bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theodicy Incarnate: Divine Self-Justification
Authors: Moser Paul K.
Published: November 2021

The most prominent obstacle to hope and faith in God is an experienced world evidently at odds with the goodness and thus the reality of God. This obstacle gets traction when combined with the assumption, found in many Biblical narratives, that God merits worship and trust from humans owing to impeccable divine goodness. This article examines whether, and if so how, God can avoid the charge that divine failure to eliminate or to reduce actual human suffering disqualifies God from being worthy of worship and trust. We thus ask whether God merits the benefit of the doubt regarding a charge of divine neglect for evil human suffering. This leads to the key issue of the adequacy of a vantage point from which divine goodness is assessed. If a particular human vantage point is so narrow as to be misleading regarding divine goodness, it can be inferior to other available vantage points. Clarification of this lesson opens the door to a widely neglected vantage point of a ‘showing-how theodicy’ in contrast with an ‘explaining-why theodicy.’ The former theodicy fits with many of the Biblical narratives, and it enables God to merit the benefit of the doubt regarding a charge of divine inadequacy toward human suffering.
Measuring the Commercial Determinants of Health and Disease: A Proposed Framework
Authors: Lee Kelley , Freudenberg Nicholas , Zenone Marco , Smith Julia , Mialon Melissa , Marten Robert , Lima Joana Madureira , Friel Sharon , Klein Daniel Eisenkraft , Crosbie Eric , Buse Kent
Published: November 2021

The commercial determinants of health (CDoH) describe the adverse health effects associated with for-profit actors and their actions. Despite efforts to advance the definition, conceptualization, and empirical analyses of CDoH, the term's practical application to mitigate these effects requires the capacity to measure the influences of specific components of CDoH and the cumulative impacts of CDoH on the health and well-being of specific populations. Building on the Global Burden of Disease Study, we begin by conceptualizing CDoH as risk factor exposures that span agency and structural influences. We identify 6 components of these influences and propose an initial set of indicators and datasets to rank exposures as high, medium, or low. These are combined into a commercial determinants of health index (CDoHi) and illustrated by 3 countries. Although now a proof of concept, comparative analysis of CDoH exposures by population, over time and space, and their associated health outcomes will become possible with further development of indicators and datasets. Expansion of the CDoHi and application to varied populations groups will enable finer targeting of interventions to reduce health harms. The measurement of improvements to health and wellness from such interventions will, in turn, inform overall efforts to address the CDoH.
The Impact of Historical Price Information on Purchase Deferral
Authors: Gunadi Manissa P. , Evangelidis Ioannis
Published: November 2021

In this article, the authors examine how historical price information influences consumers’ decision to defer a purchase. They focus on two aspects of historical price information: the direction and the frequency of past price changes. The authors advance a theoretical framework postulating that the interaction between these two factors shapes consumers’ decisions to buy now versus later. Controlling for the total magnitude of price changes, the authors propose that consumers are more likely to defer purchase when the price of the product has previously increased compared with when the price has decreased. Importantly, the authors hypothesize that this effect is more pronounced when consumers observe a single large change in price (e.g., a decrease of $100 vs. an increase of $100) compared with when they observe multiple smaller changes that establish a trend (e.g., four decreases of $25 vs. four increases of $25). The authors argue that these effects are driven by differences in consumers’ expectations about future prices. They test their predictions, as well as two moderators of the proposed effects—the monotonicity and the timing of price changes—in six well-powered preregistered experimental studies (N = 5,713) using both hypothetical and actual purchases.
Examining the Utility of the LSI-R in a Sample of Women who have Sexually Offended
Authors: Marshall Ethan A. , Miller Holly A. , Grubb Leah
Published: November 2021

The ability to identify factors predictive of recidivism among individuals who have offended is integral to properly targeting supervision and treatment focus. Instruments such as the Level of Service Inventory–Revised (LSI-R) show promise with general justice-involved females, but no study to our knowledge has assessed it with women who have sexually offended. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of the LSI-R in a sample of 243 women from the State of Texas who have sexually offended. Results indicate that the total score was significantly related to criminal recidivism (Harrell’s C = .67) and any recidivism (Harrell’s C = .65). Analyses of the subscales indicated that criminal history and alcohol/drug subscales were significantly related to all forms of recidivism, while the education/employment and financial scales were significantly related to criminal recidivism and any recidivism. These results provide insight into risk assessment and treatment for women who have sexually offended.
A Survey of Current Practices of Physicians who Treat Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia in the U.S.
Authors: Chang Christopher Y. , Chabot Peter , Walz Christopher M.
Published: November 2021

We conducted a survey to determine the current practices of a subset of physicians in the United States who treat patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia. Surveys were sent to 169 physicians listed in the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association database, and responses were returned by 43 (25.4%). Almost all respondents (95.4%) indicated that they use botulinum toxin type A injections, either alone or in combination with other treatments, to treat adductor spasmodic dysphonia, and most (69.8%) inject the toxin under electromyographic guidance. However, there were wide variations in the amount of sterile saline used to reconstitute the toxin, the size of the initial dose, and the use of other treatment strategies.
Government Employees’ Experience and Expectation of COVID-19 Hardships: The Moderating Role of Gender and Race in the United States
Authors: Park JungHo , Ahn Yongjin
Published: November 2021

This article examines government employees’ experience and expectation of socioeconomic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic—employment income loss, housing instability, and food insufficiency—by focusing on the role of gender and race. Employing the Household Pulse Survey, a nationally representative and near real-time pandemic data deployed by the U.S. Census Bureau, we find that government employees were less affected by the pandemic than non-government employees across socioeconomic hardships. However, female and racial minorities, when investigated within government employees, have a worse experience and expectation of pandemic hardships than men and non-Hispanic Whites. Our findings suggest a clear gender gap and racial disparities in the experience and expectation of pandemic hardships.
Use of PEAK PlasmaBlade in implant-based breast reconstruction and radiotherapy: new strategy to reduce complications
Authors: Sala Laura , Bonomi Stefano , Fabbri Alessandra , Ciniselli Chiara Maura , Bardelli Annalisa , Verderio Paolo , Pruneri Giancarlo , Cortinovis Umberto
Published: November 2021

Background:

Implant-based breast reconstruction in the setting of radiotherapy often leads to higher complications rates (mainly capsular contracture and wound dehiscence) and poor cosmetic outcomes. We hypothesized that the combination of pulsed-electron avalanche knife (PEAK) PlasmaBlade (a pulsed radiofrequency electrosurgery) and acellular dermal matrix Veritas® in postmastectomy radiotherapy implant-based breast reconstruction could result in lower complications rate, better reconstructive results, and patient satisfaction.

Methods:

A prospective observational study focused on the use of PEAK PlasmaBlade in implant-based breast reconstruction and radiotherapy was carried out in the Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Unit at Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori Milano between December 2017 and 2019 (2017–2018: enrollment; 2018–2019: follow-up). Patient demographics were queried and complication rates and patient and surgeon satisfaction were assessed.

Results:

A total of 88 patients were enrolled; 2 patients received bilateral reconstruction, leading to a total of 90 procedures. Sixty-two women received contralateral symmetrization. Seroma was the most frequent minor complication (8.8%); implant exposure was the most recorded among major complications (5.5%). Preoperative lipofilling was the most substantial protective factor for preventing complications ( p < 0.001). A significant association between capsular thermal damage thickness and the type of electrosurgery used (traditional electrosurgery vs PEAK PlasmaBlade) was observed, with lower values with PEAK PlasmaBlade ( p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

Our protocol results in low rates of surgical complications and a high level of patient and surgeon satisfaction although longer follow-up is needed.
Truth, Lies and New Weapons Technologies: Prospects for Jus in Silico?
Authors: Reed Esther D.
Published: November 2021

This article tests the proposition that new weapons technology requires Christian ethics to dispense with the just war tradition (JWT) and argues for its development rather than dissolution. Those working in the JWT should be under no illusions, however, that new weapons technologies could (or do already) represent threats to the doing of justice in the theatre of war. These threats include weapons systems that deliver indiscriminate, disproportionate or otherwise unjust outcomes, or that are operated within (quasi-)legal frameworks marked by accountability gaps. The temptation to abrogate (L. abrogare—repeal, evade) responsibility to the machine is also a moral threat to the doing of justice in the theatre of war.
Nonlinear time delay estimation based model reference adaptive impedance control for an upper-limb human-robot interaction
Authors: Omrani Javad , Moghaddam Majid M
Published: November 2021

A nonlinear Time Delay Estimation (TDE) based model reference adaptive impedance controller was developed for Tarbiat Modares University Upper Limbs Rehabilitation Robot (TUERR). The proposed controller uses a stable reference impedance model, which produces desired dynamic relationship between applied force and position error for the robot End-effector to track the desired trajectory. TDE based model reference adaptive controller estimates unknown system dynamics and uncertainties, and the adaption law modifies the controller gains. Using a Lyapunov function was shown trajectory tracking errors in the overall system are bounded. In addition, a performance-based velocity profile proposed to modify the pace of trajectory planning considering the deviation from the desired path. Finally, the performance of the presented controller and rehabilitation process is experimentally investigated for TUERR.
The cataract surgery of Empress Eugenie of France a century ago by the eminent Spanish ophthalmologist Ignacio Barraquer
Authors: Castellvi Guillermo Simon , Ravin James G , Ravin Tracy B , Carmona-Cornet Anna Maria
Published: November 2021

Topic: Empress Eugénie (1826–1920), the widow of Emperor Napoléon III of France, developed mature cataracts late in life. In 1920, at age 94, she underwent surgery to one eye by Ignacio Barraquer (1884–1965), a member of the famous dynasty of ophthalmologists originally from Barcelona, Spain. Clinical relevance: Barraquer used his new instrument which employed a vacuum cup to hold the lens for intracapsular extraction. Methods: Research of historical documents. Results: The surgery was a success; the Empress was pleased that she could read again although she did not have long to live. She was his first famous cataract patient and his fame spread internationally. Barraquer spoke at the International Congress of Ophthalmology held in Washington, DC, in 1922 and demonstrated his technique on patients in Washington, DC, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Richmond, VA. Conclusion: Barraquer's surgery on Éugenie, who was the most powerful woman in Europe during her husband's reign, influenced the course of development of cataract surgical technique.
Decentralised development policy: A comparative study on local development interventions through municipalities in Sweden
Authors: Hermelin Brita , Trygg Kristina
Published: November 2021

This article investigates how the international wave of decentralisation of development policy, promoted through ideals of place-based policy, becomes practice through development interventions made by municipalities in Sweden. Based on an extensive empirical study across Swedish municipalities, the article contributes with knowledge about how the decentralisation of development policies is formed through a combination of shared and relatively heterodox conditions for development interventions across the different categories of municipalities: cities, towns and rural settlements. The results describe the varying scope of local development interventions and how decentralisation involves differentiating the involvement of municipalities into vertical and horizontal relations within the planning sector. The article’s findings about the variations in local development interventions across the different categories of municipalities contribute to the debate within geography on the varying capacities of different geographical formations to mobilise for bottom-up development, leading to the weaker regions remaining weak. The results of this article also illustrate the importance of reflecting upon how particular national planning systems shape the implications of the general international trend towards the decentralisation of local development policy.
Role of Contract Farming in Crop Diversification and Employment Generation: Empirical Evidence from Indian Punjab
Authors: Kaur Pavneet , Singla Naresh , Singh Sukhpal
Published: November 2021

Linking small farmers with modern agri-business firms through contract farming is viewed as one of the several ways to achieve crop diversification and enhance farmers’ income, besides bringing spill-over effects of such interventions for other local stakeholders like farm workers. This article examines the role of contract farming in crop diversification and employment generation in the context of Indian Punjab. Based on a sample of 50 contract farmers and 50 non-contract farmers for three firms each, the study shows that contract farming brings crop diversification and generates farm labour employment, particularly for women, due to the high value and labour-intensive nature of crops being grown under such arrangements. But, there exists a gender gap in wages and gendering of tasks, which demand policy and corporate attention besides regulatory oversight to achieve more equitable and pro-poor impact of contract farming.
The Impact of Antepartum Depression and Postpartum Depression on Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kim Sehee , Park Mihyeon , Ahn Sukhee
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to systematically review the impact of antepartum depression on exclusive breastfeeding. A total of 15 studies were included in the review and 12 studies were used for the meta-analysis. The mean values of antepartum depression indicated that women who breastfed exclusively between 3 and 6 months had less antepartum depression symptoms (Mean Difference = −0.55, 95% CI = −0.76 to −0.35). The analysis also showed that the existence of antepartum depression was negatively related to continuing exclusive breastfeeding for longer than 3 months postpartum as well as for 8 weeks postpartum (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.26–0.88 and OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.75–0.91, respectively). The cumulative evidence is conclusive that antepartum depressive symptoms are negatively associated with exclusive breastfeeding, particularly between 3 and 6 months postpartum. This review supports the necessity of screening and follow-up for depression throughout the perinatal period to promote exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.
Graphic Novela: Mexican American Families’ Use of Community Services for Older Adults
Authors: Martin-Plank Lori , Davis Mary P. , Williams Deborah K. , May Jennifer T. , Ortiz-Dowling Evangeline M. , Núñez Annabelle , Reyes Zuryanette , Heasley Beverly J. , Crist Janice D.
Published: November 2021

Knowledge gaps exist about how to help Mexican American (MA) families seek assistance when their capacity to assist older family members is challenged. MA families may resist confronting unpleasant but real situations with the older adult, for example, the need to access long term support services (LTSS), because of cultural and structural barriers. The purpose was to describe stakeholders’ reactions to a culturally focused graphic novela created in partnership with a community advisory council. Qualitative description with content analysis of a focus group’s reactions to the graphic novela was used. Results included positive reactions as well as suggestions for improvement and dissemination. Graphic novelas can be an effective medium for modeling conversations about older adults’ needing additional care, and demonstrating how to identify and access available LTSS or other services. Included is a description of the researchers’ process of partnering with diverse stakeholders, which is essential for creating new solutions.
Antibiotic-Impregnated Calcium Sulfate vs. Wound Irrigation-Suction to Treat Chronic Calcaneal Osteomyelitis
Authors: Xu Lei , Song Huijuan , Ren Ying , Fang Jia , Zhou Chunhao , Zhang Hongan , Meng Xiangqing , Cheng Guoyun , Zhuo Ribo , Qin Chenghe
Published: November 2021

Background:

Chronic osteomyelitis of calcaneus is not rare but is very hard to treat. Irrigation-suction and antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate following debridement are commonly used in managing chronic osteomyelitis, but their effects have rarely been compared. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate with irrigation-suction in the treatment of patients with chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis.

Methods:

From January 2011 to June 2018, adult patients at our institute with chronic osteomyelitis receiving treatment of either antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate (CS group) or irrigation-suction (IS group) following thorough debridement were screened and selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The clinical presentation, laboratory tests, complications, and the ultimate single-staged cure rate and recurrence were compared.

Results:

A total of 61 patients, including 41 in the CS group and 20 in the IS group, were included in our study. Of the patients, 85.4% in the CS group and 60.0% in the IS group ( P = .006) were successfully cured in the single stage, respectively, without infection recurrence. Lower infection recurrence rates with shorter hospital stay were found in the CS group than the IS group. Inflammatory biomarkers after surgery with both treatments were slightly decreased and not significantly different from preoperative or between-groups postoperative. Exudate from incision was found primarily in the CS group.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates that both antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate and irrigation-suction after careful and thorough surgical debridement are generally effective in treating chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis. Antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate achieved a higher single-staged cure rate but was associated with an increased postoperative wound exudate.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of lung lobe torsions in cats: a review of 10 cases (2000–2021)
Authors: Tindale Catherine , Cinti Filippo , Cantatore Matteo , Freeman Alistair , Cavaliere Leonardo , Vallefuoco Rosario , Rossanese Matteo
Published: November 2021

Case series summary

Lung lobe torsion is rare in cats. The aim of this multi-institution retrospective study was to describe clinical and diagnostic findings, treatments and outcomes of lung lobe torsion (LLT) in 10 cats. Dyspnoea and tachypnoea were the most common clinical signs. Pleural effusion was present in nine cats at presentation. Fluid analysis confirmed chylothorax in three cats. Nine cats underwent CT and five cats had thoracic radiographs taken. A diagnosis was made preoperatively in six cats, while in the other four cats it was made at exploratory thoracotomy. Affected lung lobes were the right cranial (n = 4/11), left cranial (n = 4/11) and right middle (n = 3/11). One cat had a concurrent torsion of two lung lobes. Lung lobectomy was successfully performed in all cases. Based on clinical, diagnostic and lung histopathology findings, three cats had idiopathic and seven cats secondary LLT. Intraoperative complications included hypotension and hypothermia in four and five cats, respectively. Postoperative complications occurred in six cats and lead to euthanasia or death in four cats, whereas complications resolved in the other two cats. Three cats were euthanased within 5 weeks of discharge. For the three cats surviving long term, including one euthanased at 252 days postoperatively, owner-described outcomes and quality of life were considered good to excellent.

Relevance and novel information

Secondary LLT associated with underlying thoracic pathology was associated with high complication rates and poor outcomes. Long-term outcomes of cats undergoing surgery for LLT and surviving the perioperative period were deemed good to excellent.
Lexical preference in second dialect acquisition in a second language
Authors: Gnevsheva Ksenia , Szakay Anita , Jansen Sandra
Published: November 2021

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions:

How does second dialect acquisition in a second language compare to that in a first language in terms of rates and predictors of second dialect vocabulary use?

Design/methodology/approach:

A lexical preference task was completed by four groups of participants residing in Australia: first language speakers of Australian (L1D1) and American (L1D2) English, and first language speakers of Russian who acquired Australian (L2D1) and American (L2D2) English first. The participants named objects which are denoted by different words in American and Australian English (e.g. bell pepper vs capsicum).

Data and analysis:

The response was coded as either American or Australian, and percentage of use of Australian items was calculated for each group.

Findings/conclusions:

L1D1 used Australian words the most and L1D2 the least. L2D1 and L2D2 fell between the two L1 groups. L1D2 rate of use was predicted by proportion of life spent in Australia. L2D1 were more likely to choose Australian words if they had lived in Australia longer and had positive attitudes toward Australia. L2D2 were less likely to use Australian words the longer they had lived in the USA. Similar, but not identical, factors predict second dialect acquisition in the first and second languages.

Originality:

The research is innovative in considering second dialect acquisition in second language speakers and creates a bridge between second language and second dialect acquisition research.

Significance/implications:

The finding that second language speakers may be more flexible in second dialect acquisition than first language speakers has important implications for our understanding of cognitive and social constraints on acquisition.
A field test of a simplified method of estimating circadian stimulus
Authors: Babilon S , Beck S , Khanh TQ
Published: November 2021

Residents of nursing homes often have a very limited access to natural daylight, which is the main environmental cue for circadian entrainment that usually cannot be compensated by standard indoor lighting. For the development of adequate modernization strategies with regard to a more human-centred lighting approach, reliable field measurements of the circadian effectiveness of the prevalent lighting conditions are required. To ease the task for the lighting practitioner, our lab recently developed a simplified method of estimating the biologically meaningful circadian stimulus (CS) metric using standard measurement equipment. In this work, the proposed method is applied for the first time in field measurements to assess the circadian effectiveness of the indoor light conditions including daylight entry of a nursing home in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main area. Reference thresholds for low, moderate and high circadian stimuli derived from the literature were used for subsequent data analysis. Mostly, moderate to rather low CS values were found. It is concluded that the amount of circadian-effective light is insufficient to provoke proper circadian stimulation, which may lead to progressive circadian disruptions manifesting in adverse effects on the residents’ health and well-being. Further evidence is provided that the insufficient-lighting-situation in nursing homes is a serious problem in long-term care and needs urgent consideration in health policy.
LncRNA OIP5-AS1 Promotes the Autophagy-Related Imatinib Resistance in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells by Regulating miR-30e-5p/ATG12 Axis
Authors: Dai Hongdan , Wang Jianming , Huang Zhenglan , Zhang Hui , Wang Xin , Li Qian , Feng Wenli
Published: November 2021

Background: Resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remains a problem in clinical treatment, and the mechanism has not been fully clarified. Autophagy can protect cancer cells under chemotherapeutic stimulation. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical in drug resistance of CML. The role of lncRNAs in autophagy and drug resistance of CML needs to be further explored. Methods: Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the autophagy activity in the drug-resistant CML cell line K562/G01 and its parental cell line K562. Then the sensitivity of K562/G01 cells to the first generation TKI imatinib (IM) after autophagy inhibition was determined by CCK-8 assays. The lncRNA OIP5-AS1 related to the drug resistance of CML cells was determined by Gene Expression Omnibus database analysis. Western blot and drug-sensitivity assays were used to detect changes in autophagy and sensitivity to the IM in resistant CML cells after OIP5-AS1 knockdown. The interactions of OIP5-AS1, miR-30e-5p, and ATG12 were explored by RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Results: In this study, we found that autophagy was associated with drug resistance in CML cells. Moreover, the upregulation of OIP5-AS1 in K562/G01 cells was related to the enhancement of autophagy. Knockdown of OIP5-AS1 suppressed autophagy and enhanced the sensitivity of K562/G01 cells to IM. Furthermore, OIP5-AS1 regulated ATG12 by competitively binding miR-30e-5p, thereby affecting autophagy-related drug resistance. Conclusion: Our study reveals that OIP5-AS1 promotes the autophagy-related IM resistance in CML cells by regulating miR-30e-5p/ATG12 axis, providing new insights into the drug resistance mechanism of CML.
Topical Administration of Teucrium polium on Diabetic Foot Ulcers Accelerates Healing: A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Study
Authors: Fallah Huseini Hasan , Yaghoobi Maryam , Fallahi Farhad , Boroumand Farzaneh , Ezzati Mohammad Hassan , Tabatabaei Seyyed Mohammad , Sotvan Homa , Ahvazi Maryam , Badiee Aval Shapour , Ziaee Mojtaba
Published: November 2021

Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most devastating complications of uncontrolled diabetes. Although there have been advances in the management of diabetic foot ulcers, still diabetic foot ulcers are a major cause of many amputations in diabetic patients. Teucrium polium ( T. polium) is widely used by folk medicine practitioners in Iran for the treatment of diabetic ulcers. The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical T. polium ointment besides the standard treatment in diabetic foot ulcers. A total of 70 diabetic patients with foot ulcers grade 1 or 2 according to Wagner's scale were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in both groups received standard treatment for diabetic foot ulcers. In addition, group 1 received topical T. polium ointment, and group 2 received topical placebo ointment for 4 weeks. The T. polium and placebo ointments were rubbed twice daily two hours before the conventional dressing. The ulcer size, healing time, and laboratory tests were measured in both groups at baseline and end of the study after 4 weeks. Twenty-nine patients remained in the T. polium group and 26 in the placebo group until the end of the study. The mean surface area of ulcers was 3.52 ± 1.47 and 3.21 ± 1.67 cm2 in T. polium group and placebo group respectively at baseline which decrease to .717 ± .19 and 1.63 ± .72 cm2 respectively at the endpoint. The mean ulcer surface area was significantly lower in T. polium compared with the placebo group ( p < .0001) at end of the study. Also, the number of patients that completely recovered in the T. polium group was significantly higher than the placebo group ( p < .001) at the end of the study. The addition of topical T. polium ointment to standard treatment significantly improves the healing time of diabetic non-infected foot ulcers.
Residential Segregation under Jim Crow: Whites, Blacks, and Mulattoes in Southern Cities, 1880–1920
Authors: Notter Isabelle R. , Logan John R.
Published: November 2021

We study the residential patterns of blacks and mulattoes in 10 Southern cities in 1880 and 1920. Researchers have documented the salience of social differences among African Americans in this period, partly related to mulattoes’ higher occupational status. Did these differences result in clustering of these two groups in different neighborhoods, and were mulattoes less separated from whites? If so, did the differences diminish in these decades after Reconstruction due a Jim Crow system that did not distinguish between blacks and mulattoes? We use geocoded census microdata for 1880 and 1920 to address these questions. Segregation between whites and both blacks and mulattoes was already high in 1880, especially at a fine spatial scale, and it increased sharply by 1920. In this respect, whites did not distinguish between these two groups. However, blacks and mulattoes were quite segregated from one another in 1880, and even more so by 1920. This pattern did not result from mulattoes’ moderately higher-class position. Hence, as the color line between whites and all non-whites was becoming harder, blacks and mulattoes were separating further from each other. Understanding what led to this pattern remains a key question about racial identities and racialization in the early twentieth century.
Illuminating Transformative Learning/Assessment: Infusing Creativity, Reciprocity, and Care Into Higher Education
Authors: Searle Michelle , Ahn Claire , Fels Lynn , Carbone Katrina
Published: November 2021

In this article, the authors speak to the paradox of assessing transformative learning (TL) in higher education. TL theory, developed by Jack Mezirow, is a theory of learning to describe the process of change in how individuals view the world based on previous experiences. Recognizing that the 10 phases of Mezirow’s TL theory are fluid and intertwined, three prominent aspects resonated within the individual narratives: the importance of a disorienting dilemma, the qualities of self-reflection, and liberatory actions. By exploring the complexities, challenges, and possibilities encountered in their classrooms, the shared narratives reveal how students were engaged in TL and embedded within are holistic assessment processes the authors enacted with learners. Throughout this dialogical narrative inquiry focused on assessment, the authors underwent their own TL in the presence of each other, confessing uncertainties and vulnerabilities, thus showcasing the potential to transform understanding with and through reciprocal learning.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ narratives of non-compliance with norms: Shaming and escaping a narrative trap
Authors: Grzywacz Anna
Published: November 2021

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been responding to external demands and expectations, including moderate steps towards becoming a more norm-oriented organization, and developing its image as a responsible actor engaging in international and regional relations. For example, it has been issuing statements addressing relevant challenges, most often by criticizing them. A growing body of literature proves that this type of critical communication may bring desirable outcomes, e.g. the name and shame strategy. This strategy, however, does not align with ASEAN’s silent diplomacy. Thus, the aim of the article is to analyse how ASEAN structures its communication when criticizing others and their actions. Does ASEAN, considering its ‘uniqueness’, name and shame? And, if so, what is the pattern of the criticism? The author argues that ASEAN produces three types of critical narratives: universal shaming, reasonable criticism and considerate affirmation resulting from a narrative trap of responding to international and regional pressure. Each narrative explains and improves the organization’s image, although not comprehensively, and is utilized to strengthen its role as a peace promoter. But this image is tarnished by the questionable performance of ASEAN in the area of peace promotion. The article’s argument is substantiated by an analysis of ASEAN’s narratives of non-compliance with norms.
Debunking the system: The rigging of the geofinancial power network
Authors: Funke Jayson J
Published: November 2021

This article demonstrates how key Marxist theories and concepts have influenced my thinking and theoretical framework on financialization. Several key contributions from Marxist theory (the accumulation of capital and class struggle; the law of value and capitalist money; uneven development and imperialism; and financialization and global finance capitalism) provide the theoretical framework for what I call the geofinancial power network, a transnational sociotechnical system. The network is then historically and geographically situated in within the context U.S. post-World War II international hegemony and its military-industrial-complex that gave life to the ideas of ‘systems theory’ and sociotechnical systems, and its efforts to control transnational finance and the mechanisms of power (institutions, technologies etc.) that enabled global finance capitalism to emerge as a system of power. This theoretical framework has been useful for helping me understanding not only how financialization enables capitalism to reproduce itself unevenly across space, but also how it subsequently reorganizes economic spaces institutionally and technically into a hierarchical global system and single division of labor.
Apolipoprotein D as a Potential Biomarker and Construction of a Transcriptional Regulatory-Immune Network Associated with Osteoarthritis by Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis
Authors: Qin Yong , Li Jia , Zhou Yonggang , Yin Chengliang , Li Yi , Chen Ming , Du Yinqiao , Li Tiejian , Yan Jinglong
Published: November 2021

Objective

Synovial inflammation influences the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Herein, we aimed to identify potential biomarkers and analyze transcriptional regulatory-immune mechanism of synovitis in OA using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA).

Design

A data set of OA synovium samples (GSE55235) was analyzed based on WGCNA. The most significant module with OA was identified and function annotation of the module was performed, following which the hub genes of the module were identified using Pearson correlation and a protein-protein interaction network was constructed. A transcriptional regulatory network of hub genes was constructed using the TRRUST database. The immune cell infiltration of OA samples was evaluated using the single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) method. The hub genes coexpressed in multiple tissues were then screened out using data sets of synovium, cartilage, chondrocyte, subchondral bone, and synovial fluid samples. Finally, transcriptional factors and coexpressed hub genes were validated via experiments.

Results

The turquoise module of GSE55235 was identified via WGCNA. Functional annotation analysis showed that “mineral absorption” and “FoxO signaling pathway” were mostly enriched in the module. JUN, EGR1, FOSB, and KLF4 acted as central nodes in protein-protein interaction network and transcription factors to connect several target genes. “Activated B cell,” “activated CD4T cell,” “eosinophil,” “neutrophil,” and “type 17 T helper cell” showed high immune infiltration, while FOSB, KLF6, and MYBL2 showed significant negative correlation with type 17 T helper cell.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the expression level of apolipoprotein D (APOD) was correlated with OA. Furthermore, transcriptional regulatory-immune network was constructed, which may contribute to OA therapy.
Gesturing towards broader sexuality-based conceptualisations of HIV assemblages beyond the Minority World
Authors: Tucker Andrew
Published: November 2021

In response to Di Feliciantonio and Brown's intervention on PrEP and TasP assemblages, this commentary considers how it may also be possible to expand the scope of the TasP and PrEP assemblages they discuss related to the Minority World to also encompass the Majority World. In particular, this commentary considers how the entities they highlight and deploy to connect health geographies and the geographies of sexualities literatures may also relate to global HIV policy and programming as well as global biomedical and pharmaceutical assemblages.
PeakPETCO2 combined with FEV1/FVC predicts vasodilator‐responsive patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Luo Ci‐Jun , Qiu Hong‐Ling , Wu Chang‐Wei , He Jing , Yuan Ping , Zhao Qin‐Hua , Jiang Rong , Wu Wen‐Hui , Gong Su‐Gang , Guo Jian , Zhang Rui , Liu Jin‐Ming , Wang Lan
Published: November 2021

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and pulmonary function test are important methods for detecting human cardio‐pulmonary function. Whether they could screen vasoresponsiveness in idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension (IPAH) patients remains undefined. One hundred thirty‐two IPAH patients with complete data were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were classified as vasodilator‐responsive (VR) group and vasodilator‐nonresponsive (VNR) group on the basis of the acute vasodilator test. Pulmonary function test and cardiopulmonary exercise testing were assessed subsequently and all patients were confirmed by right heart catheterization. We analyzed cardiopulmonary exercise testing and pulmonary function test data and derived a prediction rule to screen vasodilator‐responsive patients in IPAH. Nineteen of VR‐IPAH and 113 of VNR‐IPAH patients were retrospectively enrolled. Compared with VNR‐IPAH patients, VR‐IPAH patients had less severe hemodynamic effects (lower RAP, m PAP, PAWP, and PVR). And VR‐IPAH patients had higher anaerobic threshold (AT), peak partial pressure of end‐tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2), oxygen uptake efficiency (OUEP), and FEV1/FVC (P all <0.05), while lower peak partial pressure of end‐tidal oxygen (PETO2) and minute ventilation (VE)/carbon dioxide output (VCO2) slope (P all <0.05). FEV1/FVC (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.26, P = 0.02) and PeakPETCO2 (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01–1.26, P = 0.04) were independent predictors of VR adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index. A novel formula (=−16.17 + 0.123 × PeakPETCO2 + 0.127×FEV1/FVC) reached a high area under the curve value of 0.8 (P = 0.003). Combined with these parameters, the optimal cutoff value of this model for detection of VR is −1.06, with a specificity of 91% and sensitivity of 67%. Compared with VNR‐IPAH patients, VR‐IPAH patients had less severe hemodynamic effects. Higher FEV1/FVC and higher peak PETCO2 were associated with increased odds for vasoresponsiveness. A novel score combining PeakPETCO2 and FEV1/FVC provides high specificity to predict VR patients among IPAH.
Geological evolution of the Mississippi River into the Anthropocene
Authors: Russell Catherine , Waters Colin N , Himson Stephen , Holmes Rachael , Burns Annika , Zalasiewicz Jan , Williams Mark
Published: November 2021

The Mississippi River maintains commercial and societal networks of the USA along its >3700 km length. It has accumulated a fluvial sedimentary succession over 80 million years. Through the last 11,700 years of the Holocene Epoch, the wild river shaped the landscape, models of which have become classic in geological studies of ancient river strata. Studies of the river were led by the need to develop infrastructure and to search for hydrocarbons, through which, these models have become quite sophisticated. However, whilst the models demonstrate how the wild river behaves, a monumental shift in fundamental controls on the entire fluvial system, broadly coinciding with the proposed mid-20th century onset of the Anthropocene Epoch, has generated new geological patterns that are becoming globally ubiquitous, and which the Mississippi River typifies. As such, whilst classic Holocene river models may be compared to human-modified systems such as the Lower Mississippi River (and others worldwide), locally the models may now only directly apply to its fossilized components preserved in the sub-surface. Such river models need adapting to better understand the present dynamics, and future evolution of these landscapes.
Effect Sizes Reported in Highly Cited Emotion Research Compared With Larger Studies and Meta-Analyses Addressing the Same Questions
Authors: Cristea Ioana A. , Georgescu Raluca , Ioannidis John P. A.
Published: November 2021

We assessed whether the most highly cited studies in emotion research reported larger effect sizes compared with meta-analyses and the largest studies on the same question. We screened all reports with at least 1,000 citations and identified matching meta-analyses for 40 highly cited observational studies and 25 highly cited experimental studies. Highly cited observational studies had effects greater on average by 1.42-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.09, 1.87]) compared with meta-analyses and 1.99-fold (95% CI = [1.33, 2.99]) compared with largest studies on the same questions. Highly cited experimental studies had increases of 1.29-fold (95% CI = [1.01, 1.63]) compared with meta-analyses and 2.02-fold (95% CI = [1.60, 2.57]) compared with the largest studies. There was substantial between-topics heterogeneity, more prominently for observational studies. Highly cited studies often did not have the largest weight in meta-analyses (12 of 65 topics, 18%) but were frequently the earliest ones published on the topic (31 of 65 topics, 48%). Highly cited studies may offer, on average, exaggerated estimates of effects in both observational and experimental designs.
Mental Health and Prenatal Bonding in Pregnant Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence for Heightened Risk Compared With a Prepandemic Sample
Authors: Morris Alyssa R. , Saxbe Darby E.
Published: November 2021

We compared 572 pregnant women (319 first-time mothers) surveyed in spring 2020, during the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns in the United States, with 99 pregnant women (all first-time mothers) surveyed before the pandemic (2014–2020). Compared with the prepandemic sample, women assessed during the pandemic showed elevated depression, anxiety, and stress and weaker prenatal bonding to their infants. These findings remained significant when restricting the pandemic sample to first-time mothers only and held after controlling for race/ethnicity, education, and pregnancy stage. Average levels of depression and anxiety within the pandemic group exceeded clinically significant thresholds, and women who estimated that the pandemic had more negatively affected their social relationships reported higher distress. However, pandemic-related changes to social contact outside the household were inconsistently associated with mental health and with some positive outcomes (fewer depressive symptoms, stronger prenatal bonding). Given that prenatal stress may compromise maternal and child well-being, the pandemic may have long-term implications for population health.
Rumination Derails Reinforcement Learning With Possible Implications for Ineffective Behavior
Authors: Hitchcock Peter , Forman Evan , Rothstein Nina , Zhang Fengqing , Kounios John , Niv Yael , Sims Chris
Published: November 2021

How does rumination affect reinforcement learning—the ubiquitous process by which people adjust behavior after error to behave more effectively in the future? In a within-subjects design ( N = 49), we tested whether experimentally manipulated rumination disrupts reinforcement learning in a multidimensional learning task previously shown to rely on selective attention. Rumination impaired performance, yet unexpectedly, this impairment could not be attributed to decreased attentional breadth (quantified using a decay parameter in a computational model). Instead, trait rumination (between subjects) was associated with higher decay rates (implying narrower attention) but not with impaired performance. Our task-performance results accord with the possibility that state rumination promotes stress-generating behavior in part by disrupting reinforcement learning. The trait-rumination finding accords with the predictions of a prominent model of trait rumination (the attentional-scope model). More work is needed to understand the specific mechanisms by which state rumination disrupts reinforcement learning.
Perceived Human Resource Management Practices and Demographic Profile of Staff at Private Higher Education Institutions in Oman
Authors: Vicencio Jerome Reyes
Published: November 2021

This study described the perceived implementation of human resource management (HRM) practices and staff’s demographic profile at private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Sultanate of Oman. It further explored the relationship of staff profile and HRM dimensions. Purposive sampling was used with a 50 per cent response rate. The instrument is composed of two parts; the first part includes staff profile while second part consists of 10 HRM dimensions clustered in 36 HRM practices.

The findings revealed that all HRM dimensions were often applied and more than half of the respondents were academic staff, expatriates, male, and from affiliated, and college HEI. As to relationship, it was found that staff’s designation and residential status had high significant relationship in most of the HRM dimensions while staff’s HEI affiliation, classification and gender had high significant relationship with two HRM dimensions.
Fake Reviews in Online Platforms and the Effort to Fight Them
Authors: Aznar-Alarcón Juan Pedro , Anguera-Torrell Oriol
Published: November 2021

This paper proposes a model in which oligopolistic firms selling through an online platform can invest in creating positive fake reviews to increase their reputation and negative ones to harm that of their competitors. Therefore, oligopolistic firms’ demand depends on the amount of positive and negative fake reviews. In this context, the online platform optimally chooses the effort to fight fake reviews and the fee it charges to online sellers for each transaction. The novelty of the model lies in incorporating the online platform’s role in fighting fake reviews and its interplay with sellers’ strategic behaviour. The model’s main result is that the platform’s effort has a positive impact not only on consumers’ surplus but also on the oligopolistic firms’ profitability. In its turn, the platform’s optimal effort depends on exogenous parameters, including the demand’s sensitivity to fake reviews.

JEL Classifications: D21, D43, L13, L81