Combining Actor Network Theory and Genre Theory to Understand the Evolution of Digital Genres

In this paper we argue that a combination of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Genre Theory can constitute a theoretical framework for understanding how digital genres evolve.Genre theory states that genres evolve over time through reciprocal interaction between institutionalized practices and individual action; that they develop from actors’ responses to recurrent situations, and are shaped around characteristics as content, form, functionality and purpose. Genres emerge out of practice and at the same time they shape that practice. While genre theory can describe the characteristics of a genre, it cannot handle the processof how a genre is formed and what powers and forces are involved in this shaping process. In order to address this problem, several authors have incorporated structuration theory into genre analysis. However, structuration theory can only catch these constitutional processes of genre in a very broad manner. As a genre is evolving and stabilizing over time in interplay with different actors, it goes beyond what is possible to explain only by means ofstructuration theory. Instead, ANT could work as a tool to capture the process of how a genre takes form in negotiations with different stakeholders. In this paper we discuss how genre theory and ANT can be combined in a framework for analyzing emerging genres. We applythis theoretical framework on an e-newspaper project that embodies a new genre in the making. We will here show how evolving genre characteristics are developed, formed andstabilized in a negotiation and struggle between the involved actors when they translate their interests in ways that finally are resulting in a new genre

Cost per case or total cost? The potential of prevention of hand injuries in young children – Retrospective and prospective studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health-care costs for hand and forearm injuries in young children are poorly documented. We examined costs in 533 children injured years 1996–2003.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Health-care costs and costs for lost productivity were retrospectively calculated in children from three catchment areas in Sweden. Seven case categories corresponding to alternative prevention strategies were constructed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over time, diminishing number of ward days reduced the health-care cost per case. Among children, the cost of lost productivity due to parental leave was 14 percent of total cost. Fingertip injuries had low median costs but high total costs due to their frequency. Complex injuries by machine or rifle had high costs per case, and despite a low number of cases, total cost was high. Type of injury, surgery and physiotherapy sessions were associated with variations in health-care cost. Low age and ethnic background had a significant effect on number of ward days.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The costs per hand injury for children were lower compared to adults due to both lower health-care costs and to the fact that parents had comparatively short periods of absence from work. Frequent simple fingertip injuries and rare complex injuries induce high costs for society. Such costs should be related to costs for prevention of these injuries.</p

A Statistical DOI Estimation Algorithm for a SiPM-Based Clinical SPECT Insert

A prototype clinical brain SPECT insert has been designed for use in simultaneous SPECT/MRI. The system utilises novel slit-slat collimators which, like pinhole collimators, suffers from parallax errors due to the large incident angle of photons. A statistical algorithm has been developed to determine the depth-of-interaction (DOI) with a view to improving image performance. The importance of DOI correction was demonstrated using Monte Carlo simulation. This simulation also indicated that 4 DOI layers (3&#x00D7;1.5 mm+3.5 mm) may be sufficient. The improvement in event localisation was demonstrated on a single detector before implementing the algorithm on the full clinical prototype where some limitations in event localisation in layers close to the readout plane were observed. Nevertheless DOI enabled the rejection of poorly localised events with improved resolution in reconstructed line sources

Comience aquí, o aquí, no aquí: Introduções para repensar a política e a metodologia educativa em uma era pós-verdad

This special issue takes up urgent questions about how we education scholars might think and do policy and methodology in what has come to be known as the post-truth era. The authors in this special issue grapple with questions about the roles and responsibilities of educational researchers in an era in which research and policy have lost their moorings in T/truth. Collectively they reconceptualize educational research and policy in light of post-truths, anti-science sentiment, and the global rise of right-wing populism. At the same time we editors wonder whether post-truth is given a bad rap. Could post-truth have something productive to offer? What does post-truth open up for educational research and policy? Or, is the real issue of this special issue a collective despair of our own insignificance and obsolescence in the wake of post-truth. Whatever we editors and authors aimed to do, this special issue will not be heard by post-truth adherents and partisans. Perhaps its only contribution is encouragement to stay with the troubles of a post-truth era, even as we despair the consequences of our research and policy creations.Este número especial plantea preguntas urgentes sobre cómo los académicos de la educación pueden pensar y hacer políticas y metodologías en una era posverdad. Los autores se enfrentan a preguntas sobre los roles y responsabilidades de los investigadores educativos en un momento en que la investigación y la política han perdido sus amarres en V/verdad. En conjunto, reconceptualizan la investigación y la política educativa a la luz de las posverdades, el sentimiento anticientífico y el auge mundial del populismo de derecha. Los editores también se preguntan si a la posverdad se le da una mala reputación. ¿Podría la posverdad tener algo productivo que ofrecer? ¿Qué abre la posverdad a la investigación y la política educativa? O bien, ¿es el problema real de este número especial una desesperación colectiva de nuestra propia insignificancia y obsolescencia después de la posverdad? Independientemente de lo que nosotros (los editores y autores) pretendamos hacer, este número especial no será escuchado por los partidarios y partidarios de la posverdad. Quizás su única contribución sea un estímulo para permanecer con los problemas de una era posverdad, incluso cuando nos desesperamos por las consecuencias de nuestras investigaciones y creaciones de políticas.Esta dossiê especial levanta questões urgentes sobre como os estudiosos da educação podem pensar e fazer políticas e metodologias em uma era pós-verdade. Os autores se deparam com questões sobre os papéis e responsabilidades dos pesquisadores educacionais em um momento em que a pesquisa e a política perderam seus laços na verdade. Juntos, eles reconceitualizam a pesquisa e a política educacional à luz das verdades posteriores, do sentimento anti-científico e da ascensão mundial do populismo de direita. Os editores também se perguntam se a verdade posterior recebe uma má reputação. A pós-verdade poderia ter algo produtivo para oferecer? O que abre a verdade depois da pesquisa e da política educacional? Ou o verdadeiro problema desta questão especial é um desespero coletivo de nossa própria insignificância e obsolescência depois da verdade posterior? Independentemente do que nós (editores e autores) pretendemos fazer, esta edição especial não será ouvida pelos apoiadores e apoiadores da verdade posterior. Talvez sua única contribuição seja um incentivo para permanecer com os problemas de uma era pós-verdade, mesmo quando nos desesperamos com as conseqüências de nossa pesquisa e elaboração de políticas

Differential expression of Axl and Gas6 in renal cell carcinoma reflecting tumor advancement and survival

PURPOSE: Overexpression of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl is implicated in several cancers. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the expression of Axl and its ligand Gas6 in various renal cell carcinoma (RCC) types and in oncocytoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR was used to quantify tumor mRNA levels for Axl and Gas6 in a cohort (n = 221) of RCC patients. Serum levels of soluble sAxl and Gas6 proteins were measured using specific ELISA assays (n = 282). The presence of Axl protein in tumor tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (n = 294). Results were correlated to tumor-associated variables, clinical biochemical tests, and patient survival. RESULTS: Tumor Axl mRNA levels correlated independently to survival when assessed against tumor stage and grade. In the study group, the median cancer-specific survival of all RCC patients during 307 months of follow-up was 55 months (confidence interval, +/-40.4). The 25% of patients with lowest tumor Axl mRNA levels had significantly better survival than the rest (P = 0.0005), with 70% of the patients still alive at the end of follow-up. In contrast, in patients with medium-high Axl mRNA, only 25% were alive at the end of follow-up. Tumor Gas6 mRNA levels correlated to survival, tumor-associated variables, and disease severity as did serum levels of soluble sAxl and Gas6 protein. However, no correlation between Axl protein in tumor tissue and survival was found. CONCLUSIONS: Axl and Gas6 expression in RCC are associated with tumor advancement and patient survival. In particular, low tumor Axl mRNA levels independently correlated with improved survival

Impact of DOI in a clinical SPECT/MRI system:asimulation study

A novel SPECT/MRI scanner has been modelled and tested here using Monte Carlo simulation software, SIMIND. The INSERT SPECT/MRI system faces challenges with event reconstruction due to photon depth of interaction. The novel SPECT system is subject to parallax errors due to its crystal size and slit aperture collimator. We present a simple measure of the DOI errors through SIMIND experiments; by modelling the DOI layers we are able to improve the reconstruction of projection data in the INSERT scanner. A set of capillary phantoms are simulated to explore the impact of DOI on the resolution of the scanner and establish corrections in the system's reconstruction

Wearing the Label of Mental Illness: Community-Based Participatory Action Research of Mental Illness Stigma

Stigma remains an impediment to seeking and receiving the requisite care for mental illness. To enhance a local National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) affiliate’s understanding of community members’ perceptions of mental illness and its associated stigma, a community-based participatory action research study was conducted. The study addressed the following research question: how do community members understand and experience the stigma associated with mental illness? Twenty-two participant-researchers wore mental illness labeled T-shirts around the local community, recorded their observations and reflections of this experience and recruited twenty-two community members for semi-structured interviews about mental illness stigma. Domain analysis of the interviews revealed community members’ understandings of (1) sources of stigma, (2) impacts of stigma, (3) conceptualizations of stigma and (4) pathways to change stigma. Findings were presented to members of the local NAMI affiliate as well as other community members. Practical implications, specific to the community of interest, are discussed