This study explores pandemic-related changes in Twitter communication by examining differences in emotional, psychological and social sentiment between alcohol-related tweets and a random sample of ...non-alcohol tweets during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two equivalent size sets of English-language, COVID-specific tweets posted between February 1.sup.st and April 20.sup.th, 2020 are examined. The first set includes 1.5 million tweets containing alcohol-related keywords, while the second set does not contain such references. LIWC software analyzed the tweets for sentiment factors. ANCOVAs were used to determine whether language use significantly differed between the sets, considering differences in the pandemic period (before or after the pandemic declaration) while controlling for the number of tweets. The study found that tweets in the 40 days after March 11, 2020 contained more authentic language, more affiliation-oriented language, and exhibited more positive emotion than tweets in the 40 days pre-declaration. Alcohol-related status was a significant factor only when tweets contained personal concerns, regardless of pandemic period. Authenticity levels increased significantly in alcohol-related tweets post-declaration. The findings suggest alcohol may play a lesser role in the expression of psychological, social, and emotional sentiment than the pandemic period, but interaction between authentic language and alcohol references may reflect an increased use of alcohol for coping.
The rapid onset of COVID-19 created a desire for information about the virus and government-directed response efforts. This study explores the sharing of Twitter posts from U.S. government officials ...and organizations during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study followed two paths of investigation. First, significant differences in the retweet frequency of government sources were determined based on the source (public officials and agencies, Republican- or Democrat-led states) and differentiated by equal time periods (40 days pre- or post-pandemic declaration). The study findings show that the frequency at which government accounts were retweeted in the U.S. was significantly impacted by the pandemic period, with the post-pandemic period significantly more active as governments wrestled with unprecedented economic, policy, and societal concerns related to the crisis. A greater reliance on public officials as opposed to public agencies or departments was seen, as was a greater tendency to retweet the posts of government officials from Democrat-led states. The second path examined the content of government tweets to determine the linguistic factors which predict retweet frequency. Study results found that both positive and negative emotional language in tweets predicted the frequency of retweeting government sources, though the results varied based on the source. The study results provide insight into the government-affiliated information sources users chose to share with their networks as well as the types of language that appeal to citizens during times of crisis.
Much of the research involving perceived characteristics of so-called “gamers” has been directed at deconstructing traditional stereotypes associated with the term. As gaming has become mainstream, ...research has investigated the changing nature of the term “gamer” as well as the factors which influence the perceptions of gamers. This study extends the literature by examining modern perceptions of “gamer” among a set of college-age adults. The study explores factors which impact self-identification as a “gamer” and uses content analysis to explore perceived characteristics of gamers. The results confirm that previously found factors influencing self-identification (frequency of play, gaming in the social network) still correlate with the “gamer” identity. The results also show that while traditional stereotypes still persist, the perceived meaning of the term “gamer” may be evolving. These results provide a foundation for future examinations of the gamer identity and provide insight into the evolution of the traditional gamer stereotype.
An RNA virus population does not consist of a single genotype; rather, it is an ensemble of related sequences, termed quasispecies. Quasispecies arise from rapid genomic evolution powered by the high ...mutation rate of RNA viral replication. Although a high mutation rate is dangerous for a virus because it results in nonviable individuals, it has been hypothesized that high mutation rates create a 'cloud' of potentially beneficial mutations at the population level, which afford the viral quasispecies a greater probability to evolve and adapt to new environments and challenges during infection. Mathematical models predict that viral quasispecies are not simply a collection of diverse mutants but a group of interactive variants, which together contribute to the characteristics of the population. According to this view, viral populations, rather than individual variants, are the target of evolutionary selection. Here we test this hypothesis by examining the consequences of limiting genomic diversity on viral populations. We find that poliovirus carrying a high-fidelity polymerase replicates at wild-type levels but generates less genomic diversity and is unable to adapt to adverse growth conditions. In infected animals, the reduced viral diversity leads to loss of neurotropism and an attenuated pathogenic phenotype. Notably, using chemical mutagenesis to expand quasispecies diversity of the high-fidelity virus before infection restores neurotropism and pathogenesis. Analysis of viruses isolated from brain provides direct evidence for complementation between members in the quasispecies, indicating that selection indeed occurs at the population level rather than on individual variants. Our study provides direct evidence for a fundamental prediction of the quasispecies theory and establishes a link between mutation rate, population dynamics and pathogenesis.
Higher education has embraced integrative learning as a means of enabling students to tackle so-called “wicked” problems, i.e. problems that are sufficiently complex, contested, and ambiguous that ...conventional, disciplinary specific approaches are inadequate to address. However, challenges remain in defining integrative learning consistently and effectively, especially because the cognitive processes that make up an integrative learning experience are not understood fully. This mixed-methods study was designed to help understand how students perceive, navigate, and resolve challenges that require them to integrate knowledge of one “wicked” subject (sustainability) with the skills of a practice rooted in mathematical logic (computer programming); how they express their integrative learning through reflective writing; and how we gain a stronger understanding of this process through linguistic analysis. The findings suggest that some students demonstrated the ability to integrate computational reasoning skills into socially relevant contexts more successfully, confidently, and in more well-rounded ways than others, though success required ways of thinking that extended beyond programming. The findings also underscore the potential need for reconceptualizing integrative teaching and learning in fields that have problem-solving traditions rooted in less “wicked” solutions.
Purpose The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons appointed a task force to study the indications, safety, and clinical practice patterns of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in ...oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS). The charge was to review the published applications of CBCT in OMS, identify the current position of academic thought leaders in the field, and research the adoption and usage of the technology at the clinical practitioner level. Materials and Methods This study reviewed the CBCT world literature and summarized published indications for the modality. A nationwide survey of academic thought leaders and practicing oral and maxillofacial surgeons was compiled to determine how the modality is currently being used and adopted by institutions and practices. Results This report summarizes published applications of CBCT that have been vetted by the academic and practicing OMS community to define current indications. The parameters of patient safety, radiation exposure, accreditation, and legal issues are reviewed. An overview of third-party adoption of CBCT is presented. Conclusion CBCT is displacing 2-dimensional imaging in the published literature, academia, and private practice. Best practices support reading the entire scan volume with a written report defining results, patient exposure, and field of view. Issues of patient safety, ALARA (“as low as reasonably achievable”), accreditation, and the legal and regulatory environment are reviewed. Third-party patterns for reimbursements vary widely and seem to lack consistency. There is much confusion within the provider community about indications, authorizations, and payment policies. The current medical and dental indications for CBCT in the clinical practice of OMS are reviewed and an industry guideline is proposed. These guidelines offer a clear way of differentiating consensus medical indications and common dental uses for clinicians. This matrix should bring a predictable logic to third-party authorizations, billing, and predictable payments for this emerging technology in OMS.
Timber durability is often assessed using small wood stakes exposed in direct soil contact, and the assessment generally emphasizes effects on wood rather than organisms involved. Understanding ...fungal colonization patterns can help identify key decay agents under varying conditions and use these patterns to improve wood protection strategies. Fungal colonization of red alder (Alnus rubra), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) heartwood/sapwood, and western redcedar (Thuja plicata) field stakes was assessed over 2 y in western Oregon. Spatiotemporal fungal community variations were identified via culturing and DNA sequencing, where 814 isolates were identified from 84 stakes. Forty-six ascomycete genera were identified, with Phialophora, Trichoderma, and Epicoccum species occurring most frequently. Twenty-three basidiomycete genera were identified, with Trametes and Phanerochaete being the most common. Douglas-fir and western redcedar stakes contained the highest and lowest diversity levels, respectively, reflecting natural durability differences of these species. Fungal species abundance was higher below ground than in the above ground and groundline zones, likely reflecting more stable moisture regimes, proximity to soil-based fungi, and potential nutrient migration into wood beneath the soil surface. Ascomycetes were proportionally more abundant early in the exposure period, but basidiomycetes were also observed early in the process, and there appeared to be no consistent colonization pattern.
This study investigates predictors of Twitter adoption and use by municipalities for citizen communication, considering both the level of municipal Twitter presence and the level of Twitter activity. ...Possible predictors included municipal characteristics as well as citizenry characteristics. Participants included 100 Pennsylvania municipalities drawn from a disproportionate stratified sample, evenly split between municipalities with and without a Twitter presence. No significant correlation was found between the level of municipal Twitter presence and active use of Twitter. Regression results suggest that the likelihood of adopting a Twitter account increases with greater population size and a younger population, though only population size significantly predicts the number of Twitter accounts. Regression results also suggest that a greater population size, lesser median citizen income, and a higher number of county-level Twitter accounts influence the level of Twitter activity among these municipalities.
PDF
