Online Research Platform Research Articles

Exploring the relationship between psoriasis and vitamin D

Introduction and purpose: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Recent research has suggested a potential link between psoriasis and vitamin D deficiency. This review paper aims to examine the existing literature on the relationship between psoriasis and vitamin D, exploring the potential role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and management of this debilitating skin disorder. Materials and method: An extensive examination of articles published in scientific journals was carried out through online research platforms PubMed and Google Scholar. We searched articles by entering keywords in appropriate configuration: “psoriasis”, “vitamin D”, “obesity”. Description of the state of knowledge: Emerging research has identified a connection between vitamin D and the development of various skin conditions, including psoriasis. Consistent findings have shown a significant association between low vitamin D levels and the presence of psoriasis. Furthermore, due to vitamin D's influence on the proliferation and maturation of keratinocytes, it has become an important local treatment option for managing psoriasis. Summary: Although there is no clear consensus on whether sufficient dietary vitamin D or oral vitamin D supplements effectively treat psoriasis, the available evidence is still inconclusive. However, healthcare providers like nutritionists should consider recommending general vitamin D supplementation for populations at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, such as those with psoriasis or obesity.

Diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome

Introduction and purpose: Primary adrenal insufficiency can result from diseases affecting the adrenal glands, while secondary adrenal insufficiency is caused by suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The most common cause of adrenal suppression is exogenous steroids, a condition recently termed glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency (GIAI). Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal suppression is a common adverse effect of glucocorticoid therapy, which can have severe consequences. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and management of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome. Material and methods: An extensive examination of articles published in scientific journals was carried out through online research platforms PubMed and Google Scholar. We searched articles by entering keywords in appropriate configuration: “glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency”, “glucocorticoids”, “steroids”, “adrenal crisis”, “substitution therapy”, “glucocorticoid withdrawal”. Description of the state of knowledge: Glucocorticoids are widely used in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune disorders due to their potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. However, chronic glucocorticoid therapy can lead to a number of adverse effects, including adrenal suppression, which can result in adrenal insufficiency. Summary: Primary care clinicians should recognize the high prevalence of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency in patients receiving non-oral glucocorticoid formulations. The glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome exhibits symptoms analogous to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency. Additional data on the morbidity and mortality linked to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency is needed to comprehend the associated health risks, which will ultimately guide the approach to care for patients tapering long-term glucocorticoid therapy.

Obesity in childhood - literature review and educational recommendations

Introduction and purpose Childhood obesity is a major global health concern. The World Health Organization reports that the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has increased significantly from 4% in 1975 to over 18% in 2016. The aim of the study is to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature on obesity among children and adolescents, emphasizes the importance of prevention, identification and effective management of childhood obesity. Materials and methods An extensive examination of articles published in scientific journals was carried out through online research platforms PubMed and Google Scholar. We searched articles by entering keywords in appropriate configuration: “childhood obesity”, “pediatric overweight”, “physical activity”, “activity and health”, “diet and obesity", "bariatric surgery" and "obesity medication". State of knowledge Treating childhood obesity requires following a personalized weight loss program, as well as adopting healthy eating habits and lifestyle practices. Improvements in metabolic and anthropometric indices can be achieved through complex interventions including dietary modification and physical activity, behavioral therapy, health promotion education, pharmacological treatment and bariatric surgery A step-by-step approach to managing weight is recommended, considering the child's age, the severity of obesity, and any accompanying health conditions. Dietary interventions focus on promoting a balanced, nutrient-rich diet that is calorie-appropriate for the child's age and gender. Summary Further research is still necessary to develop additional pharmaceutical options, refine surgical techniques, and better understand long-term outcomes in this patient population.To effectively prevent this disease, a comprehensive approach is necessary, considering both education and changes in the social environment.

Psychometric Evaluation of Cognitive and Positive Valence Tasks Chosen for the NIMH Research Domain Criteria Project.

The NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative seeks to utilize multidimensional patterns of socio-cognitive behavior to improve understanding of mental illness. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of a subset of RDoC tasks. Specifically, we investigated two positive valence tasks and five cognitive tasks. Participants (N = 320) were recruited through an online research platform. We used generalizability theory to estimate reliability, and factor analysis to examine factor structure. Reliability was average to excellent with some notable exceptions. Factor analysis results raised concerns about whether the factor structure of task scores aligns with the proposed RDoC model. Effects of cognitive manipulations generally supported the construct representation of tasks. Results indicate that the majority of RDoC task scores examined have acceptable reliability or can be made reliable through modest increases in task length. Future research in diverse populations is needed to better understand the factor structure of RDoC cognitive and positive valence measures.

Destination-Country Image of Türkiye from Perspectives of American Non-Visitors

The significance of images in advertising, promoting, attracting tourists for destinations, and influencing their future behavioral intentions is widely acknowledged concept. In recent years, destination-country image research has gained momentum. This article seeks to evaluate how Türkiye (the fourth most visited country in the world) is perceived as a travel destination by American non-visitors. The focus on American non-visitors in this study is significant because Americans represent the largest group of international travelers globally. This demographic offers valuable insights for understanding potential tourism markets for Türkiye. By analyzing how American non-visitors perceive Türkiye, the study aims to enhance the country's tourism strategies, especially in a highly competitive global market. Their perceptions influence their likelihood to visit, making it crucial for tourism managers to tailor marketing campaigns to shift these non-visitors' views toward a more favorable image of Türkiye. The sample included potential tourists who have never visited Türkiye, also known as non-visitors. Furthermore, the study examined the relationship between how potential visitors view the destination country and their intentions to travel there. Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), a widely used online research platform, gathered the data for this study. Data were obtained through a survey from a total of 302 non-visitors by conducting convenience sampling method. We employ PLS-SEM, a variance-based methodology, analyze the data set. After the analysis, we validated all proposed hypotheses. Therefore, the cognitive and emotional images have an impact on each other. There is a statistically significant and positive link between the affective image and overall and the cognitive image and overall (β = 0.354, p<0.001; β = 0.258, p<0.001, respectively). In addition, there were strong and positive links between visit intention and both affective image (β = 0.262, p<0.001) and cognitive image (β = 0.168, p<0.001). The cognitive and emotional components of an image have a significant impact on general image perception. The current study validates that both the general image and its elements positively influence non-visitors' visit intentions. The study concludes by presenting the management and theoretical consequences.

Knowledge arbitrage: what are the risks, and do they matter?

PurposeIt is largely acknowledged that arbitrating the flow of knowledge can help firms strategically leverage tacit and explicit internal knowledge. However, despite the apparent scholarly and managerial acceptance of the criticality of the flow of knowledge between various stakeholders, the academic understanding of knowledge arbitrage remains coarse-grained. There are practically no empirical insights available to unravel the consequences of firms’ knowledge arbitrage choices regarding rewards and risks. This study aims to identify the risks that emerge as firms channel the flow of knowledge from surplus to deficit areas within organizational boundaries. To this end, the authors investigate several subsumed subprocesses in knowledge arbitrage to map the associated risks.Design/methodology/approachThis study used an exploratory qualitative approach to examine the risks that emerge as firms attempt to support knowledge flows within their organizational boundaries. The data were collected through open-ended essays via an online research platform from 45 full-time employees of firms operating in different sectors. The collected data were analyzed inductively through open, axial and selective coding.FindingsThe research findings identified three key subprocesses of knowledge arbitrage: knowledge diffusion, knowledge brokering and knowledge absorption. These subprocesses are susceptible to various risks arising the form of channels, champions, sharers and receivers of knowledge flows. In general, the study showed that a firm’s decision regarding knowledge flows, such as structured or random flows, or the presence or absence of designated coordinators to broker the flow carries specific risks for both sharers and receivers. In particular, while the risks of knowledge hiding, misinformation and disinformation manifest in all three subprocesses, low employee engagement, loss of knowledge and information overload also emerged as key risks in any two of the three subprocesses.Originality/valueThis study offers valuable insights by uncovering the hitherto unexplored risks in intrafirm knowledge arbitrage. Given that knowledge is a crucial organizational tool for driving performance, innovation and competitive advantage, understanding the risks associated with intrafirm arbitrated knowledge flows can help firms anticipate and mitigate the associated adverse consequences. The findings make a novel contribution by offering (a) a comprehensive categorization of the risks associated with knowledge arbitrage rooted in processes, people and structures and (b) a macro overview of knowledge arbitrage risks associated with the processes of knowledge diffusion, knowledge brokering and knowledge absorption.

What Huntington's Disease Patients Say About Their Illness: An Online Direct-to-Participant Pilot Study.

Direct-to-participant online reporting facilitates the conduct of clinical research by increasing access and clinically meaningful patient engagement. We assessed feasibility of online data collection from adults with diagnosed Huntington's disease (HD) who directly reported their problems and impact in their own words. Data were collected online from consenting United States residents who self-identified as 1) having been diagnosed with Huntington's disease, 2) able to ambulate independently, and 3) self-sufficient for most daily needs. Data for this pilot study were collected using the Huntington Study Group myHDstory online research platform. The Huntington Disease Patient Report of Problems (HD-PROP), an open-ended questionnaire, was used to capture verbatim bothersome problems and functional impact. Natural language processing, human-in-the-loop curation of verbatim reports involving clinical and experience experts, and machine learning classified verbatim-reports into clinically meaningful symptoms. All 8 questionnaires in the online pilot study were completed by 345 participants who were 60.9% men, 34.5±9.9 (mean±SD) years old, and 9.5±8.4 years since HD diagnosis. Racial self-identification was 46.4% Caucasian, 28.7% African American, 15.4% American Indian/Alaska Native, and 9.5% other. Accuracy of verbatim classification was 99%. Non-motor problems were the most frequently reported symptoms; depression and cognitive impairment were the most common. Online research participation was feasible for a diverse cohort of adults who self-reported an HD diagnosis and predominantly non-motor symptoms related to mood and cognition. Online research tools can help inform what bothers HD patients, identify clinically meaningful outcomes, and facilitate participation by diverse and under-represented populations.

Secure attachment imagery facilitates help-seeking and help-acceptance in psychosis.

People with psychosis delay accessing recommended treatments, resulting in poor healthcare outcomes and increased risk of relapse. Means of improving help-seeking and help-acceptance could reduce duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). This study examined the role of attachment style in help-seeking and help-acceptance in psychosis. We used an experimental design to test the effect of attachment imagery priming on help-seeking and help-acceptance intentions, in a sample with self-reported psychosis. The independent variables were attachment imagery condition (secure vs. avoidant) and time (pre- vs. post-prime). The dependent variables were state paranoia, help-seeking intentions and help-acceptance intentions. We used an online research platform to recruit people with psychosis (n = 61). Participants were randomly allocated to the secure or avoidant attachment priming condition. All completed measures of state paranoia, help-seeking, and help-acceptance, before and after priming. In comparison with the avoidant condition, secure attachment imagery resulted in reduced paranoia and increased help-seeking and acceptance intentions, all with large effect sizes. This is the first study to use an experimental design to assess the role of attachment style in help-seeking and help-acceptance in a clinical sample. Attachment style is causally linked to behavioural intentions that contribute to DUP. Clinicians should assess attachment and help-seeking and acceptance, highlight these in formulation, and prioritise in treatment planning. Interventions that enhance help-seeking and acceptance could improve access to recommended treatments and reduce DUP.

Co-production of an online research and resource platform for improving the health of young people—The hype project

Mental health conditions tend to go unrecognised and untreated in adolescence, and therefore it is crucial to improve the health and social outcomes for these individuals through age and culturally appropriate interventions. This paper aims firstly to describe the development and implementation of the HYPE project platform (a research and resource platform co-designed and co-produced with young people). The second aim is to describe the characteristics of participants who engaged with the platform and an embedded pilot online survey. Participatory action research approach was used to address objectives of the HYPE project. Data were analysed to: (1) help improve access to health and social services, (2) guide provision of information of online resources and (3) deliver complementary community-based events/activities to promote mental health and to ultimately prevent mental health issues. Pilot and main phases of the HYPE project demonstrated the capacity and feasibility for such a platform to reach local, national, and international populations. Analyses demonstrated that the platform was particularly relevant for young females with pre-existing health difficulties. Some of the barriers to involving young people in research and help-seeking are discussed.

The Relationship Between Dark Tetrad of Personality and Domain-Specific Risk-taking Among Iranian Young People

Introduction: Dark personality traits include a range of socially aversive personality traits that are associated with risky behaviors and other mental health risk factors. However, it is not clear which specific risky behaviors are associated with each Personality trait (Machiavellianism, Narcissism, Psychopathy and Sadism) outlined in this conceptual framework. Aim: Examining the Relationship Between Dark Tetrad of Personality and Domain-Specific Risk-taking Behavior Among Iranian Young People was the aim of this study. Method: The Research Design for this study is based on Descriptive Correlational Research method, A sample of 848 Young people was selected with the convenience sampling method from the Tehran using an online research platform. Domain-Specific Risk-Taking (DOSPERT) Scale and the Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) were used for data collection. The data were Analyzed by the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and Stepwise regression using SPSS version 26. Results: The correlation matrix of the research variables demonstrated that all components of the Dark Tetrad of Personality (Machiavellianism, Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Sadism) are positively correlated with various domains of risk-taking (Social, Recreational, Gambling, Health/Safety, and Ethical). Among the four personality traits, Psychopathy and Sadism show the highest correlation, while Narcissism and Machiavellianism demonstrate a weaker correlation with risk-taking behaviors. Additionally, only Machiavellianism and Narcissism were linked to risky investments. Conclusion: In conclusion, for more accurate clinical decision-making concerning the relationship between Dark Personality traits and risky behaviors, it is essential to consider the specific and unique relationship between the traits and domains

Yam Production-Related Agro-climatological Risks and Yam Yield Modeling in Côte d’Ivoire: A Review

In this paper, we present a review of the agro-climatological-related risk of yam production and models developed for yam yield prediction in Côte d’Ivoire. Four official national platforms (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), National Center for Agricultural Research (CNRA), National Agency for Rural Development Support (ANADER), Airport, Aeronautical and Meteorological Exploitation and Development Company (SODEXAM)) and six scientific search engines were investigated in this study including Theses.fr, African Journal Online, Science Direct, Google Scholar, WorldCat and Semantic Scholar. Using the boolean parameters “AND”, “OR” and “()” to facilitate and direct our search, we were able to define four key phrases comprising the topic words that were used in the search. Exclusion and inclusion criteria for the selection of documents were also defined in advance, as well as the criteria for reviewing and extracting information from selected documents. The results showed that no work in the field of agro-climatological risks related to yam production and yam yield modeling in Côte d’Ivoire was available on these online research platforms at the time of this literature review. However, other studies similar to the scope of this review on yam exist in several West African countries, particularly Ghana, Benin and Nigeria, and also in the Caribbean. These studies use simulation models such as the Approach for Land Use Sustainability (SALUS) model, the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model and the Cropping Systems Simulation (CROPSYST) model for growth, yield modeling and the influence of climatic parameters on yam. In addition to these models, artificial intelligence through machine learning models was also seen in this review as an excellent tool for yield prediction for several crops including yams.

Fostering CSR Sponsorship in China: A Conceptual Framework for Cultivating Sustainable Behavior among Ant Forest App Users via Internet Platforms

Ant Forest has emerged as a prominent pro-environment advocate, amassing a user base of 650 million individuals. However, the sustained engagement of its users is crucial for its enduring success. To ensure the continued viability of Ant Forest, it is imperative to foster and maintain users’ pro-environmental behaviors over an extended period. Central to Ant Forest’s appeal are its gamification features and interactive elements linked to CSR sponsorship. This study aims to investigate the potential of these distinctive characteristics within an Internet platform to enhance users’ awareness of sustainability issues and prolong their engagement. As part of a comprehensive inquiry into the role of Chinese Internet Platform Companies such as Ant Forest in shaping users’ attitudes and behaviors towards sustainability, this research endeavors to ascertain whether these platforms fulfill their responsibility in offsetting carbon emissions. The present findings are from a thorough desktop survey focusing on key themes related to the Ant Forest app, including the maintenance of users’ sustainable behavior and the enhancement of CSR sponsorship. Utilizing the EAGLE System, an online research platform, we meticulously documented the synthesis of literature reviews and adapted the findings for presentation. Our analysis identified CSR-linked sponsorship, the sustainability of Chinese Internet Platform Companies, users’ behavior, and users’ attitudes as potential independent variables. Furthermore, we identified the gamification mechanism and interactivity as moderator variables influencing users’ engagement with their responsibilities in carbon emissions offsetting. Notably, Chinese Internet platform companies have the potential to positively influence users’ attitudes and behaviors towards sustainability by integrating gamification, interactivity, and CSR-linked sponsorship into their platforms. Harnessing these features effectively may empower Internet platforms to instill sustainable habits among users, thereby laying the groundwork for a conceptual framework termed the Users’ Sustainable Awareness Model.

Abstract P232: Toxic Stress is Associated With Greater Odds of Cardiovascular Disease Among Younger but Not Older Women in the Go Red for Research Dataset

Introduction: The incidence of certain cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as heart attack and stroke have been increasing among younger women (ages 35-54 years). Psychosocial stress may be an important risk factor for CVD among this group of women. We examined whether toxic stress was associated with an increased odds CVD and whether this association was greater among younger women (< 55 years of age) compared to older women (≥ 55 years of age). Hypothesis: Toxic stress would only be associated with CVD among younger women. Methods: We utilized data from participants enrolled in the American Heart Association Research Goes Red Registry, an online research platform powered by Verily. Women were asked if they had been diagnosed with any of the following heart related conditions (heart attack, hemorrhagic stroke, prior revascularization, or blocked arteries). Women were also asked whether they had experienced toxic stress defined as a significant life-defining stressful activity over a prolonged period unaccompanied by sufficient social resources or support such as loss of a child, racial discrimination, or job loss. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios between toxic stress and CVD as well as differences by age (< 55 versus ≥ 55 years of age) using an interaction term. Results: The analytic dataset included 1,354 women who completed both the RGR Survey and the Healthcare and Experience Survey. The mean age of participants was 47.8 (SD: 12.6), 70% were less than 55 years of age, 83% were Non-Hispanic White, 59% indicated that they had experienced toxic stress, and 12% had CVD. In final multivariable models, there were significant differences in the association between toxic stress and CVD by age group (toxic stress-by-age interaction = 0.05) such that toxic stress was only significantly associated with an increased odds of CVD among women < 55 years of age (OR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.17, 3.44; p-value: 0.0119). In contrast, toxic stress was not significantly associated with an increased odds of CVD among older women ≥ 55 years of age (OR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.59, 1.61; p-value: 0.9052). Conclusions: Toxic stress was associated with an increased odds of cardiovascular disease among younger, but not older women in this cross-sectional study. Stress may be an underrecognized risk factor for CVD, especially among younger women who may benefit from interventions to mitigate and prevent stress. These findings should be corroborated in future longitudinal or other study designs that can establish temporality and stronger inferences of causality.

School-parents relationships: a bibliometric study on 40 years of scientific publications.

The present paper explores the amount of research activity estimated through the growth of scientific literature in the field of parents’ participation in their childrens’ schooling: it is a so-called bibliometric analysis. Assessing the “size of science” is a complex task, but bibliometric techniques have been shown to be useful in the development of scientific research activity to address emerging concerns such as the rate of development of a certain discipline and of some specific areas of scientific interest (Katz & Hicks, 1997).Data for analysis were collected from several relevant queries restricted to articles accessible through Cambridge Scientific Abstract (C.S.A.) on-line research platform. Nearly 11,000 bibliographic records were retrieved, with publication dates ranging from 1966 to 2005.In this study researchers attempted to answer two main research questions: which is the rate of literature growth in the field of parent participation (and the expected rate for the forthcoming years)? Which are the different patterns of literature production through different research fields (Pedagogy,Psychology, Sociology, etc.)?Our results reveal a strong growth rate in the number of articles published, and rather significant differences in the various disciplines taken into consideration.

Going vertical: examining the rise and impact of contemporary Russian sports cinema.

While Hollywood has been central to the definition and popularisation of the genre internationally, sport cinema also has a significant presence in national cinemas across the world, though less research has been undertaken to date of the place of sport within European cinema and its growing importance in this context. This article will introduce a new database and online research platform (Sport in European Cinema, sportandfilm.eu) recently made publicly available which enables a deeper consideration of the significance of sport in European cinema, including its increasing importance in the Russian context. Indeed the third most commercially successful indigenous film ever released (as of 2023) at the Russian box office is a sports film, Движение вверх (Going Vertical (AKA Three Seconds) (2017). This article adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the place of sport in European cinema, including a case study of contemporary Russian sport cinema and its connection with broader political and ideological messaging. Sport cinema has become an increasingly important part of European cinema, both in terms of number of films produced and their impact on European society, as evident in the case study provided of Russian sport cinema. This paper introduces a new research database dedicated to European Sport Cinema and identifies the increasing importance of sport cinema in the European context. It includes a case study of contemporary Russian sport cinema and identifies its role in articulating and affirming existing power structures and ideological hegemony within Russian society, as evident within Going Vertical and further recent Russian sport films in a particularly challenging period of national and international instability and contestation.

Crowdsourced EEG experiments: A proof of concept for remote EEG acquisition using EmotivPRO Builder and EmotivLABS

The development of online research platforms has made data collection more efficient and representative of populations. However, these benefits have not been available for use with cognitive neuroscience tools such as electroencephalography (EEG). In this study, we introduce an approach for remote EEG data collection. We demonstrate how an experiment can be built via the EmotivPRO Builder and deployed to the EmotivLABS website where it can be completed by participants who own EMOTIV EEG headsets. To demonstrate the data collection technique, we collected EEG while participants engaged in a resting state task where participants sat with their eyes open and then eyes closed for 2 min each. We observed a significant difference in alpha power between the two conditions thereby demonstrating the well-known alpha suppression effect. Thus, we demonstrate that EEG data collection, particularly for frequency domain analysis, can be successfully conducted online.

Definition, management, and training in impacted fetal head at cesarean birth: a national survey of maternity professionals.

This study assessed views, understanding and current practices of maternity professionals in relation to impacted fetal head at cesarean birth, with the aim of informing a standardized definition, clinical management approaches and training. We conducted a survey consultation including the range of maternity professionals who attend emergency cesarean births in the UK. Thiscovery, an online research and development platform, was used to ask closed-ended and free-text questions. Simple descriptive analysis was undertaken for closed-ended responses, and content analysis for categorization and counting of free-text responses. Main outcome measures included the count and percentage of participants selecting predefined options on clinical definition, multi-professional team approach, communication, clinical management and training. In total, 419 professionals took part, including 144 midwives, 216 obstetricians and 59 other clinicians (eg anesthetists). We found high levels of agreement on the components of an impacted fetal head definition (79% of obstetricians) and the need for use of a multi-professional approach to management (95% of all participants). Over 70% of obstetricians deemed nine techniques acceptable for management of impacted fetal head, but some obstetricians also considered potentially unsafe practices appropriate. Access to professional training in management of impacted fetal head was highly variable, with over 80% of midwives reporting no training in vaginal disimpaction. These findings demonstrate agreement on the components of a standardized definition for impacted fetal head, and a need and appetite for multi-professional training. These findings can inform a program of work to improve care, including use of structured management algorithms and simulation-based multi-professional training.

Information literacy in South Korea: similarities and differences between Korean and international students’ research trajectories

ABSTRACT Work on students’ information literacy and research trajectories is usually based on studies of Western, English-speaking students. South Korea presents an opportunity to investigate an environment where Internet penetration is very high, but local Internet users operate in a different digital ecosystem than in the West, with services such as Google and Wikipedia being less popular. The current study is aimed at expanding a small body of research about Korean students’ behaviour regarding how they perceive and use various online research platforms, and in doing so exploring how they differ from non-Korean students, more commonly studied in similar literature. First, we explore what sources students use for study- or work-related assignments as well as personal needs and interests. Second, we look at how they evaluate and use those sources. We find that Korean students use Wikipedia but less so than their peers from other countries, despite their recognition that Wikipedia is more reliable and comprehensive than the alternatives. Their preferences are instead affected by their perception of Wikipedia as providing an inferior user experience and less local content than competing, commercial services, which also benefit from better search engine result placement in Naver, the search engine dominating the Korean market.

Intelligibility of Word-Initial Obstruent Consonants in Mandarin-Speaking Prelingually Deafened Children With Cochlear Implants.

This study assessed the intelligibility of obstruent consonants in prelingually deafened Mandarin-speaking children with cochlear implants (CIs). Twenty-two Mandarin-speaking children with normal hearing (NH) aged 3.25-10.0 years and 35 Mandarin-speaking children with CIs aged 3.77-15.0 years were recruited to produce a list of Mandarin words composed of 17 word-initial obstruent consonants in different vowel contexts. The children with CIs were assigned to chronological age-matched (CA) and hearing age-matched (HA) subgroups with reference to the NH controls. One hundred naïve NH adult listeners were recruited for a consonant identification task that consisted of a total of 2,663 stimulus tokens through an online research platform. For each child speaker, the consonant productions were judged by seven to 12 different adult listeners. An average percentage of consonants correct was calculated across all listeners for each consonant. The CI children in both the CA and HA subgroups showed lower intelligibility in their consonant productions than the NH controls. Among the 17 obstruents, both CI subgroups showed higher intelligibility for stops, but they demonstrated major problems with the sibilant fricatives and affricates and showed a different confusion pattern from the NH controls on these sibilants. Of the three places (alveolar, alveolopalatal, and retroflex) in Mandarin sibilants, both CI subgroups showed the lowest intelligibility and the greatest difficulties with alveolar sounds. For the NH children, there was a significant positive relationship between overall consonant intelligibility and chronological age. For the children with CIs, the best fit regression model revealed significant effects of chronological age and age at implantation, with their quadratic terms included. Mandarin-speaking children with CIs experience major challenges in the three-way place contrasts of sibilant sounds in consonant production. Chronological age and the combined effect of CI-related time variables play important roles in the development of obstruent consonants in the CI children.

Phage therapy and the public: Increasing awareness essential to widespread use.

Today, the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis is shaping a world where previously treatable infections can kill. This has revitalised the development of antibiotic alternatives, such as phage therapy. The therapeutic use of phages, viruses that infect and kill bacteria, was first explored over a century ago. However, most of the Western world abandoned phage therapy in favour of antibiotics. While the technical feasibility of phage therapy has been increasingly investigated in recent years, there has been minimal effort to understand and tackle the social challenges that may hinder its development and implementation. In this study, we assess the UK public's awareness, acceptance, preferences and opinions regarding phage therapy using a survey, fielded on the Prolific online research platform. The survey contained two embedded experiments: a conjoint and framing experiment (N = 787). We demonstrate that acceptance of phage therapy among the lay public is already moderate, with a mean likelihood of acceptance of 4.71 on a scale of 1 (not at all likely to accept phage therapy) to 7 (very likely to accept phage therapy). However, priming participants to think about novel medicines and antibiotic resistance significantly increases their likelihood of using phage therapy. Moreover, the conjoint experiment reveals that success and side effect rate, treatment duration, and where the medicine has been approved for use has a statistically significant effect on participants' treatment preferences. Investigations altering the framing of phage therapy, to highlight positive and negative aspects, reveal a higher acceptance of the treatment when described without using perceived harsh words, such as "kill" and "virus". Combined, this information provides an initial insight into how phage therapy could be developed and introduced in the UK to maximise acceptance rate.