Journals
2026 EN
Levy Cecil Steven · Nana Trusha · Perner Yvonne
+6 more
ABSTRACT Background Mucormycosis is a rare but devastating opportunistic fungal infection in immunocompromised hosts with particularly high morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients. Pediatric cases are exceedingly rare, and outcomes are often fatal. Case Presentation We report a case of a 13‐year‐old girl on chronic peritoneal dialysis who received a deceased donor kidney transplant. She was at immunological risk due to a positive virtual crossmatch. Induction therapy included antithymocyte globulin and methylprednisolone, followed by a maintenance immunosuppressive regimen of prednisone, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus. Post‐transplant, she developed early graft dysfunction, anuria, and hemodynamic instability. A graft biopsy showed acute tubular necrosis and C4d positivity prompting plasma exchange for suspected antibody‐mediated rejection. Graft explant on day nine revealed angio‐invasive mucormycosis due to Rhizopus arrhizus . The rapid onset suggested the infection may have been acquired from the donor. Despite antifungal therapy, she suffered from recurrent arterial pseudoaneurysms in the surgical bed. She died 91 days post‐transplant from a ruptured iliac artery mycotic aneurysm. Conclusion This case highlights the challenges in diagnosing and managing mucormycosis in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. A high index of suspicion together with early recognition, aggressive surgical management, and appropriate antifungal treatment is essential. Donor derived fungal infections should be considered in cases of early onset disease. Unfortunately, outcomes remain poor.
Journals
2026 EN
Pickering Steven David · Hansen Martin Ejnar · Sunahara Yosuke
ABSTRACT Academic freedom is widely regarded as a cornerstone of democratic society, yet its public legitimacy remains contested. This article examined how citizens in two democracies (Japan and the United Kingdom) understand and evaluate academic freedom across different issue domains. Drawing on original survey data ( N = 3352), we explored whether public support for academic freedom is associated with ideological orientation and institutional trust. We proposed a theoretical framework distinguishing between autonomy and accountability logics: while some citizens treat academic freedom as a non‐negotiable principle, others view it as contingent on social responsibility or moral alignment. Our analysis showed that support for academic freedom is associated with political polarization: right‐leaning respondents consistently favor autonomy, particularly in cases involving controversial research or offensive ideas, whereas left‐leaning individuals show greater support for limiting academic freedom in the name of social sensitivity. These patterns are robust across both countries, despite contrasting institutional contexts. We also find that trust in scientists is strongly associated with pro‐autonomy attitudes, especially in Japan. By treating academic freedom as a contested public good, this study sheds light on how normative commitments, political ideology, and institutional trust interact to shape public attitudes toward knowledge, expertise, and university governance. Related Articles Moon Suk Hong, M. S., M. Jeon, and K. J. Ayhan. 2021. “International Scholarship for Social Change? Re‐Contextualizing Global Korea Scholarship Alumni's Perceptions of Justice and Diversity in South Korea.” Politics & Policy 49, no. 6: 1359–1390. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12435 . Shala, A., and A. Grajcevci. 2018. “Examining the Role of Socioeconomic Status, Formal and Informal Education on Political Interest Levels among University Students.” Politics & Policy 46, no. 6: 1050–1070. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12274 . Stockemer, D. 2025. “Is the US Moving Toward Autocracy? A Critical Assessment.” Politics & Policy 53, no. 3: e70032. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.70032 .
Journals
2026 EN
Castillo Liliana Sierra · Froehlich Halley E. · Wilson Jono R.
+3 more
ABSTRACT Aquatic foods are a vital source of nutrition, yet growing demand and stagnant wild‐capture fisheries have positioned aquaculture as essential to meeting global food needs. Despite this, aquaculture's diverse forms remain poorly understood, particularly small‐scale aquaculture (SSA). Unlike small‐scale fisheries (SSF), which are widely recognized in policy and research, SSA lacks consistent definitions and is often conflated with SSF or defined narrowly by physical metrics like farm size. This limits its visibility in policy and development efforts, overlooking critical social, economic, and governance dimensions such as ownership, labor, and market orientation. Through a systematic review of 83 studies across 24 countries, we analyze SSA across ecosystems (freshwater, brackish, marine) and species groups (finfish, invertebrates, seaweed) to identify trends in production characteristics, yield reporting, and social dimensions. We find freshwater SSA dominates the literature, while marine SSA, especially mollusk farming, is significantly underrepresented. SSA exhibits wide variation in yields, farm sizes, ownership, and management structures, indicating that existing classification frameworks are insufficient. We propose a context‐sensitive, social‐ecological classification system that integrates production metrics with governance and socioeconomic characteristics. To guide application, we offer two policy frameworks, one for regions with existing SSA definitions, recommending participatory revision and expanded data collection; and one for regions without definitions, advocating for a stepwise approach to characterization. Our findings underscore the need for more inclusive, adaptable classifications to improve SSA's visibility in global food policy and unlock its full contributions to sustainable development, equity, and local livelihoods.
Journals
2026 EN
May Steven W.
Abstract A technological revolution that began in Europe during the second half of the thirteenth century caused an intellectual revolution that continues to this day. The manufacture of good quality paper beginning in Italy c.1250 created a virtual explosion of intellectual activity wherever such writing paper became readily available. Paper gave rise to an ever‐expanding amateur scribal culture. Its participants were soon turning out original works on a spectrum of topics far wider and in far greater volume than was possible during the preceding ‘age of parchment’ when writing was largely monopolized by professional, clerical scribes. I use England as a test case to demonstrate first, the intellectual and practical constraints on a culture dependent on the restricted medieval writing technology, and second, the liberating and democratising effects of the paper‐based writing technology that succeeded it (but did not by any means bring it to an end).
Journals
2026 EN
Harris Steven E.
Abstract This article argues that the spiritual turn in Soviet atheism under Brezhnev provided a meaningful solution to the problems of producing heroes when self‐sacrificing martyrs were losing their appeal. To support this claim, I examine the story of Nadezhda Kurchenko, a nineteen‐year‐old flight attendant killed by two hijackers on an Aeroflot plane in October 1970. This article traces the heroic and spiritual dynamics of Kurchenko’s martyrdom through her funeral, hagiographies, iconic photograph, and sacred spaces. The spiritual turn enabled the authors of her story to free it from the shadows of wartime youth martyrs and ground it in the conservative values of mature socialism. Her martyrdom was emblematic of Soviet atheism’s renewed project of supplanting religion with a secular spirituality, particularly around the life‐cycle rituals of birth, coming‐of‐age, marriage, and death. Although the aim of destroying religion failed, the spiritual turn created the cultural context in which the authors of Kurchenko’s story developed its meanings and rituals that endured after 1991. This article bridges the historiographies on hero cults and Soviet atheism, and it ends by considering the post‐Soviet afterlives of Kurchenko’s martyrdom during the Russo‐Ukrainian War.
Journals
2026 EN
Hall Steven · Oswald Austin
ABSTRACT Aims This paper explores queer theory, its historical evolution, and its applications to the caregiving experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals caring for older adults. LGBTQ+ older adults often rely on informal caregiving from within their community. In this work, queer theory is employed as a critical theoretical lens to deconstruct societal norms and expectations that marginalise LGBTQ+ informal caregivers, referred to in this work as ‘queer caregivers’, emphasising the fluidity of identity and the non‐normative narratives of LGBTQ+ lives. Methods Health systems must adopt more inclusive and culturally competent approaches to better support queer caregivers and their care recipients, which aligns with queer theory's challenge to normative structures. We propose the integration of queer theory into healthcare practices that work to recognise informal caregivers as a transformative pathway towards inclusivity, ensuring equitable care for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We also provide recommendations for future research, such as exploring the intersectionality of queer caregivers and developing tailored support interventions. Conclusions Embracing queer theory as a guiding framework in caregiver research, practice and policy will not only enhance understanding of queer caregiving but also contribute to the advancement of a more equitable and compassionate society that values and supports all caregivers, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Journals
2026 EN
Huang Sam Yan Jyun · Lai Steven Yueh Jen · Wu FuChun
ABSTRACT Fan‐deltas experience a range of flow conditions, from clear‐water baseflow to suspended sediment‐laden flows. The characteristics of these flows influence delta morphology, sediment transport patterns and the development of depositional features across both topset and foreset regions. However, the morphodynamic response of fan‐deltas to different intermittent flood patterns is poorly understood. This study uses physical experiments to explore how varying inflow densities and inflow‐to‐sediment discharge ratios affect fan‐delta morphodynamics. Baseflow was simulated using clear‐water inflow and flood events were simulated using saltwater inflow of varying densities to represent suspended sediment‐laden flows with different concentrations. Intermittent density inflows that mimic natural baseflow and flood events were generated by systematically alternating inflow conditions. High‐resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) were used to analyse fan‐delta morphological evolution. Results show that flow occupation frequency and DEM of Differences (DoDs) captured the flow patterns and trends of sediment distribution, respectively. This study found that dimensionless stream power ( ω * ) negatively correlates with topset erosion‐deposition intensity ( S DoD ), as higher inflow discharge reduces deposition efficiency and increased inflow density promotes erosion. Conversely, on the foreset, dimensionless stream power positively correlates with foreset deposition index ( I FD ) – higher inflow densities enhance sediment transport efficiency, resulting in the development of thick and localised fan‐lobes. These patterns and scaling relationships shed light on the interpretation and prediction of fan‐delta morphodynamics with intermittent flood events.
Journals
2026 EN
Muthre Mishelle · Proust JeanNoël · Pizer Charlotte
+4 more
ABSTRACT Hadal trenches preserve exceptional sedimentary archives of past geological events, yet their depositional processes remain poorly constrained. The Japan Trench captures complex earthquake‐triggered event beds that record repeated sediment‐gravity flows that deliver terrigenous and biogenic material into the trench, informing palaeoseismic reconstructions. Classical event stratigraphy treats such event beds as products of brief, isochronous processes. This study aims to build on that concept to document hydrodynamic conditions and the relative depositional timing and duration within single event beds. Using four well‐documented historical earthquake‐triggered beds recovered during IODP Expedition 386, high‐resolution analyses of sedimentary structures were conducted—integrating physical, chemical and biogenic characteristics—to develop a systematic, facies‐based framework for identifying event‐internal characteristics. Six event‐internal facies (F1–F6), bounded by hemipelagic facies (F0), form a fining‐upward sequence that records the shift from high‐energy, non‐cohesive, bedload‐dominated flows to low‐energy, cohesive, suspension‐dominated deposition. A 32‐μm grain‐size threshold separates coarse‐grained (F1–F3; >32 μm) from fine‐grained (F4–F6; <32 μm) facies. Event‐internal facies organise into pulses and pulse groups that stack hierarchically into three patterns: single‐pulsed, multi‐pulsed and amalgamated. Amalgamated patterns comprise two or more single‐ or multi‐pulsed successions separated by breaks in the fining‐upward trend. Breaks marked by opportunistic trace fossils or by F6 indicate pauses during deposition (quasi‐synchronous flows), whereas their absence suggests synchronous flows. Most event beds are amalgamated and comprise flows emplaced at different times and sourced from different directions, as reflected by variable composition, facies and palaeo‐flow indicators. Basin physiography strongly influences facies development and thickness: basin highs record erosion–deposition stages, whereas depocentres pond turbid water masses in prolonged suspension, producing thick fine‐grained tops. Transitional facies (F4) forms where new flows interact with a still‐settling suspension cloud, providing a basis to interpret complex mainshock–aftershock sequences. By providing new insights into hydrodynamic conditions and relative depositional timing and duration, this facies‐based framework advances event stratigraphy and improves global understanding of deep‐marine sedimentary dynamics.
Journals
2026 EN
Rubio Jonathan Steven Elie · Libicz Sébastien · Vidal Julien
+13 more
ABSTRACT This study investigated whether implementing heat training during the final week of a 3‐week altitude training camp affects the hematological adaptations and variables monitored during chronic hypoxia. Twenty‐three well‐trained triathletes (19 males, 4 females) underwent 21 days of altitude training camp in spring (Live‐High‐Train‐High, 1850 m). From day 14 to day 21, participants were split into two groups: a control group (HYPOXIA), which remained in the same condition, while the second group (COMBINED) had a ~1 h cycling session per day conducted in the heat (36°C ± 1°C, 40% ± 5% RH). Training load was the same for both groups. Hematological responses (including hemoglobin mass (Hb mass ) and plasma volume (PV)) were assessed. Monitoring included physiological responses at rest (nocturnal oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) and heart rate, Hooper and Spiegel questionnaires, hydration status) and during exercise (incl. power, SpO 2 through 45 min cycling at fixed heart rate). Both Hb mass (3.2% ± 3.1% for HYPOXIA, 3.7% ± 2.9% for COMBINED, p < 0.001) and PV ( p = 0.003) increased during the camp, without interaction between groups ( p ≥ 0.266). Exercise SpO 2 decreased between the end of the second and the third week ( p = 0.034, d = 0.583) in the COMBINED group. No difference between groups was detected for the other physiological or perceptual parameters. Adding heat training during the third week of an altitude training camp did not affect the increase in Hb mass or monitoring variables at rest. However, it did not confer any additional PV expansion and was associated with a reduced exercise SpO 2 .
Journals
2026 EN
Halling Aske · Van de Walle Steven
ABSTRACT It is important to study what drives policymakers' tolerance for burdens because they adopt the policies and processes that organise citizens' encounters with the state. Relying on theories on account giving and rationale transparency, we argue that policymakers are more burden tolerant when provided with a justification for the existence of burdens. Drawing on the ordeal mechanism literature, we derive three justifications for administrative burdens: to target the neediest citizens, to combat fraud, and to protect public budgets. Using a survey experiment amongst local politicians in Flanders (Belgium), we show that policymakers indeed are more tolerant of burdens when they are provided with a justification. We show that burden justifications are more effectual in increasing burden tolerance amongst right‐wing than left‐wing policymakers and that they are more tolerated when justified to protect budgets. We find some evidence that tolerance for burdens increases when justified to target the neediest citizens, while fraud justifications do not affect burden tolerance.