User generated content and credibility evaluation of online health information: A meta analytic study

The present study provides a meta-analysis of perceived credibility concerns for user-generated-online-health information. Past work yields inconsistent findings regarding whether high credible versus low credible sources would relate to perceived credibility of online health information. A collection of empirical studies was synthesized to reach an explanation of the conflicting findings. Analysis of 22 effect sizes with 1346 participants indicated that source credibility had no significant overall influence on perceived information credibility (r = 0.03, n.s.). However, the variances across the studies suggest that the platform where the information was posted might be a contingent factor. Specifically, when user-generated health information was posted on a common website, high credible sources were significantly related to high perceived information credibility.     

A multichannel ASIC for the tracking system of the CBM experiment

A 128-channel application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for asynchronous reading and processing the signals of silicon microstrip detectors is presented. The ASIC was designed for operation in a tracking system of the CBM (Compressed Baryonic Matter) International Experiment at the FAIR Accelerating Complex (Darmstadt, Germany). The microcircuit was developed using the CMOS 0.18-μm process of the UMC (Taiwan) and fabricated with the help of the Europractice. The article describes the structure of the ASIC, the operation of the main units, and presents the results of simulation and laboratory investigation of prototype samples.     

Photonic band structure of guided bloch modes in high index films fully etched through with periodic microstructure

Abstract

By adapting the well-known ‘zigzag’ ray model for use with a periodic waveguide (i.e. replacing the plane wave rays with Bloch wave rays), we show that thin films of high refractive index, supported by a low index substrate and fully etched through with a periodic pattern, can support guided modes. From the dispersion relation of these guided Bloch modes, it is shown that the in-plane modal group velocity can be zero, suggesting applications in enhanced dipole-field interactions and control of spontaneous emission in waveguide lasers.     

Human performance and strategies while solving an aircraft routing and sequencing problem: an experimental approach

As airport resources are stretched to meet increasing demand for services, effective use of ground infrastructure is increasingly critical for ensuring operational efficiency. Work in operations research has produced algorithms providing airport tower controllers with guidance on optimal timings and sequences for flight arrivals, departures, and ground movement. While such decision support systems have the potential to improve operational efficiency, they may also affect users’ mental workload, situation awareness, and task performance. This work sought to identify performance outcomes and strategies employed by human decision makers during an experimental airport ground movement control task with the goal of identifying opportunities for enhancing user-centered tower control decision support systems. To address this challenge, thirty novice participants solved a set of vehicle routing problems presented in the format of a game representing the airport ground movement task practiced by runway controllers. The games varied across two independent variables, network map layout (representing task complexity) and gameplay objective (representing task flexibility), and verbal protocol, visual protocol, task performance, workload, and task duration were collected as dependent variables. A logistic regression analysis revealed that gameplay objective and task duration significantly affected the likelihood of a participant identifying the optimal solution to a game, with the likelihood of an optimal solution increasing with longer task duration and in the less flexible objective condition. In addition, workload appeared unaffected by either independent variable, but verbal protocols and visual observations indicated that high-performing participants demonstrated a greater degree of planning and situation awareness. Through identifying human behavior during optimization problem solving, the work of tower control can be better understood, which, in turn, provides insights for developing decision support systems for ground movement management.

     

Molecular motor proteins and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord, which is characterized by motor dysfunction, muscle dystrophy and progressive paralysis. Both inherited and sporadic forms of ALS share common pathological features, however, the initial trigger of neurodegeneration remains unknown. Motor neurons are uniquely targeted by ubiquitously expressed proteins in ALS but the reason for this selectively vulnerability is unclear. However motor neurons have unique characteristics such as very long axons, large cell bodies and high energetic metabolism, therefore placing high demands on cellular transport processes. Defects in cellular trafficking are now widely reported in ALS, including dysfunction to the molecular motors dynein and kinesin. Abnormalities to dynein in particular are linked to ALS, and defects in dynein-mediated axonal transport processes have been reported as one of the earliest pathologies in transgenic SOD1 mice. Furthermore, dynein is very highly expressed in neurons and neurons are particularly sensitive to dynein dysfunction. Hence, unravelling cellular transport processes mediated by molecular motor proteins may help shed light on motor neuron loss in ALS.     

A preamplifier for the muon system of the CBM experiment

The structure and results of the experimental study of the application specific integrated circuit, which contains two versions of a preamplifier for reading out and preprocessing signals of muon chambers, are presented. An integrated circuit was designed for operation in the muon system of the International Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at the FAIR accelerator facility (Darmstadt, Germany). It was manufactured by the CMOS technology with 0.18-μm design rules of the UMC company (Taiwan) via the Europractice European organization.     

The influence of online forum and SNS use on online political discussion in China: Assessing “Spirals of Trust”

Echoing the significance of mobile online networks in fueling the Arab Spring, the present study seeks to better understand social media influences in China by studying political activity among Chinese netizens. A survey of Chinese college students examines the influence of online social networks in the context of political attitudes and political participation. Study results reveal a moderate but positive impact of online forum and social networking site use on online political discussion. Implications for political change in the social networking era, particularly in regimes that practice Internet censorship like China’s, are discussed.     

DTV standards and transition: A comparative policy analysis

China recently has emerged as a serious player in setting ICT standards, as evidenced by its presence in major conferences on standardization with the International Telecommunications Union. While the ATSC standard contributed to the successful completion of the DTV transition in the US, China’s home-grown DTV standard bears little, to date, on its relative success in converting one third of its cable households to digital service. In light of these differing outcomes, this paper identifies and compares the strategies behind the quest for national DTV standards by retracing the key policy initiatives in China and the US. Our analysis suggests that protectionist impulses shaping distinct standards for the US (Grand Alliance), China, and other regions dampen prospects for a global standard in DTV. However, the US has been more successful at maintaining the kind of balance between industry and governmental policy that is critical to maintaining technological innovation and a competitive marketplace.     

Screening and counselling for sickle cell disorders and thalassaemia: the experience of parents and health professionals

Shortfalls in haemoglobinopathy provision result in patients and their carers receiving inadequate support. This paper, by drawing on material from a project evaluating service provision to families caring for a child with a sickle cell disorder or thalassaemia, discusses screening and counselling services. It explores the perspectives of parents, front-line practitioners, managers and health commissioners. Poor quality care, inadequate information and professionals' insensitivity were salient themes in parental accounts. The parents' experience also confirms the problems faced by minority ethnic people in having their welfare needs recognised, more generally. Although our focus in on genetic conditions affecting minority communities in the UK, the issues we address are at the heart of the 'new genetics'.