Content Analysis of Tweets by People with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Implications for Rehabilitation and Social Media Goals

In this Twitter research, 6874 tweets of six adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using content classification [1], inductive coding of content themes, socio-linguistic analysis, and computational analysis in KH Coder. The results reflected that participants used Twitter for: (i) supporting others, including people with TBI; (ii) discussing society and culture, popular issues, news, and personal interests; (iii) connecting with others; (iv) sharing their experiences of life after TBI; (v) knowledge via exchanging information; and (vii) advocacy. ‘Emotional expression’, and ‘connection’ were common threads running across themes. Attending to the expressions of people with TBI on Twitter provides important insights into their lived experiences and could inform the development of user-centered cognitive-communication and social participation goals for people with TBI

Methods for strengthening the design and analysis of clinical trials to show non-inferiority of a new treatment to a reference treatment for a binary response variable

Non-inferiority clinical trials are increasingly becoming more prominent in research and development of new pharamaceuticals. The objective of such trials is to show that the amount by which a new treatment is worse than an active control is below a specified amount. Methodology specifically for the design and analysis of these trials is essential for the assurance of quality trials that are statistically defensible in the scientific community as well as in a regulatory setting, where traditionally focus has been on superiority. Standard methodology must be reviewed and assessed as to its appropriateness for addressing the non-inferiority hypothesis. Categorical data analysis for a dichotomous primary endpoint may include analysis of a risk ratio or a risk difference which compares the test and active control treatments. The effect of sample size allocation and other parameters of interest on the performance of these methods will be assessed. In addition, appropriate sample size formulas will be developed and evaluated to aid in trial planning. In some non-inferiority trials, it is possible to include a placebo arm as well as an active control arm which allows non-inferiority to be assessed relative to the percentage of the difference between the control and placebo arms that the test treatment preserves over placebo. Methodology for this assessment is also of interest along with appropriate sample size calculations. This setting also presents an area of research for discussion of the one versus two trials paradigm. Extensions to the methodology for the risk ratio and risk difference are assessed when stratification is necessary, specifically for large subgroups such as gender. Methods for stratification are an important component, and additionally the effects of stratification in a non-inferiority setting need evaluation. Review, development, and assessment of this methodology for categorical data as specifically focused on the non-inferiority setting is an important addition to the current statistical practice. This research is a cohesive presentation for each of the measures of interest through assessment of methodology and its relation to appropriate design components such as sample size calculation. The importance of helping statisticians understand and implement methods in these areas is of most concern

WHEN IS A DISCIPLINE NOT A DISCIPLINE? EXPLORATIONS INTO THE INTERDISCIPLINARY SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF TOURISM UNDERSTANDING

Ovaj rad ponovno istražuje pitanje je li izučavanje turizma znanost, disciplina ili područje. Problem se analizira u sedam faza. Rad prvo istražuje pojam znanosti turizma jer, ako se može dokazati da je turizam metadisciplina, onda ga više ne treba promatrati kao disciplinu. Međutim, s obzirom da je dokazano da to nije tako, treba se usredotočiti na turizam kao disciplinu. Stoga se u sljedećem dijelu daje kratak pregled etimologije discipline. U trećem dijelu opisano je kako je pokrenuta rasprava o turizmu kao disciplini. Četvrto, nakon što smo istražili programe dva vodeća fakulteta društvenih znanosti i sadržaj jedne enciklopedije koja se bavi društvenim znanostima, mogli smo identifi cirati ključne discipline u društvenim znanostima i uvidjeti po čemu se razlikuju od područja koja nastaju preklapanjem više područja i od njihovih primjena. U petom dijelu rad istražuje problem “društvene znanosti turizma”. Šesto, rad analizira ideje intradisciplinarnosti, multidisciplinarnosti, interdisciplinarnosti i postdisciplinarnosti, koja se nedavno pojavila. Tamo gdje je u stvaranje kumulativnog znanja o turizmu uključeno više disciplina društvenih znanosti, takav pluralistički pristup sagledavanju tog fenomena naziva se interdisciplinarnost.This paper revisits the whole question of whether the study of tourism is a science, a discipline or a fi eld. The argument is developed in seven stages. First, the notion of the science of tourism is explored, because, if tourism as a meta-discipline can be substantiated, then a fortiori it is no longer necessary to examine tourism as a discipline. However, as the former is demonstrably not the case, attention needs to focus on the latter. Accordingly, and second, the etymology of a discipline is briefly outlined. Third, there is the contextual advent of tourism as a discipline debate. Fourth, by inspecting the offerings of two leading faculties of social sciences, and an encyclopedia with a similar focus, it is possible to identify the core disciplines in the social sciences and to distinguish them from intersecting fields and applications. Fifth, the issue of “tourism social science” is investigated. Sixth, the ideas of intradisciplinarity, multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity and, more recently, postdisciplinarity are analysed. Where more than one social science discipline is involved in obtaining a cumulative knowledge of tourism, this pluralistic form of capturing the phenomenon is referred to as interdisciplinarity

EXPLORING THE MEANINGS OF MYTH IN TOURISM: FROM RELIGION, FANTASY AND FALSEHOOD TO SEMIOTICS IN THE TIME OF THE SIGN

Rad daje pregled osnovnih značenja riječi mit u znanosti o turizmu transponirajući uvide u mit iz tri glavne kategorije konceptualne analize: religije, fantazije/neistine i semiotike. Za svaku od kategorija najprije se navodi nekoliko rječničkih i internetskih definicija, a zatim slijede prilozi iz akademskih tekstova koji se bave ovom temom iz jednog ili više ranije spomenutih gledišta. Pregled se oslanja na tekstove Barthesa, Cohena, Danna, Dufoura, Henninga, Nötha, Selwyna, Uzzella i Williamsona. Metodom indukcije istaknuti su ključni elementi defi nicija i akademskih komentara te su potom primijenjeni na turizam.This paper undertakes a preliminary overview of the principal meanings ascribed to myth in tourism studies. It does so by transposing insights from three main categories of conceptual analysis as they relate to myth in general: religion, fantasy/falsehood and semiotics. In each case a few dictionary and online defi nitions are initially offered. Subsequently, contributions are drawn from academic works that examine this theme from the perspectives of one or more of the foregoing classifi cations. In particular, the writings of Barthes, Cohen, Dann, Dufour, Hennig, Nöth, Selwyn, Uzzell and Williamson are drawn upon. From these defi nitions and scholarly commentaries key elements are inductively highlighted and applied to tourism

Lay support for pregnant women with social risk: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES We sought evidence of effectiveness of lay support to improve maternal and child outcomes in disadvantaged families. DESIGN Prospective, pragmatic individually randomised controlled trial. SETTING Three Maternity Trusts in West Midlands, UK. PARTICIPANTS Following routine midwife systematic assessment of social risk factors 1324 nulliparous women were assigned, using telephone randomisation, to standard maternity care or addition of referral to a Pregnancy Outreach Worker (POW) service. Under 16 years and teenagers recruited to the Family Nurse Partnership trial were excluded. INTERVENTIONS Pregnancy Outreach Workers were trained to provide individual support and case management for the women including home visiting from randomisation to six weeks after birth. Standard maternity care (control) included provision for referring women with social risk factors to specialist midwifery services, available to both arms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes were antenatal visits attended and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) 8–12 weeks postpartum. Pre–specified, powered subgroup comparison was among women with two or more social risks. Secondary outcomes included maternal and neonatal birth outcomes; maternal self-efficacy and mother-to-infant bonding at 8-12 weeks; child development assessment at six weeks, breastfeeding at six weeks and immunisation uptake at 4 months, all collected from routine child health systems. RESULTS Antenatal attendances were high in the standard care control and did not increase further with addition of the POW intervention (10·1 versus 10·1 (MD) –0·00, 95% CI, (95% CI, –0·37, 0·37)). In the powered sub-group of women with two or more social risk factors, mean EPDS (MD –0·79 (95% CI, –1·56, –0·02) was significantly better, although for all women recruited no significant differences were seen (mean difference (MD) –0·59 (95% CI, –1·24, 0·06)). Mother-to-infant bonding was significantly better in the intervention group for all women (MD-0.30 (95% CI, -0.61, -0.00) p=0.05) and there were no differences in other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS This trial demonstrates differences in depressive symptomatology with addition of the POW service in the powered sub-group of women with two or more social risk factors. Addition to existing evidence indicates benefit from lay interventions in preventing postnatal depression. This finding is important for women and their families given the known effect of maternal depression on longer term childhood outcomes

Marine and giant viruses as indicators of a marine microbial community in a riverine system

Viral communities are important for ecosystem function as they are involved in critical biogeochemical cycles and controlling host abundance. This study investigates riverine viral communities around a small rural town that influences local water inputs. Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Mimiviridae, Herpesviridae, and Podoviridae were the most abundant families. Viral species upstream and downstream of the town were similar, with Synechoccocus phage, salinus, Prochlorococcus phage, Mimivirus A, and Human herpes 6A virus most abundant, contributing to 4.9-38.2% of average abundance within the metagenomic profiles, with Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus present in metagenomes as the expected hosts for the phage. Overall, the majority of abundant viral species were or were most similar to those of marine origin. At over 60 km to the river mouth, the presence of marine communities provides some support for the Baas-Becking hypothesis "everything is everywhere, but, the environment selects." We conclude marine microbial species may occur more frequently in freshwater systems than previously assumed, and hence may play important roles in some freshwater ecosystems within tens to a hundred kilometers from the sea.Lisa M. Dann, Stephanie Rosales, Jody McKerral, James S. Paterson, Renee J. Smith, Thomas C. Jeffries, Rod L. Oliver, James G. Mitchel