bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘A patient act of adjustment’: Subjectivisation, adjectives and Jane Austen
Authors: González-Díaz Victorina
Published: June 2021

Previous scholarship on Jane Austen has often commented on the moral overtones of her lexical choices; more specifically, the fact that “incorrect” lexical innovations and fashionable words (i.e. new usages) tend to be deployed as part of the idiolect of foolish, gullible or morally reprehensible characters. By contrast, ethically sound characters normally move within the limits of established (‘old’) usages and the “correct” Standard English repertoire. Taking the historical linguistic concept of subjectivisation as starting point, this case-study explores the use of two adjectives ( lovely and nice) in Austen’s novels. The article (a) demonstrates that a straightforward socio-moral classification of ‘old’ and ‘new’ word-senses in Austen’s fiction is not fully adequate and (b) advocates, in line with recent scholarship, a more nuanced approach to the study of her fictional vocabulary, where old and new senses of a word (in this case, lovely and nice) move across the idiolect of different character-types for ironic, character- and plot-building purposes.
Vitamin D Levels and Early Onset Sepsis in Newborns
Authors: Jeengar Balveer , Gothwal Sunil , Meena Kailash Kumar , Garg Vijendra Kumar , Athwani Vivek , Gupta Manohar Lal , Meena Kuldeep , Bairwa Ghan Shyam
Published: June 2021

Aim:

To find out association between vitamin D level and early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS).

Methods:

This case control study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Northern India during June 2018 to May 2019. Neonates with culture-proven EONS were included as case and neonates without EONS were enrolled as control. 25OH-D levels were evaluated with other routine blood samples. Statistical analysis was done by using unpaired t test and chi-square test.

Results:

Sixty-two infants were enrolled in each group; baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. Risk of EONS increased 8 times in neonates with 25OH-D level <30 ng/mL (odds ratio = 8.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.08-21.82; P = .000). The 25OH-D level was significantly lower in EONS group than control group. Optimal cut-off for 25OH-D was 25 ng/mL to predict EONS with a sensitivity and specificity of 88.7% and 79%, respectively (area under the curve: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.76-0.92; P = .000).

Conclusions:

Vitamin D insufficiency is significantly associated with EONS. Vitamin D deficiency significantly increases risk of EONS. Maternal vitamin D supplementation may improve neonatal vitamin D levels and may decreases risk of EONS. Further studies including maternal vitamin D level are required for implementation.
Support for the Americans with Disabilities Act Among Nondisabled People
Authors: Friedman Carli , VanPuymbrouck Laura
Published: June 2021

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) opened the doors to access and enhanced the civil rights of people with disabilities. However, a lack of accessibility to all segments of society continues throughout the United States and is frequently described by people with disabilities as a leading cause for limited participation. Beliefs and attitudes about disability can affect critical decisions regarding inclusion and people with disabilities’ civil rights. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore support and opposition to the ADA among nondisabled people. We had the following research questions: (a) What is the relationship between disability prejudice and support for the ADA? and (b) When controlling for disability prejudice, what other factors lead people to support the ADA? To do so, we examined secondary data from approximately 13,000 participants from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Findings from this study revealed that people who oppose the ADA are significantly more prejudiced toward people with disabilities than people who support the ADA. Understanding and becoming aware of attitudes and prejudice toward persons with disabilities can be a first step toward dispelling such beliefs and possibly a priori step to achieving the intent and spirit of the ADA.
Exploring Access to Independent Living Services for People With Disabilities Through a Transportation Network Analysis
Authors: Johnson Kourtney B. , Greiman Lillie , VonReichert Christiane , Altom Billy
Published: June 2021

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are nonresidential, nonprofit agencies that provide independent living services to people with disabilities across the nation. The services CILs provide are invaluable to people with disabilities living independently in the community. Accessing CIL services can be challenging for people with disabilities, particularly for individuals in rural areas. A geographic analysis called a transportation network analysis is one method for assessing access to CIL services. We draw on the distribution of CILs across the country and in two rural states (Montana and Arkansas) to assess levels of geographic access using travel distance along national and local road networks. Incorporating data from the American Community Survey allowed us to estimate the number of people with disabilities living within certain distance thresholds from CILs. We saw increased access in urban areas where there is a higher concentration of CILs, suggesting that people with disabilities in rural areas have limited access to CIL services. We explore how partnering with Area Agencies on Aging has the potential to expand access to services for people with disabilities in rural areas, highlighting the utility of geographic analysis in social service provision.
How Unusable Systems Can Be Successes: When You Are Not a Stakeholder
Authors: Ritter Frank E.
Published: June 2021

I have recently used several systems that are not usable but have been declared successes. Success means that their use is increasing, no one was fired, and the usability problems are solved by the users who either work much harder or through surrogates. After defining usability, I describe these systems and provide a list of reasons why these systems are both unusable and successes, seemingly a paradox for human factors. The article concludes by explaining this paradox, noting several ways this can happen, particularly when stakeholders’ viewpoints are excluded or discounted by designers and by other types of users.
Low-Grade Fumarate Hydratase-Deficient Renal Cell Carcinoma in a 30-Year-Old Female
Authors: Wyvekens Nicolas , Anderson William J. , Kim Young X. , Carter Mark , Hirsch Michelle S.
Published: June 2021

Fumarate hydratase (FH)-deficient renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a rare and clinically aggressive RCC subtype that is commonly associated with the hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome. The diagnostic hallmark of FH-deficient RCC is a high-grade microscopic appearance with prominent inclusion-like eosinophilic nucleoli and perinucleolar halos. Herein we report a case of an FH-deficient RCC in a 30-year-old female that exhibited low-grade nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, reminiscent of the clinically more indolent succinate dehydrogenase-deficient RCC subtype and the newly described eintity, eosinophilic, solid and cystic RCC. This case illustrates that FH-deficient RCC can have a wide spectrum of microscopic appearances, including low-grade eosinophilic RCC. In addition, it highlights that a low threshold to perform the immunohistochemical stains for FH and S-(2-succino) cysteine is warranted in RCC cases with unusual and even low-grade eosinophilic morphology.
Mahalanobis-ANOVA criterion for optimum feature subset selection in multi-class planetary gear fault diagnosis
Authors: Suresh Setti , Naidu VPS
Published: June 2021

The empirical analysis of a typical gear fault diagnosis of five different classes has been studied in this article. The analysis was used to develop novel feature selection criteria that provide an optimum feature subset over feature ranking genetic algorithms for improving the planetary gear fault classification accuracy. We have considered traditional approach in the fault diagnosis, where the raw vibration signal was divided into fixed-length epochs, and statistical time-domain features have been extracted from the segmented signal to represent the data in a compact discriminative form. Scale-invariant Mahalanobis distance–based feature selection using ANOVA statistic test was used as a feature selection criterion to find out the optimum feature subset. The Support Vector Machine Multi-Class machine learning algorithm was used as a classification technique to diagnose the gear faults. It has been observed that the highest gear fault classification accuracy of 99.89% (load case) was achieved by using the proposed Mahalanobis-ANOVA Criterion for optimum feature subset selection followed by Support Vector Machine Multi-Class algorithm. It is also noted that the developed feature selection criterion is a data-driven model which will contemplate all the nonlinearity in a signal. The fault diagnosis consistency of the proposed Support Vector Machine Multi-Class learning algorithm was ensured through 100 Monte Carlo runs, and the diagnostic ability of the classifier has been represented using confusion matrix and receiver operating characteristics.
Porous and cracked rocks elasticity: Macroscopic poroelasticity and effective media theory
Authors: Fortin Jérôme , Guéguen Yves
Published: June 2021

Macroscopic poroelasticity and effective medium theory are two independent approaches which can be used to analyze the role of pores, cracks, and fluid on elastic properties. Macroscopic poroelasticity belongs to the macroscopic framework of thermodynamics whereas effective medium theory expresses the medium properties in terms of microstructural characteristics (pore and crack shape, etc.) and component properties (fluid properties, solid grain properties, etc.). In this paper, we review the fundamental assumptions and results of both approaches, and show that they are complementary but do not apply over the same range of conditions. A compilation of data is reported, in various dry and saturated rocks, to show the validity of the Gassmann equation and the dispersion between unrelaxed modulus –where effective medium model applies- and relaxed modulus –where poroelasticity applies.
Diagnosis of Pediatric Non-Esophageal Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders by Eosinophil Peroxidase Immunohistochemistry
Authors: Hasan Shaina H , Taylor Steve , Garg Shipra , Buras Matthew R , Doyle Alfred D , Bauer Cindy S , Wright Benjamin L , Schroeder Shauna
Published: June 2021

Background

Diagnosis of non-esophageal eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders requires quantification of tissue eosinophils. Our objective was to evaluate eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a method for histologic diagnosis of eosinophilic gastritis (EG) and eosinophilic duodenitis (EoD).

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of biopsies from pediatric EG/EoD cases and controls. Subjects with EG or EoD had ≥30 eosinophils per high power field (eos/hpf) in ≥5 hpf in the stomach and/or ≥3 hpf in the duodenum, respectively. Controls had no histopathologic diagnosis recorded. Tissue eosinophil counts were assessed by hematoxylin & eosin stains. EPX stains were assessed using a unique histopathologic scoring system. Slides were digitized and EPX+ staining area/mm2 was quantified by image analysis.

Results

Twenty-six EG/EoD cases and 40 controls were analyzed. EPX scores and EPX/mm2 levels were markedly elevated in EG/EoD (p ≤ 0.0001). Eosinophil density (eos/mm2) correlated strongly with EPX scores and EPX/mm2 levels in the stomach (r ≥ 0.77) and moderately with EPX scores and EPX/mm2 levels in the duodenum (r ≥ 0.52); (p < 0.0001). EPX quantification identified EG/EoD subjects with high diagnostic accuracy (EPX score: AUC = 1 for EG and EoD; EPX/mm2: AUC = 0.98 (95%CI 0.96-1) for EG, AUC = 0.91 (95%CI 0.81-1) for EoD).

Conclusion

EPX-based assessment of eosinophilic inflammation may facilitate automated histologic diagnosis.
The energy-absorbing characteristics of tubular sandwich structures
Authors: Jishi HZ , Alia RA , Cantwell WJ
Published: June 2021

The energy-absorbing response of sandwich structures with exceptionally high levels of energy absorption is investigated. The sandwich panels are produced by fixing small composite tubes onto metal facings with surface features that reflect the internal geometry of the tubing. Small diameter tubes are employed to manufacture the cores, since it is well established that the specific energy absorption (SEA) characteristics of a composite tube increase as the inner dimension (diameter or wall-to-wall) to thickness ratio decreases. Tests have been undertaken on tubular arrays based on both circular and square composite tubes. The effect of varying the areal density of the tubular array within the core was investigated by systematically increasing the number of tubes from one to nine. An examination of the composites during the crushing process indicated that all of the tubes failed in a splaying process, involving significant fracturing of fibers and longitudinal splitting. The measured values of SEA remained relatively constant in most cases as the areal density of the tubular arrangement was increased, suggesting that cores could readily be designed to absorb known levels of applied external energy. Arrays based on circular tubes offered higher energy-absorbing characteristics than their square counterparts, with values in excess of 100 kJ/kg being recorded in some cases. It is believed that these tubular sandwich structures offer potential for use in components that are subjected to extreme dynamic loading, such as those associated with impact and blast.
Early benefits of a secondary fracture prevention programme
Authors: Zinger Gershon , Sylvetsky Noa , Levy Yedin , Steinberg Kobi , Bregman Alexander , Yudkevich Genady , Peyser Amos
Published: June 2021

Introduction:

The most successful programme for secondary fracture prevention is the FLS (fracture liaison service) model. Our orthopaedic department carried out a prospective randomised study to measure the effectiveness of a 4-step intervention programme. The findings in this study reveal important additional clinical benefits to having an orthopaedic-based FLS programme and evaluates the usefulness of fracture risk tools.

Methods:

We carried out a prospective study to evaluate patients with a fragility fracture of the hip. There were 2 groups, intervention and control (each 100 patients). Of these, 20 were either removed from the study or dropped out, leaving 180 for analysis. In addition to routine preoperative blood tests, albumin and thyroid function levels were obtained and PTH (parathyroid hormone) levels when indicated. The intervention group (83 patients) had a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan performed and fracture risk (FRAX) was calculated.

Results:

12 patients (6.7%) had blood results which showed a potentially treatable cause for osteoporosis and 36 (20%) had blood results that changed their medical care. FRAX scores (180 patients) showed that the major osteoporotic fracture score correctly predicted the hip fracture in only 49%. The hip fracture score correctly predicted the hip fracture in 83%. DEXA scores (65 patients) showed osteoporosis in only 46% of hips and in only 26% of spines. An abnormal FRAX score or DEXA scan would have predicted a fragility fracture 93% of the time.

Conclusions:

In addition to reducing secondary fractures, FLS programmes can provide fundamental benefits to the health of the patient. The intervention programme in this study identified patients with underlying treatable causes, correctable clinical conditions and patients with an unusually low bone density. When used together, FRAX and DEXA are more sensitive predictors for hip fracture risk than either are individually.

Trial registry:

201497CTIL ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02239523 )
In Silico Identification and Functional Characterization of Conserved miRNAs in the Genome of Cryptosporidium parvum
Authors: Ahsan Md. Irtija , Chowdhury Md. Shahidur Rahman , Das Moumita , Akter Sharmin , Roy Sawrab , Sharma Binayok , Akhand Rubaiat Nazneen , Hasan Mahmudul , Uddin Md Bashir , Ahmed Syed Sayeem Uddin
Published: June 2021

Cryptosporidium parvum, a predominant causal agent of a fatal zoonotic protozoan diarrhoeal disease called cryptosporidiosis, bears a worldwide public health concern for childhood mortality and poses a key threat to the dairy and water industries. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small but powerful posttranscriptional gene silencing RNA molecules, regulate a variety of molecular, biological, and cellular processes in animals and plants. As to the present date, there is a paucity of information regarding miRNAs of C. parvum; hence, this study was used to identify miRNAs in the organism using a comprehensible expressed sequence tag–based homology search approach consisting of a series of computational screening process from the identification of putative miRNA candidates to the functional annotation of the important gene targets in C. parvum. The results revealed a conserved miRNA that targeted 487 genes in the model organism ( Drosophila melanogaster) and 85 genes in C. parvum, of which 11 genes had direct involvements in several crucial virulence factors such as environmental oocyst protection, excystation, locomotion, adhesion, invasion, stress protection, intracellular growth, and survival. Besides, 20 genes showed their association with various major pathways dedicated for the ribosomal biosynthesis, DNA repair, transportation, protein production, gene expression, cell cycle, cell proliferation, development, immune response, differentiation, and nutrient metabolism of the organism in the host. Thus, this study provides a strong evidence of great impact of identified miRNA on the biology, virulence, and pathogenesis of C. parvum. Furthermore, the study suggests that the detected miRNA could be a potential epigenomic tool for controlling the protozoon through silencing those virulent and pathway-related target genes.
Effective Chromium Adsorption From Aqueous Solutions and Tannery Wastewater Using Bimetallic Fe/Cu Nanoparticles: Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed S. , Mohamed Nouran Y. , Mostafa Mohamed K. , Mahmoud Mohamed S.
Published: June 2021

Tannery industrial effluent is one of the most difficult wastewater types since it contains a huge concentration of organic, oil, and chrome (Cr). This study successfully prepared and applied bimetallic Fe/Cu nanoparticles (Fe/Cu NPs) for chrome removal. In the beginning, the Fe/Cu NPs was equilibrated by pure aqueous chrome solution at different operating conditions (lab scale), then the nanomaterial was applied in semi full scale. The operating conditions indicated that Fe/Cu NPs was able to adsorb 68% and 33% of Cr for initial concentrations of 1 and 9 mg/L, respectively. The removal occurred at pH 3 using 0.6 g/L Fe/Cu dose, stirring rate 200 r/min, contact time 20 min, and constant temperature 20 ± 2ºC. Adsorption isotherm proved that the Khan model is the most appropriate model for Cr removal using Fe/Cu NPs with the minimum error sum of 0.199. According to khan, the maximum uptakes was 20.5 mg/g Cr. Kinetic results proved that Pseudo Second Order mechanism with the least possible error of 0.098 indicated that the adsorption mechanism is chemisorption. Response surface methodology (RSM) equation was developed with a significant p-value = 0 to label the relations between Cr removal and different experimental parameters. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were performed with a structure of 5-4-1 and the achieved results indicated that the effect of the dose is the most dominated variable for Cr removal. Application of Fe/Cu NPs in real tannery wastewater showed its ability to degrade and disinfect organic and biological contaminants in addition to chrome adsorption. The reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), Cr, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and oil reached 61.5%, 49.5%, 44.8%, 100%, 38.9%, 96.3%, 88.7%, and 29.4%, respectively.
Electrodessication Matricectomy With Modified Hyfrecator Tip: Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Chan Janet , Pehr Kevin
Published: June 2021

Nail matricectomy is indicated in the management of painful onychodystrophies, including recalcitrant onychocryptosis, onychogryphosis, onychauxis, and refractory onychomycosis. Although many matricectomy methods have been described, with phenolization being the best studied, no one method has clearly emerged as superior. We present a series of 14 patients who underwent a total of 18 matricectomies with either phenolization or electrodessication (ED) in a private dermatology office, and describe a simple and effective variation of the ED technique using a modified hyfrecator tip. A video demonstration of this technique is included. We also describe ED matricectomy in the context of a review of the literature, ascertaining recurrence rates, complication rates, healing time, and patient satisfaction. The nuances of technique specifics (such as the use of adjunct methods and antibiotics), as well as outcome predictors and measurements have been highlighted. We found ED to be comparable to other forms of matricectomy, with the advantages of ease of use, minimal complications, and good satisfaction rates.
Influence of surface roughness, friction coefficient, and wrap angle on clinching joint strength and its correlation with belt friction phenomenon
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Edachery Vimal , Velpula Swamybabu , Govindaraju Avinash , Choudhury Sounak K. , Kailas Satish V.
Published: June 2021

Clinching is an economical sheet joining technique that does not require any consumables. Besides, after its usage, the joints can be recycled without much difficulty, making clinching one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing processes and a topic of high research potential. In this work, the influence of surface roughness on the load-bearing capacity (strength) of joints made by the mechanical clinching method in cross-tensile and lap-shear configuration is explored. Additionally, a correlating mathematical model is established between the joint strength and its surface parameters, namely, friction coefficient and wrap angle, based on the belt friction phenomenon. This correlation also explains the generally observed higher strength in lap-shear configuration compared to cross-tensile in clinching joints. From the mathematical correlation, through friction by increasing the average surface roughness, it is possible to increase the strength of the joint. The quality of the thus produced joint is analyzed by cross-sectional examination and comparison with simulation results. Experimentally, it is shown that an increment of >50% in the joint strength is achieved in lap-shear configuration by modifying the surface roughness and increasing the friction coefficient at the joint interface. Further, the same surface modification does not significantly affect the strength in cross-tensile configuration.
Static and dynamic characteristics and stability analysis of high-speed water-lubricated hydrodynamic journal bearings
Authors: Xu Bo , Guo Hun , Wu Xiaofeng , He Yafeng , Wang Xiangzhi , Bai Jianhui
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of turbulent, inertia, and misaligned effects on the static and dynamic characteristics and stability of high-speed water-lubricated hydrodynamic journal bearings. Based on the Navier–Stokes equation, the mixing-length theory, and the essential assumption that the velocity profile is not strongly affected by inertia force, the fluid lubrication model with turbulent, inertia, and misaligned effects is established, and then the stability analysis of bearings is carried out based on the equation of motion with four degrees of freedom. The model is solved by the finite difference method and the numerical results are compared under different operating conditions. The results show that the turbulent effect greatly increases the load capacity, power consumption, stiffness and damping coefficients, and stability of bearings, and the inertia effect significantly increases the volume flow rate of bearings, and the misaligned effect increases the load capacity, stiffness and damping coefficients, and stability of bearings. In high rotary speed and moderate eccentricity ratios, the influence of the inertia effect on the load capacity, stiffness coefficients, and stability cannot be neglected.
Eco-friendly and facile fabrication of superhydrophobic aluminum alloy
Authors: Ivvala Jayanth , Mandal Priya , Arora Harpreet Singh , Grewal Harpreet Singh
Published: June 2021

Synthetic superhydrophobic surfaces have drawn significant interest owing to their water-resistant and self-cleaning applications. However, most of the fabrication practices involve complex processes that are unsustainable to withstand large-scale fabrication to transform into standard industrial practice. The desired durability of these surfaces is another crucial challenge that makes the translation of these products difficult. In this paper, we reported the fabrication of superhydrophobic aluminum alloy with a simpler, low-cost, and eco-friendly technique using the hydrothermal treatment. Subsequently, the surface energy of the processed substrate was modulated using a chemical vapor deposition technique. The developed surface shows an extreme water repellency with a contact angle above 160° and a very low contact angle hysteresis and rolling angle (<5°). Surface morphological characterizations showed the formation of nanoscale hierarchical structures which resulted in a stable Cassie state due to the effective entrapment of air and exhibiting self-cleaning ability. The developed surface showed extreme wetting resilience during exposure to a droplet impingement with an impinging velocity of >2 m/s. Further, these superhydrophobic surfaces were exposed to atmospheric weather conditions to check their robustness. During a rain simulator testing, a developed surface showed low contact angle hysteresis (<10°) after enduring multiple cycles. The processed surface also showed significant de-wetting behavior during condensation experiments and chemical resistance under prolonged exposure. Weathering tests performed under outdoor conditions showed an insignificant influence on the de-wettability of the processed sample. The present study highlights the fabrication of superhydrophobic durable metallic surfaces through a facile and green fabrication route for multifunctional applications.
Working with parents of children with complex mental health issues to improve care: A qualitative inquiry
Authors: Leung Brenda MY , Wandler Cynthia , Pringsheim Tamara , Santana Maria J
Published: June 2021

The study objective was to explore the experiences of parents of children (6–17 years) with complex mental healthcare needs in accessing healthcare services in Alberta, Canada. Parents were interviewed using a semi-structured guide with open-ended and probing questions. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (1) Fragmented healthcare services profoundly impacted participants’ experience of mental health care due to (a) a lack of a collaborative approach across disciplines in the healthcare system; (b) unavailability of information related to mental health care and (c) a lack of patient-centred care. (2) Navigating the complex healthcare system was difficult due to fragmented services and was hindered by gaps in accessing and receiving care, lack of continuity of care and lack of resources. (3) Distressed parents discussed the emotional challenges, financial burdens, self-advocacy and stigma they experienced in navigating the system. Parents offered insights into potential solutions to these gaps. Parents recommended the creation of a one-stop shop service with a team approach led by a navigator to facilitate and support navigations across healthcare services that work collaboratively across disciplines among healthcare services and across sectors inclusive of social services, education, policing and community programmes.
Politically oriented bullshit detection: Attitudinally conditional bullshit receptivity and bullshit sensitivity
Authors: Petrocelli John V.
Published: June 2021

Bullshit results from communicating with little to no regard for truth, evidence, or established knowledge (Frankfurt, 1986; Petrocelli, 2018a). Such disregard for truth serves as a common source of antiscientific beliefs and endorsement of alternative facts and is thereby critical to understand. To examine how social perceptions of bullshit may be conditional upon the political orientation of a source and the extremity of one’s political attitudes, two experiments manipulated the alleged political source of bullshit messages and measured the direction and strength of political orientation. In Experiment 1, participants rated the profundity of nonsense statements allegedly stated by high-profile left/liberal or right/conservative political leaders. Experiment 2 participants rated the profundity of both bullshit statements and factual quotations regarding innovation. Results of both experiments suggest that bullshit receptivity and bullshit sensitivity are dependent on the alignment of the source’s bullshit content with the direction and extremity of one’s political attitudes.
Alcohol taxation, alcohol consumption and cancers in Lithuania: A case study
Authors: Rovira Pol , Belian Gražina , Ferreira-Borges Carina , Kilian Carolin , Neufeld Maria , Tran Alexander , Štelemėkas Mindaugas , Rehm Jürgen
Published: June 2021

Aims:

The aim of this contribution was to estimate the impact of the last significant alcohol taxation increase in Lithuania in 2017 on alcohol consumption, incident cancer cases, and cancer mortality, as well as the number of cancer outcomes that could have potentially been averted in 2018 had larger increases in alcohol excise taxation been applied.

Design:

Statistical modelling was used to estimate the change in alcohol per capita consumption following the tax increase, and alcohol-attributable fraction methodology was then used to estimate the associated cancer incidence and mortality. Potential increases of current excise duties were modelled in two steps. First, beverage-specific price elasticities of demand were used to predict the associated decreases in consumption and cancer outcomes, and second, the outcomes arising from the actual numbers and the modelled numbers were compared.

Method:

Data were taken from the following sources: alcohol consumption data from Statistics Lithuania and the WHO, cancer data from the International Agency of Research on Cancer, and risk relations and elasticities of demand from published meta-analyses.

Results:

A total of 15,857 new cancer cases (8,031 in women and 7,826 in men) and 8,534 cancer deaths (3,757 in women and 4,777 in men) were recorded in Lithuania in 2018. Using the attributable fraction methodology, we estimate that 4.8% of 761 of these new cancer cases were attributable to alcohol use (284 in women; 477 in men), as well as 5.5% or 466 cancer deaths (115 in women; 351 in men). With the taxation increase of 2017, 45 new cases and 24 deaths will be averted over the next 10 years. Further taxation increases of 100% could double the number of new cancer cases averted or saved.

Conclusion:

In a high-consumption European country like Lithuania, alcohol use is an important and avoidable risk factor for cancer. Taxation is an important measure to reduce the alcohol-attributable cancer burden.
Only “sheep” trust journalists? How citizens’ self-perceptions shape their approach to news
Authors: Nelson Jacob L , Lewis Seth C
Published: June 2021

The all-consuming nature of coronavirus news coverage has made the COVID-19 pandemic a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between audience trust in and engagement with news. This study examines that relationship through 60 Zoom-based qualitative interviews conducted with a diverse sample of US adults during the early phase of the pandemic. We find that how people approach the news stems not only from how they perceive the trustworthiness of individual news outlets, but also from their own self-perceptions. News consumers believe journalism generally suffers from issues of bias, but that they are savvy and independent-minded enough to see through those biases to find the truth. Putting the concept of partisan selective exposure into conversation with folk theories of news consumption, we conclude that people’s approach to and trust in news is as dependent on what they bring to the news as it is on what news brings to them.
Influence of the pandemic lockdown on Fridays for Future’s hashtag activism
Authors: Haßler Jörg , Wurst Anna-Katharina , Jungblut Marc , Schlosser Katharina
Published: June 2021

Social movement organizations (SMOs) increasingly rely on Twitter to create new and viral communication spaces alongside newsworthy protest events and communicate their grievance directly to the public. When the COVID-19 pandemic impeded street protests in spring 2020, SMOs had to adapt their strategies to online-only formats. We analyze the German-language Twitter communication of the climate movement Fridays for Future (FFF) before and during the lockdown to explain how SMOs adapted their strategy under online-only conditions. We collected (re-)tweets containing the hashtag #fridaysforfuture ( N = 46,881 tweets, N = 225,562 retweets) and analyzed Twitter activity, use of hashtags, and predominant topics. Results show that although the number of tweets was already steadily declining before, it sharply dropped during the lockdown. Moreover, the use of hashtags changed substantially and tweets focused increasingly on thematic discourses and debates around the legitimacy of FFF, while tweets about protests and calls for mobilization decreased.
An analysis of the effect of pressure angle change on bending fatigue performance in asymmetrical spur gears
Authors: Demet Seyit M , Ersoyoğlu Ali S
Published: June 2021

In this study, the fatigue performances of symmetrical and asymmetrical spur gears were analyzed by performing single tooth bending fatigue tests. The gears tested were determined to be symmetrical spur gears with a 20°/20° pressure angle, asymmetrical spur gears with a 20°/22° pressure angle, and asymmetrical spur gears with a 20°/25° pressure angle. These gears were made of AISI 4140 material. Single tooth bending fatigue tests were performed under variable loads. Considering the tests performed at the same torque values in asymmetrical spur gears with a 20°/22° pressure angle compared to symmetrical spur gears with a 20°/20° pressure angle, a statistically significant increase in performance was achieved at close to 90%. While gears with 20°/20° and 20°/22° pressure angles break at the tooth root, tooth flank fracture was observed in relatively high numbers of cycles in asymmetric spur gears with a 20°/25° pressure angle. It was observed that the formation of tooth flank damage negatively affected the fatigue performance.
Evolving Social and Political Dialogue through Participatory Video Processes
Authors: Mistry Jayalaxshmi , Shaw Jacqueline
Published: June 2021

Spaces for social and political dialogue within communities and across social levels in inequitable contexts generally do not incorporate difference across community, or enable the most marginalized people to participate meaningfully. In this article, we propose that participatory video can contribute to building agonistic pluralism, namely a recognition of the unavoidable tensions between perspectives, and maintaining, rather than erasing, difference when working towards positive change. We draw on our comparable experience using participatory video methodologies to consider how it can be used to progressively build agency and deeper criticality, address difference across communities and to collectively construct political leverage.
Book review: Livingston, J. 2019: Self-devouring Growth: A Planetary Parable as Told from Southern Africa
Authors: Matthan Tanya
Published: June 2021

Livingston, J. 2019: Self-devouring Growth: A Planetary Parable as Told from Southern Africa. Durham, NC: Duke University Press,. 160 pp. $23.95. ISBN: 978-1-4780-0639-8 Paper.
Book review: Wani, Aijaz A. 2019. What Happened to Governance in Kashmir?
Authors: Hussain Maqsood
Published: June 2021

Wani, Aijaz A. 2019. What Happened to Governance in Kashmir? New Delhi: Oxford University Press. 387 pp. $13.63 (hardcover). ISBN: 9780199487608.
Mega-events, expansion and prospects: Perceptions of Euro 2020 and its 12-country hosting format
Authors: Lee Ludvigsen Jan Andre
Published: June 2021

Mega-events occupy important roles within global consumer societies, and so, this article aims to advance the sociological understanding of mega-events by using UEFA Euro 2020 as a case. Traditionally, sport mega-events have been staged in one or two countries. However, for the first time ever, 12 European countries shared the hosting rights for Euro 2020, which was postponed for a year following COVID-19. In global sports, this temporary shift was highly remarkable and the 12-country format’s implications raised a host of sociological questions. Drawing upon qualitative interviews, documentary analysis and media sources, this article examines this mega-event’s distinctive format and its broader implications. The article explores the socio-political conditions under which Euro 2020’s format became a reality and examines stakeholder outlooks on this event format. It is argued that the event’s format was considered to limit negative ‘legacies’ for host cities, yet the format was perceived to generate logistical and financial difficulties for potential mega-event consumers. In an epoch characterized by growing opposition to mega-event hosting, such findings are particularly important.
The multi-actor perspective of engagement on social media
Authors: Shawky Sara , Kubacki Krzysztof , Dietrich Timo , Weaven Scott
Published: June 2021

Despite the known benefits offered by social media to create engagement in social marketing programs, scholars have highlighted the need for more evidence-based, practical, and measurable approaches to social media use in social marketing contexts. This netnographic study employed a four-level multi-actor engagement framework originally proposed by Shawky et al. to explore engagement in a single Facebook community. We identified social media measurement tools for assessing connections, interactions, and loyalty of multiple actors which will assist social marketing practitioners’ understanding of different actors’ interactions with the social media content, enabling them to maintain these actors’ levels of engagement, advance their engagement to a higher level, or attract others to expand the community.
How Does Job Loss Affect Voting? Understanding Economic Voting Using Novel Data on COVID-19 Induced Individual-Level Unemployment Shocks
Authors: Wu Jennifer D. , Huber Gregory A.
Published: June 2021

Prior research on economic voting generally finds that national economic performance affects incumbent support. However, the degree to which one’s personal economic situation shapes vote choice remains less clear. In this study, we use novel survey data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide more credible evidence about the effect of changes in personal economic experiences on intended vote choice. Our design uses an objective measure of change in personal economic situation by asking respondents their employment status prior to the pandemic and at the time of the survey. Given the widespread and abrupt way in which the pandemic induced unemployment, we argue that this design reduces concerns about confounders that explain both vote choice and job loss. Our analysis demonstrates that individuals whose personal economic conditions worsened during the pandemic were significantly less like to intend to vote for Trump in the 2020 election.
Long-term Results After Autologous Fat Transfer for Treatment of Chronic Lower Extremity Wounds
Authors: Eschborn Johannes , Kruppa Philipp , Georgiou Iakovos , Infanger Manfred , Ghods Mojtaba
Published: June 2021

Autologous fat transfer may offer a simple and effective treatment option for chronic wound patients, delivering adipose-derived stem cells, with potent regenerative attributes. Nevertheless, the clinical benefit has not yet been sufficiently demonstrated. A total of 39 wound patients were treated with autologous fat transfer (AFT) and matched with a control group, according to the identified confounding variables “gender” and “method of defect closure.” All data were acquired retrospectively. Primary outcome was “wound closure” and “reduction of wound size.”

After a follow-up of 48 weeks, there was no significant difference in primary outcome (wound closure P = .54) between both groups. The relative wound reduction after fat transfer was 69.9% ± 42.7% compared to 53.4% ± 106.8% in the control group ( P = .91). Subgroup analysis of all patients, healed by secondary intention, revealed an increased wound size reduction ( P  = .03) and wound closure rate ( P = .20) in the case group after 12 weeks. No adverse events were recorded. Fat grafting can reduce the wound size if left to secondary healing and may be considered individually for reconstructive purposes. A repeated application of autologous fat might be beneficial due to a temporary effect.
Suspicious Plantar Lesion—A Case Report of Angiosarcoma
Authors: Wang Ruijuan , Pi Jianjun , Zhu Minli
Published: June 2021

Diabetic foot is one of the most common complications of diabetic mellitus (DM). This DM patient was admitted to our hospital presented with a 2-month history of plantar lesion. Shortly afterward, the patient appeared hemoptysis, respiratory failure, and multiple purpuric papules on his limbs. Biopsy of left plantar lesions demonstrated angiosarcoma. Therefore, it is suggested that tissue biopsy should be taken as early as possible for DM patients with prolonged nonhealing wounds.
Vulnerability and Resilience in Sensitive Research: The Case of the Quantitative Researcher
Authors: Bluvstein Irit , Ifrah Kfir , Lifshitz Rinat , Markovitz Noam , Shmotkin Dov
Published: June 2021

The emotional experiences of quantitative researchers, particularly while conducting sensitive research, are largely neglected. This article aims to advance the awareness of possible emotional strains for quantitative researchers engaged in sensitive research. It qualitatively assesses the ethical and emotional experiences of quantitative researchers conducting a study on aging of bereaved parents and people with a physical disability. Based on the detailed minutes of 66 weekly research meetings held during 2015–2017, a thematic analysis of the researchers’ experiences was performed. Our analysis identified two main themes: vulnerability and resilience. We delineate these themes, along with their subthemes and affinity to vicarious traumatization, moral stress, and vicarious posttraumatic growth. The current study is among the first to introduce the emotional and ethical experiences of the quantitative researcher. Tentative recommendations for the advancement of the researcher’s safety and well-being by training, institutional support, self-care skills, and policy development are provided.
Impact of Obesity on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence Following Stand-Alone Cox Maze IV Procedure
Authors: MacGregor Robert M. , Khiabani Ali J. , Bakir Nadia H. , Kelly Meghan O. , Perez Samuel C. , Maniar Hersh S. , Schuessler Richard B. , Moon Marc R. , Melby Spencer J. , Damiano Ralph J.
Published: June 2021

Objective

Obesity is a strong and independent factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), and adversely impacts the success of catheter ablation procedures for AF. This study evaluated the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the outcomes following surgical ablation of AF.

Methods

Between 2003 and 2019, 236 patients underwent a stand-alone biatrial Cox maze IV procedure (CMP-IV) for refractory AF. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2. Patients were divided into two groups: BMI <30 kg/m2 ( n = 100) and BMI ≥30 kg/m2 ( n = 136). Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) was determined using electrocardiography, Holter, or pacemaker interrogation at 1 year and annually thereafter. Recurrence was defined as any documented ATA lasting ≥30 s. Predictors of recurrence were determined using multivariable logistic regression. Preoperative and procedural outcomes were compared between groups.

Results

Obese patients had a higher rate of diabetes (16% vs 7%, P = 0.044) and larger left atrial diameter (4.9 ± 1.1 cm vs 4.6 ± 1.0 cm, P = 0.021) when compared to non-obese patients. There was no difference in major complication rate between the groups (4% vs 7%, P = 0.389). There was no operative mortality in either group. During 4.1 ± 2.4 years of follow-up, there was no significant difference in freedom from ATA with or without antiarrhythmic drugs in obese patients when compared to the non-obese group ( P > 0.05). Absence of sinus rhythm at discharge predicted AF recurrence up to 7 years postoperatively.

Conclusions

As opposed to catheter ablation, obesity did not adversely impact the short and long-term outcomes of stand-alone surgical ablation with CMP-IV, and BMI was not a predictor of AF recurrence. Additionally, there was no significant increase in major complications in obese patients.
Single-Incision Thoracoscopic Left Atrial Appendage Ligation: First Reported Experience
Authors: DeBoard Zach M.
Published: June 2021

Atrial fibrillation is an increasingly prevalent entity faced by cardiac surgeons. While oral anticoagulation therapy aims to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events patients may desire to discontinue these medications or develop contraindications to their use. Left atrial appendage ligation permits stoppage of oral anticoagulation while also reducing the risk of cerebrovascular events. This manuscript describes the techniques employed in the first reported successful uniportal/single-incision, thoracoscopic epicardial left atrial appendage ligation.
Repetitive head impacts in a collegiate football season: Exposure and effects
Authors: Wilson Laura D , Hildebrand Rachel A , Le Trang , McKinney Brett A
Published: June 2021

This study describes exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) by player position and activity during a collegiate football season, and investigates the relationship between RHI and acute (i.e., daily and weekly) and short-term (i.e., pre- to post-season) changes in balance, reaction time, symptoms, and cognition. We recorded RHI exposure in twenty Division I collegiate American football players during a single season using the Riddell InSite system. Participants sustained 4,586 impacts (4.20% high impact, i.e., >63 g; 95.79% low impact, i.e., 20–63 g). Greatest exposure to RHI was observed in running backs and defensive ends during games, and tight ends and defensive ends during practices. Running plays and team drills placed players at greatest risk for exposure during practice. Cumulative RHI exposure across the season was associated with short-term declines in reaction time (p = 0.045), but not balance or cognition. Acute decline in balance was associated with the number of impacts sustained in the past week (p < 0.05), but not the past 24 hours (p > 0.05). Acute increase in total symptom score was also associated with the number of impacts sustained in the past week (p < 0.01), but not the past 24 hours (p > 0.05). Reaction time did not decline based on impact exposure in the past 24 hours or week. This study identifies activities and positions that may put players at risk for RHI exposure, and demonstrates that RHI sustained during the course of typical American football play by non-concussed individuals may result in small changes in balance, reaction time, and symptoms, but not cognition.