DualStream: Spatially Sharing Selves and Surroundings using Mobile Devices and Augmented Reality

In-person human interaction relies on our spatial perception of each other and our surroundings. Current remote communication tools partially address each of these aspects. Video calls convey real user representations but without spatial interactions. Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) experiences are immersive and spatial but often use virtual environments and characters instead of real-life representations. Bridging these gaps, we introduce DualStream, a system for synchronous mobile AR remote communication that captures, streams, and displays spatial representations of users and their surroundings. DualStream supports transitions between user and environment representations with different levels of visuospatial fidelity, as well as the creation of persistent shared spaces using environment snapshots. We demonstrate how DualStream can enable spatial communication in real-world contexts, and support the creation of blended spaces for collaboration. A formative evaluation of DualStream revealed that users valued the ability to interact spatially and move between representations, and could see DualStream fitting into their own remote communication practices in the near future. Drawing from these findings, we discuss new opportunities for designing more widely accessible spatial communication tools, centered around the mobile phone.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 1 table; To appear in the proceedings of the IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR) 202

The forkhead transcription factor, FOXP3: a critical role in male fertility in mice.

Fertility is dependent on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Each component of this axis is essential for normal reproductive function. Mice with a mutation in the forkhead transcription factor gene, Foxp3, exhibit autoimmunity and infertility. We have previously shown that Foxp3 mutant mice have significantly reduced expression of pituitary gonadotropins. To address the role of Foxp3 in gonadal function, we examined the gonadal phenotype of these mice. Foxp3 mutant mice have significantly reduced seminal vesicle and testis weights compared with Foxp3(+/Y) littermates. Spermatogenesis in Foxp3 mutant males is arrested prior to spermatid elongation. Activation of luteinizing hormone signaling in Foxp3 mutant mice by treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin significantly increases seminal vesicle and testis weights as well as testicular testosterone content and seminiferous tubule diameter. Interestingly, human chorionic gonadotropin treatments rescue spermatogenesis in Foxp3 mutant males, suggesting that their gonadal phenotype is due primarily to a loss of pituitary gonadotropin stimulation rather than an intrinsic gonadal defect

The forkhead transcription factor, Foxd1, is necessary for pituitary luteinizing hormone expression in mice.

The pituitary gland regulates numerous physiological functions including growth, reproduction, temperature and metabolic homeostasis, lactation, and response to stress. Pituitary organogenesis is dependent on signaling factors that are produced in and around the developing pituitary. The studies described in this report reveal that the forkhead transcription factor, Foxd1, is not expressed in the developing mouse pituitary gland, but rather in the mesenchyme surrounding the pituitary gland, which is an essential source of signaling factors that regulate pituitary organogenesis. Loss of Foxd1 causes a morphological defect in which the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland protrudes through the cartilage plate that is developing ventral to the pituitary at embryonic days (e)14.5, e16.5, and e18.5. The number of proliferating pituitary cells is increased at e14.5 and e16.5. Loss of Foxd1 also results in significantly decreased levels of Lhb expression at e18.5. This decrease in Lhb expression does not appear to be due to a change in the number of gonadotrope cells in the pituitary gland. Previous studies have shown that loss of the LIM homeodomain factor, Lhx3, which is activated by the FGF signaling pathway, results in loss of LH production. Although there is a difference in Lhb expression in Foxd1 null mice, the expression pattern of LHX3 is not altered in Foxd1 null mice. These studies suggest that Foxd1 is indirectly required for normal Lhb expression and cartilage formation

Diabetes Prevention and Weight Loss with a Fully Automated Behavioral Intervention by Email, Web, and Mobile Phone: A Randomized Controlled Trial Among Persons with Prediabetes.

One-third of US adults, 86 million people, have prediabetes. Two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese and at risk for diabetes. Effective and affordable interventions are needed that can reach these 86 million, and others at high risk, to reduce their progression to diagnosed diabetes.The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a fully automated algorithm-driven behavioral intervention for diabetes prevention, Alive-PD, delivered via the Web, Internet, mobile phone, and automated phone calls.Alive-PD provided tailored behavioral support for improvements in physical activity, eating habits, and factors such as weight loss, stress, and sleep. Weekly emails suggested small-step goals and linked to an individual Web page with tools for tracking, coaching, social support through virtual teams, competition, and health information. A mobile phone app and automated phone calls provided further support. The trial randomly assigned 339 persons to the Alive-PD intervention (n=163) or a 6-month wait-list usual-care control group (n=176). Participants were eligible if either fasting glucose or glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was in the prediabetic range. Primary outcome measures were changes in fasting glucose and HbA1c at 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included clinic-measured changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio, and Framingham diabetes risk score. Analysis was by intention-to-treat.Participants' mean age was 55 (SD 8.9) years, mean BMI was 31.2 (SD 4.4) kg/m(2), and 68.7% (233/339) were male. Mean fasting glucose was in the prediabetic range (mean 109.9, SD 8.4 mg/dL), whereas the mean HbA1c was 5.6% (SD 0.3), in the normal range. In intention-to-treat analyses, Alive-PD participants achieved significantly greater reductions than controls in fasting glucose (mean -7.36 mg/dL, 95% CI -7.85 to -6.87 vs mean -2.19, 95% CI -2.64 to -1.73, P<.001), HbA1c (mean -0.26%, 95% CI -0.27 to -0.24 vs mean -0.18%, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.16, P<.001), and body weight (mean -3.26 kg, 95% CI -3.26 to -3.25 vs mean -1.26 kg, 95% CI -1.27 to -1.26, P<.001). Reductions in BMI, waist circumference, and TG/HDL were also significantly greater in Alive-PD participants than in the control group. At 6 months, the Alive-PD group reduced their Framingham 8-year diabetes risk from 16% to 11%, significantly more than the control group (P<.001). Participation and retention was good; intervention participants interacted with the program a median of 17 (IQR 14) of 24 weeks and 71.1% (116/163) were still interacting with the program in month 6.Alive-PD improved glycemic control, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, TG/HDL ratio, and diabetes risk. As a fully automated system, the program has high potential for scalability and could potentially reach many of the 86 million US adults who have prediabetes as well as other at-risk groups.Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01479062; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01479062 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6bt4V20NR)

Expression of luteinizing hormone is reduced in <i>Foxd1^LacZ/LacZ</i> embryos.

<p>(A) Real time RT-PCR revealed that expression of <i>Lhb</i> is significantly reduced in embryos lacking <i>Foxd1</i> expression compared to wild type littermates at e18.5 (P<0.05). Expression of other pituitary hormones was not significantly reduced. (B–K) No apparent differences in GH, TSHB, POMC, FSHB, or CGA were observed. (L–M) The intensity of LHB staining is reduced in mutant pituitary glands. (N) The number of LHB-positive cells was counted manually and set relative to wild type controls. No significant difference was detected in <i>Foxd1^LacZ/LacZ</i> pituitaries as compared to wild type. Cell nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue). Pictures were taken at 200X (B–K) or 630X (L–M). Scale bars represent 100 µm.</p

Pituitary cell proliferation is increased in <i>Foxd1^LacZ/LacZ</i> embryos.

<p>(A–J) Actively dividing cells were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect BrdU in mid-sagittal sections from <i>Foxd1^LacZ/LacZ</i> embryos and wild type littermates. (K) The number of BrdU-positive cells was manually counted in pituitary sections from <i>Foxd1^LacZ/LacZ</i> embryos and wild type littermates. The number of BrdU-positive cells is significantly higher in <i>Foxd1^LacZ/LacZ</i> embryonic pituitaries at e14.5 and e16.5 as compared to wild type littermates (P<0.01).</p

Loss of <i>Foxd1</i> expression results in pituitary dysmorphology.

<p>Hematoxylin and eosin staining of mid-sagittal sections (A–J) and coronal sections (K–L) revealed that the developing pituitary protrudes through the cartilage plate by e14.5 in <i>Foxd1^LacZ/LacZ</i> embryos (arrows). Pictures were taken at 200X (A–F) or 100X (G–L). Scale bars represent 100 µm.</p

Apoptosis is not different in <i>Foxd1^LacZ/LacZ</i> embryos.

<p>TUNEL was performed to label apoptotic cells in mid-sagittal sections from <i>Foxd1^LacZ/LacZ</i> embryos and wild type littermates. (A–F) No loss of apoptosis was observed. (A–B) Arrows indicate regions of pituitary cell apoptosis. Pictures were taken at 200X and scale bars represent 100 µm.</p

<i>Foxd1</i> is expressed in the mesenchyme surrounding the developing pituitary gland.

<p>X-gal staining of mid-sagittal sections from <i>Foxd1^+/LacZ</i> embryos shows <i>Foxd1</i> expression (blue) in the mesenchyme (arrows) surrounding the developing pituitary gland at e10.5 (A), e12.5 (B), and e14.5 (C). <i>Foxd1</i> expression is not apparent in the pituitary gland itself (dotted lines) during development. Whole mount β-galactosidase staining was performed at e10.5 (A). At later ages, embryos were frozen and sections were stained for β-galactosidase (B, C). Pictures were taken at 200X and scale bars represent 100 µm.</p