Low empathising and high systemising tendencies in higher education computing students: the affordances of virtual worlds in their education

Background. The increasing societal reliance on emerging technologies is demanding much more from those planning a career in the computing industry than technical ability alone. Many contemporary job roles require business contact, increasing the relevance of soft skills to competent practice. However, the association between those who are inherently drawn to a career in computing and low empathising, high systemising tendencies may present a barrier to future professional success. It is therefore important that the needs of such students are considered as part of their higher education experience, in order to ensure that the development of essential soft skills can be addressed as early as possible. Aim. To evaluate the ability of virtual world (VW) technology, through its characteristics of immersion, identity and interaction, to foster the soft skills recognised as presenting the most difficulty for those with a low empathising, high systemising disposition. Method. A variety of bespoke scenarios were developed for a VW and introduced to an undergraduate Applied Computing programme. These were based on technical activities but with a focus on managing non-routine situations, improving communication, embracing play and imagination as well as developing social relationships. Associations were made between the students’ cognitive style and their scholastic performance, including their own perception of the intervention. Consideration was also given to the observations of others, such as higher education unit lecturers, support staff, volunteer VW scenario participants and employers. Result. Achievement for all students was generally found to be better in areas of the course incorporating VW activities. Those with low empathising, high systemising traits considered their communication to have improved the most, followed by their ability to tackle non-routine situations, albeit with some delay in their reaction to the latter. A positive, but less significant, impact was reported for the other skills. However, the contribution of VW activities appeared to be transformational in some students experiencing more severe difficulties in these areas. Discussion. The research provided evidence of the VW as an engaging environment for developing non-technical skills through technical experiences, but raised a number of adoption concerns. While these techniques, applicable to other Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas or indeed any subject discipline that requires an emphasis on sought-after soft skills, could still be implemented by other methods in the real world, the activities may not be as effective as they are in avatar-based VWs

Low empathizing and high systemizing tendencies in Higher Education computing students: The affordances of virtual worlds in their education

Background. The increasing societal reliance on emerging technology is demanding much more of those planning a career in the computing profession than technical ability alone. Many contemporary roles require business contact and therefore soft skills are an essential component of capability. However, the association between those who are inherently drawn to a career in computing and low empathizing, high systemizing (LEHS) tendencies could impair their future performance. Therefore, it is important for higher education to both recognize this need and devise strategies to ensure that the required soft skills are developed as early as possible.Aim. To evaluate the ability of virtual world technology, through its characteristics of immersion, identity and interaction, to foster the soft skills identified as presenting the most difficulty for those with a LEHS disposition as part of their higher education experience.Method. A variety of virtual world activities were introduced to an undergraduate applied computing programme in order to target the following areas: coping with changes in routine, verbal and non-verbal communication, the application of play/imagination and the development of social relationships. The study was guided by the students’ position on the Autism Quotient continuum and a range of quantitative/qualitative methods were applied to assess student performance, as well as their perception of the intervention.Result. It was found that achievement was generally improved for all students in areas that involved virtual world activities. Although the soft skills attainment appeared to be delayed in those with LEHS tendencies, it was seen as being more significant than those below the average AQ threshold, with a noticeable impact in areas of extreme difficulty.Conclusion. The achievement, apparent in all computing students, was expedient in terms of educational practicality. However, the study suggests that VW activities could be used as an engaging device to provide a technical solution to the acquisition of non-technical skills, particularly for those exhibiting LEHS traits

Informing the development of Australia's national eating disorders research and translation strategy : a rapid review methodology

Background Eating disorders (EDs) are highly complex mental illnesses associated with significant medical complications. There are currently knowledge gaps in research relating to the epidemiology, aetiology, treatment, burden, and outcomes of eating disorders. To clearly identify and begin addressing the major deficits in the scientific, medical, and clinical understanding of these mental illnesses, the Australian Government Department of Health in 2019 funded the InsideOut Institute (IOI) to develop the Australian Eating Disorder Research and Translation Strategy, the primary aim of which was to identify priorities and targets for building research capacity and outputs. A series of rapid reviews (RR) were conducted to map the current state of knowledge, identify evidence gaps, and inform development of the national research strategy. Published peer-reviewed literature on DSM-5 listed EDs, across eight knowledge domains was reviewed: (1) population, prevalence, disease burden, Quality of Life in Western developed countries; (2) risk factors; (3) co-occurring conditions and medical complications; (4) screening and diagnosis; (5) prevention and early intervention; (6) psychotherapies and relapse prevention; (7) models of care; (8) pharmacotherapies, alternative and adjunctive therapies; and (9) outcomes (including mortality). While RRs are systematic in nature, they are distinct from systematic reviews in their aim to gather evidence in a timely manner to support decision-making on urgent or high-priority health concerns at the national level. Results Three medical science databases were searched as the primary source of literature for the RRs: Science Direct, PubMed and OVID (Medline). The search was completed on 31st May 2021 (spanning January 2009-May 2021). At writing, a total of 1,320 articles met eligibility criteria and were included in the final review. Conclusions For each RR, the evidence has been organised to review the knowledge area and identify gaps for further research and investment. The series of RRs (published separately within the current series) are designed to support the development of research and translation practice in the field of EDs. They highlight areas for investment and investigation, and provide researchers, service planners and providers, and research funders rapid access to quality current evidence, which has been synthesised and organised to assist decision-making

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Examining relationships between multiple health risk behaviors, well-being, and productivity

Traditionally, the concept of health promotion has emphasized the reduction of health risk behaviors to reduce disease and impairment. Well-being research expands this focus to include positive constructs such as thriving, productivity, life-evaluation, and emotional and physical health. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationships between health risk behaviors and specific measures of individual well-being. Participants (N = 790) from 49 states completed a one-time online assessment that included the Life-Evaluation Index, Emotional and Physical Health Ladders, the Health Risk Intervention Assessment, and the Work Productivity and Activity Improvement Questionnaire for General Health. Life Evaluation and physical and emotional health were all inversely related to the number of health risk behaviors, with higher well-being scores associated with lower number of risk behaviors. Across the three Life Evaluation categories (Suffering, Struggling, and Thriving) the number of health risk behaviors decreased, productivity loss decreased, and emotional and physical health increased. The results add to previous research on how reducing multiple health risk behaviors can be combined with well-being, i.e., an emphasis on increasing life-evaluation, emotional and physical health, better functioning, and productivity. © Psychological Reports 2014

Evaluation of a stage-based, computer-tailored adjunct to usual care for domestic violence offenders

Objective: Research assessing the efficacy of court-mandated domestic violence treatment continues to yield inconsistent results. The current study examined whether Journey to Change, a transtheoretical model of behavior change-based treatment adjunct that consists of 3 computer-administered sessions and a print guide, could improve outcomes. Method: Male domestic violence offenders (N = 492) attending court-mandated batterer treatment were assigned to usual care (UC) or usual care + Journey to Change (UC + Journey). Results: Compared with UC, participants receiving UC + Journey were significantly more likely to be in the action stage at the end of treatment and to seek help and services outside of group. Based on victim reports, the UC + Journey group was significantly less likely than the UC group to engage in physical violence during the 12-month follow-up. Both groups were equally likely to drop out of court-mandated treatment and to have further domestic violence-related police involvement. However, among participants with police involvement, the UC + Journey group had lower rates of documented violence and physical injury. Conclusion: The pattern of findings across the multiple outcomes suggests that the Journey to Change program holds promise for improving some outcomes for domestic violence offenders in treatment and warrants further investigation. © 2012 American Psychological Association

IMPROVED SEPARATION AND IMMUNODETECTION OF RAT CYTOCHROME P450 4A FORMS IN LIVER AND KIDNEY

ABSTRACT: In the study of tissues that contain several forms of one cytochrome P450 subfamily, it is useful to develop immunoblotting techniques so that the various individual members of the family can be distinguished. This paper describes improvements in the immunoblotting technique to distinguish members of the rat cytochrome P450 4A subfamily, 4A1, 4A2, and 4A3, as they are present in Sprague-Dawley rat liver microsomes. This procedure was used to investigate differences in the cytochrome P450 4A forms observed under various conditions such as: untreated versus peroxisome proliferator treated rats, Sprague-Dawley versus Fischer 344 male versus female rats, and liver versus kidney microsomes

The Functional Well-Being Scale: A measure of functioning loss due to well-being-related barriers

The objective of this study was to develop the Pro-Change Functional Well-Being Scale, a measure that provides an informative evaluation of general functioning loss due to well-being-related barriers. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses on data from 642 individuals supported a one-factor solution with good model fit. A strong positive correlation existed between the Pro-Change Functional Well-Being Scale and Well-Being Assessment for Productivity. Initial construct validity was demonstrated by predictable relationships between functioning loss and other measures of health and well-being. This initial psychometric evidence suggests that the Pro-Change Functional Well-Being Scale is a reliable and valid assessment of functioning loss due to common well-being-related barriers

Enhancing multiple domains of well-being by decreasing multiple health risk behaviors: A randomized clinical trial

Tailored behavior change programs have proven effective at decreasing health risk factors, but the impact of such programs on participant well-being has not been tested. This randomized trial evaluated the impact of tailored telephone coaching and Internet interventions on health risk behaviors and individual well-being. Exercise and stress management were the primary health risks of interest; improvements in other health risk behaviors were secondary outcomes. A sample of 3391 individuals who reported health risk in the areas of exercise and stress management were randomly assigned to 3 groups: telephonic coaching that applied Transtheoretical Model (TTM) tailoring for exercise and minimal tailoring (stage of change) for stress management; an Internet program that applied TTM tailoring for stress management and minimal tailoring for exercise; or a control group that received an assessment only. Participants were administered the Well-Being Assessment and, at baseline, had relatively low well-being scores (mean, 60.9 out of 100 across all groups). At 6 months, a significantly higher percentage of both treatment groups progressed to the Action stage for exercise, stress management, healthy diet, and total number of health risks, compared to the control group. Both treatment groups also demonstrated significantly greater improvements on overall well-being and the domains of emotional health, physical health, life evaluation, and healthy behaviors. There were no differences between the groups for 2 well-being domains: basic access to needs and work environment. These results indicate that scalable, tailored behavior change programs can effectively reduce health risk and accrue to improved wellbeing for participants. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc

The well-being assessment for productivity: A well-being approach to presenteeism

Objective: To develop a presenteeism assessment, the Well-Being Assessment for Productivity (WBA-P), that provides an informative evaluation of job performance loss due to well-being related barriers. Method: The WBA-P was developed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis using survey data from 1827 employed individuals. Evidence of criterion-related validity was established using multivariate analysis of variance across measures of health and well-being. Results: A hierarchical, two-factor model demonstrated good fit and included factors capturing productivity loss from personal reasons (WBA-PP) and work environment (WBA-PW). Significant interactions existed between these and previously validated presenteeism measures with respect to physical and emotional health, risk factors, and life evaluation. Conclusions: This initial psychometric evidence suggests that the WBA-P and its subscales are valid measures of presenteeism that capture actionable well-being-related performance barriers. Copyright © 2011 by American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine