bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organizations, Learning, and Sustainability: A Cross-Disciplinary Review and Research Agenda
Authors: Feeney Melanie , Grohnert Therese , Gijselaers Wim , Martens Pim
Published: February 2022

This paper explores the role of learning in organizational responses to sustainability. Finding meaningful solutions to sustainability challenges requires companies and other actors to broaden their thinking, go beyond organizational boundaries and engage more with their stakeholders. However, broadening organizational perspective and collaborating with diverse stakeholders involves inherent political and process-related tensions. Learning has been identified as a key organizing process for overcoming the challenges that arise through collaborative action for sustainability. In order to understand the role of learning in organizational responses to sustainability, we conduct a cross-disciplinary systematic review of the literature on learning for sustainability and incorporate perspectives from diverse disciplines including business, management, environmental science, sociology, policy, urban planning, and development. The review explores how different disciplines conceptualize and operationalize learning for sustainability and identifies the common themes and challenges. Our findings highlight the different ways that power relations influence learning and decision-making processes, and how entrenched traditional value structures and ‘reflexive complicity’ limit practitioners and researchers alike in finding meaningful sustainability solutions. We conclude that shifting how we motivate business and management research on learning for sustainability, in a way that prioritizes sustainability outcomes over firm performance, could bring us a step closer to more meaningful responses to sustainability. Similarly, breaking patterns of ‘reflexive complicity’ by key actors in business could assist in shifting toward more radical and long-term responses to sustainability in practice.
Emotions and Their Correctness Conditions: A Defense of Attitudinalism
Authors: Deonna Julien , Teroni Fabrice
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we contrast the different ways in which the representationalist and the attitudinalist in the theory of emotions account for the fact that emotions have evaluative correctness conditions. We argue that the attitudinalist has the resources to defend her view against recent attacks from the representationalist. To this end, we elaborate on the idea that emotional attitudes have a rich profile and explain how it supports the claim that these attitudes generate the wished-for evaluative correctness conditions. Our argument rests on the idea that emotional attitudes manifest a sensitivity to evaluative evidence and that this sensitivity secures the kind of normativity we expect of the emotions. We bring our discussion to a close by assessing whether the psychological underpinnings of this sensitivity to evaluative evidence are such as to threaten the foundation of attitudinalism: the idea that emotions do not represent values. Given the available models of how we might access values prior to emotional experience, we conclude that the attitudinalist is still in the game.
Evaluating the night sky background directly from the signal images detected by the ASTRI telescopes
Authors: Compagnino Antonio Alessio , Mineo Teresa , Maccarone Maria Concetta , Catalano Osvaldo , Giarrusso Salvatore , Impiombato Domenico
Published: February 2022

ASTRI-Horn is an Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope characterized by a dual-mirror optical system with a primary mirror diameter of 4.3 m and a curved focal surface covered by silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) sensors managed by an innovative fast front-end electronics. ASTRI-Horn is installed in Italy at the INAF “M.C. Fracastoro” observing station (Mount Etna, Italy); it is the prototype of nine similar telescopes forming the ASTRI MiniArray that will be installed at the Teide Astronomical Observatory, in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). In the ASTRI-Horn camera, the output signals from SiPMs are AC coupled to the front-end electronics stopping any slow varying signals. However, the random arrival of the night sky background photons produces fast fluctuations in the signal that the electronics is able to detect. The noise generated by this effect is proportional to the level of the diffuse night sky background. In this work, we present the analysis of the background data in ASTRI-Horn observations during the period December 2018–March 2019, using images of triggered showers. We compare the results relative to 2018 December 7-8 and 2019 March 6-7 nights with the contemporary night sky background fluxes measured by UVscope. This is a small auxiliary instrument mounted on the external structure of the ASTRI-Horn telescope and devoted to the night sky background evaluation in the UV band. A strong correlation between the considered data was detected. This correlation can be a diagnostic tool to assure the proper behavior of the ASTRI-Horn camera in view of the ASTRI MiniArray implementation. ASTRI-Horn is also equipped with the Variance technique able to sample the level of the pixel signals in absence of showers with an high rate. The method presented in this paper, based on shower images, is a new approach that has never been investigated until now. It does not substitute the Variance, that will the baseline for the background evaluation after exhaustive testings, but it is complementary to it when Variance data are available. This is the only one method working very well, that can be applied whenever the standard Variance method is not operative.
The Ontology of Technology Beyond Anthropocentrism and Determinism: The Role of Technologies in the Constitution of the (post)Anthropocene World
Authors: Blok Vincent
Published: February 2022

Because climate change can be seen as the blind spot of contemporary philosophy of technology, while the destructive side effects of technological progress are no longer deniable, this article reflects on the role of technologies in the constitution of the (post)Anthropocene world. Our first hypothesis is that humanity is not the primary agent involved in world-production, but concrete technologies. Our second hypothesis is that technological inventions at an ontic level have an ontological impact and constitutes world. As we object to classical philosophers of technology like Ihde and Heidegger, we will sketch the progressive contribution of our conceptuality to understand the role of technology in the Anthropocene world. Our third hypothesis is that technology has emancipatory potential and in this respect, can inaugurate a post-Anthropocene World. We consider these three hypotheses to develop a philosophical account of the ontology of technology beyond an abstract and deterministic understanding. This concept enables us to philosophically reflect on the role of technology in the Anthropocene World in general, and its contribution to the transition to the post-Anthropocene World in particular.
The politics of multilateral environmental agreements lessons from 20 years of INEA
Authors: Kalfagianni Agni , Young Oran R.
Published: February 2022

This review article addresses the question: What lessons can we learn from work published in International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics regarding the politics of multilateral environmental agreements? What are the implications of these lessons for those responsible for creating and administering these agreements? Based on an analysis of 147 articles published over the past 20 years, the article explores issues of institutional design, institutional politics, implementation, and effectiveness. It concludes that key conditions for success in this realm include: (a) developing a toolkit that is not limited to rules-based governance, (b) paying attention to matters of implementation, (c) bearing in mind the overall regime complex, (d) developing effective leadership based on credibility and accountability, and (e) allowing for institutional adaptation.
Accuracy of standard bipolar amplitude voltage thresholds to identify late potential channels in ventricular tachycardia ablation
Authors: Roca-Luque Ivo , Zaraket Fatima , Garre Paz , Sanchez-Somonte Paula , Quinto Levio , Borras Roger , Guasch Eduard , Arbelo Elena , Tolosana José Maria , Brugada Josep , Mont Lluís
Published: February 2022

Background

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is caused by the presence of a slow conduction channel (CC) of border zone (BZ) tissue inside the scar-core tissue. Electroanatomic mapping can depict this tissue by voltage mapping. Areas of slow conduction can be detected as late potentials (LPs) and their abolition is the most accepted ablation endpoint. In the current guidelines, bipolar voltage thresholds for BZ and core scar are 1.5 and 0.5 mV respectively. The performance of these values is controversial. The aim of the study is to analyze the diagnostic yield of current amplitude thresholds in voltage map to define VT substrate in terms of CCs of LPs. Predictors of usefulness of current thresholds will be analyzed.

Methods

All patients with structural heart disease who underwent VT ablation in Hospital Clinic in 2016–2017 were included. Maps with delineation of CCs based on LPs were created with contact force sensor catheter. Thresholds were adjusted for every patient based on CCs. Diagnostic yield and predictors of performance of conventional thresholds were analyzed.

Results

During study period, 57 consecutive patients were included (age: 60.4 ± 8.5; 50.2% ischemic cardiomyopathy, LVEF 39.8 ± 13.5%). Cutoff voltages that better identified the scar and BZ according to the LP channels were 0.32 (0.02–2 mV) and 1.84 (0.3–6 mV) respectively. Current voltage thresholds identified correctly core and BZ in 87.7% and 42.1% of the patients respectively. Accuracy was worse in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) especially for BZ (28.6% vs 55.2%, p = 0.042).

Conclusions

Accuracy of standard voltage thresholds for scar and BZ is poor in terms of LPs detection. Diagnostic yield is worse in NICM patients specially for border zone.
Traveling Fronts in a Reaction–Diffusion Equation with a Memory Term
Authors: Mielke Alexander , Reichelt Sina
Published: February 2022

Based on a recent work on traveling waves in spatially nonlocal reaction–diffusion equations, we investigate the existence of traveling fronts in reaction–diffusion equations with a memory term. We will explain how such memory terms can arise from reduction of reaction–diffusion systems if the diffusion constants of the other species can be neglected. In particular, we show that two-scale homogenization of spatially periodic systems can induce spatially homogeneous systems with temporal memory. The existence of fronts is proved using comparison principles as well as a reformulation trick involving an auxiliary speed that allows us to transform memory terms into spatially nonlocal terms. Deriving explicit bounds and monotonicity properties of the wave speed of the arising traveling front, we are able to establish the existence of true traveling fronts for the original problem with memory. Our results are supplemented by numerical simulations.
Law and Geology for the Anthropocene: Toward an Ethics of Encounter
Authors: Damianos Alexander
Published: February 2022

The Anthropocene has been observed as an opportunity to generate new legal imaginaries capable of revising incumbent assumptions of legal and political thought. What opportunities do such ambitions afford for communication between geological and legal thought? Responding to Birrell & Matthews attempt to ‘re-story a lawfor, rather thanof, the Anthropocene,’ I wish to describe some ways in which the Anthropocene Working Group, who are pursuing formalisation of the Anthropocene as an official geological unit, are involved in a similar exercise of re-storying geology. The Anthropocene theme is brought to bear as a geological reality through material practices of measurement and correlation, as well as through the invocation of previous judgements of the evaluative committees associated with the formalisation of new geological unit. This effort amounts to a redefinition of the practices of geological observation, i.e. what counts as geologically relevant and why. In keeping with the theme of an ‘ethics of encounter’, as encouraged by Birrell and Matthews, this article suggests that the AWG’s effort provides a model with which the elaboration of ‘laws for the Anthropocene’ might correspond.
Quasi-likelihood analysis and its applications
Authors: Yoshida Nakahiro
Published: February 2022

The Ibragimov–Khasminskii theory established a scheme that gives asymptotic properties of the likelihood estimators through the convergence of the likelihood ratio random field. This scheme is extending to various nonlinear stochastic processes, combined with a polynomial type large deviation inequality proved for a general locally asymptotically quadratic quasi-likelihood random field. We give an overview of the quasi-likelihood analysis and its applications to ergodic/non-ergodic statistics for stochastic processes.
Philosophers’ linguistic expertise: a psycholinguistic approach to the expertise objection against experimental philosophy
Authors: Fischer Eugen , Engelhardt Paul E. , Herbelot Aurélie
Published: February 2022

Philosophers are often credited with particularly well-developed conceptual skills. The ‘expertise objection’ to experimental philosophy builds on this assumption to challenge inferences from findings about laypeople to conclusions about philosophers. We draw on psycholinguistics to develop and assess this objection. We examine whether philosophers are less or differently susceptible than laypersons to cognitive biases that affect how people understand verbal case descriptions and judge the cases described. We examine two possible sources of difference: Philosophers could be better at deploying concepts, and this could make them less susceptible to comprehension biases (‘linguistic expertise objection’). Alternatively, exposure to different patterns of linguistic usage could render philosophers vulnerable to a fundamental comprehension bias, the linguistic salience bias, at different points (‘linguistic usage objection’). Together, these objections mount a novel ‘master argument’ against experimental philosophy. To develop and empirically assess this argument, we employ corpus analysis and distributional semantic analysis and elicit plausibility ratings from academic philosophers and psychology undergraduates. Our findings suggest philosophers are better at deploying concepts than laypeople but are susceptible to the linguistic salience bias to a similar extent and at similar points. We identify methodological consequences for experimental philosophy and for philosophical thought experiments.
Constructing large peak-pit Condorcet domains
Authors: Karpov Alexander , Slinko Arkadii
Published: February 2022

We present a new method of constructing Condorcet domains from pairs of Condorcet domains of smaller sizes (concatenation + shuffle scheme). The concatenation + shuffle scheme provides maximal, connected, copious, peak-pit domains whenever the original domains have these properties. It allows to construct maximal peak-pit Condorcet domains that are larger than those obtained by the Fishburn’s alternating scheme for all $$n\ge 13$$

n
≥
13

alternatives. For a large number n of alternatives, we get a lower bound $$2.1045^{n}$$

2
.

1045
n

for the cardinality of the largest peak-pit Condorcet domain and a lower bound $$2.1890^{n}$$

2
.

1890
n

for the cardinality of the largest Condorcet domain, improving Fishburn’s result. We also show that all Arrow’s single-peaked domains can be constructed by concatenation + shuffle scheme starting from the trivial domain.
On the Stability of Spinning Asteroids
Authors: Persson B. N. J. , Biele J.
Published: February 2022

Most asteroids with a diameter larger than$$\sim 300 \ {\mathrm{m}}$$∼300mare rubble piles, i.e., consisting of more than one solid object. All asteroids are rotating but almost all asteroids larger than$$\sim 300 \ \mathrm{m}$$∼300mrotate with a period longer than$$2.3 \ {\text{hours}}$$2.3hours, which is the critical period where the centrifugal force equals the gravitational force. This indicates that there are nearly no adhesive interaction forces between the asteroid fragments. We show that this is due to the surface roughness of the asteroid particles which reduces the van der Waals interaction between the particles by a factor of 100 for micrometer sized particles and even more for larger particles. We show that surface roughness results in an interaction force which is independent of the size of the particles, in contrast to the linear size dependency expected for particles with smooth surfaces. Thus, two stone fragments of size$$100 \ {\mathrm{nm}}$$100nmattract each other with the same non-gravitational force as two fragments of size$$10 \ {\mathrm{m}}$$10m.
Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Intrauterine Contraception and Tubal Ligation
Authors: Schwarz Eleanor Bimla , Lewis Carrie A. , Dove Melanie S. , Murphy Eryn , Zuckerman Diana , Nunez-Eddy Claudia , Tancredi Daniel J. , McDonald-Mosley Raegan , Sonalkar Sarita , Hathaway Mark , Gariepy Aileen M.
Published: February 2022

Background

Tubal ligation remains common in the USA, especially among low-income patients.

Objective

To compare the effectiveness and safety of intrauterine contraceptives (IUC) to laparoscopic tubal ligation for Medicaid clients.

Design

We partnered with patient and clinician stakeholders to conduct a retrospective cohort study using California Medicaid claims for patients who had an IUC placed or laparoscopic tubal ligation performed in 2008–2014, excluding procedures performed within 42 days of a birth. We applied log-linear (Poisson) event-history regression models for clustered person-period data to adjust for sociodemographic variables and pre-procedure health status when examining associations between these contraceptive procedures and claims related to contraceptive failure, complications, and pain in the first year post-procedure.

Key Results

We identified 35,705 patients who had a levonorgestrel IUC placed, 23,628 patients who had a copper IUC placed, and 23,965 patients who underwent laparoscopic tubal ligation. In unadjusted analyses, rates of pregnancy within 1 year were similar following levonorgestrel IUC (2.40%) or copper IUC placement (2.99%) or tubal ligation (2.64%). In adjusted analyses, compared to tubal ligation, pregnancy was less common following placement of a levonorgestrel IUC (adj IRR 0.72, 95% CI 0.64–0.82) and similar with placement of a copper IUC (adj IRR 0.92, 95% CI 0.82–1.05). Procedural complications such as infection (0.35% vs. 2.91%) were significantly less common with IUC placement than tubal ligation. Claims for pelvic and abdominal pain decreased in frequency with time since all procedures; 6 to 12 months post-procedure, pelvic pain claims were less common after levonorgestrel IUC (adj IRR 0.69, 95% CI 0.65–0.73) or copper IUC placement (adj IRR 0.70, 95% CI 0.66–0.75) than tubal ligation.

Conclusions

IUC appears at least as effective as laparoscopic tubal ligation at 1-year post-procedure with lower rates of infection and pelvic pain 6 to 12 months post-procedure.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT03438682
Die unbekannte Geburt – Deutungsprozesse gebärender Frauen
Authors: Eckardt Sarah
Published: February 2022

Eine Geburt als ein individuelles Projekt zu begreifen, ist eine zentrale These in der soziologischen Natalitätsforschung. Um eine gute Geburt für Mutter, Kind und Partner*in gemäß dem medizinischen Selbstbestimmungsparadigma aktiv positiv gestalten zu können, scheinen umfangreiche Vorbereitungen und Entscheidungen notwendig zu sein. Die Geburt, so die These, würde nahezu wie ein Event individuell inszeniert. Gleichzeitig ist es von Bedeutung, Geburt als sozial geprägtes Ereignis zu verstehen, das durch divergierende Dispositive auf spezifische Art und Weise hervorgebracht wird. Dabei ist das biomedizinische Risikodispositiv als hegemonial anzusehen, hinzukommen spezifische gesellschaftliche Entwicklungen wie die Ökonomisierung des Gesundheitssystems oder die Zentralisierungen der Geburtskliniken. Folglich sind die Möglichkeitsräume zur aktiven Gestaltung der Geburt strukturell begrenzt. Das medizinische Geburtshilfesystem ist in seinen Praktiken und Deutungen der Geburt repressiv und machtvoll. Wie sich Frauen in dem spannungsreichen dispositiven Feld der Geburt bewegen und positionieren, Diskurse weiterschreiben und verändern, war die Fragestellung des vorliegenden Projekts. Im Zentrum standen die Subjektivierungsweisen gebärender Frauen. Dazu führte ich Interviews mit neun Frauen kurz vor und kurz nach der Geburt. In einer Verschränkung von Dispositivanalyse und Grounded Theory wertete ich das Material aus. Der Beitrag fordert dazu auf, Geburt als ein grundlegend unbekanntes Phänomen zu begreifen, dem sich Frauen durch verschiedene Praktiken annähern. Deutlich wird in der Analyse, dass die Deutung der Geburt diskursiv als ein unbekanntes Phänomen konstruiert ist. Mein Beitrag diskutiert die Auswirkung dieser Deutung und deren Verstrickung mit Bio-Macht und Weiblichkeit.
Diagnostic Approach to Incidentally Detected Pancreatic Cystic Lesions
Authors: Rimbaș Mihai , Rizzatti Gianenrico , Larghi Alberto
Published: February 2022

Purpose of review

The objective of this study is to answer few key questions in order to establish the best possible available diagnostic strategy for incidentally discovered pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs).

Recent findings

Advances in EUS-guided sampling techniques, cross-sectional and intracystic confocal imaging, molecular biomarkers analysis, determination of cyst fluid glucose, and artificial intelligence, appear to be associated with an improved diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing mucinous from non-mucinous PCLs.

The diagnostic process has the aim of recognizing cysts with malignant potential and identifying those with high-risk stigmata and/or worrisome features. Clinicians should avoid performance of unnecessary tests from one side and misdiagnosis from the other, which can easily result in inadvertent surgery of an otherwise benign lesion or malignant progression of a precancerous cyst. Clinical studies to validate recent reported results utilizing novel diagnostic tests are needed, in order to gradually incorporate and combine them into updated guidelines.
Who will I be when I retire? The role of organizational commitment, group memberships and retirement transition framing on older worker’s anticipated identity change in retirement
Authors: Jolles Daniel , Lamarche Veronica M. , Rolison Jonathan J. , Juanchich Marie
Published: February 2022

Retirement is an eagerly awaited life transition for many older workers, but some may anticipate their exit from the workforce will result in loss of meaningful work-based activities and social interactions. For older workers more committed to their organization, retirement might represent a threat to maintaining a consistent, positive identity. Across three pre-registered studies of US adults aged 49 to 75, we investigated the relationship between organizational commitment and anticipated identity changes in retirement. Studies 1 and 2 (N = 1059) found that older workers largely anticipated positive changes to their identity in retirement. In Study 2, we divided older workers into two conditions and used a framing manipulation to present retirement as either a ‘role exit’ or a ‘role entry’. In the ‘role exit’ condition, older workers less committed to their organization anticipated more positive changes when they held more group memberships compared to those with fewer group memberships. Those in the ‘role entry’ condition anticipated significantly more positive changes to their identity in retirement than those in the ‘role exit’ condition, but did not anticipate more positive changes based on organizational commitment or group memberships. More group memberships, but not lower organizational commitment, was associated with more positive anticipation of identity changes in retirement. Study 3 (N = 215) surveyed older adults after they had retired, finding that identity changes experienced post-retirement were less positive than those anticipated by older workers. We discuss the theoretical and applied implications of these findings for older workers’ retirement decisions and wellbeing.
How codependency affects dyadic coping, relationship perception and life satisfaction
Authors: Happ Zsuzsa , Bodó-Varga Zsófia , Bandi Szabolcs Ajtony , Kiss Enikő Csilla , Nagy László , Csókási Krisztina
Published: February 2022

In this study, we interpret codependency as a dysfunctional pattern of relating to others, and based on this approach, we hypothesized an association with negative forms of dyadic coping, relationship problems and life satisfaction. A total of 246 Hungarian participants (167 females, 79 males), aged 18–72 years (M = 35.3, SD = 11.6) completed our online survey including measures of codependency, dyadic coping, perceptions of relationship, and life satisfaction. In our cross-sectional research, the Spann-Fischer Codependency Scale (SF-CDS), the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), the Shortened Marital Stress Scale (MSS-R), and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) were used. Correlational and pathway analyzes were applied to confirm our hypotheses. Codependency was associated with negative dyadic coping, while we found no measurable influence on positive dyadic coping. Individuals with higher codependency rated both their own and their partner’s negative dyadic coping more pronounced, while at the same time they characterized their relationships as more problematic. Structural Equation Modelling proved that codependent attitudes, along with the emergence of negative dyadic coping forms and perception of relationship problems, reduce a person’s life satisfaction. Overall, it can be stated that the more codependent the participants were, the more negative their own and partner’s behaviour was perceived in stressful situations and the more problematic their intimate relationship was found to be. Our results support the idea that codependency is a specific, largely stable attitude that determines a person’s perception and behaviour relating to others.
Deep-Space Optical Navigation Exploiting Multiple Beacons
Authors: Franzese V. , Topputo F.
Published: February 2022

Ground facilities relying on traditional radiometric tracking are reaching saturation due to the growth of satellites launched into space. As such, autonomous navigation is one of the main enabling technologies for sustainable deep-space missions. This paper tackles the deep-space optical navigation problem exploiting multiple beacons to estimate the observer position independently from ground. The paper derives the least-squares solution and the analytical covariance to the deep-space navigation problem exploiting multiple beacons. The perturbations in the line-of-sight directions as well as in the objects ephemeris are incorporated into the covariance formulation. Then, the geometrical interpretation of the perturbations models, the navigation solution, and the navigation covariance are elaborated. The sensitivity of the navigation accuracy to the number of beacons is assessed by virtue of a test case, showing the correspondence between the numerical and the analytical solutions. Eventually, the paper shows the comparison of the navigation accuracy exploiting multiple beacons against two optimal beacons.
Is paying bribes worthwhile? Corruption and innovation in middle-income countries
Authors: Iorio Roberto , Segnana Maria Luigia
Published: February 2022

Corruption research in economics has a long history. Seminal early articles, and older findings contrast with newer developments which have as yet not been measured empirically; in particular the link between corruption and innovating activities suffers from multiple results, on both a national country and company or firm level. This paper examines the corruption-innovation link in transition and emerging countries as the decision to corrupt, and the ability to innovate may not be independent. An endogenous switching regression model is advocated as a suitably methodological way of modeling the joint determination of a firm’s innovation and possible bribes as it implies not only a selection between corrupted and non-corrupted firms, but also heterogeneous effects on innovative activities. The paper shows that, when the selection effect is adequately considered, different firms’ strategies arise. In particular, the treatment effect of corruption on innovation is positive for corrupting firms and negative for non-corrupting firms. Corrupting firms appear rational because paying bribes increases their innovative activities. However, non-corrupting firms also appear rational because in the presence of bribes, their innovating activities would be fewer. Thus, when the selection effect is adequately considered, the effects of so-called “greasing-and-sanding-the-wheels” can co-exist. Finally, the role of competition is also considered. Building on these results, future research can move forward to re-examine economic outcomes such as the productivity or the economic impact of corruption, in the presence (or absence) of selection processes.
A cross-cultural exploration of compassion, and facilitators and inhibitors of compassion in UK and Sri Lankan people
Authors: Kariyawasam Lasara , Ononaiye Margarita , Irons Chris , Kirby Sarah E.
Published: February 2022

Background

Practising compassion has shown to increase well-being and reduce distress in people across cultures. However, very little research has explored cultural differences in different facets of compassion with a dearth of research evident especially in the Asian context. Several inhibitors and facilitators of compassion have been identified although the nuances of cultural differences of these remain unexploited. This study aimed to discover cross-cultural similarities and differences of the levels of compassion, facilitators and inhibitors of compassion between Sri Lankan and UK people.

Methods

A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based quantitative research was conducted among 149 Sri Lankan and 300 UK participants. Individual predictors (such as fears of compassion, self-reassurance, external shame, social safeness and pleasure, depression and anxiety) were also explored in relation to compassion, compassion to others, and compassion from others in each group.

Results

The results indicated that Sri Lankan participants were more self-reassured and self-compassionate and self-identifying as a Buddhist predicted higher self-compassion, when compared to UK participants. However, Sri Lankan participants reported higher levels of external shame and fear of compassion not just towards themselves, but also towards and from others, indicating difficulty in engaging compassionately with others. In contrast, UK participants reported higher social safeness, indicating that they were more likely to feel safe and soothed by the society than the Sri Lankan participants.

Conclusions

Society plays a pivotal role in shaping one's experiences of compassion. This study suggests that specific cultural and social factors should be considered when implementing Western compassionate approaches to non-Western settings.
Beyond descriptive representation: American Indian opposition to federal legislation
Authors: Carlson Kirsten Matoy
Published: February 2022

This study explores how American Indians use interest group strategies to block federal legislation. Unlike other disadvantaged groups, who have influenced public policymaking through descriptive representation, American Indians have turned to interest group strategies to protect their interests in Congress. Using original data collected from American Indian testimony at congressional hearings on 266 bills during five Congresses, this study tests interest group hypotheses about how and when active opposition affects bill enactment. It finds that American Indians can block federal legislation harmful to their interests when they unify against a bill and that members of Congress frequently respond to American Indian opposition by amending bills to alleviate American Indian concerns.
Nematicidal activity of leaf extract ofMoringa oleiferaLam. againstHaemonchus contortusandNacobbus aberrans
Authors: Páez-León S.Y. , Carrillo-Morales M. , Gómez-Rodríguez O. , López-Guillén G. , Castañeda-Ramírez G.S. , Hernández-Núñez E. , Wong-Villarreal A. , Aguilar-Marcelino L.
Published: February 2022

In the present study, the nematicidal activity of aMoringa oleiferaethyl acetate leaf extract against the eggs and larvae ofHaemonchus contortusandNacobbus aberrans, nematodes of agricultural importance, was evaluated. The experimental design for the evaluation of the effects against both nematodes consisted of eight treatments (n= 4). Distilled water, Tween (4%) and a commercial anthelmintic agent (ivermectin, 5 mg/mL) were used as controls, and for treatments 4–8, the concentrations of the extract were 20, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 mg/mL, respectively. Readings were taken at 12 h and 24 h forN.aberransand 48 h and 72 h forH.contortuspost-treatment under an optical microscope (10× and 40×). The data obtained were analysed by analysis of variance through a completely randomized factorial design using the SAS V9 program. The results show that, forH.contortusegg hatching, 85.88% inhibition was obtained at a concentration of 20 mg/mL at 48 h, while for third-stage larva (L3) mortality, the highest percentage was 68.19% at 1.25 mg/mL at 72 h. In the case ofN.aberrans, the greatest inhibition of egg hatching was 90.69% at 5 mg/mL at 12 h post-treatment, and for larval mortality, it was 100% at 10 mg/mL at 24 h post-treatment. The main major compounds identified by qualitative analysis and by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry were 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)-, n-hexadecanoic acid and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, and the minor compounds included phytol, γ-sitosterol and α-tocopheryl acetate. It was demonstrated that the ethyl acetate leaf extract ofM.oleiferaLam. shows great potential for combating agricultural nematodes.
THINKING LIKE A GUITARIST IN SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY ITALY
Authors: Gavito Cory M.
Published: February 2022

Placing amateur performers and their instrument of choice at the forefront of inquiry, this article makes a case for the Spanish guitar as an instrument through which knowing subjects sought an epistemology of musical practice, a way-of-knowing-and-doing that could even surpass other musical epistemologies already in circulation during the seventeenth century. Leading this investigation is a handwritten book of lessons wherein there emerges a preference for learning the violin using the principles of guitar playing. Next, I discuss the appearance of annotated guitar tablature in the copy of Giulio Caccini’s Le nuove musiche held in the Library of Congress, which edits Caccini’s songs to purpose their accompaniments for easier guitar playing. Together, these two documents reveal earnest attempts at being musical with a guitar in the hands or guitar playing in the mind, opening us to a world-view that hinges on the guitar as the locus of musical knowledge.
Age and Illness Severity: A Case of Irrelevant Utilities?
Authors: Jølstad Borgar , Juth Niklas
Published: February 2022

Illness severity is a priority setting criterion in several countries. Age seems to matter when considering severity, but perhaps not small age differences. In the following article we consider Small Differences (SD): small differences in age are not relevant when considering differential illness severity. We show that SD cannot be accommodated within utilitarian, prioritarian or egalitarian theories. Attempting to accommodate SD by postulating a threshold model becomes exceedingly complex and self-defeating. The only way to accommodate SD seems to be to accept some form of relevance view, where some age differences are irrelevant. This view can accommodate SD, but at the expense of consistent priority orderings. Severity thus becomes unsuitable for systematic decision-making. We argue that SD should be dismissed and that we should accept a continuous relationship between severity of illness and age.
The association of bicuspid aortic valve on long-term outcome following one-stage repair of aortic arch obstruction associated with ventricular septal defect
Authors: Rahatianpur Mehrdad , Bakhtiary Farhad , Vázquez-Jiménez Jaime , Dähnert Ingo , Kostelka Martin
Published: February 2022

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of bicuspid aortic valve on contemporary outcomes, including reoperation rates, after one-stage correction for interrupted aortic arch with ventricular septal defect or for aortic coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch and ventricular septal defect.

Methods:

Seventy-four consecutive patients (35 boys, 47% and 39 girls, 53%) with interrupted aortic arch (n = 41, 55%) or aortic coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch (n = 33, 45%) with ventricular septal defect underwent early one-stage correction. Twenty (27%) patients had bicuspid aortic valve, and the remaining 54 (73%) had a tricuspid aortic valve. The median aortic valve annulus diameter was 6.0 mm (IQR: 2.0). Patients’ median age was 7 ± 29 days (range, 2–150); median weight was 3.3 ± 0.7 kg (range, 1.5–6.0), with 21 (28%) patients <3.0 kg. Selective brain perfusion through the innominate artery and selective coronary perfusion through the aortic root during aortic arch reconstruction were used in all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results:

The early mortality was 1.3%. One premature neonate died in the hospital with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after aortic coarctation plus ventricular septal defect repair. There was no further mortality. Median follow-up was 5.7 years (IQR: 10.48). Reinterventions occurred in 36 (49%) patients: balloon angioplasty in 18 (24%) patients, reoperations in 4 (5%) patients, and both in 14 (19%) patients. A total of 86 follow-up procedures were required in these 36 (49%) patients: aortic valve valvulopasty (n = 6, 8%), stent implantation (n = 8, 11%), balloon dilatation (n = 39, 53%), and reoperation (n = 33, 45%). The median time to reinterventions was 9.094 years (SE 0.890). A potential risk factor for reintervention after interrupted aortic arch and aortic coarctation with ventricular septal defect repair was bicuspid aortic valve (p = 0.019, Chi2(1) = 5.457). In addition, a multivariate Cox analysis with backward selection and significance level <0.015 was applied to all variables that showed significant effects in univariable analyzes. This regression confirmed that bicuspid aortic valve (HR = 0.381, p = .016), and interrupted aortic arch (HR = 0.412, p = 0.043) were predictors of late reintervention. All patients had no obvious neurologic impairment in routine examinations at last follow-up.

Conclusion:

Bicuspid aortic valve was a significant risk factor for valve-related reintervention after one-stage repair for aortic arch obstruction with ventricular septal defect due to later development of stenosis associated with higher late morbidity and mortality. Particularly neonates with bicuspid aortic valve will possibly require reintervention in the future. Regular lifelong cardiac follow-up is recommended.
L2 French learning by Eritrean refugee speakers of Tigrinya
Authors: Franck Julie , Papadopoulou Despina
Published: February 2022

This study reports data on 47 Tigrinya speaking Eritrean refugees learning French. L2 French proficiency is assessed through the placement test Ev@lang, a standardized grammar test, and fine corpus analyses. Analysis of individual factors shows that, whereas school education, number of years in Switzerland, and French classes attended play no role in proficiency, age penalizes learning and, critically, multilingualism facilitates it. Corpus analyses replicate difficulties commonly reported in the literature with root infinitives, determiner omission and gender errors. Productions also depart from previous reports as we observed a low rate of subject drop, a high rate of gender errors involving animate nouns, and the overuse of the feminine, in line with Tigrinya grammar. Finally, our data provide preliminary evidence of the validity of Ev@lang in assessing French proficiency in refugees, an issue which is becoming critical with the increased role of language skills in European asylum policies.
The Fractal Dimension Suggests Two Chromatin Configurations in Small Cell Neuroendocrine Lung Cancer and Is an Independent Unfavorable Prognostic Factor for Overall Survival
Authors: Mattos Amilcar Castro de , Florindo João Batista , Adam Randall L. , Lorand-Metze Irene , Metze Konradin
Published: February 2022

Experimental studies have shown that in small cell neuroendocrine lung carcinomas (SCLC) global opening of the chromatin structure is associated with a higher transcription activity and increase of tumor aggressiveness and metastasis. The study of the fractal characteristics (FD) of nuclear chromatin has been widely used to describe the cell nuclear texture and its changes correspond to changes in nuclear metabolic and transcription activity. Hence, we investigated whether the nuclear fractal dimension could be a prognostic factor in SCLC. Hematoxylin-eosin stained brush cytology slides from 49 patients with SCLC were retrieved from our files. The chromatin (FD) was calculated in digitalized and interactively segmented nuclei using a differential box-counting method. The 3,575 nuclei studied showed a bimodal distribution (peaks at FD1 = 2.115 and FD2 = 2.180). The 75 percentile of the FD was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for overall survival when tested together with ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status, tumor extension, and therapy in a multivariate Cox regression. Our study corroborates the concept of two main chromatin configurations in small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas and that globally more open chromatin indicates a higher risk of metastasis and therefore a shorter survival of the patient.
The Relationship between the Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) Social Capital and Dynamic Capabilities: A Meta-Analysis of its Moderators
Authors: Durán William Fernando , Aguado David
Published: February 2022

CEO social capital has shown a positive association with dynamic capabilities, although correlations have considerable heterogeneity among them. This meta-analysis estimates the correlation between CEO social capital and dynamic capabilities, and analyses moderator variables in explaining the heterogeneity in the results. Moderators are classified across four levels from macro to micro variables: country variables, firm environment, firm characteristics, and CEO variables. We apply a systematic search for studies in the Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases. Additionally, we used a three-level random-effect meta-analysis on 89 correlations published between 2008 and 2021 from 9,272 CEOs. Findings indicate a positive correlation between CEO social capital and dynamic capabilities. Furthermore, we identified a moderator effect in the country and firm environment level. We found that the country of the study, the perception of transparency and legality in the country, and the environmental dynamism in the market moderate the size of the correlations. We also reject other moderators, including the individualism-collectivism national culture, firm size, the sources of social capital (business or political ties), and the dimension of the social capital (structural, relational or cognitive). This study contributes to the exploration of the sources of dynamic capabilities from the micro-foundation, identifies moderator variables that explain the heterogeneity in the results, and highlights the social nature of management activities which always evolve in a social context.
Multisector Dynamics: Advancing the Science of Complex Adaptive Human‐Earth Systems
Authors: Reed Patrick M. , Hadjimichael Antonia , Moss Richard H. , Brelsford Christa , Burleyson Casey D. , Cohen Stuart , Dyreson Ana , Gold David F. , Gupta Rohini S. , Keller Klaus , Konar Megan , Monier Erwan , Morris Jennifer , Srikrishnan Vivek , Voisin Nathalie , Yoon Jim
Published: February 2022

The field of MultiSector Dynamics (MSD) explores the dynamics and co‐evolutionary pathways of human and Earth systems with a focus on critical goods, services, and amenities delivered to people through interdependent sectors. This commentary lays out core definitions and concepts, identifies MSD science questions in the context of the current state of knowledge, and describes ongoing activities to expand capacities for open science, leverage revolutions in data and computing, and grow and diversify the MSD workforce. Central to our vision is the ambition of advancing the next generation of complex adaptive human‐Earth systems science to better address interconnected risks, increase resilience, and improve sustainability. This will require convergent research and the integration of ideas and methods from multiple disciplines. Understanding the tradeoffs, synergies, and complexities that exist in coupled human‐Earth systems is particularly important in the context of energy transitions and increased future shocks.
Sources, Mechanisms, and Timescales of Sediment Delivery to a New England Salt Marsh
Authors: Baranes H. E. , Woodruff J. D. , Geyer W. R. , Yellen B. C. , Richardson J. B. , Griswold Frances
Published: February 2022

The availability and delivery of an external clastic sediment source is a key factor in determining salt marsh resilience to future sea level rise. However, information on sources, mechanisms, and timescales of sediment delivery are lacking, particularly for wave‐protected mesotidal estuaries. Here we show that marine sediment mobilized and delivered during coastal storms is a primary source to the North and South Rivers, a mesotidal bar‐built estuary in a small river system impacted by frequent, moderate‐intensity storms that is typical to New England (United States). On the marsh platform, deposition rates, clastic content, and dilution of fluvially‐sourced contaminated sediment by marine material all increase down‐estuary toward the inlet, consistent with a predominantly marine‐derived sediment source. Marsh clastic deposition rates are also highest in the storm season. We observe that periods of elevated turbidity in channels and over the marsh are concurrent with storm surge and high wave activity offshore, rather than with high river discharge. Flood tide turbidity also exceeds ebb tide turbidity during storm events. Timescales of storm‐driven marine sediment delivery range from 2.5 days to 2 weeks, depending on location within the estuary; therefore the phasing of storm surge and waves with the spring‐neap cycle determines how effectively post‐event suspended sediment is delivered to the marsh platform. This study reveals that sediment supply and the associated resilience of New England mesotidal salt marshes involves the interplay of coastal and estuarine processes, underscoring the importance of looking both up‐ and downstream to identify key drivers of environmental change.