bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recommendations for the quantitative basic evaluation of mind-body medicine courses for university students – results of a consensus-based, systematic decision-making process by experts
Authors: Adam Daniela , Vogelsänger Peter , Brinkhaus Benno , Stöckigt Barbara
Published: November 2024

Background

There is an increasing range of mind–body medicine (MBM) courses in Germany to support university students in dealing with stress. The evaluation of these varies and often only has a small number of participants due to the limited group size of the courses. The aim of this project was the development of a quantitative basic evaluation that can be used across all sites that conduct MBM courses.

Methods

In a consensus-based and systematic decision-making process, the learning objectives and various questionnaires for the evaluation of MBM courses were discussed and evaluated by experts according to defined criteria. The process was iterative, in which the reflection and definition of the learning objectives and the questionnaires were conditional and adapted if necessary. The recommendations for the basic evaluation of students’ MBM courses were developed by consensus among the experts.

Results

For the experts, the most important learning objectives of the MBM courses were stress reduction and self-experience with the exercises. A total of 21 questionnaires were evaluated from nine topics: mindfulness, empathy, self-reflection, self-efficacy, resilience, stress, sense of coherence, quality of life, and well-being. Finally, eight questionnaires were recommended by the expert group for use in a basic evaluation: stress (PSS-10), quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref), mindfulness (MAAS), self-efficacy (GSE), self-compassion (SCS), empathy (SPF), self-reflection (GRAS) and sense of coherence (SOC-13). Further questionnaires were recommended as "optional". An additional qualitative evaluation is recommended for a broader and deeper understanding of the quantitative results.

Conclusions

The proposed basic evaluation is the central result of the iterative consensus-based decision-making process, which reflects the learning objectives of the underlying MBM courses. We hope that the basic evaluation will be integrated into other MBM courses so that results of various courses can be pooled and compared across sites in the future. This could increase the informative value of the evaluations. Furthermore, researchers could consider the use of the basic evaluation in clinically controlled trials on MBM.

Trial registration

The project was not registered in a clinical trial registry because no results from health care interventions on human participants have been analyzed or reported.
Creating a sense of place when implementing a new emergency department in Denmark: a qualitative study
Authors: Kirk Jeanette Wassar , Nilsen Per , Andersen Ove , Stefánsdóttir Nina Thórný , Lindstrøm Mette Bendtz , Powell Byron J. , Tjørnhøj-Thomsen Tine
Published: November 2024

Background

Physical locations play an essential yet often overlooked role in healthcare implementation processes. Implementation Science frameworks such as the Theoretical Domains Framework, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, and the Implementation in Context framework acknowledge the importance of the physical environment, but they often treat it as a passive backdrop for change. However, from a cultural geographic perspective, spaces and places are dynamic, influencing behavior, social structures, and the acceptance of new practices. This study aims to explore how managers and emloyees develop a sense of place in a new emergency department (ED) and how these spatial dynamics influence the implementation process.

Methods

This study used a multi-sited ethnographic design, tracking the implementation process across multiple hospital locations from 2019 to 2023. Fieldwork was conducted in settings such as management meetings, micro-simulation training, and tours of the new ED construction site. A total of 53 participants, including managers, nurses, and physicians from 12 specialized departments, were purposively selected. Data were collected through ethnographic field notes (750 single-spaced pages) and semi-structured interviews averaging 39 min. Analysis was guided by situational analysis and cultural geography, integrating human and nonhuman elements. An overall inductive approach was used to develop theory from observations through analysis, applying a coding system to identify key themes related to spaces, places, traces, and sense of place.

Results

Five themes emerged regarding the development of a sense of place: (1) comfort, influenced by physical elements such as daylight and indoor climate; (2) spatial organization, affecting collaboration, workflow, and professional identity; (3) familiarity, highlighting cultural practices and equipment in fostering belonging; (4) time, where construction delays enabled deeper emotional engagement; and (5) involvement, showing that initial criticism transformed into stronger ownership through increased engagement.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of a sense of place during pre-implementation of new physical locations in healthcare. Factors such as comfort, spatial organization, familiarity, time, and involvement are key to participants’ development of a strong sense of place in the new ED. These insights are crucial for designing implementation processes that address both physical and emotional needs, influencing outcomes such as acceptability, adoption, and sustainability.
Chronic disease diagnoses and health service use among people who died of illicit drug toxicity in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Palis Heather , Hu Kevin , Tu Andrew , Scheuermeyer Frank , Staples John A. , Moe Jessica , Haywood Beth , Desai Roshni , Xavier Chloé G. , Xavier Jessica C. , Crabtree Alexis , Slaunwhite Amanda
Published: November 2024

Background

Illicit drug toxicity (i.e., overdose) is the leading cause of death in British Columbia (BC) for people aged 10–59. Stimulants are increasingly detected among drug toxicity deaths. As stimulant use and detection in deaths rises, it is important to understand how people who die of stimulant toxicity differ from people who die of opioid toxicity.

Methods

BC Coroners Service records were retrieved for all people who died of unintentional illicit drug toxicity (accidental or undetermined) between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, whose coroner investigation had concluded and who had an opioid and/or stimulant detected in post-mortem toxicology and identified by the coroner as relevant to the death (N = 3788). BC Chronic Disease Registry definitions were used to identify people with chronic disease. Multinomial regression models were used to examine the relationship between chronic disease diagnoses and drug toxicity death type.

Results

Of the 3788 deaths, 11.1% (N = 422) had stimulants but not opioids deemed relevant to the cause of death (stimulant group), 26.8% (N = 1014) had opioids but not stimulants deemed relevant (opioid group), and 62.1% (N = 2352) had both opioids and stimulants deemed relevant (opioid/stimulant group). People with ischemic heart disease (1.80 (1.14–2.85)) and people with heart failure (2.29 (1.25–4.20)) had approximately twice the odds of being in the stimulant group as compared to the opioid group.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that people with heart disease who use illicit stimulants face an elevated risk of drug toxicity death. Future research should explore this association and should identify opportunities for targeted interventions to reduce drug toxicity deaths among people with medical comorbidities.
Is the diagnosis and treatment of depression gender-biased? Evidence from a population-based aging cohort in Sweden
Authors: Bacigalupe Amaia , Martín Unai , Triolo Federico , Sjöberg Linnea , Sterner Therese Rydberg , Dekhtyar Serhiy , Fratiglioni Laura , Calderón-Larrañaga Amaia
Published: November 2024

Background

As compared to men, older women´s higher rates of depression diagnosis and antidepressant use are widely reported. We aimed to: a) explore whether there is a potential gender bias in the clinical diagnosis of depression and antidepressant prescription in an older population from Stockholm; and 2) analyze if such gender bias differs by patients’ age and socioeconomic status.

Methods

We used data from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen, SNAC-K (N = 2,941). We compared gender differences in: (a) clinical diagnosis of depression according to the Swedish National Patient Register (ICD-10 codes F32-F34; F412) (“register-based diagnosis”); (b) SNAC-K-based diagnosis of depression, partially gender-blind, using the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS) and the DSM-IV-TR (“SNAC-K based diagnosis); and (c) antidepressant use (ATC code N06A). To analyze the magnitude of the gender bias in the register-based diagnosis of depression and in antidepressant use, and the role of potential moderating factors, prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated using Poisson regression models. Models were run separately by age and social class.

Results

Women had a 63% higher probability of having a register-based diagnosis of depression (PR = 1.63[1.23–2.15]) and a 79% higher probability of using antidepressants (PR = 1.79[1.34–2.40]). No gender differences were observed in the SNAC-K-based diagnosis of depression. The gender differences in the register-based diagnosis were narrowed, although remained significant, after considering age, depressive symptoms, and health services use (PR = 1.44[1.10–1.88]), as well as the register-based diagnosis in the case of antidepressant use (PR = 1.31[1.04–1.64]). This gender bias was larger among the younger-old and the most advantaged social class.

Conclusion

A gender-bias was identified in the diagnosis and treatment of depression in older adults within the Swedish healthcare setting, which could imply that health services may be contributing to the medicalization of women’s mental health. Gender-sensitive clinical and public health interventions are essential to reduce gender disparities in mental healthcare, also in old age.
Predictors of care home resident conveyance to hospital or referral to community pathways by a regional ambulance service attending medical emergencies: a retrospective cross sectional study
Authors: Siriwardena Aloysius Niroshan , Botan Vanessa , Law Graham , Laparidou Despina , Phung Viet-Hai , Curtis Ffion , Whitley Gregory Adam , Akanuwe Joseph , Rowan Elise , Fothergill Rachael , Bowler Susan , Kordowicz Maria , Palastanga Nicoya , Wilkins Lissie , Spaight Robert , Miller Elizabeth , Gordon Adam
Published: November 2024

Background

Care home residents are at higher risk compared with community dwelling elders for medical emergencies, often resulting in ambulance attendance and conveyance to hospital. We aimed to determine the factors predicting care home resident conveyance to hospital or referral to community pathways by an ambulance service.

Methods

We used a retrospective cross-sectional study design analysing routine data from electronic clinical records from East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS). Data comprised all patients including care home residents attended by ambulance from 2018 to 2021. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the main predictors of conveyance to hospital or referral to community services.

Results

Data included 170,612 attendances to care homes representing 7.5% of the total number of EMAS attendances between 2018 and 2021. The main predictors of conveyance to hospital were being male (Relative Risk Ratio [RRR] 1.07, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.03–1.10, p < 0.001), aged 70–79 years (RRR 1.09, 95%CI 1.03–1.17, p < 0.001) or 80–89 years (RRR 1.10, 95%CI 1.03–1.17, p < 0.001), situated in an area of higher deprivation (RRR 1.06, 95%CI 1.03–1.09, p < 0.001), or having dispatch categories which included cardiovascular (RRR 11.29, 95%CI 10.43–12.22, p < 0,001), trauma such as falls (RRR 9.50, 95%CI 8.97–10.05, p < 0,001) or neurological conditions (RRR 9.06, 95%CI 8.42–9.75, p < 0,001). Calls made by health care professionals (HCPs) (RRR 15.37, 95%CI 13.41–17.62, p < 0,001) or where patients had a higher National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) (RRR 1.23, 95%CI 1.22–1.24, p < 0,001) resulted in significantly increased conveyance.

Conclusions

Various factors significantly predicted conveyance of care home residents to hospital by ambulance. These included HCP referral and a higher NEWS2 score confirming that severity of clinical condition of the patient significantly increased conveyance. Future interventions to prevent or address certain conditions such as falls or provide enhanced care in care homes may prevent some emergencies or reduce the likelihood of conveyance to hospital.
BeetRepeats: reference sequences for genome and polymorphism annotation in sugar beet and wild relatives
Authors: Schmidt Nicola , Maiwald Sophie , Mann Ludwig , Weber Beatrice , Seibt Kathrin M. , Breitenbach Sarah , Liedtke Susan , Menzel Gerhard , Weisshaar Bernd , Holtgräwe Daniela , Heitkam Tony
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Despite the advances in genomics, repetitive DNAs (repeats) are still difficult to sequence, assemble, and identify. This is due to their high abundance and diversity, with many repeat families being unique to the organisms in which they were described. In sugar beet, repeats make up a significant portion of the genome (at least 53%), with many repeats being restricted to the beet genera, Beta and Patellifolia. Over the course of over 30 years and many repeat-based studies, over a thousand reference repeat sequences for beet genomes have been identified and many experimentally characterized (e.g. physically located on the chromosomes). Here, we present the collection of these reference repeat sequences for beets.

Data description

The BeetRepeats_v1.0 resource is a comprehensive compilation of all characterized repeat families, including satellite DNAs, ribosomal DNAs, transposable elements and endogenous viruses. The genomes covered are those of sugar beet and closely related wild beets (genera Beta and Patellifolia) as well as Chenopodium quinoa and Spinacia oleracea (all belonging to the Amaranthaceae). The reference sequences are in fasta format and comprise well-characterized repeats from both repeat categories (dispersed/mobile as well as tandemly arranged). The database is suitable for the RepeatMasker and RepeatExplorer2 pipelines and can be used directly for any repeat annotation and repeat polymorphism detection purposes.
Genome-wide identification of root colonization fitness genes in plant growth promoting Pseudomonas asiatica employing transposon-insertion sequencing
Authors: Pranav Parameswaran Sree , Sivakumar Ramamoorthy , Suvekbala Vemparthan , Rajendhran Jeyaprakash
Published: November 2024

Background

Pseudomonas spp. are well-studied plant growth promoters, particularly in the context of root colonization. However, the specific genetic factors that determine its fitness in the rhizosphere remain largely unexplored. This study breaks new ground by employing transposon insertion sequencing (Tn-Seq) to identify the genetic factors in Pseudomonas asiatica JR11 that are crucial for colonizing corn roots.

Results

We created a transposon mutant library of P. asiatica JR11 with 91,884 insertion sites and subjected it to three consecutive enrichment cycles within the corn root system. A total of 79 genes were identified as essential for root colonization (negatively-selected), while 22 genes were found to counteract root colonization efficiency (positively-selected), with both sets being commonly present across all three cycles. These genes involve amino acid metabolism, cell wall biosynthesis, and protein functions. Additionally, we found four negatively-selected and four positively-selected hypothetical proteins that consistently influenced root colonization fitness.

Conclusions

The identification of these molecular determinants opens up exciting possibilities for further research. Understanding these pathways could lead to the development of novel strategies for enhancing the fitness of P. asiatica JR11 during corn root colonization, with potential implications for plant growth promotion and agricultural practices.
The closure of microcracks under pressure: inference from elastic wave velocity and electrical conductivity in granitic rocks
Authors: Watanabe Tohru , Tomioka Arina , Yoshida Kenta
Published: November 2024

Measurements of elastic wave velocity and electrical conductivity were conducted on brine-saturated granitic rocks under confining pressure to quantitatively characterize the closure of cracks. The number of contacting asperities and radius ratio of contact over crack were estimated. Contacting asperities were assumed to deform elastically and/or plastically. The number of contacts increases steeply at low pressure (< 10 MPa) and decreases gradually at higher pressure, while the radius ratio of contact over crack linearly increases. Though the area fraction of contacts increases to no more than 30% even at the highest confining pressure (150 MPa), the stiffness of the solid phase is recovered, and the connectivity of fluid is maintained in a crack. Cracks under pressure are closed for elastic properties, but open for transport properties. The effective aperture is of the order of 100 nm at atmospheric pressure, and steeply decreases at low pressure (< 10 MPa) and then gradually at higher pressure. Observed seismic velocity and electrical conductivity in the crust should be interpreted by considering contacts in cracks. Microstructures of closing cracks should be further investigated to seek relationships between structural parameters and effective pressure.

Graphical abstract
Effect of feed rate during induction hardening on the hardening depth, microstructure, and wear properties of tool-grade steel work roll
Authors: Šapek A. , Kalin M. , Godec M. , Donik Č. , Markoli B.
Published: November 2024

Rolls are the most critical yet vulnerable parts of cold rolling mills. It is crucial for them to withstand long rolling campaigns without losing surface roughness or incurring damage. Newly developed rolls are made from tool-grade steel with high roughness, lower wear, and high damage resistance. One of the most important advantages is the elimination of the need for chrome plating, which is currently widely used on standard steel rolls but is ecologically harmful. We investigated a type of steel with 8% chromium for use in cold rolling using light optical microscopy (LOM), X-ray crystallography (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), hardness measurements, and tribological tests. In this study, a roll with a diameter of 325 mm was electro-slag remelted and forged, machined to a diameter of 305 mm, and quenched and tempered to simulate industrial roll production. A forged roll was induction heated and hardened at four different feed rates (i.e., 24 mm/min, 30 mm/min, 36 mm/min, and 42 mm/min), tempered at 515℃ for 24h and again at 480℃ for 24h, and dissected for in-depth analysis. We identified a clear relationship between the feed rate of the roll during induction hardening and the depth of hardness, the sizes of carbides, and the wear properties of the roll. By reducing the feed rate of the roll through the inductor, we increased the depth of the hardened layer from 16 mm (at a feed rate of 36 mm/min) to 25 mm (at a feed rate of 24 mm/min), which is a 56.25% increase. Such an increase is expected to extend the lifespan of the working roll without having negative effects on the wear resistance and other important parameters. XRD analysis showed that the sample had a 0.4% residual austenite, which means it had a significantly lower risk of roll damage during operation than standard steel grades
Educational design insights for interprofessional immersive simulation to prepare allied health students for clinical placements
Authors: Brentnall Jennie , Rossiter Laura , Judd Belinda , Cowley Emma , McCormick Keith , Turk Ruth , Thackray Debbie
Published: November 2024

Background

Positive outcomes of simulation programmes to prepare students for placement are widely noted. However, few studies adequately describe considerations for designing allied health placement simulations. There exists a conceptual framework to guide such simulation design, which draws on theory and educational expertise but to date lacks varied stakeholder perspectives. This study aimed to identify implications for the design of allied health placement simulation from participants’ experiences of a simulation-based, interprofessional, novice placement preparation programme.

Methods

Occupational therapy, physiotherapy and podiatry students finishing their first year of study were offered a 1-week intensive interprofessional simulation immediately before their first placement. Focus groups in the following weeks allowed participants to discuss their experiences of the programme, preparation for student placements, and recommendations. These were transcribed and interpreted using reflexive thematic analysis and then abductively related to the conceptual framework.

Results

In total, 22 participants broadly representative of the simulation programme participants contributed to separate focus groups with domestic-enrolled students (n = 7), international students (n = 5), external practice educators (n = 6), and simulated participants (n = 4). Inductive reflexive thematic analysis generated six themes: (i) engaging learning environment, (ii) realism and relevance, (iii) student confidence and communication, (iv) international students’ needs, (v) recommendations to facilitate further preparation for placement, and (vi) importance of preparation to engage in simulation.

All participant groups were invested in the programme and highlighted learning opportunities. An immersive and relatable experience with active participation contributed to confidence and communication skill development. International students noted needs pertaining to cultural and language expectations. Other participant recommendations related to the equity of opportunities and specific preparation for placement student-educator interactions. Finally, every participant group noted features of effective preparation for simulation-based education.

Conclusions

Relating these findings abductively to the literature and conceptual frameworks, this study highlights simulation design considerations for learner needs assessment, engagement, realism, psychological safety, and challenge to prepare learners for their first clinical placement. Specific implications for adequately preparing all participant groups, design considerations for the needs of culturally diverse students, and balancing interprofessional and discipline-specific learning are highlighted from a lived experience viewpoint. Future research may engage greater stakeholder co-design in simulation-based education.
Septum pellucidum pilocytic astrocytoma: case report and literature review
Authors: Fakhroo Fatima A. , Almutairi Meshari , Baeshen Salem , Almutairi Othman , Alkhalidi Hisham , Ajlan Abdulrazaj
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Septum pellucidum pilocytic astrocytoma is rare. There are only 3 reported cases in literature. Our patient is the fourth case.

Case presentation

A 17-year-old male presented with headache. CT brain and MRI brain showed septum pellucidum lesion with obstructive hydrocephalus which looked like colloid cyst. Intraoperatively, the tumor was attached to the lower part of septum pellucidum and it didn’t look like a colloid cyst. Histopathology was pilocytic astrocytoma. Postoperatively, patient recovered well with no neurological deficits or adverse neurological sequalae.

Conclusion

Septum pellucidum pilocytic astrocytoma should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis of septum pellucidum tumors. We observed that the interhemispheric transcallosal transventricular approach might be associated with lesser comorbidities and neurological deficits in tumors in this location.
Multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: genetic control mechanisms and therapeutic advances
Authors: Zhao Yuanjing , Xu Haoran , Wang Hui , Wang Ping , Chen Simin
Published: November 2024

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant opportunistic pathogen, and its complex mechanisms of antibiotic resistance pose a challenge to modern medicine. This literature review explores the advancements made from 1979 to 2024 in understanding the regulatory networks of antibiotic resistance genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a particular focus on the molecular underpinnings of these resistance mechanisms. The review highlights four main pathways involved in drug resistance: reducing outer membrane permeability, enhancing active efflux systems, producing antibiotic-inactivating enzymes, and forming biofilms. These pathways are intricately regulated by a combination of genetic regulation, transcriptional regulators, two-component signal transduction, DNA methylation, and small RNA molecules. Through an in-depth analysis and synthesis of existing literature, we identify key regulatory elements mexT, ampR, and argR as potential targets for novel antimicrobial strategies. A profound understanding of the core control nodes of drug resistance offers a new perspective for therapeutic intervention, suggesting that modulating these elements could potentially reverse resistance and restore bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics. The review looks forward to future research directions, proposing the use of gene editing and systems biology to further understand resistance mechanisms and to develop effective antimicrobial strategies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This review is expected to provide innovative solutions to the problem of drug resistance in infectious diseases.
Nivolumab in Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Malignancies, Including Rare Cancers: Results of CheckMate 627, an Adaptive Basket Design Clinical Trial
Authors: Schuler Martin , Berry Donald A. , Burris Howard A. , Von Hoff Daniel D. , Detry Michelle A. , Viele Kert , Ochsenreither Sebastian , Spigel David , Larson Timothy , Kayali Fadi , Schwartzberg Lee , Illert Anna L. , Khan Tariq Aziz , Soskind Rose , Lee Michelle , Forslund Ann , Naing Aung
Published: November 2024

PURPOSE

To report on CheckMate 627 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:
NCT02832167
), a phase II adaptive basket design trial of nivolumab in uncommon advanced/metastatic tumors.

METHODS

Adults with previously treated advanced/metastatic malignancies received nivolumab 240 mg once every 2 weeks for eight cycles, followed by nivolumab 480 mg once every 4 weeks. The primary end point was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR). In addition to observed ORRs, model-adjusted ORRs were estimated via Bayesian analysis in patients who completed ≥28 weeks of follow-up, to correct for variability inherent in multitumor studies. This adaptive model allowed for borrowing of information from other tumors demonstrating similar ORR and evaluation of nivolumab treatment effect versus historical standard-of-care (SOC) controls. Nivolumab was considered to have met the criteria for ORR superiority in a group if there was ≥80% posterior probability of ORR with nivolumab exceeding ORR with historical SOC control treatment in that group.

RESULTS

The study included 25 tumor groups (n = 239), with 24 groups included in the Bayesian ORR analysis (efficacy was reported but not modeled in the other group that contained a mix of tumor types). The poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (PD-NET) group (n = 20) met the prespecified criterion for ORR superiority with a 93% probability of the model-adjusted ORR with nivolumab (22% [95% CI, 8 to 44]) exceeding the respective historical SOC ORR of 10.0%. The observed ORR was 30.0% (95% CI, 11.9 to 54.3). There were no new safety signals for nivolumab.

CONCLUSION

Nivolumab showed evidence of antitumor activity in patients with advanced/metastatic PD-NET in CheckMate 627. The results of this study support the use of an adaptive basket design for identification of rare cancers responsive to immunotherapy.
Dialect Bias in Automatic Speech Recognition: Analysis of Appalachian English
Authors: Lai Li-Fang , van Hell Janet G. , Lipski John
Published: November 2024

The rise of artificial intelligence has prompted increased scrutiny of systemic biases in automatic speech recognition technologies. One focal topic of discussion has been the degraded performance for speakers of African American and Southern U.S. English. This study aims to contribute to the research on bias in voice-AI by investigating speech recognition performance for Appalachian English, an often-stigmatized variety in American society. Participants were recruited from Southern Appalachia (Eastern Tennessee), with a non-Southern Appalachian (Central Pennsylvania) sample included as a reference group. The participants read aloud the Goldilocks fairytale and the Rainbow Passage, and the recordings were processed using Dartmouth Linguistic Automation (DARLA).

We conducted two sets of analyses on the vowel phonemes. The first analysis assessed DARLA’s effectiveness in recognizing vowels. The system returned higher phoneme error rates for Southern Appalachian speech compared to the non-Southern dataset. Next, we conducted a detailed error analysis on the misrecognized input-output phoneme pairs. The results suggested dialect bias in the system, with 50.2% of the errors in the Southern dataset attributed to participation in the Southern Vowel Shift. These findings underscore the importance of integrating sociolectal variation into the acoustic model to mitigate dialect bias for currently underserved users.
Hostility, Rivalry, and Resistance
Authors: Wallace Peter G.
Published: November 2024

The Peace of Westphalia established 1624 as the normative year for confessional relations within the territories of the Holy Roman Empire, including the imperial estates in Alsace. The treaty also transferred the Habsburgs’ Alsatian lordships and titles to the kings of France. Between 1673 and 1681 Louis XIV brought all the Alsatian states under his sovereignty through military campaigns and negotiations. Though the king outlawed Reformed worship within his kingdom in 1685, Lutheran and Reformed communities within Alsace remained protected by the Westphalian settlement. Royal officials in Alsace still found the means to push a counterreform agenda through imperial legal precedent by instituting the simultaneum: the shared use of churches by different confessional congregations. The policy granted exclusive use of the choir for Catholic services in what had been Protestant churches. Working with archival sources from the Archives Départementales du Haut-Rhin and the Archives de l'Ancien Evêché de Bâle, this article examines the tensions between Catholics and Lutherans that derived from the forced sharing of their churches.
“Just War” and “Conspicuous Sins”
Authors: Casteen Elizabeth
Published: November 2024

The cultural logic of slavery as an extension and expression of “just war” shaped the possibilities open to enslaved Muslims in the late medieval Midi, and it shaped how Muslims in French-ruled territories across the Mediterranean were understood. Although there were likely fewer enslaved people in the Midi than in Iberia or Italy, slavery played an important role in the cultural imaginary of the Midi's cities, as it did in the broader Mediterranean world—including the extensive Angevin realm that connected Provence to Naples. Indeed slavery, as a component of crusading and expression of Christian victory, was vital to communal self-definition in what is now southern France. The sexual coercion and commodification of enslaved women in particular tied the Midi and the Francophone Mediterranean cultural zone of which it was an integral part to a broader culture of slaving and crusading, and it helped define the communal integrity and identity of cities across Languedoc and Provence. Rather than being the exclusive preserve of elites and aristocrats and therefore largely insignificant for the cities of the Midi, slavery played a pivotal role in delineating the boundaries of the Christian community and shaping sexual ethics in cities where enslaved people were present.
On Cultivation (2002, 2023)
Authors: Davis Natalie Zemon , Perl Jeffrey M.
Published: November 2024

Half of this piece appeared under the title “Postscript on Cultivation: Editorial Note” in Common Knowledge 8, no. 2 (spring 2002), and half was written in 2023 by one of the coauthors as a posthumous tribute to the other. The historian Natalie Zemon Davis died on the fourteenth day of the latest war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. The relevance of “Postscript,” which was written following the attacks by al-Qaeda in the United States on September 11, 2001, is that it redirects the attention of scholars from the battlefield and mass media to the ivory towers in which intellectuals are sometimes said to hide. Cultivated civilians ought to know that cultures strive to erase one another in ways vile but unsurprising. Those who learn history expect atrocity and should busy themselves less with assignment of blame than with archaeology, the preservation of objects, the collection of reports and stories, and the reinforcement — by retiring from the streets into libraries and other spaces of patient cooperation — of the partition between barbarism and civilization. With reference to the religious wars of the sixteenth century, during which — Davis showed in a famous essay — Catholics and Protestants fought each other by day but met by night to collect and distribute alms, Perl commends the urge to withdraw from both combat and protest into institutions doing good works quietly.
Julian of Norwich's Hazelnut as Paradox
Authors: Bynum Caroline Walker
Published: November 2024

Using historical rather than philosophical means, this essay responds to a philosophical discussion of the problem of evil. Instead of constructing arguments in support of a general, theoretical position, the author examines a single, paradoxical image from the vision of a medieval anchoress and suggests that those concerned with the problem of evil, including philosophers, should take it seriously. In order to explain or contextualize why, despite the existence of evil, “all will be well . . . and all manner of thing will be well,” Julian of Norwich narrates how, in her vision, God placed in her hand “something small, no bigger than a hazelnut,” which is both contingent and eternal, all and nothing — opposites coexisting. This essay analyzes how Julian's image of the hazelnut as paradoxical is a simultaneity of opposites and argues that paradox, enacted and experienced in ritual, offers a way to assert and live with opposites such as good and evil, life and death, simultaneously.
Curbing Leakage in Public Programs: Evidence from India’s Direct Benefit Transfer Policy
Authors: Barnwal Prabhat
Published: November 2024

Targeted price subsidies create a gap between subsidized and unsubsidized prices. The resulting dual pricing can lead to arbitrage opportunities where intermediaries divert subsidized goods to unintended beneficiaries via the black market. I study India’s Direct Benefit Transfer policy for cooking fuel subsidies, which altered the existing subsidy program by transferring subsidies directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts. The policy decreased subsidized fuel purchases, indicating a reduction in diversion to the black market. Changes in unsubsidized fuel sales and black market prices provide supporting evidence that leakage was reduced. These results suggest that addressing the underlying perverse incentives in welfare delivery can improve efficiency by curbing leakages. (JEL D73, I38, O17, Q41, Q48)
Aiming for the Goal: Contribution Dynamics of Crowdfunding
Authors: Deb Joyee , Öry Aniko , Williams Kevin R.
Published: November 2024

We study a dynamic contribution game where investors seek private benefits offered in exchange for contributions, and a single, publicly minded donor values project success. We show that donor contributions serve as costly signals that encourage socially productive contributions by investors who face a coordination problem. Investors and the donor prefer different equilibria, but all benefit in expectation from the donor’s ability to dynamically signal his valuation. We explore various contexts in which our model can be applied and delve empirically into the case of Kickstarter. We calibrate our model and quantify the coordination benefits of dynamic signaling in counterfactuals. (JEL C73, D26, D82, G32, L26, M13)
Political Correctness, Social Image, and Information Transmission
Authors: Braghieri Luca
Published: November 2024

A prominent argument in the political correctness debate is that people feel pressure to publicly espouse sociopolitical views they do not privately hold, and that such misrepresentations might render public discourse less vibrant and informative. This paper formalizes the argument in terms of social image and evaluates it experimentally in the context of college campuses. The results show that (i) social image concerns drive a wedge between the sensitive sociopolitical attitudes that college students report in private and in public; (ii) public utterances are indeed less informative than private utterances; and (iii) information loss is exacerbated by (partial) audience naïveté. (JEL D72, D83, D91, I23, Z13)
Loans for the “Little Fellow”: Credit, Crisis, and Recovery in the Great Depression
Authors: Quincy Sarah
Published: November 2024

This paper identifies how bank branching benefited local economies during the Great Depression. Using archival data and narrative evidence, I show how Bank of America’s branch network in 1930s California created an internal capital market that diversified away local liquidity shortfalls, allowing the bank to maintain 49 percent higher credit growth from 1929 to 1933 than competing banks. The bank’s presence mitigated cites’ property value contractions and strengthened their recovery through 1940. Linked individual data show that the bank’s proximity to workers hastened the transition from agricultural employment to human-capital–intensive sectors in the 1930s, generating structural change and higher wages. (JEL E32, G01, G21, N12, N22, N92, R23)
Decisions under Risk Are Decisions under Complexity
Authors: Oprea Ryan
Published: November 2024

We provide evidence that classic lottery anomalies like probability weighting and loss aversion are not special phenomena of risk. They also arise (and often with equal strength) when subjects evaluate deterministic, positive monetary payments that have been disaggregated to resemble lotteries. Thus, we find, e.g., apparent probability weighting in settings without probabilities and loss aversion in settings without scope for loss. Across subjects, anomalies in these deterministic tasks strongly predict the same anomalies in lotteries. These findings suggest that much of the behavior motivating our most important behavioral theories of risk derive from complexity-driven mistakes rather than true risk preferences. (JEL C91, D44, D81, D91)
Biaxial seismic response of base-column connections in sub-standard steel buildings: dataset
Authors: Stathas Nikolaos , Di Sarno Luigi , Wu Jingren , Freddi Fabio , D’Aniello Mario , Bousias Stathis , Landolfo Raffaele , Güneyisi Esra Mete , Papagiannis Lambros
Published: November 2024

Existing steel frames not complying with modern seismic codes are often vulnerable to earthquakes due to inadequate seismic detailing. These types of framed structures typically feature semi-rigid and partial strength column-base connections; the behaviour of such connections may significantly affect their seismic performance. However, current code provisions offer limited guidance for the assessment and retrofit of column-base connections To fill the knowledge gap, the H2020 EU-funded Earthquake Assessment of Base-Column Connections in Existing Steel Frames project experimentally investigated, the response of exposed column-base plate connections. Bi-directional Pseudo-Dynamic tests were carried out at the Structures Laboratory of the University of Patras within the framework of "Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies - ERIES" project. The case-study steel frame featured two types of column-base plate connections, i.e., stiffened and unstiffened, representing respectively the base connections of an external moment-resisting frame and an internal gravity frame. The experimental programme comprised free vibration tests to identify the modal properties of the sample steel frame. A set of quasi-static cyclic tests and pseudo-dynamic tests were then carried out to investigate the performance of the steel frame under bi-directional earthquake sequences. The response of each component constituting the column-base plate connections was monitored during the tests to fully capture the behaviour of the connections. Such experimental results allow model calibration and further parametric investigation on column base plate connections.
Accessory extensor pollicis longus as a rare radial-sided tendon anomaly: a case report
Authors: Lee Junho , Kwon Da Yoon , Jung Sung-No , Seo Bommie Florence
Published: November 2024

Accessory extensor pollicis longus tendons are rare tendon anomalies. This report describes the case of a 54-year-old man who presented with pain and difficulty extending his thumb. Upon initial examination, despite a history of trauma, he could extend the interphalangeal joint, but with limited range. During the surgical exploration, an accessory extensor pollicis longus tendon was unexpectedly discovered. This tendon ran parallel to the extensor pollicis longus on the radial side and then attached to the distal phalanx of the thumb. Accessory extensor tendons are more commonly found on the ulnar side than on the radial side of the hand; therefore, this case is notable due to the unusual location of the tendon. After appropriate repair surgery, the patient successfully regained a normal range of motion. While previous classifications of extensor tendon anomalies have focused on the relationship between the extensor indicis proprius and extensor digitorum communis, this case suggests that it is also necessary to consider the relationship with the extensor pollicis brevis tendon. This case highlights the importance of recognizing tendon variations, especially in trauma situations. Detecting such variations preoperatively using imaging can significantly impact the treatment plan and surgical approach.
Compression neuropathy caused by a lipoma in the fourth finger: a case report
Authors: Kim Hyeon Jun , Jung Sung Yoon , Kim Ji Woong
Published: November 2024

Lipomas are benign tumors originating from adipocytes, and less than 1% of lipomas occur in the fingers. While most lipomas can be managed with observation, those occurring in the fingers can cause symptoms and functional impairment due to the proximity of the subcutaneous fat layer to nerves and blood vessels. Herein, the authors report a case of a patient who experienced finger numbness due to a lipoma extending from the fourth proximal phalanx to the middle phalanx. In cases like this, where initial symptoms are present in the finger but the mass is not palpable, it is essential to actively pursue a diagnosis using ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging. Also, in cases of lipomas causing symptoms and functional impairment, early removal may be beneficial for alleviating the patient's symptoms.
Cultura architettonica nell´Impero di Carlo V. Storia globale, microstoria, storiografia (1519-1556)
Authors: Plaza Morillo Carlos
Published: November 2024

Dopo l'elezione a imperatore del Sacro Romano Impero (1530), Carlo V d´Asburgo (1500-1558) ottiene il controllo sul più vasto dominio della storia dell'umanità. In che modo la coesistenza di tradizioni, lingue e geografie diverse si riflette sulla cultura architettonica? Utilizzando l´Impero di Carlo V come osservatorio, questo volume interroga le diverse scale del progetto, confrontandosi con i più recenti orientamenti critici. Facendo dialogare le questioni storiche con quelle storiografiche, i dieci saggi qui raccolti, dedicati al Vecchio e al Nuovo Mondo, propongono una riflessione trasversale sull´arte del costruire, apportando contributi originali e illustrando nuovi approcci alla ricerca.
Tlacuache: el peligro de vivir en zonas urbanas
Authors: Hortelano-Moncada Yolanda , Pérez-Lara Sandra P. , Cervantes Fernando A.
Published: November 2024

¿Cuáles son las ventajas o desventajas para un tlacuache de vivir en una zona urbana? ¿Qué funciones desempeña en este tipo de lugar? ¿Sabías que una especie de tlacuache habita dentro del campus universitario de la UNAM?
Tamandúa: el arte de comer hormigas
Authors: González Santana Oscar Daniel , Jardon Xicotencatl Samantha , Hernández Ponce Karen Astrid
Published: November 2024

El noble caballero viste de negro, acompañado de tonos amarillentos en su pelaje, con la elegancia de un artista toma con su lengua fina, semejante al más delicado pincel, hormigas, termitas y hasta abejas para saciar su apetito voraz, pero ¿será suficiente?, ¿cómo lo hace? En este artículo se abordará el sutil arte de comer insectos por el Tamandúa.
Una historia sobre murciélagos y flores
Authors: Rocamontes-Morales Jesús Antonio , Ortega Jorge , Castellanos-Morales Gabriela
Published: November 2024

Los murciélagos nectarívoros salen al atardecer y buscan flores para alimentarse. Cuando visitan varias flores, transfieren polen entre ellas, y así facilitan la reproducción de muchas plantas que dependen de esta interacción. Como polinizadores clave, contribuyen al equilibrio y la diversidad de los ecosistemas en los que habitan.
Controle Judicial E Deferência - Decisões Da Comissão De Valores Mobiliários e do Conselho De Recursos Do Sistema Financeiro Nacional
Authors: Muniz Igor
Published: November 2024

Neste artigo, é explorado o tema da deferência do Poder Judiciário às decisões administrativas colegiadas tomadas pela Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (“CVM”) e revistas pelo Conselho de Recursos do Sistema Financeiro Nacional (“CRSFN”) no julgamento de processos administrativos sancionadores bem como se tal nível de deferência será maior ou menor quando a decisão objeto de questionamento tiver sido tomada, no âmbito do CRSFN, por voto duplo de qualidade. Para tanto, são analisadas as fundamentações das decisões dos tribunais brasileiros relativas a decisões da CVM e/ou do CRSFN, procurando-se a sua sistematização. Ao final do trabalho, é feita análise crítica da temática.
Permanência do poder de controle
Authors: Ochsendorf Portugal Daniel
Published: November 2024

Acredita-se ser possível demonstrar que os redatores do Anteprojeto da Lei das Sociedades por Ações, provavelmente, pretenderam que o controle minoritário fosse alcançado pela Lei. Certamente, é possível demonstrar que havia autores relevantes antes da edição da Lei utilizando a expressão “permanência do controle”, como Waldemar Ferreira, Georges Capitaine, João Eunápio Borges e Claude Champaud. É razoável que houvesse a intenção de se alcançar o controle minoritário, mas se deve ter em mente que instituições como a CVM não poderiam definir o controle minoritário de maneira infralegal. Apesar disso, é popular a tese de que a CVM poderia criar, modificar e extinguir o direito. Procura-se demonstrar que esta ideia está equivocada.
O Pedido De Restituição Na Falência Após A Reforma Promovida Pela Lei Nº 14.112/2020: Proteção Ao Direito De Propriedade Ou Tratamento Privilegiado A Credores?
Authors: Armando Saboya Luís
Published: November 2024

O presente artigo busca analisar, perfunctoriamente, a evolução do pedido de restituição e de sua finalidade na legislação falimentar brasileira. Para tanto, traça um paralelo entre (i) a evolução normativa do instituto, a partir do Decreto-Lei 7.661/1945, e das Leis 11.101/2005 e 14.112/2020; e (ii) o tratamento jurisprudencial dado à matéria, especialmente quanto a eventual influência que os precedentes tiveram nas reformas das Leis de Falências, de modo a identificar se o instituto sofreu alterações em sua finalidade de modo a beneficiar um grupo de credores.