Light, energy, and gendered oil gluttony: Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel’s challenges to petrocapitalism

Extraction companies and the political regime that they deal with in Equatorial Guinea rely on genderwashing narratives to justify their actions. Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel, via an aesthetic of gendered oil gluttony, disrupts genderwashing narratives by laying plain how exploitation of women is linked to petrocapitalism. But Ávila Laurel's challenges to petrocapitalism go beyond the content of his writing. Style and form borrowed from oral tradition reinforce the disruptive power of Ávila Laurel's work, as does its strategic distribution in particular countries of the Global North

Natural Resources and Intifada: Oil, Phosphates and Resistance to Colonialism in Western Sahara

Rich in resources and small in population, Western Sahara, partially occupied since 1975 by neighbouring Morocco, has a history shaped to a large extent by its natural wealth. Indeed, sovereignty over the country’s phosphates became a key claim of the pro-independence, anti-Spanish Saharawi movement in the early 1970s. Yet I argue in this paper that, since the beginning of the Moroccan colonial period, it is only recently that sovereignty over these resources has re-emerged as a prominent demand of the Saharawi resistance activists. My paper charts the long history of mostly non-violent resistance in the Occupied Territories, the focus of which, since the Moroccan occupation, has traditionally been on human rights and independence. Drawing on theories of hegemony and everyday resistance, my paper explores what has prompted the recent turn towards natural resources as a demand of Saharawi pro-independence activists and asks what the wider implications of these new resistance claims are

On-line Ramsey numbers of paths and cycles

Consider a game played on the edge set of the infinite clique by two players, Builder and Painter. In each round, Builder chooses an edge and Painter colours it red or blue. Builder wins by creating either a red copy of $G$ or a blue copy of $H$ for some fixed graphs $G$ and $H$. The minimum number of rounds within which Builder can win, assuming both players play perfectly, is the on-line Ramsey number $\tilde{r}(G,H)$. In this paper, we consider the case where $G$ is a path $P_k$. We prove that $\tilde{r}(P_3, P_{\ell+1}) = \lceil 5\ell/4 \rceil = \tilde{r}(P_3, C_\ell)$ for all $\ell \ge 5$, and determine $\tilde{r}(P_4, P_{\ell+1}$) up to an additive constant for all $\ell \ge 3$. We also prove some general lower bounds for on-line Ramsey numbers of the form $\tilde{r}(P_{k+1},H)$.Comment: Preprin

Making citizen science newsworthy in the era of big data

This article examines certain guiding tenets of science journalism in the era of big data by focusing on its engagement with citizen science. Having placed citizen science in historical context, it highlights early interventions intended to help establish the basis for an alternative epistemological ethos recognising the scientist as citizen and the citizen as scientist. Next, the article assesses further implications for science journalism by examining the challenges posed by big data in the realm of citizen science. Pertinent issues include potential risks associated with data quality, access dynamics, the difficulty investigating algorithms, and concerns about certain constraints impacting on transparency and accountability

Violence and gender in Africa's Iberian colonies: feminizing the Portuguese and Spanish empire, 1950s–1970s

by Andreas Stucki, Cham, Switzerland, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019, 362 pp., €83.19 (hardback), ISBN 978-3030172299 / €67.40 (e-book), ISBN 978-303017230

Using Case Study to Examine Simulation in a Problem-based Course

Background: In the last decade, simulation-based learning has flourished with the context of professional practice and education. Within this development, the value of enhancing problem-based learning (PBL) with technology, specifically high-fidelity simulation has not been well-investigated. More specifically, baccalaureate nursing students’ perspectives in using a high-fidelity simulation (HFS) activity during a theoretical problem-based nursing course have not been examined. Purpose: This study explored the perceptions of second year nursing students when HFS and PBL were integrated in a theoretical nursing course. Method: In this study, a descriptive, qualitative research design, specifically case study methodology (Stake, 2005) was used to explore the research inquiry. A convenience sample of 19 nursing students were recruited to participate in one of three focus groups. Results: The findings of the study highlighted the educational value of integrating simulation-based learning in a problem-based theoretical nursing course. Students commented on the importance of understanding new knowledge in the classroom context with the following thematic perceptions: 1) bridging theory and practice, 2) integrating knowledge from other courses, 3) enhancing confidence for practice, 4) learning together, and 5) learning in a safe environment. Conclusion: As nursing students engage in problem-based learning, it is valuable to consider opportunities whereby professional practice concepts are better understood with the merging of two active forms of teaching and learning, PBL and simulation- based learning. Résumé : Contexte : Au cours de la dernière décennie, l’apprentissage par simulation s’est répandu dans les milieux de pratique professionnelle et de formation. Par contre, les bénéfices d’associer la technologie, particulièrement la simulation haute-fidélité, à l’apprentissage par problèmes (APP), n’ont pas été suffisamment étudiés. Et plus spécifiquement, le point de vue des étudiants au baccalauréat en sciences infirmières concernant des activités de simulation haute-fidélité (SHF) pendant un cours théorique d’apprentissage par problèmes de soins, n’a pas été examiné. Objectif : La présente étude explorait le point de vue d’étudiants de deuxième année en sciences infirmières concernant l’intégration de la SHF et l’APP dans un cours théorique de sciences infirmières. Méthode : Un devis de recherche descriptif qualitatif, c\u27est-à-dire une étude de cas (Stake, 2005), a été utilisée pour réaliser les travaux de recherche. Un échantillon de convenance a permis de recruter 19 étudiants en sciences infirmières pour participer à l’un de trois groupes de discussion. Résultats : Les résultats de l’étude ont mis en évidence la valeur éducative de l’intégration de l’apprentissage par simulation à l’apprentissage par problèmes dans un cours théorique en sciences infirmières. Les étudiants ont mentionné l’importance de comprendre les nouvelles connaissances en contexte académique avec les points de vue thématiques suivants : 1) créer des liens entre la théorie et la pratique; 2) intégrer des connaissances acquises lors d’autres cours; 3) améliorer la confiance pour la pratique; 4) apprendre ensemble; et 5) apprendre dans un milieu sécuritaire. Conclusion : Lorsque les étudiants en sciences infirmières participent à l’apprentissage par problèmes, il est important de saisir les occasions où la combinaison de deux formes actives d’enseignement et d’apprentissage, à savoir l’apprentissage par problèmes et l’apprentissage par la simulation, mène à une meilleure compréhension des concepts de pratique professionnelle

Allergy to Prolene Sutures in a Dural Graft for Chiari Decompression

Allergy to Prolene suture is exceedingly rare with only 5 cases reported in the literature. There have been no such cases associated with neurosurgical procedures. Diagnosis is nearly always delayed in spite of persistent symptomatology. A 27-year-old girl with suspected Ehlers-Danlos, connective tissue disorder, underwent posterior fossa decompression for Chiari Type 1 malformation. One year later, the patient presented with urticarial rash from the neck to chest. Cerebrospinal fluid and blood testing, magnetic resonance imaging, and intraoperative exploration did not suggest allergic reaction. Eventually skin testing proved specific Prolene allergy. After suture material was removed, the patient no longer complained of pruritus or rash. This single case highlights the important entity of allergic reaction to suture material, namely, Prolene, which can present in a delayed basis. Symptomatology can be vague but has typical allergic characteristics. Multidisciplinary approach is helpful with confirmatory skin testing as a vital part of the workup

Speciation control during Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of haloaryl and haloalkenyl MIDA boronic esters

Boronic acid solution speciation can be controlled during the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of haloaryl MIDA boronic esters to enable the formal homologation of boronic acid derivatives. The reaction is contingent upon control of the basic biphase and is thermodynamically driven: temperature control provides highly chemoselective access to either BMIDA adducts at room temperature or BPin products at elevated temperature. Control experiments and solubility analyses have provided some insight into the mechanistic operation of the formal homologation process

Clinical Diagnosis and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Transient and Minor Neurological Symptoms: A Prospective Cohort Study

The utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain in patients with transient or minor neurological symptoms is uncertain. We sought to determine the proportion of participants with transient or minor neurological symptoms who had MRI evidence of acute ischemia at different clinical probabilities of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke. METHODS: Cohort of participants with transient or minor neurological symptoms from emergency and outpatient settings. Clinicians at different levels of training gave each participant a diagnostic probability (probable when TIA/stroke was the most likely differential diagnosis; possible when TIA/stroke was not the most likely differential diagnosis; or uncertain when diagnostic probability could not be given) before 1.5 or 3T brain MRI ≤5 days from onset. Post hoc, each clinical syndrome was defined blind to MRI findings as National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke criteria TIA/stroke; International Headache Society criteria migraine aura; non-TIA focal symptoms; or nonfocal symptoms. MRI evidence of acute ischemia was defined by 2 reads of MRI. Stroke was ascertained for at least 90 days and up to 18 months after recruitment. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-two participated (47% female, mean age 60, SD 14), 58% with MRI ≤2 days of onset. Most (92%) reported focal symptoms. MR evidence of acute ischemia was found, for stroke/TIA clinical probabilities of probable 23 out of 75 (31% [95% CI, 21%–42%]); possible 26 out of 151 (17% [12%–24%]); and uncertain 9 out of 43, (20% [10%–36%]). MRI evidence of acute ischemia was found in National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke criteria TIA/stroke 40 out of 95 (42% [32%–53%]); migraine aura 4 out of 38 (11% [3%–25%]); non-TIA focal symptoms 16 out of 99 (16% [10%–25%]); and no focal features 1 out of 29 (3% [0%–18%]). After MRI, a further 14 (5% [95% CI, 3–8]) would be treated with an antiplatelet drug compared with treatment plan before MRI. By 18 months, a new ischemic stroke occurred in 9 out of 61 (18%) patients with MRI evidence of acute ischemia and 2 out of 211 (1%) without (age-adjusted hazard ratio, 13 [95% CI, 3–62]; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: MRI evidence of acute brain ischemia was found in about 1 in 6 transient or minor neurological symptoms patients with a nonstroke/TIA initial diagnosis or uncertain diagnosis. Methods to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of MRI are needed in this population