Determinants of consumers’ intentions to share knowledge and intentions to purchase on s-commerce sites: incorporating attitudes toward persuasion attempts into a social exchange model

This research explores s-commerce users’ intentions to purchase and to share knowledge by incorporating ‘attitudes toward persuasion attempts,’ ‘ease of use,’ and ‘perceived usefulness’ into a social exchange theory model. A survey using an on-site purposive sampling technique was used to recruit the respondents, and an interception technique was used to approach the consumers. A total of 471 Korean consumers participated in this research. Based on 471 Korean social-commerce users, our results reveal that social exchange belief factors and a site’s usability affect user satisfaction, which subsequently affects users’ intentions to purchase and to share knowledge. In addition, attitudes toward persuasion attempts moderate the effect of satisfaction on users’ purchase intentions. Keywords: social exchange theory, attitudes toward persuasion attempts, intention to share knowledge, social exchange belief

Learning from multimedia and hypermedia

Computer-based multimedia and hypermedia resources (e.g., the world wide web) have become one of the primary sources of academic information for a majority of pupils and students. In line with this expansion in the field of education, the scientific study of learning from multimedia and hypermedia has become a very active field of research. In this chapter we provide a short overview with regard to research on learning with multimedia and hypermedia. In two review sections, we describe the educational benefits of multiple representations and of learner control, as these are the two defining characteristics of hypermedia. In a third review section we describe recent scientific trends in the field of multimedia/hypermedia learning. In all three review sections we will point to relevant European work on multimedia/hypermedia carried out within the last 5 years, and often carried out within the Kaleidoscope Network of Excellence. According to the interdisciplinary nature of the field this work might come not only from psychology, but also from technology or pedagogy. Comparing the different research activities on multimedia and hypermedia that have dominated the international scientific discourse in the last decade reveals some important differences. Most important, a gap seems to exist between researchers mainly interested in a “serious” educational use of multimedia/ hypermedia and researchers mainly interested in “serious” experimental research on learning with multimedia/hypermedia. Recent discussions about the pros and cons of “design-based research” or “use-inspired basic research” can be seen as a direct consequence of an increasing awareness of the tensions within these two different cultures of research on education

EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial

More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369

Healthcare Engineering Defined: A White Paper

Engineering has been playing an important role in serving and advancing healthcare. The term "Healthcare Engineering" has been used by professional societies, universities, scientific authors, and the healthcare industry for decades. However, the definition of "Healthcare Engineering" remains ambiguous. The purpose of this position paper is to present a definition of Healthcare Engineering as an academic discipline, an area of research, a field of specialty, and a profession. Healthcare Engineering is defined in terms of what it is, who performs it, where it is performed, and how it is performed, including its purpose, scope, topics, synergy, education/training, contributions, and prospects

Percepcja zdrowia, świadomość ryzyka otyłości i nawyki żywieniowe u młodzieży

Background. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between eating behaviour, health perception and obesity risk awareness in adolescents. Material and methods. This cross-sectional study was completed with 579 adolescents. Stratified and simple random sampling methods were used in the selection of the high schools, classes and students. The data was collected through the information form, Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and Perception of Health Scale. Results. The mean score of health perception of the adolescents was 52.34±7.59. There was a positive relationship between total health perception score and emotional eating behaviour score of the adolescents (p=0.003). There was a negative relationship between total health perception score restricted eating behaviour (p=0.029), and external eating behaviour score (p<0.001). The emotional eating behaviour (p=0.007), external eating behaviour (p=0.001) and total eating behaviour score (p<0.001) of the adolescents who believed they had an obesity risk were found to be higher than the adolescents who believed they did not. Conclusions. The adolescents with better health perception are less affected by the environment and are able to restrict their food choices. The adolescents who think that they have an obesity risk consume more food due to their emotional state and external exposure.Wprowadzenie. Praca miała na celu określenie związku pomiędzy percepcją zdrowia, świadomością ryzyka otyłości a nawykami żywieniowymi u młodzieży. Materiał i metody. To przekrojowe badanie zostało przeprowadzone wśród 579 nastolatków. W doborze szkół, klas i studentów wykorzystano próbę warstwową i proste losowe metody selekcji. Dane zebrano z wykorzystaniem formularza, kwestionariusza postrzegania zdrowia i holenderskiego kwestionariusza nawyków żywieniowych. Wyniki. Średni wynik percepcji zdrowotnej uczestników w badanej grupie określono jako 52,34±7,59. Istniała pozytywna zależność pomiędzy całkowitą percepcją zdrowia uczestników a ich nawykami żywieniowymi (p=0,003), oraz negatywna zależność pomiędzy oceną ich ograniczonych nawyków żywieniowych (p=0,029) a zewnętrznymi nawykami żywieniowymi (p<0,001). Wyniki emocjonalnych nawyków żywieniowych osób, które uważają, że są zagrożone otyłością (p=0,007), ich wyniki zewnętrznych nawyków żywieniowych (p=0,001) oraz zachowania (p=0,001) były wyższe niż u tych osób, które uważały, że nie są zagrożone otyłością. Wnioski. Środowisko ma mniejszy wpływ na młodych ludzi, których charakteryzuje wyższy poziom percepcji zdrowia, a także którzy ograniczają swój wybór żywności. Z drugiej strony ci, którzy sądzą, że są zagrożeni otyłością, spożywają więcej pokarmu z powodu stanów emocjonalnych i wpływów zewnętrznych

Comparison of nitric oxide production by monocyte/macrophages in healthy subjects and patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis

The aim of the present study was to determine the NO production by human cultured macrophages (m phi) and to compare the NO production between healthy subjects and patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. The bioassay method was used for assessment of validation. Lipopolysaccharide (125 ng ml(-1))-activated m phi from healthy and diseased subjects released a substantial amount of NO. NO synthase inhibitor, N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, (0.1 mmol l(-1)) suppressed NO synthesis significantly in m phi of healthy subjects. Nitrite formation measured by the diazotization method in the supernatants taken from cultured m phi of tuberculous patients were significantly lower than the healthy subjects. The supernatants obtained in both subjects caused relaxations of guinea-pig aorta reversed by methylene blue (10 mu mol l(-1)). There was a significant difference between relaxations of healthy and diseased supernatants. Nitrite formation measured by the bioassay method in the supernatants taken from cultured m phi of tuberculous patients was significantly higher than the healthy subjects. It was concluded that NO production appeared to be decreased in tuberculosis. The reason for decreased production of NO in tuberculosis may be related to the interaction of several cytokines and/or eicosanoids by means of the disease related induction of immune reactions. (C) 1998 The Italian Pharmacological Society