Terrorist transgressions: exploring the gendered representations of the terrorist

Abstract: The primary aim of the Terrorist Transgressions network which is presented here was to analyse the myths inscribed in images of the terrorist and identify how agency is attributed to representation through invocations and inversions of gender stereotypes. Although terrorism, its contexts, histories and forms, has been the focus of intense academic activity in recent years, especially in the fields of politics and international relations, cultural representations of the terrorist have received less attention. While the terrorist is predominantly aligned with masculinity, women have been active in terrorist organizations since the late nineteenth century. Particularly since the 1980s, women have perpetrated suicidal terrorist attacks, including suicide bombing, where the body becomes a weapon. Such attacks have confounded constructions of femininity and masculinity, with profound implications for the gendering of violence and horror. The network established that there is a shift away from analyses of cultural representations of the Red Army Faction, which have dominated the literature since the 1980s. New work has emerged examining representations of the terrorist and gender, including investigations of material from the 1970s, recently made available in archives. There also has been a shift in terms of military discourses around the figure of the enemy or terrorist insurgent in relation to visualizing the invisible enemy. Emerging work on colonial insurgencies contributed to a historical understanding of such debates

The key to the enhanced performance of slab-like topologically interlocked structures with non-planar blocks

Topologically interlocked structures are assemblies of interlocking blocks that hold together solely through contact. Such structures have been shown to exhibit high strength, energy dissipation, and crack arrest properties. Recent studies on beam-like topologically interlocked structures have shown that, with non-planar blocks, it is possible to reach levels of strength and work-to-failure which are otherwise possible only with unrealistically high friction coefficients. While non-planar blocks have been extensively used for slab-like assemblies, many questions in that context are still not fully understood. Specifically, it is unclear what are the exact characteristics of non-planar surface morphologies which can potentially improve the enhanced mechanical response of slab-like assemblies. In addition, it is unclear if slab-like structures with non-planar surface blocks can reach a saturated response with realistic friction coefficient values, as is the case with beam-like ones. Here, we investigate such fundamental questions using numerical simulations. We show that, by using non-planar blocks, it is possible to reach saturation to the response capacity of the structure with a realistic friction coefficient. Furthermore, we show that the key morphology parameter responsible for the enhanced performance is the local angle of inclination at the top of the loaded block. Lastly, we show that non-planar morphologies lead to improved work-to-failure and ultimate deflection, which cannot be attained with planar-faced blocks. These findings shed new light on topologically interlocked structures with non-planar blocks, allowing for a better understanding of their strengths and potential applications

Parallelotopia: Ottoman Transcultural Memory Assemblages in contemporary art practices from the Middle East

This article engages with the conversations taking place in the photographic space between then and now, memory and photography, and with the symbiosis and ethnic violence between different ethnic communities in the ex-Ottoman Empire. It questions the role of photography and contemporary art in creating possibilities for co-existence within the mosaic formed by the various groups that made up the Ottoman Empire. The essay aims to create parallelotopia, spaces in the present that work in parallel with the past and which enable the dynamic exchange of transcultural memories. Drawing on memory theory the article shifts these debates forward by adopting the concept of ‘assemblage’. The article concentrates on the aesthetics of photographs produced by Armenian photographic studios in Istanbul during the late 19th century and their relationship to the present through the work of contemporary artists Klitsa Antoniou, Joanna Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige and Etel Adnan as well as photographic exhibitions organized by the Centre for Asia Minor Studies, Athens Greece

Beam-like topologically interlocked structures with hierarchical interlocking

Topologically interlocked materials and structures, which are assemblies of unbonded interlocking building blocks, are a promising concept for versatile structural applications. They have been shown to display exceptional mechanical properties including outstanding combinations of stiffness, strength, and toughness, beyond those achievable with common engineering materials. Recent work established the theoretical upper limit for the strength and toughness of beam-like topologically interlocked structures. However, this theoretical limit is only achievable for structures with unrealistically high friction coefficients and, therefore, it remains unknown if it is achievable in actual structures. Here, we propose, inspired by biological systems, a hierarchical approach for topological interlocking which overcomes these limitations and provides a path toward optimized mechanical performance. We consider beam-like topologically interlocked structures with geometrically designed surface morphologies, which increases the effective frictional strength of the interfaces, and hence enables us to achieve the theoretical limit with realistic friction coefficients. Using numerical simulations, we examine the effect of sinusoidal surface morphology with controllable amplitude and wavelength on the maximum load-carrying capacity of the structure. Our study discusses various effects of architecturing the surface morphology of beam-like topological interlocked structures, and most notably, it demonstrates its ability to significantly enhance the structure's mechanical performance

Plain X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings of telangiectatic osteosarcoma: a case report

An 18-year-old male patient presented with chronic nonspecific pain of three months located at his left proximal tibia. The patient was admitted to our department for plain X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examination. Plain X-ray and computed tomography revealed a geographic lytic lesion at the medial aspect of the proximal tibia. Biopsy of the lesion showed telangiectatic osteosarcoma. Image findings of all modalities are presented

Ovarian vein thrombosis mimicking acute abdomen: a case report and literature review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is a rare, but serious condition that affects mostly postpartum women. A high index of suspicion is required in order to diagnose this unusual cause of abdominal pain.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 19-year-old woman at three days postpartum was admitted to our hospital because of severe right lower quandrant abdominal pain and fever 38.5'C. Physical examination revealed an acutely ill patient and right lower quadrant tenderness with positive rebound and Giordano signs. The patient underwent appendectomy which proved to be negative for acute appendicitis. Postoperatively fever and pain persisted and abdominal CT-scan with intravenous contrast agent demonstrated a thrombosed right ovarian vein. The patient was initiated on low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and antibiotic treatment and a month later a new abdominal CT-scan showed a patent right ovarian vein.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Pathophysiologically, OVT is explained by Virchow's triad, because pregnancy is associated with a hypercoagulable state, venous stasis due to compression of the inferior vena cava by the uterus and endothelial trauma during delivery or from local inflammation. Common symptoms and signs of OVT include lower abdomen or flank pain, fever and leukocytosis usually within the first ten days after delivery. The reported incidence of OVT ranges 0,05-0,18% of pregnancies and in most cases the right ovarian vein is the one affected. Anticoagulation and antibiotics is the mainstay of treatment of OVT. Complications of OVT include sepsis, extension of the thrombus to the inferior vena cava and renal veins, and pulmonary embolism. The incidence of pulmonary embolism is reported to be 13.2% and represents the main source of mortality due to OVT.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>OVT is a rare condition, usually in the postpartum period. A high index of suspicion is required for the prompt diagnosis and management especially in cases that mimic acute abdomen.</p

Digital Object Cloud for linking natural science collections information; The case of DiSSCo

DiSSCo (The Distributed System of Scientific Collections) is a Research Infrastructure (RI) aiming at providing unified physical (transnational), remote (loans) and virtual (digital) access to the approximately 1.5 billion biological and geological specimens in collections across Europe. DiSSCo represents the largest ever formal agreement between natural science museums (114 organisations across 21 European countries). With political and financial support across 14 European governments and a robust governance model DiSSCo will deliver, by 2025, a series of innovative end-user discovery, access, interpretation and analysis services for natural science collections data. As part of DiSSCo's developing data model, we evaluate the application of Digital Objects (DOs), which can act as the centrepiece of its architecture. DOs have bit-sequences representing some content, are identified by globally unique persistent identifiers (PIDs) and are associated with different types of metadata. The PIDs can be used to refer to different types of information such as locations, checksums, types and other metadata to enable immediate operations. In the world of natural science collections, currently fragmented data classes (inter alia genes, traits, occurrences) that have derived from the study of physical specimens, can be re-united as parts in a virtual container (i.e., as components of a Digital Object). These typed DOs, when combined with software agents that scan the data offered by repositories, can act as complete digital surrogates of the physical specimens. In this paper we: 1. investigate the architectural and technological applicability of DOs for large scale data RIs for bio- and geo-diversity, 2. identify benefits and challenges of a DO approach for the DiSSCo RI and 3. describe key specifications (incl. metadata profiles) for a specimen-based new DO type

FAIR data and services in biodiversity science and geoscience

We examine the intersection of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable), the challenges and opportunities presented by the aggregation of widely distributed and heterogeneous data about biological and geological specimens, and the use of the Digital Object Architecture (DOA) data model and components as an approach to solving those challenges that offers adherence to the FAIR principles as an integral characteristic. This approach will be prototyped in the Distributed System of Scientific Collections (DiSSCo) project, the pan-European Research Infrastructure which aims to unify over 110 natural science collections across 21 countries. We take each of the FAIR principles, discuss them as requirements in the creation of a seamless virtual collection of bio/geo specimen data, and map those requirements to Digital Object components and facilities such as persistent identification, extended data typing, and the use of an additional level of abstraction to normalize existing heterogeneous data structures. The FAIR principles inform and motivate the work and the DO Architecture provides the technical vision to create the seamless virtual collection vitally needed to address scientific questions of societal importance

Ottoman transcultural memories: introduction

This introduction lays out the context and aims for the special issue’s focus on Ottoman transcultural memories. We explain the pertinence of transcultural memories for the Ottoman Empire, and we discuss contemporary politicizations of Ottoman nostalgia, or neo-Ottomanism. We define the key terms in our analyses, rooting our approach in memory studies, and distinguishing a transcultural approach to memory from comparable approaches in postcolonial studies. The introduction further sets out how the special issue refigures memory studies, transcultural, and Ottoman studies. The issue’s contents are outlined, with the interdisciplinary and transmedial contributions necessarily driven by the diverse archives of Ottoman transcultural memories. Creative selections are informed by the affective resonance of Ottoman transcultural memories, in turn refiguring postmemory