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The appropriation and circulation of evolutionary science in the contemporary US and English-speaking manosphere
Get PDFThe manosphere is a collection of antifeminist men's groups. They are united by their enthusiasm for Darwinian evolution, especially around issues of sex differences. This research examines manosphere appropriations of evolutionary science from three angles. Firstly, it assesses the scientific literacy of manospherians with a survey, revealing relatively high levels of college science education and scientific literacy. Secondly, through qualitative discourse analysis, it thoroughly reviews the appropriations of evolutionary science found in the manosphere. Overall, manospherians tend to disproportionately apply biological theories to women, making for a uniform and strongly deterministic view of female behavior. Moreover, they also create their own evolutionary hypotheses to make sense of the world through a Darwinian lens. Yet, appropriations of evolutionary science vary between manosphere communities, depending on their political aims and narratives. Running through all these appropriations however is a presence of misogynistic biases, as well as exaggeration and simplification of academic research results. To understand this phenomenon better, this work finally explores scientific knowledge circulation and acquisition in the manosphere
An innovative nurse practitioner-led service for children from families living in housing instability
Get PDFAim: To report on the design and results of an innovative nurse practitioner (NP)-led specialist primary care service for children facing housing instability.
Background: During 2017–2018, children aged 0–14 years represented 23% of the total population receiving support from specialist homeless services in Australia. The impact of housing instability on Australian children is considerable, resulting in disengagement from social institutions including health and education, and poorer physical and mental health outcomes across the lifespan. Current services fail to adequately address health and educational needs of children facing housing insecurity. Research identifies similar circumstances for children in other high-income countries. This paper outlines the design, and reports on results of, an innovative NP-led primary care service for children facing housing instability introduced into three not-for-profit faith-based services in one Australian state.
Methods: Between 2019 and 2021, 66 children of parents experiencing housing instability received standardized health assessment and referral where appropriate by a NP. Data from the standardized tool, such as condition and severity, were recorded to determine common conditions. In addition, comprehensive case notes recorded by the NP were used to understand potential causes of conditions, and referral needs, including potential barriers.
Findings: The 66 children assessed were aged between 7 weeks to 16 years. Developmental delay, low immunization rates, and dental caries were the most common conditions identified. Access to appropriate services was inhibited by cost, disengagement, and COVID-19.
Conclusion: Given their advanced skills and knowledge, embedding NPs in specialist homeless services is advantageous to help vulnerable children
'Total Peace' and the War on Drugs: Basuco, violence and harm reduction in Bogotá, Colombia
No full textHarm reduction has primarily developed as a bio-behavioural response to the health harms faced by people who use drugs, notably injected opioids, in the Global North. In Bogotá, Colombia the primary drug of concern is neither injected nor opioid, rather it is a form of smokeable cocaine, known as basuco. In this Global South, conflict-affected setting, drugs and drug policy have played a major role in both violence and attempts at peace. The status of basuco as a non-injected, non-opioid illegal drug with a close association with these larger socio-political phenomena makes it - and the lives of people who use it - a valuable case to test the limits of the dominant harm reduction paradigm.
Combining Galtung's theory of violence and zemiological categories of harm, this critical realist, ethnographic study contributes to the development of harm reduction policy, practice and theory in this context. It does so based on data collected through 41 semi-structured interviews, and eleven months of participant observation, sketching, photography and creative workshops among street-based people who use basuco.
It finds that people who use basuco in Bogotá are subject to compounded violence at the intersection of the Colombian internal conflict and the global War on Drugs. A cycle of direct, structural and cultural violence produces harms far broader than those addressed by bio-behavioural harm reduction interventions, occurring across four interdependent zemiological categories of physical, economic, emotional and cultural harm. Common components of the generative mechanisms of harm across these categories include stigma and marginalisation, criminalisation and criminal violence, abstinence-dominated norms around drug use, a constraining global political economy, and the legacy and continued impact of the internal conflict.
Reducing harm requires reducing the violence that produces it - or building peace. This study argues for more comprehensive and context-aware form of harm reduction, which could amount to an inclusive peace process in the War on Drugs. Developments in the Colombian peace process since 2022, under the Petro administration's banner of 'Total Peace', have begun to address the violence and harms faced by people who use basuco. Greater focus on the specific generative mechanisms of harm faced by people who use basuco could support greater reductions in these harms. This requires structural change towards more peaceful social conditions. Using Archer's concept of morphogenesis, this thesis argues that such change is possible by influencing the options agents have to respond to social conditions, thereby reshaping those conditions
Conspiracy beliefs and interpersonal relationships
Get PDFAnecdotal reports in the media and on forums such as Reddit’s r/QAnonCasualties suggest that relationships can suffer when one person in the relationship believes in conspiracy theories. People commonly report having “lost” a loved one who has fallen down a “rabbit hole” of conspiracy beliefs. However, despite all the anecdotal evidence, very little empirical research has examined the consequences of conspiracy theories for people’s interpersonal relationships. In this chapter, we examine what we know so far about the consequences of conspiracy theories for relationships between people and highlight some examples of our ongoing research. We also highlight the need for further research and discuss potential factors that could prevent relationships being eroded by conspiracy beliefs
Queer voices in computational biology: the first ISCB LGBTQI+ Symposium
Get PDFThe first ISCB LGBTQI+ Symposium, held during Pride Month in 2024, marked a significant milestone for the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) community to promote diversity. This event aimed to provide a safe and supportive space for LGBTQI+ members of the society to share their experiences, address unique challenges in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and foster strategies for creating an equitable environment within ISCB. Through keynote presentations, short talks, and a roundtable discussion, participants explored topics such as minority stress, visibility, and the impact of role models. The symposium was rooted in a recognition of the historical and ongoing marginalization faced by LGBTQI+ individuals and sought to challenge systemic barriers while emphasizing the importance of community and representation. This article details the journey behind organizing the symposium, including overcoming the challenges of ensuring inclusivity and privacy, and highlights the profound impact of role models and collective action in advancing LGBTQI+ equity in science
Pluralizing social reproduction approaches
Get PDFThe concept of social reproduction (SR) has gained renewed interest in the past decade. Discussed and elaborated by generations of feminists, the concept offers a rejection of productivism and the possibility of (re)telling the history of capitalism and its contemporary dynamics through the work and practices of “life making.” Yet, it is undeniable that much of the “old” and “new” theorizing around SR comes predominantly from the Global North. Hence, we argue, a pluralizing of SR approaches (SRAs) is needed. This article draws on existing debates on SR to pluralize their theoretical premises, disciplinary boundaries, and empirical reach to suggest a global progressive agenda centered on SRAs that is able to speak to the challenges and complexities of processes of life making worldwide. Foregrounding such complexity, the article considers conceptual issues, argues that location is central to pluralizing SRAs, and discusses the associated methodological and political questions. We conclude that pluralizing SRAs through paying attention to location is the first step toward identifying the multiple and heterogeneous ways in which processes of SR are structured and operate under capitalism and toward developing solidarities able to challenge the oppressions of global capitalism and reclaim life-making activities and spaces
Using sodium tetra aryl borate analogues as a novel salt within sodium ion battery applications
No full textSince the invention of lithium-ion battery in the latter half of the 20th century. Many metal ions have gained attention in electrochemistry as alternate metal ion battery material. This project has focused on sodium ion batteries. Ionic salts are a core component in ion batteries as these are essential parts of the electrolyte system within them as they allow for ionic conductance within the system. For sodium ion batteries to become more mainstream and commercially available new systems need to be examined and explored.
This project revolves around the usage of a sodium tetra-aryl borate salt, sodium tetrakis(3,5-dichlorophenyl) borate. This salt was selected as it offers to be a promising choice in a sodium ion battery as the weakly coordinating anion would allow for it to dissolve at room temperature conditions in many polar organic solvents with high stability and allow movement of sodium throughout the electrolyte.
The first part of this project was to synthesise a salt that is of battery grade. To ensure battery grade was to be achieved the salt had to be characterised. The physical characteristics of this salt had to be determined as to make sure it was suitable for use in a battery. Once this had been determined the secondary part of this was to use the salt in some batteries with commonly used anodes to see how well they perform compared to pre-existing systems
Needs of older adults in Kazakhstan: analysis and psychometric properties of the localized version of the EASYCare standard 2010 instrument
Get PDFBackground: Studies about the needs of older individuals in Central Asia are very sparse. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the needs of older adults in Kazakhstan with the EASYCare Standard 2010 (EC) questionnaire.
Methods: The study involved 524 participants aged 65 and older from various regions in Kazakhstan. Data were collected by trained research staff, and the participants’ needs were examined using median split with the three summarizing indexes of the EC system (Independence score, Risk of breakdown in care, and Risk of falls).
Results: Subjects with primary education had approximately double odds of scoring above the median compared to those with higher education in Independence score (p < 0.01) and Risk of breakdown in care (p < 0.01). Individuals with primary education also had 60% higher odds of scoring above the Risk of falls scale threshold, indicating a risk in this category (p < 0.05). For the Risk of falls scores, financial situation was also significant; individuals having not enough to make ends meet had 75% higher odds than the remaining ones (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Our analysis highlights the importance of tailored interventions to address the unmet needs of the Kazakh population, particularly among those with lower education and those with financial concerns. The study also underscores the need for sustainable, comprehensive eldercare policies in Kazakhstan that account for the growing older population
Public Involvement to Enhance Care Home Research; Collaboration on a Minimum Data Set for Care Homes
Get PDFIntroduction: Information on care home residents in England is captured in numerous data sets (care home records, General Practitioner records, community nursing, etc.) but little of this information is currently analysed in a way that is useful for care providers, current or future residents and families or that realises the potential of data to enhance care provision. The DACHA study aimed to develop and test a minimum data set (MDS) which would bring together data that is useful to support and improve care and facilitate research. It is that utility that underscores the importance of meaningful public involvement (PI) with the range of groups of people affected. This paper analyses the involvement of family members of care home residents and care home staff through a PI Panel.
Objectives: The objective for the PI activities was to consistently bring the knowledge and perspectives of family members and care home staff to influence the ongoing design and conduct of the DACHA study.
Methods: The bespoke methods of PI included a dedicated PI team and a PI Panel of public contributors. Meetings were recorded and minutes agreed, resulting actions were tracked and reflections on the PI recorded. A democratic, social relations approach was used to frame the analysis.
Results: A PI panel met 17 times. All meetings included both family members and care home staff. Analysis of the records and reflections developed the following themes about the operation of the PI: deepened understanding of the data environment in care homes; Influence on the pilot MDS; aiming for best research practices with care homes; personal/professional development for PI members; expectations of the project. Learning points for future research projects are developed.
Conclusions: PI shaped the design and conduct of the DACHA study, grounding it in the needs and perspectives of people using and providing social care. Data research has a huge responsibility to accurately incorporate relevant public perspectives. There is an implicit assumption that records and data are objective and 'speak for themselves' however there can be unintended consequences from introduction of new data requirements in practice.
Patient or public contribution: Public contributors to this manuscript include family members of older people living in care homes and staff of care homes. The wider study also involved as the public, older people living in care homes. Public contributors helped develop the project, contributed throughout the conduct of the study and some chose to be involved in preparing this manuscript
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