Applications of Cohesive Subgraph Detection Algorithms to Analyzing Socio-Technical Networks

Socio-technical networks can be productively modeled at several granularities, including the interaction of actors, how this interaction is mediated by digital artifacts, and sociograms that model direct ties between the actors themselves. Cohesive subgraph detection algorithms (CSDA, a.k.a. “community detection algorithms”) are often applied to sociograms, but also have utility in analyzing graphs corresponding to other levels of modeling. This paper illustrates applications of CSDA to graphs modeling interaction and mediated association. It reviews some leading candidate algorithms (particularly InfoMap, link communities, the Louvain method, and weakly connected components, all of which are available in R), and evaluates them with respect to how useful they have been in analyzing a large dataset derived from a network of educators known as Tapped In. This practitioner-oriented evaluation is a complement to more formal benchmark based studies common in the literature

Examining Cultural and Technological Change: A Study of Cultural Affordances on WeChat

This study presents qualitative research of the interaction among WeChat, users, and Chinese culture by applying a three-dimensional notion of cultural affordances. The data is collected by conducting 10 semi-structured in-depth interviews, follow-up discussions, and observations, and is analyzed via the grounded theory approach. The study provides preliminary findings that demonstrate the roles of WeChat, users, and Chinese culture in terms of cultural and technological changes. The study also discusses the interactive patterns among three dimensions of cultural affordances and offers possible direction for further study

Introduction to Learning within Digital and Social Media Minitrack

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Real-Time Realistic Social Sharing of Experiences and Environments

The Shared Experonments system provides interactive services for ubiquitous real-time interactive social sharing of experiences and environments. Designed and implemented for ubiquitous high-speed wireless environments, the Shared Experonments system provides synchronous ways and means for interactive social sharing of erstwhile personal experiences while one or more persons are in remote locations. Example scenarios include sharing of experiences with friends and family while off hiking or trekking, as well as business situations where a remote field worker must collaborate in real time with other field workers or head office. The Shared Experonments system integrates multiple realities and works in a variety of mixed reality modes and interactional settings, and crucially supports deixis from one environment to another

Psychosocial impact of undergoing prostate cancer screening for men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

OBJECTIVES: To report the baseline results of a longitudinal psychosocial study that forms part of the IMPACT study, a multi-national investigation of targeted prostate cancer (PCa) screening among men with a known pathogenic germline mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. PARTICPANTS AND METHODS: Men enrolled in the IMPACT study were invited to complete a questionnaire at collaborating sites prior to each annual screening visit. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and the following measures: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36), Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer, Cancer Worry Scale-Revised, risk perception and knowledge. The results of the baseline questionnaire are presented. RESULTS: A total of 432 men completed questionnaires: 98 and 160 had mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, respectively, and 174 were controls (familial mutation negative). Participants' perception of PCa risk was influenced by genetic status. Knowledge levels were high and unrelated to genetic status. Mean scores for the HADS and SF-36 were within reported general population norms and mean IES scores were within normal range. IES mean intrusion and avoidance scores were significantly higher in BRCA1/BRCA2 carriers than in controls and were higher in men with increased PCa risk perception. At the multivariate level, risk perception contributed more significantly to variance in IES scores than genetic status. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to report the psychosocial profile of men with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations undergoing PCa screening. No clinically concerning levels of general or cancer-specific distress or poor quality of life were detected in the cohort as a whole. A small subset of participants reported higher levels of distress, suggesting the need for healthcare professionals offering PCa screening to identify these risk factors and offer additional information and support to men seeking PCa screening