‘Power has a penis’: Cost reduction, social exchange, and sexism in metal - reviewing the work of Sonia Vasan

In this short article I review Sonia Vasan’s contribution to understandings of women’s negotiations of sexism within death metal. Women’s experiences and identities as metal fans has been a growing area of interest amongst metal scholars, and Vasan’s work makes a very useful contribution to this field. Her work on group behaviour from a social psychology perspective brings new insights about how the death metal scene remains fairly static in its male dominance

Comparative decline in funding of European Commission malaria vaccine projects: what next for the European scientists working in this field?

Since 2000, under the Fifth and subsequent Framework Programmes, the European Commission has funded research to spur the development of a malaria vaccine. This funding has contributed to the promotion of an integrated infrastructure consisting of European basic, applied and clinical scientists in academia and small and medium enterprises, together with partners in Africa. Research has added basic understanding of what is required of a malaria vaccine, allowing selected candidates to be prioritized and some to be moved forward into clinical trials. To end the health burden of malaria, and its economic and social impact on development, the international community has now essentially committed itself to the eventual eradication of malaria. Given the current tentative advances towards elimination or eradication of malaria in many endemic areas, malaria vaccines constitute an additional and almost certainly essential component of any strategic plan to interrupt transmission of malaria. However, funding for malaria vaccines has been substantially reduced in the Seventh Framework Programme compared with earlier Framework Programmes, and without further support the gains made by earlier European investment will be lost

‘Smash the patriarchy’: the changing meanings and work of ‘patriarchy’ online

This article discusses the resurgence of the term ‘patriarchy’ in digital culture and reflects on the everyday online meanings of the term in distinction to academic theorisations. In the 1960s–1980s, feminists theorised patriarchy as the systematic oppression of women, with differing approaches to how it worked. Criticisms that the concept was unable to account for intersectional experiences of oppression, alongside the ‘turn to culture’, resulted in a fall from academic grace. However, ‘patriarchy’ has found new life through Internet memes (humorous, mutational images that circulate widely on social media). This article aims to investigate the resurgence of the term ‘patriarchy’ in digital culture. Based on an analysis of memes with the phrase ‘patriarchy’ and ‘smash the patriarchy’, we identify how patriarchy memes are used by two different online communities (feminists and anti-feminists) and consider what this means for the ongoing usefulness of the concept of patriarchy. We argue that, whilst performing important community-forming work, using the term is a risky strategy for feminists for two reasons: first, because memes are by their nature brief, there is little opportunity to address intersections of oppression; secondly, the underlying logic of feminism is omitted in favour of brevity, leaving it exposed to being undermined by the more mainstream logic of masculinism

Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs on GABA Responses and on Reduction of GABA Responses by PTZ and DMCM on Mouse Neurons in Cell Culture

The mechanisms of action of antiepileptic drugs effective against generalized absence seizures (antiabsence AEDs) remain uncertain. Antiabsence AEDs are generally effective against seizures induced in experimental animals by pentylenÉtÉtrazol (PTZ) and methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-Β-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM), drugs which reduce GABAergic inhibition. Thus, antiabsence AEDs have been suggested to enhance GABAergic inhibition. We studied the effects of several AEDs on GABA responses recorded from mouse spinal cord neurons grown in primary dissociated cell culture. Four antiabsence AEDs were included: ethosuximide (ESM), dimethadione (DMO), sodium valproate (VPA), and diazepam (DZP). Two experimental AEDs, CGS 9896 and ZK 91296, with anticonvulsant action against PTZ- or DMCM-induced seizures were also included. Possible effects of the antiabsence and experimental AEDS on PTZ- and DMCM-induced inhibition of GABA responses were also evaluated. PTZ and DMCM revers-ibly reduced GABA responses in a concentration-dependent manner. PTZ complÉtÉly inhibited GABA responses at 10 mM (IC 50 of 1.1 mM), whereas DMCM-induced inhibition of GABA responses reached a plateau level of 39% of control values at 1 p.M (IC 50 of 33 nM). ESM (1,200 ΜM), DMO (6 mM), VPA (200 u.M), CGS 9896 (2 ΜM), and ZK 98% (2 Μ M ) did not alter GABA responses. DZP enhanced GABA responses in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition of GABA responses produced by PTZ 1 mM was unaltered by ESM (600 Μ M ), DMO (6 mM), CGS 9896 (1 Μ M), or ZK 9896 (1 ΜM)- Coapplication of VPA (200 ΜM) and PTZ (1 mM) slightly enhanced the PTZ effect. DZP (> 10 nM), however, reversed the PTZ-induced reduction of GABA responses. The DMCM (250 nM) inhibition of GABA-responses was unaltered by ESM (600 Μ.M), DMO (2 mM), or VPA (200 ΜM). CGS 9896 (2 Μ M ) and ZK 91296 (2 ΜM), however, antagonized the DMCM effect. DZP (> 10 nM) significantly reversed the DMCM-induced inhibition of GABA responses. The lack of effect of VPA, ESM, and DMO on postsynaptic GABA responses suggests that direct enhancement of postsynaptic GABA action is not a common mechanism of action of antiabsence AEDs. The AEDs DZP, CGS 98%, and ZK 912% all reversed DMCM, but not PTZ, reduction of GABA responses, suggesting that these AEDs blocked DMCM seizures by acting at benzodiazepine receptors. However, since only DZP enhanced GABA responses, it is unclear how CGS 98% and ZK 912% blocked PTZ seizures. Key Words: Anticonvulsants–GABA–Neuron culture–Cell culture–Spinal cord neurons–Convulsants. RESUMEN Los mecanismos de accidn de las medicaciones antiepilÉpticas eficaces contra los ataques generalizados de ausencia (AEDs antiausencia) permanecen inciertos. Los AEDs antiausencia son, generalmente, eficaces contra ataques experimentales inducidos por el pentilentetrazol (PTZ) y el metil-6,7-dimetoxy-4-etil-Pcarbolina-3-carboxilato (DMCM) en animates, medicaciones que reducen la inhibiciÓn GABAÉrgica. Hemos estudiado los efectos de varios AEDs sobre respuestas-GABA registradas en las neuronas de la mÉdula espinal de ratones que habian crecido en cultivos de cÉlulas primarieas disociadas. Cuatro AEDs antiausencia fueron incluidos: etoxusimida (ESM), dimetadiona (DMO), valproato sÓdico (VPA) y diazepan (DZP). TambtÉn se incluyeron dos AEDs experimentales, CGS 9896 y ZK 912%, con acciÓn anticonvulsiva contra los ataques inducidos por PTZ o DMCM. TambiÓn se valoraron los posibles efectos de los AEDs antiausencia y experimentales sobre el PTZ y la inhibiciÓn de las respuestas-GABA inducidas por el DMCM. El PTZ y el DMCM redujeron las respuestas-GABA de modo reversible y dependiendo de sus concentraciones. El PTZ inhibiÓ cmpleta-mente las respuestas-GABA a 10 mM (IC 50 de 1.1 mM) mientras que la inhibitiÓn de las respuestas GABA inducida por el DMCM alcanzÓ un nivel estable del 39% de los valores control con 1 Μ. M (IC 50 de 33 mM). La ESM (1200 Μ.M), la DMO (6 mM), el VPA (200 Μ M ), el CGS 98% (2 Μ M) y el ZK 98% (2 Μ M) no alteraron las respuestas-GABA. El DZP aumentÓ las respuestas GABA de una manera concentraciÓn-dependiente. La inhibition de las respuestas-GABA producidas por el PTZ (1 mM), no se altero con las ESM (600 Μ M), la DMO (6 mM), el CGS 98% (1 Μ M) o el ZK 98% (1 Μ .M). La co-aplicacion de VPA (200 Μ M) y el PTZ (1 mM) aument6 ligeramente los efectos del PTZ. Sin embargo el DZP (10 nM) revirtiÓ significativamente la inhibition de las respuestas GABA inducidas por el DMCM. La falta de efectos de CPA, ESM y DMO sobre las respuestas GABA post-sinÁpticas sugiere que el incremento de la acciÓn GABA post-sinÁptica no es un mecanismo comÚn de actuatiÓn de las AEDs antiausencia. Todas las AEDs DZP, CGS 98% y ZK 912% revirtieron la reduction de las respuestas GABA producidas por el DMCM pero no las inducidas por el PTZ lo que sugiere que estos AEDs bloquean los ataques DMCM actuando sobre los receptores de la benzodiazepina. Sin embargo, puesto que el incremento de las respuestas GABA sÓlÓ se produce por el DZP, permanece todavia sin aclarar el por quÉ el CGS 98% y el ZK 912% bloquean los ataques producidos por el PTZ. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Der Wirkmechansimus von Antiepileptika gegen generalisierte Absencen ist unklar. Antiabsencemittel sind generell wirkungs-voll gegen PTZ- und Methyl-6,7-Dimethoxy-4-Äthyl-P-Carbolin-Β-Carboxylat (DMCM) induzierte tierexperimentelle AnfÄlle, also von Medikamenten, die die GABA-erge Inhibition reduzieren. Es wurde vermutet, daß Antiabsencemittel die GABA-erge Inhibition verstÄrken. Wir untersuchten die Wirkung von verschiedenen Antiepileptika auf GABA-Antworten in spinalen MÄuseneuronen, die in Zellkulturen gew-achsen waren. Es wurden 4 Absencemittel untersucht: Ethosux-imid (ESM), Dimethadion (DMD), Sodium Valproat (VPA) und Diazepam (DZP). ZusÄtzlich wurden 2 experimentelle Antiepileptika, CGS 98% und ZK 912%, die gegen PTZ0 oder DMCM-induzierte AnfÄlle wirkungsvoll sind, eingeschlossen. Mogliche Wirkungen der Antiabsence- und experimentellen Antiepileptika auf PTZ- und DMCM-induzierte Hemmung der GABA-Antworten wurden ebenfalls ausgewertet. PTZ und DMCM zeigten eine konzentrationsabhÄngige reversible Reduktion der GABA-Antworten. PTZ zeigte eine komplette Hemmung der GABA-Antworten bei 10 mM (IC 50 1,1 mM), DMCM-Hemmung der GABA-Antworten zeigte ein Plateau von 39% der Kontroll-werte bei 1 uJtf (ICJO von 33 mAfl. ESM (1200 uJtf), DMD (6 mM), VPA (200 Μ M), CGS 98% (2 Μ M) und ZK 98% (2 Μ M) anderten nicht die GABA-Antworten. DZP verstarkte die GABA-Antworten konzentrationsabhangig. Die durch PTZ (1 mM) hervorgerufene Hemmung der GABA-Antworten war bei ESM (600 Μ M), DMD (6 mM), CGS 98% (1 mAO und ZK 3836 (1 mM) unverÄndert. ZusÄtliche Anwendung von VPA (200 mM) und PTZ (1 mM) verstÄrkten geringfÜgig den PTZ-Effekt. DZP (10 nM) kehrte die durch PTZ hervorgerufene Reduktion der GABA-Antworten um. Die durch DMCM (250 nM) hervorgerufene Hemmung der GABA-Antworten war durch ESM (600 Μ .M), DMD (2 mM) und VPA (200 Μ M ) unbeeinflusst. CGS 98% (2 Μ M) und ZK 912% (2 Μ M ) antagonisierten die DMCM-Wirkung. DZP (>10 nM) kehrte die durch DMCM-induzierte Hemmung der GABA-Antworten um. Das Fehlen einer Wirkung von VPA. ESM und DMD auf die postsynaptischen GABA-Antworten legen nahe, daß eine direkte VerstÄrkung der postsynaptischen GABA-Aktion kein gemeinsamer Mechanis-mus der Antiabsencemittel darstellt. Die Antiepileptika DZP, CGS 98% und ZK 912% kehrten die DMCM-Wirkung auf die GABA-Antworten um, jedoch nicht die von PTZ, was vermuten lapt, daß diese Antiepileptika die DMCM-AnfÄlle Über die Wirkung an den Benzodiazipin-Rezeptoren verhinderte. Da jedoch nur DZP GABA-Antworten verstarkte, ist unklar, in welcher Weise CGS 98% und ZK 912% die PTZ-AnfaUe ver-hinderten.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65188/1/j.1528-1157.1989.tb05275.x.pd

Untangling free carrier and exciton dynamics in layered hybrid perovskites using ultrafast optical and terahertz spectroscopy

\ua9 2024 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.Layered hybrid perovskites (LPKs) are promising as alternatives or additives to 3D metal halide perovskites for optoelectronic applications including photovoltaic cells, LEDs and lasers due to their increased stability. However, high exciton binding energies in these materials mean that excitons are the majority species under the operating conditions of many devices. Although the efficiency of devices that incorporate LPKs has been increasing, much is still unknown about the interplay of excitons and free charge-carriers in these materials, which is vital information for understanding how optoelectronic properties dictate device efficiency. In this work, we employ optical pump/THz probe spectroscopy (OPTP) and visible transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) to analyse the optoelectronic properties and charge-carrier dynamics of phenylethylammonium lead iodide (PEA)2PbI4. By combining these techniques, we are able to disentangle the contributions from excitons and free charge-carriers. We observe fast cooling of free charge-carriers and exciton formation on a timescale of ∼400 fs followed by slower bimolecular recombination of residual free charge-carriers with a rate constant k 2 ∼ 109 cm3s−1. Excitons recombine via two monomolecular processes with lifetimes t 1 ∼ 11 ps and t2 ∼ 83 ps. Furthermore, we detect signatures of exciton-phonon coupling in the transient absorption kinetic traces. These findings provide new insight into the interplay between free charge-carriers and excitons as well as a possible mechanism to further understand the charge-carrier dynamics in LPKs

Non-Perturbative Renormalization Group for Simple Fluids

We present a new non perturbative renormalization group for classical simple fluids. The theory is built in the Grand Canonical ensemble and in the framework of two equivalent scalar field theories as well. The exact mapping between the three renormalization flows is established rigorously. In the Grand Canonical ensemble the theory may be seen as an extension of the Hierarchical Reference Theory (L. Reatto and A. Parola, \textit{Adv. Phys.}, \textbf{44}, 211 (1995)) but however does not suffer from its shortcomings at subcritical temperatures. In the framework of a new canonical field theory of liquid state developed in that aim our construction identifies with the effective average action approach developed recently (J. Berges, N. Tetradis, and C. Wetterich, \textit{Phys. Rep.}, \textbf{363} (2002))

GPAQ-R: development and psychometric properties of a version of the general practice assessment questionnaire for use for revalidation by general practitioners in the UK.

BACKGROUND: The General Practice Assessment Questionnaire (GPAQ) has been widely used to assess patient experience in general practice in the UK since 2004. In 2013, new regulations were introduced by the General Medical Council (GMC) requiring UK doctors to undertake periodic revalidation, which includes assessment of patient experience for individual doctors. We describe the development of a new version of GPAQ - GPAQ-R which addresses the GMC's requirements for revalidation as well as additional NHS requirements for surveys that GPs may need to carry out in their own practices. METHODS: Questionnaires were given out by doctors or practice staff after routine consultations in line with the guidance given by the General Medical Council for surveys to be used for revalidation. Data analysis and practice reports were provided independently. RESULTS: Data were analysed for questionnaires from 7258 patients relating to 164 GPs in 29 general practices. Levels of missing data were generally low (typically 4.5-6%). The number of returned questionnaires required to achieve reliability of 0.7 were around 35 for individual doctor communication items and 29 for a composite score based on doctor communication items. This suggests that the responses to GPAQ-R had similar reliability to the GMC's own questionnaire and we recommend 30 completed GPAQ-R questionnaires are sufficient for revalidation purposes. However, where an initial screen raises concern, the survey might be repeated with 50 completed questionnaires in order to increase reliability. CONCLUSIONS: GPAQ-R is a development of a well-established patient experience questionnaire used in general practice in the UK since 2004. This new version can be recommended for use in order to meet the UK General Medical Council's requirements for surveys to be used in revalidation of doctors. It also meets the needs of GPs to ask about patient experience relating to aspects of practice care that are not specific to individual general practitioners (e.g. receptionists, telephone access) which meet other survey requirements of the National Health Service in England. Use of GPAQ-R has the potential to reduce the number of surveys that GPs need to carry out in their practices to meet the various regulatory requirements which they face

Identification of the factors associated with outcomes in a condition management programme

<p>Background: A requirement of the Government’s Pathways to Work (PtW) agenda was to introduce a Condition Management Programme (CMP). The aim of the present study was to identify the differences between those who engaged and made progress in this telephone-based biopsychosocial intervention, in terms of their health, and those who did not and to determine the client and practitioner characteristics and programme elements associated with success in a programme aimed at improving health.</p> <p>Methods: Data were obtained from the CMP electronic spreadsheets and clients paper-based case records. CMP standard practice was that questionnaires were administered during the pre- and post-assessment phases over the telephone. Each client’s record contains their socio-demographic data, their primary health condition, as well as the pre- and post-intervention scores of the health assessment tool administered. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis was used to investigate the relationships between the database variables. Clients were included in the study if their records were available for analysis from July 2006 to December 2007.</p> <p> Results: On average there were 112 referrals per month, totalling 2016 referrals during the evaluation period. The majority (62.8%) of clients had a mental-health condition. Successful completion of the programme was 28.5% (575 “completers”; 144 “discharges”). Several factors, such as age, health condition, mode of contact, and practitioner characteristics, were significant determinants of participation and completion of the programme. The results showed that completion of the CMP was associated with a better mental-health status, by reducing the number of clients that were either anxious, depressed or both, before undertaking the programme, from 74% to 32.5%.</p> <p>Conclusions: Our findings showed that an individual's characteristics are associated with success in the programme, defined as completing the intervention and demonstrating an improved health status. This study provides some evidence that the systematic evaluation of such programmes and interventions could identify ways in which they could be improved.</p&gt

Four Generations: SUSY and SUSY Breaking

We revisit four generations within the context of supersymmetry. We compute the perturbativity limits for the fourth generation Yukawa couplings and show that if the masses of the fourth generation lie within reasonable limits of their present experimental lower bounds, it is possible to have perturbativity only up to scales around 1000 TeV. Such low scales are ideally suited to incorporate gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking, where the mediation scale can be as low as 10-20 TeV. The minimal messenger model, however, is highly constrained. While lack of electroweak symmetry breaking rules out a large part of the parameter space, a small region exists, where the fourth generation stau is tachyonic. General gauge mediation with its broader set of boundary conditions is better suited to accommodate the fourth generation.Comment: 27 pages, 5 figure