bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Late-Night Talk Radio in Post-Mao China
Authors: Lei Wei
Published: June 2024

The late-night talk radio show has been a feature of the Chinese urban radio soundscape for more than three decades. Although such shows have declined in popularity since the late 2000s, in recent years they have been revived in digital format. Audio programs under the tag of “night listening” have blossomed in the Chinese digital space. Late-night talk radio shows are easily accessible on audio platforms. An analysis of the evolution of late-night radio talk shows in China can help in understanding the economic and social transformations that have reoriented Chinese individuals to seek intimacy and emotional liberty. This chapter explores the role of late-night talk radio shows in the negotiation and formation of a new emotional regime in post-Mao China. It also discusses the continuities and changes in the production of Chinese radio shows and their impact on audiences from the telecommunication age to the digital age.
The Campus Radio Music Library in the Streaming Music Era
Authors: Fauteux Brian
Published: June 2024

This chapter profiles the Canadian campus radio music library and its role as an advocate of local and diverse music in an era of streaming music and corporate media dominance. Campus radio music libraries are rooted in place, decentralized, and often include a diversity of artists (particularly by comparison to commercial and public radio). But these libraries are also often informal and incomplete, and no one station takes the same approach to building its collection. Using results from a survey distributed to stations about their libraries and acquisition practices, this chapter argues for the need to sustain studio space to facilitate connections between people, music, and a given locality and its music scene. Documenting campus radio history and practice is a pressing issue as some stations face cuts to funding and space and because music programmed and collected by campus stations is not always available via more mainstream outlets.
British Radio Drama and the Theater
Authors: Chignell Hugh
Published: June 2024

The multifaceted relationship between theater and audio drama grew in significance during the COVID-19 pandemic. As theaters closed, stage plays moved to radio or online, and some playwrights turned to radio and podcasting. This chapter examines theater and radio drama at the BBC over the past one hundred years. In the prewar period, stage classics dominated radio drama, particularly Shakespeare. The golden age of British radio drama in the 1950s and early 1960s was characterized by a move to plays written for radio, but some of the most successful were adaptations, including the work of Ibsen and Ionesco. Some playwrights chose not to transition from radio to the stage, including Giles Cooper and Rhys Adrian. Caryl Churchill, whose career is considered here, wrote successfully for both. This chapter serves to encourage scholars to reconsider the importance and achievements of adapted stage plays at a time when the theater is under threat.
Elijah and Elisha
Authors: Suzie Park Song-Mi
Published: June 2024

This chapter, which offers a synchronic reading of 2 Kgs 2, argues that the mimicry in the narratives about Elisha and Elijah and, in particular, the portrayal of these prophets as doubles serves multiple theological and literary purposes. First, these narratives legitimate Elisha as Elijah’s successor by depicting him as a copy or double of Elijah and as part of a heritage of duplicating prophets in the lineage of Moses. Second, through this depiction and emphasis on doubles, these stories assert that Yhwh—the deity of these prophets—is the ultimate duplicator. Third, in so doing, these narratives affirm Yhwh’s uniqueness and authority as the true storm deity over against the false storm god Baal.
Hezekiah and Josiah
Authors: Handy Lowell K.
Published: June 2024

This chapter illustrates the manner in which the kings Hezekiah and Josiah are presented in the narrative of Kings as the honorable heirs to David in the final period of the kingdom of Judah. Together they provide the literary highlights of the culmination of the text of Kings. The pair are both described as the most righteous of kings; one representing faith and one obedience. The central stories for the two rulers continue and relate to the presentation of rulers and religion in the work as a whole. Hezekiah’s wavering faith is illuminated in the confrontation between Sennacherib and Yhwh through which steadfast reliance on Yhwh prevails. Josiah’s obedience to the proper cult is presented as a thorough religious rectification subsequent to hearing written directions.
Recent Issues in History
Authors: Frevel Christian
Published: June 2024

A far-reaching reign of David and Solomon is not very likely for the early first millennium in the general development of the southern Levant, and there is no extrabiblical evidence for the assumption of a United Monarchy. Against this background, this chapter outlines an alternative view. In stark contrast to the biblical view, it is shown that Judah was ruled by the Omrides and Nimshides in the ninth and eighth centuries BCE and was never truly independent. Judah was a subsidiary kingdom of Israel, ruled temporarily as a secundogeniture. This better explains the striking sameness of names of the Judahite and Israelite kings in the ninth century BCE.
Inscribing the Past
Authors: Pioske Daniel
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the conditions of knowledge that made the narratives within the books of Kings possible. This chapter, then, focuses on the underlying modes of knowing in antiquity that contributed to the pasts that the books of Kings depict. This manner of study brings to light several findings. It illuminates recent investigations into the practices of ancient Hebrew scribes. It also highlights the information that these individuals drew on to tell the stories that they did. As this chapter demonstrates, this information has been increasingly linked to forms of knowledge that are generated through the mechanisms and resources of memory.
Solomon’s Temple in the Books of Kings
Authors: Dubovský Peter
Published: June 2024

This chapter studies three dimensions of Solomon’s temple and the biblical narrative about the temple that is presented in the books of Kings. First, the chapter includes an exploration of various theories for and against the historicity of the temple in Jerusalem. This exploration entails a review of the temple’s attribution to Solomon. Second, the chapter investigates the literary presentation of the temple narrative that is presented in 1 Kgs 6–8. This analysis focuses in particular on the structure, literary devices, and meaning of the temple narrative. Finally, the chapter presents a study of the theology and symbolism of Solomon’s temple.
Cult Centralization in the Books of Kings
Authors: Richelle Matthieu
Published: June 2024

The books of Kings claim that the worship of Yhwh should have been centralized at Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem and that, for most of their history, Israel and Judah did not conform to that principle. This chapter shows that cult centralization is a major theme of Kings indeed. It also discusses the possible origins of this religious principle and the hypotheses concerning its rationale. But Kings also claims that two kings, Hezekiah and Josiah, made religious reforms based on cult centralization. This chapter introduces the reader to the debate about the historicity of these reforms, which involves both the literary analysis of the relevant passages of Kings and the interpretation of potential archaeological evidence.
Davidic Covenant and Dynasty in the Books of Kings
Authors: Rückl Jan
Published: June 2024

The chapter overviews the references to the Davidic dynastic promise in the books of Kings. Second Samuel 7 is an attempt to defend the political interests of the Davidic family in the exilic or postexilic period. Most of the references to the promise in Kings are entirely compatible with this function of Nathan’s oracle and may come from the same hand. According to Kings, the success of a royal dynasty depends on the piety of the dynasty’s founder, and the fate of the Davidic dynasty cannot be the same as that of the other dynasties that reigned in Israel. This concept is integral to the basic structure of Kings, and the author of these texts is therefore also the first author of Kings. The conditional formulations of the Davidic promise were inserted by a later redactor.
The Reception of the Books of Kings in the Church Fathers
Authors: Burnet Régis
Published: June 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the different ways early Christian writers up to the seventh century CE used or referred to the books of Kings in commentaries, catena, and other works. It then discusses what kinds of exegesis these authors practiced when interpreting these books and what specific passages attracted their attention. Interestingly, these are often not the same passages that are of interest to modern readers. While the books of Kings are not among the works these ancient authors quote the most, they represent a touchstone for their hermeneutics. Compared to commentary for other books of the Bible, commenting on these books requires making a choice among typological, historical, and moral readings.
African Readings of the Books of Kings
Authors: Koulagna Jean
Published: June 2024

Bible reading in Africa follows several trajectories. It is situated between scholarly approaches and confessional and popular ones, between historical-critical approaches and political and ideological ones. Despite the difficulty in establishing an exhaustive inventory of African scholarship on the books of Kings, it is globally located in these different methodological crossroads. Historical-critical and literary approaches often respond to the need to affirm a certain scientific approach, while confessional and popular concerns are more oriented toward comparative and cultural issues or above all political and ideological positioning. This is what we see in the retelling of the story of the Queen of Sheba in the Ethiopian legend of the Kebra Nagaśt but also and above all in the numerous studies devoted to Naboth’s vineyard in the context of the struggle for land.
Academic Research on Kings in China
Authors: Lee Lydia
Published: June 2024

This chapter discusses mainland Chinese academic research on the books of Kings since 1980s. Mainland Chinese scholarly engagement with the books of Kings epitomizes the evolution of the country’s biblical research. This evolution can be divided into three main phases. In the first phase, the biblical content is simply paraphrased and summarized. In the second phase, archaeological data are incorporated to enrich research on the biblical texts. The third phase is characterized by a more diversified approach to the cultural influences that have shaped and have been shaped by the Kings’ narratives. By tracing the general path of this research development, this chapter aims to stimulate mutual understanding and further conversations between the Chinese and international research communities on biblical studies.
Locating Women and the Expansion of Islamic Morality in the New Turkey
Authors: Sehlikoglu Sertaç , Kütük-Kuriş Merve
Published: June 2024

This chapter discusses the formation of new Muslim female selves in New Turkey. Drawing on Sehlikoglu and Kütük-Kuriş’s separate longitudinal field research conducted in Istanbul since the early 2000s, this chapter explores how Muslim women navigate the political and socioeconomic transformations that Turkey underwent during the AKP rule. It critically engages with the existing literature on Muslim women that adopts limited tropes, overlooking the intricate ways in which Muslim women’s desire for agentive, consumerist, and entrepreneurial lifestyles complicates notions of modernity and extends the boundaries of Islamic orthodoxy. The chapter focuses on Muslim women’s aspirations in the realms of leisure, highlighting how they propose diverse and contested interpretations within the realm of Islamic morality. While recognizing that these performances do not necessarily align with the dominant feminist clusters, we centralize women’s own interpretations which complicate the underlying thesis of gendered Islam. We contribute to the literature on Muslim women’s subjectivity and resonate with anthropological and sociological scholarship on Muslim geographies worldwide, underscoring the fluidity, multiplicity, and multifaceted aspect of self-making in the lives of Muslim women.
Agent-Based Modelling and Simulation for Bridging the Micro–Macro Divide in Management Science
Authors: Wall Friederike , Chen Shu-Heng , Leitner Stephan
Published: June 2024

In recent decades, management science has witnessed increasing interest in the reciprocal mechanisms between micro-level behaviours and macro-level patterns. At the same time, there are calls to bridge the field’s multidimensional divide in subdomains, theoretical foundations, or research methods that often address either the micro or macro level. The introductory chapter of the Handbook of Agent-based Computational Management Science outlines how the agent-based paradigm contributes to bridging the micro–macro divide in management science. For this, we build on the framework of causal mechanisms of Coleman’s boat. The dynamic variant of the framework, proposed in the philosophy of social science, allows for capturing the reciprocal connections between the micro and macro levels and translates into the agent-based paradigm and its generative approach. For the novice in agent-based modelling and simulation, we briefly outline some more ‘technical’ aspects. Finally, we provide a brief overview of the chapters in the handbook, organized into four parts as there are (1) the microfoundations of agent-based models in management, agent-based modelling and simulation for (2) theory building in management and (3) for operational issues in management, followed by some overarching, and (4) reflections and extensions.
Geoeconomics, Varieties of Capitalism, and Great Power Competition
Authors: Dombrowski Peter
Published: June 2024

The current and future successes and failures of this era’s great powers—the United States, the People’s Republic of China, and Russia—can be traced back to the domestic political economy of each contender. The three great powers all rely on capitalist economic arrangements operating within a global market economy. But capitalism comes in a variety of forms ranging from the Anglo-American neoliberal model to state or even “party” capitalism as practiced in Russia and China. Each great power thus relies on different domestic political and economic institutions as well as legitimating ideologies to generate usable power within the global system. To illustrate the impact of distinct varieties of capitalism on great power competition, this chapter analyzes how each great power meets the most salient contemporary strategic challenge: military modernization.
Assessing Great Power Competition and the Role of Middle Powers in Outer Space through the Lens of Geoeconomics
Authors: Goswami Namrata
Published: June 2024

This chapter focuses on the systemic-level effects of geoeconomics on great power competition (specifically, the United States and China). It examines how China’s growing focus on economics, technological innovation, and geography is changing the discourse on outer space, where the interplay of geoeconomics, economic statecraft, and national security is evident in the way nations behave. This changing discourse challenges US leadership in the post–Cold War system, not just from a distribution of capabilities perspective, but also from a cognitive and narrative-shaping perspective. The chapter demonstrates how this system-shaping notion of geoeconomics (grand strategy) is influenced in turn by unit-level decision-making, financial commitments, innovation policies (economic statecraft), and the political economy of national security. The chapter highlights the role of middle powers in shaping the space environment, as their decisions on how economic and technological instruments shape up at their unit levels, in turn, challenge and affect the way geoeconomics is shaping up and playing out at the systemic level of the great powers. The interactive effects of geoeconomics, economic statecraft, and national security are examined through illustrative case studies.
Economic Inclusion of LGBTI+ Persons
Authors: Agko Adem
Published: June 2024

Despite legal and social advances, LGBTI+ persons continue to face widespread discrimination and exclusion, which adversely impacts their lives, as well as the communities and economies in which they live. In awareness of this, this chapter seeks to answer whether international economic institutions (IEIs) such as the World Bank, IMF, and OECD are sufficiently promoting the non-discrimination of LGBTI+ persons within their work. This chapter points out that all discussed IEIs play a role, directly or indirectly, in supporting the stability of the international economic system. Yet they also provide public goods that fall outside of their mandates like the promotion of human rights. Findings stipulate that all IEIs, in one way or another, include social considerations within their work that can contribute to the non-discrimination of LGBTI+ persons. However, only two IEIs, namely the World Bank and the OECD engage in direct efforts to eliminate SOGI-based discrimination.
The Syriac Fathers
Authors: Pirtea Adrian C.
Published: June 2024

This chapter presents Syriac Christian discussions on deification from the third to the seventh centuries. The first focus is on the earliest discourses, in the Odes of Solomon, the Book of Steps, and the writings of Ephrem the Syrian, Aphrahat, and John the Solitary. The Syriac translations of Greek Alexandrian and Antiochene Patristic works in fifth-century Edessa eventually gave birth to two distinct approaches to deification: the first, mainly influenced by Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria, became prominent in the Syro-Orthodox (Miaphysite) Church and found mature expression in the writings of Jacob of Serugh and Philoxenos of Mabbug. The second was further developed at the School of Nisibis and prevailed in the (Dyophysite) Church of the East. The chapter also investigates the role of deification in Late Antique Syriac philosophical discourses, in the reception of Origen and Evagrius, and in seventh-century East Syriac mystical literature.
“Man Became God to the Degree that God Became Man”
Authors: Constas Maximos
Published: June 2024

The theology of Maximus the Confessor represents the culmination of Greek patristic thought on deification. For Maximus, deification is not only a correlative of the Incarnation, but also the fundamental theme uniting his cosmology, anthropology, liturgy, ecclesiology, and eschatology. Building on the work of his predecessors, the Confessor develops a systematic principle (known as the tantum-quantum) of reciprocity between God and man, which he uses to express a range of often striking formulations. In addition to being an ontological condition, deification is also a process of transformation. Maximus describes this process through the traditional three stages of spiritual progress, with emphasis on purification, the contemplation of nature and scripture, and experience of ecstasy in which the self is caught up into a divine mode of existence.
The Early Medieval Latin West
Authors: Matz Brian J.
Published: June 2024

Deification is a rich concept in the early medieval Latin West. John Scotus Eriugena, strongly influenced by Ps.-Dionysius and Maximus, was quite explicit in his teaching about it. To Eriugena, God brings about deification in the lives of persons. This God accomplishes as an act of grace in these persons to enable them to engage in works of purification to facilitate more easily the transformation of their life that God intends. It is these threads of Eriugena’s thought that run throughout many other, early medieval Latin texts that are not explicit in their recourse to the terminology of deification. This chapter elucidates the theology of deification implicit in the works of Smaragdus, Peter Damian, John of Fécamp, and Anselm of Canterbury. These works point to a “logic of perfection.”
Symeon the New Theologian and Byzantine Monasticism
Authors: Russell Norman
Published: June 2024

Symeon’s teaching, based on personal experience, for revelations cannot be acquired by study, is that knowledge of God comes through participation in the life of the Trinity as a result of the acquisition of virtue (especially humility) and the eucharistic encounter with Christ. The practice of the Jesus Prayer is also recommended. Symeon’s locus of authority is the “golden chain” of saints illuminated by God. The ascent to deification is accomplished not through noetic contemplation but through surrender to divine love, by which humans become christs. Deification is an eschatological reality but is also attainable here and now. This aspect of Symeon’s teaching led to accusations of unorthodoxy in his lifetime. How Christians become gods he cannot say, for the awesomeness of participation in the imparticipable overwhelms him. Immediately after his death he fell into obscurity, but his teaching has always remained fundamental to Athonite hesychasm.
Introduction
Authors: Gavrilyuk Paul L. , Hofer Andrew , Levering Matthew
Published: June 2024

This introductory chapter consists of twenty-five theses that articulate the rationale behind this Handbook and indicate some of its contributions. Deification studies is a burgeoning field. Often associated solely with the Orthodox East, deification became a central theme in the nineteenth century due to critical work by Ferdinand Christian Baur, followed by Albrecht Ritschl and Adolf von Harnack. Opposed to Baur, Matthias Joseph Scheeben made deification central to his theological vision, as did, at the outset of the twentieth century, Ivan Popov and Juan Arintero. The present volume retrieves the theme of deification in a comprehensive manner from Christian Scripture and the Church Fathers to the present day. It does so in a manner geared toward historical, systematic, ecumenical, and interreligious understanding of this central Christian theme. The chapter offers a constructive working definition of deification, focusing on the most prominent “markers” of deification in Christian theological discourses.
Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Anglicans
Authors: McInroy Mark
Published: June 2024

Treatments of deification among “Anglicans” in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries stand out as noteworthy for contemporary discussions of the doctrine for four interconnected reasons. First, in these figures one witnesses a sustained articulation of deification in the West, countering the prevalent perception of deification as an exclusively Eastern Christian doctrine. Second, these figures draw their views of deification from patristic figures of both East and West, and more fundamentally from scripture, demonstrating that, for early Anglicans, the doctrine is not of a particularly Eastern provenance. Third, for Richard Hooker and some Cambridge Platonists, deification does not supplant justification (as some contemporary advocates of deification are eager to do), but rather coordinates with justification and sanctification in a coherent soteriological vision. Fourth, for Anglicans, deification has an uncommon ecclesiological importance, as the doctrine plays a central role in distinguishing the English Church from Roman Catholic and “Puritan” alternatives.
Deification and Christology
Authors: Luy David
Published: June 2024

Christian doctrines of deification are closely related to theological judgments about the person and work of Christ. Careful analysis of this theological domain reveals a complex picture, for the concepts ingredient to each doctrinal locus are notably plastic. Judgments regarding the precise meaning of theopoiēsis, the metaphysics of the hypostatic union, and the communication of properties within the person of Christ yield a rich diversity of perspectives across the tradition. It is possible to identify any number of different, possible ways to coordinate deification and Christology in relation to one another. These distinct alignments have often provided an occasion for controversy, but it is important to recognize that they are not necessarily contrary to one another from a dogmatic perspective. It is thus possible to articulate a capacious account of deification that affirms multiple alignments together as complementary strands within a unified braid.
Second- and Third-Century Greek Fathers
Authors: Russell Norman
Published: June 2024

Justin Martyr uses a testimony source to interpret the “gods” of Psalm 81(82) as Adam and Eve, who had been intended to share in the divine attributes of impassibility and immortality, linking them with the “children of God” of John 3:1. Irenaeus discusses the psalm more in terms of Pauline adoption, emphasizing participation in God through baptism. Clement of Alexandria develops the baptismal theme of filiation but, for him, the moral qualities come to the fore. Origen uses the psalm as biblical testimony that salvation entails the transformation of human nature. He is the first to cite 2 Peter 1:4, bringing a new dynamic element to the concept of participation. Origen regards contemplation as able to move intelligent beings up the ladder of intelligent life to the angels, but insists that deification as an eschatological reality is open to every baptized person.
Athanasius of Alexandria and the Cappadocian Fathers
Authors: Blowers Paul M.
Published: June 2024

Greek and Byzantine patristic exponents of deification connected this mystery with salvation, but even more fundamentally with the work of creation itself and the providential economy whereby the triune Creator projects the perfection and transfiguration of the creature. As expounded by Athanasius and the three Cappadocian Fathers, deification integrated the ontological change and new “leavening” of humankind by Christ the New Adam, together with the existential appropriation of this grace through active and full conformation to the divine virtues. Central to Athanasius, Basil, and the two Gregories is the initiative of the Son incarnate and the Holy Spirit to raise the languishing creature out of sin and to usher in the new creature. This chapter traces the unique contributions of the four authors and the important threads which bind their teaching on deification.
Understanding the picture: the promise and challenges of in-situ imagery data in the study of plankton ecology
Authors: Barth Alex , Stone Joshua
Published: June 2024

Planktons are a fundamental piece of all ocean ecosystems yet, sampling plankton at the high resolution required to understand their dynamics remains a challenge. In-situ imaging tools offer an approach to sample plankton at fine scales. Advances in technology and methodology provide the ability to make in-situ imaging a common tool in plankton ecology. Despite the massive potential of in-situ imaging tools, there are no standard approaches for analyzing the associated data. Consequently, studies are inconsistent in analyzing in-situ imaging data, even for similar questions. This introduces challenges in comparing across studies and sampling devices. In this review, we briefly summarize the increasing use, potential and novel applications of in-situ imaging tools in plankton ecology. Then, we synthesize the common analyses used across these studies. Finally, we address the major statistical challenges associated with the unique sampling mechanisms of in-situ imaging tools and discuss the theoretical uncertainties, which arise from the low-sampling volumes of many in-situ imaging tools. To fully unlock the power of in-situ imaging tools in plankton ecological studies, researchers must carefully consider how to analyze their data. We provide recommendations for processing and analyzing data while also acknowledging a large need for developing new statistical tool.
Many faces of cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: An İsa , Doni Nebiye Yentur
Published: June 2024

Background

Our objective in this study is to determine the atypical clinical presentations of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients diagnosed in Şanlıurfa province.

Methods

This retrospective study included 213 patients with atypical clinical presentations among 1751 patients diagnosed with CL between October 2019 and August 2022 in Şanlıurfa Oriental Boil Diagnosis and Treatment Center located in an endemic region for CL.

Results

We found the prevalence of atypical CL to be 12.1%. The most common atypical lesions were lupoid 21 (9.8%), erysipeloid 16 (7.5%), impetiginous 16 (7.5%), recidivan 15 (7%), eczematous 15 (7%), ecthyma-like 13 (6.1%), pyoderma gangrenous-like 12 (5.6%), and sporotrichoid 12 (5.6%). Other lesions with atypical clinical presentations: chalazion-like, verrucous, dental sinus-like, psoriasiform, zosteriform, lymphoma-like, juvenile xanthogranuloma-like, volcano-like, paronychial, basal cell carcinoma-like, squamous cell carcinoma-like, herpes labialis-like, keratoacanthoma-like, chancriform, annular, lichenoid, mastocitoma-like, keloidal, epidermoid cyst-like, kaposi sarcoma-like, scar leishmaniasis, granulomatous cheilitis-like, mycetoma-like, molluscum contagiosum-like, discoid lupus erythematosus-like, and dermatofibroma-like.

Conclusions

In addition to the atypical clinical presentations previously reported, we also defined dermatofibroma-like, Kaposi sarcoma-like, dental sinus-like, juvenile xanthogranuloma-like, mastocytoma-like, and epidermoid cyst-like. It should be kept in mind that CL can clinically mimic many infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of long-term non-healing lesions, especially in endemic areas.

Key message What is already known on this subject:  CL is known as the great imitator disease in dermatology. What this study adds:  In addition to the atypical clinical presentations previously reported, we also defined dermatofibroma-like, Kaposi sarcoma-like, dental sinus-like, juvenile xanthogranuloma-like, mastocytoma-like, and epidermoid cyst-like. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy:  CL can clinically mimic many infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of long-term non-healing lesions, especially in endemic areas.
‘Immune from the germ-laden things’: Immunity and Irish Newspaper Advertising, 1890–1940
Authors: Long Maebh
Published: June 2024

From 1890, as advertising in Irish newspapers grew in quantity and sophistication, a discourse of immunity began to circulate. Advertisers drew on advancements in bacteriology and immunology to present their goods as defensive strategies against a range of threats, from major infectious diseases to everyday coughs and colds. Consumers were urged to supplement their bodies’ vulnerabilities by purchasing pills and tonics, with medical products joined by immunity-assuring underwear, coats, cosmetics and cars. From a dataset of every immunity-focused advertisement in the Irish Newspaper Archives and The Irish Times archives between 1890 and 1940, I unpack the ways immunity was presented to the Irish public outside of medical institutions. I show how discourses of immunity intersected with influenza outbreaks, consider the implication of the non-national origins of many advertisements, and trace their rhetoric of protection and resistance across a range of product types.
Measles Cases Surge Across the United States
Authors: Roush Karen
Published: June 2024

More than half have required hospitalization.
Bird Flu Outbreaks Raise Concern Among Infectious Disease Experts
Authors: Roush Karen
Published: June 2024

Government agencies are monitoring for potential threat to humans.
Impact of inflammasomes on the ocular surface
Authors: Stinnett Gwen S. , Kuo Chuan-Hui , Ono Santa J.
Published: June 2024

Purpose of review

The ocular surface is prone to inflammation due to exposure to environmental irritants and pathogens. Inflammasomes are intracellular, multiprotein complexes that communicate potentially dangerous signals to the immune system. The identification of inflammasomes in various inflammatory ocular surface conditions can aid in the development of therapeutics to treat these chronic inflammatory conditions.

Recent findings

Several inflammasomes have been associated with ocular surface disorders including dry eye disease, keratitis, and allergies. Mechanisms for activation of these inflammasomes with regards to specific disorders have been explored in models to aid in the development of targeted treatments.

Research efforts continue to characterize the types of inflammasomes and activators of these in inflammatory ocular surface conditions. Various therapies targeting specific inflammasome types or pyroptosis are being tested preclinically to assess effects on decreasing the associated chronic inflammation.
T'aakik le mak a chi'ek: Empowering Indigenous Mexican Women in Pelvic Health Advocacy
Authors: Zapata-Caballero Carlos Agustín , Flores-Fernández Mariana , Rivera-Medina Ernesto Rodolfo , Granados-Martínez Verónica , Gorbea-Chávez Viridiana
Published: June 2024

OBJECTIVE:

“T'aakik le mak a chi'ek” in Yucatec Maya translates to “Breaking the silence.” This project aims to create and distribute a trifold educational pamphlet in Spanish and Maya languages in the Yucatan Peninsula, targeting indigenous Mexican women. The objective is to raise awareness about pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence in this population, dispelling the misconception that these conditions are a normal part of aging, providing accurate information, highlighting available treatment options, and empowering women to seek timely medical care.

PROJECT SUMMARY:

The trifold pamphlet, designed specifically for indigenous Mexican women, addresses pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. It acknowledges the unique experiences and perspectives of this population. The pamphlet covers the causes, risk factors, and available treatments for these conditions. It also includes testimonials from women who have successfully sought treatment, improving their quality of life.

OUTCOME:

The desired outcome of the project is to increase awareness among indigenous Mexican women that pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence can be treated. By distributing the pamphlet in rural centers in the Yucatan peninsula, the project aims to educate women about available treatment options, empowering them to take proactive steps toward better health.

RELEVANCE TO WOMEN’S HEALTH:

Pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence significantly affect the well-being of women. Research shows that indigenous women in Mexico face a higher prevalence of these disorders, primarily secondary to high parity in this population, sometimes with as many as 10 vaginal births, as well as a high rate of obesity, both of which are known risk factors for these conditions. Additionally, indigenous women experience limited access to health care, language barriers, and patriarchal cultural beliefs that influence seeking treatment. By addressing these specific risk factors and providing culturally sensitive information in the pamphlet, the project ensures its relevance and effects on the target population. By promoting awareness and education in Spanish and Maya languages, the project aims to improve the quality of life for indigenous Mexican women by empowering them with knowledge and encouraging them to seek appropriate medical care.
Amyopathic Dermatomyositis Presenting with Digital Ulcerations: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Liu Zhao Feng , Kovitwanichkanont Tom
Published: June 2024

Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) is a rare subtype of dermatomyositis that presents with cutaneous features and no muscle involvement. This case report describes a 26-year-old woman with recurrent and multiple digital ulcerations coinciding with the start of winter each year. There was no evidence of myopathy, and antibody testing yielded negative results. A diagnosis of CADM was ultimately made based on clinicopathologic correlation. The patient’s ulcers demonstrated excellent response to a combination therapy of hydroxychloroquine and potent topical and systemic steroids. Herein, the authors discuss the pathologic and immunologic characteristics of CADM.
Preventive Effect of Hydrocolloid Dressings on Hypertrophic Scarring of Post-Cesarean Section Wounds: A Randomized Pilot Study
Authors: Tsubouchi Hiroaki , Awaji Takuya , Hirose Rikuto , Kishida Kenji , Yamashita Saya , Furuya Kiichiro , Chang Yangshil , Shikado Kayoko , Kohta Masushi , Ogita Kazuhide
Published: June 2024

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prophylactic effect of hydrocolloid dressings on hypertrophic scarring in post-cesarean section wounds.

METHODS

Patients who underwent cesarean section (C/S) at the authors’ hospital and provided informed consent to participate were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group commenced applying hydrocolloid dressings to the wound on postoperative day 7 or 8 and continued with weekly dressing changes for 6 months. The control group refrained from any dressing application but was followed up. In each group, the condition of the wound was evaluated 6 and 12 months postoperatively using the Japan Scar Workshop Scar Scale 2015, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale version 2.0, the modified Vancouver Scar Scale, and patient-reported outcomes.

RESULTS

During this period, 135 patients underwent C/S at the authors’ institution, and 47 (23 in the intervention group and 24 in the control group) were included in the analysis. In all assessment methods, the intervention group scored lower than the control group at 6 and 12 months after C/S. Twelve months after C/S, hypertrophic scarring (Japan Scar Workshop Scar Scale 2015 score of 6-15) was found in 14 of the 47 (29.8%) patients: 11 of 24 (45.8%) in the control group and 3 of 23 (13.0%) in the intervention group. The intervention’s relative risk was 0.623 (95% CI, 0.417–0.930). The risk factor for hypertrophic scarring was midline vertical incision, with an odds ratio of 20.53 (95% CI, 4.18–100.92).

CONCLUSIONS

The study reveals that the application of hydrocolloid dressings to wounds reduces the risk of hypertrophic scarring after C/S.
The Effect of Tub Bathing on the Skin and Bilirubin Levels of Babies Receiving Tunnel and Light-Emitting Diode Phototherapies: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Özdemir Serap , Balci Serap
Published: June 2024

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of tub bathing on the skin and bilirubin levels of newborns receiving tunnel and light-emitting diode phototherapy.

METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, hospitalized newborns diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia treated with a tunnel or light-emitting diode device were randomly assigned to either the experimental (bath) or control (no bath) groups using a computer program. The skin integrity moisture balance of all groups was recorded using the Newborn Skin Condition Score at 6, 12, and 24 hours after phototherapy, and their total serum bilirubin measurements were evaluated.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference was observed in the babies’ total serum bilirubin levels; this decrease was the highest in the experimental groups. Further, the skin integrity-moisture balance was higher in the experimental groups than in the control groups; it was highest in the tunnel-experimental group and lowest in the tunnel control group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that bathing is effective in reducing total bilirubin levels. This study adds to the evidence on skin integrity and moisture balance in newborns who were bathed during phototherapy.
Movement and Pressure Injury Prevention Care for Nursing Home Residents: Addressing the Nescience
Authors: Yap Tracey L. , Alderden Jenny , Gadhoumi Kais , Horn Susan D. , Sonenblum Sharon Eve , Hays Judith C. , Kennerly Susan M.
Published: June 2024

OBJECTIVE

To compare movement associated with position changes among nursing home residents who remain in lying versus upright positions for more than 2 hours and among residents living with obesity, dementia, or neither condition.

METHODS

The authors conducted a descriptive exploratory study using secondary data (N = 934) from the Turn Everyone And Move for Ulcer Prevention (TEAM-UP) clinical trial to examine transient movements (<60 seconds) within prolonged periods of 2 to 5 hours without repositioning.

RESULTS

Nursing home residents exhibit significantly more episodic transient movements when upright than lying. Residents with obesity or dementia exhibited similar frequencies of episodic transient movements compared with residents with neither obesity nor dementia. Upright or lying movements were more frequent among residents with obesity than among those with neither obesity nor dementia selectively when prolonged events ranged from 2 to 4 hours. Pairwise comparisons of movement rates among resident subgroups (living with obesity, living with dementia, or neither group) across repositioning intervals showed episodic transient movements were significantly higher across all subgroups for repositioning intervals up to 3 hours when compared with repositioning intervals of greater than 3 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings challenge assumptions that nursing home residents are inactive and at risk for prolonged sitting. These preliminary findings, along with TEAM-UP findings where no pressure injuries occurred in up to 5 hours in prolonged positions, support establishing a standard 3-hour repositioning interval with use of high-density mattresses without a negative impact on pressure injury occurrence. There should be caution when considering repositioning intervals greater than 3 hours. Further research is indicated to explore protective effect of episodic transient movements of other subgroups.
Barriers to Meeting National Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Guidelines in a Diverse Patient Cohort
Authors: Jaradeh Katrin , Liao Elizabeth N. , Lindeborg Michael , Chan Dylan K. , Weinstein Jacqueline E.
Published: June 2024

Objectives:

To determine our audiology clinics status in meeting the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing recommended 1-3-6 benchmarks for identification and intervention for congenital sensorineural hearing loss and identify those factors contributing to delay in identification and intervention.

Design:

This is a retrospective case series. Children with sensorineural hearing loss who underwent auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, hearing aid evaluation, or cochlear implant mapping at our tertiary pediatric medical center between January 2018 and December 2021 were included. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify social, demographic, and health factors associated with primary outcomes, defined as age at hearing loss identification, age at intervention (here defined as amplification start), and interval between identification and intervention.

Results:

Of 132 patients included, mean age was 2.4 years, 48% were male, and 51% were Hispanic. There was significant association between each Hispanic ethnicity (p = 0.005, p = 0.04, respectively), insurance type (p = 0.02, p = 0.001, respectively), and later age at identification and intervention. In multivariable analyses, Hispanic ethnicity was significantly associated with both delays in identification and intervention (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively), and public insurance was associated with delays in intervention (p = 0.01). In addition, the total number of ABRs was significantly associated with both older age of identification and intervention (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Mediator analysis demonstrated that the effect of ethnicity on age at identification is mediated by the total number of ABRs performed.

Conclusions:

A significant association between total number of ABRs and age at identification and intervention for children with hearing loss exists. Hispanic ethnicity was associated with delays in meeting milestones, further mediated by the number of ABRs, providing a potential avenue for intervention in addressing this disparity.
Co-occurring Epilepsy and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a 6-Year-Old Boy
Authors: Jerskey Beth A. , Reid Alexis A. , Spencer Karen , Diekroger Elizabeth , Fogler Jason
Published: June 2024

CASE:

“Andrew” is a 6-year-old, right-handed, cisgender boy who presents for neuropsychological testing to determine whether he meets criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Andrew's parents report that he is easily distracted, has poor concentration, and is unable to sustain attention for discrete periods of time. Andrew is the product of an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery, and there were no reported concerns in the postnatal period. Andrew met all of his language and motor milestones on time. He was described as having an “easy” temperament in his infancy and toddler years. Difficulties with attention started in preschool in that Andrew was described as frequently “getting lost” in his play or the task he was working on. He was easy to redirect and responded to cues and reminders. Socially, Andrew was described as friendly but not always “picking up on social cues.” Andrew's kindergarten teachers first noted that sometimes Andrew would “blank out” and appear to stare off, which was attributed to inattention. His teachers brought their concerns to Andrew’s parents, and his parents began to observe Andrew more carefully and noted that these episodes also occurred at home daily. When queried, his parents reported that these episodes would last 4 to 5 seconds and Andrew would not respond to his name being called or to being physically touched. Andrew's medical history, and that of his immediate and extended family, is unremarkable. Routine hearing and vision screenings are also unremarkable. There are no reports of head injuries or concussions. Andrew's gait is stable, and there are no signs of motor weakness. There are no reports of sensory seeking or avoiding behaviors. There are no reports of witnessing or experiencing trauma; motor or vocal tics; or compulsions, ritualized behaviors, or restricted interests.

Testing revealed high average verbal comprehension skills, average perceptual and fluid reasoning, and lower end of average working memory and processing speed. During testing, the examiner noted a rapid eye flutter, which Andrew did not see to recognize himself but did ask the examiner to repeat the previous question. Parent and teacher rating scales of emotional and behavioral functioning showed elevations in the areas of inattention and adaptability and 1 scale of executive functioning noted elevations in task monitoring but no other difficulties. Socially, Andrew is well liked by his peers, although he can present as “silly.” He has many same-aged friends and enjoys group activities. His parents have been hesitant to get him involved in sports because he has been known to have these staring episodes right after competing in sporting events. He also tends to have them more often during the school week when he has less sleep, which his parents attribute to having a difficult time falling asleep at night. What would you do next?