bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bonding with followers: Chronotopes and scales in political communication on Instagram
Authors: De Fina Anna
Published: September 2024

In this study, I apply the notions of chronotopes and scales to analyze how Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a US politician and activist, constructs a relatable persona in her Instagram stories. I focus on two strategies that she deploys: the mixing of chronotopes associated with different scales of formality/publicness within the same story, and the use of downscaling strategies to reduce the formality of public chronotopes. More specifically, I analyze her alternation in the same story of images evoking chronotopes related to different domains of her life which can be placed on divergent scales on the public/private and formal/informal continuum. I also show how she uses downscaling strategies such as introducing her dog within chronotopes related to her role as a politician, establishing interpersonal connections, or talking about personal issues to reduce the distance between herself as a politician and her followers. This article thus contributes both to the study of the relationships between chronotopes and scales and to the analysis of communication strategies by politicians.
Simmel on the war for national spirit and cosmopolitan culture
Authors: Harrington Austin
Published: September 2024

Building and expanding on significant pre-existing scholarship, this article surveys Georg Simmel’s public reactions to the war, concentrating on his most widely circulated statements of the period, before moving on to some further considerations on the significance of the war for Simmel’s sociological and philosophical vision as a whole. At the forefront are three or four main emphases of Simmel’s thinking in the relevant texts. These include the politics of Europe and the nation in Simmel’s thought; themes of death and finitude in modern culture; the West and Western hubris on the stage of world history; and money, law and violence in international affairs at the outset of the 20th century. Though there can be little doubt of the sheer virulence of Simmel’s and other German writers’ reaction to the outbreak of hostilities in 1914, the war’s profoundly transformative experience could move Simmel gradually to embrace another, more reasoned and self-reflective form of salient struggle with ‘the West’ and Western ‘civilization’ in European relations, disabused of nationalistic anguish and resentment.
Names y nombres: Names as gateways to biliteracy in multilingual early childhood classrooms
Authors: Durán Leah , Bernstein Katie A
Published: September 2024

This paper describes name-related literacy practices in a multilingual preschool classroom and their implications for emergent biliteracy. We draw on a translingual framework to understand children’s name-writing activities and how bilingual children’s early literacy interacts with, and at times disrupts, the written conventions of named languages. Drawing on fieldnotes, observations, and artifacts from a preschool classroom serving Spanish-English bilingual children, we examined how children and teachers used names as resources for early literacy learning. We found that names are (potential) gateways to letter-sound relationships across languages, that names teach that some features of writing are shared across languages and some are different, and finally that names differ from other kinds of words children encounter across languages. We discuss what those instances prompt us to (re)consider about name-related teaching and emergent biliteracy.
Are individualistic employees tolerant of the benefit of others? A multilevel analysis of the relationship between witnessing coworkers i-deals and malicious envy
Authors: Hattori Yasuhiro , Hoang Mai Huong , Bich Hue Nguyen Thi
Published: September 2024

This study focuses on a third party (coworkers) perspective of idiosyncratic deals (i-deals). In more detail, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of witnessing others’ i-deals on coworker’s emotional response (malicious envy), and the moderating effect of individualistic values on that response at both individual and national level. In addition, this study examines the impact of two types of witnessing others’ i-deals which include not only the other’s i-deals that the coworker directly observes, but also the generalized others’ i-deals which is an aggregated perception as a result of frequent observation of idiosyncratic deals enjoyed by multiple others. Data were collected from 450 employees from 5 Asian countries at two points. We adopted a hierarchical linear model (HLM) because we assume two levels for both i-deals and individualism. The results show that witnessing other’s i-deals is positively related to malicious envy. In addion, individual-level individualism was found to moderate the relationship between witnessing coworkers’ i-deals and malicious envy. Interestingly, it is not individualism at the country level, but that at the individual level that moderates the relationship between witnessing i-deals and malicious envy. This study indicates that i-deals studies on coworkers’ reactions to others’ i-deals should focus more on the moderating effect of individual cultural values.
Exploring annotation taxonomy in grouped bar charts: A qualitative classroom study
Authors: Rahman Md Dilshadur , Quadri Ghulam Jilani , Szafir Danielle Albers , Rosen Paul
Published: September 2024

Annotations are an essential part of data analysis and communication in visualizations, which focus a readers attention on critical visual elements (e.g. an arrow that emphasizes a downward trend in a bar chart). Annotations enhance comprehension, mental organization, memorability, user engagement, and interaction and are crucial for data externalization and exploration, collaborative data analysis, and narrative storytelling in visualizations. However, we have identified a general lack of understanding of how people annotate visualizations to support effective communication. In this study, we evaluate how visualization students annotate grouped bar charts when answering high-level questions about the data. The resulting annotations were qualitatively coded to generate a taxonomy of how they leverage different visual elements to communicate critical information. We found that the annotations used significantly varied by the task they were supporting and that whereas several annotation types supported many tasks, others were usable only in special cases. We also found that some tasks were so challenging that ensembles of annotations were necessary to support the tasks sufficiently. The resulting taxonomy of approaches provides a foundation for understanding the usage of annotations in broader contexts to help visualizations achieve their desired message.
Racial discourses and colonial education policy: The discursive construction of education development at a historically white South African university
Authors: Luckett Kathy
Published: September 2024

Motivated by critiques from black students during the protests (2015-2016), I trace continuities between the racialised discourses and knowledge regimes that justified colonial education policies and that of Education Development at a historically white South African university. First, I show how the University of Cape Town’s Humanities Education Development Programme racialised and misrecognised black students, despite attempted reforms. Secondly, I trace the discursive formation of the ED project - from the assimilationist discourse of missionary education; the adapted model of trusteeship; the production of race science during apartheid; to a return to assimilationist discourse via the Cape Liberal tradition during apartheid’s demise. However, after a generation of inferior Banu Education, the attempt to assimilate black students into historically white universities’ curricula was not feasible. Instead, an adapted, remedial model was proposed that became entrenched post-apartheid by a state and HE system that failed to transform its inherited Eurocentric curriculum.
Autoimmune Hashimoto's Disease and Feminization Level—Testing the Immunocompetence Hypothesis
Authors: Goździk Malwina , Żelaźniewicz Agnieszka , Nowak-Kornicka Judyta , Pawłowska-Seredyńska Katarzyna , Umławska Wioleta , Pawłowski Bogusław
Published: September 2024

Morphological femininity depends mainly on estrogen levels at puberty and is perceived as a cue of a woman's biological condition. Due to the immunostimulant properties of estradiol, estradiol-dependent feminine traits are expected to be positively related to immunity. However, heightened immunity in women may increase the risk of autoimmune disease, thus the relationship between femininity and immune quality may be complex. This study aimed to assess the relationship between morphological femininity and both the occurrence and severity of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) in women of reproductive age. Moreover, 95 women with HT and 84 without HT (all between 20 and 37 years) participated in the study. Morphological femininity was assessed based on somatic measurements of sexually dimorphic traits (2D:4D ratio, WHR, breast size, facial sexual dimorphism). The occurrence and severity of HT were assessed by serum TPOAb levels. The results showed that only the 2D:4D ratio of the right hand was higher in the HT group, indicating higher femininity in these women. However, there was also a positive relationship between facial femininity and TPOAb level in women with HT, indicating a higher severity of the disease. The results suggest that prenatal and pubertal exposure to estrogens may increase the probability or severity of autoimmune diseases in adulthood, but the relationship is tentative.
From performative to predictive-performative design: A review of current trends in performance-based design and their impact on urbanism
Authors: Canuto Robson , Koenig Reinhard , Chronis Angelos , Galanos Theodore , Celani Gabriela
Published: September 2024

In recent years, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about a new paradigm shift in performance-based design, which we will call Predictive-Performative Design (PPD). This paper presents an overview of this new paradigm, as well as the inflection point at which interest among urban designers in this type of model began to emerge, resulting in what we will call Predictive-Performative Urban Design (PPUD). Our discussion of Predictive-Performative Urban Design (PPUD) is based on an extensive literature review and observation of experiences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston and the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Vienna. Finally, this paper examines how this new paradigm shift in performance-based design can change contemporary urban design and planning practices. We also identify research questions for future development in this field.
A Scoping Review of the Intimate Partner Violence Literature Among Afghans Across Contexts
Authors: Wachter Karin , Baccam Zoe , Burgess Tanya , Alemi Qais
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this scoping review was to ascertain the scope and nature of the literature focused on intimate partner violence (IPV) among Afghans across contexts, including Afghanistan. The scoping review adopted a systematic approach to search for, identify, and include peer-reviewed articles published in English. Fifty-two articles were retained in the final analysis, which generated results on IPV prevalence; multi-level risk and protective factors; qualitatively derived contextual factors; associations of IPV with adverse physical and psychological outcomes; IPV-related help-seeking behaviors; programs and interventions; the role of religion; IPV-related policies; and the role of fiction. Findings indicate that past-year physical IPV prevalence ranged from 52% to 56% in Afghanistan and 79.8% among Afghan refugees displaced in Iran. Studies conducted in Afghanistan identified a range of IPV risk factors occurring at the individual (e.g., age and employment), interpersonal/household (e.g., acceptance of IPV and violence perpetrated by in-laws), and societal levels (e.g., conflict/displacement). The findings highlight a rich literature on IPV in Afghanistan and significant gaps in IPV research across the Afghan diaspora and in contexts of displacement and resettlement. The results advance understanding of the drivers of IPV in the diverse Afghan population and highlight context-specific gaps, and needs for intervention and future research. These gaps indicate the importance of conducting research elucidating how risk and protective factors associated with IPV shift in forced migration and resettlement, and an urgent need for the development and testing of services and programs that respond to the specific needs of Afghan women experiencing IPV across contexts.
“Alex, DO NOT BACKPEDAL ON SANDY HOOK!”: Reactionary Fandom, Cancel Culture, and the Possibility of ‘Audience Capture’ on YouTube
Authors: Jurg Daniel , Tuters Marc , Picone Ike
Published: September 2024

“Cancel culture” has gained tremendous attention in contemporary political discourse. On platforms like YouTube, reactionary ideological entrepreneurs often employ what Ng terms second-order discourses on cancel culture, that is, portraying call-out practices such as shaming public figures as left-wing censorship efforts stifling free speech. This article argues that such call-out practices, generally ascribed to progressive communities, also occur internally within reactionary communities where fans hold ideological entrepreneurs accountable for adhering to potentially extreme political canons. Adopting a fan studies perspective, this exploratory investigation used “close” and “distant” readings on 1.8 million comments from the now-canceled “The Alex Jones Channel” on YouTube (2017–2018). Focusing on Jones’ recantation of the “Sandy Hook Hoax,” the authors show that, akin to traditional fandom conceptions, radical audiences engaged in call-out practices demanding “character” and “narrative” fidelity. This contribution, theorized as “audience capture,” emphasizes the bottom-up efforts of audiences to maintain the radical views of ideological entrepreneurs.
Comparison of Different Head Tilt Angles in Tomotherapy and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Hippocampal-Avoidance Whole-Brain Radiotherapy
Authors: Li Yang , Yuan Cuiyun , Chen Dongjie , Xu Sisi , Jiang Wei , Huang Jiaxin , Ye Shanshan , Zhang Yin , Liang Jun , Liu Chenbin
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Hippocampal-avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy (HA-WBRT) planning can present challenges. This study examines the influence of head tilt angles on the dosimetric characteristics of target and organs at risk (OARs), aiming to identify the optimal tilt angle that yields optimal dosimetric outcomes using tomotherapy (TOMO).

Methods

Eight patients diagnosed with brain metastases underwent CT scans at five tilt angles: [0°, 10°), [10°, 20°), [20°, 30°), [30°, 40°), and [40°, 45°]. Treatment plans were generated using TOMO and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Dosimetric parameters including conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), D2cc, D98%, and Dmean of PTV, as well as Dmax, and Dmean of OARs were analyzed. Furthermore, a comparison was made between the dosimetric parameters of TOMO and VMAT plans. Finally, delivery efficiency of TOMO plans were assessed.

Results

For the PTV, [40°, 45°] tilt angle demonstrated significantly better conformity, homogeneity, lower D2cc, and lower Dmean for the PTV. Regarding the OARs, the [40°, 45°] head tilt angle demonstrated significantly lower Dmax and Dmean in hippocampus, eyes, optic chiasm, and optic nerves. The [40°, 45°] tilt angle also showed significantly lower Dmax for brainstem and cochleas, as well as a lower Dmean for lens. In the [40°,45°] tilt angle for HA-WBRT, TOMO showed superior performance over VMAT for the PTV. TOMO achieved lower Dmax for brainstem, cochleas, optic nerves, and optic chiasm, as well as a lower Dmean for hippocampus. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between delivery time and the PTV projection length in the sagittal plane.

Conclusion

The TOMO plan utilizing a tilt angle range of [40°, 45°] demonstrated superior PTV conformity and uniformity, along with enhanced OARs sparing. Furthermore, it exhibited a dosimetric advantage over VMAT for PTV and most OARs at the same angle range.
Acceptance and Commitment Teletherapy for Mixed Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study
Authors: Roberts Max Z. , Tifft Eric D. , Forsyth John P. , Boswell James F.
Published: September 2024

The present case details a successful treatment response to 21 sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) delivered via teletherapy for mixed anxiety and depressive symptomology during the COVID-19 pandemic. The client (“Natalie”), a 19-year-old, White, cisgender female, presented to a university training clinic reporting primary problematic anxiety consistent with a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The therapist conceptualized Natalie’s anxiety through the ACT psychological flexibility model, wherein Natalie’s challenges appeared to be maintained by experiential avoidance and lack of committed action. This case highlights (a) the unique challenges of treating someone with pervasive anxiety amid the uncertain context of the COVID-19 pandemic, (b) repeated assessment of transdiagnostic processes to inform intervention focus, and (c) the process of ACT teletherapy. Symptom, process, and outcome measures taken bi-weekly throughout therapy suggested theoretically consistent and reliable treatment responses. Clinical implications of the case are discussed.
Transition to Adulthood for Individuals With Complex Communication Needs: A Scoping Review
Authors: Batorowicz Beata , Mamo Kate , Meadows Tessa , Fecica Agnieszka , Renner Gregor
Published: September 2024

Transitioning to adulthood is a complex and challenging process for youth with complex communication needs (CCN) and/or who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This scoping review examined and consolidated available evidence documenting transition barriers and facilitators. Eight databases were searched systematically using complex communications needs/augmentative and alternative communication, transition programs, and adulthood as key terms. Participants aged 14–35 years and interventions focused on transition to occupations, including education, employment, leisure pursuits, or socializing/relationships. The search yielded 3459 records, which were screened by three independent raters. Twenty-three articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies focused primarily on employment ( n =18), postsecondary education ( n = 10), and socializing/relationships ( n = 13). Programs experience and outcomes varied. Enabling factors included organizations, transition-focused programs, and social networks. Barriers included low expectations, lack of programs/supports, and limited literacy skills. Future studies must include richer descriptions of programs/services and participants, while more work is required to explore long-term outcomes.
All Bottled Up: Hazard Assessment of an Historic Pharmaceutical Collection
Authors: Fowler Anna , Koss Schrager Kerith , Ravenel Nancie
Published: September 2024

Shelburne Museum’s extensive pharmaceutical collection, located in northwestern Vermont, USA, has been the subject of a multi-year inventory project partially funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant. Amounting to over 9,000 objects, 5,000 to 6,000 of which are unique products, the collection has been largely untouched since its acquisition circa 1947 to 1970. Housed in a historic general store and custom annex, the collection encompasses roughly 200 years of American pharmaceutical, veterinary, and cosmetic history. This article explores the discovery, research, triage, and disposal of the hazards found within the collection during the inventory.
Barriers to stroke treatment: The price of long-distance from thrombectomy centers
Authors: Søvik Olav , Øygarden Halvor , Tveiten Arnstein , Kurz Martin Wilhelm , Kurz Kathinka Dæhli , Stokkeland Pål Johan , Hetland Hanne Brit , Ersdal Hege Langli , Hyldmo Per Kristian
Published: September 2024

Background

Endovascular thrombectomy, the preferred treatment for acute large-vessel occlusion stroke, is highly time-dependent. Many patients live far from thrombectomy centers due to large geographical variations in stroke services. This study aimed to explore the consequences of long transport distance on the proportion of thrombectomy-eligible patients who underwent thrombectomy, the clinical outcomes with or without thrombectomy, the timelines for patients transported, and the diagnostic accuracy of large-vessel occlusion in primary stroke centers.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective observational study in a county with only primary stroke centers, ∼ 300 km from the nearest thrombectomy center. All stroke patients admitted over a year were retrieved from the Norwegian Stroke Registry. A neuroradiologist identified all computed tomography images with large-vessel occlusions. A panel determined whether these patients had a corresponding clinical indication for thrombectomy.

Results

A total of 50% of the eligible patients did not receive thrombectomy. These patients had a significantly higher risk of severe disability or death compared to the patients who underwent thrombectomy. The median time from computed tomography imaging at the primary stroke center to arrival at the thrombectomy center was over 3 hours. Additionally, 30% of the large-vessel occlusions were initially undiagnosed, and half of these patients had a corresponding clinical indication for thrombectomy.

Conclusions

In a county with a long transport distance to a thrombectomy center, a high proportion of eligible patients did not undergo thrombectomy, negatively impacting clinical outcomes. The transport time was considerable. A high rate of large-vessel occlusions was initially not diagnosed.
“I Used to Have a lot of Bitterness and Anger Towards Those Who Were Handed Things”. Examining the Need for a More Culturally Responsive Framework for Research With Vulnerable Gifted Populations
Authors: Reynen-Woodward Katrina E. , Subban Pearl , Round Penny
Published: September 2024

This article introduces a culturally inclusive research methodology distinct from other qualitative methodologies in its emphasis on multiple rounds of iterative data collection, member checking and co-construction of research language, design and analysis. It describes the co-design of a culturally inclusive conceptual model, data collection process and data analysis approach as an inside researcher. Culturally inclusive nuance is critical where education concepts emanating from the global north are rightly problematised by learners from the global south. More specifically, there is a well-researched gap in identification and support for gifted low SES students who tend to represent non-dominant cultures. This methodology supports culturally responsive language, narratives and approach to meaning-making around the highly contested conceptions of giftedness in low SES environs. It has proven to facilitate examination of shared experiences within a loose community setting in a qualitative research context. This article offers an introduction to the evolving methodology and the co-design process by which it came to exist for any researchers seeking a decolonising framework. It illustrates the value of the methodology in creating safe spaces for reflection and learning. Critically, from an educative perspective, it demonstrates how the methodology actively supports participants’ meaning making about their own identity and the multiple ways in which they reveal facets of their identity in various contexts of life, family, work and education, through adolescence to young adulthood.
Understanding the association between menstrual health and hygiene attitudes and personal agency among very young adolescents in Sao Paulo, Brazil: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Borges Ana Luiza Vilela , Chofakian Christiane Borges do Nascimento , Cabral Cristiane da Silva , Ramaiya Astha
Published: September 2024

Background:

Although menstruation is a monthly biological phenomenon, it is shrouded in stigma and shame which directly impacts health, education, gender equality, decent work, and economic growth. However, there is scarce evidence on how personal agency, an individual’s ability to access resources, may act as a protective factor to adequate menstrual health and hygiene practices. Therefore, we assess the association between attitudes toward menstruation and personal agency among very young adolescent girls.

Methods:

We use cross-sectional data from the Global Early Adolescent Study in São Paulo, Brazil, among 10- to 14-year-old girls who have experienced menarche ( n = 325) and completed a home-based self-administered questionnaire in 2021. “Attitudes toward menstruation” was created based on five indicators on a Likert scale, with a higher score indicating more positive attitudes. The main covariate was personal agency, comprised of three scales and modeled as three continuous variables: voice, decision-making power, and freedom of movement. Data were analyzed using multivariable linear regression.

Results:

Attitudes toward menstruation mean score was 12.5 (range 5–19). Older adolescents (12–14 years-old) had higher mean scores (more positive) than younger adolescents (10–11 years-old) on attitudes toward menstruation, whereas no other sociodemographic or menstrual health indicator (knowledge or access to products) were associated with attitudes toward menstruation. In the multiple regression model, older age and higher freedom of movement remained positively associated with attitudes toward menstruation (βadjust = 0.5; 95%CI 0.1 to 0.8).

Conclusion:

Positive attitudes toward menstruation are associated with higher freedom of movement among very young Brazilian adolescent girls. The promotion of personal agency should be recognized as key strategies to accelerate young girls’ positive approaches to their own menstruation and, consequently, well-being.
Are characteristics associated with strong Black womanhood linked to depression in older Black women?
Authors: Erving Christy L , Frazier Cleothia , Davidson-Turner KJ
Published: September 2024

Background:

Older Black women experience structural and intersectional disadvantages at the intersection of age, race, and gender. Their disadvantaged social statuses can translate into serious psychological health consequences. One concept that may aid in understanding psychosocial determinants of older Black women’s depression risk is the “Strong Black Woman,” which suggests that Black women have supernatural strength amidst experiencing adversity and are expected to “be strong” for others by providing self-sacrificial aid without complaint.

Objectives:

Drawing inspiration from the “Strong Black Woman” concept, the current study examined whether three psychosocial factors (i.e., mastery, anger suppression, and relational demands (from spouse, children, relatives, and friends)) were associated with depressive symptoms, clinically significant depressive symptoms, and lifetime professionally diagnosed depression among older Black women (i.e., ages 50 years and older).

Design:

This was a cross-sectional study. Data were drawn from the 2010 to 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study ( N = 1,217).

Methods:

For past-week depressive symptoms, ordinary least squares regression analyses were conducted, and beta coefficients were reported. For clinically significant depressive symptoms (i.e., reporting three or more depressive symptoms in the past week) and lifetime professionally diagnosed depression, binary logistic regression analyses were performed, and odds ratios were reported.

Results:

Higher levels of mastery were associated with lower risk for depressive symptoms and depression. Anger suppression was associated with higher risk for depressive symptoms and depression. Demands from children and one’s spouse were associated with higher depressive symptoms while demands from family were associated with risk for lifetime depression diagnosis. Not having a spouse was associated with heightened risk of depressive symptoms and depression. Interestingly, demands from friends were not associated with depressive symptoms nor diagnosed depression.

Conclusion:

Study findings revealed important nuances in the determinants of depression among older Black women which, in turn, has implications for research and mental health care provision in this population.
Training volume, intensity, and performance of world-class Chinese rowers prior to the 2019 world championships: A case study
Authors: Zhong Yuming , Zheng Hang , Weldon Anthony , Nugent Frank , Gee Thomas I. , Sperlich Billy , Moore Dan , Zi Wei , Li Yongming
Published: September 2024

Six world-class Chinese male rowers (age: 28.2 ± 3.2 years; height: 1.93 ± 0.02 m; body mass: 94.7 ± 3.9 kg) participated in the study. The training volume in different modalities and intensities were recorded over 44 weeks. To evaluate rowing performance, rowers completed four 2000 m and 5000 m maximum effort time trials and two incremental step tests. Total training time for the season was 907 h, which consisted of 67.5% of rowing training, 16.9% of strength training, 15.2% of warm-up and flexibility, and 0.4% of non-specific endurance training. The rowing training intensity distribution (TID) was 87.0% performed at low intensity (LIT), 8.4% at moderate intensity (MIT), and 4.6% at high intensity (HIT). There was no significant difference in average weekly rowing training volume (distance) at LIT across four phases (p = 0.12), as well as rowing training at MIT (p = 0.07) and HIT (p = 0.97). The fourth 2000 m time trials performance significantly improved from the first trial (−6.4 s, p = 0.02). The fourth 5000 m time trial performance was significantly improved from the first (−13.4 s, p = 0.02) and second trial (−14.1 s, p = 0.01). The final-step mean power output (W) in the second incremental step test improved significantly (p = 0.04). In the 2018–19 season, China's world-class rowers conducted considerable LIT rowing. The training volume distribution and rowing TID were similar in all phases.
Awakening contaminated lands: (Re)mediated landscapes as transcultural TV memory work, a case study of Sky/HBO miniseries, Chernobyl (2019)
Authors: McCabe Janet
Published: September 2024

This article focuses on the five-part miniseries, Chernobyl (2019), with its contaminated landscape that deals with a troubled, traumatic history. It takes inspiration from the work of Walter Benjamin and his concept of historical materialism, but principally draws on theoretical paradigms dealing with transcultural memory, to advance a discussion on memory work, (re)mediation of historical events and televisual representation. Specifically the essay explores the strategies through which the Anglo-American co-production between Sky and HBO, the first of its kind, offers a collective remembrance of this man-made ecological disaster from 1986 in 2019, awakened in (re)mediated landscapes.
Why news organizations “platform” illiberal politics: Understanding news production, economic insolvency, and anti-democratic pressure through CNN’s 2023 Trump Town Hall
Authors: Usher Nikki
Published: September 2024

This article discusses how the economic insolvency of the contemporary mainstream media makes it particularly vulnerable to manipulation by illiberal political actors. Through a case study of CNN’s 2023 Trump Town Hall event, this article argues that democratic backsliding itself has become a potent constraint structuring news production routines and news decision-making. The metajournalistic discourse about the event maligned the role of CNN in “platforming” the former president, underscoring how platform logics have hijacked newsroom decision-making and news judgment. Journalists and other commentators pointed to the continuing power of Trump to dominate coverage and the continued inability of mainstream media to cover his threat to democracy via traditional norms of press/politics. Because news values continue to prioritize coverage of knowns over unknowns, news production routines highlight politicians with illiberal politics, who are in turn able to use the media’s discursive power to undermine democratic norms.
Grief is the price we pay for love: Emotions disclosed by Chinese mourners in online memorial platform
Authors: Ai Qi , Mao Yansheng , Lu Xiaobing
Published: September 2024

The present paper undertakes an in-depth analysis of the messages within the ‘Grief-expressing’ section of the online memorial platform ‘Heavenly Remembrance.’ Utilizing Grounded Theory alongside a mixed-methods approach incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, this study delves into the emotional categories and referential features in the online discourse of Chinese mourners, drawing upon the Affective Lexicon Ontology. The findings of this study reveal that: firstly, the expressions of Chinese online mourners demonstrate a remarkable diversity and complexity, encompassing a spectrum of emotional categories characterized by both positive and negative attributes. This highlights the capacity of online memorial platforms to provide inclusive spaces for emotional disclosure, thereby facilitating the transformation of traditionally singular and concentrated grief into more personalized and varied emotional experiences. Secondly, the emotional disclosure of Chinese online mourners is directed towards the self, the deceased and the community respectively. Notably, there appears to be a trend over time towards a gradual transition in emotional expression from predominantly negative to increasingly positive, as well as from predominantly individual-focused to more collective-oriented expressions. In light of this, the study also attempts to explain the motivations behind such grief disclosure through the Motivation Model of Pragmatics, thereby theoretically contributing to the research on discourse and emotion in the Chinese mourning context and offering a new perspective on the emotional dynamics of individuals experiencing bereavement in online context.
The prevalence of asthma and its predictor among patients presenting in Ethiopian public hospitals: systematic review and meta-analysis, 2024
Authors: Adal Ousman , Mamo Sosina Tamire , Belay Alamirew Eneyew , Tsehay Yeshimebet Tamir , Netsere Henok Biresaw , Mulatu Sileshi , Mekonnen Gebrehiwot Berie , Messelu Mengistu Abebe , Abebe Gebremeskel Kibret , Wondie Wubet Tazeb , Tafere Chernet , Belayneh Asnake Gashaw
Published: September 2024

Background:

Asthma is a leading cause of emergency hospital visits and a significant factor in lost productive hours. The lack of a synthesized body of knowledge on bronchial asthma has notable public health implications.

Objective:

This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to investigate the prevalence of asthma and its predictors among patients presenting in Ethiopian public hospitals.

Design:

Duplicate studies were removed using EndNote version X9. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale guided the quality assessment, and data extraction followed the Joanna Briggs Institute format.

Data source and methods:

The authors used advanced search methods, including databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Africa Index Medicus, Science Direct, HINARI, Google Scholar, and manual searches. Data presentation adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Publication bias was assessed using Egger’s regression test and a funnel plot. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted.

Results:

The search yielded 352 original articles, with 22 meeting the criteria for inclusion. Using the random-effects DerSimonian-Laird model, the prevalence of bronchial asthma was found to be 9.02% (95% CI: 7.50, 10.53). Several factors were associated with the prevalence of bronchial asthma, including the spring season (AOR 3.7; 95% CI: 2.11, 6.49), childhood age (AOR 4.2; 95% CI: 1.84, 9.55), and urban residence (AOR 1.7; 95% CI: 1.29, 2.31). Other significant factors include family history of asthma (AOR 2.89; 95% CI: 2.22, 3.75), insecticide exposure (AOR 3.3; 95% CI: 2.23, 4.91), and the presence of household insects like cockroaches (AOR 3.33; 95% CI: 2.15, 5.15). Smoking (AOR 3.64; 95% CI: 2.66, 4.98), obstructive sleep apnea (AOR 4.29; 95% CI: 2.37, 7.76), and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (AOR 4.31; 95% CI: 2.24, 8.32) were also significant.

Conclusion:

The pooled prevalence of bronchial asthma is notably high in Ethiopia. Key predictors include childhood age, spring season, urban living, family history of asthma, exposure to insecticides, presence of cockroaches, smoking, obstructive sleep apnea, and recurrent upper respiratory infections. Targeted interventions are crucial and should focus on lifestyle improvements, allergen identification, cockroach control, smoking cessation, reducing insecticide exposure, and promoting a safe environment.

Trial registration:

This review’s protocol was pre-registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO registration number CRD42023491222).
Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in ulcerative colitis
Authors: Kulkarni Chiraag , Liu Derek , Fardeen Touran , Dickson Eliza Rose , Jang Hyunsu , Sinha Sidhartha R. , Gubatan John
Published: September 2024

Interest in artificial intelligence (AI) applications for ulcerative colitis (UC) has grown tremendously in recent years. In the past 5 years, there have been over 80 studies focused on machine learning (ML) tools to address a wide range of clinical problems in UC, including diagnosis, prognosis, identification of new UC biomarkers, monitoring of disease activity, and prediction of complications. AI classifiers such as random forest, support vector machines, neural networks, and logistic regression models have been used to model UC clinical outcomes using molecular (transcriptomic) and clinical (electronic health record and laboratory) datasets with relatively high performance (accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity). Application of ML algorithms such as computer vision, guided image filtering, and convolutional neural networks have also been utilized to analyze large and high-dimensional imaging datasets such as endoscopic, histologic, and radiological images for UC diagnosis and prediction of complications (post-surgical complications, colorectal cancer). Incorporation of these ML tools to guide and optimize UC clinical practice is promising but will require large, high-quality validation studies that overcome the risk of bias as well as consider cost-effectiveness compared to standard of care.
Weekend endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography has similar outcomes as weekday procedures—a propensity score match analysis of the Hungarian ERCP Registry
Authors: Tajti Máté , Pécsi Dániel , Mátrai Péter , Gódi Szilárd , Hegyi Péter , Szentesi Andrea , Altorjay István , Bakucz Tamás , Orbán-Szilágyi Ákos , Szepes Zoltán , Patai Árpád , Gyökeres Tibor , Fejes Roland , Dubravcsik Zsolt , Vincze Áron , Czakó László
Published: September 2024

Background:

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is essential for the minimally invasive management of biliary and pancreatic disorders. Under certain indications, performing ERCP without delay during the weekend can be important for improving outcomes.

Objectives:

To compare the outcomes of ERCP performed on weekends and holidays with those of regular weekday ERCPs.

Design:

Propensity score match analysis of the data from the Hungarian ERCP Registry.

Methods:

A total of 116 ERCPs were performed during weekends or holidays, and 3144 during weekday working hours. The analyses were performed on 1:2 propensity-matched groups (116 weekend and 232 weekday cases).

Results:

Weekend ERCPs were mostly performed for acute cholangitis and acute biliary pancreatitis (70% of cases), whereas in the weekday group, only 32% of cases were performed for these indications. No significant difference was found between weekday and weekend ERCPs in terms of the rates of successful (91.38% vs 93.1%, p = 0.565) and difficult (33.62% vs 36.64%, p = 0.511) biliary cannulations. We found no significant differences in the number of adverse events (bleeding, post-ERCP pancreatitis, and 30-day mortality) in ERCPs performed during weekends or weekdays. Moreover, no significant differences in the aforementioned outcomes were detected between the propensity-matched groups.

Conclusion:

In this propensity-matched study, no significant differences were found in the outcomes of weekend and weekday ERCPs.
An acute handling challenge mobilizes glucose and free fatty acids in mountain Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis oreganus)
Authors: Kimball Melanie G. , Grant Avery R. , Stansberry Keegan R. , Chrisler Ava D. , Malisch Jessica L.
Published: September 2024

Resource mobilization and reallocation is a major endpoint of the physiological response to acute challenges. However, energy metabolites have not been the focus of most field studies. Here, we characterized the glycemic and free fatty acid (FFA) response to an acute-handling challenge in a breeding, free-living, population of Mountain Dark-eyed Juncos ( Junco hyemalis oreganus) in Mono County, CA. Juncos ( n = 12) were trapped in seed-baited potter traps at Tioga Pass Meadow, coinciding with territory establishment and early nesting period. Blood samples were collected at 0, 15, and 30 min post-capture, and analysis showed Juncos mobilized both glucose and FFA in response to an acute handling challenge. Blood glucose levels were significantly higher than baseline at 15 min (42.6% increase) and 30 min post-capture (66.7% increase). FFA levels were also significantly higher than baseline at 15 min (29.2% increase) and 30 min post-capture (22% increase). We also measured morphometrics (e.g., wing chord length, tarsus length, etc.), fat, and mass for each individual to investigate the effects of body size and fat storage on energy mobilization using linear models. We found no significant effects of body size or fat and mass on FFA mobilization. However, body size had a significant effect on glucose mobilization, with larger individuals displaying a higher percent increase in glucose from baseline to 15 min. Additionally, we found an effect of sex on glucose mobilization, with males showing a higher percent increase in glucose from baseline to 15 min. These results suggest that energy mobilization capacity is influenced by body size and male Juncos may increase energy mobilization relative to females during the breeding season.
Analytical Characterization, Antioxidant, Antiviral and Antimicrobial Potential of Selected Medicinal Plants
Authors: Nazir Faiza , Nawaz-ur-Rehman Shah , Khadim Sumayya , Amber Sania , Ameen Fuad , Ahmad Naveed , Lakshminarayanan Srimathi Priya , Iqbal Munawar
Published: September 2024

Objectives/background: The infectious consequences of microorganisms are varied due to resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs or new types of microbes causing lethal consequences for humans. Investigation are being performed to control different viral diseases; therefore; medicinal and herbal plants which have a variety of biological properties, can be evaluated for their anti-viral potential. Methods: The antiviral potential of NADES and water extracts of Senna alexandrina ( S. alexandrina), Peganum harmala ( P. harmala) and Citrullus colocynthis ( C. colocynthis) on Nicotiana benthamiana infected with Cotton Leaf Curl Multan virus were investigated. Results: The results of the antiviral assay revealed that both water and NADES extracts of P. harmala could not exhibit antiviral activity. However, water extracts of S. alexandrina and C. colocynthis successfully inhibited the Cotton Leaf Curl Multan virus , allowing the plant to survive compared to their NADES extracts. High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses showed higher phenolic and flavonoid content in the water extracts of S. alexandrina, C. colocynthis and P. harmala compared to the NADES extracts. Additionally, both water and NADES extracts of P. harmala showed greater antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against S.aureus in comparison to other extracts, while the NADES extract of C. colocynthis demonstrated higher antimicrobial activity against E.coli strains. Conclusions: Therefore, these results demonstrated that Senna Alexandrina and Citrullus Colocynthis exhibited potent antiviral activity, suggesting that these plants could be therapeutic agent for treating viral infections.
Mechanism of Anchang Decoction in Treatment of Anti-Inflammatory Effect Based on Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking and Experimental Verification
Authors: Tian Wei , Zhou Weiqian , Huang Shi , Qin Qiuyun , Fang Weilong , Zhou Lijie , Yang Xihong
Published: September 2024

Context

A prescription medication called Anchang Decoction (ACD) has anti-inflammatory properties.

Objective

To evaluate the mechanism of ACD against inflammation.

Materials and methods

The “pharmacodynamic constituents - potential targets” and “protein interaction networks” were mapped using Cytoscape software and the STRING database, respectively. The degree of binding between important pharmacodynamic components of ACD and possible targets was then examined using molecular docking analysis using Autodock Vina and PyMOL software, and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis using the David database and the Weishengxin online tool. These findings were eventually confirmed in vitro.

Results

After the intersection of the two, 539 inflammatory targets and 217 related targets, 34 main active components, and 42 potential anti-inflammatory targets were obtained. These include AKT1, MAPK14, SRC, EGFR, GSK3B, MMP9, MMP2, PTGS2, SYK, ESR1, and MMP2 and GO enrichment results. These three key targets are chosen as downstream validation targets for experimental verification. Furthermore, the colonic tissue and mucosa of ACD group were undamaged in comparison to the model group, and there was no sign of inflammatory cell infiltration. According to CCK-8 data, treatment with 20% ACD drug-containing serum resulted in a significant increase in RAW264.7 cell viability (P < 0.05) when compared to the normal serum group; Serum of ACD-containing medication may considerably lower the NO content of macrophage inflammation and prevent the production of inflammatory markers like TNF-α and IL-6 (P < 0.05); The expression levels of AKT1, MAPK14, and SRC proteins were considerably reduced by ACD in RAW264.7 macrophage inflammation, according to Western Blot data (P < 0.05).

Discussion and conclusions

ACD exerts anti-inflammatory effects through multi-component interaction with the target, and the mechanism may involve the inhibition of the release of inflammatory cytokines by AKT, MAPK and non-receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways. Here, the molecular mechanism of ACD against inflammation was partially clarified and experimentally validated, offering theoretical evidence for more effective clinical application.