Historical Challenge Research Articles

Novel phylogenomic inference and 'Out of Asia' biogeography of cobras, coral snakes and their allies.

Estimation of evolutionary relationships among lineages that rapidly diversified can be challenging, and, in such instances, inaccurate or unresolved phylogenetic estimates can lead to erroneous conclusions regarding historical geographical ranges of lineages. One example underscoring this issue has been the historical challenge posed by untangling the biogeographic origin of elapoid snakes, which includes numerous dangerously venomous species as well as species not known to be dangerous to humans. The worldwide distribution of this lineage makes it an ideal group for testing hypotheses related to historical faunal exchanges among the many continents and other landmasses occupied by contemporary elapoid species. We developed a novel suite of genomic resources, included worldwide sampling, and inferred a robust estimate of evolutionary relationships, which we leveraged to quantitatively estimate geographical range evolution through the deep-time history of this remarkable radiation. Our phylogenetic and biogeographical estimates of historical ranges definitively reject a lingering former 'Out of Africa' hypothesis and support an 'Out of Asia' scenario involving multiple faunal exchanges between Asia, Africa, Australasia, the Americas and Europe.

Epidemiological, clinical characteristics and the association between influenza vaccination, oseltamivir treatment, and complications in children with seasonal influenza

Influenza, a historical and contemporary public health challenge, is an acute respiratory infection caused mainly by influenza A or B viruses. This descriptive case series describes 194 children treated for seasonal influenza at the Department of Pediatrics, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, from May 2022 to May 2023. Influenza primarily occurred during winter and early spring, peaking in December and January, 57.2% were aged 12-60 months, boys. Vaccination coverage was limited (36.3%), especially post-COVID-19. Complications were seen in 75.3% of the cases, including febrile seizures (42.3%), bronchopneumonia (40.2%), respiratory failure (8.2%), acute myocarditis, influenza-associated encephalopathy, and septic shock. The study reveals bacterial coinfections, affected 20% of the cases, mainly by Streptococcus pneumoniae and S. aureus, and atypical bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Non-vaccinated children faced significantly higher risks of complications, oseltamivir within 48 hours reducing the risks of complications. Influenza predominantly affects 12-60 month-olds, males, and peaks annually in winter. Severe conditions stem from bacterial coinfections, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and prompt antiviral treatment to mitigate complications. The study highlights a critical need for increased vaccination, especially in the post-COVID-19 era, to manage influenza in children effectively.

Analytical Concepts for Transcultural Settings

In global intellectual history, there exists a tension between analytical concepts often carrying a Western or colonial pedigree andtheir ability to capture the multifaceted reality of historical actors who cannot be placed in one language or culture alone. The thematic section titled ‘Analytical Concepts for Transcultural Settings’ highlights the role of global intellectual historians as mediators who balance local realities with global narratives. It emphasises how rethinking the crucial role of analytical concepts can help historical actors challenge and transcend conventional categories, urging historians to adapt their analytical frameworks for transcultural settings accordingly.

Schlick, intuition, and the history of epistemology

AbstractMaria Rosa Antognazza's work has issued a historical challenge to the thesis that the analysis of knowledge (as justified true belief) attacked by epistemologists from Gettier onwards was indeed the standard view traditionally upheld from Plato onwards. This challenge led to an ongoing reappraisal of the historical significance of intuitive knowledge, in which the knower is intimately connected to what is known. Such traditional accounts of intuition, and their accompanying claims to epistemological primacy, constituted the precise target of Moritz Schlick's critique. Schlick engages with this topic throughout his oeuvre, from some of his early epistemological writings, to his anti‐metaphysical stance as a leading Logical Empiricist. Schlick crucially distinguishes knowledge from mere acquaintance, denying that the latter has epistemic status. He therefore argues that the very notion of ‘intuitive knowledge’ is a contradictio in adjecto.

Computational phylogenetics reveal histories of sign languages.

Sign languages are naturally occurring languages. As such, their emergence and spread reflect the histories of their communities. However, limitations in historical recordkeeping and linguistic documentation have hindered the diachronic analysis of sign languages. In this work, we used computational phylogenetic methods to study family structure among 19 sign languages from deaf communities worldwide. We used phonologically coded lexical data from contemporary languages to infer relatedness and suggest that these methods can help study regular form changes in sign languages. The inferred trees are consistent in key respects with known historical information but challenge certain assumed groupings and surpass analyses made available by traditional methods. Moreover, the phylogenetic inferences are not reducible to geographic distribution but do affirm the importance of geopolitical forces in the histories of human languages.

Towards Safer Highway Work Zones: Insights from Deep Learning Analysis of Thermal Footage

Thermal imaging, when coupled with deep-learning-based analysis, can significantly improve highway work zone management and safety, though data scarcity in this field has been a historical challenge. We collected over 440 hours of thermal footage from highway sites in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and created a vehicle segmentation dataset featuring over 14,000 vehicle instances. We implement effective training strategies for deep learning models and develop algorithms to analyze vehicle trajectories and merging behaviors. Various visualization techniques are illustrated to better understand the extensive analytics data generated for each site, which can lead to development of data-driven strategies to improve Traffic management and safety. GitHub repository: https://github.com/z00bean/SmartWorkZoneControl.

DETERMINANTS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIA RISK IN OLDER BLACK MEN

Abstract Beyond biological determinants of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), extensive literature also suggests a role for sociocultural determinants—including race, ethnicity, education, neighborhood, and economic environment—in modulating cognitive outcomes. In recent years, research examining sociodemographic disparities in ADRD incidence points to modifiable mechanisms. Important for more personalized dementia prevention is the focus on how social determinants of health interact with lifestyle factors to put people at risk of developing ADRD. However, a historical challenge to research on dementia disparities and prevention relates to stark underrepresentation of Black individuals, particularly Black men. Therefore, this within-group study utilizes data from older Black men to examine social determinants (e.g., neighborhood, home environment, social cohesion), lifestyle factors (e.g., sleep, diet, drinking), and their impact on neurocognitive domains linked to ADRD. Results from 178 Black men, age 70+, from the 2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study show lower presence of neighborhood physical disorders such as vandalism (B=.064, p=0.035) and better sleep quality (B=.022, p=0.036) were associated with better performance on executive functioning tasks. Additionally, ongoing primary data collection (N=100 Black men, age 60+) supports these findings and provides additional insights toward identifying and validating risk/protective factors that predict cognitive outcomes very early in the cognitive aging process among Black men. This work represents a necessary step toward a better understanding of heightened ADRD risk in this understudied group. Results can be used to guide tailored interventions likely to be most effective for mitigating risk and slowing progression in Black men.

L'histoire du nouvel univers en tant que levain du changement

This paper explores ways of motivating persons of good will to see the signs of a planet in distress, recognize our human and political paralysis, and change our behavior in ways commensurate to the historical challenge of our time. Framing this exploration within a “tapestry of stories”, the author examines ways creation itself learns, for clues as to how humans may grasp the large systems changes and collapses in which we are involved and/or implicated. Thomas Berry calls this the “great work” of our time. In the end, the paper concludes that the power we need to address climate change is not education, activism or financing, as important as these are. As an integral dimension of a 13.8 billion year evolutionary process, humans’ reflexive consciousness, is a power we can call upon. We need a major shift in consciousness, related to a new understanding of our place in the universe.

Leveraging community-based assets in coaching, wellness and mentorship to increase the African American and Latinx math teacher workforce

Purpose There is some evidence to suggest that the historical challenge associated with recruiting and retaining Black and Brown Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) collegians is tied to early their teaching and learning experiences in Mathematics. This paper describes an National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project (NSF #2151043) whose goal is to attract, prepare and retain math teachers of color in high need school districts ensure that those teachers remain in the field long enough to make a meaningful impact on the minds and hearts of BIPOC students who are often, extrinsically, and intrinsically, discouraged from pursuing careers in STEM professions.Design/methodology/approach This mixed-methods study, which began in the summer of 2023, seeks to recruit, prepare, support and retain nineteen (19) Black and Brown math teachers for two (2) high need urban school districts. The expectancy value theory will be used to explain the performance, persistence, and choices of the teachers, while grounded theory will be utilized to understand the impact of the intensive mentorship and wellness coaching that applied over the first year of their preservice preparation and subsequent in-service years.Findings Measures of project efficacy won’t begin until 2025 and as such there are no findings or implications to draw from for the study at this time.Originality/value The intention of this paper is to augment the body of knowledge on recruiting and retaining Black and Brown math teachers for urban schools where the need for quality STEM teachers is critical.

Educational reform for middle-income trap under digitalization: Culprits, challenges, and strategies in the Philippines

The concept of the middle-income trap (MIT) asserts that economies with middle-income levels often struggle to progress to higher income levels, which is particularly evident in Southeast Asia. Escaping the MIT has been a significant concern, with various factors like governance, infrastructure, and labor markets identified as contributors. Education is a crucial element for developing human capital and driving economic growth. Despite efforts to enhance education, the Philippines has a historical challenge of being stuck in the lower-middle-income trap (LMIT). Limited research on effective education reform strategies to overcome the LMIT in the Philippines is available in government plans and existing studies. The research utilized a mixed method involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches. In the initial qualitative phase, the analysis drew from the Murdoch School’s critical political economy and strategic management framework. It revealed that insufficient funding for education, unequal allocation of resources between urban and rural areas, and unfavorable home learning environments are significant factors hindering progress. To address these issues and escape the LMIT, a development strategy was proposed, combining formulation and execution into a unified concept. By tackling problems like misaligned investment priorities, improper resource distribution, lack of mobile infrastructure, and unsupportive learning environments, collaboration among private sectors and universities as cluster networks could drive educational reforms. This, in turn, would lead to societal transformation and economic growth by aligning with societal needs and market demands. Focusing on relevant skills in the digital age is a suitable approach, where skill-oriented education could serve as a cornerstone of the reform efforts.

GEO-ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF THE GLOBAL MARKET: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS (PANDEMIC AND MILITARY&POLITICAL SHOCKS, 2010–2022)

Noting that many articles and fundamental reports are devoted to the problems of geo-economic and geopolitical transformations, the author offers his view on some of the main trends of such changes and the causes that determine them. The question of the formation and transformation of geo-economic structure of the world economy in current conditions – in the period after 2008-2009 global financial crisis, with the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian Federation’s ongoing war against Ukraine – is considered. The actions of the collective West, caused by the historical challenge from countries of Asian and so-called Euro-Asian civilizations in the form of rapid economic growth (sometimes, a "jump") in a number of former "third world" countries, are analyzed. Three groups of main causes that led to the aforementioned changes in the pace and direction of geo-economic restructuring are identified and analyzed: fundamental (civilizational), pandemic (related to the economic consequences of COVID-19 pandemic), and military & political (Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine). Although on the surface the effects of causes that emerged during the last decade are seen, in reality they only boost the effects of the root causes that determine the long-term trends. Given that Ukraine has found itself at the center of a clash of interests between several important actors of global politics and economy at once, inevitable changes in the geo-economic position of Ukraine in the post-war world are expected, which may lead to its qualitatively new role in the global economy, provided that the authorities and society understand new historical prospects and work persistently on relevant priorities.

The Mobilization State as an Essential Characteristic of Russian Civilization: The Initial Stage of Formation

The local-civilizational approach, shared by the author of the article, assumes the existence of various “cultural-historical types” (In the words of his pioneer N.Ya. Danilevsky), which have different “logics of culture” and types of “collective cognitive unconscious” (according to A.V. Smirnov). These qualitative differences formed under the influence of special climatic and geographical conditions (habitat), as well as historical Challenges and the Answers found to them (according to A. Toynbee), found their expression in political and economic institutions, algorithms for responding to crises. One of such institutions for the Russian civilization was the phenomenon of the mobilization state, born as a spontaneous response to a historical challenge, mentally and institutionally fixed later (as a tested means of response). In this article, using the method of historical reconstruction, the author stops at the initial stage of the formation of this very specific manifestation of traditional Russian collectivism.

Two Ways of Completing the European Fundamental Rights Union: Amendment to vs. Reinterpretation of Article 51 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

AbstractThe aim of this Article is to show that the enforcement of Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (‘TEU’) values vis-à-vis Member States could benefit from the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (‘CFR’) also in instances where the current interpretation of Article 51(1) CFR prevents this. This would be the case if the CFR were also applicable to purely domestic cases, eg—but not only—with regard to fundamental rights-relevant violations related to the values enshrined in Article 2 TEU. In this case, the European Court of Justice, which has already partly taken this path recently, could prevent the violation of core EU values. The most important historical challenge to those values in Europe today is the systematic dismantling of the rule of law and democracy in certain Member States. It is the very purpose of fundamental rights to provide answers to such dangers. When one speaks of the rule of law and democracy, one necessarily also means fundamental rights. This Article thus advocates an EU which perceives itself as a complete fundamental rights union. While the traditional interpretation of Article 51(1) CFR had a balanced division of competence between the EU and its Member States in mind, the disregard of Article 2 TEU values triggers a clausula rebus sic stantibus: the neat federal balance can only be upheld if both ends stick to the original promise made. It demonstrates two ways of completing the European fundamental rights union: treaty revision, on the one hand, and reinterpretation of Article 51 CFR, on the other hand. Both ways have in common that only a complete fundamental rights union can establish a system of fundamental rights protection that is uniform and thus equality-preserving in cases where national fundamental rights fail to provide sufficient protection.

Stitching a new garment: Considering the future of the speech-language therapy profession globally.

Providing equitable support for people experiencing communication disability (CD) globally is a historical and contemporary challenge for the speech-language therapy profession. A group of speech-language therapists (SLTs) with ongoing and sustained experiences in Majority and Minority World contexts participated in five virtual meetings in 2021. The aim of these meetings was to develop provocative statements that might spur a global discussion among individuals and organisations that support people experiencing CD. The following questions were discussed: What is our vision for the future of the profession globally? What are the global challenges around access to speech-language therapy services?Four main themes emerged: (1) the need to centre people experiencing CD as the focal point of services, (2) participation, (3) equity and (4) community. The themes relate to the need for a process of de-imperialism in the profession. Suggestions were made to develop more suitable terminology and to establish a global framework that promotes more equitable access to communication services. We seek the adoption of approaches that focus on reciprocal global engagement for capacity strengthening. Alternative models of culturally sustaining and equitable service delivery are needed to create impact for people experiencing CD, and their families worldwide.Contribution:Provocative statements were developed to prompt global conversations among speech-language therapy professionals and associations. We encourage readers to consider the questions posed, share their viewpoints and initiate positive change towards a global strategy.

The Essential Challenge of “Economic Security”

The argument that “the end of the Cold War will bring history to an end with the final triumph of a free economy and democracy” was incorrect. As the US-China confrontation developed, economic security was discussed in Japan. In May 2022, the Economic Security Promotion Act was passed. The essential challenge of economic security is to “strike a balance between economic logic and political logic from the perspective of maximizing national interests.” However, it is not easy to strike a balance between the logic of the economy, which seeks economic efficiency based on market principles, and the logic of politics, which seeks values different from economic efficiency, such as democracy. How Japan, which has its own relationship with the United States and China, respectively, will be able to achieve this balance between the two countries is a historical challenge. Japan must make endless efforts to fulfill its role in bringing stability to the international system.

The Making of Capital City Tourism in South Africa

Capital city tourism is a significant theme for urban tourism scholarship. Existing international research on capital city tourism mainly concentrates on the global North. For the global South as a whole limited research examines capital cities as tourism destinations and for sub-Saharan Africa scholarship is minimal. This study contributes to the small body of writings that interrogate capital city tourism in the global South. Further, it marks a departure from the mainstream research focus on contemporary issues of capital city tourism by adopting an historical perspective on capital city tourism. Using a range of archival and documentary sources the analysis highlights the making of South Africa's capital city as a tourism destination. Under scrutiny is the historical evolution and changing character of tourism in Pretoria over a period of a half century from 1920 to 1975. It is shown that the distinctiveness of Pretoria's early tourism products were a reflection of its capital status. Definition of the tourism product base and its promotion were facilitated by the activities undertaken by national government promotion and the local Pretoria Publicity Association. An historical challenge for tourism development was the poor quality of local hotels, which were at a standard below international norms until at least the late 1960s. The difficulties of the accommodation services sector were compounded by the enactment of apartheid legislation from 1948 onwards, which required the existence of hotels as racialized and segregated spaces.

Anaphylaxis caused by vaccines

Even though the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic represents a historical challenge, science has had an exponential development, and the current vaccination campaigns are proof of this. Unfortunately, along came misinformation and myths regarding their production and their adverse effects. For this reason, we have considered of utter importance to review anaphylaxis, one of the most feared vaccine adverse events.Anaphylaxis can be defined as a life-threatening acute and systemic allergic reaction, with a wide clinical spectrum, which can be explained by many immunological mechanisms, and whose diagnostic complexity demands the fulfillment of strict criteria. Though infrequent, any vaccine has the potential to trigger anaphylaxis. In the United States, for the new SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, rates from 1:200 000 (Pfizer-BioNTech) to 1:360 000 doses (Moderna) have been estimated. Vaccine adverse events can be mediated by hypersensitivity reactions, either allergic or not. Unlike a typical drug allergy, rarely is the active ingredient responsible for the reaction. Therefore, excipients must be considered during the approach to this problem. Vaccine associated anaphylaxis has to be referred to an allergist so as to guarantee the maximum benefit for the patient and improve the vaccines' security profile.

Pravni položaj životinja u građanskom pravu - od objekta do subjekta prava

The legal position of animals in civil law, as well as in other branches of law, seeks its foundations in moral / ethical principles. Various philosophical debates have often been a stumbling block to the recognition of the moral rights of animals. The historical challenge has led to courts around the world, casually, challenging moral rights, making decisions in not the best interest of animals. We have witnessed, throughout history, different points of view and approaches to their legal position. Starting from the status of an object of property, which did not exercise legal protection because of its value, but because of the interests of people, all the way to the current view that animals are at the same time subjects and objects of rights. Today, their sui generis legal subjectivity gives them legal capacity for some non-property rights. Also, their specificity is reflected in the fact that at the same time they have the legal position of the objects of law, and property. Although these are living beings who have a developed nervous system, feelings of pain, suffering, stress, fear and the like, the law "worked" exclusively in one direction: distinguishing humans from animals.

Towards Biopolitics beyond Life and Death: The Virus, Life, and Death

By engaging with Giorgio Agamben’s article on the Italian government’s measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we argue that COVID-19 points to the limits of the classical biopolitical and thanatopolitical logics of analysis and therefore requires a new conceptual framework. The outbreak of COVID-19 is an example of zoonotic globalisation in which the human species as a biological and geological actor is merely one among many other species that influence biological and geological processes on Earth, thus challenging humanist conceptualisations of politics. Here, the human role in politics is decentralised by thinking the virus as one of the actors that exert influence on how the political sphere is governed. We argue that the virus is the epitome of the ungovernable – an entity or broadly a historical challenge that cannot be subjected to existing mode(s) of governing – due to its interstitial and borderline character, resting between the ontological roots of the dominant modes of governing bios (life) and geos (nonlife), and challenging them by merely existing. We draw upon the works of Ghassan Hage, Nils Bubandt, Elizabeth Povinelli, and Donna Haraway to interrogate the limits of biopolitics and diagnose theoretical conundrums stemming from the division of nature vs. culture and life vs. nonlife entrenched in the existing social-political paradigms. Rather than providing finite answers about the role of the virus as a non-human actor in the political sphere, we raise questions as to how and why it should matter.

Survival of Black and White Patients With Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BackgroundSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is associated with aggressive biology and limited treatment options, making this disease a historical challenge. The influence of race and socioeconomic status on the survival of stage IV SCLC remains mostly unknown. Our study is designed to investigate the clinical survival outcomes in Black and White patients with stage IV SCLC and study the demographic, socioeconomic, clinical features, and treatment patterns of the disease and their impact on survival in Blacks and Whites.Methods and ResultsStage IV SCLC cases from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 were obtained. The follow-up endpoint is defined as death or the date of the last contact. Patients were divided into two groups by white and black. Features including demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, treatments and survival outcomes in Blacks and Whites were collected. Mortality hazard ratios of Blacks and Whites stage IV SCLC patients were analyzed. Survival of stage IV SCLC Black and White patients was also analyzed. Adjusted hazard ratios were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression models. Patients’ median follow-up time was 8.18 (2.37-15.84) months. Overall survival at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months were 52.4%, 25.7%, 13.2% and 7.9% in Blacks in compared to 51.0%, 23.6%, 11.5% and 6.9% in Whites. White patients had significantly higher socioeconomic status than Black patients. By contrast, Blacks were found associated with younger age at diagnosis, a significantly higher chance of receiving radiation therapy and treatments at an academic/research program. Compared to Whites, Blacks had a 9% decreased risk of death.ConclusionOur study demonstrated that Blacks have significant socioeconomic disadvantages compared to Whites. However, despite these unfavorable factors, survival for Blacks was significantly improved compared to Whites after covariable adjustment. This may be due to Blacks with Stage IV SCLC having a higher chance of receiving radiation therapy and treatments at an academic/research program. Identifying and removing the barriers to obtaining treatments at academic/research programs or improving the management in non-academic centers could improve the overall survival of stage IV SCLC.