Consideration Paid Research Articles

Beating the Untrodden Paths: Computers, Artificial Intelligence and Quanta in Marxist Theory

Abstract The fulcrum of this work is knowledge: what it is and how it is generated within the context of a capitalist society. First, Marx’s analysis of the objective labour process is extended to the mental labour process. Then, objective and mental labour processes are defined in terms of objective and mental transformations, with consideration paid to which of the two types of transformation is determinant. This requires a discussion of dialectical logic and formal logic. Within dialectical logic, two types of processes are introduced: open ended and pre-determined. It is argued that computers (both traditional and quantum) and Artificial Intelligence cannot generate new knowledge, because they (a) rely on formal logic, i.e. they cannot engage in open-ended dialectical processes, and (b) are impervious to social determination. Connectedly, Artificial Intelligence systems such as ChatGPT cannot be a substitute for human thought or writing, because of the inevitability of ‘model collapse’. Next, focus is shifted to a specific form of knowledge: the ‘Copenhagen interpretation’ of quantum mechanics. It is shown that this interpretation is steeped in irrationalism and that it is a variant of pro-capitalist ideology. Finally, the social-historical roots of this ideology are revealed.

Public Health Risks, Dermatological Manifestations, and Environmental Justice Associated With Vinyl Chloride Exposure: Narrative Review.

Environmental vinyl chloride (VC) exposure may result in serious acute and chronic dermatological conditions. Because existing literature largely focuses on exposures in occupational settings, a gap persists in our understanding of the medical consequences of large-scale chemical spills. This study aims to examine the potential dermatological manifestations of VC exposure in the context of industrial spills and other environmental disasters and to highlight the public health and justice implications of such releases. In this narrative review, relevant evidence-based, peer-reviewed scientific sources, gray literature, and media reports were identified via searches of search PubMed and Google using predetermined keyword search terms related to VC, VC spills and releases, train derailment, cutaneous disease, public health, and vulnerable and marginalized populations. Contact dermatitis and frostbite may arise acutely, highlighting the importance of swift decontamination. Long-term manifestations from chronic VC exposure due to persistence in environmental reservoirs include Raynaud disease, sclerodermatous skin changes, acro-osteolysis, and cutaneous malignancies. The clinical severity of cutaneous manifestations is influenced by individual susceptibility as well as duration, intensity, and route of exposure. Additionally, chemical releases of VC more frequently impact Communities of Color and those of lower socioeconomic status, resulting in greater rates of exposure-related disease. With environmental release events of hazardous chemicals becoming increasingly common and because the skin has increased contact with environmental toxins relative to other organs, an urgent need exists for a greater understanding of the overall short- and long-term health impacts of large-scale, toxic exposures, underscoring the need for ongoing clinical vigilance. Dermatologists and public health officials should also aim to better understand the ways in which the disproportionate impacts of hazardous chemical exposures on lower-income and minority populations may exacerbate existing health disparities. Herein, we describe the health implications of toxic releases with particular consideration paid to marginalized and vulnerable populations. In addition to legal and regulatory frameworks, we advocate for improved public health measures, to not only mitigate the risk of environmental catastrophes in the future, but also ensure timely and effective responses to them.

Single Atom Catalysts with Out-of-Plane Coordination Structure on Conjugated Covalent Organic Frameworks.

Adjusting the local coordination environment of single-atom electrocatalysts is a viable way to improve catalytic performance. The diversity of coordination geometric structures is limited to the traditional in-plane configuration, with only a little consideration paid to out-of-plane configurations due to the lack of suitable carriers and fabrication methods. This study reports out-of-plane coordination of Co-based single-atom catalysts mediated by the conjugated bipyridine-rich covalent organic framework (COF). The bipyridine nitrogen on the COF layer backbone of these catalysts serves as the linker center for cobalt sites anchoring, while the complementary moieties are coordinated at the other side of the Co metal and reside beyond the COF backbone plane, thus yielding out-of-plane coordination. The electrochemical experiments and density functional theory calculations reveal that catalysts with multiple out-of-plane coordinations exhibit different electrocatalytic oxygen evolution activities and catalytic pathways. The out-of-plane coordination enabled by COFs provides a strategy for designing single-atom electrocatalysts, expanding the application of COFs in the field of electrocatalysis.

‘Trapped in the trap’: Exploring Music Therapists’ clinical engagement with the current discourse around UK Drill

This article investigates Music Therapists’ experience and understanding of UK Drill. As a recently emerged sub-genre of Rap, its graphic lyrics have been linked to increases in gang activity and violent crime in the United Kingdom, while simultaneously voicing the experiences of marginalised black, working-class people. This has fuelled wider debate around censorship and diversity, tensions within which are explored in this article in a review of the literature on Rap and music therapy. The review suggests that while the therapeutic use of UK Drill may be contraindicated, to exclude the genre from music therapy is problematic from a socio-political perspective. This debate is then explored through semi-structured interviews with two white Music Therapists with experience of working with young people who want to use UK Drill in their music therapy sessions. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three themes are discussed: research participants’ descriptions of their perception of the therapeutic components of UK Drill, their perspectives on the psychosocial context of UK Drill and their negotiating questions of identity when working with UK Drill. Findings suggested a complex role for UK Drill in music therapy. While the ethical and clinical necessity of not excluding UK Drill from sessions was established, so were a number of challenges posed for Music Therapists looking to integrate it into their practice. Research participants were also found to be emotionally desensitised to UK Drill’s graphic lyrics. This is argued to represent an underlying anxiety towards UK Drill’s intense emotional expression, which was further suggested by the absence of open consideration towards clients’ racial identities. The findings are considered in the context of wider diversity issues within the profession. They also signal the need for a more socially cognisant music therapy practice, with greater open consideration paid towards the client’s racial identity by white Music Therapists.

Social Media Influencer and Corporate Brand Reputation—An Experimental Study

The fundamental role of marketing has been to spread positive word of mouth about not only the brand but also create a positive image of the firm backing it. Online media powerhouses (SMIs) are currently a huge component in associations’ showcasing blend. In any case, there has been little consideration paid to how SMIs may change the way people process a business commercial intended to enhance corporate reputation. As an extension to earlier research, this experimental study investigates the use of social media influencers in improving the corporate reputation or firm’s image. In this study, there are two groups (control group and experimental group) of over 125 subjects each. The study used the two-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and multiple linear regression. It was found that advertisements introduced by the SMI have reduced the persuasion knowledge but did not influence the attitude towards the message. This study will help marketers to appropriately embed SMI in their communication strategy not only to help their product or service brand but also the firm backing up.

A Development of Visualization Technology through AR-Based Design Checklist Connection

Since the initial design review has the effect of minimizing the design changes needed in the later stages of an architectural project, a process of collaboration between architects, clients, and engineers in this design review is very important. Recently, design review using 3D models rendered in VR or AR, going beyond simple simulation, has been addressed in many studies. However, a synchronization function that provides immediate visualization of design changes is the focus, which has limitations in its ability to review factors required by law related to safety and design. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to develop AR-based design checklist linkage and visualization review technology that facilitates decision making by clients and architects during design review. For this purpose, a method for linking a design checklist in an AR environment using a game engine (Unity 3D) is proposed and various design review visualization functions are developed with consideration paid to the user interface. The efficiency of the design checklist linkage technology and visualization function developed in this study was verified in the pilot project.

Cancer in deceased adults with intellectual disabilities: English population-based study using linked data from three sources

ObjectiveTo improve our understanding of cancer in adults with intellectual disabilities.DesignPopulation-based study using linked data about deceased adults from the Learning (Intellectual) Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme, the national cancer...

Elite and Liberal Democracy: A New Equilibrium?

In contemporary democracies, the balance between the minority principle and democratic principles, one of the components underlying the relationship between liberalism and democracy, is being broken. This paper offers a reflection on this theme – crucial for the future of representative government – in relation to the importance of the theory of elites. The article is divided into three parts: the first part briefly traces the main phases of the theory of elites from the late nineteenth century to the present, indicating, for each, the salient features; the second part focuses on the elements characterizing the alliance between the minority principle and democratic principles, which forms the basis of liberal representative democracy, with specific consideration paid to the geometric architecture of democracy, comprising a horizontal dimension and a vertical dimension; finally, the third part argues the need for strengthening the logic of distance to consolidate the connection between the theory of elites and liberal representative democracy.

Revisiting Pro-Social Rule-Breaking: Suggestions for Improvements

The existing literature on the concept of deviant behaviour in Management and Organizational Studies includes two streams of research on deviant behaviour, which consider both positive and negative consequences. Under positive deviant behaviour, Pro-Social Rule-Breaking (PSRB) is considered as an important concept, which addresses the motives, behaviour, and consequences of positive deviant behaviour in the organisational context. This paper intends to examine the construction of PSRB within the existing literature to identify its strengths and limitations. Further, if gaps are available in the existing notion of the concept, the paper intends to propose constructs to be incorporated in the re-conceptualisation. With the review of the literature it was found that PSRB falls short in explaining the motive(s) of positive deviant behaviour linked with the ‘self’ by emphasising the pro-social motive of rule-breaking which is linked to a concern for the ‘other’. It also gives prominence to breaking formal rules by ignoring deviance from informal norms. Moreover, the emphasis of the existing literature on the construction of PSRB is mainly on explaining the impact of organization-specific constructs related to deviant behaviour, with less consideration paid to constructs in the extra-organizational context. Hence, in order to overcome the limitations of the concept, constructs considered in the literature were analysed with a view to re-conceptualising PSRB with suitable sub-constructs. Consequently, the paper proposes to incorporate discourses, norms, and identity work in re-conceptualising the construction of PSRB of organizational actors. This re-conceptualisation will facilitate understanding the self’s and the other’s motives, the breaking of formal as well as informal rules/norms, and organizational as well as extra-organizational motives in the construction of PSRB. Hence, the proposed sub-constructs go beyond a surface-level analysis by overcoming the limitations of the existing notion of the construction of PSRB. The proposed re-consideration broadens the understanding of PSRB while enabling practitioners to manage positive deviant behaviour desirably in the organizational context.
 Keywords: Deviant Behaviour, Discourses, Identity Work, Norms, Pro-Social Rule-Breaking

DEBT AND TAXES

The federal income tax conceptualizes the standard loan transaction as an exchange of cash for promises to pay interest and to repay the amount borrowed by the end of the term. This formulation is subtly incorrect in ways that have led to a weaker foundation for existing tax rules than they merit. Conceptualizing loans instead as closely akin to leases places most of the tax rules for debt on sounder footing because it clarifies that interest is the consideration paid for the use of the loan proceeds. If interest is the cost of the use of money, then simple borrowing is a fully-paid-for transaction, full basis credit in the loan proceeds for the period for which interest is paid is appropriate, and cancellation of debt is a straightforward accession to wealth in the period in which it occurs. These conclusions hold whether the interest is deductible or not and are consistent with current law, which has come under fire from some quarters.Although the proposed reconceptualization of loan as lease supports a number of longstanding income tax rules, one area in which it counsels significant reform is the taxation of partnerships. If loans are like cash leases made in exchange for interest qualifying as rent, Treasury should provide for the allocation of basis credit among partners for the partnership’s debt based on who bears the economic burden of the interest expense. The rule should apply regardless of whether the debt is recourse or nonrecourse and regardless of who would have discharge of indebtedness income on default. Such an approach differs markedly from the existing rules for recourse obligations but is closer to the rules for certain nonrecourse obligations. A modification of the rules applicable to partnership debt consistent with the loan-as-lease theory, therefore, would remove a significant discontinuity in the current tax treatment of partnership debt.

Debt and Taxes

The federal income tax conceptualizes the standard loan transaction as an exchange of cash for promises to pay interest and to repay the amount borrowed by the term. This formulation is subtly wrong in ways that have led to a weaker foundation for existing tax rules than they merit. Conceptualizing loans instead as closely akin to leases places most of the tax rules for debt on sounder footing because it clarifies that the consideration paid for the use of the loan proceeds is interest. If interest is the cost of the use of money, then simple borrowing is a fully-paid-for transaction, full basis credit in the loan proceeds for the period for which interest is paid is appropriate, and cancellation of debt is a straightforward accession to wealth in the period in which it occurs. These conclusions hold whether the interest is deductible or not and are consistent with current law, which has come under fire from some quarters. Although the proposed reconceptualization of loan as lease supports a number of longstanding income tax rules, one area in which it counsels significant reform is the taxation of partnerships. If loans are like cash leases made in exchange for interest qualifying as rent, Treasury should provide for allocation of basis credit among partners for the partnership’s debt based on who bears the economic burden of interest expense. The rule should apply regardless of whether the debt is recourse or nonrecourse and regardless of who would have discharge of indebtedness income on default. Such an approach differs markedly from the existing rules for recourse obligations but is closer to the rules for certain nonrecourse obligations. A modification of the rules applicable to partnership debt consistent with the loan-as-lease theory therefore would remove a significant discontinuity in the current tax treatment of partnership debt

Impaired host response and the presence of Acinetobacter baumannii in the serum microbiome of type-II diabetic patients.

SummaryType II diabetes (T2D) affects over 10% of the US population and is a growing disease worldwide that manifests with numerous comorbidities and defects in inflammation. This dysbiotic host response allows for infection of the host by numerous microorganisms. In the course of T2D disease, individuals can develop chronic infections including foot ulcers and periodontitis, which lead to further complications and opportunistic infections in multiple body sites. In this study, we investigated the serum of healthy subjects and patients with T2D with (T2DP) or without periodontitis for both microbiome signatures in addition to cytokine profiles. Surprisingly, we detected the presence of Acinetobacter baumanii in the serum of 23% individuals with T2D/T2DP tested. In T2DP, IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-γ were significantly elevated in ABC-positive subjects. As an emerging pathogen, A. baumanii infection represents a risk for impaired inflammation and the development of comorbidities in subjects with T2D.

A review on fault detection and diagnosis techniques: basics and beyond

Safety and reliability are absolutely important for modern sophisticated systems and technologies. Therefore, malfunction monitoring capabilities are instilled in the system for detection of the incipient faults and anticipation of their impact on the future behavior of the system using fault diagnosis techniques. In particular, state-of-the-art applications rely on the quick and efficient treatment of malfunctions within the equipment/system, resulting in increased production and reduced downtimes. This paper presents developments within Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) methods and reviews of research work in this area. The review presents both traditional model-based and relatively new signal processing-based FDD approaches, with a special consideration paid to artificial intelligence-based FDD methods. Typical steps involved in the design and development of automatic FDD system, including system knowledge representation, data-acquisition and signal processing, fault classification, and maintenance related decision actions, are systematically presented to outline the present status of FDD. Future research trends, challenges and prospective solutions are also highlighted.

Safe Spaces Embedded in Dangerous Contexts: How Chicago Youth Navigate Daily Life and Demonstrate Resilience in High-Crime Neighborhoods.

Much is known about how experiences of community violence negatively affect youth, but far less research has explored how youth remain resilient while living in dangerous neighborhoods. This study addresses this need by analyzing in-depth, geo-narrative interviews conducted with 15 youth (60% Black, 27% Latinx, 53% female, 14 to 17years old) residing in low-income, high-crime Chicago neighborhoods to explore youths' perceptions of safety and strategies for navigating neighborhood space. After carrying geographical positioning system (GPS) trackers for an eight-day period, youths' travel patterns were mapped, and these maps were used as part of an interview with youth that explored daily routines, with special consideration paid to where and when youth felt safe. Drawing on activity settings theory and exploring youth voice, we find that experiences of community violence are commonplace, but youth describe how they have safe spaces that are embedded within these dangerous contexts. Perceptions of safety and danger were related to environmental, social, and temporal cues. Youth reported four overarching safety strategies, including avoidance, hypervigilance, self-defense, and emotional management, but these strategies considerably varied by gender. We discuss implications for practice and future directions of research. HIGHLIGHTS: This study explored Chicago youths' safety strategies and resilience in high-crime neighborhoods. Safe and dangerous spaces are embedded or overlapping settings. All youth practiced safety strategies but they considerably varied by gender. Perceptions are intersubjectively created due to the codes, rules, and norms of community life. Violence is common and extreme in everyday life of this sample of Chicago adolescents.

Stuck in the middle

Given the increasing number of people seeking refuge in Belgium and across Europe more broadly, it is essential that governments assume responsibility for the integration of refugees into society. An essential aspect of this process is the provision of a durable path from shelter to housing. Choosing a place of residence, and the success in obtaining suitable housing conditions, are factors that significantly shape the integration process. In the context of refugee settlement in Belgium, however, asylum and migration policies to date have been predominantly focused on tackling temporary crises with little consideration paid to long-term integration and housing strategies. Due to separated policy competences (reception at the federal policy level, and housing at the regional level), and the absence of a sense of responsibility from both Flemish (regional) and federal government, voluntary organisations have developed significant roles at the local level in the transition from shelter to housing, and in further housing needs of recognised refugees. Achieving this transition is impeded by capacity problems, discrimination, lack of local social networks, and limited timeframes. Using the concept of path dependency as a theoretical starting point, this article employs qualitative methods to highlight the impact of both asylum policies and the spatial characteristics of reception centres on transitions towards more permanent housing. Recommendations for refugee accommodation are made to enhance the transition from shelter to housing. Finally, it addresses alternative housing projects that are conducive to social integration as well as to the transition of refugees to the regular housing market.

Climate change of the 21st century over China from the ensemble of RegCM4 simulations

Climate change in the 21st century over China and its different sub-regions is investigated in the study, based on the ensemble of a set of dynamical downscaling experiments over East Asia. The model employed in the experiments is the International Center for Theoretical Physics’ Regional Climate Model, version 4 (RegCM4), at 25-km grid spacing, driven by five different CMIP5 (phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project) global models under the Representative Concentration Pathways RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The model version used was customized for better performance over the region. Ten sub-regions of China were defined, with consideration paid to local economic and societal developments, vulnerability of ecosystems, and sensitivity to future climate changes. A substantial warming in the future in China is projected, and this warming is more pronounced over the Tibetan Plateau during DJF (December-January-February) and Northwest China (where dry climate prevails) during JJA (June-July-August). A broad increase in temperature extreme indices—Namely, TXx (annual maximum daily maximum surface air temperature) and TNn (annual minimum daily minimum surface air temperature)—is reported, along with increased mean temperature. The results suggest more frequent and intense heat waves in the warm seasons, and thus more risks in terms of human health and mortality, over the sub-regions of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Cross-Taiwan Strait Coasts, with their dense cities and populations. Meanwhile, the warming over the Tibetan Plateau may lead to degradation of frozen soil and glacial melt, and thus a greater frequency of related geological hazards, while increased evapotranspiration following the warming over the Arid and Semi-arid Northwest and Losses Plateau sub-regions may worsen the situation with respect to water resource shortages. Precipitation change in DJF shows a prevailing increase in northern China, with good agreement among the ensemble members. The increase is largest in the Northwest China sub-region. In southern China, small changes with a slight decrease in the southern part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau are found. In JJA, precipitation increases over western China, the northern part of Northeast China, and the Yellow-Huai River basins, and shows small changes over other areas. A general increase in the precipitation extreme index (RX1day, the annual maximum 1-day precipitation) is found over the whole country, indicating more extreme precipitation events in the future. For the CDD index (the largest number of consecutive days when the daily precipitation amount is less than 1 mm), a general increase in the north and a decrease in the south are found. Regarding the increases of heavy precipitation events, the Arid and Semi-arid Northwest and Losses and Tibetan Plateau sub-regions, with their fragile ecosystems, may experience relatively more landslide and debris flow events; while over the more populated sub-regions, special concern is needed with respect to the likely greater frequency and more intense nature of flooding and urban-flooding events. Quantitatively, the increases in annual mean temperature, TXx, and TNn in the mid-21st (2041–2060) century relative to the present day (1986–2005) over the whole of China under RCP4.5/RCP8.5 are 1.6/2.2°C, 1.7/2.2°C, and 1.9/2.7°C, respectively. For precipitation, RX1day, and CDD, the values of change are 4%/5%, 9%/12%, and both around −2 d, respectively. The changes become more pronounced with time. By the end of the 21st century (2081–2098), under the higher scenario of RCP8.5, the changes in annual mean temperature, TXx, TNn, precipitation, RX1day and CDD are 4.6, 4.7, 5.5°C, 12%, 25%, and −4 d, respectively. Finally, the deficiencies and uncertainties that remain in projecting the future climate over the region are also outlined and discussed in the paper.

Re-Characterization Risk and True Sale Principle within the Context of Asset Securitization

Abstract The aim of this paper is to determine the re-characterization risk inherent in a classic securitization project. The paper highlights the importance of making a more thorough investigation of the true-sale doctrine providing principal tools for minimization of such a risk. The author examines the legal consequences of re-characterization for a securitization project and outlines the basic factors which may lead to re-characterization. He explores the classic true-sale doctrine and suggests its better understanding within the securitization context. The existing literature provides no common approach which would help to distinguish between a sale and a secured loan in this context. This article fills a gap in the doctrine by establishing an efficient ‘purpose-oriented approach’, under which a court shall focus on the purpose of the principal transaction in securitization. We suggest the exhaustive list of criteria for characterization of such a deal which should include only adequacy of consideration paid for the receivables and adequacy of the subject-matter of the deal.

Subsidies and Value-Added Tax: A Comparative Study of Law and Practice in Canada and the European Union

Value-added tax (VAT) is a tax levied on private consumption expenditures. Where VAT is levied on each transaction within the supply chain, the aim of taxing only private consumption is achieved by allowing businesses a credit to offset the VAT paid on purchases against the VAT collected on sales. This article provides a comparative study of the law and practice in the European Union and Canada regarding subsidies and VAT (in Canada, the goods and services tax). Subsidies are among the financial instruments used by governments, and sometimes private organizations, to support the realization of certain policies. This article is concerned with determining the circumstances in which subsidies may be included in the consideration paid in a transaction and may therefore be subject to VAT, and the extent to which the right to claim input tax credits can be exercised. The authors investigate these questions by discussing the nature of subsidies from the perspective of VAT principles, reviewing the statutory provisions and administrative practices in the European Union and Canada, and analyzing the relevant case law in both jurisdictions.

Consumer Complaints and their Disposal with Reference to Consumer Protection Act: A Study of Himachal Pradesh

A consumer is a person who utilizes economic goods. The moment a person is born he/she consumes, i.e. uses available goods or services. Under section 2d of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, A "Consumer” means a person who-[hires or avails of] any services for a consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised, or under any system of deferred payment and includes any beneficiary of such services other than the person who [hires or avails of] the services for consideration paid or promised, or partly paid and partly promised, or under any system of deferred payment, when such services are availed of with the approval of the first mentioned person[but does not include a person who avails of such services for any commercial purpose]

“Ethical considerations in providing psychological services to unaccompanied immigrant children”

Over 50,000 youth, mostly between the ages of 13 and 17 years, migrated to the United States (US) without familial accompaniment in the fiscal year 2018. The tripartite process of pre-flight, flight, and resettlement exposes these unaccompanied immigrant children (UIC) to multiple, and often ongoing, traumatic events that can significantly and adversely impact their mental health into adulthood. However, the ethical considerations for psychologists working with this growing population, with limited exceptions, remain largely unaddressed. As more and more UIC flee their home countries due to violence, abuse, and economic instability only to experience further stressors during the processes of detainment, custodial placement, and acculturative adjustment in the US, there is an increasing need for psychological services; thus, the importance of preparation of mental health providers is increasingly significant. Psychologists must have the requisite skills and knowledge of the complex experiences of UIC, and of how these intersect with salient cultural, developmental, and systemic factors, as a means of providing competent and ethical mental health treatment. The present article highlights several ethical issues that arise when providing psychological services to UIC, with particular consideration paid to the embeddedness of UIC in various organizational entities with which psychologists will likely need to interface when working with this population. Implications and recommendations for practicing psychologists and training programs are discussed.