Introduction: The Wherewithal of Feminist Methods

Concepts, devices and practices have proliferated considerably since the signifier ‘feminist’ was first attached to ‘method’ and ‘methodology’, most prominently in the 1980s. Early discussions suggested that feminist research and knowledge-making demanded a distinct approach to empirical inquiry: one that recognised and overturned systemic gender disparities, validated women’s ‘experience’, rejected hierarchies between the researcher and research participant, and had emancipation and social change as its purpose. Some of these early defining aspirations have been used to experiment with method and continue to incite lively debate about the politics of knowledge production and even what might be the best feminist method (Wilkinson, 1999). Others have been recast by new technologies and the greater attention given to non-human modes of relating in areas such as science and technology studies, epigenomics and climatology. Yet, a commitment to make feminism mean something in the doing of research, cultural analysis, teaching, artistic practice and in activism, has continued to complicate and supplement the idea of a distinct feminist methodological imperative. It was from this point of enduring attachment, ‘returns’ as ‘products of repetition, of coming back to persistent troublings’ (Hughes and Lury, 2013, p.787), and curiosity that our call for papers for this themed issue asked: ‘Where are we with feminist methods?

Epiphyte Distributions Vary with Structural Heterogeneity in Acer Macrophyllum

As a foundation species, epiphytes play an essential role in augmenting biodiversity within an ecosystem. In the Hoh temperate rainforest, Acer macrophyllum (bigleaf maple) trees host more epiphytic biomass than any other tree in the Pacific Northwest. Previous studies in tropical rainforests, as well as in the Woods lab have used broad-scale zonation techniques to examine how resource partitioning creates epiphytic specialization, but the variation in epiphyte species around the circumference of the trunk and branches suggests that the true heterogeneity of the tree is left uncaptured by this method. Using dot-intercept method, fine-scale epiphyte distribution data was taken from around the entire circumference of one bigleaf maple tree every meter up the trunk and for three meters along a branch. Factors zone, structure, and orientation all had significant effects on species richness. Trunk zones with more than one structural characteristic have higher species richness. Analysis of species distribution patterns show that many species appear to be specialized to certain trunk zones or substrates, suggesting that the unique structural characteristics of a given bigleaf maple tree allow for a greater diversity of non-vascular epiphytes on the irregular structures

Toward a Better Understanding of The Virtual Economy Platforms

Understanding the virtual world (VW) platforms, the virtual currency (v-currency) exchange rate, and the marketplace is critical to the success of the virtual economy (v-economy). However, the current knowledge on VW platforms, marketplace, and currency exchange rate is incomplete. Drawing on the v-economy dimensions, this study proposes a diagram that produces a suitable integration of dimensions, which provides high chances of improving the v-economy activities in the VW. The finding indicates that there are three dimensions that could integrate together to improve a v-economy platform, and these are a dynamic platform, a free currency exchange rate, and a free marketplace

Invisible Spread and Perceived Stress Amidst COVID-19

Introduction. There are limited reports on the mental health toll associated with the fear of spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the associated stay-at-home orders. The goal of the present study was to characterize the self-reported stress of participants from the Kansas City Metropolitan Area (KCMA) and to examine the relation between potential for asymptomatic spread and perceived stress.  Methods. Enrollment of 461 participants occurred from May 4-May 22, 2020. The sample participants were predominantly women (69.6%). On average, participants were 44.9 years of age (SD = 14.6). Measures employed included the perceived stress scale-10 and a comprehensive COVID-19 questionnaire. Results. Worry about asymptomatic spread was significantly associated with greater perceived stress (p<0.001). Higher stress was reported among individuals who were women (p<0.001), Hispanic/Latinx (p=0.001), and non-Black/African American individuals (p<0.001), and those reporting the presence of COVID-19 symptoms (p=0.001).  Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant economic, social, health, and other disruptions around the world. Distress is significantly related to concern over unintentionally contributing to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through asymptomatic transmission. Future research should characterize the modifiable psychotherapeutic processes that might be targeted through intervention

Introduction - environment

Introduction to Feminist Review, themed issue on Environmen

Early United States Political Thought

Openly licensed anthology focused on the theme of the Early United States Political Thought. Contains: The Federalist Papers, The Anti-Federalist Papers, Constitutional Convention Debates Vol. I and II, A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention

Accuracy of physician-estimated probability of brain injury in children with minor head trauma

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of physician estimates of the probability of intracranial injury in children with minor head trauma. Methods: This is a subanalysis of a large prospective multicentre cohort study performed from July 2001 to November2005. During data collection for the derivation of a clinical prediction rule for children with minor head trauma, physicians indicated their estimate of the probability of brain injury visible on computed tomography (P-Injury) and the probability of injury requiring intervention (P-Intervention) by choosing one of the following options: 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 75%, 90%, and 100%. We compared observed frequencies to expected frequencies of injury using Pearson’s χ2-test in analyses stratified by the level of each type of predicted probability and by year of age. Results: In 3771 eligible subjects, the mean predicted risk was 4.6% (P-Injury) and 1.4% (P-Intervention). The observed frequency of injury was 4.1% (any injury) and 0.6% (intervention). For all levels of P-Injury from 1% to 40%, the observed frequency of injury was consistent with the expected frequency. The observed frequencies for the 50%, 75%, and 90% levels were lower than expected (p\u3c0.05). For estimates of P-Intervention, the observed frequency was consistently higher than the expected frequency. Physicians underestimated risk for infants (mean P-Intervention 6.2%, actual risk 12.3%, p\u3c0.001). Conclusions: Physician estimates of probability of any brain injury in children were collectively accurate for children with low and moderate degrees of predicted risk. Risk was underestimated in infants

Aerosol emission from the respiratory tract:an analysis of aerosol generation from oxygen delivery systems

INTRODUCTION: continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) provide enhanced oxygen delivery and respiratory support for patients with severe COVID-19. CPAP and HFNO are currently designated as aerosol-generating procedures despite limited high-quality experimental data. We aimed to characterise aerosol emission from HFNO and CPAP and compare with breathing, speaking and coughing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy volunteers were recruited to breathe, speak and cough in ultra-clean, laminar flow theatres followed by using CPAP and HFNO. Aerosol emission was measured using two discrete methodologies, simultaneously. Hospitalised patients with COVID-19 had cough recorded using the same methodology on the infectious diseases ward. RESULTS: In healthy volunteers (n=25 subjects; 531 measures), CPAP (with exhalation port filter) produced less aerosol than breathing, speaking and coughing (even with large >50 L/min face mask leaks). Coughing was associated with the highest aerosol emissions of any recorded activity. HFNO was associated with aerosol emission, however, this was from the machine. Generated particles were small (<1 µm), passing from the machine through the patient and to the detector without coalescence with respiratory aerosol, thereby unlikely to carry viral particles. More aerosol was generated in cough from patients with COVID-19 (n=8) than volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy volunteers, standard non-humidified CPAP is associated with less aerosol emission than breathing, speaking or coughing. Aerosol emission from the respiratory tract does not appear to be increased by HFNO. Although direct comparisons are complex, cough appears to be the main aerosol-generating risk out of all measured activities