bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Displacing the Constitution: Modernity, Sovereignty and Crisis in Interwar Romania
Authors: Cercel Cosmin Sebastian
Published: November 2024

By a legal historical analysis of the context of the interwar period, it seeks to uncover the ideological infrastructure subjacent to the constitutional project of the interwar period, placing Romanian constitutional thought and practice in a proper international context. By tracing the changes within the practice of emergency and the shifting status of sovereign power within the years following the institution of the Constitution of 1923, it moves towards examining the affirmation of authoritarian features of unbound state power in the Constitution of 1938, the first dictatorial constitution in Romanian modernity.
Imaginary of Post-National European Constitutionalism: Lessons from Central European Philosophy, Sociology and Jurisprudence
Authors: Přibáň Jiří
Published: November 2024

The article focuses on the paradoxes of constitutional identity and the impact of constitutional sovereignty on post-sovereign European society and politics. It uses post-1989 constitutional and social transformations in Central European countries, the rise of constitutional populism and identitarian politics to argue that the nation state continues to operate through the principle of constitutional sovereignty even in the EU’s post-sovereign constitutional constellation. It thus proves that democratic politics is identity politics even in post-sovereign and post-national politics and the EU’s supranational organisation has to respond to the constitutional and political identity question through its own structures and semantics. The central argument, therefore, revisits classic notions of social and constitutional theory such as the distinctions between community and society, ethnos and demos or authenticity and alienation to outline the persistence of nationalism and its varieties in contemporary constitutional populism in Central Europe. While recognising that the nation state continues to be the only organisation to successfully combine rational efficiency and communal bonds constituted by the national identity, the EU’s response to the challenges of constitutional populism and nationalism needs to enhance its democratic legitimation and constitutionally integrate the imaginaries of European public spheres and demoicracy to promote an anti-explosive alternative to the explosive nationalist imaginaries.
The Essence of the Right to Property under Art 1 of Protocol 1 to the echr: An Inviolable Core or a Purely Symbolic Concept? Cases from Central and Eastern Europe revisited
Authors: Harzl Benedikt C. , Mickonytė Aistė
Published: November 2024

It is inherent to the fundamental right to property that far from being absolute, the owners’ rights may be limited in the general interest. As exemplified recently by unprecedented closures of restaurants and other businesses due to the covid-19 pandemic, also large-scale and far-reaching limitations are broadly deemed justified. The outer boundary of these limitations appears to be the essence of the right, which may not be impinged upon. Yet, both this very term and its scope are fiercely contested. This article, thus, revisits the “essence” of a fundamental right in the context of the European Convention on Human Rights. Drawing on the example of the right to property under Art 1 of Protocol 1 (P1-1) to the echr, this contribution expounds the prevailing approaches to the essence of fundamental rights and highlights the discrepancies between the formally adopted absolute approach to the essence as a purportedly inviolable core and the relative understanding of this concept which sees it as part of the fair-balance test. As the ECtHR case law makes room for virtually any interference with P1-1 including expropriation without any compensation, it will be argued that an untouchable or pre-established essence is not a concept attributable to the right to property under the Convention. It is maintained, however, that the limited scope of the essence is consistent with the underlying principles of the Convention as well as the intrinsic social function of private property.
Effective Judicial Protection of EU Law and Romanian Courts: Winding Through Res Judicata and State Liability
Authors: Tănăsescu Elena Simina , Pintilie Constantin
Published: November 2024

Effective judicial protection of EU law is a tool that has been devised by the case law of the ecj and then codified into EU treaties, but matching judicial remedies are still sought, both at supranational and at national level. While State liability enjoys the favors of the ecj at supranational level, some Member States have conceived special remedies that go as far as to challenge res judicata in order to protect substantive rights conferred to individuals by EU law. This paper presents the special remedy created by Romanian law, which allows re-opening of final court decisions if primacy of EU law has been disregarded, as examined by the ecj. It is our conclusion that, in the absence of legal harmonization in the area of procedural law, res judicata remains a powerful tool in the hands of national courts and the effective protection of EU substantive rights is still in search of a remedy more efficient than the theoretical state liability.
The Influence of the European Court of Justice and the Role of Social Imaginaries in EU Governance
Authors: Agha Petr
Published: November 2024

The years following 1989 marked a significant period of transformation for the European Union (EU), supplemented with the arrival of a distinct institutional framework. Central to this evolution is the European Court of Justice (ecj), which has exerted momentous influence, reshaping the power dynamics within the EU. This paper investigates influence of the ecj in helping to set up a novel trajectory of the European project, namely the shift towards what is termed “liberal constitutionalism,” characterized by a top-down, legal-centric approach. Amidst this evolution, the concept of populism emerges not only as a significant political force challenging established norms, reflecting tensions between institutional frameworks and socio-political realities, but also as conceptual lens through which the mainstream academia and European institution explain the challenges the European project has been facing. The dichotomy between established governance systems, such as the rule of law and emergent discontent, most commonly referred to as populism gave birth to the notion of “anti-populism” as a way to counteract the populist challenges to the European project. Furthermore, it studies the role of emergencies in perpetuating the status quo within EU governance, highlighting how crises are employed to justify executive overreach. To this end, this paper delves into three intertwined social imaginaries that emerged from the discourse surrounding post-1989 transformations. The first imaginary, “Western normality,” influenced the trajectory of cee societies post-Iron Curtain. The second, termed “expertocracy,” championed a procedural approach to decision-making, prioritizing experts over mass democracy. Finally, the concept of the “politics of emergency” arose as a tool to surpass the post- political landscape within the EU. These constructs significantly impact how the rule of law (rol) is perceived, applied, and contested.
Evolution of Kenyan Citizenship Regime: Pre- and Post-2010 Eras
Authors: Kenyatta Gloria N.
Published: November 2024

Debates on citizenship are never conclusive as this is an evolving idea and practice. Formal citizenship in Kenya has its genesis prior to independence when the country was drafting its 1963 Independence Constitution. Before then, most Kenyans were considered subjects by the colonial administration, governed by a racialised hierarchical colonial order. This phenomenon changed in postcolonial Kenya as the nation’s primary focus was on eliminating these racial hierarchies to include those previously excluded as citizens. However, some of the statutory provisions on citizenship were contentious as they promoted discrimination and inequalities. The endorsement of Kenya’s new constitution in 2010 is termed transformative as it addresses the controversial provisions on citizenship. Through secondary source research, this paper aims to trace the development of formal citizenship in Kenya from colonial times to date and maps out the milestones made over time and space in citizenship on its acquisition, duality and statelessness.
The Brutalization of Diplomacy?
Authors: Lafont Rapnouil Manuel
Published: November 2024

It may be that diplomacy is not just meeting with a more difficult international system, but that it is actually under deliberate attack. Diplomatic communication is turning conflictual. More diplomats seem to be declared personæ non gratæ. Multilateral institutions are plunged into deliberate deadlocks. Manipulations of information hollow out the diplomatic debate. Diplomatic processes are set up only to provide cover for the pursuit of military operations. In a nutshell, diplomacy has to put up with a more competitive, transactional, distrustful, fragmented and contested space. While it has been defined as ‘the management of separateness’, it may be faced with actors who are choosing radical separation as a political strategy. To deal with this deliberate ‘brutalization’, diplomacy will need hardened capabilities, but it will also need to reinvest in a number of policy issues on which it will need to perform better.
Two new species of Diamesinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the Central Iranian Range and Elburz Mountains (Iran), with new faunistic records for the subfamily
Authors: GHADERI EDRIS , NAMAYANDEH ARMIN , IBRAHIMI HALIL , MOHAMMADI HABIBOLLAH , KARIMIAN ERFAN , MANSOURI ARMAN , MOLODI FARSHAD
Published: November 2024

As part of our continuous investigation into the biodiversity of Chironomidae of Iran, we expanded our collection area to the Elburz Mountains and the Central Iranian Range in East Azerbaijan and Kurdistan Provinces. As a result of this, we discovered and described Diamesa sahandensis sp. nov. and Sympotthastia golalae sp. nov., two new Diamesinae, adding to the diversity of these genera in Iran and the Palaearctic region. We also provide new Iranian faunistic records, Diamesa kasymovi Kownacka et Kownacki, 1973, describe its female for the first time, and provide an updated key to the adult males of Sympotthastia Pagast, 1947. Based on the molecular analysis of cytochrome oxidase (COI) genes and methods for delimiting species, the average interspecific distance between S. golalae sp. nov. and other species of Sympotthastia was high enough (13.9%) to maintain a species level.
Magnetic Dipole and Quadrupole Interaction Fields of Neutron Star
Authors: Kumssa Gemechu , Kebede Legesse
Published: November 2024

Neutron stars (NSs) are rapidly rotating entities, spinning at approximately 104 Hz, and possess extremely strong magnetic fields, ranging from 1013 to 1014 Gauss. These compact objects, characterized by a radius of about 10 kilometers and a density of 1013−14, gcm−3 are formed as a result of supernova explosions that mark the end of the life cycles of massive stars. Observations of electromagnetic emissions associated with curvature radiation from well-known pulsars, such as the Crab and Vela pulsars, provide compelling evidence that the magnetic field configuration near the surfaces of these neutron stars deviates significantly from the traditionally anticipated pure dipole structure. Researchers now propose that the inclusion of non-dipolar components in the magnetic field may address this longstanding discrepancy. Furthermore, the arrangement of magnetic field lines plays a crucial role in determining the characteristics and geometry of accretion discs surrounding neutron stars in binary systems. This study has focused on elucidating the geometry of the combined dipole and quadrupole magnetic field lines. In idealized scenarios, the magnetic field lines in proximity to these compact objects are typically closed; however, they may become open at greater distances due to interactions with external magnetic fields or the stress energy generated by other sources, including the accretion discs.
Soil Fertility Management Practice Among Arable Crop Farmers in Ifedore Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria
Authors: Owolabi Kehinde , Omorinkoba Aduragbemi , Makanjuola Oluwaseun
Published: November 2024

The research was conducted to understand the farming system with regards to soil fertility management practices among rural food crop growers in the local government of Ifedore in Ondo State. A multistage, random, and cluster technique of sampling was employed to choose 120 respondents for the research, descriptive and inferential statistics were both utilized to analyze results. Investigations showed that the average age was 47.5 years which implies that a significant number of arable crop farmers are active and predominantly in their Middle Ages, the overall farm average was 3.7 hectares, indicating that the majority of respondents were small-scale farmers, the average number of crop growers’ children was 4 children, the average farming experience in years is 18.7 years, indicating that most farmers had significant experience in arable crop production. A majority of the farmers practiced crop rotation and alley cropping. A majority (71.7%) of farmers received information on soil fertility management through radio. 58.3% of the farmers practiced intercropping as an indigenous soil fertility management practice. The correlation outcome showed that years of farming experience and soil fertility management techniques are significantly correlated. The chi-square result indicated that no significance exists between the source of soil fertility knowledge and the management techniques for soil fertility. As a result, it is necessary that considering the significance, programs should be implemented to improve soil fertility management techniques among arable farmers in the research region.
Exploring Effective Strategies: Guided Discovery in Teaching Surface Area of a Cylinder
Authors: Kpotosu Christian , Cudjoe Nicholas , Armah Henry
Published: November 2024

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of implementing the Guided Discovery approach on students’ ability to determine the Surface Area of a Cylinder. The research study employed an explanatory-sequential mixed-methods design to instruct a sample of 80 students from a school situated in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The participants were put into an experimental group with no control group. Data was collected using Mathematics Achievement Test MAT and interviews through focus group discussions. The quantitative data was subjected to analysis using two software programs: the Statistical Package for Service Solutions (SPSS version 26.0) and Microsoft Excel 2019 and the qualitative data was analysed thematically. The data was subjected to analysis using descriptive statistics, specifically frequency counts and percentages, as well as inferential statistics, specifically t-tests. The findings indicate a statistically significant difference in the academic achievement of students who were instructed in the concept of the Surface Area of a Cylinder using the Guided Discovery approach. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference observed in the post-test scores between male and female students after their exposure to the Guided Discovery method for teaching the Surface Area of a Cylinder. It was also found that students demonstrated positive experiences (clarity, interest, and lesson presentation) when learning with the Guided Discovery. Hence, it is suggested that mathematics educators should utilise the Guided Discovery approach to instruct students on mathematical concepts, to stimulate students' engagement and enthusiasm towards the subject matter.
Influence of Digital Skills Acquisition on Perceived Employability Prospects of Accounting Education Students: Moderating Role of Geographic Location and Family Income
Authors: Joshua Samson , Apuru Jonathan
Published: November 2024

This study determined the influence of digital skills acquisition on perceived employability prospects of accounting education students: moderating effects of geographic location and family income level. Three null hypotheses were formulated and tested at .05 level of significance. Related literature pertinent to the study were reviewed which exposed the need for the study. Correlational research design was adopted using a population of 206 accounting education students in Universities in North Central Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was developed by the researchers for data collection. A reliability test of the instrument was also conducted and analyzed using Cronbach Alpha coefficient method and yielded an overall reliability coefficient of 0.86. Data generated from the use of the questionnaire was analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) for the research hypotheses respectively at 0.05 level of significance. Findings reveal a strong positive influence of digital skills acquisition on perceived employability prospects of accounting education students. There is a significant negative correlation between geographic location and family income level with digital skills acquisition and perceived employability prospects. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that there should be sustainable power supply and adequate provision of digital equipment to educational institutions in order to keep the students abreast skills demand after graduation for employable opportunities.
Optimizing Malagasy Agricultural Productivity and Its Contribution to the Growth of Economy
Authors: Camille Andriamiadanomenjanahary , Fabien Randrianasolo , Tsiory Razafindrazaka
Published: November 2024

This present article addresses the optimization of agricultural productivity in Madagascar. In accordance and in line with the government's policy for Madagascar Development, the Ministry of Agriculture (GSP: General State Policy) has adopted development project plans focused on improving the standard of living of the rural world and, above all, the economic situation. At present, the rate of agricultural production is steadily declining over time and space, but according to INSTAT (Malagasy Institute of Statistical), 85% of the Malagasy population are farmers. Therefore, in the context of improving Malagasy agriculture, what are the main factors behind this decline? Since Malagasy citizens contribute to the development of the nation, we have chosen as the theme of our research project: The improvement of agricultural products in Madagascar. According to our field results, the structure of the soil's organic elements has been destroyed (soil infertility, favoring and dominance of various defective insects). What are the causes of this destruction? In addition, we found that the overuse of chemical fertilizers and chemical products applied to treat insects is one of the main factors. This research project is divided into three main parts: firstly, a feasibility study. Next, the scientific presentation of the project, and finally, the results and cost estimates.
A Study on the International Management Strategy of Small and Medium Enterprises in Thailand
Authors: Zhang Chuanling , U-on Vichit
Published: November 2024

In the context of global economic integration, information technology accelerates economic transformation, international division of labor, and enterprise competitiveness in the global development chain. As a result, international management has become a critical strategy for businesses seeking to enhance competitiveness and ensure sustainable development. For Thailand’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), economic globalization presents both new opportunities and challenges. However, much of the current research on international management in Thailand focuses on large corporations, leaving SMEs underexplored, particularly in their internationalization strategies. This study employs a qualitative research methodology, involving a comprehensive literature review, case studies, and interviews with key stakeholders in Thai SMEs. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify core challenges and strategies for SME internationalization. The research takes a problem-solving approach, examining the inevitability of SME internationalization in Thailand. It explores key issues such as the feasibility of international operations, critical success factors, and the role of government policy in supporting international management efforts. The findings reveal that Thai SMEs face substantial pressure to internationalize due to the increasing globalization of domestic markets. However, their success in international ventures is contingent on addressing internal challenges such as limited resources, strategic planning deficiencies, and external issues like regulatory barriers and competitive pressures in the international arena. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of SME internationalization by expanding the focus to smaller enterprises, which have been largely overlooked in the Thai context. Practically, the study offers strategic recommendations for Thai SMEs to enhance their international management capabilities. It also highlights the critical role of government policies in facilitating successful SME internationalization, providing actionable insights for both business leaders and policymakers.
Direct and Indirect Effects of Yield Related Traits on Seed Yield in Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica Carinata A. BRAUN) Genotypes
Authors: Abu Mohammed , Mengistu Birhanu
Published: November 2024

Understanding trait association is essential to increasing the effectiveness of crop plant improvement selection. In order to ascertain the direct and indirect effects of yield-related traits on Ethiopian mustard seed yield, as well as the extent of trait relationships, this study was carried out at the Holetta Agricultural Research Center's main station in 2020 and 2021. The study employed 23 advanced genotypes and two standard checks, Tesfa and Deresh. A 5 x 5 simple lattice design was used to set up the experiment. The SAS 9.3(2014) software was used to analyze the data on days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, yield per plot, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, and number of pods per plant. Calculating the relative efficiency of randomized complete block design versus simple lattice design, 123% was found. Simple path coefficient and correlation coefficient analyses were conducted, and the significance and effects were evaluated in accordance with the standards set by various biometricians. The genotypes that were tested differed significantly, as demonstrated by the analysis of variance. All traits were positively and significantly correlated, both at the genotypic and phenotypic levels, with seed yield per plot, according to the correlation coefficient analysis. All traits had a positive and highest direct effect on seed yield, according to phenotypic and genotypic path coefficient analysis.
Estimation of Yield Loss Due to Potato Late Blight in Lukanga Village of Lubero Territory/Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Abishay Katembo , Germain Kasereka , Alphonse Katembo , Grâce Kasi , Phalek Kasereka
Published: November 2024

Late Blight is one of important diseases of potato. This disease is present in the agro-ecological environment of Lubero. As a matter of concern, this study aims at assessing the level of tolerance of three potato varieties to this disease and estimating the loss in yield. For this reason, an experiment was carried out in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences of the Adventist University of Lukanga in the main season of 2023, with an experimental device with complete random blocks. Three potato varieties (Carolus, Kinigi and Sarpo mira) were used with fungicide treatment and non-treatment to estimate the yield loss due to Late Blight. The data concerned the rate of attack of foliar Late Blight and the parameters of potato yield under natural infection. The results showed that tolerance varies from a variety to another, considering the three varieties and is very significant (p<0.001). The Carolus variety was more susceptible with a value of the area under the disease progression curve (AUDPC = 1030) and the Sarpo mira variety the most resistant (AUDPC = 0.000). For the loss of yield, it also varies depending on varieties and is proportional to the susceptibility to foliar Late Blight. It was between 2 and 70% respectively for Sarpo mira and Carolus. Sarpo mira variety, being the most resistant, must both be used for sustainable agriculture that respects the environment and taken in potato breeding program.
Parametric Design of Scroll-shaped Pylon of Single Tower Cable-stayed Bridge
Authors: Shi Zheng , Bai Zhijuan , Xing Wu , Kai Wang
Published: November 2024

Using single-tower cable-stayed bridge as example, this article introduces the design and construction process of a cable-stayed bridge with a scroll-shaped tower, as well as the optimization process and detailed design process of the steel structure of the scroll-shaped part of the bridge pylon.Based on Rhino+Grasshopper software, parametric design was used to design the bridge tower's shape while ensuring the balance of tower strength, stiffness, and stability. The shape was designed as close to the original landscape plan as possible, and the following work was conducted: (1) Determination of the the pylon’s overall proportion, based on Golden Section principle, including the size of three main elliptical sections at the top, bottom, and waist, as well as the determination of the circular arc transition in the middle, the pylon shape match perfectly with the landscape plan; (2) The shape of the tower crown is found by the golden section ratio plus helix, and the structure of the tower crown adopts double shell. The structural calculation shows that the strength and stiffness of the double shell meet the requirements when the inner and outer layers are 10~12mm thick and the ring stiffening +1 circle and 20 vertical stiffening every 1.5m; (3) To find the shape of the pylon’s turned edge, according to the shape of the rotary rising edge from the original model, by constructing the parameter of the control point, and generating the integral shape, adjusting the parameter until the shape meets the original pylon model. (4) After the concrete scroll edge and the main tower bottom are cast together, the stress distribution of the tower foundation scroll edge under permanent load, live load, and overall temperature rise and fall conditions is analyzed, and the proportion of its force sharing with the main tower is calculated, calculation shows that the main force of the flange is compression, which is consistent with the main tower structure. Only under the most unfavorable conditions with the maximum bending moment, there is a small tensile stress in the flange.
Systematic Upstream Large-Scale Control of Subtropical Low-Cloud Properties
Authors: Lewis Hamish , Bellon Gilles
Published: November 2024

It has recently been shown that the slow adjustment of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) to perturbations of the large-scale atmospheric conditions translates into an upstream control of the low-cloud cover (LCC) variability at climatological time scales in the subtropics. In this study, we expand upon this recent study to investigate upstream control of the climatology of low-cloud-radiative effect (CRE), as well as cloud properties relevant to their radiative effect: cloud liquid water path (LWP) and cloud optical depth (COD). We use machine learning statistical models with feature selection capabilities (random forests) to determine the influence of the local and upstream large-scale conditions in monthly data. These conditions are determined using backtrajectories in monthly mean wind fields. Total CRE, dominated by the shortwave contribution, exhibits a dependence on upstream estimated inversion strength (EIS), but not on upstream sea surface temperature (SST) as LCC does. Upstream control of COD was present but was not as consistent as LCC or CRE across different regions and cloud regimes, while LWP does not exhibit strong upstream control at all. This implies that the control of other boundary layer properties could explain the differences in response between LCC and CRE to SST and EIS. Looking at five subtropical eastern basins, it appears that key lead times are region specific. The inclusion of upstream control provides significant improvements to the predictive skill of statistical models over local linear regression, with improvements in variance explained well over 20% in many cases.
The world renouncer and man-in-the-world: Revisiting an old paradigm
Authors: Olivelle Patrick
Published: November 2024

This article is a critical re-evaluation of Louis Dumont’s theory of the opposition between the man-in-the-world and the world renouncer within traditional Indian society. Drawing on new research into gṛhastha, the most common indigenous term for a householder, the article shows that Dumont’s theory is basically flawed. When due attention is paid to historical developments within Hinduism, the grhastha and the renouncer ( pravrajita) are seen as complementary and sharing a common ideology. Contrary to Dumont’s basic thesis, the individual is conceptually very much alive within society and not just within its repudiation in the institution of world renunciation.
Do We Contribute to Women's Empowerment? Insights From a Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Project Implemented in Nong, Laos
Authors: Gerber Manon , Bon Daniëlle M. , Bouahom Bounthanom , Broerse Jacqueline E.W. , Essink Dirk
Published: November 2024

Background

The gender-gap in power is still persistent around the globe. Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) interventions have been implemented to increase women's empowerment as a goal in itself, and as a pathway to food and nutrition security (FNS). However, contradicting evidence exists on whether the interventions, besides food security, realize women's empowerment. Furthermore, the concept of women's empowerment has different meanings across different cultures, regions, and countries.

Objective

To assess the understanding of, and perspectives on, women's empowerment among different stakeholders in the context of an NSA project in Laos, and to assess whether this project contributes to women's empowerment and FNS.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with local implementers of NSA interventions (n = 13) and senior program managers and advisors (n = 5). Six focus group discussions were conducted with community members (n = 46).

Results

Our findings reveal that community members had a materialistic understanding and local implementers an instrumental understanding, in contrast to senior program managers and advisors, who had an egalitarian understanding of women's empowerment. The level of women's empowerment in Nong was considered low by all respondents. Furthermore, respondents reported that the NSA interventions had a positive impact on FNS, but not on women's empowerment.

Conclusions

In a community in which both women's empowerment and FNS are low, working with women may contribute to FNS, but not necessarily contribute to women's empowerment. Nevertheless, from an emic perspective, women do feel more empowered as the interventions contributed to increased household capacity to address FNS.

Does our project lead to having enough food and improved women’s status in communities living in rural, mountainous areas in Laos?
Research on robust backstepping sliding mode control strategy for magnetorheological semi-active suspension based on quantized input signals
Authors: Xiong Xin , Chen Changzhuang , Zhu Bing , Liu Yaming , Li Zhihong , Xu Fei
Published: November 2024

To enhance control effectiveness and mitigate system oscillations in backstepping sliding mode control, a robust backstepping sliding mode control strategy based on a hysteretic quantizer is proposed for application in magnetorheological (MR) semi-active suspension (SAS) systems. To accurately predict the output current for precise control, a fuzzy neural network (FNN) is used to construct an inverse model for magnetorheological damper (MRD), input the current into the Dahl model and output the actual damping force. Based on the MRD inverse model, the robust term is introduced in the backstepping sliding mode control, and a hysteretic quantizer is used to quantify the controller input signals, avoiding the occurrence of oscillations and forming a complete closed-loop feedback control. Simulation results demonstrate that the FNN inverse model can accurately predict the control current. Compared to backstepping control and passive suspension, the robust backstepping sliding mode control strategy based on a hysteretic quantizer (RBSMC-HQ) reduces the root mean square (RMS) values of vehicle body acceleration by 37.59% and 44.82% respectively under A-Class road conditions, and by 41.93% and 44.84% respectively under B-Class road conditions. This control strategy effectively enhances the ride comfort and handling stability.
Comparative Efficacy of Family-Mediated Intervention Versus Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention on Developmental Domains in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ranjan Rajeev , Jain Meha , Sinha Muskan , Kumar Pankaj , Ahmad Shamshad , Maharshi Vikas
Published: November 2024

Background:

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood in which there is a deficit in social and communicative skill, and the child shows restricted and repetitive behavior. For children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, family-mediated intervention and early intensive behavioral intervention are considered standard of care. The study aimed to compare their efficacy on social skills and other developmental domains in our cultural context.

Methods:

This study was a parallel-arm, open-label, randomized active-controlled clinical trial. Fifty children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were randomly assigned to either the family-mediated intervention or early intensive behavioral intervention groups. Communication DEALL Developmental Checklist was applied at 0, 12, and 24 weeks.

Results:

The difference in the mean value of Communication DEALL Developmental Checklist at the end of 24 weeks from the initial value was significantly better in the family-mediated intervention as compared to the early intensive behavioral intervention group in social (mean difference = −16.8, 95% CI = −27.18, −6.49, p = .002) as well as fine motor, cognitive, and overall development. In other developmental domains of Communication DEALL Developmental Checklist, the family-mediated intervention group performed better in comparison to the early intensive behavioral intervention group at different time periods although not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

The results of the study indicated that, throughout the course of 24 weeks of treatment, autism spectrum disorder children in family-mediated intervention showed a distinct improvement in major developmental domains. Family-mediated intervention can be advocated for autism spectrum disorder children in our cultural context in view of improved functioning in major developmental domains in the background of our study findings.
Exploring Spiritual Care Competency in Palliative Medicine: A Narrative Inquiry of Physician Care Notes on Spiritual Distress
Authors: Chang Chia-Chen , Tung Chen-Yin , Seng Yuh-Wei , Tsai Jaw-Shiun
Published: November 2024

Background: Spiritual care is a critical component of hospice and palliative medicine; however, physicians frequently lack the necessary competencies to adequately address patients’ spiritual needs. This study aims to examine the spiritual care competencies of physicians as reflected in their care notes, thereby providing insights into their approaches for managing spiritual distress. Methods: A narrative inquiry approach was employed to qualitatively analyze interaction notes from 30 palliative care patients experiencing spiritual distress. Data were collected from a medical university professor’s care notes between April 2019 and February 2024. Results: The most common form of spiritual distress observed was reluctance to leave life, followed by loss of dignity. Physicians demonstrated expertise in holistic care, addressing physical, psychological, and spiritual needs with a comprehensive approach. Their demeanor reflects acceptance of mortality and acknowledgment of the limitations of medical care, helping foster gratitude and contentment in patients. Effective communication was pivotal, involving the conveyance of information, empathetic engagement, and active listening. Compassionate interactions emphasized the importance of spiritual care in patient-centered care delivery. Conclusions: Spiritual care competencies are essential for improving patient outcomes and advancing comprehensive palliative care. Future efforts should integrate these competencies into communication training within medical education to more effectively enhance health care providers’ competencies.
Using Candidates’ Tweets to Predict an Election Outcome
Authors: Afonso Francisco , Rita Paulo , António Nuno
Published: November 2024

Understanding social media’s role in political communication is crucial in the evolving media landscape. Motivated by the transformative impact of social media on political engagement and discourse, this research fills an under-explored academic gap, studying the effects of geographic focus—local versus national—in candidates’ tweets on U.S. Senate election outcomes. It reveals a modest but significant correlation between the nature of political discourse and election competitiveness. Interestingly, strict adherence to party-centric topics did not significantly influence electoral success. The study assessed the performance of regression and classification models in forecasting election outcomes, with classification models demonstrating superior results. Both models provide a new benchmark for future studies in political communication on social media. These findings bear considerable implications for political practitioners, indicating that election success is not merely guaranteed by echoing party-centric issues or predominantly adopting a national communication scope.
Contesting focality in global health governance: The World Health Organization-World Bank relationship in historical perspective
Authors: Gatti Francesco
Published: November 2024

Focal organisations are typically seen as the undisputed leaders in addressing specific cooperation problems. However, as global governance becomes increasingly fragmented and contested, even well-established organisations are now facing challenges to their traditionally unquestioned focality. Drawing on new theoretical insights, the article contends that the contestation of focal organisations is not a new phenomenon. On the contrary, most focal organisations experience challenges to their focality from their very establishment. At the same time, focal organisations are likely to respond to these challenges with tailored, ad hoc strategies. The article tests these expectations in the case of the global health governance complex, where the initial focality of the World Health Organization was contested by various actors since the outset. Among those contesting the World Health Organization’s focality, a prominent position was gained by the World Bank. By examining the interinstitutional relationship between the World Health Organization and the World Bank from the 1970s onwards, the article shows how this dynamic impacted the World Health Organization’s focality and influenced the broader evolution of the global health complex over the past decades.
A value-of-information-based optimal sensor placement design framework for cost-effective structural health monitoring (with application to miter gate monitoring)
Authors: Chadha Mayank , Hu Zhen , Farrar Charles R. , Todd Michael D.
Published: November 2024

Structural health monitoring (SHM) involves collecting information to assess the health of a structure, typically to guide risk-informed maintenance decision-making or predict limit state behavior throughout its lifespan. Although the value of information (VoI) obtained from an SHM system can facilitate improved decision-making, it is important to estimate its overall utility by considering the costs involved in designing, developing, installing, maintaining, and operating the system. A feasible SHM system provides greater expected returns resulting from data-informed lifecycle management decisions than the cost of the SHM system design, fabrication, deployment, operation, and maintenance. That is, since data acquisition is a precursor to data-informed decision-making, the design of an SHM system governs its feasibility. Such cost-benefit analyses are a current topic of research in the SHM community. One approach that has been proposed for these analyses is a preposterior decision analysis using the VoI metric. In this paper, we propose a sensor optimization framework that maximizes the VoI over the structure’s lifecycle, constrained by a pre-decided maintenance policy. We use two different VoI metrics: the traditional expected VoI and a gambling-theory-inspired normalized expected-savings-to-investmentrisk ratio. We introduce three time-normalized, unitless VoI metrics that are valuable for evaluating the performance of an SHM design over an extended period. Furthermore, we consider the effect of different risk profiles on the overall optimal sensor design, recognizing that the cost of decision-making depends on the utility and risk perception of the decision-maker. We conduct a detailed analysis on the marginal utility gain of gathered information as we add more sensors, observing the utility to diminish in line with the law of diminishing returns as the information content increases. This framework is applied to the design of an SHM system used for monitoring miter gates.
Risk factors and prognosis of depression in Takayasu arteritis patients
Authors: Zhang Yaxin , Fan Anyuyang , Du Juan , Shi Xuemei , Yang Shiyu , Gao Na , Pan Lili , Li Taotao
Published: November 2024

Background:

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is associated with an increased risk of developing complicated comorbidities, which can bring both psychological and physical burdens to the patients.

Objective:

TA is found to carry a high risk of developing depression. This research aimed to investigate the risk factors and prognosis of depression in TA patients.

Design:

A longitudinal observation cohort was conducted on TA patients with or without depression to explore the clinical characteristics.

Methods:

In this cohort study, 90 TA patients were split into two groups with or without depression. Depression was evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in TA patients. TA patients with depression were followed up for at least 3 months. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to find the risk factors and Kaplan–Meier curve analysis to determine the prognosis.

Results:

We concluded 90 TA patients in this research, 29 of whom were in depression. Indian Takayasu’s Arteritis Activity Score (ITAS2010) ⩾2 (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval, CI) 26.664 (2.004–354.741), p = 0.013), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (OR (95% CI) 1.070 (1.022–1.121), p = 0.004), prednisone equivalents (OR (95% CI) 1.101 (1.030–1.177), p = 0.005), and carotidynia (OR (95% CI) 5.829 (1.142–29.751), p = 0.034) have been shown independent risk factors for depression in TA patients. We also identified the association between disease remission with the improvement of HADS-D score (Log-rank p = 0.005, hazard ratio (HR) 0.25) and depression (Log-rank p = 0.043, HR 0.28).

Conclusion:

Aggressive treatment to achieve remission can promote improvement of depression in patients with TA. Screening for depression should also be performed in patients with elevated disease activity, IL-6, glucocorticoid use, and carotidynia.
Association of Atrial Fibrillation with Insomnia in the Elderly Population
Authors: Nguyen Justin , Mookerjee Neil , Koirala Prashant , Schmalbach Nicole , Antinori Gianna , Thampi Subhadra , Windle-Puente Dylan , Gilligan Amy , Huy Ha , Andrews Megha , Sun Angela , Gandhi Roshni , Benedict William , Chang Austin , Sanders Ben , Keesara Maanika Reddy , aliev Janet , Patel Aneri , Hughes Isaiah , Millstein Ian , Hunter Krystal , Roy Satyajeet
Published: November 2024

Introduction/Objectives:

Insomnia is a common sleep disorders that affects most individuals in the United States, and worldwide. Insomnia is linked with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in adults, although the strengths of association were weak, especially in the elderly population. AF is estimated to affect approximately 3 to 6 million people in the United States. We studied the association of AF with insomnia in the elderly population.

Methods:

We reviewed the electronic medical records of elderly patients who received care in an internal medicine office from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Patients were grouped into AF group, and a group without AF (NOAF). Association of insomnia and other variables were compared between the 2 groups.

Results:

Among 2428 patients, 341 (14%) had AF. Patients in the AF group were significantly older compared to no-AF group (80.3 ± 7.9 vs 76.1 ± 7.4 years; P < .001). A higher frequency of men was noted in AF group versus NOAF group (54.3 vs 42.0%; P < .001). The frequency of insomnia was significantly higher in AF group versus NOAF group (14.1 vs 9.5%; P < .05). Additionally, greater frequencies of associations of other comorbid medical conditions were noted in the AF group compared to NOAF group, such as cerebrovascular accident (CVA; 12.9 vs 5.4%; P < .001), transient ischemic attack (TIA; 7.0 vs 3.0%; P < .001), dementia (5.9 vs 3.3%; P < .05), coronary artery disease (CAD; 34.9 vs 18.3%; P < .001), congestive heart failure (CHF; 21.1 vs 3.8%; P < .001), other cardiac arrhythmias (53.4 vs 6.3%; P < .001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; 12.3 vs 5.7%; P < .001), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; 17.6 vs 11.8%; P = .003), chronic kidney disease (CKD; 22.9 vs 11.9%; P < .001), anemia (23.2 vs 13.0%; P < .001), and cancer (36.1 vs 27.9%; P = .002). There was significantly greater odds of AF in patients who had insomnia (OR = 1.972, CI = 1.360-2.851; P < .001).

Conclusion:

AF was associated with insomnia in the elderly population. Higher frequencies of association of AF were also seen with older age, male sex, White race, CVA, TIA, dementia, CAD, CHF, other cardiac arrhythmias, COPD, OSA, CKD, anemia, and cancer.
Book review: Pranab Kharel and Gaurab KC (Eds.), Practices of Sociology in Nepal
Authors: Ghosh Avilasha
Published: November 2024

Pranab Kharel and Gaurab KC (Eds.), Practices of Sociology in Nepal (Kathmandu: Vajra Publications, 2021), 212 pp., ₹1,100, ISBN: 978-9937-624-06-0 (Hardback).
Perspectives on drug development in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia: changing the paradigm
Authors: Hunter Anthony M. , Patnaik Mrinal M. , Itzykson Raphael , Mesa Ruben , Karanes Chatchada , Li Yanxia , de Claro R. Angelo , Norsworthy Kelly J. , Theoret Marc , Pulte Elizabeth , Padron Eric
Published: November 2024

Drug development for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) has failed to parallel the recent success observed in related myeloid neoplasms. To address these shortcomings, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a “Mini-symposium on CMML: Current State of the Art and Trial Design” in September 2023. This symposium brought together a panel of key FDA regulators and academic experts in CMML drug development to discuss challenges and provide perspectives on future drug development for this disease. The panel explored unique challenges that underlie the lack of therapeutic advances in CMML to date and discussed relevant topics such as clinical trial design, study end points, and key regulatory considerations. This article summarizes the key points of discussion from this symposium to facilitate advancements in the field.