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Aminoglycoside/Hexadecanoic Acid Complex Lamellar Core Nanoparticles
No full textAn aminoglycoside, tobramycin sulfate (TbS), was complexed with hexadecanoic acid (HdA), resulting in a TbS/HdA complex with a repeat unit of 5.3 nm of a lamellar nanostructure. The nanometer-sized TbS/HdA particles were produced using poloxamer 188 as a dispersing agent. The particles were agglomerate-free with sizes in the range of 90–450 nm. The particle size was controlled by optimizing the homogenization conditions and the concentration of poloxamer-188. The lamellar nanostructure of the TbS/HdA complex was retained in the nanoparticle cores, even after the rigorous homogenization step. These core–shell-type nanoparticles were called lamellosomes because each particle consisted of a TbS/HdA lamellar core surrounded by a crown of hydrophilic poloxamer. The ζ-potentials of nanoparticles were in the range of −20 to −26 mV and did not aggregate even after exposing them up to the concentrations of 0.2 mol L–1 NaCl. However, the nanoparticles were sensitive to the changes in the pH in terms of their aggregation or disintegration. Thus, the steric effects and ionic charge seem to be responsible for the stabilization of the nanoparticles. The TbS/HdA matrix or HdA lamella could dissolve dexamethasone up to ∼2% (w/w) without causing crystallization. The release of the entrapped drug was significantly retarded. The TbS/HdA lamellosomes could serve as aminoglycoside carriers, which can further load drugs, showing potential as a multidrug cargo
Conclusion
No full textThis short Conclusion draws together the major thematic threads of Cartoon Conflicts: Contemporary Controversies and Historical Precedents with a view to the future study of cartoons and caricature. The content of the various chapters is revisited holistically, and questions about the composition and supposed impact of cartoons from past epochs and contemporary moments is considered. So too, the intersections between nationalism and imperialism, debates over the utility of censorship or self-censorship, and the crucial context of liberal-democratic freedom of speech are reiterated as being core to the study of cartoons. As expressions of opinion, commentary on events as they happen, cartoons will inevitably take sides and cause offense to one or other “side” in a debate. That in the twenty-first century this offense is more often associated with the manner in which targets of caricature are depicted, rather than the political or ideological message being advanced, says much about the “identity” politics of the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. But does this new need to be fair and careful, eschew the tried-and-true method of stereotype, and take steps to avoid causing offense (however this is constructed) undermine the very purpose and effectiveness of cartooning? Is this the “end of history” for the cartoon as a striking weapon of political discourse
Sweet Alcaic Metres: engaging with regional communities to develop a new creative work
No full textSweet Alcaic Metres is an audiovisual work commissioned by Create NSW to contribute to the Regional Futures project in 2023. The creators were asked to respond to the prompt 'What does the future look like in your region?' and were encouraged to engage with experts and members of the community to develop a creative response. This audiovisual project began by exploring historical creative responses to changes in the environment through the writings and poetry of Judith Wright, followed by discussions with soil scientists, engineers, and station owners to capture the use, misuse and underuse of natural and civic resources within the New England North West area of New South Wales. This project is an example of qualitative arts-based research combining both arts-informed and arts-informing inquiries as a representation and response to an issue or situation
Futuristic femmes fatales: The Android women of 'Blade runner'
No full textCritics generally agree that the retrospectively labelled film noir movement began with John Huston's The Maltese Falcon in 1941 and continued through the 1950s, the 'classic' noir period ending with Orson Welles' Touch of Evil (1958). Thematic and stylistic elements of classic film noir include an urban setting shot largely at night (often referred to as the 'dark city') using low-key, high-contrast lighting to create atmospheric shadows; character types including a (usually male) detective/investigator entangled or sexually obsessed with a femme fatale; the use of tilted frames and close/restricted composition; such narrative devices as voiceover and flashback; an atmosphere of paranoia and suspense; and moral ambiguity and fatalism. The themes and techniques of classic noir have continued to be a part of the modern thriller, employed by filmmakers from the 1960s to the present day to evolve into a subgenre that has come to be known as neo-noir. Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982) merges stylistic and narrative elements of film noir with science fiction themes, and has been referred to as a futuristic film noir. James Ursini goes so far as to say that Blade Runner marks the beginning of the neo-noir period in science fiction, and that the film has left an 'indelible mark' on the genre. This reading will refer to the 1991 director's cut of the film, which excises the noir element of the voiceover but retains many other relevant features, including a complex presentation of noir's female archetypes
The Paratext of the Editions of Classical Roman Comedy Printed by Lazzaro de’ Soardi as a ‘Zone of Transaction’
No full textThis article examines the paratextual materials in Venetian editions of classical comedy published by Lazzaro de' Soardi between 1494 and 1515. His extensive activity as a printer of Terence's plays over a twenty-year period makes him an ideal case study to trace the development of the paratext in early sixteenth-century Venice. Through analysis of de' Soardi's business strategies, including printing privileges and strategic partnerships, this study argues that he pioneered the use of paratext as a 'zone of transaction' with his readership. De' Soardi introduced woodcut illustrations that provided visual cues on gestures and delivery, while his revolutionary use of the illustrated title page served as a sophisticated marketing tool. Additionally, a previously unnoticed note to the reader reveals important connections between printing trends and theatrical performances by the Compagnie della Calza, amateur troupes of young Venetian patricians, illuminating the interplay between textual production and performance culture in Renaissance Venice
Landscape, welfare, and distributional trade-offs from smallholder agroforestry contracting: An agent-based model approach
No full textCONTEXT: Agroforestry value chains have been extensively promoted as potential ‘win-win’ vehicles for Sustainable Intensification in tropical upland landscapes. Coffee contract farming in particular can support landscape environmental policy objectives through improvements in soil erosion and biomass carbon, while also providing smallholders with higher agricultural profits.OBJECTIVE: This paper explores the extent in which coffee agroforestry contract farming influences household welfare and landscape environmental outcomes using a case study of the peri-urban uplands of Bandung, Indonesia.METHODS: We develop an agent-based simulation model to test the welfare and landscape effects of coffee contracting interventions. The model incorporates household survey data with granular land cover and soil maps. Smallholder farmer agents interact with coffee value chains and other agricultural and labour markets, and make land use decisions that have landscape-level environmental and household welfare implications.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The modelling simulations show that coffee contracting can achieve improved incomes for farmers, and increased agroforestry landcover. However, transaction costs can impede many households from accessing contract coffee markets, resulting in trade-offs between higher incomes and increasing rural income inequality. Contract coffee displaces lower-input agroforestry where opportunity costs are low, resulting in significant landscape declines in biomass carbon and increases in soil erosion – an outcome akin to a Jevon’s Paradox.SIGNIFICANCE: Agroforestry value chain interventions deliver trade-offs when seeking to address multiple and complex landscape challenges. Complementary non-market interventions that better align smallholder incentives with environmental policy objectives are necessary for these value chain interventions to be effective tools for Sustainable Intensification
AlphaPIG: The Nicest Way to Prolong Interactive Gestures in Extended Reality
No full textMid-air gestures serve as a common interaction modality across Extended Reality (XR) applications, enhancing engagement and ownership through intuitive body movements. However, prolonged arm movements induce shoulder fatigue—known as "Gorilla Arm Syndrome"—degrading user experience and reducing interaction duration. Although existing ergonomic techniques derived from Fitts’ law (such as reducing target distance, increasing target width, and modifying control-display gain) provide some fatigue mitigation, their implementation in XR applications remains challenging due to the complex balance between user engagement and physical exertion. We present AlphaPIG, a meta-technique designed to Prolong Interactive Gestures by leveraging real-time fatigue predictions. AlphaPIG assists designers in extending and improving XR interactions by enabling automated fatigue-based interventions. Through adjustment of intervention timing and intensity decay rate, designers can explore and control the trade-off between fatigue reduction and potential effects such as decreased body ownership. We validated AlphaPIG’s effectiveness through a study (N=22) implementing the widely-used Go-Go technique. Results demonstrated that AlphaPIG significantly reduces shoulder fatigue compared to non-adaptive Go-Go, while maintaining comparable perceived body ownership and agency. Based on these findings, we discuss positive and negative perceptions of the intervention. By integrating real-time fatigue prediction with adaptive intervention mechanisms, AlphaPIG constitutes a critical first step towards creating fatigue-aware applications in XR
Administrative intensity and local resident satisfaction in Victorian local government
No full textA voluminous empirical literature has focused on organizational characteristics and their relationship to organizational performance in the public sector, including municipal efficiency. However, as yet no effort has been made to examine the impact of administrative intensity on the effectiveness of local authorities, as measured by local resident satisfaction surveys. To address this gap in the literature, this article investigates the effect of administrative intensity on local resident satisfaction in the local government system of the Australian state of Victoria over the period 2014/2015 to 2018/2019. Using regression analysis, we find that there is a significant association between administrative intensity and the effectiveness of municipalities. However, the impact of administrative intensity on municipal effectiveness differs between urban local authorities and rural local authorities. This has significant public policy implications given that a uniform policy prescription may not achieve its intended aims due to the differential effects of the determinants of municipal effectiveness
Teen Clinic — An integrated primary healthcare model that improves access for young people in rural communities
No full textBackground: Young people in rural Australia have limited access to health care and are at increased risk of poor health outcomes. The Teen Clinic model was developed to increase access to health care for young people, particularly schoolaged young people (12–18 years) living in small rural towns ( Objectives: To determine the extent the Teen Clinic model meets its accessibility objective and to determine the barriers and enablers to sustainable delivery of the Teen Clinic service. Design: A multimethod case study approach was used to assess access (multidimensional framework for patient-centred access) and determine the barriers and enablers to sustainable delivery. Data collection included a survey of young people in the included rural communities and key stakeholder interviews. Findings: The survey of young people indicated Teen Clinic model was accessible across multiple dimensions. From a practice perspective, accessibility was achieved by varying from usual care to a nurse-led, young person-centred drop-in model. This required skilled nurses working at the top of their scope; however, unpredictable demand and patient complexity made accounting for the time and therefore funding somewhat complex. Discussion: The Teen Clinic model meets its objective of increasing healthcare access for young rural people. Relational and cultural factors were more important facilitators of practice integration than organisational processes. A key challenge to the ongoing provision of Teen Clinic was dedicated sustainable funding. Conclusion: Teen Clinic is an integrated primary healthcare model that increases access for young people in small rural communities. Sustainable implementation would benefit from dedicated funding
