"Mothers as Candy Wrappers": Critical Infrastructure Supporting the Transition into Motherhood

Copyright © ACM. The transition into motherhood is a complicated and often unsupported major life disruption. To alleviate mental health issues and to support identity re-negotiation, mothers are increasingly turning to online mothers\u27 groups, particularly private and secret Facebook groups; these can provide a complex system of social, emotional, and practical support for new mothers. In this paper we present findings from an exploratory interview study of how new mothers create, find, use, and participate in ICTs, specifically online mothers\u27 groups, to combat the lack of formal support systems by developing substitute networks. Utilizing a framework of critical infrastructures, we found that these online substitute networks were created by women, for women, in an effort to fill much needed social, political, and medical gaps that fail to see \u27woman and mother\u27 as a whole being, rather than simply as a \u27discarded candy wrapper\u27. Our study contributes to the growing literature on ICT use by mothers for supporting and negotiating new identities, by illustrating how these infrastructures can be re-designed and appropriated in use, for critical utilization

Communication interventions in adult and pediatric oncology: A scoping review and analysis of behavioral targets

BackgroundImproving communication requires that clinicians and patients change their behaviors. Interventions might be more successful if they incorporate principles from behavioral change theories. We aimed to determine which behavioral domains are targeted by communication interventions in oncology.MethodsSystematic search of literature indexed in Ovid Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Clinicaltrials.gov (2000-October 2018) for intervention studies targeting communication behaviors of clinicians and/or patients in oncology. Two authors extracted the following information: population, number of participants, country, number of sites, intervention target, type and context, study design. All included studies were coded based on which behavioral domains were targeted, as defined by Theoretical Domains Framework.FindingsEighty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Interventions varied widely in which behavioral domains were engaged. Knowledge and skills were engaged most frequently (85%, 75/88 and 73%, 64/88, respectively). Fewer than 5% of studies engaged social influences (3%, 3/88) or environmental context/resources (5%, 4/88). No studies engaged reinforcement. Overall, 7/12 behavioral domains were engaged by fewer than 30% of included studies. We identified methodological concerns in many studies. These 88 studies reported 188 different outcome measures, of which 156 measures were reported by individual studies.ConclusionsMost communication interventions target few behavioral domains. Increased engagement of behavioral domains in future studies could support communication needs in feasible, specific, and sustainable ways. This study is limited by only including interventions that directly facilitated communication interactions, which excluded stand-alone educational interventions and decision-aids. Also, we applied stringent coding criteria to allow for reproducible, consistent coding, potentially leading to underrepresentation of behavioral domains

Novel Mechanisms Regulating Cytokine-induced Gene Expression in Astrocytes and Glioblastoma Cells

Chronic inflammation in the brain results in the development of several CNS diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, multiple sclerosis, and tumors. IL-1, a pro-inflammatory cytokine released by activated microglia and astrocytes, instigates the expression of factors promoting the progression of these CNS disorders, including cytokines, chemokines, and components of matrix remodeling systems, such as the plasminogen activator system. IL-1 also increases the mRNA expression and activity of SphK, the enzyme that phosphorylates Sph to form S1P, a bio-active sphingolipid. This thesis demonstrates that IL-1 and S1P enhance the mRNA and protein expression of PAI-1 and uPAR, two key components of the plasminogen activator system, in glioblastoma cells. The S1P-induced mRNA expression of PAI-1 and uPAR is mediated by the S1P2 receptor, and requires Rho-kinase and MEK1. However, IL-1 regulation of PAI-1 and uPAR mRNA expression is independent of SphK, and thus S1P. IL-1- and S1P-induced mRNA expression of PAI-1 and uPAR results in the increased in vitro invasion of glioblastoma cells. Since significant amounts of IL-1 are secreted from gliomas, and it increases the production of S1P via inciting the activity and mRNA expression of SphK, we propose a mechanism by which S1P and IL-1 influence the invasion of glioblastoma cells by increasing the mRNA and protein expression of uPAR and PAI-1. IL-1 and S1P also influence the mRNA expression of chemokines implicated in the development and progression of multiple sclerosis, namely IP-10 and RANTES, in primary human astrocytes. IP-10 and RANTES attract T cells, which are the major pathological cause of multiple sclerosis. This thesis demonstrates a novel mechanism by which S1P significantly inhibits the IL-1-induced mRNA expression of these chemokines. The mechanism by which S1P reduces IL-1-induced IP-10 and RANTES mRNA expression involves the prolonged hyperphosphorylation of TAK1, as well as the inhibition of IL-1-stimulated IFN beta production and the phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT2. In summary, this dissertation describes the mechanisms by which S1P and IL-1 control the mRNA expression of two chemokines associated with multiple sclerosis, and the components of the plasminogen activator system, which are critical for the invasion of glioblastoma cells; thus, indicating future therapeutic targets for destructive CNS disorders

The Incredible Shrinking Letter: How Font Size Affects the Legibility of Text Viewed in Brief Glances

As in-vehicle interfaces have become miniature computers with userfacing LCD screens, the complexities of designing for them have increased tremendously. Given their safety-critical nature, designers must carefully consider every aspect of the vehicle’s digital interface. Recent research has suggested that even the typeface used to display the interface’s text can have significant impacts on driver behaviors such as total off-road glance time and secondary task completion time. Here we outline a psychophysical method for rapidly assessing the glance-based legibility of two different typefaces (a “humanist” and a “square grotesque”) presented in two different sizes (3mm and 4mm). Consistent with previous research, we find that humanist type is more legible than square grotesque. We also find that text is empirically less legible at 3mm compared to 4mm, and that this effect is especially pronounced for the square grotesque typeface. Legibility thresholds were also found to increase linearly with age, more than doubling across the age range studied. We hypothesize that the square grotesque’s intrinsic design characteristics cause it to scale poorly at small sizes and lose important details, especially in suboptimal display conditions

The value of tablets as reading aids for individuals with central visual field loss:an evaluation of eccentric reading with static and scrolling text

Purpose: Technological devices such as smartphones and tablets are widely available and increasingly used as visual aids. This study evaluated the use of a novel app for tablets (MD_evReader) developed as a reading aid for individuals with a central field loss resulting from macular degeneration. The MD_evReader app scrolls text as single lines (similar to a news ticker) and is intended to enhance reading performance using the eccentric viewing technique by both reducing the demands on the eye movement system and minimising the deleterious effects of perceptual crowding. Reading performance with scrolling text was compared with reading static sentences, also presented on a tablet computer. Methods: Twenty-six people with low vision (diagnosis of macular degeneration) read static or dynamic text (scrolled from right to left), presented as a single line at high contrast on a tablet device. Reading error rates and comprehension were recorded for both text formats, and the participant’s subjective experience of reading with the app was assessed using a simple questionnaire. Results: The average reading speed for static and dynamic text was not significantly different and equal to or greater than 85 words per minute. The comprehension scores for both text formats were also similar, equal to approximately 95% correct. However, reading error rates were significantly (p=0.02) less for dynamic text than for static text. The participants’ questionnaire ratings of their reading experience with the MD_evReader were highly positive and indicated a preference for reading with this app compared with their usual method. Conclusions: Our data show that reading performance with scrolling text is at least equal to that achieved with static text and in some respects (reading error rate) is better than static text. Bespoke apps informed by an understanding of the underlying sensorimotor processes involved in a cognitive task such as reading have excellent potential as aids for people with visual impairments

Firearm Availability and Storage Practices Among Military Personnel Who Have Thought About Suicide

More than 60% of US military suicides occur at home and involve a firearm. Nearly all military firearm suicides (95%) involve a personally owned firearm. Nonmilitary data indicate that the risk of suicide is 6 times higher in households with a firearm, although this risk may be reduced if the firearms are kept unloaded and/or locked. Because attempts using firearms have very high fatality rates, safe firearm storage practices could be an important component of comprehensive suicide prevention in the military. This study examined associations of firearm ownership and storage practices with suicidal thoughts and behaviors among military personnel

The Shifting Demographic Landscape of Pandemic Influenza

Shweta Bansal is with Pennsylvania State University and NIH, Babak Pourbohloul is with British Columbia Centre for Disease Control and University of British Columbia, Nathaniel Hupert is with Weill Cornell Medical College and CDC, Bryan Grenfell is with Princeton University, Lauren Ancel Meyers is with UT Austin and Santa Fe Institute.Background -- As Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza spreads around the globe, it strikes school-age children more often than adults. Although there is some evidence of pre-existing immunity among older adults, this alone may not explain the significant gap in age-specific infection rates. Methods and Findings -- Based on a retrospective analysis of pandemic strains of influenza from the last century, we show that school-age children typically experience the highest attack rates in primarily naive populations, with the burden shifting to adults during the subsequent season. Using a parsimonious network-based mathematical model which incorporates the changing distribution of contacts in the susceptible population, we demonstrate that new pandemic strains of influenza are expected to shift the epidemiological landscape in exactly this way. Conclusions -- Our analysis provides a simple demographic explanation for the age bias observed for H1N1/09 attack rates, and suggests that this bias may shift in coming months. These results have significant implications for the allocation of public health resources for H1N1/09 and future influenza pandemics.This work was supported by the Research and Policy for Infectious Disease Dynamics (RAPIDD) program of the Science and Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, and the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH); grants from the James F. McDonnell Foundation, National Science Foundation (DEB-0749097), and NIH Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (MIDAS) (U01-GM087719-01) to L.A.M.; and support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (PTL97125 and PAP93425) and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research to B.P. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Biological Sciences, School o

0245: Echocardiographic and clinical outcome in patients undergoing trans-catheter aortic valve replacement with concomitant mitral regurgitation

BackgroundSevere aortic stenosis (AS) is commonly associated with mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The natural history of MR is not well defined in this population.MethodsConsecutive high risk, inoperable patients undergoing TAVR between 2007 and 2011 for AS has echos at baseline and 1 year and were followed for clinical outcomes. MR severity was graded and patients were grouped as having minimal (none-mild) or significant (moderate- severe) MR.Results164 patients underwent TAVR, reducing gradients from 47 to 10mHg. LVEF increased from 48% to 52% while pulmonary aretry systolic pressure (PAPS), LVESD and LVEDD were unchanged. Signficant MR patents had a median 1 grade reduction (p<0,0001) in MR at 1 year. Median LVEF increased by 2% (p=0.0412). Median LVESD decreased by 2.3mm±7.5 (p=0.039). Univariate analysis showed no significant predictors of MR reduction in significant MR patients. Functional and organic significant MR decreased after TAVR but only functional MR patients had improved LVEF (6%, p=0.034), PAPS (5.9mmHg, p=0.022) and LVESD (3.8mm, p=0.013). Multivariate analysis showed functional MR to be a predictor of improved LVEF and PAPS. Clinical outcomes at a mean follow-up of 925 days were not different in patients with significant vs minimal MR; however organic MR patients tended to have more events than functional MR patients (p=0.06).Conclusion:Significant MR patients undergoing TAVR for severe AS improved in LVEF and LVESD, particularly patients with functional MR. Organic MR is marginally predictive of cardiac complications in AS patients

Multiple dimensions of functional diversity affect stream fish taxonomic β-diversity

1. When investigating metacommunity dynamics, functional differences amongspecies are often assumed to be as important as environmental differences be-tween sites in determining β-diversity. However, few studies have examined theinfluence of functional diversity on β-diversity. We examine the relative importance of regional functional diversity partitioned by niche dimensions and environmental variation in structuring taxonomic β-diversity of stream fishes using a large dataset of stream fish assemblages (hereafter, simply β-diversity). We predicted that both functional diversity and environmental variation play a rolein determining β-diversity.2. We tested this prediction by modelling the patterns of stream fish β-diversity asa function of environmental variation, functional diversity and γ- richness across10,220 sites for 329 fish species using a series of conceptual path models.3. Environmental variation consistently affected β-diversity across all models,whereas functional diversity and γ- richness influenced β-diversity only in somemodels. We show that including relevant trait differences among species in pathmodels can improve their ability to explain β-diversity, suggesting that functional traits influence β-diversity.4. The ability of path models to explain β-diversity varied depending on the traitgrouping included in the model, demonstrating that specific path models representing different niche dimensions can improve the ability of a model to explain β-diversity. In addition, parsing traits into different niche dimensions revealed alternative patterns of functional diversity–β-diversity relationships that other-wise would have been missed.5. The selection of relevant traits and linked niche dimensions is critical for detecting relationships between functional diversity and β-diversity. Using traitsassociated with different niche dimensions allows for the identification of nichedimensions most strongly associated with species sorting and the detection ofpatterns missed by focusing on a single niche dimension. Determining the niche dimensions that influence β-diversity could provide insights into the processesdriving biodiversity and metacommunity dynamics, improving our ability to con-serve or restore aquatic communities