‘Alexa, Adv(ert)ise us!’: How Smart Speakers and Digital Assistants Challenge Advertising Literacy Amongst Young People

Digitale Sprachassistenten erreichen zunehmend auch die Lebenswelt von Kindern. Sie erinnern in ihren Funktionen teilweise an Spielkameraden, Kindermädchen und Hauslehrer. Die Pädagogik hat sich mit diesem neuen Medienphänomen bisher nur marginal auseinandergesetzt. Dabei liegen in der Nutzung von Smart Speakern durch junge Menschen viele Chancen, aber auch Herausforderungen. Diese werden in diesem Artikel herausgearbeitet und medienpädagogisch eingeordnet. Wir beginnen mit einer Definition von Smart Speakern und digitalen Sprachassistenten, um dann deren Gebrauch anhand von Nutzungsdaten zu beleuchten. Im nächsten Schritt widmen wir uns der Frage, inwieweit diese smarten Technologien in der Lebenswelt von jungen Menschen eine Rolle spielen. Welche Formen von Werbung gibt es dort? Welche Daten sammeln Sprachassistenten? Und: Wie können Eltern, Pädagoginnen, Pädagogen und Unternehmen für eine kindgerechte, datenschutzkonforme Nutzung smarter Technologien sorgen? Unser Ziel ist es, das Phänomen Smart Speaker und digitale Sprachassistenten ein Stück weiter ins medienpädagogische Visier zu rücken. Der Umgang mit den spezifischen Eigenheiten von Smart Speakern bedarf eines hohen Masses an (kindlicher) Nutzungskompetenz. Wie wir abschliessend aufzeigen werden, ergeben sich aus Sicht der Werbekompetenzförderung weitere pädagogisch gewinnbringende Ansatzpunkte.Digital assistants increasingly infiltrate the world of children. The way they function reminds us somewhat of playmates, nannies and tutors. So far, educators have only marginally dealt with this new media phenomenon, yet the use of smart speakers by young people offers many opportunities as well as challenges. These are elaborated in this article and classified in terms of media education. Firstly, we will address a definition of smart speakers and digital speech assistants, and then examine their use by means of usage data. We will then concentrate on examining the extent to which these smart technologies play a role in the environments of young people. What forms of advertising are there? What data do digital assistants collect? And finally, how can parents, educators and companies ensure that smart technologies are used in a child-friendly manner that complies with data protection regulations? Our aim is to nudge the phenomenon of smart speakers and speech assistants into the media-pedagogical focus. Dealing with the specific characteristics of smart speakers requires a high degree of (child) user competence. As we will show in the conclusion, there are further pedagogically beneficial approaches from the point of view of promoting advertising literacy

Framing gaming

This study investigates the effects of media frames on attitudes toward video games, perceptions of their users, and consequences. Prior research has shown that gaming is a controversial issue, with media coverage focusing on either risks or opportunities. To examine the effects of these portrayals, the present study used a 2 × 2 experimental design and exposed participants (N = 360) to a news article that framed gaming in terms of risk or opportunity on the journalistic level and on the level of a corresponding expert statement. By examining the perceived negative effects of games, this study extends previous research by combining framing and third-person research. Results showed that framing gaming indeed had an effect on participants’ attitudes. This framing effect was moderated by individual video game use. Despite identifying a traditional third-person perception regarding negative video game effects, we found framing to have no significant influence on third-person perceptions

Growth and Euro Area Stability: The Double Dividend of a Deepened European Single Market for Services. Bertelsmann Stiftung Background Note 26 June 2015

The European Commission’s recent single market initiatives have a second important benefit beyond growth that is often overlooked: Deepening the Single Market for goods and services can also reduce imbalances in the euro area and limit its vulnerability to crises. A further integration of the Single Market thus provides a double dividend of growth and stability. This is the main issue addressed in this background note

Carbon fiber substitution in shipboard instrument structural mounts for vibration and shock isolation

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 27).Insufficient support and isolation of rotating and non-rotating shipboard equipment and instruments may cause damage to the components or the ship itself. Reduction of noise emissions to the ship's hull and protection of equipment from outside disturbances may be attained through isolator mounting systems. The objective of this thesis is to investigate and analyze the effects of substituting carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) for use in the structural mounts on rotating marine diesel engines and on sensitive, nonrotating Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS). The high specific stiffness of CFRP make it an interesting candidate for mounting material substitution. The shipboard components were modeled with mounts made of steel, rubber and CFRP and their step response, impulse response and transmissibility behavior were analyzed. It was concluded that the choice in appropriate mounting materials depends on the application, but CFRP was found in many cases to display similar vibration isolation behavior to steel while being much less dense.by Anna C. Haas.S.B

Uniaxial mechanical properties of face-centered cubic single- and multiphase high-entropy alloys

Since the high entropy concept was proposed at the beginning of the millennium, the research focus of this alloy family has been wide ranging. The initial search for single-phase alloys has expanded with the aim of improving mechanical properties. This can be achieved by several strengthening mechanisms such as solid-solution hardening, hot and cold working and precipitation hardening. Both single- and multiphase high- and medium-entropy alloys can be optimized for mechanical strength via several processing routes, as is the case for conventional alloys with only one base element, such as steels or Ni-based superalloys

HIV Testing in a Small Free Clinic

HIV infections have steadily grown in number since the virus was originally observed in 1981, with the most recent data indicating more than 36.7 million patients globally are infected. Of these, it is estimated 1.8 million were new in 2016. From the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic through 2016, 35 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses, with 1 million deaths coming from 2016. In the United States, many patients are unaware of their HIV status; of those aged 13-24 with HIV, only 49 percent were aware of their infection. HIV is an epidemic. Recent data indicate the rate of new HIV diagnoses are climbing in Ohio. In 2017, there were 1,019 reported new diagnoses to the Ohio Department of Health, which is up from 983 and 940 in 2016 and 2015 respectively. Of these 1,019 diagnoses, 23 percent were from Franklin County. Research has examined various vaccines and potential cures for the virus, but no such treatment currently exists. However, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is often able to suppress the infection to an extent such that transmission is near impossible. Testing for HIV is cheap, rapid, and accurate. There are three primary methods to test patients to see if they have HIV. Antibody tests detect HIV antibodies that the body produces, in either blood or saliva. The average patient takes between three and 12 weeks to produce these antibodies after being infected, leading to potential false negative results if samples are utilized during this time. Combination antibody-antigen tests detect these antibodies, as well as antigens, shortening the ‘window’ for false negative results to two to six weeks after infection. Finally, Nucleic Acid Tests (NATs) are not as commonly used, despite their one- to four-week post-infection window, due largely to cost. New Life Ministries operates a small, free clinic every Sunday morning from 7 to 9am. The organization sees anywhere from 10 to 30 patients, many of who are homeless, unemployed, or uninsured. The patient population encompasses immigrant populations, and intravenous drug users as well. During their visits, patients have access to cost-effective prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as physical examinations by medical students and physicians. There is some point of care testing to test blood sugar, but the site generally lacks the ability to follow-up for other diagnostic blood labs like lipid screens or metabolic panels. Given the accessibility of HIV testing supplies, and the growing patient population who would benefit from testing, we propose the inclusion of HIV testing at New Life Free Clinic, utilizing either the Antibody Test or the Combination Antibody-Antigen Test. The ability to test patients for HIV at a clinic that may be their only point-of-contact with health care is invaluable. Patients who test positive would be given information to follow up with an appropriate clinic that may be able to better serve the patient's health care needs.AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Celynn Vaughn, pharmacy student, Ohio State College of Pharmacy, [email protected] (Corresponding Author); Anna Haas-Gehres, responsible pharmacist, New Life Free Clinic, clinical assistant professor, Ohio State College of PharmacyNew Life Ministries operates a small, free clinic every Sunday morning from 7 to 9am. The organization sees anywhere from 10 to 30 patients, many of who are homeless, unemployed, or uninsured. The patient population encompasses immigrant populations and intravenous drug users. Given the accessibility of HIV testing supplies, and the growing patient population who would benefit from testing, we propose the inclusion of HIV testing at New Life Free Clinic, utilizing either the antibody test or the combination antibody-antigen test. The ability to test patients for HIV at a clinic that may be their only point of contact with health care is invaluable. Patients who test positive would be given information to follow up with an appropriate clinic that may be able to better serve the patient's health care needs

Intermicrobial interaction: Aspergillus fumigatus siderophores protect against competition by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

International audiencePseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus fumigatus are pathogens frequently co-inhabiting immunocompromised patient airways, particularly in people with cystic fibrosis. Both microbes depend on the availability of iron, and compete for iron in their microenvironment. We showed previously that the P. aeruginosa siderophore pyoverdine is the main instrument in battling A. fumigatus biofilms, by iron chelation and denial of iron to the fungus. Here we show that A. fumigatus siderophores defend against anti-fungal P. aeruginosa effects. P. aeruginosa supernatants produced in the presence of wildtype A. fumigatus planktonic supernatants (Afsup) showed less activity against A. fumigatus biofilms than P. aeruginosa supernatants without Afsup, despite higher production of pyoverdine by P. aeruginosa. Supernatants of A. fumigatus cultures lacking the sidA gene (AfΔsidA), unable to produce hydroxamate siderophores, were less capable of protecting A. fumigatus biofilms from P. aeruginosa supernatants and pyoverdine. AfΔsidA biofilm was more sensitive towards inhibitory effects of pyoverdine, the iron chelator deferiprone (DFP), or amphothericin B than wildtype A. fumigatus biofilm. Supplementation of sidA-deficient A. fumigatus biofilm with A. fumigatus siderophores restored resistance to pyoverdine. The A. fumigatus siderophore production inhibitor celastrol sensitized wildtype A. fumigatus biofilms towards the anti-fungal activity of DFP. In conclusion, A. fumigatus hydroxamate siderophores play a pivotal role in A. fumigatus competition for iron against P. aeruginosa

Genetic variants in eleven central and peripheral chemoreceptor genes in sudden infant death syndrome

Background: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is still one of the leading causes of postnatal infant death in developed countries. The occurrence of SIDS is described by a multifactorial etiology that involves the respiratory control system including chemoreception. It is still unclear whether genetic variants in genes involved in respiratory chemoreception might play a role in SIDS. Methods: The exome data of 155 SIDS cases were screened for variants within 11 genes described in chemoreception. Pathogenicity of variants was assigned based on the assessment of variant types and in silico protein predictions according to the current recommendations of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. Results: Potential pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins involved in respiratory chemoreception could be identified in 5 (3%) SIDS cases. Two of the variants (R137S/A188S) were found in the KNCJ16 gene, which encodes for the potassium channel Kir5.1, presumably involved in central chemoreception. Electrophysiologic analysis of these KCNJ16 variants revealed a loss-of-function for the R137S variant but no obvious impairment for the A188S variant. Conclusions: Genetic variants in genes involved in respiratory chemoreception may be a risk factor in a fraction of SIDS cases and may thereby contribute to the multifactorial etiology of SIDS. Impact: What is the key message of your article? Gene variants encoding proteins involved in respiratory chemoreception may play a role in a minority of SIDS cases. What does it add to the existing literature? Although impaired respiratory chemoreception has been suggested as an important risk factor for SIDS, genetic variants in single genes seem to play a minor role. What is the impact? This study supports previous findings, which indicate that genetic variants in single genes involved in respiratory control do not have a dominant role in SIDS

Systematic Approach for Finite Element Analysis of Thermoplastic Impregnated 3D Filament Winding Structures—Advancements and Validation

This work aims to enhance and validate a systematic approach for the structural finite element (FE) analysis of thermoplastic impregnated 3D filament winding structures (fiber skeletons). The idealized modeling of geometrically complex fiber skeletons used in previous publications is refined by considering additional characteristic dimensions and investigating their mechanical influence. Moreover, the modeling approach is transferred from the meso- to the macro-level in order to reduce modeling and computational effort. The properties of meso- and macro-level FE models are compared using the example of simple loop specimens. Based on the results, respective application fields are defined. In the next step, the same modeling approach is applied to a more complex, three-dimensional specimen—the inclined loop. For its macro-level FE model, additional material characterization and modeling, as well as enhancements in the modeling of the geometry, are proposed. Together with previously determined effective composite properties of fiber skeletons, these results are validated in experimental tensile tests on inclined loop specimens