The Presentation of Images: Effects on the Viewer’s Reaction

Background: Perceiving an image evokes a variety of reactions in the viewer. However, not only what is recognized in an image influences the perceiver, but also how an image is presented impacts the reaction to the image. To contribute to the understanding of the relationship between an image’s presentation and how this affects the reaction to it, is the aim of this doctoral thesis. To do so, over the course of three studies presented in the form of three manuscripts, we investigated the effect of a basic image feature (color saturation), the context in which an image is perceived, as well as the effect of image type (whether the image is presented as a photograph or a graphic representation) on the responses to an image. Methods: In each manuscript, we followed a similar path of investigation: We manipulated a particular aspect of how an image is presented and examined the effects of that specific factor on the viewer’s response to the image. In each of the manuscripts presented here, we collected data on different responses to images: from directly measurable dimensions such as naming duration and correct naming, to liking, to more complex aesthetic responses, and to emotions perceived in an image. The design of each study was individualized to properly answer the research question. Results: The results presented in the three manuscripts show that the color saturation—a basic image feature—and the context in which an image is presented influence responses to an image. More specifically, manipulated color saturation affects the liking as well as specific aesthetic reactions to digitally reproduced paintings, but to a different extent for art experts and lay people. We also showed that the affective interpretation of art photographs seen in the context of other photographs is influenced by the valence of these other photographs. But not only neighboring images lead to a change in judgment; The evaluation dimension also affects the emotion perceived in an image. However, whether an image is presented as photograph or graphic representation does not influence naming performance, especially when both types of images include favorable image properties such as color, texture, and shading. Conclusion: The results presented in this thesis underline the importance of image presentation, as it influences reactions to images. This is also reflected in the practice of image making, where the focus is not only on the creation of the image itself, but likewise on its presentation. Moreover, our results show that not all the factors investigated and manipulated in our studies influence viewer responses in the way we expected. Similarly, in image practice, the designer often assumes—based on his or her expertise—that the viewer’s response can be implicitly predicted. However, the results of our studies show that this is not always the case. Therefore, there is a need to empirically investigate reactions to how an image is presented. Especially in visual communication, where an unambiguous message of the image is intended, the combination of practical image making and empirical investigations could be of added value

Cannabis Use Is Inversely Associated with Overweight and Obesity in Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Patients (ANRS CO22 Hepather Cohort)

International audienceBackground: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may evolve into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and this progression may be accelerated by specific risk factors, including overweight and obesity. Although evidence for a protective effect of cannabis use on elevated body weight has been found for other populations, no data are available for HBV-infected patients.Aims: We aimed to identify risk factors (including cannabis use) for overweight and obesity in patients with HBV chronic infection.Methods: Using baseline data from the French ANRS CO22 Hepather cohort, we performed two separate analyses, one using “central obesity” (based on waist circumference) and the other “overweight” and “obesity” (based on body mass index) as outcomes. Logistic and multinomial regressions were used to model central obesity and overweight/obesity, respectively.Results: Among the 3706 patients in the study population, 50.8% had central obesity, 34.7% overweight, and 14.4% obesity. After multivariable adjustment, current cannabis use was associated with a 59% lower risk of central obesity compared with no lifetime use (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.41 [0.24 to 0.70]). It was also associated with a 54% and 84% lower risk of overweight (adjusted relative risk ratio [95% CI]: 0.46 [0.27 to 0.76]) and obesity (0.16 [0.04 to 0.67]), respectively.Conclusions: Cannabis use was associated with lower risks of overweight and obesity in patients with HBV chronic infection. Future studies should test whether these potential benefits of cannabis and cannabinoid use translate into reduced liver disease progression in this high-risk population

Cannabis Use Is Inversely Associated with Overweight and Obesity in Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Patients (ANRS CO22 Hepather Cohort)

International audienc

Cannabis use as a factor of lower corpulence in hepatitis C-infected patients: results from the ANRS CO22 Hepather cohort

International audienceBackground: Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are at greater risk of developing metabolic disorders. Obesity is a major risk factor for these disorders, and therefore, managing body weight is crucial. Cannabis use, which is common in these patients, has been associated with lower corpulence in various populations. However, this relationship has not yet been studied in persons with chronic HCV infection.Methods: Using baseline data from the French ANRS CO22 Hepather cohort, we used binary logistic and multinomial logistic regression models to test for an inverse relationship between cannabis use (former/current) and (i) central obesity (i.e., large waist circumference) and (ii) overweight and obesity (i.e., elevated body mass index (BMI)) in patients from the cohort who had chronic HCV infection. We also tested for relationships between cannabis use and both waist circumference and BMI as continuous variables, using linear regression models.Results: Among the 6348 participants in the study population, 55% had central obesity, 13.7% had obesity according to their BMI, and 12.4% were current cannabis users. After multivariable adjustment, current cannabis use was associated with lower risk of central obesity (adjusted odds ratio, aOR [95% confidence interval, CI]: 0.45 [0.37-0.55]), BMI-based obesity (adjusted relative risk ratio (aRRR) [95% CI]: 0.27 [0.19-0.39]), and overweight (aRRR [95% CI]: 0.47 [0.38-0.59]). This was also true for former use, but to a lesser extent. Former and current cannabis use were inversely associated with waist circumference and BMI.Conclusions: We found that former and, to a greater extent, current cannabis use were consistently associated with smaller waist circumference, lower BMI, and lower risks of overweight, obesity, and central obesity in patients with chronic HCV infection. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these relationships and to assess the effect of cannabis use on corpulence and liver outcomes after HCV cure.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01953458

Perspectives on ENCODE

The Encylopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Project launched in 2003 with the long-term goal of developing a comprehensive map of functional elements in the human genome. These included genes, biochemical regions associated with gene regulation (for example, transcription factor binding sites, open chromatin, and histone marks) and transcript isoforms. The marks serve as sites for candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) that may serve functional roles in regulating gene expression1. The project has been extended to model organisms, particularly the mouse. In the third phase of ENCODE, nearly a million and more than 300,000 cCRE annotations have been generated for human and mouse, respectively, and these have provided a valuable resource for the scientific community.11Nsciescopu

Expanded encyclopaedias of DNA elements in the human and mouse genomes

AbstractThe human and mouse genomes contain instructions that specify RNAs and proteins and govern the timing, magnitude, and cellular context of their production. To better delineate these elements, phase III of the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Project has expanded analysis of the cell and tissue repertoires of RNA transcription, chromatin structure and modification, DNA methylation, chromatin looping, and occupancy by transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins. Here we summarize these efforts, which have produced 5,992 new experimental datasets, including systematic determinations across mouse fetal development. All data are available through the ENCODE data portal (https://www.encodeproject.org), including phase II ENCODE1 and Roadmap Epigenomics2 data. We have developed a registry of 926,535 human and 339,815 mouse candidate cis-regulatory elements, covering 7.9 and 3.4% of their respective genomes, by integrating selected datatypes associated with gene regulation, and constructed a web-based server (SCREEN; http://screen.encodeproject.org) to provide flexible, user-defined access to this resource. Collectively, the ENCODE data and registry provide an expansive resource for the scientific community to build a better understanding of the organization and function of the human and mouse genomes.11Nsciescopu