Aid Of Information Research Articles

Case study of the structure of an Ica-Fono with industrial radiography

The ancient gramophones have a special worthiness in culture and industry and protection of these gramophones is essential. To analyze the internal structure of a gramophone, we need some methods that give us good information without destruction and damage to our valuable objects. One of these non-destructive methods is radiography testing (RT). In this method, which is based on the penetration of X or Gamma photons into materials, the internal information of the device can be obtained with radiography images. In this research, an ancient gramophone has been examined by radiography method and its internal structure and components have been examined. The Iterative Gaussian Convolution Filter (IGCF) image processing method has been used to remove the opacity and increase the contrast. The results indicate that components of the gramophone, such as the turntable motor and starter handle, along with their connections, are visible in the radiographic images. In the images reconstructed by IGCF, sharper edges and improved clarity of execution and internal connections are observed. This information aids repair and maintenance professionals in safeguarding the device from further damage.

Visible-Light-Activated TiO2-Based Photocatalysts for the Inactivation of Pathogenic Bacteria

Pathogenic bacteria in the environment pose a significant threat to public health. Titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based photocatalysts have emerged as a promising solution due to their potent antimicrobial effects under visible light and their generally eco-friendly properties. This review focuses on the antibacterial properties of visible-light-activated, TiO2-based photocatalysts against pathogenic bacteria and explores the factors influencing their efficacy. Various TiO2 modification strategies are discussed, including doping with non-metals, creating structure defects, combining narrow-banded semiconductors, etc., to extend the light absorption spectrum from the UV to the visible light region. The factors affecting bacterial inactivation, and the underlying mechanisms are elucidated. Although certain modified TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) show antibacterial activities in the dark, they exhibit much higher antibacterial efficacies under visible light, especially with higher light intensity. Doping TiO2 with elements such as N, S, Ce, Bi, etc., or introducing surface defects in TiO2 NPs without doping, can effectively inactivate various pathogenic bacteria, including multidrug-resistant bacteria, under visible light. These surface modifications are advantageous in their simplicity and cost-effectiveness in synthesis. Additionally, TiO2 can be coupled with narrow-banded semiconductors, resulting in narrower band gaps and enhanced photocatalytic efficiency and antibacterial activities under visible light. This information aids in understanding the current technologies for developing visible-light-driven, TiO2-based photocatalysts and their application in inactivating pathogenic bacteria in the environment.

The Integration of Internet of Things and Machine Learning for Energy Prediction of Wind Turbines

Wind power has emerged as a crucial substitute for conventional fossil fuels. The combination of advanced technologies such as the internet of things (IoT) and machine learning (ML) has given rise to a new generation of energy systems that are intelligent, reliable, and efficient. The wind energy sector utilizes IoT devices to gather vital data, subsequently converting them into practical insights. The aforementioned information aids among others in the enhancement of wind turbine efficiency, precise anticipation of energy production, optimization of maintenance approaches, and detection of potential risks. In this context, the main goal of this work is to combine the IoT with ML in the wind energy sector by processing weather data acquired from sensors to predict wind power generation. To this end, three different regression models are evaluated. The models under comparison include Linear Regression, Random Forest, and Lasso Regression, which were evaluated using metrics such as coefficient of determination (R²), adjusted R², mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). Moreover, the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) were taken into consideration as well. After examining a dataset from IoT devices that included weather data, the models provided substantial insights regarding their capabilities and responses to preprocessing, as well as each model’s reaction in terms of statistical performance deviation indicators. Ultimately, the data analysis and the results from metrics and criteria show that Random Forest regression is more suitable for weather condition datasets than the other two regression models. Both the advantages and shortcomings of the three regression models indicate that their integration with IoT devices will facilitate successful energy prediction.

Identifying the facilitators and barriers to implementation of renal tumour biopsy in the diagnostic pathway for small renal masses.

To understand the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of renal tumour biopsy (RTB) in the diagnostic pathway for renal tumours in England. Participants consisted of patients who had a renal tumour diagnosed and/or treated at one of five tertiary centres in England, healthcare professionals involved in the direct care of patients diagnosed with renal tumours, and clinical service managers and commissioners. The study employed a mixed-methods research methodology consisting of individual interviews and an on-line survey that explored the types of facilitators and barriers individuals perceived and experienced and the frequency in which these were reported. A public dissemination event took place following the completion of data collection; to facilitate discussion of potential solutions to implementing RTB. There were 50 participant interviews (23 patients, 22 clinicians, and five health service commissioners/operations managers). The patient on-line survey received 52 responses, and the clinician survey received 22 responses. Patients most frequently reported influences in choosing whether to undergo RTB pertained to wanting to know the diagnosis of their kidney mass (40%), the advice or information provided by healthcare professionals (40%), and not wishing to delay treatment (23%). Clinicians most frequently reported barriers to recommending RTB related to their uncertainty of diagnostic accuracy (56%), availability of appointments or hospital beds (52%), concerns of risk of bleeding (44%), risk of seeding (41%), and delays in meeting national cancer pathway targets (41%). The dissemination event was attended by 18 participants (seven patients and 11 clinicians). Suggestions to improve implementation included reducing variation and promotion of standardisation of practice by a consensus statement, increasing the evidence base (clinicians) and improved communication by developing better patient aids such as videos and diagrams (patients and clinicians). Implementation of RTB may be dependent on the quality of information provided, its format and perceived reliability of the information. Increased utilisation of RTB may be improved by development of a consensus statement on the role of biopsy, with patients expressing a preference for alternative information aids such as patient videos.

Framing HIV and AIDS in competitive authoritarian democracies. Case study of the print press in Mozambique, 1986–2020

Mozambique has the sixth highest prevalence of HIV in the world and ranks fourth in new infections. The government-owned print press Notícias has played an important role in the social construction of HIV and AIDS in the country as it was entrusted with the role of disseminating HIV and AIDS information to the public since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country in 1986. Using Notícias’ articles and frame analysis perspective, the article analyses the way Notícias has framed HIV and AIDS in the country since the late 1980s. The choice of media results from the fact that the way a phenomenon is constructed influences the way it is understood, as well as the way people may behave before it. The study found that Notícias’ frames on HIV and AIDS have suffered from a threefold tension: the need to maintain the Frelimo government’s former centralised and grassroots-orientated socialist ideology of health services in the context of the liberal market; the need to balance the influence of the global multilateral and bilateral actors and the Frelimo government’s political interest of translating HIV and AIDS response to the Mozambican context; and the need to portray a nationalist and positive image of the government’s performance in HIV and AIDS response before Mozambique’s non-fully plausible societal practices for an effective HIV and AIDS response. In a top-down approach, Notícias’ frames reflect not only the African post-independence ancillary and nationalist role of government-owned print press but also the power of global actors. Less is done from the societal bottom-up perspective.

Debiased hybrid contrastive learning with hard negative mining for unsupervised person re-identification

The goal of unsupervised person re-identification is to retrieve a specific person across several non-overlapping cameras without the aid of manual labeling information. In recent times, contrastive learning has found extensive application in undertaking the complexities of unsupervised person Re-ID. Nevertheless, prevailing approaches often ignore the bias in negative proxy sampling and the significance of hard negatives in contrastive learning. These limitations have constrained the performance of existing methods. To solve these issues, we introduce a Debiased Hybrid Contrastive Learning with Hard Negative Mining (DHCL-HNM) approach. Particularly, the proposed approach employs an instance-level memory bank to save the class prototypes for all training images. In each training epoch, the memory bank undergoes clustering, dividing the dataset into un-clustered outliers and clustered images with pseudo labels. Then, the debiasing of negative proxies and the hard negative mining are integrated into a hybrid contrastive learning process to enhance the intra-class similarity and the instance discrimination. The debiasing operation is realized during the sampling of negative proxies to reduce the negative effects of false negatives. In the meantime, the hard negative mining can guide the Re-ID model to concentrate on the hard negatives by reweighting negative proxies based on their similarities to the anchor sample. The efficiency of the proposed method in the realm of unsupervised person Re-ID is demonstrated through comprehensive experiment outcomes conducted on several datasets.

Abdominal Applications of Photon-Counting CT.

Photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) has shown promising advancements in abdominal imaging in clinical use. Though more peer-reviewed primary literature is needed, this commentary explores PCCT's potential applications, focusing on enhancing diagnostic accuracy, optimizing radiation dose management, and improving patient care. PCCT offers improved spatial and contrast resolution, lower image noise, and reduced radiation dose. Increased spatial resolution provides better detail in abdominal imaging, aiding in the detection of small lesions and subtle pathological changes. However, this generates more images per scan, raising concerns about "image overload" in PACS, potentially leading to longer reading times and increased stress for radiologists. PCCT's improved contrast resolution enhances tissue differentiation, reducing the need for intravenous contrast agents. The technology's advanced tissue characterization provides several advantages, such as non-invasive and opportunistic liver disease evaluation and improved differentiation of renal and adrenal masses. PCCT's optimized radiation dose management is crucial for patients requiring frequent scans. Enhanced diagnostic accuracy through spectral information aids in tissue differentiation, improving confidence in diagnoses. Streamlined workflows, particularly in emergency settings, and oncologic imaging, are potential benefits, reducing the need for additional imaging studies. Future integration of PCCT into clinical practice requires collaboration, education, and research to fully harness its potential, ensuring optimized abdominal imaging and improved patient care.

Explainable artificial intelligence on safe balance and its major determinants in stroke patients

This study develops explainable artificial intelligence for predicting safe balance using hospital data, including clinical, neurophysiological, and diffusion tensor imaging properties. Retrospective data from 92 first-time stroke patients from January 2016 to June 2023 was analysed. The dependent variables were independent mobility scores, i.e., Berg Balance Scales with 0 (45 or below) vs. 1 (above 45) measured after three and six months, respectively. Twenty-nine predictors were included. Random forest variable importance was employed for identifying significant predictors of the Berg Balance Scale and testing its associations with the predictors, including Berg Balance Scale after one month and corticospinal tract diffusion tensor imaging properties. Shapley Additive Explanation values were calculated to analyse the directions of these associations. The random forest registered a higher or similar area under the curve compared to logistic regression, i.e., 91% vs. 87% (Berg Balance Scale after three months), 92% vs. 92% (Berg Balance Scale after six months). Based on random forest variable importance values and rankings: (1) Berg Balance Scale after three months has strong associations with Berg Balance Scale after one month, Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, ipsilesional corticospinal tract fractional anisotropy, fractional anisotropy laterality index and age; (2) Berg Balance Scale after six months has strong relationships with Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, Berg Balance Scale after one month, ankle plantar flexion muscle strength, knee extension muscle strength and hip flexion muscle strength. These associations were positive in the SHAP summary plots. Including Berg Balance Scale after one month, Fugl-Meyer assessment scale or ipsilesional corticospinal tract fractional anisotropy in the random forest will increase the probability of Berg Balance Scale after three months being above 45 by 0.11, 0.08, or 0.08. In conclusion, safe balance after stroke strongly correlates with its initial motor function, Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, and ipsilesional corticospinal tract fractional anisotropy. Diffusion tensor imaging information aids in developing explainable artificial intelligence for predicting safe balance after stroke.

The relevance of dark trading for information acquisition in the German stock market

The implementation of the European double volume cap (DVC) mechanism acts as an exogenous shock to help understand how restrictions on dark trading affect the price discovery process for German stocks. Using the price jump ratio as a measure of information acquisition prior to earnings announcements, we show that dark pool trading aids information acquisition. This relationship is stronger for negative earnings news, for stocks that are hard to value, and when there is uncertainty around earnings. The introduction of the DVC mechanism weakens the relationship between dark trading and pre-announcement information acquisition.

THE APPLICATION OF CHOICE MODELLING FOR A SANITARY LANDFILL IN KOTA BHARU, KELANTAN, MALAYSIA

Environmental impacts from poor landfilling practices have long been a concern in Kota Bharu, a densely populated city in Peninsular Malaysia. Addressing this issue requires a sustainable disposal solution, such as a sanitary landfill. However, such a project can fail without understanding household demand. This study examined households' willingness to pay for a sanitary landfill using a survey-based method known as Choice Modelling. This method was employed to determine households' willingness to pay for the environmental benefits of a sanitary landfill, characterized by attributes like controlled leachate discharge, reduced bad odour, reduced disease vectors, and pleasing views. The results indicated a positive willingness to pay for each attribute, ranging from RM2.37 to RM12.08 per month. This information aids policymakers in making decisions that align with household demands, thereby minimizing opposition and enhancing project feasibility.

Impact of Postoperative Chemotherapy on Survival in Patients with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: A Study Based on the SEER Database.

Aims/Background We aimed to investigate the impact of postoperative chemotherapy (POCT) on survival in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Methods This study included 786 PCNSL patients, of which 605 received chemotherapy after surgery, and 181 did not. Data from the SEER registry database (2007-2020) were used to analyze PCNSL. Baseline information, including age, sex, race, marital status, primary tumour site, histological type, summary stage, surgical procedures, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, was analyzed. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) (1:1) was employed to balance the effects of confounding variables between the two groups. Subsequently, Cox regression and bidirectional stepwise regression were used to identify independent prognostic factors. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curves were constructed to assess the impact of POCT on patient prognosis. Additionally, two cases of PCNSL with typical magnetic resonance imaging appearances were presented. Results Multivariate Cox regression results revealed that age older than 60 years (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.786; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.272-2.509; p = 0.001) and absence of POCT (HR = 2.841; 95% CI: 2.159-3.738; p < 0.001) were independent prognostic risk factors, while primary tumour locations in the meninges (HR = 0.136; 95% CI: 0.032-0.569; p = 0.006) and other nervous system regions (HR = 0.552; 95% CI: 0.326-0.936; p = 0.027), as well as histological morphologies such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (HR = 0.233; 95% CI: 0.128-0.425; p < 0.001) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HR = 0.559; 95% CI: 0.356-0.876; p = 0.011), were associated with favourable patient outcomes. K-M curves demonstrated that the group undergoing POCT had a significantly more favourable prognosis compared to the non-POCT group, before (HR = 0.454; 95% CI: 0.343-0.600; p < 0.0001) or after PSM (HR = 0.580; 95% CI: 0.431-0.780; p < 0.0001). For patients with PCNSL, those with tumours located in the infratentorial region (HR = 0.231; 95% CI: 0.078-0.682; p = 0.046), supratentorial region (HR = 0.250; 95% CI: 0.163-0.383; p < 0.0001), overlapping brain regions (HR = 0.201; 95% CI: 0.056-0.727; p = 0.0058), and those who underwent biopsy (HR = 0.740; 95% CI: 0.463-1.182; p = 0.003), subtotal resection (STR) (HR = 0.490; 95% CI: 0.265-0.906; p = 0.0064), or gross total resection (GTR) (HR = 0.613; 95% CI: 0.292-1.287; p = 0.0003) had better prognoses in the postoperative chemotherapy group compared to the non-chemotherapy group. Conclusion POCT significantly improves the prognosis of PCNSL patients and identifies the characteristics of the benefiting population. This information aids clinical practitioners in designing personalized treatment plans for individuals and advancing precise treatment.

Implementation of the Fast Method in Android-Based New Student Registration Application

As the information and technology sectors develop, Android smartphones are a means of disseminating information that offers many benefits. In the current era, information technology has a huge impact on every aspect of daily life. Improvements in information technology in the education sector will become more user-friendly. One of them is SMP N 5 Medan, which requires IT assistance to register new students who still use paper forms. The current system has a problem because it makes it difficult to collect data and create reports. This research aims to develop an Android application that can be used by prospective students to register and assist SMPN 5 Medan in monitoring prospective student registration data. Application development in this research uses the FAST method, which includes scope definition, problem analysis, requirements analysis, logical design, decision analysis, physical design and integration, development and testing, and delivery. The developed application facilitates information access, registration, and aids SMP N 5 Medan in generating new student registration reports.

The Nutbush Dance Reframed: further analysis related to ‘Doing the Nutbush’

ABSTRACT This article supplements our earlier article on the Nutbush dance, ‘Doing the Nutbush’. After that was published, there was a media frenzy which resulted in many comments on The Guardian site and on the ABC Facebook site. We also received a number of emails. All these contributions have helped fine-tune the history of the dance that we have been examining. Two key things became clear. Around 1970 there was a push in state education departments across Australia to substitute the American line dance, the Madison, for bush dances as a way of updating and making more relevant dance for primary school children. Meanwhile, during the 1960s, another American dance, the Alley Cat, had been becoming popular mostly with children but to some extent also with adults. Around 1975 the Alley Cat started to be danced to Ike and Tina Turner’s Nutbush City Limits in primary school physical education (PE) classes. As this was happening, a few more energetic steps were added to the dance. The result was a dance named after the song, the Nutbush. This then became a popular dance in state primary schools across the country. With the aid of the new information, we have been given, this supplementary article traces this history.

Patient learning choices in an online health infomediary

ABSTRACT Health infomediaries are online interactive platforms where patients learn about diseases, procedures, and treatments, but how the learning dynamics evolve to help patients make decisions is unknown. Investigating patient learning in health information is essential to enabling patient empowerment using these platforms. In this study, we theoretically anchor patients’ learning processes in a health infomediary to Nonaka-Takeuchi’s Socialization, Externalization, Combination, and Internalization (SECI) learning dynamics model, with the infomediary as the ba or collaborative space for learning. We posit that questions reflect externalization for a focal learning patient, while reviews and comments reflect socialization, driving patients’ knowledge internalization. Learning with more information aids patients in health-relevant choices and actions such as a doctor consultation in a health infomediary. Three hypotheses about continued learning choices are presented and tested using data from 8,900 reconstructive surgery health infomediary users, using a multichoice mixed logit model with panel estimations. Findings show patients continue to review and comment more than questions to learn about trendy surgeries, which is counterintuitive to existing insights, whereas questions lead to learning sentiment-laden information. Exploratory analyses suggest that learning through reviews regarding post-procedural services may deter, but other learning modes motivate patients to consult a doctor. We discuss the theoretical contributions and implications for infomediary design and research.

From Design to Clinical Translation: Unraveling Orthotist Perspectives on 3D Printed Accommodative Insoles

ABSTRACT Introduction Custom accommodative insoles have become the gold standard for managing plantar pressures and reducing ulceration risk in persons with diabetes. With advances in 3D-printing technologies, methods of fabricating 3D-printed accommodative insoles have emerged. Clinician feedback is imperative to developing a 3D-printed accommodative insole that meets clinical needs and is more effective than the current standard of care (SoC). Objective The aim of this study was to inform the development of 3D-printed accommodative insoles by gaining clinician perspective on insole requirements and application of the digital workflow for seamless translation into the clinical setting. Study Design This article is a qualitative study. Materials and Methods Four focus groups with a total of 16 orthotists were held, prompting discussions on the current SoC accommodative insole and other 3D-printed insoles we have developed. Sessions were recorded and transcribed, and main themes were derived from transcriptions. Results Review and analysis of the transcripts resulted in four main themes: 1) reimbursement, 2) durability, 3) effectiveness, and 4) workflow application in clinic. Conclusions The responses showed areas to focus improvements on the 3D-printed insole design and ways to ease the transition into a clinical setting. Clinician support is crucial in the adoption of a new device to clinical practice. Their feedback is essential to ensuring the item meets the clinical needs and the workflow is not disruptive to the clinical setting. Clinical Relevance Understanding clinician perspective on current SoC disadvantages and shortcomings, areas for improvement in the 3D-printed insole fabrication, and what is feasible in clinic appointments will help inform insole design and aid in translating new 3D-printing technology to clinical care for improved patient outcomes.

The impact of climate variation on the spread of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is influenced by seasonality, but there is limited understanding of how specific climatic variables contribute to disease spread. This information aids in understanding disease transmission dynamics and could potentially inform public health modeling. This retrospective cohort study analyzed public health data from Ontario, Canada, between 2012 and 2021, along with historical climate data from Environment Canada. We employed Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (S-ARIMA) models to assess how temperature and precipitation impact the incidence of STEC infections, measured per 10,000,000 population. The study included 1658 confirmed STEC cases. A significant correlation was found between STEC incidence and climatic variables. Each degree Celsius increase in maximum temperature was associated with a rise of 3 STEC cases per 10,000,000 population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024)). Additionally, each millimeter of increased precipitation correlated with an increase of 1.1 cases per 10,000,000 population. The findings demonstrate a significant impact of temperature and precipitation on STEC transmission, highlighting the importance of integrating meteorological data into public health surveillance. This integration may help inform public health responses and support healthcare systems in planning for future outbreaks. Further studies are needed to refine predictive models and develop effective early warning systems for clinical settings.

Environmental information required by individuals with visual impairments who use orientation and mobility aids to navigate indoor places

The objective of the study is to investigate the requirements of individuals with blindness regarding the information to be included in audio-tactile maps and other orientation and mobility aids of indoor places. The research was conducted with the participation of 115 adults with blindness aged from 18 to 64 years. The participants were asked to evaluate each one of the 136 listed environmental information, regarding their usefulness for safety, location of services, and orientation/wayfinding during movement. The study defines the most useful environmental information that should be included in the orientation and mobility aids of indoor places for individuals with blindness. The older the participants, and the more often they move independently without the support of a sighted guide, the less useful they find the inclusion of some environmental information in orientation and mobility aids for indoor places. Although the research focuses on audio-tactile maps, the recorded participants’ preferences on the significant/useful indoor environmental information could be applied in orientation and mobility aids in general. Participants considered more useful the information necessary for safe and independent navigation within indoor places, as well as information relevant to their daily needs coverage and information referring to support provision through auditory or haptic cues. This study holds particular significance for developers of orientation and mobility aids for individuals with blindness. The findings will serve as a valuable point of reference for professionals such as orientation and mobility specialists, rehabilitation experts, and teachers involved in producing aids for students with blindness. While the research concentrates on audio-tactile maps, the preferences of participants recorded in the study regarding crucial indoor environmental information can apply to orientation and mobility aids in a broader context.

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids: A Nationwide Survey Study to Understand Perspectives in Primary Care.

The expansion of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids has raised inquiries regarding primary care physicians' (PCP) knowledge, perspective, and perceived roles. We aimed to understand PCP perspectives on OTC hearing aids via nationwide online surveys. RedCap survey was distributed to PCPs via online forums and public mailing lists. Outcomes included PCPs' attitudes toward, perceived role surrounding, confidence managing, and knowledge of OTC hearing aids. Regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors including demographics and practice characteristics. Cohort included 111 PCPs primarily working in non-rural (83.8%) outpatient academic medical centers (47.5%), with a mean (SD) of 16.9 (11.6) years practicing. Most reported unfamiliarity (61.3%) with OTC hearing aids but viewed them positively (91.9%). They often perceived themselves as poor sources of OTC hearing aid information (63.1%) but desired involvement (90.1%) and believed associated knowledge is important (98.2%). Rural practice environment was associated with less familiarity toward OTC hearing aids (β = -0.72, [95% CI -1.40 to -0.04]). Respondents answered 5.0 (2.4) of 10 OTC hearing aid knowledge questions correctly. Using 5-point Likert scale, participants reported most confidence recognizing signs/symptoms of hearing loss 3.71 (0.84), but less confidence educating 1.68 (0.96) about and determining candidacy 1.72 (1.05) for OTC hearing aids. Participants reported continuing medical education courses and published guidelines would effectively improve their OTC hearing aid knowledge. PCPs displayed positive attitudes toward OTC hearing aids and valued involvement. Addressing unfamiliarity/knowledge gaps surrounding OTC hearing aids through courses and published guidelines may help clarify misconceptions and promote hearing health care. NA Laryngoscope, 2024.

Anecdotes impact medical decisions even when presented with statistical information or decision aids

People are inundated with popular press reports about medical research concerning what is healthy, get advice from doctors, and hear personal anecdotes. How do people integrate conflicting anecdotal and statistical information when making medical decisions? In four experiments (N = 4126), we tested how people use conflicting information to judge the efficacy of artificial and real medical treatments. Participants read an anecdote from someone in a clinical trial, or who had undergone a medical treatment previously, for whom the medical treatment was ineffective. We found that reading anecdotes for either artificial or real medical treatments shifted participants’ beliefs about the efficacy of a medical treatment. We observed this result even when the anecdote was uninformative, was paired with an icon array, or when participants were provided with thorough medical decision aids about reproductive health procedures. Our findings highlight the pervasive effect of anecdotes on medical decision making.

Training of information retrieval in the State university of Vilnius: some contential and technological aspects of education in the field of librarianship and bibliography

The article deals with the problem of professional education of librarians at the University of Vilnius. The changing role of information, which is becoming one of the natural resources of the country, and the rapid development of computer technology reveal new professional demands for librarians. As a result of this tendency, teaching online bibliographical searching has become of great importance in the library education curriculum. Specific conditions of development and practical needs of libraries and information services, main traits, and opportunities of higher education in Lithuania are revealed. This makes it possible to create an original conception of automated information retrieval training. The problems of information retrieval are studied in subjects such as Librarianship, Bibliography, Information Retrieval Systems, Information, and Technical Aids for Library Work, which are based on a specially created training automated information retrieval system (AIRS). Three different kinds of connections between the revealed subjects are presented in a scheme and commented upon. The choice of education technology is discussed. The main forms are various practical studies, realized on the basis of AIRS. These also help overcome the psychological barrier that arises when working with computers.