Who Killed the Travelin' Soldier: Elites, Masses, and Blacklisting of Critical Speakers

Several studies have shown the influence of ownership on media content in routine contexts but none has quantitatively tested it in the theoretically important context of a crisis. Recently the country musicians the Dixie Chicks were blacklisted from the radio for criticizing the president in wartime. I use this event to test the role of media ownership in a crisis. Through analyzing airplay from a national sample of radio stations, this paper finds that contrary to prominent allegations grounded in the political economy tradition of media sociology, this backlash did not come from owners of large chains. Rather, I find that opposition to the Dixie Chicks represents grassroots conservative sentiment, which may be exacerbated by the ideological connotations of country music or tempered by tolerance for dissent.

Making Friends in Violent Neighborhoods: Strategies among Elementary School Children

Abstract: While many studies have examined friendship formation among children in conventional contexts, comparatively fewer have examined how the process is shaped by neighborhood violence. The literature on violence and gangs has identified coping strategies that likely affect friendships, but most children in violent neighborhoods are not gang members, and not all friendship relations involve gangs. We examine the friendship-formation process based on in-depth interviews with 72 students, parents, and teachers in two elementary schools in violent Chicago neighborhoods. All students were African American boys and girls ages 11 to 15. We find that while conventional studies depict friendship formation among children as largely affective in nature, the process among the students we observed was, instead, primarily strategic. The children's strategies were not singular but heterogeneous and malleable in nature. We identify and document five distinct strategies: protection seeking, avoidance, testing, cultivating questioners, and kin reliance. Girls were as affected as boys were, and they also reported additional preoccupations associated with sexual violence. We discuss implications for theories of friendship formation, violence, and neighborhood effects

A Comparative Study of Human TLR 7/8 Stimulatory Trimer Compositions in Influenza A Viral Genomes

Background: Variation in the genomes of single-stranded RNA viruses affects their infectivity and pathogenicity in two ways. First, viral genome sequence variations lead to changes in viral protein sequences and activities. Second, viral genome sequence variation produces diversity at the level of nucleotide composition and diversity in the interactions between viral RNAs and host toll-like receptors (TLRs). A viral genome-typing method based on this type of diversity has not yet been established. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we propose a novel genomic trait called the ‘‘TLR stimulatory trimer composition’ ’ (TSTC) and two quantitative indicators, Score S and Score N, named ‘‘TLR stimulatory scores’ ’ (TSS). Using the complete genome sequences of 10,994 influenza A viruses (IAV) and 251 influenza B viruses, we show that TSTC analysis reveals the diversity of Score S and Score N among the IAVs isolated from various hosts. In addition, we show that low values of Score S are correlated with high pathogenicity and pandemic potential in IAVs. Finally, we use Score S and Score N to construct a logistic regression model to recognize IAV strains that are highly pathogenic or have high pandemic potential. Conclusions/Significance: Results from the TSTC analysis indicate that there are large differences between human and avian IAV genomes (except for segment 3), as illustrated by Score S. Moreover, segments 1, 2, 3 and 4 may be majo

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (But Still So Far): Assessing Liberland’s Claim of Statehood

This Comment analyzes the statehood aspirations of Liberland, a self-proclaimed microstate nestled on a tract of disputed territory between Serbia and Croatia. Customary international law, the Montevideo Criteria, and alternative modalities of recognition are discussed as potential avenues for Liberland to gain recognition. The theoretical and practical merits of these theories are explored. Ultimately, Liberland has two potential avenues for obtaining recognition. First, Liberland could convince the international community that the land it claims is terra nullius and satisfies the Montevideo Criteria. Second, Liberland could obtain constitutive recognition by the international community. It is unlikely that Liberland will be able to obtain recognition through either of these avenues

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (But Still So Far): Assessing Liberland’s Claim of Statehood

This Comment analyzes the statehood aspirations of Liberland, a self-proclaimed microstate nestled on a tract of disputed territory between Serbia and Croatia. Customary international law, the Montevideo Criteria, and alternative modalities of recognition are discussed as potential avenues for Liberland to gain recognition. The theoretical and practical merits of these theories are explored. Ultimately, Liberland has two potential avenues for obtaining recognition. First, Liberland could convince the international community that the land it claims is terra nullius and satisfies the Montevideo Criteria. Second, Liberland could obtain constitutive recognition by the international community. It is unlikely that Liberland will be able to obtain recognition through either of these avenues