Taruskin’s Great Contributions and a Few Shortcomings

Among the most needed, and durable, features of Richard Taruskin’s life’s work was his consistent interpretation of music and music-making within and against their societal and cultural contexts. This stood in contrast to the positivistic methodologies that German, British, and American musicology valued in the 1960s–70s: instances of the latter include the making of reliable critical editions and, in a very different sense, various “the notes only” methods of music analysis. The breadth of Taruskin’s vision and his command of musical and cultural history are apparent in the enormous “Nationalism” entry in the 2001 edition of Grove (now available at OxfordWesternMusic.com). The origin of that entry, in a suggestion from this article’s author to Grove editor Stanley Sadie, is here told for the first time. Taruskin’s strongest writings include the article “Resisting the Ninth” (Beethoven’s) and books on Musorgsky and Russian music more broadly. His combination of passionate advocacy and writerly skill is apparent in his writings on the Bach cantatas, in his skewering of the claims of high modernists such as Elliott Carter, and in his identifying the trend of Historical Performance Practice (e.g., “authentic” instruments and a totally steady tempo) as a strongly modernist trend, closely analogous to the highly objective (non-emotive) neoclassicism of Stravinsky and the highly precise and literal performing style that arguably best suited Stravinsky’s music. Taruskin’s 6-volume Oxford History of Western Music has been critiqued for omitting folk and popular musics as well as jazz. But critics have neglected to point out that OHWM also omits entire genres that rely closely on written scores, such as operetta, Broadway musicals, and music composed for films. These, no less than symphonies or operas, deserve to be discussed as part of the “Western literate tradition.” Taruskin should have addressed this inconsistency or limitation but never did

Assessment of Selected Geographic Information Science (GIScience) Journals: Trends and Ranking Across Metrics

In this presentation, I\u27ll share insights from my research, recently published in the International Journal of Geographical Information Science, which analyzes publication trends in GIScience journals. I examined data from 2018 to 2023, focusing on open access, author representation, and journal metrics. My findings highlight the growing prevalence of open access and the need to address global representation disparities. I\u27ll present these results and, importantly, provide updated data reflecting the most current publishing patterns. This work offers a critical overview of the evolving GIScience literature, aiming to inform researchers and practitioners alike

Amour-Propre in the Age of the Digital Profile: Rousseau’s Moral Psychology

This paper examines the psychological and social consequences of social media through the lens of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s moral psychology, focusing on his distinction between amour de soi and amour-propre. As social media platforms incentivize promoting idealized projections of one’s identity, self-love is increasingly dependent on external validation (Likes, Reposts, Followers). I argue that this dynamic cultivates a toxic culture of comparison, narcissism, and self-alienation rooted in Rousseau’s notion of amour-propre. Situating the hyper-use of social media within Rousseau’s moral framework reveals how the digital landscape exacerbates estrangement and contributes to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and identity instability among young adults— namely Generation Z. By examining the need for curating one’s digital image, this paper offers a diagnosis of a lingering sense of online-induced depression and, in turn, proposes a minimal remedy through the lens of intentionality, community, and a return to more authentic modes of self-relation

Education, Awareness, and Confidence Levels of Anesthesia Providers to Evaluate Temporomandibular Joint in Patients Undergoing Orotracheal Intubation – Preliminary Results

Orotracheal intubation is a procedure that is considered a risk factor for the development of disorders related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A proper TMJ assessment is required before and after inducing anesthesia to minimize temporomandibular complications. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the education, awareness, and confidence of anesthesia providers nationwide when evaluating TMJ in patients undergoing non-emergency orotracheal intubation. An online survey was created, including 21 questions related to: demographics, work experience, self-perceived knowledge and adequacy of entry-level education, awareness of TMJ risks, and current confidence levels on evaluating TMJ. A total of 36 anesthesia providers participated (47 ±12 years; 73% female, 27% male). 89% of the participants (26) reported receiving somewhat or very little adequate information on the management of TMJ issues related to intubation throughout their entry-level education. Only 38% (11) reported feeling confident in evaluating TMJs. Of those who were not confident, 28% (6) referred patients to another provider. The majority of the anesthesia providers did not receive adequate information on the management of TMJ issues in relation to intubation during their education. This lack of knowledge and awareness may have contributed to their lack of confidence in evaluating TMJs. After taking the survey, all participants felt more aware about the importance of proper education in TMJ evaluations before and after non-emergency orotracheal intubation. The survey helped increase awareness in anesthesia providers regarding the importance of evaluating TMJ when conducting intubation

Educating Staff To Empower Parental Involvement While Visiting NICU Through The SENSE Program: A Quality Improvement Project

Preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) face significant neurodevelopmental risks due to immature sensory systems and limited exposure to developmentally appropriate sensory input. The Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program is an evidence-based initiative designed to structure sensory care in the NICU, providing infants with consistent, age-appropriate exposure to tactile, auditory, visual, olfactory, vestibular, and kinesthetic stimulation. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to implement the SENSE program through targeted education for NICU staff and evaluate its impact on provider knowledge, confidence, and observed parent engagement in sensory-based care. A total of 15 NICU professionals, including registered nurses, therapists, and clinical care staff, completed matched pre- and post-intervention surveys. Baseline data revealed that only 13% of staff felt confident guiding parents in sensory-based care, and fewer than 30% reported observing consistent use of all five sensory modalities. Common barriers included lack of time, limited training, and low parental involvement. Following a structured educational session using a slide presentation and digital QR-coded resources, all participants (100%) demonstrated improved knowledge of the SENSE program, with a substantial increase in confidence and implementation. Post-intervention, 80% of staff felt moderately or very confident in guiding parents, and 100% reported observing auditory and tactile stimulation during parent-infant interactions. Observations of olfactory and vestibular input rose from 33% and 27% at baseline to 87% and 73%, respectively. Staff perceived the training materials as helpful, and 93% agreed their educational needs were met. While time constraints and inconsistent parental presence remained concerns, participants expressed strong interest in ongoing mentorship and additional resources to sustain improvements. The results suggest that integrating structured sensory education significantly enhances staff preparedness and fosters improved developmental support for preterm infants. This project reinforces the importance of consistent, interdisciplinary sensory care in NICU settings and highlights the SENSE program as a valuable tool to guide practice change. Keywords: SENSE program, NICU, sensory-based care, neurodevelopment, preterm infants, staff education, quality improvement, parent engagement, developmental care