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Resisting melancholic whiteness in Mohsin Hamid’s The Last White Man
No full textThis article examines the loss of whiteness in Mohsin Hamid’s The Last White Man (2022), in which the white population of an unspecified Euro-American nation turns non-white. It situates the novel in a tradition of speculative political and cultural discourse that invokes the loss of whiteness to explore demographic change. The Last White Man is a science-fiction enaction of contemporary white supremacist dystopian rhetoric known as the Great Replacement conspiracy theory. White supremacists’ “melancholic” fears of “macrodemographic” changes (Feola, 2021) — that white populations will be outnumbered and oppressed by non-white groups — are accelerated in the novel’s macrodermal changes, in which racial transformation is figured as a pandemic affecting only skin colour. The article reads The Last White Man as a critical whiteness text that employs white racial transformation to reveal whiteness as a constructed identity and challenge white supremacy. Hamid depicts a melancholic relationship with whiteness that at first refuses to abandon white supremacy and clings to nostalgia for white purity, before accepting demographic and individual change. His exclusive focus on white characters scrutinizes melancholic whiteness and provokes his largely white readership to imagine undertaking the process of letting go of whiteness. In overcoming white melancholy, Hamid resists reemergent dystopian white supremacist narratives regarding demographic change. In doing so, his outwardly dystopian novel becomes tentatively utopian, ending with a raceless society. Rather than offering a manual for tackling white supremacist politics today, Hamid’s experiment with genre prioritizes the affective life of white supremacy, imagining new structures of feeling beyond racial hierarchies
Lettericity of graphs: an FPT algorithm and a bound on the size of obstructions
No full textLettericity is a graph parameter responsible for many attractive structural properties. In particular, graphs of bounded lettericity have bounded linear clique-width and they are well-quasi-ordered by induced subgraphs. The latter property implies that any hereditary class of graphs of bounded lettericity can be described by finitely many forbidden induced subgraphs. This, in turn, implies, in a non-constructive way, polynomial-time recognition of such classes. However, no constructive algorithms and no specific bounds on the size of forbidden graphs are available up to date. In the present paper, we develop an algorithm that recognizes n-vertex graphs of lettericity at most k in time and show that any minimal graph of lettericity more than k has at most vertices
‘Just part of the job’ – understanding work-related injuries and safety culture in companion animal veterinary practices
No full textObjectives: To examine the prevalence and types of work-related injuries in companion animal practices, explore the context of their occurrence and the behaviours of injured persons. Methods: A mixed-methods analysis of a cross-sectional online survey of UK employees of a consolidated group of veterinary practices. Results: Of 647 respondents, 77.6% experienced a work-related injury during their career. In the previous year, 60.2% of veterinary nurses and 58.3% of veterinarians were injured, most frequently in consultation rooms, prep areas, kennels and reception. Animal-related injuries were the most prevalent injury type. Injuries frequently occurred during cat restraint, anaesthetic recovery and clinical examinations. Needlestick injuries made up 15.8% of veterinary injuries. 16.3% of injured nurses and 19.4% of injured vets attended hospital. 34.3% of nurses and 25.1% of vets needed more than a week to recover from their injuries. Fewer than 10% took time off work, often due to a sense of duty, the ability to manage a reduced workload or simply wanting to “get on with it”. Most injuries to vets went unreported, due to perceived time pressures or the belief that the injury was minor. Around half adjusted their behaviour post-injury, becoming more cautious or changing handling techniques. Clinical significance: This study reveals a high rate of work-related injuries in companion animal practices. A poor injury culture, marked by presenteeism, often downplaying risks, and hindering safety. To reduce injuries, a shift towards shared responsibility and reflective learning is needed, driven by strong leadership and open communication
Functional and structural biomarkers linked to diabetic retinal neurodegeneration in pre-clinical and early diabetic retinopathy
No full textBackground: Diabetic retinal neurodegeneration (DRN) is increasingly recognised as an early and progressive neuronal dysfunction. Despite emerging therapeutic approaches, there are no standardised biomarkers. We aim to investigate functional and structural biomarkers of DRN in people with diabetes (PWD) with no or early diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: Functional measures included handheld radial shape discrimination (hRSD), near and distant visual acuity (VA). Structural changes were evaluated using optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived retinal thicknesses (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) subfields). Mean thicknesses of the inner and outer ETDRS subfields were averaged to derive inner and outer ring estimates. Pearson’s correlation assessed associations between normally distributed variables. Group differences were analysed using Student’s t-test for continuous data, Chi-squared or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables, and one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc tests for multiple groups. Results: The study included a single eye from 50 healthy participants (HP; Group 1, 55 ± 14y), 26 PWD with no DR (Group 2, 55 ± 14y), and 46 with early DR (Group 3, 57 ± 17y). hRSD and VA were worse in Groups 1 to 3 (all p < 0.001). Worse function (measured via hRSD) was associated with inner retinal thinning (p < 0.05). Compared to HP, PWD (Groups 2 and 3) showed thinning of the total retina (most subfields), retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL; outer ETDRS ring), ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL) in the inner ring, and outer nuclear layer (ONL) in the central subfield (CSF) (p < 0.05). Group 3 also showed GCL and IPL thinning (outer ring) (p < 0.05). In 23 PWD followed over 205 ± 109 days, GCL, IPL, and inner nuclear layer (INL) thicknesses decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Functional and structural changes occur early in DR. hRSD and retinal thicknesses are promising biomarkers for DRN. Longitudinal data suggest DRN to be progressive. Clinical trial number: Not applicable
Disentangling the relationship between glucose, insulin and brain health: A UK Biobank study
No full textBackground: Glycaemic traits are associated with poorer brain health and dementia risk. Recent advances in genetic instruments for specific glycaemic markers enable an in-depth investigation of the likely nature of associations and underlying mechanisms between diabetes-related mechanisms and brain health and dementia. Methods: We used two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) in the UK Biobank (UKB) (maximum N = 357 883 White British, mean age 56.9 years, 54% female) applying inverse-variance weighted MR as our main estimator alongside MR-Egger, weighted median estimator (WME) and Mendelian Randomization Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) as sensitivity tests. Instruments were 53 insulin resistance, 109 fasting glucose, 48 fasting insulin and 15 2-h post-load glucose genetic variants with variant–outcome effects estimated adjusting for 10 PCs. We checked core MR assumptions and sought to replicate results in an independent Alzheimer's dementia genome-wide association study (GWAS). Results: In UKB, higher 2-h post-load glucose was associated with a 69% increased Alzheimer's dementia risk (odds ratio 1.69 [95% confidence interval 1.38–2.07]), though this did not replicate in an independent GWAS. Fasting insulin, fasting glucose and postprandial glucose did not influence total brain, hippocampal or white-matter hyperintensity volumes. Discussion: The association between elevated 2-h post-load glucose and increased Alzheimer's risk supports a potential role for postprandial hyperglycaemia in dementia. The lack of associations between fasting or postprandial glucose and hippocampal, total-brain or white matter hyperintensity volumes suggests this risk may operate independently of gross structural atrophy. Conclusion: Genetically proxied postprandial hyperglycaemia contributes to increased Alzheimer's risk in mid-life, warranting replication in other populations and ancestries to confirm and clarify underlying mechanisms
Impact of invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) on mosquito abundance and plant-feeding behavior in an arboviral endemic region in Kenya
No full textBackground: Invasive alien species (IAS) are rapidly altering ecosystems, undermining biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and interspecies interactions. Although IAS ecological and economic effects are well recognised, their impact on mosquito populations and the dynamics of infectious diseases is poorly understood. Plant-derived sugars are crucial for mosquito biology, supporting nectarivorous male survival and enhancing female blood feeding. Methods: In this study, we investigated how Parthenium hysterophorus, a rapidly proliferating invasive weed, shapes the population structure and nectar-feeding behaviour of the mosquito vector in the Rift Valley area of Kenya. Across six villages, three heavily infested with P. hysterophorus and three uninfested controls, we collected 48,489 mosquitoes representing 35 species from two subfamilies (Anophelinae and Culicinae) and nine genera, including Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, Mansonia, and Coquillettidia. Mosquito plant feeding was confirmed using the anthrone test, and the ingested flora were identified via DNA barcoding of chloroplast markers, specifically matK, rbcL, and ITS2. Result: Mosquito abundance was significantly higher in Parthenium-infested villages, particularly during the dry season (p < 0.001), despite similar species diversity across sites. Medically important vectors, including Mansonia africana, Coquillettidia metallicus, Culex pipiens, and Anopheles funestus, were notably more common in invaded habitats. Overall fructose positivity was significantly high in mosquitoes from Parthenium sites (p = 0.046), with females showing especially higher rates (28.1% vs 18.0%; p = 0.0038). DNA barcoding indicated a clear feeding preference for P. hysterophorus among Coq. metallicus, Mn. africana, and An. funestus, alongside other plants such as Lantana camara. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that P. hysterophorus has a notable impact on mosquito population composition and stimulates sugar-feeding behavior among important vector species. This IAS acts as a sustainable nutritional source, potentially enhancing mosquito survival, extending vector activity in dry seasons, and heightening the risk of arboviral disease transmission. The findings highlight the critical need to integrate invasive plant management within comprehensive mosquito control strategies
Between-country differences in the psychosocial profiles of British cattle farmers
Full text linkBackground: Psychosocial factors are important for the uptake of livestock disease control measures by farmers and can differ by region, which would have implications for disease control nationally. Methods: We investigated altruism, trust, psychological proximity and the COM-B behaviour change framework in a survey of 475 British cattle farmers in 2020. Using regression models, we studied associations between the country farmers lived in and psychosocial and behaviour change factors. Results: There were many between-country differences in farmers' psychosocial and COM-B profiles. Accounting for multiple tests, Scottish cattle farmers reported higher trust in governmental judgements for disease control and greater social opportunity to control disease than English cattle farmers. Limitations: There were relatively low numbers of respondents from Scotland and Wales. As such, the results should be interpreted with caution. Northern Irish farmers could not be included in the analyses as there were too few responses. Conclusion: Cattle farmers differed in their psychosocial profiles by country. Our sample of Scottish farmers reported higher trust in, and felt better supported by, government in the context of disease control than the English farmers, which could be due to different disease control approaches between devolved governments. Understanding between-country differences in farmer psychosocial attributes has implications for animal health governance and approaches to disease control
Strategic matching for battery swapping service: Balancing customer satisfaction and resource utilization
Full text linkAs electric vehicles (EVs) thrive, battery swapping is increasingly recognized as a faster alternative to conventional plug-in charging services for such vehicles. However, the adoption of battery swapping poses distinct challenges. For instance, the owner of a new car might receive a degraded battery at a battery swap station, leading to customer dissatisfaction. In addition, assigning new batteries to older cars leads to under-utilization of battery resources and potential loss. In this paper, we explore a battery matching strategy aiming to better match batteries to vehicles. We develop a two-period game-theoretical model that takes into account the uncertainty of customer arrivals and the battery swapping service provider’s evolving understanding of this market demand. We show that implementing a battery matching strategy can directly boost a service provider’s profitability by enhancing the accuracy of battery allocation, although the service provider might not always adopt it. By updating the understanding of customers’ arrival rate, the service provider might sometimes adopt a matching strategy and subsequently abandon it. The acquisition of new batteries tends to hinder the adoption of a battery matching strategy, whereas battery aging and service rate improvements tend to promote it. We further indicate that if battery matching is adopted, the service provider tends to reduce its investment in battery maintenance and cut back on new battery purchases. Interestingly, if the service provider initially invests in battery maintenance technologies, the adoption of battery matching in subsequent period might counterintuitively undermine the service provider’s expected revenue. The findings provide battery swapping service providers with insights on balancing operational behavioral and market factors to optimize battery allocation decisions and enhance customer satisfaction and promote widespread adoption, contributing to social benefits
Not all success is created equal: The innovation costs of extreme success
No full textCorporate ideation systems are increasingly used to harness employee creativity for innovation. Within these systems, serial ideators play a central role by consistently supplying new ideas. While prior research has emphasized the benefits of past success in fostering future innovation, it often treats all successes as functionally equivalent. In this study, we adopt a more nuanced perspective by distinguishing between ordinary and extreme success, and theorize that extreme success, but not ordinary success, undermines innovation outcomes. Drawing on a four-year archival dataset encompassing 1145 ideas submitted by 236 serial ideators within the internal ideation system of a global automotive firm, we find that past extreme success significantly reduces the likelihood of subsequent idea implementation. We further demonstrate that this effect is driven by two mediating mechanisms: (i) reduced team idea development and (ii) inflated self-perceived social status. In two follow-up experiments, we provide causal evidence that extreme success influences the two mediators. Together, our research advances prior work by conceptually and empirically distinguishing between ordinary and extreme success in ideation systems and uncovering the specific mechanisms through which extreme success, unlike ordinary success, can hinder subsequent innovation outcomes. We discuss several implications for managers seeking to foster sustained employee creativity and innovation through digital ideation
Predicting the success of local gatherings: A comparison of organizer- and participant-side success in Meetup
No full textThis study examines the dynamics of local gatherings facilitated by Event-Based Social Networking (EBSN) platforms, an increasingly prominent mode of social interaction in urban settings. Although EBSN platforms are widely used to organize local events, little research has investigated the factors that determine their success across diverse urban environments or how socio-spatial contexts shape participation. To address this gap, we analyze a large-scale dataset of more than one million events across the 500 largest U.S. cities from Meetup.com by integrating geospatial, community-level, and event-specific features to predict event success. We develop models that assess event success from both participant and organizer perspectives. The results show that participant engagement is driven primarily by community characteristics, whereas organizer outcomes are shaped by a broader mix of features. Consistent patterns in event category preferences, such as the high participation observed in fitness-related events, indicate the influence of socio-cultural characteristics. Moreover, city-level differences underscore the importance of local context, as success rates vary independently of population size. These findings not only align with social theories on urban interaction and participation but also offer actionable insights for platform designers, community organizers, and policymakers aiming to foster local engagement. Ultimately, the study emphasizes the need to account for socio-spatial heterogeneity when designing digital systems that support urban community life
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