A Sociology of Gab: A Computational Analysis of a Far-Right Social Network

This dissertation examines the racial discourse circulated on Gab, a microblogging and social networking platform, by the far right to proliferate hate speech, and how the far-right discourse has evolved on the platform. Gab was created 2016 in response to mainstream social media’s increase of content moderation and deplatforming of extremist users to curtail hate speech and harassment. The platform gained a substantial number of new users after the Charlotteville incident of 2017. In this thesis, I examine the creation of Gab, as an alternative social media platform, as a strategic site of socio-technical innovation, as well as the important part far-right discourse on Gab plays in the asymmetric polarization phenomenon of the media ecosystem. This project asks: How has Gab developed and what discourses about race circulate on Gab? To answer these questions, I draw on a large dataset of digital trace data of the entire Gab platform of approximately 10 million posts on Gab from 2016 to 2019. This constitutes an archive of the far-right activities on an important alternative social media platform. I use computational methodologies including structural topic modeling, word embeddings and qualitative analysis to examine the materials, and form conclusions about the impacts of asymmetric polarization of the far right on social media. I argue that Gab occupies an important position in the social media ecosystem in the context of mainstream social media platforms’ deplatforming post- Charlottesville, and the absence of legislation that regulates hate speech. Gab, as an opportunistic innovation, is emblematic of an alternative social media ecosystem that flourishes online, drawing in users who are rejecting, and rejected by, mainstream social media platforms and searching for platforms with looser content moderation that reflect their absolutist freedom-of-speech stance. This environment is conducive to asymmetric polarization, spreading anti-liberal, anti-mainstream media, anti-Semitic, and anti-immigration discourses. These ideological strings are not new but consistent with earlier articulations of the ideology of white supremacy ideology, just taking place on a newer platform that itself may enable new variations of the same theme

Torsion of Ileum Due To Giant Meckel's Diverticulum – A Case Report

Background: Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is detected in approximately 2% of all individuals and only 2-4% MD patients may develop symptoms. Small intestinal obstruction is a frequent complication in adults. Case report: A 48-year-old male was admitted to emergency department for high intestinal obstruction symptoms. The imaging examinations were failed to detect the underlying causes. A median laparotomy revealed small bowel obstruction (SBO) due to a segment of ileum twisted around a giant MD axis. Conclusion: Thus, a giant MD generating torsion of ileum is an unusual complication. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging. Emergency surgery is preferred to make an accurate diagnosis and for treatment.    &nbsp

Enhancing the organizational citizenship behavior for the environment: the roles of green training and organizational culture

The environmental concern has become an emerging topic in organization's human resource management strategy, especially in improving employee's environmental behavior at work Thus, the organizational citizenship behavior toward the environment (OCBE) has been currently attracting scholars in management. However, published studies contain research gaps in investigation of the relationships between both green training and organizational culture and OCBE, especially in the hotel industry. Following the social exchange and Ability-Motivation Opportunity theories, this study aims to examine the effects of two green practices on OCBE and the moderating role of green organizational culture to the effect of green training on OCBE. A quantitative approach with survey strategy is employed and conducted in 4-5 star hotels to test these relationships. The PLS-SEM and K-means Cluster Analysis techniques are applied to analyze data. The findings reveal that green training and organizational culture positively influence OCBE. Also, the effect of green training on OCBE is moderated by green organizational culture. Finally, our study provides limitations of research and further studies, and the implications for management practices concerned with improving employee's voluntary eco-behavior in the hotel industry.Internal Grant Agency of FaME TBU [IGA/FaME/2018/009

Enhancement of Magnetic Properties of La-substituted Strontium Hexaferrite Particles Prepared by Sol-gel Route

La-substituted strontium hexaferrite particles Sr$_{1 - x}$La$_{x}$Fe$_{12}O_{19}$ $(x = 0 \div 0.2)$ were prepared by using sol-gel method and subsequent calcination at temperatures ranging from 750\rc{}C to 1050\rc{}C for 2h in air. The effects of the initial La concentration and the calcination temperature on the structure, particle morphology and magnetic properties of the hexaferrite samples were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The high magnetic coercivity $(_{i}H_{c}$) of 6.6 - 6.7 kOe and magnetization in maximum applied magnetic field (13.5 kOe) of 68 - 72 emu/g were achieved with the particles of compositions x = 0.1 $\div$ 0.2 and calcination temperatures between 850\rc{}C and 1000\rc{}C. The experimental data indicate that La replacement for Sr improves the crystallinity and inhibits the grain growth of the samples in a wide range of calcination temperature. These factors are important for production of high-coercivity hexaferrites by sol-gel technology

Penetrating Keratoplasty for Keratoconus in Vietnamese Patients

BACKGROUND: Keratoconus is an ectatic corneal disorder that can impair the visual acuity. Up to now, penetrating keratoplasty (PK) remains the most common surgical procedure to treat severe keratoconus. In Vietnam, most keratoconus patients come to visit doctor at severe stage and were treated by PK, so we conduct this study. AIM: To evaluate the results of PK for keratoconus in Vietnamese patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 31 eyes with keratoconus who underwent PK in VNIO from January 2005 to December 2014. RESULTS: The average visual acuity was 0.86 ± 0.37 logMAR (20/145). In the group of patients without amblyopia, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/60 or better was recorded in 75.9% of eyes and 93.1% of eyes achieved a best corrected visual acuity with hard contact lenses of 20/40 or better. Mean postoperative corneal power was 43.8 ± 4.5D. Mean corneal astigmatism was 5.9 ± 2.7D. 94.6% of grafts remained clear. Posterior subcapsular cataract developed in 22.6% of eyes. Graft rejection was recognized in 12.9% of eyes. CONCLUSION: PK is an effective procedure with high rate of graft survival for keratoconus patients. However, patients should be aware of the necessary of optical correction to gain the best VA after surgery

Evaluation of Anterior Chamber Depth and Anterior Chamber Angle Changing After Phacoemulsification in the Primary Angle Close Suspect Eyes

BACKGROUND: Phacoemulsification surgery has the ability to deeply alter the segment anterior morphology, especially in eye with shallow anterior chamber (AC), narrow anterior chamber angle (ACA). However, the changes of anterior chamber depth (ACD) and ACA on the close angle suspect eyes after phacoemulsification have not been mentioned in many studies. So, we conduct this research. AIM: To evaluate the alteration in the ACA and ACD after phacoemulsification in the close angle suspect eyes. METHODS: Interventional study with no control group. Subjects were the primary angle closure suspect (PACS) eyes, that were operated by phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) at Glaucoma Department of VNIO from December 2017 to October 2018. RESULTS: 29 PACS eyes with cataract were operated by phacoemulsification with intraocular lens. After 3 months of monitoring, the average ACD augmented from 2.082 ± 0.244 to 3.673 ± 0.222 mm. AOD500 increase from 0.183 ± 0.088 to 0.388 ± 0.132 μm, AOD750 increased from 0.278 ± 0.105 to 0.576 ± 0.149 μm. The TISA500 enlarged from 0.068 ± 0.033 to 0.140 ± 0.052 mm2, TISA750 enlarged from 0.125 ± 0.052 to 0.256 ± 0.089 mm2 at the third month (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification surgery increases the ACD and enlarged the angle in the PACS eyes

Evaluation of Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery Outcomes After Penetrating Keratoplasty

BACKGROUND: Cataract is one of the reasons which causes impaired visual acuity (VA) of the eyes after penetrating keratoplasy (PK), which can be treated by cataract surgery after PK or triple procedure. Cataract surgery after PK has advantages that parameters of the eyes such as axial length, anterior chamber depth (ACD) as well as corneal curvature are stabilized after removing all sutures postoperatively, and intraocular lens (IOL) power can be calculated correctly. Therefore, postoperative VA will be improved significantly. In Vietnam, there have not been any study about cataract surgery after PK, therefore we conduct this research. AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract surgery following primary PK. METHODS: Non-randomized controlled intervention study. Ninteen eyes (19 patients) that underwent phacoemulsification plus IOL insertion after initial PK in Cornea department, Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology, from December 2013 to September 2014. RESULTS: All patients presented with reduced VA, including 17 eyes (89.9%) with VA ≤ 20/200, mean astigmatism was 7.9 ± 1.0 D. Clear corneal grafts in 16 eyes while corneal opacity was seen in 3 eyes. All eyes with cataract were diagnosed from grade 2. After cataract surgery, improved VA > 20/200 was achieved in 72.22% of cases. There was a markable reduce of postoperative astigmatism with 1,8 ± 0.8 D (p < 0.05). However, the immunologic graft reaction was presented in one eye, and two edematous corneas also reported after cataract surgery. After treatment, there was one cornea achieved its clarity. CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification cataract surgery following initial PK showed good outcomes with improved postoperative VA, reduced astigmatism, and the ultimate graft survival rate was high

Clinical and Microbiological Features of Pediatric Endopthalmitis After Open Globe Injury in the North of VietNam

BACKGROUND: Pediatric endophthalmitis after open-globe injury had its clinical features, microbiological profile different from those in aldults. In Viet Nam, there was no report on the clinical and microbiological characteristic of pediatric posttraumatic endophthalmitis. Therefore, we conduct this study. AIM: To describe clinical features, ultrasound results, gram stain and culture results of endophthalmitis in pediatric open globe injuries. METHODS: Prospective non-controlled study. Case series of 30 eyes presenting with post-traumatic endophthalmitis between 2015 and 2016 were reviewed. RESULTS: Mean age was 8.03 ± 3.99 years. Metallic and organic etiologies were most common causes for injuries (n = 11). 27 cases had penetrating corneal trauma. Dense opaque vitreous was seen in 25 eyes. Retinal necrosis < 1 quadrant and chorioretinal abscess > 1 quadrant were most common fundus lesions. Dense vitreous opacity on ultrasound was most common (n = 28). Gram stain bacteria positivity was 93.3%, gram-positive were isolated in 63.3%. Vitreous samples were more often positive than aqueous (P = 0,002). CONCLUSION: Posttraumatic endophthalmitis in children is more common in boys aged 6-10 years and most often caused by injury with metallic and organic matter. Culture results were very low. Vitreous samples were more often positive than aqueous. Gram-positive bacteria were the most common causative organism

Covid-19 and Racial Justice in Urban Education: NYC Parents Speak Out

The COVID-19 pandemic and global calls for racial justice surfaced tremendous inequities and revitalized the debate about schooling and its purpose. NYC Parents Speak Out is a public engagement project, based on an interactive survey and interviews that records and reflects NYC family educational experiences during the unprecedented school year of 2020-2021. Our research collective, comprised of researchers, parents, advocates, teachers, and school leaders from the Urban Education Ph.D. Program at The Graduate Center (CUNY) identified three key recommendations based on research findings: to improve communication through family and community engagement; give greater attention to social-emotional and mental health; and teach about systemic racism and racial justice