Mediamusic (E-Journal)
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The Changing Role of Social Capital During the Venture Creation Process:A Multilevel Study
No full textWe assess how social capital relates to individuals' initial interest in becoming an entrepreneur, formally setting up a venture, and subsequent survival of the venture. Conceptualizing and measuring entrepreneurship as a sequential process inferred from cross-sectional data for 22,878 individuals living in 110 regions across 22 European countries, we find that regional social capital is relevant for formally setting up a venture, but it is not associated with initial interest, nor with venture survival after establishment. By assuming variability and not uniformity in how social capital relates to entrepreneurship, we gain a better understanding of the contextual determinants of the venture creation process.</p
Many shades of wrong:what governments do when they manipulate statistics
No full textA considerable number of recent analyses report statistical evidence indicating that governments manipulate official macroeconomic indicators. Employing creative strategies to identify systematic biases in statistical outputs, these studies have shown that political manipulation of economic statistics does occur. But they have paid less attention to the question how official statistics are being manipulated. To shed light on the processes behind data manipulation, this article examines three recent high-profile cases in depth: Greece’s public deficit figures, controversies about Argentina’s inflation statistics, and the Brazilian “fiscal pedaling” scandal. We make two main contributions: first, macroeconomic indicators are much more ambiguous than it is commonly realized. Therefore, the line between accurate and manipulated data is more blurry than typical narratives about manipulation acknowledge. Second, in recognition of this ambiguity we introduce a typology distinguishing four types of manipulation: outright manipulation (type 1), politically motivated guesstimating (type 2), the opportunistic use of methodology space (type 3), and indicators-management through indirect means (type 4). The findings from our cases highlight that the politics of statistics do not revolve around “right” and “wrong” numbers. They are better understood as contestations about different shades of wrong
The Expansion star mod o (h(4)) and Computer-Assisted Proof Schemes in the Kontsevich Deformation Quantization
No full textThe Kontsevich deformation quantization combines Poisson dynamics, noncommutative geometry, number theory, and calculus of oriented graphs. To manage the algebra and differential calculus of series of weighted graphs, we present software modules: these allow generating the Kontsevich graphs, expanding the noncommutative & x22c6;-product by using a priori undetermined coefficients, and deriving linear relations between the weights of graphs. Throughout this text we illustrate the assembly of the Kontsevich & x22c6;-product up to order 4 in the deformation parameter Already at this stage, the & x22c6;-product involves hundreds of graphs; expressing all their coefficients via 149 weights of basic graphs (of which 67 weights are now known exactly), we express the remaining 82 weights in terms of only 10 parameters (more specifically, in terms of only 6 parameters modulo gauge-equivalence). Finally, we outline a scheme for computer-assisted proof of the associativity, modulo for the newly built & x22c6;-product expansion.</p
Recommendations for studies on dynamic arm support devices in people with neuromuscular disorders:a scoping review with expert-based discussion
No full textPURPOSE: Neuromuscular disorders are characterised by muscle weakness that limits upper extremity mobility, but can be alleviated with dynamic arm support devices. Current research highlights the importance and difficulties of evidence-based recommendations for device development. We aim to provide research recommendations primarily concerning upper extremity body functions, and secondarily activity and participation, environmental and personal factors.METHODS: Evidence was synthesised from literature, ongoing studies, and expert opinions and tabulated within a framework based on a combination of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model and contextual constructs.RESULTS: Current literature mostly investigated the motor capacity of muscle function, joint mobility, and upper body functionality, and a few studies also addressed the impact on activity and participation. In addition, experts considered knowledge on device utilisation in the daily environment and characterising the beneficiaries better as important. Knowledge gaps showed that ICF model components and contextual constructs should be better integrated and more actively included in future research.CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended to, first, integrate multiple ICF model components and contextual constructs within one study design. Second, include the influence of environmental and personal factors when developing and deploying a device. Third, include short-term and long-term measurements to monitor adaptations over time. Finally, include user satisfaction as guidance to evaluate the device effectiveness. IMPLICATIONS ON REHABILITATION Synthesized evidence will support future research and development of dynamic arm supports. Tabulated evidence stresses the importance of integrating ICF model components and contextual constructs to fill the knowledge gaps. Presented knowledge gaps and proposed steps guide the set up of future studies on dynamic arm supports.</p
External Validity of the Multicenter Randomized PREOPANC Trial on Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer:Outcome of Eligible But Non-Randomized Patients
No full textOBJECTIVES: To investigate the accrual proportion and patients' reasons for not participating in the PREOPANC trial on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy vs. immediate surgery in resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, and to compare these patients' outcomes with those of patients who had been randomized in the trial.SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The external validity of multicenter randomized trials in cancer treatment has been criticized for suboptimal non-representative inclusion. In trials, it is unclear how outcomes compare between randomized and non-randomized patients.METHODS: At eight of 16 participant centers, this multicenter observational study identified validation patients, who had been eligible but not randomized during recruitment for the PREOPANC trial. We assessed the accrual proportion, investigated their most common reasons for not participating in the trial, and compared resection rates, radical (R0) resection rates and overall survival (OS) between the validation patients and PREOPANC patients, who had been randomized in the trial to immediate surgery.RESULTS: In total, 455 patients had been eligible during the recruitment period, 151 of whom (33%) had been randomized. Fifty-five percent of the 304 validation patients had refused to participate. Median OS in the validation group was 15.2 months, against 15.5 months in the PREOPANC group (p = 1.00). The respective resection rates (76% vs. 73%) and R0 resection rates (51% vs. 46%) did not differ between the groups.CONCLUSIONS: The PREOPANC trial included a reasonable percentage of 33% of eligible patients. In terms of the outcomes survival, resection rate, and R0 resection rate, this appeared to be a representative group.</p
Erratum to: Screening for and Managing the Person with Frailty in Primary Care:ICFSR Consensus Guidelines (vol 24, pg 920, 2020)
No full textThe authors apologize for a typing error that occurred in the September 2020 article that changes the meaning of a sentence.</p
Algorithmic meta-capital:Bourdieusian analysis of social power through algorithms in media consumption
No full textAlgorithms make highly consequential decisions and, thereby, exercise considerable power. In this study I investigate how social power through algorithms is exercised in media consumption, particularly through curation algorithms. This conceptual paper then contributes to the understanding of social power through algorithms by suggesting the concept of algorithmic meta-capital. The concept derives from Bourdieu’s theory on meta-capital which has also been applied to legacy media. I then argue that this algorithmic meta-capital is an extension of the power traditionally held by the state and legacy media. The study also contributes to the understanding of meta-capital as it proposes how the meta-capital possessed by digital intermediaries functions. It does so by legitimating representations of the world and by creating a necessity for algorithmic visibility across different fields, thereby shaping habitus. This Bourdieusian approach enables researchers to take a balanced view on the power of algorithms on the structure/agency continuum
Political Interaction beyond Party Lines:Communication Ties and Party Polarization in Parliamentary Twitter Networks
No full textA growing body of research has examined the uptake of social media by politicians, the formation of communication ties in online political networks, and the interplay between social media and political polarization. However, few studies have analyzed how social media are affecting communication in parliamentary networks. This is especially relevant in highly fragmented political systems in which collaboration between political parties is crucial to win support in parliament. Does MPs’ use of social media foster communications among parliamentarians who think differently, or does it result in like-minded clusters polarized along party lines, confining MPs to those who think alike? This study analyzes the formation of communication ties and the degree of homophily in the Dutch MPs’ @mention Twitter network. We employed exponential random graph models on a 1-year sample of all tweets in which Dutch MPs mentioned each other (N = 7,356) to discover the network parameters (reciprocity, popularity, and brokerage) and individual attributes (seniority, participation in the parliamentary commissions, age, gender, and geographical area) that facilitate communication ties among parliamentarians. Also, we measured party polarization by calculating the external–internal index of the mentions. Dutch MPs’ communication ties arise from network dynamics (reciprocity, brokerage, and popularity) and from MPs’ participation in the parliamentary commissions, age, gender, and geographical area. Furthermore, there is a high degree of cross-party interactions in the Dutch MPs’ mentions Twitter network. Our results refute the existence of “echo chambers” in the Dutch MPs’ mentions Twitter network and support the hypothesis that social media can open up spaces for discussion among political parties. This is particularly important in fragmented consensus democracies where negotiation and coordination between parties to form coalitions is key
Maneuvering formations of mobile agents using designed mismatched angles
No full textThis paper investigates how to maneuver a planar formation of mobile agents using designed mismatched angles. The desired formation shape is specified by a set of interior angle constraints. To realize the maneuver of translation, rotation and scaling of the formation as a whole, we intentionally force the agents to maintain mismatched desired angles by introducing a pair of mismatch parameters for each angle constraint. To allow different information requirements in the design and implementation stages, we consider both measurement-dependent and 10 measurement-independent mismatches. Starting from a triangular formation, we consider generically angle rigid formations that can be constructed from the triangular formation by adding new agents in sequence, each having two angle constraints associated with some existing three agents. The control law for each newly added agent arises naturally from the angle constraints and makes full use of the angle mismatch parameters. We show that the control can effectively stabilize the formations while simultaneously realizing maneuvering. Simulations are conducted to validate the theoretical results