Reading beyond gender in Zola’s Au Bonheur des Dames, L’Argent, and La Joie de vivre

Much has been said about how Émile Zola uses fragmented corporeality and subjectivity in Au Bonheur des Dames (1883) to critique the implications of modern commerce for women. Comparatively little attention has been paid to the fact that Zola attributes the same features to male experiences of modernity in L'Argent (1891). Through an ecocritical analysis that moves beyond the gendered dimensions of individual novels, this article compares the crowds of Au Bonheur des Dames and L'Argent to the coastal narrative of La Joie de vivre (1884) – re-evaluating Zola's use of aquatic imagery while examining the equally intriguing recurrence of dust

The lower airway microbiome in paediatric health and chronic disease

The advent of next generation sequencing has rapidly challenged the paediatric respiratory physician’s understanding of lung microbiology and the role of the lung microbiome in host health and disease. In particular, the role of “microbial key players” in paediatric respiratory disease is yet to be fully explained. Accurate profiling of the lung microbiome in children is challenging since the ability to obtain lower airway samples coupled with processing “low-biomass specimens” are both technically difficult. Many studies provide conflicting results. Early microbiota-host relationships may be predictive of the development of chronic respiratory disease but attempts to correlate lower airway microbiota in premature infants and risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) have produced mixed results. There are differences in lung microbiota in asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF). The increased abundance of oral taxa in the lungs may (or may not) promote disease processes in asthma and CF. In CF, correlation between microbiota diversity and respiratory decline is commonly observed. When one considers other pathogens beyond the bacterial kingdom, the contribution and interplay of fungi and viruses within the lung microbiome further increase complexity. Similarly, the interaction between microbial communities in different body sites, such as the gut-lung axis, and the influence of environmental factors, including diet, make the co-existence of host and microbes ever more complicated. Future, multi-omics approaches may help uncover novel microbiome-based biomarkers and therapeutic targets in respiratory disease and explain how we can live in harmony with our microbial companions

Estimating dose—response relationships for vitamin D with coronary heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality: observational and revised Mendelian randomization analyses

Background Randomised trials of vitamin D supplementation for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality have generally reported null findings. However, generalisability of results to individuals with low vitamin D status is unclear. We aimed to characterise dose-response relationships between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations and risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality in observational and Mendelian randomisation frameworks. Methods Observational analyses were undertaken using data from 33 prospective studies comprising 500 962 individuals with no known history of coronary heart disease or stroke at baseline. Mendelian randomisation analyses were performed in four population-based cohort studies (UK Biobank, EPIC-CVD, and two Copenhagen population-based studies) comprising 386 406 middle-aged individuals of European ancestries, including 33 546 people who developed coronary heart disease, 18 166 people who had a stroke, and 27 885 people who died. Primary outcomes were coronary heart disease, defined as fatal ischaemic heart disease (International Classification of Diseases 10th revision code I20-I25) or non-fatal myocardial infarction (I21-I23); stroke, defined as any cerebrovascular disease (I60-I69); and all-cause mortality. Findings Observational analyses suggested inverse associations between incident coronary heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality outcomes with 25(OH)D concentration at low 25(OH)D concentrations. In population-wide genetic analyses, there were no associations of genetically predicted 25(OH)D with coronary heart disease (odds ratio [OR] per 10 nmol/L higher genetically-predicted 25(OH)D concentration 0·98, 95% CI 0·95–1·01), stroke (1·01, [0·97–1·05]), or all-cause mortality (0·99, 0·95–1·02). Null findings were also observed in genetic analyses for cause-specific mortality outcomes, and in stratified genetic analyses for all outcomes at all observed levels of 25(OH)D concentrations. Interpretation Stratified Mendelian randomisation analyses suggest a lack of causal relationship for 25(OH)D concentrations with both cardiovascular and mortality outcomes for individuals at all levels of 25(OH)D. Our findings suggest that substantial reductions in mortality and cardiovascular morbidity due to long-term low-dose vitamin D supplementation are unlikely even if targeted at individuals with low vitamin D status

Co-gasification study of blends of municipal solid waste with sugarcane bagasse and rice husk using the Coats-Redfern method

Rapid development in the current economic situation has led to an increase in carbon emissions and to find sustainable solution to deal with this problem. Co-gasification of biomass with municipal solid waste is gaining significant importance to utilize the energy content of both raw materials judiciously and efficiently. This current work includes the study of physico-chemical characterization, thermal decomposition of MSW, sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, and their blends with 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30 ratios. Employing a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) under controlled conditions, the Coats-Redfern approach integrated sixteen reaction models to determine kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. This study intends to interpret the influence of mixtures on activation energy and synergy effect of mixing two different materials to check its market compatibility. The physicochemical properties of the feedstocks showed good agreement and suitability to be utilized for thermal conversion. Thermal degradation mainly appeared in the temperature range of 150–500 °C for all 99.4 % total weight loss for all parent samples as well as their blends. Linear regression coefficients (R2) were in the range of 0.90–0.99 for all sixteen calculated models. The lower activation energies were obtained from the 50:50 blend for sugarcane bagasse and MSW while 70:30 for rice husk with MSW respectively which proved a great affinity to thermal degrading under a gasification environment

Bridging the sustainable circular economy in cosmetic cross-supply chain practices under uncertainties: a data-driven influential model

Cross-supply chains (CSCs), possessing complexity and uncertainties, constitute a dilemma impeding the achievement of cosmetics firms in their efforts to create a sustainable circular economy (SCE). To address this dilemma, this study adopts a data-driven approach, embracing different data types by performing an exploratory factor analysis and reliability test (EFA&RT, and integrating the fuzzy synthetic method (FSM) with the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) to develop an influential model for these practices. This study therefore contributes to the literature by (1) strengthening its theoretical basis, promoting this understanding by bridging the SCE with cosmetic cross-supply chains (CCSCs); (2) proposing a hybrid method for overcoming the dilemma among cross-supply chains; and (3) providing a visual and data-driven analysis that offers a precise direction for making improvements toward the SCE. Specifically, the results show that co-benefit exploration in recycling collaboration, natural resource dependence reduction, and cross-supply chain synchronization via digital technology sharing are the main causal aspects influencing the achievement of a SCE. In practice, material and waste recycling, cost savings, knowledge and information sharing, and sustainable resource management are therefore the driving factors in addressing the cosmetic cross-supply chain dilemma

Food insecurity in children and young people in Scotland

The aim of this review was to highlight the key issues in relation to food insecurity among children and young people living in Scotland. It provides an overview of the current context of food insecurity more generally within the UK and specifically in Scotland. Food insecurity has risen in Scotland evidenced through responses to national surveys and the dramatic increase in households relying on emergency food provision. Food insecurity is highest among young people, single parent families and single men. The key drivers of food insecurity include insufficient income, welfare reform, food inflation and geo-political events. Evidence suggests that food insecurity is negatively related to sufficient nutritional intake, and the implications for physical and mental health are profound. Policy actions implemented to mitigate the impact of food insecurity on children and young people include the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment, food voucher schemes, free school meals, and holiday food provision. Further evidence is required to evaluate the success of these policies in reducing or mitigating food insecurity. The review concludes by considering the ways in which a rights-based approach to food might benefit children and young people living in Scotland, and argues that wider systemic change is required

The role of large corporations in entrepreneurial ecosystems - a case study of Munich

A critical omission in research on entrepreneurial ecosystems is the role of large firms. It is claimed that they are critical actors. However, the current consensus – which suggests that their effects are entirely beneficial – is superficial. We present evidence from a case study of Munich, a city that combines an emerging ecosystem with a strong corporate sector, which indicates that the reality is much more nuanced. We confirm the resource-enriching effects of corporations. However, we also identify adverse impacts on the entrepreneurial culture that arise from their conservative and risk-avoiding mindset

The fundamentals of public ownership: learning from UK historical experience and recent Scottish policy

Public ownership has emerged as desirable and achievable in the United Kingdom in the 2020s. The ongoing water crisis in England and concerns about ‘greedflation’ in sectors such as electricity and gas following recent price rises have encouraged interest in public ownership. Informed discussion is compromised, however, by a gap in public knowledge. This partly stems from the distance of time, a generation or more, since publicly owned enterprises operated in these sectors across Britain. We argue that public ownership is best understood in terms of fundamentals. Our proposed typology presents the predominant form of public ownership, nationalisation, as a response to fundamental problems, or devised as more efficient management of fundamental sectors, or established to achieve fundamental citizenship values. The typology is developed in dialogue with historical British experiences, then applied to contemporary examples of Scottish government policy, namely shipbuilding, social care and railways

Extended cost-effectiveness analysis of interventions to improve uptake of diabetes services in South Africa

The rising prevalence of diabetes in South Africa (SA), coupled with significant levels of unmet need for diagnosis and treatment, results in high rates of diabetes-associated complications. Income status is a determinant of utilisation of diagnosis and treatment services, with transport costs and loss of wages being key barriers to care. A conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme, targeted to compensate for such costs, may improve service utilisation. We applied extended cost-effectiveness analysis (ECEA) methods and used a Markov model to compare the costs, health benefits and financial risk protection (FRP) attributes of a CCT programme. A population was simulated, drawing from SA-specific data, which transitioned yearly through various health states, based on specific probabilities obtained from local data, over a 45-year time horizon. Costs and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were applied to each health state. Three CCT programme strategies were simulated and compared to a ‘no programme’ scenario: 1) covering diagnosis services only; 2) covering treatment services only; and 3) covering both diagnosis and treatment services. Cost-effectiveness was reported as incremental net monetary benefit (INMB) using a cost-effectiveness threshold of USD3015 per DALY for SA, while FRP outcomes were reported as catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) cases averted. Distributions of the outcomes were reported by income quintile and sex. Covering both diagnosis and treatment services for the bottom two quintiles resulted in the greatest INMB (USD22 per person) and the greatest CHE cases averted. There were greater FRP benefits for women compared to men. A CCT programme covering diabetes diagnosis and treatment services was found to be cost-effective, when provided to the poorest 40% of the SA population. ECEA provides a useful platform for including equity considerations to inform priority setting and implementation policies in SA