Contrasting Perspectives Research Articles

It’s different with you. Contrastive perspectives on address research, edited by Nicole Baumgarten and Roel Vismans

It’s different with you. Contrastive perspectives on address research, edited by Nicole Baumgarten and Roel Vismans

Trends in Retinopathy of Prematurity Among Preterm Infants in California, 2012 to 2021

The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has been increasing in the US since 2003. Understanding the progression of and racial disparities in ROP incidence in California can provide a contrasting perspective that may guide future research and practice in the management and prevention of ROP. To describe how the screening and incidence of ROP among very preterm infants in California changed from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021. This study used a cohort of very preterm infants (defined as infants born prior to 32 weeks' gestational age or weighing less than 1500 g) admitted to 60 neonatal intensive care units across California from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021. Among this cohort, several factors were examined, including (1) the clinical and sociodemographic covariates of the population with and without ROP, (2) trends in screening for ROP, and (3) the incidence of ROP in total and by race and ethnicity. Data analysis was performed in April 2024. Race and ethnicity and other birthing parental and infant descriptive characteristics. Incidence rates of ROP and severe ROP. The primary measures were rates of ROP screening and incidence rates of ROP and severe ROP. Time trends in the risk of ROP and severe ROP were estimated using robust Poisson regression models. In this cohort of 39 269 very preterm infants (<32 weeks' gestational age) eligible for ROP screening, the mean (SD) infant gestational age was 28.6 (2.6) weeks. The mean (SD) birth weight was 1075 (274) g, and 48.6% of infants were female. The birthing parents of the population were 12.6% Asian, 13.3% Black, 44.9% Hispanic White or Hispanic other race, 0.7% Native American/Alaskan, 24.7% non-Hispanic White, and 1.0% Pacific Islander. From January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021, in California, ROP screening rates remained steady at 95% or greater for eligible infants less than 30 weeks of gestational age for all race and ethnic subgroups. In this study cohort among all very preterm infants (<32 weeks' gestational age), the incidence of ROP decreased from 31% in 2012 to 29% in 2021. Incidence rates of ROP among Asian and Hispanic individuals decreased the most quickly compared to other racial and ethnic groups, narrowing disparities. In this cohort study, in contrast to increasing national trends, the total incidence of and racial and ethnic disparities in ROP incidence remained steady or decreased from 2012 to 2021 in California.

From Arab-Israeli Conflict to Arab-Israeli Integration: A New Curriculum for Understanding the Contemporary Middle East

ABSTRACT This proposition paper introduces a novel curriculum designed to explore the trends of normalization and integration transforming the Middle East. The curriculum includes a comprehensive textbook and an accessible digital archive for scholars, students, and individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of this subject. The study investigates how academic politicization, biased content, and limited accessibility have contributed to a significant gap in comprehending Israel’s integration in the Middle East, particularly within US Middle East Studies. Our methodology involves a comparative analysis of the academic approaches of the Edward Said and Bernard Lewis “camps,” representing contrasting perspectives within US academia. Additionally, we assess the divergence between academic and state-led approaches to Middle Eastern integration in the United States. By identifying and analyzing six critical factors – impact on the field of Middle East Studies, impact on academic freedom, impact on religious tolerance, impact on regional stability, fresh research on the US Peace to Prosperity Plan and Arab Peace Initiative, and Israeli-Palestinian peace – this research underscores the necessity for the proposed curriculum and its resources. This curriculum aims to bridge the existing knowledge gap and provide a more balanced and comprehensive understanding of Middle Eastern dynamics.

Phrasem-Konstruktionen im Deutschen und Tschechischen. Eine Fallstudie zu der Phrasem-Konstruktion Es ist zum + Vinf [!] (substantivierter Verbinfinitiv)

The empirical study presents the problem of phraseme constructions (PhraCon) in current Germanic and international contrastive phraseological research. The article analyses the phraseme construction Es ist zum + Vinf [!] (substantivised verb infinitive). Es ist zum Heulen / Verzweifeln / Verrücktwerden / Lachen etc. will be focussed on from a contrastive German-Czech perspective with regard to its form and function in the text as well as its translation possibilities. Evidence from the parallel corpus InterCorp of the Czech National Corpus (CNK) will be analysed comparatively.

Facilitation of lexical form or discourse relation: Evidence from contrastive pairs of discourse markers

Research has shown that people anticipate upcoming linguistic content, but evidence regarding expectations of specific lexical markers is mixed. We use the Dutch pair of discourse markers "Aan de ene kant...Aan de andere kant" (“On the one hand...On the other hand”) and "Enerzijds...Anderzijds" (also equivalent to “On the one hand...On the other hand”) to test whether readers generate predictions of an upcoming upcoming contrast dependency based on the lexical marker for the first contrastive perspective, and whether such predictions focus on a lexical form or rather on a discourse relation. In a self-paced reading, we show that readers do generate expectations for upcoming discourse markers, but that these expectations are not specific to a lexical form. In an eye-tracking study, we replicate the facilitative effect of the first marker of a lexical pair on the processing of the second marker, and show that this effect occurs in immediate processing. These results establish expectation-driven effects at the discourse level in the earliest possible reading time measures, showing comprehenders’ awareness of the discourse dependency established by a discourse marker along with their flexibility in identifying and integrating discourse relations with different markers.

The legal foundations and specifics of exercising corporate rights by individuals authorized to perform local self-government

Financial liberalization is a widely adopted policy for countries to enhance growth. Financial liberalization enables financial institutions to proceed with innovative activities by familiarizing themselves with fewer mortgage loans in the financial market. Financial liberalization is a widely adopted policy for countries to enhance growth; however, it is a complex and controversial issue, with different studies providing contrasting perspectives. Financial liberalization is considered an efficient way to measure and change the financial market and structure in order to reach a position to get financial liberalized markets under an efficient and effective guideline. In the case of Vietnam, very few scholars have investigated the issue of financial liberalization-led growth. This endeavor examines the effects of financial liberalization on economic growth in the presence of control variables for Vietnam over the period of 1990 to 2021. This study uses the Autoregressive Distributive Lag Model approach due to its several advantages. The results show that financial liberalization enhances economic growth, which implies that more liberalization results in enhanced growth in Vietnam. Improved access to credit is another positive outcome of financial liberalization, as it can result in greater access to credit for individuals and businesses, enabling them to make investments and expand their operations. Hence, the results support the neo-liberal view of liberalization.

Shockvertising - Viewers’ visual communication perspectives of a controversial skincare advertisement

The rise of digital advertising has led to the creation of various innovative materials to capture the target market’s attention. To stay competitive, many advertisers use “shockvertising”, creating controversial advertisements with a significant impact on viewers’ attitudes and sentiments. This survey research is based on Lester’s Six Perspectives in Visual Communication theory which explained that viewers’ personal, historical, technical, cultural, ethical and critical perspectives are the determining factor in nalysing their controversial consideration perception. In this study, the use of the theory is to explore viewers’ perspectives on a controversial Malaysian skincare advertisement. Using a quantitative approach, 250 respondents rated their perception of a SlimmeWhite skincare TV advertisement. The responses were analysed using SPSS to address three research questions, finding correlations and mean results. The study found that personal technical and ethical perspectives significantly influenced viewers’ attitudes towards the advertisement, identifying these as the controversial aspects. In contrast, critical and cultural perspectives were the least controversial. The advertisement was deemed highly controversial, but gender did not affect viewers’ perspectives. This research concludes that the resulting data are very valuable for advertising students, brand advertisers and companies in understanding viewers’ perspectives on controversial elements in Malaysian skincare advertisements.

PARAFJALE SHQIPE /ME/ DHE EKUIVALENTËT E SAJ NË GJUHËN FRËNGE

The use of prepositions is one of the most challenging aspects of grammar in any language. Translating them poses much greater difficulty than translating other parts of speech such as nouns, pronouns, verbs, etc., so often the sentence structure needs to be entirely changed to accurately translate a specific preposition. Given the reality that studies on Albanian prepositions, especially from a contrastive perspective, are not plentiful, we have decided to dedicate this work to the study of Albanian prepositions to highlight their semantic characteristics, examining their uses and meanings, and comparing Albanian structures containing these prepositions with their equivalents in French. Therefore, the primary focus of this research is to identify equivalence and understand the syntactic differences that may exist between these two languages.

P-174 Are new machine learning (ML) models worth it: Equivalence of iDA, KIDscore, and Gardner Scoring in Predicting IVF Pregnancy

Abstract Study question Is there a significant difference in predicting pregnancy outcomes among iDAScore 1.0, KIDScoreD5, and Gardner Score in elective blastocyst transfers? Summary answer Contrary to previous studies, iDAScore v1.0 does not demonstrate a significant Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve advantage over the traditional Scores in predicting pregnancy outcomes. What is known already iDAScore 1.0, a deep neural network integrated into the EmbryoScope system, and KIDscoreD5 have shown potential in ML-driven embryo assessment, potentially easing the workload of embryologists. While recent studies have highlighted their superior performance in predicting pregnancy outcomes, our study offers a contrasting perspective. Study design, size, duration This retrospective analysis encompassed 1762 embryos from 1112 cycles with 1424 fresh and 338 frozen single embryo transfer cycles conducted from November 2018 to September 2023 across three IVF clinics in New Zealand. No PGT cases were included. All embryos that fulfilled the defined study criteria and transferred were included in this analysis. An extended Gardner Scoring was used at our clinics: A, B, C and X, where X being poorest grades, get discarded. Participants/materials, setting, methods Retrospectively computed KID and iDAScores were analyzed alongside the pregnancy prediction accuracy of conventional grading. Gardner scores were converted to a ranked ordinal value with ‘AA’ (5), ‘AB’ and ‘BA’ at 4, ‘BB’ at 3, and both ‘AC’, ‘BC’ as 2 and ‘CC’ as 1 among the age groups; &amp;lt;35, 35-37, 38-40, 41-42, &amp;gt;42. Differences in overall predictive capacity were compared via AUC curves within age groups via paired Delong tests. P-values reported are nominal. Main results and the role of chance The study found no statistically significant differences in AUC between any of the 3 tests examined even before adjusting for multiple comparisons. Notably, in 35-37 years olds (n = 495), AUCs were 0.63 for iDAScore, 0.62 for KIDScore, and 0.61 for Gardner criteria, showing a robust ability to predict pregnancy across all methods. Similar patterns were observed in all other age groups, with no significant disparities in pregnancy prediction models (P-value &amp;gt; 0.05). Limitations, reasons for caution Given its retrospective nature, this study has inherent limitations. A prospective, controlled study would provide more definitive insights. Wider implications of the findings ML-based models are innovative, but they do not significantly exceed the predictive ability of traditional embryo assessment across a range of patient ages. Such models are not a panacea yet, but a data tool to increase reproducibility that might have over-promised and under delivered on clinical impact. Trial registration number not applicable

Comparing and contrasting barriers in augmentative alternative communication use in nonspeaking autism and complex communication needs: multi-stakeholder perspectives.

Augmentative alternative communication (AAC) devices or systems are often prescribed to minimally verbal or nonspeaking autistic individuals and other individuals with complex communication needs to facilitate communication or as an alternative to spoken language. AAC use can result in communication gains and improved quality of life for minimally verbal or nonspeaking individuals. Despite this, AAC abandonment is high, limiting societal participation of the individual on the autism spectrum with complex communication needs. Our study is a novel exploration of the barriers of AAC use from a multi-stakeholder perspective, and a qualitative analysis of similarities and differences between stakeholders. We conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 30 parent-carers, educators and clinicians currently supporting AAC users in Western Australia and analysed the data using reflexive thematic analysis. Barriers from each stakeholder group were coded, resulting in 17 subthemes forming five main themes common to all stakeholders: Stakeholder Knowledge, Stakeholder Attitudes and Stigma, Resources, AAC User Engagement, and Device Fit. Contrasting perspectives included actual and perceived stigma associated with AAC use (parent-carers vs clinicians); different struggles with resources and knowledge (parent-carers vs clinicians and educators); and a lack of clinician communication in the processes that determined AAC-fit for school environments (educators only). Findings are discussed in the context of improving inter-stakeholder collaboration and capacity building in Australian health service and practice to better support minimally verbal or nonspeaking autistic individuals and individuals with complex communication needs. Suggestions are also offered for communication partner training.

Transfer matrix modeling for asymmetrically-nonuniform curved beams by beam-discrete strategies

Nonuniform and curved beams can be found in extensive engineering scenarios, ranging from big-scale structures of buildings, bridges to small mechanical systems of aerofoils, blades, micromachines, robotics and sensors. However, variable curvature and transverse asymmetry often lead to a complicated dynamic modeling. In this paper, two beam-discrete strategies are comparatively presented for the free vibration analysis of transversely asymmetric and curved beams and even their combinations. The proposed methodology involves discretizing a general nonuniform and curved beams into a sequence of constant beam segments with non-coaxial nodes or inclination angles, which enables a modular transfer matrix modeling process and hence offers a new way to divide the complex modeling into easier steps. A unified transfer matrix is derived for constant beam elements with non-coaxial nodes and inclination angles accounting for the shear deformation, rotary inertia and axial load in any combinations. The proposed beam-discrete strategies with a unified transfer matrix provide a new perspective in contrast to previous investigations. The advantages of easy programming and small degrees of freedom in the traditional transfer matrix method is extended to transversely asymmetric nonuniform and curved beams. Comparative validation with several engineering beams confirms these advantages.

Redefining Entrepreneurship: Philosophical Insights in a Post-individualist Era

In the dynamic landscape of post-individualist entrepreneurship, this study delves into the profound interplay between philosophy and entrepreneurship. Guided by foundational philosophical tenets, including Spinoza’s ‘conatus’ and ‘affects’, Schopenhauer’s asceticism, and Nietzsche’s diverse perspectives, their implications for modern entrepreneurship are dissected. Employing a critical and analytical approach, the convergence and divergence between philosophy and entrepreneurship are explored. The methodology integrates philosophical works, entrepreneurship theories and social network concepts to unveil fresh insights into contemporary entrepreneurial behaviour. This study not only identifies significant resonances between these philosophical underpinnings and entrepreneurship but also confronts the challenges posed by philosophical contrasts. For instance, while Spinoza’s concept of ‘conatus’ resonates with the entrepreneurial drive for innovation and perseverance, Schopenhauer’s asceticism introduces a contrasting perspective, questioning the sustainability of entrepreneurial desires in the face of materialism and temporary gains. This juxtaposition challenges individuals to reevaluate the essence of entrepreneurial success, suggesting that it extends beyond mere financial gain to include deeper satisfaction and a more meaningful purpose that transcends fleeting desires. The study’s results offer tangible benefits for entrepreneurs, illuminating the emotional complexities, ethical implications and the intricate dynamics within entrepreneurial networks.

Ființele ficționale: ce sunt și la ce folosesc

My paper problematizes the (non)existence of the fictional beings, addressing a series of important theoretical questions and comparing some relevant (realist / antirealist) answers archived by the modern and contemporary conceptual history. I have examined contrastive philosophical perspectives that define the ontological condition of fictional beings, in an attempt to represent the specific difference of these imaginative constructs and their experiential roles. The argumentative stake of my concise research is to prove that, in the coordinates of the imaginative worlds, fictional beings, their behavior, language, emotions, intentions, help us „read” and interpret real life - they are cognitive tools of exceptional value.

Do energy communities need to be local? A comparative study of two energy cooperatives in Europe

AbstractEnergy communities are integral to achieving the European goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. While these communities are currently being emphasized as strictly place-based, with some states interpreting RED II’s proximity criterion stringently, our research offers a contrasting perspective: We argue that a sole focus on geographical proximity fails to capture the full contributions of energy community projects, especially those that function as communities of interest rather than merely as communities of place. In order to support this perspective, our study analyses data from 5402 responses and 31 semi-structured interviews from two main energy cooperatives: Ecopower in Flanders, Belgium, and ènostra in Italy, in both of which, members are not confined by geographical boundaries and are instead united by shared energy-related interests.Our findings indicate that these two organizations are pivotal to driving the European energy transition. The organizations effectively rally their members around a common identity, thereby fostering new norms, practices, and forms of social capital as well as offering a shield against the market’s prevailing logic. This observation becomes even clearer when considering the fact that the cooperatives have reached a significant level of business maturity, with Ecopower utilizing more resources for including and empowering participants and territories. Our research underscores the importance of re-evaluating the role of geographical proximity in energy policies and highlights the potential that interest-based cooperatives have when it comes to advancing sustainable energy initiatives across various geographical scales.

Radosław Kotecki, The Prince and the Prandium: The Motif of the Pre-battle Lunch in the Monk of Sázava’s Account of the Battle of Chlumec (1126)

This article delves into the Monk of Sázava’s narrative, a late twelfth-century continuation of Cosmas of Prague’s chronicle, which recounts the preparations of Prince Soběslav I of Bohemia for the battle of Chlumec against King Lothar III of Germany on 18 February 1126. In particular, the analysis centres on the motif of the lunch (prandium) that the Bohemian ruler is said to have shared with his men shortly before the battle. Through comparative examination and analysis, the article unveils a contrasting perspective. Unlike numerous narratives that castigate rulers for engaging in a meal prior to battle, the chronicler strategically employed this motif to elevate the character of the prince. This elevation was achieved by infusing the lunch with religious overtones.

A disconnect in science and practitioner perspectives on heat mitigation

Researchers and city practitioners are paramount stakeholders in creating urban resilience but have diverse and potentially competing views. To understand varying stakeholder perspectives, we conducted a systematic literature content analysis on green infrastructure (GI) and reflective pavement (RP). The analysis shows a United States (US)-based science-practice disconnect in written communication, potentially hindering holistic decision-making. We identified 191 GI and 93 RP impacts, categorized into co-benefits, trade-offs, disservices, or neutral. Impacts were further classified as environmental, social, or economic. The analysis demonstrates that US city practitioners emphasize social and economic co-benefits that may not be fully represented in the scientific discourse. Scientists communicate a broader range of impacts, including trade-offs and disservices, highlighting a nuanced understanding of the potential consequences. Identifying contrasting perspectives and integrating knowledge from various agents is critical in urban climate governance. Our findings facilitate bridging the science-policy disconnect in the US heat mitigation literature.

The Soul and Buddha-Nature in Jesuit–Buddhist Debates in the Late Ming Fujian–Zhejiang Regions

The Jesuit missionary in Fujian, Giulio Aleni, ingeniously integrated Christian teaching concerning the soul into the traditional Chinese understanding of human nature. He adeptly reconciled the Christian notion of the soul, created by God, with the neo-Confucian belief in human nature bestowed by heaven. However, during the late Ming period, Chinese Buddhist thinkers held a contrasting perspective rooted in the Buddha-nature theory. According to this theory, Buddha-nature is intrinsic to every sentient being, devoid of a Creator. This fundamental discord in the understanding of human nature sparked intense debates between Jesuit missionaries and Buddhists in the Fujian–Zhejiang regions. These debates probed intricate themes, ranging from the ontological origin of nature to the associated soteriology surrounding human nature, as well as the hierarchical relationships between humans and other sentient beings.

Signalling digression in Spanish and English: Evidence from parliamentary discourse

Digression is a discourse function that is identifiable and distinct from other similar functional strategies, and varies cross-linguistically. This paper investigates the way speakers of Spanish and English digress from their main discourse topics and how these transitions are marked. Once digression is defined by the proposal of four features considered to be inherent in this concept, the paper focuses on so-called 'digression formulating phrases', recurrent expressions which make explicit reference to the digression and signal that a new direction with respect to topic is proposed. The paper thus adopts a less common than the usual approach to discourse coherence and digression, whose literature has largely focused on discourse markers. The dataset, extracted from a corpus of parliamentary discourse, is analysed in an attempt to address two research questions. I investigate, first, the frequency and distribution of the selected digression formulating phrases in the two languages, and discern which of the two contexts of digression (i.e. beginnings and ends) is more highly marked, and, second, their use in connection to aspects such as syntactic configuration and position, and co-occurring features of semantic and pragmatic meaning. The contrastive perspective adds precision and richness to the treatment of digression.

ОБРАЗ САТАНЫ В ПОЭМЕ ДЖ. МИЛЬТОНА "ПОТЕРЯННЫЙ РАЙ" И ТРИЛОГИИ Ф. ПУЛМАНА "ТЕМНЫЕ НАЧАЛА"

This article provides a comparative analysis of the portrayal of Satan in John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost” and Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy, focusing on genetic and typological similarities. Drawing upon scholarly research and critical interpretations of the above works, it studies the multifaceted nature of Satan’s character. It also considers contrasting perspectives, thematic implications, and narrative strategies. The article analyzes narrative techniques and symbolic aspects related to the portrayal of Satan, highlighting the significance of these works in addressing moral and religious issues. The author contributes to a deeper understanding of the literary and philosophical aspects of tradition and innovation in the depiction of Satan, based on the analyzed literary works

Contrastive Linguistic Perspectives on the Biases of International Students’ “是”-Sentences—Based on the HSK Dynamic Composition Corpus

Contrastive Linguistic Perspectives on the Biases of International Students’ “是”-Sentences—Based on the HSK Dynamic Composition Corpus