Designing for Engaging with News using Moral Framing towards Bridging Ideological Divides

Society is showing signs of strong ideological polarization. When pushed to seek perspectives different from their own, people often reject diverse ideas or find them unfathomable. Work has shown that framing controversial issues using the values of the audience can improve understanding of opposing views. In this paper, we present our work designing systems for addressing ideological division through educating U.S. news consumers to engage using a framework of fundamental human values known as Moral Foundations. We design and implement a series of new features that encourage users to challenge their understanding of opposing views, including annotation of moral frames in news articles, discussion of those frames via inline comments, and recommendations based on relevant moral frames. We describe two versions of features---the first covering a suite of ways to interact with moral framing in news, and the second tailored towards collaborative annotation and discussion. We conduct a field evaluation of each design iteration with 71 participants in total over a period of 6-8 days, finding evidence suggesting users learned to re-frame their discourse in moral values of the opposing side. Our work provides several design considerations for building systems to engage with moral framing.

Field evaluation of WALS truck-mounted A1 super duty mist sprayer® with VectoBac® WDG against Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae) populations in Manatee County, Florida

Aedes aegypti, the Dengue and Zika vector, is a domestic mosquito that is difficult to control. The challenge lies in the mosquito’s preference to lay its eggs in cryptic habitats such as fence post openings, buckets and bird baths, cups. Additionally, current methods of control are labor-intensive. We employed the WALS strategy to evaluate the operational efficacy of applying VectoBac WDG using a truck-mounted mister to control local populations of Ae. aegypti in urban settings with difficult-to-reach larval mosquito habitats. Our study was conducted in Cortez (Manatee County), Florida, USA (27° 27’ N, 82° 40’ W). We selected two study sites, one untreated control (21.9 ha) and one treatment site (23.1 ha) where historical data have shown high populations of Ae. aegypti based on weekly ovitrap surveillance. Weekly BGs and ovitraps (10–15 traps/site) were deployed to monitor adult population dynamics. A total of 50 bioassay jars were placed in the field each afternoon of the Bti application (8 application events) at fixed locations to collect droplets and gauge efficacy. We found significant reduction in female adults (P = 0.0002) and landing rate counts (P = 0.0058) as a result of treatment. Larval bioassays during the eight applications confirmed Bti deposit in a variety of coverage types regardless of placement in the yards. WALS applications with a truck-mounted mister can be effective at reducing disease carrying mosquito populations in residential areas and can be implemented in an integrated vector management program.

Risk Factors for Visual Field Progression in New-diagnosed Exfoliation Glaucoma Patients in Sweden.

Purpose: The present study aimed to identify risk factors for visual field progression in new-diagnosed exfoliation glaucoma patients. Methods: Prospective non-randomized cohort study. The study included patients with new-diagnosed exfoliation glaucoma. All patients were followed for at least three years with reliable visual fields. Both risk factors at inclusion and during the three years follow-up were considered. For inclusion, five reliable visual fields were needed. Exfoliation glaucoma was defined based on the European Glaucoma Society guidelines. Visual field evaluation was performed using the 24-2 strategy of the Humphrey Field Analysis. Outcomes: Visual field progression. Three different approaches were used: mean deviation (MD), visual field index (VFI), and guided progression analysis (GPA). Results: The results were different in the three different models used (MD, VFI and GPA). The only variable that showed a significant association in the three models was age (p= 0.004; p=0.006; p=0.04). Significant variables in two models were: IOP at diagnose (p=0.02; p=0.04), IOP reduction in absolute terms (p=0.006; p=0.003), IOP reduction in relative terms (%) (p=0.04; p=0.009) and number of medicines (p=0.02; p=0.002). Significant variables in one model were: family history (p=0.04), smoking (p=0.03), cataract surgery (p=0.04) and SLT treatment (p=<0.001). Conclusion: Exfoliation glaucoma is fast progressive glaucoma. Age at diagnosing must be considered. Significant IOP reduction must be achieved to slow down progress in exfoliation glaucoma. The use of SLT treatment should be advised in exfoliation glaucoma patients.

Field Evaluation of High Modulus Asphalt Concrete Resistance to Low-Temperature Cracking

High-modulus asphalt concrete has numerous advantages in comparison to conventional asphalt concrete, including increased resistance to permanent deformations and increased pavement fatigue life. However, previous studies have shown that the construction of road pavements with High Modulus Asphalt Concrete (HMAC) may significantly increase the risk of low-temperature cracking. Those observations were the motivation for the research presented in this paper. Four test sections with HMAC used in base and binder courses were evaluated in the study. Field investigations of the number of low-temperature cracks were performed over several years. It was established that the number of new low-temperature cracks is susceptible to many random factors, and the statistical term “reversion to the mean” should be considered. A new factor named Increase in Cracking Index was developed to analyze the resistance of pavement to low-temperature cracking. For all the considered field sections, samples were cut from each asphalt layer, and Thermal Stress Restrained Specimen Tests were performed in the laboratory. Correlations of temperature at failure and cryogenic stresses with the cracking intensity observed in the field were analyzed. The paper provides practical suggestions for pavement designers. When the use of high modulus asphalt concrete is planned for binder course and asphalt base, which may result in lower resistance to low-temperature cracking of pavement than in the case of conventional asphalt concrete, it is advisable to apply a wearing course with improved resistance to low-temperature cracking. Such an approach may compensate for the adverse effects of usage of high modulus asphalt concrete.

PENGEMBANGAN MEDIA KOMIK DIGITAL BERBASIS KONTEKSTUAL MATERI NILAI_NILAI PANCASILA KELAS III SD

The values ​​of Pancasila are very important lesson to be instilled as early as possible to students so that they become intelligent and noble generations, but the use of learning media in this material is minimal Therefore, this study aims to produce a contextual based digital comic media that is feasible and valid to be used on Pancasila values material in grade III Elementary School and can make it easier for students to understand Pancasila values so that student can be apply them in everyday life. The method used in this research is Research and Development (R&D) and uses the ADDIE model. The results of product development after validation bye expert and get the percentage of eligibility 91% form material experts and 96% from media experts. Then validated by 2 teachers and get a percentage of 96.4% eligibility. The digital comic learning media was tested for class III SDN 11 OKU. In the One to one evaluation stage, the percentage of feasibility is 92.4%, in the small group evaluation stage, the percentage of feasibility is 93.2%. Then at the Field evaluation stage, the percentage of feasibility is 86.04%, meaning that contextual-based digital comic learning media material for grade III elementary school Pancasila values ​​is very feasible for used and can make it easier for students to understand the material.