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The article analyzes the book "El pez de oro" by Gamaliel Churata from an ecopoetic perspective. Churata proposes an Indo-American philosophical and aesthetic reflection that responds to the influence of nature and recognizes America as a mother. Additionally, he highlights the importance of the connection with nature and the need to recover the ontological senses of Amerindian cultures. Churata considers virtuous love to be a healthy relationship with the sacred network of life and believes that coca carries fundamental knowledge of the cosmos. He also interprets the Andean matriarchal cosmogony and emphasizes that all living beings possess language, consciousness, and reason. Finally, he highlights the importance of faith and generous action in creation. [Extracted from the article]

In December 2022, North America experienced an unprecedented extreme cold event. However, the underlying physical mechanisms of this cold wave, and the extent to which it is driven by internal variability or external forcing, are not fully understood. Using ERA5 reanalysis data and the HadGEM3‐A‐N216 attribution simulations, we identified internal variability as the main cause, contributing −5.14 K to surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies in North America. External forcing slightly mitigated the cold by 0.42 K. An internally generated wave train from the North Pacific, influenced in combination by Pacific‐North American (PNA) and North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) teleconnection patterns, initiated this intense cyclonic event, contributing −2.18 K and −2.12 K to SAT anomalies, respectively. La Niña‐like sea surface temperature anomalies amplified this wave train and resultant cold wave. Additionally, excessive snow cover in the previous November also intensified the December cold anomalies by enhancing surface albedo and reducing solar radiation. Plain Language Summary: In December 2022, North America was hit by an exceptionally severe cold event. Scientists have been trying to understand the reasons behind this cold wave. Using detailed weather data and climate models, researchers found that natural climate variability played a major role, causing temperatures to drop by about 5.14 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, external factors like human‐induced climate change had a minor effect, slightly reducing the severity of the cold by 0.42 degrees Celsius. The study identified an atmospheric wave train pattern, originating from the North Pacific and moving toward North America, which played a crucial role in triggering this extreme weather. Further investigations showed that this wave train was influenced by specific large‐scale weather patterns in the Pacific region, namely the Pacific‐North American (PNA) and North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) patterns, which contributed to the cold temperatures by approximately 2.18 and 2.12 degrees Celsius, respectively. Additionally, colder‐than‐normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical central Pacific, associated with La Niña, strengthened the wave train. Internal thermodynamical processes, such as increased snow cover, also slightly intensified the cold wave by reflecting more sunlight and reducing the amount of solar energy reaching the surface. Key Points: Internal variability triggers 2022 December extreme cold wave in North AmericaPNA and NPO are two key teleconnections responsible for this extreme cold waveSnow cover‐SAT feedback intensifies this extreme cold wave [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the French overseas department of French Guiana, South America, nearly doubles that in its European counterpart, Metropolitan France. This region is demographically diverse and includes several populations of Indigenous Peoples. Although such populations are at particular risk of developing T2D across the Americas, very little is known about their health status in French Guiana, and accurate numbers of diabetic patients do not exist. Methods: In light of a potential public health crisis, an ethnomedicinal study of diabetes experienced by Indigenous Parikweneh was conducted to provide better insight into the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to this quickly emerging disease in French Guiana. Altogether, 75 interviews were conducted with community members and Elders, as well as healthcare professionals and administrators providing services to the Parikweneh population of Macouria and Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock. Results: Interviews suggest a high incidence of T2D in this population, with cases that have risen quickly since the mid-twentieth century. Parikweneh participants linked the development of the illness to dietary changes, notably through the introduction of new and sweet foods. Recognizing the complexity of diabetes and its symptoms, diabetic patients highlighted the importance of biomedical treatments and follow-ups, though they frequently alternated or used them concomitantly with Parikweneh medicines. With the help of biomedical tools (i.e. glucometer), local medicinal practices mirrored biomedical approaches through dietary adaptation and the use of medicinal animals and plants for glycaemic control and the treatment of complications from the disease. Conclusion: Parikweneh are appropriating T2D into their knowledge system and adapting their health system in response to this relatively new health concern. A greater understanding of local practices and perceptions relating to T2D among medical staff may therefore be beneficial for meeting patients' needs, providing greater autonomy in their health path, and improving treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific paper is a literary study that addresses gender issues in the form of a comparison of American women's notions narrated by Alexandra in Cather’s novel O'Pioneer! with Indonesian women narrated by Hayati in Hamka's novel Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijk. Literary comparative studies are carried out in the form of an analysis of the similarities and differences of American and Indonesian women's notions in the early 20th century as narrated in the two literary works. This research is a structural analysis of literature that emphasizes the study of the intrinsic elements of literature, especially the characterizations originating from Cather’s novel O'Pioneer! in 1913 and Hamka's novel Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijk in 1938. The data from the two novels were analyzed based on the scientific method of comparative literature which is reconstructed from the concept of de Zepetnek and Endraswara. The results of this study indicate that the similarities between American and Indonesian women in the early 20th century were based on a traditional society that adhered to religion, accepted marriage and homemaking as natural in the process of women's lives, loyalty to true love as a symbol of belief in life, accepting differences, and forgiving. Their differences are moderate traditional versus traditional conservative, new women versus traditional women, heterogeneous versus homogeneous, repositioning tradition versus strengthening tradition, partial domestication of women versus full domestication of women, living with renewal ideas versus dying with conservative ideas, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the quantile vector autoregressive (QVAR) dynamic connectedness framework to examine whether leading stock markets in America and Europe would have any impact on major stock markets in Asia.1 More precisely, we analyzed systematically the stock market connectedness in 15 countries, namely Germany, the UK, the USA, and 12 Asian countries, which include five major ASEAN countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand from 1996 to 2023. The findings indicated that Hong Kong and Singaporean stocks were major transmitters of financial shocks at the extreme low price market condition, while Germany and UK were minor transmitters. By contrast, the USA could be considered the major transmitter of financial shock during the extreme high market price returns condition. In the normal market condition, these three countries in Europe and America are important transmitters of financial shock. More interestingly, the empirical findings indicated the centrality of Singapore in the stock market connectedness in Asia. 1 The authors are grateful to Professor David Gabauer who makes available the R codes for all calculations in this paper.

Today’s dynamic and changing business environment raises numerous challenges for any business organization, irrespective of its size and industry. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought numerous advancements in the information and communications technologies which require continuous innovation. This is why corporations, especially multinational and transnational, have heavily invested in research and development activities in order to increase their efficiency. The rapid spread of digital technologies has determined corporate management to re-evaluate its approach towards innovation and, therefore, corporations began to establish innovation ecosystems. The goal of the paper is to illustrate and analyse the hierarchy of America’s most innovative corporations in the period 2022-2023. The author applied a qualitative research method in order to achieve the aim of the paper. The paper demonstrates that innovation, in general, and corporate innovation, in particular, represent key factors in ensuring business success. The hierarchy of the first ten American most innovative corporations in the period 2022- 2023 was clearly dominated by the corporations from the IT&C sector.

Honduras is a country with a high rate of social inequality and Social Security does not reach all residents, being limited to formal workers. Through search of articles, systematic reviews and internet documents in Spanish, using platform and search engines (Scielo, Google Academic, Virtual Health Library of Honduras) period 2015-2023, using the terms access, Mesoamerica, social security; Access to social security is compared in Mesoamerica and Colombia to identify differences and improvements to be made. In Honduras, for now there are no funds to expand coverage, due to the state’s internal debt with Social Security. Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia have better access. Differentiating itself by maternal support services, universality, investment in social projects and greater coverage. Honduras can improve through commitments from the State and the private sector to honor its million-dollar debt, stop corruption and diversion of funds, avoiding sacrificing the user.

Reseña del libro: Barrientos Márquez, María del Mar y Lozano Salado, Lola (eds.). Revolución y Diplomacia: el Trienio Liberal y América. Santiago de Chile, Ariadna, 2023, 166 pp. ISBN: 978-95-66095-92-7.

Con la llegada a América, decenas de animales fueron traídos a Europa como alimento, pero sobre todo como mascotas exóticas. Su presencia en jardines y cámaras de maravillas pronto despertó la curiosidad de científicos y artistas, que incluyeron estas nuevas especies en sus libros y cuadros. En el caso de los artistas, su representación estuvo fuertemente condicionada por la presencia previa o no de especies de la misma familia. Para mostrar las diferencias según el caso y la red de significados y usos otorgados en el arte a las distintas especies americanas, tomaremos los loros como ejemplo de una familia conocida desde la Antigüedad por los europeos y los armadillos como muestra de una familia desconocida en el Viejo Continente.

It has been almost a century since James Truslow Adams’ formulation of the concept “American dream” in “The Epic of America” (1931). The review aims to follow the concept of the American dream and its evolution over centuries, encompassing the attainment of such core values as freedom, equal opportunity, and the search for happiness. It has been established that at the heart of this notion lies the belief that the United States offers boundless possibilities to those with determination, courage, and audacity to pursue their dreams, relying on hard work and risk-taking rather than mere luck or chance. An integral facet of American “mythology” is highlighted - each individual’s capacity to achieve their dreams and secure a comfortable lifestyle through diligent effort and self-sacrifice, propagating the idea that everyone can be successful. It is concluded that an expression dedicated to this social accomplishment is “to go from rags to riches,” encapsulating this journey.

The invasion of fall armyworm (FAW) to the Eastern hemisphere poses a major challenge to the food security efforts of several nations including India. Invasive FAW population is primarily composed of two predominant strains differentiated based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COI) gene, known as COI-RS (hybrid strain) and COI-CS (corn strain). COI-RS, in particular was found to be different from the ancestral rice strain in America and displayed characteristics of typical inter-strain hybrid population. Although the ancestral populations have been tested for their mating behaviour and response toward pheromones and biocontrol agents, similar studies have not been performed on the invasive populations. We report here the interstrain mating behaviour of COI-RS and COI-CS populations from India along with their susceptibilities towards different biocontrol agents. COI-RS larvae were more susceptible to SpfrNPV infection compared to COI-CS larvae. The response towards other biocontrol agents was similar in the two strains. Electroantennogram response study revealed that the two strains differed in their response towards FAW pheromone, where COICS males displayed higher mean antennal response towards Z-9-tetradecenyl acetate (87%), Z-11-hexadecenyl acetate (12.5%) and Z-7-dodecenyl acetate (0.5%) than COI-RS males. Similar to the ancestral population, we found unidirectional mating between COI-RS females and COI-CS males while the reverse cross did not yield viable offspring. However, further detailed studies are required to confirm this observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The credo of the generalist physician has always been the promotion of health for all, in every aspect: not just multiple vulnerable organ systems, but multiple social, cultural, and political factors that contribute to poor health and exacerbate health inequity. In recent years, the field of global health has also adopted this same mission: working across both national and clinical specialty borders to improve health for all and end health disparities worldwide. Yet within the Society for General Internal Medicine, and among American generalists, engagement in global health, both within and outside the USA, remains uncommon. We see this gap as an opportunity, because in fact generalists in America already have the skills and experience that global health badly needs. SGIM could promote generalists to global health's vanguard, with three core steps. First, we generalists must continue to integrate health for the vulnerable into our domestic work, generating care models applicable in low-resource settings around the globe. Conversely, we must also engage with and implement international ideas and solutions for universal access to primary care for vulnerable patients in the USA. And lastly, we must build platforms to connect ourselves with colleagues worldwide to exchange these learnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

America's juvenile justice system was founded on the notion that the juvenile court would serve as the "ultimate parent" for youth. Yet, the history of youth punishment challenges the promise of juvenile "justice." To offer a more comprehensive account of the family systems in juvenile court, this study draws from the insights of historical research on youth punishment and family criminalization to examine juvenile court outcomes in Arizona. Combining a historical lens with insights from attribution theory, we use quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the relationship between diverse family systems, including single mothers, single fathers, extended families, and foster care families, and juvenile court outcomes (i.e., diversion, preadjudication detention, petition, and judicial dismissal). Our findings suggest the need for more complex understandings of both family and punishment, and more expansive theorizations of the sorts of solutions that match the scope and scale of the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a novel marker of insulin resistance that has been strongly associated with many diseases related to metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and stroke. However, whether the TyG index is associated with the prevalence of gallstones has not been determined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the TyG index and the prevalence of gallstones in American adults, as well as the age at which adults in America undergo their first gallstone surgery. We selected individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2017 to March 2020. Based on the goal of our study, comprehensive inclusion and exclusion criteria were created. A logistic regression analysis, dose–response curve, and subgroup analysis were computed to assess the relationship between the TyG index and gallstone prevalence and age at first surgery for gallstone. A total of 3905 participants aged > 20 years were included in our study, of whom 421 had a self-reported history of gallstones. A total of 1884 (48.2%) males and 2021 (51.8%) females were included. After confounders adjustment, it was found single-unit increases in the TyG index were linked with a 25.0% increase in gallstone prevalence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.04, 1.51). After conversion of the TyG index values from continuous to categorical variables with tertiles, a marked 48% increase in gallstone incidence was found in tertile 3 relative to tertile 1 (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.99). The dose–response curve results indicated positive associations between gallstone prevalence and the TyG index, while the latter was negatively associated with age at first gallstone surgery. Based on subgroup analysis, the positive association between TyG index and high-incidence of gallstones was more significant in females (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.77), age < 40 years (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.29), and other race (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.02). A higher TyG index is associated with a higher incidence of gallstones and may lead to an earlier age of first gallstone surgery. However, a causal relationship between TyG and gallstones cannot be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the global prevalence of sleep bruxism and awake bruxism in pediatric and adult populations. Methods: This systematic review was conducted by analyzing studies published from 2003 to 2023. The following keyword combination was utilized: prevalence, epidemiology, population, and bruxism. The PubMed database was analyzed, supplemented by manual searches using the Google search. Additionally, the snowballing procedure method was applied. A double assessment of the quality of publications was carried out to preserve the highest possible quality of evidence (e.g., Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist). Analyses were conducted using the R statistical language. Results: The global bruxism (sleep and awake) prevalence is 22.22%. The global sleep bruxism prevalence is 21% and awake prevalence is 23%. The occurrence of sleep bruxism, based on polysomnography, was estimated at 43%. The highest prevalence of sleep bruxism was observed in North America at 31%, followed by South America at 23%, Europe at 21%, and Asia at 19%. The prevalence of awake bruxism was highest in South America at 30%, followed by Asia at 25% and Europe at 18%. Conclusions: One in four individuals may experience awake bruxism. Bruxism is a significant factor among women. It was observed that age is a significant factor for the occurrence of sleep bruxism in women. Among the limitations of the study is the lack of analysis of the prevalence of bruxism in Africa and Australia due to not collecting an adequate sample for analysis. The study was registered in the Open Science Framework (10.17605/OSF.IO/ZE786). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began, the number of individuals recovering from COVID-19 infection have increased. Post-COVID Syndrome, or PCS, which is defined as signs and symptoms that develop during or after infection in line with COVID-19, continue beyond 12 weeks, and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis, has also gained attention. We systematically reviewed and determined the pooled prevalence estimate of PCS worldwide based on published literature. Methods: Relevant articles from the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Ovid MEDLINE databases were screened using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-guided systematic search process. The included studies were in English, published from January 2020 to April 2024, had overall PCS prevalence as one of the outcomes studied, involved a human population with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and undergone assessment at 12 weeks post-COVID infection or beyond. As the primary outcome measured, the pooled prevalence of PCS was estimated from a meta-analysis of the PCS prevalence data extracted from individual studies, which was conducted via the random-effects model. This study has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023435280). Results: Forty eight studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. 16 were accepted for meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence for PCS worldwide, which was 41.79% (95% confidence interval [CI] 39.70–43.88%, I2 = 51%, p = 0.03). Based on different assessment or follow-up timepoints after acute COVID-19 infection, PCS prevalence estimated at ≥ 3rd, ≥ 6th, and ≥ 12th months timepoints were each 45.06% (95% CI: 41.25–48.87%), 41.30% (95% CI: 34.37–48.24%), and 41.32% (95% CI: 39.27–43.37%), respectively. Sex-stratified PCS prevalence was estimated at 47.23% (95% CI: 44.03–50.42%) in male and 52.77% (95% CI: 49.58–55.97%) in female. Based on continental regions, pooled PCS prevalence was estimated at 46.28% (95% CI: 39.53%-53.03%) in Europe, 46.29% (95% CI: 35.82%-56.77%) in America, 49.79% (95% CI: 30.05%-69.54%) in Asia, and 42.41% (95% CI: 0.00%-90.06%) in Australia. Conclusion: The prevalence estimates in this meta-analysis could be used in further comprehensive studies on PCS, which might enable the development of better PCS management plans to reduce the effect of PCS on population health and the related economic burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the intertwined relationship between civic integration and urban political machines in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century America, with scholars offering varying perspectives on why immigrants were mobilized by political bosses, some attributing it to a desire to instill American values while others suggest it was driven by securing electoral support through providing goods and services.

Background and purpose: This study was undertaken to highlight neonatal Fc receptor inhibition (efgartigimod) as a valuable therapeutic option for patients with refractory seronegative myasthenia gravis (MG) and to emphasize the concept that seronegative MG is greatly constrained by the limitations of currently available diagnostic methods and therapeutic measures. Methods: We describe the first refractory, generalized MG (gMG) patient successfully treated with efgartigimod after testing negative on standard autoantibody detection tests. Results: Our patient presented with severe fluctuating bulbar and generalized weakness, resulting in multiple myasthenic crises requiring intubation. After a 28‐year medical history of multiple failed lines of treatment, our patient was started on efgartigimod. Over five treatment cycles, a definite improvement in her clinical condition was observed (Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America class: IIIb to IIb; MG‐Activities of Daily Living score: 11 to 0; MG‐Quality of Life 15 score: 30 to 0; Quantitative MG score: 28 to 6). Standard autoantibody detection tests failed to detect known pathogenic autoantibodies, but cell‐based assay (CBA) identified autoantibodies against clustered adult acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Conclusions: In light of recent approvals of efgartigimod by the European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration exclusively for AChR‐positive gMG forms, our case highlights evidence suggesting that such an approach might be shortsighted and could limit therapeutic options for patients with refractory seronegative gMG. Additionally, introducing more sensitive analytical techniques, exemplified by CBA, may help bridge the gap between seronegative and seropositive patients. This represents an urgent unmet need for gMG patients, as the antibody profile dramatically influences the therapeutic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Describe the characteristics of the different cardiology medical residencies in Latin America. Method: Cross-sectional study that aims to evaluate the characteristics of cardiology residencies in Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, through self-administered electronic surveys. Results: Three hundred seven residents of 147 residences were surveyed. Mean age was 31 years and 63% were male. Ninety eight percent carry out their training in the capital city. The average total training time is 4.8 years. Forty four percent complete their residency in internal medicine prior to starting cardiology, and 10% have no prior training. In cardiology training is 3 years in most countries. Fifty four percent present academic activities every day and 16% only once or less, consisting of theoretical classes (93%), clinical cases (85%), bibliographic workshops (69%), and writing scientific papers (68%). Supervision is carried out by the chief resident (45%), resident coordinator (44%), resident instructor (27%) or the department head (54%), while 2.6% do not present supervision. The main rotations were echocardiography (99%), hemodynamics (96%), coronary unit (93%), and electrophysiology (92%). Residents highlighted the need to improve academic activities (23%) and scientific production (12%). Conclusions: There are important differences in the academic and practical training between the residences of the different countries of America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social Impact Statement: The genetic variation of crop wild relatives will be key for our survival, as environmental change represents an increasing global threat for agriculture and food security. Cucurbita lundelliana and Cucurbita okeechobeensis subsp. martinezii are wild relatives of cultivated squashes and pumpkins that could be used for crop improvement. A genomic approach was used to characterize genetic resources in these taxa, that is, to identify candidate sites in the genome involved in responses to abiotic stress, and to understand the roles of gene flow and environmental differentiation in their divergence. This study highlights the importance of conserving these two species as phytogenetic resources for crop improvement. Summary: Crop wild relatives (CWR) are reservoirs of genetic diversity and they are important for the maintenance of crop evolutionary potential. Mexico is the centre of domestication and diversity for many CWR. The genus Cucurbita originated in America, where at least six independent domestication events took place. Nonetheless, Cucurbita CWR have been seldom studied. In the present study, we test the role of incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and secondary contact in the divergence of C. okeechobeensis subsp. martinezii and C. lundelliana. Additionally, we seek to understand the role of environmental differentiation in their divergence.We obtained 1,638 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for 107 individuals from the most recently diverged wild species in this genus, encompassing 25 localities of C. lundelliana and nine localities of C. okeechobeensis subsp. martinezii in Mexico.We found higher genetic variation in C. lundelliana (HE = 0.227) than in C. okeechobeensis subsp. martinezii (HE = 0.187). Each taxon constitutes a well‐differentiated genetic group, with an area of introgression in Pantanos de Centla. We found candidate loci associated to hydric and thermal stress, which could be valuable for crop improvement. Our study supported a scenario of ILS followed by secondary contact, where divergence was probably driven by Pleistocene climate change.These CWR represent important phytogenetic resources for crop improvement given their high levels of genetic variation and differentiation and their SNPs associated to different climatic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Sociales (13159518) is the property of Revista de Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad del Zulia Venezuela and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Araucaria is the property of Araucaria-Revista Iberoamericana de Filosofia, Politica y Humanidades and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) (CPB) is a major threat to potato crops in Europe, Asia, and America. In Europe, it is expected that climate change will cause the species to expand its range northwards and allow for an additional generation per year in regions where it is already established. The effectiveness of insecticides, a common method of control, is decreasing due to the emergence of resistance to several substances. Therefore, research into alternative measures is becoming increasingly necessary. One preventive measure that has already been shown to have great effects in past studies is the use of organic mulch. For organic mulching, conserved or freshly cut plant material is spread on the field usually when the potato emerges. Previous research has mainly used cereal straw for this purpose in plots that are relatively small compared to actual agricultural fields. Materials and methods: To address the lack of large-scale field trials in the literature, a series of on-station and on-farm field trials were conducted in this study. Organic, legume-rich mulches were used primarily, which so far have not been extensively investigated. Over a period of four years and in a total of six field trials, CPB and larval infestations were assessed. Results and discussion: Our results show effects on the initial infestation of young plants by adult CPB and on the emergence time of the first two larval stages. By the time of flowering, when the feeding effect of CPB on yield is known to be greatest, L3 and L4 larvae were reduced by about 30% in the on-station trials and by about 40% in the on-farm trials. In addition, when CPB larval stages were used to calculate a weighted daily leaf consumption per stage, total calculated leaf consumption was on average about 40% lower in the mulch treatments across all sampling dates and all trials. The recorded yields were equal or higher in the mulched treatments. In conclusion, organic mulching can effectively reduce CPB damage even on a large scale and can have a positive impact on yield. Further agronomic benefits of mulching, as well as drawbacks and putative mechanisms of action, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the quantile vector autoregressive (QVAR) dynamic connectedness framework to examine whether leading stock markets in America and Europe would have any impact on major stock markets in Asia.1 More precisely, we analyzed systematically the stock market connectedness in 15 countries, namely Germany, the UK, the USA, and 12 Asian countries, which include five major ASEAN countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand from 1996 to 2023. The findings indicated that Hong Kong and Singaporean stocks were major transmitters of financial shocks at the extreme low price market condition, while Germany and UK were minor transmitters. By contrast, the USA could be considered the major transmitter of financial shock during the extreme high market price returns condition. In the normal market condition, these three countries in Europe and America are important transmitters of financial shock. More interestingly, the empirical findings indicated the centrality of Singapore in the stock market connectedness in Asia. 1 The authors are grateful to Professor David Gabauer who makes available the R codes for all calculations in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) is tasked with deterring and preparing for a potential conflict with China, while also facing a clear threat from North Korea (DPRK) against the American Pacific homeland. To address mounting cooperation among adversaries, the US should establish a designated homeland defense operation, enabling USINDOPACOM to activate Joint Task Force-Homeland Defense, augment its forces with Reserve component units, and enhance regional defense capabilities. These measures would mitigate risk in a China scenario and reaffirm US sovereignty in the Pacific. With further DPRK missile and nuclear tests expected, launching this operation would be a proportionate response. The Secretary of Defense must now direct planning for Operation Noble Eagle-Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pasado y Memoria. Revista de Historia Contemporánea is the property of Pasado y Memoria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With the rapid developm the application of digital ent of the new generation of information and communication technologies (ICT), the state-level governance model has undergone profound changes. It is worth pondering whether this change will have an impact on the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. Therefore, we collected data from 51 global economies that have proposed carbon neutrality targets from 2003 to 2020 to build a series of spatial measurement models and explored the impact of e-government construction on carbon emission intensity (CEI). Then, we further considered regional heterogeneity factors, grouped the selected countries into Asian, European, and American countries, and verified the differences between e-government construction and CEI in different regions. Additionally, on the basis of the spatial mediation effect model, this paper analyzed the industrial structure which played an intermediary role in achieving target for reducing CEI through e-government construction. The main findings are as follows. (1) A higher level of e-government construction will result in lower-carbon emissions intensity. (2) Spatial spillover effect regression results showed that the construction of e-government in neighboring countries also significantly inhibits the carbon emission intensity of the host country. (3) There was significant regional heterogeneity in the impact of e-governments on CEI; in Asia, the construction of e-governments significantly reduced CEI, but no significant reductions were observed in Europe and America. (4) E-governments influenced CEI by optimizing the industrial structure. The construction of e-governments was effective in Asia and Europe, while intermediary effect test was failed to pass in the Americas. This study mainly focused on the environmental benefits brought by the construction of e-governments, and the obtained results would provide an important reference for the achievement of the dual-carbon goals in countries worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) causes substantial economic losses globally. Different aMPV subtypes circulate in various regions, with subtypes A and B prevalent in the Old World and aMPV-C in North America. Recently, aMPV-A and aMPV-B have been detected in the U.S., raising questions about their introduction pathways. This study used phylodynamic and phylogeographic analyses of the G protein sequences to investigate potential importation routes. Findings suggest that aMPV-B in the U.S. likely originated from Eastern Asian strains related to European ones, with wild bird migration through the Beringian crucible being a probable pathway, similarly to avian influenza. aMPV-A appears to have Mexican origins, with strains related to Asian ones, pointing again to wild bird migration rather than trade or illegal importation. Given the limited information on wild birds' role in aMPV spread and the significant impact on the poultry industry, further wild bird surveys are recommended. Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) has been identified as an important cause of respiratory and reproductive disease, leading to significant productive losses worldwide. Different subtypes have been found to circulate in different regions, with aMPV-A and B posing a significant burden especially in the Old World, and aMPV-C in North America, albeit with limited exceptions of marginal economic relevance. Recently, both aMPV-A and aMPV-B have been reported in the U.S.; however, the route of introduction has not been investigated. In the present study, the potential importation pathways have been studied through phylogenetic and phylodynamic analyses based on a broad collection of partial attachment (G) protein sequences collected worldwide. aMPV-B circulating in the U.S. seems the descendant of Eastern Asian strains, which, in turn, are related to European ones. A likely introduction pathway mediated by wild bird migration through the Beringian crucible, where the East Asian and Pacific American flight paths intersect, appears likely and was previously reported for avian influenza. aMPV-A, on the other hand, showed a Mexican origin, involving strains related to Asian ones. Given the low likelihood of trade or illegal importation, the role of wild birds appears probable also in this case, since the region is covered by different flight paths directed in a North–South direction through America. Since the information on the role of wild birds in aMPV epidemiology is still scarce and scattered, considering the significant practical implications for the poultry industry demonstrated by recent U.S. outbreaks, further surveys on wild birds are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive pests may disturb and destructively reformat the local ecosystem. The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida, originated in Africa and has expanded to America, Australia, Europe, and Asia. A key factor facilitating its fast global expansion is its ability to subsist on diverse food inside and outside honey bee colonies. SHBs feed on various plant fruits and exudates in the environment while searching for bee hives. After sneaking into a bee hive, they switch their diet to honey, pollen, and bee larvae. How SHBs survive on such a broad range of food remains unclear. In this study, we simulated the outside and within hive stages by providing banana and hive resources and quantified the SHB associated microbes adjusted by the diet. We found that SHBs fed on bananas were colonized by microbes coding more carbohydrate-active enzymes and a higher alpha diversity than communities from SHBs feeding on hive products or those collected directly from bee hives. SHBs fed on bananas and those collected from the hive showed high symbiont variance, indicated by the beta diversity. Surprisingly, we found the honey bee core symbiont Snodgrassella alvi in the guts of SHBs collected in bee hives. To determine the role of S. alvi in SHB biology, we inoculated SHBs with a genetically tagged culture of S. alvi, showing that this symbiont is a likely transient of SHBs. In contrast, the fungus Kodamaea ohmeri is the primary commensal of SHBs. Diet-based microbiome shifts are likely to play a key role in the spread and success of SHBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Morzeddhu" in the local dialect of Catanzaro ("Morzello" in Italian) is an official typical dish of the capital of the Calabria region. It is a peasant dish, almost unknown at an international level, that labels, in an extraordinary way, the culinary identity of Catanzaro, a city founded around the X century. After America's discovery, its preparation was optimized and definitively fixed. Its recipe is strictly based on a cow's "fifth quarter" combined with spicy and typical Mediterranean vegetables. Remarkably, no pork meat is used, and when all traditional ingredients are included in the complex and quite long preparation of this special dish, it can deserve the title of "Illustrissimo". This review provides a scientific description of Illustrissimo, emphasizing its unique properties and connection to the circular economy, food security, and the Mediterranean diet. We also highlight its unique quality compared to other alternatives through an analysis of their nutritional facts and bioactive compounds. Nutritionally, offal and fifth quarter components are a rich source of high-quality protein, with lower levels of total fat and saturated fatty acids compared to other meat cuts. In essence, this dish offers a great example of a high-quality yet affordable meal, aligning perfectly with a Mediterranean diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We investigated whether there are differences in cancer incidence by geographical area of origin in North-eastern Italy. Methods: We selected all incident cases recorded in the Veneto Tumour Registry in the period 2015-2019. Subjects were classified, based on the country of birth, in six geographical areas of origin (Italy, Highly Developed Countries-HDC, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, South-central America). Age-standardized incidence rates and incidence rate ratio (IRR) were calculated, for all cancer sites and for colorectal, liver, breast and cervical cancer separately. Results: We recorded 159,486 all-site cancer cases; 5.2% cases occurred in subjects born outside Italy, the majority from High Migratory Pressure Countries (HMPC) (74.3%). Incidence rates were significantly lower in subjects born in HMPC in both sexes. Immigrants, in particular born in Asia and Africa, showed lower rates of all site cancer incidence. The lowest IRR for colorectal cancer was observed in males from South-Central America (IRR 0.19, 95%CI 0.09-0.44) and in females from Asia (IRR 0.32, 95%CI 0.18-0.70). The IRR of breast cancer appeared significantly lower than Italian natives in all female populations, except for those coming from HDC. Females from Eastern Europe showed a higher IRR for cervical cancer (IRR 2.02, 95%CI 1.57-2.61). Conclusion: Cancer incidence was found lower in subjects born outside Italy, with differences in incidence patterns depending on geographical area of origin and the cancer type in question. Further studies, focused on the country of birth of the immigrant population, would help to identify specific risk factors influencing cancer incidence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Our aim was to translate, adapt and validate the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living scale into the Latvian language and to evaluate this instrument (MG-ADL-L) in terms of construct validity and reliability. Methods: We enrolled patients with a confirmed MG diagnosis, who could speak Latvian fluently. We performed translation and adaptation according to the cross-cultural adaptation guidelines for self-reported measures. The patients were evaluated by a physician according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America classification (MGFA) and using the Myasthenia Gravis Composite Score (MGCS). Patients were asked to complete the MG-ADL-L and the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life (MGQOL15) Internal consistency was evaluated based on Cronbach’s α, reproducibility—Cohen’s weighted kappa and construct validity—Spearman’s correlation between the MG-ADL-L and the MGQOL15 and MGCS. We used the Kruskal–Wallis H test to compare the MGADL-L score distribution between the MGFA groups. Results: 38 enrolled patients in the study. There was an acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α  =  0.76) and moderate to very good agreement between the test and retest scores (Cohen’s weighted kappa  =  0.54 and 0.81). The MG-ADL-L showed a moderate positive correlation with the MGQOL15 (r  =  0.5, p  =  0.001) and the MGCS (r  =  0.62, p  <  0.001). There was a significant difference in MG-ADL-L scores between the MGFA groups (p  =  0.007). Discussion: The MG-ADL-L is a valid and reliable self-reported scale to assess and evaluate symptom severity and the impact of the disease on the lives of patients with MG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A challenge facing many Academic Health Centers (AHCs) attempting to revise health professions education to include the impact of racism as a social and structural determinant of health (SSDoH) is a lack of broad faculty expertise to reinforce and avoid undermining learning modules addressing this topic. To encourage an institutional culture that is in line with new anti-racism instruction, we developed a six-part educational series on the history of racism in America and its impact on contemporary health inequities for teaching structural competency to health professions academicians. Methods: We developed a six-hour elective continuing education (CE) series for faculty and staff with the following objectives: (1) describe and discuss race as a social construct; (2) describe and discuss the decolonization of the health sciences and health care; (3) describe and discuss the history of systemic racism and structural violence from a socio-ecological perspective; and (4) describe and discuss reconciliation and repair in biomedicine. The series was spread over a six-month period and each monthly lecture was followed one week later by an open discussion debriefing session. Attendees were assessed on their understanding of each objective before and after each series segment. Results: We found significant increases in knowledge and understanding of each objective as the series progressed. Attendees reported that the series helped them grapple with their discomfort in a constructive manner. Self-selected attendees were overwhelmingly women (81.8%), indicating a greater willingness to engage with this material than men. Conclusions: The series provides a model for AHCs looking to promote anti-racism and structural competency among their faculty and staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trustworthiness is the most significant predictor of trust and has a significant impact on people's levels of trust. Most trustworthiness-related research is empirical, and while it has a long history, it is challenging for academics to get insights that are applicable to their fields of study and to successfully transfer fragmented results into practice. In order to grasp their dynamic development processes through the mapping of network knowledge graphs, this paper is based on the Web of Science database and uses CiteSpace (6.2.R4) software to compile and visualize the 1,463 publications on trustworthy studies over the past 10 years. This paper aims to provide valuable references to theoretical research and the practice of Trustworthiness. The findings demonstrate that: over the past 10 years, trustworthiness-related research has generally increased in volume; trustworthiness research is concentrated in industrialized Europe and America, with American research findings having a bigger global impact; The University of California System, Harvard University, and Yale University are among the high-production institutions; the leading figures are represented by Alexander Todorov, Marco Brambilla, Bastian Jaeger, and others; the core authors are distinguished university scholars; however, the level of cooperation of the core author needs to be improved. The primary journal for publishing research on trustworthiness is the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Biology Letters. In addition, the study focuses on three distinct domains, involving social perception, facial clues, and artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is common among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and is associated with a poor prognosis. We assessed the prevalence and associated factors of CI in patients with CKD. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science through December 1, 2023. Random effects models were performed with subgroup analyses to further explore the heterogeneity. Results: 50 studies involving 25,289 CKD patients were included. The overall prevalence of CI was 40% (95% confidence interval 33–46). The pooled prevalence of CI was relatively higher in CKD patients from Africa (58%), Asia (44%) and America (37%). Attention and executive dysfunction appeared to be the most common manifestations. The prevalence of CI was higher among patients with hemodialysis (53%) and peritoneal dialysis (39%) than those without dialysis (32%) and post-kidney transplanted (26%). In addition, advanced age, the presence of diabetes and hypertension might increase the risk of CI in CKD patients. Conclusions: People with CKD have a high prevalence of CI, especially in patients with hemodialysis. An early and comprehensive screening for CI in CKD patients is needed to improve clinical outcomes. Trial registration: Registration number: PROSPERO (CRD42023412864) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylea, also called bladdernuts, is a genus of plants belonging to the family Staphyleaceae, widespread in tropical or temperate climates of America, Europe, and the Far East. Staphylea spp. produce bioactive metabolites with antioxidant properties, including polyphenols which have not been completely investigated for their phytotherapeutic potential, even though they have a long history of use for food. Here, we report the isolation of six flavonol glycosides from the hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Staphylea pinnata L., collected in Italy, using a solid-phase extraction technique. They were identified using spectroscopic, spectrometric, and optical methods as three quercetin and three isorhamnetin glycosides. Among the flavonol glycosides isolated, isoquercetin and quercetin malonyl glucoside showed powerful antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound healing promoting activity and thus are valuable as antiaging ingredients for cosmeceutical applications and for therapeutic applications in skin wound repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that conditions favor American retrenchment from the Middle East because the United States can shift burdens to capable states in the region, there are few areas where US commitments are interdependent, and the local conquest calculus favors defense. Forward military deployments do not positively influence potential threats in the Middle East, and maintaining deployments there will detract from meeting challenges from China. Through comparisons to prior cases of great-power ordinal decline, this article puts America's modest decline in historical perspective and finds that retrenchment policies will likely have positive consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of foreign observers recognize that the most important aspect of Chinese pianism is its technical perfection, which can be explained in two ways: first, by social factors (the close resemblance between the traditional Confucian conception of education and the foundations of learning to play the piano, parents' interest in their children's success as pianists, the competitive nature of Chinese society), and second, by the classical setting of children's piano education to develop strict finger technique. Though it was unable to gain traction at all levels of Chinese piano teaching, the image of "singing on the piano" was also important for the development of Chinese pianism. The monosyllabic nature of the contributes language, as well as the dynamic brokenness and temporal syncopation of its intonation contribute to the specificity of the "singing on the piano" tradition in Chinese music culture. In general, the performing image of the piano in China is comparable to the image of the "salon piano," just as the current piano boom in China is comparable to the "golden age" of the piano in Europe and America at the close of the 19th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Lakon: Jurnal Kajian Sastra dan Budaya is the property of Universitas Airlangga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Most mainstream films about the civil rights movement are set in the South in the 1950-1960s, but this article points out how Hollywood in the 2010s broke new ground by also portraying civil rights struggles after that era. Many historians have heeded Jacqueline Dowd Hall's call to revise the American civil rights narrative, and this article argues that Destin Daniel Cretton's Just Mercy (2019) is a part of a wave of "long civil rights films." Exploring how Just Mercy portrays a key injustice that continues to affect contemporary America while also showing civil rights activism to continue into the 1980s, 1990s, and onwards, the article argues that Just Mercy's depiction of the unjust treatment, conviction, and incarceration of Alabama native Walter McMillian in the late 1980s effectively calls for a revised understanding of the longer lines of civil rights activism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]