bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Early Rhythm Control Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and a High Comorbidity Burden in Large Real-World Cohorts
Authors: Dickow Jannis , Kany Shinwan , Roth Cardoso Victor , Ellinor Patrick T. , Gkoutos Georgios V. , Van Houten Holly K. , Kirchhof Paulus , Metzner Andreas , Noseworthy Peter A. , Yao Xiaoxi , Rillig Andreas
Published: March 2023

Background:

A recent subanalysis of the EAST-AFNET 4 (Early Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation for Stroke Prevention Trial) suggests a stronger benefit of early rhythm control (ERC) in patients with atrial fibrillation and a high comorbidity burden when compared to patients with a lower comorbidity burden.

Methods:

We identified 109 739 patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in a large United States deidentified administrative claims database (OptumLabs) and 11 625 patients in the population-based UKB (UK Biobank). ERC was defined as atrial fibrillation ablation or antiarrhythmic drug therapy within the first year after atrial fibrillation diagnosis. Patients were classified as (1) ERC and high comorbidity burden (CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score ≥4); (2) ERC and lower comorbidity burden (CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score 2–3); (3) no ERC and high comorbidity burden; and (4) no ERC and lower comorbidity burden. Patients without an elevated comorbidity burden (CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score 0–1) were excluded. Propensity score overlap weighting and cox proportional hazards regression were used to balance patients and compare groups for the primary composite outcome of all-cause mortality, stroke, or hospitalization with the diagnoses heart failure or myocardial infarction as well as for a primary composite safety outcome of death, stroke, and serious adverse events related to ERC.

Results:

In both cohorts, ERC was associated with a reduced risk for the primary composite outcome in patients with a high comorbidity burden (OptumLabs: hazard ratio, 0.83 [95% CI 0.72–0.95];
P
=0.006; UKB: hazard ratio, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.63–0.94];
P
=0.009). In patients with a lower comorbidity burden, the difference in outcomes was not significant (OptumLabs: hazard ratio, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.54–1.57];
P
=0.767; UKB: hazard ratio, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.83–1.06];
P
=0.310). The comorbidity burden interacted with ERC in the UKB (interaction-
P
=0.027) but not in OptumLabs (interaction-
P
=0.720). ERC was not associated with an increased risk for the primary safety outcome.

Conclusions:

ERC is safe and may be more favorable in a population-based sample of patients with high a comorbidity burden (CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score ≥4).
Understanding Social Robots: Attribution of Intentional Agency to Artificial and Biological Bodies
Authors: Ziemke Tom
Published: March 2023

Much research in robotic artificial intelligence (AI) and Artificial Life has focused on autonomous agents as an embodied and situated approach to AI. Such systems are commonly viewed as overcoming many of the philosophical problems associated with traditional computationalist AI and cognitive science, such as the grounding problem (Harnad) or the lack of intentionality (Searle), because they have the physical and sensorimotor grounding that traditional AI was argued to lack. Robot lawn mowers and self-driving cars, for example, more or less reliably avoid obstacles, approach charging stations, and so on—and therefore might be considered to have some form of artificial intentionality or intentional directedness. It should be noted, though, that the fact that robots share physical environments with people does not necessarily mean that they are situated in the same perceptual and social world as humans. For people encountering socially interactive systems, such as social robots or automated vehicles, this poses the nontrivial challenge to interpret them as intentional agents to understand and anticipate their behavior but also to keep in mind that the intentionality of artificial bodies is fundamentally different from their natural counterparts. This requires, on one hand, a “suspension of disbelief ” but, on the other hand, also a capacity for the “suspension of belief.” This dual nature of (attributed) artificial intentionality has been addressed only rather superficially in embodied AI and social robotics research. It is therefore argued that Bourgine and Varela’s notion of Artificial Life as the practice of autonomous systems needs to be complemented with a practice of socially interactive autonomous systems, guided by a better understanding of the differences between artificial and biological bodies and their implications in the context of social interactions between people and technology.
Modern Artificial Neural Networks: Is Evolution Cleverer?
Authors: Bahmer Andreas , Gupta Daya , Effenberger Felix
Published: March 2023

Machine learning tools, particularly artificial neural networks (ANN), have become ubiquitous in many scientific disciplines, and machine learning-based techniques flourish not only because of the expanding computational power and the increasing availability of labeled data sets but also because of the increasingly powerful training algorithms and refined topologies of ANN. Some refined topologies were initially motivated by neuronal network architectures found in the brain, such as convolutional ANN. Later topologies of neuronal networks departed from the biological substrate and began to be developed independently as the biological processing units are not well understood or are not transferable to in silico architectures. In the field of neuroscience, the advent of multichannel recordings has enabled recording the activity of many neurons simultaneously and characterizing complex network activity in biological neural networks (BNN). The unique opportunity to compare large neuronal network topologies, processing, and learning strategies with those that have been developed in state-of-the-art ANN has become a reality. The aim of this review is to introduce certain basic concepts of modern ANN, corresponding training algorithms, and biological counterparts. The selection of these modern ANN is prone to be biased (e.g., spiking neural networks are excluded) but may be sufficient for a concise overview.
From Pavlov Conditioning to Hebb Learning
Authors: Agliari Elena , Aquaro Miriam , Barra Adriano , Fachechi Alberto , Marullo Chiara
Published: March 2023

Hebb's learning traces its origin in Pavlov's classical conditioning; however, while the former has been extensively modeled in the past decades (e.g., by the Hopfield model and countless variations on theme), as for the latter, modeling has remained largely unaddressed so far. Furthermore, a mathematical bridge connecting these two pillars is totally lacking. The main difficulty toward this goal lies in the intrinsically different scales of the information involved: Pavlov's theory is about correlations between concepts that are (dynamically) stored in the synaptic matrix as exemplified by the celebrated experiment starring a dog and a ringing bell; conversely, Hebb's theory is about correlations between pairs of neurons as summarized by the famous statement that neurons that fire together wire together. In this letter, we rely on stochastic process theory to prove that as long as we keep neurons' and synapses' timescales largely split, Pavlov's mechanism spontaneously takes place and ultimately gives rise to synaptic weights that recover the Hebbian kernel.
Automatic Hyperparameter Tuning in Sparse Matrix Factorization
Authors: Kawasumi Ryota , Takeda Koujin
Published: March 2023

We study the problem of hyperparameter tuning in sparse matrix factorization under a Bayesian framework. In prior work, an analytical solution of sparse matrix factorization with Laplace prior was obtained by a variational Bayes method under several approximations. Based on this solution, we propose a novel numerical method of hyperparameter tuning by evaluating the zero point of the normalization factor in a sparse matrix prior. We also verify that our method shows excellent performance for ground-truth sparse matrix reconstruction by comparing it with the widely used algorithm of sparse principal component analysis.
Radical Ecological Economics: Decolonizing Our Work
Authors: Barkin David
Published: March 2023

Who are the peasants/Indigenous people and what is their role in the history and future of Mexico? Questioning the dominant version of the socio-political dynamics, I start with corn, a grain created in Mesoamerica, to develop one of most admired agroecological systems in the world. It contributes to good nutrition and health, (re)shaping social structures and the territory itself. Today’s communities, transformed into a Communitarian Revolutionary Subject provide a model for post-capitalist societies. I apply the framework of Radical Ecological Economics to illustrate and accompany this dynamic.
Community Participation in National Addresses and Postcode System Establishment in Tanzania
Authors: Kabujanja Yuslida
Published: March 2023

This study seeks to understand whether the Tanzanian community participated in the establishment of national addresses and postcode systems following the need of the government of Tanzania to establish residential addresses and postcodes through the guidance of the electronic and postal communications act of 2003 for the purpose of identifying streets by indicating specific names and business centers as well as naming the number of houses. Through the participatory theory approach and communication theory, this article analyses the contents which describe the involvement of Tanzanians in establishing the national address and postcode systems. Through in-depth interviews, the study findings indicate that community participation in selecting and establishing names for the streets and post code systems was relatively low. This was characterized by low awareness of the community concerning; less communication within the community through which the project was taking place; within the society; and poor involvement of people within the society. This finding concludes that community participation in any project has the potential for both social and economic development activities within and outside of society.
Post-Colonial Agriculture Policy and Agrarian Change in Malawi, 1964–1979
Authors: Nkhono-Mvula Tamani , Kayuni Happy M. , Mulwafu Wapulumuka O.
Published: March 2023

Agriculture has always been the main occupation and a source of livelihood for the majority of people in Malawi since time immemorial. This implies that any institutional reform implemented on land, agricultural production and marketing of agricultural enterprises directly affects the farming communities. The interest of the article covers institutional reforms from the years 1964 to 1979. The article briefly analyses the colonial era policies and further explores how the post-colonial government took up a very populist approach to change most of the colonial era ordinances not only as a means of consolidating power but also transferring ownership of the means of production like land to the African farmers. However, though these changes were well intentioned, both the colonial and post-colonial institutional frameworks turned out to be the means through which the peasant farmers were oppressed. This state of affairs of systematic oppression of the peasantry experienced through these policies and laws thwarted the attempts for the transformation of peasantry into capitalist or semi-capitalist farmers. The argument of this article, therefore, is that the current state of the peasantry and underdevelopment of the smallholder sector in Malawi draws its origin from the institutions and structures created in the colonial and immediate post-colonial period. It concludes that a positive change in the state of agrarian communities could be hampered more by the very institutional framework set up for agricultural development. Using a qualitative approach in data collection and analysis, the article explores how the post-colonial policies and practices assisted in bringing about agrarian change in Malawi.
The Impact of Cash Transfers on Intimate Partner Violence: A Quasi-Experimental Evidence from Tanzania
Authors: Kinyondo Abel A. , Ntegwa Magashi J.
Published: March 2023

The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women remains high around the world. Cash transfers (CTs) are one potential avenue that can be used to reduce violence through women’s empowerment. The present study uses a mixed method, where both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed to compare the difference in the prevalence of IPV between CT recipients and non-recipients of CTs and among different categories of CTs. For quantitative data, a single difference estimation of the end-line cross-section data was used to assess the impact of Tanzania’s CTs on IPV. Results show that CTs have no impact on different forms of IPV, except a negligible impact in reducing physical violence. Moreover, thematic analysis of qualitative data suggests that cultural norms that subordinate women to men irrespective of women’s socioeconomic status are the channels through which IPV is perpetuated in Tanzania. Therefore, we recommend that CTs be designed in a manner that progressively transforms power relations in Tanzania. This would necessarily include having tailor-made gender training programs; promoting efforts that seek to reform the legal framework that preserves masculine culture in Tanzania’s society as well as improving the functioning of police-based gender desks and social work departments across the country.
New Media, New Literary Theory, and New Literature from an Interological Horizon
Authors: Zhang Peter
Published: March 2023

This article discusses new developments in the field of literary theory and literary praxis in the era of new media from the perspectives of media theory and interology. It takes new media as a McLuhanesque formal cause and holds that a conspicuous characteristic of literary works in the era of new media lies in the salience and normalization of interality. This development means art forms like mosaic and Pointillism have acquired a paradigmatic significance as a result. In revealing this new paradigm, the article also points to some current social maladies that have come with new media. It holds that literary writing should go beyond the mere embodiment of symptoms and make an intervention in media-induced maladies. The article affirms the irreplaceability of experimental literature and serious literature in an era of attention deficit, and points out that form should occupy a paramount position in literary theory, literary criticism, and literary praxis.
Pseudoboletus silvaticus (Boletaceae, Basidiomycota), a new species from Mexico
Authors: CORTÉS-PÉREZ ALONSO , RAMÍREZ-GUILLÉN FLORENCIA , GARCÍA-JIMÉNEZ JESÚS , RAMÍREZ-CRUZ VIRGINIA , VILLALOBOS-ARÁMBULA ALMA ROSA , BARRAGÁN REYNAGA DOLORES MARINA , GUZMÁN-DÁVALOS LAURA
Published: March 2023

The genus Pseudoboletus includes parasitic fungi and is well known in temperate zones. In this paper, we present the first Mexican collections of this genus. Two specimens were collected in a field expedition in a tropical montane cloud forest on the San Martín Tuxtla volcano, Veracruz, Mexico, resulting in a new species of Pseudoboletus, which grows on fruiting bodies of Scleroderma nitidum. Descriptions, illustrations, and photographs of P. silvaticus sp. nov. are provided. Also, its phylogenetic position in the Boletineae tree was inferred using nuclear 28S rDNA (28S) and translation elongation factor-1α (tef–1α) with Maximum Likelihood method and Bayesian Inference. Comparison between nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) sequences of P. parasiticus from North America and Europe and the new taxon were made. The original diagnosis of the genus Pseudoboletus is emended to include this new species.
Leucoagaricus gujratensis sp. nov. (Agaricaceae, Agaricales) from Pakistan
Authors: REHMAN AMATU , USMAN MUHAMMAD , AFSHAN NAJAM UL SEHAR , KHALID ABDUL NASIR
Published: March 2023

A novel mushroom, occurring on sandy soil was collected from scrubland of Gujrat district, Pakistan. Phylogenetic analyses of the nrDNA ITS region revealed that it clusters within Leucoagaricus section Leucoagaricus. Further morpho-anatomical analyses confirmed its uniqueness, and it is here described as Leucoagaricus gujratensis sp. nov. The distinguishing characters of this novel taxon are fragile basidiomata with brown to light brown squamules in the center on milky white pileus surface; creamy stipe with white central annulus; lacrymoid to amygdaliform basidiospores (5.4–8.6 × 3.9–5.5 μm) and clavate to slightly fusiform and fabiform cheilocystidia. The new mushroom resembles La. candidus in appearance but the morpho-anatomical and molecular characters prove its novelty. The number of Leucoagaricus species in Pakistan has reached up to 14.
Range extension, taxonomic note, molecular-phylogenetic relationship, and conservation of Frullania iriomotensis S.Hatt. (Marchantiophyta, Frullaniaceae), a rare liverwort previously known only from the type locality in Japan
Authors: PROMMA CHATCHABA , LU SHI-HUI , SHEN CHAO , ZHANG LI-NA , ZHU RUI-LIANG
Published: March 2023

Frullania iriomotensis (Frullaniaceae), a rare liverwort previously known only from the type locality in Japan, was newly discovered in a rainforest in southern China. The first phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear ribosomal ITS region and two chloroplast regions (rbcL, trnL–F) of F. iriomotensis reveal that it is sister to the tropical Asian F. repandistipula in the Diastaloba II group of F. subg. Diastaloba. Androecia and gynoecia are described and illustrated for the first time for this species and a proposal for conservation is presented.
Review of the genera Thubana Walker and Torodora Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) from Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: PARK KYU-TEK , HEPPNER JOHN B.
Published: March 2023

Sumatra is the second largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, but it is one of the most poorly explored areas for species diversity of the family Lecithoceridae, with less than 10 known species. In the present paper, six new species of Thubana Walker, 1864 (T. sumatrana sp. nov., T. spiniosa sp. nov., T. lata sp. nov., T. prapatensis sp. nov., T. siantarensis sp. nov., and T. selenisa sp. nov.) and three new species of Torodora Meyrick (T. diehliella sp. nov., T. exilivalvata sp. nov., and T. squariella sp. nov.) are described from Sumatra. In addition, Thubana ochracea Park & Abang, 2005, which was described from Sarawak, Malaysia, is reported for the first time from Sumatra. Illustrations of adults and genitalia of all new species are given. A list of the known species of the subfamily Torodorinae from Indonesia is provided.
Change in Personal Culture over the Life Course
Authors: Lersch Philipp M.
Published: March 2023

Prior literature finds stability in personal culture, such as attitudes and values, in individuals’ life courses using short-running panel data. This work has concluded that lasting change in personal culture is rare after formative early years. This conclusion conflicts with a growing body of evidence for changes in personal culture after significant life course transitions, drawing on long-running panel data. To integrate these conflicting findings, the current study develops and applies a life course adaption model of personal culture, accounting for early imprinting and the continued possibility for change. Drawing on rich data from six long-running panel studies from five countries (BHPS, HILDA, PSID, SHP, SOEP, UKHLS) and 428 measures of personal culture, I test the theoretical expectations using mixed-effects modeling and an individual participant data meta-analysis. Results support the life course adaption model. Although lasting, non-transitory, within-individual changes in personal culture are relatively small compared to stable between-individual differences, I find strong support for the proposition that individuals change persistently in their personal culture as they move through the life course. These changes are partly dependent on prior biographical experiences. Finally, personal culture fluctuates substantially from year to year. Change in personal culture is increasingly varied for younger birth cohorts.
Performance characterization of network timing with remote traceability via GNSS time transfer
Authors: Liang Kun , Yang Zhiqiang , Fang Wei , Wang Jian
Published: March 2023

One credible method for performance evaluation of network timing service was proposed, based on one kind of disciplined time standard with GNSS time transfer, NIMDO. The performance of the NTP timing service were characterized over multiple baselines on both the Internet and the Intranet, and the network delay and the timing offset were analyzed in detail. The results show that on the Internet the averaged timing offsets via the NTP servers are roughly hundreds of μs to several ms level, and on the Intranet the averaged timing offsets via the NTP servers are at about 20 μs level. NTP timing service was mainly affected by white phase noise, and flicker phase noise at the different sites. The maximum change of the timing offset was one-half of the maximum change of RTDelay. The uncertainties have been separately evaluated as less than 30 ms on the Internet and less than 60 μs on the Intranet for NTP timing service.
Sustainable intensification and household dietary diversity in maize-based farming systems of Zambia and Zimbabwe
Authors: Ngoma Hambulo , Simutowe Esau , Manyanga Mark , Thierfelder Christian
Published: March 2023

With only four years before the end date for the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition, the need to identify nutrition-sensitive and sustainable agricultural interventions that can address hunger and malnutrition cannot be more urgent. This paper assesses associations between sustainable intensification practices and dietary diversity in maize-based farming systems of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Using survey data from 1124 households, we apply an instrumental variable approach that allows to control for the fact that farmers self-select themselves into adopting sustainable intensification practices, making adoption endogenous. We also explore pathways from intensification to dietary diversity. We find significant positive associations between the adoption intensity of sustainable intensification practices (SIPs) such as minimum tillage, minimum tillage and crop rotation, and minimum tillage and intercrops and improved production and crop diversity and in turn, dietary diversity on average. These findings hinge on there being widespread adoption of SIPs. There is need for concerted efforts to address current bottlenecks that hinder widespread adoption and promote broader food group diversification to realize the nutrition related co-benefits associated with sustainable intensification.
Exploring Dynamics of Changes in Psychological Skills in the Development of Talented Athletes
Authors: Hauw Denis , Gesbert Vincent , Crettaz von Roten Fabienne
Published: March 2023

In this study we examined changes in a psychological skill set, defined as crucial for the growth of talented athletes, through repeated assessments of the six-factor Psychological Characteristics of Development Excellence Questionnaire (PCDEQ). In a first phase of this study, we built and evaluated a French adaptation of the PCDEQ: the PCDEQ-SV (18 items). After confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha revealed that scales for its six factors ranged from very good to just below minimally acceptable as a model fit. The mean inter-item correlations for the scales, built on three items per scale, were optimal, leading us to assume that this short version was reliable. In the second phase, we analyzed the changes in the skill sets of 67 talented Swiss athletes who were given the PCDEQ-SV three times over 1 year. Feedback on the scores was provided to participants in comparison to the test’s cutoffs after T1 and T2. The analysis then focused on those who scored below the cutoffs and their resources for skill improvements. We found that the highest number of participants scored below the cutoffs at testing times, T1 and T2 on Factors 2, 6 and 1. Changes in scores were characterized by overall dynamics of improvement. The resources most used to effect those changes were “personal work with no outside help,” “discussions with significant others,” and “specific work with the coach.” The results are discussed in relation to the iGen’s resources for self-determination of psychological skills improvement.
David Hume and the Politics of Slavery
Authors: Charette Danielle
Published: March 2023

David Hume alluded to the politics of slaveholding throughout his career and was among the first to observe that the republican tradition has an awkward relationship with slavery. This article places Hume’s critique of Roman slavery in conversation with recent debates over “neo-Roman” liberty, paying special attention to Hume’s complaint that some republican advocates for political liberty have also apologized for personal slavery. Most of Hume’s direct comments on slaveholding appear in the 1752 essay, “Of the Populousness of Ancient Nations,” where Hume criticized Roman slavery for its negative effects on population growth. But more was at stake than ancient demography. Even abolitionists who abhorred Hume’s racism still drew upon his argument against ancient slavery—which they read as a commentary on the modern colonies.
Populism of the Privileged: On the Use of Underdog Identities by Comparatively Privileged Groups
Authors: De Cleen Benjamin , Ruiz Casado Juan Alberto
Published: March 2023

This article explores the use of populism by comparatively privileged groups, a specific type of populism we call the ‘populism of the privileged’. Our argument is not merely that ‘populisms of the privileged’ are also forms of populism, but that they warrant a specific label. We first identify intersections between populism and privilege on the levels of populist actors, support for populism and beneficiaries of populism, which we call populism by, with and for the privileged. We then present a discursive conceptualization of ‘populism of the privileged’. Building on this we develop analytical strategies for the study the ‘populism of the privileged’, zooming in on how ‘the people’ and ‘the elite’ are constructed in such populisms, their sociological directionality, the layeredness of privilege and un(der)privilege, the discursive construction of ‘crisis’ and ‘unmet demands’ and the role of discourses about populism in reproducing the claims of populisms of the privileged.
The need for a course to complete urological education for consultant practice using a simulated ‘boot camp’ structure at the end of specialist training: A survey-based study
Authors: Pang Karl H , Jain Sunjay , Biyani Chandra Shekhar , Payne Stephen R
Published: March 2023

Background and aims

To obtain opinions from urology trainees and consultants regarding the need for, and structure of, a post-specialty training Urology Simulation Boot Camp (USBC) for consultant practice.

Methods and results

A survey-based study was conducted, and ‘Google Forms’ were distributed electronically via social media. Urology specialist trainees (ST) in years 5–7 (ST5-ST7), post-certification of completion of training (CCT) fellows and ST3 boot camp faculty consultants in practice for ≤5 years and >5 years were included. One hundred and seven responses were received. 97.2% of responders thought a pre-consultant USBC was worthwhile; 55.1% selected the course duration to be 2 days. 47.7% felt that the USBC should be delivered post-exam in ST7. 91.6%, 43.9%, 73.8%, 87.9% and 74.8% considered that modules in emergency operative procedures, novel uro-technologies, delivering multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, non-clinical consultant roles and responsibilities, stress and burnout to be important, respectively. 62.6% and 31.8% felt that the course should be wholly or part-funded by Health Education England (HEE).

Conclusions

A post-specialty training, pre-consultant, USBC delivered post-exam in ST7, is worthwhile and should include modules on emergency operative procedures, leading MDTs, non-clinical roles and responsibilities and managing stress and burnout in consultant careers. Ideally, it should be fully/part-funded by HEE.
Citizen security and urban commuting in Latin America
Authors: Giménez-Nadal José Ignacio , Echeverría Lucía , Molina Alberto
Published: March 2023

Sustainable modes of transport, including both public transit and active transport, have been promoted as strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, one factor that may influence their use is related to security concerns, although prior evidence on this topic is scarce and inconclusive. We explore whether perceived security in 10 large cities in Latin America is related to mode choice for commuting. We rely on the 2017 CAF Survey implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America, where individuals report their levels of satisfaction with neighbourhood security. Our results suggest that individuals who feel more satisfied with their neighbourhood security engage in more public transit commuting, although this result holds only for male commuters. Our results suggest that strategies aimed at increasing security can alleviate concerns about neighbourhood crime, increasing the use of public transit in Latin America.
Land-use reforms and housing costs: Does allowing for increased density lead to greater affordability?
Authors: Stacy Christina , Davis Chris , Freemark Yonah Slifkin , Lo Lydia , MacDonald Graham , Zheng Vivian , Pendall Rolf
Published: March 2023

We generate the first cross-city panel dataset of land-use reforms that increase or decrease allowed housing density and estimate their association with changes in housing supply and rents. To generate reform data, we use machine-learning algorithms to search US newspaper articles between 2000 and 2019, then manually code them to increase accuracy. We merge these data with US Postal Service information on per-city counts of addresses and Census data on demographics, rents, and units affordable to households of different incomes. We then estimate a fixed-effects model with city specific time trends to examine the relationships between land-use reforms and the supply and price of rental housing. We find that reforms that loosen restrictions are associated with a statistically significant 0.8% increase in housing supply within three to nine years of reform passage, accounting for new and existing stock. This increase occurs predominantly for units at the higher end of the rent price distribution; we find no statistically significant evidence that additional lower-cost units became available or moderated in cost in the years following reforms. However, impacts are positive across the affordability spectrum and we cannot rule out that impacts are equivalent across different income segments. Conversely, reforms that increase land-use restrictions and lower allowed densities are associated with increased median rents and a reduction in units affordable to middle-income renters.
“I Constantly Feel Worn Out”: Mixed-methodology Approach to Seafarers’ Sleep on Board
Authors: Galić Marko , Sić Leon , Slišković Ana
Published: March 2023

Although seafaring is one of the most important professions for trade in goods in the 21st century, the results of recent research indicate that seafarers face various sources of stress in their work, including high workload and long working hours. These stressors can be reflected in low job satisfaction and poor mental health, which can result in sleep problems, and consequently lead to various somatic symptoms. The main goal of this mixed method research was, therefore, to expand knowledge about seafarers’ sleep on board, whereby a sequential explanatory design was used. Study 1 (N = 286 male seafarers from Croatia) examined whether the number of sleep hours on board has a mediating role in explaining the relationship between job satisfaction and mental health as predictors of somatic symptoms. The results of the path analysis showed that higher job satisfaction directly and indirectly through longer sleep on board reduces the number of somatic symptoms, while better mental health directly contributes to fewer somatic symptoms. Study 2 (N = 205 seafarers from Croatia) aimed to get a deeper insight into the sleep of seafarers on board, whereby 39% (N = 80) of the participants had difficulties related to sleep problems on board. The thematic analysis of their answers (N = 76) showed the sleeping difficulties experienced by seafarers on board and gave an insight into the consequences of sleeping difficulties and the coping strategies they use. The results of this research indicate the importance of developing healthy work environments for seafarers.
Finding complement of inefficient feature clusters obtained by metaheuristic optimization algorithms to detect rock mineral types
Authors: Çalışkan Abidin
Published: March 2023

Minerals are inorganic substances that formed homogeneously by the combination of chemicals that comprise the Earth’s crust and mines are the commercially valuable natural minerals. Since minerals form as a result of chemical interactions in different natural environments, each may have different physical properties. Manually classifying minerals with the naked eye results in distinguishing issues, economic losses, and performance problems. In this study, a deep learning–based hybrid method for distinguishing seven mineral types is proposed. Deep learning models are used to combine the features extracted from residual blocks. The most inefficient features in the feature set were chosen using metaheuristic optimization. The complement rule was then used to combine inefficient features from the feature set into clusters. Consequently, efficient features were obtained, with an overall classification accuracy of 96.14%. The use of the complement rule method in the data set, along with the optimization methods, was shown to improve classification performance. This study is expected to help improve the efficiency and speed of mineral classification.
Green credit operation performance evaluation of commercial banks in the context of epidemic and carbon reduction
Authors: Pan Wentsao , Wu Zhonghuan , Shen Wenxuan , Wen Chan , Li Ziqi , Liao Xiuli , Wu Menglei
Published: March 2023

As the world is paying increasing attention to carbon reduction, this paper uses Chinese commercial banks’ green credit and applies the DEA-Malmquist index method to construct an evaluation index system based on the panel data of the top 10 Chinese banks regarding green credit from 2015 to 2021. The results of the study show that: (1) the overall total factor productivity of the banking industry in mainland China from 2015 to 2021 is greater than 1 and shows a fluctuating upward trend except for 2015, with the mean value greater than 1 indicating a steady increase in the green credit operating efficiency of the banking industry; (2) Further analysis shows that the average value of the technical efficiency change index is greater than the average value of the technological progress index, which can be understood as the important reason for the rising operational performance of green credit business in the banking industry, and technological progress also provides a supporting role for the rising operational performance; (3) the average value of the scale efficiency change index from 2015 to 2021 is less than 1, and from 2017 onwards the value starts to be less than 1 and declining, it can be concluded that scale efficiency hinders the increase of technical efficiency index. (4) The magnitude of change in total factor productivity and the influencing factors of the 10 banks are all related to technical efficiency, indicating that the improvement of technical efficiency is the dominant factor in the improvement of green credit operational efficiency; (5) the pure technical efficiency of all 10 banks keeps increasing while the scale efficiency is decreasing, indicating that pure technical efficiency is the key factor in the improvement of banks’ technical progress index, while scale efficiency inhibits the further improvement of technical progress index. The increase in the technical progress index has been inhibited by scale efficiency.
Wireless telephone, materiality, and making of the national auditory in Turkey
Authors: Özkan Nazlı
Published: March 2023

This paper focuses on the radio’s novelty years in 1920s Turkey to examine how the functions of wireless technology as a material artifact are negotiated in ways that fashion a national auditory. Most studies on radio’s history prioritize sound, eliding people’s tinkering with the wireless as a technical object. Based on archival research and oral history interviews, I suggest that early radio as a material object required as much of its listeners’ attention as did the broadcast content. In young Turkey’s war-torn economy, the only affordable way to listen to radio was learning how to assemble a receiver. Few owners of manufactured radios also learnt how to fix frequent problems. To form a passive national auditory, the state monitored the cultivation of these technical skills by banning transmitter-construction while encouraging assembling/fixing receivers. In addition to the body’s visceral/affective capacities, then, nation-states also discipline technical skills while forming a national auditory.
“Unpacking state-society relations in the urban space: What are the Limit(s) of compromise?”. The dilemma about answering such a question and some recent Venetian experiences
Authors: Cristiano Silvio
Published: March 2023

Confronted by answering a complex question such as ‘What are the Limit(s) of Compromise?’ when ‘unpacking State-Society Relations in the Urban Space’, some problematising thoughts are offered to further elaborate urban studies by resorting to systems thinking and its leverage points concept. Both social and ecological issues are addressed, and specific references to Venice, Italy, are offered, including recent grassroot experiences. The dissertation includes some epistemological dilemmas and some initial projections to start to measure ourselves with a new epoch, able to interact with all of the above: social, ecological, urban, and power/governance dimensions.
Party policy responsiveness at the agenda-setting and decision-making stages: The mediating effect of the types of government and promise
Authors: Belchior Ana Maria , Ferrinho Lopes Hugo , Cabrita Luís , Tsatsanis Emmanouil
Published: March 2023

To what extent are political parties responsive to voters before and after elections (that is, during the campaign and in office)? And what explains responsiveness at both of these stages: agenda-setting and decision-making? We argue that parties are more responsive at the agenda-setting stage than at the decision-making stage, and that responsiveness tends to be mediated by the type of promise (change versus status quo, and issue salience), and type of government (majority versus minority, and left- versus right-wing). This research focuses on the Portuguese case using data from party manifestos between 1995 and 2015, as well as surveys of Portuguese citizens. Findings generally support our expectations, although with some differences between parties as a whole and governments. Our results have important implications for understanding opinion–policy linkages and mandate-responsiveness, as well as more broadly for party competition.
Analytic Bureaucracy and the Policy Process: Evidence from California
Authors: Flatt Henry , Do Nhat-Dang
Published: March 2023

We argue that “analytic” bureaucratic agencies are essential actors in the policy process because of their role acting as both information processing organizations and policy design specialists. Analytic agencies can exert unique influence over lawmaking activities because legislators consider them expert informational sources in a multitude of areas. Rather than assume policy advice falls rigidly into either “political” or “technical” forms of information, we show that an analytic office can produce both types of content. Whereas previous policy process scholarship almost exclusively examines elected officials and federal agencies, this article tests our theory using a state agency, California's Department of Finance (DOF). Our findings demonstrate how the Governor delegates partisan legislative signaling duties and neutral expert budgetary advice to the same trusted analytic personnel. The data include every introduced bill in six recently completed legislative sessions and show how DOF recommendations are strongly associated with bill passage and the Governor's veto.
Is Marketing a Victim of its Own Success? A Restoration Process to Unlock Marketing's Power for Creativity, Competitiveness, and Well-Being
Authors: Batat Wided
Published: March 2023

Marketing is perceived as both a solution and a problem, depending on one's perspective, the context, and the source of the narrative. For instance, media agents portray marketing at its worst: as a superficial and manipulative practice designed to dupe consumers; or at its best as a “trick” instead of a process that requires cutting-edge knowledge and analytical, strategic, and creative skills. In this essay, I examine the image of marketing among various market actors (i.e., digital players, influencers, media agents) as well as academics. The goal is to understand both the rising interest and skepticism towards marketing as an organizational activity and a scientific discipline. The objective is to restore the poor image of marketing by shifting the focus towards a more comprehensive understanding of what is inside the “black box” of marketing. I then propose a restoration process through legitimization and diffusion involving both marketing academics and marketplace agents. The goal is to help restore the image of marketing and unveil its power as a major force for positive social change, creativity, competitiveness, and well-being.
Can Ki-67 predict radiotherapy response in neuroendocrine tumors? Retrospective analysis of a monocentric series of patients
Authors: Zerini Dario , Rotondi Marco , Volpe Stefania , Pisa Eleonora , Frigo Emanuele , Pedone Cristiana , Flospergher Michele , Bagnardi Vincenzo , Frassoni Samuele , Fodor Cristiana Iuliana , Spada Francesca , Fazio Nicola , Alterio Daniela , Jereczek-Fossa Barbara Alicja
Published: March 2023

Background

The impact of radiotherapy (RT) in neuroendocrine neoplasms is still unknown, and outcomes could be improved by a better insight in RT response predictors. This retrospective analysis investigates the potential correlation between Ki-67 and RT response to evaluate its role as biological marker of radiosensitivity.

Material and methods

Data from patients treated at an Italian NET-referral center between 2015 and 2020 were retrieved. Inclusion criteria included: histologically-proven diagnosis of NEN, Ki-67 status, indication (symptomatic and/or ablative) and at least one post-RT radiological assessment.

Results

Forty-two patients and 63 different treatment lines were included. Primary tumors presented Ki-67 values < 3% in 21% of cases, between 3 and 20% in 45% and >20% in the remaining 33%. Almost all patients were metastatic at the time of RT, which was performed with symptomatic purpose in 43% of cases. At a median time of three months, a complete response on the target lesion was observed in nine cases (14%), a partial response in 17 (27%), stability in 23 (37%) and local progression in 14 (22%). With median FU of 22.8 months, OS does not show statistically significant differences among three Ki-67 groups. Considering all lines of therapy, the relationship between ORR and Ki-67, did not show statistically significant differences, even following adjustments for drug types and delivered RT doses.

Conclusion

No association between Ki67 and local tumor response to RT could be observed in the present cohort, regardless of whether the evaluation was performed on a categorical or continuous scale.
Student-led occupational performance coaching in a university setting
Authors: Egan Mary Yvonne , Toal-Sullivan Darene , Kessler Dorothy , Kristjansson Elizabeth , Del Bel Michael Joseph
Published: March 2023

Introduction:

University students are at a high risk for mental health difficulties. Occupational performance coaching is an action-oriented and strengths-based approach that can help clients set and accomplish personally valued goals. We carried out a pilot project to evaluate a tele-rehabilitation occupational performance coaching service for university students within an occupational therapy fieldwork placement.

Method:

A pretest post-test design was used. Severity of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress and goal achievement were measured before and after the intervention and semi-structured interviews were carried out with student clients and student therapists. Development of student therapist competencies were noted.

Results:

Thirty-five student clients enrolled in occupational performance coaching and participated in 1–6 sessions. They identified academic, health, social and vocational goals. Through occupational performance coaching, clients made important progress on their goals. Following occupational performance coaching, clients demonstrated statistically significant improvement in anxiety and depression. The occupational therapy students attained competencies comparable in number and level to those achieved in more traditional placements.

Conclusion:

Occupational performance coaching is a potentially valuable addition to student mental health services. Such a service can be provided by supervised fieldwork students.
Pleural CEA, CA-15-3, CYFRA 21-1, CA-19-9, CA-125 discriminating malignant from benign pleural effusions: Diagnostic cancer biomarkers
Authors: Fazli Khalaf Farzaneh , Asadi Gharabaghi Mehrnaz , Balibegloo Maryam , Davari Hamidreza , Afshar Samaneh , Jahanbin Behnaz
Published: March 2023

Introduction

There is a need for a rapid, accurate, less-invasive approach to distinguishing malignant from benign pleural effusions. We investigated the diagnostic value of five pleural tumor markers in exudative pleural effusions.

Methods

By immunochemiluminescence assay, we measured pleural concentrations of tumor markers. We used the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to assess their diagnostic values.

Results

A total of 281 patients were enrolled. All tumor markers were significantly higher in malignant pleural effusions than benign ones. The area under the curve of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 15-3, cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA) 21-1, CA-19-9, and CA-125 were 0.81, 0.78, 0.75, 0.65, and 0.65, respectively. Combined markers of CEA + CA-15-3 and CEA + CA-15-3 + CYFRA 21-1 had a sensitivity of 87% and 94%, and specificity of 75% and 58%, respectively. We designed a diagnostic algorithm by combining pleural cytology with pleural tumor marker assay. CEA + CYFRA 21-1 + CA-19-9 + CA-15-3 was the best tumor markers panel detecting 96% of cytologically negative malignant pleural effusions, with a negative predictive value of 98%.

Conclusions

Although cytology is specific enough, it has less sensitivity in identifying malignant pleural fluids. As a result, the main gap is detecting malignant pleural effusions with negative cytology. CEA was the best single marker, followed by CA-15-3 and CYFRA 21-1. Through both cytology and suggested panels of tumor markers, malignant and benign pleural effusions could be truly diagnosed with an accuracy of about 98% without the need for more invasive procedures, except for the cohort with negative cytology and a positive tumor markers panel, which require more investigations.