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Comments on the speech of the new chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, Newton N. Minow concerning the future of the television and communications industry. Role of the government in regulating television broadcasting; Effects of violence on television on child behavior; Impact of emerging technologies; Digital television; Public broadcasting.

Presents the speech of the author and chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) before the National Association of Broadcasters focusing on the future of television broadcasting. Views about becoming the FCC chairman; Trends in television broadcasting; Emphasis on network influences on stations and advertiser influences on networks.

Investigations of the etiology and epidemiology of pathogenic diseases can be genetically divided into several stages. Initially, attention is concentrated upon describing and quantifying the disease symptoms themselves, so that new outbreak may be recognized easily by other workers. The second phase focuses attention upon the environmental factors responsible for the optimum spread of the pathogen and for the development of the disease. Initially, a knowledge of these factors is used in order to predict the likelihood of future disease outbreaks. This approach has been used with considerable success on many serious plant diseases.

Little is known about the incidence of cancer among farmworker populations or about effective strategies for communicating with farmworkers about cancer prevention. Some studies suggest that farmworkers may have unusually high incidences of skin and cervical cancers. With these two cancers as the focus, a group of interviewers, researchers, and health communication specialists set out to create, implement, and evaluate a cancer control demonstration project geared toward farmworkers. In 1994, a situation analysis was conducted to identify constraints and opportunities for providing farmworkers with cancer control information and services. The situation analysis provided valuable information to aid in developing intervention and evaluation strategies. This paper outlines how and why the situation analysis was conducted and what was learned with regard to the farmworker population on the Delmarva Peninsula. Living conditions and the local availability of cancer control services are described. Obstacles to conducting research and interventions with farmworkers are highlighted. Based on what was learned, recommendations are made for designing cancer control research and intervention for farmworkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the text of the speech given by Newton N. Minow, member of the Illinois Bar, which dealt on the costs of carrier deregulation in the U.S.

BackgroundDespite evidence of increasing harms and community concern related to the drug crystal methamphetamine (“ice”), there is a lack of easily accessible, evidence-based information for community members affected by its use, and to date, no evidence-based mobile apps have specifically focused on crystal methamphetamine. ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the co-design and beta testing of a mobile app to provide evidence-based, up-to-date information about crystal methamphetamine to the general community. MethodsA mobile app about crystal methamphetamine was developed in 2017. The development process involved multiple stakeholders (n=12), including technology and drug and alcohol experts, researchers, app developers, a consumer expert with lived experience, and community members. Beta testing was conducted with Australian general community members (n=34), largely recruited by the Web through Facebook advertising. Participants were invited to use a beta version of the app and provide feedback about the content, visual appeal, usability, engagement, features, and functions. In addition, participants were asked about their perceptions of the app’s influence on awareness, understanding, and help-seeking behavior related to crystal methamphetamine, and about their knowledge about crystal methamphetamine before and after using the app. ResultsThe vast majority of participants reported the app was likely to increase awareness and understanding and encourage help-seeking. The app received positive ratings overall and was well received. Specifically, participants responded positively to the high-quality information provided, usability, and visual appeal. Areas suggested for improvement included reducing the amount of text, increasing engagement, removing a profile picture, and improving navigation through the addition of a “back” button. Suggested improvements were incorporated prior to the app’s public release. App use was associated with an increase in perceived knowledge about crystal methamphetamine; however, this result was not statistically significant. ConclusionsThe Cracks in the Ice mobile app provides evidence-based information about the drug crystal methamphetamine for the general community. The app is regularly updated, available via the Web and offline, and was developed in collaboration with experts and end users. Initial results indicate that it is easy to use and acceptable to the target group.

BackgroundAmid considerable community concern about the prevalence and harms associated with the use of crystal methamphetamine (“ice”), the increased use of smartphones to access health information and a growing number of available smartphone apps related to crystal methamphetamine, no previous reviews have examined the content and quality of these apps. ObjectiveThis study aims to systematically review existing apps in the iTunes and Google Play Stores to determine the existence, composition, and quality of educational smartphone apps about methamphetamines, including ice. MethodsThe iTunes and Google Play Stores were systematically searched in April 2017 for iOS Apple and Android apps, respectively. English-language apps that provided educational content or information about methamphetamine were eligible for inclusion. Eligible apps were downloaded and independently evaluated for quality by 2 reviewers using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). ResultsA total of 2205 apps were initially identified, of which 18 were eligible and rated using the MARS. The mean MARS quality total score for all rated apps was 3.0 (SD 0.6), indicating poor to acceptable quality. Overall, mean scores were the highest for functionality (mean 4.0, SD 0.5) and lowest for engagement (mean 2.3, SD 0.7). ConclusionsThis study demonstrates a shortage of high-quality educational and engaging smartphone apps specifically related to methamphetamine. The findings from this review highlight a need for further development of engaging and evidence-based apps that provide educational information about crystal methamphetamine.

Two samples of heart muscle from copper-deficient pigs and a control sample from a normal pig were analysed for haem a and protohaem content firstly by spectrophotometric determination of the mixture of the two haemochromes and secondly by separation of the two free porphyrins by fractional extraction from ether by hydrochloric acid. The haem a content was found greatly decreased in copper-deficiency. The low haem a content could he due either to a rôle of copper in haem a synthesis (as distinct from the synthesis of the whole enzyme) or to a rôle of copper in the biosynthesis of the holoenzyme at an early stage. It appears possible to ascribe the loss of activity of cytochrome oxidase in copper-deficiency entirely to this factor and this loss therefore cannot prove that copper is necessary for cytochrome oxidase activity, although it does not exclude this possibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]