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We report effects of affective recollections on performance in two logically identical, content-rich reasoning problems. The between-groups manipulation entailed requesting a written autobiographical recollection of an event in which research volunteers had been cheated, had been the beneficiary of another's altruism, had been happy, or had been angry. The reasoning problems were two published variants of the Wason selection task: "cheater detection" and "altruist detection". Subjects who recalled having been cheated or angry performed significantly better on the cheater detection problem than those who recalled being happy or benefited, and those who recalled being benefited did significantly worse on the altruism detection problem than the other groups. We discuss the relevance of these results to the proposition that emotions are functional operating systems that facilitate situation-appropriate cognition.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have mapped risk alleles for at least 10 distinct cancers to a small region of 63 000 bp on chromosome 5p15.33. This region harbors the TERT and CLPTM1L genes; the former encodes the catalytic subunit of telomerase reverse transcriptase and the latter may play a role in apoptosis. To investigate further the genetic architecture of common susceptibility alleles in this region, we conducted an agnostic subset-based meta-analysis (association analysis based on subsets) across six distinct cancers in 34 248 cases and 45 036 controls. Based on sequential conditional analysis, we identified as many as six independent risk loci marked by common single-nucleotide polymorphisms: five in the TERT gene (Region 1: rs7726159, P = 2.10 x 10(-39); Region 3: rs2853677, P = 3.30 x 10(-36) and P-Conditional = 2.36 x 10(-8); Region 4: rs2736098, P = 3.87 x 10(-12) and P-Conditional = 5.19 x 10(-6), Region 5: rs13172201, P = 0.041 and P-Conditional = 2.04 x 10(-6); and Region 6: rs10069690, P = 7.49 x 10 215 and P-Conditional = 5.35 x 10(-7)) and one in the neighboring CLPTM1L gene(Region 2: rs451360; P = 1.90 x 10(-18) and P-Conditional = 7.06 x 10(-16)). Between three and five cancers mapped to each independent locus with both risk-enhancing and protective effects. Allele-specific effects on DNA methylation were seen for a subset of risk loci, indicating that methylation and subsequent effects on gene expression may contribute to the biology of risk variants on 5p15.33. Our results provide strong support for extensive pleiotropy across this region of 5p15.33, to an extent not previously observed in other cancer susceptibility loci.

Arts festivals can be defined as staging various arts to the public to present art forms and provide creative possibilities. Such festivals serve as forms of communication and entertainment, and their ability to reach large audiences has drawn the attention of organisers, sponsors, and researchers. This chapter explores how customers accessed and responded to arts and cultural activities as well as how they were affected by social relationships. Data were collected from a sample of 1,387 respondents during an arts festival. The results show that most respondents of a traditional arts and culture activity comprised numerous families. The high level of satisfaction with the event enhanced the outcomes for future attendance. Thus, in the cultural entertainment industry, marketing efforts in establishing relationships should be proactively pursued because they facilitate enduring relationships and generate satisfaction with organisers. Recommendations and managerial implications are provided.

Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic worldwide. For children, excessive body fat has medical consequences, and some suffer from a wide range of serious psychosocial conditions including stigma, depression, and reduced self-esteem. Several decades have passed since childhood obesity and television emerged as a public concern in the West. However, research on television viewing-obesity and its related issues in Chinese societies remains sparse. This study intends to provide useful insights for childhood obesity and advertising. First, it reviews definitions of obesity and overweight for adults and children. Second, it focuses on the associated factors of overweight and obese children in urban China. Then urbanization, individual children’s consumption style and the role of advertising are explored. Last, a research agenda for researchers with a particular focus on advertising and childhood obesity, responsibility of advertising professionals and policy makers and cure and prevention strategies are proposed.

We present PET/CT images of a 42-year-old HIV-positive man who presented with generalized lymphadenopathy and systemic symptoms suggestive of lymphoma. Whole-body PET/CT revealed hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy bilaterally in the neck, axilla, and inguinal regions, and hypermetabolism in an enlarged spleen. These findings were thought to be typical for lymphoma. The biopsy of right axillary lymph nodes showed no evidence of lymphoma but findings characteristic of persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL).

Educational interface designers are in an unprecedented position to facilitate autonomous learning in neurodiverse learners (children with special needs). These learners are particularly in need of special design, given the disproportionate impact it can have on their quality of life and the current vulnerability they experience due to changes in special education law. In response to the urgent conditions facing these students, we construct and define a set of design principles that are grounded in maximizing the potential of these learners by importing the meta-cognitive skills, algorithmic structures, and multiple sensory modalities that are both proven successful in their remediation and uniquely suited to technological design adaptation. We draw from our main author's experience as a heavily remediated Dyslexic, a lifelong user of modified, adaptable and assistive technology, and a self-aware learner taught to understand why the methods behind her remediation worked. We additionally draw on our cumulative experience as users, teachers and developers of technology and on interviews with participants from a wide variety of sociocultural functions and pedagogical practices involved with special education. Based upon these and existing methods and applications, we present our insights in the form of guidelines for universal design that have the potential to not only embrace the differences of all learners but to maximize the potential of underserved neurodiverse learners so they can become self-sufficient masters of their own skills and interests across their lifetime.

Purpose Mini-Medical school programs have become an increasingly popular means of encouraging high-school students to consider medical professions. However, there is little research evaluating the long-term effect of these programs on influencing career choice. The purpose of our study was to determine the motivational factors for attending the Mini-Medical school programs at our institution, student satisfaction with their experience, and whether it impacts intended secondary education and career choices. Methods An online anonymous survey was distributed to Drexel University College of Medicine Mini-Medical school program graduates to determine factors influencing student participation and program satisfaction. Results The most influential factors in attending the program were to confirm an interest in medicine ( n = 55, 95%) and parental advice ( n = 29, 50%). Most maintained an interest in medicine: 57% ( n = 33) pursued a pre-med degree, 55% ( n = 32) planned to apply to medical school within 3 years; and 12% ( n = 7) were either in medical school or matriculating in the fall of 2015. 91% ( n = 53) participants noted the program's influence on choosing a pre-med undergraduate track. Conclusion Our results suggest Mini-Medical school programs significantly impacted students' decision to pursue a medical career through fostering interest and effectively answering students' questions about the field.

This paper presents textual tinkerability, a new concept for fostering early literacy skills during parent-child reading. Textual tinkerability maps storytelling gestures to changes in animation and text to assist reading exploration and demonstration of the link between text, spoken word, and concept. TinkRBooks are flexible tablet-based storybooks that allow readers to actively explore concepts in text using textual tinkerability. When reading TinkRBooks, both parents and children can alter text (character attributes and parts of speech) by manipulating story elements (props and characters) as they read. We demonstrate how textual tinkerability encourages more dialog, print referencing and dialogic questioning between parent-child dyads in shared reading as compared to paper books. In addition, our study reports observations of storytelling performance behaviors that foster playful and socially intimate shared reading behaviors that are closely mapped to the teaching and learning of emergent literacy skills.

In interactive storytelling systems, we see common challenges of artistic expression that pertains to presentation, standing apart from narrative structure. We believe this expression can be achieved computationally, which is a core challenge in using procedurally-generated worlds in interactive storytelling. This computational expression so is what we call dynamic dramaturgy. We intend dynamic dramaturgy as a complement to interactive narrative systems, particularly drama management, and as a fundamentally distinct task from plot-level narrative construction, yet it is still a basic medium for artistic expression by an author. It is, in effect, an art of presentation in interactive storytelling.

Today, the way children learn to read is very different from the way they learn from playing with toys. Books present static images and text on the page, whereas toys allow for manipulation and interactive exploration of cause-effect relations. What if books were "tinkerable"? What if children could actively explore and modify a story, through voice and touch, to dynamically explore meaning as conveyed by the relationship of text to illustrated concept? How might this change how books are experienced, explored, and shared between parent and child? How might interactivity support and enhance existing shared reading practices?We report the development of interaction design techniques for encouraging storytelling behavior during shared book reading. The design of our storytelling platform, the TinkRBook, encourages active exploration when parents read to very young children (ages 2--5 years old). Our approach uses findings from in-situ parent-child ethnographies and advice from 24 participatory design interviews with researchers, designers and professionals from relevant domains. We believe that our approach addresses the environmental conditions in which interactive storytelling with preschoolers is most likely to be adopted, and is compatible with current shared reading practices.

We present an adaptive educational narrative that combines an interactive storybook with drama management. By understanding our underlying value system, we are able to create an adaptive narrative that provides features adequate for the target context. Our value system and design needs invite a reexamination and reapplication of interactive storytelling systems, and results in an adaptive narrative framework that is both feasible and extensible to a wide range of experiences.

This paper describes the hardware and algorithms for a realtime social touch gesture recognition system. Early experiments involve a Sensate Bear test-rig with full body touch sensing, sensor visualization and gesture recognition capabilities. Algorithms are based on real humans interacting with a plush bear. In developing a preliminary gesture library with thirteen Symbolic Gestures and eight Touch Subtypes, we have taken the first steps toward a Robotic Touch API, showing that the Huggable robot behavior system will be able to stream currently active sensors to detect regional social gestures and local sub-gestures in realtime. The system demonstrates the infrastructure to detect three types of touching: social touch, local touch, and sensor-level touch.

Objective: To study the impact of visual impairment due to either underlying ocular pathology or easily correctable refractive error on vision-related functioning and quality of life (QOL) in Vancouver's downtown eastside (VDES). Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Two hundred consecutive patients seeking general medical care at the Vancouver Native Health Society (VNHS) medical clinic were included. Methods: An ocular examination was performed and a standardized history and QOL information were obtained for each participant. Effective visual impairment was classified based on patients' current refractive means. Pathological visual impairment was classified based on patients' best-corrected visual acuity (VA).Vision-related functioning was quantified using the Daily Tasks Dependent on Vision (DTDV) questionnaire. Health-related QOL was assessed using the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results: Two hundred patients participated; they suffered, on average, 6.2 comorbid conditions. Sixty-two patients (31%) were effectively visually impaired and, of these, 14 patients (7%) were effectively blind. Ten patients (5%) had pathological eye disease to explain their visual impairment. The remaining 52 visually impaired patients (26%) had VA that normalized with correction. Difficulty with the tasks described in the DTDV questions was significantly correlated with effective visual impairment. Patients with effective visual impairment had lower Physical Composite Scores on the SF-12 in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: We have demonstrated a very high rate of visual impairment in a low socioeconomic population that is associated with decreased vision-dependent functioning and decreased overall physical health status. Public health efforts need to be directed toward improving easily correctable refractive error.

Sound is touch at a distance. The vibration of pressure waves in the air creates sounds that our ears hear, at close range, these pressure waves may also be felt as vibration. This audio-haptic relationship has potential for enriching interaction in human-computer interfaces. How can interface designers manipulate attention using audio-haptic media? We propose a theoretical perceptual framework for design of audio-haptic media, influenced by aesthetic frameworks in visual theory and audio design. The aesthetic issues of the multimodal interplay between audio and haptic modalities are presented, with discussion based on anecdotes from multimedia artists. We use the aesthetic theory to develop four design mechanisms for transition between audio and haptic channels:synchronization, temporal linearization, maskingandsynchresis. An example composition using these mechanisms, and the multisensory design intent, is discussed by the designers.

ProblemTissue engineering of human nasal septal cartilage represents an alternative technique for creating large quantities of autologous material for use in reconstructive surgery of the head and neck. Septal neocartilage constructs developed in vitro by the alginate method have demonstrated cartilaginous extracellular matrix production, but their biocompatibility and development in vivo remains largely unknown.MethodsA murine model was used to examine the behavior of neocartilage constructs in vivo. Chondrocytes collected from donors undergoing septoplasty were expanded in monolayer and suspended in alginate beads for three-dimensional culture in media containing human serum and growth factors. After in vitro incubation for 5 weeks, the neocartilage constructs were implanted subcutaneously in the dorsum of athymic mice for 30 days (n=3). The mice were sacrificed and the constructs were explanted for assessment of cell viability, gross morphology, and histology.ResultsThe mice survived and tolerated the ...

This paper explores situations in which interfaces may be improved or simplified by switching feedback modalities. Due to availability of and familiarity with audio/visual technologies, many interfaces provide feedback via audio/visual pathways when a haptic pathway would best serve. The authors present a series of interface designs in which simple and inexpensive choices allow for reduction of cognitive complexity by allowing mental simplicity rather than technological familiarity to dictate design of information transmission.

In this paper we present SpeakCup, a simple tangible interface that uses shape change to convey meaning in its interaction design. SpeakCup is a voice recorder in the form of a soft silicone disk with embedded sensors and actuators. Advances in sensor technology and material science have provided new ways for users to interact with computational devices. Rather than issuing commands to a system via abstract and multi-purpose buttons the door is open for more nuanced and application-specific approaches. Here we explore the coupling of shape and action in an interface designed for simplicity while discussing some questions that we have encountered along the way.

Attaining simplicity is a key challenge in interaction design. Our approach relies on a minimalist design exercise to explore the communication capacity for interaction components. This approach results in expressive design solutions, useful perspectives of interaction design and new interaction techniques.

We observe that the recent availability of audio-haptic actuators allow richer vibration content to be available in commercial devices. However, we note that consumers are unable to take advantage of these rich experiences, mainly due to the lack of a descriptive language for vibration. We analyze the current methods for classifying vibrations. We propose a new framework for describing vibrotactile haptic phenomena, based on an organizing the media based on content activity. We describe this naming system, based on Russolo's families of noise, and address other pertinent issues to introducing vibration content into commercial devices.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare photodynamic therapy (PDT) against subthreshold transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) with a diode laser for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD were offered PDT as an initial intervention. If they declined PDT, then TTT was offered. Results: We evaluated and followed 115 consecutive patients for an average of 1 year. The primary outcome measure was visual acuity, but the interventions were also compared on the basis of lesion size and angiographically determined lesion activity. Baseline comparisons between the 2 treatment groups showed significant differences in pretreatment visual acuity, lesion size, and lesion composition. Univariate analysis of outcomes demonstrated equivalence between the treatment groups in final lesion size,angiographic activity,and visual acuity. Multivariate analysis also demonstrated equivalence between the treatment groups in final visual acuity while controlling for age, pretreatment visual acuity, and lesion category. Predominantly classic lesions were associated with poorer visual outcomes. Interpretation: The PDT and TTT groups were equivalent in terms of all outcome parameters evaluated.

A new breed of mobile phones has been designed to enable concurrent vibration and audio stimulation, or audio-haptics. This paper aims to share techniques for creating and optimizing audio-haptic effects to enhance the user interface.The authors present audio manipulation techniques specific to the multifunction transducer (MFT) technology. In particular two techniques, the Haptic Inheritance and Synthesis and Matching methods are discussed. These two methods of haptic media generation allow simple creation of vibration content, and also allow for compatibility with non-haptic mobile devices.The authors present preliminary results of an evaluation of 42 participants comparing audio-based haptic user interface (UI) feedback with audio-only feedback. The results show that users were receptive to audio-haptic UI feedback. The results also suggest that audio-haptics seems to enhance the perception of audio quality.

To evaluate the quality of digital retinal images taken by three photographers with different levels of photographic training, using a non-mydriatic fundus camera.This study compares 45-degree digital retinal images taken with a non-mydriatic fundus camera by three different photographers with different levels of photographic training: (I) A professional ophthalmic photographer with 20 years of experience; (2) a non-professional photographer with 2 days of photographic training and experience with 50 patients; (3) a non-professional photographer with 1 hour of photographic training and experience with 10 patients. The quality of the photographs was evaluated by the consensus of two retina specialists.Sixty-four (64) eyes of 33 subjects were imaged by the three photographers for a total of 192 images. Thirty-four eyes were photographed in the non-dilated state. The trained ophthalmic photographer and the two non-professional photographers did not have statistically significant differences in image quality based on the image evaluations. (Chi-square P-value: 0.57). This finding was consistent for eyes in both the non-dilated and dilated state.Fundus image quality for images taken with a non-mydriatic camera were not significantly different among three photographers with different levels of training.

Objectives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the current status of primary diabetes care, diabetic retinopathy screening, and eyecare for First Nations individuals with diabetes living on-reserve in British Columbia. Study Design. Prospective cross-sectional observational survey. Methods. A mail-out survey was sent to all BC First Nations Communities in the format of a 26-item questionnaire. A series of general questions were asked concerning community populations, regional transportation options and the availability of local healthcare providers. Specific questions about the frequency and source of eye and diabetic retinopathy care in each community were also solicited. Results. A sixty-seven percent questionnaire response rate was achieved (136/202 communities). The community-reported rate of diabetes mellitus ranged from 4.8 to 11.8% with an average of 6.4%. The proportion of on-reserve individuals with diabetes receiving yearly retinal examinations for diabetic retinopathy was found to be only 33%. Many communities received eye-care from more than one professional group, but the majority of basic eye-care and retinopathy screening was provided by optometrists. Ophthalmologists were less likely to provide eye-care for these communities; however, family physicians and nurses were frequently responsible for performing eye evaluations. Conclusions. The vast majority of First Nations people with diabetes who live on-reserve in British Columbia do not have access to annual examinations by an eye-care professional. Eye evaluations and retinal screening were often the responsibility of individuals with little formal training in this area. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2004; 63(3):277-285) Keywords: diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, First Nations, screening

Leptin, a 16-kD protein of the ob gene product, is produced by adipose tissue and acts on the hypothalamus to suppress neuropeptide Y secretion which reduces the appetite. It has been demonstrated that serum leptin levels in healthy subjects are correlated with body mass index(BMI). Leptin is also produced by stimulation of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha and interleukin(IL)-1. Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is one of the chronic inflammatory diseases in which high serum cytokine levels are noted. In this study, we measured serum leptin levels(s-leptin) by RIA kit in 20 healthy subjects (10 males and 10 females) and 49 RA patients(14 males and 35 females) and the markers for joint inflammation such as ESR and CRP. There was no difference in s-leptin between controls(male: mean +/- SD = 5.6 +/- 3.0 ng/ml; female: 7.8 +/- 4.5 ng/ml) and RA patients(male: 4.9 +/- 3.2 ng/ml; female: 9.1 +/- 5.7 ng/ml). S-leptin was correlated with BMI in both healthy subjects and RA patients. However, there was no correlation between s-leptin and the values of ESR or CRP, disease stages in RA patients. In conclusion, s-leptin in RA patients reflects BMI but not joint inflammation.

We describe the design of ComTouch, a device that augments remote voice communication with touch, by converting hand pressure into vibrational intensity between users in real-time. The goal of this work is to enrich inter-personal communication by complementing voice with a tactile channel. We present preliminary user studies performed on 24 people to observe possible uses of the tactile channel when used in conjunction with audio. By recording and examining both audio and tactile data, we found strong relationships between the two communication channels. Our studies show that users developed an encoding system similar to that of Morse code, as well as three original uses: emphasis, mimicry, and turn-taking. We demonstrate the potential of the tactile channel to enhance the existing voice communication channel.

Abstr ACt Using content analysis and in-depth interviews, this research has examined three best-practice hospitals in terms of their approaches to implementing interactive e-health tools on their Web sites. The study has demonstrated hospital administrations’ visions of and insights into developing e-health. It concludes that the implementation of interactive e-heath tools can be area- and hospital-size-indiscriminative; such implementation accomplishes multiple goals, including service, communication, and education, and serves as an important differentiator in a competitive industry; by understanding the best practice, decision-making, planning processes, and outcomes of implementing e-health online, as well as potential obstacles to such implementation, hospitals can take the lessons learned and design effective interactive e-health tools on their Web sites.

We present the Lumitouch system consisting of a pair of interactive picture frames. When one user touches her picture frame, the other picture frame lights up. This touch is translated to light over an Internet connection. We introduce a semi-ambient display that can transition seamlessly from periphery to foreground in addition to communicating emotional content. In addition to enhancing the communication between loved ones, people can use LumiTouch to develop a personal emotional language.Based upon prior work on telepresence and tangible interfaces, LumiTouch explores emotional communication in tangible form. This paper describes the components, interactions, implementation and design approach of the LumiTouch system.

Bank branches in New York City tend to be spatially clustered. For instance, of the 221 branches that were opened in New York City between July, 1990 and June, 1995, 181 (or 82 percent) were opened in census tracts that already had at least one other branch. A number of recent theoretical papers have highlighted the possibility of rational herding in various arenas of economic activity. This paper explores empirically whether the apparent clustering of bank branches can be at least partially attributed to rational herding by banks. We find that even after controlling for the expected profitability of operating a branch in an area, branch openings follow other, existing branches. Moreover, such bandwagon behavior appears to reduce branch profits. These findings, combined, suggest that herd behavior may be a factor in the branch location decisions of banks.

As netizens increasingly utilize social media to obtain and engage with information, this study aims to determine the extent to which the follower–influencer interaction is manifested and strengthened. To analyze information related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a total of 62,119 online posts from 11 Internet forums were examined to find a relationship between followers and influencers in Taiwan. These forums are PTT, SOGO, Ck101, Plurk, Mobile01, TalkFetnet, Gamez, PlaySport, Dcard, Eyny, and PCDVD. The variables that were the best predictors of influencer classification were _strong influences_, _engagements_, and _hot values_ across 11 Internet forums. Learning the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is vital because public actions could have been fueled by stigmatizing terms that may harm public health and well-being. The results questioned the conventional diffusion of traditional news sources because the influencers brought widespread attention to the health threat issues in the early outbreak stages. This study enhances the understanding of forum types, follower engagement, and influencers’ impact maximization in social networks. The conclusion provides insight into the relationships and information diffusion mechanisms to ensure accurate health information dissemination.

The techniques for solving problems of nonsteady, quasi-one-dimensional flows by the method of characteristics have been extended to flows of suspensions of small solid or liquid particles in a gas. The particles cannot follow the rapid velocity and temperature changes that are produced by pressure waves, and complicated relaxation processes result. Such flows are described by six simultaneous differential equations, and their characteristics and associated compatibility equations have been obtained. Terms are included to allow for variable duct area, for external forces that may act on the particles or on the gas, and for heat addition to the particles or the gas. To illustrate the application of the results, two flows in a pipe, filled with a suspension of small particles, are analyzed with the help of a small digital computer. In the first example, one end of the pipe is suddenly opened to a low-pressure reservoir, and the resulting expansion wave is computed. In the second example, a piston in the pipe is impulsively accelerated, and the flow between the resulting shock wave and the piston is obtained. A striking feature of this flow is the slow adjustment of the shock strength from its initial to its equilibrium value.

Background Previous studies have shown that beta amyloid (Aβ) peptide triggers the activation of several signal transduction cascades in the hippocampus, including the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. In this study we sought to characterize the cellular localization of phosphorylated, active ERK in organotypic hippocampal cultures after acute exposure to either Aβ (1-42) or nicotine. Results We observed that Aβ and nicotine increased the levels of active ERK in distinct cellular localizations. We also examined whether phospho-ERK was regulated by redox signaling mechanisms and found that increases in active ERK induced by Aβ and nicotine were blocked by inhibitors of NADPH oxidase. Conclusion Our findings indicate that NADPH oxidase-dependent redox signaling is required for Aβ-induced activation of ERK, and suggest a similar mechanism may occur during early stages of Alzheimer's disease.