bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aggrieved Masculinity as Animation
Authors: Ashcraft Karen Lee
Published: May 2023

New Populism is not so much about content but, rather, the feeling of aggrieved entitlement in search of content. This condition, established in Part II, requires a different understanding of cause than that used in class-forward accounts. This chapter introduces an alternative, non-linear model of cause, which asks how (on what energy) rather than why (for what reason). What animates New Populism, and how does it move—the body, and from one body and place to another, changing as it does so? Put simply, whose feeling is aggrieved entitlement; on whose behalf is it felt? The chapter suggests that this highly infectious feeling prefers the name of ‘The People’ to its own. It outlines the book’s claim that aggrieved masculinity is the beating heart of New Populism. Dominant manhood, wronged and endangered, is its animating figure.
Culture Wars Can Kill
Authors: Ashcraft Karen Lee
Published: May 2023

Part IV explores how aggrieved masculinity continues to multiply exponentially and what to do about it. The chapter proposes to treat it as an actual, not merely metaphorical, pandemic of feeling. To start, we must admit what COVID-19 exposed: that manly grievance has become a public health problem. This chapter makes that case, demonstrating how violence motivated by aggrieved masculinity, often targeted toward Others, poses a generalized risk, as evident in US mass shooting patterns. Climate denial and destruction, also linked to aggrieved masculinity, endanger public health as well. The rise of New Populist “anger management” (from Chapter 10) exacerbates the public health threat by turning manly grievance into policy. Any residual hard–soft division—between class and culture wars, for example—is shattered by this chapter, which shows how New Populist culture wars endanger everyone, including the very men they seek to benefit.
Gendered Perspectives on Preventing Violent Extremism
Authors: Andrews Sam
Published: May 2023

Prevent is a key part of the counterterrorism architecture of the United Kingdom. It is chiefly concerned with stopping people engaging in or supporting terrorism, before they cross the criminal threshold. Because of this, it penetrates deeply into society, both drawing on public servants to watch over people, and engaging in special interventions to increase the resilience that communities have to extreme ideologies. Women play a key role in this policy, but their contribution to it, and the role they play, is not well understood. This book draws on policy documents, case studies and interviews to analyse the role women play in Prevent. It outlines how Prevent considers women to be useful to the strategy as mothers who watch over their daughters, and as persons who can be considered to be naturally peaceful and caring. It is for this reason that Prevent engages with women, thinking they will be able to influence others and draw them away from extremism and terrorism. However, this also feeds in to gendered understandings of the role that women play in society, potentially interfering with equality and reinforcing false perceptions of the ‘naturally peaceful’ woman.
Prevent: A Policy Overview from 2006 to 2018 and Beyond
Authors: Andrews Sam
Published: May 2023

Prevent, a key part of the United Kingdom’s counterterrorism framework, is concerned with stopping people from supporting or getting involved in terrorism. Conceived in 2006, it has had a number of updates since that time. This chapter outlines the basis for Prevent, including how it arose post-9/11 as part of a new ‘risk-based’ counterterrorism concept. It chronicles the development of Prevent since inception, and argues that Prevent can be understood as having two distinct ‘eras’ – the 2006–2009 era and 2011–2018 era. In the 2006–2009 era, Prevent concentrated on Muslims and community cohesion. The 2011–2018 era eschews community cohesion in favour of focusing on the risk presented by individuals exposed to extreme ideology. The chapter argues that understanding Prevent in this way allows us to make sense of how Prevent is run at a local level. The chapter also outlines how Prevent understands ideology, radicalization and safeguarding, which are key concepts in the running of the policy.
Women in the National Policy Framework
Authors: Andrews Sam
Published: May 2023

Women are key to the running of Prevent, part of the United Kingdom’s counterterrorism framework. However, there is little information on how women are included at the policy level. This chapter systematically analyses the national policy documents that outline Prevent. It highlights how women are considered to be a key target for Prevent, primarily because women are thought to be peaceful, better at consensus building than men, and have a key role in the family which can be leveraged for counterterrorism purposes. It also highlights how Prevent considers women’s oppression, and patriarchal attitudes in minority communities, to be policy problems for counterterrorism, as this might stop women from engaging in the policy. Finally, it outlines that violence against women is now swiftly becoming a policy problem for counterterrorism, and how Prevent is beginning to integrate this into policy.
Conclusion: Ideologies and Counterterrorism Practice
Authors: Andrews Sam
Published: May 2023

This chapter sums up the research of the book, outlining how Prevent considers women to be crucial to counterterrorism work primarily because it thinks of them as peaceful. It also considers their role as mothers to be inherently useful to counterterrorism, as mothers are supposedly best able to care for, and understand, their children’s needs. Because of this, this chapter argues that we can apply Althusser’s Ideological State Apparatus framework, which sees our actions as upholding ideologies. The ideology upheld by women engaging in Prevent is that of intensive motherhood, which sees women as being most fulfilled when consumed by caring for their children. Prevent’s insistence that mothers are best able to protect their children from terrorism upholds this ideology, and those mothers that engage it in begin to reproduce it. This framework is used to argue that we need to move beyond simply analysing Prevent as a counterterrorism policy, and instead see it as something inherently political.
The Role of Post-Colonial Politics in Re-Theorizing India’s National Identity
Authors: Lall Marie , Anand Kusha
Published: May 2023

This chapter provides a backdrop to the rest of the book, showing how education became the vehicle that linked neoliberalism with Hindu nationalism and allowed to it permeate Indian society. It opens by explaining the origins of India’s national identity and how the Nehruvian doctrine (Lall, 2001) defined Indian citizens after independence in 1947. It engages with the inclusive nature of this approach, showing how India’s key policies and its Constitution embraced this vision and translated it into the education system. The chapter also engages with the Nehruvian vision for an educated India and the development of a higher education system, and briefly engages with the main education policies and reforms that took place between 1947 and the 1990s. The chapter then turns to the economic reforms of 1991 under the leadership of PM Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, which emerged in an increasingly neoliberal global economic climate. The chapter further examines how the increasingly neoliberal reality led to economic disaggregation and deregulation as well as decentralization, the rise of regional parties, and larger inequalities between India’s north and south.
Theorizing the Role of ROs after Coups
Authors: Hohlstein Franziska
Published: May 2023

Chapter 2 provides the theoretical framework. First, the development of the anti-coup norm and its impact on ROs is outlined. After the Cold War, the international attitude towards coup plotters changed and many ROs established firm anti-coup provisions. The chapter illustrates how ROs respond to coups (research question 1). Faced with a coup, ROs can choose between rhetorical, diplomatic, economic and military means, forming a continuum of increasing strength. Next, the factors which influence the choice of instruments of diverging strength are examined (research question 2). Three groups of factors are considered: characteristics of the RO, democracy- and stability-related factors. Finally, the chapter theorizes which post-coup solutions ROs pursue and why they do so (research question 3). RO responses to coups are not ends in themselves but means to achieve specific post-coup solutions, such as the reinstatement of ousted incumbents, the formation of new governments through elections, power-sharing agreements or the acceptance of coup plotters as new rulers. Four democracy- and stability-related factors influence the choice of a particular solution: how unequivocally a leader change is identified as a coup, the democratic record of the ousted incumbent, the prospects of democratization under the new leadership and the domestic power constellation.
Conclusion
Authors: Hohlstein Franziska
Published: May 2023

The sixth and concluding chapter emphasizes the most important findings of the analysis, reflects upon their implications for the role of coups and illustrates their relevance for existing research and future studies. After briefly summarizing the empirical results on the analysis of the three research questions, the significance of these findings for the general role of ROs in the context of coups is discussed. In short, the chapter draws the conclusion that many ROs have successfully claimed a strong and influential role after coups. Yet central challenges, including inter-organizational differences, ambiguous and vague formulations in anti-coup provisions as well as an often opaque and not explicitly discussed mixture of democracy- and stability-related motives to respond to coups continue to impede a more consistent enforcement of the anti-coup norm. As such, ROs have a high potential to deter and combat coups but also face challenges. Finally, the chapter discusses practical and academic implications and points to avenues for future research, which could include analyses on the intra-organizational dynamics of the decision-making processes of ROs after coups and studies on inter-organizational coordination mechanisms.
Politics of the Gift
Authors: Adloff Frank
Published: May 2023

At the heart of capitalism lies the idea of “homo economicus”: an ever-rational human being motivated by self-interest which arguably leads societies to economic prosperity. But in fact capitalism has brought humanity into a deep social and ecological crisis. Drawing on French sociologist Marcel Mauss’ influential theory of gift giving, Frank Adloff shatters this fallacy to show mutual trust is the only glue that holds societies together. People are giving beings and they can cooperate for the benefit of all when the logic of maximizing utility in capitalism is broken which leads to an exploitation of people and nature. Proposing the concept of “homo donator” and acknowledging the role of women, nature and workers in the Global South in transforming society, this book proposes a politics of gift giving and conviviality, (from Latin con-vivere: living together), for global and environmental justice as an alternative to the pursuit of profit, growth and consumption.
Mauss’ Gift
Authors: Adloff Frank
Published: May 2023

An alternative theoretical framework is provided by Marcel Mauss, whose [1925] 1990 essay The Gift is the main focus of Chapter 2. Mauss made us understand the seminal role that gifts and reciprocity played in past societies, and still play today. His as well as Alain Caillé’s work makes it clear that gifts comprise an element of freedom and unconditionality. They cannot be reduced to either self-interest or obligation; rather, giving, receiving, and reciprocating are intrinsically linked to forms of mutual recognition.
Science and Technology, Nature and Conviviality
Authors: Adloff Frank
Published: May 2023

Chapter 7 focuses on society’s relationship with nature, in particular as it is mediated through science and technology. The roots of the Western view of nature lie in the naturalist tradition which assumes a categorical difference between human culture on the one hand and nature on the other. However, this worldview is not incontestable: experiences of nature as an equal have always been a part of modernity, and even technology can be shaped in such a way as to be convivial—as already imagined by Illich in the 1970s.
Conclusion
Authors: Adloff Frank
Published: May 2023

Finally, in the conclusion, current developments like the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed. While a convivialist transformation of society is badly needed, it will doubtless take some time to accomplish it—time that humanity has almost run out of. Therefore, the mission must be to fight for a cultural and political change that is as broad and swift as possible, and that includes positive visions for a new, convivial society.
Market Forces and Commercial Chinese Vaccine Sales
Authors: Morgan Pippa
Published: May 2023

This chapter examines commercial vaccine exports from Chinese manufacturers, which were the majority of Chinese vaccine doses administered abroad during the first half of 2021. It first reviews the histories of the companies involved, including Sinopharm (officially known as China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation), which is an established central state owned enterprise under the State Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), and Sinovac and CanSino, which are both relatively young private firms started by entrepreneurial scientists, and were little known before the pandemic. It then describes how these companies each leveraged state support to quickly develop and bring to market their vaccine candidates. Finally, it maps patterns in Chinese vaccine sales during the initial mass vaccination rollout, which were driven both by standard market forces of supply and demand, and by clinical trial partnerships between manufacturers and host states.
The Macron Régime
Authors: Devellennes Charles
Published: May 2023

The Macron régime has ushered in a new era of French politics, redefining key elements of the ideological justification behind the social contract. Macron’s philosophy has been characterized by the rise of the new right in the country, one that has fully embraced and completed the neoliberal project of the preceding decades. This vision proposes a fourth right for France, complementing the ultra, Orléanist and Bonapartist rights of the past with a neoliberal right that proposes a régime conceptualized as a diet for the country. Based around three key ideas – security, merit and hope – Macron has proposed a coherent vision for the future of France, where a slimmed-down social state makes room for a security régime, creates opportunities for the winners of globalization, and proposes a charitable alternative to the welfare state. By discussing the key philosophical traditions around those ideas, this book shows that readings of Foucault, Weber and Spinoza help us understand the ideology behind the régime. Often portrayed as pragmatic, centrist alternative to the left/right cleavage, Macron’s politics is shown to be a readjustment of the political right’s heritage. It sets a clear path for the left of the future: one that put together a coherent alternative to security state, one that steps away from technocratic politics and embraces democracy, one that defends solidarity over and above the political theology of hope.
Conclusion
Authors: Devellennes Charles
Published: May 2023

The ultimate victory of Emmanuel Macron in 2022 repeated the 2017 result, albeit with important differences. The first difference was a shift of Macron’s electorate to the right. Whereas Macron could still garner support from sections of the left in 2017, this support had virtually evaporated in 2022. It confirmed electorally what had already been true ideologically: Macron was now firmly the candidate of the right, crushing the old electoral right in 2022 as he had crushed the electoral left in 2017. The bourgeois bloc, now independent electorally, has largely rallied behind Macron and his values of security, merit and hope. The second difference was the antipathy of the left towards Macron. Even in the second round of the elections, more left-leaning voters shied away from giving Macron their support, recognizing that the next five years under Macron will be a continuation of the neoliberal reforms already enacted since 2017. Between the globalist neoliberal policies of Macron and the neoliberal nationalist policies of Le Pen, the choice for the left was unappealing, to say the least. A new left is possible, and a sketch of what it can do is provided here.
Apology as a Pathway Out of White Unknowing
Authors: Westhuizen Christi van der
Published: May 2023

During South Africa’s transition to democracy in the 1990s, reconciliation as a socio-political aim invoked the question of a white apology for apartheid. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission adopted a confessional approach in which amnesty was accessed through contrition based on knowledge (‘truth’) about National Party (NP) government violence against apartheid enemies. Lack of knowledge about state violence has been operationalised to exonerate white people from regime crimes. Quotidian dehumanisation and disadvantaging of black people, which co-produced white privilege, are obfuscated. Conflation of these plains of knowledge enables white ignorance and obviates the need for apology and, hence, for socio-economic redress. Drawing on analyses of whiteness as ‘epistemologies of ignorance’, the question of apology surfaces the constitutive dynamics of white unknowing, exemplified by the Afrikaner identity as most implicated in the institutionalisation of apartheid. Ways of knowing and humanisation, and how these reflect in and through apology, are explored through texts from three prominent Afrikaners: apartheid assassin Eugene de Kock; former Deputy Minister of Law and Order and Human Rights Commissioner Leon Wessels; and poet, author, and journalist Antjie Krog. These texts cut through the TRC’s too-narrow divisions of knowledge, and show the complex interaction between apology, humanisation and redress.
Amnesty, Amnesia, and Remembrance: Self-Reflections on a 23-Year-Old Justification
Authors: Klug Heinz
Published: May 2023

Reflecting on an essay originally written in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process, this chapter begins with the text of that original 1998 essay, marked as “justification”, which is then followed by a present-day reflection on that justification. The goal is to explore and understand the author’s ambivalence towards the TRC and why for them, “sorry” as a speech act is inadequate. The chapter argues that apology must be tied to accountability, even if that is limited to truth telling and acknowledgement. Sorry, from this perspective, would be so much more meaningful if matched with deeds that make reparations, even if small, for the harm done.
UK and US Elite Student Societies: Secrecy and ‘Over the Edge’
Authors: Punch Maurice
Published: May 2023

Student life generally involves a degree of ebullience and in the traditional US/UK universities that was largely within the residential colleges, each with its own subculture, rituals and practices. Within those colleges, diverse student societies or clubs were founded, with some indulging in excess that has been documented in college records, news reports, films and memoirs, but some has been cloaked in secrecy. Within Anglo-American universities there were distinctions within elites as in Oxford, with elite exclusive clubs whose members went on to high political functions, but some indulged in excess and the destruction of property. Women were often excluded, except on specific occasions, and on some occasions there was abuse, which was typically not reported. There was often an element of risk and violence especially in the US, leading to injury or even a fatality.
Excess, Reform and Resistance
Authors: Punch Maurice
Published: May 2023

A pivotal issue is the role of the college-university in the regulation of student societies through private justice and in the manner they regulate and enforce internal rules, regulations and laws. For who is accountable? The focus in this chapter is especially on US fraternities, drawing on an insightful and disturbing article by Flanagan (2014). The US has around 2,600 accredited colleges and universities and if they receive federal aid then they have to comply with federal guidelines. But with so many institutions, public and private, and within 50 states – each having its own legislation and with varying compliance cultures – this means that compliance with federal guidelines is patchy if not resistant. Moreover, US fraternities typically have a complex institutional structure, with national organizations possessing considerable financial means, legal support and political influence. This structure, with an assertive and well-resourced Political Action Committee (PAC) at the national level, is not true in the other societies dealt with here.
Youth Crime Prevention and Sports
Authors: Dandurand Yvon , Heidt Jon
Published: May 2023

In recent years sport-based crime prevention programmes have become increasingly popular throughout the world. This book takes stock of research evidence on the impact of these programmes on youth crime and gang recruitment. Another goal of this effort is to identify and clarify the links between criminological theory, youth development, and sport-based crime prevention programmes. In addition, this book identifies emerging successful practices for promoting youth development through sport-based programmes for crime prevention purposes. The book starts with a discussion of crime prevention and examines the role of sport participation and sport-based programme at the various levels of crime prevention (that is, primary, secondary, and tertiary). Next, the book attempts to conceptualize the links between criminological theory and sport-based crime prevention programmes. The following chapter is devoted to identifying good practices within these programmes and addresses the question of what can be done to maximize investments in sport-based programmes. After this, the focus of the book shifts to the role of coaches and the impact of coaching practices on youth development. The book concludes with a discussion of the evaluation of a sport-based crime prevention programme and a reflection on their evaluability.
Sport Participation and Primary Crime Prevention
Authors: Dandurand Yvon , Heidt Jon
Published: May 2023

Assumptions are made about the impact of sport participation on criminal behaviour. Participation in sports is presumed to build character and encourage moral development to provide individuals with positive contacts role models and mentors and act as a diversion from criminal activities. It is also frequently suggested that sport participation encourages positive youth developmental outcomes and the acquisition of important life skills. Finally based on the idea that crime prevention presupposes inclusion and social cohesion it is suggested thus the idea that participation in sports can play a unique role in this respect by generating social capital helping to mobilize communities and promoting solidarity. This chapter reviews the evidence supporting these assumptions.
Defence Roles, Missions and Tasks
Authors: Curtis Andrew R.
Published: May 2023

This chapter seeks to understand how Defence’s roles, missions and tasks have developed over time, and how well they have contributed to the strategic direction that the government has given to defence decision makers. While the defence roles of the Cold War shrank considerably in the 1960s and 1970s, they were easily identifiable and aligned with government policy and Defence’s supporting military strategy. The pivot to expeditionary warfare complicated the situation, and, for most of the 1990s, declaratory policy failed to keep up with actual defence activity. However, as analysis of the last decade reveals, although terminology may have changed, defence missions and tasks have remained relatively stable. That said, recent changes in the character of conflict are likely to affect how the armed forces approach some of their more traditional roles, such as deterrence. The introduction of persistent engagement overseas as a new operating method in the 2021 Integrated Review is an obvious example that will impact on the missions and tasks of the armed forces in the coming decade.
Why Does the UK Have the Military Capability That It Has?
Authors: Curtis Andrew R.
Published: May 2023

The final chapter summarizes the key reasons why the four-step translation of strategic direction into military capability model does not always deliver a force structure able to implement extant defence policy. Developing national strategy is becoming ever more challenging, and the clear conclusion from the research undertaken is that military capability can never be fully aligned with strategic direction. While the clear articulation of defence missions and tasks is a good thing, defence decision makers must recognize the armed forces may be called upon to engage in operations beyond the scope of their mandated roles. Defence reviews are the clearest articulation of strategic direction; nevertheless, they are always adversarial and often undertaken badly. Affordability will always be a major influence on military capability choices, as governments balance spending priorities. That said, Defence must work harder to get better value for money from the budget it is given. Finally, the single services must become more collegiate, altruistic and integrated if capability choices made in the future are to improve on those made in the past.
Calibration of central catadioptric cameras based on the projection properties between the right and oblique cones
Authors: Zhuo Qingfeng , Zhao Yue , Wang Siwen
Published: May 2023

Central catadioptric cameras with a single effective viewpoint can easily transform the original image into a perspective image. In this study, we proposed a calibration algorithm for central catadioptric cameras. A vanishing line was recovered by the images of two sphere images (or line images) and mirror contour based on the properties of right and oblique cones. Subsequently, the intrinsic parameters were solved by the image of circular points and the orthogonal vanishing points. Finally, the distortion coefficient was estimated based on the geometric properties of the right cone. The simulation and real-time experiments conducted proved the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed algorithm.
Erbium-doped-fiber-based broad visible range frequency comb with a 30 GHz mode spacing for astronomical applications
Authors: Nakamura Keisuke , Kashiwagi Ken , Okubo Sho , Inaba Hajime
Published: May 2023

We have realized a comb system with a 30 GHz mode spacing, 62 % available wavelength coverage in the visible region, and nearly 40 dB spectral contrast by combining a robust erbium-doped-fiber-based femtosecond laser, mode filtering with newly designed optical cavities, and broadband-visible-range comb generation using a chirped periodically-poled LiNbO3 ridge waveguide. Furthermore, it is suggested that this system produces a spectrum with little change over 29 months. These features of our comb will contribute to fields requiring broad-mode-spacing combs, including astronomical observations, such as exoplanet exploration and the verification of the cosmic accelerating expansion.
Photon-counting-based underwater wireless optical communication employing orbital angular momentum multiplexing
Authors: Hei Xiaobing , Zhu Qiming , Gai Lei , Chen Xuan , Liu Changxun , Gu Yongjian , Li Wendong
Published: May 2023

Underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) is a critical technology for underwater communication, providing high speed, low latency, and security advantages. However, the strong attenuation in the water channel still limits the UWOC systems and their performances require further improvement. In this study, an orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexing UWOC system that uses photon-counting detection is experimentally demonstrated. By employing a single-photon counting module to receive photon signals, we analyze the bit error rate (BER) and photon-counting statistics by building a theoretical model that fits the real system, and demodulate the OAM states in single photon level and implement signal processing using field programmable gate array (FPGA) programming. Based on these modules, a 2-OAM multiplexed UWOC link is established over a water channel of 9 m. By using on-off keying modulation and 2-pulse position modulation, we achieve a BER of 1.26×10−3 with data rate of 20Mbps and 3.17×10−4 with data rate of 10Mbps respectively, which below the forward error correction (FEC) threshold of 3.8×10−3. The total transmission loss is 37 dB under an emission power of 0.5 mW, which is equivalent to the attenuation of 283 m Jerlov I type seawater from the perspective of energy loss. Our verified communication scheme will benefit the development of long-range and high-capacity UWOC.
A state-wide implementation of a whole of hospital sepsis pathway with a mortality based cost-effectiveness analysis from a healthcare sector perspective
Authors: Brusco Natasha K. , Sykes Kelly , Cheng Allen C. , Radia-George Camilla , Travis Douglas , Sullivan Natalie , Dinh Tammy , Foster Sarah , Thursky Karin ,   on behalf of the Safer Care Victoria “Think sepsis. Act fast” Scaling Collaboration
Published: May 2023

With global estimates of 15 million cases of sepsis annually, together with a 24% in-hospital mortality rate, this condition comes at a high cost to both the patient and to the health services delivering care. This translational research determined the cost-effectiveness of state-wide implementation of a whole of hospital Sepsis Pathway in reducing mortality and/or hospital admission costs from a healthcare sector perspective, and report the cost of implementation over 12-months. A non-randomised stepped wedge cluster implementation study design was used to implement an existing Sepsis Pathway (“Think sepsis. Act fast”) across 10 of Victoria’s public health services, comprising 23 hospitals, which provide hospital care to 63% of the State’s population, or 15% of the Australian population. The pathway utilised a nurse led model with early warning and severity criteria, and actions to be initiated within 60 minutes of sepsis recognition. Pathway elements included oxygen administration; blood cultures (x2); venous blood lactate; fluid resuscitation; intravenous antibiotics, and increased monitoring. At baseline there were 876 participants (392 female (44.7%), mean 68.4 years); and during the intervention, there were 1,476 participants (684 female (46.3%), mean 66.8 years). Mortality significantly reduced from 11.4% (100/876) at baseline to 5.8% (85/1,476) during implementation (p>0.001). Respectively, at baseline and intervention the average length of stay was 9.1 (SD 10.3) and 6.2 (SD 7.9) days, and cost was $AUD22,107 (SD $26,937) and $14,203 (SD $17,611) per patient, with a significant 2.9 day reduction in length of stay (-2.9; 95%CI -3.7 to -2.2, p<0.01) and $7,904 reduction in cost (-$7,904; 95%CI -$9,707 to -$6,100, p<0.01). The Sepsis Pathway was a dominant cost-effective intervention due to reduced cost and reduced mortality. Cost of implementation was $1,845,230. In conclusion, a well-resourced state-wide Sepsis Pathway implementation initiative can save lives and dramatically reduce the health service cost per admission.
PCNA Ser46-Leu47 residues are crucial in preserving genomic integrity
Authors: Kim Sangin , Kim Yeongjae , Kim Youyoung , Yoon Suhyeon , Lee Kyoo-young , Lee Yoonsung , Kang Sukhyun , Myung Kyungjae , Oh Chang-Kyu
Published: May 2023

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a maestro of DNA replication. PCNA forms a homotrimer and interacts with various proteins, such as DNA polymerases, DNA ligase I (LIG1), and flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) for faithful DNA replication. Here, we identify the crucial role of Ser46-Leu47 residues of PCNA in maintaining genomic integrity usingin vitro, and cell-based assays and structural prediction. The predicted PCNAΔSL47structure shows the potential distortion of the central loop and reduced hydrophobicity. PCNAΔSL47shows a defective interaction with PCNAWTleading to defects in homo-trimerizationin vitro. PCNAΔSL47is defective in the FEN1 and LIG1 interaction. PCNA ubiquitination and DNA-RNA hybrid processing are defective in PCNAΔSL47-expressing cells. Accordingly, PCNAΔSL47-expressing cells exhibit an increased number of single-stranded DNA gaps and higher levels of γH2AX, and sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, highlighting the importance of PCNA Ser46-Leu47 residues in maintaining genomic integrity.
Recurrent neural network modeling of multivariate time series and its application in temperature forecasting
Authors: Nketiah Edward Appau , Chenlong Li , Yingchuan Jing , Aram Simon Appah
Published: May 2023

Temperature forecasting plays an important role in human production and operational activities. Traditional temperature forecasting mainly relies on numerical forecasting models to operate, which takes a long time and has higher requirements for the computing power and storage capacity of computers. In order to reduce computation time and improve forecast accuracy, deep learning-based temperature forecasting has received more and more attention. Based on the atmospheric temperature, dew point temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and cumulative wind speed data of five cities in China from 2010 to 2015 in the UCI database, multivariate time series atmospheric temperature forecast models based on recurrent neural networks (RNN) are established. Firstly, the temperature forecast modeling of five cities in China is established by RNN for five different model configurations; secondly, the neural network training process is controlled by using the Ridge Regularizer (L2) to avoid overfitting and underfitting; and finally, the Bayesian optimization method is used to adjust the hyper-parameters such as network nodes, regularization parameters, and batch size to obtain better model performance. The experimental results show that the atmospheric temperature prediction error based on LSTM RNN obtained a minimum error compared to using the base models, and these five models obtained are the best models for atmospheric temperature prediction in the corresponding cities. In addition, the feature selection method is applied to the established models, resulting in simplified models with higher prediction accuracy.
Protocol for a scoping review study on the prevalence and public health consequences of non-medical use (NMU) of tramadol in Africa
Authors: Sabi Boun Saidou , Omonaiye Olumuyiwa , Yaya Sanni
Published: May 2023

Background

Tramadol is one of the most prescribed painkillers in the world. It is a synthetic opioid that is an excellent alternative to morphine and its derivatives in African countries. It is an essential drug due to its low cost and constant availability. However, the health consequences of tramadol use due to illicit trafficking, like those caused by fentanyl and methadone in North America, are poorly documented. This scoping review aims to understand the nature and extent of the use and health consequences of the Non-Medical Use (NMU) of tramadol in Africa to guide future research.

Methods

Due to the perceived lack of African literature on the subject, our search strategy is based on the simultaneous use of the keywords "tramadol" and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH), such as "Drug abuse," "illicit drugs," or "Prescription Drug Misuse," combined with the term "Africa" and Boolean operators (and, or not) to form our search equations. Two researchers will independently select studies from literature searched in several databases such as Medline, Embase, the Scopus database, Web of Science, the African Journals online database, and for grey literature Google Scholar without any time restriction. All research, in various formats, conducted in Africa, will be included in our study on the prevalence of use in different African population groups or on evidence of addiction, intoxication, seizures and mortality related to NMU of tramadol.

Results

Through this study, we aim to map consumers and identify risk factors, health consequences, and prevalence of the NMU of tramadol in African countries.

Discussion

We are conducting the first scoping review study to investigate the prevalence and consequences of NMU of tramadol in Africa. Upon completion, our findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences and workshops. However, since health is not limited to the lack of disease, our study is likely incomplete without incorporating the studies of the social impact of NMU of tramadol.

Systematic review registration

Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/ykt25/.
Quantification of a shelter cat population: Trends in intake, length of stay and outcome data of cats in seven Dutch shelters between 2006 and 2021
Authors: van der Leij W. J. R. , Vernooij J. C. M. , Vinke C. M. , Corbee R. J. , Hesselink J. W.
Published: May 2023

Shelter metrics can be used by shelters for self-assessment to optimise the health of their animal population and to identify risk factors for disease outbreaks. However, there is a need for a wider scope of these shelter metrics, as evidenced by the interest from shelters in the benchmarking of shelter progress and the development of national best practices. For the first time, Dutch shelter data were used retrospectively to signal trends using potentially reliable metrics for the analysis of shelter data. The aims of this study were to apply relevant metrics describing the different phases of shelter management for shelter cats (i.e., intake, stay and outcome) and a retrospective analysis of shelter data over the period between 2006 and 2021. Seven of the approximately 120 Dutch animal shelters participated in this study. Quantitative data on the intake of more than 74,000 shelter cats (e.g., stray cats, cats surrendered by their owners and cats obtained from other sources) and their outcomes (i.e., cats rehomed, returned to their owners, deceased, or otherwise lost) have been analysed. Metrics such as rehoming rate, return to owner rate, rates for mortality and euthanasia, length of stay and risk-based live release rate were determined. The main findings of the study during this 16-year period were that, over time, the number of cats per 1000 residents admitted to Dutch shelters was reduced by 39%, the number of feline euthanasia cases decreased by approximately 50%, the length of stay showed a reducing trend, while the return to owner and the risk-based live release rate increased. The shelter metrics examined in this study could be helpful in monitoring and evaluating the management, consequent health, and well-being of cats in shelters and eventually measuring progress of shelters both in the Netherlands and at a European level.
Identifying essential genes in genome-scale metabolic models of consensus molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer
Authors: Cheng Chao-Ting , Lai Jin-Mei , Chang Peter Mu-Hsin , Hong Yi-Ren , Huang Chi-Ying F. , Wang Feng-Sheng
Published: May 2023

Identifying essential targets in the genome-scale metabolic networks of cancer cells is a time-consuming process. The present study proposed a fuzzy hierarchical optimization framework for identifying essential genes, metabolites and reactions. On the basis of four objectives, the present study developed a framework for identifying essential targets that lead to cancer cell death and evaluating metabolic flux perturbations in normal cells that have been caused by cancer treatment. Through fuzzy set theory, a multiobjective optimization problem was converted into a trilevel maximizing decision-making (MDM) problem. We applied nested hybrid differential evolution to solve the trilevel MDM problem to identify essential targets in genome-scale metabolic models for five consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs) of colorectal cancer. We used various media to identify essential targets for each CMS and discovered that most targets affected all five CMSs and that some genes were CMS-specific. We obtained experimental data on the lethality of cancer cell lines from the DepMap database to validate the identified essential genes. The results reveal that most of the identified essential genes were compatible with the colorectal cancer cell lines obtained from DepMap and that these genes, with the exception of EBP, LSS, and SLC7A6, could generate a high level of cell death when knocked out. The identified essential genes were mostly involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, nucleotide metabolisms, and the glycerophospholipid biosynthetic pathway. The genes involved in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway were also revealed to be determinable, if a cholesterol uptake reaction was not induced when the cells were in the culture medium. However, the genes involved in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway became non-essential if such a reaction was induced. Furthermore, the essential gene CRLS1 was revealed as a medium-independent target for all CMSs.
Evaluating factors influencing customers’ intention to eat Korean cuisine “Samgyeopsal” in the Philippines: A structural equation model forest classifier approach
Authors: Ong Ardvin Kester S. , Prasetyo Yogi Tri , Manguray Atheena Rhezelle B. , Moral E. J. Meinard G. , Maun Andrea Lorraine M. , Diaz Josh Gasty F. , Monteiro Charlotte N. , Dangaran Venice Cristine C. , Persada Satria Fadil , Nadlifatin Reny , Ayuwati Irene Dyah
Published: May 2023

Samgyeopsal has become a widely popular cuisine in the Philippines since 2014. The rise of Samgyeopsal is evident worldwide as it is available in countries such as the United States, Northern, and Southern Asia. This study aimed to explore the intention to eat Samgyeopsal during the COVID-19 pandemic utilizing structural equation modeling and random forest classifier. With a total of 1014 responses collected online, the result showed that utilitarian and hedonic motivation, Korean influence, and attitude led to very high actual behavior in east Samgyeopsal in the Philippines. Moreover, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention led to significant results influencing intention to actual behavior. Lastly, the COVID-19 safety protocol showed the least significant result. This study is the first study that evaluated the intention of consumers to eat Samgyeopsal in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study would be beneficial to Korean BBQ restaurateurs and the further development of their marketing strategies even in other countries. Finally, the model construct of this study can be extended and applied in evaluating the consumers’ eating intention toward other varieties of food or cuisines worldwide.
Aphid facultative symbionts confer no protection against the fungal entomopathogen Batkoa apiculata
Authors: Inchauregui Rose A. , Tallapragada Keertana , Parker Benjamin J.
Published: May 2023

Fungi in the family Entomophthoraceae are prevalent pathogens of aphids. Facultative symbiotic bacteria harbored by aphids, including Spiroplasma sp. and Regiella insecticola, have been shown to make their hosts more resistant to infection with the fungal pathogen Pandora neoaphidis. How far this protection extends against other species of fungi in the family Entomophthoraceae is unknown. Here we isolated a strain of the fungal pathogen Batkoa apiculata infecting a natural population of pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and confirmed its identity by sequencing the 28S rRNA gene. We then infected a panel of aphids each harboring a different species or strain of endosymbiotic bacteria to test whether aphid symbionts protect against B. apiculata. We found no evidence of symbiont-mediated protection against this pathogen, and our data suggest that some symbionts make aphids more susceptible to infection. This finding is relevant to our understanding of this important model of host-microbe interactions, and we discuss our results in the context of aphid-microbe ecological and evolutionary dynamics.
Comparison of the safety between propylthiouracil and methimazole with hyperthyroidism in pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Yue , Li Qianqian , Xu Yang , Chen Yixin , Men Yanyan
Published: May 2023

Objective

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the safety of the anti-thyroid drugs (ATDs) propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI) in the treatment of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy.

Method

From inception until June 2, 2022, all available studies were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, EBSCO, Embase, Scopus, and CNKI.

Result

Thirteen articles satisfying the inclusion criteria were examined. Our meta-analysis indicated that pregnant women treated with MMI had a higher risk of congenital anomalies than those treated with PTU (OR 0.80, 95%CI 0.69–0.92, P = 0.002, I2 = 41.9%). Shifting between MMI and PTU during pregnancy did not reduce the risk of birth defects compared to PTU alone (OR 1.18, CI 1.00 to 1.40, P = 0.061, I2 = 0.0%). There were no statistically significant differences in hepatotoxicity (OR 1.54, 95%CI 0.77–3.09, P = 0.221, I2 = 0.0%) or miscarriage (OR 0.89, 95%CI 0.72–1.11, P = 0.310, I2 = 0.0%) between PTU and MMI exposure.

Conclusion

The study confirmed propylthiouracil is a safer alternative to methimazole for treating hyperthyroidism in pregnant women, and it is appropriate to treat maternal thyroid disease with PTU during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, it is not clear whether switching between propylthiouracil and methimazole is a better option than treating PTU alone during pregnancy. Further studies on this matter may be needed to develop new evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of pregnant women with hyperthyroidism.
Contemporary changes and challenges in the practice of trend forecasting
Authors: Garcia Clarice Carvalho
Published: May 2023

This article examines the evolution of trend forecasting and its challenges in complex and fast-paced changing times. This qualitative and exploratory study consisted of nine in-depth interviews with trend forecasting experts and a supportive literature review that contextualizes this research and illuminates the gaps that could benefit from primary qualitative data. The research question that guides this work is: what are the current challenges and changes in fashion forecasting? The findings show that trend forecasting is facing crucial challenges regarding three main areas: (1) the acceleration of change and the chaotic pulverization of information, (2) the complexity of cultural information versus the elitist and exclusive approach to the practice, (3) the intersection between technology and human skills in trend analysis. It concludes that trend forecasting is faulty in dealing with the complexity of more diverse, multidirectional and nonconformist contemporary societies since it works as a tool to conform, compress, flatten and simplify information to guide the industry rather than to communicate the complexity of cultural shifts in all their possibilities, nuances and details.
La bioética como argumentación: la concepción bioética de Manuel Atienza
Authors: Alemany Macario
Published: May 2023

En este artículo se abordan los rasgos principales de la bioética de Manuel Atienza. Para ello, se resume, en primer lugar, su artículo «Juridificar la bioética». En segundo lugar, se ilustra la concepción de Atienza de la bioética como argumentación con tres tipos de argumentos frecuentemente usados por el autor: el argumento de la (i) razonabilidad y la apelación al consenso razonable, el argumento de la (in)coherencia y el argumento por las consecuencias normativas o fácticas. En tercer lugar, se da cuenta del fundamento último de la argumentación bioética de Atienza, su objetivismo moral mínimo, prestando especial atención a la idea de dignidad.