Misguided Attempts Research Articles

Teasing out the Effects of Natural Stressors at Chemically Contaminated Sites.

Aquatic ecosystems are often impacted by a multitude of stressors, many of which are introduced by a combination of anthropogenic activities such as agricultural development, urbanization, damming, and industrial discharge. Determining the primary stressors responsible for ecological impairments at a site can be complex and challenging; however, it is crucial for making informed management decisions. Improper diagnosis of an impaired system can lead to misguided attempts at remediation, which can be both time consuming and costly. We focused on the development, implementation, and evaluation of methodologies that, in combination, allowed us to identify the primary stressors. These included a four-phase, weight-of-evidence (WOE) assessment including in situ Toxicity Identification and Evaluation (iTIE) testing, physicochemical and macrobenthos characterization, reciprocal sediment transplants, and laboratory and in situ toxicity testing. The contaminants of concern (COCs) at the site were elevated levels of ammonia, chloride, pH, and total dissolved solids in groundwater upwellings into a high-quality waterway. Reciprocal transplants of site sediments and nearby reference sediments and traditional benthic sampling showed impaired benthic indices and multiple stations around a contaminated industrial settling basin. Impaired stations had elevated COCs in groundwaters but exhibited a steep vertical concentration gradient, with concentrations decreasing near the sediment-surface water interface. We describe Phase 4 of the study, which focused on teasing out the role of dissolved oxygen sags in benthic macroinvertebrate responses. Extensive submerged and emergent macrophytes, algae, and cyanobacteria co-occurred at the impaired sites and increased throughout the summer. Laboratory testing suggested that ammonia and pH were possibly toxic at the sites, based on groundwater concentrations. The in situ toxicity testing, however, showed toxicity occurring even at stations with low levels of COCs concurrently with large diurnal fluxes in dissolved oxygen (DO). A final phase using a type of iTIE approach utilized limnocorrals with and without aeration and with in situ toxicity measures using Hyalella azteca. The Phase 4 assessment revealed that low DO levels were primarily responsible for impaired benthic communities, and COC upwellings were diluted at the sediment-water interface to nontoxic levels. These findings will allow for improved management decisions for more efficient and effective restoration activities. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1524-1536. © 2024 SETAC.

Between Anger and Revenge: The Unpoetic Justice of “Counterparts”

Abstract James Joyce’s “Counterparts” is a poignant exploration of the multifaceted themes of anger, revenge, and justice within the backdrop of early twentieth century Dublin. The story takes the reader on a journey through the life of Mr. Farrington, whose struggles embody those of an average Irish worker in the face of British imperialism and societal pressures. Farrington’s gradual transformation from a man burdened by anger into one consumed by an insatiable thirst for revenge serves as a stark commentary on the corrosive effects of his predicament. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes increasingly evident that the boundary between anger and revenge is a fine line, easily blurred in the tumultuous world of Mr. Farrington. The story challenges readers to consider the legitimacy of his emotions and actions, highlighting the complexities of the human psyche when subjected to perceived injustices. Farrington’s impulsive and misguided attempts at revenge only serve to underscore the tragic nature of his character, exemplifying the societal constraints that restrict his agency and expression. “Counterparts” ultimately paints a bleak picture of justice, where Farrington’s quest for revenge takes on a violent and delusional character that fails to address the core issues of perceived injustices. His inability to channel his anger into a purposeful course of action mirrors the broader sense of disempowerment experienced by many Irish citizens in Joyce’s time.

Promoting Honesty in Children, or Fostering Pathological Behaviour?

Promoting Honesty in Children, or Fostering Pathological Behaviour?

Chinese Scholars on the Progress and Outcomes of the Military Reforms in Russia (from the 1990s till Present)

Since the early 1990s, Russia and China have come a long way in developing military cooperation. It began with an exchange of delegations, the reduction of troops along the border, the adoption of confidence-building measures, and, by now, has transformed into a strong partnership. Two countries annually conduct several joint military exercises and develop military training cooperation. In this regard, the Chinese assessments of the Russian military policy after the collapse of the USSR are of particular interest. The survey of specialized publications shows that Chinese scholars commenced studies on the Russian military reforms in the mid-1990s. The author notes that there was a spike of research activity on that matter in 2009 soon after the start of radical reforms of the Russian Armed Forces. Chinese scholars usually identify four waves in the Russian military reforms, each determined by a combination of domestic and external political and economic factors. Chinese military and academic experts assessed these reforms both in terms of their impact on the global balance of power in the military-political sphere and their potential relevance to similar reforms in China. The first two phases of the Russian military reforms (from 1992 to 1997 and from 1997 to 1999) are usually assessed negatively. The general failure of military reforms is attributed to the economic challenges, the lack of political will, and the absence of an adequate theoretical and methodological basis for such transformations. Subsequent reforms (from 2001 to 2004, and, particularly, after 2008) are generally assessed positively. In that regard, Chinese experts emphasize the importance of the processes of political power consolidation and economic recovery that took place in Russia in that period, as well as the role of lessons learned by the Russian military from local wars and armed conflicts. Nevertheless, according to Chinese assessments these reforms still have certain drawbacks, particularly, associated with hasty and misguided attempts to copy the Western military models at the turn of the 2000s — 2010s. In general, Chinese civilian and military experts conclude that throughout a long and difficult process of military reforms Russia has made a significant progress in rearmament and increasing the combat potential of its armed forces. Moreover, such reforms could serve as a valuable source of experience and an example for further development and modernization of the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA).

Assessing the NCAA as a Compliance Organization

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is, at essence, a compliance organization. This is evidenced by the NCAA’s stated and functional mission—one supported by a considerable and growing administrative apparatus—that is aimed at ensuring its member-schools abide by the association’s rules. While a significant body of academic literature analyzes the NCAA and its bylaws, surprisingly none of these prior works evaluate the effectiveness of the NCAA as a compliance organization. This omission is glaring considering the past decade has seen a rich body of work emerge regarding the field of corporate governance and organizational compliance. And it is all the more surprising given the sustained and withering critiques of the NCAA centered on the association’s inability to adequately and fairly police the integrity of college athletics. This article seeks to fill this conspicuous gap in the literature by analyzing the NCAA through the lens of corporate compliance. What it finds, after applying theories based in behavioral ethics, criminology, and procedural justice, is that the association’s legislative and enforcement apparatus has become so overwrought, so “overcriminalized,” that it is eroding the legitimacy of the NCAA as a whole. Critically, this delegitimization not only decreases compliance effectiveness, but actually fosters future wrongdoing by allowing players, coaches, staff, and third-parties to rationalize rule-breaking behavior. In its misguided attempts to increase the integrity of college sports, the NCAA has damaged its own legitimacy, thereby creating conditions ripe for further rule violations. The origins, operation, and examples of this phenomenon are detailed, but so too are the implications for the NCAA, which must learn from corporate compliance if it is ever to effectuate its laudable, yet increasingly embattled, mission.

How Should Clinicians' Involvement in the Holocaust Inform Contemporary Responsibilities to Protect Public Safety?

This case and commentary explore health professionals' duties to advocate for individual patients, protect their communities, and navigate conflicts between them. The perils of physicians intentionally harming individuals in misguided attempts to strengthen a community have been illuminated by the Holocaust. It is too simplistic to say, however, that public health can never outweigh individual preferences or even needs. The commentary herein articulates criteria that might justify physicians taking action to protect the public that is contrary to their individual patients' interests.

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

Reviewed by: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado Deborah Stevenson, Editor Maldonado, Crystal Fat Chance, Charlie Vega. Holiday House, 2021 [352p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780823447176 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780823448906 $11.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 7-10 Sixteen-year-old Charlie (Charlotte) Vega thinks of herself as "the sidekick, the brown bestie" to her stunning friend Amelia, who's "the walking embodiment of Black excellence." Charlie also misses her late Puerto Rican dad, with whom she had much in common, while her white mother seems intent on conflating thinness with health, status, and possibility—bad news for food-loving plus-sized Charlie. When she embarks on a romance with co-worker and classmate Brian, she's overjoyed to find somebody who thinks she's the special one, but then she hears something about Brian that undermines her confidence in his affection. Charlie's easygoing narration covers a relatable collection of problems, and while her reaction to the news about Brian (he asked Amelia out first) may seem extreme, it's also understandable in light of her feeling like she's always an option rather than a priority. It's also authentic that Charlie is fat-positive but self-questioning, comfortable with her body but tired of the price the world, ranging from retailers to her mother, makes her pay for it. The book is especially good at her tightly wound mother's painfully misguided attempts to connect with and love her daughter as the two struggle to find a wavelength now that Charlie's father is gone. Readers will appreciate Charlie from the get-go and rejoice when she herself begins to see the Charlie-celebrating light. Copyright © 2021 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

3D Printed Biomimetic Rabbit Airway Simulation Model for Nasotracheal Intubation Training.

Rabbit inhalation anesthesia by endotracheal intubation involves a higher risk among small animals owing to several anatomical and physiological features, which is pathognomonic to this species of lagomorphs. Rabbit-specific airway devices have been designed to prevent misguided intubation attempts. However, it is believed that expert anesthetic training could be a boon in limiting the aftermaths of this procedure. Our research is aimed to develop a novel biomimetic 3D printed rabbit airway model with representative biomechanical material behavior and radiodensity. Imaging data were collected for two sacrificed rabbit heads using micro-computed tomography (μCT) and micro-magnetic resonance imaging for the first head and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the second head. Imaging-based life-size musculoskeletal airway models were printed using polyjet technology with a combination of hard and soft materials in replicates of three. The models were evaluated quantitatively for dimensional accuracy and radiodensity and qualitatively using digital microscopy and endoscopy for technical, tactic, and visual realism. The results displayed that simulation models printed with polyjet technology have an overall surface representation of 93% for μCT-based images and 97% for CBCT-based images within a range of 0.0–2.5 mm, with μCT showing a more detailed reproduction of the nasotracheal anatomy. Dimensional discrepancies can be caused due to inadequate support material removal and due to the limited reconstruction of microstructures from the imaging on the 3D printed model. The model showed a significant difference in radiodensities in hard and soft tissue regions. Endoscopic evaluation provided good visual and tactile feedback, comparable to the real animal. Overall, the model, being a practical low-cost simulator, comprehensively accelerates the learning curve of veterinary nasotracheal intubation and paves the way for 3D simulation-based image-guided interventional procedures.

‘Conversion Therapy’ Misleads, Harms Patients

‘Conversion Therapy’ Misleads, Harms Patients

‘Directly in Your Face’: A Qualitative Study on the Sending and Receiving of Unsolicited ‘Dick Pics’ Among Young Adults

‘Dick pics’ are self-taken pictures of penises sent by men via digital devices such as smartphones. Although the unsolicited sending of dick pics has become an object of public and academic attention, few empirical studies have investigated this phenomenon. Based on data from seven same-sex focus group interviews with young adults this qualitative study explores personal experiences with receiving and sending unsolicited dick pics and collective understandings of this phenomenon. Results show that girls experience unsolicited dick pics as intrusive and see them as misguided attempts at flirting, while boys perceive the sending of dick pics as a way of showing off, complimenting, hooking-up with or getting nude pictures in return from girls. Analyses show how these explanations draw on gendered constructions of heterosexuality and how humorous framings of male nudity serve to both reduce the potential consequences of having dick pics shared and undermine the intimidating experience of receiving them. Results are discussed in relation to research on sexting and suggestions for future research are presented.

Sputum smear microscopy in the Xpert® MTB/RIF era.

A balanced perspective is advocated for the assessment and application of the most recent and the oldest diagnostic methods for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)-the molecular Xpert® MTB/RIF assay and microscopy for acid-fast bacilli. We discuss their respective merits and shortcomings and identify threats that may hamper their use in TB control. Neither test on its own provides all the information needed for diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Considering all aspects important for both individual patient care and disease control, neither seems 'better' than the other. The required advancement of microscopy had already been hampered before the introduction of the GeneXpert technology by unsuccessful and probably misguided attempts to decentralise culture-based diagnosis and drug susceptibility testing. It seems evident that systematic replacement of microscopy by Xpert is not a viable option for the foreseeable future. Instead, the two methods should complement each other to arrive at a comprehensive, accessible and continuous service for a maximum number of patients. This will intrinsically prioritise targeting the most potent transmitters with the worst prognosis, simultaneously offering optimised prospects for efficient TB control. New microscopy and Xpert applications are expected to ultimately make control programmes independent of culture-based methods in diagnosis, treatment monitoring and outcome assessment.

Wilhelm Dilthey’s Views on Autobiography

ABSTRACTThe paper examines the role of autobiographical literature in Dilthey’s ‘critique of historical reason.’ The purpose of the essay is (1) to offer an in-depth analysis of Dilthey’s concept of autobiography, (2) to place it into the larger framework of his lifelong epistemological project, and (3) to investigate the influence of Dilthey’s ideas on an early study of autobiography, Georg Misch’s History of Autobiography in Antiquity. The key argument is that Dilthey’s choice of the genre of autobiography to model his theory of understanding was not only a symptom of his misguided epistemological attempts, as many have suggested, but a potential cause of them. The article concludes that the inconsistencies of Dilthey’s argument regarding the value of autobiographical self-reflection for historical knowledge are most pronounced in the work of those who applied Dilthey’s concepts to the interpretation of actual autobiographical material, such as Georg Misch.

Developmental pathways between peer victimization, psychological functioning, disordered eating behavior, and body mass index: A review and theoretical model

Peer victimization, a high body mass index (BMI), and disordered eating behavior are all considered to be major health concerns afflicting today's youth. We bring together evidence from epidemiological, longitudinal, and meta-analytic research to propose a theoretical model of how peer victimization relates to psychopathology, which in turn, leads to misguided attempts to alter physical appearance through disordered eating behavior, and highlight how the pathway may vary as a function of BMI and gender. Specifically, we argue that, as a result of being victimized by peers: (1) overweight adolescents will be at high risk of psychological dysfunction and disordered eating behavior (particularly binge eating), and the effect will be stronger in girls; (2) average weight adolescents will be at high risk of psychological dysfunction and disordered eating behavior (particularly binge eating and bulimic symptoms), and the effect will be stronger in girls; and (3) underweight adolescents will be at high risk of psychological dysfunction and disordered eating behavior (particularly to increase muscle mass), and the effect will be stronger in boys. The identification and testing of comprehensive theoretical models may be beneficial for the targeting of interventions for children and adolescents affected by repeated aggressive behavior.

Physics’ silence on time

In this paper I argue that physics is, always was, and probably always will be voiceless with respect to tense and passage, and that, therefore, if, as I believe, tense and passage are the essence of time, physics’ contribution to our understanding of time can only be limited. The argument, in a nutshell, is that if "physics has no possibility of expression for the Now", to quote Einstein, then it cannot add anything to the study of tense and passage, and specifically, cannot add anything to the debate between deniers and affirmers of the existence or reality of tense and passage. Since relativity theory did not equip physics with a new language with which to speak of tense and passage, I draw the further conclusion that relativity theory has not generated the revolution to our conception of time that is attributed to it. In the last section I discuss the motivations behind the continued but misguided attempts to integrate tense into a relativistic setting, and assess the manners in which relativity theory has nevertheless enhanced, albeit indirectly, our understanding of tense and passage.

APA Member McCance-Katz Confirmed for New HHS Leadership Position

APA Member McCance-Katz Confirmed for New HHS Leadership Position

Special Issue: Language Planning and Sign Language Rights

Special Issue:Language Planning and Sign Language Rights Joseph J. Murray (bio) Sign languages exist throughout the world’s societies with varying degrees of acceptance and recognition. Sign languages have emerged as a result of the establishment of schools for deaf people as well as within shared signing communities with sign languages used by both deaf and hearing people. The past half century has witnessed remarkable growth in the academic study of sign languages around the world, an endeavor that has given scientific support to deaf communities’ advocacy for full acceptance of their sign languages by the societies in which they live. Some countries recognize national sign languages in legislation, whereas others do not. Language standardization can threaten sign languages used by a relatively small group of people by favoring a designated “national” sign language or attempts to impose an extranational signed lexicon to take the place of a naturally occurring national sign language (Adam, this volume). The theme of this special issue is “Language Planning and Sign Language Rights.” The six articles in it look at the intersections of language attitudes, public policy, and deaf community discourse at national, regional, and international levels. This is the second special issue of Sign Language Studies on the theme of language planning in sign languages in three years, following an issue in 2012 edited by Josep Quer and Ronice M. de Quadros. This issue comes in the context of widespread interest in sign language rights among academics and within the deaf community. A number of articles on language planning and sign language rights have appeared, as well as two books: Larry Siegel’s The Human Right to Language (2008) and Language Planning [End Page 375] in Sign Languages, by Timothy Reagan (2010), both published by Gallaudet University Press. This interest in sign language rights and sign language planning parallels campaigns by members of deaf communities to use sign language as a means of securing equality for deaf people in the societies in which they live. The late nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth saw decades of struggle by organized deaf communities to undo misguided attempts to remove sign language from educational settings for deaf children. As I write in “Linguistic Human Rights Discourses in Deaf Community Activism,” the academic legitimacy conferred by sign language research shaped a new discourse on cultural and linguistic distinctiveness that deaf communities could use to advocate for sign language rights as a means of achieving equality in their societies. The movement for sign language rights has had to overcome the perception of sign languages as not real languages. Verena Krausneker, in “Ideologies and Attitudes toward Sign Languages: An Approximation,” writes that this is one of five ideological constructions that influence this mind-set. Others include the contention that sign languages are of limited value in an ostensibly hearing world, the problem of either/or attitudes of viewing deaf people either as having a disability or as a cultural minority, thereby characterizing both deaf people and sign language as economic burdens. In addition to these four negative frameworks Krausneker suggests that a fifth, positive, attitudinal framework can be found in the concept of Deaf Gain. Robert Adam, in his article, “Standardization of Sign Languages,” explores a particular form of corpus planning with regard to sign languages: language standardization. Although agreeing with previous scholars that such efforts have been led by hearing people or guided by priorities established by them, Adam also notes that some groups of deaf people have been involved in these attempts as well. Adams’s article gives examples of language standardization in Australia, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, and the Arab region. It explores arguments against language standardization by the World Federation of the Deaf and concludes that such efforts should be studied, with careful attention paid to the prime actors and to whether deaf communities’ [End Page 376] primacy in determining the use of their language has been taken into account in the process. A number of countries have recognized sign languages in various ways. Some have done so with a declaration by a government official that the national or regional sign language is indeed a language. Other forms of acknowledgment...

Book review of "The World is My Class- room: International Learning and Canadian Higher Education"

Benham Rennick, J. & Desjardin, M., Eds. (2013). The World is My Classroom: International Learning and Canadian Higher Education. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press. Pages: 251 pages. Price 27.95 CDN (paper). ISBN 9781442615823Even from the first page, this book made promises to explore ethical debates and practices of international education that would be hard to achieve in any one volume. This is perhaps, for me, its most enlightening contribution: international education and global learning initiatives tend to promise the world and deliver something that is much more ragged and even destructive, especially when viewed from a global citizenship perspective. The book presents a number of studies of travel abroad or international learning as a way to sort through the contested terrain of international/internationalized education. It is a journey to find the global citizen, but the journey doesn't really get much farther than the familiar voices and experiences of western-educated students and their professors-not exactly a global perspective. Missing are the many worldviews and experiences of hosts (or so-called partners) of western study-abroad students, the indigenous knowledges that might be encountered in lands and places beyond the familiar west described in these texts, and the rich anticolonial/decolonizing contributions of theorists and activists from many of the locations where western students travel to find their goodness.The book begins with an endorsement and preface by the Kielburger brothers, who have recently become the face of internationalized education via social entrepreneurship throughout much of Canada. Their projects, backed by extensive corporate support and designed for weary teachers trying to fit engaged global citizenship into already-packed curricula, focus on what empowered individuals might do if they believed in their own goodness. This perspective is evident throughout the book.Editors Joanne Rennick and Michel Desjardin, in Chapter 1, discuss their vision for the book and the importance of having values-based discussions when planning and implementing international learning experiences. Their hope is to find ways to improve these programs through better pedagogies. They report on global citizenship workshops, in which participants are guided in identifying the values that underpin their engagement in international learning. The authors suggest that global citizens will avoid repeating some of history's misguided attempts to 'save', 'help' and 'civilize' (p. 10). However, there is no engagement with how (just as for previous colonialists) the problem of being good blinds us to the full impact of our relations, particularly when those relations have historically been colonizing. Recall, for example, the vision of service in that framed the work of Thomas Pringle and the 1820s British Settlers in South Africa:Let us enter upon a new and nobler career of conquest. Let us subdue Savage [sic] Africa by justice, by kindness, by the talisman of Christian truth. Let us thus go forth, in the name and under the blessing of God, gradually to extend the moral influence . . . and the territorial boundary also of our colony, until it shall become an Empire. (Hammond and Jablow, 1977, cited in Mudimbe, 1998, p. 47) (Note: [sic] is this author's.)Historically, the goodness of powerful people has not served marginalized people well. …

Some comments on 'Social media trends in medical history'.

Some comments on 'Social media trends in medical history'.

Sex Work and Class

Prostitution scandals stigmatize workers for their entire lives, but the politician involved is marred for only one news cycle. “White knight” feminists shame women for sexually catering to the patriarchy but talk from a place of economic privilege. Religious organizations engage in misguided attempts to “save” women who use the industry as a job. Exploitive policies aimed at curtailing sex work hurt the individuals who wish to practice safe sex for their own protection. In the guise of aiding sex workers, or saving them from themselves, those that would advocate for more restrictive policies ignore the ramifications of what these laws would entail.

“How Am I Not Myself?” Despair in Sickness Unto Death as Misguided Attempts Toward Self-Actualization

This article is an attempt at a creative exegesis of Kierkegaard’s diagnosis of despair in Sickness Unto Death, that is, the overextension of the self into one side of the polarities of personality that should be a synthesis: infinity, finitude, and possibility–necessity are explored. For each instance of despair, I provide concrete examples of how this type of despair manifests itself in everyday life and in our current cultural context. Finally, the role of faith, as a means to curb despair and allow the self to actualize, is discussed over against the attempt to assert the self as an act of defiance.