The microwave syndrome or electro-hypersensitivity: historical background

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
David O. Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Soviet Bloc ◽  
Microwave Range ◽  
Emotional Instability ◽  
Smart Meters ◽  
Microwave Exposure ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Loss Of Appetite

AbstractMicrowave generating equipment first became common during World War 2 with the development of radar. Soviet bloc countries reported that individuals exposed to microwaves frequently developed headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleepiness, difficulty in concentration, poor memory, emotional instability, and labile cardiovascular function, and established stringent exposure standards. For a variety of reasons these reports were discounted in Western countries, where the prevailing belief was that there could be no adverse health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that were not mediated by tissue heating. The reported Soviet effects were at lower intensities than those that cause heating. However, there were several accidental exposures of radar operators in Western countries that resulted in persistent symptoms similar to those described above. The Soviets irradiated the US Embassy in Moscow with microwaves during the period 1953–1975, and while no convincing evidence of elevated cancer rates was reported, there were reports of “microwave illness”. Officials passed these complaints off as being due to anxiety, not effects of the microwave exposure. There is increasing evidence that the “microwave syndrome” or “electro-hypersensitivity” (EHS) is a real disease that is caused by exposure to EMFs, especially those in the microwave range. The reported incidence of the syndrome is increasing along with increasing exposure to EMFs from electricity, WiFi, mobile phones and towers, smart meters and many other wireless devices. Why some individuals are more sensitive is unclear. While most individuals who report having EHS do not have a specific history of an acute exposure, excessive exposure to EMFs, even for a brief period of time, can induce the syndrome.

scholarly journals The Rise of Fascist Formations in Chile and in the World

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 230
Author(s):  
Rene Leal
Keyword(s):  
Social Order ◽  
Capital Accumulation ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Soviet Bloc ◽  
Unfinished Business ◽  
Far Right ◽  
Capitalist Development ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The World ◽  
Neoliberal Ideology

This essay examines the contemporary crisis in Chile in the context of the rise of the global far right. What led to the popular uprising in Chile in October 2019, and what forces are represented by its violent state repression? Fascist formations are currently developing in various nations; Umberto Eco’s concept of Ur-Fascism is useful in tracing the range of fascisms and their characteristics. These include populism, nationalism, racism, and syncretic traditionalism. In Chile, the racism of the far right is directed against its indigenous people more than immigrants. The ‘unfinished business’ of capitalist development here is the historical background of the oppressive relationship established by the ‘West’ over the ‘Rest’, in Stuart Hall’s terms. Fascism emerges periodically, temporarily resolving crises of accumulation through runaway activity of capital, entailing suppression of the working class and its organization. Neoliberalism has been the latest form of this exacerbation, but as its contradictions have intensified, its ideology no longer manages to mask the exploitation and secure consent. Neoliberalism, trialed in Chile after the 1973 coup under United States hegemony, became globally entrenched following the collapse of Soviet-bloc socialism and the ensuing weaknesses and crises of the organized left and the decay of social democracy. Neoliberal ideology has sustained capital at the same time as neoliberal policies have augmented the precarity of subordinated classes. As this becomes apparent with the sharpening of contradictions, the anachronistic relationship between liberalism and democracy has been deeply damaged. It becomes clear that capital’s profitability is privileged over the needs and wishes of the people. In this framework, to explore the rise and meaning of fascism is thus to examine the condition and possibilities of modernity and its limits. Modernity is besieged by pressurs coming from premodern esentialist conceptions of the world and also by the postmodernist’s view of chaos and fragmentation of a spontaneous social order; neoliberalism becomes compatible with both. Fascism lacks a coherence, but is anchored emotionally to archetypal foundations. Its very eclecticism embraces a wide range of anti-socialist and anti-capitalist discourses, which have enabled it to take root in mass movements. Its ideological resolution of the contradiction between capital and labor is temporary: the intensifying of capital accumulation activates its opposition, to the point where the distorting effect of ideology is unveiled and contradictions appear as class struggle. The longstanding imposition of neoliberalism in Chile, and the runaway activity of capital which it supported have has been rejected and partially defeated by the October 2019 rebellion in Chile. The far right has backed down but has not been defeated. The plebiscite of 25 October 2020 has delivered the people’s verdict on neoliberalism. However, in the different global and national circumstances of 2021, the fascists still among us may yet seek to reassert the order that they sought in 1973.

scholarly journals Characterising post-COVID syndrome more than 6 months after acute infection in adults; prospective longitudinal cohort study, England

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahin Amin-Chowdhury ◽  
Ross J Harris ◽  
Felicity Aiano ◽  
Maria Zavala ◽  
Marta Bertran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Blurred Vision ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Loss Of Appetite ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

AbstractBackgroundMost individuals with COVID-19 will recover without sequelae, but some will develop long- term multi-system impairments. The definition, duration, prevalence and symptoms associated with long COVID, however, have not been established.MethodsPublic Health England (PHE) initiated longitudinal surveillance of clinical and non-clinical healthcare workers for monthly blood sampling for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in March 2020. Eight months after enrolment, participants completed an online questionnaire including 72 symptoms in the preceding month. Symptomatic mild-to-moderate cases with confirmed COVID-19 were compared with asymptomatic, seronegative controls. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent symptoms associated with long COVID.ResultsAll 2,147 participants were contacted and 1,671 (77.8%) completed the questionnaire, including 140 (8.4%) cases and 1,160 controls. At a median of 7.5 (IQR 7.1-7.8) months after infection, 20 cases (14.3%) had ongoing (4/140, 2.9%) or episodic (16/140, 11.4%) symptoms. We identified three clusters of symptoms associated with long COVID, those affecting the sensory (ageusia, anosmia, loss of appetite and blurred vision), neurological (forgetfulness, short-term memory loss and confusion/brain fog) and cardiorespiratory (chest tightness/pain, unusual fatigue, breathlessness after minimal exertion/at rest, palpitations) systems. The sensory cluster had the highest association with being a case (aOR 5.25, 95% CI 3.45-8.01). Dermatological, gynaecological, gastrointestinal or mental health symptoms were not significantly different between cases and controls.ConclusionsMost persistent symptoms reported following mild COVID-19 were equally common in cases and controls. While all three clusters identified had a strong association with previous COVID-19 infection, the sensory cluster had the highest specificity and strength of association.Key pointsCompared to controls, we identified three clusters of symptoms affecting the sensory, neurological and cardiorespiratory systems that were more prevalent among cases. Notably, gastrointestinal and dermatological symptoms and symptoms related to mental health were as prevalent among cases as controls.

Planning history in Japan

Urban History ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 63-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shun-Ichi Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Social Conditions ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Planning History ◽  
Western Countries

The planning system which dominates most of the comtemporary world is of European and American origin. It has come out of the particular socio-historical background of these Western countries and has naturally had some implicit assumptions regarding the concepts, purposes and ideology of planning. This system has been exported to, and often imposed upon, countries with different social conditions where those assumptions are not necessarily valid. As a result, in many developing countries, planning is considered ineffective, and planners become frustrated.

scholarly journals Interconection and Local Wisdom of Malay and Arabs Ulamas Works: Study on Malay and Arabic Manuscripts’ Papers

Al-Qalam ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Fakhriati Fakhriati
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Diplomatic Relation ◽  
Historical Knowledge ◽  
Historical Approach ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Relationship

<p align="justify">Malay and Arabs are two continents, located in different area, Southeast Asia and Middle East. Historically, writers as <em>ulama</em>s<em> </em>(religious prominent figures) tended to use watermarked papers for writing many things both related to religious, historical knowledge, and also their experience. Looking at the manuscripts existing nowadays, almost all Malay and Arabic manuscripts’ papers have unique and similar watermark images and countermark inside. It cannot be denied that historical background and context appeared behind the papers. Historically, the relationship among the countries since the coming of Islam to Malay -- that was in Aceh at the first -- gave the effect of produced and using the papers. Trade and diplomatic relation can be assumed as the biggest factor taken places in this aspect. Besides, Western countries also took important role in exporting their paper to other countries. In addition, they had colonized some Muslims countries both Southeast Asian and Middle East. As the most popular producers of watermark images, Western countries also exported their papers to other countries, including their colonized countries. This paper tries to elaborate ulamas’ paper in these two nations in its similarity and diversity to find local wisdom inside. Thereafter, to analyze the relationship among the countries is another focus of this paper. This paper tries to use Philological, codicological, and socio-historical approach in dealing with the content and physics of the manuscripts, and its historical context.</p>

scholarly journals Deciphering Long Covid: Next Emergent Healthcare Dilemma

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
Sana Abbas ◽  
Beenish Abbas ◽  
Haifsa Rafique ◽  
Aisha Rafique ◽  
Saima Zafar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Disease ◽  
Male Gender ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Shortness Of Breath ◽  
Positive Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Disease Symptoms ◽  
Pakistani Population ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Loss Of Appetite

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Long Haul COVID–19 Syndrome among Pakistani Population. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted after approval from the ethical review committee of the Foundation University College of Dentistry, Islamabad from June 2021 to September 2021. A non-probability consecutive sampling methodology was employed and a total of (168) participants after voluntary consent were enrolled in the study, after explaining the study protocol to the patients. The final Questionnaire is comprised of three sections. Section – I focused on the demographic profile (Age, Gender, Profession) of the participants. Section – II was designed to investigate COVID – 19 disease history, comorbid, coronavirus disease severity along with the number of individuals infected in the family, duration of positive polymerase chain reaction results, and management destination (Hospital or Home). Section – III addressed the frequency of persistent symptoms (Gastrointestinal, Systemic, Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, Immunological, Dermatological, Neuropsychiatric, Ophthalmological, Pulmonary, Otorhinolaryngological, Endocrine, Reproductive and Genitourinary systems). Results: 168 responders participated in this survey study,48 (28.6%) males while 120 (71.4%) females. About 36 (11.9%) were found to be suffering from comorbidity, 84 (50.0%) suffered from mild disease symptoms, while only 4 (2.4%) experienced the severe disease. The disease was managed at home for a major chunk of responders, 140 (83.3%).132 (78.6%) were found to have suffered from long COVID syndrome with the persistence of symptoms beyond four weeks of infection. The most common symptoms included fatigue (78.8%), fever (60.0%), loss of taste (57.8%), dry cough (45.5%), headache (42.4%), post-exertional malaise (45.5%), shortness of breath (39.4%), insomnia (39.0%), loss of smell (36.4%), loss of appetite (33.3%) and depression (33.3%).Male gender (p=0.009), with existing chronic illnesses (p<0.001), moderate and severe disease (p<0.001), higher age group (p<0.001) and isolated at hospital (p=0.002). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has shown that persistence of COVID disease symptoms (most common symptoms included fatigue, fever, loss of taste, dry cough, headache, post-exertional malaise, shortness of breath, insomnia, loss of smell, loss of appetite, and depression) are common in Pakistani population. Male gender, existing chronic illnesses, moderate and severe disease, higher age group, and isolation at the hospital are the probable risk factors.

scholarly journals Community psychiatry in developing countries – a misnomer?

2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 226-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Farooq ◽  
Fareed A. Minhas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Community Psychiatry ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
The Past ◽  
Developed World

There has been a rush towards community psychiatry in the developed world in the past few decades (Tyrer, 1998a). In developing countries the concept has been equally popular and various programmes have been described (Burns, 1998; Goldberg, 1992; Issac, 1996). The term ‘community psychiatry’ originates from a peculiar historical background, is based on certain principles and is shaped by the existing pattern of mental health services in many Western countries. Although the term is vague, its application is especially problematic in developing countries. In this article an attempt will be made to highlight the origins of the term community psychiatry and its application in developing countries.

scholarly journals Middle class: ways of defining and the special case of China

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-115
Author(s):  
Gabriel Hasík
Keyword(s):  
Middle Class ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Literary Research ◽  
Political Compromise ◽  
Political Decisions ◽  
Special Case ◽  
Ruling Party

Many ways of classifying themiddle class more or less reflect the level of local prices, historical background or social aspects. The middle class is generally considered one of the main pillars of the market economy without which achieving and maintaining political stability would be impossible. This is based on the assumption that middle-class members prefer rational political decisions, reject political extremism and prefer political compromise. At the same time, however, the middle class has rising expectations and can therefore be a significant factor in political change. The Chinese middle class has one distinct difference over Western countries. While the middle class in the Western countries is the enemy of the regime and the trigger for democratization, the Chinese middle class has often very close relations with the ruling party. This article aims to show themajor approaches to define the middle class, respectively, thedeeper sociological meaning of the class in general and specifically in China. Thearticle is based on literary research, and apart from theoretical part defining middle class, it describes challenges Chinese middle class is facing. Themaincontribution ofthearticleis thecleardescription of the theoretical concept ofthemiddle class andtheidentification ofdifferentiatingfactors anddeterminants oftheChinese middle class.

The Other Battleground of the Cold War: The UN and the Struggle against International Terrorism in the 1970s

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Blumenau
Keyword(s):  
Third World ◽  
High Water ◽  
West Germany ◽  
International Terrorism ◽  
Soviet Bloc ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
The Third ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Third World ◽  
East West

The 1970s are often associated with East-West détente, talks about the limitation of nuclear and conventional forces, the emergence of the Third World as an increasingly important factor in international relations, and the subsequent erosion of détente and deepening of East-West hostility. However, the 1970s were also a high-water mark of international terrorism—particularly terrorism emanating from the Middle East—and this threat generated action on the part of the leading Western countries. The United Nations (UN) could have been an important forum in which to address this threat and develop responses, but the UN was paralyzed by the differences not only between the Western countries and the Soviet bloc but also between the West and the Third World. The definition of “terrorism” was a particular bone of contention. Nevertheless, despite this inauspicious environment, some achievements proved feasible because of a changing international context that was increasingly hostile to terrorism and the persistence and diplomatic skills of some Western countries, notably West Germany.

The relationship of the scleractinian corals to the rugose corals

Paleobiology ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 6 (02) ◽  
pp. 146-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Critical Points ◽  
Scleractinian Corals ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Early Triassic ◽  
Rugose Corals ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Biologic Factors

The Mesozoic-Cenozoic coral Order Scleractinia has been suggested to have originated or evolved (1) by direct descent from the Paleozoic Order Rugosa or (2) by the development of a skeleton in members of one of the anemone groups that probably have existed throughout Phanerozoic time. In spite of much work on the subject, advocates of the direct descent hypothesis have failed to find convincing evidence of this relationship. Critical points are:(1) Rugosan septal insertion is serial; Scleractinian insertion is cyclic; no intermediate stages have been demonstrated. Apparent intermediates are Scleractinia having bilateral cyclic insertion or teratological Rugosa.(2) There is convincing evidence that the skeletons of many Rugosa were calcitic and none are known to be or to have been aragonitic. In contrast, the skeletons of all living Scleractinia are aragonitic and there is evidence that fossil Scleractinia were aragonitic also. The mineralogic difference is almost certainly due to intrinsic biologic factors.(3) No early Triassic corals of either group are known. This fact is not compelling (by itself) but is important in connection with points 1 and 2, because, given direct descent, both changes took place during this only stage in the history of the two groups in which there are no known corals.

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