Interest Groups Research Articles

A Palimpsestuous Interpretation of Ramin Bahrani’s Fahrenheit 451

A Palimpsestuous Interpretation of Ramin Bahrani’s Fahrenheit 451. Drawing on a poststructuralist approach to adaptation as an instance of intertextuality (Stam 2000) and Linda Hutcheon’s metaphorical description of adaptations as palimpsests (2006), this paper will analyse the ways in which Ramin Bahrani, director and co-writer of the script of Fahrenheit 451 (2018, HBO), rewrote Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel by the same name, leaving only traces of the source text visible in his appropriation. Supposedly reimagining Bradbury’s text for a new generation of viewers, digital natives of the online virtual worlds, the film reads more like a heavy-handed filmic palimpsest that allows only some of the book’s ideas and memorable lines to resurface from underneath the new writing. Relying mostly on visual spectacle and the screenwriter-director’s own concerns about the fragility of civil rights, democracy and humaneness in a world increasingly controlled by certain interest groups through the internet and social media, the film leaves audiences wondering about the appropriateness of the title—an anchoring device promising a straightforward adaptation of the text—and the film’s actual relation with Bradbury’s novel. Keywords: palimpsestuous interpretation, appropriation, Fahrenheit 451, Ramin Bahrani, Ray Bradbury, dystopia, technology

Modelling the Influence of Management Practices on Sustainable Market Performance in Serbian Enterprises

In the evolving global market, new business conditions necessitate that enterprises adapt and construct organizational structures grounded in new principles and the implementation of contemporary management methods. This is particularly crucial for enterprises in transitional economies, which need to be highly flexible and innovative to meet the increasing demands of users swiftly, employ modern management techniques, and gain a competitive edge. The modern business environment assumes that there are very few products, technologies, services, knowledge areas, or procedures unavailable to interested groups worldwide. This study examines the influence of modern management methods and techniques (MMMTs), human resource management (HRM), quality management (QM), and intellectual capital management (ICM) on the sustainable market performance (SMPC) of these enterprises. A structured survey was conducted among 146 managers from various Serbian industrial enterprises, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression, and multicollinearity tests. The results revealed significant positive correlations between MMMTs, HRM, QM, ICM, and SMPC, with quality management having the highest impact. These findings provide valuable insights for improving business competitiveness in Serbia’s industrial sector. The results also support the development of an integrated model for sustainable management practices in transitional economies.

Exploring Barriers to Timely Administration of Intravenous Zoledronic Acid following Hip Fracture

Abstract Background In the Age & Ageing paper “Call to action: A five nations consensus on the use of intravenous zoledronate after hip fracture” 2023, the authors addressed key reasons that might underpin orthogeriatricians’ reluctance to offer intravenous zoledronate (IV Zol) while patients were still in hospital after a hip fracture. Methods The paper was presented at the Global Congress of the Fragility Fracture Network (FFN), October 2023, the Orthogeriatrics day of the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) Autumn conference 2023 and the Bone Health Special interest group meeting at the Irish Gerontological Society (IGS) 2023. At the start of each meeting, a survey of attendees was carried out on their attitudes to, and current use of IV Zol following hip fracture. Here we present results IGS survey results. Results N=37 responded, 85% were concerned that early administration of IV Zol might impair its effectiveness, similarly to FFN and BGS respondents but 42% said they would not administer IV Zol within 14 days of a hip fracture vs. 29% of FFN, 24% of BGS respondents. Forty-two percent also said they would not give vitamin D loading without blood levels vs. 24% of FFN, 24% of BGS respondents and 29% acknowledged that laboratory waiting times for Vitamin D frequently delay IV Zol. There were 8% using a CrCl threshold of 30ml/min, 35% using eGFR threshold of 30ml/min and 41% an eGFR of 35mls/min. eGFR overestimates CrCl, suggesting that the vast majority of clinicians already use IV Zol at below licenced CrCl threshold of 35ml/min. Conclusion Following hip fracture, IV Zol appears widely-used used in those with CrCl of 30-35ml/min, in line with threshold in the original clinical trial. We identified a number of factors impeding early administration however, one being the perceived need for vitamin D results beforehand. Education around its safe use will enable more patients to benefit.

How dare they? Neoliberal resentment and carbon taxes in Alberta, Canada

ABSTRACT Policies that put a price on carbon dioxide emissions have long been favored in economic circles for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Yet when such policies were deployed in Alberta, Canada, they sparked passionate opposition by conservative politicians, pundits, and interest groups. The opposition revealed that while carbon taxes remain firmly within a market-based neoliberal policy framework, many of those who opposed them are committed to market-based policies. Drawing on legislative debates and media commentary, I argue that the answer can be found in anti-elitist resentment. I contend that anti-elitist resentment served as a component of the affective formations that underwrote the emergence of expertise and policymaking in the 1970s and 1980s, only to now be taken up in opposition to neoliberal policy expertise.

Semisynthesis, Structure Elucidation and Anti-Mycobacterium marinum Activity of a Series of Marine-Derived 14-Membered Resorcylic Acid Lactones with Interesting Ketal Groups.

The incidence of Mycobacterium marinum infection is on the rise; however, the existing drug treatment cycle is lengthy and often requires multi-drug combination. Therefore, there is a need to develop new and effective anti-M. marinum drugs. Cochliomycin A, a 14-membered resorcylic acid lactone with an acetonide group at C-5' and C-6', exhibits a wide range of antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antifouling activities. To further explore the effect of this structural change at C-5' and C-6' on this compound's activity, we synthesized a series of compounds with a structure similar to that of cochliomycin A, bearing ketal groups at C-5' and C-6'. The R/S configuration of the diastereoisomer at C-13' was further determined through an NOE correlation analysis of CH3 or CH2 at the derivative C-13' position and the H-5' and H-6' by means of a 1D NOE experiment. Further comparative 1H NMR analysis of diastereoisomers showed the difference in the chemical shift (δ) value of the diastereoisomers. The synthetic compounds were screened for their anti-microbial activities in vitro. Compounds 15-24 and 28-35 demonstrated promising activity against M. marinum, with MIC90 values ranging from 70 to 90 μM, closely approaching the MIC90 of isoniazid. The preliminary structure-activity relationships showed that the ketal groups with aromatic rings at C-5' and C-6' could enhance the inhibition of M. marinum. Further study demonstrated that compounds 23, 24, 29, and 30 had significant inhibitory effects on M. marinum and addictive effects with isoniazid and rifampicin. Its effective properties make it an important clue for future drug development toward combatting M. marinum resistance.

Re: Do we need to separate pharmacy advocacy associations?

Re: Do we need to separate pharmacy advocacy associations?

Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Maxillofacial Surgery.

The aim of this article is to conduct a literature review concerning the need for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis among patients undergoing maxillofacial surgery. This article addresses the diagnosis of VTE, patient risk stratification, and prophylactic measures suitable for the various groups of interest in maxillofacial surgery. From a pool of 44 articles identified, nine were chosen as the most pertinent to the aims of this review.Despite limited data on this topic, individuals undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery generally exhibit a low risk of VTE. This review emphasizes the importance of implementing prophylactic measures tailored to individual risk factors. Pharmacological prophylaxis merits consideration, particularly when the Caprini score is ≥7. However, further research is needed to optimize prophylactic strategies in maxillofacial surgery.

Listening to regulators about the challenges in regulating emerging disruptive technologies

Purpose This study aims to investigate the regulatory challenges of emerging disruptive Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Brazil and the strategies regulators use to address them. Design/methodology/approach It is an empirical qualitative research on Brazil’s three administrative levels, focusing on the legislative houses’ specialised Science and Technology Committees. It combines archival analysis of public meeting records with elite interviews of parliamentarians and technocrats who participated in Public Hearings in 2019, which results in this paper analysed through the Theory of Communicative Action with a critical stance. Findings The research reveals that regulatory challenges gain new dimensions by involving discussions about emerging ICT. Factors such as time constraints, rapid technological evolution and widespread adoption compound these challenges, straining the preference for the incremental pace of regulation and the traditional model of specialised regulatory agencies. The research captures some regulators’ values, underlying concerns and perceived necessities for surmounting these challenges. It also outlines the preferred process for ICT regulation, revealing parliamentary assistants and executive intermediate-level specialists as gateways for interest groups’ action. Social implications The study's findings highlight the crucial role of specific actors as gateways to the covert action of interest groups, particularly Big Tech firms. This contribution is significant as it empowers civil society and academia to monitor and mitigate the risk of regulatory capture, thereby promoting a more transparent and equitable regulatory environment. Originality/value This research is original in directly engaging with the key figures (lawmakers, legislative assistants and specialised bureaucrats) involved in the critical and timely issue of regulating emerging disruptive technologies.

Changing Politics for Changing Times: Rethinking Research Stakeholders and Strategies for Environmental Education

Abstract The history of environmental education in Australia is political, and fraught with power battles. Indeed, environmental education in Australia (as in many places elsewhere) has always been political. The early calls for environmental education came as a response to the perceived growing environmental crises on the 1960s. At this time, it was seen as a scientific and social priority by scientists, environmentalists and academics, but it was not seen as an educational priority by education departments. Rather, environmental educators were treated as yet another adjectival education lobby group wanting space in an already overcrowded curriculum. There was a time when most state education authorities were engaging with environmental education, but the politicisation of the placement of sustainability as (an optional) cross-curriculum priority has enabled avoidance of the politics of environmental issues and thereby a political stance that is tacitly supporting the status quo of the current neoliberal political systems. This article argues that the times have changed and so has the nature of politics and power bases, and it is time to rethink approaches to environmental education research and recognise that the politics of the past may not be the politics of the future as the generations grow different.

Case Studies on Changes and Proposed Process Development Approaches reflecting applicability of PDA Technical Report No. 89 Strategies for Vaccine Development and Lifecycle Management.

Vaccines are complex and a very diverse group of products with relatively long product lifecycles. The manufacturing programs for these vaccines need to be continually updated to comply with evolving regulatory expectations. Members of the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) Vaccines Interest Group (VIG) authored and published PDA Technical Report No. 89 Strategies for Vaccine Development and Lifecycle Management (TR 89) which seeks to provide context to vaccine developers and manufacturers regarding key aspects of new or legacy vaccines such as control strategy from process development to vaccine lifecycle management, comparability and lifecycle management including technical, validation, quality and regulatory perspectives. To further explain and illustrate the concepts and topics discussed, seven relevant situations were selected as either case studies associated with changes implemented or proposed process development strategies, which are discussed in this article. The situations described are: working cell bank, modification or update of externally supplied product contact components for vaccine manufacturing, raw material change, new product at an existing site, vaccine development acceleration by leveraging existing platforms, selection and implementation of potency method, and modeling for stability forecast prediction. For each situation, the applicable key concepts from TR#89 are discussed as follows: Control Strategy, Prior Knowledge, Relying on PQS, Classification of Parameters, Validation Approach, Use of a Risk-based Approach, Comparability, Use of ICHQ12 and Additional Regulatory Considerations.

Using an interactive simulation tool of national energy and climate policy planning to explore environmental policy options from the perspectives of different interest groups

AbstractTo reach the Paris Agreement goals, European governments have defined national contributions to the EU binding climate goals and have developed national climate and energy plans for 2021–2030 (NECPs). NECPs are detailed strategies in which governments can flexibly emphasize specific sectors, technologies and national energy policy choices. Every country has built its own energy modelling capacity for forecasting purposes. In most countries, this national modelling relies on optimization tools such as Markal or TIMES. For Latvia's energy sector, a system dynamics (SD) model was built to complement the TIMES model. The SD model deals with an integrated energy system, including the primary energy supply and transformation sector; energy distribution and storage system; and energy demand sectors (residential, tertiary, public, industry and transportation). Sectoral policies are presented in the Stella Architect interface. This study demonstrates how the interactive simulation tool was used in the Environmental Engineering Master level course ‘Environmental Policy and Economics’ as an experiential learning approach. The student assignment involved applying this tool to develop and analyse the energy transition policy package for one of four ideological interest groups: deep greens, bright greens, light greens and greys. Students had to assume a role and adopt its perspective by applying their border‐crossing competence and reflecting on selected policy mixes for that ideology. Various transition pathways, based on different ideologies, illustrate the possibilities for application. Results show that students were successful in fulfilling the assignment.

Becoming propaganda: critical race theory and the effect of fiction on education

ABSTRACT How does a social cause like race in public education get revived and reinvented? How do political interest groups mount a campaign that flows internationally from the United States to Australia and leads to the political exclusion of Critical Race Theory from the Australian Curriculum? This article addresses these questions by examining how social media has been used to distribute propaganda that infers racial literacy education is a problem for Australian schools. Drawing on Hannah Arendt’s theories of propaganda and using artefacts from multiple Internet websites, including social media, this article examines how conservative lobbyists in education have adjusted claims from the United States to suit the highly mediated political culture of Australia in 2021. These conservative groups worked to gain political ground by deliberately subverting Critical Race Theory, turning it into a political weapon that has been deployed by political actors across the US, UK and Australia. This article traces the subversion of CRT and efforts by social media creators, editors and academics to control the meaning of the Law School concept. It concludes by discussing the consequences the use of CRT as a political weapon has had on Australian education.

Not just the nation's hostess: First Ladies as policy actors

AbstractThe position of First Lady is typically viewed as ceremonial and a reflection of marital and maternal roles: some combination of “the president's wife,” the “nation's social hostess,” and the “Mom‐in‐Chief.” Yet modern First Ladies often develop their own policy priorities and programs, and the Office of the First Lady is integral to modern presidential administrations. We make a case for studying First Ladies as policy actors by systematically measuring the audiences to which First Ladies speak, the roles they adopt in doing so, and the degree of substantive policy content in their remarks. Using data from public speeches and statements from 1993 to 2022 we demonstrate that First Ladies over the past 30 years have been active in adopting a policy role and speaking to policy‐focused audiences. First Ladies frequently speak to national, organized interest groups and adopt a policy role more often than not across most of their audiences. Our data highlight the importance of studying First Ladies in the policy process.

A prospective multi-institutional study to verify the non-inferiority of postoperative pain in robot-assisted thoracic surgery in comparison with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer: The Japanese RATS interest group 01 (J-RATSIG 01)

ObjectivesWe sought to compare the latest data on postoperative pain between robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and to clarify the relationship between the number or placement of ports and postoperative pain in patients with lung cancer. MethodsPatients who underwent anatomical lung resection by RATS or VATS and whose chest tube was removed within 7 days were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with a numeric rating scale (NRS) score ≤ 3 on postoperative day 30 (POD30). The target sample size was 400 patients. ResultsFour hundred five patients (RATS, n = 196; VATS, n = 209) managed at 12 institutions were included. Ninety-nine patients in the VATS group underwent a uniport procedure. Significant differences were observed between the RATS and VATS groups in the mean number of inserted ports (5.0 vs. 2.2), number of injured intercostal sites (2.9 vs. 1.9), largest wound size (3.4 vs. 3.7 cm), operation time (202 vs. 165 min), and use of epidural anesthesia or continuous nerve block (45 vs. 31 %). In the RATS and VATS groups, the rates of NRS≤3 on POD30 were 82.0 % and 94.7 % (95 %CI: −19.0 to −6.6 %), respectively, which could not prove noninferiority. However, in a multivariable analysis, the RATS approach was not proven to be a significant risk factor. ConclusionIn the current status of minimally invasive thoracic surgery in Japan, RATS involves a greater number of ports, longer operation time, and higher frequency of local anesthesia than VATS and may be inferior in terms of postoperative pain.

Exploring the catalysts of lobbying coalitions in Central and Eastern Europe

ABSTRACT While research on organised interests in Central and Eastern Europe has recently boomed, most studies focus on the micro-level, i.e. organisational development, and macro-level factors such as Europeanisation and democratic backsliding. So far however, little research has been dedicated to the meso-level, that is inter-organisational cooperation. We argue that inter-organisation cooperation in the region is driven by (a combination of) three central factors: organisational anxiety, democratic backsliding and Europeanisation effects. We draw on an original survey dataset of Czech, Polish, Hungarian, and Slovenian interest groups, which enables us to test our hypotheses with a view to the four country contexts.

Persistent unilateral action

Abstract Many believe that weaker legal constraints make unilateral action easier to reverse than legislation. Yet in some cases, unilateralism survives a successor's determined opposition. I argue that legislative persistence and unilateral transience may arise not only from differences in legal status but also from a selection effect: unilateralism and subsequent rescission can both stem from weak underlying policy-demanding groups. But if unilateralism itself alters the landscape of group power through policy feedback effects, it can survive a purportedly opposed new president. An example is the Trump Administration's failure to depart from the Obama Justice Department's lax stance on cannabis. Weak constituents’ policy demands may thus need to rely on a sympathetic president's unilateral action to begin a feedback loop, subsequently softening opposition. This paper therefore identifies unilateral action as a key tool for shifting policy in an enduring way, explaining its success or failure in terms of interest group power.

Political entrepreneurs and interest groups in the CPTPP ratification process in Chile: A case of politicization?

AbstractThis study examines the strategies employed by Chilean political parties and interest groups to politicize the Trans‐Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). To achieve this goal, political entrepreneurs and anti‐trade lobbies opposed the CPTPP are using a distinct strategy to shape the debate. The idea of trade politicization helps understand how these key actors expanded the scope of topics, mobilizing political action from various groups such as environmentalists, unions, indigenous activists, and advocates for gender equality. Furthermore, this strategy involves shifting the discourse away from the traditional dichotomy of free trade versus protectionism and redirecting the debate toward ideological and cultural dimensions such as legitimacy and sovereignty.

From Ads to Action: The Influence of Interest Group Supreme Court Confirmation Advertisements on Political Engagement

Interest groups capitalize on the opportunity to influence salient U.S. Supreme Court confirmations, while pursuing organizational and policy goals and hoping to mobilize the public. We test the opportunities and limits of ad influence on political mobilization specifically looking at calls to action (i.e., donations, contacting senators, and social media engagement). By analyzing responses to real interest group-produced video ads from Amy Coney Barrett’s and Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nominations, we discover ads can potentially influence individuals’ political behavior online and spur offline political engagement. Specifically, we find name recognition, partisan congruence, and positive tone positively influence respondent engagement in calls to action. We find ad format in terms of forced exposure and negative tone decrease engagement likelihood. Our study contributes novel insights into the role of online advertising in shaping political behavior around nominations in the digital age.

Bias and Linking Error in Fixed Item Parameter Calibration

The two-parameter logistic (2PL) item response theory (IRT) model is frequently applied to analyze group differences for multivariate binary random variables. The item parameters in the 2PL model are frequently fixed when estimating the mean and the standard deviation for a group of interest. This method is also called fixed item parameter calibration (FIPC). In this article, the bias and the linking error of the FIPC approach are analytically derived in the presence of random uniform differential item functioning (DIF). The adequacy of the analytical findings was validated in a simulation study. It turned out that the extent of the bias and the variance in distribution parameters increases with increasing variance of random DIF effects.

The impact of basal cell carcinoma on the quality-of-life in older patients

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent malignant tumour worldwide and incidences are rising rapidly. BCC grow locally, but can invade surrounding tissues. Little is known concerning their impact on the health-related quality of life (HrQoL), and limited available data reports contradicting results. Measuring HrQoL in BCC patients should be done using disease-specific questionnaires such as the Basal and Squamous cell carcinoma Quality of Life (BaSQoL) questionnaire. The aim of this study was to assess the BCC-related HrQoL by examining all relevant patient, tumour and treatment characteristics to identify the main factors for the BCC-related impact. Specific attention for older BCC patients wass brought forward because of the often complex decisions in this subgroup. Patients ≥ 18 years with a history of BCC were asked to fill in the BaSQoL questionnaire, consisting of 5 subdomains. Multivariable analyses were done using a generalized additive model (GAM) because of the need for incorporation of non-linear functions. The study obtained approval of the Ethics Committee of the Ghent University Hospital (EC/2019/1352). Informed consent was obtained from all subjects. All experiments were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Four hundred patients with a median age of 66 were enrolled. Mean BaSQoL subscores were 0.78 (SD 0.63) for ‘behaviour’, 1.01 (SD 0.73) for ‘diagnosis&treatment’, 0.90 (SD 0.73) for ‘worries’, 0.40 (SD 0.63) for ‘appearance’ and 1.20 (SD 0.75) for ‘other people’, illustrating the low to moderate impact of BCC on the HrQoL. A GAM with subsequent ANOVA testing was done for all relevant variables. In 4 out of 5 BaSQoL subdomains ‘age’ showed a significant correlation (‘behaviour’ p = 0.007; ‘diagnosis&treatment’ p = 0.026; ‘worries’ p = 0.003; ‘appearance’ p = 0.008). Lower BaSQoL scores were seen in older patients, meaning less BCC-impact on their HrQoL. There was a clear non-linear correlation between BaSQoL scores and age, illustrating that the impact of BCC on the HrQoL shows a rapid decrease starting around the age of 70. This study is the first to illustrate the relation between the BCC-related HrQoL and the age of patients with the use of a disease-specific HrQoL instrument. We found a lower BaSQoL score in older adults, with a specific age group of interest starting around the age of 70–75. This is an argument for a potential wait-and-see strategy for BCC in these patients.