Symbolic boundaries in a nascent professional accounting field

BackgroundPolicies dealing with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic vary across the globe, the different governmental responses then affect the public perception of COVID-19. Many unofficial Chinese media outlets frequently spread misinformation about COVID-19 and exaggerated reports of rare sequelae of Omicron for monetization and attention seeking, leading to panics in the Chinese public. In comparison the attitudes toward Omicron in other countries around the world, especially in North America and Western Europe have shifted to a more relaxed stance.ObjectiveThis article primarily aims to investigate the association between Chinese people’s attitudes toward the potential after-effects of Omicron and their anxiety status, as compared to these of people living in North America or Western Europe.MethodsWe conducted a questionnaire survey via the Credamo and collected valid data from 500 Chinese (not living in Shanghai), another 500 Chinese (living in Shanghai) and 500 people living in North America or Western Europe in June 2022. Kendall’s coefficient of rank correlation tau-sub-b was used to examine this association.ResultsThe results suggested that subjective attitudes of Chinese participants toward the sequelae of Omicron were positively and significantly associated with their anxiety status [i.e., the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scores] in Shanghai (China) (Tb = 0.44, p < 0.01) and other parts of China outside Shanghai (Tb = 0.37, p < 0.01). However, no such significant correlation was found in North America & Western Europe (Tb = -0.01, p > 0.05).ConclusionOur findings showed that Chinese participants who were more worried about the after-effects of Omicron had higher levels of anxiety. Although it is true that Long COVID-19 should be a concern, exaggerated media reporting can impact negatively on an individual’s mental wellbeing. Only through the dissemination of robust scientific studies, the misinformation and the fears that follow it can be put to rest.

Occurrence of death and stroke in patients in 47 countries 1 year after presenting with atrial fibrillation: a cohort study

650 Variation in Quality of Care Among Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure in an International Trial: Findings From ASCEND-HF

INTRODUCTION Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic disorder with rising global incidence and prevalence, mainly in high-income regions. North America(NA) and Western Europe(WE) are among the most affected areas, contributing significantly to the global IBD burden. Understanding trends in incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) is essential for targeted public health interventions. This study compares the burden of IBD from 1990 to 2021 between these regions, focusing on sex-based differences and disease progression. METHODS Data were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021), assessing disease burden across 204 countries. IBD incidence, deaths, and DALYs were extracted for NA and WE from 1990 to 2021. Bayesian geospatial regression models addressed heterogeneity and estimated mortality. Stratification by region, sex, and year was performed to evaluate trends, with proportional models applied to assess contributions to disease burden. All values were at p&amp;lt; 0.01 RESULTS The data highlights a significant rise in the incidence of IBD from 1990 to 2021 in both NA and WE. In NA, incidence among males increased from 26,162 (95% CI: 23,194–29,719) to 41,256 (36,623–46,464), and in females from 26,265 (23,240–30,287) to 43,487 (38,493–49,260). WE showed a similar trend, with both reflecting an increasing disease burden. Total incidence in NA rose from 52,428 (46,615–59,932) to 84,743 (75,233–95,370). DALYs also increased across both regions. NA showed a rise in DALYs among males from 65,292 (50,592–82,938) to 120,246 (99,022–145,214) and in females from 77,816 (62,240–97,087) to 146,004 (121,240–174,198). Mortality increased similarly, with NA male deaths rising from 910 (857–943) to 2,583 (2,361–2,712) and female deaths from 1,507 (1,318–1,605) to 4,018 (3,382–4,352). DALYs remained higher in females in both regions, suggesting sex differences in disease impact. These trends emphasize the need for targeted interventions to manage the rising IBD burden and improve patient outcomes. DISCUSSION This study demonstrates a significant rise in IBD burden across NA and WE from 1990 to 2021. The increase in incidence and DALYs in both regions highlights the growing impact of IBD on public health. Although WE showed slightly lower absolute values, the overall trends are consistent, with females experiencing higher DALYs, indicating potential differences in disease severity, comorbidities, or access to care. The doubling of DALYs underscores the need for improved quality-of-life strategies despite advancements in treatment. While mortality has increased, the sharper rise in incidence and DALYs suggest that managing chronic disease burden remains a critical challenge. Region-specific interventions are essential to mitigate the increasing healthcare burden. IBD data table comparing IBD in North America and Western Europe Figure: Comparison of IBD Incidence, DALYs, and Mortality in North America and Western Europe (1990 vs. 2021)

Previous articleNext article No AccessCities in the International Marketplace: The Political Economy of Urban Development in North America and Western Europe Cities in the International Marketplace: The Political Economy of Urban Development in North America and Western Europe. By H.V. Savitch and Paul Kantor. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2002. Pp. 488. $34.95.)Clarence N. StoneClarence N. StoneGeorge Washington University and University of Maryland Search for more articles by this author George Washington University and University of MarylandPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Journal of Politics Volume 66, Number 4November 2004 Sponsored by the Southern Political Science Association Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381600004321 Views: 52Total views on this site Copyright © 2004, Southern Political Science AssociationPDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Abstract. A reliable and up-to-date ship emission inventory is essential for atmospheric scientists quantifying the impact of shipping and for policy makers implementing regulations and incentives for emission reduction. The emission modelling in this study takes into account ship type and size dependent input data for 15 ship types and 7 size categories. Global port arrival and departure data for more than 32 000 merchant ships are used to establish operational profiles for the ship segments. The modelled total fuel consumption amounts to 217 Mt in 2004 of which 11 Mt is consumed in in-port operations. This is in agreement with international sales statistics. The modelled fuel consumption is applied to develop global emission inventories for CO2, NO2, SO2, CO, CH4, VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), N2O, BC (Black Carbon) and OC (Organic Carbon). The global emissions from ships at sea and in ports are distributed geographically, applying extended geographical data sets covering about 2 million global ship observations and global port data for 32 000 ships. In addition to inventories for the world fleet, inventories are produced separately for the three dominating ship types, using ship type specific emission modelling and traffic distributions. A global Chemical Transport Model (CTM) was used to calculate the environmental impacts of the emissions. We find that ship emissions is a dominant contributor over much of the world oceans to surface concentrations of NO2 and SO2. The contribution is also large over some coastal zones. For surface ozone the contribution is high over the oceans but clearly also of importance over Western North America (contribution 15–25%) and Western Europe (5–15%). The contribution to tropospheric column ozone is up to 5–6%. The overall impact of ship emissions on global methane lifetime is large due to the high NOx emissions. With regard to acidification we find that ships contribute 11% to nitrate wet deposition and 4.5% to sulphur wet deposition globally. In certain coastal regions the contributions may be in the range 15–50%. In general we find that ship emissions have a large impact on acidic deposition and surface ozone in Western North America, Scandinavia, Western Europe, western North Africa and Malaysia/Indonesia. For most of these regions container traffic, the largest emitter by ship type, has the largest impact. This is the case especially for the Pacific and the related container trade routes between Asia and North America. However, the contributions from bulk ships and tank vessels are also significant in the above mentioned impact regions. Though the total ship impact at low latitudes is lower, the tank vessels have a quite large contribution at low latitudes and near the Gulf of Mexico and Middle East. The bulk ships are characterized by large impact in Oceania compared to other ship types. In Scandinavia and north-Western Europe, one of the major ship impact regions, the three largest ship types have rather small relative contributions. The impact in this region is probably dominated by smaller ships operating closer to the coast. For emissions in ports impacts on NO2 and SO2 seem to be of significance. For most ports the contribution to the two components is in the range 0.5–5%, for a few ports it exceeds 10%. The approach presented provides an improvement in characterizing fleet operational patterns, and thereby ship emissions and impacts. Furthermore, the study shows where emission reductions can be applied to most effectively minimize the impacts by different ship types.

Differential diagnosis of suspected multiple sclerosis: global health considerations

Journal Article The Euro-American System: Economic and Political Relations between North America and Western Europe Get access The Euro-American System: Economic and Political Relations between North America and Western Europe. Edited by Ernst-Otto Czempiel and Dankwart A. Rustow. Frankfurt: Campus Verlag; Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press. 1976. 236 pp. DM 48.00. Roy E. Jones Roy E. Jones 1University College, Cardiff Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Affairs, Volume 54, Issue 1, January 1978, Pages 100–102, https://doi.org/10.2307/2615495 Published: 01 January 1978

Background: Eribulin mesylate (E7389) is a nontaxane microtubule dynamics inhibitor. We conducted a randomized, controlled, open-label, phase III study to compare the efficacy and safety of eribulin vs. TPC in heavily pretreated subjects with locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. This report focuses on outcomes for participants enrolled in North America, Western Europe, and Australia (Region 1). Methods: Eligible subjects had locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer and had received 2-5 prior chemotherapy regimens, including an anthracycline and a taxane, with ≥2 of the regimens given for locally recurrent or metastatic disease. Subjects were stratified by geographic region, HER2/neu status, and prior capecitabine treatment. They were randomized 2:1 to receive eribulin 1.4 mg/m2 intravenously over 2-5 minutes on Days 1 and 8 every 21 days or an approved TPC. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); progression-free survival (PFS) was a secondary endpoint. Results: A total of 762 subjects in 135 centers worldwide were enrolled. Subjects had a median age of 55 years, 92% were white, 76% were postmenopausal, and 81% had taxane-refractory disease. The median time since original diagnosis was 6.7 years. The majority of subjects (488 [64%]) were from Region 1, of whom 325 received eribulin and 163 received TPC. The most common treatments received by subjects from Region 1 in the TPC arm were vinorelbine (28%), gemcitabine (17%), capecitabine (13%), taxanes (20%), and anthracyclines (12%). 9% of subjects in this region received other therapies. Among the intent-to-treat population in Region 1, median OS was significantly prolonged with eribulin (13.3 months) vs. TPC (10.2 months) (HR: 0.724; 95% CI: 0.568-0.924; p=0.009). Median PFS was also prolonged with eribulin (3.3 months) vs. TPC (2.2 months; HR: 0.843; 95% CI: 0.666-1.066; p=0.153) in this population, as assessed by independent reviewers. Conclusion: OS was significantly prolonged in eribulin-treated patients participating in the EMBRACE trial in the North America, Western Europe, and Australia region. When assessed by independent review, PFS was also prolonged with eribulin, although this difference did not reach statistical significance for this geographic region. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-13-02.

This review assesses storm studies over the North Atlantic and northwestern Europe regarding the occurrence of potential long‐term trends. Based on a systematic review of available articles, trends are classified according to different geographical regions, datasets, and time periods. Articles that used measurement and proxy data, reanalyses, regional and global climate model data on past and future trends are evaluated for changes in storm climate. The most important result is that trends in storm activity depend critically on the time period analysed. An increase in storm numbers is evident for the reanalyses period for the most recent decades, whereas most long‐term studies show merely decadal variability for the last 100–150 years.Storm trends derived from reanalyses data and climate model data for the past are mostly limited to the last four to six decades. The majority of these studies find increasing storm activity north of about 55–60° N over the North Atlantic with a negative tendency southward. This increase from about the 1970s until the mid‐1990s is also mirrored by long‐term proxies and the North Atlantic Oscillation and constitutes a part of their decadal variability. Studies based on proxy and measurement data or model studies over the North Atlantic for the past which cover more than 100 years show large decadal variations and either no trend or a decrease in storm numbers. Future scenarios until about the year 2100 indicate mostly an increase in winter storm intensity over the North Atlantic and western Europe. However, future trends in total storm numbers are quite heterogeneous and depend on the model generation used.

Large multicenter trials have evaluated the benefit of different medical and surgical therapies to prevent stroke. However, the application of trial results to clinical practice remains uncertain for some areas of stroke prevention and has been discussed passionately among international experts. As part of a worldwide survey, the purpose of this analysis was to provide an informative and comparative view of the current practice of leading experts in North America (NA) and Western Europe (WE), where most of the large prevention trials have been performed. The survey was performed worldwide among 185 neurologists who are currently leading the discussions of stroke prevention practices. It contained questions on the use of antiplatelet agents, oral anticoagulation, and surgery for the prevention of ischemic stroke. The population of this present analysis is the two groups of experts from WE (n=73) and NA (n=48) exclusively. Of each group, >90% responded to the survey. Nearly all respondents reported prescribing aspirin in patients at risk of atherothrombotic stroke, but significant differences between NA and WE are shown by the recommended doses (P<.0001): aspirin doses of >500 mg daily are given exclusively by American participants (36%), whereas doses <200 mg are recommended only in Europe (51%). Eighty-six percent of American versus 59% of European respondents reported using ticlopidine as their second choice (P<.005), and 23% of respondents from WE used warfarin compared with 5% from NA (P<.05). The reported use of anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation increased in accordance with the patient's individual risk of stroke, but respondents from WE were more reluctant to use anticoagulants in patients older than 75 years. Relatively higher target international normalized ratio values were reported by European respondents. Nearly all participants recommend carotid endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. The use of carotid endarterectomy in asymptomatic patients was significantly more common among responding experts from NA (48% versus 28%; P<.05), particularly in patients with >95% stenosis (89% versus 53%; P<.0005). This analysis shows significant differences in several areas of stroke prevention practices between leading experts from NA and WE. These differences may be explained partly by divergent results of trials from the two continents, but in some areas of controversy currently available trial data are not sufficient to form an international consensus to guide daily clinical practice.

Studies of Eocene angiosperm pollen floras in eastern North America (my work, especially in the eastern Gulf Coast) and western Europe (Boulter, Krutzsch) have shown significant differences in floral diversities between the two regions: in western Europe, maximum diversity was in the early Eocene and it decreased thereafter, in eastern North America, maximum diversity was in the middle part of the middle Eocene. The hypothesis presented here is that paleogeography was an important control on the diversity histories in the two regions: eastern North America was part of a large terrestrial landmass, whereas the terrestrial depositional basins of western Europe were on islands or peninsulas surrounded by the sea. Migrations between eastern and western North America were relatively easy, but migrations within what is now western Europe involved island-hopping, which explains distinct diachroneity of some angiosperm first appearances among different basins there. Western European basins were in contact with a large land mass during late Paleocene time but became isolated and smaller during the middle to late Eocene marine transgression. These changes resulted in decreased genetic exchange and increased probabilities of extinction due to (1) greater competition among species because of a reduced number of niches and (2) presence of small, isolated species populations, leading to local variations in extinctions, which probably explain the observed diachronism of taxon last appearances in different areas of Europe. Terrestrial climatic cooling in western Europe may be linked to decreasing contact between the NW European Tertiary Basin and the warm Tethys Seaway during the middle and late Eocene. In short, some combination of low environmental heterogeneity, geographic isolation, and long-term climatic deterioration probably caused the decrease in angiosperm diversity during the middle and late Eocene in western Europe.Several factors encouraged increasing or stable diversity in eastern North America but were far less effective in western Europe: (1) Eastern North America underwent greater climatic fluctuations during the Eocene (thus, immigration of taxa with different climatic preferences took place at different times), whereas the islands and peninsulas of western Europe had more uniform, maritime climates. (2) Evolution and immigration of r-selected taxa in eastern North America were favored by distinct dry seasons at certain times during the Eocene and by repeated marine transgressions and regressions that created opportunities for evolution and immigration of r-selected plants on and to freshly exposed coastal plain. In contrast, the predominantly maritime climates of western Europe in the early and middle Eocene favored K-selected plants, which had fewer possibilities for evolution and which had greater difficulty in migrating because island-hopping taxa are mainly r-selected. (3) “Arcto-Tertiary” taxa adapted to cooler climates lived and evolved in the uplands of the Appalachian Mountains, whereas western Europe was relatively flat in the Eocene –another example of its relative lack of environmental heterogeneity.

Recent studies report significant cross-national variation in the conceptual distinctions or “symbolic boundaries” used by majority groups to construct notions of “us” and “them.” Because this literature compares only a handful of countries, the macro-level forces by which certain symbolic boundaries become more salient than others remain poorly understood. This article provides the first panorama of these processes by comparing the relative salience or “configuration” of multiple symbolic boundaries in 21 European countries. I use fuzzy-set analyses of data from the 2003 European Social Survey to create a typology of symbolic boundary configurations. The results indicate that the symbolic boundaries deployed by the general public do not correspond to the official “philosophies of integration” emphasized in the literature. Moreover, the data suggest previous comparisons have focused too heavily on Western Europe, overlooking important variation in other regions of Europe where immigration began more recently. I generate hypotheses to explain this newfound variation using demographic, socioeconomic, institutional, and historical data from quantitative and qualitative sources. The article concludes with examples of how these hypotheses can be combined by future studies toward a theory of “boundary-work.”

Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in North American and Western European populations: a systematic review.

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Wintertime extremes such as cold spells and heavy precipitation events can have severe&amp;amp;#160;societal impacts, disrupting critical infrastructures, traffc and affecting human well-being.&amp;amp;#160;Here, we relate the occurrence of local and concurrent cold and wet wintertime extremes&amp;amp;#160;in North America and Western Europe to a recurrent, quasi-hemispheric wave-4 Rossby&amp;amp;#160;wave pattern in the Jetstream. We identify this pattern as a fundamental mode of Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter circulation exhibiting phase-locking behavior as the associated atmospheric circulation and surface anomalies re-occur over the same locations when the pattern's wave amplitude is high. The wave pattern is strongest over&amp;amp;#160;the pan-Atlantic region, and is associated with an increased probability of extreme cold&amp;amp;#160;or wet events by up to 300 % in certain areas of North America and Western Europe. We identify a significant increase in frequency over the past four decades (1979-&amp;amp;#160;2021), which we hypothesise may derive from increased convective activity in the tropical Pacific, from where the pattern originates, while a weakened meridional temperature gradient linked to Arctic warming appears to have no direct effect on its occurrence. The identified pattern and its remote forcing might provide pathways for early prediction of local and concurrent cold or wet wintertime extremes in North America and Western Europe.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;