Between mezhep and minority: twelver Shiʿism in the Turkish public sphere
In: International journal of Middle East studies: IJMES, Band 55, Heft 3, S. 479-497
ISSN: 1471-6380
In: International journal of Middle East studies: IJMES, Band 55, Heft 3, S. 479-497
ISSN: 1471-6380
World Affairs Online
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In: Cooperation and conflict: journal of the Nordic International Studies Association, Band 59, Heft 1, S. 107-128
ISSN: 1460-3691
References to the Terminator films are central to Western imaginaries of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). The puzzle of whether references to the Terminator franchise have featured in the United States' international regulatory discourse on these technologies nevertheless remains underexplored. Bringing the growing study of AI narratives into a greater dialogue with the International Relations literature on popular culture and world politics, this article unpacks the repository of different stories told about intelligent machines in the first two Terminator films. Through an interpretivist analysis of this material, we examine whether these AI narratives have featured in the US written contributions to the international regulatory debates on LAWS at the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in the period between 2014 and 2022. Our analysis highlights how hopeful stories about what we coin 'machine guardians' have been mirrored in these statements: LAWS development has been presented as a means of protecting humans from physical harm, enacting the commands of human decision makers and using force with superhuman levels of accuracy. This suggests that, contrary to existing interpretations, the various stories told about intelligent machines in the Terminator franchise can be mobilised to both support and oppose the possible regulation of these technologies.
In: Defence Technology, Band 24, S. 361-381
ISSN: 2214-9147
In: Routledge studies on the Chinese economy 11
In: Journal of neurological surgery. Part A, Central European neurosurgery = Zentralblatt für Neurochirurgie, Band 84, Heft 6, S. 570-577
ISSN: 2193-6323
AbstractTraumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is frequent. Timely diagnosis and treatment have reduced the mortality, but the long-term recovery of neurologic functions remains ominous. After TSCI, tissue bleeding, edema, and adhesions lead to an increase in the intraspinal pressure, further causing the pathophysiologic processes of ischemia and hypoxia and eventually accelerating the cascade of secondary spinal cord injury. Timely surgery with appropriate decompression strategies can reduce that secondary injury. However, disagreement about the safety and effectiveness of decompression surgery and the timing of surgery still exists. The level and severity of spinal cord injury do have an impact on the timing of surgery; therefore, TSCI subpopulations may benefit from early surgery. Early surgery perhaps has little effect on recovery from complete TSCI but might be of benefit in patients with incomplete injury. Early decompression should be considered in patients with incomplete cervical TSCI. Patient age should not be used as an exclusion criterion for early surgery. The best time point for early surgery is although influenced by the shortest duration to thoroughly examine the patient's condition and stabilize the patient's state. After the patient's condition is fully evaluated, we can perform the surgical modality of emergency myelotomy and decompression. Therefore, a number of conditions should be considered, such as standardized decompression methods, indications and operation timing to ensure the effectiveness and safety of early surgical intervention, and promotion of the functional recovery of residual nerve tissue.
In: Journal of neurological surgery. Part A, Central European neurosurgery = Zentralblatt für Neurochirurgie
ISSN: 2193-6323
Abstract
Background Open-door laminoplasty is a classical decompression method used to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy. However, hinge fracture displacement (HFD) is a common occurrence during this procedure. The current study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of a combined imbrication axle reconstruction and Z-type titanium plate fixation method for HFD during open-door laminoplasty.
Methods In total, 617 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent C3–C7 open-door laminoplasty from March 2015 to October 2018 were included in this retrospective study. Overall, 73 patients developed HFD during surgery. Of these, 43 underwent combined imbrication axle reconstruction and Z-type titanium plate fixation (IRZF group) and 30 underwent traditional titanium plate fixation (TF group). Data such as the operative time, intraoperative blood loss volume, and distribution of fractured hinges were recorded. Both groups were compared in terms of improvement in neurologic function, cervical curvature index, hinge fusion rate, incidence of C5 palsy, severity of axial symptoms, and development of complications.
Results The operative time and intraoperative blood loss were slightly higher in the IRZF group than in the TF group; however, the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the number of fractured segments and the distribution of fractured hinges (p > 0.05). The cervical curvature index did not decline in the two groups (p > 0.05). The IRZF group had a higher hinge fusion rate than the TF group at 3 (79.6 vs. 57.1%) and 12 (93.9 vs. 74.3%) months postoperatively (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of C5 palsy between the two groups (9.3 vs. 6.7%; p > 0.05). However, the TF group had more severe axial symptoms than the IRZF group (p < 0.05). The neurologic function of the two groups increased postoperatively as per the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in terms of neurologic function at any observational time point (p > 0.05). One patient in the TF group with hinge nonunion underwent laminectomy due to lamina displacement into the spinal canal and nerve root compression.
Conclusion In patients with HFD, IRZF facilitates a more intimate contact between the lamina and the lateral mass and, therefore, achieves fractured hinge fusion without additional surgical trauma. This technical improvement can significantly promote neurologic recovery, decrease the severity of axial symptoms, and prevent the development of spinal cord or nerve root recompression.
In: Contemporary Chinese civil and commercial law
In: Defence Technology, Band 29, S. 39-54
ISSN: 2214-9147
ABSTRACT Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important public health problem of the 21st century that has been worsened by Covid-19 across the globe. As measures to reduce the spread COVID-19, Governments around the world including in Rivers State implemented several strategies including social distancing, hard or partial lockdowns leading to severe restrictions in movements and gatherings. With such severe restrictions in movements and gatherings, there was likely some effects on TB healthcare services, especially access to treatment. This studytherefore presents evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on TB prevalence and treatment outcome in Rivers State, Nigeria. Objective: This study aimed to determine the Prevalence and Treatment Outcome of Tuberculosis in Rivers State, Nigeria before and during Covid-19 pandemic. Method: A descriptive observational study design with secondary data obtained from Rivers State Ministry of Health was employed. A standard data capturing tool was used to obtain the number of cases and various treatment outcome over a period of two years (2019 – 2020). A paired sample t-test was done to test for statistical difference in the number of cases pre and post Covid-19 pandemic using SPSS version 25. Result: A total of 8,299 cases of Tuberculosis in an estimated population of 7.3million was recorded during the study period. A prevalence of 117.8 per 100,000 population was noted for the two years, 52.9 per 100,000 in 2019 and 64.9 per 100,000 population in 2020. Cure rates for both year is 51.4% with 52.3% in 2019 and 50.5% in 2020. 19 (0.23%) of cases experienced treatment failure due to drug resistance, 8(0.21%) in 2019 and 11(0.24%) in 2020. 220 (2.65%) were loss to follow-up with 115(1.39%) in 2019 and 105(1.27%) in 2020. Relapse occurred in 65(0.78%), 42(0.51%) in 2019 and 23(0.27%) in 2020. 355 (4.3%) deaths were recorded during the study period, 180 (4.8%) deaths in 2019 while 175(3.8%) deaths in 2020. At 95% confidence interval, P = 0.024, there was a statistically significant ...
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In: East Asian science, technology and society: an international journal, Band 16, Heft 3, S. 279-304
ISSN: 1875-2152
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This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this record ; Emerging contaminants continue to pose a threat to environmental quality that warrant mitigation. Novel technologies are being investigated that offer promise in their removal, yet it is important that the environmental costs of these treatments do not overshadow their benefits. With sustainability a key priority in global infrastructure development, insights into the environmental impact of new technologies is necessitated. In the present work, the environmental burden of three novel GBM (graphene-based material) filters (porous graphene, graphene oxide-based foam and hybrid combination) are quantified and compared at a flow rate of 1 m3/d by way of life cycle impact assessment with an alternative solution, an AOP-PPT (advanced oxidation process by pulsed power treatment). Initial results demonstrated negligible differences in overall environmental impact between the three GBM filter formats (7.7-7.9 pt), while significant asymmetry was observed with the AOP-PPT that incurred a total impact score of 67.9 pt. This disparity was attributed to the high energy demand of the AOP-PPT that was a key predictor of environmental cost in an India context due to the high proportion of non-renewable energy sourced. The GBM filters were also considered at a range of breakthrough times and contrasted against the AOP-PPT. Results showed that differences between GBM filters were negligible at all breakthrough periods and that multiple breakthroughs a day would be required before the AOP-PPT became environmentally favourable. Finally, due to the AOP-PPT affording inclusive disinfection, the environmental burden of a GBM filter was compared under different scenarios of incorporated disinfection. The total impact of the AOP-PPT achieving full disinfection was found to be 242.5 pt compared to only 26.8 pt for the GBM filter coupled with UV254 (ultraviolet 254 nm) treatment and 13.9 pt when incorporating chlorination/de-chlorination. These findings should support sustainable development goals when combating prevailing emerging contaminants in municipal wastewater. ; Department of Science and Technology, Government of India ; Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
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This paper investigates how institutional pressures affect the development of Circular Economy (CE) in firms. Using Institutional Entrepreneurship as a theoretical framework, this paper considers three different levels of institutional pressures (coercive, normative, and mimetic) to examine the effect of each pressure and their interactions on the development of CE. Seeking to clarify the debate on the effect of institutional pressures, this paper considers that the main limitation arises from the fact that previous research has analysed the relationship between institutional pressures without considering the interaction between them and the non-linearity of the processes. Deviating from previous papers, our analysis combines regression methods with Machine learning (i.e. Artificial Neural Networks), and employs data from the EU survey on Public Consultation on the Circular Economy. This research finds that while coercive pressures have a compulsory effect on the development of CE, mimetic and normative pressures do not have an effect by themselves, but only in interaction with coercive pressures. Moreover, this paper shows that the application of machine learning tools has an important contribution in solving interaction problems. From the perspective of environmental policy, this means that a comprehensive policy is required, which implies the coexistence or interaction of the three types of pressures.
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