bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Choosing the place of birth
Authors: Jones Olive , Smith Shirley
Published: July 2014

As women exercise more choice over where they give birth, providers of maternity services will need to explore the wishes of local consumers to assist in planning those services. The study presented here sought to determine how women decide where to give birth and the factors influencing that decision.
Planned home birth: is it a safe option?
Authors: Gray-Henry Donna-Marie , Sharif Khaldoun
Published: July 2014

According to Changing Childbirth, one woman in five would elect to give birth at home if given the choice. But is it safe? In this article we examine the evidence for and against the safety of planned home birth.
Independent midwives' insurance: the stance of the RCM
Authors: Tyler Suzanne
Published: July 2014

Harsh criticisms were made by the Independent Midwives' Association against the Royal College of Midwives' and their policy on insuring independent midwives in a letter in last month's issue of the British Journal of Midwifery. In this article, the RCM is given the right to reply.
GP total fundholding
Authors: Partington Kathryn
Published: July 2014

This article clarifies the workings of total GP fund-holding with regard to the provision of maternity care.
What constitutes an advanced practising midwife?
Authors: Charlton Doug
Published: July 2014

One of the most perplexing questions I am often asked is: ‘What constitutes a practising midwife?’ Of course, I refer those people to the Midwives' Rules, Rule 27 (UKCC, 1993) which stipulates what a practising midwife is. The next question which is then usually asked is: ‘What constitutes an advanced practising midwife?’
Serum screening for Down's syndrome: the need for knowledge
Authors: Sullivan Amanda
Published: July 2014

An increasing number of mothers-to-be are undergoing screening for Down's syndrome at 16 weeks of pregnancy. Biochemical markers in maternal serum together with maternal age risk are considered to provide the mother with a risk factor that is more informative than one based on age alone. Those who are screened as ‘highrisk’ are offered further diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.
Selective vs universal screening: advantages and disadvantages
Authors: Adcock Jane , Stewart-Moore Jill
Published: July 2014

An increasing number of women are becoming infected with human immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and unfortunately this trend is likely to continue. As HIV can be passed to the fetus there is also the potential problem of more babies being infected.
Pre-test counselling for HIV
Authors: Adcock Jane , Stewart-Moore Jill
Published: July 2014

It is important that women receive antenatal care which is effective in meeting their individual needs, and that they are able to make informed choices about their care including any tests which may be offered.
Educating midwives about HIV
Authors: Adcock Jane , Stewart-Moore Jill
Published: July 2014

HIV testing is increasingly being considered as a routine blood test during pregnancy. In some areas midwives are undertaking pretest counselling prior to taking blood if the woman feels this is in her interest.
The use of homeopathy in women and children's health
Authors: Jones Kath
Published: July 2014

Homeopathy as an alternative or complimentary therapy is becoming increasingly popular as women strive to take more control over their own health. This article focuses on the use of homeopathy for women and children.
Parents as partners in care
Authors: Cameron Joan
Published: July 2014

Because the majority of pregnancies result in a normal, healthy baby, few parents will have considered the implications of their baby being admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. Any midwife or nurse working in NICU is familiar with the feelings of fear and anguish which sometimes seem to overwhelm parents when they first arrive in the unit. The concept of family centred care recognizes the importance of the baby to the family and attempts to integrate the two so that relationships can be normalised. Most units provide parents with a photograph of their baby and encourage them to participate in caring activities such as washing the baby, changing their baby's nappy and touching and stroking them. This is an enlightened approach and a far cry from the days when parents were discouraged from visiting in case they harboured infections or disruptive opinions.
Abortion and use of fetal tissue: ethical interrelationships
Authors: Johnson Kath
Published: July 2014

The use of aborted fetal tissue, whether for research or therapy, continues to arouse strong emotions. Much of the opposition comes from anti-abortion groups who argue that women may be encouraged to have abortions to further medical science. This article examines the ethical interrelation of fetal use and abortion.
Folic acid: an essential ingredient for making babies?
Authors: McLeod Sandy , Gillies Anne , Carter Yvonne , Wilson Sue
Published: July 2014

This article looks at the role of folic acid supplementation in the prevention of fetal neural tube defects. Current research investigating women's knowledge and practice relating to periconceptional folic acid supplementation is examined.
The sexuality of breastfeeding
Authors: Read Linda
Published: July 2014

Counsellors and health professionals are becoming increasingly aware of problems encountered by some couples during and after pregnancy. This article focuses upon the sexual construction of breastfeeding, its influence on male perceptions and implications for a couple's relationships.
A critical review of published portfolios
Authors: Mitchell Mary
Published: July 2014

Since 1995, all nurses, midwives and health visitors have been required to demonstrate their continuing development of knowledge and competence through keeping a portfolio (UKCC 1994). Many practitioners remain confused over the content of these portfolios. The availability of many published portfolios on the market has fuelled this confusion. This article reviews a selection of published portfolios with the aim of assisting the practitioner to identify which portfolio, if any, is best suited to their individual needs.
Avoiding the common pitfalls when studying
Authors: Litchfield Belinda
Published: July 2014

Attempting to study can be a stressful experience. Minimization of this stress can be achieved by careful time and task management. Whether preparing for a seminar, essay or examination, a thorough understanding of the task to be undertaken and it is necessary to have the time available in which to undertake it. This involves the student in the choice and implementation of specific strategies which allow progress to be monitored. This organized approach serves to minimize stress, positively enhance confidence and contribute to success.
Breastfeeding: The Debato Continues
Authors: Rapley Gill , Brunyee Jenny , Hadikin Ruth
Published: July 2014

I am in the fortunate position of being the only one of the eight regional breastfeeding co-ordinators in England to receive funding for the post. I have enjoyed full support from the Regional Nurse Director, and am currently paid to work half a day each week co-ordinating breastfeeding activities in the South Thames region.
Preparation of midwives for high risk antenatal care
Authors: Phillips Mari , Haley Jayne
Published: July 2014

This article explores the notion of antenatal day care for women experiencing a high risk pregnancy and highlights the consequences for midwives involved in this type of care. It then outlines the liaison and negotiation between clinicians and educationalists in the development of a clinically appropriate programme for midwives which focuses on the multi-professional approaches to the care and management of women identified as having a pregnancy at high risk and attending an antenatal day unit. The benefits of such a programme include enhanced knowledge and skills for the midwives, development and maintenance of clinical standards, mutual understanding of the multi-professional team and the recognition of the midwife's role in high risk antenatal care so that women have access to appropriate and sensitive care of the highest quality.
Concepts of reflection and reflective practice
Authors: Stuart Chit Chai
Published: July 2014

Although reflection is a loosely based concept and we do reflect most of the time, it can become a complex process if used as a structured, deliberate and conscious way of thinking and acting, resulting in learning through experience. The starting point for reflection is experience. Although one can learn from experience, one does not necessarily do so. That experience must first be made conscious, reflected upon, analysed and result in a change of attitude, behaviour or understanding before one can claim that learning has taken place. The challenging of experiences can contribute to personal and professional development and the generation of midwifery knowledge stemming from practice. When ideas and concepts derived from practice are critically compared to relevant research findings to inform practice and clinical decision making, the midwife demonstrates that her clinical expertise is the crucial element separating evidence based medicine from the mindless application of rules and guidelines.
So you want colleagues to think critically?
Authors: Price Adrienne
Published: July 2014

Whether acting in the role of supervisor of midwives, helping a colleague to analyse her own practice, or as a midwifery teacher assisting students with their studies in the classroom, the facilitation of critical thinking remains an important skill. Midwives are challenged to account for their practice, to reason their decisions, and to utilize critical thinking in the pursuit of excellence. While the sentiment of critical thinking and reflective practise are frequently applauded, rather less has been offered concerning the practical measures that might be taken to turn theory into action. This paper examines the potential of a laddered question approach to promoting critical thinking, illustrating its use within the clinical setting. It is argued that techniques learned within the field of interview research may have some potential for education within midwifery.
An alternative approach to student nurse maternity placements
Authors: Way Susan
Published: July 2014

This article seeks to explore why the time is now right to review student nurse maternity placements within the maternity setting. It highlights the reasons why maternity placements have been used in the past and the need for reorganization in the light of changing practice. A new and innovative approach is discussed where student nurses no longer attend the maternity unit for a given number of weeks but instead are linked with a family who form the focus of the student's experience of health care in the community.
Co-bathing as a gentle solution for attachment difficulties
Authors: Saunders Sue
Published: July 2014

Co-bathing is a gentle, low risk, low stress, high touch, non-invasive and non-interfering intervention for breastfeeding problems that cannot be addressed by optimal attachment The mother and baby are given a familiar environment, and the opportunity for the baby to learn to breastfeed. This method of overcoming breastfeeding problems encourages a baby to self-attach and suckle well. The Office for National Statistics (1997) showed that in 1995, the three most common reasons given for stopping breastfeeding initially were a perceived insufficient milk supply, failure to suckle or rejection of the breast, and painful breasts and nipples. These problems can all reflect back to a baby who will not attach and suckle properly.
Chapter 15: Midwifery
Authors:   In association with the Department of Health
Published: July 2014

This new Chapter marks a milestone in the history of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and describes how midwives may, directly and indirectly, affect the safe outcome of pregnancy and how they can develop their wider public health role. Midwives should read this Chapter in conjunction with the main body of this Report and cross reference is made to the appropriate more specialized sections. This Chapter has the following sections:
Don't ignore weight gain during pregnancy
Authors: Drake Rana , Cullum Adrienne
Published: July 2014

The amount of weight a woman gains during pregnancy is frequently ignored, yet it may have important implications for the long-term health of both the infant and mother. Women with attitudes favouring slimness may be at particular risk of having inappropriate weight gains during pregnancy — either too low or too high. Some women may attempt to continue their slimming habits through pregnancy. Others may feel that pregnancy absolves them from responsibility for their weight, leaving them free to overeat. Weight retention in the postpartum period may be affected by erratic eating habits and other behavioural strategies during and, above all, after pregnancy. This article considers the need to address weight gain issues, before, during and after pregnancy, and the importance of taking into account widespread attitudes favouring slimness.
Finding the evidence: a guide to information sources in midwifery
Authors: Hawkins Sue
Published: July 2014

Previous articles in this series have covered the development of evidence-based practice, systematic reviews and met-analyses, and how to evaluate qualitative research. The purpose of this article is to help midwives find their way through the mass of research and information now available. There are many hundreds of databases available and they can be accessed in several ways: CD-ROM, online, or via the World Wide Web. The key sources of interest to midwives are described and emphasis is placed on the content of the database rather than how to access it. Sources available only on the web have been excluded.
Legislation and professional autonomy: is there a conflict?
Authors: Downe Soo
Published: July 2014

There is pride, and there is fall. For once, it seems that midwives might be on the wrong side of this equation, if JM Consulting are to be believed. JM Consulting is the group which has been assigned the task of reviewing the current Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Act. They have produced an interesting report, which is currently being revised following comments. The document recognizes the frustration expressed by some midwives about the working of recent versions of the Act, and, as a consequence, it has addressed the issue of midwifery within the statutory framework. The conclusions are interesting and innovative, and more relevant to everyday practice than such a document might be assumed to be. Comments on the place of the Midwives Rules and Code of Practice could have profound implications for our practise, and it is these that form the basis of this column.
Midwifery: Delivering Our Future
Authors: Henderson Christine , Tucker Christina , Bell Christine
Published: July 2014

The above report Midwifery: Delivering our Future (Department of Health, 1998) is a result of the labours of a sub-committee of the Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee, who had the following terms of reference:
If ‘breast is best’ then what is the problem?
Authors: Frossell Sue
Published: July 2014

Sreastfeeding rates have only improved marginally in the last 15 years, despite significant advances in the knowledge about the health benefits and the Department of Health identifying it as an important health target. Many possible reasons have been cited for this lack of progress, social, sexual and psychological among others. However, midwives are the key professionals who have the opportunity to improve breastfeeding rates, both through antenatal education and through their expertise and support following delivery. There is, however, a recurring theme in the literature — a dichotomy between hospital policies and practices. Both midwives and midwifery managers may be able to improve breastfeeding rates through training and working towards the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative's award. Midwives should also be aware of their professional responsibility to ensure that women make real choices from the information available, while maintaining sensitive support for those mothers who have chosen to bottlefeed. Our government also has a responsibility to provide funding for breastfeeding promotion and may look to other western countries, such as Sweden, to discover their recipie for success.
Successful breastfeeding: what does it mean?
Authors: Langley Cate
Published: July 2014

Successful breastfeeding has during the 90's been increasingly defined within parameters of time. Health professionals have seen this as vital for achieving the targets set by The Health of the Nation Document (Waldegrave, 1991) and The Welsh Protocol for Investment In Health Gain (Welsh Health Planning Forum, 1991). These documents have concentrated on increasing numbers of women choosing to breastfeed and the length of time they continue. While the ‘Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding’ produced by WHO and UNICEF (1989) have provided the guidelines to the professionals for achieving these targets. Midwives have a vital role in the support of breastfeeding women and need to be aware of the social, historical and cultural influences on breastfeeding. This article addresses not just this but also questions whether we should be using the criteria for successful breast feeding as laid out by protocols or if what we should be doing is identifying with women on an individual basis their concept of success and using this as our yardstick.
Expectations: can we meet them?
Authors: Symon Andrew
Published: July 2014

There is a common belief that expectations within society have increased, and this has been suggested as a reason for an apparent growth in complaints and litigation. The forces which fuel expectations are difficult to define precisely. The media and antenatal education each have an Important role to play, and while health service practitioners have little control over the former, there is considerable scope to furnish realistic expectations through tailored antenatal teaching.
Women's experience of having a hospital birth
Authors: Ogden Jane , Shaw Adrienne , Zander Luke
Published: July 2014

Twenty five women who had had a routine hospital birth between 3-5 years ago were interviewed about their experiences of deciding to have a hospital birth and the birth itself. Some women described their decision to have their baby in hospital in terms of issues of risk and safety. However, in the main the decision making process involved choosing between hospitals; homebirths were not seen as an option. The actual birth experience was described in terms of their surroundings and issues of privacy, ‘hi-tech’ equipment and comfort. Further, it was described in terms of the role of others who were described as being either supportive or insensitive, in terms of communication which involved information which was either clearly given, insufficient, given in a callous way or not given at all, and the experiences of pain. In addition, the women described the central role of interventions. In particular, the construct of control permeated all aspects of their experience with the women describing control in complex and at times contradictory ways. The results provide insights into the experience of having a baby in hospital and illustrate that this commonplace event was experienced In uncommon ways.
Reactions to litigation: fears of an exodus?
Authors: Symon Andrew
Published: July 2014

Some commentators have claimed that clinicians, particularly in obstetrics, may be considering leaving practice because of their fear of litigation. These claims are assessed from the responses given by a number of practitioners who have been involved in legal actions. It seems likely that fear of litigation is only one factor which might lead someone to consider giving up work. However, leaving or retiring is no guarantee that a practitioner will not subsequently be named in a legal action.
Shattered dreams: the story of Matilda
Authors: Baker Sally
Published: July 2014

Baby Matilda was to have been our dream come true, she was the beautiful girl we longed for and who would make our family so complete. It was not to be as she was born asleep. Her stillbirth was a tragedy, a painful and frightening experience for us all. I don't think we will ever make sense of her death, but we have learnt to live with our enormous grief. This story tells of our long and difficult journey that we as a family have endured and of our everlasting love for a very special little girl.
Cold therapy and perineal wounds: too cool or not too cool?
Authors: Steen Mary , Cooper Keith
Published: July 2014

Perineal trauma following childbirth often has numerous negative consequences for many women and the associated pain can dominate the experience of early motherhood. Applications of cold compresses have been in use for centuries as a form of localized treatment and these have become a generally accepted method to treat acute injuries. However, concerns have been expressed as to whether cold therapy can delay wound healing. The purpose of this article is to review the recent evidence concerning the beneficial use of cold therapy, when applied locally to perineal wounds and non-perineal wounds and to consider if such treatment may have an adverse effect on the rate of wound healing. In addition, the mechanism of the action of cold therapy is discussed. We conclude that there is no clear evidence to support the suggestion that when controlled therapy is applied to the traumatized perineum or other injured parts of the body that this will result in a delay in wound healing. Such treatment should continue until clear evidence is produced to the contrary.
HIV and AIDS in children: reducing the risk of vertical transmission
Authors: Hodgson Ian
Published: July 2014

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to create major medical, social and economic problems throughout the world. As with all other age groups, the rate of infection among children continues to climb, and vertical transmission of the virus (from mother to child) is the most common route of infection in most parts of the world. This paper will present a global and UK perspective of HIV in children, and will argue that effective screening of all expectant mothers is a necessity. Effective screening would reduce the incidence of vertical transmission, by allowing a mother to adopt measures that may protect her child from infection and wi11 facilitate appropriate guidance and support for women found to be HIV positive.
Caring for the minority within the minority
Authors: Rotheram Jackie
Published: July 2014

Society in general often views people with a disability as victims: vulnerable, sick and in need of care. Despite these attitudes, women who are disabled are choosing to have a family and are pursuing the role of motherhood. Although statistics are not readily to hand, in my opinion and from my own experience, numbers are on the increase.
A midwifery-led care pathway for women requesting caesarean sections
Authors: Halton-Nathan Sophie
Published: July 2014

The caesarean section rate in the UK has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. Subsequently, there has been a rise in caesarean sections for maternal request (CSMR) without medical indications. In 2011, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) added to their guidance, that if after discussion and support, a vaginal birth is not acceptable, elective caesarean should be offered. This article proposes the implementation of a midwifery-led care pathway for women requesting caesarean section without medical indication. The care pathway includes group psychoeducational therapy which has been found to reduce CSMR, emergency caesarean sections and negative birth experiences. The challenges and barriers that may be faced when leading developments in maternity services are discussed, with reference to political, economic, social and technological factors.
Midwives' job satisfaction and its main determinants: A survey of midwifery practice in Greece
Authors: Papoutsis Dimitrios , Labiris Georgios , Niakas Dimitris
Published: July 2014

The birth culture in Greece is highly medicalised and almost all deliveries are performed in hospital settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the job satisfaction levels of hospital-practising registered midwives and to determine the main predictors of their job satisfaction. A validated 36-item questionnaire was given to 168 midwives and responses were received from 145. Job satisfaction was similar between midwives who worked in the public and private sector and only 45.5% of midwives reported being satisfied with their job. The strongest effect on ‘high’ job satisfaction was noted with the factor of recognition. Main determinants of job satisfaction in the public sector was work itself and supervision, while interpersonal relations affected job statisfaction in the private sector. This study has shown that there are certain factors that may be used to improve the job satisfaction of midwives working in a hospital environment.
Pressure ulcers in Jordan: a snapshot survey of a tertiary public hospital
Authors: Alja'afreh Mahmoud , Mosleh Sultan M
Published: July 2014

Background:

Patients are at risk of developing pressure ulcers while they are hospitalised. These risks need to be managed effectively to avoid harm and to minimise costs.

Objective:

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers at selected acute clinical settings in central Jordan.

Design:

A cross-sectional survey design.

Method:

An inpatient snapshot survey was conducted over 4 weeks in the two medical wards in a tertiary public hospital.

Results:

190 participants were surveyed, 30 cases were identified, 53% were male, and 75% were aged 60 years or older. Prevalence was 24%, approximately half of the cases were grade 2 and 23% were grade 3 and 4. Pressure ulcers were mainly found on the sacrum (43%), followed by the heel (24%). Over 4 weeks, 29 new pressure ulcer cases were identified; 55% were male, and 90% were aged 60 years or older. Pressure ulcers were mainly—in 38% of cases—identified with cerebral vascular accident patients.

Conclusion:

The results of the snapshot survey confirmed that there is a problem with maintaining patients' safety in terms of patients acquiring pressure ulcers in hospital. The number of pressure ulcers indicate less-than-optimal management of patient safety, which requires a more detailed investigation.
RCN to lobby commissioners on practice nurse careers
Authors: Atkinson Joanne , Dryden Sylvia , Fox Ann , Gunn Florence , McNall Anne , Thomas Janet
Published: July 2014

A resolution that RCN Council lobby for the introduction of a national career pathway for general practice nurses received overwhelming support at RCN Congress in June
Julia Clarke: Keeping with the times
Authors: Clarke Julia
Published: July 2014

Julia Clarke, chief executive of Bristol Community Health, has developed a mobile working project to improve the working lives of nurses in the community
Moisture Content, Specific Gravity, and Percent Foliage Weight of Cottonwood Biomass
Authors: Patterson David W. , Hartley Jonathan I. , Stuhlinger H. Christoph
Published: July 2014

This study looked at three properties of cottonwood trees: moisture content, specific gravity, and foliage as a percentage of limb weight. There was an irrigated plot and an unirrigated plot. The study included six southern clones and one hybrid from the northwestern United States. There was no significant difference in moisture content among the southern clones, but the hybrid moisture content was significantly higher in both plots. The specific gravity values of two clones were significantly higher than the hybrid in the irrigated plot, while in the unirrigated plot, the values of three clones were higher than the value of two clones, and the hybrid value was close to the lower clones. The percent foliage values were higher in the irrigated plot, and the hybrid values were significantly lower in both plots compared with the six clones.
Logging Worker Wage, Performance, and Experience
Authors: Xu Yecheng , Smidt Mathew , Zhang Yaoqi
Published: July 2014

Many believe the logging industry faces significant challenges in recruiting and maintaining a qualified workforce. The relationship between wage and productivity is a critical component of attracting quality workers while controlling labor cost. We attempted to examine the relationship between worker performance and wage with results from a mixed (mail, Internet, and interview) national survey targeting logging firm owners, corporate officers, and supervisors. Respondents (162 total) varied regionally (North, South, and West) with respect to harvest systems and firm size. Wage expectations were considerably higher with aerial harvest systems, which were confounded with the respondents from the West, larger firm size, and greater respondent experience. Wages for workers with higher skill levels were more related to firm and respondent attributes than were lower skill levels, and most of the relationships were logical. Respondents indicated that equipment operators perform adequately after 12 months on the job and supervisors after 24 months. For chainsaw operators, results appeared to vary by region from 6 to 36 months of experience. Changes in wage due to increased skill level were similar across regions when expressed as a percentage of the lower skill level. Once the worker was able to perform at an adequate level, it appears that wage changes due to performance were roughly equivalent to the expected increase in productivity.
High-Sensitivity Troponin I and Amino-Terminal Pro–B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Predict Heart Failure and Mortality in the General Population
Authors: McKie Paul M , AbouEzzeddine Omar F , Scott Christopher G , Mehta Ramila , Rodeheffer Richard J , Redfield Margaret M , Burnett John C , Jaffe Allan S
Published: July 2014

INTRODUCTION

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays have potent prognostic value in stable cardiovascular disease cohorts. Our objective was to assess the prognostic utility of a novel cardiac troponin I (cTnI) high-sensitivity assay, independently and in combination with amino-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), for the future development of heart failure and mortality in the general community.

METHODS

A well-characterized community-based cohort of 2042 participants underwent clinical assessment and echocardiographic evaluation. Baseline measurements of cTnI with a high-sensitivity assay and NT-proBNP were obtained in 1843 individuals. Participants were followed for new-onset heart failure and mortality with median (25th, 75th percentile) follow-up of 10.7 (7.9, 11.6) and 12.1 (10.4, 13.0) years, respectively.

RESULTS

When measured with a high-sensitivity assay, cTnI greater than the sex-specific 80th percentile was independently predictive of heart failure [hazard ratio 2.56 (95% confidence interval 1.88–3.50), P < 0.001] and mortality [1.91(1.49–2.46), P < 0.001] beyond conventional risk factors in this community-based cohort, with significant increases in the net reclassification improvement for heart failure. The prognostic utility of cTnI measured with a high-sensitivity assay goes beyond NT-proBNP, yet our data suggest that these 2 assays are complementary and most beneficial when evaluated together in identifying at-risk individuals in the community.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings lay the foundation for prospective studies aimed at identification of individuals at high risk by use of a multimarker approach, followed by aggressive prevention strategies to prevent subsequent heart failure.
Refreshingly unconcerned with the vulgar exigencies of veracity and value judgement: The Utopian visions of Iain M. Banks’ The Culture and Constant’s New Babylon
Authors: Clear Nic
Published: July 2014

Utopia has been one of the dominant ideas for many of the avant-garde movements that, since the enlightenment, have sought to use architectural means as part of a strategy to create an ‘ideal’ social order. If the utopian has lost its significance within the architecture of late capitalism, this article looks at ways in which that tradition is being maintained within the discourse of Science Fiction, where utopian concepts are bound to speculative engagements with new and imagined technologies. One of the most sustained recent attempts to develop and explore utopian ideas can be found in the science fiction novels and stories by Iain M. Banks set in the Culture. The Culture is a space-dwelling society developed by Banks over a series of nine full-length novels and a collection of short stories. The Culture is a technologically advanced post-scarcity civilization supervised by powerful Artificial Intelligences (AIs) called Minds and comprising trillions of ‘humanoid’ subjects living together with various forms of machine ‘life’ forms. In these stories, Iain M. Banks shows himself to be one of the most innovative writers on a possible future; while his writing is clearly fiction, it explicitly draws upon scientific, philosophical and political ideas, as well as extensive use of nanotechnology, genetic engineering and augmentation, augmented and virtual realities, and numerous forms of AI.

The article starts by mapping out a definition of science fiction with respect to Darko Suvin’s ‘novum’ and the concept, developed by Frederic Jameson following Suvin, that the utopian is itself a sub-genre of science fiction, and goes on to suggest that some of the most significant speculative avant-garde architectures of the last 100 years should be considered ‘as’ full-blown works of science fiction. This argument is developed through an analysis of one of the most far-reaching and politically explicit utopian projects – Constant Nieuwenhuys’ New Babylon, a society based on the concept of Homo Ludens and the use of automation that clearly shows the existence of a number of ‘novum’. The final section of the article is a detailed examination of Banks’ the Culture and shows how many of the themes of New Babylon reappear in Banks’ Culture novels. The purpose of looking at Banks in detail is to see how he is exploring, albeit through fiction, ambitious spatial and cultural models predicated on a post-scarcity civilization, as part of a direct lineage from New Babylon, and how this is a direct response to the very problems that are facing contemporary society. The article concludes by arguing that if architecture is to re-invigorate itself in the twenty-first century it needs to embrace its links to speculative discourses such as science fiction.
Karbala in Lucknow: An Itinerary of Architectural Mobility
Authors: Bartsch Katharine , Kamleh Elise
Published: July 2014

Under the Shi’a Nawabs, the city of Lucknow connected the north Indian province of Awadh westward to Mughal Shahjahanabad, Persia and beyond. To the east, terrestrial and waterborne traffic linked Awadh to Bengal (under the East India Company), and on to China. Locating Lucknow amid political, economic, intellectual and spiritual routes, this article draws attention to the hybrid architecture that materialized diverse ideas and techniques, from the work of Vanbrugh to the Indo-Gangetic vernacular. Most intriguingly, the article examines portable models (known as taziya and zareeh) that were paraded through Lucknow to mourn the martyrdom of Shi’a Imam Husayn during Muharram. The travelogue of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, who served in the sophisticated court of Asaf-ud-Daula (r.1775–97), offers an itinerary to interpret the intentionally hybrid architecture of Lucknow – including the imambaras where the models were housed – and to connect it to the city’s regional, continental and global networks. This hybridity has been criticized for its excess or dismissed as mimesis. However, a number of recent heritage surveys prompt fresh analysis. Despite this new scholarship, Lucknow has not been duly recognized as one of the most significant sites of exchange amidst a vast network of Eurasian architectural mobility in the eighteenth century.
Reviews
Authors: Koch Franziska , Robinson Luke , Stooke Andrew
Published: July 2014

Installationskunst in China. Transkulturelle Reflexionsräume einer Genealogie des Performativen/Installation art in China. Transcultural spaces reflecting a genealogy of the performative, Series: Image, Vol. 45, Birgit Hopfener (2013) Bielefeld, Germany: transcript Verlag, 325 pp., incl. 107 black/white illustrations, ISBN 978-3-8376-2201-0, p/bk, €36.80

The Body at Stake: Experiments in Chinese Contemporary Art and Theatre, Jörg Huber and Zhao Chuan (Eds) (2013) Bielefeld, Germany: transcript Verlag, 278 pp., ISBN: 9783837623093, p/bk, €24.80

’Avant-Garde’ Art Groups in China, 1979–1989, Paul Gladston (2013) Bristol, UK: Intellect Books, 194 pp., ISBN 9781841507156, p/bk, £25.00
History and community in contemporary Chinese art
Authors: Berghuis Thomas J.
Published: July 2014

This article draws attention to ways in which contemporary Chinese art is linked discursively to history and community. Drawing on the notion that history lies suspended, including in the common discourse on contemporary Chinese art, the article examines the role of politics and aesthetics, and the aesthetic regime in Chinese art. Moving the discussion from art of the revolution to the multiple revolutions in contemporary Chinese art, the article points at important developments in combined socio-artistic projects in China focused on drawing attention to the links between art, cultural revolution and communal history. It also presents ways in which such links might be critically examined. The combined study of these socio-artistic projects and the prevailing aesthetic regime in China is intended as way of opening up a new perspective on the avant-garde in Chinese art today.
Care of the self
Authors: Huber Jörg , Kong Eva Lüdi
Published: July 2014

Recent political, economic and cultural developments have changed people’s lives in China. Individuals now question themselves and present a challenge for each other. They are called upon as individuals and subjects to consider how they might determine and orient themselves within possible communities. The present calls for a reorientation toward tradition which is, however, running the risk of disappearing. Questions about ethical and moral positions, about values and ideals, are now a matter of great urgency within the context of a consumer culture offering seemingly unlimited possibilities. The contemporary art scene in China addresses this situation in manifold ways and often places the human body as a site for debate and negotiation at the centre of experiments and exhibitions. This article, an exchange of ideas between Eva Lüdi Kong and Jörg Huber, closely examines the current situation in China and its reflection in art. Referring to various concrete examples, Jörg Huber asks how these artworks approach the ‘body as a theme’. His reflections also consider the situation ‘in the West’, where the question of the body and subjectification (biopolitics, self-care, forms of life, psychopower, etc.) is highly topical (Foucault, Agamben, Buter, etc.). Eva Lüdi Kong responds to these reflections by drawing on Chinese philosophy and cultural, situating them in relation to a larger context (the Confucian cultivation of the self) as well as shedding light on important terms and concepts.
Communication and character change in Un cuento chino
Authors: Deveny Thomas
Published: July 2014

In Un cuento chino/Chinese Take-Out (Borensztein, 2011), the protagonist, Roberto, is a misanthropic character who unexpectedly has an encounter with the Other: Jun, a Chinese immigrant who enters his life. Unlike other migration films, the emphasis here is on the Argentine protagonist. Communication is a key theme on multiple levels, and the interaction between Roberto and Jun results in transculturation. The lack of subtitles for the Chinese immigrant means that both the Argentine characters and the audience have to understand his non-verbal communication. Roberto and his friend Mari also use this type of communication with Jun and between themselves. Non-verbal communication theories (kinesics, vocalics, oculesics, proxemics and haptics) give us deeper insights into how this communication functions. Besides the gestures, body movement, eye behaviour and voice behaviour, two other non-verbal forms of communication with connotative meaning – photography and painting – are crucial to the film. The polysemic image of the cow initially represents death for Jun, but then life and love for both him and Roberto. Ultimately, this intercultural encounter causes Roberto to undergo a change in character. Communication, intercultural and otherwise, turns out to be the key to happiness.
Alegorías de miedo. El cine fantástico español en los tiempos de la Transición
Authors: Gómez Iván , de Felipe Fernando
Published: July 2014

The importance of horror films made in Spain has long been obscured by the greater public presence of other genres and the force that auteur cinema has had in the contexts of production in recent decades. Spanish horror cinema, however, may also boast of a tradition with important directors such as Jesús Franco, Amando de Ossorio, Paul Naschy, Narciso Ibáñez Serrador or Juan Piquer Simón. The purpose of this article is to investigate the discourses around the films of these authors, among others, produced in the aftermath of the Franco years and during the Spanish Transition involving political content, social criticism and militant attitudes, marked in allegorical styles and shaped by the coordinates of the horror genre. The research aims to determine the level of political, ideological and social criticism that these largely forgotten films contain, and which constitute an authentic history of the ‘other Spanish cinema’.
New formats, new audiences: Metrópolis (TVE2, 1985–) as a cultural TV programme in democratic Spain
Authors: Merás Lidia
Published: July 2014

Metrópolis (1985–) is a key programme in the history of Spanish television, a cultural space aimed at minorities, which responded to the new concerns of a young, urban audience after the recent transition to democracy. In the early years, Metrópolis was directed by Alejandro Gómez Lavilla at a time when video was considered to be a revolutionary kind of technology, broadening horizons in the audiovisual field and facilitating democratic dissemination of the image. Aware of the tool they had in their hands, its promoters participated in the creation of a format that used a new language, anticipating many of the creative ventures that would later be undertaken, in imitation, by other channels. Given its undeniable interest as a ‘period product’, this study examine its early development and formal innovations during the first decade of a programme that became a model in terms of cultural television broadcasting during the early years of democracy.
Adapting National Forest Inventories to changing requirements – the case of the Swedish National Forest Inventory at the turn of the 20th century
Authors: Fridman Jonas , Holm Sören , Nilsson Mats , Nilsson Per , Ringvall Anna , Ståhl Göran
Published: July 2014

National Forest Inventories (NFIs) are becoming increasingly important worldwide in order to provide information about the multiple functions of forests, e.g. their provision of raw materials to industry, biodiversity and their capacity to store carbon for mitigating climate change. In several countries the history of NFIs is very long. For these countries a specific challenge is to keep the inventories up-to-date without sacrificing the advantages associated with long time series. At the turn of the 20th century European NFIs faced some major challenges. In this article we describe the history and the recent developments of the Swedish NFI as an example from which general observations are made and discussed. The Swedish NFI started in 1923 and has evolved from an inventory with a narrow focus on wood resources to an inventory today which aims to provide information about all major forest ecosystem services. It can be concluded that the traditional approaches of most European NFIs, e.g. to collect data through sample plot field inventories, has proved to be applicable even for a wide range of new information requirements. Specifically, detailed data about land use, trees, vegetation, and soils has found new important uses in connection with biodiversity assessments and the estimation of greenhouse gas emissions. Though time-consuming and difficult, making NFI information comparable across countries through harmonization appears to be a useful approach. The European National Forest Inventory Network (ENFIN) was formed in 2003 and has been successful in pan-European NFI harmonization.
Die Sicherheit der Menschenrechte
Authors: Uhl Bärbel Heide
Published: July 2014

Die Verabschiedung der UN-Konvention gegen transnationale organisierte Kriminalität im Jahr 2000 (UNTOC) führte zu einer zunehmenden Institutionalisierung des Politikfeldes Menschenhandelsbekämpfung durch zahlreiche nationale und internationale Akteure. Bärbel Heide Uhl untersucht die politischen und institutionellen Menschenhandelsdiskurse erstmals in einem Spannungsfeld: Wie konstituieren die als gegensätzlich wahrgenommenen politischen Konzepte des Menschenrechtsschutzes und der Sicherheitspolitik Maßnahmen gegen Menschenhandel? Eine kritische Rezeption von Menschenrechtstheorien und des Begriffs der Sicherheit zeigt sogar eine Komplizenschaft beider Konzepte auf, in Folge derer die politische und administrative Identität des »gehandelten Menschen« entsteht.
Material properties in unconfined compression of gelatin hydrogel for skin tissue engineering applications
Authors: Karimi Alireza , Navidbakhsh Mahdi
Published: July 2014

Gelatin (Gel) has been reported as a promising candidate in tissue engineering owing to its easy availability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Gel hydrogel is of potential to be cross-linked with different materials to enhance their biocompatibility for cell culture for tissue engineering applications. The mechanical properties of this versatile material, however, have not been thoroughly determined. In this study, the linear elastic (Young’s modulus and maximum stress) and non-linear hyperelastic (hyperelastic coefficients) mechanical properties of prepared hydrogels at different contents of Gel (wt%) were measured, and its Young’s modulus was compared with that of skin tissue. The prepared cylindrical Gel hydrogels were subjected to a series of unconfined compression tests. The hyperelastic strain energy density function was calibrated using the compressive experimental data. The potential ability of the Yeoh hyperelastic constitutive equation, which has been proposed as the best material model to represent the non-linear behavior of hydrogels, was verified using finite element (FE) simulations. The results revealed that the Young’s modulus and maximum stress of hydrogels are increased by the addition of Gel. The highest Young’s modulus (81 kPa) and maximum stress (24 kPa) were observed for hydrogels with 15 wt% Gel. Results also showed that the hydrogels with a relatively lower content (<7.5 wt%) of Gel have suitable Young’s modulus compared with those with a higher content (>7.5 wt%) for skin tissue engineering. The Yeoh material model was closely fitted with the experimental data and could be used in further biomechanical simulations of the hydrogels. The experimental results were also compared well with those predicted by the FE models. The results of this study might have implications not only for the understanding of the mechanical properties of Gel hydrogel but also for the fabrication of polymeric substrate materials suitable for skin tissue engineering applications.