Decadal Time Research Articles

Deregulation as Disempowerment: Dispossessing Local Forest-dwelling Communities in India

Recent changes in India’s Forest Conservation Act and environment impact assessment procedures, already problematic for community rights and environmental conservation, further undermine both. These changes violate other hard-won constitutional and legal rights of traditional forest dwellers (Adivasis) to own, use, and conserve forest resources. The barely disguised aim is deregulation to open up further forests for plunder by capitalists and the consequent dispossession of local communities, amongst the most deprived and exploited sections of society who have historically borne the brunt of large development works. Underlying the government approach is an acceptance of unscientific, unrealistic, and unfair carbon sink and afforestation targets. Adherents of an exclusionary approach to conservation as well as those arguing for people-centric co-existence are perhaps for the first time in decades in agreement on the harm that these changes will cause for forests and their people. Changes are required to democratize and respect Adivasi forest rights and decentralize forest management, not to allow plunder and degradation.

“I’m Going to Vote for the First Time in My Life this Year”: Native American Political Engagement in the Trump Era

During the 2020 election, Arizona voted Democratic for the first time in decades and contributed to Joe Biden’s presidential win. Native Americans, predominantly young adults, turned out in record numbers and were credited as one of the key demographic groups that “flipped” Arizona blue. What drove young Native voters to engage during this election cycle? Using data from the Arizona Youth Identity Project, a multi-wave mixed-methods study, we analyzed interviews with 38 self-identified Native American participants ages 18–29 to understand the factors motivating their political engagement in the 2020 Presidential election. Findings reveal that young Native adults in Arizona were motivated by (1) targeted political organizing, outreach, and advocacy efforts, (2) increased positive attitudes toward voting, and (3) a desire for political and social change. These findings enhance our collective understanding of the motivations behind Native American voter engagement.

Adverse Contagion? Populist Radical Right Parties and Norms on Gender Balance in Political Institutions

How do male-dominated populist radical right (PRR) parties relate to and influence norms around women’s political inclusion and leadership in mainstream political parties? While research has focused on describing the male dominance of PRR parties or its influence on mainstream political parties’ policies, particularly immigration, we know less about how PRR parties relate to norms on women’s inclusion or gender-balanced representation in mainstream parties. In a theory-building effort, we posit that PRR parties may seek to (a) adapt to mainstream parties’ norms and include more women in leading positions (positive contagion) or (b) negatively affect or even challenge norms around women’s inclusion in mainstream parties (adverse contagion). Seeking to theorize this relationship further, we explore leadership selection in the Swedish Parliament, where gender balance constitutes a strong norm. Yet, following the 2022 elections, the proportion of women parliamentary leaders dipped below 30% for the first time in decades. At the same time, the Sweden Democrats, a male-dominated PRR party, emerged as the second-largest party in Parliament. Drawing on interviews with nomination committees, party documents, and data on leadership, we empirically investigate continuity and change in committee leadership appointments in the Swedish Parliament and the role of the radical right in this process. We do not find signs of adverse contagion in the short run: as of 2023, norms promoting gender balance appear to remain robust and enjoy widespread support among mainstream parties. Yet, neither do we find signs of positive contagion where the radical right adapts to mainstream norms around gender balance.

Abstract IA016: The evolving role of immune-based treatment strategies in metastatic urothelial cancer

Abstract Immune checkpoint blockade has changed the treatment landscape for metastatic urothelial cancer. However, the role of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in the treatment of metastatic diseaes continues to rapidly evolve since the initialy regulatory approval of these therapies in 2016. Defining biomarkers with sufficient predictive ability to establish clinical utility for selection of patients who can receive single agent PD-1/PD-L1 blockade has been challenging. However, combination regimens with either cisplatin-based chemotherapy or enfortumab vedotin has for the first time in decades improved survival compared with platinum-based chemotherapy alone. Refining the use of such combination regimens requires a better understanding of the potential immunomodulatory effects of cytotoxic therapies. Citation Format: Matthew D. Galsky. The evolving role of immune-based treatment strategies in metastatic urothelial cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Bladder Cancer: Transforming the Field; 2024 May 17-20; Charlotte, NC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(10_Suppl):Abstract nr IA016.

A new labor movement? Assessing the worker upsurge in the contemporary U.S.

ABSTRACT This article explores the labor upsurge of the early 2020s and places it in an historical context. In the early 2020s, workers across the U.S. protested, organized, and walked out, part of an upsurge that produced remarkable results. There were union victories at some of the country’s best-known corporations, including Starbucks, Amazon, Google, Apple, and Trader Joe’s. Between 2021 and 2023, more than 360 Starbucks stores unionized, most through independent worker action. Over 8,000 workers also organized an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, doing so with a grassroots union and a budget of just $120,000. Across the country, the number of strikes surged, petitions for National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections rose sharply, and union density increased for the first time in decades. Opinion polls also showed record levels of public support for unions. Rather than seeing the upsurge as new – as media accounts stressed – the article links it to longer-term trends, particularly many decades of bargaining givebacks, increasing income inequality, and long-term union decline. Across the U.S., workers reached their breaking point, and hit back. Short-term conditions – particularly the labor shortage produced by the pandemic – were important, but the upsurge also reflected longer-term grievances that built up over decades.

Causal Model Framework for Nuclear Power Plant Licensing Process

Interests in clean energy revived the nuclear power industry. For the first time in decades, innovative technologies and plant designs are being considered by regulatory agencies. This paper explores a Bayesian Network and AHP approach to causal modeling of the Combined License review process for new nuclear power plants (NPP). Historically lengthy and expensive, NPP licensing is critical to ensuring safe operation of the plants. With this comes a high standard for applicants to reach that can result in multiple revision cycles and long review times.The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's combined license process is examined in this study as an opportunity to predict delays based on project criteria and aid informed decision making. A Bayesian Network combined with Analytic Hierarchy Process inputs is presented to show causality relationships between licensing process steps, plant parameters, and time delays.

Long term trends in the incidence of distal radius fractures in Sindhudurg, west coast of Maharashtra Retrospective analysis of 1776 distal radius fractures (1989 to 1999), hospital based study

The over all incidences related to age, gender with secular trends and seasonal variation in the catchment area of Sindhudurg, are reported in this study. This study included all the patients of distal radius fractures treated by the author at Government. hospital Kudal, Sindhudurg between 1989 to 1999. A retrospective analysis was done extracting the data from Government hospital OPD registers, indoor case papers, cross-checked with operation theatre, radiology files. Overall 1776 distal radius fractures conferred of which 692(39.0%) were women. The annual incidence was 1.41 for 1989 and 2.58 for 1999 per 10,000 inhabitants. There was an exponential increase in incidence of adolescents of 11 to 20 years [26(22.1%) in 1989 and 56(25.4%) in 1999] and between 51 to 70 years age group [37(31.4%) in 1989 and 82(37.2%) in 1999] in both genders. After 71 years there was gradual decline in incidence in both men and women. Low velocity injuries due to indoor and outdoor falling was the most common mechanism of injury in 1340(75.5%). Associated ulnar styloid fracture was seen in 912(51.3%). Surgical intervention was done in 522(57.2%) with ulnar styloid fracture and in 186(21.5%) with intact ulnar styloid.The annualincidence of distal radius fracture is consistently increasing over a decade time, much more so in adolescents. Men and women between 51 to 70 years had a higher risk of fracture than other groups. Low energy injuries were most predominant.

Inside the Pit Factory: For the first time in decades the U.S. is ramping up production of plutonium cores for nuclear weapons.

Inside the Pit Factory: For the first time in decades the U.S. is ramping up production of plutonium cores for nuclear weapons.

A preclinical model of TB meningitis to determine drug penetration and activity at the sites of disease.

Tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) is essentially treated with the first-line regimen used against pulmonary tuberculosis, with a prolonged continuation phase. However, clinical outcomes are poor in comparison, for reasons that are only partially understood, highlighting the need for improved preclinical tools to measure drug distribution and activity at the site of disease. A predictive animal model of TBM would also be of great value to prioritize promising drug regimens to be tested in clinical trials, given the healthy state of the development pipeline for the first time in decades. Here, we report the optimization of a rabbit model of TBM disease induced via inoculation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the cisterna magna, recapitulating features typical of clinical TBM: neurological deterioration within months post-infection, acid-fast bacilli in necrotic lesions in the brain and spinal cord, and elevated lactate levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). None of the infected rabbits recovered or controlled the disease. We used young adult rabbits, the size of which allows for spatial drug quantitation in critical compartments of the central nervous system that cannot be collected in clinical studies. To illustrate the translational value of the model, we report the penetration of linezolid from plasma into the CSF, meninges, anatomically distinct brain areas, cervical spine, and lumbar spine. Across animals, we measured the bacterial burden concomitant with neurological deterioration, offering a useful readout for drug efficacy studies. The model thus forms the basis for building a preclinical platform to identify improved regimens and inform clinical trial design.

Multi-criteria decision model for selection of nuclear power plant type

Interests in clean energy revived the nuclear power industry. For the first time in decades, new technologies and plant designs are being considered by regulatory agencies. This shift in both public opinion and regulatory requirements opens opportunities for decision-makers and calls for a decision-making tool to help determine a feasible nuclear power plant (NPP) type. This paper contributes to academic literature by presenting an Analytic Hierarchy Process model to address the problem of selecting a feasible NPP type for construction. A holistic approach is taken, considering high level criteria in the categories of economic, operational, and risk concerns. Subject Matter Expert inputs to the pairwise comparison of priorities and criteria selection aided the analysis. Results show that the traditional NPP designs are closely followed in preference by a newer Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design. From this analysis, several areas of expansion and future work were identified, in hopes of growing the decision-making studies in NPP selection and including more holistic approaches when considering the best NPP type for new construction.

What We Lost in the Fire: Endemic Tropical Heart Diseases in the Time of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly influenced the effort to achieve global health equity. This has been particularly the case for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria control initiatives in low- and middle-income countries, with significant outcome setbacks seen for the first time in decades. Lost in the calls for compensatory funding increases for such programs, however, is the plight of endemic tropical heart diseases, a group of disorders that includes rheumatic heart disease, Chagas disease, and endomyocardial fibrosis. Such endemic illnesses affect millions of people around the globe and remain a source of substantial mortality, morbidity, and health disparity. Unfortunately, these conditions were already neglected before the pandemic, and thus those living with them have disproportionately suffered during the time of COVID-19. In this perspective, we briefly define endemic tropical heart diseases, summarizing their prepandemic epidemiology, funding, and control statuses. We then describe the ways in which people living with these disorders, along with the healthcare providers and researchers working to improve their outcomes, have been harmed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We conclude by proposing the path forward, including approaches we may use to leverage lessons learned from the pandemic to strengthen care systems for these neglected diseases.

Residents’ perceptions of post-COVID tourism. The case of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

The perceptions and attitudes of residents in tourist destinations have been a relevant object of research almost since the beginning of academic interest in tourism. This paper analyses the implica‑ tions of the temporary suspension of tourism activity (as a consequence of pandemic control strategies) on the attitudes and perceptions about tourism of residents in a mature, mass tourism destination with very low seasonality. A quantitative methodological approach is proposed, based on a survey of 749 residents in Tenerife. It is argued that the experience of an environment without tourists for the first time in decades has facilitated processes of re‑symbolisation of the qualities of the surrounding tourism system, facilitating significant modifications. Likewise, in accordance with the literature, the influence of variables related to the involvement in the tourist system and its valuation by residents, especially the receipt of economic income from this activity, has been detected. Given the high economic dependence on tourism on the island, it was expected that the halt in tourism would lead to a greater recognition of its importance and value. However, the results showed that the opposite was true.

1425. Changes in Clinical Presentation of TB due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background In 2020/21, deaths due to active tuberculosis (TB) increased globally for the first time in decades with concomitant global decline in TB detection rates, suggesting that delay in TB diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased mortality. In the US and New York City, 20% decline in TB cases was reported in 2020/21. We aimed to compare symptom duration, sputum microscopy and radiographic findings in patients with newly diagnosed TB at Montefiore Medical Center (MMC) in the Bronx, New York, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that patients during the COVID-19 pandemic present with signs of more advanced TB than before. Methods Using a cross-sectional study design, we retrospectively reviewed medical records of TB patients identified through microbiology lab records from 11/1/2018 to 3/11/2022 and stratified by admission before (11/1/2018–2/29/2020) and during (3/1/2020–3/11/2022) the COVID-19 pandemic. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, admission to an MMC hospital, and new diagnosis of culture-confirmed TB. Results We identified 24 TB patients who presented before and 24 during the pandemic. About 1.7 new TB cases were diagnosed monthly before vs 1.0 during the pandemic, an >40% decline. Patients had both pulmonary and/or extrapulmonary manifestations without differences between groups. There were no significant differences in demographics and comorbidities between the two groups aside from diabetes, which was higher in the pre-COVID group (p = 0.03). Two TB patients had a prior history of COVID and one developed nosocomial COVID during the admission. There was no difference in mortality between groups. Patients with pulmonary manifestations had higher sputum AFB smear positivity (p=0.14) and significantly higher occurrence of multilobar or miliary infiltrates on chest X-ray during compared to before COVID (p = 0.01; Table 1). Table 1.Symptoms and diagnostics on initial presentation of patients with pulmonary TB before and during the COVID-19 pandemic Depending on distribution, t-tests or Mann Whitney U tests were used for continuous and Chi-square tests or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables. Sputum AFB smears results are reported for the initial 3 smears. Conclusion Our findings show >40% decline in patients presenting with TB in the Bronx during vs before the COVID-19 pandemic and suggests patients presented with more advanced disease than before the pandemic. Whether COVID-19 could have contributed to this remains to be investigated. Our results have implications for public health and emphasizes the need for earlier identification of TB. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Unrest at Cayambe Volcano revealed by SAR imagery and seismic activity after the Pedernales subduction earthquake, Ecuador (2016)

For the first time in decades, a sudden increase in seismicity has been observed and monitored at Cayambe volcano in Ecuador, in 2016. This seismic unrest, which occurred a few months after the April 2016, Mw 7.8 Pedernales subduction earthquake, has raised many questions, especially as there is no record of recent eruptions at Cayambe volcano. Here we analyze a time series of 104 images from Sentinel 1 (SAR) data spanning the period 2014–2018 using the NSBAS processing chain in order to quantify surface deformation around this potentially explosive and ice-covered volcano. We evidence a large-scale uplift reaching a maximum mean displacement rate of about 0.44 cm/yr in Line of Sight. This uplift is mainly due to a significant and sudden acceleration of the deformation pattern, focused on the SE flank starting in November 2016. We model this signal as related to magma emplacement at around 6 km depth below the summit, with a sudden volume influx of about 2.6 million m3. The inflation and surface deformation pattern is concomitant in time with two Mw 3 seismic events recorded at Cayambe volcano in November 2016 and is consistent with the location at the summit of the volcano-tectonic (VT) seismic swarm from September 2016 onwards. This VT swarm follows an earlier swarm in June 2016 located on the northern side of the volcano and closer to a western branch of the Chingual-Cosanga-Pallatanga-Puna (CCPP) fault system, that plays a major role in accommodating plate tectonic processes in South America. We thus propose that static stress changes from the Pedernales megathrust earthquake triggered magma ascent below the Cayambe volcano, through reactivation of the CCPP fault system. Finally, volcanic hazards around Cayambe ice-capped volcano, previously dormant for the last 300 years, should be reassessed in light of this recent unrest.

Democracy and Theatre in Catalonia Since 1975

Democracy and Theatre in Catalonia Since 1975

Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention in Pediatric Health-care Settings.

Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention in Pediatric Health-care Settings.

The Economic Impact of Closing the Boundaries: The Lower Minho Valley Cross-Border Region in Times of Covid-19

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 crisis experienced since early 2020 has been the first time in decades that all the boundaries between European Union member-states have been systematically re-set. This paper examines the economic impact derived from re-establishing the boundary on a particular cross-border region located between Galicia (Spain) and Portugal. The paper begins by outlining the theoretical considerations on the interplay between borders and economy. After examining the case-study area and the decisions taken by the Spanish and Portuguese authorities in an attempt to control the spread of the virus in 2020, the article explains the methods used to obtain the results. Two sets of results are presented. Firstly, the direct consequences for cross-border economic activities are considered. Secondly, the fall in Gross Domestic Product is quantified for sectors and municipalities in the cross-border region, distinguishing between, on the one hand, the overall effect caused by the restrictions due to the lockdown situation and, on the other, the precise impact attributed to the re-establishment of the international boundary. This is a worthy addition to previous literature given that this paper details the specific economic effects caused by the COVID-19 crisis in a cross-border region directly affected by the boundary closure.

Wheat stem rust recorded for the first time in decades in Ireland.

Wheat stem rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), occurs in most wheat‐growing areas worldwide, and, in western Europe since 2013, has started to re‐emerge after many decades of absence. Following this trend across western Europe, in 2020, we also detected and recorded wheat stem rust for the first time in five decades in experimental plots across five locations in Ireland. To examine the potential origin of the Irish Pgt infection in 2020, we carried out transcriptome sequencing on 12 Pgt‐infected wheat samples collected across Ireland and compared these to 76 global P. graminis isolates. This analysis identified a close genetic relationship between the Irish Pgt isolates and those from Ethiopia collected in 2015 after a severe stem rust epidemic caused by the TKTTF Pgt race, and with the UK‐01 Pgt isolate that was previously assigned to the TKTTF race. Subsequent pathology‐based race profiling designated two Irish isolates and recent UK and French Pgt isolates to the TKTTF Pgt race group. This suggests that the Irish Pgt occurrence most probably originated from recent long‐distance windborne dispersal of Pgt urediniospores from neighbouring countries in Europe where we confirmed the Pgt TKTTF race continues to be prevalent. The identification of wheat stem rust in Ireland at multiple locations in 2020 illustrates that the disease can occur in Ireland and emphasizes the need to re‐initiate local monitoring for this re‐emergent threat to wheat production across western Europe.

Implementing the Great American Outdoors Act in the Era of Sustainable Recreation: Time for a Mission 2030?

The Great American Outdoors Act (AGOA) fully and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the first time since it was created in 1964. This is a boon for purchasing conservation lands, but equally important, the act provides funding to address massive federal agency recreation infrastructure backlogs. The last major overhaul of the U.S. parks and outdoor recreation system was over 50 years ago, during the era of Mission 66 and related programs. Since that time, a host of environmental and societal changes necessitates new approaches for updating conservation and recreation opportunities. In addition to acquiring critical park and conservation lands, and developing and updating facilities, new park and recreation goals include increasing public use and visitor diversity and advancing environmental justice, public health, and large-scale conservation goals. Integrated systems analyses are needed to address these diverse concerns across landscapes, regions, and jurisdictions, and new interagency and interdisciplinary approaches will be needed. This is a bureaucratic crossroads: for the first time in decades we can truly advance public access, human health, and social equity values of public lands; the GAOA is a critical process step toward, but not the culmination of, this goal.

TRANSFORMATION OF MARKETING IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY OF RUSSIA BASED ON ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER DEMAND DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The tourist sphere of activity in Russia was among the areas of the economy that were quite severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many major chain tour operators and hotels have closed for the first time in decades. Revenues from the sale of tours and hotel rooms fell sharply. Travel industry companies have embarked on the difficult task of figuring out how to deal with the new reality created by the pandemic. Therefore, this study is devoted to identifying changes in consumer attitudes towards tourism products in the Russian Federation. The article assesses the opinions of Russian consumers of tourist services. The result of the study is the proposed recommendations for conducting marketing strategies in the tourism industry. The most numerous segment is family beach vacations, so the main marketing investments should be directed specifically to this group of consumers. Advertising campaigns should focus on the comfort of hotels and infrastructure for families with children. Social networks and the Internet in general should become the main advertising channels. This strategy will attract both young people, using advertising on social networks, attracting bloggers and famous personalities. To increase loyalty to Russian tourism, youth tours should be developed, which will help to attract people to domestic travel. These actions will have a long-term impact on the tourism industry in Russia, as they can attract people to domestic tourism in the future.