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Novelty Fades: Science Fiction and Posthumanism
No full textThis thesis contends that Critical Posthumanism and Science Fiction studies are symbiotic academic disciplines, which both stand to benefit significantly from critical approaches that accurately recognise their dialogic resonances. It contends that the posthuman qualities of SF texts are manifest rhetorically, rather than simply within their narrative schema. The Introduction argues that Posthumanist disciplines often undervalue SF texts, as a result of a common misconception that the genre is insufficiently posthuman. Likewise, SF critics have long disregarded texts’ mundane elements in lieu of an eschatological focus upon their novel technologies. As I proceed to outline, a new posthumanistic conception of the internal mechanics of SF is not only overdue, but also key to conceptualising our Anthropocene epoch.
The thesis therefore proceeds to provide demonstrative posthumanistic readings of works by a number of canonical SF authors. Chapter 1 inaugurates this project in practice by undertaking a textual analysis of a series frequently regarded as the keystone of Golden Age SF. The diegetic metaverse established within Isaac Asimov’s Foundation and Robot stories, I argue, comprises a future history which overtly gestures towards the profoundly everyday character of our posthuman futures. By taking notice of the banal elements of Asimov’s narratives, we newly discern their futuristic extrapolation of everyday life. Meanwhile, Chapter 2 examines the repetitive qualities of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Hainish Cycle. Taking the series as an exemplar of New Wave SF, it explores the pluralistic ways in which Le Guin’s seminal series gestures towards the primacy of daily life to the posthuman. In addition to textual analysis, this chapter undertakes a concordance analysis of the series, further demonstrating the manner in which its data prove just as vital as its nova.
Moving towards a consideration of contemporary written SF, Chapter 3 analyses the posthuman qualities of Kim Stanley Robinson’s oeuvre. The palimpsestuous qualities of Robinson’s future histories, in particular, gesture towards his mundanely-embedded figuration of the posthuman future. In the process of delineating the Anthropocenic interventions of Robinson’s novels, the chapter concludes with a comparative analysis of variant forms of his omnibus Green Earth, evidencing the penetration of environmental nova into our everyday lives. Finally, Chapter 4 explores the repetitive schema of two prominent televisual SF texts, claiming that their participatory qualities significantly alter the textual positionality of their audiences. This chapter begins by analysing the Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat eras of the BBC television series Doctor Who, before undertaking an autoethnography of the videogame Outer Wilds. In a science-fictional fashion, the Conclusion of the thesis underlines its ecocritical value for a world whose near future will be increasingly devastated by starkly novel climactic phenomena
Always different, always the same: Critical essays on The Fall
No full textThis chapter outlines experiments with the Wmatrix software programme in identifying significant semantic categories and thematic patterns in a corpus of the complete Fall lyrics, from their inception in 1977 to the death of frontman Mark E Smith in 2018. The 84,703 words is edited down to 60,720 words to remove repetition, and researcher intuition is balanced against the results generated by the software. The findings, for instance, that the words 'man' and 'head' and the semantic category 'Anatomy and Physiology' are deemed highly significant, open up pathways for further investigation into one of the most prolific and dense lyrical outputs in modern popular music history
Medication adherence among patients with heart failure in Nigeria: from the patients’ and healthcare professionals’ perspectives
Get PDFIntroduction
Although the efficacious pharmacotherapy advancements in the treatment of Heart Failure (HF) have been widely documented, mortality rates and hospitalisation rates among patients with HF remain high. An important reason for recurrent hospitalisation is patients’ nonadherence to self-care recommendations. Globally, medication nonadherence is a public health concern and a common phenomenon amongst patients with HF. This represents a continuous burden for patients, their relatives and the health-care system. The overall aim of this research is to develop an in-depth understanding of the issue of medication adherence among patients with HF in Nigeria by integrating the perspectives of both the patients and the healthcare providers.
Methods
Firstly, a review of empirical literature/qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted to explore the facilitators and barriers to adherence in heart failure. Secondly, a qualitative method by the means of in-depth, semi-structured interviews was utilised in exploring the perspectives of the patients, alongside their caregivers and their healthcare professionals regarding the factors they perceive are barriers and facilitators of medication adherence. The lived experience of patients living with HF was also explored. The results of which are discussed in two chapters. By the means of purposive sampling, a total of 65 participants (45 patients alongside their caregivers and 20 healthcare professionals) who met the inclusion criteria participated in this study. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed by thematic content analysis.
Results The rate of medication adherence was suboptimal (33%). The main barriers identified by the patients and their healthcare professionals include financial constraints, influence of religious beliefs, and culture, patients’ attitude and behaviour towards their medications, knowledge deficit, forgetfulness, interaction with the healthcare system among others. Experiencing side effects was a barrier identified by the patients but not the healthcare professionals. The key facilitators of medication adherence identified were forming a routine, support from family and friends, health education and counselling, and insight about the condition, medications prescribed and the repercussion of medication nonadherence. The strategies to improve medication adherence were also identified.
Conclusion This study provides clear evidence that the factors influencing medication adherence are multiple and interrelated. As the barriers of medication adherence are multiple, solutions/ interventions to improve adherence should be holistic, multifaceted, and patient-centered in order to be effective
The need for empathy in school leadership
Get PDFHughes et al. (2005) state that empathy is an essential skill for leadership in any field of leadership. This paper reviews literature on the importance of empathy by exploring the applications of benefits in other professions such as nursing; transferrable lessons can be learned. For school leaders, having an emotionally intelligent understanding of what they need to perform successfully can also support how they manage their team to bring out the best in all team members. Finally, this paper aims to make recommendations for governing bodies and headteachers to identify what empathetic leadership might look like and how headteachers with the right empathy skills can be specified for future recruitment
Educators' experiences and perspectives of child weight discussions with parents in primary school settings.
Get PDFBackground: The role of schools in addressing rising childhood obesity levels has been acknowledged, and numerous diet- and physical activity-related interventions exist. Aside from formal interventions, opportunistic parent-educator conversations about child weight can arise, particularly in primary school settings, yet little is known about how useful these are. This study aimed to understand the utility of child weight related conversations with parents through exploring educators' experiences and perspectives.
Methods: This qualitative study consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted with primary school teaching staff in the United Kingdom (N = 23), recruited through purposive and subsequent snowball sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Participants identified opportunities and need for child weight discussions in schools. However, conversations were prevented by the indirect and sensitive nature of conversations, and educators' professional identity beliefs. Using pre-existing face-to-face opportunities, good parent-teacher relationships and holistic approaches to child health and wellbeing were reported as important in optimising these conversations.
Conclusions: Whilst educator-parent child weight discussions are necessary, discussions are highly challenging, with contradictory views on responsibility sometimes resulting in avoidance. Educators' roles should be clarified, and communication training tailored to increase teacher confidence and skills. Current social distancing will likely reduce opportunistic encounters, highlighting a need to further improve communication routes.Academy of Medical Sciences; Grant(s): HOP001\106
Phylogenetic analyses of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) using collagen type I protein sequences
Get PDFRay-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) are the largest and most diverse group of vertebrates, comprising over half of all living vertebrate species. Phylogenetic relationships between ray-finned fishes have historically pivoted on the study of morphology, which has notoriously failed to resolve higher order relationships, such as within the percomorphs. More recently, comprehensive genomic analyses have provided further resolution of actinopterygian phylogeny, including higher order relationships. Such analyses are rightfully regarded as the ‘gold standard’ for phylogenetics. However, DNA retrieval requires modern or well-preserved tissue and is less likely to be preserved in archaeological or fossil specimens. By contrast, some proteins, such as collagen, are phylogenetically informative and can survive into deep time. Here, we test the utility of collagen type I amino acid sequences for phylogenetic estimation of ray-finned fishes. We estimate topology using Bayesian approaches and compare the congruence of our estimated trees with published genomic phylogenies. Furthermore, we apply a Bayesian molecular clock approach and compare estimated divergence dates with previously published genomic clock analyses. Our collagen-derived trees exhibit 77% of node positions as congruent with recent genomic-derived trees, with the majority of discrepancies occurring in higher order node positions, almost exclusively within the Percomorpha. Our molecular clock trees present divergence times that are fairly comparable with genomic-based phylogenetic analyses. We estimate the mean node age of Actinopteri at ∼293 million years (Ma), the base of Teleostei at ∼211 Ma and the radiation of percomorphs beginning at ∼141 Ma (∼350 Ma, ∼250–283 Ma and ∼120–133 Ma in genomic trees, respectively). Finally, we show that the average rate of collagen (I) sequence evolution is 0.9 amino acid substitutions for every million years of divergence, with the α3 (I) sequence evolving the fastest, followed by the α2 (I) chain. This is the quickest rate known for any vertebrate group. We demonstrate that phylogenetic analyses using collagen type I amino acid sequences generate tangible signals for actinopterygians that are highly congruent with recent genomic-level studies. However, there is limited congruence within percomorphs, perhaps due to clade-specific functional constraints acting upon collagen sequences. Our results provide important insights for future phylogenetic analyses incorporating extinct actinopterygian species via collagen (I) sequencing
Constructing and conceptualizing suicide and self-harm
Get PDFThis is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in [Contemporary social problems in the UK: A comprehensive overview] on [30/09/2022], available online: https://www.routledge.com/Contemporary-Social-Problems-in-the-UK-A-Comprehensive-Overview/Stanley/p/book/9780367764227The chapter on ‘’ Contextualising suicide and self-harm’ ’provides an overview of suicide and self-harm, with particular focus to social theory, epidemiology, societal attitudes, law and ethics, and management strategies. Suicide and self-harm rates, and are explored from a national and international perspectives. The authors examine self-harm and suicide grounded in theory and practice, taking account of both societal and individual domains. The aim is to explore the conceptualisation of suicide and self-harm and relate it to the evidence base. The chapter commences with suicide models and aims to equip the reader with a framework to explore this sensitive topic; Durkheim is used to allow readers to challenge their knowledge and attitudes.
Suicide and self-harm statistics are reported before offering some context to them. Suicide is a human tragedy and no amount of theories, statistics or facts will change its far-reaching impact. We have attempted to address the consequences of self-harm and suicide on the individual and their family unit. Media portrayal, assessment, prevention strategies, legislation and knowledge and attitudes to suicide are explored
European Fascist Movements: A Sourcebook
Get PDFThis is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in [European Fascist movements: A sourcebook] on [31/05/2023], available online: https://www.routledge.com/European-Fascist-Movements-A-Sourcebook/Clark-Grady/p/book/9780367262860This volume offers a fresh and original collection of primary sources on interwar European fascist movements. These sources reflect new approaches to fascism that emphasise the practical, transnational experience of fascism as a social movement, contextualising ideological statements within the historical moments they were produced.
Divided into eighteen geographically based chapters, contributors draw together the history of different fascist and right-wing movements, selecting sources that reflect themes such as transnational ties, aesthetics, violence, female activism and the instrumentalisation of race, gender and religion. Each chapter provides a chronological, narrative account of movements interspersed with primary sources, from political speeches, police reports internal movement circulars and articles through to oral history, songs and music, photographs, artworks, poetry, and anti-fascist sources. The volume as a whole introduces readers to the diversity of fascist groups across the continent, demonstrating how fascist groups were constituted through social bonds, rather than around fixed ideologies, as such it captures the inexperience and ad-hoc character of early fascist groups.
With an introduction that explains the volume’s theoretical approach and elaborates on the chronology of European fascism, European Fascist Movements is the perfect sourcebook for any student of Modern European history and politics
What Business Managers Should Know About Quantum Computing?
Get PDFBusiness management requires rapid reactions to the changes of business environment effectively. Given quantum computing’s game-changing power will bring huge transformation, therefore managers should be aware of how to take the advantage of quantum computing and recognize its potential impacts to the business world. In fact, quantum computing will deliver exponential advantages for various problems, such as factoring very large numbers within very short time, therefore it has dramatic impacts on existing business issues, such as cybersecurity practice, business optimization, investment decision making, search from unstructured data, etc. However, although the topic is emerging, only very limited studies have been conducted with specific focus on the potential impacts of quantum computing on business management. Accordingly, this study was conducted to fill this knowledge gap. In this study, we began with analyzing quantum related investment markets, trends in scholarly publication and keyword search on the internet about quantum computing. In addition, we provided an introduction on what is quantum computing and discussed related quantum algorithms. Finally, we summarized four major potential applications of quantum computing in business management. Hopefully this paper can serve as a reference for researchers,
industrial participators and policy makers engaged in future research or practical applications on related topics
A systematic review of the qualitative research examining stakeholders’ perceptions of the characteristics of helpful sport and exercise psychology practitioners
Get PDFThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology on 29/11/2022, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2022.2145575Research indicates sport psychology practitioners vary in their abilities to help athletes. Understanding the characteristics of helpful practitioners can inform applied sport psychology training. We reviewed qualitative research on stakeholders’ perceptions of the characteristics of practitioners. The electronic and manual search yielded 33 studies, with extracted data being subject to an abductive analysis. We also critically appraised the studies according to criteria listed by the Cochrane Collaboration. Results indicated that stakeholders perceived that helpful practitioners were able to (a) build rapport or interpersonal bonds with athletes, (b) develop real relationships based on openness and realistic perceptions, (c) inspire hope and suitable expectations, (d) promote engagement in the change process, and (e) operate well in the contexts where clients are located. The critical appraisal indicated that the studies provide an informed representation of stakeholders’ perceptions, but also where research may improve, such as considering the researcher-participant relationship. The review points to avenues of future research, such as experiments testing if the characteristics stakeholders believe describe helpful practitioners lead to better client outcomes. The current findings can also inform the training, supervision, and continued professional development of trainees and practitioners
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