Abstract Associations between exposure to ambient air pollution and progression of emphysema have been identified in longitudinal observational studies. However, previous work has not used statistical causal inference methods tailored to address bias from time-varying confounding. The objective of this study is to propose an analytical approach for estimating longitudinal health effects of air pollution while accounting for time-varying confounding using marginal structural models and to re-analyze data on air pollution and emphysema progression from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis using this analytical approach. We estimate weights for continuous exposure levels using two techniques: quantile binning of the exposure and a semiparametric model for the requisite conditional densities. The latter approach incorporates flexible machine learning methods. We find evidence for the harmful effects of ambient ozone pollution during study follow-up on the progression of emphysema, consistent with previously reported results. We find no evidence of effects of NOx during study follow-up. This investigation demonstrates that analyses based on marginal structural models are feasible in studies of the health effects of air pollution and may address possible sources of bias that traditional regression-based methods fail to address. Further investigation is warranted to understand differences between our findings and previously published results.
Karita C. F. Lidani, Patrick J. Trainor, Shubham Tomar
et al.
Aims Angiotensinogen plays an essential role in maintaining circulatory homeostasis. AGT rs5050(T > G) has been identified as a regulator of the transcription of AGT mRNA, with differential expression between sexes. We sought to determine if rs5050(T > G), an estrogen response element, modifies the relationship between estrogen and angiotensinogen levels. Methods rs5050(T > G) was genotyped, and plasma angiotensinogen levels were measured in 4,831 MESA participants, including postmenopausal women, on hormone therapy (n = 709) or not (n = 1,551), and 2,581 men. Linear regression models were employed to determine the associations of angiotensinogen with rs5050(T > G) allele dosage; and to evaluate whether rs5050(T > G) modifies the association between estradiol and angiotensinogen, with a main effect term and interaction term between rs5050(T > G)*estradiol. Estimated marginal means (EMMs) were used to further evaluate the effect of estradiol on angiotensinogen across different rs5050 alleles (T > G). Results rs5050 TT had the highest median levels of angiotensinogen, followed by TG and GG . Adjusted main effect model showed positive associations between estradiol and angiotensinogen, with each rs5050 T allele associated with 0.329 SD higher log-angiotensinogen levels (CI 95% 0.293, 0.365). The interaction rs5050(T > G)*estradiol was not significant, with EMMs exhibiting overlapping slope confidence intervals across genotypes. The proportion of the variance in angiotensinogen explained by modeling increases from 47.9% to 51.6% when including rs5050(T > G) or interation rs5050(T > G)*estradiol in the model. Conclusions rs5050(T > G) is associated with circulating angiotensinogen levels, but rs5050(T > G) alleles do not influence the relationship between estradiol and angiotensinogen. This suggests that estrogen’s effect on angiotensinogen regulation occurs independently of rs5050(T > G), despite its location within an estrogen-responsive element.
This paper advances a theoretical argument about the role capital plays in structuring CHI research. We introduce the concept of technological capture to theorize the mechanism by which this happens. Using this concept, we decompose the effect on CHI into four broad forms: technological capture creates market-creating, market-expanding, market-aligned, and externality-reducing CHI research. We place different CHI subcommunities into these forms -- arguing that many of their values are inherited from capital underlying the field. Rather than a disciplinary- or conference-oriented conceptualization of the field, this work theorizes CHI as tightly-coupled with capital via technological capture. The paper concludes by discussing some implications for CHI.
Besides the utilitarian aspects of online shopping, hedonic motivations play a significant role in shaping the shopping behavior of online users. With the increased popularity of voice-enabled devices, online shopping platforms have attempted to drive online shopping on voice. However, we explain why voice might be more suitable for the hedonic aspects of shopping. We introduce a prototype that enables such focus in a voice experience and share our findings from a qualitative study.
Mariann Kornelia Smith, Jacqueline Meijer-Irons, Andrew Millar
In 2021 the Technical Infrastructure (TI) User Experience (UX) team sent a survey to 10,000 Google Developers (Googlers) and uncovered that Google's internal infrastructure tools were fragmented and inefficient, hindering developers' productivity. Using user centered research and design methodologies the team first created a story map and service blueprint to visualize the relationship between internal applications, then formulated a strategic vision to consolidate tools, streamline workflows, and measure the impact of their work. We secured executive buy-in and delivered incremental improvements.
This paper introduces LIMITER, a gamified digital musical instrument for harnessing and performing microtonal and justly intonated sounds. While microtonality in Western music remains a niche and esoteric system that can be difficult both to conceptualize and to perform with, LIMITER presents a novel, easy to pickup interface that utilizes color, geometric transformations, and game-like controls to create a simpler inlet into utilizing these sounds as a means of expression. We report on the background of the development of LIMITER, as well as explain the underlying musical and engineering systems that enable its function. Additionally, we offer a discussion and preliminary evaluation of the creativity-enhancing effects of the interface.
Abdallah Namoun, Ahmed Alrehaili, Zaib Un Nisa
et al.
This article proposes the so-called large user interface models (LUIMs) to enable the generation of user interfaces and prediction of usability using artificial intelligence in the context of mobile applications.
Large language models can be prompted to produce text. They can also be prompted to produce "explanations" of their output. But these are not really explanations, because they do not accurately reflect the mechanical process underlying the prediction. The illusion that they reflect the reasoning process can result in significant harms. These "explanations" can be valuable, but for promoting critical thinking rather than for understanding the model. I propose a recontextualisation of these "explanations", using the term "exoplanations" to draw attention to their exogenous nature. I discuss some implications for design and technology, such as the inclusion of appropriate guardrails and responses when models are prompted to generate explanations.
Strategy management analyses are created by business consultants with common analysis frameworks (i.e. comparative analyses) and associated diagrams. We show these can be largely constructed using LLMs, starting with the extraction of insights from data, organization of those insights according to a strategy management framework, and then depiction in the typical strategy management diagram for that framework (static textual visualizations). We discuss caveats and future directions to generalize for broader uses.
This paper presents a methodology for enhancing actuator performance in older devices or retrofitting devices with haptic feedback actuators. The approach is versatile, accommodating various actuator and mounting positions. Through a frequency sweep analysis, the system's characteristics are captured, enabling the creation of location-specific transfer functions to accurately transform input signals into command signals for a precise output at the target location. This method offers fast and simple collection of the system properties and generation of location-specific signals.
This paper showcases AdaptLIL, a real-time adaptive link-indented list ontology mapping visualization that uses eye gaze as the primary input source. Through a multimodal combination of real-time systems, deep learning, and web development applications, this system uniquely curtails graphical overlays (adaptations) to pairwise mappings of link-indented list ontology visualizations for individual users based solely on their eye gaze.
Background. National as well as international Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment guidelines are available to guide clinicians. Previous research has shown that nonmotor symptoms (NMS) are pronounced in late-stage PD and has suggested that current treatment is insufficient and could be improved. Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate to which degree the national and international treatment guidelines are followed in the treatment of NMS in late-stage PD. Methods. This Swedish cohort was part of the Care of Late-Stage Parkinsonism (CLaSP) study. Late-stage PD was defined as Hoehn and Yahr stages IV-V in “on” and/or ≤50% on the Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale. NMS were assessed with the NMS scale (NMSS), cognition with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and depressive symptoms with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). Symptomatic individuals were defined as ≥ 6 on an item of the NMSS; for dementia, a cutoff of ≤18 on the MMSE; for depression, a cutoff of ≥10 on the GDS. Results. All 107 participants exhibited NMS to various degrees and severities; the median NMSS score was 91. Among symptomatic individuals, for depressive symptoms, 37/63 (59%) were treated with antidepressants; for hallucinations and delusions, 9/18 (50%) and 5/13 (38%) were treated with antipsychotics; and for dementia, 9/27 (33%) were treated with rivastigmine and 1 (4%) was treated with donepezil. For orthostatic hypotension, 11/19 (58%) with lightheadedness and 7/8 (88%) with fainting were treated with antihypotensives; for sialorrhea, 2/42 (5%) were treated with botulinum toxin; and for constipation, 19/35 (54%) were treated with laxatives. For insomnia, 4/16 (25%) were treated with hypnotics, and for daytime sleepiness, 1/29 (3%) was treated with psychostimulants. Conclusions. The present analyses suggest a need for clinicians to further screen for and treat NMS. Optimizing treatment of NMS according to the national and international treatment guidelines may improve symptomatology and enhance quality of life in late-stage PD.
Federica Bertel, Cristina Gena, Matteo Nazzario
et al.
The aim of the current research is to analyse and discover, in a real context, behaviours, reactions and modes of interaction of social actors (people) with the humanoid robot Pepper. Indeed, we wanted to observe in a real, highly frequented context, the reactions and interactions of people with Pepper, placed in a shop window, through a systematic observation approach. The most interesting aspects of this research will be illustrated, bearing in mind that this is a preliminary analysis, therefore, not yet definitively concluded.
We take a critical lens toward the pursuit of racially inclusive language technologies and identify several areas necessitating future work. We discuss the potential harms of conversational technologies, outline three challenges that arise in inclusive design, and lastly, argue that conversational user interface designers and researchers should go beyond racially inclusive design toward anti-racist and race positive designs.
Commercially-driven metaverse development has been driven by philosophical and science fiction concepts. Through translating these concepts into products, the developers may have inadvertently excluded individuals with disabilities from this new expanded reality. This ideologically-driven development is presented in this paper through a brief background of what we see as the most influential of these concepts, and explain how these might affect disabled individuals wishing to engage with said products. It is our hope that these ideas prompt conversation on future inclusivity access from the concept stage of future metaverse development.
Hooman Bakhshi, Pramita Bagchi, Zahra Meyghani
et al.
AbstractAimsThe association of subclinical atherosclerotic disease in the coronary arteries and thoracic aorta with incident peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is unknown. We investigated the association between coronary artery calcium score (CACs) and thoracic aortic calcium score (TACs) with incident clinical and subclinical PAD.Methods and resultsThe Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) recruited 6814 men and women aged 45–84 from four ethnic groups who were free of clinical cardiovascular disease at enrolment. Coronary artery calcium score and thoracic aortic calcium score were measured from computed tomography scans. Participants with a baseline ankle-brachial index (ABI) ≤0.90 or >1.4 were excluded. Abnormal ABI was defined as ABI ≤0.9 or >1.4 at follow-up exam. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to test the associations between baseline CACs and TACs with incident abnormal ABI and clinical PAD, respectively. A total of 6409 participants (female: 52.8%) with a mean age of 61 years were analysed. Over a median follow-up of 16.7 years, 91 participants developed clinical PAD. In multivariable analysis, each unit increase in log (CACS + 1) and log (TACs + 1) were associated with 23% and 13% (P < 0.01for both) higher risk of incident clinical PAD, respectively. In 5725 (female: 52.6%) participants with an available follow-up ABI over median 9.2 years, each 1-unit increase in log (CACs + 1) and log (TACs + 1) were independently associated with 1.15-fold and 1.07-fold (P < 0.01for both) higher odds of incident abnormal ABI, respectively.ConclusionHigher baseline CACs and TACs predict abnormal ABI and clinical PAD independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and baseline ABI.
Maxime Chabance, Grégoire Cattan, Bastien Maureille
This document describes a technical study of the electroencephalographic (EEG) headset OpenBCI (New York, US). In comparison to research grade EEG, the OpenBCI headset is affordable thus suitable for the general public use. In this study we designed a daemon, that is, a background and continuous task communicating with the headset, acquiring, filtering and analyzing the EEG data. This study was promoted by the IHMTEK Company (Vienne, France) in 2016 within a thesis on the integration of EEG-based brain-computer interfaces in virtual reality for the general public.