Profiling commenters on mental health-related online forums : a methodological example focusing on eating disorder-related commenters

Background Understanding the characteristics of commenters on mental health-related online forums is vital for the development of effective psychological interventions in these communities. The way in which commenters interact can enhance our understanding of their characteristics. Objective Using eating disorder-related (EDR) forums as an example, this study details a methodology that aimed to determine subtypes of mental health-related forums, and profile their commenters based on the other forums to which they contributed. Methods The researchers identified all public EDR-forums (with ≥500 contributing commenters between March 2017 and February 2018) on a large online discussion platform (Reddit). A mixed-methods approach comprising network analysis with community-detection, text-mining and manual review identified subtypes of EDR-forums. For each subtype, another network analysis with community-detection was conducted using the EDR-forum commenter-overlap between 50 forums on which the commenters also commented. The topics of forums in each detected community were then manually reviewed to identify the shared interests of each subtype of EDR-forum commenters. Results Six subtypes of EDR-forums were identified, to which 14024 commenters had contributed. The results focus on two subtypes – pro-eating disorder, and thinspiration – and communities of commenters within both subtypes. Within the pro-eating disorder subtype, three communities of commenters were detected that related to the body and eating, mental health, and women, appearance and mixed topics. Regarding the thinspiration group, 78% of commenters had also commented on pornographic forums, and 17% had contributed to pro-eating disorder forums. Conclusions The article exemplifies a methodology that provides insight into subtypes of mental health-related forums, and the characteristics of their commenters. The findings have implications for future research, and online psychological interventions. With the publicly available data and code provided, researchers can easily reproduce the analyses, or utilise the methodology to investigate other mental health-related forums

Clusters of Glycemic Response to Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests Explain Multivariate Metabolic and Anthropometric Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients

Glycemic responses to bariatric surgery are highly heterogeneous among patients and defining response types remains challenging. Recently developed data-driven clustering methods have uncovered subtle pathophysiologically informative patterns among patients without diabetes. This study aimed to explain responses among patients with and without diabetes to bariatric surgery with clusters of glucose concentration during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). We assessed 30 parameters at baseline and at four subsequent follow-up visits over one year on 154 participants in the Bialystok Bariatric Surgery Study. We applied latent trajectory classification to OGTTs and multinomial regression and generalized linear mixed models to explain differential responses among clusters. OGTT trajectories created four clusters representing increasing dysglycemias that were discordant from standard diabetes diagnosis criteria. The baseline OGTT cluster increased the predictive power of regression models by over 31% and aided in correctly predicting more than 83% of diabetes remissions. Principal component analysis showed that the glucose homeostasis response primarily occurred as improved insulin sensitivity concomitant with improved the OGTT cluster. In sum, OGTT clustering explained multiple, correlated responses to metabolic surgery. The OGTT is an intuitive and easy-to-implement index of improvement that stratifies patients into response types, a vital first step in personalizing diabetic care in obese subjects

Polarimetry and the High-Energy Emission Mechanisms in Quasar Jets. The Case of PKS 1136-135

Since the discovery of kiloparsec-scale X-ray emission from quasar jets, the physical processes responsible for their high-energy emission have been poorly defined. A number of mechanisms are under active debate, including synchrotron radiation, inverse-Comptonized CMB (IC/CMB) emission, and other Comptonization processes. In a number of cases, the optical and X-ray emission of jet regions are inked by a single spectral component, and in those, high- resolution multi-band imaging and polarimetry can be combined to yield a powerful diagnostic of jet emission processes. Here we report on deep imaging photometry of the jet of PKS 1136$-$135 obtained with the {\it Hubble Space Telescope.} We find that several knots are highly polarized in the optical, with fractional polarization $\Pi>30$. When combined with the broadband spectral shape observed in these regions, this is very difficult to explain via IC/CMB models, unless the scattering particles are at the lowest-energy tip of the electron energy distribution, with Lorentz factor $\gamma \sim 1$, and the jet is also very highly beamed ($\delta \geq 20$) and viewed within a few degrees of the line of sight. We discuss both the IC/CMB and synchrotron interpretation of the X-ray emission in the light of this new evidence, presenting new models of the spectral energy distribution and also the matter content of this jet. The high polarizations do not completely rule out the possibility of IC/CMB optical-to-X-ray emission in this jet, but they do strongly disfavor the model. We discuss the implications of this finding, and also the prospects for future work.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, ApJ in pres

Self‐healing encapsulation and controlled release of vaccine antigens from PLGA microparticles delivered by microneedle patches

There is an urgent need to reduce reliance on hypodermic injections for many vaccines to increase vaccination safety and coverage. Alternative approaches include controlled release formulations, which reduce dosing frequencies, and utilizing alternative delivery devices such as microneedle patches (MNPs). This work explores development of controlled release microparticles made of poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) that stably encapsulate various antigens though aqueous active self‐healing encapsulation (ASE). These microparticles are incorporated into rapid‐dissolving MNPs for intradermal vaccination.PLGA microparticles containing Alhydrogel are loaded with antigens separate from microparticle fabrication using ASE. This avoids antigen expsoure to many stressors. The microparticles demonstrate bi‐phasic release, with initial burst of soluble antigen, followed by delayed release of Alhydrogel‐complexed antigen over approximately 2 months in vitro. For delivery, the microparticles are incorporated into MNPs designed with pedestals to extend functional microneedle length. These microneedles readily penetrate skin and rapidly dissolve to deposit microparticles intradermally. Microparticles remain in the tissue for extended residence, with MNP‐induced micropores resealing readily. In animal models, these patches generate robust immune responses that are comparable to conventional administration techniques. This lays the framework for a versatile vaccine delivery system that could be self‐applied with important logistical advantages over hypodermic injections.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147859/1/btm210103-sup-0001-supinfo.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147859/2/btm210103_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147859/3/btm210103.pd

ERG Induces Epigenetic Activation of Tudor Domain-Containing Protein 1 (TDRD1) in ERG Rearrangement-Positive Prostate Cancer

Background Overexpression of ERG transcription factor due to genomic ERG- rearrangements defines a separate molecular subtype of prostate tumors. One of the consequences of ERG accumulation is modulation of the cell’s gene expression profile. Tudor domain-containing protein 1 gene (TDRD1) was reported to be differentially expressed between TMPRSS2:ERG-negative and TMPRSS2:ERG-positive prostate cancer. The aim of our study was to provide a mechanistic explanation for the transcriptional activation of TDRD1 in ERG rearrangement-positive prostate tumors. Methodology/Principal Findings Gene expression measurements by real-time quantitative PCR revealed a remarkable co-expression of TDRD1 and ERG (r2 = 0.77) but not ETV1 (r2<0.01) in human prostate cancer in vivo. DNA methylation analysis by MeDIP-Seq and bisulfite sequencing showed that TDRD1 expression is inversely correlated with DNA methylation at the TDRD1 promoter in vitro and in vivo (ρ = −0.57). Accordingly, demethylation of the TDRD1 promoter in TMPRSS2:ERG-negative prostate cancer cells by DNA methyltransferase inhibitors resulted in TDRD1 induction. By manipulation of ERG dosage through gene silencing and forced expression we show that ERG governs loss of DNA methylation at the TDRD1 promoter-associated CpG island, leading to TDRD1 overexpression. Conclusions/Significance We demonstrate that ERG is capable of disrupting a tissue-specific DNA methylation pattern at the TDRD1 promoter. As a result, TDRD1 becomes transcriptionally activated in TMPRSS2:ERG-positive prostate cancer. Given the prevalence of ERG fusions, TDRD1 overexpression is a common alteration in human prostate cancer which may be exploited for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures

Engagement with MyFitnessPal in eating disorders : qualitative insights from online forums

Objective Using calorie‐counting and fitness‐tracking technologies is concerning in relation to eating disorders. While studies in this area typically assess one aspect of use (e.g., frequency), engagement with a device or application is more complex. Consequently, important relationships between the use of these technologies and the eating disorder symptomatology might remain undetected. The current study therefore used comments from online eating disorder‐related forums to generate comprehensive qualitative insights into engagement with a popular calorie‐counting and fitness‐tracking application, MyFitnessPal. Method First, we extracted every comment mentioning MyFitnessPal made on three eating disorder‐related forums between May 2015 and January 2018 (1,695 comments from 920 commenters). Then, we conducted an inductive thematic analysis using these comments to identify important aspects of engagement with MyFitnessPal. Results The analyses resulted in three themes: Preventing misuse, describing ways in which MyFitnessPal attempts to prevent pathological use and actions taken by users to circumvent its interventions; Accuracy, outlining distrust of MyFitnessPal's accuracy and ways in which perceived inaccuracy is reduced or compensated for; and Psychosocial factors, comprising cognitive, behavioral, and social factors that influence, or are influenced by, engagement with MyFitnessPal. Discussion The qualitative insights provide a detailed overview of how people with high levels of eating disorder symptomatology likely engage with MyFitnessPal. The insights can be used as a basis to develop valid, quantitative assessment of pathological patterns of engagement with calorie‐counting and fitness‐tracking technologies. The findings can also provide clinicians with insight into how their patients likely engage with, and are affected by, these devices and applications

Rapid Laser Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices from Glass Substrates

Conventional manufacturing of microfluidic devices from glass substrates is a complex, multi-step process that involves different fabrication techniques and tools. Hence, it is time-consuming and expensive, in particular for the prototyping of microfluidic devices in low quantities. This article describes a laser-based process that enables the rapid manufacturing of enclosed micro-structures by laser micromachining and microwelding of two 1.1-mm-thick borosilicate glass plates. The fabrication process was carried out only with a picosecond laser (Trumpf TruMicro 5×50) that was used for: (a) the generation of microfluidic patterns on glass, (b) the drilling of inlet/outlet ports into the material, and (c) the bonding of two glass plates together in order to enclose the laser-generated microstructures. Using this manufacturing approach, a fully-functional microfluidic device can be fabricated in less than two hours. Initial fluid flow experiments proved that the laser-generated microstructures are completely sealed; thus, they show a potential use in many industrial and scientific areas. This includes geological and petroleum engineering research, where such microfluidic devices can be used to investigate single-phase and multi-phase flow of various fluids (such as brine, oil, and CO2) in porous media

Facile production of ultra-fine silicon nanoparticles

A facile procedure for the synthesis of ultra-fine silicon nanoparticles without the need for a Schlenk vacuum line is presented. The process consists of the production of a (HSiO1.5)n sol–gel precursor based on the polycondensation of low-cost trichlorosilane (HSiCl3), followed by its annealing and etching. The obtained materials were thoroughly characterized after each preparation step by electron microscopy, Fourier transform and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray dispersion spectroscopy, diffraction methods and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The data confirm the formation of ultra-fine silicon nanoparticles with controllable average diameters between 1 and 5 nm depending on the etching time