Case Study Research Articles

Recurrent acute pancreatitis as an initial presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism: A case report

BACKGROUND With 4.9 to 35 instances per 100000 cases, hyperparathyroidism is one of the rarest causes of acute pancreatitis. The major cause of primary hyperparathyroidism is a parathyroid adenoma, which can manifest clinically in various ways. CASE SUMMARY We discuss the unusual case of a 13-year-old boy with recurrent pancreatitis as the initial presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism. The cause of his recurrent pancreatitis remained unknown, and the patient had multiple admissions with acute pancreatitis over 3 years. His diagnosis was delayed due to the initial normal levels of parathyroid hormone, which were later reported elevated in a subsequent episode where ultrasound neck and thyroid scintigraphy revealed a parathyroid adenoma as the underlying cause. After the diagnosis was made, he underwent surgical resection of the adenoma. CONCLUSION This case study stresses the importance of considering uncommon causes for recurrent pancreatitis.

Language policy and linguistic landscapes in the internationalization of a non-Anglophone university

PurposeInternationalization strategies that have been issued for a decade affect non-Anglophone higher education institutions (HEIs) in the clash of importance in preserving national language or using international languages. One of the observable objects of this dilemma is the inconsistent language display of universities’ public signages as a linguistic landscape (LL). To address these issues, the presence of language policy is urgent unless the preservation of the national language is no longer the responsibility of HEIs. However, rigorous discussion about language policy in non-Anglophone HEIs remains limited. This study aims to address the gap by providing a critical analysis of the existing language policy documents in an Indonesian higher education institution that has a multilingual environment and its effect on the LL.Design/methodology/approachThis case study used document analysis and LL analysis. The setting was an Islamic university in Indonesia that represents the trial importance of building religious identity, preserving the national language and engaging with international demands. The data were collected from National Law Enforcement websites, which provided various national policy documents and the institutional documents that were retrieved from the university website by using the document analysis method by Bowen (2009). The secondary data were 216 visual images of public signage in an Islamic university in Indonesia as the representation of multilingual phenomena. The additional data were gathered from a pilot interview with a lecturer and a student.FindingsThis study found that both the national government and institutional administration in Indonesia do not have a language policy that regulates LLs or language preferences in public places for HEIs. The university tends to solely refer to international accreditation policy by using either bilingual English-Indonesian or monolingual English in the public signage. However, the limited use of the Arabic language in specific venues such as mosques and musallas shows that Arabic serves neither as symbolic identity nor communicative functions.Research limitations/implicationsThis study sets a single case study in an Islamic university, and the policy documents were limited to the Indonesian Government and institutions as the representation of non-Anglophone countries. Further studies are expected to have a bigger and larger size of data and settings.Practical implicationsThis study implies that non-Anglophone countries’ governments should start to design and enforce a language policy that preserves national language and facilitates major national and international language communities, such as Thai, Arabic, Javanese and Malay, without being absent in international competitive labeling. A practical implication for religion-based and cultural-based universities is that the function of their Holy Book or local languages can be used as communicative functions to strengthen the religious and local identity.Social implicationsThis study implies that non-Anglophone countries’ governments should start to design and enforce a language policy that preserves their national language without being absent in international competitive labeling.Originality/valueGiven the fact that there is limited awareness to bring the discussion about LL patterns into language policy issues in non-Anglophone countries, this study was originally conducted as a case study to pilot the discussion about the absence of language policy as represented through LLs in Indonesia. This case study was brought up as a pilot discussion to urge non-Anglophone countries lawmakers to issue language policy at the university level. This message is meant to respond to internationalization programs that can potentially jeopardize the existence of the linguistic and cultural diversity of non-Anglophone countries.

A Case Study on Sustainable Energy Use from Ballast Water Management System in Transport Vessels

A Case Study on Sustainable Energy Use from Ballast Water Management System in Transport Vessels

Fact-Checkers on the Fringe: Investigating Methods and Practices Associated With Contested Areas of Fact-Checking

This study investigates the methods and practices used by self-identified fact-checkers situated on the fringe of the field of fact-checking to support their agenda for public recognition and legitimacy. Using a case study approach and selecting nine cases across five countries (Russia, Brazil, India, China, and Singapore), we identify the most common distinguishable attributes and tactics associated with this ambiguous collection of actors. In addition to identifying how fringe fact-checkers weaponize fact-checking practices and exploit or mimic the social standing of accredited fact-checkers, we critique examples where state-supported fact-checkers associated with authoritarian governance structures fact-check for national interests. We propose a spectrum of fact-checkers including those where public or general interest fact-checkers follow journalistic ideals and align with accredited communities of practice or non-accredited peer recognition, and a collection of fringe fact-checkers ranging from “special interest” actors promoting specific political agendas to hostile actors with disruptive, destructive, and openly propagandistic interests and aims to destabilize the global public sphere. The article contributes to current research and debates about the institutionalization of fact-checking and the understudied area of fact-checking impersonation, a problematic activity associated with misinformation and propaganda on platforms and the internet.

Characteristics of Coal Spontaneous Combustion Induced by Air Leakage in the Goaf of Shallow Buried Close-Distance Coalbed

ABSTRACT This study investigates the air leakage patterns and coal spontaneous combustion prevention in shallow-buried close-distance coalbed goafs during opposite mining, using the 2201 and 2206 working faces of Shaozhai coal mine as a case study. Through theoretical analysis, in-situ testing, and numerical simulation, we examine air leakage relationships in opposite working face goafs of shallow-buried close-distance coalbeds. We identify coal spontaneous combustion risk areas in single and composite goafs with a 100 m reverse spacing. Our results indicate that the mining method significantly affects air leakage patterns in the 2201 and 2206 working faces under opposite close-distance arrangement, with increased air leakage in composite goafs elevating coal oxidation risk. As working faces advance, air leakage channels in coal pillars increase, leading to mutual influence between the composite goafs of the 2201 and 2206 working faces. We delineate specific spontaneous combustion risk areas for both working faces and observe intensified air leakage in coal pillars between composite goafs within 100 m of opposite mining spacing. Based on these findings, we propose comprehensive prevention and control measures, including bundle tube monitoring, air leakage plugging, and inerting techniques. This study provides valuable insights for preventing and controlling coal spontaneous combustion in composite goafs of shallow-buried close-distance coalbeds.

Exploring the effects of COVID-19 outbreak control policies on services offered to people experiencing homelessness

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent implementation of public health policies exacerbated multiple intersecting systemic inequities, including homelessness. Housing is a key social determinant of health that played a significant part in the front-line defence against COVID-19, posing challenges for service providers working with people experiencing homelessness (PEH). Public health practitioners and not-for-profit organizations (NFPs) had to adapt existing COVID-19 policies and implement novel measures to prevent the spread of disease within congregate settings, including shelters. It is essential to share the perspectives of service providers working with PEH and their experiences implementing policies to prepare for future public health emergencies and prevent service disruptions.MethodsIn this qualitative case study, we explored how service providers in the non-profit sector interpreted, conceptualized, and implemented COVID-19 public health outbreak control policies in Nova Scotia. We interviewed 11 service providers between September and December 2020. Using thematic analysis, we identified patterns and generated themes. Local, provincial, and national policy documents were useful to situate our findings within the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and contextualize participants’ experiences.ResultsImplementing policies in the context of homelessness was difficult for service providers, leading to creative temporary solutions, including pop-up shelters, a dedicated housing isolation phone line, comfort stations, and harm reduction initiatives, among others. There were distinct rural challenges to navigating the pandemic, which stemmed from technology limitations, lack of public transportation, and service closures. This case study illustrates the importance of flexible and context-specific policies required to support PEH and mitigate the personal and professional impact on service providers amid a public health emergency. Innovative services and public health collaboration also exemplified the ability to enhance housing services beyond the pandemic.ConclusionsThe results of this project may inform context-specific emergency preparedness and response plans for COVID-19, future public health emergencies, and ongoing housing crises.

The use of trade-related writing in upper secondary vocational education and training

ABSTRACT In Upper secondary vocational education and training (VET) we note the presence of students with learning challenges, including reading and writing difficulties. However, both the learning and practice of a trade require the use of trade-related writing. One characteristic of those writings is their plurisemioticity which we can see as different semiotic resources at hand to do things and make meaning in the situation. The purpose of the present contribution is to describe the use of trade-related writing in upper secondary vocational training (VET) within a heterogeneous group of individuals in terms of their level of education upon entering the training program. Our results from analysis of data from a case study of a carpentry programme shows that learners use such writing with an affective attitude of openness and that they are inclined to use at the first place semiotic systems and mediums with which they are more familiar. Results raise as well issues of information literacy, particularly in terms of the quality of the information obtained by learners in digital medium.

Strategic scaling initiatives and client networking dynamics for small and medium-sized enterprises growth: a comprehensive case study analysis

Strategic scaling initiatives and client networking dynamics for small and medium-sized enterprises growth: a comprehensive case study analysis

“I am not that teacher”: Latinx teachers’ linguacultural experiences and transformative practices as resources for hope

ABSTRACT Current educational trends show an increasing number of Latinx students in the U.S. school system and a shortage of Latinx teachers who mirror their experiences. To better understand how to attract more Latinx teachers to the profession, we must better understand Latinx educators’ language and cultural experiences and teaching practices. For this reason, this qualitative study explores Latinx teachers’ linguacultural experiences and teaching practices through two exploratory case studies on Latinx educators who serve Latinx students. Data was collected through interviews, digital stories, and the teachers’ lesson plans to explore the participants’ linguacultural experiences and teaching practices. Findings revealed that teacher participants positioned themselves as opposite to “that teacher”, a prototypical monoglossic teacher who hinders and belittles the multilingual experience. By adopting translanguaging practices, they leveraged their students’ linguacultural experiences, creating a pedagogy for hope and resistance. The study will discuss implications for transformative practices and the need for teachers’ who support Latinx students in the U.S.

The public health challenges of female migration: the Venezuelan diaspora in Andean countries

BackgroundVenezuelan migration has experienced an unprecedented increase in the last decade, with approximately 7.7 million Venezuelan-born individuals residing in other countries as of 2024. Our study aims to identify the potential and actual demand for healthcare services (SRH) in the Venezuelan diaspora’s four primary destinations within the Andean Countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.MethodsUsing official data from administrative records, censuses, and sample surveys reported by the host countries and international agencies, we estimate the annual evolution of Venezuelan-born women of reproductive age (WRA) and their offspring. Additionally, we conduct two case studies focusing on Colombia and Chile to analyse the groups most vulnerable to unmet health needs.ResultsThe population of WRA has increased to between 5 and 6.8%, and births have risen to approximately 3–8% in host countries due to Venezuelan migration. Yet, we found a general decrease in health coverage for certain age groups of Venezuelan female migrants in host countries for the period 2017–2022, particularly in Chile. By 2022, an estimated 20% of healthcare needs remained unmet among children, girls, and younger Venezuelan women, contributing to greater health inequalities between Venezuelan-born adolescents and those from other countries of birth.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the escalating demand for and limited access to healthcare services among Venezuelan WRA in their destinations. Unmet healthcare needs are particularly prevalent among younger women by 2022, underscoring the urgency for health system to incorporate gender-responsive, equitable interventions and ensuring health rights for high-risk migrant groups such as infants, children, adolescents, and younger women. Addressing these challenges remains a critical task for the regional public health agenda in Latin America.

Should the multi-layer transportation network structure be reduced?

ABSTRACT The increasing diversity of transportation modes and the rapid expansion of transportation networks present significant challenges for modeling multi-layer comprehensive transportation networks. It is crucial to determine whether aggregating certain layers is a viable option for balancing complexity reduction and information preservation. This decision defines the layered structures and informs subsequent analyses of these networks. Two-dimensional factors, namely topological structures and transportation attributes, are considered to enhance understanding of the similarities among network layers. The relative entropy and the Gini index are employed as metrics to assess information gain or loss resulting from layer aggregation or segregation, guiding decisions on network reduction. Furthermore, an integrated similarity measure, based on the quantum Jensen-Shannon divergence and the Gower distance, is utilized to identify the optimal aggregation sequences. Two real-world transportation networks serve as case studies. Results demonstrate that these transportation networks are more effectively maintained with layer-separated structures, preserving maximum information.

Machine learning-aided hybrid technique for dynamics of rail transit stations classification: a case study

Accurate classification of rail transit stations is crucial for successful Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and sustainable urban growth. This paper introduces a novel classification model integrating traditional methodologies with advanced machine learning algorithms. By employing mathematical models, clustering methods, and neural network techniques, the model enhances the precision of station classification, allowing for a refined evaluation of station attributes. A comprehensive case study on the Chengdu rail transit network validates the model’s efficacy, highlighting its value in optimizing TOD strategies and guiding decision-making processes for urban planners and policymakers. The study employs several regression models trained on existing data to generate accurate ridership forecasts, and data clustering using mathematical algorithms reveals distinct categories of stations. Evaluation metrics confirm the rationality and accuracy of the results. Additionally, a neural network achieving high accuracy on labeled data enhances the model’s predictive capabilities for unlabeled instances. The research demonstrates high accuracy, with the Mean Squared Error (MSE) for regression models (Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Deep-Learning Neural Network (DNN), and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN)) remaining below 0.012, while the neural networks used for station classification achieve 100% accuracy across seven time intervals and 98.15% accuracy for the eighth, ensuring reliable ridership forecasts and classification outcomes. Accuracy in rail transit station classification is critical, as it not only strengthens the model’s predictive capabilities but also ensures more reliable data-driven decisions for transit planning and development, allowing for more precise ridership forecasts and evidence-based strategies for optimizing TOD. This classification model provides stakeholders with valuable insights into the dynamics and features of rail transit stations, supporting sustainable urban development planning.

Rethinking Top-Down Revolutions: A Comparison of the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia

ABSTRACT This study seeks to investigate and compare the characteristics and outcomes of top-down revolutions in Prussia and the Ottoman Empire. Top-down revolutions are distinguished by extensive social and economic transformations that do not lead to the displacement of the ruling classes. As case studies, we examine the Ottoman Empire, which was characterized by a dysfunctional parliamentary monarchy and an underdeveloped state, and Prussia, an industrialized kingdom with a functioning parliamentary monarchy. The research examines revolutionary processes and class relations and concludes that the outcome and success of top-down revolutions are influenced by geographical size, political structure, economic understanding, and class formations. The study classifies top-down revolutions as either progressive or regressive based on these criteria.

Strategic voting in two-round elections: confirming the learning hypothesis in the Czech presidential elections of 2013–2023?

ABSTRACT This paper explores whether strategic voting can also be identified in two-round electoral systems. We use aggregate data at the level of Czechia’s 206 microregions to assess the incidence of strategic voting in the Czech presidential elections using two-round elections between 2013 and 2023. We find the following evidence of a considerable rise of strategic voting in the 2023 presidential election: (1) rise of support for the two strongest candidates nationally, as well as at the level of individual microregions; (2) decline of strategic failure and sincere voting indicated by shifting values of the second-first loser ratio; (3) increased electoral competition approaching strong competitive two-party dominance as shown by Nagayama diagrams. These results point to the importance of the ‘learning hypothesis’ that strategic voting in new democracies tends to increase as voters (but also political elites) become more experienced with the electoral process. Furthermore, while we present a case study of a Czech presidential election, we also make an important contribution to the literature on strategic voting. Therefore, a theoretical contribution of this study also lies in its effort to apply the Duvergerian logic to a very different context of presidential elections in which electoral competition is highly personalised.

Is home where the heart is? Investigating the relationship between hometown and entrepreneurship

ABSTRACT The importance of home and hometown for entrepreneurs has significant implications for entrepreneurial identities, venture success, and broader contextual dynamics. Traditionally, the concept of home in entrepreneurship literature is viewed instrumentally, largely focusing on the unit of dwelling (i.e. premises/house/apartment), the implications of location choices, and their effects on performance. We employ a mobilities lens, broadening the concept of home to the city/town scale of ‘hometown’, offering a more holistic understanding of what it means for entrepreneurs from various origins and returns. Our qualitative case study in Norwich, UK, provides nuanced theoretical advancements into understanding home beyond materiality and mere location, highlighting how this is inextricably linked to dynamic renewal within peripheral urban places and different migration pathways (i.e. local, migrant, returnee). Our contributions are threefold: 1) we reveal that varying degrees of localness complicate the local versus non-local binary, impacting entrepreneurial dynamics; 2) our relational model of hometown entrepreneurship challenges the rigid leave-learn-return narrative, demonstrating return migration as a complex detach-experience-revalue socio-cultural reconnection which feeds into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem; 3) exploring the interactions of diverse actors in peripheral urban hometowns provides insights into regional development moving us beyond instrumental views in existing literature.

Becoming a professional surf coach as a social participation trajectory

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to analyse the social participation trajectory of a Brazilian surf coach. A single case study was conducted with a coach who accumulated experiences of 38 years as a surfer and 28 years as a coach. Data were collected using a combination of in-depth interviews and the Rappaport Timeline and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results revealed that Khloe’s pre-coaching trajectory involved gradually developing physical and sports skills, values, and interests related to the surfing practice and lifestyle. In her surf coach participation trajectory, Khloe participated in communities and social practices, expanding and redirecting the meanings and competencies related to her participation in the surfing community. In the case of Khloe, becoming a coach was a process of travelling within and across communities, where the different modes of belonging allowed her to negotiate and consolidate meanings, regimes of competence and identities deeply connected to surfing.

Defend the Nation, Crush the People: Desertion and Civil War in Greek Macedonia, 1916–17

ABSTRACT The creation of compact nation-states out of multi-ethnic empires in the Balkans was accompanied by bouts of ethnic cleansing. Critical histories of the emergence of the modern Balkan states have consequently tended to focus on ethnic violence. However, state violence often targeted the ‘dominant’ ethnic group as well, as its centralizing and modernizing agenda put it at loggerheads with traditional sources power and autonomy. Conscription was perhaps the most important dimension of state-building, as it sought to buttress the state’s military machine, all while demanding significant coercive power to register, draft, and discipline young men. Conscription thus came up against intense popular resistance, especially in the decade of total war of the 1910s. In Greece, this spiralled into episodes of virtual civil war. This article focuses on resistance to the draft during the first recruitment drive of the National Defence Government in Greek Macedonia, with special emphasis on the Chalkidiki revolt of 1916–17. It uses this case study to explore broader trends about the formation of the modern Balkan nation-states.

Unsupervised deep denoising for four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy

By simultaneously achieving high spatial and angular sampling resolution, four dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D STEM) is enabling analysis techniques that provide great insight into the atomic structure of materials. Applying these techniques to scientifically and technologically significant beam-sensitive materials remains challenging because the low doses needed to minimise beam damage lead to noisy data. We demonstrate an unsupervised deep learning model that leverages the continuity and coupling between the probe position and the electron scattering distribution to denoise 4D STEM data. By restricting the network complexity it can learn the geometric flow present but not the noise. Through experimental and simulated case studies, we demonstrate that denoising as a preprocessing step enables 4D STEM analysis techniques to succeed at lower doses, broadening the range of materials that can be studied using these powerful structure characterization techniques.

Stuart Stress Adaptation and Nola Pender's Model on Mental Nursing Care of Patients Schizophrenia: Case Study

To describe the application of the Stuart Stress Adaptation and Nola Pender Models in mental nursing care for a patient with schizophrenia and risk of violent behavior. This research method used case studies. The sample is one patient with schizophrenia. Data collection is done through direct observation, interviews, and patient medical records. The results showed that the client showed a major nursing problem in the form of risk of violent behavior. Predisposing factors included passive childhood experiences and socio-cultural issues, while precipitation included feeling disrespected by the husband's family. Nursing interventions provided to the patient included logotherapy, forgiveness therapy, and psychoeducation to the family. Family psychoeducation forms a supportive system in the client's recovery process. The results of this study indicate that there is a reduction in symptoms of violent behavior in schizophrenia patients. The importance of integrating the Stuart Stress Adaptation and Nola Pender Model in the psychiatric nursing care of patients with paranoid schizophrenia.

Teaching linguistics through language construction: A case study

Teaching linguistics through language construction: A case study