Vendor Websites Research Articles

A trustworthy AI reality-check: the lack of transparency of artificial intelligence products in healthcare.

Trustworthy medical AI requires transparency about the development and testing of underlying algorithms to identify biases and communicate potential risks of harm. Abundant guidance exists on how to achieve transparency for medical AI products, but it is unclear whether publicly available information adequately informs about their risks. To assess this, we retrieved public documentation on the 14 available CE-certified AI-based radiology products of the II b risk category in the EU from vendor websites, scientific publications, and the European EUDAMED database. Using a self-designed survey, we reported on their development, validation, ethical considerations, and deployment caveats, according to trustworthy AI guidelines. We scored each question with either 0, 0.5, or 1, to rate if the required information was "unavailable", "partially available," or "fully available." The transparency of each product was calculated relative to all 55 questions. Transparency scores ranged from 6.4% to 60.9%, with a median of 29.1%. Major transparency gaps included missing documentation on training data, ethical considerations, and limitations for deployment. Ethical aspects like consent, safety monitoring, and GDPR-compliance were rarely documented. Furthermore, deployment caveats for different demographics and medical settings were scarce. In conclusion, public documentation of authorized medical AI products in Europe lacks sufficient public transparency to inform about safety and risks. We call on lawmakers and regulators to establish legally mandated requirements for public and substantive transparency to fulfill the promise of trustworthy AI for health.

Understanding Security Risks of Embedded Devices Through Fine-Grained Firmware Fingerprinting

An increasing number of embedded devices are connecting to the Internet, ranging from cameras, routers to printers, while an adversary can exploit security flaws already known to compromise those devices. Security patches are usually associated with the device firmware, which relies on the device vendors and products. Due to compatibility and release-time issues, many embedded devices are still using outdated firmware with known vulnerabilities or flaws. In this article, we conduct a systematic study on device vulnerabilities by leveraging firmware fingerprints. Specifically, we use a web crawler to gather 9,716 firmware images from official websites of device vendors, and 347,685 security reports scattered across data archives, blogs, and forums. We propose to generate fine-grained fingerprints based on the subtle differences between the filesystems of various firmware images. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms and regex are used to identify device vulnerabilities and corresponding device firmware fingerprints. We perform real-world experiments to validate the performance of the firmware fingerprint, which yields high accuracy of 91% precision and 90% recall. We reveal that 6,898 reports have the firmware and related vulnerability information, and there are more than 10% of firmware vulnerabilities without any patches or solutions for mitigating underlying security risks.

Contemporary Computational Applications and Tools in Drug Discovery.

In the past decade or so there has been a dramatic increase in the number of computational applications and tools that have been developed to enable medicinal chemists to prosecute modern drug discovery programs more efficiently. The upsurge of user-friendly, well-designed computational tools that enable structure-based drug design (SBDD) and cheminformatics (CI)-based drug design has equipped the medicinal chemist with an arsenal of tools and applications that significantly augments the entire design process, thereby enhancing the speed and efficiency of the design-make-test-analyze cycle. Modern computational applications and tools transcend all areas of drug discovery, and most savvy medicinal chemists can employ them effectively in a myriad of drug discovery applications. Indeed, the sheer scope and breadth of tools available to the medicinal chemist is vast and, to our knowledge, has not been comprehensively reviewed. In this article we have catalogued many computational tools, platforms, and applications that are currently available, with four main areas highlighted: commercially available tools/platforms, open-source applications, internally developed platforms (software tools developed within a pharma or biotech organization), and artificial intelligence/machine learning-based platforms. For ease of interpretation, for these categories we provide tables organized by vendor or organization name, the name of the application, whether the tool/application is employed predominantly for SBDD or CI-based design, and a summary of the main function of the tools, with associated hyperlinks to vendor Web sites. We have tried to be as comprehensive and as inclusive as possible; however, the pace of development of new and existing tools is so rapid that there may be omissions with respect to newly developed tools and current versions of the software.

Flavour spectrum of the Puff family of disposable e-cigarettes

BackgroundIn January 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration prohibited the sale of flavours (except for menthol and tobacco) in prefilled pod devices such as JUUL to decrease youth vaping....

Assessing the quality of information provided on websites selling Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) to consumers in Canada

BackgroundAmid a Canadian opioid crisis, many have turned to natural health products, such as kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), to manage their opioid withdrawal. Kratom has also been reported to relieve anxiety, improve stamina, and heighten physical performance. Given that kratom is not authorized for sale by Health Canada, many have turned to online retailers to purchase kratom due to its easy accessibility online. This study investigated the quality of consumer health information provided on the websites of online vendors selling kratom to consumers in Canada.MethodsFollowing searches on Google.ca using search terms designed to simulate the information-seeking behaviour of a typical patient-user online, eligible websites were assessed using the 16-question DISCERN instrument, a tool designed to assess the quality of consumer health information. Searches were conducted on March 27, 2020 and only websites presenting information in English were included.ResultsA total of 200 webpages were identified; after screening based on eligibility criteria and combining different webpages that belonged to the same website, 51 websites were found to be eligible. The mean summed DISCERN score across all 51 websites was 36.95 (SD = 2.44) out of 75, which reflects poor quality consumer health information across the subset of websites. The overall quality of websites was poor, as 78% (n = 40) of vendors received a score of 2 or less out of 5.ConclusionsIndividuals who seek information about kratom online are frequently exposed to poor quality consumer health information. Those looking to purchase kratom online are not provided with the critical information necessary to make an informed decision regarding its use, such as the complete details about the risks and side effects or a description of how kratom affects the body. Given the growing interest in kratom, knowledge of the quality of information available can lead to improved dialogue between healthcare providers and patients.

Potential revenue from taxing e-cigarettes and comparison of annual costs of daily e-cigarette use versus daily cigarette smoking among South African adults.

INTRODUCTIONTo inform policy making under the proposed The Control of Tobacco and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, we compared annual costs of using e-cigarettes versus cigarettes, and estimated revenue from e-cigarette taxation.METHODSWe extracted e-cigarette retail prices from 231 South African e-cigarette vendor websites. We compared annual costs associated with daily cigarette smoking (self-reports from daily smokers in the 2018 South African Social Attitudes Survey, SASAS) versus daily e-cigarette use (based on cumulative costs of consumables plus device costs). We estimated revenue from excise tax if e-cigarettes were taxed at 75% (the rate proposed by the government) and 37.5% (half of the government’s proposal as a hypothetical scenario) of the cigarette excise rate. We applied the different rates to e-cigarette consumption in 2018 SASAS and projected for 2021.RESULTSMean annual cost associated with daily use was ZAR 6693 (US$460.32, based on an exchange rate of about 69 US$ to 1000 ZAR) for manufactured cigarettes; for e-cigarettes, this ranged from ZAR 8574.69/year (with price minimizing strategies) to ZAR 19780.83/year (retail products exclusively). Expected revenue from e-cigarette excise tax at 75% of the cigarette tax rate was up to ZAR 2.20 billion (95% CI: 0.96–3.44). If taxed at 37.5% of the cigarette tax rate – half of the government’s proposed rate – the projected revenue was up to ZAR 1.10 billion (95% CI: 0.48–1.72). Of the projected revenue from e-cigarette excise tax at 75% of the cigarette rate, the portion attributable to hardware (device and batteries) was 61% (ZAR 1.35 billion), while the portion attributable to e-liquid was 39% (ZAR 0.86 billion).CONCLUSIONSCalculated daily costs were higher for e-cigarettes than cigarettes. We recommend an e-cigarette excise tax. The government’s proposed tax rate may reduce youth e-cigarette access, while allowing adult smokers wishing to switch exclusively to e-cigarettes to reduce their tobacco-related harm.

The quality of information available about Ephedra sinica on online vendor websites: The Canadian consumer experience

BackgroundEphedra sinica (ES) is a natural health product used to promote weight loss, enhance athletic performance, and treat common ailments such as the common cold or flu. Due to restrictions within Canada, Canadians interested in purchasing this product turn to online vendors for the ease and discrete nature of online transactions. However, the information available on these websites for consumers looking to purchase the substance is variable. This study investigated the quality of information about ES available to Canadian consumers on the websites of these online vendors. MethodsFollowing searches on Google.ca, eligible websites were assessed using the DISCERN instrument, a tool consisting of 16 questions, each rated on a five-point Likert scale, to assess the quality of health information about a treatment choice. The data was used to determine the overall quality of information about ES available to consumers on these websites. ResultsA total of 660 webpages were identified, of which 28 websites were found to be eligible. It was determined that the overall quality of information of websites selling ES products online was poor, as 79 % of online vendors received an average score of 2 or below. ConclusionConsumers looking to purchase ES online are lacking critical information about this herbal product that is necessary to make an informed decision about its use. This study's findings can be used by clinicians and researchers to inform patients about the poor quality of information about ES on these websites and help them identify quality sources of information.

How to improve e-mail click-through rates – A national culture approach

Assessing e-mail marketing effectiveness is challenging. Prior to achieving the main goal of sales conversion, an intermediate objective of e-mail campaigns is to capture the recipient’s interest and redirect the traffic to the vendor's website. The present study investigates the relevance of the variables that influence recipients’ interest in promotional e-mails and seeks to determine whether national culture moderates those relationships. The study provides marketers with actionable insights into how to more effectively plan and deploy e-mail marketing strategies in different cultural settings.

Online availability of fish antibiotics and documented intent for self-medication.

Self-medication and antibiotic utilization without healthcare oversight may lead to delayed appropriate treatment, transmission of communicable infections, untoward adverse events, and contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Previous data suggest people obtain over-the-counter (OTC) animal antibiotics for their personal use. This study examined the availability of OTC fish antibiotics online and the documented intent for self-medication. The authors conducted a web-based cross-sectional study using Google search engine to identify vendor websites selling fish antibiotics in the United States. Vendor websites were included if product information, consumer reviews, and comments were publicly available. Nine fish antibiotics were chosen due to their possibility of having consequences to human misuse. The cost and availability of fish antibiotics was recorded. The proportion of reviews and comments related to human consumption was calculated. Consumer review traffic based on “likes” and “dislikes” received was compared between human- and non-human consumption-related reviews. Selected fish antibiotics were purchased and evaluated for physical appearance and compared to FDA-approved available equivalents. We found 24 website vendors with online ordering available for OTC fish antibiotics. Cost varied significantly by antibiotic and quantity ranging from USD $8.99 to $119.99. There were 2,288 reviews documented for the 9 selected antibiotics being sold. Among consumer reviews, 2.4% were potentially associated with human consumption. Human consumption-related reviews constituted 30.2% of all “likes” received and 37.5% of all “dislikes” received. Human consumption-related reviews received an average of 9.2 likes compared to 0.52 likes for non-human consumption-related reviews. The 8 fish antibiotics purchased were consistent with FDA-approved equivalents in physical appearance. Although infrequent, antibiotics intended for fish use are being purchased online without a prescription for self-medication to circumvent professional medical care. Reviews related to human consumption generate significant online traffic compared to reviews unrelated to human consumption.

History and Future Directions of Vision Testing in Head Trauma.

Concussion leads to neurophysiologic changes that may result in visual symptoms and changes in ocular motor function. Vision-based testing is used increasingly to improve detection and assess head injury. This review will focus on the historical aspects and emerging data for vision tests, emphasizing rapid automatized naming (RAN) tasks and objective recording techniques, including video-oculography (VOG), as applied to the evaluation of mild traumatic brain injury. Searches on PubMed were performed using combinations of the following key words: "concussion," "mild traumatic brain injury," "rapid automatized naming," "King-Devick," "mobile universal lexicon evaluation system," "video-oculography," and "eye-tracking." Additional information was referenced from web sites of vendors of commercial eye-tracking systems and services. Tests of rapid number, picture, or symbol naming, termed RAN tasks, have been used in neuropsychological studies since the early 20th century. The visual system contains widely distributed networks that are readily assessed by a variety of functionally distinct RAN tasks. The King-Devick test, a rapid number naming assessment, and several picture-naming tests, such as the Mobile Universal Lexicon Evaluation System (MULES) and the modified Snodgrass and Vanderwart image set, show capacity to identify athletes with concussion. VOG has gained widespread use in eye- and gaze-tracking studies of head trauma from which objective data have shown increased saccadic latencies, saccadic dysmetria, errors in predictive target tracking, and changes in vergence in concussed subjects. Performance impairments on RAN tasks and on tasks recorded with VOG are likely related to ocular motor dysfunction and to changes in cognition, specifically to attention, memory, and executive functioning. As research studies on ocular motor function after concussion have expanded, so too have commercialized eye-tracking systems and assessments. However, these commercial services are still investigational and all vision-based markers of concussion require further validation. RAN tasks and VOG assessments provide objective measures of ocular motor function. Changes in ocular motor performance after concussion reflect generalized neurophysiologic changes affecting a variety of cognitive processes. Although these tests are increasingly used in head injury assessments, further study is needed to validate them as adjunctive diagnostic aids and assessments of recovery.

User support as moderator for cloud computing user satisfaction

Cloud computing (CC) promises to provide quicker, easier, and less expensive computing services supporting e-commerce. To ensure that CC is also able to maintain or enhance customer satisfaction, this study addresses the factors leading to higher user satisfaction with SaaS applications websites. The proposed model defines and empirically tests these relationships, including the moderating effect of user support. Data collected from 1,257 users/customers using the order entry systems of 176 client organisations available through four SaaS providers were analysed. Results confirm the importance of the proposed success factors for user satisfaction with the CC vendor websites. Management of CC application risks, knowledge about the service provider, and effective data management respectively explained significant percentages of the variance in user satisfaction with the CC vendor website. The positive impact of user support is also confirmed. The results provide the basis for several insights and recommendations for managers and future research.

The moderating effect of culture on e-filing taxes: evidence from India

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine factors that affect the adoption of an electronic tax filing system in an emerging economy. Using the theory of planned behavior, the technology acceptance model (TAM), the information systems success model (ISSM), and Hofstede’s cultural values as the theoretical basis, this paper examines the influence that computer skills (CS), perceived ease of use (PEoU), perceived usefulness (PU), information systems quality, and espoused national culture have on the adoption of an electronic tax filing system in an emerging economy.Design/methodology/approachA survey was used to collect the data from individuals who e-filed theirs or someone else’s (individual and/or business) income taxes using government or private vendor websites. Snowball sampling technique is used to collect the data. A total of 201 usable questionnaires were analyzed.FindingsResults indicate that PEoU and PU have a positive impact on user satisfaction (US), and higher US is linked to higher intentions of adopting online tax filing. Results show that high-power distance positively influences US.Practical implicationsThe study provides insight for policymakers in emerging economies involved in diffusion of technology decisions. Considerations for requisite CS, perceptions of usefulness and ease, and culture should be included in the diffusion process.Originality/valueThis paper provides evidence supporting the predictability of TAM and ISSM in technology adoption. In addition, the study examines the moderating effect of culture on technology adoption. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to develop and test a holistic technology adoption model in context of a multicultural and emerging economy.

Online positioning through website service quality: A case of star-rated hotels in Taiwan

Abstract This study develops a website quality scale for online positioning for the hospitality industry, and analyzes the online-offline positioning consistency. Using data of 153 Taiwanese hotel websites and the multivariate methods of confirmatory factor analysis, principal component analysis, and clustering analysis, twelve attributes under five hotel website quality constructs have been developed. Based on the hotel website quality scale, the study demonstrates three online segments of Taiwanese hotel industry, and then reveals the problem of positioning consistency of Taiwanese hotels between online website quality and offline star rating. This study explores the consideration of online-offline marketing positioning consistency and emphasizes that the service vendor's website quality plays as an online marketing thrust to acquire the subsequent service transactions strategically.

The Influence of Theory of Planned Behavior, Technology Acceptance Model, and Information System Success Model on the Acceptance of Electronic Tax Filing System in an Emerging Economy

Adoption studies on electronic tax-filing system using data from emerging nations are rare. The present paper studies the influence of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and user satisfaction on taxpayers’ behavioral intentions to adopt electronic tax filing services in an emerging economy. For this study, constructs from Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1985, 1991), Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989), and Information System Success Model (DeLone & McLean, 1992) are used. In order to test the impact of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and user satisfaction on behavioral intentions to adopt online tax filing system, we develop several hypotheses. The data is collected from 201 respondents who filed taxes using government or private vendor websites. A structural equation modelling scheme using PLS is used to analyse the model. The measurement model not only shows structural validity but also demonstrates adequate predictive and explanatory quality. A strong support for a majority of hypotheses is found.

Callisto Basic and Callisto Pro

Callisto Basic and Callisto Pro

The Antibody Challenge

The Antibody Challenge

DIKTUON: Purchasing at the Point of Need: An Acquisitions Pilot Project

Purchasing e-books by collection is not a new acquisition strategy for academic libraries. Title sets and subject subsets are readily available for purchase, and even title-by-title purchasing of e-books has become more prevalent over the last couple years. User-driven e-book purchasing is not entirely new either. Many libraries allow patrons to request titles for purchase, even if it is only by filling out a paper form at the Circulation Desk. However, selecting both print and electronic titles, individually or by a profiling process, in order to offer them for purchase at the point of user need (through the library’s online catalog or a vendor website) is still somewhat novel.

A review of room temperature storage of biospecimen tissue and nucleic acids for anatomic pathology laboratories and biorepositories

Frozen biospecimens are crucial for translational research and contain well‐preserved nucleic acids and protein. However, the risks of freezer failure as well as space, cost, and environmental concerns of frozen biospecimens are substantial. Objective: The purpose of the study was to review the current status of room temperature biospecimen storage. Methods: We searched Pubmed and vendor websites to identify relevant information. Results: Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues have great value but their use is limited by cross-linking and fragmentation of nucleic acids, as well as loss of enzymatic activity. Stabilization solutions can now robustly preserve fresh tissue for up to 7days at room temperature. For longer term storage, commercial vendors of chemical matrices claim real time stability of nucleic acids of over 2 years and their accelerated aging studies to date suggest stability for 12years for RNA and 60years for DNA. However, anatomic pathology biorepositories store mostly frozen tissue rather than nucleic acids. Small quantities of tissue can be directly placed on some chemical matrices to stabilize DNA, however RNA and proteins are not preserved. Current lyophilization approaches can preserve histomorphology, DNA, RNA, and proteins though RNA shows moderate degradation after 1-2years. Formalin‐free fixatives show improved but varying abilities to preserve nucleic acids and face validation as well as cost barriers in replacing FFPE specimens. The paraffin embedding process can degrade RNA. Conclusion: Development of robust long-term room temperature biospecimen tissue storage technology can potentially reduce costs for the biomedical community in the face of growing targeted therapy needs and decreasing budgets.

The sales and marketing practices of English-language internet alcohol vendors

This study aimed to fill information gaps about the sales and marketing practices of internet alcohol vendors and their implications for addressing youth access and other legal violations. Further, it aimed to expand the limited scientific literature on internet alcohol sales using systematic survey methods to inform future efforts to regulate this industry and prevent sales to minors. The design was a cross-sectional website content analysis survey. [Not applicable]. A total of 105 internet alcohol vendor websites. Six key content analysis topics were explored: products offered, average prices and proportions of vendors using different promotions, policy statements and methods for age verification, payment and delivery. Websites sell and promote a variety of alcohol products, offered as cheaply as $1.93 for a 750-ml bottle. Vendors rely heavily upon age verification methods that are unlikely to prevent sales to minors. Many vendors advertise shipping of products via methods through which it is illegal or against delivery company policies to transport alcohol, and 99% of vendors accept credit cards. Limiting and enforcing delivery and payment options are types of policy interventions that have been used successfully with internet cigarette vendors that may be applicable to internet alcohol vendors as well. Internet alcohol vendor practices are insufficient to prevent sales to minors, and need further regulation and enforcement of existing policies. Their sales practices are similar to those of internet cigarette vendors prior to regulation, and similar regulatory approaches may be effective in reducing internet alcohol sales to minors.

Increased Size of E-Book Collection Positively Impacts Usage but May Reach Critical Mass

Objective – To investigate the impact of collection size, student population, and faculty population on the use of an e-book collection. 
 
 Design – Longitudinal quantitative analysis.
 
 Setting – Mid-sized public university located in Ontario, Canada.
 
 Subjects – Data from 79,821 e-books related to searches and viewings; data regarding number of e-books held, students enrolled, and faculty employed at institution.
 
 Methods – Numbers of e-books purchased individually and in packages were calculated, followed by the acquisition of annual student and faculty numbers through the University Institutional Planning Office. Searches for and viewings of e-books conducted via vendor websites were obtained directly from vendors. Data for all variables represent years 2002-2010. 
 
 Main Results – Very high Pearson’s correlation coefficients of r = 0.96 for searches performed and r = 0.91 for viewings were found in relation to the number of e-books held. While the annual increase in number of viewings was at a rate similar to that of e-books available, a 7% decrease in searches and viewings occurred in 2010. In terms of user populations, doctoral students exhibited the strongest association with e-book collection size followed by undergraduate students and faculty.
 
 Conclusions – Based upon examination of correlation coefficients, the study concludes that the e-book collection size is closely associated with the level of e-book usage. The author notes that the data suggests use of the collection may possibly have leveled off, implying that additional large increases in the e-book collection could incur unnecessary expenditure. “Viewings per e-book” and “searches per e-book” ratios were highest when e-books were obtained on an individual title-by-title basis, though the author cautions that this does not necessarily prove that selective purchasing results in increased use. A deeper quantitative analysis into e-book usage and academic program size is considered for future research, as well as a comparison between electronic reference books and monographs. The author recommends that similar research be performed at other institutions of varying size to determine whether the study’s results would be replicated.