bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Little Fresh Meat”: The Politics of Sissiness and Sissyphobia in Contemporary China
Authors: Song Geng
Published: May 2021

The proliferation of effeminate male images known as “little fresh meat” ( xiao xian rou), or, more insultingly, “sissy pants” ( niangpao) in film, TV, and advertisement has come in for heavy criticism in China. A number of “sissy” actors have even been blacklisted by the state media. Yet, despite this masculinist backlash, effeminate-looking stars and the aesthetic they embody are enjoying increasing popularity among high school students and other young people in urban China. The article situates the prevalence of male effeminacy and “sissyphobia”—the fear or hatred of effeminate men—in a wider social, cultural, and political background and adopts a culturally saturated and historically specific approach to queer masculinities in the Chinese context. By critical readings of recent TV/Web dramas featuring this type of male images, the article explores the disjuncture between urban youth culture and official attitudes and what the tension between them tells us about gender roles and subjectivity in contemporary China. And by discourse analysis of the debates in the media triggered by the images, the study examines how the effeminate male body is given affective interpretations and significances that are different from those in a Western context, and how the nation is imagined and articulated through embodied masculinity. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the article argues that the “little fresh meat” is part of a larger story of increasing diversity of gender presentations in postsocialist China and embodies shifting masculinity in a consumer society. The rise and popularity of such “sissy” actors need to be understood in the mechanisms of star making and the entertainment industry. At the same time, the debates on the standard of masculinities sparked by these images demonstrate distinctive interplay between manhood and nationhood and deep-seated anxiety over what an effeminate younger generation will mean for China.
‘We’re Meant to Be Crossing Over … but the Bridge Is broken’: 2020 University Graduates’ Experiences of the Pandemic in Ireland
Authors: Timonen Virpi , Greene Jo , Émon Ayeshah
Published: May 2021

We interviewed university graduates of 2020 in Ireland to understand how the coronavirus pandemic had affected them. Demonstrating a keen awareness of their mental health, participants had adopted self-care practices such as mindfulness. They recounted positive experiences of life in their ‘lockdown homes’ with supportive families. Some were embarking on normative adult pathways sooner than anticipated while others opted for postgraduate study to bide time. Participants reported heightened worry/anxiety and had limited their media use in response. Their plans did not extend beyond the immediate future, reflecting a degree of resignation. The participants accepted the strict constraints associated with pandemic management in Ireland. They did not view themselves as members of a group that was likely to experience the long-term costs of the pandemic but rather were attempting to negotiate their own pathway through labour market uncertainty while also demonstrating high levels of solidarity towards vulnerable groups in society.
Implementation of the new multimodal imaging-based classification of central serous chorioretinopathy
Authors: Arora Supriya , Kulikov Alexei N , Maltsev Dmitrii S
Published: May 2021

Purpose:

To study the implementation of the new multimodal imaging-based classification system of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).

Methods:

Ninety-three eyes with CSCR with available fundus autofluorescence (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography at presentation were included in this study. An anonymous data set was classified by two masked graders. Each case was classified as per presence of (i) simple versus complex (< or >2 disc diameters of retinal pigment epithelium abnormality) CSCR; (ii) primary versus recurrent versus resolved CSCR; (iii) persistent (presence of subretinal fluid >6 months) or not; (iv) outer retinal atrophy (ORA); (v) foveal involvement; and (vi) macular neovascularization (MNV). Agreement between the graders was calculated.

Results:

Kappa value was 0.91 (95% CI 0.8–1.0) for the entire classification; 0.84 (95% CI 0.73–0.95) for simple versus complex; 1.0 (95% CI 1.0–1.0) for primary versus recurrent versus resolved CSCR; 1.0 (95% CI 1.0–1.0) for persistent or not; 0.9 (95% CI 0.81–0.99) for ORA or not; 0.95 (95% CI 0.84–1.0) for presence or absence of MNV; 1.0 (95% CI 1.0–1.0) for presence or absence of foveal involvement.

Conclusion:

The new multimodal imaging based CSCR classification showed “near perfect” agreement between two retinal experts.
Correlation of sectoral choroidal vascularity with angiographic leakage in central serous chorioretinopathy
Authors: Singh Sumit Randhir , Beale Oliver , Nkrumah Gideon , Rasheed Mohammed Abdul , Sahoo Niroj Kumar , Vupparaboina Kiran Kumar , Tatti Filippo , Chandra Khushboo , Iovino Claudio , Peiretti Enrico , Chhablani Jay
Published: May 2021

Purpose:

To correlate sectoral choroidal vascularity with angiographic leakage in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).

Methods:

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study including patients with active CSCR. Multimodal imaging including fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed to identify leakage site and obtain choroidal measurements, respectively. An automated algorithm was used to perform shadow compensation, choroidal boundary localization and binarization, three (3-D) dimensional mapping, and early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) grid based choroidal quantification that is, choroidal thickness (CT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Nested analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare CT and CVI in different sectors.

Results:

Thirty-two eyes with active CSCR were analyzed. CT values varied significantly among the sectors (range, 450.27–482.63 µm; p = 0.005) and rings (range, 459.71–480.45 µm; p < 0.001), however, CVI failed to show significant variation among various segments (sectors, rings, and quadrants; range, 0.53–0.54; all p values > 0.05). Among 25 leaking spots in 25 different sectors, 12 (48%) had an increased CT compared to the overall CT whereas only 24% had increased CVI compared to overall CVI. Mean CT and CVI of the sectors with leakage (427.1 ± 81.1 µm; 0.51 ± 0.05) and remaining sectors without leakage (411.3 ± 73.9 µm; 0.53 ± 0.04) were not statistically different ( p = 0.48; p = 0.12, respectively).

Conclusion:

Though CT varied in different segments and increased CT corresponded to leakage points on FFA in 48% of eyes, CVI changes were more diffusely spread and local changes in CVI were not predictive of leakage location in eyes with active CSCR.
Rebubbling rate in preloaded versus surgeon prepared DSAEK
Authors: Pagano Luca , Gadhvi Kunal A , Coco Giulia , Fenech Matthew , Titley Mitchell , Levis Hannah J , Ruzza Alessandro , Ferrari Stefano , Kaye Stephen B. , Parekh Mohit , Romano Vito
Published: May 2021

Purpose:

To compare the clinical outcomes of eye bank preloaded Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) grafts and surgeon prepared.

Methods:

In this retrospective study, the data were obtained from two groups (a) surgeon cut DSAEK where tissue was prepared by the surgeon immediately before surgery, and (b) preloaded DSAEK tissue shipped to the surgeon after preparation by the eye bank. Standard DSAEK preparations using Moria microkeratome with single pass method were performed. For the tissues prepared by the eye banks, they were preloaded in an iGlide device and shipped in transport media. Standard DSAEK surgery using bimanual pull-through technique was performed for all the grafts. Air was used as a tamponade. Main outcome measures included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and rebubbling rate.

Result:

Out of 107 eyes of 101 patients that underwent DSAEK surgery, 33 tissues were prepared by the surgeon (sc-DSAEK), while 74 were prepared by the eye bank (pl-DSAEK). sc-DSAEK showed a rebubbling rate of 9.1%, compared to the 16.2% for the preloaded DSAEK ( p = 0.11). There was no statistical difference in postoperative BCVA between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis showed no association between detachment rate and cataract surgery, graft preparation method, graft diameter and reason for graft.

Conclusion:

Preloaded grafts have similar rebubbling rate and visual acuity achieved compared with surgeon prepared grafts.
The impact of vitrectomy on outcomes achieved with 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide implant in patients with diabetic macular edema
Authors: Augustin Albert J , Bopp Silvia , Fechner Martin , Holz Frank G , Sandner Dirk , Winkgen Andrea-M , Khoramnia Ramin , Neuhann Thomas , Warscher Markus , Spitzer Martin S , Sekundo Walter , Seitz Berthold , Duncker Tobias , Ksinsik Christian , Höh Helmut
Published: May 2021

Background:

There is a lack of consensus on the use of intravitreal corticosteroid therapies in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and prior vitrectomized eyes in clinical practice.

Methods:

Retro-IDEAL was a 3-year retrospective, multicenter study in patients with chronic DME (i.e. DME that persists or recurs despite treatment) treated with ILUVIEN® (0.2 µg daily fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant), who had suboptimal outcomes with first-line vascular endothelial growth-factor inhibitors and other DME therapies.

Results:

A total of 81 eyes (63 patients) were included of which 39 eyes had undergone prior vitrectomy (PV group) while 42 eyes had not undergone prior vitrectomy (NPV). Baseline characteristics were balanced; however, more patients had proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the PV group vs. the NPV group (21.62% vs 9.38%, respectively). Over 36 months, mean visual acuity (VA) increased in both groups with a tendency for more ETDRS letters being gained in the NPV group (+5.33) vs. the PV group (+2.42). By month 36, central retinal thickness was reduced to ⩽300 µm in two-thirds of the eyes in both groups and the mean change from baseline in intraocular pressure was similar in both groups (+0.50 mmHg −0.75 mmHg; NPV and PV group).

Conclusions:

These long-term data suggest that the 0.2 μg/day FAc implant is effective in both vitrectomized and non-vitrectomized patients, with a manageable safety profile, and improved VA and reduced supplemental therapies for patients with a suboptimal response to first-line DME therapies. Clinicians may consider utilizing the FAc implant earlier in the DME disease process.
The anatomical sources of neointimal cells in the arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Vazquez-Padron Roberto I , Martinez Laisel , Duque Juan C , Salman Loay H , Tabbara Marwan
Published: May 2021

Neointimal cells are an elusive population with ambiguous origins, functions, and states of differentiation. Expansion of the venous intima in arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is one of the most prominent remodeling processes in the wall after access creation. However, most of the current knowledge about neointimal cells in AVFs comes from extrapolations from the arterial neointima in non-AVF systems. Understanding the origin of neointimal cells in fistulas may have important implications for the design and effective delivery of therapies aimed to decrease intimal hyperplasia (IH). In addition, a broader knowledge of cellular dynamics during postoperative remodeling of the AVF may help clarify other transformation processes in the wall that combined with IH determine the successful remodeling or failure of the access. In this review, we discuss the possible anatomical sources of neointimal cells in AVFs and their relative contribution to intimal expansion.
Acute upper limb ischemia as a complication of tunneled hemodialysis catheter placement via the right internal jugular vein
Authors: Topcu Ahmet Can
Published: May 2021

Arterial injury during internal jugular vein cannulation can cause devastating complications such as stroke, hematoma, hemothorax, pseudoaneurysm, AV fistula, or even death. Acute upper limb ischemia caused by inadvertent arterial puncture during internal jugular vein cannulation has been rarely reported. The present report describes the case of a patient who experienced right upper limb ischemia caused by subclavian artery thrombosis developed during attempted placement of a tunneled hemodialysis catheter via the right internal jugular vein. The patient underwent an emergency brachial embolectomy and recovered uneventfully.
The Missing Piece: Recent Approaches Investigating the Antimicrobial Mode of Action of Essential Oils
Authors: Yang Shun-Kai , Tan Ngai-Paing , Chong Chun-Wie , Abushelaibi Aisha , Lim Swee-Hua-Erin , Lai Kok-Song
Published: May 2021

Antibiotic resistance is a major global health issue that has seen alarming rates of increase in all parts of the world over the past two decades. The surge in antibiotic resistance has resulted in longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and elevated mortality rates. Constant attempts have been made to discover newer and more effective antimicrobials to reduce the severity of antibiotic resistance. Plant secondary metabolites, such as essential oils, have been the major focus due to their complexity and bioactive nature. However, the underlying mechanism of their antimicrobial effect remains largely unknown. Understanding the antimicrobial mode of action of essential oils is crucial in developing potential strategies for the use of essential oils in a clinical setting. Recent advances in genomics and proteomics have enhanced our understanding of the antimicrobial mode of action of essential oils. We might well be at the dawn of completing a mystery on how essential oils carry out their antimicrobial activities. Therefore, an overview of essential oils with regard to their antimicrobial activities and mode of action is discussed in this review. Recent approaches used in identifying the antimicrobial mode of action of essential oils, specifically from the perspective of genomics and proteomics, are also synthesized. Based on the information gathered from this review, we offer recommendations for future strategies and prospects for the study of essential oils and their function as antimicrobials.
Analysis of Emerging Variants in Structured Regions of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome
Authors: Ryder Sean P , Morgan Brittany R , Coskun Peren , Antkowiak Katianna , Massi Francesca
Published: May 2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has motivated a widespread effort to understand its epidemiology and pathogenic mechanisms. Modern high-throughput sequencing technology has led to the deposition of vast numbers of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences in curated repositories, which have been useful in mapping the spread of the virus around the globe. They also provide a unique opportunity to observe virus evolution in real time. Here, we evaluate two sets of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences to identify emerging variants within structured cis-regulatory elements of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Overall, 20 variants are present at a minor allele frequency of at least 0.5%. Several enhance the stability of Stem Loop 1 in the 5ʹ untranslated region (UTR), including a group of co-occurring variants that extend its length. One appears to modulate the stability of the frameshifting pseudoknot between ORF1a and ORF1b, and another perturbs a bi-ss molecular switch in the 3ʹUTR. Finally, 5 variants destabilize structured elements within the 3ʹUTR hypervariable region, including the S2M (stem loop 2 m) selfish genetic element, raising questions as to the functional relevance of these structures in viral replication. Two of the most abundant variants appear to be caused by RNA editing, suggesting host-viral defense contributes to SARS-CoV-2 genome heterogeneity. Our analysis has implications for the development of therapeutics that target viral cis-regulatory RNA structures or sequences.
MicroRNA-19b Downregulates NR3C1 and Enhances Oxaliplatin Chemoresistance in Colon Cancer via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway
Authors: Han Zhongbo , Zhang Chao , Wang Qingfeng , Li Liang , Wang Meng , Li Xi , Yang Chunxia
Published: May 2021

Background:

Identifying the genes and signaling pathways related to chemoresistance might facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for colon cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of action of miR-19b and NR3C1, as well as their effects on chemosensitivity to oxaliplatin and prognosis of colon cancer patients.

Methods:

Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining were used to analyze the expression of miR-19b and NR3C1. Dual firefly luciferase reporter gene analysis was used to identify miR-19b target genes. Associations of miR-19b and NR3C1 with survival were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analyses. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometric analysis were used to measure cell viability, cytotoxicity, cell cycle phase, and apoptosis, respectively. The effect of miR-19b on cell proliferation was investigated in vivo.

Results:

The miR-19b was overexpressed and NR3C1 was decreased in colon cancer tissue and cell lines (SW480 and DLD-1). The miR-19b inhibition and NR3C1 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, and induced G1/S cell cycle blockade, apoptosis, and chemosensitivity to oxaliplatin in vitro. The miR-19b inhibition suppressed subcutaneous tumorigenesis in vivo. Increased miR-19b and decreased NR3C1 in colon cancer were correlated with poor prognosis. In addition, our results confirmed NR3C1 was directly targeted by miR-19b. Thus, miR-19b might inhibit apoptosis and enhance oxaliplatin chemoresistance via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Conclusions:

Our study revealed that miR-19b promotes cell survival and chemoresistance to oxaliplatin via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by downregulating NR3C1 in colon cancer. miR-19b and NR3C1 might be potential intervention targets for chemoresistance of colon cancer.
Communicating Health Uncertainty: How Australia’s only National Broadsheet Newspaper Reported the Emerging COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Furlan Patrizia
Published: May 2021

The news media play an important role in communicating health topics to the public (Hallin & Briggs, 2015, Media, Culture & Society, vol. 37, pp. 85–100). Often journalists are the first to raise the alarm about the safety of vaccines, medicines and pathogen outbreaks including emerging infectious diseases (Joffe, 2011, Public Understanding of Science, vol. 20, pp. 446–460). But the news media have also been accused of distorting, exaggerating or amplifying risks which can lead to fear-mongering and public panic (Klemm et al., 2016). This paper examines how the only national broadsheet newspaper of Australia, The Australian, reported the COVID-19 pandemic from its first media appearance in January 2020 with a focus also on 2 days in February and March 2020. These timeframes coincided with significant coronavirus milestones for Australia, such as the first COVID-19 infection; the first deaths; and the World Health Organisation’s declaration of a global pandemic. This paper found that The Australian coverage was not hyped but measured, with heavy reliance on analysis of the economic fallout of COVID-19. It also found evidence the conservative newspaper used war metaphors to convey the fight against the coronavirus.
Institutionalized Education: Journalism and Mass Communication Education in Pakistan
Authors: Bockino David , Ilyas Amir
Published: May 2021

This article uses an examination of journalism and mass communication (JMC) education in Pakistan as a case study to explore the consequences of increased homogenization of JMC education around the world. Anchored by a qualitative method that relies heavily on actor-network theory, the study identifies key moments and people in the trajectory of five Pakistani programmes and explores the connection between these programmes and the larger JMC organizational field. The study concludes by questioning the efficacy of the current power structures within the supranational JMC organizational field before discussing how these influences could potentially be mitigated moving forward.
Is Over the Top Video Platform the Game Changer over Traditional TV Channels in India? A Niche Analysis
Authors: Puthiyakath Hashim Hamza , Goswami Manash Pratim
Published: May 2021

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the consequent national lockdown, the usage of over the top (OTT) platforms has significantly increased in India. The growing popularity of video streaming has made a substantial impact on the traditional TV channels during pandemic times. The purpose of this study is to examine the competition, coexistence and competitive superiority of OTT and TV in providing consumer satisfaction. The study adopted the niche theory to empirically measure the degree of gratification fulfilled by OTT and TV, the similarity between OTT and TV and the competitive superiority of OTT and TV across seven micro-dimensions of gratification. The data for the study has been gathered from 223 online users across India. The results of the study reflect that OTT provides a higher degree of satisfaction across all seven dimensions of gratification with the greatest difference manifested in the convenience dimension. The niche overlap measures indicated that the highest level of similarity between TV and OTT is in providing gratification in the relaxation dimension, whereas the least similarity was observed in the convenience dimensions. The competitive superiority of OTT surpassed TV in all dimensions with the greatest difference manifested in relaxation.
Theoretical modeling and numerical simulation of dynamic contact characteristics of a spherical pump with variable friction coefficient
Authors: Guan Dong , Jing Li , Han Xue , Wang Lihui , Gong Junjie
Published: May 2021

In this paper, the dynamic contact characteristics between a piston system and a cylinder block in a spherical pump are studied theoretically and numerically. The theoretical contact model between a piston and a cylinder is established based on its structural and operational properties, to obtain the maximum contact force quantitatively. The effects of different structural parameters and working pressures on the contact force are analyzed and discussed. The relationship between friction coefficient and rotation speed is presented. The contact pairs are modeled numerically using the finite-element method and augmented Lagrange algorithm to obtain both the tangential and normal contact characteristics. Both static and dynamic contact characteristics of the piston are analyzed and discussed. These proposed studies can provide practical suggestions on improving the wear resistance performance and durability of the spherical pump.
Staging and stratifying cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Wojcik Curtis , Fuchs Tom A , Tran Hoan , Dwyer Michael G , Jakimovski Dejan , Unverdi Mahmut , Weinstock-Guttman Bianca , Zivadinov Robert , Eshaghi Arman , Benedict Ralph HB
Published: May 2021

Background:

The sequence in which cognitive domains become impaired in multiple sclerosis (MS) is yet to be formally demonstrated. It is unclear whether processing speed dysfunction temporally precedes other cognitive impairments, such as memory and executive function.

Objective:

Determine the order in which different cognitive domains become impaired in MS and validate these findings using clinical and vocational outcomes.

Methods:

In a longitudinal sample of 1073 MS patients and 306 healthy controls, we measured performance on multiple, consensus-standard, neurocognitive tests. We used an event-based staging approach to model the sequence in which cognitive domains become impaired. Linear and logistic mixed-effects models were used to explore associations between stages of impairment, neurological disability, and employment status.

Results:

Our model suggested that the order of impairments was as follows: processing speed, visual learning, verbal learning, working memory/attention, and executive function. Stage of cognitive impairment predicted greater neurological disability, β = 0.16, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001, and probability of unemployment, β = 1.14, SE = 0.001, p < 0.001.

Conclusion:

This is the first study to introduce a cognitive staging and stratification system for MS. Findings underscore the importance of using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test in routine screening for cognitive impairment and memory testing to assess patients later in disease evolution.
Informal institutions and gendered candidate selection in Brazilian parties
Authors: Gatto Malu AC , Wylie Kristin N
Published: May 2021

Six electoral cycles since the implementation of Brazil’s gender quota, just 15% of the 513 members of the Chamber of Deputies are women. We ask how parties’ use of informal institutions mediates the effectiveness of the gender quota. Drawing on data from more than 4,000 state-level party organizations, we show that parties employ informal practices that intentionally and non-intentionally interact with gender equity rules to affect women’s political representation: the intentional nomination of phantom candidates (“ laranjas”) allows parties to comply with the letter of the quota law, without effectively supporting women’s candidacies—to the detriment of women’s election; meanwhile, the extended use of provisional commissions to minimize oversight on candidate selection poses an obstacle to the quota and women’s candidacies and election more generally. Quota resistance characterizes an instance of both the likely inadvertent effects of informal institutions employed for non-gendered motivations and party leaders acting to preserve their own power.
Enhancing #TdF2017: Cross-media controversies and forensic fandom during live sports events
Authors: Hagen Sal Hendrik , Stauff Markus
Published: May 2021

This article considers the cross-media dynamics related to controversies surrounding the Tour de France 2017. It posits sports controversies are prime cases for studying how mainstream media and online platforms impact each other. Based on a large data set of tweets and combining a digital methods approach with a close reading of tweets, we show how the often discussed potential of sports’ live events to synchronize different media becomes intensified in case of controversies, which trigger an influx of users and spawn additional moments of shared attention. Additionally, controversies in sports incite visual activities of fans using and augmenting material from different sources to support their take on the issue. We suggest to understand this as an example of ‘forensic fandom’ and show how it entangles different temporal and visual affordances: the liveness of television, the ad hoc publics of Twitter and the archival function of YouTube. Adding to prior cross-media and cross-platform research, we argue that media (including their seemingly specific temporal and visual qualities) are always dependent on and shaped by particular cultural practices, topics and events that trigger connections between different media and platforms.
Alleviating gender dysphoria: A qualitative study of perspectives of trans and gender diverse people
Authors: Kerr Lucille , Jones Tiffany , Fisher Christopher M
Published: May 2021

Objectives

This study sought to explore perspectives of trans and gender diverse (TGD) people of ways to alleviate gender dysphoria in service provision and to develop a framework for application in health and other areas that can be used by researchers and service providers to design study protocols, assess organisations and enhance everyday practice in ways that are sensitive to TGD people’s experiences.

Methods

Data from a national Australian survey on TGD people conducted in 2018–2019 (n = 340) were used to develop a framework for alleviating dysphoria. Participants were asked an open-ended question on ways that body discomfort could be minimised in clinical encounters. Inductive thematic analysis was used to develop themes true to participant sentiment, which formed the basis for the development of a framework.

Results

The sample was overall young, with 60.6% aged 18–24, and a strong representation of gender diverse people (42.6%). The most important theme for participants was the context of the experience, which included the subthemes of the interpersonal qualities of service providers, language and pronouns, and practical aspects. Aspects of systems were also important, with education and awareness being particularly emphasised, followed by inclusive environments. Access to gender affirming medical and surgical procedures was rarely mentioned (2.6%). A minority of participants indicated that there was nothing that could be done to alleviate their gender dysphoria (4.4%).

Conclusions

The study proposes a framework that can help facilitate assessment of a service’s current practices, inform a practitioner’s daily practice and be used by researchers to appropriately design studies. The most important areas to address centre on the context of the immediate experience, which may be influenced through systems-level characteristics.
Destination restaurants, place attachment, and future destination patronization
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed E , Kim Dong Chun , Lehto Xinran , Behnke Carl A
Published: May 2021

Consumers sometimes travel to a destination for the main purpose of enjoying the food and services a restaurant can offer. These restaurants are termed destination Restaurants. This study explores what constitutes such an experience at destination restaurants and how such experience influences visitors’ sense of place development for the destination they travel to and their revisit intention for the place. Data was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to tourists dining in destination restaurants in Hwayang-Dong in Chungbuk province, South Korea. Based on a convenience sample of 244 participants, the results suggest that a destination restaurant experience compromises seven components including ‘Food quality’, ‘Locale image’, ‘Restaurant atmosphere’, ‘Price Fairness’, ‘Ingroup socialization’, ‘Ease of conversation’, and ‘Immersion’. The research showed that locale image, atmosphere, ease of conversation, and immersion significantly affect overall restaurant experience satisfaction. The findings also demonstrated that the destination restaurant experience positively affects tourist place attachment and destination revisit intention.
Effects of nurse-led web-based interventions on people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Niu Xiao-Dan , Chi Jun-Ting , Guo Jing-Bo , Ruan Hai-Hui , Zhang Jing , Tao Hong-Xia , Wang Yan-Hong
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is an expanding global health problem. Currently, the home management of diabetes is mainly led by a multidisciplinary team based on telemedicine. However, the role nurses play in it remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of nurse-led web-based intervention on glycated haemoglobin, blood pressure and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

An exhaustive systematic literature search was undertaken using the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and CINAHL. Two investigators independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the studies by examining the risk of bias and using Modified Jadad Score system. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that had been published from inception to July 2020, using Review Manager 5.3.

Results

Eleven randomized controlled trials were selected that included 2063 participants. Meta-analyses results indicated significant effects on not only glycated haemoglobin (pooled mean difference (MD) = –0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): –0.5 to –0.26, p < 0.00001), but also on systolic blood pressure (pooled MD = –1.91, 95% CI: –3.73 to –0.09, p = 0.04) and low density lipoprotein (pooled standardized MD = –0.29, 95% CI: –0.44 to –0.15, p < 0.0001). There were no effects of nurse-led web-based intervention on fasting blood glucose, diastolic blood pressure, high density lipoprotein, body mass index and triglycerides.

Discussion

Nurse-led web-based intervention is a promising way to complement routine clinical care. However, the specific intervention content and intervention media still need to carry out large-scale well-designed randomized controlled trials. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD 42020204565.
Validation of telemedicine-based self-assessment of vital signs for patients with COVID-19: A pilot study
Authors: Kagiyama Nobuyuki , Hiki Makoto , Matsue Yuya , Dohi Tomotaka , Matsuzawa Wataru , Daida Hiroyuki , Minamino Tohru , Kasai Takatoshi
Published: May 2021

Introduction

In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the development of a system that would prevent the infection of healthcare providers is in urgent demand. We sought to investigate the feasibility and validity of a telemedicine-based system in which healthcare providers remotely check the vital signs measured by patients with COVID-19.

Methods

Patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 measured and uploaded their vital signs to secure cloud storage. Additionally, the respiratory rates were monitored using a mat-type sensor placed under the bed. We assessed the time until the values became available on the Cloud and the agreements between the patient-measured vital signs and simultaneous healthcare provider measurements.

Results

Between 26 May–23 September 2020, 3835 vital signs were measured and uploaded to the cloud storage by the patients ( n=16, median 72 years old, 31% women). All patients successfully learned how to use these devices with a 10-minute lecture. The median time until the measurements were available on the cloud system was only 0.35 min, and 95.2% of the vital signs were available within 5 min of the measurement. The agreement between the patients’ and healthcare providers’ measurements was excellent for all parameters. Interclass coefficient correlations were as follows: systolic (0.92, p<0.001), diastolic blood pressure (0.86, p<0.001), heart rate (0.89, p<0.001), peripheral oxygen saturation (0.92, p<0.001), body temperature (0.83, p<0.001), and respiratory rates (0.90, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Telemedicine-based self-assessment of vital signs in patients with COVID-19 was feasible and reliable. The system will be a useful alternative to traditional vital sign measurements by healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Xenophobia in the labour market: A South African legal and human rights perspective
Authors: Mubangizi John C
Published: May 2021

This article focuses on xenophobia in the South African labour market and the effect it can and does have on foreign employees. In contrast to current scholarship that portrays xenophobia in South Africa as a consequence of anti-immigrant sentiments and stereotypes that stem from social, political, economic and cultural misconceptions, this paper argues that the causes of xenophobia are much more complex than that. In addition to those misconceptions, it is argued, xenophobia in South Africa may well have its genesis in the pre-1994 apartheid and colonialism era which sought to impose segregation and instill hatred between and among black people. The main argument in the paper, however, is that the South African legal framework and its implementation do not go far enough in addressing the problem of xenophobia in the workplace. As a result, the rights of foreign employees are negatively impacted and not sufficiently protected. To underscore this point, the paper undertakes a discussion on the legal framework and the pertinent human rights implications of xenophobia in the South African labour market before making some recommendations on what can be done to protect the rights of foreign employees better and reduce or prevent xenophobic attacks against them.
The effects of a metacognitive intervention on lower-proficiency EFL learners’ listening comprehension and listening self-efficacy
Authors: Milliner Brett , Dimoski Blagoja
Published: May 2021

Focusing on the teaching of listening strategies to second language (L2) learners, this study sought to revisit Renandya and Farrell’s (2011) claims that explicit listening strategy instruction for lower-proficiency learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) is a fruitless endeavor. As such, we implemented a quasi-experimental study to measure the effectiveness of a metacognitive intervention for a convenience sample of lower-proficiency (CEFR A2) Japanese university EFL learners ( n = 129). The training program focused on an explicit process-based approach, involving integrated experiential learning tasks and guided reflections, to develop learners’ L2 listening skills. Data collection consisted of TOEIC® test scores, listening comprehension tests, cloze tests, a listening self-efficacy questionnaire, and a post-treatment survey. While the training program was received favorably by students, and students displayed a slightly more confident stance towards listening in their L2, we were unable to find any strong empirical evidence that our lower-proficiency EFL learners’ listening performance improved. As such, these results provide evidence of a potential proficiency threshold for EFL learners to start to benefit from a strategy-focused metacognitive intervention.
Emblematic gestures learning in Spanish as L2/FL: Interactions between types of gestures and tasks
Authors: Belío-Apaolaza Helena S. , Hernández Muñoz Natividad
Published: May 2021

The acquisition of communicative competence in second and foreign languages requires the incorporation of verbal and non-verbal elements. Notwithstanding, few studies have performed empirical research into the acquisition of non-verbal signs. This research studies the learning of emblematic gestures for students of Spanish in the USA using an evolutionary analysis after instruction. Interactions between types of gestures ( common, different, and unique) based on the similarities with the first language and learning mechanisms in free and guided comprehension and production tasks are taken into account. The results indicate that although the detection and production of emblems improve with instruction, the progress is unequal: the categories different and unique obtain a higher rate of improvement than common emblems in specific tasks. In conclusion, it is essential for the teaching of gestures and non-verbal communication to consider, along with the non-verbal target language code, the non-verbal mother tongue code.
Social psychological accounts of peer emotion transfer in EFL classrooms: A doubly latent multilevel analysis
Authors: Shao Kaiqi , Parkinson Brian
Published: May 2021

Based on theories of emotion contagion and social appraisal in interpersonal affect transfer and the control-value theory of achievement emotions, the present study examined associations between students’ perceptions of peer emotions and their own self-perceived emotions in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms. Data were collected from 103 seventh to ninth grade classrooms ( n = 3,643) using self-report questionnaires. Doubly latent multilevel structural equation modeling showed that perceived peer enjoyment, anxiety and boredom, and students’ corresponding emotions for language learning, were positively related and that the effects of perceived peer enjoyment, anxiety and boredom on corresponding student emotions were mediated by control and value appraisals at the individual level. At the class level, however, the mediation effects were only significant for control appraisal as a mediator of effects on anxiety and value appraisal as a mediator of effects on boredom. Effects were robust across grade level, gender and previous language achievement. The discussion centers on the practical implications of peer emotion interactions for promoting foreign language development in classroom instruction.
Understanding reading teachers’ self-directed use of drama-based pedagogy in an under-resourced educational setting: A case study in China
Authors: Zhang Xiaodong
Published: May 2021

This case study explores the trajectory of a reading teacher’s self-directed development when implementing drama-based pedagogy in an under-resourced College in China. Through qualitative analyses of multiple data sources collected over one semester, the study demonstrates that the teacher’s self-directed use of drama-based pedagogy following teacher student joint learning of reading texts was contextually driven with his use of drama-based pedagogy being partially motivated by its potential to engage his students’ interest in reading learning. The teacher was able to dynamically adjust and refine his implementation of drama-based pedagogy in relation to his students’ post-reading reading reflections, their drama planning and dramatic presentations, their post-performance reflections, as well as their in-class learning. The students’ increased interest for reading and improved literacy development in the latter part of the semester augmented the teacher’s confidence in drama-based pedagogy, and feelings of self-empowerment resulting from his self-directed development. The study concludes that, along with teachers’ efforts to deal with the dynamic complexities of better meeting students’ needs, the self-directed use of drama-based pedagogy can be a helpful and accessible tool to support reading teachers to re-conceptualize their self-directed development in an under-resourced educational context.
The effects of reference of comparison (self-referential vs. normative) and regulatory focus (promotion vs. prevention) feedback on EFL learners’ willingness to communicate
Authors: Zarrinabadi Nourollah , Saberi Dehkordi Elham
Published: May 2021

This article reports on a mixed methods study that examined the effect of reference of comparison (self-referential vs. normative) and regulatory focus (promotion-focused vs. prevention-focused) on willingness to communicate (WTC) among learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). One hundred female English learners were randomly assigned to the self-referential, normative, prevention, promotion, and control feedback groups. They received different types of feedback for 15 sessions. The students were tested for their WTC, anxiety and communication competence before and after the intervention. The results of MANOVA and paired samples comparisons indicated that self-referential, normative, and promotion feedback positively improved WTC and communication competence and decreased anxiety. However, prevention feedback decreased WTC and communication competence and increased anxiety. Follow-up interview data indicated that feedback influenced WTC by providing learning checks or affecting learners’ self-confidence, reducing anxiety, fostering motivation, and decreasing peer pressure. Finally, it was suggested that teachers should mainly present feedback to emphasize task accomplishments and growth and to inform the students about their progress over time.
Critical stasis and disruptive performances: ICJ and the Anwar R trial in Koblenz
Authors: Koleva Petya Mitkova , Vigh Henrik
Published: May 2021

This article explores the extraterritorial criminal court case against Anwar R, a high-ranking member of the Syrian regime on trial for crimes against humanity in Koblenz, Germany. Empirically anchored in ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Koblenz and with the Commission for International Justice and Accountability, the article illuminates the trial as a ‘disruptive performance’. The case against Anwar R punctuates two instances of negative stasis and unsettles two accounts of chronicity, namely, those of the Syrian conflict and of the field of international criminal justice. In order to illuminate the trial as a disruptive performance, the article empirically situates the Koblenz case both in relation to the Syrian war that it relates to, to the international criminal justice apparatus that it is a part of and to the underlying compilation of evidence that substantiates it. It thus clarifies both the symbolic potential and the constitutive process that has brought it into being.
Barriers to physical activity for father’s living in marginalising conditions
Authors: Darroch Francine E , Oliffe John L , Montaner Gabriela Gonzalez , Webb Jessica M
Published: May 2021

Physical activity can be a conduit for improving men’s social connectedness as well as physical gains for well-being. However, marginalised men, and fathers in particular, can be challenged to engage in leisure time physical activity. This qualitative study reports how fathers, who experience complex and significant social and health inequities, conceptualise and experience barriers to physical activity. Drawing from focus groups with 17 fathers, and semi-structured interviews with seven service providers about their perspectives on men’s physical activity in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), a highly marginalised neighbourhood. A masculinities framework was used to describe and contextualise physical activity in fathers’ lives. Three themes were inductively derived through the analyses: (1) ‘they’re busy surviving’ a finding referencing the work and limits invoked by poverty wherein survival was triaged ahead of leisure time physical activity; (2) ‘there is no activity centre’ chronicling the lack of physical activity spaces, programmes and resources available to fathers; and (3) ‘lifestyle affects our capability to exercise’ a theme detailing how social isolation amplified by factors including housing and opioid crises, and being a father in a resource poor setting imposed significant barriers to physical activity. The findings support reconceptualising physical activity programmes with men who are living in marginalising conditions to address behavioural and structural health inequities in tailoring father-centred programmes and resources.
No fats, no fems, no problems? Working out and the gay muscled body
Authors: Chow Jeremy
Published: May 2021

This article investigates two ubiquitous slogans that circulate among gay social media apps: ‘No Fats, No Fems’ and ‘Masc for Masc’. In their recurrence, both offer gendered readings of corporeality and ability, which equate muscled bodies with forms of desirable masculinity. In collecting data from SCRUFF, I document how gay male social media apps generate narrow definitions of masculinity that, like the slogans, uphold physical fitness and compulsory able-bodiedness as hallmarks of gay desirability. Alongside these trends, I highlight ‘working out’ as an exceptional form of gay male labour that prioritises ability and transforms the muscled body into a commodity that is successfully advertised on these apps.
An epistemological analysis of the use of reputation as evidence
Authors: Páez Andrés
Published: May 2021

Rules 405(a) and 608(a) of the Federal Rules of Evidence allow the use of testimony about a witness’s reputation to support or undermine his or her credibility in trial. This paper analyses the evidential weight of such testimony from the point of view of social epistemology and the theory of social networks. Together they provide the necessary elements to analyse how reputation is understood in this case, and to assess the epistemic foundation of a reputational attribution. The result of the analysis will be that reputational testimony is extremely weak from an epistemological point of view, and that in many cases there are more reliable substitutes that achieve a similar purpose. The obvious fix, in my view, is to eliminate the use of reputation testimony to support or undermine the credibility, honesty, chastity or peacefulness of a witness