Category Archives: Progress

Saturday's 10-0 rout of the host Chicago White Sox assured the Detroit Tigers of a winning record against American League Central foes this season.

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While Detroit (62-74) resides in third place in the division entering Sunday's series finale in Chicago, the accomplishment still is something for the rebuilding organization to tout.

"We're proud of that because we play each of these teams very well," Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. "Obviously, we need to clean up some things against other teams and we have a lot of work to do, but if you're going to win your division and start pushing us in the right direction to where we want to get to, that's an ingredient. So we know we can do it, we know we can match up against these guys."

The Tigers took a 5-4 lead in the season series against the White Sox (53-83) with four meetings between the clubs remaining.

Detroit collected a season-high 18 hits on Saturday, led by a 4-for-5 effort from Miguel Cabrera, who recorded the 49th four-hit game of his career.

Five other Tigers finished with multi-hit games, while three pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout.

Left-hander Tarik Skubal (3-3, 3.93 ERA) will try to pitch Detroit to a three-game series sweep of Chicago, which has lost four of its last five games.

Skubal pitched to a 3.45 ERA in five August starts covering 28 2/3 innings but is coming off a Tuesday loss in which two of the four hits allowed to the New York Yankees were home runs. Skubal delivered a quality start nonetheless as he was effective with his changeup.

"I was pretty confident in it. ... I felt like I was able to keep them off-balance," he said.

Right-hander Michael Kopech (5-12, 5.08) will get the call for Chicago as he tries for some success in the second half.

Kopech is 1-4 with a 7.39 ERA in his past seven starts and hasn't worked more than 5 1/3 innings during that span.

"It's easy to kind of let your mind spin down that hole a little bit (and) get to a point of woe is me,'" Kopech said. "Ultimately, that only leads to more issues, to more negativity, to not trusting yourself. And getting out of that (mindset) is the best way to overcome in this game as a team and as an individual.

"And there's been times this year where I struggled to get out of it."

Kopech had one of his better starts of the season against the Tigers on June 4, spacing two runs and three hits in seven innings of a no-decision. In seven career appearances against Detroit, including six starts, he is 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA.

Skubal, who has not faced the White Sox this season, is 3-2 with a 6.11 ERA in six career starts vs. them.

White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. was a late scratch Saturday after experiencing right quad tightness. Robert ranks second in the AL with 35 home runs.

Field Level Media

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Seeing signs of progress, Tigers take on White Sox - Deadspin

ASIA

Despite many ongoing regional integration processes, we have yet to achieve equal opportunities when it comes to the international mobility of students, professionals and skilled workers. Several factors contribute to this reality, with the recognition of higher education qualifications being a critical one that can either facilitate or hinder such mobility.

Academic recognition

The significance of academic recognition has become apparent with the growing numbers of international students studying in various countries. This has led to a rising demand to assess and recognise foreign qualifications acquired by domestic students, ensuring their equivalence with domestic qualifications.

Academic recognition also includes recognition of domestic qualifications by other countries. This can drive countries to prioritise academic recognition. The main goal should be establishing two-way recognition, ensuring qualifications are mutually recognised. By emphasising this, countries can foster comprehensive and inclusive academic recognition that benefits individuals and promotes international collaboration.

This is particularly relevant as numerous countries aspire to become new higher education hubs. Enhancing the recognition of qualifications offered by these hubs becomes crucial to bolstering their appeal to both domestic and international students.

Academic recognition serves two main purposes: facilitating further studies and enhancing employment prospects. In the context of further studies, there are generally fewer obstacles and barriers to overcome since university admission criteria tend to be more flexible, driven by competition to attract international students.

However, recognising qualifications for employment opportunities is a more complicated process involving the higher education sector and various other stakeholders, such as immigration, industry and human resource experts.

Skills recognition plays a pivotal role in facilitating skills migration, particularly in countries that are facing labour shortages. However, countries striving to achieve full employment may opt to implement protective measures to regulate the influx of skilled workers.

Academic recognition is gaining relevance for many countries, extending beyond the few traditionally regarded as the primary sending and receiving countries of international students. The stakes are high as we collectively move towards a more interconnected and globalised future.

UNESCOs recognition conventions

For the past half-century, UNESCO has been at the forefront of promoting the recognition of qualifications concerning higher education, making it a flagship activity. The first generation of regional conventions concerning academic recognition emerged in the 1970s, driven by the imperative of fostering intellectual solidarity and international understanding.

Europe spearheaded the initiation of the second generation of regional recognition conventions by adopting the Lisbon Convention in 1997. This was followed by Asia and the Pacific, which adopted the Tokyo Convention in 2011 which entered into force in 2018.

Subsequently, we have witnessed the development and implementation of the second generation of regional recognition conventions in Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The emergence of the second generation of regional recognition conventions can be attributed to regional integration, technological advancements and globalisation. These developments eventually paved the way for the development of UNESCOs Global Convention on Higher Education, which entered into force after obtaining the necessary number of ratifications earlier this year.

By utilising recognition as a strategic entry point for UNESCOs engagement in higher education, we forge a vital connection between recognition, quality assurance and qualifications frameworks, thereby facilitating the smooth cross-border mobility of students and professionals.

The main objective is promoting and strengthening international cooperation in higher education, ensuring that academic recognition, quality assurance and mobility resonate synchronously, leading to a more accessible and globally connected higher education landscape.

Central Asian countries have the potential to serve as a vital link between Asia-Pacific and Europe by actively ratifying and implementing both the Tokyo and the Global convention, which are complementary.

By being parties to these conventions, Central Asian countries can collaborate with other parties to foster mutual recognition arrangements, advance the development of recognition tools and access capacity-building opportunities, thereby expanding their influence and contributing to the international higher education community.

Expanding recognition portfolios

The establishment and functioning of competent recognition authorities and national information centres (NICs) serve as vital implementation mechanisms for the UNESCO recognition conventions.

It is worth noting that these entities may differ in their organisational structure across countries. In certain countries, they are distinct and operate as separate entities; in others, they function as a unified entity.

Irrespective of their structure in different countries, their primary objective is to promote inclusivity by encouraging all parties to the conventions to expand their recognition services to cover diverse qualifications acquired through various delivery methods, including online and blended learning as well as micro-credentials.

While it is essential to prioritise the recognition of traditional school-leaving diplomas, certificates and standardised tests for higher education access, we must also tackle the growing diversity of learning programmes offered by the growing number of learning providers utilising advanced technologies. To achieve this, we must align our recognition portfolio with the increasing adoption of flexible learning pathways.

We need to shift our mindset regarding online and blended learning, integrating them seamlessly into the national higher education ecosystem. In other words, they should be perceived not merely as contingency or back-up plans for emergencies but as essential and integral components of the higher education system.

There has been a remarkable surge in efforts to streamline learning programmes across different countries and regions. Micro-credential programmes have been introduced to boost the agility, relevance and quality of higher education offerings. To meet this demand, our recognition authorities, including higher education providers, must be sufficiently equipped to provide recognition services for these micro-credential programmes.

Information-sharing

According to UNESCOs conventions on academic recognition, the main approach to recognition should involve comparing qualification information between countries to assess substantial differences. Therefore, the establishment and efficient operation of NICs are of paramount importance.

This work should already have been established within relevant ministries as public information and outreach are integral components of their regular responsibilities. However, in many cases, the need for standardised templates to share information on higher education systems is evident. Furthermore, the absence of international language options can exacerbate this challenge.

The conventions have delineated specific focus areas for NICs regarding their information provision, including a comprehensive list of recognised or accredited higher education institutions, national quality assurance systems, qualifications frameworks and more.

Robust research support is fundamental for NICs to ensure that all the provided information is well-developed and consistently updated. Asia and the Pacific are home to several well-established and functioning NICs in countries like Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea.

Nevertheless, some countries in the region are still in the process of developing their NICs. Encouraging mutual learning and support among these centres will be vital in building capacity and strengthening the network of NICs in the region.

Interregional cooperation, especially between Asia-Pacific and Europe, plays a crucial role in mobilising experiences and expertise for capacity building. This cooperation can be further reinforced by acknowledging that half of the 12 countries that have ratified the Tokyo Convention are also parties to the Lisbon Convention, including Armenia, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Turkey and the Holy See.

We strongly urge the Central Asian countries to expedite their ratification of UNESCO conventions on higher education, as this will foster greater collaboration and collective progress in the region.

Brain drain, gain and circulation

Facilitating academic recognition significantly removes barriers to the cross-border mobility of students and professionals, thereby contributing to enhanced access, quality and equity in higher education provision.

However, sending countries often face challenges associated with brain drain, as the departure of talented individuals contributes to the brain gain experienced by many receiving countries.

We need to get past the concepts of brain drain and brain gain and instead embrace the idea of brain circulation. This approach allows talented individuals to have equal opportunities to move across borders, contributing their skills locally, internationally and globally, thus fostering a more interconnected and collaborative global community.

To achieve this, the implementation of well-balanced policies is crucial. These policies should minimise risks, maximise opportunities and create mutually beneficial outcomes for both sending and receiving countries. Enhanced mobility, supported by fair, transparent and effective academic recognition mechanisms, will be vital in realising these objectives.

Libing Wang is director (ad interim) of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand. This is a lightly adapted version of a keynote speech delivered at the recent International Conference on Central Asia as the Next Higher Education Hub, held in Tashkent, the Republic of Uzbekistan.

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Qualifications recognition: A door to collective progress - University World News

DECATUR As one of the first visitors to the 2023 Farm Progress Show, New Berlin resident Kevin Bilyeu and a few family members waited for the gates to open before 7 a.m. Tuesday in the dewy fields of Progress City USA in Decatur.

We just want to walk around and see everything, he said about the vendors who are highlighting the latest in ag-related products and technology.

The Farm Progress Show began its three-day run Tuesday with a sizeable crowd throughout the day eager to take in the event.

The family arrived early to beat the crowds. This was their first visit to the international agricultural event. But it wasnt too bad, Bilyeu said. We got right in here.

This year marks the 70th anniversary for the Farm Progress Show.

Matt Jungmann, the national events director for Farm Progress, has been a part of the annual agriculture event since 1995. The weather, crowds and traffic were cooperating with the staff and volunteers by early Tuesday morning, he said.

Everything looks great, Jungmann said. You cant ask for much more.

Decatur hosts the Farm Progress Show every other year, alternating with a permanent site in Boone, Iowa.

A study by the company that owns the Farm Progress Show estimated that the three-day show, which takes two months to prep and several weeks after it ends to tear down, will pump $31 million into the host community's economy through direct and indirect dollars spent by visitors, exhibitors and local suppliers. It's also estimated that 9,000 hotel rooms will be booked in Central Illinois as a result of the show.

The first arriving crowds to the 2023 Farm Progress Show were greeted by several songs from the University of Illinois Marching Band during the opening ceremonies sponsored by the Illinois-based Wyffels Hybrids.

Although the weather has been a concern for farmers throughout the country, Wyffels District Sales Manager Mike Earles had communicated with many local farmers before the Farm Progress Shows opening ceremony and learned their fields were showing positive results.

Our crops have still been up and down for the most part, he said. But walking these fields today, its remarkable to see what these hybrids can do with little to no rain through a crucial part of the growing season.

The annual event is a highlight for the vendors as well.

According to Bill Blakely, Agco media relations and public relations for North America, Farm Progress is an opportunity to meet face-to-face with customers and other vendors.

"It gives us the ability to understand their needs, understand their wants, to provide the kind of products that they want," he said. "It also important for us to talk to our vendors. We've got a lot of meetings taking place here."

Todd Miller arrived early with his mother, Marilyn, to get a golf cart. As a farmer from Niantic, the Millers have attended the Farm Progress Show in the past and know what to expect from the large crowds. And this is close, he said about the nearby venue. I look for new stuff.

And dream about it, his mother added.

The Farm Progress Show is the ideal opportunity for Edwardsville farmer Dan Niemeier to check out the latest agricultural trends. Its just an annual review, he said.

Niemeier also gets reacquainted with others in the business before the fall harvest begins.

This is a connection event, he said. And this is kind of a down-time.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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Farm Progress Show opens on Tuesday in Decatur - Herald & Review

DRYDEN The reality of a statue of Gen. George Owen Squier in Dryden Memorial Park is getting closer to happening. After the better part of a decade, the sculpture is undergoing the intricate process of being transferred from clay into bronze.

The effort to bring a statue of the general to the park in Dryden has been long, and interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Dryden resident Darlene Johnson and a group of grass-roots supporters are closer to seeing their vision come to life. A variety of fundraisers have been held over the years, and sculptor Suzanne Johnson has been working in her Grand Blanc studio to build the six-foot-tall clay representation of Squier, from the metal armature that would hold the clay to the buttons on his uniform.

It was, to me, a very important project, said Johnson. When Im creating, Im really trying to intentionally think about who he was as a man, how generous he was with the land and local people and the facilities he provided, and all his career accomplishments. Its not just a sculpture of a person. I wanted to capture his personality, his generosity, and his accomplishments.

Johnsons process begins with the metal armature, and then she begins to form a skeleton and skull, going on to add the larger muscles, then the smaller ones, then the skin, before adding the clothing.

In his case, it was such a very specific uniform, she said.

After the clay version was completed, the 400- to 450-pound general was transported to the foundry. Currently, he is undergoing the process which includes the making of a rubber mold. From there, wax will be poured into the molds, and Johnson will work on that wax form to remove any seams and make adjustments that are needed. The wax form will be dipped in a porcelain slurry to create a shell, and then placed upright in a bed of sand. The wax will be heated to get it out of the mold, and the bronze will be poured in. After that, cleanup of the seams will occur, and the sculpture will be complete.

Johnson said she has put in some long days over the past years to create the general, and now that hes gone from her studio, she kind of misses his presence. It shouldnt be too long, in the big picture, before he can be seen in downtown Dryden.

I believe he will be finished this winter, maybe even in 2023, she said. But he wont be placed in his position until spring because its weather dependent.

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General Squier sculpture is in progress - The County Press - Thecountypress

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Antimalarial drug discovery: progress and approaches - Nature.com

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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

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Seeing signs of progress, Tigers take on White Sox - The Albany Herald

Photo supplied, Weber State University

Many notable events took place in 1953. Burger King opened its first restaurant; John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier; Vaya Con Dios by Les Paul and Mary Ford was a top hit; and the Korean War ended. But perhaps one of the most important events for those of us who live and work in Northern Utah was the creation of one of the first associate degree nursing programs in the United States. Since then, the field of nursing has undergone a transformative journey that has not only redefined health care but also elevated the status of nurses in society and Weber State University has been an essential part of that journey.

In September 1953, 36 young women became the first class of WSU nursing students. At that time, the role of nurses was often confined to providing bedside care, with little involvement in decision-making or policy development. However, medical advancements and shifting societal norms paved the way for nurses to assert themselves as knowledgeable health care professionals. The introduction of the polio vaccine, the development of new antibiotics and other medical breakthroughs initiated a shift from simply providing comfort to actively participating in patient treatment and recovery.

The 1960s brought further changes, as the Civil Rights Movement and the feminist movement sparked conversations about equality and opportunities for women, including those in nursing. During this time, Weber State expanded its programs to include a practical nursing program in 1968, born from a partnership with the St. Benedicts School of Nursing.

By the 1970s, nursing education underwent a transformation, with an increasing emphasis on academic preparation. This not only enhanced the quality of care but also elevated the credibility of nurses within the medical community. In 1974, Weber created its first outreach education program, which was the associate degree in nursing. This program extended into rural Utah in response to community needs.

The 1980s saw the recognition of nursing as a distinct profession, leading to the development of nursing theories and the articulation of nursing practice standards. The AIDS epidemic presented nurses with unprecedented challenges, showcasing their adaptability and compassion in the face of a new and terrifying health crisis. Nurses played a pivotal role in patient care, public education and advocacy; WSU played a role in educating nurses to rise to new challenges by starting a bachelors degree in nursing in 1987. Today, nursing students can work through their education in a stacked credentials model, which starts with foundational hands-on and clinical judgment skills in the associate degree program and then adds leadership, policy and research knowledge and skills in the bachelors program.

As health care entered the digital age in the 1990s, nurses embraced technology to improve patient outcomes and streamline processes. Electronic health records and telemedicine expanded nurses capabilities, enabling them to provide care across distances and collaborate more effectively with other health care professionals. This era also saw the emergence of evidence-based practice, reinforcing nursings commitment to delivering care grounded in the latest research. Weber States nursing program was no exception to utilizing technology. In 1997, the nursing program began to offer its first online courses to outreach students.

In the 21st century, nursing has continued to evolve, and WSUs school of nursing has evolved right alongside the profession. The demand for specialized nursing roles grew, with nurses entering fields like education, leadership and family practice. Weber States nursing programs also evolved to meet industry demands for nurses with advanced skills. In 2008, WSU began offering a masters degree in nursing, and the inaugural class of nurse practitioners had a 100% pass rate on their certification exam.

More recently, the global health care landscape posed new challenges, from infectious disease outbreaks to the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses. Nurses demonstrated their adaptability and resilience, providing care on the front lines and advocating for health equity and social justice. During the COVID-19 epidemic, WSU was on the front lines. The school of nursing was heavily involved in campus contact tracing and community vaccination efforts, in addition to continuing nursing education and graduating registered nurses and nurse practitioners to care for those affected by the pandemic.

In 2023, the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing is home to over 1,000 students in various programs led by 57 faculty and 10 staff. The school has the first and only doctorate program at Weber State and graduates family nurse practitioner students prepared at the doctorate level.

As we reflect on the significance of the school of nursing after 70 years, it is evident that its impact extends far beyond the classroom. Its graduates are not only skilled clinicians but also compassionate caregivers, dedicated advocates and community leaders. They embody the universitys motto, Be Brilliant, by carving their own paths while upholding the highest standards of nursing excellence.

In an era where health care challenges continue to evolve, the legacy of this school stands as a testament to the power of education in transforming lives and communities. As we look to the future, lets celebrate and support the school of nursing in shaping the next generation of nursing professionals, ensuring a healthier, more compassionate world for all.

Rieneke Holman is a nursing professor and chair of Weber State Universitys Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing.

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Commentary: Nurturing progress The evolution of the Annie ... - Standard-Examiner

Winning the womens World Cup was a significant moment for Spanish football. Spain is now one of only two teams who are world champions in both the male and female competitions (Germany is the other).

This momentous achievement cannot have been lost on Spanish football executives. For that reason, it is particularly incomprehensible that the president of the Spanish football federation kissed the womens team player Jenni Hermoso on the lips in plain view of the entire world, turning what should have been a celebration into a reckoning.

Luis Rubiales defence is that he kissed Hermoso in a moment of euphoria (diminishing his own responsibility) and, more importantly, that it was by mutual consent. This he explained to a large crowd of the football federations members in a general meeting, despite Hermoso saying publicly that she did not consent or enjoy the kiss.

So far, Rubiales has evaded calls to resign, both from the public and Spanish football federation officials (though he has been suspended by Fifa). But his protestations of innocence have been drowned out by a vociferous feminist movement, as well as the Spanish government, Fifa and other teams worldwide.

Even some mens teams are wearing shirts with the message #SeAcab [its over], #contigo Jenni [with you, Jenni] and todos somos Jenni [were all Jenni].

Immediately hailed as Spains #MeToo moment, it appears to mark a turning point. In a society where feminist progress has historically been met with backlash, it shows how far Spanish society has come to reject rancid machismo instantaneously.

Read more: Luis Rubiales: these seven tactics made his speech excusing his assault on Jenni Hermoso a textbook case in silencing women

The kiss was not the only moment of such machismo that this team has had to contend with. In the autumn of 2022, 15 players demanded better working conditions, because they feared for their physical and mental health. Las 15, as they became known, play football for first division clubs (Barcelona, both Manchester clubs, Atltico de Madrid), so they knew what can be achieved with better resources and conditions.

These legitimate concerns made in private were leaked to the press and spun as a revolt of spoilt, female brats against the head coach Jorge Vilda. Las 15 published a letter clarifying that their concerns referred to better management of the team to achieve peak performance, and a less controlling leadership style that treats players professionally.

Rubiales, unsurprisingly, gave Vilda unconditional support. And from Las 15, only three players were selected for the World Cup (Batlle, Bonmat, Caldentey), making their win against a formidable English team even more remarkable.

These moments are best understood within the context of wider legal, social and cultural changes that have taken place in Spain. While there was slow but steady progress for womens rights in the 1980s and 1990s, it was not until the administration of Jos Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (2004-2011) that progress accelerated, and the longstanding machismo culture began to face a real challenge.

Two landmark legislative changes were made to combat gender violence in 2004 and progress gender equality in 2007.

The most recent new legislation, passed in October 2022, strengthens criminal charges for sexual aggression, among other advancements for womens rights. These changes were described as a fundamental feminist achievement by the UN.

This wording, while accurate, plays into the hands of the far right political party Vox, who all too happily spin these advancements as the making of a (too) leftwing government. Vox is vocal in its condemnation of feminism and blames women for destroying the nuclear family as the basis for society.

Most shockingly, they want to protect men from fake feminism, such as supposedly fake stories about gender violence. This is the exact phrasing Rubiales used in his defence, showing how this ideology can be accepted and used by powerful men.

Throughout history, feminist movements have had to contend with setbacks and false narratives against them. As American journalist Susan Faludi argued in her 1991 book Backlash, the underlying cause for such a response against feminist movements is male anxiety about the loss of power in the public and private sphere.

In Spain, you can see these backlashes whenever there were radical (or even not so radical) legal changes. Even during the dictatorship in the 1960s, the slightest progress for female rights was perceived as a danger to a male-dominated society.

Equally, during the transition from dictatorship to democracy (1975-1982) womens demands for rights were at best considered as an afterthought and at worst seen as a serious danger to society.

Read more: Se acab: de las universidades al ftbol, el consentimiento est en boca de todos

The vocal opposition to Rubiales behaviour shows progress is being made culturally as well as politically.

Yolanda Daz, a deputy prime minister, swiftly and confidently reacted to Rubiales kiss in a press conference: Spanish society is profoundly feminist, its in the vanguard of equal rights, and thats why these abnormal behaviours stick out so much.

This assertion that Spain is a feminist nation is borne out by the statistics both at European and global level. The EU Gender Equality Index ranks Spain 6th of 27 countries, while the Global Gender Gap report ranks it 18th of 146 countries (the US is ranked 43rd).

The vast majority of reactions to Rubiales power play was to say todos somos Jenni/we are all Jenni, although the most prominent male players were conspicuous by their silence there is still work to be done.

Female and male feminists from all walks of life took to the streets demonstrating in Spanish cities, showing Rubiales the red card. Its over for Rubiales, not even football tolerates toxic masculinity anymore.

An editorial in El Pas is brutally frank in its judgement of this powerful man who has behaved like a textbook perpetrator. No country can control its lunatics, but how it deals with them is a sign of its maturity.

Spanish feminism - one, machismo - nil.

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World Cup kiss: feminist progress is always met with backlash, but ... - The Conversation

In this fourth episode of OncChats: Mapping Progress Made in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery, Horacio J. Asbun, MD, and Domenech Asbun, MD, project where the pancreatic cancer treatment paradigm is headed, from a surgical perspective and beyond.

HA: Before we close, Domenech, we have been talking about what has happened in the past, and maybe even gloating a little bit. The reason for that is because, at least in my case, I have to say that [with the advances made these] past few years, I feel very optimistic that [we are] finally [seeing] a change in the survival of [patients with] pancreatic cancer; its happening.Were still far from saying that this is the case [for everyone], scientifically, but we have observed [advances] that [have left us in awe].

Were now able to give hope to those patients. In the past, it was very difficult to give hope. Now, we have tangible [progress]. For [example,] we have the type of radiation that we do on the MRI-LINAC, or percutaneous irreversible electroporation, new chemotherapeutic agents, and some of the trials that we have [are examining administering] chemotherapy intraarterially, directly into the area of the tumor. All those things have helped us give some hope to the patients.

That said, what do you foresee for the future? What is going to be coming [down the pike]? Im not talking about [what you expect] in 20 years from now; we dont need to [emanate] Star Trek here. But what do you think is going to happen next 5 years? Are we going to continue at this pace [in terms] of improvement? What are your thoughts on this?

DA: Its a good question. I think that first, we will see the continued importance of therapies that are not surgical, so systemic therapies and particularly immunotherapy. This is a huge field right now and the advances are very exciting. I hate to say this, and I say it somewhat quietly, but I think were going to get to a point where were operating less because our other therapies are going to be more useful and more effective in the long term. Obviously, were not there yet and I dont see a world in which surgery is completely out of the picture at all. However, we are seeing very big advances [beyond that area].

From a surgical standpoint, were always looking to see how we can improve things, how we can make the operations better and faster, and [easier] for the patients. Thats one of the joys of surgery; you get a little bit of creative freedom to see what you can do that will make an established surgery even better, even these very complex operations. I see the changes [on] that [front] continuing. Through the minimally invasive approaches, were now seeing an ongoing revolution that continues to pick up momentum. I think thats what we have to look forward to. Maybe itll take a little more [time beyond 5 years] to see really significant changes, but thats where we're going.

One other area that is also starting to get a lot more attention are the modalities for screening for some of these very aggressive cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, [and others]. These [efforts are] still in [their] infancy, but we are looking for ways to be able to screen patients that will not be a massive burden on the overall healthcare system. [We want] something that is feasible to do in patients on a yearly basis that is, ideally, not very invasive, maybe [in the form of] a blood test, urine analysis, or salivary analysis, etc. Thats another field that were going to see continue to blossom, and that will help us help patients.

HA: [I think] you're right, [for the most part]. I am not sure that were going to be operating less. In fact, maybe well operate less from the point of view that we [will] learn [more about] the biology of the disease and realize that for some patients it is not even worth it to try to attempt surgery. However, I think that with all these other therapies, at least up to nowthe neoadjuvant [approaches], the new chemotherapies, and radiationwere operating more. Were operating on patients who, in the past, we wouldnt operate on. Hopefully, that trend is going to continue, or really, whatever trend [that will allow us] to cure more patients.

DA: I might have been looking at the Star Trek future. Youre right.

HA: Yeah, you were looking at the Star Trek future. Thats why I prompted you to that.

Check back on Wednesday for the final episode in the series.

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Mapping Progress in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery: Looking to the ... - OncLive

(Starfield screenshot)

Ive spent roughly 20 hours on Starfield at the time of this review, which is nowhere near enough to feel like Ive got a proper handle on it. With a lot of other games this year, reaching the 20-hour mark would put me at, past, or near their end, but Starfield is clearly just getting started.

Starfield is the most self-consciously big role-playing game yet from Bethesda Softworks, a Microsoft subsidiary and the Maryland-based studio behind similarly big RPGs such as Skyrim, Oblivion, and Fallout 3 & 4.

The common thread between Bethesdas games is they technically do have endings, but in a real sense, theyre only over when you decide to stop playing. In a Bethesda RPG, there will always be one more choice to make, faction to join (or betray), cave to explore, or monster to fight, and a single run isnt enough to see everything it has to offer.

Starfield is deliberately cut from the same cloth, to the point where its own director has called the game Skyrim in space. If youve ever played an Elder Scrolls game or any of the last few Fallouts, Starfield will feel familiar from the moment you take control of your character. Ten minutes in, I was walking around a crowded locker room and realized there was nothing to stop me from filling my inventory with 120 pounds of soap and whiteboard markers. This is classic Bethesda loot gremlin behavior.

Starfields big addition to that formula comes from its sense of scale. It feels a little bigger every time I sit down to play it, particularly when Im out exploring its vision of the universe. There are a few parts of the game that do feel like Bethesdas copying off its own worksheet, but when Starfields in a position to deliver on its core premise, its a solidly addictive RPG.

Starfield is set in the 24th century, 100 years after humanity has abandoned an uninhabitable Earth. Humans live throughout the Settled Systems, a loose network of planetary nations, and have stopped exploring any farther into space than what they already control.

At the start of the game, youre some random blue-collar dope whos taken a mining job out on the edge of explored space. On your first day, you dig up a chunk of a mysterious artifact, which changes your life on the spot.

Soon, youre offered a membership in Constellation, a small independent group thats out to reignite humanitys love of exploration. Youre given a ship, some crew, and a mission: help Constellation find the remaining pieces of the artifact.

Youre also entirely free to ignore that mission, however, in favor of doing whatever you want. For me that has included bounty hunting, debt collection, setting up remote mining outposts on unsettled planets, a little smuggling, some freelance security work, and a disturbing number of open gun battles with both space pirates and crooked mercenaries.

In my time with Starfield, it has seemed like everyone Ive talked to has a job for me, whether its breaking into an impound yard or a hostage rescue. At one point, I was actually trying to pursue the main story missions, and I still ended up in a fight with a bunch of thugs who were looting a biotech laboratory. It had nothing to do with what I was on that planet to accomplish. It just sort of happened.

(Related pro-tip: Starfield, like Fallout, doesnt have any systems like level scaling to keep you from blundering into parts of the universe you arent supposed to be in yet. Do yourself a favor: whenever youre in town, buy all of the medical supplies and Ship Parts you can find. You never know when Starfield will suddenly decide its time for you to get in over your head.)

At the same time, theres just enough detail in Starfields universe that Ive often gone exploring just for the sake of learning more about it. Even the most barren moons in its universe often have a few mystery features, like an abandoned lab or smugglers cache, that reward you for taking a long stroll across the surface. Of my 20 hours in-game so far, at least one of them was spent just walking around the city of New Atlantis, listening to ambient conversations, finding new stores, and learning more details about the settings history.

Starfieldis a game where its themes and mechanics have been made to match. Its a massive, sprawling universe, andStarfields at its best when youre simply out on your own, doing your own thing, seeing what Bethesdas vision of space has to offer.

Its at its worst, however, when it actually does feel like its just Skyrim or Fallout in space. The ground combat in particular feels cut-and-pasted from any given Fallout game, with space pirates instead of Super Mutants and slightly different guns. Its not bad, just sort of dull. Every time a gunfight starts in Starfield, I want to end it as fast as possible so I can get back to whatever Im actually trying to do.

My other initial complaints mostly boiled down to being on the low end of Starfields learning curve. It throws a lot at you from the start ground fighting, spaceflight, outpost construction, research projects, gastronomy and I kept losing a few early fights before figuring out what I was doing wrong. Starship combat was a particular issue at first, but a few upgrades and a little practice eventually sorted that out.

Theres a lot riding on Starfield that has little to do with the game itself particularly its status as a legal football in Microsofts battle with the Federal Trade Commission. On June 30, court testimony revealed that in 2021 Microsoft bought ZeniMax Media, Bethesdas parent company, specifically to keep Sony, a prime competitor, from making Starfield a console-exclusive for the PlayStation 5.

As a result, Starfield is a hot topic in the ongoing social-media flame wars between PlayStation and Xbox fans, particularly since another major Xbox exclusive, Redfall, was a critical failure upon its May release.

Is Starfield the killer app that analysts argue the Xbox platform needs right now? The jurys still out. Its up against some strong competition in the RPG space, between the recent Baldurs Gate 3, indie RPGs like Sea of Stars, and other big games from this summer such as Final Fantasy XVI.

This year has been an absolute murderers row for the gaming calendar, and its not even September. Starfields a good game and runs fine on Xbox Series X, but its heading into a packed field.

What I can say is Starfield is better than I expected, after bouncing off a couple of Elder Scrolls games. Its got the same sprawling, free-form depth as Bethesdas earlier RPGs, but puts it all together with unique visuals, an interesting new universe, and a lot of room to tell your characters unique story. Its worth checking out, as long as youve got a couple of hundred hours to kill.

Starfield is out Sept. 6 for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and the Xbox Game Pass. Players who pre-ordered the game can start playing the full version on Sept. 1.

[Bethesda PR provided a digital code for the Xbox version of Starfield for the purposes of this article.]

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Review in progress: 'Starfield' takes the 'Skyrim' formula out into the ... - GeekWire