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Archival records of US Masters Swimming performances were examined for changes between 1981 and 2021. Both national records and top 10 swimmers were used. Substantial secular changes were found averaging 0.52%/yr, with women improving more than men and with improvements in national records greater than in the top 10. Performances by women in 2021 were at parity (national records) or near parity (top 10) with men in 1981. The results indicate that secular effects must be considered along with longitudinal age-related changes and cross-sectional cohort effects in interpreting age differences in physiological function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study premised that outdoor learning situates within a unique ontological category of where learning happens, distinct from curricular (what) and pedagogical (who/how) concerns of learning. By shifting preservice teacher learning experiences during mandatory teacher education methods courses outdoors, we conjured a boundary object for where learning occurs. We collected and analysed preservice teacher reflections generated from the outdoor learning experiences. Three overarching outdoor learning dimensions (OLD) were distilled from 90 reflection-outputs: outdoors as 1) experience, 2) concept, and 3) place. Discussion considered purposes of outdoor where in teacher preparation for 21st century learning in relation to the aim of inhabitancy, through the lens of useful learning. Useful learning was scoped as learning concerned with health and wellbeing, pro-environmental actions and beliefs, and experiential/inquiry-based learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alagille syndrome (ALGS) is a rare, genetic, multisystem disorder commonly associated with cholestatic liver disease; patients with ALGS may experience elevated serum bile acids and severe pruritus with associated impaired sleep. The ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) is located on the luminal surface of enterocytes in the terminal ileum; this transport protein mediates resorption of conjugated bile acids for recirculation back to the liver. Inhibition of IBAT disrupts the enterohepatic circulation and leads to fecal elimination of bile acids. Areas covered: Here, the role of odevixibat as a novel, nonsurgical approach to interrupting the enterohepatic circulation from the intestine by inhibition of IBAT is reviewed, specifically in reference to currently available data on pharmacologic IBAT inhibition. IBAT inhibition has been shown to reduce serum bile acids and pruritus in trials of cholestatic liver diseases in children including ALGS. Expert opinion: Odevixibat or IBAT inhibitor should be considered as a first-line treatment for ALGS to improve pruritis, quality of life and liver-related outcomes including absence of liver transplant, surgical biliary diversion, hepatic decompensation, and death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of Covid-19 on surgical patients worldwide has been substantial. In the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI), the first wave of the pandemic occurred in March 2020. The aims of this study were to: (1) evaluate the volume of neurosurgical operative activity levels, Covid-19 infection rate and mortality rate in April 2020 with a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study conducted across 16 UK and RoI neurosurgical centres, and (2) compare patient outcomes in a single institution in April–June 2020 with a comparative cohort in 2019. Across the UK and RoI, 818 patients were included. There were 594 emergency and 224 elective operations. The incidence rate of Covid-19 infection was 2.6% (21/818). The overall mortality rate in patients with a Covid-19 infection was 28.6% (6/21). In the single centre cohort analysis, an overall reduction in neurosurgical operative activity by 65% was observed between 2020 (n = 304) and 2019 (n = 868). The current and future impact on UK neurosurgical operative activity has implications for service delivery and neurosurgical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In very cold environments, it may be burdensome or impossible for the polar medic to prevent medicines from freezing. We sought to investigate whether orientation affected the risk that glass ampoules of 1 in 1000 adrenaline, an important emergency drug, would break during freezing and subsequent thawing. Ampoules of adrenaline were orientated either upright, horizontally or inverted. They were exposed to freezing temperatures (-25°C or -80°C) and then allowed to thaw. A crossover design was used whereby the orientation of unbroken ampoules was changed for the next trial. No ampoules broke when frozen at -25°C and then thawed. When this was repeated at -80°C, ampoules reliably broke unless they were upright with no liquid in the top part of the ampoule. Upright orientation prevents the breakage of glass ampoules of 1 in 1000 adrenaline rapidly frozen at -80°C. The polar medic may consider storing ampoules upright if they are to be exposed to very low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modular infusion (MI) is utilized to eliminate dry spot defects within complex multi-architecture composites by segregating and controlling flow fronts in-process. Compaction, employed to arrest in-plane flow, results in a crimp witness, which can be eliminated through MI fiber bed normalization. However, the MI normalization techniques generate voids within the cured components. To study the mechanisms that control the MI fiber bed normalization process, an in-process X-ray computed tomography (XCT) approach is developed to provide a visualization of fiber bed thickness and void distribution. Inner bag regulation during normalization is identified as the primary cause of the void generation. C-scans on a cured panel corroborate XCT findings, as well as validating the quality of the panel produced for subsequent mechanical test samples. Hence, it is demonstrated that the approach enables the optimization of a MI manufacturing process, which is supported by the findings of the mechanical characterization campaign. Flexural tests were carried out in three and four-point bend testing using samples cut from the panel, with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) providing comparative measurements for a baseline and MI case. Flexural testing of MI samples showed that a comparable mean strength and stiffness to that of the baseline material was achieved, demonstrating complete restoration of material thickness and mechanical properties during the optimised MI process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transformation in our food production system is being enabled by the convergence of advances in genome-based technologies and traditional fermentation. Science at the intersection of synthetic biology, fermentation, downstream processing for product recovery, and food science is needed to support technology development for the production of fermentation-derived food ingredients. The business and markets for fermentation-derived ingredients, including policy and regulations are discussed. A patent landscape of fermentation for the production of alternative proteins, lipids and carbohydrates for the food industry is provided. The science relating to strain engineering, fermentation, downstream processing, and food ingredient functionality that underpins developments in precision fermentation for the production of proteins, fats and oligosaccharides is examined. The production of sustainably-produced precision fermentation-derived ingredients and their introduction into the market require a transdisciplinary approach with multistakeholder engagement. Successful innovation in fermentation-derived ingredients will help feed the world more sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European defence policy offers opportunities for spending more and better where better achieves more from existing resources. Increased defence spending needs to be justified by the threats to Europe which have to be identified and defined. Higher defence expenditure usually focuses on inputs rather than final outputs in the form of greater peace, protection, security and the safety of a nation's citizens. The task is to show the opportunities for applying economic analysis to the complexities of European defence policy and collaborative defence projects. Economic efficiency criteria identify the contribution of final outputs, substitution and competition to the formulation of European defence policy, but the final outcomes are likely to be determined by military-political factors rather than economic efficiency criteria. The paper provides a critique of European defence policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are in a new landscape in performer training in the UK in 2024. Student and staff well-being has been seriously impacted by five years of covid-related and socio-political tension. This context has resulted in increased incidents of mental distress, and increased complaints concerning training techniques, peer oppression and materials covered. Moreover, we are working in a field where the students' bodies and positionalities are the basis for their 'work'. Actor Trainers are charged with developing the performance techniques of students by centring their identity and agency, whilst navigating the particular tension between wellbeing, comfort, and individual boundaries. Aligning myself with Thompson and Carello's guide for 'Trauma Informed Pedagogy' (2022); I reflect upon some practical approaches that may be taken to celebrate students' positionality, recognise the impacts of trauma (in tutors and students) and seed self-awareness and agency for both through knowledge, understanding and resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public innovation is a distinct field that is no longer reliant on private sector research. It is characterized by its publicness, occurring within a formal political context rather than being driven by market pressures. Public innovations involve engaging stakeholders such as managers, employees, politicians, service users, citizens, private companies, and third sector organizations. Public organizations can play various roles in public innovation, including being owners, commissioners, orchestrators, and sense-makers. Assessing the value of public innovation is a challenge, as it aims to create public value rather than just private value. Public value creation is a contested democratic practice, as different stakeholders may have different views on the priorities and evaluation of public innovations. Sharing and spreading successful innovations can reduce risk and create public value across society. Practitioners should learn from the private sector but also recognize the political nature of public innovation. Policy-makers should celebrate the innovativeness of public organizations and consider fostering a variety of innovations in different ways. They should also involve a variety of stakeholders and balance conflicting values and interests in creating public value. [Extracted from the article]

This special issue of Dix-Neuf examines the relationship between racial sciences and literary representations of race in nineteenth-century France. The article argues that theories of race during this time were culturally constructed and served to promote an imperial agenda. It emphasizes the entanglement of race, science, and culture in France during this period and the material consequences of these theories. The article also highlights the instrumentalization and weaponization of race for the "modern project of knowledge" and the negative impact it had in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The text explores how racial theories influenced literature and educational literature of the time, perpetuating white supremacy and colonialism. The articles in this special issue analyze various types of texts by both well-known and lesser-known authors, demonstrating the pervasive nature of racialist thinking during this period and its lasting effects on French identity and attitudes towards critical theories today. [Extracted from the article]

This paper examines public leadership for peacebuilding in divided societies emerging from severe violence. It deploys two theories of leadership: social identity and political astuteness, to investigate peacebuilding leadership processes. The paper investigates contradictions in social identity leadership, since peacebuilding leaders reach out beyond their own group to outgroups in hostile contexts. Semi-structured interviews with 32 leaders in Northern Ireland and in Bosnia Herzegovina, reveal that leading for peacebuilding exhibits inverse processes of social identity leadership and that political astuteness is also critical to navigate integration and differentiation within/across groups. Wider implications for public leadership in societies containing division are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic brought abrupt changes and disruption to the lives of children and young people. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore how participants navigated national lockdowns (including school closures), social restrictions, and the reintegration back into pre-pandemic routines. Twenty children, young people and parents were purposively sampled from the Mental Health of Children and Young People's Survey, 2020. We identified three major themes through thematic analysis, with participants discussing (1) learning experiences, (2) emotions and coping, and (3) decompression and discovery. Experiences during the pandemic were highly variable. Participants emphasised the importance of social and familial connections, access to engaging learning environments, and structure/routine in promoting health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the overall veteran, arrestee, and incarcerated populations have been decreasing, women as a percentage of the veteran population and those legal involved are on the rise. In fact, women are the fastest-growing cohort within the U.S. veteran population, and the women jail inmate population increased 15% from 2008 to 2018. Treatment programs targeting justice-involved individuals and/or veterans have also proliferated during the past decade. The current study examines women veterans in eight veterans treatment court (VTC) programs across the Southern United States (three in Florida, two in North Carolina, and three in Texas) using data from the National Institute of Justice's Multisite Examination of Veterans Treatment Courts. Specifically, we examine demographics, criminal histories, program requirements and experiences, and behavioral and mental health issues of the women participants in these VTCs. In addition to illustrating these aspects among women VTC participants, we conduct statistical comparisons to VTC participant counterparts who are men to determine any significant differences. Recommendations for addressing the unique nature and needs of women veterans in VTCs are provided based on these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study of 19 long-term foster carers examined how they coped with traumatic events with children in their care and continued to foster children. Phenomenological methods revealed that they endured significant traumatic events regarding the children that had lasting impacts on them. While much of the related research focuses on indirect secondary trauma among foster parents, these incidents were experienced and interpreted more as primary trauma. Participants also reported an intense commitment to the children in their homes, a passion for providing a good home for them, and recognized that they benefitted personally from fostering children. Recommendations include solutions more closely aligned with primary trauma and a using veteran foster parents to support and mentor new carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cook Strait click beetle (Amychus granulatus) is found only in five offshore island refugia in New Zealand. We estimated their elevational distribution, population density, and habitat associations within sampling plots on Te Pākeka/Maud Island using mark-recapture methods. We marked and recaptured individual beetles during seven nightly surveys in November 2020 and recorded a range of environmental variables to better understand their habitat associations. Our surveys confirmed the presence of beetles across the island's elevational range, but population densities appeared highest at lower elevations. Based on recaptures, we estimated a mean density of 892 beetles/ha (95% CI: 556–1620) in one large, low-elevation plot and 575 beetles/ha (95% CI: 230–1960) across the remaining plots. Temperature may have affected nightly beetle activity, and hence also capture probability. Habitat assessments suggest the abundance of mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus), and daytime refugia in tree cavities or rocky areas positively affected beetle counts. Our results provide the first robust population estimates for this endemic species. The apparent patchy distribution pattern we observed and its possible link to environmental variables have the potential to inform on conservation management including future translocations of Cook Strait click beetles to predator-free locations where suitable habitat exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introduction to the special issue aims to bridge the gap between two fields – policing on the one hand and public management on the other – which have seen only sporadic cross-fertilization so far. We begin by outlining the benefits of engaging with policing as a distinctive subject of public management study but one with generalizable and challenging insights for public management. We then provide a brief overview of the papers in the special issue and draw out key themes, which hopefully will inspire academics to engage with policing research as a contribution to public management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of policing offers rich opportunities to test and refine the boundaries of key concepts and theories of public management, yet it is neglected in public management discourse. In this essay, we strike up a conversation between public management and policing studies, arguing that, through this dialectical inquiry, concepts and theories in both fields can be reviewed and improved. We explore areas with particular potential for cross-fertilization: basic rationales used in public management; the saliency of state authority and legitimacy in policing; questions of public value creation (or destruction); and dilemmas of pursuing equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language is subject to a variety of pressures. Recent work has documented that many aspects of language structure have properties that appear to be shaped by biases for the efficient communication of semantic meaning. Other work has investigated the role of social pressures, whereby linguistic variants can acquire positive or negative evaluation based on who is perceived to be using them. While the influence of these two sets of biases on language change has been well documented, they have typically been treated separately, in distinct lines of research. We used a miniature language paradigm to test how these biases interact in language change. Specifically, we asked whether pressures to mark social meaning can lead linguistic systems to become less efficient at communicating semantic meaning. We exposed participants to a miniature language with uninformative constituent order and two dialects, one that employed case and one that did not. In the instructions, we socially biased participants toward users of the case dialect, users of the no-case dialect, or neither. Learners biased toward the no-case dialect dropped informative case, thus creating a linguistic system with high message uncertainty. They failed to compensate for this increased message uncertainty even after additional exposure to the novel language. Case was retained in all other conditions. These findings suggest that social biases not only interact with biases for efficient communication in language change but also can lead to linguistic systems that are less efficient at communicating semantic meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the literature on military aircraft unit costs is based on US data. This article adds to our knowledge by using an original data set for UK military aircraft costs, profits and prices. A distinction is made between unit costs within a generation of aircraft and between generations. Four research questions are addressed. First, is the UK aircraft industry a decreasing cost industry; second, are new entrants higher cost suppliers; third, what is the evidence on profitability in war and peace and between new entrants and original developers; fourth, what is the UK evidence on Augustine-type cost escalation and on the efficiency of aircraft procurement in war and peace? The UK aircraft industry was found to be a decreasing cost industry reflecting both scale and learning economies. Typically, new entrants were higher cost suppliers and profit rates were higher in peace-time. There was substantial Augustine cost escalation for UK combat aircraft and doubts are raised about the efficiency of military aircraft procurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With technological advances, the generation of deepfake material is now within reach of those operating consumer-grade hardware. As a result, much research has been undertaken on deepfake detection techniques. This work has analysed and measured the performance of various detection techniques using multiple metrics and discussed the effectiveness of these deepfake detection techniques. This has been undertaken by examining and analysing the current state of deepfake detection techniques. Unlike other existing surveys, this work produced a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on research conducted from the beginning of 2021 to August 2022. This SLR includes tabulated data containing details of the techniques used and the accuracy of those techniques, performance metrics provided in each study, summaries of the datasets used, and challenges and future trends. This SLR has been undertaken with a focus on using a mixed methods approach. This SLR has determined that deep learning (DL) has surpassed machine learning (ML) as the preferred deepfake detection model. However, ML is still a primary focus method in medical imagery. It was also discovered that traditional artificial neural networks are no longer effective and require additional modules to produce ensembled and multi-attentional architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periocular ecchymosis, or periocular bruising, is a common clinical finding. Periocular skin is thin with an extensive vascular network, making this anatomical region prone to bruising. The most common etiology is trauma, but rarely, patients can present with spontaneous periocular ecchymosis (SPE). The pathophysiology of SPE is complex and varied. In this literature review of 121 articles, we assessed the frequency and variety of causation of this infrequent entity. The main finding was that by far the most common diagnosis causing SPE is amyloidosis and neoplasm, most notably neuroblastoma. Amyloidosis accounted for 23% articles (28/121) and neuroblastoma for 17% articles (21/121). Overall, neoplastic processes accounted for 30% of the articles (36/121), raised intracranial pressure and vascular malformations for 19% of the articles (23/121), migraine and atypical headache for 7% of the articles (8/121), while iatrogenic accounted for 5% of the articles (6/121). Through exploration and appreciation of the pathophysiology, we hope to foster a greater understanding in the clinician to establish underlying etiology, from benign to life-threatening, when presented with SPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a growth of scholarly interest in the experiences of people with refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds as they seek to access tertiary education in resettlement. While gender is frequently identified as a key factor that impacts equitable participation in tertiary studies, the educational challenges for women with forced migration experiences (WFME) are often incidentally identified, rather than a targeted focus of inquiry. Here, we map the scholarly literature that explicitly focuses on the tertiary educational experiences of WFME, using a scoping study methodology (Arksey and O'Malley 2005) to explore current understandings and suggest future research directions. In analysing WFME-focused literature spanning the last ten years, we consider what is known about the barriers and facilitators to engagement, and the ways in which gendered experiences intersect with issues of language, culture, and socioeconomic and visa status to create particular constellations of gendered disadvantage that are specific to WFME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augustine weapons systems are proposed as a new class of investment good. They have distinctive economic characteristics (technology intensive, high and rising unit costs, and declining volumes) leading to extensive changes in armed forces' arsenals including the progressive replacement of military bulk with ever-smaller volumes of increasingly complex, capable, but also expensive weapons systems. While much has been written about their costs, there remain gaps in our understanding of their investment rationale and the modus operandi of their procurement. We distinguish between incremental and transformative Augustine weapons systems and discuss their investment rationale. We show that further understanding of Augustine weapons systems is obtained by using Lancaster's model of product characteristics and the real investment options framework. Some civilian parallels are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asia's global rise highlights a host of policy opportunities and challenges. Historically, the region's developmentalist governments were single-minded of purpose, aiming principally for rapid economic growth. As growth stabilized and economies matured, a variety of other concerns – environmental, social, and political, among others – began to warrant policy intervention. Public administrators in Asia now operate in a setting of increasing complexity amidst an array of conflicting policy mandates. Accordingly, policy education and training are as crucial to Asia's continued rise as they were in the early stages of emergence decades ago. This article and the special issue it introduces address several key elements characterizing the rise of policy education in Asia, including how policy educational practices have converged and diverged, how they have responded to situational mandates, and how they are now asserting a unique disciplinary identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the state and development of public policy education in Thailand, including its dynamics over time, its institutional setting, and emerging forces acting upon it. It focuses on policy educational institutions, policy courses offered in universities, and national socio-political contexts that shape the academic profession. Policy education has heavily been developed and taught as a subset of public administration with predetermined specifications. However, it has potential to be an independent field. This study fills a notable research gap, as the topic has been largely neglected in international publications, especially works concerning the internationalization of policy education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative that educators take a positive and preventive approach to support students and promote school safety. This article addresses the importance of identifying students who need additional mental health support and providing the highest quality support. These include best practices of emphasizing strength-based approaches, working with students and families as collaborators, integrating strategies into schools' multi-tiered systems of support, using data for decision making, implementing and refining evidence-based practices, and conducting ongoing evaluation. This article reviews specific examples of positive approaches to promoting student mental health funded by the National Institute of Justice Comprehensive School Safety Initiative. These real-world research initiatives provide examples of how multi-tiered systems of support for student mental health can serve as a mechanism to promote school safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune multi-system disorder frequently affecting black women of childbearing age. No published data exist on the obstetric outcomes in a Caribbean population. We analyzed pregnancy outcomes in an Afro-Caribbean cohort of women with SLE at a tertiary university hospital. A retrospective cohort study was performed of all pregnant women with SLE prior to pregnancy from January 1990 to December 2021 at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Jamaica. Maternal rheumatologic, obstetric, fetal/neonatal data were analyzed. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. To determine if outcomes were associated with various factors, Spearman's rho was followed by logistic regression analysis to estimate unadjusted odds ratios with statistical significance at p < 0.05. A total of 56 pregnancies in 47 women were identified with SLE. Live births were 87.5%, with 10.7% spontaneous miscarriages and no neonatal deaths. Prednisone was the most used drug in 67.9% of patients. 85% of women had an adverse outcome with an adverse fetal outcome occurring in 55% of cases. Prednisone was associated with an adverse fetal/neonatal outcome (Spearman's rho = 0.38; p =.004). In this first Caribbean series on SLE in pregnancy, reasonably successful pregnancy outcomes are achievable in Afro-Caribbean women managed in multidisciplinary centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of the framework devised by Iwasaki, Ueno and Narita ([11]) cited above, this was the time at which "post-war enlightenment" was critically reviewed. This special issue examines representations and constructions of youth and democracy in literature, film, manga and other media aimed at, or featuring, children and young adults in the post-war period. This alternative temporal categorisation has the merit of shifting the focus from the conventional US-Japan relationship to Japan's relationship with contemporary East Asia (Unoda & Tsuboi, [21]: 1-2). Iwasaki, Ueno and Narita divide the post-war era historically into 1945-1959, the period of establishment and development of post-war enlightenment, 1960-1979, the relativisation and critical evaluation of this enlightenment, and 1980-1989, the post-modern, post-Cold War, and even post-post-war. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines notions of democracy in the writing of post-war literary identity, Nakai Hideo (1922–1993). Although Nakai is known as a fantasy novelist, tanka poet/editor and essayist, the focus text here is Kanata yori (From afar), a diary produced during the final stages of the war. Entries were largely written while the future literary identity worked as a mobilised student in the Ichigaya offices of the Imperial Army General Staff Headquarters. Audaciously, given the writer's war-time role, the work was scathingly critical of the military policies of the time. While written in wartime, the diary was not published until 1971. This situates the work squarely in the politico-literary space of the post-war era. Furthermore, the diarist undoubtedly longs for a future without the militarist authorities. Brief reference is also made to a 1969 fantasy text, 'Kokuchō-tan' (Odyssey of the Black Swan), which features a young twenty-something protagonist whom Nakai identified as his own young post-war self. Both works present as fertile territory for an investigation of youth and democracy in post-war Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a threat that has posed a challenge to public health response and threatens immunization programs globally. Despite recommendations to continue routine immunization services, disruptions have been observed to these and mass vaccination campaigns. This may result in setbacks to immunization initiative successes and a rise in cases of vaccine-preventable diseases. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies globally that described how indicators of health system resilience, defined using the Resilient Health System Framework, enabled routine immunizations to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic search was conducted in Embase, Web of Science, PsychInfo, medRxiv, bioRxiv, and the gray literature between 1 January 2020, and 12 November 2021. Information was extracted from the studies identified describing how the specific elements of resiliency (being aware, diverse, self-regulating, integrated, and adaptive) were applied to their routine immunization programs. Our study demonstrates the use of tools that contributed to immunization program resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic in all geographic regions and for countries with different income levels. These tools may help inform preparations for other immunization programs to catch up from the COVID-19 pandemic or mitigate the impact of future threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisexual people demonstrate higher rates of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in comparison to other groups. This study aimed to explore bisexual people's experiences of sexuality, NSSI and the COVID19 pandemic. Fifteen bisexual people (16–25 years old) with experience of NSSI participated in online qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis was used. Preliminary findings were shared with a subset of participants for member-checking. Participants described experiences of falling between the binary worlds of heterosexuality and homosexuality and described discrimination and invalidation related to this. Lack of access to positive bisexual representation contributed to feelings of self-loathing, with NSSI used to manage emotions or self-punish. The effect of lockdown was not clear cut, depending on personal circumstances and meanings of social interaction for participants. There is a need for greater recognition of significant societal narratives around bisexuality within clinical formulations of mental health difficulties and NSSI within this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third-wave psychological therapies can benefit individuals and families living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To date, little is known about individuals' perceptions and experiences of therapy. This meta-synthesis aimed to capture participants' own reflections of mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies, including potential barriers and facilitators to therapy engagement. Database searches identified 10 independent studies targeting caregivers (Nstudies = 3), dyadic parent-child interventions (Nstudies = 6), or adults with ASD (Nstudies = 1). Studies were subject to quality assessment and thematically analysed. Caregivers highlighted a need to adapt the length and frequency of daily mindfulness practice around busy lifestyles. Adults with ASD also identified therapy barriers, although these data were less robust. Children with ASD focused on therapy benefits. All three participant groups commented on the importance of mindfulness as a method to enhance self-awareness, self-regulation and self-care. Peer support provided in group-based therapy was also seen as beneficial. Future research should examine the application of mindfulness therapies to adults with ASD, with little currently known about this cohort's therapy experiences. Whether traditional mindfulness approaches can be effectively modified to accommodate ongoing, cumulative daily demands these families experience also requires investigation. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their caregivers often experience high levels of anxiety and stress. Mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies can enhance an individual's self-awareness and self-regulation, thereby reducing distress – with benefits extending to families Group-based therapy is an important adjunct to the support of caregivers developing mindfulness-awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's pursuit of global superpower status compels the country to make coordinated efforts across numerous sectors. Global leadership in higher education is one example and provides a case study in how resource support and strategic vision can generate 'quick wins' in reputation and rankings. The ascendancy of Peking University, Tsinghua University and Fudan University, among others, has positioned China to attract top-tier faculty and supports local innovation ecosystems through collaborative research capacity. However, universities with global visibility account for only a fraction of China's university enrollment, and reputational stagnation among universities outside the elite 'C9 League' has implications for regional economic development, geographic diffusion of innovation, and workforce competitiveness. This article offers explanations for why China has not developed a cadre of globally competitive non-elite universities in the same vein as many Western countries. Issues explored include the institutional and political contexts of university governance, national strategic focus on high-visibility institutions, near-exclusive emphasis on KPIs measured by university ranking indices, and concerns about academic freedom and their cooling effects on research and faculty recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran's policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates how countries with pre-existing challenges manage acute crises. Already economically weakened by international sanctions, Iran's government was forced to consider short-term tradeoffs between public health and social stability in pandemic response, with imminent unemployment and food insecurity used to justify a policy pivot from mitigation to economic continuity. This article investigates the policy responses of Iran's government during the crucial first months of the pandemic, using data obtained through interviews structured around SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) and interpreted to elicit insights for policy capacity theory and practice. Explanations for Iran's initially ineffective pandemic response are found to include weakness in economic policy, failure to coordinate public health initiatives, priority of treatment over prevention, insufficient public engagement, and inadequate healthcare facilities. Policy recommendations emerging from the study are comprehensive and coordinated pandemic management efforts, community-based and proactive approaches, targeted economic stimulus, and a clear policy vision for crisis resolution. The discussion integrates policy capacity into explanations and recommendations to illustrate the applied value of the concept in crisis settings characterized by uncertainty and rapid onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal cameras are being used increasingly in the bird-ringing community and preliminary reports suggest they have a wide range of relevant applications. However, there has been little quantitative assessment of these methods. In this study we tested the use of a thermal imager to assess the occupancy of enclosed nests, using nest-box populations of small passerines. Based on a thermal image of each nest box, observers were able to predict nest-box occupancy with a combined success rate of 85.9%. The observers were able to identify when nest boxes contained a heat source relating to an active nest but unable to differentiate between warm clutches and live broods. The age of the brood significantly influenced the predictions, reflecting the limited ability of young broods to maintain their body temperatures independently. There were no significant effects from potential confounding variables relating to solar exposure, nest-box design or ambient temperature, although these may have accounted for a small number of incorrect predictions. Overall, it was found that thermal imagers provide an effective, non-invasive and efficient method for monitoring nest-box occupancy, with inferences about suitability for other types of enclosed nest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research explored the prevalence of stressful events in a forensic hospital setting, and their impact on staff. A systematic review of the literature on responses following exposure to extreme stress comprised 46 articles. This was followed by a Delphi study of professionals based in a forensic hospital (n = 43) to explore views on the factors that affect responses to extreme stress. This comprised three rounds to build consensus. Finally, a study of forensic hospital staff was conducted (n = 153, 47% male) to capture current trauma symptoms. The systematic review indicated three superordinate themes: outcomes adversely impacting staff and patients; personal characteristics moderating the impact of events; and organisational and interpersonal support moderating the impact of events. The Delphi supported these themes and noted the importance of factors external to the workplace and internal factors, such as self-blame. The final study demonstrated how a fifth of the workforce showed at least some trauma symptomology. Those who experienced less burnout reported lower trauma symptoms, while staff who experienced higher levels of secondary trauma at work reported higher levels of trauma symptoms. A higher level of resilience was related to lower levels of trauma symptomology. Findings are discussed in relation to the importance of recognising trauma in staff and implementing strategies to reduce and/or buffer the impact of stress on wellbeing. In doing so, the research presents a new model for consideration and development, the Impact and Amelioration of extreme stress events Model (IA-Model). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding students' post-graduation goals is important because it aids faculty and administrators in course and program design, mentoring, and generally serving students. Using a sample of almost 513,000 undergraduates from more than 600 colleges and universities, we examine goals and plans of international business majors. Students were surveyed near matriculation and graduation. First, responses of international business majors are presented. Then, goals of these students are compared to others, both other business majors and non-business majors. Finally, logistic regression analysis is used to estimate how different the typical goals of international business majors are from other students after controlling for demographics, background, and collegiate experiences. Nine different post-graduation goals are examined, including those pertaining to further education, future job characteristics, travel, personal wealth, and altruistic aspirations. Results indicate that IB students, on average, place a high level of importance on numerous goals, more so than other business students in most cases. The impacts of IB education on student goals are found to vary little across the type of institution attended. Misalignment between IB students' goal prioritization and careers in the field motivates a discussion of areas with potential for improvement in IB programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the interrelationship of style, interpellation and impersonality in the writings of Denise Riley. Part one performs a detailed reading of Riley's essay 'Malediction', focussing on her theory of interpellation and her visceral sense of the materiality of language. It articulates the philosophical stakes of the essay by taking seriously its sustained, playful engagement with Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit, and by emphasising the intrinsically Spinozist and dramaturgical elements of Althusser's theory of interpellation. It also seeks to elucidate the philosophical and political import of Riley's own critical style, which combines Stoicism (an 'ethics' in the broad sense), a materialist philosophy of language, and a distinctive poetics. The second part explores Riley's theory of style and literary composition. It engages with Riley's notions of ventriloquy and autoventriloquy, suggesting that her approach to style tends to stress the writer's guilty susceptibility to words. The final part considers Riley's elegy 'A Part Song' and the fraught manner in which grief accentuates contradictions endemic to style and authenticity alike. It argues that Riley harnesses the tensions of echo and interpellation to produce a poem that functions as much on the level of semi-conscious poetic association as via the interpellative mode of apostrophe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the impacts of COVID-19 on higher education are still unfolding, it is clear that the disruption caused by the pandemic has provided a warrant to re-consider existing teaching and learning practices. We provide a reading on whether existing teaching and learning practices should be retained or whether new practices can and should emerge through the lens of culturally and linguistically diverse migrant and refugee (CALDMR) students. These students already experienced significant educational disadvantage before the pandemic moved teaching and learning online. Drawing on findings from an Australian study that explores the experiences of both university students and staff, we question whether these experiences offer hope for what bell hooks calls engaged pedagogy – as a form of university teaching and learning that is more caring, more student-centred and collaborative, and more exciting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We recently reported an early hospital discharge (EHD) care strategy following intensive acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-like chemotherapy is safe. To evaluate its impact on infectious outcomes, we compared all adults treated from 8/1/2014 to 7/31/2018 discharging within 72 h of completing chemotherapy (EHD) with hospitalized patients (controls) across 354 induction and 259 post-remission cycles. While overall outcomes were similar, gram-positive bacteremias were more common in EHD patients than control (p<.001), although they received fewer days of IV antimicrobials (p<.001). Notably, cumulative infection risks in EHD patients were similar after induction and post-remission therapy. In multivariable analysis, only EHD status was independently associated with risk for gram-positive bacteremia (p=.01), whereas the only independent risk factor for fungal infection was fluconazole (vs. posaconazole) use (p<.001). The observation of increased rates of gram-positive bacteremias with EHD identifies improvements in catheter management as one area to further increase the safety of this care approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global wetland loss has reduced biodiversity and ecosystem services. These declines have inspired many landholders to restore wetlands, but the success of these efforts remains unclear, in part, because quantifying ecosystem services requires diverse methods. Here, we blend participatory mapping and surveys, field measurements and high-resolution models to track ecosystem services from restored wetlands on private land. We ask: 1) What ecosystem services do people perceive from restored wetlands? 2) What modelled/field measured ecosystem services were enhanced through restoration? and 3) How do field measured, modelled and perceived ecosystem services in restored wetlands interact? Participating landholders mapped their restoration project and shared their perceptions of ecosystem services. Next, we modelled ecosystem service changes using the Land Use Capability Indicator (LUCI) model and contrasted these to field measured ecosystem services for each wetland. Landholders perceived ~6.5 services from their restored wetlands. For modelled services, restoration significantly enhanced nitrogen and phosphorous retention. For field-measured services, restoration increased soil organic carbon by ~20%, soil permeability to water by ~27% and native plant species richness by ~15 species, while reducing plant-available phosphorous by ~23%. Correlating across methods revealed that reduced plant-available phosphorus and site age and size were associated with more perceived services, whereas an increase in plant species richness was not a good proxy for gains in measured, modelled or perceived services. Based on the diverse ecosystem services gained, demonstrated by multiple methods, we contend that private wetland restoration can be successful as well as leveraged to meet multiple management and policy objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After some years of poor trade, Birmingham's button-making boomed when gilt buttons became fashionable in the mid-1790s. In this competitive market, disquiet about dishonest trading resulted in legislation to regulate the quality of gilding, but prosecutions for infringement of the Metal Button Act (1796) generated a politico-industrial dispute. Maxine Berg has attributed this to the imposition of controls on dependent sub-contractors by powerful manufacturers like Matthew Boulton. Sources in Birmingham Archives & Heritage, however, reveal the dispute centred on the technical and scientific issues of the accurate application and measurement of gilding, and, contrary to Berg's assessment, was conducted between manufacturers of standing. The article discusses the economic context of the Act, the campaign to secure and implement it, the roles Boulton and others took, and the resulting dispute. It argues that the episode contributes to understanding the role of Birmingham and the west midlands in Britain's industrial enlightenment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]