bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dez meses, nove noites: a colaboração entre artistas e cientistas na realização da exposição 9 Evenings
Authors: Urano Pedro
Published: August 2024

The article investigates the context of emergence of the artworks presented at the 9 Evenings: Theatre and Engineering, held in New York in October 1966, analyzing both the New York cultural environment and the process of collaboration between artists and engineers that resulted in the exhibition. In relation to the latter, the work underlines the decisive role of the diagrams developed by Herb Schneider for the productive dialogue between the participants of the event, considered one of the longest and most successful creative collaborations between artists and scientists to date.
A “Imagem-Sintoma” em Georges Didi-Huberman
Authors: Imparato Marcella
Published: August 2024

Este artigo apresenta uma introdução ao pensamento de Georges Didi-Huberman, no que se refere à sua leitura do conceito de “sintoma”, de “figurabilidade” e de outros aspectos da psicanálise freudiana, como chave de interpretação crítica às noções de representação, semelhança e imitação, bem como ao método iconológico de matriz panofskiana. O artigo demonstra como esses conceitos são operados pelo autor, colocando em questão o dispositivo mimético e reivindicando uma abertura no regime de visibilidade da pintura que dê lugar à sua figuralidade. Ao evocar a ideia de uma “imagem-sintoma”, Didi-Huberman propõe uma ruptura com os esquematismos da crítica e da historiografia da arte.
Assessment of Left Atrial Fibrosis by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Ischemic Stroke Patients Without Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Koh Jin Hean , Lim Lincoln Kai En , Tan Ying Kiat , Goh Claire , Teo Yao Hao , Ho Jamie Sin Ying , Dalakoti Mayank , Chan Mark Yan Yee , Sia Ching‐Hui , Yeo Leonard Leong Litt , Tan Benjamin Yong Qiang
Published: August 2024

Background

Left atrial (LA) fibrosis is a marker of atrial cardiomyopathy and has been reported to be associated with both atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke. Elucidating this relationship is clinically important as LA fibrosis could serve as a surrogate biomarker of LA cardiomyopathy. The objective of this study is to investigate the association of LA fibrosis and embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods and Results

Following an International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews‐registered protocol, 3 blinded reviewers performed a systematic review for studies that quantified the degree of LA fibrosis in patients with ESUS as compared with healthy patients from inception to February 2024. A meta‐analysis was conducted in the mean difference. From 7 studies (705 patients), there was a significantly higher degree of LA fibrosis in patients with ESUS compared with healthy controls (MD, 5.71% [95% CI, 3.55%–7.87%],
P
<0.01). The degree of LA fibrosis was significantly higher in patients with atrial fibrillation than healthy controls (MD, 8.22% [95% CI, 5.62%–10.83%],
P
<0.01). A similar degree of LA fibrosis was observed in patients with ESUS compared with patients with atrial fibrillation (MD, −0.92% [95% CI, −2.29% to 0.44%],
P
=0.35).

Conclusions

A significantly higher degree of LA fibrosis was found in patients with ESUS as compared with healthy controls. This suggests that LA fibrosis may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of ESUS. Further research is warranted to investigate LA fibrosis as a surrogate biomarker of atrial cardiomyopathy and recurrent stroke risk in patients with ESUS.
Left Atrial Appendage Opacification on Cardiac Computed Tomography in Acute Ischemic Stroke: The Clinical Implications of Slow‐Flow
Authors: Nio Shan Sui , Rinkel Leon A. , Cramer Olivia N. , Özata Z. Beyda , Beemsterboer Chiel F. P. , Guglielmi Valeria , Bouma Berto J. , Boekholdt S. Matthijs , Lobé Nick H. J. , Beenen Ludo F. M. , Marquering Henk A. , Majoie Charles B. L. M. , Roos Yvo B. W. E. M. , van Randen Adrienne , Planken R. Nils , Coutinho Jonathan M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Left atrial appendage (LAA) slow‐flow may increase the risk of ischemic stroke. We studied LAA attenuation on cardiac computed tomography in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods and Results

We used data from a prospective cohort of patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing cardiac computed tomography during the acute stroke imaging protocol. We compared characteristics, functional outcome (modified Rankin scale: higher scores indicating worse outcome), stroke recurrence and major adverse cardiovascular events after 2‐year follow‐up between patients with LAA thrombus (filling defect<100 Hounsfield Unit (HU)), slow‐flow (filling defect ≥100 HU) and normal filling. Of 421 patients, 31 (7%) had LAA thrombus, 69 (16%) slow‐flow, and 321 (76%) normal filling. Patients with thrombus or slow‐flow more often had known atrial fibrillation compared with normal filling (45%, 39%, and 9%,
P
<0.001). Patients with thrombus had higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale‐scores compared with slow‐flow and normal filling (18 [interquartile range, 9–22], 6 [interquartile range, 3–17], and 5 [interquartile range, 2–11],
P
<0.001). Compared with normal filling, there was no difference with slow‐flow in functional outcome (median modified Rankin scale, 3 versus 2; acOR 0.8 [95% CI, 0.5–1.4]), stroke recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.3–1.9]) or major adverse cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.2 [95% CI, 0.7–2.1]), while patients with thrombus had worse functional outcome (median modified Rankin scale, 6, acOR, 3.3 [95% CI, 1.5–7.4]). In cryptogenic stroke patients (n=156) slow‐flow was associated with stroke recurrence (27% versus 6%, aHR, 4.1 [95% CI, 1.1–15.7]).

Conclusions

Patients with slow‐flow had similar characteristics to patients with thrombus, but had less severe strokes. Slow‐flow was not significantly associated with functional outcome or major adverse cardiovascular events, but was associated with recurrent stroke in patients with cryptogenic stroke.
Cardiac Findings Following Cerebrovascular Disease
Authors: Rohner Marco H. , Gebhard Catherine , Luft Andreas , Hänsel Martin , Wegener Susanne
Published: August 2024

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that cardiac findings after stroke are an important, yet understudied, manifestation of brain–heart interactions. Our aim was to investigate and compare cardiac findings after different cerebrovascular events (acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and hemorrhagic stroke).

Methods and Results

There were 7113 patients screened who were treated between December 2013 and December 2020 at the University Hospital Zurich for ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and hemorrhagic stroke. Seven hundred twenty‐one patients without evidence of previous cardiac disease or presumed cardioembolic origin of their cerebrovascular disease and with at least 1 cardiac checkup were included. Clinical reports from the year following disease onset were screened for new cardiac findings, which were categorized as arrhythmia/electrocardiographic changes, myocardial alterations, valvular abnormalities, and coronary perfusion insufficiency. Differences in proportions of findings among groups were analyzed using the Pearson χ
2
test or Fisher exact test. ECG changes were observed in 81.7% (n=474) of patients with ischemic stroke, 71.4% (n=70) of patients with transient ischemic attack, and 55.8% (n=24) of patients with hemorrhagic stroke (
P
<0.001). Myocardial alterations occurred often in all 3 groups (60.9% ischemic stroke [n=353], 59.2% transient ischemic attack [n=58], 44.2% hemorrhagic stroke [n=19];
P
=0.396).

Conclusions

Cardiac findings are frequent in patients with cerebrovascular disease, even without prior cardiac problems or suspected cardiac cause. Similarities, especially between patients with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack, were observed. Our data suggest that all patients with acute cerebrovascular events should receive thorough workup searching for cardiac manifestations.
Association Between Obesity and Risk of Total and Obesity‐Related Cancer in People With Incident Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Malik Sarah , Guha Avirup , Wang Xiaoling , Weintraub Neal L. , Harris Ryan , Datta Biplab , Moore Justin , Nain Priyanshu , Patel Sagar A. , Coughlin Steven , Polter Elizabeth , Prizment Anna , Blaes Anne , Florido Roberta , Kutty Shelby , Alonso Alvaro , Joshu Corinne E. , Platz Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2024

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer frequently co‐occur due to shared risk factors such as obesity, which is linked to CVD and 14 cancer types. This study explores whether CVD pathophysiologies, combined with obesity, increase cancer risk, impacting clinical management.

Methods and Results

Data from the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study, spanning 28 years, were analyzed. The cohort included 5127 participants with incident CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease), of whom 1511 developed a first primary cancer. Follow‐up began at CVD diagnosis after Visit 1. Obesity was assessed using body mass index, waist circumference, and waist‐to‐hip ratio. Incidence rate differences between obesity groups were adjusted for age, sex, and center, whereas the obesity–cancer association was estimated using Fine‐Gray regression adjusted for shared risk factors including smoking. Cancer incidence in obese individuals with CVD (body mass index: rate differences=226.6/100 000 person‐years) was higher than in those with normal weight. Although obesity was not linked to overall cancer after adjusting for shared risk factors, it was nominally associated with obesity‐related cancers. Specifically, women with CVD and obesity had increased obesity‐related cancer risk (body mass index: hazard ratio, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.17–2.31]). No significant associations were found in men, even after excluding prostate cancer.

Conclusions

This study suggests that obesity is linked to higher obesity‐related cancer risk in women with incident CVD, independent of shared risk factors. Further research is needed to eliminate residual confounding, understand sex differences, and explore how CVD pathophysiologies and obesity together influence cancer risk.
Differentiating Left Atrial Pressure Responses in Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Implications for Diagnosing Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Managing Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Park Jong Sung , Cho Iksung , Kim Daehoon , Kim Moon‐Hyun , Park Je‐Wook , Yu Hee Tae , Kim Tae‐Hoon , Uhm Jae‐Sun , Joung Boyoung , Lee Moon‐Hyoung , Pak Hui‐Nam
Published: August 2024

Background

Increased left atrial pressure (LAP) contributes to dyspnea and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in baseline LAP and LAP response to rapid pacing between paroxysmal and persistent AF.

Methods and Results

This observational study prospectively enrolled 1369 participants who underwent AF catheter ablation, excluding those with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. H
2
FPEF score was calculated by echocardiography and baseline characteristics. Patients underwent LAP measurements during AF, sinus rhythm, and heart rates of 90, 100, 110, and 120 beats per minute (bpm), induced by right atrial pacing and isoproterenol. The baseline LAP‐peak in the persistent AF group consistently exceeded that in the paroxysmal AF (PAF) group across each H
2
FPEF score subgroup (all
P
<0.05). LAP‐peak increased with pacing (19.5 to 22.5 mm Hg) but decreased with isoproterenol (20.4 to 18.4 mm Hg). Under pacing, patients with PAF exhibited a significantly lower LAP‐peak (90 bpm) than those with persistent AF (17.7±8.2 versus 21.1±9.3 mm Hg,
P
<0.001). However, there was no difference in LAP‐peak (120 bpm) between the 2 groups (22.1±8.1 versus 22.9±8.4 mm Hg,
P
=0.056) because the LAP‐peak significantly increased with heart rate in the group with PAF.

Conclusions

Patients with PAF exhibited lower baseline LAP with greater increases during rapid pacing compared with individuals with persistent AF, indicating a need to revise the H
2
FPEF score for distinguishing PAF from persistent AF and emphasizing the importance of rate and rhythm control in PAF for symptom control.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique Identifier: NCT02138695.
Outcomes of Adults With Unrepaired Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return and Intact Atrial Septum
Authors: Egbe Alexander C. , Younis Ahmed , Ali Ahmed E. , Karnakoti Snigdha , Stephens Elizabeth H. , Dearani Joseph A. , Francois Christopher , Connolly Heidi M.
Published: August 2024

Background

The purpose of this study was to describe the correlates and outcomes in adults with unrepaired partial anomalous pulmonary venous return and intact atrial septum (PAPVR‐IAS).

Methods and Results

We identified adults with PAPVR‐IAS who received care at the Mayo Clinic, while those with unrepaired PAPVR‐IAS comprised the reference group. Clinical indices (New York Heart Association class, peak oxygen consumption, and NT‐proBNP [N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide]) and echo‐derived right heart indices (right atrial [RA] volume, RA reservoir strain, right ventricular [RV] free wall strain, RV end‐diastolic area, and RV systolic pressure) were assessed at baseline and 3‐year and 5‐year follow‐up. There were 80 patients and 38 patients with unrepaired versus repaired PAPVR‐IAS, respectively. The clinical predictors of surgical repair were the number of anomalous veins, RA volume, and RV end‐diastolic area. The PAPVR‐IAS risk score, derived from these clinical predictors, was associated with surgical repair (adjusted odds ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.24–1.65] per unit increase in risk score; area under the curve, 0.742). Among patients with unrepaired PAPVR‐IAS with 3‐year (n=73) and 5‐year follow‐up (n=36), there was no temporal change in clinical indices (New York Heart Association class, predicted peak oxygen consumption, and NT‐proBNP) and right heart indices (RA volume index, RA reservoir strain, RV end‐diastolic area index, RV free wall strain, and RV systolic pressure).

Conclusions

The PAPVR‐IAS risk score can be used to assess the odds of requiring surgical repair. Furthermore, there was no temporal deterioration in clinical and right heart indices during follow‐up in adults with unrepaired PAPVR‐IAS.
The Domain-Specific Neural Basis of Auditory Statistical Learning in 5–7-Year-Old Children
Authors: Fan Tengwen , Decker Will , Schneider Julie
Published: August 2024

Statistical learning (SL) is the ability to rapidly track statistical regularities and learn patterns in the environment. Recent studies show that SL is constrained by domain-specific features, rather than being a uniform learning mechanism across domains and modalities. This domain-specificity has been reflected at the neural level, as SL occurs in regions primarily involved in processing of specific modalities or domains of input. However, our understanding of how SL is constrained by domain-specific features in the developing brain is severely lacking. The present study aims to identify the functional neural profiles of auditory SL of linguistic and nonlinguistic regularities among children. Thirty children between 5 and 7 years old completed an auditory fMRI SL task containing interwoven sequences of structured and random syllable/tone sequences. Using traditional group univariate analyses and a group-constrained subject-specific analysis, frontal and temporal cortices showed significant activation when processing structured versus random sequences across both linguistic and nonlinguistic domains. However, conjunction analyses failed to identify overlapping neural indices across domains. These findings are the first to compare brain regions supporting SL of linguistic and nonlinguistic regularities in the developing brain and indicate that auditory SL among developing children may be constrained by domain-specific features.
The issue of sexuality in Italian penitentiary law: a 1930s debate between international influences and fascist prison policies
Authors: Palmieri Gianmarco
Published: August 2024

This article delves into a crucial yet understudied aspect of Italian penitentiary history during the 1930s: the intricate interplay between international influences and the development of fascist prison policies with regard to issues of sexuality. Drawing from a rich archive of legislative documents, contemporary publications, and historical accounts, this study examines the emergence of a multifaceted discourse surrounding sexuality within the context of Italian prisons. Within this framework, the article illuminates the tensions between Mussolini’s authoritarian policies and the pioneering penitentiary practices that were undergoing experimentation in foreign legal systems1.
Bonfante, Vacca, Ankum: acquisition of ownership of res mancipi abandoned by their owner, Pomp. D. 41,7,5pr.
Authors: Chorus Jeroen M.J.
Published: August 2024

Pomponius, Digest 41,7,5pr., presents many difficulties. It holds, inter alia, that if the possessor of a thing abandoned by its owner, did not have that thing in bonis, the person who bought it from him, knowing that it had been abandoned, will usucapt it. But this seems to conflict with § 1, asserting that the acquirer of an abandoned thing becomes its dominus at once, without usucapio. Bonfante saw that the principium concerns only res mancipi and § 1 only res nec mancipi. Vacca did not agree, but subscribed to part of Bonfante’s interpretation. Both Bonfante and Vacca, however, introduced an element not mentioned by Pomponius: that the selling possessor ignored that the thing had been abandoned by its owner and, instead, thought the thing was res aliena. Ankum rejected that introduction and gave an interpretation (and reconstruction) of the fragment without the contested element. It is argued that Ankum’s interpretation should prevail.
Toward a revision of the bamboo corals: Part 6, Illuminating a new candelabrum genus (Octocorallia: Keratoisididae)
Authors: FRANCE SCOTT C. , WATLING LES
Published: August 2024

Observations and collections made using remotely operated vehicles (ROV) outfit with high-definition video cameras on bathyal seamounts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific have revealed a bamboo coral (Octocorallia, Keratoisididae) with consistent and recognizable colony morphology: a long unbranched “stem” from which many vertically aligned branches arise in a single plane to produce the aspect of a tall candelabrum. Additional observations encountered colonies with only 3 branches arising from the central terminal node to produce the appearance of a standing trident. Genetic analyses suggested both colony morphologies (trident and candelabrum) to be the same species at different growth stages. Herein we formally describe this taxon, Tridentisis candelabrum n. gen. n. sp., erecting a new genus to accommodate the unique and distinctive colony morphology, and discuss morphological variation observed across the documented geographic range.
New species and new records of Belostoma Latreille, 1807 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from northeastern Brazil
Authors: STEFANELLO FABIANO , AZEVÊDO CARLOS AUGUSTO SILVA DE
Published: August 2024

Belostoma zecai Stefanello sp. nov. (Insecta: Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) is described and illustrated based on specimens from the Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba National Park, a protected area in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. This new species is assigned to the Belostoma fittkaui species group and compared with its congeners. The other four species of the genus, B. amazonum Estévez & Polhemus, 2001, B. foveolatum (Mayr, 1864), B. horvathi Montandon, 1903, and B. ribeiroi De Carlo, 1933, are also recorded from the region. Our findings increase the number of species of Belostoma recorded from Maranhão from 13 to 18, and from northeastern Brazil from 18 to 20.
Vapor-Buoyancy Feedback in an Idealized GCM
Authors: Seidel Seth , Yang Da
Published: August 2024

Humid air is lighter than dry air at a given temperature and pressure, as the molecular weight of water vapor is less than that of dry air. This effect is known as vapor buoyancy (VB). Although VB is a straightforward consequence of the ideal gas law, its influence on climate has been understudied. This study investigates VB’s influence on atmospheric temperature, radiation, and clouds. In mechanism-denial experiments, we remove VB from the dynamics and parameterizations of an idealized general circulation model (GCM). These experiments show that VB warms the tropical free troposphere by approximately 1 K in an Earth-like climate, and the magnitude of this effect increases with warming. This additional atmospheric warming causes greater outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) to be emitted as the climate warms. This constitutes a negative climate feedback which attains a magnitude of 0.1–0.2 W m−2 K−1 in the tropics. The simulations further show that, despite warming the atmosphere, VB does not introduce a countervailing positive water vapor feedback. Finally, we find that VB makes the net cloud feedback in the model more negative than it otherwise would be, reinforcing the clear-sky feedback.
Assessing CMIP Models’ Ability to Detect Observed Surface Warming Signals Related to Climate Change
Authors: Gopika Suresh , Lengaigne Matthieu , Suresh Iyyappan , Izumo Takeshi , Kwatra Sadhvi , Neetu S. , Vialard Jérôme
Published: August 2024

Assessing if CMIP models can detect observed climate change signals is crucial for evaluating their realism and strengthening confidence in future projections. These signals can only be compared once distinguishable from the background climate “noise.” Built for impact studies but not detection purpose, the time of emergence (ToE) estimates when this occurs using a fixed signal-to-noise ratio. To more accurately assess models’ ability to reproduce observed climate change signals, we introduce the time of detection (ToD), which employs a statistical significance test of the nonlinear trend, accounting for the time series length. ToD and ToE are computed for sea surface temperature (SST) and relative SST (RSST) across four observational and 69 CMIP5/6 historical and shared socioeconomic pathways 5–8.5 (SSP5–8.5) scenario datasets. ToD precedes ToE and is less sensitive to the chosen threshold. While already detectable in most of the tropics, SST warming in the equatorial Pacific is detectable in ∼90% of models but only one out of four observational datasets, due to a stronger modeled warming. Because RSST signals are weaker than SST signals, they do not emerge anywhere but are detectable in two regions. The enhanced warming in the western Indian Ocean, detected in ∼45% of models, is not robust in observations when excluding pre-1960 dubious data. Conversely, the subdued southeast Pacific warming detected in observations and ∼80% of models is robust and consistent with a poleward extension of the Southern Hemisphere Hadley cell. The ToD’s ability to detect subtle signals allows for assessing the realism of the CMIP warming pattern in this region.

Significance Statement

Recent studies emphasize the importance of the climate change warming pattern and its apparent discrepancy between climate models and observations in the equatorial Pacific. We argue that our newly proposed time of detection (ToD) is better suited than the well-known time of emergence (ToE) for investigating where modeled and observed warming patterns can be confidently compared. In agreement with previous studies, our analysis indicates model–observations disagreement over the equatorial Pacific. Using ToD instead of ToE allows for detecting a robust subdued warming (i.e., weaker than the tropical average) in the southeast Pacific and therefore confirms the realism of the CMIP warming pattern in this region.
The Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Assist Lifeguards Identifying, Preventing, and Rescuing: A Systematic Review
Authors: Maia Filipe , Sousa Henrique , Santiago Paulo
Published: August 2024

When dealing with drowning scenarios, time is of capital importance. In this sense, the search for innovative strategies that provide more effectiveness and safety for lifesaving professionals, as well as for bathers, is essential. The aim of this study was to systematically review the feasibility and effectiveness of unmanned aerial vehicles as a tool to assist lifeguards in performing their duties. A systematic literature search was conducted in October 2023 across the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, and Scopus, using the search terms: ((drone) OR (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)) AND ((drowning) OR (water rescue)). A total of 5 studies were included in this review, whose quality ranged from moderate to strong, according to the EPHPP Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. The results suggest that unmanned aerial vehicles may assist lifeguards in the prevention, detection, and rescue of drowning victims and people in distress in the water. Although preliminary, evidence suggests that lifeguards would benefit from the use of unmanned aerial vehicles regarding lifeguards’ and others’ safety.
Older Veterans’ perspectives on participation in a clinical exercise program: A qualitative study of the VA Gerofit exercise program
Authors: Abbate Lauren M , Jordan Sarah R , Ho P Michael , Matlock Daniel D , Allen Kelli D , Wherry Sarah , Wellington Toby , Buxo Zach J , Richardson Vanessa , McGuire Courtney , Pearson Megan , Hall Katherine S , Nearing Kathryn A
Published: August 2024

Objectives:

We explored the perspectives of older veterans in Gerofit, a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) supervised clinical exercise program, to understand the factors associated with participation and how the program supported personal health goals.

Methods:

Twenty semistructured interviews were conducted with active and inactive Gerofit participants. We used a hybrid inductive and deductive approach to thematic analysis of transcripts, with the latter informed by the Health Action Process Approach model of behavior change.

Results:

Active and inactive participants differed in their perspectives about how Gerofit impacted their progress toward meeting personal health goals. Active participants noted program features (e.g., schedule, staffing) as facilitators and suggested greater self-efficacy about program participation compared to inactive participants. Both groups perceived the camaraderie with other veterans as a facilitator.

Conclusions:

Exercise program features, including camaraderie, are important factors that affect the ability of older veterans to participate in exercise and achieve personal health goals.
Words that matter: A machine learning analysis of United Nations General Assembly speeches and their influence on aid allocation
Authors: Mitra Alessio
Published: August 2024

This article studies whether countries’ speeches at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) matter for international aid allocation. I use a supervised machine learning algorithm called Wordscore and 7,533 different statements from 198 countries made in the period from 1975 to 2018 to measure countries’ preferences from text. Then, by employing panel regression analysis and the synthetic control method, I find considerable evidence that countries’ preferences derived from speeches affect aid allocation. Both the US and Russia provide more aid to countries that present speeches more in line with their current agenda and preferences.
Psychometric assessment of the Persian translation of the School Counselor Noncognitive Skills Scale using Iranian high-school students
Authors: Dastbaz Anvar , Lanz Margherita , Confalonieri Emanuela , Soheili Fariba , Ohrt Jonathan H
Published: August 2024

Assessing students’ perceptions of the services provided by school counselors is crucial in promoting these services. However, there is no reliable scale for this assessment in the Persian language to date. Thus, this study aimed to translate and validate the School Counselor Noncognitive Skills Scale (SCNSS) among Iranian high school students. The English version of the SCNSS was translated into Persian, and its content and face validity were confirmed through cognitive interviews and expert evaluations. Using a convenience sampling method, data were collected from 308 high school students across three educational districts in Sanandaj, Iran. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of the SCNSS, demonstrating good model fit. Measurement invariance analysis indicated consistency across genders. The internal consistency of the scale was high, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients exceeding .86 for all subscales. Convergent validity was established through significant correlations with the School Belonging Scale (SBS). Additionally, a positive correlation was found between the number of counseling sessions attended and students’ perceptions of their counselors’ noncognitive skills. These findings suggest that the Persian version of the SCNSS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the impact of school counselors on the development of noncognitive skills among Iranian students.
“I Can Choose to be a Good Man Even if I Got a Raw Deal”: Neoliberal Heteromasculinity as Manosphere Counter Narrative in r/Stoicism
Authors: Maloney Marcus , Jones Callum , Roberts Steven
Published: August 2024

This article provides findings from our dual-computational/qualitative analysis of r/Stoicism, a large subreddit in which self-presenting boys and men seek Stoic philosophical advice on various life matters. In choosing to investigate this decidedly (hetero)masculinized online space in which users share their anxieties and grievances, we expected to find substantial evidence of “toxic” manosphere-style discourse, while also hoping to uncover counter patterns which, like Maloney et al.’s study of 4chan, complicate assumptions around the discursive practices of boys and men in online spaces such as these. Rather, what we found was a complete absence of toxic discourse, and instead the presence of patterns which complicate the logics underpinning efforts at deradicalization and wider socio-positive masculinity agendas. Thorburn’s work has been important in foregrounding how the “neoliberal emphasis on individualism and a capitalist ‘hustle-culture’” underpin manosphere logics. Here, we see similar, albeit more palatable (to mainstream sensibilities), neoliberal tenets at work across counter logics, and reflect on why economic-structural explanations for boys’ and men’s anxieties are sidelined in such mainstream responses to the manosphere.
Defining Quality in Higher Education and Identifying Opportunities for Improvement
Authors: Clemons Rebecca , Jance Marsha
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this paper is to provide information that can benefit Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), which operate in a highly competitive environment. Understanding students’ perspectives regarding quality in higher education and areas of dissatisfaction can redirect an HEI’s strategy to address these concerns. The present study seeks to clarify how students define quality. A business student survey was conducted to understand students’ expectations, satisfaction, and dissatisfaction with their current educational environment. The analysis systematically explores students’ dissatisfaction by categorizing qualitative data using a modified version of the seven dimensions of service quality introduced by Evans and Lindsay.The level of detail provided in this report will assist in developing effective processes to improve student satisfaction at the university. The results conclude that improvements in completeness of the educational experience, both classroom and administrative services along with improvements in accessibility and convenience for academics and services will have the most impact on student satisfaction. Completeness addresses the quality of learning materials and services and accessibility and convenience address the ease of access to these learning materials and services. This paper expands upon the definition of quality in higher education, focusing on student dissatisfaction. The classification of student feedback provides a unique perspective. The limitations of the study include the response rate, area of study, geographic area, and learning modality. Tests of validity were not applied to the seven dimensions of service quality due to the exploratory nature of this study.
Representatives, Reflection, Roles, and Responsibilities: The Metajournalistic Discourse on the Press Boycott of Naomi Osaka
Authors: Küpper Lena Maria
Published: August 2024

Metajournalism is the term used in communication science to describe the public discussion of journalism. Studies on how reflexive reporting occurs in sports journalism are rare, which is surprising considering the close sports media intertwining. When tennis player Naomi Osaka declared her intention to skip press conferences during the 2021 French Open to raise awareness of the psychological pressures placed on elite athletes, this triggered a sports-related metajournalistic discourse. This study provides a systematic description of this discourse using a qualitative content analysis of 102 online articles in quality, tabloid and sports media. Only minimal self-criticism was found, and journalists primarily attributed the responsibility for the topic of mental health to the system of competitive sports. Unsurprisingly, there are significant differences in the quality and quantity of reporting in the various genres. In every form of media, Osaka’s own representation occupies a significant amount of space. All media genres have a tendency to portray the arguments of non-media representatives, especially those from the tennis world, rather than articulate their own perspectives. This study contributes to the understanding of public negotiation processes regarding roles and responsibilities in sports journalism.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: A PSYCHOLOGICALLY-INFORMED PROCESS THAT SPAWNED A GENERATION OF CEOS
Authors: Wasylyshyn Karol M. , Gupta Raj
Published: August 2024

Karol Wasylyshyn and Raj Gupta provide an in-depth look at a long-term leadership development process at Rohm and Haas that was dubbed “one of the best CEO universities” in the world. On a deeper level, they provoke reflection on the value of connecting holistically with high potential employees and on how, in doing so, we can maximize both human potential and business growth.
LEARNING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
Authors: Kunreuther Howard , Slovic Paul
Published: August 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us lessons that can guide key decision makers in both the private and public sectors toward slowing climate change by reducing CO2 emissions now. Howard Kunreuther and Paul Slovic explain how decision makers can design a risk management strategy that heeds the advice of experts and addresses the cognitive biases which obstruct effective action.
Climate Change: THE REAL INCONVENIENT TRUTH
Authors: Sheffi Yossi
Published: August 2024

Consumers choose economic development over serious climate initiatives. Corporations don’t invest in meaningful change because consumers won’t pay for it. And governments cannot lead if citizens won’t follow. The battle to prevent climate change through behavior modification, regulation, or personal deprivation has already been lost. Yossi Sheffi explains why the solution is collaborative investment in developing technologies that can reverse climate change.
RESPONSE TO A RESPONSE
Authors: Sheffi Yossi
Published: August 2024

Zadie Smith, the celebrated English novelist, is quoted in the New York Times as saying, “people who believe in fundamental and irreversible changes in human nature are themselves ahistorical and naïve.”1
Service Industrialization, Convergence, and Digital Transformation – I
Authors: Karmarkar Uday
Published: August 2024

Digital technologies have significantly changed service industries, the largest segment of the US economy. The convergence of the creation, consumption, and delivery processes of services across a range of sectors, followed by rapid industrialization, has had a powerful effect on revenues, job shares, wages, and sector structure. Uday Karmarkar explains why companies must respond to these challenges rapidly or risk being perpetual laggards.
Leonard Kleinrock Internet Pioneer
Authors: Bay Morten
Published: August 2024

The emergence of the Internet has profoundly affected our existence and the world we live in. Rooted in the efforts of a small group of people who had a vision and performed the intense labor necessary to realize it, the Internet has grown into a technological movement born of the collaborations of its contributors. One of those essential early figures in the Internet’s history is Leonard Kleinrock. Morten Bay describes Kleinrock’s remarkable life and career as a co-creator of one of the greatest inventions in human history.
Enterprise Adoption and Management of ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Authors: Davenport Thomas H.
Published: August 2024

Artificial intelligence is the most important new technology of the age, but it comes in many varieties, and businesses face a range of challenges in effectively deploying it throughout their organizations. Tom Davenport takes a pragmatic but positive approach to AI’s long-term potential, describing effective approaches to creating and implementing a strategy for this transformative technology.
Digital Operations: Autonomous Automation and the Smart Execution of Work
Authors: Boute Robert N. , Van Mieghem Jan A.
Published: August 2024

By digitizing operations, companies may replace manual work with increased automation, but they may also augment human work through smarter execution. Robert Boute and Jan Van Mieghem present a conceptual framework that distinguishes the different levels of digitization, automation, and intelligence. This framework can serve as an audit, helping companies to assess where they are now and where they could be in the future.
Give Yourself a Nudge to Make SMARTER BUSINESS DECISIONS
Authors: Keeney Ralph L.
Published: August 2024

Ralph Keeney offers innovative concepts and practical guidelines for making smarter business decisions. They will help you to determine and define the decision you need to make, identify the complete set of objectives which your decision should achieve, and create a range of high-quality alternatives. Learn these skills to obtain the ultimate business advantage: making smarter decisions.
How Analytics Allowed the FCC to Save $7.3 Billion by Auctioning Underused Television Spectrum
Authors: Kumar Subodha
Published: August 2024

Using an auction informed by analytics, the US Federal Communications Commission reallocated underutilized portions of the television spectrum. The revenue from this auction exceeded its cost by $7.3 billion, which went toward US deficit reduction. Subodha Kumar summarizes the Kiddoo et al. report on this groundbreaking work which won the 2018 INFORMS Franz Edelman Competition.
Putting Purpose into Practice: How Companies Can Deliver
Authors: Washington Paul , Singer Thomas
Published: August 2024

The Conference Board’s Paul Washington and Thomas Singer find that, in the last five years, the number of companies with purpose statements has almost tripled. They stress that choosing a purpose is not to be undertaken lightly. To help businesses avoid the pitfalls of purpose and capitalize on the benefits, the authors offer practical guidance rooted in research.
Corporate Responsibility in a COVID-19 World
Authors: Argenti Paul A.
Published: August 2024

Can corporate responsibility persist in the Covid-19 era? If so, how? Paul Argenti explains why now is the time to focus on the long term and think about the opportunity that comes out of crisis.
Stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer treatment: oligometastatic disease and disease progression, untangling the knot
Authors: Tezvergil Tuğbanur , Kourouni Ismini , Costantini Adrien E. , Kauffmann-Guerrero Diego , Blum Torsten Gerriet , Berghmans Thierry
Published: August 2024

Stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous group of patients for whom systemic therapy is decided based on tumour-biological cancer features (histology, PD-L1 expression, genomic alteration, metastatic sites) and patient characteristics (performance status, comorbidities). In most instances, some kind of systemic treatment is proposed, for which immunotherapy-based or targeted therapies are considered the standards of care in 2024. Oligometastatic NSCLC represents a specific concept during the biological spectrum from localised to metastatic disease in which only a limited number of metastatic sites can be documented. Based on this assumption, prospective and a few randomised phase II studies have been performed, which suggested that adding a local ablative treatment to the systemic one can be a new option for selected stage IV NSCLC. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) supported efforts to define oligometastatic NSCLC to unify the semantics within the thoracic oncology community. This article summarises the currently available data and emphasises the questions and perspectives in oligometastatic disease NSCLC in European patient cohorts.
Interventional bronchoscopy in lung cancer treatment
Authors: Rozman Ales , Grabczak Elzbieta Magdalena , George Vineeth , Marc Malovrh Mateja , Novais Bastos Helder , Trojnar Anna , Graffen Simon , Tenda Eric Daniel , Hardavella Georgia
Published: August 2024

Interventional bronchoscopy has seen significant advancements in recent decades, particularly in the context of lung cancer. This method has expanded not only diagnostic capabilities but also therapeutic options. In this article, we will outline various therapeutic approaches employed through either a rigid or flexible bronchoscope in multimodal lung cancer treatment. A pivotal focus lies in addressing central airway obstruction resulting from cancer. We will delve into the treatment of initial malignant changes in central airways and explore the rapidly evolving domain of early peripheral malignant lesions, increasingly discovered incidentally or through lung cancer screening programmes. A successful interventional bronchoscopic procedure not only alleviates severe symptoms but also enhances the patient's functional status, paving the way for subsequent multimodal treatments and thereby extending the possibilities for survival. Interventional bronchoscopy proves effective in treating initial cancerous changes in patients unsuitable for surgical or other aggressive treatments due to accompanying diseases. The key advantage of interventional bronchoscopy lies in its minimal invasiveness, effectiveness and favourable safety profile.
refMLST: reference-based multilocus sequence typing enables universal bacterial typing
Authors: Khdhiri Mondher , Thomas Ella , de Smet Chanel , Chandar Priyanka , Chandrakumar Induja , Davidson Jean M. , Anderson Paul , Chorlton Samuel D.
Published: August 2024

Background

Commonly used approaches for genomic investigation of bacterial outbreaks, including SNP and gene-by-gene approaches, are limited by the requirement for background genomes and curated allele schemes, respectively. As a result, they only work on a select subset of known organisms, and fail on novel or less studied pathogens. We introduce refMLST, a gene-by-gene approach using the reference genome of a bacterium to form a scalable, reproducible and robust method to perform outbreak investigation.

Results

When applied to multiple outbreak causing bacteria including 1263 Salmonella enterica, 331 Yersinia enterocolitica and 6526 Campylobacter jejuni genomes, refMLST enabled consistent clustering, improved resolution, and faster processing in comparison to commonly used tools like chewieSnake.

Conclusions

refMLST is a novel multilocus sequence typing approach that is applicable to any bacterial species with a public reference genome, does not require a curated scheme, and automatically accounts for genetic recombination.

Availability and implementation: refMLST is freely available for academic use at https://bugseq.com/academic.
Genes to specialized metabolites: accumulation of scopoletin, umbelliferone and their glycosides in natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Ihnatowicz Anna , Siwinska Joanna , Perkowska Izabela , Grosjean Jeremy , Hehn Alain , Bourgaud Frederic , Lojkowska Ewa , Olry Alexandre
Published: August 2024

Background

Scopoletin and umbelliferone belong to coumarins, which are plant specialized metabolites with potent and wide biological activities, the accumulation of which is induced by various environmental stresses. Coumarins have been detected in various plant species, including medicinal plants and the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. In recent years, key role of coumarins in maintaining iron (Fe) homeostasis in plants has been demonstrated, as well as their significant impact on the rhizosphere microbiome through exudates secreted into the soil environment. Several mechanisms underlying these processes require clarification. Previously, we demonstrated that Arabidopsis is an excellent model for studying genetic variation and molecular basis of coumarin accumulation in plants.

Results

Here, through targeted metabolic profiling and gene expression analysis, the gene-metabolite network of scopoletin and umbelliferone accumulation was examined in more detail in selected Arabidopsis accessions (Col-0, Est-1, Tsu-1) undergoing different culture conditions and characterized by variation in coumarin content. The highest accumulation of coumarins was detected in roots grown in vitro liquid culture. The expression of 10 phenylpropanoid genes (4CL1, 4CL2, 4CL3, CCoAOMT1, C3’H, HCT, F6’H1, F6’H2,CCR1 and CCR2) was assessed by qPCR in three genetic backgrounds, cultured in vitro and in soil, and in two types of tissues (leaves and roots). We not only detected the expected variability in gene expression and coumarin accumulation among Arabidopsis accessions, but also found interesting polymorphisms in the coding sequences of the selected genes through in silico analysis and resequencing.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study comparing accumulation of simple coumarins and expression of phenylpropanoid-related genes in Arabidopsis accessions grown in soil and in liquid cultures. The large variations we detected in the content of coumarins and gene expression are genetically determined, but also tissue and culture dependent. It is particularly important considering that growing plants in liquid media is a widely used technology that provides a large amount of root tissue suitable for metabolomics. Research on differential accumulation of coumarins and related gene expression will be useful in future studies aimed at better understanding the physiological role of coumarins in roots and the surrounding environments.