The Effects of Finger-Walking in Place (FWIP) on Spatial Knowledge Acquisition in Virtual Environments

Spatial knowledge, necessary for efficient navigation, comprises route knowledge (memory of landmarks along a route) and survey knowledge (overall representation like a map). Virtual environments (VEs) have been suggested as a power tool for understanding some issues associated with human navigation, such as spatial knowledge acquisition. The Finger-Walking-in-Place (FWIP) interaction technique is a locomotion technique for navigation tasks in immersive virtual environments (IVEs). The FWIP was designed to map a human’s embodied ability overlearned by natural walking for navigation, to finger-based interaction technique. Its implementation on Lemur and iPhone/iPod Touch devices was evaluated in our previous studies. In this paper, we present a comparative study of the joystick’s flying technique versus the FWIP. Our experiment results show that the FWIP results in better performance than the joystick’s flying for route knowledge acquisition in our maze navigation tasks

Homeoprotein Hbx4 represses adhesion molecule governing cytokinesis and development

Homeobox genes encode proteins with a highly conserved DNA-binding motif and provoke morphological diversification of body segments by differentially controlling the expression of downstream targets. Here, we have identified _hbx4_, one of many homeobox genes in _Dictyostelium discoideum_ and investigated its role during growth and development. In suspension, Hbx4-overexpressing cells, Hbx4^OE^, showed defects in cytokinesis and growth rate. During development, Hbx4^OE^ and _hbx4_-disrupting cells, _hbx4¯_ made differences in shape of mound and slug, cell-type proportioning from wild type KAx3 cells. These phenotypes were similar to those of mutant defective in _cadA_ encoding Ca^2+^-dependent cell adhesion molecule so that we investigated the relationship between _hbx4_ and _cadA_. Overexpression of Hbx4 inhibited the expression of _cadA_ and cAMP also failed to stimulate _cadA_ in Hbx4^OE^. Furthermore, gel mobility shift assay showed the promoter of _cadA_ contained Hbx4-binding site, indicating Hbx4 negatively regulates the expression of _cadA_. Proteome analysis revealed that overexpression of Hbx4 repressed the _rdiA_ and _abpB_ encoding rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor1, RhoGDI1 and actin bundling protein 34, ABP34, respectively. And the overexpression of _cadA_ in Hbx4^OE^ cells rescued the defects and increased mRNA level of _rdiA_, _abpB_ and one of Rho GTPase, _rac1b_. These results suggested that Hbx4 can modulate cytokinesis, cell sorting and cell-type proportioning by repressing _cadA_ that regulates GTPase-dependent signaling pathway

Genetic Counseling Referrals and Genetic Profiles of Male and Young Female Breast Cancer Populations

Genetic counselling and genetic testing of breast cancer patients can be helpful in estimating recurrence risks and guiding clinical management. Genetic testing results are useful for family members and their medical decisions as well. However, not all breast cancer patients are eligible for genetic counselling, but must meet eligibility criteria in Ontario to be referred. We studied two groups of patients – male breast cancer patients and young female patients aged 35 or under – who make up of a small subset of overall breast cancer patients. These groups should be offered genetic testing irrespective of family history. They could also potentially represent unique genetic profiles, different from the majority of breast cancer patients. Our study showed that the genetic testing uptake rates were 44% for male patients and 60% for young female patients, respectively. Pathogenic mutation rates were 4% for male patients and 25% for young patients, respectively. Our study demonstrated that 1) genetic referral rates and testing rates are low, and 2) pathogenic mutation rates are different from the general breast cancer population

A Review of Jennifer Buck\u27s Reframing the House: Constructive Feminist Global Ecclesiology for the Western Evangelical Church (Pickwick Publications)

I want to thank the Quaker Theological Discussion Group and especially Carole Spencer for putting this session together and for inviting me to be part of this book review of Jennifer Buck’s book Reframing the House. Though I am not a Quaker, I do teach at a Quaker institution, Earlham School of Religion, so it is an honor to be part of this session and to review this fine book. Reframing the House is an interesting read on the global church and ecumenical theology which is a pertinent topic of our time. Our world is getting smaller and smaller and we are living in a global world where people are migrating and immigrating. We live in an inter-dependent and inter-reliant world. What happens in Asia affects us here in North America and what happens here in North America affects those in Africa

Climate Change and the Personal Presence of God

Climate change is one of the most important social justice issues of our time that affects the survival of humanity and planet earth. Climate change alters our planet and creates havoc in many parts of the world as weather patterns change, causing changes in our environment and countless other ripple effects. Storms are getting more devastating, as structures are destroyed and more lives are being lost. The increase in carbon emissions is destroying our atmosphere, and the consequences are enormous for the future of our planet. During this climate crisis, how are we to divert the disruption and stop climate change? As people of faith, what is our role in preventing a climate catastrophe that will devastate people and the rest of creation on earth? The Scriptures state that the Spirit hovered over the earth during the creation of the world. The presence of the Spirit was always on the earth and the presence of the Spirit can still be felt today. It is the work of the Spirit that transforms us to work for cli- mate justice. We need to go into a deep analysis of climate change and its effect on this planet and humanity. As people of faith, we need to reimagine the world and God so that we can all work towards justice. This article will examine the effects of climate change and how the animals and the planet are affected. The earth and the animals are crying out in pain and unjust suffering. This article will explore how we can view God and the Spirit in a way that helps us live more sustainable and healthy lives for the sake of the future of humanity and the planet

For Courage While Confronting Gender Injustice

Kim writes a prayer asking for courage to address gender injustice and faith to continue to address it

A study of passengers' anxiety on the London Underground to help design its information environment

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonProvision of information has been used as a strategy to relive travel-related anxiety. This study is motivated by the successful attempts for reducing the anxiety. Although, passengers’ anxiety about using public transport (PT) has already been discussed, the London Underground passengers’ anxiety has rarely been a target of investigation in the academic literature. Anxiety associated with the Underground use is reported to be greater than other PT modes. Although the existing studies discussing PT passengers’ anxiety have attempted to provide solutions for anxiety reduction, few endeavours have been made to offer them based on the investigated causality between determinants of anxiety and its arousal. Thus, this study fills the gap by identifying antecedents, and verifying their effects on anxiety about the Underground use. This, in turn, furnishes theoretical grounds for designing content of information with an aim to relieve the anxiety in the circumstance that little data exists, which can be utilised for developing information for the purpose. To achieve the goal, two sets of phases have been engaged. First, a questionnaire (N=81) was conducted to identify anxiety triggers. The results revealed that they were other people’s anti-social behaviour, overcrowding, noise, and late-night travel. An expert group interview was carried out to investigate what efforts are made to support passengers in the anxiety inducing situations. Second, examination was performed to understand about the passengers’ anxiety based on theoretical knowledge about anxiety, and to determine its antecedents. A research model was formulated including six factors, perceived invulnerability, perceived physical ability, trust in other passengers (informal social control), confidence in the authorities, safety knowledge, and perceived uncontrollability. The effects were assessed through structural equation modelling, using questionnaire data (N=269). The results uncovered that perceived invulnerability, perceived physical ability, and confidence in the authorities have negative indirect effects on anxiety through perceived uncontrollability, and safety knowledge has a negative direct effect on anxiety. The confirmed anxiety buffering effects of the factors will be suggested to be used for developing content of information to help relieve the arousal. The study contributes to knowledge by identifying the determinants of the passengers’ anxiety, and testing their effects on anxiety, and to produce theoretical support to create service information environment which helps relieve the anxiety