Aesthetic Perspectives on Urban Technologies : Conceptualizing and Evaluating the Technology-Driven Changes in the Urban Everyday Experience

The pervasiveness of technology has undeniably changed the way the urban everyday is structured and experienced. Understanding the deep impact of this development on the everyday experience and its foundational aesthetic components is needed in order to determine how the skills and capacities to cope with the change, as well as to steer it, can be improved. Urban technology solutions – how they are defined, applied and used – are changing the sphere of everyday experience for urban dwellers. Philosophical and applied approaches to urban aesthetics offer perspectives to understand technologically mediated sensory experiences within the urban realm. This chapter shows how new urban technologies act as an agent of change within the familiar urban environment. We outline how the perspective of philosophical aesthetics can be used to understand urban technologies and their role in the constitution of everyday urban lifeworlds.The pervasiveness of technology has changed the way urban everyday is structured and experienced. An understanding of the deep impact of this development on everyday experience and its foundational aesthetic components is necessary in order to determine how skills and capacities can be improved in coping with such change, as well as managing it. Urban technology solutions – how they are defined, applied and used – are changing the sphere of everyday experience for urban dwellers. Philosophical and applied approaches to urban aesthetics offer perspectives on understanding technologically mediated sensory experiences within the urban realm. This chapter shows how new urban technologies act as an agent of change within the familiar urban environment. We outline how the perspective of philosophical aesthetics can be used to understand urban technologies and their role in the constitution of everyday urban lifeworlds.Peer reviewe

Effects of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Cortical Speech-Sound Processing in 2-Year Old Children

Objectives: To investigate at the age of 2 years the effects of childhood recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) on central auditory processing by using cortical event-related potentials elicited by syllable stimuli. Design: During a 1-year period, 22- to 26-month-old children fulfilling the criteria for tympanostomy tube insertion in Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland, were recruited to the RAOM group (N = 20). The control group (N = 19) was matched by age, sex, and mother&rsquo;s educational level. In both groups, children were typically developing and had no family history of language disorder or developmental language problems. Finnish syllables /ke:/ and /pi:/ as standards and their variants with changes in frequency, intensity, vowel, consonant, and vowel duration as deviants were used to record P1, N2, and mismatch negativity (MMN) responses in the multifeature paradigm. The clinically healthy ears at the time of registration were a prerequisite for the participation. Results: Children with RAOM and their controls showed the age-typical P1 and N2 responses with no differences in the amplitudes or latencies between the groups, which suggests unaffected basic encoding of sound features and sound representation formation. However, the groups showed different auditory discrimination profiles. In children with RAOM, frequency and vowel MMN amplitudes were increased. Furthermore, the MMN latency for the frequency change was shorter and the frequency MMN amplitude lateralized to the left hemisphere in the RAOM group instead of an adult-like right-hemispheric lateralization observed in the controls. The children with RAOM had a more anterior MMN amplitude scalp distribution for the intensity change than control children. In addition, the MMN amplitude elicited by consonant change was evenly distributed unlike in controls, who had a left-side preponderant lateralization. Taken together, these results suggest an elevated responsiveness for frequency, vowel, and intensity changes, and an immature pattern of discriminating small speech sound contrasts in children with RAOM. Conclusions: The results suggest that childhood RAOM does not affect the central auditory pathway integrity or sound encoding. However, RAOM may lead to aberrant preattentive discrimination of sound features even when the peripheral auditory input is normal. These results are clinically significant because even transient problems with auditory processing may delay language development.</div

The Positive Relationship between Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Bone Mineral Content Is Not Mediated by Free Leptin Index in Prepubertal Children: The PANIC Study.

PURPOSE: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) positively influences bone mineral content (BMC) in prepubertal children, but it is unknown whether this relationship is partially mediated by free leptin index. The aim of this study was to examine whether the relationship between MVPA and total body less head (TBLH) BMC is mediated or moderated by free leptin index in prepubertal children. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis on 401 children (194 girls) from baseline examinations of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Childhood Study. We applied the four-way decomposition mediation analysis method to assess whether free leptin index, measured from fasted blood samples, mediated the relationship between accelerometer-measured MVPA and TBLH BMC measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: MVPA had a positive controlled direct effect on TBLH BMC in girls and boys (β = 0.010 to 0.011, p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that MVPA positively influences TBLH BMC through pathways not related to free leptin index in predominantly normal-weight prepubertal children, likely primarily through mechanical loading. The relationships between MVPA, free leptin index and TBLH BMC may be influenced by other factors such as pubertal status and adiposity, so it is unknown whether these observations extend to overweight and obese children at different stages of puberty

The Positive Relationship between Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Bone Mineral Content Is Not Mediated by Free Leptin Index in Prepubertal Children: The PANIC Study.

PurposeModerate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) positively influences bone mineral content (BMC) in prepubertal children, but it is unknown whether this relationship is partially mediated by free leptin index. The aim of this study was to examine whether the relationship between MVPA and total body less head (TBLH) BMC is mediated or moderated by free leptin index in prepubertal children.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional analysis on 401 children (194 girls) from baseline examinations of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Childhood Study. We applied the four-way decomposition mediation analysis method to assess whether free leptin index, measured from fasted blood samples, mediated the relationship between accelerometer-measured MVPA and TBLH BMC measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsMVPA had a positive controlled direct effect on TBLH BMC in girls and boys (β = 0.010 to 0.011, p p > 0.05).ConclusionOur study indicates that MVPA positively influences TBLH BMC through pathways not related to free leptin index in predominantly normal-weight prepubertal children, likely primarily through mechanical loading. The relationships between MVPA, free leptin index and TBLH BMC may be influenced by other factors such as pubertal status and adiposity, so it is unknown whether these observations extend to overweight and obese children at different stages of puberty

Selkäydinvammaisen hyvä kuntoutuskäytäntö

Selkäydinvaurion saaneiden akuuttihoito, kuntoutus ja elinikäinen seuranta on keskitetty 2011 kolmeen yliopistosairaalaan: Helsinkiin, Ouluun ja Tampereelle. Näiden yliopistosairaaloiden selkäydinvammayksiköt, Kela, Vakuutuskuntoutus VKK ja Suomalainen Lääkäriseura Duodecim ovat toteuttaneet yhteistyössä tämän suosituksen selkäydinvammaisten hyvästä kuntoutuskäytännöstä tukemaan selkäydinvammojen Käypä hoito -suositusta. Suosituksen tavoitteena on yhdenmukaistaa valtakunnallisia kuntoutuskäytäntöjä sekä helpottaa kuntoutussuunnitelmien laatimista ja kuntoutuspäätösten tekemistä. Suositus sisältää yleistä perustietoa selkäydinvammoista ja selkäydinvammapotilaan kuntoutus- ja seurantajärjestelmistä, toimintakyvyn arvioinnista ja apuvälinepalveluista. Suosituksessa käsitellään kuntoutussuunnitelman laatiminen, lääkinnällisen kuntoutuksen tavallisimmat kuntoutustyypit ja terapiamuodot sekä ammatillisen kuntoutuksen perusteet. Suositus sisältää esimerkkejä tyypillisistä selkäydinvammapotilaiden kuntoutustavoitteista ja -määristä. Kuntoutus tulee kuitenkin suunnitella jokaisen kuntoutujan kanssa yhteistyössä huomioiden yksilölliset tarpeet niin yksilön kuin ympäristönkin tasolla

Satellite observations for detecting and forecasting sea-ice conditions: A summary of advances made in the SPICES Project by the EU's Horizon 2020 Programme

The detection, monitoring, and forecasting of sea-ice conditions, including their extremes, is very important for ship navigation and offshore activities, and for monitoring of sea-ice processes and trends. We summarize here recent advances in the monitoring of sea-ice conditions and their extremes from satellite data as well as the development of sea-ice seasonal forecasting capabilities. Our results are the outcome of the three-year (2015-2018) SPICES (Space-borne Observations for Detecting and Forecasting Sea-Ice Cover Extremes) project funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 programme. New SPICES sea-ice products include pancake ice thickness and degree of ice ridging based on synthetic aperture radar imagery, Arctic sea-ice volume and export derived from multisensor satellite data, and melt pond fraction and sea-ice concentration using Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) radiometer data. Forecasts of July sea-ice conditions from initial conditions in May showed substantial improvement in some Arctic regions after adding sea-ice thickness (SIT) data to the model initialization. The SIT initialization also improved seasonal forecasts for years with extremely low summer sea-ice extent. New SPICES sea-ice products have a demonstrable level of maturity, and with a reasonable amount of further work they can be integrated into various operational sea-ice services

What's in a message? Delivering sexual health promotion to young people in Australia via text messaging

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Advances in communication technologies have dramatically changed how individuals access information and communicate. Recent studies have found that mobile phone text messages (SMS) can be used successfully for short-term behaviour change. However there is no published information examining the acceptability, utility and efficacy of different characteristics of health promotion SMS. This paper presents the results of evaluation focus groups among participants who received twelve sexual health related SMS as part of a study examining the impact of text messaging for sexual health promotion to on young people in Victoria, Australia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight gender-segregated focus groups were held with 21 males and 22 females in August 2008. Transcripts of audio recordings were analysed using thematic analysis. Data were coded under one or more themes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Text messages were viewed as an acceptable and 'personal' means of health promotion, with participants particularly valuing the informal language. There was a preference for messages that were positive, relevant and short and for messages to cover a variety of topics. Participants were more likely to remember and share messages that were funny, rhymed and/or tied into particular annual events. The message broadcasting, generally fortnightly on Friday afternoons, was viewed as appropriate. Participants said the messages provided new information, a reminder of existing information and reduced apprehension about testing for sexually transmitted infections.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Mobile phones, in particular SMS, offer health promoters an exciting opportunity to engage personally with a huge number of individuals for low cost. The key elements emerging from this evaluation, such as message style, language and broadcast schedule are directly relevant to future studies using SMS for health promotion, as well as for future health promotion interventions in other mediums that require short formats, such as social networking sites.</p

IgE Mediated Autoallergy against Thyroid Peroxidase – A Novel Pathomechanism of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria?

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (csU), which is characterized by recurrent episodes of mast cell-driven wheal and flare-type skin reactions, is often associated with elevated total IgE levels and thyroid autoimmunity. We speculate that some csU patients express IgE autoantibodies against thyroid antigens such as thyroid peroxidase (TPO), which could bind to skin mast cells and induce their activation.We developed and used a site-directed human IgE capture ELISA to quantify IgE-anti-TPO. We used this assay and investigated csU patients (n = 478) and healthy control subjects (n = 127) for IgE-anti-TPO and then assessed IgE-anti-TPO-positive and -negative csU patients for clinical and serological differences. ( = 61%, IgE-anti-TPO: median 6.67, interquartile range 5.39–8.24). IgE-anti-TPO-positive and -negative csU patients had very similar distributions of age and gender as well as disease activity and duration. IgE-anti-TPO-positive csU patients exhibited significantly higher IgG-anti-TPO levels and lymphocyte counts as well as decreased C4 complement levels.Our findings show that a sizeable subgroup of csU patients expresses IgE antibodies against thyroid peroxidase. These autoantibodies could cause “autoallergic” mast cell activation, a novel pathomechanism of chronic spontaneous urticaria

Ice structures, patterns, and processes: A view across the ice-fields

We look ahead from the frontiers of research on ice dynamics in its broadest sense; on the structures of ice, the patterns or morphologies it may assume, and the physical and chemical processes in which it is involved. We highlight open questions in the various fields of ice research in nature; ranging from terrestrial and oceanic ice on Earth, to ice in the atmosphere, to ice on other solar system bodies and in interstellar space