bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Programming for Automatically Evolving Multiple Features to Classification
Authors: Wang Peng , Xue Bing , Liang Jing , Zhang Mengjie
Published: September 2024

Performing classification on high-dimensional data poses a significant challenge due to the huge search space. Moreover, complex feature interactions introduce an additional obstacle. The problems can be addressed by using feature selection to select relevant features or feature construction to construct a small set of high-level features. However, performing feature selection or feature construction might only make the feature set suboptimal. To remedy this problem, this study investigates the use of genetic programming for simultaneous feature selection and feature construction in addressing different classification tasks. The proposed approach is tested on 16 datasets and compared with seven methods including both feature selection and feature construction techniques. The results show that the obtained feature sets with the constructed and/or selected features can significantly increase the classification accuracy and reduce the dimensionality of the datasets. Further analysis reveals the complementarity of the obtained features leading to the promising classification performance of the proposed method.
The Relationship of Psychological and Somatic Well-Being in Patients
Authors: Shvaiko Yauhen G.
Published: September 2024

Background. Understanding of emotional aspects of painful experiences can significantly expand the therapeutic tools for both doctors and psychologists. Objective. The focus is placed on the study of the relationship between psychological and somatic well-being of patients with pain syndrome. Study Participants. Sample included 119 people: 57 men (average age 47.9 years) and 62 women (average age 46.5 years) from the number of outpatients of the treatment and prevention institution “City Health Center #12” (Minsk). Methods. The study used: the Subjective Well-being Scale, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), the Differential Emotion Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Giessen Subjective Complaints List, GBB. Results. The analysis of the correlations of emotional state and somatic complaints has revealed similarities and specificity of subjective experiences of patients in different conditions. The correlation analysis showed a certain relationship between emotional state and well-being, which is closely related to subjective well-being. Conclusion. Subjective well-being of patients is related to psychoemotional state, health and somatic complaints, as well as, to some extent, to the level of alexithymia. Patients' well-being is related to their emotional state and negative emotions. Practical application of the results. Understanding the psychological state of the patient can be useful for developing a personalized approach to treatment and successful rehabilitation through intrapersonal resources.
Interpretation and Truth in Kant’s Theory of Beauty
Authors: Sweet Kristi
Published: September 2024

This essay argues that the interpretations we develop through the activity of reflection have a share of the truth. I argue this, first, by outlining the relationship of concepts to intuitions in Kant’s theory of cognition, which presents the measure for truth in his philosophy. I turn, second, to explicate in detail the relation of the faculties in Kant’s descriptions of the free play between the imagination and the understanding in judgments of taste. Here, we find that concepts relate to what appears in a partial but also multiple way, leading to a conclusion that our reflective judgments share in the truth. This is important, I note, for the need we have to inhabit a shared world where we can communicate with each other about the way that things are, even about things that are not objects of ‘knowledge’ proper.
A Study of Nigerian Army’s Involvement in African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, 2004–2007
Authors: Eyeh Emmanuel T.
Published: September 2024

This study investigated the role of the Nigerian Army in the African Union-initiated peace mission in Darfur between 2004 and 2007, in a conflict between the Government of Sudan and two rebel groups in Darfur. This qualitative research which was anchored on Relative Deprivation, Frustration and Aggression, and Role theories, adopted a historical research design. Instruments for, and methods of data collection were primarily direct interviews conducted with Nigerian soldiers. Sample was drawn from officers and men of the Nigerian Army who had participated in the peace mission. The paper finds that even though the mission was beset with numerous challenges, the activities of Nigerian soldiers helped ameliorate the dire situation and restored hope to the embattled people of Darfur. The paper concludes that the nexus between leadership failure in the African Union and inadequate support from the international community accounted for the challenges that befell the mission.
Typology of Plurality in Turkish, Classical Arabic and Cukurova Arabic and the Effect of Plurality in Turkish on Cukurova Arabic
Authors: Özezen Muna Yüceol , Ordem Eser
Published: September 2024

Noun pluralisation has been of paramount importance in typological studies, considering a wide range of varieties in different languages. This study examines the relationships between Classical Arabic, Turkish, and Cukurova Arabic – an Arabic dialect spoken in the Eastern Mediterranean region (Antakya, Adana, and Mersin) in Turkey – in the context of noun plurality inflection. In fact, considering Cukurova Arabic-Turkish relations, the latter affects the former more extensively – as a consequence of political and social situations. In other words, Cukurova Arabic codecopies Turkish elements in almost all linguistic levels (e.g., phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics). What is more, time passes against Cukurova Arabic because code-copying tends to disconnect itself from Syria-Lebanon Coastal Dialect Groups of which Cukurova Arabic is a part, and even brings it to the point of extinction. The devastating effect of Turkish on Cukurova Arabic needs to be elaborated on. However, code-copying at all linguistic levels was hardly delved into but morphological code-copying features were, in general, analyzed. A qualitative method was used while collecting the data collected through participatory observation, field note, and natural recording. By specifying morphological code-copying, the study remained limited to the disconnection of quantification in grammaticalization in Cukurova Arabic from Classical Arabic, and the effects of plurality typology in Turkish on Cukurova Arabic. In line with this explanation, regular plurality inflections in Cukurova Arabic (cäm>ü’l-sǟlim, particularly regular feminine inflections operated with +ǟt / +ât suffixes) are increasing, and irregular cases (cäm>ü’l-mükässär) are replaced by regular of which. The complex quantity category in Classical Arabic is represented as a simpler aspect inCukurova. This change is experienced through the effect of the plural suffix +lAr in Turkish and quite simply of plurality typology. The study yields evidence of a transition from complex quantification to a simpler system of pluralisation in Cukurova Arabic.
Kinship Terminologies of the Circum-Baltic Area
Authors: Milanova Veronika , Metsäranta Niklas , Honkola Terhi
Published: September 2024

Contact and areal studies of kinship terminologies have by now received too little attention in social anthropology and linguistics. To fill in one of numerous research gaps, we investigated kinship terminologies of the Circum-Baltic (CB) area. We discovered many heterogeneous overlapping micro- and macro-convergences belonging to different temporal strata and contact situations. This was especially the case with loanwords, whereas certain calques had a wider spread covering most of the CB area. It suggests that semantic patterns may be more prone to borrowing than lexical items. The analysis of structural properties showed that CB kinship terminologies combine both West European and East European/West Asian strategies. It indicates that CB kinship terminologies indeed possess a marked combination of properties. However, most of them are shared with their neighbours, which confirms that the CB area is a Contact Superposition Zone as suggested in Koptjevskaja-Tamm and Wälchli (2001).
Khoekhoe Loanwords in isiXhosa and isiZulu
Authors: Christie Camilla Rose
Published: September 2024

A precolonial language contact event between languages in the Nguni group of the Bantu family and extinct undocumented languages in the Khoekhoe branch of the Khoe family left an enduring impact on the linguistic landscape of South Africa. isiXhosa and isiZulu gained a massive lexis of Khoekhoe loanwords that remains understudied. Prior research has focused primarily on the behaviour of click consonants during loan, and more general descriptions of phonological and morphological adaptations are lacking. This paper describes some general adaptive processes, with the especial aim of facilitating the improved detection of loanwords. By comparing the extant Khoekhoe-branch languages Nama, Damara, and Kora with the loaned Khoekhoe-branch material preserved in isiXhosa and isiZulu, details of the phonology and morphology of the undocumented Khoekhoe donor languages are inferred. Finally, comparative material from the Kalahari-branch languages in the Kwadi-Khoe family is also introduced to compensate for lacunae in the historical linguistic record.
Freezing storage combined with freeze-drying of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae to produce oil rich in free lauric acid
Authors: Hurtado-Ribeira R. , Franco Á. , Martin D.
Published: September 2024

The fat of Hermetia illucens larvae (black soldier fly, BSFL) is a rich source of lauric acid (LA), and its free fatty acid (FFA) form holds valuable potential for applications in food, feed, pharmaceuticals, or cosmetics. This study aimed to establish specific processing conditions of BSFL that naturally promote lipolysis, resulting in a high free LA (FLA) rich oil. Freezing was used for slaughtering, with different times of frozen storage (1, 7 and 14 d). Then, thermal (oven-drying) and non-thermal (freeze-drying) drying processes were compared. Additionally, the impact of 24 h restrictive vs non-restrictive feeding before slaughtering was tested. Free acidity, free fatty acid profile, lipid oxidation (peroxide value, PV; TBARs test) and antioxidant activity (DPPH test) were measured at days 0 and 30 of processing. Freeze-dried samples exhibited higher free acidity (42%) compared to oven-drying (4%), progressively increasing with frozen storage (24% at day 1 vs 51% at day 14). A restricted diet caused up to 60% free acidity. Nevertheless, the FFA profile was similar for both diet conditions, with LA as the major FFA (41% of total FFAs and 27% of total fat). After 30 days of storage, free acidity approached 70%. Oven-drying caused the highest PV (4.5 mEqO2/kg), especially after 14 d of frozen storage (>5.0 mEqO2/kg) and under restricted diet (6.1 mEqO2/kg). Conversely, freeze-drying maintained the lowest PV in all cases (0.6 mEqO2/kg). TBARs values mirrored the PV pattern. Antioxidant capacity was lower for freeze-drying compared to oven-drying (46% and 71%, respectively), regardless of frozen storage. Irrespective of the drying method, worse antioxidant activity was observed after restrictive diet. After 30 days of storage, the antioxidant activity decreased for all samples. The proposed strategy of freezing slaughtering, followed by frozen storage and freeze-drying offers a promising approach to naturally obtain a FLA-rich product from BSFL.
Medieval Islamic Evidence along the Southern Coast of Oman: The Region of Ḥāsik
Authors: Pavan Alexia
Published: September 2024

This contribution aims to present the results of a brief survey conducted on some ports in the Dhofar region, along the southernmost coast of the Sultanate of Oman, dated to the medieval Islamic period. The research carried out by the University of Naples L’Orientale at the site of al-Balīd and more broadly in the Dhofar region aims not only to advance new study and research activities but also to reinterpret and analyze existing materials, with the goal of developing a more complete understanding of the region’s role during the Islamic era. During this time, the port of al-Balīd, along with Ṣuḥār and Qalhāt in the northern part of the country, was one of the key centres in the trade networks of the western Indian Ocean. However, there were several satellite ports involved in long- medium and short distance trade networks which may have played an important role in communications with the interior where the frankincense resin was collected. The paper will focus on two of these ports: Sūq al-Ḥāsik and Ḥāsik Qadīm.
Youth and Education: Past, Present and Future Inequalities in Argentina
Authors: Corica Agustina María , Otero Analía E , Miranda Ana
Published: September 2024

Within the framework of the post-pandemic and in the educational context that has been experienced in Argentina in recent years, inequalities appear, with new aspects to debate about youth and education in the current young generations. With this idea, the article presents past, present and future debates on the opportunities and aspects of youth that have been recorded during longitudinal research carried out in the last twenty years with different cohorts of young people. In particular, it presents the results of an ongoing investigation into the young population and secondary education in different areas of Argentina. The main objective is to debate the aspects and contexts that occurred and caused inequalities in youth transitions. The central hypothesis of the article is that the processes and effects of inequality in each of the generations studied are explained and described both within the circumstances and conjunctures in which the youth trajectories occur.
Predictive Value of the Naples Prognostic Score for Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Zhang Xue , Zhang Jing-Kun , Wu Xue , Liu Xing , Liu Tong , Chen Kang-Yin
Published: September 2024

The Naples prognostic score (NPS) is a novel multidimensional inflammatory and nutritional assessment system in cancer patients. However, its significance in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. The study has a single-center, retrospective design and included 631 patients with CKD who underwent index PCI between 2019 and 2022. All participants were divided into 2 groups according to the NPS (Low-risk group: n = 209; High-risk group: n = 422) and followed up until November 2022. The primary endpoint was Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE). NPS predicted MACE events better than other scores, besides, high-risk NPS with severe renal dysfunction (RD) group (MODEL 2) had superior MACE diagnostic efficiency than NPS high-risk group lonely. (NPS: AUC: 0.605, P < .001; MODEL 2: AUC: 0.624, P < .001, respectively). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis of two groups showed that high-risk group had higher incidence of MACE ( P < .001). Meanwhile, high-risk group had higher MACE events [adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) 2.013, 95% CI 1.294, 3.132; P = .002]. NPS is an independent prognostic factor for CKD patients undergoing index PCI before operation whose predictive value for survival prognosis is better than other nutritional and inflammatory indicators. Compared with low NPS, patients with high NPS have a relatively poor prognosis.
Exploring Predictors of Teachers’ Sustained Use of Data-Based Instruction
Authors: An Jechun , Shanahan Emma , Choi Seohyeon , McMaster Kristen L.
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this logistic regression study was to identify predictors of teacher-reported sustained use of data-based instruction (DBI) during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the extent to which the identified predictors explained teachers’ sustained use after completing programmatic support for intensive early writing instruction. We surveyed 58 teachers who participated in a professional development efficacy trial regarding their sustained use of DBI in writing. The model indicated a higher predicted probability of sustaining DBI for teachers who received the full treatment (tools, learning modules, and coaching for 20 weeks of intervention during their year of participation in the efficacy trial) compared to teachers in the control group who only received tools and learning modules at the end of their participation year. In addition, teachers who taught in-person were more likely to sustain compared to those who taught in remote or hybrid models, controlling for other variables. Furthermore, as the number of facilitators that teachers reported increased, teachers were more likely to sustain their use of DBI components, controlling for other variables. Further research could shed light on the relative impact of different types of facilitators and different levels of support.
Increased Breathiness in Adolescent Kiezdeutsch Speakers: A Marker of Multiethnolectal Group Affiliation?
Authors: Penney Joshua , Weirich Melanie , Jannedy Stefanie
Published: September 2024

Kiezdeutsch is a multiethnolectal variety of German spoken by young people from multicultural communities that exhibits lexical, syntactic, and phonetic differences from standard German. A rather salient and pervasive feature of this variety is the fronting of the standard palatal fricative /ç/ (as in ich “I”) to [ɕ] or [ʃ]. Previous perception work shows that this difference is salient and carries social meaning but dependent on the listener group. Further investigations also point to the significance of /ɔɪ/-fronting in production; however, whether this is salient in perception has not yet been investigated. In several (multi)ethnolectal varieties, differences in voice quality compared to the standard have been identified. Therefore, in this study, we present an acoustic comparison of voice quality in adolescent speakers of Kiezdeutsch and standard German, with results showing that Kiezdeutsch speakers produce a breathier voice quality. In addition, we report on a perception test designed to examine the social meaning of voice quality in combination with two segmental cues: coronalization of /ç/ and /ɔɪ/-fronting. The results indicate perceptual gradience for phonetic alternations detected in Kiezdeutsch with coronalization of /ç/ being a highly salient and reliable marker, whereas fronting of /ɔɪ/ and breathy voice do not appear to be clearly enregistered features of Kiezdeutsch by all listeners. Thus, even though we find differences in production, these may not necessarily be relevant in perception, pointing toward enregisterment— like sound change—being a continuous process of forming learned associations through tokens of experiences.
Strategic naturalizing in the Anthropocene: Managing cells, bodies and ecosystems
Authors: Mäkelin Marianne , Helosvuori Elina , Meskus Mianna
Published: September 2024

Discussions on the Anthropocene have called for increased attention to how the effects of human actions on the planet are accounted for. While much of this debate remains at a theoretical level, more studies on situated Anthropocene realities have been called for. Contributing to the latter, this article explores how experimental and clinical interventions are being accounted for in life science laboratories. Drawing on three research cases, genetically modified mosquitoes, laboratory-grown stem cell lines and assisted reproduction in the IVF clinic, the article traces how ‘strategic naturalizing’ is conducted to make sense of and justify human interventions on cells, bodies and ecosystems. Strategic naturalizing in laboratory work is situated, fluid, and also implicates the presence of the social scientist. Although naturalizing biotechnologies is not a new phenomenon, according to our observations scientists increasingly draw on notions of a planet profoundly transformed by human intervention as they conceptualize their own accountability. Consequently, we propose that strategic naturalizing is emerging as an elemental logic in the patchy local enactments of the Anthropocene and its concerns. In the context of experimental and clinical laboratory work, it is a key element in enacting good science and orienting the work towards making biotechnology acceptable in wider society. In studying this, the social scientist also is implicated in situated local enactments of the Anthropocene.
Cultural capital, standardised testing and East Asian education: The transposition of disposition of Taiwanese elite students
Authors: Wang Chi-Chung , Tai Ting-Huang
Published: September 2024

Cultural capital has been an essential concept for educational stratification research. While several studies suggest that in East Asian educational contexts, cultural capital may exhibit less emphasis on aesthetics, there remains a need for in-depth exploration of such orientation. To fill this gap, this article examines non-aesthetic subspecies of cultural capital by exploring how standardised testing, a predominant educational institution in East Asia, shapes a distinct embodied cultural capital – a pragmatic learning disposition. We examine two cases where Taiwanese academically elite high school students adapt their standardised testing-driven dispositions to distinct contexts: a different activity domain and an alternative educational field. The first explores how elite students transpose the disposition shaped by standardised testing to their participation in rock music activities. Our research reveals that their academic learning experiences fostered a disposition for honing precise exam skills, which influenced the trajectory of their musical taste development, along with the accumulation of technical capital. The second case involves elite students experienced in open-ended mathematics competitions, who later enrol in French preparatory classes for admission to French  grandes écoles. These students have difficulty shedding their pragmatic disposition, which is deeply rooted in standardised testing, but hardly suits the French preparatory class. Disposition transposition and its hysteresis effect across contexts can serve as a useful methodological tool for cultural capital studies, enabling an exploration of emerging technical subspecies of cultural capital and the associated pragmatic dispositions, thereby shedding light on the diverse relationships among students’ subspecies of embodied cultural capital.
TikTok Too Much? A Qualitative Investigation of Adolescent TikTok Use, Motivation, and Consequences
Authors: Langlais Michael R. , Thaler Ashley , West Elizabeth
Published: September 2024

TikTok use has grown rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among adolescents. The goal of this study is to understand how and why teenagers use TikTok and how teenagers perceive these behaviors and motivations as contributing to their mental well-being. This qualitative, descriptive study involved interviewing teenagers one-on-one via Zoom regarding their TikTok use and how they perceived TikTok as influencing their well-being ( N = 31; Mage = 15.83). Thematic results revealed that teenagers mostly used TikTok to scroll, watch videos, create and send content, and meet friends. Participants primarily used TikTok for interpersonal reasons (such as entertainment) and for relational reasons (such as to communicate with others). When TikTok was used as a distraction or if they scrolled through depressing or adverse content, their mood declined, but if viewing entertaining content or connecting with others, participants perceived benefits for their well-being.
Suicidal Behaviors and Associated Factors Among Adult Psychiatric Patients Attending Psychiatric Clinic at Public Hospitals in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Dereje Jerman , Firdisa Dawit , Tamire Aklilu , Tesi Seid , Dechasa Mesay , Abdeta Tilahun
Published: September 2024

Suicidal behaviors in persons with mental illnesses are the most prevalent psychiatric crises, requiring scholars and mental health task teams to prioritize public health concerns. However, there is a scarcity of data in Ethiopia, particularly for patients with mental illness. As a result, the goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of suicidal behaviors and associated factors among individuals with mental illness visiting public hospital psychiatric clinic units in eastern Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 15 to November 15, 2022, with 411 individuals with mental illness visiting psychiatric clinic units at public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. To select participants in the study, a systematic random sampling method was used. A structured face-to-face interview was used to gather data. The Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) was used to measure suicidal behaviors. Epidata 3.1 version was used to enter the data, and SPSS version 24 was used to analyze it. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed. In the final model, variables with p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. To identify variables associated with suicidal behavior, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were utilized. Out of a total of 411 eligible participants, 402 involved in this study, giving a response rate of 97.8%. The prevalence of suicidal behavior was 46.3%, (95% CI: 41-50.7). Depression (AOR = 2.21,95% CI: 1.04, 4.69), medication non-adherence (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.19, 3.18), bipolar disorders (AOR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.55, 3.53), and current alcohol use (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.28) were variables associated with suicidal behaviors. This study found a high rate of suicidal behaviors among adult individuals with mental illness in public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Suicidal behavior was highly associated with depression, bipolar disorders, current alcohol use, and medication non-adherence. Psychiatric professionals should assess patient suicidal risk assessment routinely and should put the diagnosis with suicidal if the client is suicidal so that every professional focuses on treatment besides the medication. Special attention is required for individuals who present associated features, such as history of medication non adherence, depression, and overall bipolar disorders.
The moderating function of sexual sanctification on the relation between sexual and relationship satisfaction: A registered report
Authors: Lazar Aryeh
Published: September 2024

Past research on sanctification has focused on the direct association between domain sanctification and domain satisfaction. This registered-report study focused on the predicted moderating function of sexual sanctification on the association between sexual and relationship satisfaction. An Internet panel sample of 740 women and 872 men, all married Jewish individuals residing in Israel, assessed the levels of their sexual and marital satisfaction, sexual sanctification, religiousness, and social desirability via an anonymous online questionnaire. As expected, sexual and marital satisfaction were highly correlated. As predicted, sexual sanctification was found to moderate the association between sexual and marital satisfaction for women even after controlling for age, religiousness, and social desirability. However, although the positive association between sexual and relationship satisfaction was predicted to be larger at higher levels of sanctification than at lower levels, the moderation analysis revealed a reverse pattern. In addition, the moderation effect was significant for men only after controlling for religiousness. Post hoc analyses for moderated moderation confirmed significant gender differences in the moderation function of sexual sanctification. The importance of examining gender differences in future sanctification studies and the theoretical implications for the independence of sanctification from religiousness is discussed.
Impact of Cancer Localization on Symptom Burden and Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancers: A Comparative Study
Authors: Balk Matthias , Rak Atina , Rupp Robin , Sievert Matti , Müller Sarina , Koch Michael , Iro Heinrich , Gostian Magdalena , Putz Florian , Weißmann Thomas , Allner Moritz , Gostian Antoniu-Oreste
Published: September 2024

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a critical concern in oncology, with notable disparities in survival rates. While the long-term symptom burden in HNC survivors and its impact on quality of life (QoL) has been explored, there is limited understanding of the influence of cancer localizations on these aspects. This study aims to elucidate the role of cancer localizations in shaping long-term outcomes in HNC patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital Erlangen’s Department of Otolaryngology, exploring the impact of cancer localization on symptom burden and QoL in 138 HNC patients using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire Version 4. Results: In our study of HNC patients, we investigated symptom burden across different cancer localizations, including oral cavity, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal, and cancer of unknown primary (CUP). While we found no significant variations in parameters such as pain, appearance, and activity, notable differences emerged in swallowing, speech, and salivation. Patients with oral cavity and laryngeal carcinomas had significantly higher swallowing and salivation scores compared to those with oropharyngeal carcinoma and CUP, while speech-related symptoms were lower for oral cavity and laryngeal carcinoma patients. Importantly, these symptom differences did not significantly impact health-related and overall QoL. These findings emphasize the nuanced interplay between symptomatology and QoL in different HNC cancer localizations. Conclusion: The research highlights significant disparities in post-treatment symptoms across different HNC localizations and underscores the need for personalized treatment and management strategies to address unique challenges associated with each HNC type, ultimately aiming to enhance post-treatment QoL.
Parathyroid Carcinomas: A Series of 6 Cases and Literature Review
Authors: Ayadi Sirine , Kharrat Ons , Ben Salah Dhouha , Hbaieb Youssef , Kallel Souha , Mnejja Melek , Rekik Nabila , Charfeddine Ilhem
Published: September 2024

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare endocrine malignancy. We report 6 cases of PCs operated on in our department, during a period of 12 years (2010-2021). All of our patients presented severe hyperparathyroidism, high calcium levels, and very elevated parathormone (PTH) rates. Five were between the fifth and sixth decades of life and 1 patient was 37 years old. The parathyroid gland was only palpable in 1 case. All of our patients underwent cervical ultrasound and 5 of them underwent 99m Tc-MIBI scintigraphy. One of the patients presented bilateral parathyroid masses. All our patients were treated surgically: a parathyroidectomy was performed in all cases. In 1 patient, parathyroidectomy was performed in conjunction with a homolateral loboisthmectomy, as the diagnosis of PC was suspected preoperatively due to pulmonary metastases. The final anatomopathological study revealed PC in all cases. Follow-up was uneventful in 5 cases and 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Clinicians should suspect PC in patients with severe hypercalcemia, extremely elevated PTH levels, large parathyroid lesions, and distant metastases. Complete surgical resection, extended to the homolateral thyroid lobe, remains the recommended treatment.
Ethnography from Home: Adapting Fieldwork Methods Instruction During the COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Martin Tom , williams karen g.
Published: September 2024

How do you teach fieldwork methods when your students are suddenly prevented from entering the field? This was a pressing question faced by faculty at Guttman Community College who were teaching Ethnographies of Work, a required first-year course centered on the observation and analysis of real-world workplace dynamics. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the in-person workplace observations that the course was designed around became largely impossible, because previously accessible professional environments were suddenly closed to the public. This article examines the variety of ways in which Ethnographies of Work faculty responded to the sudden constraints on the course, shifting instruction to include digital ethnographic fieldwork techniques and changing modality to either online synchronous or online asynchronous. Drawing on faculty syllabi, team meeting conversations, and professional development workshops, we found that faculty created a variety of responses to the in-person ethnographic constraints of COVID-19. Faculty used movies, work-related video clips, library databases, and podcasts as substitutes for in-person observation, allowing students to simulate traditional fieldwork without leaving their homes. These digital techniques have since been formalized and further incorporated into course syllabi by several instructors, providing a range of methods for examining work that happens online. As the shift away from office-based work continues, these digital methods have proven to be increasingly important for capturing the complexities of contemporary professional life, much of which takes place predominantly in virtual spaces.
The cosmopolitan imperative: Or how to avoid wars through more democracy
Authors: Marinopoulou Anastasia
Published: September 2024

The aim of the present study is to articulate a comparative study of Zeno of Citium and Immanuel Kant. The main reason for the comparative form of the study is that the full extent of the selective affiliations, continuities and discontinuities in the philosophers’ thought with regard to democracy under a cosmopolitan condition, as they define it, has not yet been explored. Studying their political arguments does not entail, in the present study, a historical examination of their ideas. Historical research has, to date, been the norm in the examination of the thought of these thinkers. However, although both thinkers focus both on citizenship as an indispensable condition for democratic governance, a systematic comparison of what citizenship and democracy are as major political concerns in Zeno and Kant remains unquestioned by researchers. The originality of the present research derives, first, from the comparison of both thinkers that has not been critically presented so far. Second, it derives from the critique of the political views of Zeno according to the research conducted in the Gregory Vlastos Archive (that has never been conducted and presented so far) and is followed by tracing symmetries and asymmetries in the works of Kant that extend their arguments on cosmopolitanism to the solidification of democracy and the avoidance of war. As for the focus of the study on Kant, the novelty that is being argued for is the priority attributed to the cosmopolitan agenda as a precondition of a sovereign democratic state instead of the opposite being presented and claimed so far.
Problems some deliberative democrats have with authority
Authors: Fives Allyn
Published: September 2024

An authoritative directive, when it has legitimacy, is a reason to exclude from consideration some of the reasons to act and not to act in this way. One is obliged to obey, even when one disagrees with the directive. Therefore, authority demands deference regarding how one acts, although one is free to think what one likes about that action. How can deference of this kind be compatible with freedom and rationality? That is the so-called moral problem of authority. For some, authority has legitimacy in a deliberative democracy because deference to its rules better meets the demands of freedom and rationality. As I hope to show here, this line of thought does not give an adequate account of authority. If a directive is legitimate only if it has a certain content, as deliberative democrats are saying, one does not defer to but rather merely complies with such a directive.
Latour and the Question of Politics: A Constitutional Reading
Authors: Laurent Brice
Published: September 2024

This article traces a path through Bruno Latour’s reflections on politics to propose a constitutional reading, which makes ontological and normative lines of investigation intersect. It starts with a discussion of a central theme in Latour’s work, that of war and, more generally, opposition and conflicts, and connects it with questions of representation, delegation and decision-making. The preoccupation with land and territories found in Latour’s latest work is an invitation to extend his notion of constitution and turn it into a situated matter of critical inquiry. The paper builds on debates and controversies surrounding mineral resources to show the analytical and critical value of constitutional analysis, and the way it can illuminate the ontological and normative issues associated with contemporary problematizations of land and territories.
Parent-child relationship quality and older parents’ cognitive trajectories
Authors: Zhang Yan , Liu Hui
Published: September 2024

This study assesses the bidirectional link between parent-child relationship quality and older parents’ cognitive trajectories over time, with particular attention to potential variations by parents’ gender. Methods: Using a longitudinal, nationally representative sample of parents aged 50 and older from the Health and Retirement Study 2006–2016, the analysis examines three dimensions of the relationship quality between parents and children—contact, support, and strain—in relation to parents’ cognitive function. Parallel latent growth curve models (LGCMs) estimate how baseline relationship quality relates to subsequent change in parents’ cognition and how parents’ baseline cognitive function relates to subsequent change in relationship quality over time. Results: Higher initial levels of relationship strain with children predicts a faster cognitive decline for older parents. Neither initial contact frequency nor initial relationship support is associated with subsequent change in a parent’s cognition, however, good cognitive function predicts a more rapid increase or a slower decline in contact frequency and relationship support over time. No gender difference was found. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of the “linked lives” of aging parents and their children as well as the potential for bidirectional associations between cognition and family relationships.
Comparison of copper-based composites fabricated by cross-accumulative roll bonding method for packaging design
Authors: Wei Yaxin , Ran Duan , Piri Yashar , Zandi Maryam , Pashapour Ali
Published: September 2024

Copper-based composites have interesting properties and they are widely used in electronics, packaging, and automotive applications. In the present work, the cross-accumulative roll bonding (CARB) process was used to fabricate Cu-based composites with Zn and Brass reinforcing layers. The experimental observations revealed a clear relationship between rolling strain and plastic instabilities including the necking and rupture of reinforcement. However, the grain refinement was observed on Cu, Zn, and Brass layers after seven CARB cycles, indicating the positive impact of rolling rotation on obtaining the ultrafine grains. Better ductility of Brass also resulted in finer grains. This also led to more significant improvement in mechanical properties. During the CARB process, the hardness of Zn and Brass increased from 59 HV and 250 HV to 89 HV and 310 HV, respectively.
Limit Flow Etchant Applicator
Authors: Hattarki Rohan S. , Shenoi Susmita Bala
Published: September 2024

White spot lesions (WSLs) have been reported to occur in a majority of orthodontic patients who undergo multibracket appliance treatment. WSL scores are proven to be higher in total-etch techniques as compared to partial etching, with no difference in bond strengths. It is thus very important to prevent unnecessary etching and demineralization of enamel in those areas where it is not needed and to etch only the surface intended for bracket bonding. This article describes a simple method to limit the flow of the acid etchant to the area on the tooth surface receiving the bracket, with the added advantage of a positioning gauge on the etchant applicator.
New Model for an Open Vehicle Routing Problem to Optimize the Blood Sample Collection Process within a Network of Clinical Laboratories
Authors: Rostami Payam , Sadjadi Seyed Jafar , Rasouli Mohammad Reza
Published: September 2024

Clinical laboratories play a key role in delivering health care services, as the results of clinical tests affect 70% of medical decisions. Therefore, to provide high-quality services, smaller laboratories often send some of their samples to a well-equipped central laboratory. This study aims to minimize total transportation costs in collecting blood samples from geographically dispersed locations. Given the perishable nature of blood samples, the collection process must be completed within 2 h. Since these laboratories do not own a vehicle fleet, a third-party logistics (TPL) service provider is used in the collection process. We define this problem as a heterogenous fleet open vehicle routing problem with dynamic hub location (HFOVRP-HL). The main contribution of our work is developing a novel open vehicle routing problem (OVRP) model in which sequences of open routes and their intersections, creating dynamic and virtual hub nodes, are allowed. A mixed-integer programming (MIP) formulation is presented and solved using the CPLEX solver in GAMS, and the optimal solution is obtained. Computational results demonstrate that HFOVRP-HL outperforms classical HFOVRP, generalized HFOVRP with decoupling points (HFOVRP-DP), and HFOVRP with fixed hubs. Sensitivity analysis on key parameters confirms the model’s validity and superiority, offering substantial reductions in transportation costs. This research provides valuable insights for optimizing blood sample logistics in clinical laboratory networks.
Marx on Colonization and Bonded Labor: The End of Capital and the Beginning of a Journey
Authors: McNally David
Published: September 2024

The concluding chapter of Karl Marx’s Capital (volume 1) has received remarkably little scholarly commentary. This is especially surprising as Marx addresses there “the modern theory of colonization” developed by Edward Gibbon Wakefield. But rather than systematically pursue the issue of colonialism, Marx investigates Wakefield’s theory in order to illuminate the processes of primitive accumulation (or “originary dispossession”) that gave birth to capitalism in Europe. This article suggests directions in which Marx ought to have gone in order to analyze the globalization of capitalism outside of Europe by means of colonialism. In so doing, it proposes the need to recenter bondage, slavery, colonialism, and racism as constitutive elements of capitalism as a global system.

JEL Classification: B51, N3, P1
Union Coverage and Men’s Participation in Unpaid Social Reproduction in the United States
Authors: Small Sarah F.
Published: September 2024

Unions foster group solidarity, training individuals to think and act for the collective rather than for purely individual gain. In this article, I study the extent to which union membership is associated with men’s participation in unpaid social reproduction. Descriptive models using American Time Use Surveys indicate that, on average, men with union coverage dedicate more time to unpaid care of household members compared to men without. I offer theoretical explanations for this relationship and explore how union membership has shaped men’s participation in unpaid social reproduction through the lens of community solidarity.

JEL Classification: B54, J51, D13
Urban Built Environment and Flood Ramifications: Evidence from Insurance Claims Data in Miami, Florida
Authors: Li Chaosu , Xue Yang , Fu Xinyu
Published: September 2024

This study examines the role of the urban built environment in mitigating or exacerbating flooding. By analyzing census tract-level insurance claims in Miami, we model such relationships during moderate and extreme flood events. Our findings indicate that lower population density, higher urban compactness, and proximity to coastal and riparian zones are linked to elevated flood insurance claims. The study also highlights the potential of nature-based solutions in alleviating flood impacts during extreme events. These insights provide crucial empirical evidence for urban planners and policymakers to adopt a systemic approach considering density, location, and nature-based solutions to foster climate-resilient cities.
Generative AI in Marketing: Promises, Perils, and Public Policy Implications
Authors: Kumar V. , Kotler Philip , Gupta Shaphali , Rajan Bharath
Published: September 2024

By evaluating the pattern of generative AI (GAI) use by businesses in marketing, this study aims to understand the subsequent impact on society and develop policy implications that promote its beneficial use. To this end, the authors develop an organizing framework that contends that the usage of GAI models by businesses for marketing purposes creates promises and perils for society through a specific business process. This business process is represented by the action → capabilities → transformation → impact link in the proposed framework. Additionally, the authors find that the level of technology infrastructure, skilled personnel, and data access moderates the influence of GAI on businesses’ ability to develop technology-driven capabilities. Furthermore, adaptive leadership and management strategies moderate the impact of these capabilities on technology-enabled business transformations. This research is the first study to critically evaluate the use of GAI in marketing from a public policy perspective. The study concludes with an agenda for future research.
From MIsgivings to MIse-en-scène: The role of invariance in personality science
Authors: Fischer Ronald , Rudnev Maksim
Published: September 2024

There are increasing vocal concerns about the application of measurement invariance testing arguing that it is overly strict and arbitrary. We argue that invariance is not just a procedural hurdle but a substantive tool that enhances the understanding of psychological constructs across diverse populations and has important implications for both theory testing and theory development. First, we outline the importance of how invariance, in a broad sense, plays a role at all the major steps within a research cycle, involving both theoretical and methodological concerns. Second, we suggest a list of points linked to these invariance concerns that can benefit research reports to improve reliability, validity, and fairness. We see invariance as a crucial part of scientific inquiry and an informative tool for empirical research. We agree with Funder and Gardiner’s point that “Data are data,” but would like to add that invariance inquiries and their implications help making sense of the data and the underlying world.