Multiparty talk in the novel: the distribution of tea and talk in a scene from Evelyn Waugh's Black Mischief

This article argues that studies of fictional dialogue have hitherto neglected the specific dynamics of multiparty talk. I will contend that this neglect contributes to the perpetuation of an "ideal" of conversation that allows no space for either the frustrations and inequalities of such encounters or the unique pleasures they may bring to the reader. I urge the importance of distinguishing between group talk, in which there is some element of cohesion and shared goals, and multiparty talk, in which the representation foregrounds fragmentation and explores the often subtle power games played by the participants. Focusing on a scene from Evelyn Waugh's Black Mischief (1986 [1932]), I argue that Waugh is sensitive to the dynamics of multiparty talk while orchestrating the representation for comic effect. I propose that analyzing such scenes of multiparty talk must make us reassess not only how we theorize fictional dialogue, but how far our models of everyday speech serve to privilege and universalize certain conversational practices and mechanisms based almost exclusively on the duologue

Tales from the Timeline: Experiments with Narrative on Twitter

This article will provide an overview of the state of the art of contemporary forms of Twitterfiction, discussing the varieties and genres that have emerged to date, and considering the extent to which they could be described as ‘experimental’ based on existing theory. The article will argue that the most innovative examples of Twitterfiction play with key features and affordances of Twitter, but that this in itself may not constitute the kind of artistic experimentation that fundamentally disrupts or changes readers’ perceptions or expectations. Moving beyond the current preoccupation with examples of Twitterfiction as ‘short bursts of beauty’, the article will examine whether Twitter can support more sustained and immersive forms of narrative. It will also argue that in order to understand how these fictions work on Twitter we need to look at the narrative environment more broadly, to fully appreciate how these narratives impact on our daily lives, while also (re)connecting us with existing and traditional patterns and practices

All Talk: Dialogue and Intimacy in Spike Jonze's Her

This chapter focuses on the ways in which film dialogue can enact and foreground the complex mechanisms underlying conversational interaction, and demonstrate the ways in which verbal interaction may be as much about concealment and solipsism as it is about intimacy and revelation. With close reference to Spike Jonze’s Her, which centres on the developing relationship between a lonely writer and an operating system designed to fulfill his every need, the chapter will examine how the film’s foregrounding of character dialogue to the exclusion of almost everything else challenges convention and relies on the audience to read between the lines of the characters’ utterances. The chapter draws on theories of dialogue from literary criticism, narratology and linguistics as well as film studies to argue that dialogue in film is not just about exquisitely staged scenes or displays of auteurish experimentation, but plays an integral role in the audience’s active engagement with the characters and their investment in their unfolding relationships

The Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) applied to primary data: protocol for a systematic review

Introduction Frailty is characterised by vulnerability to adverse health outcomes and increases with age. Many frailty risk scores have been developed. One important example is the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) which has the potential to be widely used and automatically calculated which will provide accurate assessment of frailty in a time/cost-effective manner. This systematic review, therefore, seeks to describe the HFRS use since its publication in 2018. Methods and analysis The proposed systematic review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We will include published original peer-reviewed articles, preprints, conference proceedings and letters to the editor reporting primary data where there is an English language abstract available from 1 January 2018 to 30 June 2022. Databases to be searched are MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science. Additional studies from, for example, the reference of the included studies will be identified and assessed for potential inclusion. Two independent reviewers will perform and assess the following: (1) eligibility of the included studies, (2) critical appraisal using the Cochrane Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool, and (3) data extraction using a predefined form. Disagreements will be resolved through discussions or by involvement of a third reviewer. It may be possible to undertake a meta-analysis if there are sufficient studies reporting effect measures in homogenous populations and/or settings. Effect sizes will be calculated using meta-analysis methods and expressed as risk ratios or ORs with 95% CIs. Ethics and dissemination No ethical approval is required for this systematic review as it will use secondary data only. The results of the systematic review will be submitted for publication in recognised peer-reviewed journals related to frailty and geriatric care and will be widely disseminated through conferences, congresses, seminars, symposia and scientific meetings

The Evolution of Tailings Seepage Chemistry at One of Australia's Largest and Longest Operating Mines

ABSTRACT The Mount Isa mines have been active for more than 90 years and have played a significant role in the economy of Queensland. Process tailings from both copper and lead-zinc production streams are deposited in a large valley fill tailings storage facility which currently has an approximate surface area of 14 km 2 . The site is a world class sedimentary deposit with climatic conditions typified by prolonged dry seasons with relatively short, high intensity wet seasons. This paper discusses the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of the tailings, and the assessment of the potential for metal leaching, to aid mine closure planning. Historical tailings at Mount Isa are generally non-acid forming based on conventional acid base accounting, mineralogical examination, and kinetic testing. However, modern tailings are characterized by higher sulfide and associated trace element content, and lower carbonate mineral content than historical tailings. Changes in tailings composition are likely attributable to changes in ore and mineral processing methods, and time since tailings deposition. Strategies are currently being developed for the placement of a suitable cover system to reduce surface water -tailings interaction following decommissioning of the TSF. This study demonstrates the benefit of integrating detailed geochemical characterization into closure and rehabilitation planning

Screening for Low Energy Availability in Male Athletes: Attempted Validation of LEAM-Q

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Screening for low energy availability in male athletes : Attempted validation of LEAM-Q

A questionnaire-based screening tool for male athletes at risk of low energy availability (LEA) could facilitate both research and clinical practice. The present options rely on proxies for LEA such screening tools for disordered eating, exercise dependence, or those validated in female athlete populations. in which the female-specific sections are excluded. To overcome these limitations and support progress in understanding LEA in males, centres in Australia, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden collaborated to develop a screening tool (LEAM-Q) based on clinical investigations of elite and sub-elite male athletes from multiple countries and ethnicities, and a variety of endurance and weight-sensitive sports. A bank of questions was developed from previously validated questionnaires and expert opinion on various clinical markers of LEA in athletic or eating disorder populations, dizziness, thermoregulation, gastrointestinal symptoms, injury, illness, wellbeing, recovery, sleep and sex drive. The validation process covered reliability, content validity, a multivariate analysis of associations between variable responses and clinical markers, and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis of variables, with the inclusion threshold being set at 60% sensitivity. Comparison of the scores of the retained questionnaire variables between subjects classified as cases or controls based on clinical markers of LEA revealed an internal consistency and reliability of 0.71. Scores for sleep and thermoregulation were not associated with any clinical marker and were excluded from any further analysis. Of the remaining variables, dizziness, illness, fatigue, and sex drive had sufficient sensitivity to be retained in the questionnaire, but only low sex drive was able to distinguish between LEA cases and controls and was associated with perturbations in key clinical markers and questionnaire responses. In summary, in this large and international cohort, low sex drive was the most effective self-reported symptom in identifying male athletes requiring further clinical assessment for LEA

Reading list: most popular book reviews of 2018

We couldn’t say goodbye to 2018 before sharing our top book reviews of the year, as voted by your clicks