Functional Activities and Immunohistochemical Cellular Distribution of Glutathione S-Transferases in Normal, Dysplastic, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Human Oral Tissues

Clinical data show a strong correlation between tobacco and alcohol use and the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). While this association implies that the oral mucosa actively metabolizes carcinogens, there is little information which depicts the carcinogen metabolizing enzymes within the oral cavity. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) primary function is to detoxify carcinogens by increasing their water solubility, GSTs represent key carcinogen metabolizing enzymes. Notably, individuals with a null phenotype for certain GST isoforms are at an increased risk to develop cancer. This study investigated the function and distribution of GSTs in human oral tissues. Our results from this pilot study showed a trend towards higher GST activities in SCC tissues relative to normal mucosa. Also, relative to normal tissues, the SCC and epithelial dysplasia samples showed a more intense and uniform GST intracellular distribution. GST activities are increased in many high grade cancers. Similarly, our data suggest that GST upregulation occurs in at least a subset of precancerous and malignant oral lesions

The Use of Sketch Maps to Measure Cognitive Maps of Virtual Environments

Cognitive maps are mental models of the relative locations and attributes of phenomena in spatial environments. Understanding how people form cognitive maps of virtual environments is vital to effective virtual world design. Unfortunately, such an understanding is hampered by the difficulty of cognitive map measurement. The present study tests the validity of using sketch maps to examine aspects of virtual world cognitive maps. We predict that subjects who report feeling oriented within the virtual world will produce better sketch maps and so sketch map accuracy can be used as an external measure of subject orientation and world knowledge. Results show a high positive correlation between subjective ratings of orientation, world knowledge and sketch map accuracy, supporting our hypothesis that sketch maps provide a valid measure of internal cognitive maps of virtual environments. Results across different worlds also suggest that sketch maps can be used to find an absolute measure for go..

Wearable Computers for Three Dimensional CSCW

Using established principles from the field of Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW), we describe how wearable computers are ideal platforms for three dimensional CSCW. To illustrate this, we present two pilot studies which imply that wearables may be able to support three dimensional collaboration and that users will perform better with these interfaces than immersive collaborative environments

A Framework and Testbed for Studying Manipulation Techniques for Immersive VR

Developing virtual reality (VR) applications which enable actual work over a period of time requires optimization of the most basic interactions, such as object manipulation, so that the immersed participant can concentrate on higher-level tasks rather than on lowlevel motor activities. This paper presents a framework and experimental testbed for studies of VR object manipulation techniques. The framework provides a systematic task analysis of immersive manipulation and suggests a user-specific non-Euclidean system for the measurement of VR spatial relationships. The Virtual Reality Manipulation Assessment Testbed (VRMAT) is a practical implementation of the framework and is a flexible tool allowing in-depth experimental studies of immersive manipulation. Pilot studies have been conducted to evaluate this framework and testbed and to establish a baseline for further development

The Go-Go Interaction Technique: Non-linear Mapping for Direct Manipulation in VR

The Go-Go immersive interaction technique uses the metaphor of interactively growing the user's arm and non-linear mapping for reaching and manipulating distant objects. Unlike others, our technique allows for seamless direct manipulation of both nearby objects and those at a distance

New Interface Metaphors for Complex Information Space Visualization: an ECG Monitor Object Prototype

Wearable augmented reality medical (WARM) interfaces could provide ubiquitous point-ofcare decision support and enhance the quality and efficiency of clinicians' efforts. Creation of such systems involves the design and evaluation of new information displays that leverage the representational and presentational capabilities of three-dimensional AR environments. We describe our first efforts in this process: the implementation of interface objects for display of real-time electrocardiographic monitoring information and an evaluation methodology using a simulated clinical environment. Our pilot data confirm the utility of presentation modes that place simultaneous information tasks in close proximity, and highlight issues encountered in designing new representations of medical information. 1. Introduction In caring for patients, clinicians must rapidly and accurately integrate large, complex and variable sets of information---including patient-specific data, general medical knowledge an..

Praktijkkaart Welbevinden: van analyse naar interventies

Deze praktijkkaart biedt een praktische handreiking om als schoolteam, door middel van een globale analyse, interventies te kiezen op het gebied van sociaal-emotionele ontwikkeling en welbevinden. Deze praktijkkaart is een uitwerking van het ‘stappenplan bij schoolscan’ (domein ‘sociaal-emotionele ontwikkeling en welbevinden’) en vormt een brug tussen het bepalen van prioriteiten en kiezen van interventies op korte termijn. Ook vraagt deze praktijkkaart aandacht voor het welbevinden van het schoolteam. De praktijkkaart is in eerste instantie bedoeld voor schoolteams in het voortgezet onderwijs. De termen en voorbeelden in deze praktijkkaart zijn afgestemd op deze context. De inhoud is echter ook goed toepasbaar op de context van het primair onderwijs en MBO. De kaart kan gebruikt worden in zowel regulier als speciaal onderwijs

Praktijkkaart Welbevinden: van analyse naar interventies

Deze praktijkkaart biedt een praktische handreiking om als schoolteam, door middel van een globale analyse, interventies te kiezen op het gebied van sociaal-emotionele ontwikkeling en welbevinden. Deze praktijkkaart is een uitwerking van het ‘stappenplan bij schoolscan’ (domein ‘sociaal-emotionele ontwikkeling en welbevinden’) en vormt een brug tussen het bepalen van prioriteiten en kiezen van interventies op korte termijn. Ook vraagt deze praktijkkaart aandacht voor het welbevinden van het schoolteam. De praktijkkaart is in eerste instantie bedoeld voor schoolteams in het voortgezet onderwijs. De termen en voorbeelden in deze praktijkkaart zijn afgestemd op deze context. De inhoud is echter ook goed toepasbaar op de context van het primair onderwijs en MBO. De kaart kan gebruikt worden in zowel regulier als speciaal onderwijs