Special Case Research Articles

Neme priče: mikrozgodovinski pogled na samomor v sodnih spisih prve polovice 20. stoletja

Based on the archival materials from the Celje and Maribor District Courts (Kreisgerichte) and the specific cases from the Trbovlje County Court (Bezirksgericht), referring to the areas with the highest suicide rates in the Drava Banate, this article examines suicide in the first half of the 20th century. Based on individual cases from judicial practice, as well as newspaper reports, the article sheds light on the social, economic and regional conditions in the considered areas in the first half of the 20th century, as well as the position of women in society and the prevalence of family and sexual violence. At the time when the increasing suicide rates were attributed to the aftermath of World War I, the effects of the economic crisis, and alcoholism, the article analyses the presence and gradual dominance of psychological and psychiatric discourse in determining the causes of individual suicides. By analysing the individual cases, the author presents the attitude towards suicide in rural areas – the shame and stigma still felt by the family members when a relative of theirs commits suicide. The author analyses cases where either the suicide could not be identified or when the corps of the deceased was not found, as well as cases of suicide due to fear and/or shame due to crimes committed. Furthermore, the article focuses on the phenomenon of female suicide and, in this context, on the examples of murder-suicide and the role of women in them, analyses the contemporaneous media discourse, and describes the course of the investigations in the cases where it was not clear whether the death had resulted from suicide or murder.

Performance and Latency Efficiency Evaluation of Kubernetes Container Network Interfaces for Built-In and Custom Tuned Profiles

In the era of DevOps, developing new toolsets and frameworks that leverage DevOps principles is crucial. This paper demonstrates how Ansible’s powerful automation capabilities can be harnessed to manage the complexity of Kubernetes environments. This paper evaluates efficiency across various CNI (Container Network Interface) plugins by orchestrating performance analysis tools across multiple power profiles. Our performance evaluations across network interfaces with different theoretical bandwidths gave us a comprehensive understanding of CNI performance and overall efficiency, with performance efficiency coming well below expectations. Our research confirms that certain CNIs are better suited for specific use cases, mainly when tuning our environment for smaller or larger network packets and workload types, but also that there are configuration changes we can make to mitigate that. This paper also provides research into how to use performance tuning to optimize the performance and efficiency of our CNI infrastructure, with practical implications for improving the performance of Kubernetes environments in real-world scenarios, particularly in more demanding scenarios such as High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

A frequency-dependent model for bone remodeling using a micromorphic porous medium subjected to harmonic mechanical loading

AbstractIn this paper, the bone tissue was modeled as a linear viscoelastic material saturated with interstitial fluid. We considered a specific case of harmonic loading and related the mechanical stimuli to the loading frequency. In this way, we could include the inertial effect in the model while not having to deal with the perturbation during each loading period. Two types of mechanical signals were considered: strain energy and dissipation energy. A parametric study revealed the dependency of the two signals on loading frequency and material property. The evolution of the apparent mass density supported the parametric study’s findings. Under the three different frequency loadings, the strain energy-stimulated samples experienced identical remodeling scenarios. The samples stimulated with dissipation energy, on the other hand, exhibited a strong frequency dependence. An additional study was performed to investigate the effect of long-term variations in the loading frequency on the remodeling process. This demonstrated the model’s capabilities in designing and evaluating load regimes for rehabilitation following a bone injury or bone reconstruction.

Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence as Direct Victims under International Criminal Law

Abstract This article explores specific cases of children born of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) to ascertain the precise nature of their harm making them a unique category of victims under international criminal law. It will identify and illustrate, inter alia, the nature, intent and impact of their victimhood, detailing precisely how to prosecute crimes against and affecting these children at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The research eschews the conventional approach of regarding these children as secondary victims by surfacing direct crimes under ICC jurisdiction and positioning them firmly within investigative, prosecutorial and judicial attention.

Playful Dramatizations – Doing German the Nordic Way

Nordic perspectives on playful learning have been defined by values and preconceptions associated with play in schooling. However, playful learning also emerges in specific ways as part of the patterns of relations that form classroom teaching and learning. Patterns can be understood as sociomaterial relationships in practice that create rhythms which become constitutive for specific teaching and learning practices (Sørensen, 2009). In the paper, I identify and trace ways in which specific patterns are created by multiple relationships that enable and hold together playful learning activities. With a focus on patterns of relations, I draw on performative understandings of playful learning which are holistically defined by complex sociomaterial relationships. The paper explores how these patterns enact Nordic ways of doing playful learning that are defined by both specific materialities, moods, and rhythms of doing language learning in secondary schooling. The paper builds on observations and interview data from a project in which teachers and students from three Danish schools experimented with playful learning in the school subjects English and German. In the project, experimentation and didactic development were enabled through action learning processes involving the participating teachers and the researcher. Experiments were scaffolded through use of the platform Drama Studio, where students can create animated stories using avatars in multimodal drama production. The paper focuses on a specific case in which the teaching of German became part of doing hygge as a seasonal mood in the classroom during an unusually long, four-hour German session. In the dynamics of enacting German as hygge, multiple relationships emerged that both held together and transcended the apparently delineated activity of doing German through Drama Studio.

The Influence of Traditional Architectural Elements on Modern Building Design

It is in this paper that an attempt is made to understand the influences of traditional architectural elements on modern building design, investigating how much these two seemingly unconnected entities share an interdependent relationship: architectural heritage and what are termed here as modern innovations. This paper carried out a deep dive into a large volume of reviewed literature, analyzing case studies and design techniques to help provide an answer to how architects manage to integrate traditional elements into their modern structures so that resultant buildings will be culturally resonant and functionally advanced. From the research, it can be understood that such kind of integration happens for several reasons: providing user comfort with cultural identity, ensuring sustainability through proper contextual orientation, among others. The most important findings are that the attainment of successful integration eventually depends upon the import that one attaches to authenticity and the local requirements that need to be fulfilled by each specific case—like those relating to building codes or public perception issues—as well as upon teaching these principles in architecture schools for future professional practice since this forms a fieldwide challenge in diverse aspects. It not only adds to the beauty and usefulness of architecture but also is very important in holding a culture’s identity and sustainable development. Finally, future research directions that might further explore the long-term impacts and potentials of this integrative approach in architecture are suggested.

Construction 4.0 implementation for performance improvement: an innovation management perspective

Purpose The emergence of Construction 4.0 technologies provides an impetus for radical change and rejuvenates the interest of stakeholders in addressing long-standing performance issues in the construction sector. However, construction firms struggle to implement Construction 4.0 technologies for performance measurement and improvement. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to develop a conceptual model of innovation management for implementing Construction 4.0 that guides and facilitates the strategic transformation of construction firms. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual model of innovation management is presented, and the findings are synthesised based on a literature review, 20 semi-structured interviews, two focus group discussions, three workshops, expert consultation and observations on three digitally-enabled projects. Data were inductively analysed using thematic analysis. Findings The analysis of empirical data revealed: (i) Four scenarios that could lead the industry to different futures, based on the extent of research and development, and the extent of integration/collaboration; (ii) Construction 4.0 capability stages for a sustained implementation route; (iii) Possible business model configurations derived from servitisation strategies; and (iv) Skills management challenges for organisations. Research limitations/implications First, the empirical data was only collected in the UK with its unique industry context, which may limit the applicability of the results. Second, most of the research data comes from the private sector, without the views of public sector organisations. Third, the model needs to be further validated with specific data-driven use cases to address productivity and sustainability issues. Practical implications Successful Construction 4.0 transformation requires a concerted effort of stakeholders, including those in the supply chain, technology companies, innovation networks and government. Although a stakeholder’s action would depend on others’ actions, each stakeholder should undertake action that can influence the factors within their control (such as the extent of collaboration and investment) and the outcomes. Originality/value The conceptual model brings together and establishes the relationships between the scenarios, Construction 4.0 capability stages, business models and skills management. It provides the first step that guides the fuzzy front-end of Construction 4.0 implementation, underpins the transformation to the desired future and builds long-term innovation capabilities.

Transparency in AI usage within fact-checking platforms in Spain and its ethical challenges

Transparency –encompassing methodological, financial, and source-related aspects, as well as the tools employed– is central to the operations of professional fact-checking platforms. However, the growing adoption of artificial intelligence tools in fact-checking introduces new ethical challenges. This research investigates the extent to which these platforms believe they should disclose their use of AI and assesses the current practices on their websites regarding this technology. The study employs a qualitative methodology, including semi-structured interviews with professionals from accredited Spanish verification platforms and content analysis of these organizations’ websites. The findings indicate that transparency in AI usage is widely regarded as an ethical imperative. Nevertheless, the application of this standard often becomes ambiguous when addressing specific practices and cases. Many professionals question the necessity of explicitly disclosing AI usage when the technology primarily supports the verification and is overseen by human reviewers. Additionally, a lack of understanding of AI’s functionality sometimes hinders the ability to identify whether the tools employed incorporate AI. The content analysis also reveals that explicit mentions of AI use on the websites are rare and that platforms lack open-access manuals or protocols that outline and regulate their AI practices.

“Turks, Tatars and Russians in the 13th–16th centuries”: exploring the interaction across Eurasia

Research objectives: This article, through the review of István Vásáry’s book, published in 2023 as part of the Variorum Collected Studies Series (digital) by Taylor & Francis, aims to explore the interactions among Turks, Tatars, and Russians within the Eurasian region, as well as their broader political, economic, and cultural influences. Research results and scientific novelty: The book that forms the basis of this article consists of a total of 21 articles by the Hungarian author published in different years, including the revised and translated English version of two articles previously published in Russian. This work of Vásáry, a veteran researcher in the field of Turkic, Mongolian, and Tatar history, as well as Turcology, explores the interaction among societies spanning vast territories from the Steppes to the Balkans and further across Eastern Europe. It exposes with great skill the political, military, administrative, social, economic, diplomatic, religious, linguistic, literary and cultural aspects of the interaction in question through specific case studies and facts. This view is a challenge to the general one that ignores the contributions of the people in the mentioned territories to world civilization. From this aspect, this book beckons scholars to reevaluate historical documents not merely as repositories of the past, but also as critical lenses through which to discern and interpret contemporary realities.

Inclusive Education and Social Inequality: An Anthropological Study of Social Mobility and Access to Education

This research investigates the multifaceted relationship between inclusive education and social inequality, focusing on the potential of inclusive educational practices in Europe, with a specific case study in Bulgaria, to promote social mobility for marginalized populations. Grounded in an anthropological framework, the study seeks to understand how structural and cultural barriers impede access to equitable education for marginalized groups, with particular attention to Roma students, one of the most disadvantaged communities in Europe. By examining the educational landscape in Bulgaria, this research delves into the lived experiences of educators, psychologists, and occupational therapists working to implement inclusive education within a system often fraught with discrimination, limited resources, and institutional challenges. The qualitative research, conducted in Sofia from February to April 2024, draws on interviews, participant observation, and focus groups to capture the nuanced challenges and successes of those involved in delivering inclusive education. Findings reveal that despite national policies aimed at promoting inclusion, significant barriers persist, particularly for Roma students, who continue to face segregation, prejudice, and limited educational opportunities. Educators frequently report difficulties in accommodating the diverse needs of students within under-resourced schools, while psychological and cultural biases further hinder effective inclusion. Moreover, the study identifies a critical gap between policy and practice, where inclusive education policies are often poorly implemented due to a lack of cultural competence and institutional support. This gap has direct implications for the social mobility of marginalized students, as education remains a key determinant of their future opportunities. The findings underscore the urgent need for culturally responsive teaching strategies and support systems that are tailored to the unique socio-economic and cultural contexts of marginalized communities. These strategies must go beyond superficial inclusion to actively dismantle the entrenched inequalities that exist within educational institutions. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of inclusive education in addressing social inequality and promoting social mobility. However, it also highlights the significant work that remains to be done to ensure that inclusive education is truly accessible and effective for all, particularly for marginalized groups like the Roma. By proposing a series of culturally sensitive and contextually informed recommendations, the research advocates for a more holistic approach to inclusive education that can better support the academic and social advancement of marginalized students, ultimately fostering greater equity in educational outcomes and social mobility.

Framework for Cyber Risk Loss Distribution of Client‐Server Networks: A Bond Percolation Model and Industry Specific Case Studies

ABSTRACTCyber risk has emerged as a significant threat to businesses that have increasingly relied on new and existing information technologies (IT). Across various businesses in different industries and sectors, a distinct pattern of IT network architectures, such as the client‐server network architecture, may, in principle, expose those businesses, which share it, to similar cyber risks. That is why in this article, we propose a probabilistic structural framework for loss assessments of cyber risks on the class of client‐server network architectures with different client types. To our knowledge, there exist no theoretical models of an aggregate loss distribution for cyber risk in this setting. With this structural framework via the exact mean and variance of losses, we demonstrate how the changing cybersecurity environment of a business's IT network impacts the loss distribution. Furthermore, our framework provides insights into better investment strategies for cybersecurity protection on the client‐server network. Motivated by cyberattacks across industries, we apply our framework to four case studies that utilize the client‐server network architecture. Our first application is implantable medical devices in healthcare. Our second application is the smart buildings domain. Third, we present an application for ride‐sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. The fourth is the application of vehicle‐to‐vehicle cooperation in traffic management. The results are corresponding exact means and variances of cyber risk loss distributions parameterized by various cybersecurity parameters allowing for liability assessments and decisions in cybersecurity protection investments.

Mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge of Pastoralists into Climate Change Policies in Cameroon

Indigenous pastoralists are hardest hit by the impacts of climate change because of their dependence on nature and limited adaptation. This paper seeks to examine the level of integration of traditional knowledge systems into adaptation policies in Cameroon, using the specific case of Mbororo pastoralists in the Western Highlands. Using a mainly qualitative approach in data collection, in-depth interviews were conducted with 28 purposively selected pastoralists from 4 divisions with intense pastoral activity, comprising 19 Mbororo pastoralists, 2 members of the Mbororo Social and Cultural Association (MBOSCUDA), 2 Mbororo traditional rulers, 5 Mbororo women and one focus group discussion. Discussions were recorded and voice notes were transcribed, coded and treated according to content and thematic with the aid of Atlas. Ti software. Results show that Mbororo pastoralists migrated into the region in the 1950s as nomadic herders and occupied marginal lands due to the nature of their activity. With climatic aberrations being acute, their closeness to nature permitted them to develop a wide array of knowledge and traditional practices to adapt and exploit existing opportunities. Semi-nomadic and transhumance methods of rearing, cross-breeding local species with high-breed species to produce resistant breeds of cattle, cultivating resistant pasture species, rotational grazing and using traditional medicines to treat cattle diseases have reduced resource degradation and curbed the effects of climatic aberrations. Nevertheless, these indigenous knowledge systems are eroding fast due to poor indigenous institutions and non-integration into policy. This work will reinforce capacities of decentralized communities in developing and implementing local adaptation plans on climate change.

ANALYSIS OF OPEN REDUCTION AND INTERNAL FIXATION (ORIF) IN COLLES' FRACTURE

Colles fracture, first described in 1814, is characterized by the dorsal displacement of the distal radius fragment and is highly prevalent, particularly among elderly patients. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) in treating Colles fractures, focusing on functional outcomes and postoperative quality of life. An integrative literature review and comparative analysis of studies on ORIF and other treatment methods were conducted using Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science as indexing tools. Articles were selected using the keywords “Colles Fracture, Open Reduction and Internal Fixation, Functional Outcomes, Postoperative Complications.” The review highlights that ORIF generally provides superior functional outcomes and fewer complications in various fractures, such as those of the humerus, tibial pilon, calcaneus, and unstable distal radius fractures, compared to less invasive methods like external fixation (EF). However, EF shows advantages in specific cases, such as shorter surgical time and fewer perioperative complications. Moreover, the studies indicate that risk factors like diabetes, fracture severity, lack of drainage, and bone graft usage increase the risk of complications in ORIF. Additionally, minimally invasive techniques can reduce pain and enhance functional recovery in certain fractures, such as patellar fractures, when compared to ORIF.

Radiotherapist’s View on the Role of Current Diagnostic Imaging in Pre-Radiation Preparation of Patients with Oligometastatic Disease for Conformal Radiotherapy

Diagnostic imaging of oligometastatic disease is a difficult task, since it requires determining the exact locoregional stage of the underlying disease and assessing the condition of the entire body in terms of possible diffuse spread of distant metastases, which presupposes a fairly frequent combination of various instrumental methods. In each specific case, a more accurate imaging method is chosen depending on the type of tumor, time of diagnosis, possible previously implemented stage of special antitumor treatment, as well as the individual risk of developing distant metastases, the most characteristic for this type of tumor process. Today, along with some diagnostic techniques that were previously constantly used in everyday practice, but are gradually losing their long-standing clinical application, such imaging methods as contrastenhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, as well as metabolic and specific receptor imaging, for example, CT combined with positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, are most commonly performed, alone or in various combinations.

Crystallization‐Induced Dimerization and Solution‐Phase Bond Dissociation of Stable Dibenzoolympicenyl Radicals

Crystallization of organic materials can lead to different assembly structure with different reactivity, but this phenomenon is rarely observed for delocalized hydrocarbon radicals. This report introduces a crystallization‐induced radical–radical coupling reaction, which employs a series of stable nonplanar organic π‐radicals as reactants. Six stable radical congeners are synthesized, resulting in radical–radical coupling at the allenyl radical site during crystallization to produce close‐shell dimers. This coupling reaction is absent in the solution phase, which highlights the importance of preorganization in the lattice. Remarkably, the attempts of cocrystallization of different congeners yielded homocoupling products instead of cross‐coupling products. In specific cases, two distinct polymorphs are observed and their reactivity is different according to the distance of the reaction sites. Theoretical calculations indicate that the transition from a metastable preorganized monomer to a dimer is barrierless and spontaneous. The dimer could regenerate free radicals by heating or photoirradiation in the solution phase. This discovery may lead to controllable molecular switches.

Crystallization-Induced Dimerization and Solution-Phase Bond Dissociation of Stable Dibenzoolympicenyl Radicals.

Crystallization of organic materials can lead to different assembly structure with different reactivity, but this phenomenon is rarely observed for delocalized hydrocarbon radicals. This report introduces a crystallization-induced radical-radical coupling reaction, which employs a series of stable nonplanar organic π-radicals as reactants. Six stable radical congeners are synthesized, resulting in radical-radical coupling at the allenyl radical site during crystallization to produce close-shell dimers. This coupling reaction is absent in the solution phase, which highlights the importance of preorganization in the lattice. Remarkably, the attempts of cocrystallization of different congeners yielded homocoupling products instead of cross-coupling products. In specific cases, two distinct polymorphs are observed and their reactivity is different according to the distance of the reaction sites. Theoretical calculations indicate that the transition from a metastable preorganized monomer to a dimer is barrierless and spontaneous. The dimer could regenerate free radicals by heating or photoirradiation in the solution phase. This discovery may lead to controllable molecular switches.

Environmental and socio-economic evaluation of a groundwater bioremediation technology using social Cost-Benefit Analysis: Application to an in-situ metal(loid) precipitation case study

Bioremediation can be an alternative or complementary approach to conventional soil and water treatment technologies. Determining the environmental and socio-economic impacts of bioremediation is important but rarely addressed. This work presents a comprehensive sustainability assessment for a specific groundwater bioremediation case study based on In-situ Metal(loid) Precipitation (ISMP) by conducting a social Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) using two different approaches: environmental Life Cycle Costing (eLCC) and Impact Pathway Approach (IPA). Externalities are calculated in two ways: i) using Environmental Prices (EP) to monetize Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results and metal(loid)s removed at field scale, and ii) following the IPA steps to determine the social costs avoided by removing arsenic contamination at full scale. The results show that, in the baseline scenario, the project is not socio-economically viable in both cases as the Net Present Value (NPV) is −129,512.61 € and − 415,185,140 € respectively. Sensitivity and scenario analyses are performed to identify the key parameters and actions needed to reach a positive NPV. For instance, increasing the amount of water treated per year to 90 m3 and assuming a 20 % increase in operation costs and a 60 % increase in construction costs can make the project socio-economically viable at the field scale, while a reduction in the social discount rate from a 4 % to a 2 % can lead to a positive NPV at the full scale. The approaches proposed in this work may be useful for practitioners and policymakers when evaluating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of bioremediation technologies at different scales and regions, as well as human health impacts caused by contaminants at the current legal limits.

Application of a Film Model to Mass Transfer and Chemical Reaction at a Plasma-Liquid Interface

Abstract Plasma electrodes provide novel ways of conducting electrochemical processes in liquids, in particular because of the ability to generate unique reactive radical species. However, the radicals injected into the liquid and their ensuing reactions are often confined to a narrow region near the interface of the plasma and the liquid. Thus, mass transfer has been found to play an important role in the observed kinetics and a modeling framework that includes both transport and kinetics is required to interpret experimental data. Here, we apply the idea of a film model for interphase mass transfer to plasma-liquid electrochemical processes, whereby transport is described by a stagnant film that is inherently linked to the concentration boundary layer and the mass transfer coefficient. Equations that govern the transport and reaction of radicals and substrates within the film are solved assuming a quasi-steady state approximation. The model is applied to specific case studies from the literature to estimate important parameters that cannot easily be measured in experiments, such as the mass transfer coefficient. Our study shows that a film model can elucidate the effect of mass transfer on observed conversion rates and allow the intrinsic kinetics to be unraveled.

From Institutions to Families? The Changing Allocation of Responsibility for Cognitively Disabled Children in Dutch Postwar Long-Term Care Policies

Who is responsible for health care? Neoliberal policies since the 1970s seem to place this responsibility increasingly on the individual, in a process that is called responsibilization. The recent literature on neoliberalism, however, has questioned the preference of free-market liberalism for individual responsibility and shows how neoliberals often made common cause with communitarian conservatives on social policies. Melinda Cooper, for instance, has argued in her book Family Values that free-market liberals and social conservatives in the US both identified the family as a ‘wholesale alternative to the 20-century welfare state’. This article investigates whether this coalition of neoliberals and social conservatives, who agree on the importance of familial solidarity in addition to market freedom, has also played a role in the making of Dutch health care policies. By tracing how responsibility for long-term care has been allocated in the postwar Netherlands in the specific case of children with (cognitive) disabilities, the author will show how ‘the family’ has increasingly been embraced by policymakers as the main responsible party. This is remarkable because the Dutch postwar welfare state sought to loosen family ties in favour of individual arrangements. However, attempts by different stakeholders to deinstitutionalize Dutch health care during the 1990s unintentionally moved the state's responsibility for long-term care not so much onto individuals as onto families.

Comparative Analysis of Electrosurgical Energy and Hemostatic Sealant for Hemostasis in Laparoscopic Ovarian Cystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Phase III Study

To evaluate the efficacy of hemostatic sealant versus elertrosurgical energy in achieving hemostasis and preserving postoperative ovarian reserve during laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial SETTING: Single center study PATIENTS: A total of 121 patients undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive either hemostatic sealant or elertrosurgical energy for hemostasis during surgery MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome measured was the time required to achieve hemostasis. Secondary outcomes included operating time, estimated blood loss, and assessment of postoperative ovarian reserve through hormone levels (AMH, FSH, E2, Inhibin) at three follow-up intervals. The results showed comparable hemostasis times between the two groups. Postoperative hormone levels indicated no significant differences in the impact on ovarian reserve between the groups, except in cases of bilateral ovarian cystectomy (BOC), where the hemostatic sealant group exhibited a lesser decline in AMH levels. Both hemostatic sealant and electrosurgical energy showed equivalent effectiveness in achieving hemostasis during laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, with comparable results in hemostasis time, blood loss, postoperative complications, and ovarian reserve preservation. However, in cases of bilateral ovarian cystectomy (BOC), the hemostatic sealant group exhibited a lesser decline in AMH levels, suggesting a potential advantage in preserving ovarian reserve in these specific cases.