British Case Research Articles

Interventionitis in the criminal justice system: three English case reports

Interventionitis in the criminal justice system: three English case reports

A lost cause?: Great Britain’s role in the Portuguese revolution, 1974-1975

The British case has been one of the least explored in the growing literature on the international dimensions of regime change in Portugal. This article focuses on analyzing the Labour government’s foreign policy towards Portugal between April 1974 and November 1975. What was the British contribution to maintaining the international statu quo, stabilizing the political crisis in Portugal and anchoring the country in the Western community? To address these questions, the article investigates Britain’s role in channelling the Portuguese revolution in a liberal and Western direction, aligned with British geopolitical and economic interests.

The European Muslim Crisis and the Post-October 7 Escalation

Israel’s war on Gaza following 7 October 2023 has given birth to several political and social changes in European nations. According to the United Nations Report of the Special Rapporteur, Israel has used this moment to “distort” international humanitarian law principles “in an attempt to legitimize genocidal violence against the Palestinian people.” In the European context, this has led to European Muslims and non-Muslims, including organizations, institutions, as well as individual academics, politicians, and activists mobilizing and voicing their condemnation and demand their governments to do more towards peaceful and equitable solutions. However, this has been met with a strong reaction from European governing bodies. This paper situates this reaction within wider discourses on the European Muslim crisis. It begins with a systematic literature review on the so-called European Muslim crisis, followed by case studies on the United Kingdom and Germany on their respective changes to policies impacting Muslims in the post-October 7 contexa Regarding the literature review, this paper illustrates how this concept has three distinct, yet intersecting meanings: the crisis of European identity; the crisis of foundational ideologies of Europe; and an internal Muslim crisis that often leads to radicalization. Through the British and German case studies, this paper illustrates that October 7 has reinforced and strengthened the shift towards values-based citizenship and integration. This paper argues that through branding pro-Palestine protesters and organizations as extremists in the British context, and adding questions related to antisemitism and Israel in the citizenship tests in the German context, the Israel/Palestine issue has now become yet another yardstick to demarcate the European, civilized “us” vs. the Muslim “other.” In doing so, October 7 has escalated elements already present within the wider discourses of the European Muslim crisis.

Strengthening community empowerment initiatives as a route to greater equity: an English case study

Strengthening community empowerment initiatives as a route to greater equity: an English case study

Ocular Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Optic Neuropathies: A Review of the Literature.

Optic neuropathies represent one of the most frequent causes of vision loss, and they can manifest alone or in conjunction with neurological or systemic symptoms and signs. In recent years, the diagnostic techniques used to detect optic neuropathies have significantly improved, facilitating diagnosis and improving treatment. Among these, ocular ultrasound has assumed a fundamental role, although with conflicting results in the published scientific literature. For this reason, the aim of this review is to analyze the role of ocular ultrasound in the precise and targeted diagnosis of optic neuropathies to better understand the presumed potential of this precious diagnostic tool in the management of these ocular and neurological disorders. We carried out a search on PubMed and Scopus utilizing terms related to optic neuropathies and ocular ultrasound, including only relevant English full-length research articles, case reports, or case series. Most of the papers published in the scientific literature use only the B-scan ultrasound technique without considering the more precise and objective standardized A-scan technique that allows for performing more accurate diagnostic tests, such as the "30-degree test" and the "optic nerve exercise test". Future clinical trials and research on optic neuropathies should also consider the use of the standardized A-scan technique in order to compare clinical findings not only with B-scan ultrasonography but also with other noninvasive procedures that could be helpful in reaching the correct diagnosis.

The Photovoice Project: Fostering Students' Autonomous, Collaborative, and Authentic Business/Engineering English Learning Experiences

This perspective article elaborates an instructional approach to business English learning utilizing a photovoice project as a strategy to promote a real-world learning encounter. In professional and vocational colleges, project-based learning (PBL) is an instructional strategy for promoting autonomous, collaborative, and authentic learning nuances. This article sheds light on how photovoice project fosters the students’ technical and business English learning experiences. The project empowers students to take charge of their learning, work collaboratively, and engage in real-world business context. This paper presents the concept of photovoice, learners’ autonomy and collaboration towards photovoice, authentic business English learning encounters, technology-integrated photovoice, project evaluation, and case studies on photovoice project. On top of that, language teachers can utilize project-based photovoice as a valuable tool for promoting innovative and engaging business English learning activities, thus providing students with contextual-based learning environment and preparing them for the real business world. It also brings several implications: 1) for vocational English teachers, implementing photovoice projects offers a powerful tool to create innovative and engaging learning activities, 2) for students, these projects provide a contextualized learning environment that prepares them for the real business world by developing practical language skills and industry-specific knowledge, and institutions will benefit by fostering an educational approach that bridges classroom learning with real-world applications, thereby enhancing the overall quality and relevance of their programs.

The moral economy of student debt: A pharmacological approach

Over the past three decades, student debt has surged in most English-speaking countries. Despite this trend, enrollment at universities has steadily risen, which testifies to the enduring appeal that higher education still exerts on middle-class individuals and families. Nevertheless, the policies responsible for this growing indebtedness have also stirred up their share of controversy. In an attempt to make sense of these debates, this article focuses mainly on the English and American cases to demonstrate how moral arguments have been put forth both in favor of and against using credit to finance education. Because it shows the ambivalent and unstable nature of the normative principles underpinning debt relations, the concept of moral economy is particularly well suited to discuss this phenomenon. On one hand, it explains how certain ethical expectations seemingly justify the need to incur debt for educational pursuits. On the other hand, it also shows why the perceived legitimacy of student debt eventually comes to be challenged. At its core lies an undecidable choice between antinomic values, as the decision to study on credit involves both a striving for personal autonomy and subjecting oneself to an exploitative relation of dependence. Recognizing this fundamental ambivalence, the article develops a ‘pharmacological approach’ to address the issue of student debt, aiming to better grasp the social and political tensions surrounding higher education in neoliberal societies.

Multiliteracies meet new methods: The case for digital writing in English education case study in G-7 countries.

Recently, globe has tried to transform populace activities to digital platform, wherefrom all stakeholders can attain their basic information. However, education sector cannot be excluded from this debate. Since, the pandemic mostly most economies have utilized digital transformation in different aspects of life, but digital education becomes more prominent. Therefore, this empirical research focuses on digital writing specifically to English education in G-7 economies between the time frame spanning from January 2000 to April 2022. This study considers urbanization, income, renewable energy, information & communication technology, renewable energy, English education, and pandemic as the key environmental determinants. To address the challenges posed by panel data, this study utilized an advanced set of estimators such as AMG stands for Augmented Mean Group. The estimate of urbanization and income per capita is positively significant, confirming that urbanization and economic development cannot protect the green economy by minimizing environmental pollution. Likewise, the estimated coefficient of English Education and internet use is negative and significant, implying that English Education and ICT can protect the green economy by reducing emissions. Conversely, renewable energy consumption (REC) is an element that can increase economic activity and therefore decline the environmental damages to secure a green economy. Likewise, the growth in cases of Covid-19 also reduces the usage of resources like land, water, and forests and subsequently decreases carbon emissions, promoting the green economy. The results also indicate that interaction term of English Education and ICT have adverse impact on Carbon emission (CO2). The outcomes suggest that internet usage (ICT) in English Education (EE) can deal efficiently with environmental issues for the green economy; therefore, EE and ICT should be part of green policies across the international level.

“Wartime” Ephemera from the Family Home in German and Austrian History Museums: A Counterexample to the British Case

When discussing “wartime ephemera”, of the kind that has been passed down through families since the Second World War, Germany and Austria could be considered as a counterexample to Britain. In German and Austrian historical memory, “wartime” cannot be separated from pre-war Nazi society (beginning in 1933 and 1938, respectively). Moreover, what we might loosely call the “Antiques Roadshow experience”—discussing family objects from the Second World War in a sympathetic public forum—has never been open to the majority of Germans and Austrians, who were rather inclined to hide and forget such objects in the family home. Even so, mundane Nazi-era objects survived in their millions and this essay discusses their display in German and Austrian history museums. There, they serve to illustrate a history of mentalities during and after the Nazi regime. Austrian museums are currently playing a proactive role in the transfer of objects from the private, family archive to public, cultural memory. This article considers how notions of “family” are constructed in museum discourse and asks how the millions of German and Austrian citizens and residents with no family connection to the Second World War can be included in a form of national family storytelling that arguably “re-ethnicizes” memory.

A ten-year literature review of oral malignant melanoma cases: A meta-analysis study

AimOral malignant melanoma (OMM) is a rare and aggressive malignant tumour arising from the proliferation of melanocytes and accounts for only 0.5 % of all oral malignancies. It is invasive and tends to metastasise. The aim of this study is to determine the patient profile of OMM and to provide information about the clinical features and treatment plans of the disease. Materials and MethodsThe Pubmed database was searched for OMM cases published as case reports in the last 10 years. The search was limited to English and open-access case reports. A total of 49 OMMs in 45 patients from 43 case reports were analyzed. In addition to the age, gender, smoking and alcohol consumption habits of the patients, data on the signs and symptoms of OMM, location of the lesion, imaging modalities used in diagnosis and treatment, lymph node involvement, presence of metastasis, survival time, and treatment modalities were recorded. ResultsIn OMM cases, 18 (40 %) of the patients were female, 27 (60 %) were male, and the mean age was 53.13 ± 16.09 years. The most common symptom was "swelling" (n = 23, 33.8 %) and the most common finding was "hyperpigmentation" (n = 40, 24.4 %). The most common site of OMM was the maxilla (n = 21, 46.7 %). According to the rate of use of imaging modalities in the cases, it was determined that "advanced imaging modalities" were mostly used (n = 24, 53.3 %). It was determined that 22.2 % (n = 10) of the patients died within the first 5 years. Combined treatment (n = 21, 46.5 %) were mostly applied to the patients. ConclusionOMM is more common in the maxilla, in males and in the fifth decade of life, and advanced imaging modalities are most commonly used to detect the disease. Because of its poor prognosis, knowing the patient profile and common clinical features of OMM will increase the clinical awareness of physicians.

“European” Originality in Copyright Law in the English Case of THJ Systems Ltd. v. Sheridan

The recent Court of Appeal case THJ Systems v. Sheridan (THJ Systems Ltd. v. Sheridan [2023] EWCA Civ 1354, [2024] E.C.D.R. 4, CA, 20 November 2023) is of great interest because it confirms the test for originality in copyright law in the UK after Brexit. The result of this decision is not too surprising, but the judicial clarification is nevertheless welcomed.

OA17 An unusual cause of unilateral retroperitoneal fibrosis

Abstract Background/Aims Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare condition, with an incidence of around 1 per 200,000 to 500,000 per year. It is distinguished by fibro-inflammatory changes in the retroperitoneum, which typically surrounds the abdominal aorta. Idiopathic RPF is common, whilst secondary causes can result from drug therapies, infection, malignancy, or surgery. Early symptoms include dull, poorly-localised back or flank pain, and lower limb swelling. The classical focal mass of primary retroperitoneal fibrosis is typically situated over the distal aorta, anterior to the L4 and L5 vertebra. External compression of the ureter can result in hydronephrosis due to prevention of normal ureteric urinary peristalsis. Management options are limited, generally involving immunosuppression and urological surgery, often necessitating cross-specialty, multidisciplinary input. Methods We report the case of a young gentleman with no past medical or family history who presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, septic shock and metabolic acidosis. To exclude acute abdominal pathology, computed tomography (CT) abdomen and pelvis was performed. Incidentally, this found chronic inflammatory changes in the descending colon and right retroperitoneal soft tissue thickening causing severe right hydroureteronephrosis. This incidental finding of retroperitoneal fibrosis on CT scan prompted an exploration into infective, inflammatory, and malignant aetiological causes of retroperitoneal fibrosis. Results Following initial stabilisation, urological opinion was sought, which concluded that surgical intervention for ureteric stenting was unnecessary. This decision was supported by the absence of obstruction from fibrosis and the lack of signs indicating infection. No medical explanation was found for the initial presentation in extremis. Rheumatological advice was sought for consideration of biopsy and immunosuppressive therapy for this suspected primary retroperitoneal fibrosis. Upon inquiry, the patient divulged a historical occurrence of retroperitoneal fluid accumulation secondary to a paravertebral mass that mandated laparoscopic drainage four years ago overseas. Histopathological analysis of the mass confirmed the presence of tuberculosis (TB), which was treated. His recovery was complicated at that time by right-sided hydronephrosis and fibrosis necessitating decompression. This sequence of events was deemed by a radiologist to also account for the observed bowel findings in the right flank. Conclusion This case report is the first of its kind to document TB, or any infective aetiology, as being the primary cause of unilateral retroperitoneal fibrosis. Unilateral retroperitoneal fibrosis is incredibly rare, and there are only four English language case reports in the literature. Idiopathic RPF typically presents as bilateral concentric tissue around the abdominal aorta, whilst secondary causes can lead to unconventional imaging patterns, as seen in this case. It was only upon direct inquiry that the patient disclosed a prior diagnosis of TB affecting the lumbar spine. This case highlights the importance of meticulous history taking and systematic exclusion of secondary causes of RPF, prior to contemplating invasive biopsies and steroid therapy. Disclosure D. Li: None. M. Renju: None.

Lenalidomide‐induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: A case report

AbstractPosterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a disorder of cerebrovascular dysregulation. To our knowledge, we present the first case of lenalidomide‐induced PRES in English. A 59‐year‐old woman with history of multiple myeloma status post stem cell transplant and induction triple therapy 6 months ago with partial remission and subsequent high‐dose melphalan 1 month ago presented with progressive vision loss for 1 week. Her systolic blood pressure was >180 mmHg, and neurological examination demonstrated decreased vision bilaterally. Brain MRI revealed significant T2 hyperintensity restricted to temporal and occipital lobes and left occipital parenchymal hemorrhage and diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement. She had a witnessed generalized tonic–clonic seizure and EEG that captured an electrographic seizure originating from the occipital lobe. Her vision improved rapidly after discontinuing the lenalidomide. She was discharged to rehab with a normal neurological examination. We report the first English case of presumed lenalidomide induced PRES in a patient undergoing multiple myeloma treatment.

Syntactic variation in Hong Kong English

Kirkpatrick and Lixun (2021) maintain that two significant morphosyntactic processes have been at play in early Englishes. These are simplification and regularization. Simplification refers to the relatively simplified inflectional morphology in English today. Kirkpatrick and Lixun (2021) provide an example for the word stan (i.e., stone in Old English) that showed great differences in the singular and plural form in nominative, accusative, genitive and dative case in Old English. Another process is regularization, through which some of the strong verb forms for past tense in English have changed to take the weak or the regular form. To illustrate, the past tense of work was wrought but over time, it has changed to worked.

Exploring the linkage of higher education and attitudes towards European integration: The British case

AbstractWhile cross‐sectional research has consistently shown graduates are less Eurosceptic than non‐graduates, little is known about the causal role of university study in determining these attitudes, as few longitudinal studies have explored this. This study does so, providing robust causal estimates of higher education's effect on Euroscepticism through applying individual‐ and sibling fixed‐effect modelling techniques to British Household Panel and Understanding Society data from 1999–2022. Both specifications provide consistent results; suggesting university study does little to decrease Euroscepticism in the short‐run but has substantial long‐run effects. This alludes to an ‘allocation’ effect, whereby it is largely not the experience of obtaining a degree itself, but the opportunities afforded by virtue of doing so that shape attitudes towards Europe. Our novel findings not only demonstrate that within‐sibling estimates of higher education's effect can be generalised to the wider British population but also advance our understanding of the mechanisms linking education with Euroscepticism.

Genitive Case in Kurdish and English Language

Linguistic and grammatical correctness, both in their production and when they are categorized under specialized grammar, involve numerous features unique to each language and the technical intricacies of its grammar. One such feature encompasses processes related to the genitive case, encompassing the nuanced details of genitive attribution, possession, indicators of possession, and the presence or absence of these indicators in their respective contexts. This research delves into the Genitive Case in Kurdish and English, elucidating their positions, commonalities, and distinctions. The methodology employed throughout this study is primarily analytical and comparative, wherein initial observations and insights about the phenomenon are presented, followed by a thorough analysis and demonstration of the genitive case in both Kurdish and English grammar.

English-for-Specific-Purposes Lecturer in English-Medium-Instruction Environment – Maritime English Case Study

In this paper, the Maritime English lecturer's role is considered from the point of view of their ecologically sustainable development. This will be done according to the survey carried out with experienced and novice Maritime English lecturers. The survey examines the current role of a Maritime English lecturer and seeks to envisage the best course of their future development in an English-medium-instruction (EMI) environment. Thus, a questionnaire with appropriate questions for a group of respondent Maritime English lecturers was created and then distributed; next, the responses were analysed and the results’ overview elaborated; last, an attempt was made to model the Maritime English lecturer's optimum development according to the guidelines of ecological sustainability. The essential prerequisite was to consider the idea of an ecologically sustainable development process, its establishment and purpose, and how it can be overlaid onto the professional and pedagogical role of Maritime English lecturers to support their current role, but also to assist in their future development. The latter seems unavoidable due to changes in the maritime industry and requirements from the maritime educational sector.

The Requirements of Managing Phase I Clinical Trials Risks: The British and Italian Case Studies.

Phase I clinical trials represent a critical point in drug development because the investigational medicinal product is being tested in humans for the first time. For this reason, it is essential to evaluate and identify the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) and the safety of the new compound. To mitigate the possible risks associated with drug administration and treatment, the European Competent Authority issued various guidelines to provide provisions and harmonize risk management processes. In the UK and Italy, particular attention should be paid to the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) phase I accreditation scheme and the specific rules set by the Italian Drug Authority through the AIFA Determination no. 809/2015. Both reference documents are based on the concept of quality risk management while conducting phase I clinical studies. Moreover, the AIFA determination outlines specific requirements for those sites that want to conduct non-profit phase I clinical trials. Indeed, the document reports peculiar activities to the "Clinical Trial Quality Team", which is a team that should support the clinical site researchers in designing, starting, performing, and closing non-profit phase I studies. In this paper, we provide a general overview of the main European guidelines concerning the management of risks during phase I trials, focusing on the main peculiarities of the schemes and rules set by the MHRA and AIFA.

Automated Scoring of Translations with BERT Models: Chinese and English Language Case Study

With the wide application of artificial intelligence represented by deep learning in natural language-processing tasks, the automated scoring of translations has also advanced and improved. This study aims to determine if the BERT-assist system can reliably assess translation quality and identify high-quality translations for potential recognition. It takes the Han Suyin International Translation Contest as a case study, which is a large-scale and influential translation contest in China, with a history of over 30 years. The experimental results show that the BERT-assist system is a reliable second rater for massive translations in terms of translation quality, as it can effectively sift out high-quality translations with a reliability of r = 0.9 or higher. Thus, the automated translation scoring system based on BERT can satisfactorily predict the ranking of translations according to translation quality and sift out high-quality translations potentially shortlisted for prizes.

Analysing sympathy from a contrastive pragmatic angle: a Chinese–English case study

Abstract In this study, we provide a replicable language-anchored framework for capturing expressions of sympathy in interaction, by contrasting Chinese and English sympathising behaviour. Our framework combines interaction ritual and speech acts, and it captures sympathising without associating it with one particular speech act from the outset. Methodologically, we follow a tripartite design: First we identify puzzlements which ritual sympathising can trigger for Chinese expatriates living in the US and American expatriates in China. We then conduct Discourse Completion Tests (DCTs) to identify conventions of sympathising in the two linguacultures. Finally, we interpret our expatriates’ puzzlement through the outcomes of the DCT analysis.