bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Nations Have Stomachs? Food, Drink and Imagined Community in Africa
Authors: Nugent Paul
Published: February 2019

This paper takes a rhetorical question posed by Ernest Gellner and reframes it to ask whether a sense of national identity can be forged through everyday acts of consumption – in particular, that of food and drink. The article finds value in Benedict Anderson's conception of the nation as an imagined community, but argues that it makes little sense to privilege the printed word over other forms of consumption. The article goes on to suggest that there have been significant convergences at the level of consumption, but that not all of this has led to reflection about what it means to be a member of the nation. Some lessons are drawn from literatures about music and dress, following which the attention turns to alcoholic drinks and everyday foodstuffs. The history of the consumption of beer and wine in South Africa is used as a case study for convergence in a least likely scenario. The discussion on food observes that while cuisine is not a matter of debate in many African countries, in some countries, like Ethiopia and Senegal, it is taken very seriously indeed. In South Africa, there are ongoing efforts to posit food preferences as something distinctively South African. Although the braai is often discussed in a lighthearted manner, the promotion of a sense of awareness about what all South Africans share in terms of eating habits also has a more serious side to it.
“Indépendance Cha Cha”: African Pop Music since the Independence Era
Authors: Dorsch Hauke
Published: February 2019

Investigating why Latin American music came to be the sound-track of the independence era, this contribution offers an overview of musical developments and cultural politics in certain sub-Saharan African countries since the 1960s. Focusing first on how the governments of newly independent African states used musical styles and musicians to support their nation-building projects, the article then looks at musicians’ more recent perspectives on the independence era.
Covering Post-Conflict Elections: Challenges for the Media in Central Africa
Authors: Frère Marie-Soleil
Published: February 2019

In the past ten years, elections were held in six countries of Central Africa experiencing “post-conflict” situations. The polls that took place in Burundi (2005), the Central African Republic (2005), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2006), Congo-Brazzaville (2002, 2007), Chad (1996, 2001, 2006) and Rwanda (2003) were crucial for peace-building. In some cases, they were widely supported and supervised by the international community, being considered the last step of a peace process and the first step toward establishing a truly representative “post-conflict” regime. The media were expected to play a large part in supporting these elections, both to inform the citizens, so they could make an educated choice, and to supervise the way the electoral administration was organizing the polls. This paper attempts to show the many challenges faced by the media while covering these post-conflict electoral processes. In a context of great political tension, in which candidates are often former belligerents who have just put down their guns to go to the polls, the media operate in an unsafe and economically damaged environment, suffering from a lack of infrastructure, inadequate equipment and untrained staff. Given those constraints, one might wonder if the media should be considered actual democratic tools in Central Africa or just gimmicks in a “peace-building kit” (including “free and fair” elections, multipartism and freedom of the press) with no real impact on the democratic commitment of the elite or the political participation of the population.
“Get to the bridge and I will help you to cross”: Merit, Personal Connections and Money in Access to Nigerian Higher Education
Authors: Willott Chris
Published: February 2019

This article examines the methods students use to gain access to a university in Nigeria's elite federal sector. It explains the relationships between three “currencies” – merit, personal connections and money – that are utilised by students to achieve their goals. I argue that influences representing the official rules – merit – and those representing semi-official or unofficial processes – personal connections and money – intersect in ways that reveal the complexity of the relationship between state and society in contemporary Nigeria. This analysis reveals that in this case the hybrid interpretation of the neopatrimonial state, which views official and unofficial norms as existing in parallel and suffusing one another, has more analytical value than its counterpart, the wholesale state privatisation thesis.
Something Mightier: Marginalization, Occult Imaginations and the Youth Conflict in the Oil-Rich Niger Delta
Authors: Anugwom Edlyne
Published: February 2019

This contribution examines the role of occult imaginations in the struggle against perceived socio-economic marginalization by youth militias from the Ijaw ethnic group in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It argues that the asymmetric power between the federal government/transnational oil corporations (TNOCs) and the militias may have privileged the invocation of the supernatural as a critical agency of strength and courage by the youth militias. The conflict in the region embodies a cultural revision which has been necessitated by both the uncertainty of the oil environment and the prevailing narratives of social injustice. Hence the Egbesu deity, seen historically as embodying justice, has been reinvented by the youth militias and imbued with the powers of invincibility and justice in the conflict with the government and oil companies. The low intensity of the conflict has limited both the extent of operations and scale of force used by the military task force in the area and thus reinforced the perception of invincibility of the militias attributed to the Egbesu.
The Neglected Economic Dimensions of ECOWAS's Negotiated Peace Accords in West Africa
Authors: Aning Kwesi , Atuobi Samuel
Published: February 2019

Since its first intervention in Liberia in December 1989, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has, in conjunction with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), managed to resolve intrastate violence in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire through its political and military interventions. One aspect of the work undertaken by the ECOWAS that has received little scholarly attention are the economic dimensions of the peace accords it has negotiated. To date, no scholarly work that we know of has focused on this aspect of ECOWAS peace initiatives. The same is true of other peace initiatives, such as those in Côte d'Ivoire, led by other actors. This paper seeks to bridge these scholarly lacunae by evaluating the economic dimensions of peace agreements in these three countries, and by examining how these agreements address the distribution and management of economic resources. We argue that because these conflicts were partially underpinned by the mismanagement of economic resources, the search for peace should necessarily include addressing economic issues at the negotiating table.
Polish African Studies at a Crossroads: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Czernichowski Konrad , Kopiński Dominik , Polus Andrzej
Published: February 2019

The main objective of this contribution is to examine the developments and challenges of African Studies in Poland, with a special focus on the fields of political science and economics. The article demonstrates that the historical development of Polish African Studies has shaped, but also limited, the ongoing debate concerning its nature and objectives. The paper discusses two competing interpretations of the substance of African Studies and deals with the current challenges and hopes of the Polish academic community studying Africa. It argues that while the field of African Studies usually serves as a common denominator and a type of “area” platform where various scholars doing research on Africa can share their findings, this does not necessarily lead to integration within the community and/or to better communication. Quite paradoxically, the diagnosis of Polish African Studies presented almost 50 years ago by Jan Halpern can still be applied today: “Generally speaking, Polish scholars in African subjects feel that the further progress of their work demands, above all, a better coordination of research and closer contact with specialists abroad.”
Insurgent Nationalism: Political Imagination and Rupture in Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Förster Till
Published: February 2019

Non-separatist insurgents unable to overthrow a sitting government often face a problem successful rebellions can avoid: They are not the only players who can claim to be acting on behalf of the nation. They will have to imagine the nation in a new way that distinguishes them from the older, established nationalism usually promoted by the existing government. This new nationalism aims to legitimise their actions, but first and foremost it has to be attractive to the population in the region under insurgent control and later to others as well. Each camp, the government and the insurgent side, articulates its understanding of the nation to the other side. In the process, both sides often also adopt different forms of imagination to render the specifics of their nationalism more visible to their followers as well as to partisans in the other camp. This article analyses this political articulation by taking Côte d'Ivoire as an example.
At the Margins of the Economy? Chinese Migrants in Lesotho's Wholesale and Retail Sector
Authors: Hanisch Sarah
Published: February 2019

This article examines the relationship between the economic activities of Chinese migrants in the wholesale and retail sector in Lesotho, and the larger structural framework. More specifically, it investigates this relationship with reference to the general debate on Chinese migrants in Africa. These themes locate Chinese migrants at the margins of the economy, assume some Chinese exceptionalism, and imply a kind of neocolonialism. The article demonstrates that Chinese migrants are, in fact, not operating at the margins of the economy, but have become a vital element of Lesotho's wholesale and retail sector. The analysis of the structural framework indicates that the economic activities of Chinese migrants are a reflection of existing structural constraints and opportunities rather than Chinese exceptionalism or neocolonialism. This in turn implies that future research would benefit from placing the interplay of Chinese migrants and the larger structural framework in respective African countries at the centre of analysis.
Work and Masculinity in Katanga's Artisanal Mines
Authors: Cuvelier Jeroen
Published: February 2019

This article, based on 16 months of anthropological fieldwork between 2005 and 2012, examines the relationship between work and masculinity among artisanal miners, or creuseurs, in Katanga, the southeastern province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It argues that men's involvement in artisanal mining should be considered not only as an economic survival strategy but also as an attempt to experiment with new ways of being a man in a context of economic crisis and changing gender relations. Furthermore, the article criticizes the tendency to downplay or underestimate the complexity and diversity of processes of masculine identity construction in Africa's artisanal-mining areas. In order to do justice to the intricacy of these processes, the article proposes using concepts and insights from the field of masculinity studies and distinguishing between a levelling and a differentiating trend in artisanal miners’ masculinity practices.
South Africa: The 2014 National and Provincial Elections
Authors: Engel Ulf
Published: February 2019

On 7 May 2014, South Africa held its fifth national and provincial elections since the end of apartheid in 1994. Despite a degree of discontent, the ANC remained firmly in power, receiving 62.15 per cent of the vote. Frustration about non-delivery of services, autocratic tendencies within the ruling party and widespread corrupt practices did not translate into substantially more votes for opposition parties, except in the Western Cape and Gauteng regions (and a swing vote from COPE to DA in Northern Cape). However, voter mobilisation seems to be stagnating and ANC breakaway parties are not faring particularly well. Twenty years after the end of apartheid, popular discontent with the ANC government has expressed itself in voting apathy, particularly among the “born-free” generation. Just as in 2004 and 2009, non-voters remain the largest group in the South African electorate, outnumbering even the ANC.
The Eye of the Beholder: Service Provision and State Legitimacy in Burundi
Authors: Stel Nora , Ndayiragije Réginas
Published: February 2019

State legitimacy - particularly its alleged potential to counter state fragility – has received increasing attention in academic and policy literature concerned with African development. Service provision can substantially influence such state legitimacy. Services, however, are mostly provided by a multiplicity of (state and non-state) providers. This article therefore specifically explores how joint service delivery by multiple providers shapes the attribution of state legitimacy in Burundi by means of two qualitative case studies. Empirically, the article demonstrates, first, that the process of stakeholder interaction, rather than the output of this process, most distinctly shapes state legitimacy and, second, that there are substantial variations in legitimacy attribution by different stakeholders and for different state institutions. Epistemologically, the article suggests three specific challenges that merit attention in further empirical investigation of state legitimacy in fragile settings: the diversity of people's expectations; the artificiality of state/non-state distinctions; and the personification and politicization of state institutions.
Tactical Communication: Mutiny as a Dialogue in West and Central Africa
Authors: Dwyer Maggie
Published: February 2019

This article expands our understanding of the objectives of mutinies through an analysis of trends in tactics. It explores actions within mutinies through a review of 66 cases of mutiny from 1960 to 2012 in West and Central Africa. Despite wide variations in context among these mutinies, there are remarkable similarities in the tactics used by mutineers in the region and across time. These commonalities challenge the popular image of African mutinies as chaotic or devoid of strategy. The article demonstrates that the most common tactics used by mutineers in West and Central Africa all serve to open a dialogue with leadership and provide a platform for soldiers to vocalize their expectations in an environment that intentionally stifles the voices of the junior members. It suggests mutiny be viewed as an act of communication rather than merely a form of insubordination.
A Future beyond HIV/AIDS? Health as a Political Commodity in Botswana: Gesundheit als politische Ware in Botswana
Authors: Bochow Astrid
Published: February 2019

Referencing scholarly debates on humanitarianism and specifically HIV interventions, this article analyses the commodification of health in Botswana's political arena throughout the HIV pandemic and beyond, contributing to a re-evaluation of the distribution of public wealth and international support in welfare states in Africa. The starting point of the analysis is a project to build a private hospital – a move to create a centre of excellence exclusive of international HIV/AIDS donations – and the staging of political responsibilities around it. Public investment into private health is an attempt to reform infrastructures built with HIV/AIDS money and to develop a market of high-paying jobs within the country. This process transforms the inalienable and indivisible condition of health and survival into a political commodity.
“No die, no rest”? Coercive Discipline in Liberian Military Organisations
Authors: Käihkö Ilmari
Published: February 2019

Discipline forms the backbone of all military organisations. While discipline is traditionally associated with draconian punishment, this association is increasingly only applied to non-Western contexts. African rebel movements and similar, weak organisations are represented especially often as lacking non-coercive means of instilling discipline. This article explores the utility of coercive discipline in one such context – the Second Liberian Civil War (1999–2003). I argue that Liberia's weak military organisations faced significant restrictions when it came to employing direct coercion. Executions, which are often equated with coercion in existing literature, threatened to rive the already frail organisations. Even other formal instruments of discipline, such as military hierarchies and rules and regulations, remained contested throughout the war. Consequently, more indirect means were adopted. Ultimately, the main users of coercion were not military organisations, but peers. This suggests that it is easier for strong organisations to coerce their members, and that the relationship between coercion and organisational strength may need to be reassessed. Furthermore, existing positive perceptions of camaraderie between brothers-in-arms requires re-evaluation.
Ready or Not: Namibia as a Potentially Successful Oil Producer
Authors: Polus Andrzej , Kopinski Dominik , Tycholiz Wojciech
Published: February 2019

The primary objective of this paper is to assess whether Namibia is ready to become an oil producer. The geological estimates suggest that the country may possess the equivalent of as many as 11 billion barrels of crude oil. If the numbers are correct, Namibia would be sitting on the second-largest oil reserves in sub-Saharan Africa, and exploitation could start as soon as 2017. This clearly raises the question of whether Namibia is next in line to become a victim of the notorious “resource curse.” On the basis of critical discourse analysis and findings from field research, the authors have selected six dimensions of the resource curse and contextualised them within the spheres of Namibian politics and economy. While Namibia still faces a number of important challenges, our findings offer little evidence that the oil will have particularly disruptive effects.
Indigenous Knowledge and Public Education in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Mawere Munyaradzi
Published: February 2019

The discourse on indigenous knowledge has incited a debate of epic proportions across the world over the years. In Africa, especially in the sub-Saharan region, while the so-called indigenous communities have always found value in their own local forms of knowledge, the colonial administration and its associates viewed indigenous knowledge as unscientific, illogical, anti-development, and/or ungodly. The status and importance of indigenous knowledge has changed in the wake of the landmark 1997 Global Knowledge Conference in Toronto, which emphasised the urgent need to learn, preserve, and exchange indigenous knowledge. Yet, even with this burgeoning interest and surging call, little has been done, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, to guarantee the maximum exploitation of indigenous knowledge for the common good. In view of this realisation, this paper discusses how indigenous knowledge can and should both act as a tool for promoting the teaching/learning process in Africa's public education and address the inexorably enigmatic amalgam of complex problems and cataclysms haunting the world.
Foreign Direct Investment and the Transfer of Technologies to Angola's Energy Sector
Authors: Manyuchi Albert Edgar
Published: February 2019

The relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and the transfer of technology is undergoing a great deal of academic scrutiny and policy analysis. A growing body of literature shows that FDI can be a channel by which to transfer and/or acquire technology; however, there is a paucity of empirical studies on this as it relates to African economies. This article seeks to fill some of that gap by focusing on how FDI inflows are contributing to the transfer of technologies specifically into Angola's energy sector. The analysis is based on qualitative research conducted in Angola in 2014 and reveals that energy production and distribution-technology infrastructure, including machinery and human skills, have been developed largely through FDI inflows. There is, however, no evidence that this FDI has enlarged Angola's endogenous scientific and technological research capabilities in the energy sector; therefore, policies that promote these capabilities, especially manufacturing capabilities, should be introduced.
Exploring the Legacies of Armed Rebellion in Burundi's Maquis par Excellence
Authors: Van Acker Tomas
Published: February 2019

This contribution explores the legacies of armed rebellion in post-war Burundi, where two of the main political parties, the ruling CNDD-FDD and the FNL, are former rebel movements. It aims to add a micro-political perspective to the discussion on the transformation of rebel groups into political parties, and bring some nuance to the normative underpinnings of this debate. Based on observations of the role of local leaders with an FNL past, and of retrospective popular appreciation for wartime governance by the FNL in its stronghold of Bujumbura Rural, the paper argues that beyond the symptoms of a violent political culture, this legacy should also be understood as a complex source of post-war power and legitimacy.
South Korean Development Cooperation in Africa: The Legacy of a Developmental State
Authors: Kalinowski Thomas , Park Min Joung
Published: February 2019

This paper investigates how the legacy of the South Korean developmental state influences the way the country conducts its development cooperation (DC) policies. We argue that institutions of the developmental state remain instrumental in structuring South Korea's cooperation with the developing world. Two country case studies of South Korean DC and investment projects in Mozambique and Rwanda show that state initiative and a strong state–business partnership are defining elements of South Korean DC. At the same time, both cases show substantial differences when it comes to type of project, type of state–business partnership in the South Korean approach, degree of project ownership by the recipient country, and quality of governance in the recipient countries.
Late Capitalism, Urbanisation, and Cultures of Economic “Survivalism” in the BBC's Welcome to Lagos
Authors: Akpome Aghogho
Published: February 2019

This article examines the depiction of three impoverished Lagosian slums in the controversial British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary, Welcome to Lagos, which highlights the negative impacts of globalised capitalism on urban culture in Nigeria's commercial centre and biggest city. In recent times scholarship on postcolonial urbanisation has been marked by an important shift in focus from economic concerns to interest in the peculiar cultural dimensions of life in postcolonial cities. As this article argues, however, dominant depictions of postcolonial cities continue to highlight ways in which cultural responses to the harsh effects of late capitalism in such cities reflect economic strategies of what Mike Davis calls “informal survivalism.”
Press Freedom and Nigeria's Cybercrime Act of 2015: An Assessment
Authors: Adibe Raymond , Ike Cyril Chinedu , Udeogu Celestine Uchechukwu
Published: February 2019

This study assesses the Cybercrime Act 2015 and its implications for online press freedom in the liberal authoritarian state of Nigeria. Specifically, the study examines how the character of political leadership in Nigeria leads to wrongful application of the act to undermine the independence of the press. The study shows that Nigeria's online press freedom index has consistently worsened since the introduction of the Cybercrime Act in 2015, and it recommends the promotion of a holistic democratic project that recognises economic and political freedom as being inextricably linked.
Sustainability and Depoliticisation: Certifications in the Cut-Flower Industry at Lake Naivasha, Kenya
Authors: Kuiper Gerda , Gemählich Andreas
Published: February 2019

This article focuses on the emergence of certification schemes in the cut-flower industry in Naivasha, Kenya. It is shown that, although this turn is often legitimised through references to “sustainability,” the change was mainly brought about by the growing importance of a new value chain of “direct sales.” The article furthermore elaborates on the most well-known certificate in Naivasha, Fairtrade. This certificate aims to enhance sustainability by empowering workers, yet it does not profoundly change power relations within the industry. The article concludes that “sustainability” in the context of Naivasha has been an ill-defined concept, used to legitimise a turn to certifications. Rather than bringing about a profound transformation of the production process, these certifications obscure and even consolidate the existing socio-economic configuration of the industry. Certifications thus run the risk of having “depoliticising” effects.
Bob's Out, the Croc is In: Continuity or Change in Zimbabwe?
Authors: Southall Roger
Published: February 2019

The military-assisted ousting of Robert Mugabe as president of Zimbabwe and his replacement by Emmerson Mnangagwa was widely welcomed by Zimbabweans. However, hopes of significant change were dashed by the nature of his cabinet appointments, which indicated greater continuity than change vis-à-vis the Mugabe era. Mnangagwa is likely to pursue an agenda of authoritarian reform: rendering the economy more attractive for foreign investment while maintaining political control from above.
Democratic Ruptures and Electoral Outcomes in Africa: Ghana's 2016 Election
Authors: Bob-Milliar George M. , Paller Jeffrey W.
Published: February 2019

Repetitive elections are important benchmarks for assessing the maturity of Africa's electoral democracies. Yet the processes through which elections entrench a democratic culture remain understudied. We introduce an important mechanism called a democratic rupture: an infraction in the democratisation process during competitive elections that has the potential to cause a constitutional crisis. It provides a new avenue of citizen participation outside of voting, and political space for opposition party realignment and to strengthen its support. Drawing from the case of Ghana, we show how the 2012 presidential election petition challenge served as a democratic rupture by contributing to the opposition's victory in 2016, enabling its political development. First, it exposed flaws in the electoral system and led to demands for electoral reforms. Second, it led to citizens being better educated on the electoral process. Third, it taught political parties that vigilance at the polling stations can help win elections. The article provides a critical analysis of the factors that shape democratic development, especially in cases where opposition parties defeat incumbent politicians.
Reconsidering the Role of Design Standards in Developing Effective Safety Labeling: Monolithic Recipes or Collections of Separable Features?
Authors: Kalsher Michael J. , Obenauer William G. , Weiss Christopher F.
Published: February 2019

Objective

This research investigated whether safety labeling design guidelines, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z535 series, contribute to better warnings.

Background

Studies investigating the impact of safety label formatting on warning effectiveness have produced mixed findings. Additionally, research has failed to find a consistent relationship between measures of predicted and actual compliance. One commonality is that all of these studies have investigated the ANSI Z535 guidelines as a binary variable rather than as an integrative system of separable features.

Method

We measured predicted compliance using both a within-subjects and a between-subjects design, but actual compliance using only a between-subjects design. Data were analyzed using both analysis of variance and linear/probit regressions to test the relationships between warning features recommended in the ANSI Z535 guidelines and measures of behavioral compliance.

Results

Predicted compliance assessed via a within-subjects design differed greatly from predicted compliance assessed via a between-subjects design. Levels of predicted and actual compliance were most similar when both measures were assessed using a between-subjects design. Consistent with previous research, location had a strong relationship with actual compliance, but surprisingly, presence of an ANSI-style orange warning header had a negative relationship with compliance.

Conclusion

The choice of experimental design and analytical methods can dramatically influence a study’s results and conclusions drawn. This research identified several aspects of experimental design that should be considered in future research on warning effectiveness.

Application

Testing features recommended in the ANSI Z535 guidelines under varying conditions can contribute to the development of more effective warnings.
Impacts of climate smart jute farming on resource use efficiency, productivity and economic benefits in rural Eastern India
Authors: Singh AK , Jha SK , Majumdar B , Roy ML , Sarkar S , Ghorai AK
Published: February 2019

The study was conducted in jute-growing areas of West Bengal (India) to explore the potential resource use efficiency for economic benefits of selected climate smart practices to marginal landholder farmers. Integrated crop management (ICM) practices as part of climate smart jute farming (CSJF) was practised by 170 randomly selected farmers in six villages. An estimation of cost of adoption, change in fibre yields, net returns and human development index (HDI) before and after ICM interventions was done. The mean HDI value increased by 38.85% and farm income by 31.5%. The net benefits of adaptation to climate smart jute technologies were estimated based on specific adaptation actions. Empirical scientific evidence of the study indicates that the livelihoods of marginal landholders can be improved using new crop varieties, changing planting dates and bringing necessary changes in other variable inputs for line sowing, intercropping, weeding, nutrients, water and retting.
Visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with lung tumour: a case report
Authors: Claudio Ucciferri , Alessandro Occhionero , Luca Caiazzo , Jacopo Vecchiet , Katia Falasca
Published: February 2019

An increasing use of immunosuppressant medication mandates clinicians to look for leishmaniasis even in non-HIV febrile patients. We report this case to highlight leishmaniasis as a cause of fever in patients undergoing chemotherapy in an endemic area.
Processing Alterity, Enacting Europe: Migrant Registration and Identification as Co-construction of Individuals and Polities
Authors: Pelizza Annalisa
Published: February 2019

This article introduces the concept of “alterity processing” to account for the simultaneous enactment of individual “Others” and emergent European orders in the context of migration management. Alterity processing refers to the data infrastructures, knowledge practices, and bureaucratic procedures through which populations unknown to European actors are translated into “European-legible” identities. By drawing on fieldwork conducted in Italy and the Hellenic Republic from 2017 to 2018, this article argues that different registration and identification procedures compete to legitimize different chains of actors, data, and metadata as more authoritative than others. Competing procedures have governance implications, as well, with some actors being included and others being excluded. Furthermore, there is evidence that—despite procedural rigidities—applicants themselves propose alternative chains of actors, data, and metadata that are more meaningful to them. In this tension, it is not only the individual Other that is enacted but also specific bureaucratic orders cutting across old and new European actors and distinctive understandings of “Europe.” From a technology studies perspective, this article engages in a dialogue with the emergent debate on Hotspots, the scholarship about the infrastructural construction of Europe and political sociology.
Listening at the edge: Attending to living process in Sesame Dramatherapy
Authors: Pritchard Will
Published: February 2019

This essay will outline some of the means and implications of attending to living processes in Sesame Dramatherapy. Broadly defined, living processes are those which exceed rigid, reductive, fixed or thing-like concepts. Insofar as our more mobile concepts often collapse into fixed definitions or signs, we might say that living processes resist conceptualisation altogether. I will consider how to avoid objectifying living processes which, as a category, encompass psychic processes and our experiences of other people and living beings. I will investigate how it is possible to enter into an ‘I-Thou’ relationship with the diverse phenomena of Sesame Dramatherapy sessions, stepping out of ‘I-it’, objectifying ways of relating. In order to do this, I will draw upon three main philosophical streams: Goethean observation, phenomenology and Eugene Gendlin’s Philosophy of the Implicit. Some of the therapeutic implications of this will then be outlined, with particular reference to the creation of meaning and the experience of selfhood.
A safe space for self-expansion: Attachment and motivation to engage and interact with the story world
Authors: Silver Nathan , Slater Michael D.
Published: February 2019

Insecure attachment places enduring limitations on one’s ability to satisfy important intrinsic needs. An increasing body of literature suggests that such barriers may motivate engagement with stories such as absorption into fictional worlds, sharing experiences and forming relationships with characters, and even pursuing vicarious satisfaction of unmet needs. Moreover, this sort of engagement has been demonstrated to drive narrative influence, further suggesting that barriers to intimacy in relationships such as those characterized by insecure attachment may render one more susceptible to the influence of entertainment media. A cross-sectional survey ( N = 1,039) revealed an interaction between the anxiety and avoidance dimensions of attachment wherein avoidance was negatively associated with parasocial relationships, boundary expansion, and transportability, as well as self-reported proclivities to reflect on and be impacted by story-based movies and television when anxiety was low but was associated with increased engagement when anxiety was high. The potential interplay between attachment and narrative influence is discussed with respect to targeting and tailoring media literacy and narrative-based interventions.
Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma in adolescents: imaging findings of a consecutive 7-year case series
Authors: Guan Pujun , Chen Zihang , Chu Lei , Zhen Li , Zhang Li , Pan Ling , Liu Weiping , Liu Rongbo
Published: February 2019

Objectives

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma is reportedly a rare but emerging type of lymphoma in adolescents. The present study was performed to specify its imaging characteristics.

Methods

Our hospital’s picture archiving and communication systems were searched from January 2009 to December 2016. We identified 13 patients aged <18 years with pathologically confirmed extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma in the head and neck region. The computed tomography and magnetic resonance images were reviewed to summarize the imaging characteristics of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma in adolescents.

Results

The mean age at onset was 15.2 ± 1.46 years (range, 12–17 years) with a male:female ratio of 1.17:1.00. Most of the patients (n = 10) displayed nasal cavity and/or paranasal involvement. The tumor was homogeneous in both computed tomography and magnetic resonance images and showed slight enhancement. No calcification or liquefactive necrosis was observed. Adjacent structures were usually involved.

Conclusion

Suggestive imaging characteristics could acquaint specialists with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma in adolescents, facilitating improved early recognition of the diagnosis and helping to improve the patient’s outcome.
Unfamiliar Face Matching With Driving Licence and Passport Photographs
Authors: Kramer Robin S. S. , Mohamed Sophie , Hardy Sarah C.
Published: February 2019

Matching two different images of an unfamiliar face is difficult, although we rely on this process every day when proving our identity. Although previous work with laboratory photosets has shown that performance is error-prone, few studies have focussed on how accurately people carry out this matching task using photographs taken from official forms of identification. In Experiment 1, participants matched high-resolution, colour face photos with current UK driving licence photos of the same group of people in a sorting task. Averaging 19 mistaken pairings out of 30, our results showed that this task was both difficult and error-prone. In Experiment 2, high-resolution photographs were paired with either driving licence or passport photographs in a typical pairwise matching paradigm. We found no difference in performance levels for the two types of ID image, with both producing unacceptable levels of accuracy (around 75%–79% correct). The current work benefits from increased ecological validity and provides a clear demonstration that these forms of official identification are ineffective and alternatives should be considered.
Early Attentional Capture of Animate Motion: 4-Year-Olds Show a Pop-Out Effect for Chasing Stimuli
Authors: Hofrichter Ruth , Rutherford M. D.
Published: February 2019

Preferential attention to animate motion develops early in life, and adults and infants are particularly attuned to chasing motion. Adults can detect chasing objects among up to 10 distractors and are better at detecting a chase among nonchasing distractors than a nonchase among chasing distractors. We tested whether an attentional preference for chasing has developed by the age of 4, and whether 4-year-olds can explicitly point out chasing objects. On a touch screen, participants were shown a chasing pair of circles among a varying number of distractors (2,4,6,8,10). Participants had to touch the chaser. Reaction time for adults or 4-year-olds was independent of distractor numbers, consistent with a pop-out effect for chasing stimuli. As early as 4 years of age, children show a pop-out effect for chasing objects and can identify them via touch.
ACL Repair With Suture Ligament Augmentation Is Associated With a High Failure Rate Among Adolescent Patients
Authors: Gagliardi Alexia G. , Carry Patrick M. , Parikh Harin B. , Traver Jessica L. , Howell David R. , Albright Jay C.
Published: February 2019

Background:

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair technique avoids graft harvest and therefore the risk of donor site morbidity. However, early failure rates after ACL repair with suture ligament augmentation (SLA) remain high.

Purpose:

To compare surgical failure, functional outcomes, return to sport, and joint laxity between adolescents who underwent ACL repair with SLA and those who underwent ACL reconstruction with quadriceps tendon–patellar bone autograft (QPA).

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Adolescent patients (7-18 years old) underwent ACL repair with SLA or ACL reconstruction with QPA. The authors collected data from those who had postoperative information pertaining to repaired ligament or graft failure, range of motion, complications, and return to sport at a minimum of 6 months after surgery. Participants were contacted after surgery to complete study questionnaires.

Results:

The cohort included 22 consecutive patients in the SLA group and 157 in the QPA group. The median duration of follow-up was 2.7 years (interquartile range, 2.0-3.6 years) in the QPA group and 3.2 years (2.2-3.4 years) in the SLA group. After adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, and time from injury to surgery, the hazard of graft failure in the SLA group was 10.66 times (95% CI, 3.41-32.92; P < .0001) that of the QPA group. The cumulative incidence of graft failure in the first 3 years after surgery was 48.8% (95% CI, 28.9%-73.1%) in the SLA group, as opposed to 4.7% (2.1%-10.3%) in the QPA group. There was no difference in return to sport between the groups. Among individuals who did not rerupture their ACL, International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm scores were comparable between the groups, as well as range of motion.

Conclusion:

The risk of failure was significantly increased in the SLA group relative to the QPA group. The high risk of failure for the SLA group in this short-term follow-up should be considered when selecting the treatment for adolescent patients with an ACL injury.
A Case of Aplastic Anemia Associated With Long-Term Metronidazole Use
Authors: Sam Andrew M. , Saunders Ila M. , Taplitz Randy , Koura Divya
Published: February 2019

Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole antibacterial agent that is highly effective for the treatment of protozoal and anaerobic infections. Metronidazole is known to cause hematologic adverse effects, including a reversible mild neutropenia; in rare circumstances, thrombocytopenia has been associated with metronidazole treatment. We present a case of aplastic anemia related to the extended use of metronidazole.
The Supply Chain Management Applied Learning Center: A university–industry collaboration
Authors: Benson Gregory E. , Chau Ngan N.
Published: February 2019

In today’s changing and intensely competitive global environment, postsecondary educational programs must find ways to adapt their method of delivery to meet the educational expectations of students and talent needs of “real-world” employers. This is especially true in the evolving field of supply chain management (SCM). The purpose of this qualitative study was to assess the effectiveness of the SCM Applied Learning Center (referred to as the “Center”) at a Midwestern university in the United States by understanding its perceived value through its stakeholders—that is, participating companies and students. This understanding was achieved by interviewing stakeholders who used the Center during its initial 18-month rollout period. The data analysis from this study resulted in the emergence of the following themes: (1) developing transferable skills, (2) accelerating applied learning, (3) cultivating personal relationships, and (4) supporting business improvement. The establishment of the Center and the corresponding results from this study contribute to the literature associated with university–industry collaboration, SCM education, and the evolving role of higher education. This work provides a template to programs interested in improving their working relationship with business partners through the implementation of comparable industry collaboration activities, while at the same time providing skill improvement opportunities for their students.
Improving End-of-Life Care for Diverse Populations: Communication, Competency, and System Supports
Authors: McCleskey Sara G. , Cain Cindy L.
Published: February 2019

Background:

While disparities in end-of-life care have been well-documented, explanations for the persistence of disparities are less clear. This study sought to examine diverse perceptions of end-of-life care, especially regarding how medical professionals can better serve all populations.

Objective:

To investigate similarities and differences in end-of-life care preferences, across racial and ethnic groups.

Design:

This work consists of a qualitative study utilizing in-depth focus group discussions.

Setting/Participants:

Six community-based focus groups were conducted with a total of 39 participants. Two groups were composed of African American participants, 2 had Latino participants, and 2 groups had white participants.

Results:

Analysis produced 3 major themes: (1) clear, comprehensive, and culturally relevant provider–patient communication regarding serious illness; (2) provider characteristics and competency; and (3) health system supports and barriers. Although all groups had individuals who expressed a strong preference for direct communication, individuals varied within groups. All groups discussed concerns that the costs of care are high and that financial considerations are given more importance than high-quality care. Groups diverged in their focus on provider characteristics and feelings of marginalization. African American and Latino groups emphasized a desire to match characteristics with providers, and African American groups discussed that their marginalization in the health-care system requires hypervigilance to receive high-quality care.

Conclusions:

Improvements in care would come from acknowledging diversity within groups, provider demonstration of comfort and competence, more effective care coordination, and recruitment of providers who share similar characteristics with the communities they serve.
Treatment of Renal Artery Stenosis in a Solitary Kidney Using Cutting Balloon Angioplasty in a Paediatric Patient
Authors: Hall Thomas C , Williams Alun , Hussain Farida , O’Neill Richard
Published: February 2019

Aims:

Renovascular hypertension is a rare cause of paediatric hypertension. It is however, a potentially treatable cause particularly when caused by renal artery stenosis (RAS).

Materials and Methods:

We present the case of an 11-month-old girl presenting with cardiac dysfunction. She was found to be hypertensive with a systolic blood pressure >180mmHg. DMSA demonstrated a small right kidney and a divided renal function of 6% on the right and 94% on the left. Spectral analysis demonstrated abnormal waveforms suggestive of RAS of the left kidney.

Results:

Angioplasty with a cutting balloon was successful. Blood pressure measurements, renal function and left ventricular function improved.

Conclusion:

RAS can be successfully treated with cutting balloon angioplasty after failure of convention balloon angioplasty to relieve the narrowing. In our case, there was an immediate successful angiographic result that on mid-term follow-up demonstrated significant improvement in clinical and biochemical outcomes and cessation of all anti-hypertensive medication.
From textual orality to oral textuality: The case of voice queries
Authors: Soffer Oren
Published: February 2019

This study analyzes the phenomenon of digital voice search queries against the background of the fluid and changing balance in the orality–literacy osmosis of different historical eras. In attempting to theoretically conceptualize the unique oral characteristics of this new digital feature, this article argues that as the result of technological considerations, voice querying manifests an attempt to discipline oral words – to pronounce them while thinking of their written form. The article also considers the oxymoron of ‘looking up’ information through spoken words; the effect of an interface that stresses the use of the oral words as an event; the devocalization of queries, as they transform into a written form; and the implications of browsing the Internet through oral word searches, especially for young children. It concludes that the integration of these oral features can be explained by the affordances of digital media on the one hand and the ‘revival’ of intuitive preprint features attempting to ease the cognitive demands of print culture on the other hand.