Cue Now, Reflect Later: A Study of Delayed Reflection of Diary Events

Diary studies require participants to record entries at the moment of events, but the process often distracts the participants and disrupts the flow of the events. In this work, we explore the notion of delayed reflection for diary studies. Users quickly denote cues of diary events and only reflect on the cues later when they are not busy. To minimize disruptions, we employed a squeeze gesture that is swift and discreet for denoting cues. We investigated the feasibility of delayed reflection and compared it against a conventional digital diary that requires users to reflect immediately at the time of entry. In a weeklong field study, we asked participants to record their daily experiences with both types of diaries. Our results show that users’ preference is context-dependent. Delayed reflection is favored for use in contexts when interruptions are deemed inappropriate (e.g. in meetings or lectures) or when the users are mobile (e.g. walking). In contrast, the users prefer immediate reflection when they are alone, such as during leisure and downtime

The digital brain switch: managing rapid transitions between role identities in a digital world

In this paper, we present initial findings from an EPSRC-sponsored multi-disciplinary research project investigating how digital technologies and social media affect role transitions across work-life domains. The research uses an innovative combination of visual diaries and narrative interviews to capture micro-transitions (‘switches’) and explore these with participants in the context of their overall lives. Findings from a pilot study with academics are reported here in terms of: emergent digital boundary management strategies; triggers for rapid switching and the effects of this; and the function of meta roles and multi-role cognitions. The research contributes to current thinking in work-life literature in terms of devising innovative methods, focusing on the micro- transitional and in considering the role of the digital and social media in boundary management

Job satisfaction and motivation to teach: predicting intrinsic and extrinsic factors towards retaining career-switchers in the teaching profession

The teaching career is undoubtedly one of the most challenging professions with regards to other related service-type occupations. Evidently, throughout the history of the teaching career, numerous cases related to mental and health problem, high dropout rate nationwide, and behavioral delinquency among teachers have been reported in this particular field. In general, career-switchers are individuals who transitioned from their previous occupation into the teaching service. Indeed, this specific group of individuals is interested into the teaching service due to the gap eventuated from the high attrition rate of teachers. Inevitably, the role of career-switchers, especially for former industrial-based practitioners, is significant in Career and Technical Education. In light of this matter, this research focused on determining teaching job satisfaction factors of career-switchers and predicting which job satisfaction factors are prominent to career-switchers’ retention plan. In this study, a descriptive and correlational analysis was utilized to ascertain the objective of the study: (a) to determine the teaching job satisfaction factors of career-switchers of career and technical education teachers and (b) to identify the job satisfaction factors that influence career-switchers’ retention plan. The sample of the study was derived from 2670 CareerTech registered teachers in the Midwestern state using purposive sampling technique. Then, the data was gathered using an online survey named Qualtrics, which filtered the number of career-switcher to 272. Additionally, a chi-square analysis was employed and the result indicated that the factors of marital status, the teaching position of career-switchers, and highest degree earned were found significance with retention plan. Also, the regression analysis revealed six job satisfaction factors which influenced career-switchers to remain in the teaching profession. Subsequently, these six factors were summarized into four major themes: salary, teaching supports, teaching preparation, and motivation. Based on the findings, it was implied that career-switchers take into consideration of both extrinsic and intrinsic variables when deciding whether to stay or leave the teaching profession. On the same note, future research related to comparative analysis of career-switchers within different demographic contexts is highly suggested

Methods for monitoring work-life balance in a digital world

Digital technologies - smart phones, email, social networking, etc. - are fundamentally changing our relationship with work. Digital technologies enable us to be always connected. However, the question remains as to how digital technologies affect our work-life balance. In this position paper, we report on some methods we are using to study how to continuously monitor and observe work-life balance, and discuss the advantages/disadvantages of these methods. Work-life balance is a relatively under-explored area in the quantified self literature; this paper therefore contributes to broader discussions on quantified self but from a domain that has received little attention to date

Colonic Mucosal Necrosis Following Administration of Calcium Polystryrene Sulfonate (Kalimate) in a Uremic Patient

Colonic necrosis is known as a rare complication following the administration of Kayexalate (sodium polystryrene sulfonate) in sorbitol. We report a rare case of colonic mucosal necrosis following Kalimate (calcium polystryrene sulfonate), an analogue of Kayexalate without sorbitol in a 34-yr-old man. He had a history of hypertension and uremia. During the management of intracranial hemorrhage, hyperkalemia developed. Kalimate was administered orally and as an enema suspended in 20% dextrose water to treat hyperkalemia. Two days after administration of Kalimate enema, he had profuse hematochezia, and a sigmoidoscopy showed diffuse colonic mucosal necrosis in the rectum and sigmoid colon. Microscopic examination of random colonic biopsies by two consecutive sigmoidoscopies revealed angulated crystals with a characteristic crystalline mosaic pattern on the ulcerated mucosa, which were consistent with Kayexalate crystals. Hematochezia subsided with conservative treatment after a discontinuance of Kalimate administration

The selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS398 ameliorates cisplatin-induced impairments in mitochondrial and cognitive function

Chemobrain is a condition that negatively affects cognition in cancer patients undergoing active chemotherapy, as well as following chemotherapy cessation. Chemobrain is also known as chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) and has emerged as a significant medical contingency. There is no therapy to ameliorate this condition, hence identification of novel therapeutic strategies to prevent CICI is of great interest to cancer survivors. Utilizing the platinum-based chemotherapy cisplatin in an investigative approach for CICI, we identified increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the adult mouse hippocampus, and in human cortical neuron cultures derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Notably, administration of NS398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, prevented CICI in vivo without negatively affecting the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin or potentiating tumor growth. Given that dysfunctional mitochondrial bioenergetics plays a prominent role in CICI, we explored the effects of NS398 in cisplatin-induced defects in human cortical mitochondria. We found that cisplatin significantly reduces mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), increases matrix swelling, causes loss of cristae membrane integrity, impairs ATP production, as well as decreases cell viability and dendrite outgrowth. Pretreatment with NS398 in human cortical neurons attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction caused by cisplatin, while improving cell survival and neurite morphogenesis. These results suggest that aberrant COX-2 inflammatory pathways may contribute in cisplatin-induced mitochondrial damage and cognitive impairments. Therefore, COX-2 signaling may represent a viable therapeutic approach to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors experiencing CICI

Access to Artemisinin-Based Anti-Malarial Treatment and its Related Factors in Rural Tanzania.

Artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) has been widely adopted as one of the main malaria control strategies. However, its promise to save thousands of lives in sub-Saharan Africa depends on how effective the use of ACT is within the routine health system. The INESS platform evaluated effective coverage of ACT in several African countries. Timely access within 24 hours to an authorized ACT outlet is one of the determinants of effective coverage and was assessed for artemether-lumefantrine (Alu), in two district health systems in rural Tanzania. From October 2009 to June 2011we conducted continuous rolling household surveys in the Kilombero-Ulanga and the Rufiji Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites (HDSS). Surveys were linked to the routine HDSS update rounds. Members of randomly pre-selected households that had experienced a fever episode in the previous two weeks were eligible for a structured interview. Data on individual treatment seeking, access to treatment, timing, source of treatment and household costs per episode were collected. Data are presented on timely access from a total of 2,112 interviews in relation to demographics, seasonality, and socio economic status. In Kilombero-Ulanga, 41.8% (CI: 36.6-45.1) and in Rufiji 36.8% (33.7-40.1) of fever cases had access to an authorized ACT provider within 24 hours of fever onset. In neither of the HDSS site was age, sex, socio-economic status or seasonality of malaria found to be significantly correlated with timely access. Timely access to authorized ACT providers is below 50% despite interventions intended to improve access such as social marketing and accreditation of private dispensing outlets. To improve prompt diagnosis and treatment, access remains a major bottle neck and new more innovative interventions are needed to raise effective coverage of malaria treatment in Tanzania

Gene regulatory network reveals oxidative stress as the underlying molecular mechanism of type 2 diabetes and hypertension

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide. It has been long known that increased rates of inflammatory diseases, such as obesity (OBS), hypertension (HT) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are highly associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D and/or OBS can develop independently, due to genetic, behavioral or lifestyle-related variables but both lead to oxidative stress generation. The underlying mechanisms by which theses complications arise and manifest together remain poorly understood. Protein-protein interactions regulate nearly every living process. Availability of high-throughput genomic data has enabled unprecedented views of gene and protein co-expression, co-regulations and interactions in cellular systems.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present work, applied a systems biology approach to develop gene interaction network models, comprised of high throughput genomic and PPI data for T2D. The genes differentially regulated through T2D were 'mined' and their 'wirings' were studied to get a more complete understanding of the overall gene network topology and their role in disease progression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By analyzing the genes related to T2D, HT and OBS, a highly regulated gene-disease integrated network model has been developed that provides useful functional linkages among groups of genes and thus addressing how different inflammatory diseases are connected and propagated at genetic level. Based on the investigations around the 'hubs' that provided more meaningful insights about the cross-talk within gene-disease networks in terms of disease phenotype association with oxidative stress and inflammation, a hypothetical co-regulation disease mechanism model been proposed. The results from this study revealed that the oxidative stress mediated regulation cascade is the common mechanistic link among the pathogenesis of T2D, HT and other inflammatory diseases such as OBS.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings provide a novel comprehensive approach for understanding the pathogenesis of various co-associated chronic inflammatory diseases by combining the power of pathway analysis with gene regulatory network evaluation.</p