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Thinking through payment in fieldwork: Changing the narrative about money and reciprocity
No full textEthnographic research has long illuminated diverse economic relations. However, there has been little attention to one economic relation that ethnography itself often relies on: payment in fieldwork. Even if thinking through reciprocity is increasingly important within anthropological discussion of research ethics and anthropology’s colonial legacies, the particularities of monetary exchange often remain hidden – or a taboo. With fieldwork traditionally relying on long-term intimate relationships that are often idealized within anthropology, the implication is that the involvement of money would taint ethnographic interactions. Yet as anthropologists it is our job to pay attention to taboos and unpack them. Given ethnographic knowledge is always contextual, this aspect of context must be addressed. We aim to advance critical discussion on the implications of payment in fieldwork. We argue that such discussion should be part of equitable ethnographic research practice and opens theoretical space to engage with research participants’ expectations towards monetary payment
Environmental Uncertainty and Corporate Bankruptcy Risk: Insights from China
Get PDFAs the world is facing various uncertainties and conflicts, this study aims to explore the impact of environmental uncertainty on corporate bankruptcy risk. We also investigate whether this relationship is impacted by regional differences in China, differences in ESG performance, and the gender diversity of the board. Using an extensive sample of listed Chinese firms from 2010 to 2022, we find that the risk of corporate bankruptcy is higher in the presence of higher environmental uncertainty. In terms of regional differences, compared to the Western region of China, the corporate bankruptcy risk of firms in the Central and Eastern regions is lower, under the influence of environmental uncertainty. Interestingly, given the gender diversity of the executive board, our results show that female directors' participation does not reduce a firm's bankruptcy risk in the presence of environmental uncertainty. However, a higher environment, social and governance (ESG) score mitigates bankruptcy risk to a greater extent for firms above the median ESG level. Findings from this study have significant contributions and implications for the academic literature. In particular, the study expands on existing debates on environmental uncertainty and fills a research gap in bankruptcy risk. Moreover, by providing evidence that the region in which a firm is headquartered influences risk, the study contributes to practice and offers important insights for management/policymakers
Extracellular ATP and innate immune cells
No full textThe innate immune system comprises multiple cell types involved in many functions, including phagocytosis of foreign material and organisms, secretion of mediators to orchestrate the immune response, and antimicrobial killing mechanisms. Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (eATP) is a well-known danger signal in the body, alerting innate immune cells to damage, and this is sensed by a multitude of P2 receptors from the P2X and P2Y subclasses. In this chapter, we review what is known about the P2 receptors expressed on monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, and mast cells, and how eATP can regulate their main functional responses. We discuss key signaling events modulated by eATP that lead to activation of inflammatory pathways, and how this impacts inflammatory diseases
Folate and B12 status in women during British Army basic training: a prospective cohort study exploring implications for endurance performance and bone density and metabolism
No full textThis study investigated changes in serum folate and B12, and associations with endurance performance and bone outcomes, in women during military training. Women (n = 137) had serum folate and B12, haematological markers, and endurance performance (2.4 km run) measured at the start (week 1) and end (week 13) of British Army basic training. Whole-body areal bone mineral density and markers of bone metabolism were measured at week 1. Training decreased serum folate (mean change [95% CI], −2.3 [−3.0, −1.6] nmol∙L -1, p < 0.001), B12 (−16 [−32, 0] pmol∙L -1, p = 0.042), haemoglobin (−0.7 [−0.9, −0.5] g∙dL -1, p < 0.001), and red blood cell (RBC) count (−0.2 [−0.3, −0.2] × 10^9∙L -1, p < 0.001), but had no effect on mean corpuscular volume (p = 0.438) or erythrocyte distribution width (p = 0.088). There was no association between serum folate, serum B12, haemoglobin, or RBC count with run time (p ≥ 0.518). Serum B12 was not associated with areal bone mineral density or bone metabolism at week 1 (p ≥ 0.152). Higher serum folate was associated with lower plasma c-telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen (standardised β [95% CI] = −0.31 [−0.48, −0.15], p < 0.001), but not whole-body bone mineral density or plasma procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (p ≥ 0.152). Serum folate and B12 decreased after military training in women, resulting in a high prevalence of folate deficiencies at the end of training. Low serum folate may contribute to increased bone resorption, the implications of which are unclear
The impact of Ulva prolifera green tide on the diatom-dinoflagellate taxa in the Southern Yellow Sea, China
No full textMicroalgal taxa distribution trends of diatom dominance, dinoflagellate dominance, and dinoflagellate-to-diatom succession have been observed in the southern, middle, and northern green tide areas, respectively, during Ulva prolifera outbreaks in the Southern Yellow Sea. However, little is known about the interactions between macroalgal and microalgal taxa associated with biogeochemical processes. Focusing on the impact of the Ulva spp. on microalgal communities, we constructed a Nutrient-Ulva-Microalgae-Detritus (NUMAD) model using ship-based mesocosm culture experiments. Culture experiments and the NUMAD model revealed higher dynamic rates of nutrient uptake and growth of U. prolifera than microalgae under oligotrophic conditions, consistent with the R strategy for diatoms with sufficient ambient nutrition. There is an ecological niche overlap between U. prolifera and diatom taxa, which makes the succession from diatom taxa to dinoflagellate taxa in the macro-microalgae co-cultural systems. We demonstrated that diatoms exceeding dinoflagellates with R strategy and ecological niche overlap compete against U. prolifera in the initial stage of the green tide, while dinoflagellates exceeding diatoms with K strategy and ecological niche differences compete against U. prolifera in the expanded stages of the green tide. This study provides new insights into the succession of macro-microalgae and a scientific basis for the mitigation of Ulva spp. green tides in the Yellow Sea
Cultural fire regime in the Comiteca Tojolabal Plateau, Chiapas, Mexico
Get PDFBackground: Climate change, public policies, and deterritorialization have altered cultural regimes that have historically guided the use of fire as part of productive and community practices. In the region known as the Comiteca Tojolabal Plateau, in Chiapas, Mexico, these regimes refer to the way in which fire is used in small farming communities and indigenous territories for productive and cultural activities, aimed at reproducing collective life according to community values and interests. This study presents a comprehensive approach to the cultural regime of fire, based on ethnographic research that included semi-structured interviews, life stories, focus groups, walking transects, social mapping exercises, and participatory observation. Based on cultural knowledge as an analytical category, local ways of understanding the cultural regimes of fire are analyzed. Results: The findings show an adaptive cultural management of the territory based on the knowledge derived from the historical experience of territoriality itself, providing guidelines and tools for the most effective management of fire in the territory. Conclusions: The fire regime must be understood as a component of a pyrobiocultural framework, where fire articulates relationships between nature, culture, and territory over time, integrating its symbolic and identity dimensions. The conceptual analysis of cultural fire regimes integrates the sociocultural cognitive dimension and the historical processes that have shaped them. Generalized policies of colonization and exclusion of fire have eradicated or weakened these ways of territorializing spaces, with effects during times of climate crisis
Working with an online artificial partner enhances implicit and reduces explicit sense of agency
Get PDFA “sense of agency” is the feeling that one is the cause of events in the world. The presence of others has been shown to create a diffusion of responsibility and thus reduce individuals’ explicit ratings of control. This notion has recently been conceptualised as “interfered agency”. The current study investigated both explicit and implicit measures of agency in an interfered agency paradigm. In the two online experiments, we showed that when being induced to feel that they were working with an artificial virtual agent who could potentially act in a shared task, participants felt less control i.e., explicit measure. We also found greater temporal binding (an implicit measure) implying a stronger sense of agency; that is, the opposite pattern of results compared with the explicit measure. Across the two experiments conducted online, we demonstrated that these effects were due to the implied ability for the partner to act and not an effect of social presence per se. We propose that explicit measures of agency reflect the conscious attribution of responsibility, while implicit measures reflect the strength of the representation of the causal links between action and effect. These data reinforce recent theoretical developments in our understanding of the sense of agency and social agency when working with an artificial partner
Self-reported initiation apathy is related to worse quality of life in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
No full textObjective: Apathy is the most prevalent behavioral impairment or difficulty for people with ALS (pwALS), with Initiation apathy (a lack of motivation for self-generation of thoughts and/or actions) the most common subtype. Self-rated or self-perceived quality of life (sQoL) is impacted for pwALS, but the relationship to apathy subtypes is unknown. The aim was to explore the relationship between sQoL domains and apathy in pwALS. Methods: 32 pwALS were recruited and completed self-rated measures of apathy (Dimensional Apathy Scale), depression, anxiety, and emotional lability. The ALS-specific QoL short-form instrument was used to measure QoL. Cognitive functioning and functional disability were measured. Exploratory, comparative, and predictive multiple hierarchical regression analyses were performed. Results: Initiation apathy was the most common apathy subtype at 37.5% (N = 12). PwALS with Initiation apathy had higher depressive symptoms (p <.05, d = 1.11 large effect) and lower cognitive functioning (p <.05, d = 0.76 medium effect) than those without apathy. PwALS with Initiation apathy had significantly worse sQoL in domains of interaction with people and the environment (p <.05, d = 0.92, large effect) and negative emotions (p <.05, d = 0.80, large effect) than those without apathy. Regression analysis showed Initiation apathy was a significant negative predictor of the sQoL domain of interaction with people and the environment (beta =-.20, p <.01), controlling for confounders (functional disability, depression, cognitive functioning). Conclusions: Initiation apathy was associated with QoL domains of interaction with people and the environment, from the perspective of the pwALS. This emphasizes the importance of self-rating or self-perception for clinical and researcher assessment of apathy and QoL for pwALS
The leisure crafting intervention: Effects on work and non-work outcomes and the moderating role of age
No full textLeisure crafting (i.e., the proactive pursuit of leisure activities targeted at goal setting, learning, and human connection) enhances people’s lives. Because employees are more than just workers, this study examines whether leisure crafting not only improves non-work outcomes but also spills over to benefit work, particularly for older employees. We conducted an online leisure crafting intervention among working adults, to examine its effects on non-work benefits (meaning in life, need satisfaction, subjective well-being, and sense of community), work benefits (meaning at work, employee creativity, and work engagement), and the moderating role of age. A 5-week randomized controlled trial compared our intervention comprising 196 participants against a passive control group comprising 266 participants. Analyses revealed that the intervention group experienced a greater increase in leisure crafting (i.e., the manipulation check was significant), employee creativity and meaning at work. In addition, the intervention positively impacted affective well-being but only for participants older than 61 years. The findings suggest that leisure crafting has the potential to positively affect people’s work lives and can serve as an effective organizational tool to help older employees sustain satisfactory affective well-being
Therapeutic Virtual Reality in Rheumatology: A Narrative Review
No full textTherapeutic virtual reality (VR) is an evolving digital health technology with the potential to address complex, multidimensional symptoms across chronic diseases. In rheumatology, pervasive symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue and fear of movement remain substantial despite conventional therapies. VR offers a unique opportunity to deliver therapeutic content through immersive, engaging experiences that can address a wide range of clinical and psychological needs. Its capacity for personalization, interactivity and remote accessibility makes it a promising non-pharmacological tool for supporting self-management and expanding access to care in the home setting. This structured narrative review aims to describe the current literature on immersive therapeutic VR across a broad spectrum of rheumatological conditions, including chronic low back pain, chronic neck pain, complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and others. The review explores a range of VR interventions, from embodiment and sensorimotor training to attention modulation and guided meditation. It also examines study design characteristics and highlights methodological limitations. By identifying current trends, gaps and challenges, this article provides a foundation for future research and guides the development of clinically meaningful, scalable and accessible immersive VR therapeutics in rheumatology