The Use of Head-Worn Augmented Reality Displays in Health Communications.

The health industry is always seeking innovative ways to use technology to create or improve the experiences of their professionals. Such improvements are seen in a variety of areas including the analysis of relevant health data and the establishment of new ways of communicating medical education and training. Advancements in head-worn augmented reality displays (HWDs), such as the Microsoft Hololens, present a unique opportunity to leverage technology in the ongoing challenge of creating meaningful and novel educational experiences. This paper will review contemporary HWD technologies, how these technologies are being used to enhance the work-training environment, and how these technologies might enhance the communication of health professionals.

Challenges in Displaying Health Data on Small Smartwatch Screens.

Using smartwatches for self-tracking purposes has become increasingly common. This tracking is possible as a result of the many sensors embedded in modern smartwatches including GPS, heart rate monitor, accelerometer, and gyroscope. The ability to obtain personal health-related data is one of the most compelling reason to purchase such devices. However, form factor limitations create numerous challenges for users hoping to access and interpret the data available. Typically, users rely on a secondary device, such as a smartphone to view health data. The aim of our research is to identify methods to improve user consumption of health-related data directly on a smartwatch. To study and apply novel visualization approaches, several key challenges need to be addressed. We present these here along with their corollary methods of circumvention.

Applying a Pneumatic Interface to Intervene with Rapid Eating Behaviour.

Higher eating rates are positively correlate with obesity. In this paper, we propose the design of a new eating utensil that can reduce eating rate by interfering with eater's ability to eat quickly. This utensil can change its rigidity and shape by deflating itself to interfere with eating. In this study, a low fidelity proof-of-concept prototype device has been designed to provide physical resistance in order to help people reduce their eating rate. The proposed prototype could be used to demonstrate the feasibility of applying a pneumatically actuated shape-changing interface to embed physical resistance into an eating utensil.

Smart Home Interactions for People with Reduced Hand Mobility Using Subtle EMG-Signal Gestures.

Smart home technology is receiving significant attention. This is largely in response to an increase in the size of demographic those who require assistance due to reduced mobility, in particular, older adults. Smart home technology enables the assistance individuals with limited mobility need for their daily routines: these limitations can be addressed using modern ambient assisted living technologies. In particular we discuss the benefits of using electromyography (EMG) sensors to capture gestural input that would normally be difficult to sense in the absence of such sensors. With EMG, we can provide user control of a smart environment through the use of gestures based on muscle activity of the hands. This paper will focus on presenting the benefits of EMG technologies that can potentially assist individuals with hand mobility issues. We will describe the current state of EMG sensory technologies and their role in shaping gesture-based interaction techniques. We present our approach using such EMG signals and demonstrate their value in a smart home scenario. Finally we introduce the concept of subtle EMG gestures and build a better understanding of how we might improve accessibility for those with limited upper limb motion.

Persuasive Data Videos: Investigating Persuasive Self-Tracking Feedback with Augmented Data Videos.

Self-tracking feedback with engaging and persuasive visualizations not only helps convey data but can also affect people's attitudes and behaviors. We investigate persuasive self-tracking feedback by augmenting data videos (DVs)-novel, engaging storytelling media. We introduce a new class of DVs, called Persuasive Data Videos (PDVs), by incorporating four persuasive elements-primary task, dialogue, system credibility, and social supports-drawn from the Persuasive System Design Model. We describe the iterative design of PDVs and a within-subjects preliminary validation to check their persuasive potential. We then assess PDVs' feasibility using the Persuasive Potential Questionnaire in a between-subjects study comparing a PDV against a conventional DV on Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 252). Our results indicate the feasibility of using PDVs in providing individuals' self-tracking feedback to convey persuasive health messages, based on which we discuss opportunities for designing persuasive behavioral feedback in an engaging way.

Who cares what the outgroup thinks? Testing an information search model of the importance individuals accord to an outgroup member's view of them during intergroup interaction.

Four studies examined whether the intensity of individuals' concern with evaluation is affected by whether they are engaged in intragroup or intergroup interaction. According to the authors' theoretical framework, the importance that individuals attach to another person's opinion is a function of how predictive that person's evaluation seems to be of their social standing and outcomes. Members of lower status groups are more invested in outgroup members' opinions with increasing perceived legitimacy of the group status difference because outgroup members are seen as better judges of the competencies necessary for success in society. Members of a higher status group are more invested in outgroup members' opinions with decreasing perceived legitimacy of the group status difference because outgroup members are seen as better judges of moral goodness. Results were generally consistent with these predictions and demonstrated that intergroup exchanges are sometimes characterized by heightened levels of the basic motivation to know one's social standing with others. Findings also revealed that the interactive effect of group status and perceived legitimacy extends to egocentric biases that contribute to tension and miscommunication in intergroup interaction.

Culture moderates the relationship between interdependence and face recognition.

Recent theory suggests that face recognition accuracy is affected by people's motivations, with people being particularly motivated to remember ingroup versus outgroup faces. In the current research we suggest that those higher in interdependence should have a greater motivation to remember ingroup faces, but this should depend on how ingroups are defined. To examine this possibility, we used a joint individual difference and cultural approach to test (a) whether individual differences in interdependence would predict face recognition accuracy, and (b) whether this effect would be moderated by culture. In Study 1 European Canadians higher in interdependence demonstrated greater recognition for same-race (White), but not cross-race (East Asian) faces. In Study 2 we found that culture moderated this effect. Interdependence again predicted greater recognition for same-race (White), but not cross-race (East Asian) faces among European Canadians; however, interdependence predicted worse recognition for both same-race (East Asian) and cross-race (White) faces among first-generation East Asians. The results provide insight into the role of motivation in face perception as well as cultural differences in the conception of ingroups.

[Bacterial infections, what we can learn from each outbreak].

Studies on outbreaks or incidences of infectious diseases and food poisonings are the starting points in research. Analyses of the outbreaks will provide the mechanism by which the illnesses occur and the establishment of countermeasure. We report here some sensational outbreaks which recently occurred in Japan: 1) enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 outbreaks by pickled Chinese cabbage in Hokkaido, 2) EHEC O157/O111 outbreaks by raw beef in Toyama Prefecture, 3) parasitic food poisoning due to raw olive flounder consumption in the western Japan, and 4) botulism due to the consumption of vacuum packed food in Tottori Prefecture.

Effects of a training workshop on suicide prevention among emergency room nurses.

BACKGROUND: Suicide attempts are frequently encountered by emergency department nurses. Such encounters can potentially provide a foundation for secondary suicide prevention. AIMS: The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of a 7-hr training program for emergency room nursing personnel in Japan. METHOD: In all, 52 nurses completed the questionnaires before the workshop and 1 month after the workshop. The nurses' understanding of and willingness to care for suicidal patients positively changed. RESULTS: It is feasible to provide a 7-hr, relatively short, workshop on suicidal prevention aimed at emergency medical staff and to improve attitudes during a follow-up of 1 month. CONCLUSION: It is uncertain whether the positive attitudes of emergency nurses toward suicide and/or educational interventions could impact the outcomes of these interventions. Further studies are needed to address these important questions in this field.

Phylogenetic Clades 6 and 8 of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 With Particular stx Subtypes are More Frequently Found in Isolates From Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Patients Than From Asymptomatic Carriers.

BACKGROUND: Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 infection causes severe diseases such as bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Although EHEC O157:H7 strains have exhibited high genetic variability, their abilities to cause human diseases have not been fully examined. METHODS: Clade typing and stx subtyping of EHEC O157:H7 strains, which were isolated in Japan during 1999-2011 from 269 HUS patients and 387 asymptomatic carriers (ACs) and showed distinct pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns, were performed to determine relationships between specific lineages and clinical presentation. RESULTS: Clades 6 and 8 strains were more frequently found among the isolates from HUS cases than those from ACs (P = .00062 for clade 6, P < .0001 for clade 8). All clade 6 strains isolated from HUS patients harbored stx2a and/or stx2c, whereas all clade 8 strains harbored either stx2a or stx2a/stx2c. However, clade 7 strains were predominantly found among the AC isolates but less frequently found among the HUS isolates, suggesting a significant association between clade 7 and AC (P < .0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that 0-9 year old age is a significant predictor of the association between clade 8 and HUS. We also found an intact norV gene, which encodes for a nitric oxide reductase that inhibits Shiga toxin activity under anaerobic condition, in all clades 1-3 isolates but not in clades 4-8 isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of EHEC O157:H7 strains that belonged to clades 6/8 and harbored specific stx subtypes may be important for defining the risk of disease progression in EHEC-infected 0- to 9-year-old children.

Fragile X carrier screening and FMR1 allele distribution in the Japanese population.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), which is the most common form of familial mental retardation, is caused by the expansion of the CGG repeat in the FMR1 gene on the X chromosome. Previous studies have suggested that as compared to other populations, Japanese have a lower prevalence of FXS. In addition, in the normal population, there are no carriers who have the premutation allele. We analyzed a total of 946 normal Japanese (576 males and 370 females) and attempted to estimate the frequency of the FMR1 allele. Within this population, we found that 1,155 alleles were in the normal range (less than 40 CGG repeats) and had a modal number of 27 repeats (35.75%). No carriers with premutations (55-200 CGG repeats) were observed in this normal population. We also identified six intermediate-sized alleles (40-54 CGG repeats), with a reported incidence of 1 in 103 males and 1 in 324 females. However, this allele frequency was different from that previously reported for the Japanese population. Since data from previous studies has suggested that FXS might possibly be associated with the genetic mechanism of autism, we also analyzed the length of the CGG repeats in 109 autistic patients. In all cases the CGG repeat numbers were within the normal range (16-36 repeats) and no individuals presented with expanded premutation or intermediate alleles. This finding indicates that the length of the CGG repeat within the FMR1 is unlikely to be responsible for autism in Japanese.

I thought we could be friends, but ...: systematic miscommunication and defensive distancing as obstacles to cross-group friendship formation.

This study examined the precursors and consequences of systematic miscommunications regarding relationship interest during intergroup interaction. Pairs of previously unacquainted same-sex students (White-White, White-Chinese, or Chinese-Chinese) engaged in a relatively intimate controlled interaction. White participants who had had little prior contact with Chinese persons were more apt to exhibit a signal-amplification bias (i.e., to perceive that their overtures had conveyed more interest than was actually the case) in intergroup as compared with intragroup exchanges. In contrast, White participants with high levels of prior contact with Chinese persons and Chinese participants did not show enhanced signal amplification in intergroup relative to intragroup exchanges. These results support our hypothesis that lack of intergroup contact experience sets the stage for miscommunications regarding friendship interest. White participants' tendency to feel that they had initially communicated more interest in being friends than their Chinese partner mediated a downward shift in their actual friendship interest over time, suggesting that signal amplification triggers defensive distancing and ultimately lowers the likelihood of cross-group friendship formation.

Polyhistidine tract expansions in HOXA1 result in intranuclear aggregation and increased cell death.

HOXA1 gene is part of a cluster of homeotic selector genes that regulates the anteroposterior patterning of mammals during embryonic development. HOXA1 encodes two alternatively spliced mRNAs with two isoforms, A and B, the former contains the homeodomain and expressed in early embryonic development. HOXA1 contains a string of 10 histidine repeats. However, individuals heterozygous for 7, 9, 11, and 12 histidine repeat variants were present among the Japanese population, notably in some autism cases. To determine the biological implications of the different polyhistidine repeat lengths, we expressed these variants in COS-7 and a human neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-SH). Expression of expanded variants of HOXA1 isoform A, containing 11 and 12 polyhistidine, resulted in early and great degree of protein aggregation in the nucleus. This aggregation resulted in accelerated cell death in cells expressing 11 and 12 expanded variants compared to those transfected with 7 and 10 polyhistidine variants. Furthermore, we showed that these aggregates were ubiquitinated and were inhibited by a histidine-modifying compound, DEPC. These data suggest that HOXA1 protein with polyhistidine tract expansions misfold, aggregate, and have a toxic effect on cell.