listened to RFE programs. Based on such findings, historians from the region have argued that the collapse of Communist regimes was attributable in part to the importance of the diffusionist character of Western-inspired notions of freedom and democracy. Recent studies have raised questions about the methodology and findings of the RFE surveys. Although methodological discussions are important, a close reading of RFE surveys from the 1950s to 1989 reveals another side to the story, showing how Western Cold War institutions helped to frame key problems in Eastern Europe and mold the way individuals in those societies thought about the choices facing them.
Silence is Complicity: Theological Failure in the Face of Genocide
Authors: McIntosh Esther , Ranawana Anupama M.
Published: November 2024

In this article, we argue that public theologians have a rich tradition from which to argue for the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. In particular, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s resistance to the co-opting of Christianity by the Nazi regime is frequently cited in theological circles as an exemplar. Yet, we find major public figures and theological societies, such as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the United Kingdom’s Society for the Study of Theology (SST) to be wanting in this regard. From an examination of Welby’s comments on the Israeli bombardment in Gaza, and the SST’s response to our open letter and the lament from Palestinian Christians, we argue that theologians are failing. We draw on Palestinian liberation theology and anticolonial theologies to argue that the work of liberation is the raison d’être of theology and requires political activism. We conclude, therefore, that theological silence is complicity in injustice.
Environmental Protection in Armed Conflict: Will the “Silent Victim” Have a Voice at Last?
Authors: La Manna Mariangela
Published: November 2024

It is safe to assume that environmental protection is not the core business of the law of armed conflict, a regime specifically designed with a view to regulating the conduct of hostilities. It should not come as a surprise, then, that rules governing environmental matters in wartime – mainly represented by a very small number of provisions established under the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions – do not prove equal to the task of safeguarding the environment. Besides only applying to international armed conflicts, such provisions have a very limited temporal scope of application and establish very stringent requirements for their application. Against this background, two significant codification efforts were recently completed under the auspices of the ICRC and the ILC respectively. Even though scarcely innovative in nature, they may nonetheless provide some very helpful interpretative guidance, and contribute to filling the gaps in the existing regime. In addition to the law of armed conflict, international environmental law could further enhance environmental protection during hostilities, either by influencing the interpretation of the former or by applying alongside it. Both possibilities need to be carefully assessed pursuant to formal criteria as well as to more practical concerns, notably by taking into account the actual reality of hostilities and the relations between belligerents.
State Practice and Opinio Juris at the Intersection of Customary International Law and General Principles of Law
Authors: Gervasi Mario
Published: November 2024

Starting from a reflection on the legacy of Benedetto Conforti’s scholarship and his construction of general principles of law as a sui generis category of customary international law, this essay discusses the issue of the distinction between general principles and customary rules. It focuses on the recent work of the International Law Commission, and argues that the solutions offered in the Draft Conclusions on General Principles of Law, provisionally adopted in 2023, are far from satisfactory as regards both principles derived from national legal systems and principles formed within the international legal system.
The Law of the Sea and the Relevance of Benedetto Conforti’s Teachings
Authors: Caligiuri Andrea
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this piece is to provide a brief overview of Benedetto Conforti’s work as a scholar of the law of the sea. Through a careful analysis of State practice, he justified the exercise of State power at sea on the basis of a functional approach, whereby the extent of a coastal State’s powers was to be determined in accordance with the protection of specific interests related to a coastal community. When a spatial approach prevailed in the codification of the law of the sea, Conforti, while acknowledging the evolution that had taken place, reiterated the importance of the functional approach to explain the progressive extension of State powers at sea to new areas of interest.
In Pursuit of Greater Accountability for Torture: The Case of Giulio Regeni after Judgment no. 192/2023 of the Italian Constitutional Court
Authors: Parisi Piergiuseppe , Pinto Mattia
Published: November 2024

This article examines the Italian Constitutional Court’s Judgment No. 192/2023 on a question of constitutional legitimacy raised in the course of the criminal trial against four Egyptian nationals for the murder and torture of Italian doctoral researcher Giulio Regeni in Egypt in 2016. By declaring the partial unconstitutionality of the Italian legislation on in absentia proceedings, the Court’s decision allowed the trial to proceed even in the defendants’ absence. The judgment is assessed against a backdrop of institutional inertia in securing justice for Regeni. The article first analyses the significance of the Court’s decision, highlighting its implications for international human rights law and, in particular, the duty to exercise criminal jurisdiction over acts of torture under the UN Convention Against Torture. It then critiques the emphasis placed on criminal accountability, as illustrated by Regeni’s case. It argues that such emphasis, combined with the inadequacy of other State responses, risks diluting the right to truth and accountability in its broader sense.
Truce or Settlement? The Dispute over Germany’s Immunity from Wartime Reparations claims after Judgment no. 159/2023 of the Italian Constitutional Court
Authors: Rossi Pierfrancesco
Published: November 2024

Following Germany’s 2022 ICJ application against Italy over continuing violations of its immunities, the Corte Costituzionale’s Judgment No. 159/2023 upheld legislation curbing enforcement against German assets and redirecting claims by Nazi crimes victims to an Italy-financed Reparations Fund. This paper discusses whether and under what conditions this ruling might lead to a termination of the German-Italian dispute. It shows that, while the Court paid lip service to its own Judgment No. 238/2014, the dispute’s main casus belli, it distanced itself from many controversial aspects of that precedent and greatly reduced its significance. The paper then reflects on the extant problems, arising from the Court’s failure to overrule Judgment No. 238, and on ways to solve them. These problems include: 1) the apparently ongoing violation of Germany’s immunity from adjudicative jurisdiction; and 2) the possibility of constitutional challenges being levied against the Fund for discrimination against excluded claimants. It is suggested that neither problem calls into question the possibility of terminating the dispute. In conclusion, the paper speculates that, while an overruling of Judgment No. 238 is unlikely, the Court’s future case law could, with only some fine-tuning, turn that judgment into a precedent devoid of meaningful effects.
The Agreement Between Italy and Croatia on the Delimitation of their Exclusive Economic Zones
Authors: Borgia Fiammetta
Published: November 2024

This article analyses the 2022 Agreement between the Italian Republic and the Republic of Croatia on the delimitation of their exclusive economic zones. The Agreement marks a significant step forward in international relations and maritime law, reflecting a mutual commitment to resolving maritime boundaries in accordance with international law. The two States have agreed that the delimitation line of the EEZs aligns with the continental shelf boundary between the Parties, as defined by the 1968 Agreement, and the 2005 Technical Correction Agreement. Moreover, since cooperation in the North Adriatic basin, both bilateral and trilateral with Slovenia, remains an important cornerstone for their relationships, they also approved a Joint Declaration on the Adriatic Sea’s Resources. This Declaration has a particular focus on preservation of the marine Adriatic environment to improve connectivity, security and cooperation in the blue economy sectors. This article, after providing the historical and legal context of the international relations between Italy and Croatia in the field of maritime cooperation, seeks to conduct a thorough examination of the 2022 Agreement, with particular reference to the methodology employed for delimitation, as well as the conflict clause and dispute settlement mechanisms introduced. In addition, the article will consider the issue of resources management, as set out in the 2022 Joint Declaration. The analysis is intended to determine the consistency of the Agreement with the law of the sea, whilst also highlighting prospective challenges and assessing Italy’s contribution to formulating strategies for the forthcoming management of the region.
The International Seabed Authority and the Push for Exploitation of Deep Seabed Minerals: Does the Doctrine of Legitimate Expectations Apply?
Authors: Pecoraro Alberto , Lily Hannah , Singh Pradeep
Published: November 2024

The International Seabed Authority (or ISA) is nearing a world-first decision: whether to approve, on behalf of humankind, potentially in the absence of regulations, an application for exploitation rights over deep sea minerals. We assess whether an operator, who invested in exploration activities but whose application to mine was refused by the ISA, may successfully take legal action against the ISA based on their ‘legitimate expectations’ to be granted exploitation rights. We find significant obstacles for such a claim. Firstly, the ISA has with contractors a legal relationship that differs from that between sovereign states and foreign investors. Furthermore, exploration contractors assumed the risk of carrying exploration despite knowing that, due to its complex institutional structures, and need to adapt to evolving international norms and new scientific information, the ISA could ultimately decide to proceed in a different direction. Finally, there are sizeable procedural challenges for any prospective claimant against the ISA relying on ‘legitimate expectations’, both in accessing the relevant forum and in identifying an enforceable remedy.
The Development of Astronomy in the Islamicate Third/Ninth Century
Authors: Americo Maria
Published: November 2024

While the astronomers of Abbasid Baghdad were creating new methods of observation and updating astronomical values, they were also engaged in the translation movement, in which scientific texts from ancient languages like Greek, Persian, and Sanskrit were translated into Arabic. One of the ancient scientists with whose ideas the third/ninth-century astronomers engaged was Claudius Ptolemy, the second-century CE Alexandrian astronomer whose oeuvre comprises our best evidence for Greco-Roman astronomy. This article examines the work of four astronomers working in Baghdad under the Abbasid caliph al-Maʾmūn (r. 198–218/813–833) — Ḥabash al-Ḥāsib (fl. 214–50/829–64), al-Farghānī (d. after 247/861), Thābit b. Qurra (d. 288/901), and a writer we may identify as Qusṭā b. Lūqā (d. ca. 300/913) — and compares their work to that of Ptolemy in terms of their values for the sizes and distances of the heavenly bodies. The article will conclude with some evidence that someone during the Islamicate third/ninth century was undertaking new observations of the planets, based on new values for their sizes and distances.
Immigration Policy and Attitudes Toward the Police: Does Immigration Policy Influence Immigrants’ Confidence in Their Local Police Departments?
Authors: Dzordzormenyoh Michael K. , Boateng Francis D.
Published: November 2024

Immigration in the United States has historically been a contentious issue marked by intense debates. The United States is often seen as a melting pot, yet immigration policies frequently have adverse effects on immigrants, varying from one government to another. The 287(g) program, which allows local police to perform immigration duties, exemplifies such policies. This program can harm police–immigrant community relations and weaken trust in the police. This study aimed to examine variations in immigrant confidence in the police between 287(g) and non-287(g) states and to identify factors influencing this confidence. Our ordinal regression analysis of nationally representative data indicates that 287(g) does not impact immigrants’ confidence in the police. However, security concerns (terrorism and a sense of safety) and demographic variables do influence this confidence. We conclude that immigration enforcement is not a major determinant of immigrants’ confidence in the police compared to other factors.
Social Mobility Among United States Immigrants: A Psychology of Working Perspective
Authors: Choi Yeonwoo , Duffy Ryan D. , Kim Taewon , Bridges Brittany , Perez Gianella , Kim Haram J. , Park Junsang , Steranka Matthew
Published: November 2024

The purpose of the present study was to investigate subjective social mobility among U.S. immigrants—here referred to as shifts in experiences of marginalization and economic constraints before and after immigration—and assess how mobility is related to a host of theoretically informed predictors and outcomes. Surveys were completed by 242 employed U.S. immigrants who had been in the United States for an average of 11.65 years. A latent profile analysis was conducted which identified four groups with different social mobility types: subjective upward mobility, privileged, underprivileged, and subjective downward mobility. Four times as many participants experienced downward versus upward mobility (38.4% vs. 10.3%), with the majority maintaining a privileged (21.9%) or underprivileged (29.3%) status. Additionally, the downward mobility group had significantly lower work volition, work need satisfaction, and decent work compared to other groups. Implications for counseling practice, advocacy, and research for socially mobile immigrants are discussed.
Synchronisation of Fiscal and Monetary Policies in India—Some Issues
Authors: Dholakia Ravindra H.
Published: November 2024

Fiscal and monetary policies are pursued independently to achieve their respective assigned goals, though broad synchronisation of the two is essential for overall consistency and efficiency. The article discusses three issues in synchronisation of the two policies, where the monetary policy actions follow, and do not precede, the fiscal policy actions. The first issue is regarding the implications of the Union Budget on the monetary policy and is considered with the Union Budget 2023–2024. The second issue is regarding the implications of tax-evaded income and recent trends therein on the credit growth in the economy. The third issue is about the consistency of the definitions of the rural areas followed in the two policies and their impact on the goal of financial inclusion in the country.

JEL Codes: E52, E58, E61, E62, E63
Status of Digital Payments in BRICS Countries
Authors: Kaur Prabhjot , Kang Lakhwinder Singh
Published: November 2024

Rapid technological advancements and FinTech initiatives in the recent past have been facilitating the transformation of financial and payment services across the globe. The present study examines the status of digital payments, digital payment environment and digital financial inclusion among the BRICS countries. The digital payment trends in the BRICS countries for the period 2011–2021 through the access and use indicators of digital payments are compared. There exist significant differences between the BRICS countries and the developed countries for both the access and use indicators of digital payments, which requires the respective governments and central banks of BRICS countries to take necessary steps to achieve the goal of digital financial inclusion.

JEL Codes: E42, E58
Twenty-Two Centuries of Nostalgia in Classical Chinese Poetry
Authors: Li Chao , Sedikides Constantine , Wildschut Tim , Dang Jianning , Liu Li
Published: November 2024

A burgeoning literature on nostalgia has identified the construct’s features, affective content, triggers, and psychological benefits across cultures. It has been argued that nostalgia is a fundamental human emotion. If so, these properties of nostalgia ought to be detected historically. We tested this possibility by relying on classical Chinese poetry, a unique vehicle given its historical relevance to ancient life and ability to express emotion. Content analyses of 600 poems revealed that, across dynasties, nostalgia was perceived and experienced similarly to today. In particular, the central (and also peripheral) features of the construct “nostalgia” were similar, the affective tone of nostalgia was mostly positive, its triggers paralleled contemporary ones (with visual stimuli and close others being most salient), and its psychological benefits were the same (with social connectedness being most prominent). The findings point to nostalgia as fundamental human emotion and open up promising directions of inquiry.
Wnt/β-catenin Promotes Cementum Apposition in Periodontal Regeneration
Authors: Ono Y. , Kaku M. , Thant L. , Iwama H. , Arai M. , Mizukoshi M. , Dobashi A. , Kitami M. , Taketo M.M. , Ohazama A. , Saito I. , Uoshima K.
Published: November 2024

Regeneration of periodontal tissue, particularly the cementum–periodontal ligament (PDL)–bone complex, has long been challenging because the differentiation kinetics of cells and the molecular pathways contributing to the regeneration process are largely unknown. We aimed to evaluate the cell behavior and molecular pathways that contribute to periodontal tissue regeneration in vivo. We analyzed the process of periodontal tissue regeneration through subrenal capsule transplantation of immediately extracted molars in mice. We showed that the regenerated periodontal tissue in the subrenal capsule was morphologically comparable to the intact periodontal tissue, with increased cellular cementum thickness in the apical region. Cell tracing analysis revealed that the cells comprising the regenerated periodontal tissue were derived from transplanted teeth and were indispensable for periodontal tissue regeneration, whereas recipient mouse-derived cells partly contributed to angiogenesis. Bioinformatics analysis based on the gene expression profile in the transplanted teeth indicated that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in periodontal tissue regeneration, which was further confirmed through β-catenin immunohistochemistry. Moreover, the constitutive activation of β-catenin in the cells of transplanted teeth was found to promote accelerated cellular cementum apposition, while the conditional knockout of β-catenin in the cells of transplanted teeth suppressed cellular cementum apposition. Notably, the manipulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling did not interfere with the bone–PDL–cementum complex, while endogenous osteoclast activity was affected in bone. Our results demonstrated the essential roles of endogenous PDL cells in periodontal tissue regeneration and that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in this process, particularly cellular cementum apposition. Hence, controlling this pathway could promote cementum regeneration, which is a critical process for the regeneration of the cementum–PDL–bone complex. This study provides novel insights into cell behavior and signaling pathways that will advance practical periodontal tissue regeneration.
A secure transaction and smart contract architecture for internet of vehicles
Authors: Lin Hua-Yi
Published: November 2024

Recently, with the popularity of Internet of vehicles (IoV), there is an increasing market demand for integrating blockchain technology and smart contracts in electric vehicles. By utilizing distributed blockchain and smart contract technology, it provides data integrity preservation, traceability, and prevention of forgery. These features can be effectively used in the automated charging system. As a result, IoV can utilize blockchain and smart contract technologies to facilitate seamless payment for charging fees, tolls, parking fees, online shopping and other associated expenses without the need for intermediaries. However, since blockchain and smart contracts operate in an open internet environment, there is a risk of tampering with transaction records. Therefore, enhancing security becomes a crucial concern. The main aim of this study is to emphasize the growing significance of securing transactions and smart contracts in an open transmission environment to prevent potential damage or alteration.

In order to achieve the implementation of secure smart contracts within a resource-constrained IoV, this study investigates various cryptographic mechanisms and realizes the elliptic curve cryptosystem (ECC) is widely recognized for providing strong security with shorter key lengths compared to other public key cryptography methods. This makes it ideal for environments with limited resources. Furthermore, in order to enhance the performance of smart contracts, this study proposes a cloud server architecture for parallel storage of smart contracts to improve access speed. Additionally, we introduce an automated trading framework for smart contracts that operates without human intervention.

Finally, this study uses ECC to ensure the secure transmission of transaction data among the vehicle, base station, and cloud server, as well as to provide mutual verification of identities across all entities involved in the operation. As a result, this study proposes a secure architecture for blockchain and smart contracts that can autonomously initiate transactions while ensuring secure transmission and protection in the IoV.
Month of Birth, Early Academic Achievement, and Parental Expectations of University Completion: A New Test on Sticky Expectations
Authors: Bernardi Fabrizio , Valdés Manuel T.
Published: November 2024

Previous studies have shown that educational expectations of individuals with high socioeconomic status (SES) are relatively unaffected by low academic performance, a phenomenon called “sticky expectations.” However, this result might be biased by endogeneity and reverse causality between academic achievement and educational expectations. Using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study from 11 countries with a strict school-entry rule and building on the well-established finding that children born in the months before the school-entry cutoff underperform at school, we use birth month as an instrument to identify the causal effect of early academic achievement on parents’ expectations of university completion by parental education. Our findings based on the instrumental variable (IV) regression show that the moderation of social origin in the relationship between children’s performance and parental expectations is moderately overestimated in cross-sectional data. Nonetheless, the stickiness of high-SES parental expectations is confirmed in the IV model, proving that parental expectations are less affected by children’s early achievement when the parents are highly educated.
State Control, Related-Party Transactions and Audit Reporting: Evidence From Key Audit Matters
Authors: Florou Annita , Wu Xiaoxi , Yuan Shuai , Zhang Vincent (Qiru)
Published: November 2024

We examine whether political forces in Chinese State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) influence audit reporting, specifically the disclosure of Key Audit Matters (KAMs). We test two competing predictions that offer alternative explanations for the relation between SOEs and KAMs disclosure. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms and controlling for related determinants of KAMs reporting, we document that, compared to non-SOEs, SOEs have fewer abnormal KAMs (relative to their industry peers). SOEs are also more likely to avoid the disclosure of expected KAMs, especially in the subject areas of inventory, revenue and related party transactions (RPTs). Taken together, results suggest that SOEs have strong political motives and power to obscure transparency and withhold potentially costly news. In line with this conjecture, we show that the aforementioned effects are more pronounced when SOEs have more concentrated state ownership, operate in industries of strategic importance to the state, or are involved in tunneling RPTs. Supplementary analysis indicates that SOEs have less extensive KAMs disclosures and auditor responses, which moreover are less risk-oriented. Overall, our study provides new evidence on how state control and related institutional factors affect audit practices.
Open research data and privacy violations
Authors: Dahabiyeh Laila , Taha Nashrawan
Published: November 2024

Open research data refer to the practice of sharing research data with others to enhance science innovations and discoveries. Despite the great potentials of open research data, it comes with certain limitations, especially with regards to the privacy of research participants’ data. In this article, we examine the tension between public data repository policy and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). To achieve that, we draw on privacy as contextual integrity theory. We further enrich our research by interviewing 12 researchers from European institutions to examine their perception of whether open research data have privacy challenges or not. Our findings reveal that according to the heuristics steps of privacy as contextual integrity and the GDPR requirements, open research data may entail a violation to research participants’ informational privacy. Moreover, data repository’s policy is geared towards protecting the confidentiality of research participants’ data rather than their privacy. We further reveal that researchers conflate privacy and anonymity and lack knowledge of sharing research data practices.
Dense and uniform Mo10W alloy prepared by combining a vacuum sintering process with a hot-pressing process
Authors: Ding Pengzhan , Song Hao , Wang Chengduo , Wu Xiaochao , Li Qingkui , Cao Wenbo
Published: November 2024

Mo10W billets are fabricated via vacuum sintering (VS), hot pressing (HP), and VS + HP process. The results show that the Mo10W prepared by VS has good uniformity, even when the sintering temperature is as low as 1600 °C. However, the relative density of this alloy is only 95.37% when the sintering temperature is increased to 1900 °C. A high sintering temperature coarsens the grains. The relative density of HP-based Mo10W reaches 99.05% after sintering at 1500 °C, but its distributions of Mo and W are uneven. The Mo and W distributions of the VS + HP Mo10W alloy are uniform and its relative density reaches 98.1%. This work provides a new method for simultaneously improving the uniformity and density characteristics of Mo alloys.
Adorno on the relapse of enlightenment into Auschwitz: The exclusion and resumption of the non-identical
Authors: Casmir Céline Charlotte
Published: November 2024

This paper answers Adorno's question, once asked in a lecture, about whether we, by forbidding the thought of the non-identical, fall in radically completed enlightenment back into the darkest form of mythology. In arguing for this in the question implied observation of enlightenment's fallback, the paper analyses Adorno's and Horkheimer's critique of enlightenment and its relapse due to excluding the non-identical, suggesting that emotions and memory represent this non-identical. As the darkest form of mythology Adorno is referring to is not to be understood as a myth itself but actually happened with the Holocaust, the paper then demonstrates how enlightenment, chiefly its exclusion of the non-identical, led to central conditions of the Holocaust that Adorno named ‘Auschwitz’. As enlightenment, according to Adorno, remains in its relapse, the paper finally discusses how his philosophy after Auschwitz advocates for the reintegration of the non-identical, mainly through the recollection of the past and the remembrance of nature within the subject.
The Fifth Generation of Revolution Studies. Part II: A Systematic Review of Substantive Findings (Revolution Causes, Forms, and Waves)
Authors: Korotayev Andrey , Ustyuzhanin Vadim , Grinin Leonid , Fain Egor
Published: November 2024

The article is the first part of our systematic review of substantive findings of fifth-generation revolution studies, building on the examination of the emergence and characteristics of this generation contained in the first article in the series. Our systematic review is divided into two parts. This first part specifically considers the following areas of research explored by fifth-generation scholars: First, we examine the factors and causes of armed and unarmed revolutionary events. These include economic, political, socio-demographic, and other factors, the majority of which exert a differential effect on the probability of armed versus unarmed revolutionary destabilization. Second, we examine the factors that influence the decision of participants to adopt a violent or non-violent tactic in revolutionary action. This analysis considers the structural factors, which are dependent on external conditions, and the agent factors, which are dependent on the characteristics of revolutionary movements. Third, we analyze the emergence of concepts such as ‘coupvolutions’ and ‘analogues of revolutions’ within the context of the fifth generation of the theory of revolution. Finally, we examine the phenomenon of the spread of revolutionary events, which is also known as revolutionary waves or the ‘diffusion’ of revolutions, and the mechanisms that drive it.
Effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in post-stroke depression and anxiety disorders: a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind study
Authors: Kalaoğlu Eser , Kesiktaş Fatma Nur , Bucak Ömer Faruk , Atasoy Mücahit , Günderci Azad
Published: November 2024

Objective:

Our aim was to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture in post-stroke depression/anxiety disorders and to determine whether it reduces the need for anxiolytic and sedative drug use.

Methods:

This study included 54 stroke patients with depression and/or anxiety disorder. Patients were randomly assigned to the acupuncture treatment group (n = 27) or the control group (n = 27). A conventional rehabilitation program was applied to all patients and acupuncture was performed twice a week for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated blindly by a psychiatrist at baseline (week 0), week 4 and week 8, using the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A), and drug doses were adjusted when necessary. The HAM-D and HAM-A scores at week 4 were pre-specified as the two primary outcome measures.

Results:

Within each group, there was a significant decrease in the mean scores of HAM-D and HAM-A at weeks 4 and 8. No between-group differences in HAM-A or HAM-D scores were seen at 4 weeks but there was a significant decrease in HAM-D scores in favor of the acupuncture group at week 8 (p < 0.025). At week 4, the number of cases whose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) dose was increased was found to be significantly higher in the control group.

Conclusion:

While the study was negative with respect to its primary outcomes, the findings with respect to certain secondary outcomes suggests further research is warranted to determine if acupuncture treatment is an effective/safe treatment to alleviate post-stroke depression/anxiety.

Trial registration number:

NCT04283591 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Interrelationship Between Physiological and Psychological Wellness During Lockdown with Reduced Noise Levels: A Conceptual Perspective
Authors: Sahni Sunpreet , Mehta Sandhya
Published: November 2024

The article is an attempt to delve into the complex interplay between physical and psychological wellness, for pre, during and post-pandemic span, concentrating on the influence of noise levels. This conceptual investigation aims to categorise the documented studies into different sections and explicate their comparison pertaining to the dimensions and outcomes of the studies. A conceptual framework that aligns with the dimensions has been structured, in reference to the prior studies, and has been validated in aggregate. The path model substantiates how exposure to noise has positive, as well as, negative impacts on physiological and mental health, further, resulting in affirmative or damaging results on human wellness and productivity. In addition, the paper is a contribution to the theoretical domain which endeavours to identify the research voids and suggests new arenas for future research. The outcomes will facilitate the health care policymakers for formulating policies for promoting health, besides, the academic researchers to investigate, globally.
Protective Effect of 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol) on Respiratory System: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis from Animal Studies
Authors: Liu Jie , Liu Xingde , Xiong Xiaoman , Zheng Yuhua , Rao Rui , Li Wen
Published: November 2024

Background

1,8-Cineole is used in traditional folk medicine to treat various diseases. This study evaluates the protective effects of 1,8-cineole on the respiratory system by investigating its impact on inflammatory factors in animal studies.

Materials and Methods

We conducted searches in PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and the Web of Science databases until December 2023. This study utilized Get Data Graph Digitizer 2.26, EndNote, and RevMan 5.4. The random effects model and standard mean difference (SMD) were applied for data analysis.

Results

The results showed tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (SMD: −8.19, 95% CI: −11.30 to −5.08, p < 0.00001), interleukin (IL)-6 (SMD: −7.38, 95% CI: −10.61 to −4.15, p < 0.00001), IL-1β (SMD: −19.18, 95% CI: −32.57 to −5.79, p = 0.005), NF-κB (SMD: −6.26, 95% CI: −7.88 to −4.65, p < 0.00001), neutrophils (SMD: −8.16, 95% CI: −11.65 to −4.67, p < 0.00001), and macrophages (SMD: −5.06, 95% CI: −8.06 to −2.05, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

The study suggests that 1,8-cineole significantly inhibits the expression of inflammatory factors, indicating its potential for further study and development.
Endobronchial Stent—A Novel Procedure for Refractory Bronchomalacia in a Three-week Neonate with Complex Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: HA Venkatesh , Devaramani Manjunath , Panigrahi Nikita , NS Devanand , Yadavalli Reddiprasad , Mysore Sathyanarayan
Published: November 2024

Bronchomalacia (BM) is defined as excessive collapsibility of one or both of the mainstem bronchi and/or their divisions at the lobar or segmental level. The cause can be primary structural deformity or extrinsic compression and is commonly associated with congenital heart disease. Here we report an interesting case of a 3-week-old neonate with complex congenital heart disease with persistent left lung collapse postoperatively and diagnosed to have severe BM. Extrinsic compression was ruled out. He underwent internal bronchial stenting for the same. The gastrostomy and fundoplication were performed because of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease and he was discharged home successfully on room air with a gastrostomy tube in situ.
Classroom as Organization: Then, Now, and Next
Authors: Speights Sabrina L. , Holbrook Elizabeth R. , Chappell Stacie F. , Thomas Debby R.
Published: November 2024

Classroom as Organization (CAO) is a highly experiential teaching approach that transforms the classroom into a functioning, student-run organization. CAO emerged during the early days of the organizational behavior field and continues today. While CAO research has a rich history in the Journal of Management Education and its predecessors, this article marks the first comprehensive literature review on the topic. We review the CAO literature, trace the development of this methodology, and create a visual map of the key models. By exploring CAO’s past and present, the aim is to distill key insights about this method and outline avenues for more educators to adopt this innovative and empowering teaching methodology in the future. We conclude by calling for continued empirical research (at the class and program levels) and intentional community building to support faculty and encourage broader adoption of CAO.
Adult Diagnosis of ADHD in Women: A Mixed Methods Investigation
Authors: Babinski Dara E. , Libsack Erin J.
Published: November 2024

Objective:

The goal of this study was to examine the experiences of women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood.

Methods:

Benefits and costs associated with obtaining the diagnosis were examined in two focus groups conducted virtually. Factors hindering and facilitating the identification, assessment, and subsequent treatment of ADHD were also explored. Focus groups were conducted virtually and together included 14 women ( Mage = 39.43, SD = 6.37) who were diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood.

Results:

The majority of women described numerous benefits of receiving a diagnosis of ADHD, including validation/self-compassion, adaptive coping, and social support. Negative aspects of the diagnosis, including difficulties accessing care, the burden of care, limitations to existing evidence-based treatments, and stigma were also identified by some women. Furthermore, women described variable diagnostic experiences, with many indicating that they had not recognized their own symptoms of ADHD, as well as diagnostic complexity and other factors that masked identification of ADHD. Women described a range of diagnostic assessment procedures, as well as considerable self-advocacy to convince their providers to consider the diagnosis of ADHD.

Conclusion:

These lived experiences of women diagnosed with ADHD provide critical insight into improving clinical care for ADHD in women. Recommendations to increase accurate and timely identification of ADHD in women and advance efforts toward effective and equitable care are discussed.
Epidemiological Analysis of Psoriasis in China from 2020 to 2022
Authors: Yuan Feng , Cao Lu , Lu Lingyi , Wang Sihan , Jiang Fan , Lin Bingjiang
Published: November 2024

Background:

Psoriasis is a persistent inflammatory skin condition driven by an immune response and influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The high likelihood of disease recurrence has been a major concern for many patients, while the concurrent presence of other conditions has significantly impacted their quality of life.

Objective:

To improve early detection of and treatment for patients by studying the epidemiological characteristics of patients with psoriasis in China.

Methods:

The Psoriasis Real-World Big Data Collection Platform was initiated by the National Skin and Immune Diseases Clinical Medical Research Center (Beijing First Hospital of Peking University) in August 2020. During the period from August 2020 to June 2022, a total of 1012 hospitals across the nation participated in data entry. This article presents an epidemiological feature analysis based on the real case questionnaire survey form collected over the past 2 years.

Results:

The prevalence of psoriasis is highest among young and middle-aged men, affecting largely the skin area. Factors such as smoking, obesity, and family history are likely to influence disease onset. In this study’s data, the limbs and trunk were the most common sites for psoriasis onset, with cardiovascular disease being the most prevalent comorbidity. Topical corticosteroid creams are frequently used in treatment by Chinese patients, along with a notable proportion opting for oral Chinese medicine for systemic treatment. Secukinumab is the primary choice when utilizing biological agents.

Conclusion:

The actual data of patients with psoriasis from 2020 to 2022 offer crucial insights into the disease progression among the Chinese psoriasis population in recent years. Through an analysis of patient characteristics and treatment modalities, it furnishes valuable guidance for the prevention, early detection, and management of psoriasis.
Struggle over visibility on Douyin: How transnational influencers who create content about Myanmar strategically negotiate the cybercriminal identity
Authors: Zhang Ming , Liu Yuxin
Published: November 2024

The evolution of social media platforms has provided opportunities for diasporic Chinese individuals and foreigners settled in China to transition into content creators, utilizing their transitional creator identities to negotiate algorithmic visibility and cultivate audiences with an appetite for novel or cosmopolitan interpretations of Chineseness. However, due to the stigmatization of Burmese individuals as cybercriminals, transnational influencers creating content about Myanmar has encountered a complex phenomenon fraught with challenges. In this exploratory study, we focus on the visibility labour among three transnational influencers creating content about Myanmar, examining their strategies for managing digital visibility on Douyin and negotiating the cybercriminal associations linked to their Burmese heritage. Through our netnographic research, we identify the intricate interaction of nationalism, gender, sexuality, and entrepreneurship in shaping their identity negotiation and pursuit of digital visibility.
The fragility of truth: Social epistemology in a time of polarization and pandemic
Authors: Kirmayer Laurence J.
Published: November 2024

This essay introduces a thematic issue of Transcultural Psychiatry presenting selected papers from the 2022 McGill Advanced Study Institute in Cultural Psychiatry on “The Fragility of Truth: Social Epistemology in a Time of Polarization and Pandemic.” The COVID-19 pandemic, political polarization, and the climate crisis have revealed that large segments of the population do not trust the best available knowledge and expertise in making vital decisions regarding their health, the governance of society, and the fate of the planet. What guides information-seeking, trust in authority, and decision-making in each of these domains? Articles in this issue include case studies of the dynamics of misinformation and disinformation; the adaptive functions and pathologies of belief, paranoia, and conspiracy theories; and strategies to foster and maintain diverse knowledge ecologies. Efforts to understand the psychological dynamics of pathological conviction have something useful to teach us about our vulnerability as knowers and believers. However, this individual psychological account needs to be supplemented with a broader social view of the politics of knowledge and epistemic authority that can inform efforts to create healthy information ecologies and strengthen the civic institutions and practices needed to provide well-informed pictures of the world as a basis for deliberative democracy, pluralism, and co-existence.
Investigating parental perspectives of the enablers and barriers to communication with their preterm infants: A narrative study
Authors: Petty Julia , Harding Celia , Whiting Lisa
Published: November 2024

Learning to communicate with infants in a neonatal unit setting is challenging. Parents need time and support to feel confident and acquire skills that enable them to care for, be close to, and communicate with their infant. This qualitative, narrative-based study sought to investigate parents’ understanding of factors that enhance or prevent the development of early communication and interaction between preterm infants and parents within a neonatal setting. Our study used a narrative interview approach with eight parents of premature infants, to explore the enablers and challenges to communication. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed four main themes: Impact of being in the neonatal unit, different communication strategies, communication barriers and an ongoing need for support at home. Our findings provide parental insight into communication between themselves and their premature infants. Overall, parents spoke highly of communication strategies that they were taught but it was clear they received varying advice and support, in the neonatal unit and post-discharge. There is a need for clear, consistent, and culturally appropriate communication strategies with greater awareness of how to facilitate them. Since failure to enable parent–infant interactions may potentially mean delayed language development, there is an essential need for tailored parent-accessible resources.