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Stuck in the waiting room: citizen experiences of administrative limbo in three European crises
No full textIn recent years, there have been numerous cases where citizens have been stuck in highly protracted administrative processes over outcomes vital to their lives and livelihoods. However, systematic inquiries into the experience of being trapped by procedures or state inaction for sometimes multiple years are still lacking. To study the interactions between citizens and the state when long waiting times and significant outcomes are involved, we introduce the concept of administrative limbo. We study administrative limbo using primary and secondary interview data from the Irish defective block crisis, the Dutch childcare benefits affair, and the Dutch Groningen gas extraction crisis. Our data suggests that experiences of administrative limbo are characterized by protracted and extensive uncertainty, accumulating strain, and adversely affected life perspectives. We find that the impact of being stuck in administrative limbo is profound, suggesting that experiences of inaction and action should be further explored in public administration
A follow-up strategy enabling discovery of electromagnetic counterparts to highly magnified gravitationally lensed gravitational waves
No full textMaking an unambiguous detection of lensed gravitational waves (GWs) is challenging with current-generation detectors due to large uncertainties in sky localizations and other inferred parameter distributions. However, in the case of binary neutron star (BNS) mergers, this challenge can be overcome by detecting multiple images of its lensed kilonova (KN) counterpart, simultaneously confirming the lensing nature of the event and locating it precisely—further enabling a wealth of lensed multi-messenger science. Such a strategy demands answers to two key problems: (i) How can candidate lensed BNS events be identified fast enough to ensure the lensed KN is still detectable? (ii) What is the most economical observing strategy on telescope time for following up candidate lensed events to discover lensed KNe? In this article we discuss solutions to both points, specifically how GW detections of progenitors in the approximately 2.5–5 M⊙ black hole ‘mass gap’ can be interpreted as candidate lensed BNS events, giving evidence for lensing from just a single detection, and we present a strategy that can actively be employed for follow-up of such events in the O4 run of LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) and beyond
Burden of oral corticosteroid use in severe asthma: challenges and opportunities
No full textOver the past 70 years, oral corticosteroids (OCS) have played an important role in the management of acute and chronic asthma; however, their use is associated with an increased incidence of adverse events, chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and diabetes, and mortality, as well as increased healthcare resource utilization and costs. Despite a consensus that the use of OCS should be minimized in asthma treatment strategies, many patients still routinely receive long‐term or frequent short courses of OCS. Add‐on biologics can help to improve asthma control in patients with severe asthma and evidence of type 2 inflammation; in clinical trials and real‐world studies, both short‐ and long‐term OCS‐sparing effects have been demonstrated. In this review, we discuss the benefits and burdens of OCS in patients with severe asthma from the perspective of both patients and healthcare providers and outline potential methods for reducing reliance on OCS. Given the risk of adrenal insufficiency or crisis upon cessation of OCS, we discuss the need for clear guidance and algorithms for the tapering of OCS together with the requirement for multidisciplinary patient–provider interactions as part of an effective OCS stewardship scheme
How school leadership and innovation shape instructional pathways to student achievement across nations: evidence from multilevel structural equation modeling and decision tree analysis
No full textEducational leadership, innovation and teaching play essential roles in shaping student achievement. However, extant literature primarily has relied on linear modelling approaches and has not focused on substantively testing a theory. The present study employs multilevel structural equation modelling (ML-SEM) and multilevel decision trees (MLM trees) to investigate associations between school leadership, team innovation, cognitive activation and student achievement using PISA-TALIS 2018 linked data across seven countries: Australia; Colombia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Georgia; Malta; and Türkiye. The ML-SEM findings indicated no significant indirect effects from leadership on achievement. The MLM trees highlighted country-specific patterns in associations between school leadership, innovation and student achievement, revealing potential nonlinear relationships. These findings suggest that the relationship between leadership, instructional practices and achievement is highly context-dependent. The study contributes to the literature by offering a comparative analysis of ML-SEM and MLM trees, highlighting traditional linear models’ limitations in educational research.<br/
Safer Streets, Shared Voices: Insights from public workshops on preventing violence against women and girls in outdoor public spaces in Belfast
No full textCertification and credibility: do seed certification systems in Uganda help signal quality to farmers?
No full textThe value of purchased seed is a product of its underlying genetic information. However, farmers purchasing seed face a classic information asymmetry problem, as varietal identity is not directly observable. In this article we investigate the effectiveness of two certification systems in addressing this issue in the context of Uganda: the formal certification system (predominantly private sector) and the FAO's quality declared system (certification for seed produced mainly by farmers' groups). Using a large, nationally representative panel dataset spanning thirteen growing seasons, and controlling for time‐invariant household and plot‐level unobservables, we find that cultivating purchased quality declared improved seed results in measurable yield increases relative to saved seed. Surprisingly, however, certified improved seed is shown to provide no yield benefits over seed saved from previous seasons, despite its higher cost. Our findings suggest that input heterogeneity and information asymmetry in seed markets may be key constraints to the successful diffusion of improved maize varieties in Uganda, and that the formal seed certification system may not have provided an adequate signal of seed quality to farmers during the time period covered by the panel
Are changes in perceived physical workload and strenuousness of work among partial disability pensioners associated with full disability pension?
No full textAims:The aim of this study was to examine the changes in pensioners’ perceived physical workload and the physical strenuousness of work before and after transition to partial disability pension (pDP), and whether these changes were associated with subsequent transition to full disability pension (fDP).Methods:We used survey data on physical workload and the physical strenuousness of work and covariates from the Helsinki Health Study, an occupational cohort measured in four phases: 2000–2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. These data were prospectively linked to the Finnish Centre for Pensions’ register data on pDP and fDP up to 2021 for those who had provided informed consent for such linkage (mean follow-up of 3 years). We included those who responded to the study surveys both before and after pDP (n = 235). Changes after transition to pDP in the physical strenuousness of work and in a constructed physical workload summary scale were analysed using log-binomial regression.Results:After transition to pDP, physical workload decreased among 20% of the participants, remained constantly low among 44% and constantly high among 36%. The changes in the physical strenuousness of work were similar. Thirty per cent (n = 70) of pDPs transitioned to fDP during the follow-up. The changes in physical workload or the physical strenuousness of work were not associated with transition to fDP.Conclusions:Despite the transition to pDP and thus part-time work, perceived physical workload and the physical strenuousness of work remained stable, and were not reflected in transition to fDP. More research on larger samples is warranted
Sedative agents, synthetic torpor, and long-haul space travel—a systematic review
No full textBackground: With renewed interest in long-duration space missions, there is growing exploration into synthetic torpor as a countermeasure to mitigate physiological stressors. Sedative agents, particularly those used in clinical anesthesia, have been proposed to replicate aspects of natural torpor, including reduced metabolic rate, core temperature, and brain activity. Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate the potential of sedative agents to induce torpor-like states suitable for extended spaceflight. The review specifically investigates their pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and performance under space-related stressors such as microgravity and ionizing radiation. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) for studies published from 1952 to 2024. Eligible studies included experimental, preclinical, and clinical investigations examining sedative agents (especially inhalation anesthetics) in the context of metabolic suppression or space-relevant conditions. Screening, selection, and data extraction followed PRISMA guidelines. Results: Out of the screened records, 141 studies met the inclusion criteria. These were thematically grouped into seven categories, including torpor physiology, anesthetic uptake, metabolism, and inhalation anesthetics. Sedative agents showed variable success in inducing torpor-like states, with inhalation anesthetics demonstrating promising metabolic effects. However, concerns remain regarding delivery methods, safety, rewarming, and the unknown effects of prolonged use in space environments. Conclusions: Sedative agents, particularly volatile anesthetics, hold potential as tools for inducing synthetic torpor in space. Nevertheless, significant knowledge gaps and technical challenges persist. Further targeted research is required to optimize these agents for safe, controlled use in spaceflight settings
Interpreting shifts as discursive acts: exploring the dual role of Chinese diplomatic interpreters in the Chinese Premier’s Press Conferences
No full textHow school leadership and innovation shape instructional pathways to student achievement across nations: evidence from multilevel structural equation modeling and decision tree analysis
No full textEducational leadership, innovation and teaching play essential roles in shaping student achievement. However, extant literature primarily has relied on linear modelling approaches and has not focused on substantively testing a theory. The present study employs multilevel structural equation modelling (ML-SEM) and multilevel decision trees (MLM trees) to investigate associations between school leadership, team innovation, cognitive activation and student achievement using PISA-TALIS 2018 linked data across seven countries: Australia; Colombia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Georgia; Malta; and Türkiye. The ML-SEM findings indicated no significant indirect effects from leadership on achievement. The MLM trees highlighted country-specific patterns in associations between school leadership, innovation and student achievement, revealing potential nonlinear relationships. These findings suggest that the relationship between leadership, instructional practices and achievement is highly context-dependent. The study contributes to the literature by offering a comparative analysis of ML-SEM and MLM trees, highlighting traditional linear models’ limitations in educational research.<br/