bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technocapitalism, the Intangible Economy, and Economic Centralization
Authors: Stubbs Alec
Published: April 2020

The aim of this article is to analyze the underlying economic structures which have led to the rise of the tech giants. In their book Capitalism without Capital: The Rise of the Intangible Economy, economists Jonathan Haskel and Stian Westlake outline the four fundamental features of the technocapitalist (or what they consider the intangible) economy. Key to the emerging intangible economy, they suggest, are the four “S’s” of this new form of capitalism, viz., scalability, sunkenness, synergies, and spillovers. In the following, I explicate the ways in which, if taken seriously, these four features of the technocapitalist economy tend towards heightened levels of economic centralization and economic inequality as compared to those experienced under industrial capitalism.
Is Technology a Boon or a Bane? An Essay
Authors: Majumdar Deepa
Published: April 2020

Through neocolonial trade relations, globalization has caused a world-wide division of labor, resources, and consumption—between former colonizers and the colonized. Technology—the latest in the choir of idols worshipped by the modern West—exacerbates this schism even as it reduces it. This article explores the implications of the products of technology for work, class, and caste in this last phase of neocolonialism. Technological devices that de-class us, by replacing human and animal workers, can also re-class us by dividing owners from the operators of machines.
The Crisis of Higher Education in the Era of Neoliberal Globalization
Authors: Targ Harry
Published: April 2020

This article explores some of the literature on the political economy of higher education. It suggests growing contradictions between the need for available funds and competition for students, research dollars, and new educational “products,” such as online education. It refers to that literature that raises contradictions between the global “market” for students and tuition fees. And it also raises issues of the quality of education, particularly as non-job-oriented programs are dismantled. Purdue University, a land-grant public university, is suggested as one example of these contradictions.
Making Enemies: the Mainstream Media Spectacle and US Foreign Policy
Authors: Sussman Gerald
Published: April 2020

As Herbert Schiller long ago observed, the mainstream (corporate) media (MSM) in the US have long been instruments of state power. However, since the nineteenth century, the reading public has relied on the news media as a pillar, albeit flawed, of a liberal democratic society. While the public still regards a “free press” as essential to democracy, it no longer has confidence that the mainstream media deserve that status. Trust levels in the MSM have plummeted since the 1970s, reflecting a larger pattern of distrust of public and private institutions in general, including the US Congress. Even many media professionals themselves do not see the US as defending the freedom of investigative journalism. Moreover, the quality of corporate media, more owner-concentrated than ever, has declined, often to the level of tabloid spectacle, as profit-oriented news departments try to compete with a wide array of 24/7 news platforms, including those coming from social media. The era of neoliberalism has all but eliminated the public service ideology behind news and public affairs reporting, and concurrently there has emerged a crisis of state legitimacy that threatens the foundations of the liberal democratic order.
Forced Displacement of Central American Communities: Human Rights Violations in Their Transit through Mexico
Authors: Sánchez Martha Idalia Chew
Published: April 2020

The aim of this article is to explore the relationships between forced migration of Central American communities and the global and national exclusion of migrants in their transit through Mexico on their way to the US. It is divided into the following sections: a) description of the main causes of Central America migration; b) responses of the Mexican government from the 1980s to 2018; c) the role of organized crime and the official “war on drugs” (2007-2018) in human rights violations to Central American migrant; and lastly, d) some changes in the Mexican State regarding the management of Central American migration. Although the act of migration is intrinsically human, it has been hard to conceive migration as human rights in the current conversations. “The refugee and migration crisis,” have received unprecedented political and media attention around the world. Transnational migration is one of the core elements of late modernity given the historical acceleration of global processes. There are currently about 244 million people who have migrated from their country of origin, (which is three percent of the world’s population). One third of global migration happens in a south-north direction, while the rest happens in a south-south direction. The focus of this article is to describe and analyze aspects of Central American migration to/through Mexico, human rights violations experienced in transit, and different responses of the Mexican State to the “crisis of migration.”
The Origins of Oral Torah: A New Pauline Perspective
Authors: Fisch Yael
Published: April 2020

This article proposes to rethink the genealogy and origin of the rabbinical terms Oral Torah and Written Torah. The terms appear for the first time in Tannaitic literature, yet scholars have attempted to ascribe to them an earlier date and to present them as a Second Temple, specifically Pharisaic, distinction. This article problematizes the existing genealogies and considers neglected evidence found in Paul’s Letter to the Romans that advances our understanding of the Oral Torah/Written Torah distinction in the first century CE. According to my rereading of Rom 10:5-13 and 3:19-31, Paul has a notion of double-nomos within scripture, and his twofold torah is presented as oral and written. Apart from rabbinic literature, it is only in Paul that we find the use of an Oral Torah/Written Torah distinction. This evidence affects both how the history of the rabbinic terms is understood and how Paul is configured in his Jewish matrix.
Description of two new species of Polypedilum (Asheum) and immature stages of Polypedilum (A.) curticaudatum (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Authors: PINHO LUIZ CARLOS , DA SILVA FABIO LAURINDO
Published: April 2020

Two new species of Polypedilum (Asheum) (Diptera: Chironomidae: Chironominae) are described and figured as adult males, P. (A.) sofiae sp. n. collected in the states of Mato Grosso and Rondônia and P. (A.) mayrahu sp. n. collected in the state of Bahia, Brazil. In addition, the adult male of Polypedilum (Asheum) curticaudatum (Rempel) is redescribed based on material from some localities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Pantanal, and its larva and pupa are described for the first time.
Contribution to the taxonomy of the paper wasp genus Polistes (Polistella) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) from Vietnam, with description of a new species
Authors: LIEN NGUYEN THI PHUONG
Published: April 2020

One species of the genus Polistes, Polistes (Polistella) caobangensis Nguyen, sp. nov. is described from the northern part of Vietnam. In addition, males of two other species, Polistes (Polistella) gilvus Nguyen, Kojima and Saito and Polistes (Polistella) brunus Nguyen and Carpenter are also described for the first time.
Causal Interactions between Southern Ocean Polynyas and High-Latitude Atmosphere–Ocean Variability
Authors: Kaufman Zachary S. , Feldl Nicole , Weijer Wilbert , Veneziani Milena
Published: April 2020

Weddell Sea open-ocean polynyas have been observed to occasionally release heat from the deep ocean to the atmosphere, indicating that their sporadic appearances may be an important feature of high-latitude atmosphere–ocean variability. Yet, observations of the phenomenon are sparse and many standard-resolution models represent these features poorly, if at all. We use a fully coupled, synoptic-scale preindustrial control simulation of the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SMv0-HR) to effectively simulate open-ocean polynyas and investigate their role in the climate system. Our approach employs statistical tests of Granger causality to diagnose local and remote drivers of, and responses to, polynya heat loss on interannual to decadal time scales. First, we find that polynya heat loss Granger causes a persistent increase in surface air temperature over the Weddell Sea, strengthening the local cyclonic wind circulation. Along with responding to polynyas, atmospheric conditions also facilitate their development. When the Southern Ocean experiences a rapid poleward shift in the circumpolar westerlies following a prolonged negative phase of the southern annular mode (SAM), Weddell Sea salinity increases, promoting density destratification and convection in the water column. Finally, we find that the reduction of surface heat fluxes during periods of full ice cover is not fully compensated by ocean heat transport into the high latitudes. This imbalance leads to a buildup of ocean heat content that supplies polynya heat loss. These results disentangle the complex, coupled climate processes that both enable the polynya’s existence and respond to it, providing insights to improve the representation of these highly episodic sea ice features in climate models.
Melting of Perennial Sea Ice in the Beaufort Sea Enhanced Its Impacts on Early-Winter Haze Pollution in North China after the Mid-1990s
Authors: Li Yuyan , Yin Zhicong
Published: April 2020

In recent years, haze pollution has become the most concerning environmental issue in China due to its tremendous negative effects. In this study, we focus on the enhanced responses of December–January haze days in North China to September–October sea ice in the Beaufort Sea during 1998–2015. Via both observation and numerical approaches, compared with an earlier period (1980–97), the sea ice concentration in the Beaufort Sea presented large variability during 1998–2015. During 1980–97, the Beaufort Sea was mainly covered by perennial ice, and the ablation and freezing of sea ice mainly occurred at the south edge of the Beaufort Sea. Thus, heavy sea ice in autumn induced negative sea surface temperature anomalies across the Gulf of Alaska in November. However, the colder sea surface in the Gulf of Alaska only induced a weak influence on the haze-associated atmospheric circulations. In contrast, during 1998–2015, a drastic change in sea ice existed near the center of the Arctic Ocean, due to the massive melting of multiyear sea ice in the western Beaufort Sea. The perennial ice cover in the western Beaufort Sea was replaced by seasonal ice. The broader sea ice cover resulted in positive sea surface temperature anomalies in the following November. Then, suitable atmospheric backgrounds were induced for haze pollution in December and January. Simultaneously, the response of the number of haze days over North China to sea ice cover increased. These findings were verified by the CESM-LE simulations and aided in deepening the understanding of the cause of haze pollution.
A New Measure of Ensemble Central Tendency
Authors: Feng Jie , Zhang Jing , Toth Zoltan , Peña Malaquias , Ravela Sai
Published: April 2020

Ensemble prediction is a widely used tool in weather forecasting. In particular, the arithmetic mean (AM) of ensemble members is used to filter out unpredictable features from a forecast. AM is a pointwise statistical concept, providing the best sample-based estimate of the expected value of any single variable. The atmosphere, however, is a multivariate system with spatially coherent features characterized with strong correlations. Disregarding such correlations, the AM of an ensemble of forecasts removes not only unpredictable noise but also flattens features whose presence is still predictable, albeit with somewhat uncertain location. As a consequence, AM destroys the structure, and reduces the amplitude and variability associated with partially predictable features. Here we explore the use of an alternative concept of central tendency for the estimation of the expected feature (instead of single values) in atmospheric systems. Features that are coherent across ensemble members are first collocated to their mean position, before the AM of the aligned members is taken. Unlike earlier definitions based on complex variational minimization (field coalescence of Ravela and generalized ensemble mean of Purser), the proposed feature-oriented mean (FM) uses simple and computationally efficient vector operations. Though FM is still not a dynamically realizable state, a preliminary evaluation of ensemble geopotential height forecasts indicates that it retains more variance than AM, without a noticeable drop in skill. Beyond ensemble forecasting, possible future applications include a wide array of climate studies where the collocation of larger-scale features of interest may yield enhanced compositing results.
Alexander and the astrolabe in Persianate India: Imagining empire in the Delhi Sultanate
Authors: Cornwall Owen T. A.
Published: April 2020

This article is about the historical memory of Alexander the Great in the Delhi Sultanate and how his figure was emblematic of a trans-regional Persianate culture. Amir Khusrau’s largely overlooked Persian epic Āyina’i sikandarī (The Mirror of Alexander) (1302) depicts Alexander the Great as an exemplary Persian emperor who reused material cultures from around the world to produce inventions such as his eponymous mirror and the astrolabe. Through Alexander, Khusrau envisions the Persian emperor as an agent of trans-cultural patronage, reuse and repurpose. Roughly 60 years after Khusrau’s death, the poet’s theory of Alexander’s Persianate material patronage was put into practice by the Delhi Sultan Firuz Shah Tughluq (r. 1351–88), who claimed to have discovered Alexander’s astrolabe and then used the instrument to adorn the Delhi-Topra pillar, the centrepiece of his new capital Firuzabad. Citations of Khusrau’s epic in a contemporary chronicle help us see how Khusrau’s imagination of ancient Persian Empire framed a practice of organising different styles of material culture into an imperial bricolage. The article concludes with some implications of this research for defining Persianate culture in general.
Study on the modification of polyester resin bamboo fiber-based composite with euphorbia coagulum and their effect on mechanical and thermal properties
Authors: Kumari Sanju , Kumar Ritesh , Rai Bhuvneshwar , Sirohi Sidhharth , Kumar Gulshan
Published: April 2020

Environmental problems caused by extensive use of polymeric materials can be solved by replacing the synthetic petroleum-based resins with natural biodegradable resins, and synthetic fiber with natural plant fiber. The blend based on euphorbia coagulum and polyester resin with different ratio of both the polymers is produced. In the polymer blend, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide used as an initiator and cobalt naphthenate as an accelerator was added. Bamboo fiber was incorporated into the polymer blend as the natural filler to fabricate composite. Herein, untreated as well as alkali treated bamboo fiber was used to fabricate the composite. Alkali treatment enhanced the compatibility between the polymer blend and the fiber. To evaluate the properties of composites, water absorption, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical test, thermogravimetric analysis, and infrared spectroscopy have been performed. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of composite shows better interlocking between the polymer blend and the fiber. The maximum enhancement in mechanical properties were observed in composite with 30% euphorbia coagulum such as tensile strength, Young’s modulus, flexural strength, and impact strength were increased up to 11%, 48%, 8%, and 60%, respectively, and water absorption decreased up to 47%. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis of composite with 30% euphorbia coagulum show enhanced thermal stability up to 8%. Composite material developed was ecofriendly and can be useful for the multipurpose panel, beam, and pedestrian bridge and can replace petroleum products.
Water ageing effects on the mechanical properties of flax fibre fabric/polypropylene composite laminates
Authors: Papa Ilaria , Formisano Antonio , Lopresto Valentina , Cimino Francesca , Vitiello Libera , Russo Pietro
Published: April 2020

The increasing interest towards environmentally friendly materials for economic reasons and to comply with ever more stringent environmental requirements has allowed the flax fibres to gain an extraordinary interest in the development of new polymer composites. In fact, among plant fibres, the flax ones, given their low density, are characterised by specific mechanical parameters even higher than those of E-glass fibres. However, the application of composites reinforced with natural fibres remains confined to non-structural components. This matter is due to the requirement of important challenges resolution such as their intrinsic hydrophilicity and poor interfacial adhesion with hydrophobic polymer matrices, widely used for their easy processability, economy and lightness. In this context, this research has been focused on the flexural and low-velocity impact properties of polypropylene-based laminates, containing woven flax fibres and subjected to a pre-selected hygroscopic ageing protocol. The presence of a coupling agent, polypropylene-grafted-maleic anhydride, was considered too. Mechanical results, integrated with micrographic observations and visual inspections, provide useful details about the potential use of the studied materials already screened in the nautical field.
Industrial legislation in Australia in 2019
Authors: Schofield-Georgeson Eugene , Rawling Michael
Published: April 2020

In this 2019 electoral year, a federal Morrison Liberal Government was returned to power with little in the way of an industrial agenda. It failed to implement its key legislation, which mainly included reform to union governance and changes to religious freedom in the workplace. Meanwhile, the state governments, particularly the Victorian Andrews Labor Government, reviewed a swathe of labour law, including wage theft, industrial manslaughter, owner–driver legislation and workers' compensation laws and implemented a host of progressive changes. This year has also seen the continuation of a key policy trend, observable at both state and federal levels of government, towards regulation of aspects of industrial relations by the state that were once exclusively the province of employers and trade unions through a twentieth-century system of conciliation and arbitration.
Dying Fit or Not—Physical Activity as Antidote to Death?
Authors: Boelsbjerg Hanne Bess , Glasdam Stinne
Published: April 2020

Physical activity has increasingly gained attention within palliative care. This article aims to explore how the idea of physical activity influences patients with advanced cancer and health-care professionals’ interactions. The empirical material was gathered as part of an anthropological field study about palliative care needs among 16 patients with advanced cancer, consisting of observations and interviews with patients, relatives, and professionals. Two of the patient cases were analyzed, inspired by Goffman’s theory, showing how patients and health-care professionals interact in relation to physical activity. The findings show that patients played roles either embracing physical activity or distancing it by postponement. Professionals played expert roles of duty and attachment, stressing the importance of physical activity. Thus, they accepted a minimum of physical activity when patients were close to death. Professionals regarded patients’ absence of physical activity as a lack of desire to live; patients regard it as a way to live.
Truth, Deliberative Democracy, and the Virtues of Accuracy: Is Fake News Destroying the Public Sphere?
Authors: Chambers Simone
Published: April 2020

Do fake news and what some have labeled our post-truth predicament represent a new and deadly challenge to the epistemic presuppositions of the public sphere? While many commentators have invoked Hannah Arendt to help answer this question, I argue that Arendt is the wrong place to look. Instead, I suggest that, on one hand, deliberative democracy and Jürgen Habermas’ idea of democracy as truth-tracking offer a more helpful framework for assessing and combating the threat of fake news and, on the other hand, Bernard Williams’ virtues of accuracy identify the citizen virtues necessary to counteract fake news. The virtues of accuracy, I contend, can be facilitated and encouraged through structural and regulatory features in the public sphere. We are indeed seeing a recalibration and significant push back on fake news due to both structural changes and ordinary citizens becoming more epistemically responsible consumers of digital information.
An Empirical Exploration of Longitudinal Predictors for Problematic Internet Use and Problematic Gaming Behavior
Authors: Wartberg Lutz , Zieglmeier Matthias , Kammerl Rudolf
Published: April 2020

Problematic gaming (PG) has been included in the DSM-5 and ICD-11. But, it is still controversially discussed, if problematic (online-) gaming is a subtype of problematic Internet use (PIU) or if both behavior patterns should be distinguished. In joint samples, the relationships between PIU and PG and correlates have so far only been investigated in cross-sectional studies. This is the first longitudinal study to determine predictors of PIU, PG, and a combined occurrence of PIU and PG (PIU + PG) together in one sample. Overall, 985 family dyads (one parent and her/his child) were interviewed twice (at t1 and t2, with one year in between) with a standardized questionnaire regarding PIU, PG and psychosocial aspects. Predictors for adolescent PIU, PG, and PIU + PG were determined with a multinomial logistic regression analysis. The following were our findings: (a) PIU (t2) was predicted by stronger emotional distress (t1) and PIU (t1); (b) PG (t2) by male gender, more self-esteem problems (t1), stronger hyperactivity/inattention (t1), and PG (t1); and (c) PIU + PG (t2) by male gender, stronger hyperactivity/inattention (t1), and PG (t1). Partly different patterns of predictors were observed for the development of PIU and PG. The results indicate not only commonalities but also differences in the etiology of these behavior patterns.
A Public Health Systems View of Risk Communication About Zika
Authors: Kirk Sell Tara , Ravi Sanjana J. , Watson Crystal , Meyer Diane , Pechta Laura E. , Rose Dale A. , Lubell Keri M. , Podgornik Michelle N. , Schoch-Spana Monica
Published: April 2020

Objectives

The spread of Zika virus throughout Latin America and parts of the United States in 2016 and 2017 presented a challenge to public health communicators. The objective of our study was to describe emergency risk communication practices during the 2016-2017 Zika outbreak to inform future infectious disease communication efforts.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 13 public health policy makers and practitioners, 10 public information officers, and 5 vector-control officials from May through August 2017.

Results

Within the public health macro-environment, extended outbreak timeframe, government trust, US residence status, and economic insecurity set the backdrop for Zika communication efforts. Limited resources, staffing, and partnerships negatively affected public health structural capacity for communication efforts. Public health communicators and practitioners used a range of processes and practices to engage in education and outreach, including fieldwork, community meetings, and contact with health care providers. Overall, public health agencies’ primary goals were to prevent Zika infection, reduce transmission, and prevent adverse birth outcomes.

Conclusions

Lessons learned from this disease response included understanding the macro-environment, developing partnerships across agencies and the community, and valuing diverse message platforms. These lessons can be used to improve communication approaches for health officials at the local, state, and federal levels during future infectious disease outbreaks.
State-Level Prevalence of Bullying Victimization Among Children and Adolescents, National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016-2017
Authors: Lebrun-Harris Lydie A. , Sherman Laura J. , Miller Bethany
Published: April 2020

Bullying is a serious public health issue among children and adolescents in the United States. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of bullying victimization (defined as a child being bullied, picked on, or excluded by children) in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. We used data on bullying victimization from the 2016-2017 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). We stratified the sample by age: children aged 6-11 years (n = 21 142) and adolescents aged 12-17 years (n = 29 011). We conducted bivariate analyses to determine the prevalence of bullying victimization by state for each age group. In the survey, parents/caregivers responded to a question about whether it was “definitely true,” “somewhat true,” or “not true” that their child “is being bullied, picked on, or excluded by other children.” We combined “definitely true” and “somewhat true” responses to create a dichotomous variable for bullying victimization. Parents reported 22.4% of children aged 6-11 years and 21.0% of adolescents aged 12-17 years as experiencing bullying victimization during 2016-2017. The prevalence of bullying victimization among children ranged from 16.5% in New York State to 35.9% in Wyoming and among adolescents ranged from 14.9% in Nevada to 31.6% in Montana. The prevalence of bullying victimization among children or adolescents was >30% in 7 states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. These data can be used to inform state programs and policies to support bullying prevention efforts and services for children and adolescents who experience bullying. NSCH will continue to collect data on bullying victimization to track annual trends in national and state-level prevalence rates among children and adolescents.
Overdosage of Calcarea phosphorica causes severe hypocalcaemia in a toddler
Authors: Bhattacharya Deepanjan
Published: April 2020

A four-year-old girl presented with accidental ingestion of 200 tablets of Calcarea phosphorica. Although she was asymptomatic, she was found to have marked hypocalcaemia with a prolonged QTc interval on electrocardiogram. She was successfully treated with intravenous calcium, followed by oral maintenance.
The influence of extrusion process on micromorphology of PA 6/POE/POE-g-MA ternary blends: A quantitative analysis
Authors: Bo Jiang , Feipeng Cai , Xianzhong Qin , Bo Wang , Guilin Jiang , Jinhua Gao
Published: April 2020

The impact strength of nylon 6 (polyamide 6) can be improved by blending impact strength modifier at ambient temperature and then the applications of nylon 6 can be expanded widely. Polyamide (6) PA 6/poly(ethylene-1-octene) elastomer (POE)/poly(ethylene-1-octene) elastomer grafted by maleic anhydride (POE-g-MA) ternary blends were prepared in corotating twin-screw extruder by two kinds of extrusion processes, more than 10-fold increase of impact strength at ambient temperature was obtained from impact test of specimens, not at much expense of tensile properties. The influence of extrusion process, that is, one- and two-step extrusion, on the micromorphology of toughing nylon 6 blends was investigated systematically. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the fracture surfaces of bars prepared by injection-molding machine. In addition to particle size and distribution, interparticle distance ( τ) between neighboring dispersed phase particles in PA6/POE-g-MA/POE ternary blends was calculated and used to characterize the micromorphology. Supertoughness was obtained in both ternary blends, and the interparticle distances ( τ) were 0.228 and 0.179 µm, respectively, which were less than the critical τ c (0.3 µm) in nylon/rubber blends. The results showed that more homogeneous distribution of POE phase in nylon 6 matrix was found in blends prepared by two-step extrusion method, in which the average particle size of POE phase was 0.313 µm, while the average particle size in blends prepared by one-step method was 0.399 µm. The half-peak width of Gaussian distribution curve of particle size in blends prepared by one-step extrusion method was 0.278, which is higher than that of blends prepared by two-step method with the value of 0.248.
Schmitt’s democratic dialectic: On the limits of democracy as a value
Authors: Busk Larry Alan
Published: April 2020

In this essay, I attempt to measure various prevailing democratic theories against an argument that Carl Schmitt advances in the first chapter of his ‘Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy’. In practice, he claims there, democratic politics is compelled to introduce a distinction between ‘the will of the people’ and the behaviour of the empirical people, thus justifying the bracketing and unlimited suspension of the latter in the name of the former, even to the point of dictatorship. I argue that no contemporary approach to democracy as a fundamental value is able to mount a compelling response to this critique and that we should therefore reconsider the status of democracy as a normative commitment. I proceed by carefully and closely reading Schmitt’s chapter and then by juxtaposing various currents of democratic theory (including liberal, deliberative, epistemic and various hybrids thereof) with the trajectory of Schmitt’s argument. This essay is therefore less of a contribution to Schmitt scholarship, in the sense that it does not take a panoramic view of his corpus to determine his final stance on democracy, and more of an intervention into contemporary democratic theory using Schmitt’s argument as a kind of lever.
Towards an affective philosophy of the digital: Posthumanism, hybrid agglomerations and Spinoza
Authors: Kalpokas Ignas
Published: April 2020

This article employs Spinoza’s ideas as a springboard for developing a novel philosophical interpretation of today’s technologically enhanced world. As a starting point, today’s digitized and datafied world has brought about fundamental changes not only to the ways in which humans live their lives but also to our understanding of the role and place of the human person as such. As the conditions and, in many cases, the content of everyday life are shaped by data, code, devices and the infrastructure necessary for connectivity and interoperability, anthropocentric notions of the human begin to fall apart. Hence, this article embraces the post-humanist displacement of the human by demonstrating human beings to be merely parts of hybrid agglomerations, united by the flows of affect. It is within these affective flows that agency and (true to Spinozist thinking) existence are seen to be located. Moreover, through appreciation of Spinozist monism, it becomes evident that today’s hybrid agglomerations, understood as manifestations of a single substance under the attributes of thought and extension, are not aberrations but merely manifestations of natural human embeddedness.
Clothing Degree Zero: A Late Reading of Barthes’ Fashion ‘System’
Authors: Jie Feng
Published: April 2020

Drawing upon Roland Barthes’ posthumously published notebooks from his 1974 trip to China, in which he remarks upon the ‘complete absence of fashion. Clothing degree zero’, this article offers a ‘late’ reading of Barthes’ interest in fashion, suggested here as a form of writing. In reference to the late works, specifically Barthes’ penultimate lecture course on the Neutral and Travels in China, supplemented by François Jullien’s comments on Barthes’ trip to China (regarding the use of the term ‘blandness’), as well as mention of Michelangelo Antonioni’s film Chung Kuo-Cina (which Barthes viewed with ‘methodological’ interest), it is possible to draw together a reading of fashion as a neutral form. As a final step, reflection is given to Susan Buck-Morss’ reading of ‘history as passing’, as discontinuous moments (whereby fashion is symptomatic of such transformations). Barthes’ writerly mode – which works upon incidental details (also found in the work of Antonioni) – is revealed to be a pertinent method.
Audio description in the theater: Assessment of satisfaction and quality of the experience among individuals with visual impairment
Authors: Ferziger Naomi , Dror Yossi Freier , Gruber Lirit , Nahari Sara , Goren Nofar , Neustadt-Noy Nurit , Katz Noomi , Erez Asnat Bar-Haim
Published: April 2020

Purpose: Audio description (AD) is the systematic method of describing images and visual events to people who are blind or visually impaired (B/VI). AD facilitates access to cultural events such as movies, theater, and professional conferences, and it is aimed at enhancing the partaker’s experience. The current study investigates the impact of AD on the quality of the theater experience during the initial stages of implementation of AD service in theaters in Israel. Specifically, the study analyzes the satisfaction of B/VI theater patrons from AD service as well as the quality of the AD theater experience in relation to the complete three-pronged “AD package”: auditory narration, a touch tour, and preshow notes. Methods: In all, 83 legally B/VI participants were recruited through social networks. Mean age 54 (±14); 58% women. Quantitative questionnaires were developed to assess the satisfaction, quality of the experience, and aspects of accessibility. Five theater productions were available with and without AD. Each participant attended two different plays, one which was audio described and one which was not. Half of the participants saw the AD play first and half saw the non-AD play first. Results: 87% of the participants reported high overall satisfaction from the AD narration service. In addition, high satisfaction was reported concerning the AD device (67%), pre-show notes (85%), and touch tour (77%). A comparison of the quality of the experience between plays with AD versus without revealed a significantly enhanced experience ( p < .001) when the play was audio described. In addition, several general accessibility issues were identified that impede participation. Conclusion: AD is an important service that should be used widely to enhance the engagement of B/VI individuals in cultural events. Furthermore, it is imperative that AD be provided alongside comprehensive accessibility considerations.
Hemodynamic impairments within individual watershed areas in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis by multimodal MRI
Authors: Kaczmarz Stephan , Göttler Jens , Petr Jan , Hansen Mikkel Bo , Mouridsen Kim , Zimmer Claus , Hyder Fahmeed , Preibisch Christine
Published: April 2020

Improved understanding of complex hemodynamic impairments in asymptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) is crucial to better assess stroke risks. Multimodal MRI is ideal for measuring brain hemodynamics and has the potential to improve diagnostics and treatment selections. We applied MRI-based perfusion and oxygenation-sensitive imaging in ICAS with the hypothesis that the sensitivity to hemodynamic impairments will improve within individual watershed areas (iWSA). We studied cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), relative oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF), oxygen extraction capacity (OEC) and capillary transit-time heterogeneity (CTH) in 29 patients with asymptomatic, unilateral ICAS (age 70.3 ± 7.0 y) and 30 age-matched healthy controls. In ICAS, we found significant impairments of CBF, CVR, rCBV, OEC, and CTH (strongest lateralization ΔCVR = –24%), but not of rOEF. Although the spatial overlap of compromised hemodynamic parameters within each patient varied in a complex manner, most pronounced changes of CBF, CVR and rCBV were detected within iWSAs (strongest effect ΔCVR = +117%). At the same time, CTH impairments were iWSA independent, indicating widespread dysfunction of capillary-level oxygen diffusivity. In summary, complementary MRI-based perfusion and oxygenation parameters offer deeper perspectives on complex microvascular impairments in individual patients. Furthermore, knowledge about iWSAs improves the sensitivity to hemodynamic impairments.
Quality of colonoscopy preparation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: retrospective analysis of 348 colonoscopies
Authors: Negreanu Lucian , Voiosu Theodor , State Monica , Mateescu Radu Bogdan
Published: April 2020

Objective

Our aim was to prospectively assess bowel preparation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to determine the impact of disease-related factors on preparation efficacy because few studies have addressed this issue.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of data collected from a cohort of patients with IBD enrolled at a tertiary center in Bucharest, Romania. Patients were evaluated every 12 months, with each study visit including collection of clinical, biological, and endoscopic data. We reviewed 348 colonoscopies from 169 consecutive patients prospectively followed for a median length of 2 (0–6) years.

Results

The median total Boston score and median score per bowel segment in our cohort were optimal at 6 (range 0–9) and 2 (maximum 3), respectively. There was no difference in bowel preparation between patients with endoscopic activity and patients with mucosal healing (median total Boston score 6). Disease- and patient-related parameters did not influence the quality of bowel preparation.

Conclusions

The quality of bowel preparation in patients with IBD was optimal for our cohort, and disease-related parameters did not significantly influence preparation efficacy.
Masquelet technique combined with microsurgical technique for treatment of Gustilo IIIC open distal tibial fractures: a retrospective single-center cohort study
Authors: Wang Gang , Tang Yong , Wu Xuhua , Yang Huilin
Published: April 2020

Objective

This study was performed to investigate the clinical effects of the Masquelet technique combined with a microsurgical technique for treatment of Gustilo IIIC open distal tibial fractures.

Methods

Fifteen patients with a mean age of 39.3 ± 7.9 years (range, 21–43 years) with Gustilo IIIC open distal tibial fractures were treated by the Masquelet technique combined with a microsurgical technique from May 2013 to January 2017. The mean length of the bone defect was 6.9 ±2.2 cm (range, 5.2–10.7 cm). The mean area of the wound defect was 129.3 ± 41.4 cm2 (range, 83.7–180 cm2). Complications and fracture healing were recorded. At the last follow-up, the functional outcome was measured using the Iowa ankle score.

Results

All 15 patients achieved bone healing, and the median healing time was about 6.1 months (range, 5–8 months). No complications such as infection or nonunion occurred. At the last follow-up, the median Iowa ankle score was 82 (range, 68–88). The rate of an excellent and good Iowa ankle score was 86.6%.

Conclusions

Application of the Masquelet technique combined with a microsurgical technique is an effective strategy for the treatment of Gustilo IIIC open distal tibial fractures.
Increased expression of phosphorylated adducin in tumor cells
Authors: Luo Cong , Wang Guirong , Ying Huang , Shen Jiayu , Gilligan Diana M.
Published: April 2020

Objective

This preclinical research was designed to study the phosphorylation level of adducin in cancer tissues, healthy tissues, and malignant tumor cells to determine the relationship between adducin and cancer.

Methods

Western blotting was used to detect the expression level of phospho-adducin in tissues and cell lines.

Results

Phospho-adducin at Ser662 was detected in all tumor cells and cancer tissues. The main type of phospho-adducin at Ser662 was γ-adducin in healthy lung tissue, and α-adducin in both lung cancer tissue and para-lung cancer tissue. Phosphorylation of adducin at Thr445 was observed in healthy lung tissue, adjacent healthy tissue, and cancer tissue, but was not detected in any other malignant cells. Additionally, more phosphorylation of adducin at Thr445 was seen in cancer tissue than in adjacent healthy tissue.

Conclusion

The abnormal expression of phospho-adducin at Ser662 and Thr445 may be associated with tumorigenesis, suggesting a novel approach for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors.
Curcumin protects murine lung mesenchymal stem cells from H2O2 by modulating the Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway
Authors: Ke Shiwen , Zhang Yuanbing , Lan Zhihui , Li Shaofeng , Zhu Wei , Liu Liangji
Published: April 2020

Objectives

Oxidative stress within the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis microenvironment decreases the survival of lung mesenchymal stem cells (LMSCs), resulting in disease progression. Herein, the effects of curcumin (CUR) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated damage to murine LMSCs were examined.

Methods

Apoptosis, reactive oxygen species, and mitochondrial membrane potential were detected by flow cytometry. Protein levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated x (Bax), cleaved caspase-3, protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), phosphorylated-Akt, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were evaluated by western blot analysis.

Results

Apoptosis rates in the 2.5, 5, and 10 µM CUR groups were 23.27% ± 0.31%, 14.87% ±0.41%, and 6.47% ± 0.50%, respectively, all of which were lower than in the H2O2 group (24.46% ± 1.35%). Reactive oxygen species levels were decreased, while mitochondrial membrane potential levels were increased in concentration-dependent manners in the CUR groups compared with the H2O2 group. Compared with the H2O2 group, all CUR groups showed reduced cleaved caspase-3 expression, increased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression, and increased Bcl-2/Bax and p-Akt/Akt ratios.

Conclusions

The protective effects of CUR against H2O2-mediated damage in murine LMSCs may be mediated through the Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
Bronchial casts associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children
Authors: Lu Sukun , Liu Jianhua , Cai Zhigang , Shuai Jinfeng , Huang Kunling , Cao Lijie
Published: April 2020

Objective

This study was performed to analyze 22 cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) associated with bronchial casts (BCs) in children.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all cases of MPP in children treated at our institution from November 2015 to December 2016. Demographic information, laboratory parameters, radiologic and fiberoptic bronchoscopy findings, treatment outcomes, and follow-up results were analyzed.

Results

Among 161 patients with MPP, 22 had BCs and 139 had no BCs. All BCs occurred in a segmental or subsegmental bronchus and were removed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Patients with BCs had a longer duration of fever after admission and higher incidence of refractory MPP. Substantially more children with than without BCs had a high M. pneumoniae load in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. All patients with BCs but only 55.4% without BCs were given methylprednisolone in addition to the standard antibiotic treatment. A significantly higher proportion of children with than without BCs received oxygen therapy. After discharge, complete radiological resolution took significantly longer in children with than without BCs.

Conclusions

In children with MPP, prompt removal of BCs may be necessary to prevent BC propagation. MPP with BCs is more severe than that without BCs, and treatment and recovery are more difficult.
Knowledge visualization and mapping of information literacy, 1975–2018
Authors: Onyancha Omwoyo Bosire
Published: April 2020

This article examines the evolution of information literacy over 43 years (from 1975 to 2018), using knowledge visualization and mapping of its literature, as indexed in the Scopus database. Results reveal that information literacy has evolved from being a library- and/or librarianship-oriented concept to a multidisciplinary field and is no longer restricted to social sciences but is spread across 27 disciplines in Scopus’ subject classification. New literacies have emerged after 2000 to include digital literacy, media literacy, health literacy, business information literacy, metaliteracy, content literacy, workplace information literacy, scientific literacy and science literacy. Library instruction remains a prominent method of information literacy delivery in academic libraries. We conclude that information literacy is dynamic and spread across many disciplines and would, therefore, require interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches for its effective delivery in what is turning out to be diverse and complex information and learning environments.
Social and Economic Development and Change in 4 Guatemalan Villages Over a Half Century
Authors: Melgar Paúl , Maluccio John A. , Arevalo Aura Isabel , Alvarez Andrea , Alvarez Marvin
Published: April 2020

This article describes nearly 50 years of social and economic development and changes that have occurred in the 4 villages of the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) Longitudinal Study (1969-1977). In doing so, it contextualizes the changes in health and nutrition for the study population over that period. Since the start of the INCAP Longitudinal Study, the original 4 villages, like their home country, have undergone tremendous demographic, social, and economic change. Originally rather isolated, road and transportation access for the villages has improved steadily and substantially. The population in the villages has more than doubled. Schooling access and outcomes have also improved substantially, with average grades of schooling tripling and literacy doubling, reaching levels currently on par with national averages. Occupations have also changed over the course of a generation. Early on, subsistence farming and agriculture in general were dominant but are now much less common. Much of this change is associated with declining agricultural markets alongside increased access to nonagricultural jobs near the villages and in the capital. With all these changes have come improvements in living standards. It is within this dynamic context that study participants for the INCAP Longitudinal Study were born and raised and where most now live as adults.