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Cell Biology

Six tales from the trenches of running a startup – MIT Technology Review

Our company has built a platform to produce high-quality cells and tissues for regenerative medicine. That pursuit involves multiple disciplines, which means everyone here is an expert in a different language. Some of us are fluent in stem-cell biology, others in optical engineering, others in machine learning. When we started the company it wasnt possible to do biology and engineering under the same roof. When we finally moved into a shared space we were able to learn each others lexicons, and we became more strongly aligned. And now that were all working separately, the bonds created in that process have helped us deal with things. We cant discuss technical details at our desks anymore, but weve learned new ways of working together. Its important to stay in sync as a team, and in a covid-19 world thats never felt more true.

TIM O'CONNELL

Founded Blendoor, a job-search platform that hides candidates names and photos in the initial stages to reduce unconscious bias.

I started coding at 13, and that has gotten me pretty far in my career (Stanford, MIT, Microsoft). I once viewed humanities and social science education as nice-to-haves but not need-to-haves. It wasnt until I came face to face with the harsh realities of inequity and the paradox of meritocracy that I realized that artificial intelligence is far from solving many of our most challenging problems as a human race (for example, xenophobia, sexism, racism, homophobia, impostor syndrome, and unconscious bias).

The externalities that influence creativity, adoption, and scale are often more important than the innovation itself. To be a successful innovator one has to be really in tune with whats happening in the world on a global scale (or be really lucky, or better yet both). Venture capital has shortened the learning curve for some innovators, but bias has limited access to venture capital for many. Unconscious bias is like an odorless gasits imperceptible to most, but pervasive and deadly.

To optimize the innovation ecosystem, institutions must invest more in leveling the playing field. Today and for much of the documented past, innovation has been reserved for the children of middle- and upper-class parents. (Research the founders of companies valued at over $1 billion.) We laud the proverb Necessity is the mother of invention, but the people who grow up needing the most, independent of their intelligence, are often left out of the innovation game. As with all games, the best players emerge when the barriers to entry are low, the rules/standards are equally enforced, and there is high transparency across the board.

Audre Lorde once wrote: The masters tools will never dismantle the masters house.

I am a short, melanin-enriched, queer female on planet Earth. In some ways its easier to be innovative when youre invisible, but at some point, you need tools to scale: capital, team, mentorship. The one thing I know now that I wish I had known earlier is that my path toward getting the tools I need looks a lot different from the paths of others. Its not better nor worsesimply different. The hardest part is carving it out. Now that I know my path isnt blockedrather, it just didnt existIm way better equipped to win.

COURTESY PHOTO

Founded DotLab, which makes diagnostic tests focused on womens health.

About a decade ago I worked at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, whose goal was to speed up the commercialization of technologies being developed in federally funded labs. While there I saw that some of the most important work done by the government involved things the media paid no attention tofor example, the way it could use investments in research and development to fuel private--sector innovation.

In 2009, the Obama administration released the Strategy for American Innovation. The idea behind it was to establish the critical nature of federal government support for R&D. In particular it stressed the spillover effects, or the idea that investments in such research end up being beneficial to people unrelated to the original investment. Or to put it another way, R&D investment is a public good. Analyses at the time suggested that in order to produce economic growth we should be doubling or quadrupling our R&D investments. Instead that spending has since been slashed, especially in basic research.

President Obama also launched a Lab to Market Initiative meant to speed the path to market for technologies stemming from government--funded research. There were also pilot programs designed to increase the use of government-funded R&D facilities by entrepreneurs, create incentives to commercialization, and improve, among other things, the impact of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

My own company, DotLab, ended up being a beneficiary. We develop novel molecular diagnostic tests for prevalent yet underserved diseases affecting womens health. Its notoriously difficult for this field of early--stage diagnostics to attract private investment, because of unclear regulatory pathways, low reimbursement rates, or resistance to change among physiciansor all of the above. Many promising diagnostic technologies never make it to patients because its so hard for these types of companies to get financing. A grant from the SBIR was critical to our early success. I cant be sure that wed be here today without it.

COURTESY PHOTO

Founded Ubiquitous Energy, which makes transparent solar cells that can be put on windows or device screens.

I used to imagine innovators as individuals, as most people probably dothe genius inventor divining solutions in a lab or garage. But this picture that people have is not only wrong; it hinders our ability to innovate effectively.

Eight years ago I cofounded Ubiquitous Energy, a company based on an innovation Id helped to launch from an MIT laba transparent solar cell that promised new ways of deploying solar technology, like windows that generate energy or consumer devices powered by their own displays. I learned that in the messy, scrappy world of tech startups, the key to innovation is to make it a team sport.

Taking any innovation from the lab to commercial reality requires engaging with all sorts of people. You need to work with engineering, R&D, business development, and sales teams, as well as investors, advisors, and customers. By thoughtfully designing teams and carefully tending to the connections among them, you ensure that innovation doesnt happen in a vacuum. If you isolate the engineering team you risk creating an innovative technology that doesnt have a customer. If you listen only to the customer you might conceive of a product that cant practically be made. Neglect investors and you can find yourself with a business plan that nobody wants to fund.

Working among people with competing priorities takes more effort. It means encouraging communication so theyre aware of each others needs as they generate new ideas. You have to find a way to invite these ideas in, make it okay for people to disagree respectfully, and encourage the flow of ideas among the various groups. You need each person to focus on his or her task, but not so much that it creates boundaries and kills any sense of creativity in the group.

Ive found that viewing innovation as a team sport instills a creative culture that makes an organization better. The innovations that result are far greater than anything that might have come from any one person operating independently.

CHRIS SCIACCA / IBM RESEARCH

Founded Somalias first incubator and start-up accelerator; now at IBM Research.

People tend to think innovation can be neatly placed into two categories: incremental or disruptive. They also assume that the only category that really matters is the disruptive kind, where you dramatically transform markets or introduce a novel product. And yes, disruptive innovations in CRISPR, quantum computing, or batteries are undoubtedly worth the headlines.

But Ive learned that there is immense value in incremental innovation. When you improve an existing product to cut costs, or when you make that product more efficient or user friendly, thats what pays the bills. And in fact those little innovations can give you the needed tailwind to go after the disruptive ideas, which can take years to incubate and bring to fruition. Never underestimate the importance of incremental improvements.

TIM O'CONNELL

Cofounded Imprint Energy, which is developing thin, flexible, and safe print- able batteries.

As a CEO of a startup, you get used to hearing no. You also face an endless succession of what feel like earth--shattering crises, like nearly running out of cash, losing a key customer, discovering a widespread product failureor having to shut down operations because of a global pandemic. But it turns out that these disasters can actually be good for you. In fact, Im not sure you can innovate without them. Heres what all our crises have taught me.

Its good to be uncomfortable. We once had a key customer request a battery capability that wed never deployed before. The customer made it clear that if we couldnt develop this capability theyd be less confident in our product. We wrestled with the risks, not least of which was the potential embarrassment if we couldnt meet the customers needs. We knew wed face many technical problems with no obvious solutions if we tried to pull it off. Yet we decided to try to satisfy the customer, even if it wasnt obvious at first how we could get it done. A few weeks later we delivered something beyond what the customer had asked for, and weve since grown this capability into a powerful sales tool and potential revenue streamnot to mention it strengthened our relationship with the customer.

Short-term failure is good. A few years ago our company began to scale up our manufacturing output in response to a customers need. In the process we discovered aberrations we hadnt seen during smaller-scale production. Our team dived into failure analysis, and we finally attributed the problem to a single material within the battery. Wed used this material for years, but now we needed a replacement. Once we deployed that change, the battery quality, reliability, and manufacturability drastically improved.

Its okay to be vulnerable. One of my hardest days as Imprints CEO was the day I found out I was pregnant. We were in the middle of raising a funding round, we had begun scaling our manufacturing output, and I had been traveling nonstop for a year. Until that day, I had assumed that my role as CEO was to exude strength and confidence. With the mounting pressure I was harder on myself than I needed to be, and now I had the added stress of being pregnant. I decided to acknowledge to my team that I was overwhelmed. They rallied together and found ways to operate more efficiently and communicate more effectively, supporting me to focus my time and leverage on our most pressing goals. This gave me not only the space to plan for the companys future, but also the resiliency to prepare for my own new normal: leading while becoming a first-time mother.

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Six tales from the trenches of running a startup - MIT Technology Review

Immunology

Race for the discovery of COVID-19 medications – Gnome Qubec, in partnership with IRIC, Universit de Montral and Mila announce funding of $1M in…

MONTREAL, June 17, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ -Gnome Qubec, in partnership withthe Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Universit de Montral, Universit de Montral, Mila Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute and McMaster University, is proud to announce funding for a new research project intended to accelerate the discovery of antiviral COVID-19 medications. Spearheaded by professors MichaelTyers (IRIC/Universit de Montral), YoshuaBengio (Mila/Universit de Montral) and AnneMarinier (IRIC/Universit de Montral), the $1million project was launched in fast-track mode on June 1, 2020.

The project combines genomics, artificial intelligence and medicinal chemistry to discover new inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. The use of genomic screens will lead to a better understanding of the genetic interactions between the virus and human host cells and thereby the identification of new targets for drug discovery. Artificial intelligence will be used to design novel chemical inhibitors against viral proteins and human host proteins on which the virus depends. And finally, with advanced medicinal chemistry, the team will be able to synthesize and test these inhibitors.

"We are very enthusiastic about combining our expertise in the fields of genomics, artificial intelligence and medicinal chemistry to understand how the virus interacts with human cells and to design new inhibitors of viral replication," said Michael Tyers, Principal Investigator at IRIC's Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology Research Unit.

"Medicinal chemistry will play an important role in this research because it will enable us to validate and improve new genomics and AI-based approaches to drug discovery. We are delighted to contribute to research efforts aimed at defeating this global pandemic," added Anne Marinier, Principal Investigator, Director of Medicinal Chemistry and Director of IRIC's Drug Discovery Unit.

Over the long term, this combined genomics/artificial intelligence approach could help significantly accelerate when compared to traditional approaches the discovery of antiviral medications for future pandemics. The approach can also be applied to the development of new treatments for cancer and many other diseases.

"This is an exciting project, first because of its potential to discover medications that could have a significant impact on COVID-19, then because the methodology used could be generalized to research into new therapeutic molecules in other areas. And finally, because the project raises research questions that are way off the beaten path, which will contribute to advancements in science as a whole," explained Yoshua Bengio, Scientific Director of Mila.

By consolidating world-renowned expertise in genomics, artificial intelligence and medicinal chemistry, this project is placing Qubec and Canada at the cutting edge of research in precision medicine. "At Gnome Qubec, we are especially proud of being able to actively contribute to the fight against COVID-19 by supporting such a highly reputable team of researchers. The project clearly demonstrates the important global role Qubec plays in genomics, but also in artificial intelligence," said Daniel Coderre, President and CEO of Gnome Qubec.

Selected as part of a joint Genome Canada-Gnome Qubec program, the project will also receive funding from Mila, IRIC and McMaster University.

Learn more about the project

About Gnome QubecGnome Qubec's mission is to catalyze the development and excellence of genomics research and promote its integration and democratization. It is a pillar of the Qubec bioeconomy and contributes to Qubec's influence and its social and sustainable development. The funds invested by Gnome Qubec are provided by the ministre de l'conomie et de l'Innovation duQubec (MEI), the Government of Canada, through Genome Canada,and private partners. To learn more, visit http://www.genomequebec.com

About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Universit de MontralAn ultra-modern research hub and training centre located in the heart of the Universit de Montral, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Universit de Montral was created in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter this disease. The IRIC operates according to a model that is unique in Canada. Its innovative approach to research has already led to discoveries that will, over the coming years, have a significant impact on the fight against cancer.

About Universit de Montral Deeply rooted in Montreal and dedicated to its international mission, Universit de Montral is a leading research university. It ranks among the top100 universities worldwide and among the five best French language universities. With its affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montral and HEC Montral, UdeM attracts over $500million in research funding every year, making it one of the top three university research hubs in Canada. UdeM has more than67,000 students, 2,300 professors and researchers, and an active global network of 400,000 alumni.

About Mila Founded by Professor Yoshua Bengio of the Universit de Montral, Mila is a research institute in artificial intelligence which rallies over 500 researchers specializing in the field of deep learning. Based in Montreal, Mila is a non-profit organization recognized globally for its significant contributions to the field of deep learning, particularly in the areas of language modelling, machine translation, object recognition and generative models.

SOURCE Gnome Qubec

For further information: or interviews: Ccile Vignes, Acting Director, Communications, Gnome Qubec, 514 702-2077, [emailprotected]; Nomie Desbois Mackenzie, Communication Advisor, Public Relations, IRIC, 514 475-7682, [emailprotected]; Julie Gazaille, Press attach, Universit de Montral - Bureau des communications et des relations publiques, 514 343-6796, [emailprotected]; Vincent Martineau, Head, Communications and Media Relations, Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, [emailprotected]

http://www.genomequebec.com

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Race for the discovery of COVID-19 medications - Gnome Qubec, in partnership with IRIC, Universit de Montral and Mila announce funding of $1M in...

Physiology

EHA25Virtual: Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease May Be at Increased Risk of Adverse Outcomes From COVID-19 – P&T Community

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia are severe inherited blood disorders, often referred to as "hemoglobinopathies." They predominantly affect the Black and Asian ethnic minority populations in England. To ensure good standards and equitable access to care, the National Health Service in England has recently commissioned a model of regional care networks overseen by a new body, the National Haemoglobinopathy Panel. This organizational structure has enabled a rapid response to the COVID-19 epidemic and enabled collection of national data on new cases and outcomes to determine if hemoglobinopathy patients are at risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes.

We present an analysis on data collected up to June 5th indicating that the majority of cases have been mild, and in particular children do not appear to be at increased risk. However, the data suggests that adults with SCD may be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes. Therefore, we recommend that isolation precautions should be lifted cautiously, and that new therapies and vaccination for COVID-19, when available, should be prioritized for this patient group.

Presenter: Dr Paul Telfer Affiliation:Queen Mary University of London, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK Abstract:#LB2606 REAL-TIME NATIONAL SURVEY OF COVID-19 IN HEMOGLOBINOPATHY AND RARE INHERITED ANEMIA PATIENTS

About the EHA Annual Congress: Every year in June, EHA organizes its Annual Congress in a major European city. This year due to the COVID19 pandemic, EHA transformed its physical meeting into a Virtual Congress. The Congress is aimed at health professionals working in or interested in the field of hematology. The scientific program topics range from stem cell physiology and development to leukemia; lymphoma; diagnosis and treatment; red blood cells; white blood cells and platelet disorders; hemophilia and myeloma; thrombosis and bleeding disorders; as well as transfusion and stem cell transplantation. Embargo: Please note that our embargo policy applies to all selected abstracts in the Press Briefings. For more information, see our EHA Media and Embargo policy here.

Website: ehaweb.org

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EHA25Virtual: Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease May Be at Increased Risk of Adverse Outcomes From COVID-19 - P&T Community

Cell Biology

Laser Microdisection Market Highly Favourable with new Demand to the Growth Rate by 2025 | Danaher, 3DHISTECH, Fluidigm, Epistem – Medic Insider

AMA Research have added latest edition of survey study on Global Laser Microdisection Market with 100+ market data Tables, Pie Chat, Graphs & Figures spread through Pages and easy to understand detailed analysis. At present, the market is developing its presence. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Laser Microdisection Forecast till 2025*. Some are the key players taken under coverage for this study is Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (United States), ZEISS International (Germany), Danaher (United States), 3DHISTECH (Hungary), Molecular Machines and Industries GmbH (Germany), Fluidigm Corporation (United States), VitroVivo Biotech (United States), Epistem Ltd. (Germany) and CaresBio Laboratory LLC (United States).

Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/127553-global-laser-microdisection-market

Tissue microdissection is defined as a process of isolating a morphologically distinct population of cells from a tissue section or cytological preparation composed of a mixture of heterogeneous cell types. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is mainly used to isolate specific cells from microscopic regions of tissue, cells, or organisms. Various tissue microdissection techniques have been used to isolate pure cell populations. It is the contamination-free procedure for obtaining subpopulations of tissue cells under direct microscopic visualization. This isolates specific cells by dissecting unwanted cells and harvests the cells of interest directly to give pure enriched cells.

Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report:

1) How Study Have Considered the Impact of COVID-19 / Economic Slowdown of 2020?

Analyst at AMA are constantly gathering and conducting survey with opinion leaders and Industry experts from various region to minutely understand impact on growth as well as local reforms to evaluate study and market estimates. Due to lockdown different online medium and procedures are followed like Survey Monkey, LinkedIn Connections, and Email reach and industry forum to established industry viewpoint to garner rich insights for study. A special chapter in the study presents Impact Analysis of COVID-19 on Global Laser Microdisection Market along with tables and graphs related to various country and segments showcasing impact on growth trends.

2) Can list of players be customizing according to targeted regional geographies to match business objective?

Considering heat map analysis and based on market buzz or voice the profiled list of companies in the report are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (United States), ZEISS International (Germany), Danaher (United States), 3DHISTECH (Hungary), Molecular Machines and Industries GmbH (Germany), Fluidigm Corporation (United States), VitroVivo Biotech (United States), Epistem Ltd. (Germany) and CaresBio Laboratory LLC (United States). Yes, further list of players can also be customized as per your requirement keeping in mind your areas of interest and adding local emerging players and leaders from targeted geography.

** List of companies covered may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger & Acquisition Activity etc. based on the difficulty of survey since data availability needs to be confirmed by research team especially in case of privately held company. Up to 2 players can be added at no additional cost.

3) Can Market be broken down by different set of application and types?

Additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability, feasibility and depending upon timeline and toughness of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be prepared before making any final confirmation.

** 3+ Additional country of your interest can be included at no added cost feasibility test would be conducted by Analyst team of AMA based on the requirement shared and accordingly deliverable time will also be disclosed.

Enquire for customization in Report @https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/127553-global-laser-microdisection-market

To comprehend Laser Microdisection market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Laser Microdisection market is analyzed across major global regions. AMA also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas.

Get Reasonable Discount on This Premium Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/127553-global-laser-microdisection-market

Major Highlights of TOC:

Chapter One: Market Overview

Chapter Two: Executive Summary - Free of Cost

Chapter Three: Market Dynamics USD1000

Market Drivers, Market Challenges, Market Trends, Restraints & Opportunities, Post Covid Scenario

Chapter Four: Market Factor Analysis USD400

Supply/Value Chain, Porters Five Forces, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent & Trademark Analysis, Bargain Power

Chapter Five: Global Loan Origination Software, by Market Segmentation and Geography (value, volume**) (2014-2019) USD1400

by Application (Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Forensic Science), End-user (Academic and Government Research Institutes, Hospitals, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, Contract Research Organizations), Offering (Reagents & Media, Assay Kits, Others), Systems (Infrared LCM, Ultraviolet and Infrared LCM, Immunofluorescence LCM)

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Global Laser Microdisection Region

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Nordic, Others)

Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, Australia, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Middle East & Africa, Others)

Chapter Six: Global Laser Microdisection Manufacturers/Players Analysis USD1200

Competitive Landscape, Comparative Market Share Analysis (2018-2019), Peer Group Analysis (2019), BCG Matrix, Company Profile, Product/Service Offering Matrix

Chapter Seven: Global Loan Origination Software, by Market Segmentation and Region (value, volume**) (2020-2025) USD1400

Sections same as Chapter Five

Chapter Eight:Company profiles / Competitive Landscape [12 Players] USD1250

Chapter Nine: Methodology/Research Approach, Data Source, Disclaimer

** If applicableActual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis, Business opportunities, Market Size Estimation Available in Full Report.

AMA also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research according to clientele objectives. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report like North America, Europe or Asia.

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Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As.

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Laser Microdisection Market Highly Favourable with new Demand to the Growth Rate by 2025 | Danaher, 3DHISTECH, Fluidigm, Epistem - Medic Insider

Anatomy

The anatomy of a media manhunt – Spiked

Having worked in journalism and been a member of parliament and a minister in a European country for many years, I find many aspects of the Dominic Cummings affair eerily familiar.

During my time as a journalist, I was often surprised by how openly some of the editors and reporters discussed how to get someone. In daily meetings they would debate which pundits might be most critical of the person in question. This was before social media provided an endless source of condemnations to choose from and members of the public started competing to denounce heretics.

Working in journalism, it soon became clear to me that coverage of events was greatly influenced by preconceptions about the people involved. This was decades ago. But now, more than ever, the things that people do and say are judged not by the content or nature of what is said and done, but by who says or does them.

One of the greatest achievements of Western civilisation was reaching the conclusion that all individuals should have the same rights. The modern zeitgeist seeks to turn this principle on its head.

In effect, we now have a hierarchy of personal rights based on which group individuals are assigned to by the high priests of identitarianism. Very near the bottom of that hierarchy sits Dominic Cummings highest among his sins in the eyes of intersectionalists is that he is blamed for the UKs departure from the EU.

This cultural establishment is hostile towards challenges to its authority. People who are seen as a threat to the ruling order must be quelled, and the opportunity to do so is eagerly awaited.

What turned out to be the long-awaited excuse for doing away with Dominic Cummings? He drove with his family from London to Durham to self-isolate and protect his child. How has British society come to this?

I now know that Durham is 260 miles from London, and feel confident that I could drive there without the aid of a map or GPS, having heard the route described ad nauseam. The path that Cummings critics have taken is, however, even more familiar to me than the route from London to Durham.

Cummings was known for his criticism of the elites. So he was presented as an elitist who thought there was one set of rules for him and another for everyone else. This was to have the added effect of getting everyone else to unite against the offender. Hence the elites attacking Cummings because of who he is did so by claiming he was behaving as an elitist. The irony was apparently lost on the intersectionalists.

The pursuit of Cummings followed a familiar script.

With the perpetrators offence established, the hunters start reporting every criticism of their prey. Modern social media provides an inexhaustible well of such criticism, ranging from accounts of people who believe they may have witnessed the perpetrator committing other offences to gifs and other jokes from the internet (allowing for headlines such as This video mocking Cummings trip has gone viral). The objective here is to give the impression that more or less everyone is of the same opinion. Differing views get almost no attention, except when someone comes to the defence of the accused in a manner that is easily ridiculed.

Next, the public gets to hear the opinions of experts. Anyone willing to use their particular field of work or study to aid in the persecution are lifted to the level of being an authority on the subject, regardless of whether the person in question is an activist with an axe to grind. One expert after another explains how much harm has been caused by the perpetrator.

This is made particularly effortless by use of the accusation angle, whereby accusations are made that allow for headlines like X has been accused of Y or It has been claimed that. Never mind innocent until proven guilty. The accusation is handled almost as a statement of fact.

Before long, people seeking attention, or seeking to contrast their own perceived virtue with the shortcomings of the delinquent, come running after the bandwagon, trying to climb on to it. Nowadays, this unfortunately usually includes clergymen with no recollection of the ideas of forgiveness or avoiding judgement.

All this provides for a continuous loop of media coverage. One outlet tells the public that the bishop of Whereverburry is critical of the accused. Another outlet picks this up, thus lending the story increased significance before adding that now the bishop of Somewhereinlsington is even more outraged. In essence, character assassinations are a serial, where every step is based on the previous groundwork.

If the prey is able to walk on and prove that the initial accusations were unfounded, the hunters simply change the accusations. The aim is not to get to the truth, but to catch the prey (win the game by forcing a resignation or exclusion). Initially, Cummings was accused of breaking the law. When that didnt seem to be the case he was accused of having broken the rules, and then finally the spirit of the rules.

A classic ploy, much used by totalitarian regimes, is to constantly ask the subject to apologise. Asking for an apology has the appearance of being a reasonable request. Do you feel no regret, are you really not willing to apologise to the people who have been making sacrifices? Refusing to apologise makes the accused seem condescending. But, as soon as the person apologises, it is interpreted as an admission of guilt.

Attempts to procure an apology are usually followed by accusations of a lack of humility. If only he had shown more humility, people might have been able to show more understanding. Balderdash! The accusers are not seeking humility, they are seeking degradation.

Once it has been established that the nation is outraged and wants the accused to take responsibility, an easy next step is to claim that the person in question is harming the national interest. But if the media really thought that Dominic Cummings harmed the national interest by going for a drive, and thus setting a dangerous example, why were they constantly telling people that his behaviour would be seen as an invitation to break the rules? Who was really encouraging rule-breaking here the man who went for a drive weeks ago or those who were constantly telling people it provides them with an alibi to do as they please?

According to Sky News Beth Rigby, Ministers worry that [the impact of Cummings drive to Durham] could mean the R number begins to rise, bringing in turn more cases, more deaths and even a second wave; the economic, social and public health consequences of which are unconscionable. There we have it: Cummings previously unknown drive to Durham might cause untold death and destruction.

Why do the media behave in this way? There are several reasons. These stories create excitement and competition, where contenders see the situation as a chance to prove themselves. Meanwhile, criticising other journalists or offering another perspective risks undermining the work of colleagues, or even being branded an apologist. It is easier to convince yourself that you are on a worthy crusade on behalf of the people.

Whats more, many journalists now feel that their role is more important than just revealing the facts. They feel they must influence what happens, not just report it. Thus gaining a position of influence means you must use that influence to affect the agenda. That makes the competition even more important. It isnt just a sport, it is a fight for social justice. And when the target is already seen as an enemy of those values, it provides a very strong extra incentive.

The media crusaders also tend to become completely blind to how it all looks to people outside the bubble. This is equally true of politics. Those within the political bubble have great difficulty comprehending how what they do looks to outsiders. A good politician will try to step outside the bubble to get a better view, but that can be very difficult.

If the accused is involved in politics, an essential part of the process is to cause anxiety within his or her party, in order to create pressure from party members to sacrifice the targeted individual. Internal friction is a natural feature of most political parties, so this usually yields quick results.

If those with an axe to grind, or hoping for promotion, do not jump at the opportunity, the hunters will try to get the partys rank and file to influence them. Party members are often sensitive to criticism, so the constant reports about opinion polls and the national will are often enough to do the trick in many cases. Once again, todays journalists dont even need to call anyone up. Ploughing through social media will provide all the criticism they need.

In a parliamentary group of 365 people (as in the case of the British Conservatives), you will always find someone willing to criticise the accused in order to signal their own virtue. Then the counting begins, in order to increase the pressure on the party leader: This evening we have learned that three more MPs have joined in criticising their own party leader.

To help with the tallying, stories are told about how MPs have been inundated with angry letters from constituents. This is despite the fact that these constituents may be people who would never vote for said MP, and may well loathe his party but that is not part of the narrative.

After all this, why did Boris Johnson not give up and get rid of the problem by getting rid of Dominic Cummings? The hunters will tell you that he is so reliant on Cummings that he feels helpless without him. A likelier explanation is that the prime minister realised what was going on, and knew that by giving in he would be confirming that he can be broken through such methods, making it all but certain that he would face many more such scenarios, all with the end goal of making him the eventual target.

Still, there will be many more fights like this one, and in most cases the hunters and prey will come from the groups dictated by modern identity politics.

People will also continue to complain that modern politics lacks leadership. This is true, but we should ask why this is the case. I fear it has a lot to do with stories such as the Dominic Cummings affair, and so many others before it. For most modern politicians, their main objective is to get through each day without doing something that might be considered controversial. But a decision that requires leadership will almost by definition be controversial.

All this results in weaker politics, more focused on personal attacks than a rigorous debate about the fundamental issues facing our societies. While politicians and much of the media are preoccupied with defaming the character of their competitors, the unelected establishment runs the country. The end result is a weaker democracy where the voters are increasingly disenfranchised. They no longer have the opportunity to influence how the country is run and are reduced to choosing a symbolic representative, determined only to get through a term without doing anything even mildly controversial, interesting or useful.

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The anatomy of a media manhunt - Spiked

Immunology

IsoPlexis Awarded $2 Million NIH Phase 2 SBIR Grant for Expanding Development of a Cellular Platform for Analyzing the Peripheral Immune Response in…

BRANFORD, Conn., June 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Isoplexis, the leader in functional single cell proteomics, announced today that it has been awarded a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health for $2 million to continue analyzing the highly multiplexed proteomic responses of trafficking leukocytes in patients with Alzheimer's disease, neuroinflammation, and related neurodegenerative diseases.

The funds from this Phase 2 SBIR grant will be used by IsoPlexis to expand the development of a functional proteomic platform to determine effects of the inflammatory immune response on Alzheimer's progression. The IsoPlexis system will allow for the sensitive detection of responses from various immune cells such as peripheral monocytes, highly polyfunctional secretomic T cell types, and microglia, as biomarkers for early stage diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases. This unique approach is non-invasive and should have broad impact and unique value for pre-clinical and clinical use.

"Immune-driven neuroinflammation is a significant contributor to the pathogenesis of diseases such as Alzheimer's. There is an urgent ongoing need for the accelerated development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics. We're excited to be developing solutions to better understand the functional mechanisms behind neuroinflammation," says Sean Mackay, CEO of IsoPlexis.

The IsoLight system is used globally by leading biotech, pharma, and academic medical centers to solve critical challenges in inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, cell therapy, cancer immunology, and more.

IsoPlexis' functional cellular proteomics platform improves upon existing solutions by providing highly multiplexed, functional, secreted protein readouts, at the single-cell level and in very small sample volume bulk analysis, to advance detection of important drivers of immune system activity. IsoPlexis' technology has been used for precision drug discovery, as well as biomarker discovery in oncology, highlighting critical proteomic pathway changes that are often missed with traditional systems.

ABOUT ISOPLEXIS:

IsoPlexis (www.isoplexis.com) is dedicated to accelerating the fight against cancer and a range of the world's toughest diseases with its uniquely correlative, award-winning, cellular proteomics systems. By revealing unique immune biomarkers in small subsets of cells, we are advancing immunotherapies and targeted therapies to a more highly precise and personalized stage. Our integrated systems, named #1 innovation by the Scientist Magazine and Fierce, are used globally to advance the field of immune biology and biomarkers as we generate solutions to overcome the challenges of complex diseases.

ISOPLEXIS MEDIA CONTACT:

Jon ChenSenior Director of Marketinginfo@isoplexis.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/isoplexis-awarded-2-million-nih-phase-2-sbir-grant-for-expanding-development-of-a-cellular-platform-for-analyzing-the-peripheral-immune-response-in-alzheimers-disease-and-neuroinflammation-with-single-cell-proteomics-301072935.html

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Immunology

Pittsburgh researcher says potential vaccines are being undermined by misinformation – wausaupilotandreview.com

By Oliver Morrison | Public Source Media

The state of COVID-19 vaccine research is currently in a Catch-22 dilemma, according to Dr. William Klimstra, an associate professor in the Immunology Department at the University of Pittsburgh, who is currently working on a potential vaccine.

The dilemma is this: The reason the development of a vaccine takes so long is that scientists have to be careful the vaccine does no harm in animals first and then in humans, before it even begins to test whether its effective. But at the same time, many Americans are not convinced that a vaccine would be safe and have said they wouldnt take it even if it was developed.

Were in an environment right now where longstanding accepted truths are being challenged through social media, Klimstra said. Its very difficult to fight that kind of stuff.

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Pittsburgh researcher says potential vaccines are being undermined by misinformation - wausaupilotandreview.com

Human Behavior

Young Children’s Use of Smartphones and Tablets | American Academy of Pediatrics – AAP News

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Child mobile device use is increasingly prevalent, but research is limited by parent-report survey methods that may not capture the complex ways devices are used. We aimed to implement mobile device sampling, a set of novel methods for objectively measuring child mobile device use.

METHODS: We recruited 346 English-speaking parents and guardians of children aged 3 to 5 years to take part in a prospective cohort study of child media use. All interactions with participants were through e-mail, online surveys, and mobile device sampling; we used a passive-sensing application (Chronicle) in Android devices and screenshots of the battery feature in iOS devices. Baseline data were analyzed to describe usage behaviors and compare sampling output with parent-reported duration of use.

RESULTS: The sample comprised 126 Android users (35 tablets, 91 smartphones) and 220 iOS users (143 tablets, 77 smartphones); 35.0% of children had their own device. The most commonly used applications were YouTube, YouTube Kids, Internet browser, quick search or Siri, and streaming video services. Average daily usage among the 121 children with their own device was 115.3 minutes/day (SD 115.1; range 0.20632.5) and was similar between Android and iOS devices. Compared with mobile device sampling output, most parents underestimated (35.7%) or overestimated (34.8%) their childs use.

CONCLUSIONS: Mobile device sampling is an unobtrusive and accurate method for assessing mobile device use. Parent-reported duration of mobile device use in young children has low accuracy, and use of objective measures is needed in future research.

Previous studies of young childrens mobile device use rely on parent recall or time-use diaries, which may be inaccurate or carry high participant burden. No previous studies in children have harnessed application usage data already collected by mobile devices.

Mobile device sampling (passive sensing for Android and screenshots from iOS devices) is an acceptable and feasible objective method for assessing mobile device use. Parent-reported duration of their childs mobile device use had low accuracy compared with objective output.

Childrens use of mobile and interactive media has increased rapidly over the past decade.1 Recent estimates reveal that the majority of parents own smartphones,2 on which they allow their children to play games or watch videos. Up to 75% of young children have their own tablets,3 and infants are estimated to start handling mobile devices during the first year of life,1 but research on modern media has been limited by a lack of precise measurement tools.

Research on traditional screen media, such as television, historically used parent recall of child media use duration to test associations with outcomes such as sleep problems, obesity, and externalizing behavior.4 Similarly, studies of the benefits of educational television programming relied on parent recall and content analysis of linear, noninteractive programs.5,6 As the proportion of time that children spend on mobile platforms increases,1 media researchers are posed with a challenge of measuring on-demand, portable, and intermittent mobile device usage.7,8 Participant recall accuracy of mobile device use may be low because exposure occurs in small bursts8 (less likely to be remembered than longer interactions9), and parents may find it difficult to monitor content when children use handheld devices individually.10

Mobile devices collect usage data that could feasibly be harnessed for the purposes of research studies. Analysis of various data streams (eg, accelerometer, Bluetooth, location) has been used in public health research to predict patterns of human behavior11 but collects more data than is necessary for the purposes of media use measurement. In a few studies, researchers have used commercially available or prototype applications (apps) (ie, created by researchers) to test hypotheses in adults regarding mental health and smartphone use12 or motivations for using different apps,13 but no previous research has been conducted by using similar measures on the devices of children. Harnessing mobile data from childrens devices may provide more accurate data collection with lower participant and researcher burden.

Our objective for the current study was to implement novel mobile device sampling methods in a community-based sample of preschool-aged children to describe their mobile device usage and compare parent report of child use with mobile device sampling output. We describe the development of this method, important considerations during implementation, and types of variables that can be generated for research. On the basis of pilot research revealing that most of parents recall of their own mobile device use is inaccurate,14 we hypothesized that most parents would be inaccurate in reporting their childs mobile device use.

The Preschooler Tablet Study is a longitudinal cohort study (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grant R21HD094051) in which associations between early childhood digital media use, emotion regulation, and executive functioning are examined. Data were collected through online surveys and e-mail communication with participants, mobile device sampling, and an online time-use diary completed by parents at baseline and at the 3- and 6-month follow-up. Data from the baseline data collection wave (August 2018 to May 2019) are included in the present article. The study was approved by the University of Michigan Institutional Review Board.

Parents of young children were recruited via flyers posted in community centers, preschools, child care centers, and pediatric clinics in southeast Michigan as well as our universitys online participant registry and social media advertisements. Interested parents who contacted the study team were e-mailed a link to an eligibility questionnaire. Eligibility criteria included the following: (1) the parent was the legal guardian of a 3- to 4.99-year-old child, (2) the parent lived with the child at least 5 days/week, (3) the parent understood English sufficiently to complete questionnaires and provide consent, and (4) the family owned at least one Android or iOS tablet or smartphone. Children did not need to regularly use mobile devices to be included in the study. Exclusion criteria included presence of child developmental delays, use of psychotropic medication, and the childs mobile device being a Kindle or Amazon Fire (n = 43 interested but excluded), which do not use the standard Android operating system.

Because all interactions with the research team were electronic, we anticipated a high rate of attrition. Of 487 parents who consented to take part in the study, 64 (13%) submitted no study data after providing informed consent and receiving electronic reminders.

After providing online consent for themselves and their child, parents were e-mailed study instructions and a link to online Research Electronic Data Capture15,16 surveys, in which parents reported their childs age, sex, race and/or ethnicity, preschool or child care enrollment, and prematurity; their own age, sex, educational attainment, marital status, and employment status; and household income and size (from which we calculated the income-to-needs ratio).

Parents then completed an abbreviated version (36 items) of the Media Assessment Qualtrics Survey, which is used to assess child, parent, and household media use practices. In this survey, parents were asked, Thinking about a typical [weekday or weekend], how much time does your child spend using 1) an iPad, tablet, LeapPad, iTouch, or similar mobile device (not including a smartphone) and 2) a smartphone for things like texting, playing games, watching videos, or surfing the Internet (dont count time spent talking on the phone)? Responses were never, <30 minutes, 30 minutes to 1 hour, 1 to 2 hours, 2 to 3 hours, 3 to 4 hours, 4 to 5 hours, and >5 hours. Because mobile sampling included both weekdays and weekends, we created a weighted categorical variable that reflected parent estimates of their childs usual smartphone or tablet use throughout the week.

During eligibility screening, parents indicated what type(s) of mobile device(s), if any, the child regularly had access to or used. If the child used >1 device, we sampled the device used more frequently and asked the parent to avoid letting the child play on other devices that week. We provided video and visual instructions specific for tracking the device on a study Web site (see Mobile Device Sampling Methods: Installation and Data Collection in the Supplemental Information).

Android users were instructed to download a study app, Chronicle, from the Google Play store (Supplemental Figs 1 and 2). The Chronicle app was developed by OpenLattice, Inc, in collaboration with the Comprehensive Assessment of Family Media Exposure Consortium. It queries the Google UsageStatsManager application programming interface (API), which provides data about app usage on all Android devices running version 5.0 or later and transmits data automatically to the OpenLattice platform. Chronicle was pilot tested on a range of Android devices in June 2018 to July 2018, which allowed app debugging to ensure accuracy by comparing handwritten usage logs with raw output.

In the informed consent document, parents were informed that Chronicle only collects app name, timestamp, and a masked device identification but does not collect personal information (eg, contacts, content of messages, Web sites viewed) and that data are stored in a secure server and not shared with third-party companies. After installing Chronicle, parents were e-mailed a unique link routing their app data to the research team on the OpenLattice platform. The app user interface is simple, only providing a timestamp of the last data upload (see Android Mobile Devices in the Supplemental Information), and runs in the background with no need for user interaction. Data are continually collected locally on the device and uploaded every 15 minutes when connected to WiFi. After 9 days, participants were instructed to uninstall Chronicle after confirming that data had been uploaded that day (ie, in case the devices had been recently disconnected from WiFi). The study team then exported the Chronicle data file through the Chronicle Web application in comma-separated values (CSV) format and conducted data cleaning and processing steps as described in the Chronicle Data Cleaning Methods section of the Supplemental Information.

For children who used an iPhone or iPad, we asked parents to take a screenshot of the devices battery page (under Settings) 7 days after completing the surveys. Instructions for taking screenshots, including the specific buttons that need to be tapped to visualize app usage over the past 7 to 10 days, were provided via the study Web site (see Apple Mobile Devices in the Supplemental Information; see also Supplemental Fig 3).

When parents sent screenshots that did not follow study instructions, the study team responded by e-mail the same day, offering clarification on screenshot methods and requesting that new ones be sent. However, if screenshots were still incorrectly taken at this point, they were flagged for potential errors and manually inspected before inclusion in final data sets. Research assistants manually entered all screenshot data (app name, number of minutes) into spreadsheets.

At the end of the sampling period, parents were asked whether the device had been shared with any other family members that week. If the parents responded yes (70.6% of Android users; 61.8% of iOS users), they completed a data form listing the names of the apps their child used that week. We created a subset of data files to include only the apps that children used during the sampling period.

We developed a coding scheme to categorize apps on the basis of app store labels (eg, educational, age category), video chat, YouTube, streaming video, and other common categories such as eBooks or music (see Supplemental Table 4 for coding scheme; interrater reliability = 0.720.94).

First, for all children with complete mobile device data (n = 346), we analyzed differences in sociodemographic characteristics by operating system and shared or unshared status. We calculated frequencies of the most commonly played apps and the number of different apps played by each child during the sampling week.

For children with their own, unshared mobile Android or iOS device (n = 121), we created summary variables representing each childs average daily duration of device use, average daily duration of app categories, and average daily duration of specific apps played during the sampling period. We chose not to calculate daily duration from shared mobile devices because of the risk of overestimating duration of apps such as YouTube, Safari, or Netflix, which are commonly used by both children and parents.

For children with unshared Android devices (n = 37), whose output provides date and timestamps, we additionally calculated average usage by day of the week, proportion of days the child used the device, and average number of daily pickups. For illustrative purposes, we plotted the average hourly app category usage of 6 child participants (4 with heavy use, 2 with lighter use) to demonstrate diurnal visualizations of mobile device usage.

Finally, we calculated accuracy of parent-reported mobile device use by determining if each childs average daily usage (based on mobile sampling output) fell within the weighted parent-reported time category. If parent report was inaccurate, we calculated the difference between actual daily usage and the upper or lower bounds of the parent-reported category.

All processing of raw timestamped data into user logs was performed in Python,17 all mobile device sampling analyses were conducted by using data.table in R 3.5.2,18,19 and analyses of demographics and comparison of parent report with sampling output were conducted by using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC).20

Of the 423 parents who provided any data, 58 (13%) were excluded because of incomplete mobile device data. Reasons for missing mobile device data included the following: could not (n = 7) or decided not to (n = 2) install Chronicle, <2 days of data appeared on server (usually because of server maintenance; n = 13), failed to send iOS screenshots (n = 20), screenshots were incorrect (n = 4) or blank (n = 4), and the app list for shared devices was not submitted (n = 8). Participants with missing mobile device data had no significant sociodemographic differences compared with included participants. In addition, 19 children were reported to have never used mobile devices at baseline, so mobile device sampling was not performed; these children were more likely to have parents with higher educational attainment (2 test; P = .02).

Characteristics of the full sample (N = 346) and the unshared device subsample (n = 121) are shown in Table 1. Participants comprised 126 Android users (35 tablets, 91 smartphones) and 220 iOS users (143 tablets, 77 smartphones). Children with iOS devices were more likely to have higher-income families (2-sample Wilcoxon rank test; P < .0001), married parents (2 test; P = .03), and parents with higher educational attainment (2 test; P < .0001).

Participant Demographic Characteristics and Mobile Device Usage

In the full sample, children used between 1 and 85 different apps over the course of the sampling week; the 20 most commonly played apps are listed in Table 2.

Most Commonly Played Apps Among 346 Preschool-Aged Children Who Underwent Mobile Device Sampling for 1 Week

Average daily usage among the 121 children with their own tablet (n = 100) or smartphone (n = 21) was 115.3 minutes (SD 115.1; range 0.20632.5) and was similar between Android (117.7; SD 143.2) and iOS (114.2; SD 101.3) users. More than half (59.5%) of children used their device for an average of 1 hour/day, including 18 (14.9%) who averaged 4 hours/day (Table 1).

Average daily use of the most commonly played apps by children with unshared devices is shown in Table 3; YouTube, YouTube Kids, and streaming video services revealed the highest daily duration, whereas the browser and Quick Search Box or Siri were accessed by a large number of children but used for briefer periods of time.

Average Daily Duration of Most Commonly Played Apps Among 121 Preschool-Aged Children With Their Own Mobile Devices

Among Android users, average pickup frequency was 3.82 per day (SD 5.48), children used devices on most (69.0%) days of sampling (SD 27.1%; range 25%100%), and duration was longest on Fridays and Saturdays (Supplemental Fig 4). Example data visualizations of average usage of different app categories (eg, educational apps, streaming video) and diurnal patterns for specific participants are available in Supplemental Figs 5 and 6, respectively.

Of 115 participants with unshared devices and complete parent-report data, 41 (35.7%) parents underestimated, 34 (29.6%) were accurate, and 40 (34.8%) overestimated their childs device use. Accuracy did not vary by operating system (Android 25.7% versus iOS 31.3%; P = .49). For inaccurate reporters, actual usage was on average 69.7 minutes (SD 67.5) above or below the parent-reported category bounds (median 50.7; range 0.86332.5 minutes). Parents were more likely to overreport when their childs average usage was <1 hour/day and underreport if their childs average usage was 1 hour/day (2 test; P = .001).

This is the first study to use an objective form of mobile devicebased data collection (a method we term mobile device sampling) to examine young childrens tablet and smartphone usage. We found high variability in daily mobile device usage in children with their own smartphones or tablets, with 15% of children averaging 4 hours per day. The most commonly used apps were YouTube and YouTube Kids, followed by browsers, the camera and photograph gallery, and video streaming services such as Netflix.

Compared with our previous pilot research in which we used passive sensing in parents,14 we had significantly lower rates of missing data when using the Chronicle app for Android and screenshot-based data collection for iOS. However, we had an 10% missing data rate for Chronicle, which we are addressing by (1) screening participants to ensure Chronicle compatibility before enrollment, (2) developing new features on the OpenLattice platform to increase stability and reliability of data uploads, and (3) providing in-person installation or phone troubleshooting.

Strengths of this approach include highly reliable data because the Google usage statistics API is maintained by Google and used by thousands of vendors. Participating parents found the mobile sampling methods highly acceptable and were informed of how their childs data would be collected, handled, and destroyed.

A main limitation of our current app is that it cannot identify the user of shared devices, which is important in early childhood when many children do not have their own devices. However, our subset approach allowed us to generate a list of apps used by children who share mobile devices with family members that can be coded for educational value,21 presence of advertising,22 or age-appropriate content. For example, we documented that preschool-aged children use YouTube (36.7% of our sample), general audience apps such as Cookie Jam and Candy Crush (30.6% of our sample), gambling apps such as Cashman, and violent apps such as Terrorist Shooter, Flip the Gun, and Granny, which are intended for use by teenagers and adults. These findings also have implications for child privacy because general audience apps and platforms may not place restrictions on the data they collect or distribute to third-party advertising companies.23

We found low accuracy of parent-reported mobile device duration compared with mobile sampling output, which is consistent with our previous research in parents.24 Inaccurate parents showed an average error of >60 minutes compared with their childs actual daily device use. We therefore suggest that mobile device sampling may be an important future data collection tool for pediatric, adolescent, or adult research. For example, by using Chronicle, it is possible to define variables such as the number of checks of specific apps (eg, social media) per hour, usage during time periods when family meals or routines might occur, or overnight usage. At present, timestamped data are not available for iOS, and data transfer from screenshots is labor intensive; development of similar iOS tracking tools will therefore be necessary to fully assess childrens media landscapes. Mobile sampling will need to be used in combination with methods that capture media use on other platforms (eg, television, video game consoles) and other sensors that detect whether the user is awake (eg, Fitbit) or interacting with others (eg, LENA).

Limitations of our overall study design are worthy of mention. Use of online recruitment allowed for rapid enrollment of multiple families simultaneously because we did not have to schedule study visits, but it also led to higher rates of attrition immediately after enrollment. Our sample was more highly educated and had lower racial and/or ethnic diversity than the general population; future research in nonEnglish-speaking populations is needed once our app interface is updated for other languages. Parents were aware of their childs mobile device usage being tracked, which may have changed their usage behavior. Children may have used other mobile devices during the sampling period, so our results represent a minimum estimate of their true usage. Our app categorization approach was also limited by the fact that apps commonly disappear from app stores and may no longer appear when searched for several months later.

We describe development of a novel mobile device sampling method in which implementation allowed for description of the smartphone and tablet use behaviors of preschool-aged children. Given the limitations of parent report, such objective measurement tools must be developed and refined so that health research (and evidence-based guidelines) can reflect the complex ways modern media are used.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Dr Radesky is a consultant for and is on the Board of Directors of Melissa & Doug Toys and receives research support from Common Sense Media; the other authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

FUNDING: Funded by the Institute for Digital Media and Child Development for development of the passive-sensing technology and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (grant 1R21HD094051) for the Preschooler Tablet Study. Research Electronic Data Capture and recruitment support was provided through the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (Clinical and Translational Science Award UL1TR002240). Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose

COMPANION PAPER: A companion to this article can be found online at http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2020-1242.

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Young Children's Use of Smartphones and Tablets | American Academy of Pediatrics - AAP News

Human Behavior

Author’s new book Biology of Religion receives a warm literary welcome – MENAFN.COM

(MENAFN - GetNews)

Readers' Favorite announces the review of the Non-Fiction - Religion/Philosophy book "Biology of Religion" by Fil Munas, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/057818303X .

Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the "Best Websites for Authors" and "Honoring Excellence" awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

Reviewed By Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Biology of Religion by Fil Munas explores religion as it pertains to human behavior with the goal of the book being to answer the basic question about what religious behavior is. The book includes thorough facts and well-researched history to present paleontological evidence dating back to the earliest records of religious behavior. Munas explores different interconnections with religion through morality, marriage, and patriarchy. The book goes through various religions which offer different worldviews and perspectives with each playing a key role in understanding religious behavior and its function. The five existential domains of behaviors, an understanding of how death and sapience and the three primary epiphenomena are also delved into throughout the book.

This is a unique book through its approach to religion via the lens of behavior with evidence provided dating to early history and explored through various cultures. Fil Munas dives into religion through an explanation of the basic understanding of behavior through a psychological, historical, and scientific perspective. Biology of Religion opens with a look at behavior itself that explains the domains of behavior - including feeding, reproduction, economics, and politics. The rest of the book focuses on providing an understanding of religion as a natural part of our behavior and how it has shaped society throughout history. Part of understanding behavior is to understand the biology of it which includes natural selection, paleolithic humans, and sapience. The writing is thorough, well-researched, easy to understand, and thought-provoking. Munas will open your mind to new ideas about religion while making you think differently about behavior and sparking discussions. Patriarchy, war, and altruism are explored as three primary epiphenomena linked to behavior and religion.

The functions of religion explored, as are morality, family, law, and government. Each of these concepts is an important aspect of understanding religious behavior with each giving a thorough account of various religions around the world and throughout history. This includes Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Shintoism, and Zoroastrianism, among others. Those interested in learning more about religion and behavior will enjoy this thought-provoking read. Biology of Religion explores concepts that include death and natural selection, epiphenomena, and the functions of religion.

You can learn more about Fil Munas and "Biology of Religion" at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/biology-of-religion where you can read reviews and the author's biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Media Contact Company Name: Readers' Favorite LLC Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email Phone: 800-RF-REVIEW City: Louisville State: KY 40202 Country: United States Website: https://readersfavorite.com

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Author's new book Biology of Religion receives a warm literary welcome - MENAFN.COM

Anatomy

Ilmar Raag: Anatomy of the coronavirus adaptation – ERR News

Studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic have provided an interesting picture of the dynamics of public attitudes.

This all fits perfectly with Abraham Lincoln's famous maxim from over 150 years ago: "Youcanfool allthepeoplesome of thetime, and some of thepeople allthetime, butyoucannotfool allthepeople allthetime."

Let's leave aside the word "fool" here, and just talk about the impact of communication.

In the most general terms, the claim that people's immediate environment has a greater impact on their behavior than any form of communication, including propaganda, has been reaffirmed.

Principle of instant gratification

It is the principle of "instant gratification" that needed to be drawn from psychology when describing the changes in people during the COVID-19 emergency situation.

Following this, people primarily strive for decisions which provide them with an immediate, satisfying solution.This principle does not in general reveal people's wisdom and analytical ability, but it is a reality which must be taken into account nonetheless.

For example, when I'm in a bad mood, I buy some chocolate with this little treat, life quickly seems more beautiful.In the world of advertising, we can see the exploitation of this human feature in the commercials for fast loans, which always promise you money as soon as you require it.

Similarly, miracle cures are advertised, which claim you can lose ten or twenty pounds of weight in a miraculously short time.At the same time, people's behavior is not only driven by immediate pleasure and enjoyment, but also by, for instance, immediate fear.

In the first phase of the emergency, we saw how society embraced a fear through the information about COVID19.Don't get me wrong, I don't think anyone actually consciously wanted to fool people over the dangers the coronavirus presented.Rather than that, this was a scientific modeling of the spread of the virus under certain conditions.

The nation's crisis communications, plus most of the media, took this warning very seriously.The outcome was an atmosphere of anxiety which was extremely widespread through society.

In the second week of the emergency, 91 percent of the Estonian populace considered the situation serious.Fifty-eight percent of people wanted the restrictions put in place to be tightened.At the same time, only 4 percent of respondents were in favor of easing them.

At that point, we actually had experienced only a few deaths related to COVID-19.

What followed reflects the paradox of this type of pandemic.As the restrictions as imposed certainly had had their effect, as a result, the public could not directly perceive the significance of the threat.

Considering the number of people infected in Estonia, less than one percent of the population were people who had had direct contact with a sick, or even dead, relative.

This means that the willingness to comply with the restrictions was based primarily on communication and social agreement.This is the communication effect, par excellence.

Unfortunately, this effect is typically short-term that may have significant drawback later. For example in politics, election campaigns are mostly designed for the short term effects in order to make people to vote for the right candidate.

In the case of Estonia, the pandemic risk assessment warned us, for example, that our healthcare resources could collapse, and hospitals would become overloaded. And we expected that.

However, the developments seen in Italy, or New York, did not reach us.Only on Saaremaa did the feeling of a more serious crisis arise.One can only imagine what the dynamics of public opinion would have been had the epicenter of the virus had been located in Tallinn, instead of Saaremaa.But did not set in.

Instead, the economic situation provided the signals of the immediate effects. A fall in income actually affected a far larger proportion of people than the virus.Likewise, the inconvenience of the restrictions affected almost everyone.

As a result, an information conflict emerged, where emergency policy and crisis communication were primarily aimed at the threat of the virus, but the immediate reality facing the people gave off other signals.

Studies have shown that even when people did consent to the emergency measures during the first weeks of emergency, then quietly, almost subconsciously, different details of real life began to come to the fore.

By the fifth week of the emergency, the proportion of anxious citizens who wanted to tighten restrictions further had fallen to a fifth of the earlier figure.

They now made up less than ten percent of the population.At the same time, supporters for relief from restrictions rose to make up a quarter of the population (from 4 percent to 24 percent.) And this all happened without any communication campaign.

Confirmation of self-deception

At the same time, another phenomenon known in psychology - confirmationbias - deepened within the public information space.

Confirmation bias is a process whereby we begin to interpret signals from the outside world in accordance with our hopes and expectations.

I myself saw several references on social media to serious research articles, which was interpreted in opposing directions by different communities holding different attitudes in Estonia.

Let us just remember the "dance of the masks" and their usefulness, which could only have arisen as the anxiety background of the first weeks of the emergency had receded.

A large number of video stories were also shared on social media, in which "dignified" people reveal a look behind the curtain of the pandemic organizers.

Most of these stories could be refuted by any student who has studied the scientific methods of research for at least one semester, but all of this no longer had any meaning.

The cognitive dissonance created by the self-flowing path between official threat stories and people's immediate experience began to determine the change in attitudes.

Conclusions

It came as no surprise that when the emergency ended, it was immediately met with public approval.What conclusions can we draw from this?

1. Regardless of what the health experts think about potential developments, public opinion research demonstrates that the attitudes of more than half of Estonians have entered the next phase, where the impact of the virus is not assessed as being very high on a personal scale.Perhaps this backdrop of fear has fallen in vain, but it is still a reality emerging from research.

2. During the emergency, it was proven that crisis communication can achieve an information effect which lasts for a maximum of one month.However, for longer-term effects, at least some sections of the populace should receive direct feedback on the significance of the threat.In some ways, this is good news, because it suggests that no propaganda which does not rely on the real human environment can have any lasting effect.

3. If people in a democracy are guided by other people's attitudes, then in the next wave of the virus, society will probably no longer accept the same restrictions via any kind of communication.This puts much more difficult decisions on the shoulders of governments of the future. Instead, the likely solution is to take a higher level of risk, leading to a final phase in which COVID-19 no longer scares people any more than smoking-induced lung cancer does.

The original Vikerraadio broadcast where Ilmar Raag made his comments (in Estonian) is here.

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Ilmar Raag: Anatomy of the coronavirus adaptation - ERR News