Qualitative Communication Research Methods -2/E.

The second edition of Qualitative Communication Research Methodsbuids on the strengths of the first edition, taking readers through every step of the qualitative research process from the research idea to the finished report. Feature: • In depth discussion of research methods, designs, types of analysis, and writing strategies • Student exercise and helpful samples of field research texts and materials • Solutions to issues and problems of qualitative communication research • Progressive approach to qualitative research and its contribution to the knowledge of rapidly changing technological cultures • Examination of how new directions in critical and interpretive theory are influencing research practice in communicatio

UK Libraries\u27 Wildcat Histories: Preserving Student Activist Social Media Content

In this presentation, we describe the current web archiving program at the University of Kentucky Libraries; provide an overview of the Wildcat Histories activist student organization social media preservation project, funded by Project STAND; discuss the technical aspects of the Wildcat Histories project; and the project\u27s current status and lessons learned

Preservation Perseverance: Archiving Social Media Content, A University of Kentucky/Latino Student Union Collaboration

The voices of activist student leaders and organizations are crucial to preserve, whether it be in a formal archives or as part of an archiving process undertaken by individuals and groups to preserve their legacies. Increasingly, these voices are found in social media and other online and web platforms that are difficult to preserve. Wildcat Histories is a year-long, grant-funded collaboration between the University of Kentucky Libraries and the University of Kentucky Latino Student Union (LSU) to research the best technologies for (as of July 2023) and then carry out the preservation of activist student organization social media content. The authors present an overview and current status of and next steps for the project, including examples of preserved LSU social media platforms. They then describe the current technical aspects and communication and outreach activities of the project. They end with reflection questions for others considering taking on similar projects

Student Learning Objectives: What Instructors Emphasize in Short-Term Study Abroad

Given that higher education institutions are increasingly utilizing short-term study abroad courses as a means to develop students’ intercultural competency, it is important to determine if and how the instructors leading these programs are incorporating intercultural learning into their courses. By examining learning objectives embedded within syllabi from short-term study abroad courses, the purpose of this study was to identify the relative extent to which instructors emphasize disciplinary and intercultural learning in teaching short-term study abroad courses, and to examine the types of intercultural learning that instructors are explicitly including in their courses. Findings point to a wide diversity of emphasis on disciplinary content and intercultural learning, with slightly more courses emphasizing disciplinary content than intercultural learning. Of those learning objectives that focus on intercultural learning, the vast majority focused on intercultural knowledge rather than skills or attitudes

New media and the circuit of cyber-culture: Conceptualizing Napster

Media studies scholars have employed the cultural circuit model to analyze media in the context of capitalist political economy. This model identifies interrelated moments\u27 in which the meanings of cultural products are determined, negotiated, and subverted in interaction between producers and audiences. The turbulent evolution of new media, however, requires continuous reflection on the adequacy of conceptual tools. Analysis of recent controversy surrounding the Internet music-exchange service Napster indicates that the cultural circuit model must be modified to accommodate the emerging media of cyber-culture

New media and the circuit of cyber-culture: Conceptualizing Napster

Media studies scholars have employed the cultural circuit model to analyze media in the context of capitalist political economy. This model identifies interrelated moments\u27 in which the meanings of cultural products are determined, negotiated, and subverted in interaction between producers and audiences. The turbulent evolution of new media, however, requires continuous reflection on the adequacy of conceptual tools. Analysis of recent controversy surrounding the Internet music-exchange service Napster indicates that the cultural circuit model must be modified to accommodate the emerging media of cyber-culture

Inspiring the next generation: the RCUK School-University Partnership Initiative (SUPI) summary report

Copy of the final report of the RCUK-SUPI Project (2014-2018). Provides an overview of key lessons relating to engagement activities designed to inspire the next generation of researchers

On Multifractal Structure in Non-Representational Art

Multifractal analysis techniques are applied to patterns in several abstract expressionist artworks, paintined by various artists. The analysis is carried out on two distinct types of structures: the physical patterns formed by a specific color (``blobs''), as well as patterns formed by the luminance gradient between adjacent colors (``edges''). It is found that the analysis method applied to ``blobs'' cannot distinguish between artists of the same movement, yielding a multifractal spectrum of dimensions between about 1.5-1.8. The method can distinguish between different types of images, however, as demonstrated by studying a radically different type of art. The data suggests that the ``edge'' method can distinguish between artists in the same movement, and is proposed to represent a toy model of visual discrimination. A ``fractal reconstruction'' analysis technique is also applied to the images, in order to determine whether or not a specific signature can be extracted which might serve as a type of fingerprint for the movement. However, these results are vague and no direct conclusions may be drawn.Comment: 53 pp LaTeX, 10 figures (ps/eps

The effect of preexercise expiratory muscle loading on exercise tolerance in healthy men

Purpose Acute non-fatiguing inspiratory muscle loading transiently increases diaphragm excitability and global inspiratory muscle strength, and may improve subsequent exercise performance. We investigated the effect of acute expiratory muscle loading on expiratory muscle function and exercise tolerance in healthy men. Methods Ten males cycled at 90% of peak power output to the limit of tolerance (TLIM) after: 1) 2 × 30 expiratory efforts against a pressure-threshold load of 40% maximal expiratory gastric pressure (PgaMAX) (EML-EX); and 2) 2 × 30 expiratory efforts against a pressure-threshold load of 10% PgaMAX (SHAM-EX). Changes in expiratory muscle function were assessed by measuring the mouth pressure (PEMAX) and PgaMAX responses to maximal expulsive efforts, and magnetically evoked (1-Hz) gastric twitch pressure (Pgatw). Results Expiratory loading at 40% of PgaMAX increased PEMAX (10 ± 5%, P = 0.001) and PgaMAX (9 ± 5%, P = 0.004). Conversely, there was no change in PEMAX (166 ± 40 vs. 165 ± 35 cmH2O, P = 1.000) or PgaMAX (196 ± 38 vs. 192 ± 39 cmH2O, P = 0.215) from before to after expiratory loading at 10% of PgaMAX. Exercise time was not different in EML-EX vs. SHAM-EX (7.91 ± 1.96 vs. 8.09 ± 1.77 min, 95% CI = −1.02 to 0.67, P = 0.651). Similarly, exercise-induced expiratory muscle fatigue was not different in EML-EX vs. SHAM-EX (−28 ± 12 vs. −26 ± 7% reduction in Pgatw amplitude, P = 0.280). Perceptual ratings of dyspnea and leg discomfort were not different during EML-EX vs. SHAM-EX. Conclusion Acute expiratory muscle loading enhances expiratory muscle function but does not improve subsequent severe-intensity exercise tolerance in healthy men

Indirect comparison of 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation (SCS) versus traditional low-frequency SCS for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is increasingly used to treat painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN). At the time of a recent meta-analysis in this field, data were only available from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of traditional low-frequency SCS (LF-SCS). However, outcomes from high-frequency 10 kHz SCS treatment are now available. Our study aimed to systematically review the contemporary evidence for SCS in patients with lower limb pain due to PDN and include an indirect comparison of the high- and low-frequency modalities. We searched the PubMed/CENTRAL databases up to 18 August 2022, for peer-reviewed RCTs of SCS that enrolled PDN patients with lower limb pain symptoms. The quality of the evidence was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Using SCS treatment arm data from the RCTs, we indirectly compared the absolute treatment effect of 10 kHz SCS and LF-SCS. Results are presented in tables and forest plots. This systematic review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Three RCTs met our eligibility criteria, including the recent 10 kHz SCS RCT (N = 216, 90 implanted) and 2 others that examined LF-SCS (N = 36, 17 implanted; N = 60, 37 implanted). Our analysis of 6-month data found clinically meaningful pain relief with each SCS modality. However, significantly greater pain reduction was identified for 10 kHz SCS over LF-SCS: average pain reduction in the 10 kHz SCS cohort was 73.7% compared with 47.5% in the pooled LF-SCS group (p < 0.0001). In the permanent implant subset, the 50% pain reduction responder rate was 83.3% in the 10 kHz SCS cohort versus 63.0% in the pooled LF-SCS group (p = 0.0072). The overall risk of bias of each included RCT was deemed high, mainly due to the absence of patient blinding. Our analysis indicates that paresthesia-free 10 kHz SCS can provide superior pain relief and responder rate over LF-SCS for managing PDN patients refractory to conventional medical management