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Paper represents a potent but underexplored keyword for Victorian studies today. Not only is it the unacknowledged techno-material a priori of Victorian studies itself, but its histories also offer material connections that link literary texts, bureaucracy, and consumer culture to global ecologies and resource extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One fine spring morning, at some point, I was simply tearing a few sheets of paper towel off a fresh roll. As the sheets came off and the roll rotated about the vertical axle of the holder (Figure 1), I lazily pondered the geometry lurking in the situation. I realised that sometimes I would let the roll rotate as the unwound part moved straight until tearing, while at other times, I might hold the roll in place and unwind the sheets around the roll. More often, it would be some spontaneous combination of the two modes of unwinding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a genealogy of the passport in international law. For the most part, the origins of our contemporary mobility order are narrated from the vantage point of the grand principles of sovereignty, hospitality, and liberty. The nuts and bolts through which people access mobility – passports and visas – are generally understood to be the natural, inevitable, and fair by-products of these principles. This paper contributes to existing debates on the coloniality of international migration law by examining the universalization of the passport under the League of Nations. I argue that the universalization of the passport meant abandoning the old idea that the rights of free movement belonged to everyone and, instead, instituted a system that ranks human mobility based on national origins. Theoretically, it is proposed that attention to these "lowly" practices of mobility governance allows us to track the afterlives of race in the international order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2022 anti–zero Covid White Paper protests that erupted in China and its diaspora demonstrated the intertwinement of politics and performance in contemporary China. The symbolic dimensions of blank sheets of A4 paper and other performative tactics used in these demonstrations exemplify the shifting roles of performance art in the field of contemporary Chinese art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sino-German coproduction Mouzhong leisi yu wode didong: xinshi pianduan explores the medical process of a heart transplant and its aftermath through the Foucauldian theoretical framework of the "clinical gaze." The doctors' "biomedical reductionism" is caricatured for its lack of humanness; patients' physical and emotional agony denies the possibility of peaceful coexistence of the human self and technology. Cynical irony is one way of coping with the identity loss, pain, and techno-human condition of organ-transplant survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document contains abstracts of papers presented at an academic conference. The papers cover a wide range of topics related to economics, history, and social development. Each paper presents empirical evidence and analysis to shed light on specific phenomena or historical events. The research is conducted using different methodologies and data sources, providing valuable insights into these complex subjects. The summaries provide a brief overview of each paper's main findings and contribute to the understanding of various social and economic phenomena. [Extracted from the article]

This Position Paper from the Academy of Nutrition Sciences is the third in a series which describe the nature of the scientific evidence and frameworks that underpin nutrition recommendations for health. This paper focuses on evidence which guides the application of dietary recommendations for individuals. In some situations, modified nutrient intake becomes essential to prevent deficiency, optimise development and health, or manage symptoms and disease progression. Disease and its treatment can also affect taste, appetite and ability to access and prepare foods, with associated financial impacts. Therefore, the practice of nutrition and dietetics must integrate and apply the sciences of food, nutrition, biology, physiology, behaviour, management, communication and society to achieve and maintain human health. Thus, there is huge complexity in delivering evidence-based nutrition interventions to individuals. This paper examines available frameworks for appraising the quality and certainty of nutrition research evidence, the development nutrition practice guidelines to support evidence implementation in practice and the influence of other sources of nutrition information and misinformation. The paper also considers major challenges in applying research evidence to an individual and suggests consensus recommendations to begin to address these challenges in the future. Our recommendations target three groups; those who deliver nutrition interventions to individuals, those funding, commissioning or undertaking research aimed at delivering evidence-based nutrition practice, and those disseminating nutritional information to individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study traces the evolution of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) by investigating published research articles (RAs) in four major CALL journals: ReCALL, Computer Assisted Language Learning, Language Learning & Technology, and CALICO Journal. All 2,397 RAs published over four decades (1983-2019) were included in the pool of data, and the Google Scholar citation metric was adopted to assess the impact of the papers. By selecting the top 15% of widely cited papers from each individual year, we minimized the time bias between years, enabling a balanced narration of the history of CALL through a representative dataset of 426 high-impact RAs. To identify the evolution of research trends, the contexts, methodologies, theoretical underpinnings and research foci of all 426 RAs were investigated using NVivo 12 and AntConc. The analysis of the data yielded encouraging results such as the upward trend in the number of publications and the international reach of CALL in the last two decades, the physical or virtual presence of language learners with diverse language profiles, and the growing tendency to triangulate methodology for increased complexity. However, long-standing issues such as the heavy reliance on traditional research contexts, poor reporting practices of basic demographic information, the large number of atheoretical papers and the concentration on a limited number of research foci continue to pose challenges in CALL research. Based on the findings, the paper suggests solutions for the controversies and addresses key issues for future research in CALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academics across Canada, an officially bilingual and multicultural country, devote a lot of attention to diversity and representation. This is particularly true for political scientists. In this research note, we focus on the linguistic composition of panels and overall linguistic fragmentation of the most important in-person event for Canadian political science: the annual meeting of the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA). To do so, we generated a dataset based on the official program of the 2023 annual conference. Our main results are twofold. First, we find an important under-representation of French-speaking events and academic communications (i.e. panels and papers). Second, we computed Herfindahl-Hirschman indexes demonstrating that francophone-dominated panels and co-authored papers with francophone first authors are significantly more linguistically diverse than anglophone panels and papers. Our results highlight important blind spots in Canadian political science and help make sense of the lack of representation of French-language work in Canadian academia. Résumé: Les chercheurs académiques du Canada, un pays officiellement bilingue et multiculturel, accordent beaucoup d'attention à la diversité et à la représentation. C'est particulièrement le cas des politologues. Dans cette note de recherche, nous évaluons la composition linguistique des panels et la fragmentation linguistique globale du plus important événement en présentiel de la science politique canadienne, à savoir la conférence annuelle de l'Association canadienne de science politique (ACSP). Pour ce faire, nous avons généré une base de données basée sur le programme officiel de la conférence annuelle de 2023. Nos principaux résultats sont les suivants. Premièrement, nous constatons une importante sous-représentation des événements (i.e. panels) et des communications académiques en français. Deuxièmement, nous avons calculé un indice de Herfindahl-Hirschman démontrant que les panels dominés par les francophones et les communications co-présentées avec des premiers auteurs francophones sont significativement plus diversifiés sur le plan linguistique que les panels et les communications à dominance anglophone. Nos résultats mettent en évidence d'importantes lacunes en science politique canadienne et aident à comprendre le manque de représentation des travaux en français dans la sphère académique canadienne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autistic children and young people (CYP) experience mental health difficulties but face many barriers to accessing and benefiting from mental health care. There is a need to explore strategies in mental health care for autistic CYP to guide clinical practice and future research and support their mental health needs. Our aim was to identify strategies used to improve mental health care for autistic CYP and examine evidence on their acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out. All study designs reporting acceptability/feasibility outcomes and empirical quantitative studies reporting effectiveness outcomes for strategies tested within mental health care were eligible. We conducted a narrative synthesis and separate meta-analyses by informant (self, parent, and clinician). Fifty-seven papers were included, with most investigating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based interventions for anxiety and several exploring service-level strategies, such as autism screening tools, clinician training, and adaptations regarding organization of services. Most papers described caregiver involvement in therapy and reported adaptations to communication and intervention content; a few reported environmental adjustments. In the meta-analyses, parent- and clinician-reported outcomes, but not self-reported outcomes, showed with moderate certainty that CBT for anxiety was an effective treatment compared to any comparison condition in reducing anxiety symptoms in autistic individuals. The certainty of evidence for effectiveness, synthesized narratively, ranged from low to moderate. Evidence for feasibility and acceptability tended to be positive. Many identified strategies are simple, reasonable adjustments that can be implemented in services to enhance mental health care for autistic individuals. Notable research gaps persist, however. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For billions of people, the internet has become a second home. It is where we meet friends and strangers, where we organise and learn, debate, deceive, and do business. In some respects, it is like the town square it was once claimed to be, while in others, it provides a strange new mode of interaction whose influence on us we are yet to understand. This collection of papers aims to give a short indication of some of the exciting philosophical work being carried out at the moment that addresses the novel aspects of online communication. The topics range from the expressive functions of emoji to the oppressive powers of search engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document and explain the sharp performance deterioration of smart beta indexes after the corresponding exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are launched for investment. While smart beta is purported to deliver excess returns through factor exposures, the market-adjusted return of smart beta indexes drops from about 3% "on paper" before ETF listings to about −0.50% to −1% after ETF listings. This performance decline cannot be explained by variation in factor premia, strategic timing, or diminishing returns to scale. Instead, we find strong evidence of data mining in the construction of smart beta indexes, which helps ETFs attract flows, as investors respond positively to backtests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annales: Histoire, Sciences Sociales is the property of Cambridge University Press 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.)

The article deals with food profiteering in the Bohemian Lands after the declaration of Czechoslovakia in 1918. The new state faced a disintegrated society in which various units continued to fight each other for an advantage in the food market. While food shortages persisted, the Czechoslovak authorities had to deal with a situation in which food rationing laws had lost some of their power to distinguish between the legal and the criminal. Moreover, collective ideas about what was right and wrong, about the victims and perpetrators of food profiteering, and of whom to punish and how, varied according to the different social and ethnic affiliations of the population. Political instrumentalization of such ideas jeopardized the postwar consolidation based on the promise of a better future. Thus, the introduction of food profiteering courts with lay judges was an attempt to institutionalize conflicts over food profiteering and to reduce the impacts of the atomization of society until the economic situation improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International humanitarian law (IHL) applies to situations of armed conflict, a de facto state of hostilities dependent on neither a declaration nor recognition of the existence of "war" by its parties. In terms of its material scope, whether an armed conflict is an international armed conflict (IAC) or non-international armed conflict (NIAC) will largely determine which rules of IHL apply. Articles 2 and 3 common to the Geneva Conventions differentiate between the rules applicable to IACs and NIACs. However, the term "armed conflict" is defined in neither article. Far from being an oversight, the omission plays an important role in depoliticizing the application of the Conventions to the situations of violence for which they were conceived. Having learned from earlier reliance on notions such as "declarations of war ", the drafters' choice of the notion of "armed conflict" ensured that the Conventions' catalyst would never become a vestige of its time, but rather a concept meant to endure and, indeed, adapt in response to the changing environments for which the Conventions are needed. The application of IHL has since been predicated on a fact-based analysis rather than only the formal recognition by a belligerent that a state of war exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a new linked sample constructed from full-count census data of 1851–1911 to revise estimates of intergenerational occupational mobility in England. I find that conventional estimates of intergenerational elasticities are attenuated by classical measurement error and severely underestimate the extent of father-son association in socioeconomic status. Instrumenting one measure of the father's outcome with a second measure of the father's outcome raises the intergenerational elasticities (β) of occupational status from 0.4 to 0.6–0.7. Victorian England was therefore a society of limited social mobility. The long-run evolution and international comparisons of social mobility in England are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to systematically review the literature on using electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with dementia/major NCD (Neuro cognitive disorder) presenting with behavioral symptoms. Design: We conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review of the literature. We searched five major databases, including PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and registry (ClinicalTrials.gov), collaborating with "ECT" and "dementia/major NCD" as our search terms. Measurements: Out of 445 published papers and four clinical trials, only 43 papers and three clinical trials met the criteria. There were 22 case reports, 14 case series, 4 retrospective chart reviews, 1 retrospective case–control study, 1 randomized controlled trial, and 2 ongoing trials. We evaluated existing evidence for using ECT in dementia/major NCD patients with depressive symptoms, agitation and aggression, psychotic symptoms, catatonia, Lewy body dementia/major NCD, manic symptoms, and a combination of these symptoms. Settings: The studies were conducted in the in-patient setting. Participants: Seven hundred and ninety total patients over the age of 60 years were added. Results: All reviewed studies reported symptomatic benefits in treating behavioral symptoms in individuals with dementia/major NCD. While transient confusion, short-term memory loss, and cognitive impairment were common side effects, most studies found no serious side effects from ECT use. Conclusion: Current evidence from a systematic review of 46 studies indicates that ECT benefits specific individuals with dementia/major NCD and behavioral symptoms, but sometimes adverse events may limit its use in these vulnerable individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) specific self-help for psychosis, given that CBT is a highly recommended treatment for psychosis. Thus, research has grown regarding CBT-specific self-help for psychosis, warranting an overall review of the literature. A systematic literature review was conducted, following a published protocol which can be found at: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/export%5frecord%5fpdf.php. A search was conducted across Scopus, PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science to identify relevant literature, exploring CBT-based self-help interventions for individuals experiencing psychosis. The PICO search strategy tool was used to generate search terms. A narrative synthesis was conducted of all papers, and papers were appraised for quality. Ten studies were included in the review. Seven papers found credible evidence to support the effectiveness of CBT-based self-help in reducing features of psychosis. Across the studies, common secondary outcomes included depression, overall psychological well-being, and daily functioning, all of which were also found to significantly improve following self-help intervention, as well as evidence to support its secondary benefit for depression, anxiety, overall well-being, and functioning. Due to methodological shortcomings, long-term outcomes are unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of selected papers from the 5th International Joint Conference on Rules and Reasoning (RuleML+RR 2021). The conference brought together researchers and practitioners in the field of rule technologies and reasoning. The papers included in this issue cover a range of topics, including high-utility pattern mining, rehabilitation scheduling problems, meta-reasoning over ontology, and distributed subweb specifications for traversing the web. These papers demonstrate the diversity and quality of the contributions to the conference. The document also acknowledges the reviewers and organizers who made the conference and this special issue possible. [Extracted from the article]

This paper demonstrates that "completely-jigless" assembly of a model product that requires fitting accuracy at the level of industrial products is possible by using a universal hand with four parallel stick fingers mounted on a conventional position-control-based industrial robot. Assuming that each part is taken out of the parts bin and temporarily placed on the work table, the accuracy required for precise fitting cannot be achieved with a vision sensor alone. Introducing an appropriate grasping strategy, the initial position error of the part is absorbed by self-alignment in the process of grasping. Once the alignment is completed, the pose of the grasped part is fixed and jigless assembly is possible with a conventional industrial robot, which has high repeatability. In this paper, we use a gear unit as an example of an industrial product and present some grasping strategies with the universal hand. We also propose some subsequent assembly strategies for shafts and gears. Using those grasping and assembly strategies, it is shown that jigless assembly of the gear unit was successfully completed in the experiment. Although the target product in this paper is specific, the assembly elements in this product, such as shaft screwing, bearing insertion, and gear meshing, are also included in many other products. Therefore, the methods shown in this paper can be applied to other products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the summer of 2019, two of us began our term as co-editors of Politics & Gender. We were excited to manage the top journal in the study of women, gender, and politics; help to shape our field; and advance outstanding scholarship. Before our first year ended, the global COVID-19 pandemic disrupted normal routines for many professions, including within the academy. Access to offices, professional networks, and fieldwork was halted or severely limited. Both new and experienced teachers quickly transitioned to online teaching. Scholars became ill or cared for sick family members. Faculty with preschool or school-aged children spent many hours on childcare and homeschooling, leaving them with less time for research and writing. Not all impacts were necessarily negative: those without caretaking responsibilities enjoyed more flexibility and often had more time for research and writing as in-person events were canceled and lengthy commutes disappeared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How has mainstream academic economic discourse evolved to regain its epistemic authority after the financial crisis of 2008 revealed serious blind spots in economic modelling that shattered the profession's claim to be able to predict and control macroeconomic variables? To answer this question, we combine content with bibliometric analyses of nearly 70,000 papers on macroeconomics and finance published in academic journals from 1990 to 2019. These analyses reveal how a structural rapprochement between macroeconomics and finance created the new subfield of macro-finance. We show that contributions by central bank economists, driven by central banks' newly acquired macroprudential mandate, were key to its establishment. Acting within the space of regulatory science, they connected macroeconomic and financial knowledge to satisfy their employers' administrative needs, while also helping to bridge the gaping hole in economic discourse, thereby taking on an important stabilizing role for the epistemic authority of economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elites were pivotal for Latin America's modernization, yet granular evidence of their industrial entrepreneurship is limited. I study Antioquia, an early center of industrialization, from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. Analyzing elite interactions via newfound archival data and exploiting unexpected deaths as exogenous shocks, I find global connectivity—not local—drove industrial entrepreneurship. This suggests diverse resources unavailable in markets but accessible through global connections were crucial in forming industrial ventures. Thus, this paper depicts how social capital shapes elite outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes and documents a new long-term income inequality series for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela based on dynamic social tables with four occupational groups. This enables the calculation of comparable Overall (four groups) and Labor Ginis (three groups) with their between- and within-group components. The main findings are the absence of a unique inequality pattern over time; country outcomes characterized by trajectory diversity and level divergence during industrialization and by commonality and convergence post-1980; the occurrence of inequality-leveling episodes with different timing and length; and significant changes in trends, but also evidence indicating persistence. The income-inequality dataset is included as supplementary material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017 the Scottish Government passed the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act with the commitment to significantly reduce the relative child poverty rate from the current prevailing level of around 25% to 10% by 2030/31. In response, the government introduced the Scottish Child Payment (SCP) that provides a direct transfer to households at a fixed rate per eligible child – currently £25 per week. In this paper we explore, using a micro to macro modelling approach, the effectiveness of using the SCP to achieve the Scottish child poverty targets. While we find that the ambitious child poverty targets can technically be met solely using the SCP, the necessary payment of £165 per week amounting to a total government cost of £3 billion per year, makes the political and economy-wide barriers significant. A key issue with only using the SCP is the non-linearity in the response to the payment; as the payment increases, the marginal gain in the reduction of child poverty decreases – this is particularly evident after payments of £80 per week. A 'policy-mix' option combining the SCP, targeted cash transfers and other policy levels (such as childcare provision) seems the most promising approach to reaching the child poverty targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degree to which disability benefit programs provide an adequate standard of living to those with work-limiting disabilities has long been overlooked in social policy research. This paper presents a framework for assessing disability-related decommodification and then applies that framework to an analysis of the Social Security Disability (SSD) programs in the United States. The paper draws on survey data from the Health and Retirement Study linked to administrative records from the Social Security Administration, and further compares the U.S. estimates to those from 27 other countries. The results indicate that more than 50 percent of older adults of working-age with work-disabilities in the U.S. do not receive SSD benefits, though rates of benefit receipt are higher than the average across other high-income countries. Those that receive SSD benefits, moreover, experience greater difficulty achieving an adequate standard of living, as measured by an index of financial security, than those with similar characteristics in the U.S. who do not receive disability benefits. The paper thus provides a framework for future policy research on benefit adequacy, while evaluating the availability and generosity of disability benefits in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic navigational charts (ENCs) can be compiled using existing paper charts to improve their coverage of the world's oceans. However, in the process of assigning symbols on ENCs, in some cases the software uses the same symbol for different paper chart symbols. This could ultimately compromise maritime safety. Addressing this issue, this paper describes a methodology for developing a new tool that complements the efficient production of ENCs using paper charts. First, the ENC product was produced utilising CARIS S-57 Composer. After considering the difficulties in assigning symbols through the compilation process, a new web application named SYMO EXPERT was introduced. It was developed using Firebase Realtime Database and React app. A questionnaire was prepared to collect data about the time factor and accuracy of using SYMO EXPERT. Results showed that it supports the users in selecting relevant symbols efficiently with an accuracy of up to 98%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Computerized neglect tests could significantly deepen our disorder-specific knowledge by effortlessly providing additional behavioral markers that are hardly or not extractable from existing paper-and-pencil versions. This study investigated how testing format (paper versus digital), and screen size (small, medium, large) affect the Center of cancelation (CoC) in right-hemispheric stroke patients in the Letters and the Bells cancelation task. Our second objective was to determine whether a machine learning approach could reliably classify patients with and without neglect based on their search speed, search distance, and search strategy. Method: We compared the CoC measure of right hemisphere stroke patients with neglect in two cancelation tasks across different formats and display sizes. In addition, we evaluated whether three additional parameters of search behavior that became available through digitization are neglect-specific behavioral markers. Results: Patients' CoC was not affected by test format or screen size. Additional search parameters demonstrated lower search speed, increased search distance, and a more strategic search for neglect patients than for control patients without neglect. Conclusion: The CoC seems robust to both test digitization and display size adaptations. Machine learning classification based on the additional variables derived from computerized tests succeeded in distinguishing stroke patients with spatial neglect from those without. The investigated additional variables have the potential to aid in neglect diagnosis, in particular when the CoC cannot be validly assessed (e.g., when the test is not performed to completion). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a summary of the journal article "Selected Papers from Datalog 2.0 2022" published in the Theory & Practice of Logic Programming. The article discusses the 4th International Workshop on the Resurgence of Datalog in Academia and Industry (Datalog 2.0 2022), which aimed to bring together researchers, implementors, and users of Datalog. The workshop received a significant number of submissions, and 21 papers were accepted for publication. The article also highlights the inclusion of an invited talk by Reinhard Pichler and emphasizes the collaborative and vibrant nature of the Datalog community. The document concludes by expressing anticipation for the future contributions and innovations in Datalog research. [Extracted from the article]

This article studies the registration practices of land and property on palm leaf deeds (olas) in Sri Lanka, in relationship to the advent of paper land grants (giftebrieven) under the Dutch East India Company (VOC)'s rule in the long eighteenth century. A database of about 2500 Dutch land grant deeds and translated olas, ranging from 1685 to 1795 are contextualised via judicial records of Dutch civil courts, where (translated) olas were regularly used as evidence. Not only does this allow us to track the geographical encroachment of Dutch power over coastal Sri Lanka as part of a colonial transition, but at the same time shift the perspective to study which individuals and communities on the island engaged with Dutch land bureaucracy. In doing so, we showcase the continued importance of traditional ola deeds and (pre-)colonial registers for both local land owners and the colonial bureaucracy itself, regardless of the Dutch government's push for paper, attempted to delegitimise the local ola recordings, and acts of symbolic violence to infringe on both the materiality as well as the perceived importance of palm leaf deeds. In the long eighteenth century several paper and palm leaf realities coexisted in Sri Lanka and at times conflicted, entangled, and convoluted within and outside the bureaucratic institutions to form what 'material pluralism' within a larger context of legal pluralities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study newspaper partisan behavior and content, which we measure using coverage of and commentary on partisan activities, institutions, and actors. We use this measure to describe the levels of relative partisan behavior during the period 1880 to 1900, and to describe changes over the period 1880 to 1980. We find that, on average, newspapers were initially highly partisan, but gradually became less partisan over time. Importantly, we find as much change after the 1910s as before, which contributes to the existing literature that focuses on changes in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. We also investigate words and phrases that had negative or positive partisan connotations in particular periods. Finally, we examine whether some of the common hypotheses offered in the literature can account for the changes. The initial findings suggest that these explanations can only account for part of the decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies on technology-mediated task-based learning have shown the impact of task design and modality on English as a foreign language (EFL) learning. However, it is unclear what effect technology-mediated tasks have on learners' English language skills. This paper presents a classroom-based study that showed how using technology-mediated tasks impacted students' learning experiences and fostered the development of specific speaking and writing subskills in an EFL secondary education context. Forty-two EFL intermediate learners completed two speaking and two writing tasks from the Cambridge B2 First exam using mobile devices. The participants were divided into a pen-and-paper group (N = 21) and an iPad group (N = 21). Learning outcomes were measured using a pre-test/post-test design with a statistical comparison of ratings across tasks. A qualitative content analysis of lesson observations and student and teacher interviews served as an additional dataset to shed light on learners' experiences. Descriptive statistics revealed that the iPad group achieved higher scores in pronunciation and accuracy (speaking) and essay organisation features (writing). Tasks involving the active use of the tool for content creation, rehearsing speaking performances, and accessing authentic materials were the most successful among students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) has been steadfast in its commitment towards advancing human rights of older persons since the release of its 2011 White Paper which expanded the focus of the Capacity Task Force to prioritize human rights. Through partnerships with the World Psychiatric Association Section Old Age Psychiatry (WPA-SOAP), Capacity Australia, International Longevity Centre Canada (ILC Canada), Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA), and Rights of Older Persons Australia (ROPA), IPA members have emerged as global leaders in advocating for integration of human rights-based mental health care for older persons. Advocacy efforts have spanned grassroots and global strategies. At the grassroots level, IPA has championed the seamless integration of human rights principles into clinical practice, demonstrating a commitment to action. Globally, IPA has engaged in advocacy for a United Nations (UN) convention on the rights of older persons, notably through active participation in UN Open Ended Working Group on Aging (OEWGA). This symposium showcases a diverse array of papers exemplifying these dual approaches. Papers on grassroots strategies include: (i) "Walking the Talk:20 Ways to Embed Human Rights in Everyday Clinical Practice" (Carmelle Peisah) provide practical guidance for clinicians; (ii) "The UN Decade's and our own efforts to address ageism" (Liat Ayalon); (iii) Actualizing human rights of older persons with severe mental Illness (Anne Wand). Papers highlighting global strategies include: (i) "Our role and impact with the OEWGA/OHCHR /WHO" (Kiran Rabheru) illustrating how our advocacy has urged healthcare organizations and multilateral bodies such as the UNOEWGA, World Health Organization (WHO), and Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prioritize the human rights agenda for older persons; (ii) Is a new treaty critical for policy making? A lawyer's perspective (Andrew Byrnes); (iii) "The Global Alliance for Rights Based Care and Support (GARBCS)" (Carlos de Mendonça Lima) underscoring the transformative potential of collaborative efforts in fostering a rights-based approach to care. Established to address challenges faced by older individuals worldwide, GARBCS promotes optimal mental health, combats ageism, and fosters collaboration among member organizations, aligning with UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and WHO's focus areas. Founding Members include AAGP, CHeBA, ILC-Canada, IPA, WDP, WFMH, WFP, WPA, and WONCA, organisations led by many of our IPA members. Objectives: 1. To understand the challenges faced by older persons worldwide; 2. To engage clinicians in becoming human rights champions; 3. To understand current global efforts at advocacy for the human rights of older persons. Walking the Talk: 20 Ways to Embed Human Rights in Everyday Clinical Practice- Carmelle Peisah Summary: This presentation will illustrate translational significance and practical implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the primary international human rights framework. Articles from the Convention most relevant to the practice of old age psychiatry include: (i) Article 12: Equal recognition before the Law including the right to equal legal capacity, the support in exercising that legal capacity, and the right to be safeguarded against undue influence and abuse; (ii) Article 14: Liberty and security of the person; (iii) Article 16: Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse; Article 19: Living independently and being included in the community; (iv) Article 22: Respect for privacy; (v) Article 23: Respect for home and the family, and relationships on an equal basis with others; and (vi) Article 25: Equitable access to health. Clinicians will be provided with practical ways to implement each of these relevant Articles in their everyday practice. Is a new treaty on the human rights of older persons critical for effective policy making? A lawyer's perspective- Andrew Byrnes Objectives: 1. To inform participants of the latest developments relating to a new treaty on the human rights of older persons 2. To highlight the potential positive contribution of such a new treaty in terms of policymaking 3. To explore through two case studies how the absence of such a treaty has skewed policymaking in relation to older persons and their rights Summary: The development of a new United Nations treaty on the human rights of older persons or in older age has been under Discussion at the United Nations and elsewhere for more than a decade. One of the major advantages of a thematic treaty on the rights of older persons is said to be its potential contribution as a clear, comprehensive and coherent framework for policy making at the national level. Advocates argue that other thematic UN treaties – on discrimination against women, children and the rights of persons with disabhave had this effect, as have regional treaties including those that address the rights of older persons in the Inter-American and African human rights systems. This presentation will explore the potential policy contributions that a new treaty could make by considering recent examples from Australia in which the lack of a comprehensive and coherent international framework on the human rights of older persons led to flawed analysis and policy making. The examples are the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and the drafting of the proposed new "rights-based" Aged Care Act (2023-2024), and the proposal for a national Human Rights Act put forward by the Australian Human Rights Commission (2023) and the Australian Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (2024). The presentation will argue that, had policymakers had such a framework available to guide their deliberations, a better, more rights-complaint outcome would have resulted. Actualising human rights of older persons with severe mental illness A/Prof Anne Wand1,2,3 1. Specialty of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney 2. School of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New SouthWales 3. Older Peoples Mental Health, Sydney Local Health District People living with severe mental illness experience greater morbidity and premature mortality compared to their peers who do not have mental illness. As articulated by the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, persons living with mental illness have an equal right to access high quality health care including towards the end of life, and the right to determine what kind of care they want. These rights sit alongside the rights to live independently and be included in the community, and respect for home and the family. Too often though, these rights are not actualised. Geriatric psychiatry has an important role in advocacy for older people living with severe mental illness to enjoy equitable rights to autonomy in decision making in areas of accommodation, consent to healthcare, and expressing wishes and preferences towards the end of life. Where capacity is lacking, clinicians may assist to maximise the older person's participation in decision making, including through supported decision making. This presentation will use examples of recent work conducted in public older persons mental health services in Sydney Australia to illustrate advocacy for older people living with severe mental illness to enjoy equal rights to autonomy of decision making and access to quality physical healthcare, including care towards the end of life (advance care planning), and supported accommodation placement (pathways to community living initiative). Conclusions: Often the only health professional engaging with an older person with severe mental illness, mental health clinicians have an opportunity and, arguably, an obligation to advocate for their consumers to actualise their human rights. The UN Decade's and our own efforts to address ageism- Liat Ayalon Ageism is defined as stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination towards people because of their age. It can be directed towards people of any age and be either positive or negative. However, its negative impact, especially on older persons is well documented. Given its substantial impact, it is one of four pillars identified by the UN Decade as essential to tackle to achieve a world for all ages. The UN Global Report on Ageism proposed three evidence-based strategies to reduce ageism. In this presentation, I will illustrate one such strategy, which consists of a 90-minute educational workshop. The workshop was delivered to 318 Israeli adolescents (aged 11 to 15, 73.9% females) to increase their familiarity with the concept, reduce their negative ageist stereotypes, and increase their inclination to become social activists via social media. We found an improved familiarity with the concept 'ageism', while adolescents drew upon concepts such as discrimination and racism to define ageism. Following the intervention, a diverse range of age-related stereotypes emerged, signaling a shift toward more positive perceptions, with notable growth in positive age stereotypes, especially among females. Finally, about two-thirds of created memes (online visual and textual social messages) targeted ageism against older persons, 18.98% promoted an age-inclusive world, and 17.15% addressed ageism towards children and young persons. Implications for reducing ageism in adolescence and for measuring social change arediscussed. Our role and impact with the Open-Ended Working Group on Aging (OEWGA), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the World Health Organization (WHO)- Kiran Rabheru 1. Highlight the Collaborative Efforts of Key International Organizations: Illustrate the critical role of the International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA), World Psychiatric Association (WPA), and other organizations in working with UN bodies to advance the human rights of older people. 2. Emphasize the Importance of Increased Engagement and Advocacy: Discuss why deeper engagement from mental health professionals and advocacy groups is necessary to influence global policies and initiatives that protect and promote the rights of older persons. 3. Demonstrate the Impact of International Cooperation: Provide examples of how collaboration with the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Aging, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the World Health Organization has led to tangible improvements in the lives of older persons, particularly those with mental health conditions. Summary: In an increasingly interconnected world, the role of international organizations such as the International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) has become vital in promoting the human rights of older people. This talk will explore how these organizations collaborate with key UN bodies, including the Open-Ended Working Group on Aging, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the World Health Organization, to address the unique challenges faced by older persons, especially those who live with mental health conditions. By engaging more deeply with these global efforts, we can enhance scientific advocacy, develop comprehensive policies, and implement effective interventions that safeguard the rights and well-being of older persons. This presentation will underscore the necessity of cross-sector engagement and international cooperation in fostering an inclusive world where the human rights of older people are fully actualized and protected. >The Global Alliance for Rights Based Care and Support (GARBCS)- Carlos Augusto de Mendonça Lima, Gabriel Ivbijaro, Helen Lavretsky, Kiran Rabheru Our world is rapidly aging, with scientific and medical advancements extending lifespans without necessarily enhancing the quality of those additional years. Older persons form a non- homogeneous group with varying levels of intrinsic capacity and functional abilities. Yet, universally, individuals in their later years aspire to preserve dignity, maintain control and independence, foster social inclusion, uphold justice and equality, receive respect for their identity, and pursue good health, security, engagement, and independence throughout their lives. They are entitled to timeless human rights and should receive rights-based care and support just like anyone else in society. Unfortunately, ageism, as defined by the World Health Organization, is pervasive and has a significant negative impact on the lives of older individuals. This discrimination, based on age, affects how people think, feel, and act towards older people. A human rights-based approach to health specifically aims at realizing the right to health and other health-related human rights. These rights are translated into clinical practice as social determinants of health. Their implementation is mainly dependent of fair distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels. Planning health care for older persons should be guided by human rights standards and principles. The final aim of such an approach could be empowering rights-holders to effectively claim their health rights. Elimination of all forms of stigma and discrimination is at the core of a Human- Rights based care for older adults. A meeting was held during the WPA World Congress in Vienna, Austria, 2023. The attendees unanimously acknowledged that there is a significant amount of work yet to be undertaken in championing the well-being of older individuals. This includes advocating for their dignity, human rights, and health promotion. There is a shared commitment to fostering optimal brain health, resilience, and overall well-being among older adults, addressing their diverse needs encompassing mental, emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual dimensions. It was agreed that there is a need to bring together a stakeholder alliance that is coalesced around strengthening the human rights and dignity of older persons. The concept of a Global Alliance for Human-Rights Based Care and Support for Older Persons was born with goals: 1. Strengthen collaboration among member organizations for impactful messages, optimizing mental health, generating knowledge, and driving person-centered, evidence-based change. 2. Enhance visibility and impact across education, research, media, policy, advocating for global awareness, resources, and policies addressing mental health, prioritizing rights, combating ageism, and integrating care, education, andresearch. 3. Propose transformative changes during the UN Decade of Healthy Aging, aligned with WHO's focus areas, combating ageism, fostering age-friendly communities, ensuring person-centered integrated healthcare, and expanding access to long-term care. 4. Identify strategic opportunities for advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across diverse age demographics, addressing how ageism hinders global Objectives. 5. Ensure a unified communication strategy for care and support for older persons, emphasizing clear terminology within global initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of John Cade's seminal publication that first reported lithium's antimanic efficacy, we briefly recount the salient findings of the historic paper and draw attention to the important psychiatric research in Britain that reinforced its findings and the critical British opinions that likely impeded its clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous developmental studies reported bilinguals' Theory of Mind (ToM; the ability to take on another's perspective) develops differently than monolinguals. We conducted a scoping review to evaluate how researchers assess bilinguals' ToM and whether they characterize bilinguals' lived experiences. We analyzed 53 publications examining ToM in bilinguals, with most papers studying children (n = 42; 79%). We identified 96 different tasks used across these 53 papers. The most common are 46 (48%) cases of the false-belief task, a cognitive-focused task using story vignettes. Few tasks target other types of ToM, such as ToM in social settings or taking others' emotional perspectives. Furthermore, only half of the papers reported language history (n = 28, 53%) and exposure (n = 25, 47%), limiting the inferrability of ToM and language experiences. Expanding how we study ToM in bilinguals will improve our understanding of the intersection of bilingualism and ToM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This position paper by the international IMMERSE consortium reviews the evidence of a digital mental health solution based on Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM) for advancing person-centered mental health care and outlines a research agenda for implementing innovative digital mental health tools into routine clinical practice. ESM is a structured diary technique recording real-time self-report data about the current mental state using a mobile application. We will review how ESM may contribute to (1) service user engagement and empowerment, (2) self-management and recovery, (3) goal direction in clinical assessment and management of care, and (4) shared decision-making. However, despite the evidence demonstrating the value of ESM-based approaches in enhancing person-centered mental health care, it is hardly integrated into clinical practice. Therefore, we propose a global research agenda for implementing ESM in routine mental health care addressing six key challenges: (1) the motivation and ability of service users to adhere to the ESM monitoring, reporting and feedback, (2) the motivation and competence of clinicians in routine healthcare delivery settings to integrate ESM in the workflow, (3) the technical requirements and (4) governance requirements for integrating these data in the clinical workflow, (5) the financial and competence related resources related to IT-infrastructure and clinician time, and (6) implementation studies that build the evidence-base. While focused on ESM, the research agenda holds broader implications for implementing digital innovations in mental health. This paper calls for a shift in focus from developing new digital interventions to overcoming implementation barriers, essential for achieving a true transformation toward person-centered care in mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

However, it must be pointed out that because Manichaeism is a "source-rich" area of research and as such qualifies for international research funding, scholars active in Manichaean research, including the present reviewer, have pushed for Manichaean Studies to become a discipline in its own right independent of patristic studies. A major question for Manichaean scholars is how much access Mani had to Greek Christian writings or Syriac Christian writings of Greek origin. Given the importance of Manichaeism to the intellectual evolution of Augustine, the continuing interest of patristic scholars in Manichaeism is unabated. [Extracted from the article]

This paper provides the first evidence of positive bank-to-bank spillovers. I show that geographic linkages between banks that engage in home lending in the same geographic region transmit positive shocks from one bank to another. I exploit shocks to the deposit base of banks located in counties experiencing shale oil booms and show that a nonshocked bank in a nonboom county expands lending more if its linkages have greater exposure to shale booms. Results show that the shock exposure of linkages has a positive impact on home prices of nonboom counties, and nonshocked banks located therein respond with increased lending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Convention on Human Rights allows its Contracting Parties to submit third-party interventions. This paper analyses the reasons for engagement of the states with the European Court of Human Rights beyond what they are strictly expected to do: respond in contentious cases and execute judgments. It is argued here that the states mainly engage with the Court for the purposes of self-interest. This paper fills the gap in the literature by substantiating this claim using empirical methods of content analysis of the case law and research interviews with the governmental representatives. Finally, this paper looks at the impact of third-party interventions on the Court's reasoning and concludes that the Court is aware of the aims of the national governments and bears those aims in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies on agency problems in private equity fueled the suspicion that fund managers strategically manipulate performance estimates around fundraising times. While these studies use aggregated portfolio data, this paper offers the first analysis of "window dressing" in private equity based on deal-level performance. In contrast to previous findings of a smoking gun at the fund level, I do not find any evidence of inflated performance at the deal level. Fund performance peaks are driven by a cohort effect whereby late investments are made under pressure before fundraising and have lower returns than those made earlier in the fund's life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]