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A systematic review and thematic synthesis were conducted on the motivations, purposes, and influence of pornography use among women who are in committed relationships. Pornography use was identified as having both positive and negative outcomes for women's sexual and relationship lives. Women watched pornography for diverse reasons: to feel sexually empowered, to enhance sexual arousal, and for masturbation purposes. Shared use of pornography with partners provided variety in sexual activities, could aid communication about sexual issues and helped improve intimacy. Pornography use can help some women feel sexually empowered, relaxed and better able to enjoy their sexual lives.

Purpose: Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is increasingly used to guide cancer therapy. This study aimed to characterise oncologists’ experiences and needs when utilising genomic results. Materials and Methods: An electronic survey distributed nation-wide to practising medical oncologists in Australia explored oncologists’ experiences with consenting, interpreting and communicating CGP results to patients. Results: The survey was completed by 108 of 333 oncologists (32%) and most respondents (n = 97, 90%) had referred patients for CGP. Using a 100-point visual analogue scale score [VAS], where higher values indicate greater confidence, most oncologists were confident consenting patients for referral [median 75 (Interquartile range, IQR: 53–85), discussing CGP results (median VAS: 70, IQR: 51–80), but significantly less confident discussing secondary germline findings (median VAS: 56, IQR 30–70, p < 0.001). Confidence with pursuing therapies based on CGP results increased with clinical experience (mean VAS increases by 4.8 per 5 years of experience, p < 0.001). Most oncologists (N = 68, 63%) reported wanting assistance with interpretation of CGP and patient-centric resources to aid communication with patients. Conclusions: Oncologists are integrating genomics into clinical care, but only display moderate confidence in communication and changing management accordingly. The development of patient- and clinician- targeted resources may assist with routine utilisation of CGP results in cancer care.

Thoracolumbar spine fractures form a significant portion of any spine surgeon's practice. It is important to classify the injuries, which may vary from minor transverse process fractures to unstable fracture–dislocations in order to aid communication, plan management, anticipated outcome, and prognosis. It is imperative that such a classification must be simple, reliable, comprehensive, and reproducible as well as be validated by multiple observers. In spite of having several classification systems in practice, the ideal one remains elusive. This article reviews the history of classification, evolution of the classifications, the relative merits and demerits of each classification, and highlighting the lacunae which the subsequent line of thought intended to fill. Till date, the AOSpine thoracolumbar spine injury severity system is probably the most comprehensive and management-oriented classification after Magerl and Denis.

Purpose: The current classification of ocular trauma does not incorporate adnexal trauma, injuries that are attributable to a nonmechanical cause and destructive globe injuries. This study proposes a new classification system of ocular trauma which is broader-based to allow for the classification of a wider range of ocular injuries not covered by the current classification. Methods: A clinic-based cross-sectional study to validate the proposed classification. We analyzed 535 cases of ocular injury from January 1, 2012 to February 28, 2012 over a 4-year period in an eye hospital in central India using our proposed classification system and compared it with conventional classification. Results: The new classification system allowed for classification of all 535 cases of ocular injury. The conventional classification was only able to classify 364 of the 535 trauma cases. Injuries involving the adnexa, nonmechanical injuries and destructive globe injuries could not be classified by the conventional classification, thus missing about 33% of cases. Conclusions: Our classification system shows an improvement over existing ocular trauma classification as it allows for the classification of all type of ocular injuries and will allow for better and specific prognostication. This system has the potential to aid communication between physicians and result in better patient care. It can also provide a more authentic, wide spectrum of ocular injuries in correlation with etiology. By including adnexal injuries and nonmechanical injuries, we have been able to classify all 535 cases of trauma. Otherwise, about 30% of cases would have been excluded from the study.

Developing assistive, cost-effective, non-invasive technologies to aid communication of people with hearing impairments is of prime importance in our society, in order to widen accessibility and inclusiveness. For this purpose, we have developed an intelligent vision system embedded on a smartphone and deployed in the wild. In particular, it integrates both computer vision methods involving Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) and machine learning techniques such as multi-class Support Vector Machine (SVM) to detect and recognize British Visual Language (BSL) signs automatically. Our system was successfully tested on a real-world dataset containing 13,066 samples and shown an accuracy of over 99% with an average processing time of 170ms, thus appropriate for real-time visual signing.

Background: Shared decision making (SDM) between families and physicians may facilitate informed, timely decisions to proceed with biologic therapy in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our team previously developed an SDM tool to aid communication between physicians and families when considering biologic therapy for children with IBD. Objective: We are conducting a prospective, pre-post pilot trial of a new SDM tool. The primary aim of the study is to assess feasibility of both the intervention and trial procedures for a future large-scale trial. Methods: We are enrolling physicians with experience prescribing biologic therapy in the past year and families of children with IBD. Families in the intervention arm receive a 3-step intervention including a letter sent before trial consent or clinic appointment, an in-clinic decision tool and a follow-up phone call. Our primary trial outcome is a measure of feasibility, with measures of clinical and decision outcomes secondary. We seek to enroll 27 families in each of 2 arms (usual-care and intervention) and plan data collection at the time of the initial visit or hospital stay, and at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after the initial visit. Conclusion: This study protocol is designed to demonstrate that integrating novel consent procedures, including timing and multiple versions of written consent, may increase trial feasibility while maintaining scientific rigor and full protection of study participants. Keywords: Pediatrics, Inflammatory bowel disease, Pilot trials, Consent

This work is supported by the Science of Sensor System Software programme grant, funded by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), EP/N007565/1. Sensor-driven systems provide data and information that facilitate real-time decision-making and autonomous actuation, as well as enable informed policy choices. However, can we be sure that these systems work as expected? Can we model them in a way that captures all the key issues? We define two concepts: frames of reference and frames of function that help us organise models of sensor-based systems and their purpose. Examples from a smart water distribution network illustrate how frames offer a lens through which to organise and balance multiple views of the system. Frames aid communication between modellers, analysts and stakeholders, and distinguish the purpose of each model, which contributes towards our trust that the system fulfils its purpose. Publisher PDF

WOMEN VISIBILITY AND PLAYFUL ACTS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT ORGANISED BY THE FEMINIST RESEARCH GROUP F=, FOCUSING ON PLAYFUL APPROACHES TO CREATIVE PRACTICES IN PUBLIC SPACES. PLAY IS USED AS A CORE STRATEGY TO INVITE THE PUBLIC/ PARTICIPANTS TO EXPRESS IDEAS, OPINIONS AND SELF AROUND THEMES CONNECTED TO FEMINISM USING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AS A PUBLIC PLATFORM FOR THESE EXPRESSIONS. IN CREATING SPACES OF NON-HIERARCHICAL ACTIVITY, PLAY, AS A METHOD OF ESTABLISHING TRUST, IS USED TO AID COMMUNICATION, TO MAKE NEW THINGS HAPPEN AND ENABLE TRANSFORMATION, EMPLOYING STRATEGIES OF HUMOUR AND THE SPECTACLE TO ENGAGE A DIVERSE, INTERGENERATIONAL AUDIENCE. IT IS PRIMARILY THROUGH PLAYFUL MEANS THAT WE EXTEND AN INVITATION TO TAKE PART. THIS PAPER VISUALLY DOCUMENTS WITH A TEXTUAL COMMENTARY THE PROCESS OF THE PROJECT AND THE WAYS WE USE PLAY TO EMPOWER, EDUCATE AND ACT IN PUBLIC SPACES.

Clear language should be used during emergency airway management to aid communication and understand the nature of the emergency. Unfortunately, during emergency airway management, there is no uniform language used for communication. Various difficult airway guidelines use different terminologies. Terminologies like “can't intubate, can't oxygenate” (CICO) and “can't intubate, can't ventilate” (CICV) have certain limitations. Though terminology like “Front of Neck Access” (FONA) is dominant in the literature,”emergency cricothyroidotomy” is used more often in clinical practice, suggesting a disconnect between the dominant terminology in the literature and in clinical practice. Terminology should not be used merely because it is catchy, simple and advocated by a few. It must accurately reflect the nature of the situation, convey a sense of urgency, and suggest an action sequence. An initiative to achieve consensus among existing terminologies is much needed. Leaders in the field should work towards refining airway terminology and replace poor phrases with ones that are more concise, precise and can be used universally in an airway emergency.

For patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), treatment guidelines recommend monitoring response to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) by testing the BCR-ABL1 fusion gene transcript level using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Despite recent efforts to standardise protocols for BCR-ABL1 testing, some variability remains among laboratories in the UK regarding the techniques used and the approach to reporting results. This increases the risk of misinterpretation of results by both clinicians and patients. An expert panel met to discuss current issues surrounding BCR-ABL1 testing in the UK and to develop guidance for laboratories, with emphasis on the optimal approach to reporting laboratory results. Topics included the minimum required information to include in the laboratory report, units of measurement, test sensitivity, and BCR-ABL1 transcript variants. To aid communication between laboratories and clinics, standard forms were generated that could be used by 1) clinics when submitting samples to laboratories, and 2) laboratories when reporting results to clinics. Standardising the way in which BCR-ABL1 test results are reported from laboratories to clinics should help to improve communication, interpretation of results, and patient care.

Pair programming is a software development technique with many cited benefits in learning and teaching. However, it is reported that novice programmers find several barriers to pairing up, typically due to the added communication that is required of this approach. This paper will present a literature review discussing the issue of communication, and through a series of observations with industry-based pairs, will derive a set of guidelines which aim to help novice pairs experience better communication within their pairs. An evaluation of the guidelines with undergraduate students is then reported, showing that exposure to these guidelines improved the self-perceived communication experience of novice pairs.

Underground CO 2 storage facilities are designed to contain CO 2 permanently and the expected performance scenario is that no CO 2 leakage from the storage complex will occur. However, it is necessary to assess the possible environmental impacts of CO 2 leakage in the unlikely event that a storage system evolves differently from the design aim. The RISCS project is being undertaken under the European Union's 7th Framework Programme to research these potential impacts. To help focus RISCS research and aid communication of the results, a set of reference terrestrial and marine European receptor environments and associated impact scenario descriptions were defined systematically by evidence-based expert elicitation.

Al-Jawad and colleagues emphasise the primacy of the patient’s wishes in their Practice paper, which is timely and very important.1 Almost one in five older Irish people report having at least one …

The communication between distinct social worlds or forms of life is a central topic in the sociology of knowledge. How do different communities interact with each other? Based on a sociological analysis of the work of Japanese—Portuguese interpreters in the Brazilian steel industry, I argue that the `language barrier', which is normally thought as a problem, can aid communication by preventing people who hold potentially clashing concepts, beliefs and customs from directly confronting each other. The importance for such people of not understanding each other is revealed in the work of interpreters, who facilitate the interaction between representatives of different steel companies and support the transfer of technology from Japan to Brazil. They maintain cordial relationships by acting as `buffers' between the Japanese and Brazilian forms of life. Three `models of mediation' are discussed in a comparison of the Japanese—Portuguese interpreters with other cases of interaction.

Mark, trace and structure have been in consistently used in ichnology for many years; we wish to clarify the origins and to prescribe correct usage of these terms. The origins of the words are ancient and complex; in the twentieth century they were given clear definitions as ichnologic terms. Seilacher (1953) de fined a mark (German Marke ) as a physical (abiogenic) sedimentary structure, as in the common terms sole mark, flute mark, but not bite mark or scratch mark . Trace has been defined many times; we recommend the consensus definition of Bertling et al. (2006) as “a morphologically recurrent structure resulting from the life activity of an individual organism (or homotypic or ganisms) modifying the substrate”; this in cludes dwelling trace, feeding trace, bite trace . Structure , as implied in another consensus paper (Frey, 1973), is a neutral term for geologic patterns resulting from either biogenic or abiogenic processes. Use of the three terms in a clear consistent manner will aid communication both among ichnologists and between ichnologists and their colleagues in other fields.

Categorization refers to the ability to reduce the potentially unlimited number of objects an animal might encounter to a smaller number of discrete groups, or categories. Animals adaptively form categories to exploit similarities and differences between objects that aid communication, prediction

This paper introduces CodEc, an Internet repository for computer programs written by, and for, economists and econometricians. CodEc provides a means to aid communication among researchers by using the Internet to share implementations of algorithms. After a description of the current content of CodEc, we discuss the use of CodEc to store and retrieve code from published articles.

TESSA is an experimental system that aims to aid transactions between a deaf person and a clerk in a Post Office by translating the clerk's speech to sign language. A speech recogniser recognises speech from the clerk and the system then synthesizes the appropriate sequence of signs in British Sign language (BSL) using a specially-developed avatar. By using a phrase lookup approach to language translation, which is appropriate for the highly constrained discourse in a Post Office, we were able to build a working system that we could evaluate. We summarise the results of this evaluation (undertaken by deaf users and Post office clerks), and discuss how the findings from the evaluation are being used in the development of an improved system.

Background: Cancer patients' preferences for life expectancy disclosure vary between individuals and across cultures. This study aimed to describe Japanese cancer patients': willingness to answer survey questions about life expectancy, preferences for discussing life expectancy with their radiation oncologist, and agreement with their radiation oncologists' regarding whether a life expectancy discussion had occurred. Methods: Adult cancer patients (n = 150) undergoing radiotherapy treatment at a Japanese university hospital during 2012 completed a survey on a touchscreen tablet. This represented 57% of eligible patients. Patients who were aware of their diagnosis were asked to complete additional questions about life expectancy. Responses were linked to a survey completed by participants' radiation oncologist. Results: Of 145 survey respondents who were aware of their cancer diagnosis, 81% answered the optional life expectancy section. The majority of respondents (98%) wanted their radiation oncologist to tell them everything they could when discussing life expectancy. However, 80% of patients wanted their radiation oncologist to ask them before the discussion, and 51% wanted their radiation oncologist to discuss it with their partner or family first. Radiation oncologists reported they had spoken to over two thirds of patients about how cancer may influence their life expectancy, whilst less than one third of patients reported having discussed life expectancy with their radiation oncologist. Conclusions: Life expectancy survey questions appeared to be acceptable to most respondents. There was some variation in patients' preferences for life expectancy discussions with their radiation oncologist. Given the poor concordance between patient and clinician perceptions of whether life expectancy disclosure had occurred, there is a need to identify approaches to prognosis disclosure that will aid communication between Japanese cancer patients and their radiation oncologists.

A new term should be introduced into the discussion of the various ethical and legal concerns associated with the process of preimplantation diagnosis. The aim is both to aid communication within the field and to distinguish sufficiently between different aspects of the processes involved. The term prefertilization diagnosis could be used to describe the methods used to perform tests on gametes before fertilization; these tests previously have been referred to as preimplantation or preconception diagnosis. The aim of preimplantation diagnosis, which developed in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s within the framework of IVF, is to test cells taken from a 3-day-old embryo in the 6- to 10-cell stage for the presence of genetically caused disorders or dispositions or to establish the sex of the embryo if there is a possibility of a sex-related genetic disorder. These tests are performed before ET is undertaken to enable the selection of the best embryos to be implanted.

A key element of good in-patient psychiatric care is the multidisciplinary review, with accurate and legible recording of the outcome of the discussion. Traditionally, the junior doctor and nurse act as ‘scribes' on the ward rounds, recording the outcomes in the multidisciplinary or separate medical and nursing notes. There are a number of ways in which this process can fail. First, the scribe may simply misunderstand the decision of the team, given the complexity and variety of decisions in a psychiatric setting. Second, the scribe may understand what to record, but what is written may be illegible. Finally, people present at the ward round can have different beliefs about what has been decided, but unless they immediately review what has been written, they may not realise the discrepancy. One or more of these failings can result in serious untoward incidents, such as a patient being allowed off the ward on unescorted leave when the responsible medical officer believed the team had decided against permitting such leave. It is only when there is a serious incident that discrepancies can and do emerge.

Plans to allow patients in England and Wales to comment on the service they receive from GPs on a government website will be a good way for doctors to keep abreast of their patients’ views, Department of Health officials have said. The department says it wants general practices to monitor comments posted by patients on the website and to respond where appropriate to “demonstrate two way communication.” But the BMA is concerned that the new arrangement, which is due to start in the summer, not only marks an end …

This presents an approach to forecasting and identifying the positive and negative consequences of a new technology. It outlines aspects of the theory of actor networks, and shows how it can help the analysis. As a specific example, to aid communication, it considers new materials technology (engineering plastics, composites, ceramics, and so on). It briefly outlines some trends, reviews two other reports (OTA and FAST), and presents the first results of the authors' own study. The emphasis is on methodology, rather than the technicalities of new materials.

"Shin splints" is not a specific diagnosis. It is merely a descriptive term that describes chronic exertional shin pain in an athlete. The evidence seems clear that shin splint pain has many different causes and this reflects the variation in the anatomy. It would be preferable to describe shin splint pain by location and aetiology, for example, lower medial tibial pain due to periostitis or upper lateral tibial pain due to elevated compartment pressure. This would aid communication between physicians and also direct therapy more accurately.

Three-dimensional surface reconstruction images of the heart and great vessels have been produced from contiguous sequences of EKG-triggered MRI scans in more than 35 patients with congenital heart disease and 5 normal subjects. The scan data was semiautomatically processed to separate the epi- and endocardial surfaces and to define the outlines of the enclosed blood volumes on a slice by slice basis. Surface reconstruction images aid communication with clinicians, establish the size and location of intracardiac defects, and image the pulmonary venous drainage. The method is practical for use in the evaluation of cardiac morphologic abnormalities, especially for planning cardiac surgery.