Data infrastructures and digital labour : the case of teleradiology

In this thesis, I investigate the effects of digitalisation in teleradiology, the practice of outsourcing radiology diagnosis, through an analysis of the role of infrastructures that enable the transfer, storage, and processing of digital medical data. Consisting of standards, code, protocols and hardware, these infrastructures contribute to the making of complex supply chains that intervene into existing labour processes and produce interdependent relations among radiologists, patients, data engineers, and auxiliary workers. My analysis focuses on three key infrastructures that facilitate teleradiology: Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard, and the Health Level 7 (HL7) standard. PACS is a system of four interconnected components: imaging hardware, a secure network, viewing stations for reading images, and data storage facilities. All of these components use DICOM, which specifies data formats and network protocols for the transfer of data within PACS. HL7 is a standard that defines data structures for the purposes of transfer between medical information systems. My research draws on fieldwork in teleradiology companies in Sydney, Australia, and Bangalore, India, which specialise in international outsourcing of medical imaging diagnostics and provide services for hospitals in Europe, USA, and Singapore, among others. I argue that PACS, DICOM, and HL7 establish a technopolitical context that erodes boundaries between social institutions of labour management and material infrastructures of data control. This intertwining of bureaucratic and infrastructural modes of regulation gives rise to a variety of strategies deployed by companies for maximising productivity, as well as counter-strategies of workers in leveraging mobility and qualifications to their advantage

One-step methods of periodontitis treatment - review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: Due to the fact that most of the endodontic problems are of microbial origin, their removal is considered the most important step in root canal therapy. The number of visits to treat infected root canals is a largely discussed topic in endodontics. For that reason, an alternative protocol, including one visit, is proposed.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of the one-stage treatment of apical periodontitis and to follow the healing process.RESULTS: After reviewing all articles and studies, we find that the one-visit treatment is considered a good alternative to the endodontic treatment. This is due to the introduction of new and advanced technologies and materials in endodontics, including microscopes, NiTi instruments, newer and more reliable detection devices, isolation and modern obturator systems. Most of the presented studies conclude that there are statistically significant differences based on gender, age, position of the tooth in the jaw relative to the healing process.CONCLUSION: The available evidence based on a systematic review of literature suggests that endodontic treatment of teeth diagnosed with asymptomatic apical periodontitis in one visit may be feasible in certain cases

Bioceramics in endodontics - advantages and disadvantages

Идеалният материал за запълване на корено-каналната система трябва да притежава редица качества. Той трябва херметически да обтурира кореновия канал, да се задържа към дентина, да е неразтворим в тъканните течности, да се разширява по време на втвърдяване и да е стабилен след това, да не се резорбира с течение на времето. Друго важно изискване към каналопълнежните средства е да имат добро антимикробно действие и да са радиоактивни. Те трябва лесно да се манипулират. Материалите, предназначени за запълване на корено-каналната система, особено когато се използват за ретроградно запълване, влизат в директен контакт с пародонталните тъкани. Те трябва да са биосъвместими и нетоксични за околните тъкани. Материалите, използвани в ендодонтията като каналопълнежно средство са: амалгама, композит, цинк окис-евгенолови цименти, глас-йономерни цименти, калциево-хидроксидни препарати и сийлъри на базата на епокси смоли. Никой от тях не е успял да отговори на всички условия на идеалния материал.Поради високите изисквания и недостатъците на вече съществуващите материали са въведени биокерамичните сийлъри.Биокермичните вещества са керамични материали, предназначени специално за медицинско и стоматологично приложение. Те включват алуминий, цирконий, биоактивно стъкло, стъклена керамика, хидроксиапатит и калциеви фосфати. Биокерамичните материали се определят като биоактивни или биоинертни в зависимост от тяхното взаимодействие с околните тъкани.The ideal material for filling the root canal system should have a number of qualities. It should hermetically obturate the root canal, be adhesive to the dentin, be insoluble in the tissue fluids, expand during fixation and be stable after that, and be non-absorbable over time. Another important requirement for root-filling agents is to have good antimicrobial activity and to be radioactive. They must be easy to use and work with. Materials designed to fill the root canal system, especially when used for retrograde filling, come in direct contact with the periodontal tissues. They must be biocompatible and non-toxic to surrounding tissues. The root canal filling materials used in endodontics are: amalgam, composite, zinc oxide eugenol cement, glass-ionomer cement, calcium hydroxide sealer and epoxy resin-based sealer. None of them has been able to meet all the conditions of the ideal material.Due to the high requirements and disadvantages of the already existing materials, the bioceramic sealers were introduced.Bioceramic substances are ceramic materials specifically designed for medical and dental use. Such are aluminum, zirconium, bioactive glass, glass ceramics, hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphates. Bioceramic sealers are defined as bioactive or bioinert depending on their interaction with surrounding tissues

Methods for increasing the efficiency of NaOCl

Sodium hypochlorite has a strong antibacterial effect and the ability to dissolve organic substances. It cannot remove the smear layer formed on the walls of the canal after mechanical preparation. The main disadvantages of this irrigant are its cytotoxicity, unpleasant smell and taste, and the ability to cause corrosion on metallic objects. The free chlorine in NaOCl dissolves the necrotic tissue by digesting the proteins in amino acids.It is available in gel, liquid, and surfactant modified form.The applicable concentrations range from 0.5% to 5.25%. Reducing the concentration of the solution lowers the level of its toxicity, antibacterial effect and ability to dissolve tissues. Increasing its volume or temperature increases its effectiveness

COVIDiSTRESS Global Survey dataset on psychological and behavioural consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak

This N = 173,426 social science dataset was collected through the collaborative COVIDiSTRESS Global Survey - an open science effort to improve understanding of the human experiences of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic between 30th March and 30th May, 2020. The dataset allows a cross-cultural study of psychological and behavioural responses to the Coronavirus pandemic and associated government measures like cancellation of public functions and stay at home orders implemented in many countries. The dataset contains demographic background variables as well as measures of Asian Disease Problem, perceived stress (PSS-10), availability of social provisions (SPS-10), trust in various authorities, trust in governmental measures to contain the virus (OECD trust), personality traits (BFF-15), information behaviours, agreement with the level of government intervention, and compliance with preventive measures, along with a rich pool of exploratory variables and written experiences. A global consortium from 39 countries and regions worked together to build and translate a survey with variables of shared interests, and recruited participants in 47 languages and dialects. Raw plus cleaned data and dynamic visualizations are available.Measurement(s) psychological measurement center dot anxiety-related behavior trait center dot Stress center dot response to center dot Isolation center dot loneliness measurement center dot Emotional Distress Technology Type(s) Survey Factor Type(s) geographic location center dot language center dot age of participant center dot responses to the Coronavirus pandemic Sample Characteristic - Organism Homo sapiens Sample Characteristic - Location global Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data:Peer reviewe

Stress and worry in the 2020 coronavirus pandemic: Relationships to trust and compliance with preventive measures across 48 countries in the COVIDiSTRESS global survey

The COVIDiSTRESS global survey collects data on early human responses to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic from 173 429 respondents in 48 countries. The open science study was co-designed by an international consortium of researchers to investigate how psychological responses differ across countries and cultures, and how this has impacted behaviour, coping and trust in government efforts to slow the spread of the virus. Starting in March 2020, COVIDiSTRESS leveraged the convenience of unpaid online recruitment to generate public data. The objective of the present analysis is to understand relationships between psychological responses in the early months of global coronavirus restrictions and help understand how different government measures succeed or fail in changing public behaviour. There were variations between and within countries. Although Western Europeans registered as more concerned over COVID-19, more stressed, and having slightly more trust in the governments' efforts, there was no clear geographical pattern in compliance with behavioural measures. Detailed plots illustrating between-countries differences are provided. Using both traditional and Bayesian analyses, we found that individuals who worried about getting sick worked harder to protect themselves and others. However, concern about the coronavirus itself did not account for all of the variances in experienced stress during the early months of COVID-19 restrictions. More alarmingly, such stress was associated with less compliance. Further, those most concerned over the coronavirus trusted in government measures primarily where policies were strict. While concern over a disease is a source of mental distress, other factors including strictness of protective measures, social support and personal lockdown conditions must also be taken into consideration to fully appreciate the psychological impact of COVID-19 and to understand why some people fail to follow behavioural guidelines intended to protect themselves and others from infection. The Stage 1 manuscript associated with this submission received in-principle acceptance (IPA) on 18 May 2020. Following IPA, the accepted Stage 1 version of the manuscript was preregistered on the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/g2t3b. This preregistration was performed prior to data analysis

Stress and worry in the 2020 coronavirus pandemic : relationships to trust and compliance with preventive measures across 48 countries in the COVIDiSTRESS global survey

The COVIDiSTRESS global survey collects data on early human responses to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic from 173 429 respondents in 48 countries. The open science study was co-designed by an international consortium of researchers to investigate how psychological responses differ across countries and cultures, and how this has impacted behaviour, coping and trust in government efforts to slow the spread of the virus. Starting in March 2020, COVIDiSTRESS leveraged the convenience of unpaid online recruitment to generate public data. The objective of the present analysis is to understand relationships between psychological responses in the early months of global coronavirus restrictions and help understand how different government measures succeed or fail in changing public behaviour. There were variations between and within countries. Although Western Europeans registered as more concerned over COVID-19, more stressed, and having slightly more trust in the governments' efforts, there was no clear geographical pattern in compliance with behavioural measures. Detailed plots illustrating between-countries differences are provided. Using both traditional and Bayesian analyses, we found that individuals who worried about getting sick worked harder to protect themselves and others. However, concern about the coronavirus itself did not account for all of the variances in experienced stress during the early months of COVID-19 restrictions. More alarmingly, such stress was associated with less compliance. Further, those most concerned over the coronavirus trusted in government measures primarily where policies were strict. While concern over a disease is a source of mental distress, other factors including strictness of protective measures, social support and personal lockdown conditions must also be taken into consideration to fully appreciate the psychological impact of COVID-19 and to understand why some people fail to follow behavioural guidelines intended to protect themselves and others from infection. The Stage 1 manuscript associated with this submission received in-principle acceptance (IPA) on 18 May 2020. Following IPA, the accepted Stage 1 version of the manuscript was preregistered on the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/g2t3b. This preregistration was performed prior to data analysis.Peer reviewe

Morbid mobilities

Epidemics spread by parasitizing on the already established flows of the mobility of people, while new crises parasite on crises that have settled to become the normality. In the weeks after COVID-19 reached the EU, the epidemic has accelerated the conjuncture of existing modes of exploitation, extraction, and exclusion. Kim Moody points out in a recent piece that the link between the spread of COVID-19 and transnational supply chains might be a lot more significant than what would be immediately apparent from epidemiological models. This invisibilized dependency between the spread of the virus and the mobility of capital and labour is only one way in which the current rapidly developing COVID-19 crisis is not just a health emergency but much more than this, it is a problem of labour. Labour, and in particular migrant labour, has become the central subject of this crisis - monitored, contained, and stirred into “essential” mobilities

The politics of mediation : subjectivity, value and power in the digital grid of Aadhaar

Digital data infrastructures act as mediating technologies that shape and manipulate flows and visibilities. Focusing on the case of the Indian digital ID Aadhaar, this article proposes a theory of mediation as a conceptual framework for understanding the role of digital technology in projects for datafication of state governance and national economy. In 2016, the Indian biometric ID Aadhaar was instrumentalised in a nation-wide move towards digital monetary transfers, a campaign launched under the banner of ‘demonetisation’. The digital state ID was integrated into Know Your Customer (KYC) systems of financial identification complicating government practices of recording and subjectivation. This process, during which government discourse explicitly drew parallels between political subjectivation and financial control, indicates the growing significance of the digital medium in shaping the relationship between states and their subjects. The notion of mediation proposed here addresses the mutual articulation between monetary transfers, practices of government recording and data valorisation in a context where state projects for digitalisation are increasingly integrated in global digital networks and data platforms

The post-socialist posted worker : social reproduction and the geography of class struggles

The chapter engages with posted work in the European Union as a form of post-socialist migration, which exemplifies an increased reliance on displaced models of social reproduction as a way to revitalize one's life. We analyze the concept of transitional justice and argue that its ideological justification has produced an elastic labour power that has no other means to sustain itself than by moving. In this constellation, the figure of the Eastern European posted worker needs to be understood as embodying the historical processes of de-socialization of the means of social reproduction from the public sphere and the effects these processes have on the formation of migratory patterns and relationships. We bring forward the concept of the geography of class struggles in order to think of the ways in which anti-communist conceptions of justice have generated numerous injustices that affect, first, post-socialist labour and then reverberate and expand beyond the former “Eastern Bloc”