Dire Situations Research Articles

Politeness Strategies by "Ellie" from the Tv series "The Last of Us."

This research thoroughly explores the captivating world of politeness strategies employed by the main character, "Ellie," in the immensely popular television series "The Last of Us." the data source was meticulously collected from the HBO streaming service website and a comprehensive transcript repository. Employing Brown and Levinson's politeness strategy framework (1987), the study embarked on a qualitative method analysis, carefully examining the dialogue and interactions of "Ellie" throughout the series. The investigation unravels a fascinating array of insights, shedding light on how "Ellie" masterfully employs diverse politeness strategies in her communications. The study identified 16 instances of various politeness strategies found within the series. Among these, the most frequently observed strategy was the "Bald on Record" approach, utilized a remarkable nine times (comprising 52.25% of the instances). Following this, the "Negative Politeness" tactic emerged with four occurrences (25%), while "Positive Politeness" was deployed twice (12.5%). Lastly, the "Off-record" strategy was observed once (10%). The findings of this research unveil a compelling pattern of "Ellie" consistently employing a wide range of politeness strategies throughout the series. It is intriguing that the prevalence of "Bald on Record" may be attributed to the dangerous and challenging circumstances Ellie and the other characters face in the post-apocalyptic world. Direct communication is a pragmatic approach in such dire situations, minimizing misunderstandings and saving precious time. This study's nuanced exploration of politeness strategies in "The Last of Us" offers valuable insights into the complexities of human communication, even in the face of adversity. It mirrors real-life communication challenges and strategies in diverse contexts.

The Task‐Sharing Path to Safe and Accessible Anaesthesia Care in India: The Role of Professional Associations in Health Policy Reform

ABSTRACTThe worldwide anaesthesia workforce shortage is a concern and ‘shared responsibility’ for all the national or state anaesthetic societies and Ministries of Health. The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery estimated the need for 143 million additional surgeries each year globally. These would be included in the World Health Organization's (WHO) 44 essential surgeries to be performed at district hospitals. However, insufficient availability of safe anaesthesia is a key barrier. The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) recommends at least five specialist physician‐anaesthesia providers per 100,000 population. India requires at least 60,000 additional physician‐anaesthesiologists over the next 10 years. This paper discusses the two‐decade journey of a policy initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in India to create a new category of a physician with Life Saving Anaesthetic Skills (LSAS). This addressed the shortage of anaesthetists specifically for the dire emergency obstetric situations at the First Referral hospitals. The annual training capacity for physicians for LSAS training was 40–100 in 5 of the poorest states of India, with the maximum shortages of anaesthetists. On following up a sample of 838 LSAS physicians, only about two‐thirds were able to practice their life‐saving skills. The MoHFW innovated further by pairing a physician trained in Emergency Obstetric Care with an LSAS‐physician (buddy‐pairing) as a functioning team. For comparison, we discuss the midwife model supported by the professional association of obstetricians in India. The flexible, ‘team‐based’ task‐sharing approach optimizes anaesthesia care within available resources. Leadership and vision from the professional societies of anaesthesiology are key to policy reform in India. National engagement can be facilitated through support for district‐level non‐specialist physician provider with life‐saving anaesthesia skills training, engagement in research and formulation of the national surgical and anaesthesia plans to achieve universal healthcare in India.

Safety measures and sanitation facilities of the fruit vendors during COVID-19 in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

This study aimed to find the factors affecting the fruit vendor’s safety measures and sanitation facilities during COVID-19 in Bangladesh. A quantitative research design was used to conduct this study. Random sampling techniques were executed to collect data from 416 fruit vendors through a field survey. The study reveals that 87% of the fruit vendors took safety measures during COVID-19. Most of them had better sanitation facilities at home compared to their workplaces. Their safety measures and sanitation facilities were associated with socioeconomic backgrounds. Age, type of house, place of business, and receiving financial support influenced fruit vendors’ safety measures. Sanitation facilities at home were affected by their sex, schooling, types of houses, and working hours. Types of houses, family income, and business duration impacted the workplace's sanitation facilities. Their socio-demographic and economic situations affected fruit vendors' safety measures and sanitation facilities during COVID-19. Fear of death and government market mechanisms also might have played a significant role in measuring the different steps against Coronavirus infection. Health and hygiene rules prescribed by the authorities should be followed strictly to avoid dire situations during the pandemic. Both government and non-government initiatives should be given the utmost priority to create sanitation awareness, whether about personal cleanliness or workplace hygiene and paired with financial support.

‘This broken heart’. Frances Tustin’s ‘original agony’ and its transformation: from encapsulation, through heartbreak, to liveliness and hope

ABSTRACT Our separateness from the other is the ‘basic agony’, the ‘original heartbreak’ of the human condition, according to Frances Tustin’s thinking. The ways we deal with this heartbreak form the foundation through which relationships, self-experience and wellbeing are built and developed. The following paper describes a child’s journey, from omnipotent encapsulation, through the extremes of heartbreak – the child’s, as well as his parents’ and the therapist’s – to liveliness and hope. Tustin teaches us the meaning and experience of encapsulation, the delicate balance between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ needed in the therapeutic stance, the extremes of despair, hurt, cruelty and heartbreak that are met with along the way, as well as the possibility of hope even in dire situations. Holding on, survival and faith, as well as hope-against-hope, which is the resistance to despair in situations of hopelessness, are needed in order for this broken heart to be somewhat mended and allowed to flourish and to grow.

Examining the Human–Horse Bond From the Human Perspective

ABSTRACT Relationships between people and horses are often described in terms reflecting attachment, understanding, and mutual bonding. How this bond is characterized from a human perspective can provide insight into the human–horse relationship and its impact on animal welfare. This mixed methods study sought to understand what people experience with their horse and how they experience it to discover reasons why people believe there is a human–horse bond. An online survey asked respondents about horse ownership, days per week of one-on-one contact, length of time interacting with the horse, and their primary reason (Western riding, companionship, etc) for spending time with the horse. Demographic data on gender, age, ethnicity, household income, and country of residence of the respondent was also collected. An open-ended question asked respondents to describe an instance where they thought a bond between a horse and a human had been demonstrated. Qualitative responses were coded using thematic analysis to examine human–horse interaction from a phenomenological perspective. Aspects that characterized a bond included the horse approaching and making physical contact with their person, vocalizing upon seeing their human, protecting their person from physical harm, and trying hard for their person. How the bond was experienced included a shared experience, often in dire situations, the horse trusting and relaxing in the presence of their person, the horse missing their person or remembering them after a long time apart, and anthropomorphic aspects of two-way communication and affection. Respondent age, income level, and whether they partook in riding were associated with some of the aspects describing the bond with the horse. The four pillars of attachment theory were evidenced in the survey responses, and anthropomorphism featured largely. These results form a foundation for understanding the human view of the human–horse bond which can improve horse welfare through directed research and communication of horse ethology and cognition.

Cultural Advocacy for Indigenous Individuals With Serious Illness.

Indigenous American (I.A.) individuals with serious illness and their families have unmet needs. Often, this group is viewed as a minority within a minority. Numerous health challenges exist within the I.A. populations resulting in dire health care situations. Historical trauma and mistrust of the healthcare system impacts access to quality palliative care by this marginalized population. Given the range of social, spiritual, and cultural issues, the interprofessional team needs increased knowledge specific to the I.A. population to ensure holistic, culturally sensitive care. Utilizing a case study, this article reviews of the needs of I.A. individuals with serious illness and essential skills. The aim is empower palliative care clinicians the knowledge to provide culturally sensitive and congruent care to I.A. individuals with serious illness and their community.

Ontological Crisis and the Compartmentalization of Insecurities

Abstract This article explores state responses to a major ontological crisis, which produces insecurities requiring contradictory foreign policy responses. I propose that leaders in such dire situations may respond by compartmentalizing insecurities, articulating distinct narratives relevant to different insecurities. Such a split might seem inconsistent for leaders within the same government, but it can enable them to navigate a precarious crisis by exploiting the state’s internal complexity to address the contrasting insecurities that a crisis generates. I explore this approach by analyzing Georgia’s response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which created a major ontological crisis in Georgia. Its two most prominent leaders (the president and the prime minister) reacted by consistently voicing contradictory positions about the country’s foreign policy. This divergent messaging becomes comprehensible when we see them as responses to different concerns: one responding to deep ontological insecurities over Georgia’s relationship with other states, its place in the international system, and the coherence of its dominant autobiographical narrative; the other responding to the threat of war and related existential concerns at the individual and collective levels. Problematizing the state as a unitary actor, this article demonstrates how unpacking its constitutive agents can help us better understand how leaders navigate complex ontological crises.

Exploring gamete distribution for Somatic cell nuclear transfer embryonic stem cell procedures

Somatic cell nuclear transfer is a modern technology most famously known for producing clones, such as ‘Dolly’ the sheep. However, its purpose is being explored in what is called ‘therapeutic cloning.’ This is the process of using somatic cell nuclear transfer to produce embryonic stem cells (ntESC). These stem cells can then be used in a variety of treatments, such as organogenesis and ailments for chronic illnesses such as type II diabetes. Australia has recently lifted the ban on research conducted into somatic cell nuclear transfer testing, and thus, the question arises of how an already-strained gamete pool can be distributed towards ntESC procedures. Firstly, using Rawls’ ‘veil of ignorance’, the concept of a waiting-list structure is considered due to its unbiased nature. Then, the permissibility of such a list will be analysed from the perspective of ntESC technology potentially being critical for time-restricted scenarios. It is thus concluded that a gamete waiting list for ntESCs is conditionally just if patients are not in dire situations.

Rapid haemoglobin A and S quantification using Tosoh HLC-723G8 in variant mode for patients with sickle cell disease.

The management of life-threatening complications in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) requires an accurate and reproducible quantification of haemoglobin A (HbA) and S (HbS) with a short turnaround time and 24-7 availability. We propose a novel method for quantifying HbA and HbS using the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) assay on a Tosoh HLC-723G8 (G8) analyser in variant mode. HbA and HbS results obtained using our method highly correlated with results obtained using a reference method (r > 0.99 for 124 samples of patients with SCD or sickle cell trait). Our method met laboratory requirements for linearity (coefficient of variation [CV] and bias <5%), between-run and within-run reproducibility (CV <10%) and carryover (<0.5%) over the range of HbS and HbA values expected in a therapeutic context. Using the G8 analyser in variant mode is viable for monitoring HbA and HbS concentrations in dire situations. This method is easy to use, quick (1.6min per sample), and automatable and produces highly reproducible results without significant bias. Finally, it does not require modifications to the analytical pipeline recommended by the supplier, enabling a 24-7 availability without disrupting routine monitoring of HbA1c in the laboratory.

“You Know There’s No ‘It’ Right? ‘It’ Was Just Us”

“You Know There’s No ‘It’ Right? ‘It’ Was Just Us”

Subtotal Colectomy with Ileostomy, Surgical Management of Ischemic Colitis: A Case Study

Ischemic colitis (IC) occurs when blood flow to part of the colon is temporarily reduced. Most patients with IC usually have some associated comorbidities that affect mucosal perfusion. A long history of diabetes mellitus, vascular disease, atrial fibrillation, hypotension, and chronic kidney disease are comorbidities that need to be carefully considered in the diagnosis and management of the patient with IC. IC commonly manifests with a clinical trio of symptoms including abdominal pain, hematochezia, and diarrhea. Most cases are mild and self-limiting with a good prognosis, responding well to medical management including antibiotics and bowel rest; however, some dire situations may require surgical intervention. This case report will discuss clinical presentations, risk factors, diagnosis, and surgical treatment (subtotal colectomy with ileostomy) in a 50-year-old female patient with IC.

Paradoxes and dilemmas of responsible leadership in the mining industries of emerging economies – it is complex

Background: Amid increasing leadership failures in the global business context, the mining industry is one of the industries with many adverse incidents, affecting employee safety, the environment, and surrounding communities. Emerging economies tend to have unique socio-economic challenges and greater relative economic dependence on mining, presenting unique challenges to leaders. The purpose of this research was to study the realities of responsible leadership in the mining industry in an emerging economy. Methods: A qualitative research study, consisting of semi-structured interviews was conducted. Nine senior mine managers were selected to represent perspectives from different operations and mining houses. Data was gathered from August to October 2020 in South Africa, an emerging economy with significant mining operations. A thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted through the use of software, rendering five themes, with 12 sub-themes. Results: The research found that requirements on mining leaders in emerging economies demand consistent balancing of a complex set of competing risks, whilst attending to paradoxical requirements among operations, and internal and external stakeholders. Leaders face several competing requirements from stakeholders, the environment, mining practices, and time frames. Responsible leaders must navigate a paradoxical maze of needs and time horizons, with several conflicting forces and dilemmas, and dichotomous relationships. Responsible leadership in the mining industry of an emerging economy is a proverbial minefield of paradoxes and dilemmas between responsible intentions and practical realities. These paradoxes and dilemmas are specifically acute in the context of emerging economies due to the dire socio-economic situations. A total of 10 competencies emerged as essential responsible leadership requirements in this context. Conclusions: The study provides an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of responsible leadership in the mining industry of an emerging economy. This understanding will contribute to capacitating leaders in the mining industries of emerging economies to act responsibly.

Paradoxes and dilemmas of responsible leadership in the mining industries of emerging economies – it is complex

Background: Amid increasing leadership failures in the global business context, the mining industry is one of the industries with many adverse incidents, affecting employee safety, the environment, and surrounding communities. Emerging economies tend to have unique socio-economic challenges and greater relative economic dependence on mining, presenting unique challenges to leaders. The purpose of this research was to study the realities of responsible leadership in the mining industry in an emerging economy. Methods: A qualitative research study, consisting of semi-structured interviews was conducted. Nine senior mine managers were selected to represent perspectives from different operations and mining houses. Data was gathered from August to October 2020 in South Africa, an emerging economy with significant mining operations. A thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted through the use of software, rendering five themes, with 12 sub-themes. Results: The research found that requirements on mining leaders in emerging economies demand consistent balancing of a complex set of competing risks, whilst attending to paradoxical requirements among operations, and internal and external stakeholders. Leaders face several competing requirements from stakeholders, the environment, mining practices, and time frames. Responsible leaders must navigate a paradoxical maze of needs and time horizons, with several conflicting forces and dilemmas, and dichotomous relationships. Responsible leadership in the mining industry of an emerging economy is a proverbial minefield of paradoxes and dilemmas between responsible intentions and practical realities. These paradoxes and dilemmas are specifically acute in the context of emerging economies due to the dire socio-economic situations. A total of 10 competencies emerged as essential responsible leadership requirements in this context. Conclusions: The study provides an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of responsible leadership in the mining industry of an emerging economy. This understanding will contribute to capacitating leaders in the mining industries of emerging economies to act responsibly.

Effects of climate change on streamflow and nitrate pollution in an agricultural Mediterranean watershed in Northern Spain

Predicting water quality and quantity response to climate change in a watershed is very difficult due to the complexity and uncertainties in estimating and understanding future hydrological conditions. However, hydrological models could simplify the processes and predict future impacts of agricultural activities. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for climate change prediction of streamflow and nitrate load in an agricultural Mediterranean watershed in northern Spain. The model was first evaluated for simulating streamflow and nitrate load under rainfed agricultural conditions in the Cidacos River watershed in Navarre, Spain. Then, climate change impact analysis on streamflow and nitrate load was conducted in the short-term (2011–2040), medium-term (2041–2070), and long-term (2071–2100) future projections relative to the historical baseline period (1971–2000) under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 CO2 emission scenarios. The model evaluation showed a good model performance result during calibration (2000–2010) and validation (2011–2020) for streamflow (NSE = 0.82/0.83) and nitrate load (NSE = 0.71/0.68), indicating its suitability for adoption in the watershed. The climate change projection results showed a steady decline in streamflow and nitrate load for RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 in all projections, with the long-term projection scenario of RCP8.5 greatly affected. Autumn and winter saw a considerable drop in comparison to spring and summer. The decline in streamflow was attributed to the projected decrease in precipitation and increase in temperatures, while the nitrate load decline was consistent with the projected streamflow decline. Based on these projections, the long-term projection scenarios of RCP8.5 indicate dire situations requiring urgent policy changes and management interventions to minimize and mitigate the resulting climate change effects. Therefore, adapted agricultural management practices are needed to ensure sustainable water resource utilization and efficient nitrogen fertilizer application rates in the watershed to reduce pollution.

Chaos and Humanitarian Interventions in Afghanistan

With the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan, a unique situation arises regarding their pursuit of international recognition. On the one hand, their close ties to terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda and their questionable sources of funding raise significant concerns about the consequences of granting them international legitimacy. Conversely, the international community, particularly the United States, appears hesitant to intervene at this juncture, prompting thoughtful reflection. Specifically, post-recognition, there is a looming question about whether the Taliban will persist in endorsing terrorist activities or relying on illicit funding methods. In such a scenario, determining the justification for humanitarian interventions becomes a critical consideration. Moreover, the extent of intervention during the transitional phase from lawlessness to lawfulness in Afghanistan, where extreme crimes are prevalent, demands scrutiny. In this context, it is pertinent to explore Immanuel Kant’s perspectives on humanity and his work Perpetual Peace as they align with the current situation. Therefore, this paper aims to assess both sides of the issue through a Kantian lens to gauge the appropriateness of humanitarian intervention under these unique circumstances. Ultimately, this analysis could shape a new framework for interventions in dire situations involving “crimes against humanity” or threats to human lives stemming from such conditions.

Antisocial Behavior Identification from Twitter Feeds Using Traditional Machine Learning Algorithms and Deep Learning.

Antisocial behavior (ASB) is one of the ten personality disorders included in ‘The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and falls in the same cluster as Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. It is a prevalent pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. Online antisocial behavior is a social problem and a public health threat. An act of ASB might be fun for a perpetrator; however, it can drive a victim into depression, self-confinement, low self-esteem, anxiety, anger, and suicidal ideation. Online platforms such as Twitter and Reddit can sometimes become breeding grounds for such behavior by allowing people suffering from ASB disorder to manifest their behavior online freely. In this paper, we propose a proactive approach based on natural language processing and deep learning that can enable online platforms to actively look for the signs of antisocial behavior and intervene before it gets out of control. By actively searching for such behavior, social media sites can prevent dire situations leading to someone committing suicide.

“Attempting to commit offences”: Protectionism, surveillance and moral policing of queer women in Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT This working note is centred on snippets of the journey of two Sri Lankan queer couples as they negotiate the normative authoritarian regime of Sri Lankan state and society. Through the authors’ reflections, based on their involvement as activists in these couples’ lives, the paper points out to the distance between dominant discourses in state, society and even among elite queer spaces in the country and the needs of ordinary queer folks in dire situations. It suggests possible paths from which to imagine taking forward the struggle towards decriminalization, freedom, dignity and respect for the LGBTQIA+ community. It shows that these paths have a lot to learn from as well as contribute to, moments and the future impact of the mass mobilization for change in Sri Lanka in 2022 and the repression of the same that the people of Sri Lanka are currently living through.

A renovated Jaffrey-Hamel flow problem and new scaling statistics for heat, mass fluxes with Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model

In dire situations, such as the restricted spatial scale in nanoparticle systems and the analogous analysis of non-Fourier heat conduction and conventional heat conduction, the transmission of heat and momentum will exhibit non-linear and nonlocal behavior. The mechanisms of heat and mass transfer for non-Newtonian fluid flow between two inclined planes (convergent channel) with porous walled are taken into consideration. The Jaffrey-Hamel flow equation is renovated with the contribution of Carreau rheological model. The Cattaneo heat flux is presented to designate the anomalous heat, mass transport of Carreau nanofluid considering the influences of radiation flux, Brownian diffusion, and thermophoresis. Assumption, theories, and conservation law's leads to governing PDEs, which are solved numerically by invoking the Keller-Box scheme. It was concluded that for both conduit, flow reversal occurs only in the divergent domain of the channel but not in the converging where rapid acceleration of flow occurs, and inertial forces dominate the transport process. The flow instability in a porous media incorporate fluid inertia. The renovated model, which incorporates non-Fourier's law of heat conduction, can explain the anomalous thermal conductivity enhancement. The thermal relaxation effects the heat flux significantly, the conduction mechanism switches to oscillatory conduction with narrower temperature.

Paradoxes and dilemmas of responsible leadership in the mining industries of emerging economies – it is complex

Background: Amid increasing leadership failures in the global business context, the mining industry is one of the industries with many adverse incidents, affecting employee safety, the environment, and surrounding communities. Emerging economies tend to have unique socio-economic challenges and greater relative economic dependence on mining, presenting unique challenges to leaders. The purpose of this research was to study the realities of responsible leadership in the mining industry in an emerging economy. Methods: A qualitative research study, consisting of semi-structured interviews was conducted. Nine senior mine managers were selected to represent perspectives from different operations and mining houses. Data was gathered from August to October 2020 in South Africa, an emerging economy with significant mining operations. A thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted through the use of software, rendering five themes, with 12 sub-themes. Results: The research found that requirements on mining leaders in emerging economies demand consistent balancing of a complex set of competing risks, whilst attending to paradoxical requirements among operations, and internal and external stakeholders. Leaders face several competing requirements from stakeholders, the environment, mining practices, and time frames. Responsible leaders must navigate a paradoxical maze of needs and time horizons, with several conflicting forces and dilemmas, and dichotomous relationships. Responsible leadership in the mining industry of an emerging economy is a proverbial minefield of paradoxes and dilemmas between responsible intentions and practical realities. These paradoxes and dilemmas are specifically acute in the context of emerging economies due to the dire socio-economic situations. A total of 10 competencies emerged as essential responsible leadership requirements in this context. Conclusions: The study provides an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of responsible leadership in the mining industry of an emerging economy. This understanding will contribute to capacitating leaders in the mining industries of emerging economies to act responsibly.

Women, migration, decent work and vulnerabilities in Africa: an investigative analysis

This study investigated women, migration, decent work and vulnerabilities in Africa. Essentially, it is on record that for the last few years more female migrants have been migrating independently for work, education and as heads of households. Despite these improvements, female migrants may still face stronger discrimination, are more vulnerable to mistreatment, and can experience double discrimination as both migrants and as women in their host country in comparison to male migrants. Nonetheless, male migrants are also exposed to vulnerabilities in the migration processes. For example, records have it that every day, women across Libya who have been subjected to forced marriages, sexual abuse, and other dire situations, leave their home countries for the prospect of a better life and with longing for Europe’s safety, they are willing to face an equally perilous route ahead, with the constant risk of being returned to Libyan detention centres, where they are abused, starved, and tortured (Palmucci, 2021). It is based on this that this study was carried out using investigative analysis of women victims who are presently returnees to their home country (Nigeria). Through identified women returnees from some of these countries, most especially Libya, 15 women returnees interacted to share their experiences while outside the country for greener pastures. These 15 women returnees were able to link the authors of this study to other 29 women returnees to Nigeria in the last three to two years.