Resource Preferences Research Articles

Accept, deny or cultivate – how entrepreneurs evaluate and exploit potential value added by equity investors

Venture capitalists and business angels can provide startups with many important resources. However, previous research has mainly focused on the value-adding side of investors while ignoring the value-exploiting side of entrepreneurs. This study examines how entrepreneurs evaluate and respond to investors’ non-financial support. We use a combination of inductive and deductive thematic analysis to analyze 19 semi-structured interviews with Vietnamese entrepreneurs. We find that entrepreneurs assess investors’ inputs based on the startup’s resource acquisition strategy, either in terms of how these inputs fit into the firm’s current resource gaps or in terms of how they lead to revisions in the firm’s strategy. Three factors can influence the resource-acquisition strategy: entrepreneurs’ resource preference, the firm’s stage of development, and its operating environment. We identify a psychological factor that shapes the post-evaluation response of entrepreneurs, i.e. their belief about the fixed/growth nature of investor abilities. In case investors’ inputs do not match or modify the current resource-acquisition strategy, founders who believe that investors’ abilities are fixed tend to adopt a rejection and avoidance response. In contrast, founders who view investor abilities as a malleable quality seek to improve investors’ understanding about their business and increase their motivation to help the company.

Fitness landscapes reveal context-dependent benefits of oviposition behavior.

Resource choice behavior has enormous fitness consequences and can drive niche expansion. However, individual behavioral choices are often mediated by context, determined by past experience. Do such context-dependent behaviors reflect maladaptive variation or are they locally adaptive? Using Tribolium castaneum (the red flour beetle), we demonstrate that context-dependent oviposition behavior reflects distinct, context-specific local fitness peaks. We measured offspring fitness to generate fitness landscapes as a function of all possible oviposition behaviors (i.e., combinations of fecundity and resource preference) in a habitat containing optimal and suboptimal resource patches. We did this by experimentally manipulating egg allocation across patches, which allowed us to assess behaviors not typically observed in the laboratory. We found that females from different age and competition contexts exhibit distinct behaviors which optimize different fitness components, linked in a tradeoff. With prior exposure to strong competition and increasing age, females produce few but fast-developing offspring that are advantageous under high resource competition. In contrast, young naïve females produce significantly more (but slower developing) offspring, which is beneficial under weak competition. Systematically mapping complete context-dependent fitness landscapes is thus critical to infer behavioral optimality and offers predictive power in novel contexts.

Hearing parents' voices: A priority-setting workshop to inform a suite of psychological resources for parents of children with rare genetic epilepsies

To understand parents' of children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies needs and preferences for psychological resources. Using a person-based approach, a multidisciplinary panel of clinician and researchers (n = 9) hosted a priority-setting workshop to 1) understand parents' needs and preferences for psychological resources and 2) to develop ‘guiding principles’ to inform a future suite of psychological resources. The multidisciplinary panel analysed the parent priority-setting workshop data, using a combination of thematic and lexical analysis. Thematic analysis identified six key domains wherein parents (n = 8) prioritised a need for psychological resources to support adaptation to their child's genetic DEE diagnosis. Lexical analysis revealed that connection to diagnosis-specific resources provided a pathway to promote enhanced psychological adaptation, by reducing social isolation and reorienting parents towards feelings of hope. Combination of both analyses generated six thematic informed ‘guiding principles’. Codesigned psychological resources may help parents to cope with the unique and complex interplay of stressors associated with their child's DEE diagnosis and treatment. Our ‘guiding principles’ will be translated to inform a future suite of tailored psychological resources. This study demonstrates an innovative codesign approach to inform tailored psychological resources for families of children with rare genetic conditions.

Young women's preferences for contraceptive education & development of an online educational resource.

To explore young women's preferences for contraceptive education to inform the development of an educational resource and to pilot test the resource with patients and clinicians. We performed a mixed-methods study to elicit preferences for contraceptive educational resources among patients, develop an online resource, and pilot test the resource with clinicians and patients to assess feasibility, systems usability, and contraceptive knowledge. Forty-one women aged 16-29 completed in-depth interviews: they preferred an online format which was recommended by a clinician, presented contraceptive methods in order of effectiveness, and contained information from experts and experiences from individual users. We adapted an existing website (bedsider.org) to create an online educational resource. Thirty clinicians and thirty patients completed surveys after use. System Usability Scale scores were high among patients (median [IQR]: 80 [72-86]) and clinicians (84 [75-90]). Patients answered more contraceptive knowledge questions correctly after interacting with the resource (9.9±2.7 vs 12.0±2.8, p<0.001). We developed a contraceptive educational resource incorporating end-user feedback that was highly usable and increased patients' contraceptive knowledge. Future research should assess effectiveness and scalability among a larger sample of patients. This contraceptive educational resource can supplement clinician counseling to increase patient contraceptive knowledge.

Pollen metabarcoding reveals the floral resources and niche overlap of honeybees in forest areas

AbstractWe investigated the floral resources of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) by pollen DNA metabarcoding as the first step in honeybee conservation. We attempted to identify as many floral resources and as wide resource availability as possible in areas and compared the richness of floral resources between forests and national parks. We found that both forest and national parks can sufficiently support honeybee floral resources; however, national parks were more stable habitats with more complex vegetation structure than those of forests. Also, honeybee's preferences for floral resources were determined using niche breadth, niche overlap, and network analysis among the floral resources in forest areas. Quercus and Actinidia were the most frequently detected taxa of pollen resources in both forests and national parks by pollen metabarcoding. Even though we anticipated that more various pollen resource taxa would be found in national parks than forests, no differences in the number pollen resource taxa were detected between them. According to the niche overlap analysis result, the honeybee preferred the pollen resources in both forests and national parks, and the co‐occurrence pattern analysis of pollen resource taxa in both forests and national parks showed a simple network. Altogether, our findings suggested that DNA metabarcoding of pollen collected by the honeybee can provide useful information on the flowering plants in a given area. As the use of floral pollen resources varies spatially and temporally, periodic monitoring of pollen resources can identify which pollen is required to maintain the health of honeybee colonies.

Mapping Middle Stone Age human mobility in the Makgadikgadi Pans (Botswana) through multi-site geochemical provenancing of silcrete artefacts

Analyses of the distance over which lithic raw materials were transported for use in stone tool production provide important insights into early human mobility through prehistoric landscapes. This study combines the use of geochemical provenancing, chaîne opératoire analysis and geochronology to examine patterns of lithic raw material procurement at five single-use open-air Middle Stone Age (MSA) archaeological sites in Ntwetwe Pan, part of the Makgadikgadi Pans complex in north-central Botswana. Maximum ages of the five sites ranged from 106 ± 3 to 69 ± 7 ka, with site formation thought to have occurred before and after a lake high stand dated to c. 72-57 ka. Tool manufacture at all sites was largely confined to the production of MSA points, with silcrete used exclusively as the raw material. Geochemical provenancing investigations aimed to identify the specific silcrete outcrops used as lithic raw material sources. Analysis of contemporary pan floor deposits show that sediment (and hence silcrete) geochemistry in Ntwetwe is determined by the proportional sediment input into the pan from fluvial systems with different catchment geologies. Immobile trace element signatures for 46 waste manufacturing flakes were compared against equivalent data for 321 silcrete samples collected at outcrops within and beyond Ntwetwe Pan. Waste flakes were chosen to be representative of the main silcrete raw material types present within the artefact assemblage at each site. Fifteen waste flakes were shown to match specific outcrops on the basis of their geochemical signatures and petrographic properties; all matching outcrops were within Ntwetwe Pan, at distances ranging from 7 to 55 km from individual sites. Multi-site analysis of procurement patterns identifies common silcrete source areas, revealing a preference for silcrete from particular locations within Ntwetwe Pan. Given that the five archaeological sites were likely occupied at different times, this resource preference may have been a longer-term behavioural feature of MSA populations in the Ntwetwe region. The distances over which silcrete was transported in Ntwetwe Pan are smaller than identified in investigations at similar-aged MSA sites in northwest Botswana. The reasons for the different silcrete procurement ranges in the two regions are likely related to silcrete availability and/or raw material preference, but this requires further investigation.

Information Seeking Practices and Availability of Smart Devices Among Healthcare Professionals in a Lower-Middle-Income Country: An Analysis From Pakistan.

Introduction Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a principle that integrates clinical experience with relevant information available to provide adequate healthcare. It requires access to current medical literature. This paper analyzes the information requirements of a lower-middle-income country (LMIC) and the resources available and preferred by medical professionals. Methods A survey-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 160 participants, ranging in expertise from students to attendingphysicians in Karachi, Pakistan. The survey comprised questions to assess the clinical background, technology access, need for health-related information, and the preference for resources to obtain that information in different scenarios. They were also asked if they use PubMed and their recommended methods to improve information access. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS; IBM, NY, USA)software was used for all analyses. Results A basic mobile phone (with limited internet connectivity) was the most common device used at home (n=159; 99.4%) and work (n=141; 88.1%). No smart devices were available to 28 (17.5%)participants at work. Internet connectivity was available for 155 (96.9%)participants at home but only for 118 (73.7%) participants at work.About one-third (n=49; 30.6%)experienced questions arising in practice two to four times a day, and half of the participants (n=80; 50%) were very likely to look up a reference. The most common resource for the majority of given clinical scenarios was a senior colleague. At the same time, medical websites (Medscape, Up-to-Date, WebMD) were the first choice for a non-specific general medical query. About 68.75% (n=110) of participants claimed to use PubMed in daily practice. The most common reason for not using PubMed was the ease of using other search engines (like Google). Conclusions Improved access to the internet and well-reputed journals can enhance the practice of EBM in Pakistan. Limitations of technological access must be considered while designing information resources in lower-middle-income countries.

Just One Textbook?: Student Perceptions of and Preferences for Open and Affordable Educational Resources

In this study, we set out to assess undergraduate students’ perceptions of and preferences for open and affordable educational resources (OAER) in courses where their faculty member had recently adopted them as part of a campus library-led grant. A survey was sent to students at the completion of their semester in which the OAER were used, which yielded 223 responses over three years of surveying. Like many other studies before it, ours showed that students greatly appreciated the lack of cost associated with open and affordable materials. They also overwhelmingly perceived them as the same or better quality as commercial course materials they had used in other courses. However, student responses around their perceptions of and preferences for access and format yielded results that indicate that, when it comes to OAER, students are nearly as concerned about how they access their course materials and what format they are in as they are about how expensive their materials will be to purchase. In this article, we’ll discuss our analysis of these responses regarding students’ ranking of factors instructors should consider when assigning materials and their preferences and perceptions of how they access their course materials and what format those materials are provided in.

Interventionism in the labor market

The Fund for Employees (FGTS) was created by the Federal Government of Brazil to "protect" the worker fired without just cause. According to the rules, the account balance of FGTS is formed by monthly and mandatory deposits made by the employer. Employees can withdraw their money at particular moments, as defined by the government. This article aims to analyze the real effects of this regulation in Brazil and evaluate the benefits of extinguishing this fund. This government intervention interferes in the environment of voluntary exchanges between employees and employers, increasing the cost of the worker. It also creates the adverse effect of increasing turnover in the labor market because it encourages the worker to act in a way that motivates a dismissal to gain access to this resource. The preference for resources at present is observed when analyzing the results of the resource flexibility measure that took place in 2019. More than 12 million workers chose to anticipate receiving their resources. In addition, the financial return of the FGTS is very low for its shareholders. The data show that the money stuck in the FGTS yields below the average returns of similar risky applications. Who gains from this is the government, which can use the cheap resources of this fund. This way, the end of the FGTS in Brazil would significantly improve productivity and allocations in the Brazilian labor market.

How foraging preference and activity level of bumble bees contribute to colony flexibility under resource demand

Groups of cooperative organisms, including humans, benefit from the contributions of both specialist and generalist individuals. Group responses to resource or task demand emerge from the specific actions of individuals within the group. Bumble bee colonies need to respond to resource demands for both pollen and nectar for colony growth and reproduction. Bumble bee workers have been shown to display differences in foraging preferences for these essential resources and in activity level. This study investigated the responses of Bombus terrestris individuals to resource demand by subjecting colonies to different pollen and sucrose storage scenarios, considering their individual foraging preferences and activity levels. The sucrose sensitivity and olfactory learning ability of individuals were then compared along a spectrum of foraging preference (between pollen and sucrose foraging) using the proboscis extension reflex paradigm. When sucrose was in demand, individuals with a preference for sucrose showed the largest upregulation in foraging bouts. Individual preference for pollen and activity level correlated with the upregulation of foraging bouts when pollen was in demand. This study detected no relationship between body size, sucrose preference and worker sucrose sensitivity or olfactory learning ability, tested with proboscis extension reflex conditioning. This study highlights the potential value of foraging preferences in bumble bee colonies but also the flexibility these colonies have with a small foraging workforce. • Bumble bees with high sucrose preference upregulate to fill sucrose demands. • Pollen preference and individual activity level predict upregulation in pollen demand. • Body size and sucrose preference do not predict worker sucrose sensitivity. • Body size and sucrose preference do not predict odour learning performance. • Workload is not evenly split between individuals.

Which online learning resources do undergraduate economics students’ value and does their use improve academic attainment? A comparison and revealed preferences from before and during the Covid pandemic

The rapid shift to online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic led to widespread migration to online / blended delivery across UK Higher Education. This has prompted renewed interest in identifying the features of virtual learning environments (VLEs) which students value and are most helpful in academic development and attainment. Using the experience of delivery on an undergraduate module both before and after the introduction of an online delivery model, we use a revealed preference framework to analyse the influence of cognitive load on the value students attach to VLE features in combination with other learning resources. We also use regression analysis to examine which learning resources are crucial to attainment. Our findings suggests that students avoid cognitive overload by being selective in their use of learning resources. They showed a greater preference for both familiar and passive learning resources like lectures, lecture recordings and seminars in both learning environments. Students exhibited a lower preference for active VLE features - multiple-choice quizzes, open-ended questions and discussion forums. Nonetheless, use of open-ended questions along with lecture recordings and lecture slides had a significantly positive impact on academic attainment in the online learning environment. This supports instrumentalism in the use of these resources. Students were more selective in developing deeper understanding using online open-ended questions. Our results imply that module designers need to accept that such resources will be used more selectively. However, they should still be provided to encourage active, deeper learning.

English Literature Students at Spanish University Have Positive Perceptions Towards but Limited Understanding of Online Resources

A Review of: Roig-Marín, A., &amp; Prieto, S. (2021). English literature students' perspectives on digital resources in a Spanish university. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 47(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2021.102461 Abstract Objective – To assess students’ perception, use, and format preferences of library resources. Design – Online survey questionnaire. Setting – A public university in Spain. Subjects – 134 second-year, third-year, and fourth-year undergraduate English language and literature students. Methods – An anonymous survey was built using Google Forms and shared with eligible participants during March and April 2021. Survey participation was voluntary, although students were encouraged to respond and were provided with class time to do so. Nonetheless, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic at the time of this study, courses were taught in a hybrid (both in-person and online) format and class attendance was not mandatory. The survey consisted of six multiple choice and four open-ended questions, and answers were required for all 10 questions. Main Results – Respondents were mostly satisfied with the available resources in supporting their studies in English literature and culture, with the majority preferring to access resources online (51%) or through both online and print formats (14%). Convenience was the most commonly cited reason for favoring online access, while improved processing and learning were mentioned by those preferring print. A majority of respondents also indicated they have used online resources from either their home university library (72%) or other libraries (55%). Conversely, 29% of the respondents were unable to identify any specific electronic resources. Conclusion – Study results indicate that Spanish undergraduate students majoring in English literature generally have a positive perception of library resources in supporting their studies and prefer online access over print. However, many of these students may also have an incorrect or limited understanding of how to differentiate between library resources, general websites, web search engines, or computer programs.

Safety first: User needs analysis of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to determine learning preferences

Adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and forward emergency braking are some examples of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) currently available in many automotive vehicles on the road today. As the capabilities of ADAS in vehicles continue to grow, is the driver’s understanding of these advanced features and their limitations also growing? We administered a 15-item online survey gauging familiarity, perceived importance, comfort using, and learning resource preferences of ADAS to 956 participants. These participants were drivers with experience in owning or renting ADAS-equipped vehicles. In brief, findings indicated that drivers perceive ADAS as important, but lacked an understanding of key safety precautions for optimal use and preferred non-corrective features. Based on the results of this study, future research should consider a method of consolidating learning to increase user knowledge and use of ADAS in vehicles.

The Influence of COVID-19 on Medical Student Resource Preferences.

IntroductionOver the past decade, pre-clerkship medical education has shifted from solely relying on didactic lectures to implementing more group learning and clinical experience to promote individualized, self-directed, and patient-centered education. COVID-19 required medical schools to examine their curricula and determine which portions were adaptable to virtual learning. This study compared first-year medical students’ (MS1) perceptions of an online curriculum, focusing on the students’ preferred resources before and after the transition to virtual courses.Materials and methodsAt one community-based allopathic medical school, a decision was made to move the entire pre-clerkship curriculum to a virtual format in the setting of the pandemic. An end-of-course survey evaluation was distributed via email to 64 first-year medical students at a community-based allopathic medical school. The participants were asked numerous questions about their overall perceptions of each course, including questions about the usefulness of lectures, small group activities, course administration, and faculty communication. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected during the standard program evaluation process for the two courses, and a third survey that focused on learning resources asked questions regarding virtual learning.ResultsOf the students, 29.7% reported being disappointed with the virtual curriculum, while the other 70.3% reported an unchanged or improved overall medical education. Regarding resource preferences, 56.5% of the students viewed most (76%-100%) course lectures, while 35.5% of the students viewed less than half of the course lectures. In contrast, 75.8% of the students said the majority (>50%) of their learning comes from outside resources. Furthermore, 31% reported that they are satisfied with the resources provided by the school, while 42% reported that they would like the school to provide additional resources. With that being said, 61% reported using more outside resources with the onset of a virtual curriculum, while 34% reported no change in outside resource use. Only 2% reported using fewer outside resources.ConclusionThis study found that pre-clerkship medical students preferred some aspects of the in-person setting, such as social interaction and clinical exposure that is lacking in the virtual setting. However, students preferred many aspects of the virtual setting, such as having more independent study time and a more efficient learning process. Overall, before and after the transition, students were less satisfied with traditional curricular resources and more likely to choose external, board-specific resources with hopes of building strong residency applications, and these preferences were heightened in the online format.

Breastfeeding mothers’ experiences with community physicians in Israel: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe guidelines of all leading professional organizations recommend providing adequate support and education regarding breastfeeding; yet many mothers feel that they receive inadequate information from their health care providers in the primary care setting. This is in line with studies that demonstrate that physicians’ knowledge about breastfeeding is lacking. The aim of this study was to expand our understanding of the breastfeeding-related experiences of mothers with primary care physicians (PCPs).MethodsIn this qualitative study, we interviewed breastfeeding mothers in Israel in the first six months after delivery. The interviews were conducted between December 2020 and May 2021. We used thematic analysis to explore women’s attitudes and experiences with their PCPs regarding breastfeeding concerns. All authors read the transcribed interviews and independently marked statements regarding breastfeeding. Then, in a joint process, codes, subthemes and themes were defined. Each subtheme was backed up with a quote from the interviews.ResultsWe interviewed 13 women aged 24 to 37. We identified four main themes. The first of these was physicians’ inconsistent attitudes toward breastfeeding. Some were indifferent, while others related to breastfeeding solely in the context of infant development. Some were supportive, while others opposed breastfeeding. Several women revealed physicians’ inappropriate and disturbing attitudes to breastfeeding. The second theme was physicians’ lack of knowledge regarding medical treatment for breastfeeding issues. This theme included lack of knowledge, incorrect treatment of breastfeeding problems, and contradictions among HCPs. The third was mothers’ preference for alternative resources, including individualized breastfeeding counselling, maternity and childcare nurses, mothers’ groups (in person or online), and family and friends over medical treatment for breastfeeding problems. The fourth theme involved mothers’ suggestions for PCPs, which highlighted the importance of communication, prenatal physician-initiated dialogue on breastfeeding, expanding professional knowledge on breastfeeding, and increasing the availability of treatment for breastfeeding problems.ConclusionThe women in this study reported unsatisfactory breastfeeding support by PCPs and incorrect or inadequate treatment of medical problems related to breastfeeding. They also felt they had no medical experts to approach with breastfeeding-related problems. We believe that physicians should expand their knowledge on breastfeeding medicine so that they can provide comprehensive patient-centered treatment to both mothers and infants. Education programs for improving knowledge and skills in breastfeeding issues should be implemented throughout the medical training.

Psychedelic Forum Member Preferences for Carer Experience and Consumption Behavior: Can “Trip Sitters” Help Inform Psychedelic Harm Reduction Services?

Background: There is limited research on the provision of harm reduction services to people who use psychedelics. Little is known about provision of care to people consuming psychedelics outside of clinical trials. Methods: We investigated how people who used psychedelics discussed their preferences for care (or “trip sitting”) on two online forums: The Shroomery and DMT Nexus. A thematic analysis of the discussion was conducted to better understand consumer preferences for harm reduction services and resources. Results: We identified two key themes: experience and remote sitting. Forum participants valued trip sitters who had experienced psychedelic and other non-ordinary states of consciousness, who had knowledge of the health and medical industry, psychedelic literature and/or had previously cared for other psychedelic consumers. Forum participants also identified the value of consuming a psychedelic without somebody who was in their physical proximity, through communicating their plans to a remote trip sitter. The use of online tools was identified as a way to maximize the benefit of privacy while retaining carer benefits. Conclusion: Demand for trip sitters with lived psychedelic experience is likely influenced by stigma and empathy. Trip sitters who could relate to the effects of psychedelics assisted consumers in avoiding stigma while vulnerable under the effects of psychedelics. As such, psychedelic harm reduction services should be delivered by peers to ensure care maximizes the benefits of empathy. Psychedelic harm reduction services should consider how remote workers could be employed. There is a clear demand for remote psychedelic care services and to our knowledge this has not yet been explored.

Nutritional Ecology of Carollia perspicillata (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae): Relationship between the Preference and the Nutritional Content of Fruits

We assessed the degree of preference for food resources consumed by Carollia perspicillata from Macaregua cave (Santander, Colombia), and how these preferences were related to nutrient content. Between July and August of 2015, 160 bats were captured with a capture success of 7.04 individuals-night/hours-network. The fecal samples were processed in the laboratory and seeds that were found were identified taxonomically. The supply of fruit and nutritional value of ripe fruit collected from plant species identified in bat fecal samples were determined. The plant species, Myrsine sp., Neosprucea montana, Duranta repens and Maclura tinctoria accounted for over 85% of total food resources consumed, with nine additional species making up the rest of the sample. The diet was dominated by Myrcia popayanensis, M. tinctoria, Vismia glaziovii, Solanum mauritianum and N. montana. The nutrient contents (sugar, water, lipids, fiber, protein and ash) in their fruits varied significantly. Both male and female C. perspicillata preferred M. popayanensis and, to a lesser extent M. tinctoria. Food resource preferences were related (not linearly) to their nutritional content, with the preferred fruit being those showing intermediate nutrient concentrations. Maclura tinctoria and N. montana are new entries on the list of plant species consumed by C. perspicillata.

Influence of Flowering Characteristics, Local Environment, and Daily Temperature on the Visits Paid by Apis mellifera to the Exotic Crop Phacelia tanacetifolia

The opportunity to introduce Phacelia tanacetifolia is still being debated, even if the species is already employed, as it is often sown in rotational set-aside schemes or to support pollinators. Therefore, we need further evidence on its effects on the environment and its attractiveness towards pollinators. This work aims at confirming its appeal towards the honeybee in a mixed agricultural and urban environment in the north of Italy, during late spring and early autumn flowering. We assessed flowering characteristics and honeybee visitation rates by employing observational plots; we recorded resource preferences and behaviours by focal observations and video records; finally, we annotated other flower visitors. Each plant is characterised by one or more flowering stems on which not all flowers open at the same time: an increased number of flowers is, therefore, due to an increase in the number of available flowering stems. Honeybees were highly interested in lacy phacelia resources, especially in nectar collection: pollen collection may not be sufficiently rewarding for bees to dedicate time to it. The only correlation we found was between visitation rates and temperature. Other insects were recorded visiting the flowers: these were especially Hymenoptera; Coleoptera and Lepidoptera were also abundant, while relatively few individuals of Hemiptera and Diptera were recorded. Our results indicate that the mass-flowering of the species is certainly of interest to local pollinators and can be considered to counteract their decline when sown as a single species or in flower mixtures. However, further studies are needed to assess the competition of this plant with native species and its ability to self-regenerate when not purposely planted.

‘This novel is not totally full of tears...’: Graduation Resources as Appraisal Strategies in EFL Students’ Fiction Book Review Oral Presentation

Today, scholars in the field of text analysis are increasingly interested in studying evaluative language. However, few, if any, studies on classroom language have examined EFL students' fiction book review oral presentations from the perspective of the appraisal model. This study aimed at examining students’ use of graduation resources as part of appraisal strategies in classroom discourse, as well as lexico-grammatical resources for coding these strategies in texts. Graduation, in functional perspective is the sub-system of appraisal that is connected with force and focus in creating interpersonal meaning. The dataset comprised three transcripts of students’ fiction book review oral presentations in scientific presentation course, comprising 7.593 words in total. The data were examined quantitatively to identify the statistical variations in utilizing graduation resources in EFL students’ oral presentations. The preferences for lexico-grammatical resources for the construal of these strategies were also illustrated through a qualitative analysis. The results of the study reveal that the classroom discourse of EFL students’ fiction book review oral presentation is loaded with graduation resources. The results of the study show that all students used all graduation resources, specifically force and focus. In terms of force, the sub-systems of intensification (e.g., just, so, never, quiet, full of) and quantification (e.g., only, one of, some of, closely, etc) were applied. Meanwhile, in terms of focus, students only used the sharpen sub-system (e.g., originally, especially). The sub-systems within the system of graduation were shown to serve as strong tools developing the student’s skill to have critical thingking competence.

Understanding Preconception Women's Needs and Preferences for Digital Health Resources: Qualitative Study.

BackgroundImproving preconception health can benefit all women, their children, and their families regardless of their individual pregnancy intentions. Rapidly increasing access to information technology and online engagement have created opportunities to use digital health resources to engage with preconception women regarding lifestyle behaviors.ObjectiveThis study explores how preconception women engage with digital health resources and online platforms to inform the design and development of a digital health resource to support women to make positive behavior change for their preconception health.MethodsThis codesign research followed the Double Diamond process, which focuses on contextualization and explorative processes in phase 1 and ideation and development processes in phase 2. Phase 1 is reported on in this study and was undertaken via a series of 1-on-1 in-depth interviews with female participants (N=12) aged 18-45 years over 3 months. Interviews were designed to explore participants’ lived experiences in relation to their health and desired supports for healthy lifestyle behaviors. The first interview focused on participants’ perceptions of health and health behaviors, the second interview focused on social connections for health, and the third interview focused on digital health information and supports. Conversations from the first interview informed the development of the second interview, and conversations from the second interview informed the development of the third interview. Community advisors (N=8) met to provide feedback and advice to the researchers throughout the interview process. Qualitative analyses of transcripts from interviews were undertaken by 2 researchers before a deductive process identified themes mapped to the capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior (COM-B) framework.ResultsIn total, 9 themes and 8 subthemes were identified from 124 codes. In relation to digital health resources, specifically, participants were already engaging with a range of digital health resources and had high expectations of these. Digital health resources needed to be easy to access, make women’s busy lives easier, be evidence based, and be reputable. Social connectedness was also highly important to our participants, with information and advice from peers with similar experiences being preferred over yet more online health information. Online communities facilitated these social interactions. Participants were open to the idea of chatbots and virtual assistants but acknowledged that they would not replace authentic social interactions.ConclusionsCodesigned digital health resources should be evidence based, reputable, and easy to access. Social connections were considered highly important to women, and designers of digital health resources should consider how they can increase opportunities for women to connect and learn from each other to promote health behaviors.