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Navigating technological change : Future imaginaries and everyday practices in world politics
No full textDuring the last decade or so, most aspects of world politics have become saturated with digital-technological devices and platforms such as smartphones and social media. Yet, practice-oriented International Relations (IR) scholarship has not adequately accounted for the profound impact of this technological transformation on how world politics is ‘done’ within, across and beyond the traditional institutional settings of global political affairs. This paper addresses this gap by integrating the concept of ‘sociotechnical imaginaries’ from Science and Technology Studies (STS) into the study of practices and world politics. Sociotechnical imaginaries encapsulate how technology intersects with society in and through collective visions of the future. Drawing on interviews with international communication professionals in Western European capitals, from across diplomacy and humanitarianism, we show how an attention to ‘future imaginaries’ sheds new light on how the emergence of new technologies (re)shape practitioners’ view of their role and agency in world politics. Concretely, we find that, despite their different circumstances, these professionals exhibit similar patterns of adaptations and evolving practices influenced by collectively perceived uncertainties and promises associated with a future saturated by social media and algorithms. The article thus contributes to a deeper understanding of the everyday interplay between technologies and practitioners by emphasising the role of ‘future imaginaries’ in shaping world politics
Genomic evidence of varicella-zoster virus among Mpox-suspected cases in Ethiopia during the 2022 Mpox multi-country outbreak
No full textChickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) whose clinical manifestations mimic mpox posing challenges for diagnosis without laboratory confirmation. Here, we investigated VZV among the mpox-suspected cases, May to October 2022, in Ethiopia. Samples were collected from 202 mpox-suspected cases in 11 of Ethiopia’s 14 regions and screened for mpox virus by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Then, differential testing of other selected orthopoxviruses, VZV and herpes simplex virus (HSV) were conducted for 133 randomly selected samples. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and downstream analysis was performed on 8 VZV-positive samples. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize epidemiological and clinical data. All the 202 enrolled cases tested negative for mpox. Of these, 133 samples were tested for VZV, and 107 (80.5%, 95% CI: 72.9% – 86.3%) turned positive but remained negative for HSV and other tested orthopoxviruses. At least one VZV-positive case was reported in each region sampled. Half (49.6%) of the cases were hospitalized, with no fatalities. The sequences were clustered primarily in Clade 5 (62.5%, 5) followed by Clade 3 (25.0%, 2) and Clade 1 (12.5%, 1). This investigation confirmed VZV as the predominant causative agent among mpox-suspected cases. To our knowledge, this represents the first clade-level genomic characterization of VZV from Ethiopia, revealing circulation of multiple clades among samples collected during May to October 2022. The findings highlight the need to strengthen differential diagnostic capacities including multiplex testing, and building genomic surveillance capacities for epidemic intelligence and outbreak response
Stuck in Between Law and Politics? Understanding the Impact of the Right to Housing as a Right of Migrants and Refugees in International Law
No full textFinding and maintaining adequate housing is an increasingly serious struggle for many. To what extent the right to housing in international law offers a way out of this struggle is a crucial question that requires careful thinking. This chapter offers a perspective for answering this question by focusing on a particular group: migrants and refugees. To do so, it examines the dynamics of how the right to housing is shaped and interpreted in international law with a focus on the United Nations system. It argues that three factors impede the potential impact that the right to housing in international law could have on migrants and refugees: 1) the centrality of state consent in agreeing to be bound by treaties, 2) treaties’ selective way of granting rights, and 3) the lax regime of examining states’ compliance with their obligations. By discussing each of these factors through three relevant norms of international law, the chapter argues that looking at a social right such as the right to housing through the migration and asylum lens on the international plane lays bare the tight space between law and politics
When Context Disappears : A Critique of the CJEU’s Judgment in Slagelse Almennyttige Boligselskab, Afdeling Schackenborgvænge
No full textNeurophysiological evidence of rapid holistic tone-based lexical access
No full textWord accents are restricted by a word’s morphological structure but also distinguish lexical meanings in minimal pairs. We investigated how early tonal information carried by morphophonemic word accents influences rapid lexical access in native speakers. We also asked whether tone-bearing words are decomposed into morphemes and word accents, or retrieved holistically via full-form neural representations. Here, suffix morpheme and word accent tone were varied orthogonally to create valid and invalid combinations of tone and morphological structure/segmental information. These stimuli were presented in a passive oddball paradigm during an electroencephalography experiment, and mismatch negativity (MMN) responses were obtained.Valid combinations elicited an early-onset lexical MMN, with main sources in the left middle posterior temporal lobe—an area implicated in lexical memory. Words with morphophonemic tones appear to have full-form lexical memory traces that join segmental and tonal information. As incorrect word accent tones impeded automatic lexical retrieval, we also conclude that word accents may function in a manner similar to lexical tones in distinguishing lexical meanings
Social död, litterär oreda : Josef K, Jesus Kristus och den avhumaniserande retoriken
No full textArtikeln undersöker hur Markusevangeliet och Franz Kafkas Processen uppvisar beröringspunkter kring social död, avhumanisering och litterär oreda. Med Orlando Pattersons teori om social död som analytiskt ramverk visar studien hur Jesus Kristus och Josef K genomgår en successiv förlust av identitet, rättigheter och socialt erkännande i relation till lagens dömande instanser. Deras skamfyllda dödshändelser – Kristus slavlika korsfästelse och K:s avrättning ”som en hund” – framträder som uttryck för ett narrativt intetblivande, där protagonisterna reduceras till icke-personer. Artikeln argumenterar för att denna avhumanisering motsvaras på formnivå genom verkens fragmentariska och episodiska komposition, vilken speglar den oreda och marginalisering som präglar huvudgestalternas existens. Med stöd i Julia Kristevas förståelse av intertextualitet framhålls att relationen mellan verken inte bör uppfattas som receptionshistorisk utan som en icke-identisk mimesis, där likartade strukturer och motiv framträder utan historiskt beroende. Studien visar att denna parallell belyser centrala teologiska frågor rörande kenosis, messiansk skam och lagens avhumaniserande logik, och avslutas med en uppmaning att åter aktualisera bibelteologi inom samtida, nytestamentlig exegetik
Adverse Neonatal Outcomes Following Planned Vaginal Birth Compared to Planned Caesarean Birth : A Population-Based Study
No full textAIM: To compare adverse outcomes in neonates born by planned vaginal birth to those born by planned caesarean section.METHOD: This retrospective cohort study analysed data from southern Sweden between 1995 and 2015, using the perinatal revision South Register. Only women with singleton, term (≥ 37 + 0 weeks) and cephalic presentation were included. Planned vaginal birth included all vaginal non-instrumental, instrumental, and emergency caesarean births. Logistic regression was used to study the relationship between neonates born via planned vaginal birth and planned caesarean section to adverse neonatal outcomes.RESULTS: Of 97,886 included, 91,834 (8.9%) underwent planned vaginal birth, and 6052 (91.1%) underwent planned caesareans. After adjustment, neonates with planned caesarean birth had lower odds for UApH < 7.05 [OR 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46-0.88, p = 0.006] but higher need for continuous positive airway pressure [OR 2.22; 95% CI, 1.74-2.85, p < 0.001]. No differences were seen for apgar score < 7 at 5 min, seizures, central nervous system disease or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.CONCLUSION: While planned caesarean birth may reduce the risk of neonatal acidemia, it is associated with a higher odds of respiratory support after birth. Overall, both planned birth modes demonstrated comparable risks for other serious neonatal outcomes, indicating that decisions should balance these specific differences alongside individual clinical circumstances
Economic Impact of Severe Early-Onset Foetal Growth Restriction : A Multicentre Prospective Cohort Study
No full textObjective: Foetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 10% of pregnancies, contributing to 30% of stillbirths. Current management of early-onset FGR (< 32 + 0 weeks' gestation) delivers the foetus before stillbirth or irreversible organ damage. The resulting preterm births create additional risks independent of FGR. We determined the economic cost associated with severe early-onset FGR. Design: Economic analysis of EVERREST prospective study, a 6-year multicentre prospective cohort study. Setting: UK, Spain, Germany, Sweden. Population: Pregnant women with estimated foetal weight < 3rd centile, 20 + 0–26 + 6 weeks of gestation. Methods: Between antenatal recruitment and 2 years post-delivery, maternal and infant resource use was collected using the Global Pregnancy CoLaboratory (COLAB) data set and an adapted client service receipt inventory (CSRI) questionnaire. Main Outcome Measure: Cost differences between gestational age groups with Multivariable Generalised Linear Models. Results: Of 135 births, 46% were extremely preterm (EPT, < 28 + 0 weeks), 23% very preterm (VPT, 28 + 0–< 32 + 0 weeks), 16% late/moderate preterm (MLPT, 32 + 0–< 37 + 0 weeks) and 14% term. Neonatal Unit (NNU) costs accounted for the largest costs incurred by either mother or infant, exhibiting the largest differences between gestational age groups. EPT infants costed an additional £157 832 (95% CI: £96 904–£218 760) on average per infant compared to the term group, VPT infants an additional £93 709 (95% CI: £62 656–£124 761) and MLPT infants an additional £20 182 (£11 882–£28 482). Conclusions: Early-onset FGR has substantial costs, predominantly incurred during infants' NNU admissions. Births < 32 + 0 weeks have significantly higher costs than term births, providing economic justification to research therapies that reduce iatrogenic preterm birth. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02097667
Quantification of phthalate and DINCH metabolites in human urine and maternal breast milk : Assessing maternal body burden and infant exposure
No full textBased on toxicological evidence, human exposure to phthalates (PHs) and diisononylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) may contribute to adverse health effects, especially during vulnerable developmental stages. To support the exposure assessment for this group of endocrine disruptors, we developed and validated a method for the analysis of 14 PH and 3 DINCH metabolites in human urine and maternal milk, applied the method in a pilot study, and identified crucial obstacles in the path of establishing maternal milk as a routine matrix in human biomonitoring. Urine and milk samples were extracted with solid-phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS salts, respectively, and analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method accuracy was confirmed for urine samples via a certified standard reference material and the G-EQUAS intercomparison programme. We identified a need for sampling protocols, reference materials, and external method verification schemes in order to establish maternal milk as a routine matrix. Finally, the method was tested for its applicability in a pilot biomonitoring study on 30 paired urine and milk samples from lactating mothers, with medians ranging from <LLOQ - 15 µg/L in urine and <LLOQ - 16 µg/L in maternal milk and generally higher detection rates in urine. Furthermore, the results indicate extensive monoester formation under cooled storage conditions, resulting in potentially high infantile exposure to phthalate monoesters for which, to date, no guidance values exist despite their demonstrated toxicity
Automatic generation of a digital twin for continuous antibody capture
No full textDigitalization of the downstream process for monoclonal antibodies can be used as a tool towards more efficient and sustainable processing. One part of digitalization are digital twins, which can help provide insights into a process and be used for process optimization, reducing production costs and accelerating drug discovery. However, creating a useful digital twin is often difficult and time-consuming. To facilitate the acquisition of useful digital twins, we developed a procedure for automatically generating and calibrating a digital twin for a continuous 3-column periodic countercurrent chromatography capture step of monoclonal antibodies. The procedure was conducted in two segments. First, the digital twin was automatically generated, based on the configuration of the setup. Second, a predefined calibration procedure, including calibration experiments and simulations, was automatically executed, calibrating the digital twin. To test its value, the digital twin was used for two separate optimizations: one to optimize yield and resin utilization and another to account for differences in column capacities when using a column with reduced capacity. The result from the first optimization was validated in an experiment, resulting in a 0.6 % difference in yield and resin utilization compared with the simulation. The second optimization increased resin utilization by 1.2 %, versus the first optimization, at a yield of 99.8 %. Our procedure can be used to generate and calibrate digital twins efficiently, constituting a step toward integrating digitalization into the downstream process for monoclonal antibodies, which could lower production costs and increase sustainability