Framing Motives and Objectives: Which Frames Increase US Public Support for Defending Taiwan?

ABSTRACT Objective Recent opinion surveys show that a majority of Americans support providing military aid—but not US troops—to Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. However, what motivates American public support for committing US forces to the island's defense? Methods Through a randomized online survey experiment with 3054 US adults, this study investigates the basic motivations driving this support—that is, (a) the extent to which the US incentives for assisting Taiwan are driven by self‐interest or altruism and (b) the degree to which US foreign policy objectives for defending Taiwan are abstract or concrete. Results The results indicate a modest but significant increase in support for intervention when respondents were presented with frames that emphasized self‐interest and concrete objectives (e.g., tangible economic and technological benefits), whereas appeals to altruism produced weaker effects. Conclusion These findings show the detectable and robust effects of self‐interest frames, particularly given rising public war‐weariness and shifting US foreign policy priorities.

Assessing UXO ‐Related Hazards: Exposure and Vulnerability Analysis of Former Conflict‐Affected Areas in NE Italy

ABSTRACT Bomb risk assessment is considered a crucial topic, necessary for both urban planning and the construction industry to proceed with urban growth and commercial/industrial development. To quantitatively assess a risk, it is not enough to know the danger, but it is also necessary to estimate the exposure: the assets (e.g., infrastructure, population) of a certain area that may be affected by an event, and their vulnerability. Bomb risk, hereafter referred to as unexploded ordnance (UXO), has been examined from numerous perspectives including technical, geophysical, and military perspectives. Various analyses have specifically studied UXO‐related hazards and the effects caused by their blast area. In the context of bomb risk, however, the analysis of exposure and vulnerability factors from a GIS point of view seems to be a field of study yet to be fully explored. The main objective is the creation of an exposure and vulnerability assessment methodology tailored to UXO in a GIS context. The methodology includes the application of a weighted linear combination (WLC) model as a Multi‐Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach to incorporate different factors such as military target features, land use, population density, and infrastructure services together. The goal of the modeling approach has been demonstrated in three case studies located in the Veneto Region (northern Italy) that were deeply involved in the dynamics of World War I and World War II, and still represent territories characterized by high bomb risk. The results of the study demonstrated the effectiveness of an MCDA approach for assessing Exposure and Vulnerability, provided it is supported by a structured data standardization process and a transparent methodology for weight assignment.

Perceptions and Performance: Media Sentiment on China's Exports

ABSTRACT In this paper, we develop a novel media sentiment index based on monthly data from the Global Database of Events, Language and Tone. Our index is a moving average of the monthly data whose weights are derived from relevant psychological models. We examine the impact of destination countries' media sentiment on China's exports. Our results indicate that a 1% decrease in a country's media sentiment index regarding China could lead to as much as a 0.035% decline in China's exports to that country. We further identify two channels through which media sentiment affects China's exports: the policy channel represented by non‐tariff barriers and the consumers' preferences channel reflected by the country‐of‐origin effect. While the impact of the policy channel seems small, we find the consumers' preferences could explain about half of the sentiment effect, based on the investigation of the EU. Our results are robust after various tests. Additionally, we find the effect varies across different types of reports, income levels and product types. Finally, we find that the U.S.–China trade war and the COVID‐19 pandemic also alter the impact of media on exports.

Implementation of a whole blood programme within a blood service: Practical guidance for blood providers

Abstract Background and Objectives Early balanced transfusion is recommended for resuscitation of patients with severe bleeding. Whole blood (WB) is reintroduced as a feasible alternative to blood components, as it includes red blood cells, plasma and platelets in a physiological ratio. Materials and Methods In this review, we aim to provide practical guidance and a framework for blood providers aiming to implement a WB programme. The review summarizes recommendations and practical implications identified from published literature, regulatory requirements and current programmes. Results WB donors are selected based on national donor selection criteria. When the patients' ABO‐type is unknown, low titre anti‐A and anti‐B group‐O WB (LTOWB) are recommended. ABO‐group type‐specific blood can be used in patients with known ABO type. Anticoagulants include CPD and CPDA‐1. Leukoreduction can be performed with a platelet‐sparing filter. WB is stored at +2 to –6°C for up to 35 days. Rotation of the stock and re‐manufacturing to red cell concentrates minimizes outdating. The EDQM Guide to the preparation, use and quality assurance of blood components provides the minimum requirements. Post‐implementation follow‐up includes haemovigilance and quality surveillance. End users should be involved in the development of the programme and training of personnel. Emergency collection of WB can enable transfusion to patients in remote areas, during disasters and during war. Conclusion We conclude that implementation of a WB programme for routine and emergency management of patients with severe bleeding can be performed in a structured, safe and sustainable way.

Retinale Vaskulitis und Schlaganfallrisiko bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit systemischem Lupus erythematodes

ZusammenfassungDie Studie untersuchte den Zusammenhang zwischen retinaler Vaskulitis und Schlaganfall sowie Mortalität bei Patienten mit systemischem Lupus erythematodes (SLE). In einer großen Datenbankanalyse wurden Patienten mit und ohne retinale Vaskulitis über 20 Jahre verglichen. Nach Anpassung für Alter, Geschlecht und Risikofaktoren zeigte sich, dass Patienten mit retinaler Vaskulitis ein deutlich erhöhtes Schlaganfallrisiko hatten (Hazard Ratio 2,25; p < 0,001). Das Risiko für einen Schlaganfall lag in dieser nach 1, 5 bzw. 20 Jahren bei 4,5%, 9,1% bzw. 17,1% gegenüber 1,9%, 4,7% bzw. 7,5 % in der Vergleichsgruppe. Die Mortalität war in der Gruppe der Patienten mit retinaler Vaskulitis ebenfalls leicht erhöht, die Werte waren aber statistisch nicht signifikant.

Paraneoplastische leukozytoklastische Vaskulitis, die ein Ulcus cruris imitiert, als seltene Erstmanifestation eines schwelenden Myeloms vom Typ IgG kappa

ZusammenfassungDie leukozytoklastische Vaskulitis (LCV) wurde als seltenes paraneoplastisches Syndrom im Zusammenhang mit verschiedenen hämatologischen Erkrankungen, darunter indolente Lymphome wie die Waldenström-Makroglobulinämie, beschrieben. Allerdings sind nur sehr wenige Fälle von LCV im Zusammenhang mit Plasmazellerkrankungen bekannt. Wir präsentieren den Fall einer 58-jährigen Frau, die aufgrund einer LCV eine schnell fortschreitende, ulzerativ-nekrotische Hautläsion am linken Unterschenkel entwickelte. Die Läsion wurde zunächst als chronische Ulkuswunde (Ulcus cruris) vermutet, stellte sich jedoch als eine atypische Manifestation einer LCV heraus, die das einzige klinische Anzeichen eines schwelenden multiplen Myeloms vom Typ IgG kappa darstellte. Nach einer standardmäßigen Induktions-Chemoimmuntherapie mit Daratumumab, Bortezomib, Lenalidomid und Dexamethason wurde die Patientin einer hochdosierten Chemotherapie mit Melphalan unterzogen, gefolgt von einer autologen Stammzelltransplantation zur Konsolidierung. Trotz einer bakteriellen Hautsuperinfektion konnte die Myelombehandlung ohne größere Komplikationen erfolgreich abgeschlossen werden. Parallel zur Senkung der Paraproteinspiegel heilte die Hautläsion, sodass kein plastisch-chirurgischer Eingriff erforderlich war. Ein LCV-ähnliches Ulcus cruris kann eine seltene und atypische Erstmanifestation einer Plasmazellneoplasie darstellen. In diesem Fallbericht erwies sich die systemische Myelombehandlung als wirksam, um eine vollständige Remission der fortgeschrittenen ulzeronekrotischen Hautschädigung zu induzieren. Dieser Fall erweitert das Spektrum der berichteten monoklonalen Gammopathien mit kutaner Signifikanz.

Alternatives to War: Presidents’ Foreign Policy Decision-Making and Conflict Management with Iraq and North Korea, 1989-2009

Tickets to War: Demokratie, Propaganda und Kino in den USA bis 1945

A Macrodynamic Model of War: Addressing Kant’s Democratic Peace Proposition

War and political regime are fundamentally linked. From Athen’s democratic empire in the 5th Century BCE, through the industrialization of war in the 19th and 20th centuries to today’s nuclear powers, all forms of political regimes have been involved in war. Very few macroeconomic models have accounted for the costs and benefits of war. We develop a macrodynamic model of war in order to address Kant’s notion of democratic perpetual peace. We enrich macroeconomics by introducing regime-specific sensitivity to human loss, which affects the desirability of war. Our model, based on a dynamics à la Solow, can account for multiple wars throughout history.

Neue Arbeitswelten gestalten: Wie die Stadtbibliothek Heilbronn New Work erfolgreich umgesetzt hat

Die Stadtbibliothek Heilbronn wurde 2025 mit der Auszeichnung „Zukunftsgestalter:innen in Bibliotheken“ geehrt. Für die Jury war die erfolgreiche Einführung eines New-Work-Konzepts entscheidend, das den Transformationsprozess der Organisation und die partizipative Einbindung der Beschäftigten in den Mittelpunkt stellte. In einem von Beteiligung, Mut und Gestaltungswillen getragenen Prozess ist unter den anspruchsvollen Rahmenbedingungen kommunaler Verwaltung eine offene, flexible Arbeitsumgebung entstanden. Der Beitrag beschreibt die Ausgangslage, den Veränderungsprozess, das neue Raum- und Arbeitskonzept sowie die ersten Auswirkungen auf die Arbeitskultur und die Organisation.