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Trans Doublethink and Newspeak. A Review of Doublethink: A Feminist Challenge to Transgenderism by Janice Raymond
Get PDFProperty value effects of the Hemlock wooly adelgid infestation in New England, U.S.A.
No full textWe investigate residential property-price effects of the spread of the Hemlock wooly adelgid infestation northward through central portions of Connecticut and Massachusetts, USA. We find that hemlock trees and the accompanying adelgid infestation within 0.1 km buffers of properties affect sale prices, but the results do not extend to buffers of 0.5 and 1.0 km\u27s. Further, within the 0.1 km buffer, only the healthiest hemlock trees contribute positively to property values. We investigated the robustness of the results to three data interpolation methods, Kriging, Inverse Distance Weighting and Spline, and while there was some minor difference in outcomes the results are robust to these interpolation methods. Two property-price models were estimated, a traditional hedonic model with spatial fixed effects and a repeat sale model. The models provide substantially different property-price impacts and care needs to be taken when interpreting these estimates. Both approaches are limited but in different ways; the hedonic by potentially omitted variables and the repeat-sales by a limited number of observations. Our results provide some support for the repeat-sale model as the hedonic model with spatial fixed effects underperformed when both models were estimated using the same data
A Feminist Challenge to Transgenderism. A Review of Doublethink: A Feminist Challenge to Transgenderism by Janice G. Raymond
Get PDFUnderstanding the Language of Health Reform
No full textCOVID-19 has accelerated the dialogue surrounding access to health insurance, including the potential for a public option, Medicare for All, or modification of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. A dizzying array of terms and assertions surround these health policy discussions, as well as misrepresentation and lack of specificity. This article offers a primer on contemporary reform terms and options that are likely to be prominent over the next several years and outlines some health care-related elements of the American Rescue Plan Act, a massive COVID-relief act passed in March 2021. The aim of this nonpartisan overview is to enhance nurses\u27 understanding of these terms as a basis for effective participation in public policy and patient advocacy
PIES and CPIES Data Processing Manual
Get PDFThe Inverted Echo Sounder (IES) is an ocean bottom-moored instrument that measures the vertical acoustic travel time (VATT) round-trip from the seafloor to the sea surface and back. The VATT varies principally due to changes in the temperature profile of the water column, making the IES well-suited for monitoring changes in temperature structure and dynamic height (baroclinic signal). Currently, the Model 6.2, a combined IES, data-logger, and acoustic release, with measurements of bottom pressure and temperature (PIES) and optional measurements of current speed and direction (CPIES, with attached Aanderaa Doppler current sensor) is produced at URI/GSO. Data are processed in situ and are available (optional) remotely by an acoustic telemetry link. In addition to the IES-measured baroclinic signals, barotropic near-bottom pressure variations may be measured with the optional pressure sensor. A report was written in 1991 describing IES data processing [Fields et al., 1991]. Since that report, significant improvements have been made to both IES hardware and software, warranting an update of the IES data processing. The report by Kennelly et al. [2007] documents the standard processing steps contained in IESpkg 3, which has been used since the early 2000s, for IES/PIES/CPIES Models 6.1 and 6.2 at URI/GSO. More recently, IESpkg 4 was developed to allow more flexibility in the processing steps and data outputs, and to process the Fast PIES versions that sample 96 travel times each hour. This report documents the processing steps in IESpkg 4 and it repeats as much of the original text of Kennelly et al. [2007] as is still applicable. A separate document, Inverted Echo Sounder User\u27s Manual, IES Model 6.2, describes the IES hardware and instrument configuratio
Near-infrared spectroscopy estimation of combined skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and O2 diffusion capacity in humans
Get PDFThe final steps of the O2 cascade during exercise depend on the product of the microvascular-tointramyocyte PO2 difference and muscle O2 diffusing capacity (DmO2). Non-invasive methods to determine DmO2 in humans are currently unavailable. Muscle oxygen uptake (mVO2) recovery rate constant (k), measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) using intermittent arterial occlusions, is associated with muscle oxidative capacity in vivo. We reasoned that k would be limited by DmO2 when muscle oxygenation is low (kLOW), and hypothesized that: i) k in well-oxygenated muscle (kHIGH) is associated with maximal O2 flux in fiber bundles; and ii) Δk (kHIGH-kLOW) is associated with capillary density (CD). Vastus lateralis k was measured in 12 participants using NIRS after moderate exercise. The timing and duration of arterial occlusions were manipulated to maintain tissue saturation index (TSI) within a 10% range either below (LOW) or above (HIGH) half-maximal desaturation, assessed during sustained arterial occlusion. Maximal O2 flux in phosphorylating state was 37.7±10.6 pmol·s−1·mg−1 (~5.8 ml·min−1·100g−1). CD ranged 348 to 586 mm-2. kHIGH was greater than kLOW (3.15±0.45 vs 1.56±0.79 min-1, p\u3c0.001). Maximal O2 flux was correlated with kHIGH (r=0.80, p=0.002) but not kLOW (r=-0.10, p=0.755). Δk ranged -0.26 to -2.55 min-1, and correlated with CD (r=- 0.68, p=0.015). mVO2 k reflects muscle oxidative capacity only in well-oxygenated muscle. Δk, the difference in k between well- and poorly-oxygenated muscle, was associated with CD, a mediator of DmO2. Assessment of muscle k and Δk using NIRS provides a non-invasive window on muscle oxidative and O2 diffusing capacity
Mapping meaningful symptoms and impacts of early Parkinson\u27s disease to digital outcome measures
Get PDFBackground: Digital health technologies have the potential to capture fine variations in symptoms across a range of diseases. However, it is not clear whether these measures are meaningful to patients, which is critical to guiding the selection of digital endpoints.
Objective: This manuscript describes novel methodology for mapping meaningful symptoms and impacts of disease and assessing personal relevance of digital measures from the patient perspective. Methods: Participants with early Parkinson’s from the WATCH-PD study [NCT03681015] completed online surveys (N=65), with a subset recruited for 1:1 online video-interviews (N=40) to explore symptoms, impacts and perceived relevance of selected digital measures. Interviews included: (1) symptom mapping to delineate and rank meaningful symptoms/impacts of Parkinson’s, (2) cognitive interviewing on digital measures administered in the WATCH-PD study, and (3) mapping of these measures back to the personal symptom map to show relevance from the patient perspective. Content coding was used to assess frequencies and bothersomeness of symptoms/impacts, and perceived relevance of the technology. Thematic analysis was performed for narrative transcripts. Copies of maps were shared with participants.
Results: This approach was deeply engaging and satisfying to participants, who reported improved ability to describe and discuss their symptom experiences. Maps and interviews provided detailed qualitative data on symptoms/impacts of early Parkinson’s with concurrent ability to quantify symptom frequencies and bothersomeness along with perceived relevance of the digital measures.
Conclusion: Combining symptom mapping with cognitive interviewing can improve understanding of meaningful symptoms and impacts of disease and perceived relevance of digital measures from the patient perspective
Taking corrective action when exposed to fake news: The role of fake news literacy
Get PDFFake news poses a threat to democracy. The rise of social media and its lax content regulation have facilitated a dynamic environment where mis- and disinformation are spread. However, social media is also the place where false information may be corrected. Initial scholarly efforts begin to highlight what is needed for citizens to take corrective action when exposed to fake news on social media. This study is a further step in that direction by introducing the construct of ‘fake news media literacy’. Relying on survey data from the U.S. (N = 1338), we show that news media literacy in terms of media locus of control and need for cognition might not be sufficient to take corrective action; individuals rather need to develop specific fake news literacy. Implications for media literacy initiatives are discussed
Assessing blockchain technology adoption in the Norwegian oil and gas industry using Bayesian Best Worst Method
Get PDFDespite the promising features of blockchain, such as enhancing efficiency, transparency, immutability, cost savings, and traceability, the technology is still not widely adopted across industries. The oil and gas industry uses state-of-the-art engineering solutions for oil and gas exploration but substantially lags behind in using innovative digital technologies that can improve operational excellence. This study proposes a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework for assessing blockchain adoption strategies. The framework builds on critical factors for blockchain adoption and four adoption strategies — single use, localization, substitution, and transformation. Data were collected from ten experts in the Norwegian oil and gas industry using a structured web survey. The Bayesian Best Worst Method (BWM), a probabilistic MCDM method, was used for analysis. The results suggest that three sub-criteria, which are lack of expertise about technology, lack of supply chain partner collaboration, and reducing operation cost, have the most impact on the adoption process. As for blockchain adoption alternatives, the fourth phase, that is, transformation, is the most preferred in the context of the Norwegian oil and gas industry. The proposed framework lays the foundation for companies to understand the critical elements that need improvement to accelerate the blockchain technology adoption process
Can You Hear the Tension? Musical Tension-Release Effect on Affect and Recall in Advertising: An Abstract
No full textTension and resolution exist as a universal structure in all music. It can increase a listener’s attention, even change a consumer’s cognitive state. Yet this powerful musical tool has not been studied in the context of how it shapes consumers’ attitudes towards advertising and brands. Through four experiments, we aim to understand these effects in more detail and outline the properties of this phenomenon. In addition, we aim to show how this effect is due to an underlying curiosity caused by the anticipation of the tension-resolution structure which in turn causes excitement. We also explore potential boundary conditions associated with consumer curiosity. Through four experiments and two pretests, we uncover evidence to support our six hypotheses. In our first experiment, we show how advertising with a tension-resolution musical structure (versus no resolution) has a net positive consumer attitude for the advertisement and induces higher curiosity and satisfaction levels in participants. Our second experiment explores how the placement of the tension-resolution structure in the ad changes advertising likeability. For this experiment we use a different musical stimuli (developed from the second pretest) which had two versions of the same song, one with the tension build and resolution structure in the first half of the experiment and the second with the same musical structure in the second half of the advertisement. In our third experiment, we show how the individual difference variable Need for Cognitive Closure (NFCC) explains this phenomenon of consumer attitudes towards musical tension resolution structure in music. These findings contribute to the music, consumer, branding, and advertising literatures in many ways. This research adds to the existing theories on music in advertising by highlighting positive effects from elements previously seen as negative in advertising, musical tension. In addition, this research adds to the musical literature by outlining boundary effects inherent in consumer individual difference variables and teases out the specifics of tension-resolution structures in music as in the duration, placement, and mediating factors that drive consumer attitudes