Month: June 2024

New ethnographic perspective on relational ethics in the field of Artificial intelligence

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Abstract

This article was created on the wave of the ubiquitous and already-saturated topic of ethics in the field of artificial intelligence. We were motivated by the proliferation of rules within this field and by a posthumanism critique of this topic. We attempt to nurture a new research platform for a social science analysis of the “How of ethics” issue by providing an argument for the study of algorithms and ethical issues by expanding the usability of the concept of niche construction and environmental perspectives in ethnographic studies. From a design perspective, this means expanding the quest related to the ethical matter by intensifying the inquiry in a design that includes not just the design process but also a more comprehensive environment. Inspired by current trends in evolutionary anthropology, science studies, and the philosophy of science, we are in line with approaches that reaffirm ethical issues from standpoint theory in the current scientific debate about trust in science. The results of our historical perspective on the issue of value neutrality point out that the position where the tool is not neutral does not mean that it is biased but that it is deeply involved in the network of relationships that influence it to be biased, and that threatens its autonomy. By providing argumentation based on the issue of ethics, we have nurtured the so-called ecology of practice and connoisseurs as a new practice and perspective that ethnography can take on the issue of accountable, ethical, and trustable science.

Assessment of coal pillar strength under the influence of sand stowing in deep coal mines

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Abstract

Backfilling in goaf after pillar extraction seems to be a promising technology to help exploit these standing pillars. This paper presents the assessment of the impact of sand-stowing-based backfill on the peak strength and post-failure behavior of coal pillars. Rectangular coal samples were prepared and tested with different proportions of sand stowing, and a 3D finite-difference code was used for the numerical simulation to achieve the objective of the study. In laboratory experiments, the proportion of sand stowing was set at 0%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% and tested in a servo-controlled machine, whereas, in numerical simulation, the percentage of sand stowing varied from 9 to 91% along with the coal pillar width-to-height ratios ranging from 1.5 to 5. The experimental and numerical results demonstrated that the average pillar strength increased as the proportion of stowing increased. The overall strength increased by 22% in the experimental study and about 28% to 32% in numerical simulation. The load vs. displacement characteristic changed from brittle to ductile as the sand proportion increases and the width-to-height ratio increased.

Companies inadvertently fund online misinformation despite consumer backlash

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Abstract

The financial motivation to earn advertising revenue has been widely conjectured to be pivotal for the production of online misinformation1–4. Research aimed at mitigating misinformation has so far focused on interventions at the user level5–8, with little emphasis on how the supply of misinformation can itself be countered. Here we show how online misinformation is largely financed by advertising, examine how financing misinformation affects the companies involved, and outline interventions for reducing the financing of misinformation. First, we find that advertising on websites that publish misinformation is pervasive for companies across several industries and is amplified by digital advertising platforms that algorithmically distribute advertising across the web. Using an information-provision experiment9, we find that companies that advertise on websites that publish misinformation can face substantial backlash from their consumers. To examine why misinformation continues to be monetized despite the potential backlash for the advertisers involved, we survey decision-makers at companies. We find that most decision-makers are unaware that their companies’ advertising appears on misinformation websites but have a strong preference to avoid doing so. Moreover, those who are unaware and uncertain about their company’s role in financing misinformation increase their demand for a platform-based solution to reduce monetizing misinformation when informed about how platforms amplify advertising placement on misinformation websites. We identify low-cost, scalable information-based interventions to reduce the financial incentive to misinform and counter the supply of misinformation online.

The shadow pandemic: exploring the indigenous factors behind life-threatening and trivial intimate Partner violence during COVID-19 in South Punjab, Pakistan

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Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a salient public health issue that affects the gender symmetry between couples in wedlock during COVID-19. This shadow pandemic was further segregated into Life-Threatening and Trivial (LTT) IPV acts. Using In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), the women’s viewpoints on different aspects of IPV were investigated. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from women who had experienced abuse in their marital relationships, which was then analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that the major socio-cultural factors behind LTT IPV during COVID-19 were hegemonic and dominant masculinity of husbands, subjugated femininity of wives, and the parallel protective role of a husband in embarrassing the pandemic avoidance measures, hesitation in acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination, elevation in aggression due to socio-economic problems among husbands, information overflow and depression among men regarding COVID-19, and the role of traditional religious leaders in justifying the trivial IPV acts during the pandemic. In conclusion, the cultural web of the study context was based on the patriarchal, misogynistic, and gender-biased norms that normalized the husbands’ violent acts to implement COVID-19 avoidance measures against wives. Addressing the phenomenon through government interventions by using community-based awareness campaigns and constitutional protective laws for abused women can mitigate the intensity of this issue during COVID-19.

What Purpose do Voices Serve If No One is Listening? A Systematic Review of Children and Young People’s Perspectives on Living in the Foster Care System

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Abstract

Background

Foster care homes provide safe and supportive environments for children and young people who are unable to live with their families. Yet, the perspectives of children and young people currently living in foster care are under-researched.

Objective

More needs to be understood about the lives of children and young people currently living in foster care. The aim of this review was to systematically analyse the core thematic categories related to the lived experiences of those in foster care to provide a comprehensive update to inform and improve foster care processes.

Method

A systematic review of qualitative research was conducted to explore children and young people’s perspectives of everyday life in foster care.

Results

After searching three citation databases (PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO) and a citation index (Scopus), we identified and evaluated 20 studies. Adopting thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) Navigating biological and foster family, (b) Normal children in abnormal circumstances, (c) Searching for belonging and (d) Overcoming trauma.

Conclusions

The findings provide valuable insight into the complex realities of life in foster care. These perspectives of foster care can help inform future research, practice and policy. This includes more collaborative co-designed foster care processes. For a socially conscientious developmental approach to foster care, the voices of the children and young people need to be heard, valued and included.

Research hotspots, emerging patterns, and intellectual structure of homestay tourism: a bibliometric analysis

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Abstract

Over the past 15 years, the examination of homestay tourism has expanded significantly, integrating with a number of academic disciplines including marketing, management, and economics. Throughout the past fifteen years, studies on homestay tourism have increased significantly, intertwining with numerous disciplines of study such as marketing, management, and economics. The present paper provides an outline of the growth of the homestay tourism literature released in 134 peer-reviewed papers during the previous 15 years (2005–2023). We realized the presence of six research clusters focusing on the following main areas of study using bibliometric analysis: host–guest relationship and roles, rural community development and empowerment, challenges of the homestay program, contribution and perceived impacts of homestay, motivations of homestay tourists, and authenticity in tourism establishments. We chose and assessed the most significant contributions in every domain and highlighted developing philosophical concepts and standards of excellence. Furthermore, the study has assisted researchers in identifying prospective study subjects that have received less attention. As a consequence, we developed multiple study initiatives for filling up the current voids.

Auto/biographical research on old Mexican women: a methodological and reflexive account

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Abstract

When it comes to presenting qualitative research in a language other than the participants’ native language the decision-making processes involved are not often fully addressed. Drawing on research with 32 Mexican women aged 60 and over and addressing a significant gap in guidance available to bilingual novice researchers and/or aspiring Ph.D. candidates, this article discusses the complexities of shifting between languages while conducting auto/biographical research. It also explores the researcher’s own positionality as insider/outsider and how these issues impact the research outcomes and knowledge production. It particularly highlights the dual role as researcher and Spanish–English translator and provides details about the methodological decisions undertaken regarding wording selection and interpretation across languages. Ultimately, this article contends that cross-language researchers need to systematically address the unique translation issues involved and make explicit the dilemmas and consequences of moving between languages in which participants’ auto/biographies are analysed, written-up and published.

Dynamically downscaled coastal flooding in Brazil’s Guanabara Bay under a future climate change scenario

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Abstract

In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on various aspects of climate change, with particular attention given to the sea level rise (SLR) as a significant consequence of global warming. Although a general trend of positive SLR exists worldwide, regional variations in SLR rates are observed. This study aims to investigate the potential impact of SLR projected by a Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 model, under a 4.5 W m \(^{-2}\) radiative forcing stabilization scenario by 2100, on coastal flooding along the Brazilian Coast. To achieve this, an ocean numerical downscaling approach was employed using multiple nested grids with the Regional Ocean Modeling System, with a specific focus on the Guanabara Bay region. Guanabara Bay is a vital water body that receives substantial water discharges from the densely populated Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. Two experiments were conducted simulating the present (1995–2005) and future conditions (2090–2100), and the projected changes were evaluated. The results reveal a projected SLR of 0.69 m at Fiscal Island by the end of the century, anticipating potential loss of remaining mangrove areas and the expansion and persistence of coastal flooding in important tourist destinations within the Rio de Janeiro Municipality. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential impacts of SLR on coastal flooding in the Brazilian Coast, emphasizing the importance of considering regional variations in SLR rates for effective coastal management and adaptation strategies.

Winning the race to customers with micro-fulfillment centers: an approach for network planning in quick commerce

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Abstract

In 2020, the first quick commerce businesses in grocery retail emerged in the European market. Customers can order online and receive their groceries within 15 min in the best case. The ability to provide short lead times is, therefore, essential. However, the ambitious service promises of quick deliveries further complicate order fulfillment, and many retailers are struggling to achieve profitability. Quick commerce retailers need to establish an efficient network of micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs) in customer proximity, i.e., urban areas, to master these challenges. We address this strategic network problem and formulate it as a location routing problem. This enables us to define the number, location, type, and size of MFCs based on setup, replenishment, order processing, and transportation costs. We solve the problem using a cluster-first-route-second heuristic based on agglomerative clustering to approximate transportation costs. Our numerical experiments show that our heuristic solves the problem effectively and provides efficient decision support for quick commerce retailing. We generate managerial insights by analyzing key aspects of a quick commerce business, such as lead times and problem-specific cost factors. We show, for example, that allowing slightly higher delivery flexibility (e.g., offering extended lead times) enables bundling effects and results in cost savings of 50% or more of fulfillment costs. Furthermore, using multiple small MFCs is more efficient than larger, automated MFCs from a lead time and cost perspective.

Hypertension in diabetes

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Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, a disease that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, is increasing in prevalence in all age groups, including children and adolescents. Much of the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes is closely related to hypertension, often coincident with diabetes. Comorbid hypertension and diabetes often worsen the outcomes of each other, likely rooted in some overlapping pathogenic mechanisms. In this educational review, we will discuss the shared pathophysiology of diabetes and hypertension, particularly in regard to inflammation and oxidative stress, the sympathetic nervous system, vascular remodeling, and the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS). We will also review current hypertension diagnosis and management guidelines from many international jurisdictions for both adult and paediatric populations in the setting of diabetes. Many of these guidelines highlight the use and utility of RAAS blockers in this clinical scenario; however, on review of the evidence for their use, several meta-analyses and systematic reviews fail to demonstrate superiority of RAAS blockers over other anti-hypertensive medications. Finally, we discuss several new anti-hypertensive medications, review their mechanisms of action, and highlight some of the evidence for their use in the setting of hypertension and diabetes.