bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bringing gender and religion in: Right-wing networks and “Populism and Civil Society”
Authors: Kerner Ina
Published: November 2023

In this contribution, Andrew Arato and Jean Cohen’s Populism and Civil Society is confronted with current gender studies research on populism. This research mainly focuses on right-wing populism and highlights strong links between right-wing populists and the religious right, which are to a large degree organized by “anti-gender,” a stance both against social constructivist notions of gender and against basic gender rights, especially in the fields of reproduction and of LGBTIQ concerns. Against the backdrop of this literature, I argue that in Populism and Civil Society, right-wing populist anti-gender politics are not addressed in a way that takes account of their full complexity; and that these politics furthermore suggest to treat right-wing populism and left-wing populism as phenomena that do not only differ in content, but also in form.
Dating disagreements in adolescents: The role of daily romantic attachment and stress
Authors: Lapierre Andréanne , Paradis Alison , Hébert Martine , Cyr Chantal
Published: November 2023

Dating disagreements consist of divergences between partners’ opinions or needs. When left unresolved, dating disagreements may escalate into conflicts and even sometimes, to dating violence perpetration (DVP). Several risk factors have been documented for conflicts and DVP in adolescents, such as stress, attachment insecurities, and prior DVP, but they have never been explored in association with the events that usually precede conflicts and DVP: disagreements. This study aimed to examine (1) how adolescents’ variations in daily stress and attachment are associated with their probability of experiencing daily disagreements and their resolutions, and (2) whether adolescents’ DVP history moderates these associations. A sample of 216 dating adolescents answered a baseline questionnaire measuring DVP in the prior year and completed a 14-day online assessment of their stress, attachment states (anxiety, avoidance), dating disagreement occurrence, and resolution. Multilevel models indicated that on days when adolescents reported being more stressed or avoidant than usual, probability of disagreement occurrence was higher and of resolution weaker. Interaction effects of prior DVP were found for within and between-level attachment anxiety and between-level stress. Daily variations in stress and attachment may make adolescents vulnerable to disagreement, notably for those with prior DVP experiences. These findings support the relevance of examining daily variations in risk factors of dating disagreements and provide cues to enhance healthy dating relationships promotion programs developed for youth.
Modulation of functional networks related to the serotonin neurotransmitter system by citalopram: Evidence from a multimodal neuroimaging study
Authors: Boucherie Daphne E , Reneman Liesbeth , Booij Jan , Martins Daniel , Dipasquale Ottavia , Schrantee Anouk
Published: November 2023

Background:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) potentiate serotonergic neurotransmission by blocking the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), but the functional brain response to SSRIs involves neural circuits beyond regions with high 5-HTT expression. Currently, it is unclear whether and how changes in 5-HTT availability after SSRI administration modulate brain function of key serotoninergic circuits, including those characterized by high availability of the serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1AR).

Aim:

We investigated the association between 5-HTT availability and 5-HTT- and 5-HT1AR-enriched functional connectivity (FC) after an acute citalopram challenge.

Methods:

We analyzed multimodal data from a dose–response, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, in which 45 healthy women were randomized into three groups receiving placebo, a low (4 mg), or high (16 mg) oral dose of citalopram. Receptor-Enhanced Analysis of functional Connectivity by Targets was used to estimate 5-HTT- and 5-HT1AR-enriched FC from resting-state and task-based fMRI. 5-HTT availability was determined using [123I]FP-CIT single-photon emission computerized tomography.

Results:

5-HTT availability was negatively correlated with resting-state 5-HTT-enriched FC, and with task-dependent 5-HT1AR-enriched FC. Our exploratory analyses revealed lower 5-HT1AR-enriched FC in the low-dose group compared to the high-dose group at rest and the placebo group during the emotional face-matching task.

Conclusions:

Taken together, our findings provide evidence for differential links between 5-HTT availability and brain function within 5-HTT and 5-HT1AR pathways and in context- and dose-dependent manner. As such, they support a potential pivotal role of the 5-HT1AR in the effects of citalopram on the brain and add to its potential as a therapeutic avenue for mood and anxiety disturbances.
Numerical Analysis of Error From Sampling of Alternatives in Logit-Based Demand Forecasting Models with Massive Choice Sets
Authors: Gardner Max , Waddell Paul
Published: November 2023

Use of the multinomial logit (MNL) functional form is widespread in transportation and land use demand modeling. As the state-of-the-art evolves away from aggregate forecasting and toward activity-based models and microsimulation, MNL models are being asked to accommodate increasingly large choice sets. Different strategies exist to address the challenge of estimating models with very large choice sets, but perhaps none is as commonly employed as sampling of alternatives. The effect of sampling of alternatives on parameter estimation has received considerable attention in the scientific literature. Yet comparatively little quantitative research exists that examines the issues that arise when the same sampling strategies are applied in the context of forecasting. In this study we conducted an analysis of the effect of sampling of alternatives in discrete choice models for disaggregate location choice forecasting. First, a novel measure of forecast error was defined and then used to quantify the extent of the problem as a function of sample rate, model error, and size of the universe of alternatives. Finally, we explored the potential for strategic sampling techniques to reduce the error observed under simple random sampling. In general, we found that the proportion of aggregate demand that was misallocated owing to sampling of alternatives was actually reduced as the size of the universe of alternatives increased. Additionally, simple random sampling was shown to outperform importance sampling in most scenarios. These findings suggest that error resulting from random sampling of alternatives is less of a problem for logit-based microsimulation models than previously assumed.
Outcomes After Rotator Cuff Repair With Transverse Scapular Ligament Release in Patients With Severe Fatty Degeneration of the Infraspinatus
Authors: Lee Se Yeon , Kang Dong Mo , Kim Sae Hoon
Published: November 2023

Background:

In some large to massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs), fatty degeneration (FD) is more severe in the infraspinatus than the supraspinatus muscle, and in such cases, suprascapular neuropathy is highly suspected. Nerve release at the suprascapular notch might alleviate this problem.

Purpose:

To evaluate the effects of the transverse scapular ligament (TSL) release in patients with large to massive RCTs with more severe FD of the infraspinatus than the supraspinatus.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Between September 2017 and January 2022, arthroscopic TSL release with rotator cuff repair was performed in patients with large to massive RCTs and more severe FD of the infraspinatus muscle than the supraspinatus muscle (TSL group). Cuff integrity, FD, and atrophy of cuff muscles were evaluated using preoperative and 1-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, results were compared with those of patients who did not undergo TSL release during arthroscopic large to massive rotator cuff repair (NTSL group).

Results:

A total of 103 patients—20 in the TSL group and 83 in the NTSL group—were included. Group preoperative characteristics, including tear size and supraspinatus FD, were not significantly different, but infraspinatus FD (TSL vs NTSL; grade, 0-4, 0/0/5/10/5 vs 1/33/42/4/3) and atrophy (grade, 1-3. 3/9/8 vs 56/20/7) differed significantly ( P < .001). Healing failure occurred in 13 of 20 (65%) patients in the TSL group and 30 of 83 (36%) patients in the NTSL group, which was a statistically significant difference ( P = .019). Postoperatively, infraspinatus FD and atrophy were more severe in the TSL group than in the NTSL group ( P < .001), and supraspinatus FD was more severe in the TSL group ( P = .029). Seven patients in the TSL group achieved healing, but FD and atrophy of the supraspinatus and the infraspinatus showed no improvement in this group (all, P > .05).

Conclusion:

In patients with more FD in the infraspinatus than the supraspinatus muscle, TSL release appeared to have no benefit for cuff healing or FD reversal in cuff muscles. The possibility of suprascapular nerve entrapment remains in patients with more FD in the infraspinatus than the supraspinatus, and this potential nerve problem is not properly addressed by TSL release alone.
Use of Primary Healthcare Among Chinese Older Adults With Functional Limitations
Authors: Zhang Jinxin , Sun Xiaojie , Yao Aaron
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study was to assess the factors associated with primary healthcare (PHC) utilization among older adults with functional limitations, providing insights for improving the effectiveness of PHC for this population. We used the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) dataset, which encompasses 28 provinces in China. Logistic regression was used to analyze the people-related, care context-related, and linkage-related factors associated with PHC utilization. Approximately 55.61% of older adults with functional limitations utilized PHC in the past month, regardless of visit frequency or extent. Participants with lower educational attainment, those reporting more pain, and those living in rural areas had a higher likelihood of PHC utilization. Participants who received inpatient care in the past year had a lower likelihood of PHC utilization. We recommend that policymakers complement existing PHC health programs with increased health and social welfare support for this population.
Assessing Computational Thinking, Motivation, and Grit of Undergraduate Students Using Educational Robots
Authors: Pellas Nikolaos
Published: November 2023

Educational technologists and practitioners have made substantial strides in developing affordable digital and tangible resources to support both formal and informal computer science instruction. However, there is a lack of research on practice-based assignments, such as Internet of Things (IoT) projects, that allow undergraduate students to design and demonstrate educational robots using digital or physical assistance, especially when it comes to computational thinking (CT) and programming skills development in association with their psycho-emotional experience. This study compares the impact of Scratch and LEGO® WeDo robotic kits on students' CT and programming skills development. A quasi-experimental approach was conducted, involving two hundred forty-six participants ( n = 246), who were equally divided between Scratch and LEGO® WeDo groups. Results indicate that the LEGO® WeDo group showed greater improvement in CT and programming skills development, while designing and presenting IoT projects. Nevertheless, no significant association between motivation, grit, and CT skills was observed. The findings highlight the potential of tangible robotics in facilitating students’ hands-on learning and enhancing motivation to foster CT and programming skills. This study provides a wide range of implications for instructional designers on how to use tangible robotics to support hands-on IoT projects in computer science courses.
Making Vulnerability Invisible: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Use of Public Space in Hong Kong
Authors: Villani Caterina , Talamini Gianni
Published: November 2023

Despite the growing body of work on how COVID-19 impacts the use of public space, few studies focused on vulnerable social groups. This article outlines a systematic analysis of the use of public space by migrant domestic workers before and after the pandemic outbreak in Hong Kong. The analysis reveals changes in behavioral patterns, and we discuss them as part of an ongoing conflictual renegotiation of rights and space alongside the dual nature of invisibility. The growing invisibility of migrant workers prompts unresolved questions of rights, spatial and recognitional justice, and acceptance of diversity in the global neoliberal city.
Backstage at the Barristers’ Case Conference: A Dramaturgical Analysis
Authors: Jones Helen , Brookman Fiona
Published: November 2023

Socio-legal ethnographies have focused largely on the dramaturgical themes present in the competing performances seen in adversarial trials. Drawing on ethnographic observations of British homicide investigations, we illuminate the hidden “backstage” space of prosecution barristers’ case conferences. Using Goffman’s dramaturgical framework, we analyze the interactions, deliberations, and negotiations that are enacted between barristers, homicide detectives, forensic scientists, and other specialists. To our knowledge, the work that happens in these conferences has never been documented. Our findings reveal how prosecution narratives evolve and are tested behind the scenes before being performed in court. We pay particular attention to the role of anticipatory work in guiding how criminal justice actors choreograph the prosecution case. The findings add to our understanding of narrative case building and elaborate Goffman’s dramaturgical framework. We discuss the implications of our findings for due process.
Exploring Customer Citizenship Behavior in Social Commerce From the Parasocial Perspective
Authors: Men Jinqi , Zheng Xiabing , Shan Feifei , Shi Xiao , Yang Feng
Published: November 2023

Attention on customer citizenship behavior (CCB) has increased markedly in recent years for both researchers and practitioners. However, existing research lacks deep understanding of the antecedents of CCB in social commerce, especially from the perspective of seller-consumer interaction relationships. Drawing on complexity theory, this study investigated the impacts of the causal configurations of three types of seller-consumer interaction relationships (experience of parasocial interaction (PSI), social interaction, and parasocial relationship (PSR)) on CCB in social commerce. To test this proposition, this study adopted fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) on a sample of 380 experienced social commerce consumers. Our findings indicate that the combination of social interaction and PSR leads to a high CCB among social commerce consumers. Moreover, borrowing from social exchange theory, we further employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to reanalyze the research data. The PLS-SEM results are consistent with the fsQCA results.
Noncognitive Factors and Student Long-Run Success: Comparing the Predictive Validity of Observable Academic Behaviors and Social-Emotional Skills
Authors: Liu Jing , Kuhfeld Megan , Lee Monica
Published: November 2023

Noncognitive constructs such as self-efficacy, social awareness, and academic engagement are widely acknowledged as critical components of human capital, but systematic data collection on such skills in school systems is complicated by conceptual ambiguities, measurement challenges and resource constraints. This study addresses this issue by comparing the predictive validity of two most widely used metrics on noncogntive outcomes—observable academic behaviors (e.g., absenteeism, suspensions) and student self-reported social and emotional learning (SEL) skills—for the likelihood of high school graduation and postsecondary attainment. Our findings suggest that conditional on student demographics and achievement, academic behaviors are several-fold more predictive than SEL skills for all long-run outcomes, and adding SEL skills to a model with academic behaviors improves the model’s predictive power minimally. In addition, academic behaviors are particularly strong predictors for low-achieving students’ long-run outcomes. Part-day absenteeism (as a result of class skipping) is the largest driver behind the strong predictive power of academic behaviors. Developing more nuanced behavioral measures in existing administrative data systems might be a fruitful strategy for schools whose intended goal centers on predicting students’ educational attainment.
A semantic exploration: Nurse ethicist, medical ethicist, or clinical ethicist: Do distinctions matter?
Authors: Grace Pamela J , Milliken Aimee
Published: November 2023

Since the 1960s, it has been recognized that “medical ethics,” the area of inquiry about the obligations of practitioners of medicine, is inadequate for capturing and addressing the complexities associated with modern medicine, human health, and wellbeing. Subsequently, a new specialty emerged which involved scholars and professionals from a variety of disciplines who had an interest in healthcare ethics. The name adopted is variously biomedical ethics or bioethics. The practice of bioethics in clinical settings is clinical ethics and its primary aim is to resolve patient care issues and conflicts. Nurses are among these clinical ethicists. They are drawn to the study and practice of bioethics and its applications as way to address the problems encountered in practice. A significant number are among the ranks of clinical ethicists. However, in the role of bio- or clinical ethicist, some retained the title of their original profession, calling themselves nurse ethicists, and some did not. In this article, we explore under which conditions it is permissible or preferable that one retains one’s prior profession’s nomenclature as a prefix to “ethicist,” under which conditions it is not, and why. We emphasize the need for transparency of purpose related to titles and their possible influence on individual and social good.
Triple suture fixation for displaced comminuted olecranon fracture with a stable ulnohumeral joint
Authors: Luenam Suriya , Kosiyatrakul Arkaphat
Published: November 2023

Purpose

To report the outcome of a novel fixation technique using three high-strength sutures which is including articular buttress suture, cerclage suture, and tension band with off-loading triceps suture (triple suture fixation) in the treatment of displaced comminuted olecranon fracture with a stable ulnohumeral joint (Mayo type IIB). The rationale of using this technique is that the sutures have been used to stabilize multiple fracture fragments in all sides of the olecranon.

Material and Methods

Between July 2018 and July 2021, 10 patients (7 women, 3 men; mean age, 49.9 years; mean follow-up duration, 27.8 months) with Mayo type IIB olecranon fractures who underwent triple suture fixation were included in the study. The elbow was immobilized in a splint for 2 weeks postoperatively. Range-of-motion exercises were initiated after splint removal and weight bearing was allowed at 6 weeks postoperatively.

Results

Average active range of motion of the elbow was 145° of flexion (range, 135°–150°), 6.5° of extension (range, 0°–30°), 83° of supination (range, 70°–85°), and 77.5° of pronation (range, 70°–80°). Mean MEPS was 98.3 (range, 85–100) and DASH score was 3.1 (range, 0–10) at the final follow-up. Radiographic data at the final follow-up analyzed by paired t test demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference of proximal olecranon height (OH), trochlear notch width (TW), and OH/TW ratio between postoperative treatment and normal side ( p-value >.05). No complication of implant prominence, fixation failure, nonunion, infection or heterotopic ossification was found postoperatively. Breakage of drill bit occurred during drilling a distal oblique hole for articular buttress suture in one patient.

Conclusion

The triple suture fixation is an effective treatment with low incidence of complications in treatment of Mayo type IIB olecranon fractures. Larger comparative studies are needed to confirm the value of such technique.
Accounting for and of the epidemic in Bologna in 1855: The medicus-politicus in the Papal States
Authors: Di Cimbrini Tiziana , Musella Alessio Maria , Corsi Christian
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the confluence between accounting and natural disasters by examining the case of the cholera epidemic that occurred in Bologna in 1855, a city of the Papal States, where there was a strong (medical) intellectual class critical of the central government exercised by the Pope and clergy. We analysed primary and secondary sources available in Bologna in the Municipal Library of the Archiginnasio, State Archive, and Municipal Historical Archive to demonstrate how the accounting for and of the epidemic overturned the traditional power structures of the Papal States. Specifically, the medical establishment, leveraging the medical-administrative accounting technologies, replaced the clergy and local aristocracy as the governing body of the city, paving the way for the future secularisation of the administration. The study contributes to the literature by providing political implications of accounting technologies for natural disasters.
Preventive Legal Services for Kinship Care: Reducing the Need for Foster Care with Family First
Authors: Brown Amanda Rose , Byers Kaela , Vanchy Kadavasal Priya , Alford Dennis , Diaz April L. , Akin Becci A. , Cizek Meghan
Published: November 2023

This study examines the implementation of preventive legal services for kinship families within the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) service array. A university research team, contracted by the Title IV-E agency to evaluate the FFPSA programs, interviewed legal staff and kinship caregivers to understand how the provision of preventive legal services impacts the prevention-related needs of families. Findings suggest that the provision of free legal services can prevent children in kinship families from entering foster care by enhancing access to the services needed to ensure youth have legal membership in families that maintain their cultural and community ties. Future implementation should consider preventive legal services in the prevention service array, and how the referral mechanisms and systems of support surrounding kinship families can coordinate to ensure that more children can remain with their families.
Conceptualizations of Permanency in an Online Foster Care Community
Authors: Fowler John , Day Angelique , Zachry Mark
Published: November 2023

Permanency generally refers to long-lasting family connections and support for youth. Historically, the U.S. child welfare system has focused primarily on legal permanency. Relational and cultural permanency has recently gained some attention while being largely left out of federal policy. This study provides a statistical analysis of permanency-related terms in posts from an online community of people with lived experience in foster care. The results indicate that people with lived experience discussed topics of legal, relational, and cultural permanency more frequently than people who have not spent time in foster care, with a focus on aging out, religion, holidays, friends, loneliness, and community. People with lived experience also discussed permanency-related topics in help-seeking ways. Implications include the need to broaden the understanding of permanency through recommendations for policy and practice.
Where’s the Disconnect? Exploring Pathways to Healthcare Coordinated for Youth Experiencing Homelessness in Toronto, Canada, Using Grounded Theory Methodology
Authors: Hudani Alzahra , Labonté Ronald , Yaya Sanni
Published: November 2023

About 900 youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) reside at an emergency youth shelter (EYS) in Toronto on any given night. Several EYSs offer access to healthcare based on youths’ needs, including access to primary care, and mental health and addictions support. However, youth also require healthcare from the broader health system, which is often challenging to navigate and access. Currently, little is known about healthcare coordination efforts between the EYS and health systems for YEH. Using grounded theory methodology, we interviewed 24 stakeholders and concurrently analyzed and compared data to explore pathways to healthcare coordinated for youth who reside at an EYS in Toronto. We also investigated fundamental parts (i.e., norms, resources, regulations, and operations) within the EYS and health systems that influence these pathways to healthcare using thematic analysis. A significant healthcare coordination gap was found between these two systems, typically when youth experience crises, often resulting in a recurring loop of transition and discharge between EYSs and hospitals. Several parts within each system act interdependently in hindering adequate healthcare coordination between the EYS and health systems. Incorporating training for system staff on how to effectively coordinate healthcare and work with homeless populations who have complex health needs, and rethinking information-sharing policies within circles of care are examples of how system parts can be targeted to improve healthcare coordination for YEH. Establishing multidisciplinary healthcare teams specialized to serve the complex needs of YEH may also improve healthcare coordination between systems, and access and quality of healthcare for this population.
Risk of Tendon Injury in Patients Treated With Fluoroquinolone (FQ) Versus Non-Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics for Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
Authors: Fleming Virginia H. , Xu Jianing , Chen Xianyan , Hall Daniel , Southwood Robin L.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are associated with increased risk of tendon injury but comparative risk versus other antibiotic options for the same indication has yet to be evaluated.

Objective:

Describe the incidence (relative risk) of any tendon injury in patients receiving FQ compared with other (non-FQs) antibiotics for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods:

A retrospective propensity score weighted cohort study was performed to evaluate the association between FQ antibiotics and tendon injury risk at 2 time points (within 1 month and within 6 months of use) compared with non-FQ regimens for treatment of CAP. The evaluation was performed using the CCAE (MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters) and COB (Medicare Supplemental and Coordination of Benefits) databases from 2014 to 2020. Patients with ICD (International Classification of Diseases) 9/10 coding for outpatient pneumonia who were >18 years and without history of tendon injury were included. Patients with history of tendon injury, who received multiple antibiotic therapies for recurrent pneumonia, or who received both FQ and non-FQ regimens during the study period were excluded. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust for selection bias due to contributing risk factors, including demographics (age, sex), comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease), and concurrent medications (corticosteroids).

Results:

At 1 month, the odds of tendon injury were estimated to be significantly higher (41.9%) in patients receiving FQs compared with those receiving a non-FQ-based regimen (odds ratio [OR] = 1.419, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.188-1.698]). The odds of tendon injury were also estimated to be higher (OR = 1.067, 95% CI = [0.975-1.173]) in the FQ population within 180 days, but this effect was not statistically significant. The most frequent sites of tendon injuries were rotator cuff, shoulder, and patellar tendon.

Conclusions and Relevance:

Prescribers should recognize the risk of tendon injury within 1 month of FQ use when considering treatment regimens for CAP and use alternative options with lower risk whenever possible.
“The Councilors are the Ones to Blame”: The Symbolic Reproduction of Territorial Boundaries Created by Policy and Planning Decisions
Authors: Neves Marta , Neves Sara
Published: November 2023

This study draws upon cognitive maps and interviews with 57 residents living in two diverse areas of Porto, Portugal, to examine how individuals’ symbolic neighborhood boundaries reflect policy and planning decisions, and the implications of recognizing the role of government in the creation of territorial divisions and inequality. The study shows that residents’ subjective neighborhood constructions reproduce political territorial practices and representations. Awareness of the political origins of territory discourages residents from constructing their neighborhoods in alternative ways. Drawing on the concepts of symbolic and social boundaries, the study sheds light on the persistence and contestation of unjust territories.
Effect of peeling, cutting, or shredding of lettuce, carrot, or potato on the efficacy of chlorine disinfection
Authors: Davidovich-Young Gabriela , Wong-González Eric , De la Asunción-Romero Ruth , Bustamante-Mora Marta
Published: November 2023

Minimally processed vegetables are washed and subsequently disinfected by immersion in water solutions with antimicrobials which reduce the initial pathogenic or spoilage microbial load. Chlorine remains one of the most widely used disinfectants for vegetables and hence the importance of studying its properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of peeling, cutting, and shredding on the effectiveness of chlorine (200 ppm) as a disinfectant in lettuce, carrot, and potato. Three independent repetitions of each experiment were completed, and data was statistically analyzed. Results showed that the maintenance of the chlorine concentration in the disinfectant solution, over time, depended on the vegetables’ preliminary processing technique (whole, peeled, cut, or shredded) ( p < 0.05). In general, the disinfection treatments studied reduced Escherichia coli by 1–8 logs. The addition of chlorine in the disinfectant solution allowed greater reduction in E. coli than using water immersions ( p < 0.05) and disinfection times longer than 5 min did not improve these microbiological reductions ( p>0.05). The vegetables’ subdivision (whole, peeled, cut, or shredded) can affect both E coli's reduction and the vegetables’ residual chlorine concentration. No trend was observed in terms of sensory differences and their relationship to the vegetables’ processing and disinfection. These results suggest that each facility must validate its disinfection processes, according to the conditions established on site and reduction goals related to initial microbial counts, vegetables’ quality, processing operations, and other important aspects.
Cancer-Related Fatigue and Circulating Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: García-González David , Romero-Elías María , Álvarez-Bustos Alejandro , Rosado-García Silvia , Sánchez-López Antonio J. , Cantos Blanca , Maximiano Constanza , Méndez Miriam , Méndez-Otero Marta , Cebolla Héctor , García-Foncillas Jesús , Ruiz-Casado Ana
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common and disruptive symptom experienced by cancer survivors and because of its frequency and severity is especially worrisome in breast cancer survivors (BCS). Despite a great deal of research, the mechanisms underlying CRF have not been determined. The present study aims to describe associations between CRF in BCS and different blood biomarkers.

Methods

A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted. A set of biomarkers assessing inflammation were measured in BCS: C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF); HPA axis dysfunction (cortisol), autonomic dysfunction (noradrenaline); oxidative stress (8-OH deoxyguanosine); insulin resistance markers (insulin, IGF-I, IGFBP3) and sexual hormones (estrogens, progesterone, testosterone).

Results

NLR ( p = .00) and cortisol ( p = .02) were positive and negatively associated with CRF, respectively. The rest of the blood markers were not associated with CRF.

Conclusion

Our results increase the evidence on pathophysiological mechanisms driving CRF in BCS. However, longitudinal studies are needed to explore the role of these factors as potential causal mechanisms.
Agile producers and consumer-saviours: Discourses of resilience and responsibility in Australian media coverage of artisanal food and craft
Authors: Phillipov Michelle , Luckman Susan , Loyer Jessica
Published: November 2023

COVID-19's supply chain disruptions saw small-scale, artisanal food and craft producers experience surges in demand from consumers seeking locally made goods. This article analyses Australian news coverage promoting this ‘turn to the local’, with a focus on mainstream news outlets from March 2020 to February 2023. We identify two dominant narratives: the ‘producer pivot’ and the ‘consumer-saviour’. Using Rosalind Gill and Shani Orgad’s (2018) work on resilience as a regulatory ideal of neoliberalism, we argue that both narratives focus on individual responsibility in ways that make invisible structural and economic impediments to change. The consistent ways in which buying and producing local small-scale goods were presented and understood in the news coverage – across different products, places and stages of the pandemic – highlights the persistent ways in which neoliberal values perform particular kinds of work for capitalism by asserting the necessity of local ‘resilience’ and ‘positivity’ in times of crisis.
Vertical ethnography: Writing the poetics of materiality
Authors: Helin Jenny , Kostera Monika , Srednicka Joanna
Published: November 2023

In gratitude toward those who have paved the way for a multitude of academic writing genres, we continue to de-stabilize writing conventions to propose, so as to put forward, ways of writing ethnographic research differently. We do this through an exploration of how the poetics of materiality can be written in ethnographic research. By means of Bachelard’s work on material imagination and poetic instants, as well as re-visiting ethnographic clay-and-wood fieldwork, we suggest the subgenre of vertical ethnography. This is a genre that enables a shift from the often taken-for-granted thick description, which focuses on interpretations of meaning of what happened in the field, to deep inscription, a writing that breaks through the surface when our entanglement with materiality is awakening poetic sensibilities, enabling a vertical writing of ethnographic accounts.
“The watchdog is siding with the thieves”: Failing neoliberal policies and successful derisking in the Global South
Authors: Saleem Ashar , Khan Farzad Rafi , Martin De Holan Pablo
Published: November 2023

In this study, we examine how a State in the Global South implemented neoliberal policies aiming at derisking private investments whose outcomes were opposite to expectations. We focus on the strategy, tactics, and maneuvers used by the State to defend these policies formally. Through an in-depth case study of the Pakistani State’s privatization efforts in its electricity sector, we confirm that the State seeks to derisk investments but also to derisk neoliberal policies in general by assuming full responsibility for their failure. This acceptance of responsibility preserves the symbolic capital of the specific policies but also of the neoliberal project in general regardless of outcomes. Our findings add texture to the notion of derisking in the Global South and document the transfer of symbolic capital to multilateral lending organizations from the State. We observe the State is not only an enabler and enforcer of neoliberal policies but also their exonerator when failures appear.
‘Traffic rewards’, ‘algorithmic visibility’, and ‘advertiser satisfaction’: How Chinese short-video platforms cultivate creators in stages
Authors: Huang Yang , Ye WeiMing
Published: November 2023

Chinese creators and Douyin (a prominent Chinese short-video platform) are building a strong relationship in cultural production. Based on the social exchange theory, this study tries to explore the process and mechanism of monetization in Chinese platforms. Using the app walkthrough method and in-depth interviews with 19 full-time creators, we contend that Chinese creators and Douyin engage in a repetitive but unequal exchange with the common goal of earning income. Douyin works with creators to cultivate their thirst for revenue over time, while mastering the creative labor, before finally tying them to monetary gains. Douyin not only binds exposure and allocates Internet traffic to new creators, but also develops Dou+, a traffic marketing tool that leverages the affordances of creative work visibility. Douyin first enhances the creators’ income expectations through this step. The platform then directs creators through the Star-Chart content trading system, and establishes the platform-advertiser-creator transaction chain. When the exchange between Douyin and creators becomes stable, the platform sets up an uncertain revenue mechanism. Douyin’s commitment to creating a standardized assembly line of production and financial benefit for creators has established an exchange mode between the platform and creators at the expense of innovation and diversity. We argue that this standardized labor process eliminates the autonomy of cultural production.
COVID, clay, and the digital: The role of digital media in pottery skill development during the COVID-19 pandemic in Britain
Authors: O’Brien Catherine
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 lockdowns in Britain during 2020 and 2021 deprived people of access to studios and workshops in which we typically understand the learning and practising of skilled crafts to occur through working amongst others with materials. Recent literature on skill and craft has argued that it develops through social, participatory, and embodied processes in shared situated contexts. I argue that attention to the role of digital media within these ecologies is key to understanding how people continued to learn new craft skills during the pandemic. Drawing on Material Engagement Theory and the concept of digital materiality from digital sensory anthropology, I develop a case study around people practising pottery in Britain during the pandemic. I demonstrate how engagements with digital media are central to skill development, highlighting how the ‘digital’ and ‘terrestrial’ cannot be disentangled, and thus emphasising the importance of attending to the total hybrid learning ecology.
Narkotikapolitikk i endring: Heroinklinikkenes oppkomst i Norge
Authors: Ellefsen Rune
Published: November 2023

Sammendrag

Bruk av heroin for behandling av personer med rusmiddelavhengighet er nytt i Norge. Heroinklinikkene markerer et brudd med de siste ti-årenes narkotikapolitikk og rusbehandling. I denne artikkelen beskrives endringene i myndighetenes forståelse av «narkotikaproblemet» og hvordan det bør håndteres. Heroinklinikkene utforskes som uttrykk for slik endring. For å forklare hvorfor og hvordan disse omstridte klinikkene ble en realitet presenteres en to-delt analyse: først av ideologiske endringer i narkotikapolitikken fra 1960-tallet til i dag, og så av den politiske debatten om heroinklinikkene som tok fart fra 2007. Artikkelen argumenterer for at de ideologiske endringene på det narkotikapolitiske feltet i stor grad muliggjorde den senere politiske prosessen som endte med etablering av heroinklinikkene. Analysen identifiserer tre atskilte forståelser av narkotikaproblemet som har eksistert gjennom hele 60-års perioden, og tre motstridende tilnærminger til heroinklinikkene som ble synlige i den politiske debatten. Ved å diskutere sammenfallet mellom disse forståelsene og tilnærmingene over tid bidrar artikkelen med å forklare heroinklinikkenes oppkomst i en bredere narkotikapolitisk sammenheng.
Accessibility of games and game-based applications: A systematic literature review and mapping of future directions
Authors: Hassan Lobna
Published: November 2023

Digital game technologies, that is, games and emerging game-based applications, are pervasively spread in society as a means of entertainment, education and exercise, amongst other uses. With this popularity, attention has been directed towards the accessibility of these technologies to people with disabilities to ensure equity, equal access to opportunities and realize earnings from a significant customer group. This study investigates: How is the attention of academic game accessibility research divided across game technologies, disability categories and use domains? And where is attention needed? To answer these questions, I conducted a review of research (162 manuscripts) on game technologies’ accessibility published between 2016 and 2020, inclusive. The reviewed literature appears to have a utility focus (e.g. on education and health management) that relatively de-emphasizes the importance of game accessibility for entertainment or fun purposes. Auditory, motor and mobility disabilities, and emerging gamification, exergames, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are especially under researched in the academic domain.
The “algorithmic as if”: Computational resurrection and the animation of the dead in Deep Nostalgia
Authors: Kopelman Sara , Frosh Paul
Published: November 2023

Contemporary artificial intelligence and algorithmic processes address deep-seated existential challenges and modes of desire. In so doing, they produce computational systems of imagination, an “algorithmic as if” that enables the expression, transformation, and seeming overcoming of existential limitations via technological means. This article elaborates the character of the “algorithmic as if” by focusing on Deep Nostalgia, an online tool that turns personal photographs of the deceased into looped animations which smile, blink, and move, promising to overcome mortality by technologically “resurrecting the dead.” Performing a close-reading of Deep Nostalgia’s technological processes and the public discourse around its 2021 launch, the article highlights its combination of computational learning, forms of visual representation (photography, video, and animation), and distinctive realignments of temporal experience. Together, these frame the “algorithmic as if” as a magical and affective space for realizing impossible longings that are also reflexive encounters with the “limit-situation” of human mortality.
How should English law deal with deceptive sex?
Authors: Dyer Andrew
Published: November 2023

In R v Lawrance, the appellant had induced the complainant to participate in sexual intercourse with him by falsely assuring her that he had had a vasectomy. The England and Wales Court of Appeal (‘EWCA’) set aside his conviction for rape. Their Lordships held that, because the appellant's deception ‘related not to the physical performance of the sexual act but to risks or consequences associated with it’, the complainant had ‘agree[d] … by choice’ within the meaning of s 74 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 c 42 (‘SOA’). I contend here that, contrary to what certain commentators have argued, the EWCA's decision was correct as a matter of statutory construction. That said, it demonstrates an urgent need for law reform. I then assess some of the many recent suggestions about how the English law relating to deceptive sex might be reformed. I conclude that English law should provide that, generally, the person who uses deception to induce sexual ‘consent’ is guilty of a non-consensual sexual offence. That said, in certain circumstances, sex by deception should not be criminal at all.
Soft Tissue Reconstruction After Revascularization
Authors: Kedar Daniel J. , Suh Hyun Suk , Park Changsik John , Hong Joon Pio
Published: November 2023

Diabetic foot ulcer represents the primary cause of hospital admissions, amputations, and mortality in diabetic patients. The development of diabetic foot ulcers is influenced by peripheral neuropathy, infection, and ischemia, with diabetes contributing to peripheral artery disease. Free tissue transfer combined with revascularisation of the lower extremity provides the potential opportunity for limb salvage in individuals with lower extremity defects due to critical limb ischemia and diabetic foot.
Emergency Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aorta Via a Percutaneous Popliteal Approach Following an Iatrogenic Injury
Authors: Vo Uyen G. , Ma Robert , Hockley Joseph , Jansen Shirley
Published: November 2023

Iatrogenic arterial injuries are rare but well-recognised complications of spinal surgery. This paper presents a case of an iatrogenic arterial injury during a total en bloc spondylectomy resulting in significant haemorrhage and the patient’s haemodynamic instability. The devastating complication was successfully treated with an emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair via a percutaneous popliteal approach, while the patient remained in prone position. The patient had an uneventful recovery with no subsequent arterial injury or pseudoaneurysm to the access vessel.
Interposition Arthroplasty in an Acute Setting to Treat Unexpected Denuded Distal Humerus Articular Cartilage After AO 13C2.2 Distal Humerus Fracture, Surgical Technique, and a Case Report
Authors: Arafa Mohamed , Khalifa Ahmed A.
Published: November 2023

Restoring elbow joint motion is paramount for upper extremity optimum function. In end-stage elbow disease and stiffness, total elbow arthroplasty is the recommended option for older patients; however, for younger, highly demanding patients, interposition arthroplasty (IPA) is the management option of choice. We report a case of an 16-year-old female patient who presented after she had an open-grade IIIA, type AO 13C2.2 distal humerus fracture, which was managed initially by debridement and a cross-elbow external fixation. The decision was made to manage the fracture by open reduction and internal fixation through a posterior approach, and after performing an olecranon osteotomy, the surgeon found that the distal humerus segment was denuded of articular cartilage, so a decision was made after consulting the patient’s parents to perform an IPA using fascia lata. At the final follow-up after 16 months, the fracture united completely, and the elbow ROM was from 15° to 120°. Interposition arthroplasty is a valid option to manage unexpected denuded distal humerus articular cartilage while managing distal humerus fractures.