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This study advances the understanding of consumer nationalism through an analysis of a Chinese boycott of South Korean goods. In early 2017, Chinese internet users expressed their strong aversion to the South Korean conglomerate Lotte and coordinated a folk boycott against it on the grounds that Lotte supported South Korea’s deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system, which China considered a threat. We explored the increasing convergence of consumer activities in the form of consumer nationalism with commercial entities’ marketing strategies and also with the state’s interests with respect to security and promoting national pride. The internet and new technologies have facilitated grassroots nationalist activities in terms of the ready circulation of information and mobilization of collective actions. We investigated a digital discursive space in the communicative interactions among stakeholders through which digital media not only amplify the scale and intensity of the mundane and everyday practice of nationalism but also blur the boundaries among the participating actors. Our research documented the multilateral relationships among stakeholders – individual consumers/media users, commercial entities, and the state – in practicing nationalism and reproducing the nation through (non)consumption.

IntroductionUnplanned pregnancies are a significant risk factor in perinatal mental health. They also have the potential to result in adverse health impacts for mother, baby and children into later in life. Women from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to access contraception. Women are more likely to on board health advice during pregnancy and post partum period due to high level of surveillance by health professionals.ObjectivesOur aim was for 90% of patients on Coombe Wood Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) to feel supported to make an informed decision about their contraception by October 2020.MethodsA questionnaire was completed by fifteen inpatients at the Mother and Baby Unit over a 4 month period (April- August 2020) to assess areas around their pregnancy and contraceptives of choice. Contraceptive training was provided by a Sexual Health Specialist to staff across multiple disciplinaries on Coombe Wood MBU. Sexual Health discussion groups were delivered by doctors to inpatients on a monthly basis. A post-intervention questionnaire was given to patients.Results•53% of patients reported unplanned pregnancies. •40% of women felt lacking confidence in choosing the right contraceptive •The most frequent question asked during the sexual health groups was regarding hormonal contraceptives impacting on mental health. •By September 100% of patients felt they were able to make an informed decision about their contraception on discharge.ConclusionsFacilitating women to make informed decisions regarding their contraception empowers them to gain autonomy, reduces the risks of physical and mental illness, improves the quality of life for mothers and babies.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) recording brain signals via implantable sensors aims to substitute, restore, improve, add, or enhance human functions. However, wiring requirements for power transfer and signal transmission, acute immune response to implanted electrodes, and the limited scalability of the ever-popular microelectrode arrays prevent wide adaptation of BCIs. Here, we show that electro-plasmonic nanoparticles, plasmonic nanoparticles loaded with an electrochromic polymer, can overcome the limitations of the conventional implantable microelectrode arrays as BCI probes. Much like radio frequency identification (RFIDs) tags that use backscattering for remote readout, electro-plasmonic nanoparticles report the spiking activity of neurons by modulating the input light and the re-radiated light spectrum.  Our electro-plasmonic nanoantennas are non-invasive, wire-free, highly sensitive (field sensitivity up to 15.5%) and require no surgical implantation. We believe that electro-plasmonic neural probes can help usher in a new era of BCIs.