136986 research outputs found
Sort by
Marx, work, agency and postcapitalist prefiguration
No full textMarx's interpretation of ‘praxis’ as a primary expression of what we are, of self-realisation and what we might achieve as social beings, frames his revolutionary thought. This article connects Marx's unique approach to certain forms of contemporary grassroots resistance and community-based postcapitalist responses to global heating and the totalitarianism of capital. In particular, his appreciation of humans as at one with nature supports a postcapitalist imaginary abolishing the contradiction between humans and more-than-human nature intrinsic to capitalist practices. By reference to critical theorists such as Jasper Bernes and autonomist Marxist authors Harry Cleaver and P.M. (Hans Widmer), the article identifies key principles of a nonmarket socialist form of postcapitalism, i.e. beyond both state and money. Work as waged labour under the rule of capitalists gives way to ecologically and socially constructive activities fulfilling collective sufficiency cogoverned and coproduced by all. Work is freed up as semi-voluntary activity, negotiated within a community mode of production where the product is both predetermined (co-planned) and, later, shared on the basis of satisfying basic needs. In contrast to strictly defined capitalist waged work, now standard across various geographies and cultures, the postcapitalist community mode of production proposed establishes convivial and ecologically appropriate work within local geographies of community sufficiency. Even as universal (global) principles typify the community mode of production, symbiotically respectful relations between humans and nature give rise to unique localised geographies of ecological diversity and pluralism
Calling for (r)Evolution: the rise of the educational phoenix of audacious hope
No full textExisting educational and social inequalities within colonised nations have been amplified by multitudinous health, racial, climate, and social crises. It is a time to act collectively and boldly pivot towards equitable, socially-just futures. This perspective article contextualises schools within a social eco-system contending with the convergence of childhood adversity, pandemics, increasing climate, human-rights, political, and economic crisis around the globe. Profound uncertainty has shaken the expectations and systems that have been relied-on by those communities which they privilege. We call for educators to apply a transformative praxis with critical and cultural pedagogy to disrupt the educational status-quo that privileges Western-colonial epistemologies – knowledge and ways of knowing; the ‘whitewashing’ of schools and curriculums. Leveraging comprehensively applied trauma-informed principles within a social justice agenda is presented as a way of positioning schools to be way-finders and change-makers as they partner with communities. The time is now to (re)construct a fully rights-based school (r)evolution. Humility and courage will be required to lean into the hard questions and challenges; to revolutionise and humanise education. This paper presents schools as potential truth-hearing and historical truth-telling agents of urgent social change building communities of healing and audacious hope, led by communities
Particle transport in fractured geo-energy reservoirs considering the effect of fluid inertia and turbulent flow: A review
No full textParticle-fluid two-phase flows in rock fractures and fracture networks play a pivotal role in determining the efficiency and effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing operations, a vital component in unconventional oil and gas extraction. Central to this phenomenon is the transport of proppants, tiny solid particles injected into the fractures to prevent them from closing once the injection is stopped. However, effective transport and deposition of proppant is critical in keeping fracture pathways open, especially in low-permeability reservoirs. This review explores, then quantifies, the important role of fluid inertia and turbulent flows in governing proppant transport. While traditional models predominantly assume and then characterise flow as laminar, this may not accurately capture the complexities inherent in real-world hydraulic fracturing and proppant emplacement. Recent investigations highlight the paramount importance of fluid inertia, especially at the high Reynolds numbers typically associated with fracturing operations. Fluid inertia, often overlooked, introduces crucial forces that influence particle settling velocities, particle-particle interactions, and the eventual deposition of proppants within fractures. With their inherent eddies and transient and chaotic nature, turbulent flows introduce additional complexities to proppant transport, crucially altering proppant settling velocities and dispersion patterns. The following comprehensive survey of experimental, numerical, and analytical studies elucidates controls on the intricate dynamics of proppant transport under fluid inertia and turbulence - towards providing a holistic understanding of the current state-of-the-art, guiding future research directions, and optimising hydraulic fracturing practices
Wolf-Bird Optimizer (WBO): A novel metaheuristic algorithm for Building Information Modeling-based resource tradeoff
No full textIn the animal kingdom, a mutually-beneficial ecosystemic coexistence and partnership in predation between wolves and ravens, known as the wolf-bird relationship, is observed in various cultures. The Wolf-Bird Optimizer (WBO), a novel metaheuristic algorithm inspired by this natural zoological relationship, is proposed. This method is developed based on the foraging behaviors of ravens and wolves, wherein the intelligence of ravens in finding prey and sending signals to wolves for assistance in hunting is considered. Furthermore, a framework for resource tradeoffs in project scheduling using metaheuristic algorithms and the Building Information Modeling (BIM) approach is established in this research. For statistical analysis, the algorithms are independently run 30 times with a preset stopping condition, enabling the calculation of descriptive statistical metrics such as mean, standard deviation (SD), and the required number of objective function evaluations. To ensure the statistical significance of the results, several inferential statistical methods, including the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests, are employed. Additionally, the capability of the proposed algorithm in solving resource tradeoff problems in four construction projects is assessed. The performance of the WBO algorithm is also evaluated in two benchmark construction projects, with the results indicating the algorithm's ability to produce competitive and exceptional outcomes regarding tradeoffs
A companion to the preclinical common data elements and case report forms for in vivo rodent neuroimaging: A report of the TASK3-WG3 Neuroimaging Working Group of the ILAE/AES Joint Translational Task Force
No full textThe International League Against Epilepsy/American Epilepsy Society (ILAE/AES) Joint Translational Task Force established the TASK3 working groups to create common data elements (CDEs) for various aspects of preclinical epilepsy research studies, which could help improve the standardization of experimental designs. In this article, we discuss CDEs for neuroimaging data that are collected in rodent models of epilepsy, with a focus on adult rats and mice. We provide detailed CDE tables and case report forms (CRFs), and with this companion manuscript, we discuss the methodologies for several imaging modalities and the parameters that can be collected
Future Health Today and patients at risk of undiagnosed cancer: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial of quality-improvement activities in general practice
No full textBACKGROUND: Diagnosing cancer in general practice is complex, given the non-specific nature of many presenting symptoms and the overlap of potential diagnoses. AIM: This trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Future Health Today (FHT) - a technology that provides clinical decision support, auditing, and quality-improvement monitoring - on the appropriate follow-up of patients at risk of undiagnosed cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING: Pragmatic, cluster randomised trial undertaken in general practices in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. METHOD: Practices were randomly assigned to receive recommendations for follow-up investigations for cancer (FHT cancer module) or the active control. Algorithms were applied to the electronic medical record, and used demographic information and abnormal test results that are associated with a risk of undiagnosed cancer (that is, anaemia/iron deficiency, thrombocytosis, and raised prostate-specific antigen) to identify patients requiring further investigation and provide recommendations for care. The intervention consisted of the FHT cancer module, a case-based learning series, and ongoing practice support. Using the intention-to-treat approach, the between-arm difference in the proportion of patients with abnormal test results who were followed up according to guidelines was determined at 12 months. RESULTS: In total, 7555 patients were identified as at risk of undiagnosed cancer. At 12 months post-randomisation, 76.0% of patients in the intervention arm had received recommended follow-up (21 practices, n = 2820/3709), compared with 70.0% in the control arm (19 practices, n = 2693/3846; estimated between-arm difference = 2.6% [95% confidence interval (CI)] = -2.8% to 7.9%; odds ratio = 1.15 [95% CI = 0.87 to 1.53]; P = 0.332). CONCLUSION: The FHT cancer module intervention did not increase the proportion of patients receiving guideline-concordant care. The proportion of patients receiving recommended follow-up was high, suggesting a possible ceiling effect for the intervention
Extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli and antimicrobial resistance gene sharing at the interface of human, poultry and environment: results of ESBL tricycle surveillance in Kathmandu, Nepal
No full textBACKGROUND: The spread of antimicrobial resistant pathogens, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae is a global health threat and can be addressed only through a One Health approach. We aimed to characterize ESBL producing Escherichia coli isolates from World Health Organization Tricycle surveillance using data from whole genome sequencing (WGS) to decipher the potential dynamics of their circulation at the human, poultry and environment interface. METHODS: WGS was performed on 100 non-duplicate representative ESBL E. coli isolates including 28 isolates from humans, 36 from poultry caeca, and 36 from water samples. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined using Vitek 2 Compact. WGS was performed on Illumina NextSeq 2000 platform and open-source bioinformatics pipelines were used to analyze WGS data for genomic characterization including phylogenetic analysis and in silico multi-locus sequence typing and, serotyping and, ESBL gene detection. RESULTS: Most isolates were susceptible to imipenem (98%), meropenem (94%) and tigecycline (94%). Six ESBL E. coli isolates from poultry were resistant to colistin (MIC ≥ 4 μg/ml). WGS revealed high genetic diversity representing 56 sequence types (ST) including three novel STs. ST131 (7 isolates) was the most prevalent comprising human and environment isolates, followed by ST2179 (6 isolates, all poultry) and ST155 (5 isolates across the three sectors). All eight recognized E. coli phylogroups were observed, with majority (86%) of the isolates belonging to A, B1, B2 and D phylogroups. Of the100 isolates, 98 carried blaCTX-M gene, with blaCTX-M-15 the most prevalent allele (76%). AmpC type ESBL genes were found in four and OXA type β lactamases in six isolates. In our study, blaNDM-5 was detected in two imipenem resistant isolates from human. Coexistence of more than one β-lactamase genes was seen in 26% isolates. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate high genetic diversity among ESBL E. coli strains from all three sectors and sharing of identical strains and resistance genes within and between sectors. ST131, the globally dominant ESBL E. coli clade is gaining prevalence in Nepal with blaCTX-M being the most common ESBL gene across the phylogroups and all source groups. Antimicrobial stewardship should be promoted in one health approach to combat antimicrobial resistance
Divergent roles of RIPK3 and MLKL in high-fat diet–induced obesity and MAFLD in mice
No full textCell death frequently occurs in the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, the exact contribution of core cell death machinery to disease manifestations remains ill-defined. Here, we show via the direct comparison of mice genetically deficient in the essential necroptotic regulators, receptor-interacting protein kinase-3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL), as well as mice lacking apoptotic caspase-8 in myeloid cells combined with RIPK3 loss, that RIPK3/caspase-8 signaling regulates macrophage inflammatory responses and drives adipose tissue inflammation and MAFLD upon high-fat diet feeding. In contrast, MLKL, divergent to RIPK3, contributes to both obesity and MAFLD in a manner largely independent of inflammation. We also uncover that MLKL regulates the expression of molecules involved in lipid uptake, transport, and metabolism, and congruent with this, we discover a shift in the hepatic lipidome upon MLKL deletion. Collectively, these findings highlight MLKL as an attractive therapeutic target to combat the growing obesity pandemic and metabolic disease
Wound-healing and onboard care during long-duration human deep space exploration from a surgical perspective through the lens of a scoping review
No full textObjective: The aim of this study was to develop a bridge between the fields of aerospace medicine and vascular surgery, and to emphasize the need for leading experts in vascular medicine, interventional radiology, and surgery to address the critical human spaceflight research gaps highlighted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Methods: A scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted on literature published between 2000 and 2024. A well-defined search strategy was employed for keyword searches across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, the NASA Life Science Data Archive, NASA technical reports, and Google Scholar. Results: Our review identified 125 relevant studies. These included 30 studies on general health conditions in space and wound healing, 38 addressing risk factors associated with the space environment, and 57 studies examining prevention and treatment options. These findings address NASA's identified gaps in wound care capabilities (ExMC 4.07), contribute to defining the potential list of medical conditions that could arise during deep-space missions (ExMC 4.24, Med07, Med12, Medical-101), and serve as a milestone for developing integrated exploration medical system models for missions to the Moon and Mars (Medical-501). Conclusions: Many of the identified NASA knowledge gaps—some of which have even been marked as closed due to a lack of research in the field—cannot be effectively addressed without bridging aerospace medicine with related disciplines, such as vascular surgery and chronic wound care