Historical Case Research Articles

The conceptualisation of morality in Judaism

This article dealt with the irony that confronts any investigation into the conceptualisation of morality in Judaism: much of contemporary scholarship promotes the Strong Dependence Theory where God is considered the prime source of morality − yet an empirical analysis of classical rabbinic literature indicates a leaning more towards the Weak Dependence Theory which considers human beings the source for morality. Somehow, scholarship seems to overlook this textual evidence. On the other hand, that same contemporary scholarship has no problem in accepting absolute and complete human autonomy in the area of Jewish religious law or Halacha. This study questioned why humans are comfortably accepted as the primary determinants of religious law but not of morality – and argued for a return to the original Weak Dependence Theory to maintain moral efficacy. It included an examination of an extreme historical test case for rabbinic morality concerning how the rabbinic world dealt internally with the moral implications of major rabbis who had fled the Holocaust.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: While this literature study was conducted from an orthodox rabbinic perspective, it adopted a descriptive and evaluative methodology based on academic, rabbinic and historical sources.

Commotio cordis: Another cardiac arrest “sine materia”. The 1707 early report and interpretation by G.M. Lancisi

Sudden death by commotio cordis is rare. It is the consequence of a blunt trauma of the chest overlying the heart.The mechanism is a cardiac arrest by ventricular fibrillation in the absence of grossly or microscopically apparent myocardial injury. It has been reproduced in animals. The first historical case was reported by Giovanni Maria Lancisi in his book "De Subitaneis Mortibus'' published in 1707. Sudden death occurred in a man receiving a powerful blow under the xiphoid cartilage. Lancisi advanced the hypothesis of acute heart failure by a diastolic stand still ("death in diastole'').

Mobile Keynesianism: Linking policy mobility and state transformation in New Zealand, 1930–70

AbstractThe study of policy mobility has revealed the rich geographical life of policy, demonstrating the very real ways in which policy enacted in one place often references policy enacted elsewhere, and how in doing so, it changes and evolves as it is constantly adopted and adapted. One of its contributions has been the elaboration of neoliberalism as an interconnected process of neoliberalisation producing its variegated geography. But the policy settlement that neoliberalism replaced in the capitalist world, Keynesianism, is still approached in comparative or institutional terms rather than as a process. Applying a policy mobility lens to the study of Keynesianism is an opportunity to correct this. But this historical case is also an opportunity to consider policy mobility anew. Drawing on the relational urbanism that also contributed to policy mobility studies, this paper builds on topological approaches to argue for analysing mobile policy as a consequence and cause of the reworking of relations between and within policy territories. Using the Keynesian policy shift that occurred in New Zealand between 1930 and 1970 as a case study, it shows how relations were transformed but ongoing, and these transformations are both driven by and a consequence of mobile policies; that Keynesianism as an international phenomenon was a reworking of relations necessarily both between and within territories; and that Keynesianism produced a space of technical expertise and authority that continues to shape policy today.

New developments and trends in extended continental shelf delineation practices—An analysis of China's participation and response strategies

Rights and interests concerning the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles (extended continental shelf, ECS) are related to important aspects of a nation's marine utilization such as marine resource development, marine technological innovation, and the construction of marine ecological civilization. China is a country with a long coastline and has the right to delineate large areas of ECS according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). However, the process of confirming China's ECS rights under international law is particularly complicated owing to the complex maritime delineation disputes between China and its neighboring countries. From the perspective of international law, this study uses the method of historical analysis and case analysis to retrospectively explore the evolution of the international legal frameworks governing ECS and analyze its current characteristics and trends in practice. On this basis, the paper evaluates the major challenges of China's national practice in ECS delineation and puts forward suggested countermeasures for safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests related to ECS.

Social Conflict and the Evolution of Unequal Conventions

Abstract We propose a theory of social norms (or conventions) that implement substantial levels of inequality between men and women, ethnic groups, and classes and that persist over long periods of time despite being inefficient and not supported by formal institutions. Consistent with historical cases, we extend the standard asymmetric stochastic evolutionary game model to allow subpopulation sizes to differ and idiosyncratic rejection of a status quo convention to be intentional to some degree (rather than purely random as in the standard evolutionary models). In this setting, if idiosyncratic play is sufficiently intentional and the subordinate class is sufficiently large relative to the elite, then risk-dominated conventions that are both more unequal and inefficient relative to alternative conventions will be stochastically stable and may persist for long periods. We show that the same is true in a general bipartite network of the population if most of the subordinate groups interactions are local, while the elite is more “cosmopolitan”. We apply the model to the evolution of wage conventions on the bipartite network of workers and employers, and find that an unequal monopsonistic wage convention is robust to the idiosyncratic play of workers that otherwise might displace it.

Actor-agency and institutional complexity: multinational corporations’ strategies to combat the framework convention on tobacco control in Brazil

Purpose This study aims to analyse the strategic moves used by major tobacco corporations to thwart the ratification of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a detailed historical case study spanning 1988–2005 and encompassing the period leading up to Brazil’s FCTC ratification. The authors collected qualitative data from various sources to triangulate and develop a comprehensive historical account. Findings The historical analysis identified three distinct phases. First, the acquisition of a Brazilian cigarette factory, Souza Cruz, by British American Tobacco dramatically altered power dynamics, strengthening the position of the tobacco industry. The second phase regards the era of dictatorship and the efforts of various actors advocating against smoking and the tobacco industry. The third phase involved Brazil’s re-democratisation and the challenges of securing FCTC ratification, during which fierce industry opposition had to be overcome. Throughout these phases, the authors identified four key strategies used by multinational corporations (MNCs) in Brazil to uphold unsustainable practices and products that contradicted public interests instead of reforming them: shaping collective memory, dissimulation, re-presentation and redirecting attention. Originality/value This study contributes to critical international business research on emerging economies by examining how Brazil’s position in the global capitalist system has influenced its dependency and how MNCs produce and maintain cycles of poverty and unsustainable practices through the exploitation of power dynamics within the country.

Potential Dam Breach Flood Assessment with the 2D Diffusion and Full Dynamic Wave Equations Using a Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System

Dam breaches have catastrophic consequences, causing severe property damage, life loss, and environmental impact. The potential dam breach downstream flooding of the Kulekhani reservoir, Nepal, was studied using a 2D Diffusion Wave Equation (DWE) and Full Dynamic Wave Equation (FDWE) through an open-source solver, Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS). The suitable dam breach model was identified based on the dam geometry and sixteen historical dam failure cases. The simulated downstream peak was tested with an empirical relation, considering reservoir volume and duration of failure. Model comparisons through the flood plain mapping of water depth, flow velocity, flood intensity as per guidelines of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and arrival time were carried out for flood hazard assessment. FDWE was able to capture the physical flow phenomena in the river bend resulting in higher flow velocity at the outer bend, lower velocity at the inner bend, and formation of eddies due to the application of the turbulence model, considering possible momentum losses, whereas DWE was unable to capture these effects due to a simplified momentum equation. The total area of flood extension was found to be increased by 30% using FDWE than the DWE due to higher water surface elevation. Most of the towns along the Kulekhani River were classified as “Very High” intensity flood regions according to ASCE, due to the V-shape valley. The peak time difference at the Bagmati River confluence was evaluated between the models. This plays an important role in decision-making for the selection of the flood model to make a safe evacuation plan. The application of FDWE was found to be suitable for the rapidly varying unsteady flow in the steep meandering river.

Uncovering the Transformative Labor in Black Women's Community Work

Despite efforts by scholars to visibilize Black women's community work, we still lack a framework that captures the nuances in the work arrangements of Black women serving and advocating for their communities. Our paper introduces a new conceptual framework, the Continuum of Transformative and Reproductive Labor (CTRL), to recognize this hidden multiform labor of racialized women. The CTRL places community work that reproduces oppressive social structures on a spectrum opposite what we call transformative labor—labor that disrupts systems of oppression. The CTRL framework distinguishes social reproductive and transformative community work along four dimensions, (1) the type of power each produces, (2) workers’ autonomy and leadership, (3) workers’ motivation, and (4) how the work is valued. We explore the utility of the CTRL framework for analyzing multiple types of community work Black women perform by highlighting historical and contemporary cases in two different labor contexts. Ultimately, we make a key contribution to feminist social work; Recognizing the community as a site of social reproductive labor, we create a new framework to acknowledge Black women's labor in the community as distinct in its capacity to transform social systems by resisting the reproduction of racial and gender inequality.

Geospatial liquefaction probability models based on sand boils occurred during the 2017 M5.5 Pohang, South Korea, earthquake

The 2017 Pohang earthquake, triggered by an enhanced geothermal system, had a moment magnitude (M) of 5.5 and caused liquefaction in Pohang City, South Korea. Notably, approximately 600 sand boils were observed only in the soft Quaternary alluvial sediments. This contrasts with most historic liquefaction cases that occurred in earthquakes with M ≥ 6.0. In addition, ground and building settlements were reported in Pohang City. To assess the liquefaction hazard for the Pohang earthquake within the city, we define a 14.4 km2 area where the majority of liquefaction was observed. Using the liquefaction data, we develop eight geospatial liquefaction probability models using logistic regression (LR) and random forest (RF) algorithms (five LR- and three RF-based models). These models consider geospatial data (peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, slope-derived average shear wave velocity of the upper 30 m, compound topographic index, distance to the nearest water, and roughness) and geotechnical data (averaged standard penetration test N values up to 20 m depth, depth to rock). We evaluate the performances of our eight models and existing global and regional geospatial models using four indicators: accuracy, balanced accuracy, F1 score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The three RF-based models outperform the other models, followed by the best LR-based model and the global geospatial model from Zhu et al. (2015). Finally, we apply the best RF-based model to the entire Pohang City and evaluate its applicability to other regions and earthquakes. The estimated liquefaction probabilities agree well with the observed distributions of the sand boils and settlements. These geospatial liquefaction models provide a valuable tool for continuously mapping liquefaction hazards in areas with similar geological and geotechnical conditions to Pohang.

The Marriage of Sport and Art:The Forgotten Olympic Art Competitions (1912-1948)

Since their inception, the Olympic Movement and the arts have always gone hand in hand and complemented each other. In the early years of the modern Olympic movement (1912-1948), the Muse Pentathlon was an official event of the Olympic Games. However, the question of how to organize such an artistic event in sport and how to evaluate artistic competitions in artistic events of the same period remains a question of great significance. Using historical research, case studies and comparative studies, this paper explores the interaction between the Olympics and the arts and the IOC’s understanding of Olympic culture by focusing on the IOC’s official practice of organizing art competitions and planning exhibitions, and by combining it with the historical background of art competitions held in the first half of the twentieth century and art salon events of the same period. The research resources are based on official IOC reports, conference documents, newspapers, art exhibition brochures, Coubertin’s own works and memoirs, and other primary documents and images.

P19 The role of policy and key stakeholder decision-making in the propagation, and deceleration, of resistance evolution

Abstract Background Antimicrobials have an intangible value on reducing global health burden of infection, yet current valuation methods do not holistically capture the enablement of healthcare as a result of antimicrobials. A lack of incentive and subsequent investment into the novel antimicrobial pipeline demonstrates the urgent need for collaboration amongst those influencing the decision-making process, namely key stakeholders such as governmental bodies, industry and academia. Studies into resistance evolution focus almost entirely on proximate causes, such as the number of antibiotics used in clinical settings, or the understanding of evolutionary pathways to resistance under controlled laboratory conditions. Comparatively, the association between resistance evolution and policy decisions from governments, industry and regulatory bodies is poorly understood. Objectives The primary aim was to evaluate the multifactorial associations between β-lactam development and evolution of β-lactam resistance to inform the current and future antibiotic development pipeline. Methods To undertake this narrative report, we focussed on β-lactam antibiotics, given their clear development timeline and continuous molecular refinement to meet arising clinical and microbiological needs. As such, the evolution of resistance to β-lactams poses a significant threat to mortality, quality of life, and societal function. This report consists of six historical case studies, all of which have significantly influenced the antimicrobial resistance landscape since Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928. We include lesser-known events in our narrative, such as the establishment of the National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC), which propelled the mass commercialization of penicillin, and the subsequent emergence of penicillinases. Pivotal events such as the emergence of ESBL and MBLs into clinical settings also provide insight into the historical decision-making process by key stakeholders such as governmental bodies, industry and academia. Literature reviews were conducted with a focus on the initial introduction of a particular β-lactam into the clinic and when resistance arose. Key stakeholder activities and policy decisions made during these time periods influenced the formation of case studies. Results The case studies are as follows: (i) the influence of the NRDC in accelerated antimicrobial development; (ii) the introduction of the β-lactamase inhibitor—the influence of short-term clinical and financial benefit on prescribing behaviour; (iii) the ‘golden era’ of antibiotics—cephalosporin development and the consequences of short-term market forces; (iv) knowledge of MBL resistance prior to introduction of carbapenems in clinical settings; (v) consequences of controlled manufacturing for the global supply of piperacillin/tazobactam; and (vi) early surveillance studies and the beginning of the antimicrobial stewardship agenda. Conclusions In each case study we provide insight into how key stakeholders can improve practices by learning from past experiences, to inform the future stewardship agenda. We built a case for the need to incorporate evolutionary microbiology into policy and industrial decision-making in order to improve the mitigation of antimicrobial resistance.

Networks throughout an institutional transition: the case of the former Meliá touristic group (1932-1978)

ABSTRACT This study explores how networks for entrepreneurial activities evolve and change during an institutional transition at the macro level. For this purpose, we present the historical case study of Meliá, a pioneering company in the development of the Spanish tourism industry during Franco´s Regime (1939–1975), when the country evolved from interventionism and isolation toward an increasingly market-oriented economy. Our study shows how Meliá’s networks co-evolved with their institutional framework, resulting in a transformation in their composition, purpose, and outcomes. Through historical contextualization, our paper allows us to capture the nuances of an institutional transition as well as to better understand the change processes of networks, the significance of strong and weak ties as the firm matures, and the dynamics of network brokerage over time. Therefore, our research contributes to the literature on networks and institutional transitions showing the value of a history-in theory perspective.

On the Structure and Accumulation of Realist Content

Ever since the heyday of the Vienna Circle, scientific realists have worked hard to document and clarify the structure and growth of truth content in theoretical descriptions. Today, this trait is particularly intense among “selective realists” – realists focused on theory parts with high empirical corroboration rather than whole theories. From their perspective, theories with posits systematically deployed in corroborated novel predictions are, with high probability, descriptively true or contain a proper part that is. Unlike traditional realists, selectivists acknowledge that (a) radical conceptual change is a recurring scientific phenomenon and (b) empirical theories have poor reliability records at the most profound ontological level. At the same time, they point to significant descriptive continuities at intermediate theoretical levels between successful theories and their successors – i.e., a false theory can (and often does) contain parts that succeed as correct descriptions. Selectivists seek to identify those parts. Their approaches limit ontological commitment exclusively to highly confirmed theoretical descriptions; unfortunately, the selection criteria they use seemingly support many regrettable choices. One source of trouble is that extant approaches leave unclear the ontology described by the selected parts. Historical cases and scientific practice gesture toward a functional resolution of this difficulty, but the clues could be more transparent and need elaboration. Otherwise, selectivism has improved in consistency over the last three decades. Current projects emphasize the continuity of well-established scientific content (relating to how entities and processes effectively behave within a specific regime or descriptive level) instead of just the continuity of “structure”. This paper provides some clarifications that arguably clear the road for realist commitment toward functional and effective theoretical content. The proposed functional/effective turn is checked against some plausible objections.

Runout prediction of potential landslides based on the multi-source data collaboration analysis on historical cases

Runout prediction of potential landslides based on the multi-source data collaboration analysis on historical cases

The inverse Thucydides’s trap: The structure and process of the US-China rivalry

The rising severity of the United States-China rivalry has become the primary element of contemporary international relations, posing the ?million-dollar question? of whether there will be a war between the two world powers. American political scientist Graham T. Allison formulated and applied the concept of Thucydides?s trap- the structural stress caused by a ?rising? power?s threat to displace a ?ruling? one-to the US-China rivalry, which in most historical cases resulted in war. The author sees the fundamental weakness of Allison?s concept in the neorealist emphasis on the structural factor of the distribution of power among the actors at the expense of the process factor of their revisionist or status quo orientation, besides which Allison makes an unfounded presumption about ?ruling? power?s status quo orientation. From the neoclassical realist viewpoint, the author corrects Thucydides?s trap concept, pointing to the revisionism of one or both rivals ?caught? in it as the decisive factor in the outbreak of war while singling out hegemonism as a particularly dangerous form of revisionism. The author refers to the situation when the ?ruling? power attempts to achieve hegemony as the reverse Thucydides trap. This paper?s principal thesis is that there is an inverse Thucydides?s trap between the contemporary United States and China due to the US?s endeavour to impose its hegemony on China and the rest of the international system. Through reinterpretation of Allison?s historical case studies based on neoclassical realism and the introduction of the concept of inverse Thucydides?s trap, the author formulates new recommendations for the prevention of the US-China conflict in the future.

Discrediting the Use of a Leadership Office for Personal Favors or Gains: key Reasons Why It Should Be Discredited

Ethical leadership serves as the cornerstone of organizational integrity and societal trust, yet the misuse of leadership positions for personal gains threatens these fundamental principles. This research paper delves into the profound implications of leaders leveraging their office for personal favors or gains, unraveling the erosion of trust, integrity, and accountability within organizational frameworks and broader societal contexts. Through meticulous analysis of historical and contemporary case studies, this paper highlights the far-reaching consequences of ethical misconduct in leadership, from corporate scandals to political upheavals. By examining these real-world examples, the paper underscores the critical importance of ethical leadership in fostering organizational resilience and sustainable societal progress. Moreover, this research goes beyond critique to propose actionable strategies aimed at cultivating a culture of ethical conduct and transparency within leadership roles. Drawing on insights from ethical leadership theories (Brown, 2005; Treviño & Nelson, 2020) and best practices in organizational governance, the paper offers recommendations to mitigate ethical lapses, enhance accountability mechanisms, and promote ethical decision-making. Ultimately, this study advocates for a paradigm shift towards leadership practices that prioritize the common good over personal interests, thereby reinforcing organizational integrity and rebuilding public trust.

The interdisciplinary potential for Science Education in multiple domains of a historical science case analysis

Resumo: Neste estudo propomos a abordagem dos múltiplos domínios do conhecimento para análise, compreensão, caracterização e planejamento de práticas interdisciplinares no Ensino de Ciências, utilizando o episódio histórico da fabricação de soda na Europa dos séculos XVIII e XIX como exemplo e objeto de análise. Defendemos que episódios históricos das ciências têm potencial interdisciplinar no ensino e aprendizagem de ciências, requerendo uma compreensão de seus domínios econômico, ambiental, social e científico. A pesquisa é baseada em fontes históricas secundárias seguida de análise pelos múltiplos domínios e, a partir dela, destacamos a importância de explorar não apenas o domínio científico, mas também os aspectos econômicos, sociais e ambientais. Na escola, acreditamos que essa abordagem deve envolver diferentes disciplinas. Recomendamos a aplicação dessa abordagem teórico-analítica para o planejamento e avaliação de temáticas interdisciplinares, emergentes de episódios históricos ou temáticas contemporâneas.

Machine Learning for Test Case Prioritization in Continuous Integration: A Comprehensive Analysis

Machine Learning for Test Case Prioritization in Continuous Integration: A Comprehensive Analysis

Effects of sugarcane cultivation on aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure: a historical comparative case study in São Paulo State.

Over two decades, the area with sugarcane has more than doubled, from 4.8 million hectares in 2000 to 10 million in 2018, in Brazil. São Paulo State is mostly responsible for the sugarcane production in the country, accounting for 51% of the national production. In 2008, a study was conducted analysing the relationship between sugarcane cultivation and the aquatic macroinvertebrate community, showing the impacts of sugarcane on the macroinvertebrate aquatic fauna. The present study aims to gather actual information on the aquatic macroinvertebrate community in the same streams studied in 2008, to make a historical comparison with studies previously carried out. Eight streams were selected; four located in areas of sugarcane cultivation and four located in preserved areas. Three samples were carried out between 2018 and 2020. The aquatic macroinvertebrates were collected using a D-frame aquatic net (250 μm) including riffle and pools areas and identified using specific identification keys. The results of the historical assessment showed better ecological conditions of the streams in 2008 when compared to 2018 in areas of sugarcane cultivation, suggesting that the environmental impact was maintained and increased after ten years.

Does SME Loan Securitization Have Economic Value? The Historical Case of Germany

Does SME Loan Securitization Have Economic Value? The Historical Case of Germany