Work History Research Articles

Evaluation of the validity of a perfluorooctane sulfonic acid exposure reconstruction using a measured serum concentration among workers with a wide range of exposure.

Studies among workers with a wide range of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances inform risk assessments. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, was recently examined in relation to mortality and cancer incidence in an occupationally exposed population by Alexander et al. in 2024. In that study, cumulative occupational exposure (mg/m3 PFOS-equivalents in air) was reconstructed using a job-exposure matrix and individual work history. While the exposure reconstruction had good face validity, an assessment of its performance in relation to serum PFOS levels would allow improved interpretation of the occupational epidemiology findings. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of the exposure reconstruction used by Alexander et al. (2024). A previous study by Olsen et al. (2003) measured serum PFOS levels in 1998 for 260 workers and because these workers were included in the epidemiologic study by Alexander et al. (2024), the study reported herein compared serum PFOS levels to those predicted using a simple compartmental pharmacokinetic model. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the observed and pharmacokinetic model-predicted serum PFOS concentration was 0.80 (95% confidence interval, 0.75 to 0.84). The median ratio of predicted to observed serum concentrations was 12 (i.e. actual exposure was significantly less than predicted). The predicted serum PFOS concentrations were not sensitive to the parameters used in the pharmacokinetic model other than exposure concentration or absorption. The model did not predict absolute exposure well, probably because of personal protective equipment use not being accounted for and absorption of PFOS or precursors being lower than modeled. On the other hand, the model did a reasonably good job of ranking the workers' exposure, thus classification of workers according to relative amount of cumulative PFOS-equivalents was reasonably accurate in the study by Alexander et al. (2024) when validated using the measured serum PFOS data.

Mussolini’s regime: the concept of consensus in contemporary historiography

One of the pivotal issues in the study of Italian fascism pertains to the question of public consensus under Mussolini’s regime. In the article, the author presents a comprehensive examination of the international historiographic discourse pertaining to this issue, tracing its evolution from the initial works published during the dictatorship to the impassioned debates that arose with the publication of Renzo De Felice’s multi-volume history of the Fascist regime in the 1960–1980s. At the core of De Felice’s research was the examination of the phenomenon of consensus within Italian society between 1920 and 1945. This paper acknowledges the value of De Felice’s contributions but challenges the methodological principles, research methods, and the conceptualisation of fascism as a long-term political strategy, particularly the notion of “Mussolinism” as a distinct form of “left-wing totalitarianism”. De Felice’s interpretation initially posited a consensus comprising new political forces and established elite structures. However, by the mid-1930s, this consensus had acquired a mass character, effectively eliminating the necessity for recourse to violence and endowing Mussolini’s regime with a distinctive quality: “incomplete totalitarianism”. De Felice’s analysis suggests that the collapse of the Fascist regime in Italy was primarily the result of a combination of miscalculations by the military and political leadership, coupled with inherent weaknesses in the system itself, rather than being driven by the erosion of mass consent. The historiographical debate surrounding the issue of consensus has been shaped by the works of Marxist historians and left-wing democrats who have opposed De Felice’s views. Additionally, the perspectives of liberals and regime apologists have contributed to this ongoing discussion. The 1990s saw the debate continue to evolve, encompassing both local and social historical analysis.

“Friends to foes, foes to friends”: polish officers in the Ottoman army in 1840–1870s

In the article, the author examines the activities of Polish officers serving in the Ottoman army in the middle of the 19th century. The research scrutinizes the life and career paths of three remarkable Polish officers: Michał Czajkowski, Konstanty Borzęcki, and Józef Bem. A diverse array of hitherto understudied Ottoman sources, encompassing the works of military leaders and historians, the writings of Polish and French authors, and the annotations of Russian military officials, affords the opportunity to examine the activities of the prominent Polish officers from multiple vantage points. These include their role in the modernisation of the Ottoman military, their personal lives, and the issue of cultural identity. A multifaceted analysis demonstrates the complexity and variety of roles played by the Polish officers in the Ottoman army. Firstly, although they did not significantly alter the course of events on the Caucasus front of the Crimean War, they had a significant impact on the warfare of the Balkan front. Secondly, their principal contribution was to pacify the unstable Ottoman regions and further modernise the military and industrial institutions located in different parts of the Ottoman Empire. Thirdly, the Ottoman state did not become a second home for the majority of the Polish officers. Their conversion to Islam was mostly symbolic, and following the completion of their obligations, a considerable proportion of the émigré officers returned to Europe. The Ottoman Empire was able to capitalise on the influx of educated European specialists, utilising their expertise and knowledge to its advantage.

Under a merciless star: Mircea Eliade and the horror of history

ABSTRACT This article examines the concept of a ‘terror of history’ in the work of historian of religion Mircea Eliade, particularly in his 1948 book The Myth of the Eternal Return: Cosmos and History. The article turns to Eliade’s journals to trace the genesis of this concept, showing that this book which became a foundational text in the history of religions was originally conceived as a work on the philosophy of history. Tracing the incoherences and contradictions of this ‘terror’ in the context of his wartime diary entries, the continuity of Eliade’s thought from his time as an outspoken supporter of the Romanian Iron Guard in the 1930s to his publication of Cosmos and History in 1948 becomes clear. Eliade’s ‘terror,’ it is shown, is conditioned by his despair at the retreat and collapse of the European fascist powers, but is more fundamentally an expression of horror toward the dissolution and loss of identity that he associates with historicity and, indeed, with difference itself. As this article shows, Eliade’s solution was not an ‘eternal return’ but rather an eternal escape from history, a religious oblivion that would collapse all events into ‘archetypes’ and blot out the horror of history and difference.

False and Misleading Claims of Scientific Misconduct in Early Research into Radiation Dose-response: Part 1. Overlooking Key Historical Text.

In reviewing a video series that they created for the website of the Health Physics Society (HPS), past leaders of the Health Physics Society have treated as authoritative and trustworthy the scientific misconduct theories of University of Massachusetts Professor Edward Calabrese. No mention is made of detailed critiques of Calabrese's work. I show that Calabrese's historical work as presented by HPS's authors is unreliable because it overlooks key historical text and key statistical concepts about the limits of an early atomic bomb genetics study. When these errors are corrected, claims of scientific misconduct on the part of historical figures evaporate. Claims of threshold behavior in early radiation genetic experiments are wrong for atomic bomb data. Calabrese's unique claims about thresholds in early animal genetic data are not credible for human cancer, given the doses at which they were carried out (>30 R). Recent epidemiological studies of both acute and protracted exposure in humans fail to show dose-rate effects or a dose threshold above 30 R. Such results from human data should be more relevant for most regulators and review committees than Calabrese's claims about old data on animals. Disclaimers, errata, and links to critiques should be added to the HPS webpage hosting the 22-part video series. Failure to do so can cause damage to reputations and historical accuracy because it erroneously validates Calabrese's inflammatory claims of scientific misconduct against past scientists, including three Nobel Prize winners, members of the NAS, and presidents of the AAAS.

An Archival Investigation into the Imposition of Bans and Censorship on the Works of Jurji Zaydan during the Ottoman Era

The Lebanese-Ottoman writer, Jurji Zaydan, was criticized for prioritizing the study of Isrâiliyat in his historical works, in line with his positivist methodology. This paper analyzes the criticisms and opinions of Jurji Zaydan’s work in the Ottoman Archives. This study utilizes the qualitative research method of document analysis. Zaydan's Târîhu't-Temedduni'l-Islâmî, Fetâtu Ğassân and Târih-i Umûmî/et-Târîhu'l-Âm were banned from being published, distributed brought into the Ottoman Empire. Understanding Zaydan’s thought requires awareness of the cultural climate of the Enlightenment (Nahda) and Tanzimat reforms, Arabs populations’ attempts to negotiate increased independence, as well as the effects of nationalism, socialism and liberalism on the late Ottoman Empire. From the mid-19th century onwards, British and French colonial policies promoted scientific positivism, including theories of Social Darwinism and racialized theories of civilization. This study navigates Zaydan’s thought within the context of these colonial policies and the historical effect of social engineering on intellectuals from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Indian Subcontinent.

Multilingualism from the perspective of the medieval Islamic vision of language

Abstract Arabic holds a cardinal position within Islamic civilisation, where it enjoys the status of sacred language for its direct connection to the Revelation and for the role attributed to it by the Revelation itself. However, not only does the Qur’an mention the existence of other languages and put them in relation with different divine messages, but also the providential nature of language diversity is explicitly maintained by the Holy Book of Islam. This theology of multilingualism represented the theoretical and symbolic framework within which the premodern Islamic world conceptualized language diversity. By looking at the works of philosophers, historians, poets, and religious masters from different parts of the Islamic world, we will try to understand how premodern authors viewed multilingualism, explained the existence of different languages, and accordingly engaged in plurilingual practices. Plurilingual practices provided the fertile ground on which various vernaculars, often bereft of any former written tradition (let alone literary prestige), could be transformed into full-fledged literary languages and become part of the wide Islamic language family. This process of incorporation of the multiple languages, encountered by the Islamic civilisation in its expansion, gave rise, throughout the Islamic world, to complex multilingual societies where individuals were frequently plurilingual and able to accommodate language diversity in flexible, creative, and, as reflected in literary productions, even aesthetic ways. In some cases, like the Andalusian context, such linguistic incorporation even involved romance vernaculars with significant consequences for their destiny as future modern European literary languages.

Elbow arthritis

Most patients with primary osteoarthritis of the elbow report a history of heavy lifting work with the affected upper limb. Conservative treatment, including activity modifications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intake, and intra-articular injections can provide sufficient pain relief in the early stages when used in combination. If surgery is required, many patients experience significant pain relief from joint-preserving procedures despite existing cartilage damage. Although open debridement procedures are effective, arthroscopic osteocapsular arthroplasty has become established as the preferred surgical procedure. The ulnar nerve should be assessed during surgery and treated if necessary. Total elbow arthroplasty (TEP) is successful in terms of pain relief and function; however, it is recommended for older patients with advanced osteoarthritis or for whom joint-preserving procedures have failed.

RUSSIAN PEASANTS IN THE ALEXANDROPOL DISTRICT: EMERGENCE, ORGANIZATION OF COMMUNAL LIFE, AND FORMS OF LAND TENURE FROM THE NINETEENTH TO THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY

The objective of this study is to examine the emergence of Russian peasants in the Alexandropol district of the Erivan province, as well as their communal life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The study of Russian ethnic groups in foreign environments presents several challenges. One significant question is whether to preserve or alter certain aspects of migrants’ traditional way of life. In new surroundings, some traditions may change, while others may disappear. The significance of this work lies in the examination of local groups of Russians residing in a different ethnic environment. This prompts inquiry into the nature of cultural and economic interplay between Russians and the local populace. The study of cultural and domestic interactions between different ethnic communities has become a significant area of focus in modern historiography as nationalities continue to come closer together. This field of study holds scientific importance and provides practical knowledge. To ensure a comprehensive review, it is important to consider factors such as the number of settlers, duration of residence, settlement features, cultural affinity with the local population, and other relevant factors. This paper examines the migration of Russian peasants to Alexandropol district and their economic and social development as they adapted to new natural, socioeconomic, and political conditions. In the literature produced prior to the revolution, the issues of interest to us were not adequately addressed. Some information on the history of Russian settlements can be found in articles by ethnographer S. Maximov and historian K. Borozdin.1 Small historical and ethnographic descriptions of the Russian settlers in Eastern Armenia can be found in local periodicals in the form of articles, travel notes and correspondence. These works, descriptive in their content, are valuable because their authors observed the life of Russian peasants directly. For example, S. Bunyatov, a priest, lived among Russian peasants for five years and wrote on the basis of his personal impressions.2 The publications on Russian settlers contained in the Memorial Books of the Erivan Province are of some value.3 During the Soviet era, the study of the Russian population of Eastern Armenia began only in the 1960s and was mainly devoted to the religious study of the sectarians of Transcaucasia.4 In recent years, historical works devoted to the issues of tsarism’s resettlement policy toward the Russian peasants of Eastern Armenia have appeared. A. Haityan, along with other issues, tried to trace the process of the formation of Russian villages in Eastern Armenia.5 The monograph by D. Ismail-Zadeh also deserves attention. The author gives a general characterization of the economic and social life of the Russian peasants of Transcaucasia, but the issues of interest to us are reflected only in a general way.6 Thus, in the works of both pre-revolutionary and Soviet authors, the issues of studying Russian peasants in Eastern Armenia and, in particular, in Alexandrolop district, have not the subject of a special study. This study intends to fill the existing gaps on the subject. This paper draws extensively on the archival documents of the National Archives of Armenia, many of which have been introduced for the first time in this study. The documents contain a wealth of information on the history of Russian resettlement in Transcaucasia, the policy of the authorities toward them, relations between Russians and native Armenians, and data on the state of agriculture, including crops and livestock numbers. It is imperative to approach these documents with a critical lens, as they were compiled by officials and reflect the government’s views on the settlers and their role in the new region. 1 Maksimov 1861; Borozdin 1891. 2 Bunyatov 1898; Bunyatov 1902. 3 Pamyatnaya knizhka Erivanskoy gubernii na 1892g., Pamyatnaya knizhka Erivanskoy gubernii na 1904g. 1903. 4 Kozlova 1966; Klibanov 1965. 5 Aytyan 1989. 6 Ismail-Zade 1982.

Institutional design in commons-based sharing economies: platform, care and place

Abstract This paper presents an analytical mapping of institutional design possibilities for alternative ways for digital platforms to institutionalise property and corporate form. It builds on the institutional imagination catalysed by three vignettes of experimental sharing economy initiatives presented towards the start of the paper, each of which highlights the imbrication and interdependence between economic and social dimensions of the sharing economy. The paper then interrogates the vignettes through three analytical entry points to the institutional design of commons-based sharing economies: platform, care and place. By remapping the vignettes’ practices around these three entry points, the paper shows how they help constitute the incipient formalisation of commons-based approaches to the sharing economy. The prospects for carrying out a redesign of property and corporate forms more generally thereby become more visible, providing a sound foundation for more in-depth empirical and historical work on alternative trajectories of the sharing economy in the future.

The “Illusion” of Childcare Reform: The Child Care Expense Deduction, Tax Expenditures, and Social Policy

In most historical work on Canadian childcare policy, the tax system is treated as an afterthought. This article does the opposite by considering the introduction and operation of the Child Care Expense Deduction (cced), introduced in 1971, as part of the history of childcare policy and politics. The cced had a significant impact on how childcare policy unfolded in the decades following its introduction. By offering cash transfers to some working parents, and disproportionately to higher-income families, the cced helped both to reinforce the idea that childcare was a private responsibility and to subsidize the private and for-profit childcare market. Over time, supported by a growing constituency of interests who benefited from tax breaks, the tax-based approach to childcare support became entrenched. The cced was among the combination of factors that helped forestall the possibility of a universal childcare program in Canada.

Effects of VR technical interaction and acceptance on rural cultural identity: The mediating role of embodied cognition and flow experience

With the development of digital media, an increasing number of new technologies are being used in cultural communication, and virtual reality (VR) technology for cultural communication has become a modern tool of transmission. To investigate the factors that influence rural cultural identity (RCI) through technical interaction (TI) and technology acceptance (TA) in VR in cultural communication, this study initially constructed a model of the influence path mediated by embodied cognition (EC) and flow experience (FE) based on compensatory media, technology acceptance, embodied cognition and flow experience theory. All participants had experienced some rural historical and cultural VR work and then completed a corresponding questionnaire. A total of 356 questionnaires were collected and analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software. The results indicated that the technological interaction and acceptance of VR influenced identification with rural culture through the mediating role of embodied cognition and flow experience. These findings provide a reference for strengthening audiences' embodied cognition and flow experience to promote their rural cultural identity. When VR technology is used to communicate culture, its technological interaction and acceptance can be improved to provide audiences with a better experience and perhaps influence the development of local tourism.

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Patients with Tick Bites in the Japanese Spotted Fever-Endemic Zone

This study aimed to clarify the epidemiology and clinical features of tick bites in a Japanese spotted fever (JSF)-endemic area. The clinical records of patients with tick bites were retrospectively reviewed based on a survey conducted at Numakuma Hospital, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, Japan, from 2016-2023. Data on basic characteristics, visit dates, residential address, exposure activities, tick-bite sites, and prophylactic antimicrobial prescriptions for each patient with tick bites were collected at the JSF hotspot hospital. A total of 443 patients with tick bites visited the hospital, of which data on 305 cases (68.8%) were reviewed. The median age of these patients was 71 years, with a higher proportion of women (63.0%). One-third of the patients had a preceding history of working in fields, whereas two-thirds had entered mountains or agricultural fields. Nearly 90% of the patients visited the hospital from April to August, and the most common bite sites were the lower extremities (45.1%). Most patients (76.1%) resided in the southern area of Numakuma Hospital. Nearly all patients were prescribed prophylactic antibiotics (minocycline in 87.8% of cases), and none subsequently developed JSF. Continued surveillance of patients with tick bites is warranted to better understand changes in the clinical impact of tick-borne diseases.

Comparative Analysis of Morphological Peculiarities and word-building potentiality of the Prefix ham- in Tajik Literary Language Referring to 18 th and 20 th centuries

The article dwells on comparative analysis of morphological peculiarities and word­building potentiality of the prefix ham- in Tajik literary language referring to the 18 th and 20 th centuries. The factological material is the historical works and in order to con­ duct the comparative analysis beset with the topic under considerdation, the author used “Tukhfat­ul­khoni” (18 th century), “The History of Manghit Emirs of Bukhara. Muqanna’s Rebellion”, “The History of Intellectual Revolution in Bukhara” (20 th century). It is concluded that the adduced analysis beset with lexical possibilities of the noun forming prefix ham- in the language of the period in question shows that the range of connection of these lexical elements with different lexical units is more widely ­sued, they could be not only nouns, but parts of speech, especially adjectives, infinitive and verbs are added to create new derived words either.

Occupational exposure to inhalable agents is associated with reduced work ability: A prospective cohort study in Norway.

This study aimed to assess work ability score (WAS) in 2018 based on self-reported data regarding inhalable occupational exposure and data from a northern European job-exposure matrix (N-JEM) recorded in 2013. During the 5-year follow-up period of this population-based study, 4423 participants completed a postal questionnaire comprising self-reported questions regarding occupational exposure, work history, and WAS. Ever, weekly, and daily exposure to vapors, gas, dust and fumes (VGDF) in the last 5 years in 2013 was associated with reduced WAS in 2018. The N-JEM data showed that exposure to irritants, wood and paper dust, and mixed agricultural agents were associated with reduced WAS. Exposure to several occupational inhalable substances is associated with reduced work ability. We recommend reducing inhalable occupational exposure to prevent reduced work ability.

INTEGRATION OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY: INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CALLIGRAPHY IN THE ERA OF BIG DATA

The development of art is closely linked to technological advancements. As a traditional Chinese art form, calligraphy is transformed into data in the era of big data, offering new possibilities and practical pathways for integration with technology. Under the influence of big data, the calligraphy database, educational platforms for calligraphy, the creation and authentication of calligraphy works, and calligraphy research have all been significantly impacted. Big data technologies enable the classification, storage, and retrieval of historical calligraphy works, delving into stylistic features and historical evolution. These advancements provide a rich foundation for the digital preservation of calligraphy, artistic creation and research, the establishment and development of educational platforms, and market analysis of calligraphy. However, the integration of big data and calligraphy also presents challenges, such as the redefinition of calligraphy and its stakeholders, the inability of AI-generated calligraphy to express human individuality, and risks associated with data pollution. KEYWORDS: Big Data; Calligraphy, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Integration of Art and Technology

A proton exchange membrane fuel cells degradation prediction method based on multi-scale temporal information merging network

Performance degradation prediction is considered as an effective method to improve the service life of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). A hybrid method Multi-scale Temporal Information Merging Network (MTIMN) is then proposed for PEMFC degradation prediction, which is designed to merge information from both macro and micro perspectives in PEMFC historical working data. Firstly, a data preprocessing method based on P-M scores and min-max wavelet denoising is designed to eliminate redundant variables and noise considering the structure of PEMFC and data statistics. Secondly, aiming at the voltage recovery phenomenon during the aging process, a Multi-scale Exponential Decomposition Encoding Module (MEDEM) is presented to extract and encode different time scales of sequences from the PEMFC degradation data. Thirdly, a two-layer Historical Information Integration Module (HIIM) is established, which consists of the trend extraction module and the local extraction module, to extract deep dynamic nonlinear characteristics. Finally, the Merging Prediction Module (MPM) merges information from trend and local modules for the final output. The experimental results show that Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) are 0.0107 and 0.0079, respectively. Therefore, MTIMN can effectively extract deep dynamic nonlinear characteristics in PEMFC degradation data and improve prediction accuracy greatly.

Role of subjective norms in shaping entrepreneurial intentions among students

In view of the inconsistency in prior research, the main goal of this analysis is to determine the influence of subjective norms on entrepreneurial intentions among Polish students. The secondary goal is to examine how these subjective norms are affected by entrepreneurial experiences among individuals close to students, the students’ self-employment history and work experiences, and their gender. Based on the framework of the theory of planned behaviour and data generated through surveys of students in a management programme (N = 255), structural equation modelling is applied. The results indicate that subjective norms indirectly influence students’ entrepreneurial intentions (through attitude towards entrepreneurship and perceived behavioural control). Regarding the antecedents of subjective norms, students’ prior entrepreneurial experience and work history are not significant, nor is gender.

Modern approaches to the study of collectivization in the context of modernization theories

Modern approaches to the study of collectivization in the context of modernization theories

Life prediction of on-board supercapacitor energy storage system based on gate recurrent unit neural network using sparse monitoring data

With the increasing use of supercapacitor in transportation and energy sectors, service life prediction becomes an important aspect to consider. As the aging process of onboard supercapacitors is closely related to practical working conditions, the actual service life may be inconsistent with the cycle life measured in the laboratory. However, the low-quality onboard monitoring data recording the historical working conditions is usually sparse and fragmented, making it difficult to extract valuable information. In our previous study, we successfully obtained the characteristic parameters from sparse and fragmented data, whereas those characteristic parameters change periodically and couldn't be used directly for life prediction. In this paper, we firstly extract the degradation trend term of supercapacitor by a composite sine and polynomial time series decomposition model from the characteristic parameters. Secondly, in order to make up for the lack of data, a GRU network is designed to generate more sample data which is in consistent with historical data evolution trends. The combination of input characteristic variables including the extracted historical characteristic capacitance C, temperature T and the time fitting sequences CtD are selected to improve the accuracy of GRU predictions. The predictive error of the characteristic capacitance C is 2.36 %. Finally, the life prediction of on-board supercapacitors based on actual working conditions is realized.