Analyzing Audio/Visual Data in the Digital Humanities

The Bloomsbury Handbook to the Digital Humanities reconsiders key debates, methods, possibilities, and failings from across the digital humanities, offering a timely interrogation of the present and future of the arts and humanities in the digital age.Comprising 43 essays from some of the field\u27s leading scholars and practitioners, this comprehensive collection examines, among its many subjects, the emergence and ongoing development of DH, postcolonial digital humanities, feminist digital humanities, race and DH, multilingual digital humanities, media studies as DH, the failings of DH, critical digital humanities, the future of text encoding, cultural analytics, natural language processing, open access and digital publishing, digital cultural heritage, archiving and editing, sustainability, DH pedagogy, labour, artificial intelligence, the cultural economy, and the role of the digital humanities in climate change. From this chapter: We offer an observation, perhaps even provocation: DH is undergoing an A/V turn. The combination of access to data either through digitization or born-digital sources alongside advances in computing from memory to deep learning is resulting in a watershed moment for the analysis of audio and visual data in the field

Altmetrics, Legacy Scholarship, and Scholarly Legacy

When using alternative metrics (altmetrics) to investigate the impact of a scholar’s work, researchers and librarians are typically cautioned that altmetrics will be less useful for older works of scholarship. This is because it is difficult to collect social media and other attention retroactively, and the numbers will be lower if the work was published before social media marketing and promotion were widely accepted in a field. In this article, we argue that altmetrics can provide useful information about older works in the form of documenting renewed attention to past scholarship as part of a scholar’s legacy. Using the altmetrics profile of the late Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, often referred to as “the father of modern transplantation”, we describe two cases where altmetrics provided information about renewed interest in his works: a controversy about race and genetics that shows the ongoing impact of a particular work, and posthumous remembrances by colleagues which reveal his scholarly legacy.</jats:p

Regularly log-periodic functions and some applications

We prove a Tauberian theorem for the Laplace--Stieltjes transform and Karamata-type theorems in the framework of regularly log-periodic functions. As an application we determine the exact tail behavior of fixed points of certain type smoothing transforms

Multi-gene panel testing for hereditary cancer predisposition in unsolved high-risk breast and ovarian cancer patients.

PurposeMany women with an elevated risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer have previously tested negative for pathogenic mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Among them, a subset has hereditary susceptibility to cancer and requires further testing. We sought to identify specific groups who remain at high risk and evaluate whether they should be offered multi-gene panel testing.MethodsWe tested 300 women on a multi-gene panel who were previously enrolled in a long-term study at UCSF. As part of their long-term care, all previously tested negative for mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 either by limited or comprehensive sequencing. Additionally, they met one of the following criteria: (i) personal history of bilateral breast cancer, (ii) personal history of breast cancer and a first or second degree relative with ovarian cancer, and (iii) personal history of ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal carcinoma.ResultsAcross the three groups, 26 women (9%) had a total of 28 pathogenic mutations associated with hereditary cancer susceptibility, and 23 women (8%) had mutations in genes other than BRCA1 and BRCA2. Ashkenazi Jewish and Hispanic women had elevated pathogenic mutation rates. In addition, two women harbored pathogenic mutations in more than one hereditary predisposition gene.ConclusionsAmong women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer who have previously tested negative for pathogenic BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, we identified three groups of women who should be considered for subsequent multi-gene panel testing. The identification of women with multiple pathogenic mutations has important implications for family testing

Informing the Digital Archive with Altmetrics

Altmetrics can be used to understand impact beyond citations, particularly for digitized collections. As cultural institutions look to pursue more active engagement with communities of practice, altmetrics help archivists understand the conversations happening in real time that will allow them to provide access to the most relevant materials. Through the use of case studies, we aim to demonstrate how applying altmetrics while considering the curation of digital collections can allow archivists to stay engaged with target communities outside traditional channels, demonstrating both the applicability of altmetrics to legacy scholarly work and the value of digitization as an access method.</jats:p

Association Between Noninvasive Fibrosis Markers and Postoperative Mortality After Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

IMPORTANCE The selection criteria for hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well established. The role of noninvasive fibrosis markers in this setting is unknown in the US population. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis 4 (Fib4) values are associated with perioperative mortality and overall survival after hepatectomy for HCC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In a multicenter cohort study, Veterans Administration Corporate Data Warehouse was used to evaluate a retrospective cohort of 475 veterans who underwent hepatectomy for HCC between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012, in Veterans Administration hospitals. Data analysis occurred between September 30, 2016, and December 30, 2017. Logistic regression, survival analysis, and change in concordance index analysis were performed to evaluate the association between APRI and Fib4 values and mortality. EXPOSURES The cohort was stratified based on preoperative APRI and Fib4 values. Analysis was performed accounting for the validated and established predictors of outcome. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Thirty-day mortality, 90-day mortality, and overall survival were the primary outcomes. An APRI value greater than 1.5 was considered high risk (cirrhosis), and an Fib4 value greater than 4.0 was considered high risk (advanced fibrosis). Portal hypertension (diagnosis of ascites or encephalopathy indicates presence of portal hypertension) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class (A indicates preserved liver function; B, mild to moderate liver dysfunction) served as 2 other measures of liver function. RESULTS A total of 475 patients with HCC underwent hepatectomy. The mean (SD) age was 65.6 (9.4) years; Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, 8.9 (3.1); and body mass index, 28.1 (4.9) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). A total of 361 patients (76.0%) were men, 294 (61.9%) were white; 308 (64.8%) were hepatitis C positive, and 346 (72.8%) were categorized as CTP class A. The most common surgical procedure was partial lobectomy, with 321 (67.6%) procedures. The APRI value greater than 1.5 vs 1.5 or lower was associated with increased 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR], 6.45; 95% CI, 2.80-14.80) and 90-day mortality (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.35-5.22), as was Fib4 greater than 4.0 vs Fib4 4.0 or lower for 30-day mortality (OR, 5.41; 95% CI, 2.35-12.50) and 90-day mortality (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.41-5.35). Survival analysis showed that overall survival was significantly different for APRI greater than 1.5 vs 1.5 or lower (mean survival time, 3.6 vs 5.4 years; log-rank P <.001) and Fib4 greater than 4.0 vs 4.0 or lower (mean survival time, 4.1 vs 5.3 years; log rank P =.01). Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that elevated APRI was significantly associated with worse survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03-1.23) but Fib4 values were not (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.99-1.09). Change in concordance index showed that APRI and Fib4 improved the ability of CTP class and portal hypertension to predict postoperative mortality. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Elevated APRI and Fib4 values, which are noninvasive markers of fibrosis, were associated with higher perioperative mortality. The APRI was also associated with worse overall survival. Use of APRI and Fib4 measures improved the ability of established markers to predict postoperative mortality. These findings suggest incorporating APRI and Fib4 to the selection process for hepatectomy for HCC as predictors associated with mortalitymay be warranted.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Awareness of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: can information on guidelines prevent overestimation?

Background: Mass-media campaigns such as Change4Life use messaging to promote physical activity guidelines. Raising knowledge of MVPA guidelines within UK adults is a main goal of current mass media campaigns aimed at increasing engagement in MVPA. As this may help to inform accurate perceptions of adults' own MVPA level it is an important area of investigation. Subjective norms, health status and normal walking intensity may also influence adult's awareness of their own MVPA behaviour. The aim of this study was to examine the hypothesis that greater knowledge of MVPA guidelines, supportive subjective norms, lower self-reported health status and intensity of typical walking pace are associated with accurate awareness of MVPA engagement within a sample of UK adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study of UK adults was conducted. UK adults who subscribed to the National Academic Mailing List Service (JISCMail) were sent an invitation to complete an online survey. 1,724 UK adults completed the online survey which included items on minutes spent in MVPA, awareness of MVPA using constructs highlighted by the precaution adoption process model, subjective norms, knowledge of guidelines, health status and demographics. Results: The sample was 70% female, 57% aged under 45, 93% White and 69% in full-time employment. 62% reported their health to be above average, while 62% demonstrated accurate awareness of their own physical activity level, only 18% correctly reported the MVPA guidelines and 51% reported high subjective norms towards MVPA. Logistic regression analyses identified high subjective norms (OR = 1.84, CI: 1.29, 2.63, p = .001), average or below average health status (OR = .71, CI: .53 .97, p = .001), and a self-reported regular walking pace of moderate-to-vigorous (OR = 1.31, CI: 1.05, 1.63, p = .02) to be associated with accurate MVPA awareness. Knowledge of MVPA guidelines was not associated with MVPA awareness. Conclusions: Mass media campaigns, such as Change4Life, inform the general public of MVPA guidelines. Campaign messages may be more influential targeting subjective norms instead of knowledge of guidelines, thereby raising awareness of personal MVPA behaviour amongst inactive adults and increasing motivation to engage in more MVPA

Blending and Spending: Financial Influences Impacting Childfree Stepmothers’ Relationship Satisfaction

There exists a need to better understand how monetary factors impact the partnerships of childfree stepmothers in blended families. The present study examines the correlation of couples’ shared financial values and congruence in financial management behaviors with relationship satisfaction among these stepmothers. Participants included 104 childfree stepmothers in blended families. Findings indicated that perceived shared financial values positively predicted relationship satisfaction. In addition, while financial behavior congruence between stepmothers and their partners did predict relationship satisfaction, it did so through a weaker inverse association. Contrary to expectations, financial behavior congruence did not mediate the association between shared financial values and relationship satisfaction. These results reflect the complex role of financial factors in the well-being of childfree stepmothers within blended families and the need for nuanced psychological and financial support tailored to this oft-overlooked group of women

Verbal Learning and Memory After Cochlear Implantation in Postlingually Deaf Adults: Some New Findings with the CVLT-II

OBJECTIVES: Despite the importance of verbal learning and memory in speech and language processing, this domain of cognitive functioning has been virtually ignored in clinical studies of hearing loss and cochlear implants in both adults and children. In this article, we report the results of two studies that used a newly developed visually based version of the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II), a well-known normed neuropsychological measure of verbal learning and memory. DESIGN: The first study established the validity and feasibility of a computer-controlled visual version of the CVLT-II, which eliminates the effects of audibility of spoken stimuli, in groups of young normal-hearing and older normal-hearing (ONH) adults. A second study was then carried out using the visual CVLT-II format with a group of older postlingually deaf experienced cochlear implant (ECI) users (N = 25) and a group of ONH controls (N = 25) who were matched to ECI users for age, socioeconomic status, and nonverbal IQ. In addition to the visual CVLT-II, subjects provided data on demographics, hearing history, nonverbal IQ, reading fluency, vocabulary, and short-term memory span for visually presented digits. ECI participants were also tested for speech recognition in quiet. RESULTS: The ECI and ONH groups did not differ on most measures of verbal learning and memory obtained with the visual CVLT-II, but deficits were identified in ECI participants that were related to recency recall, the buildup of proactive interference, and retrieval-induced forgetting. Within the ECI group, nonverbal fluid IQ, reading fluency, and resistance to the buildup of proactive interference from the CVLT-II consistently predicted better speech recognition outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest that several underlying foundational neurocognitive abilities are related to core speech perception outcomes after implantation in older adults. Implications of these findings for explaining individual differences and variability and predicting speech recognition outcomes after implantation are discussed