Using Noninvasive Brain Measurement to Explore the Psychological Effects of Computer Malfunctions on Users during Human-Computer Interactions

In today’s technologically driven world, there is a need to better understand the ways that common computer malfunctions affect computer users. These malfunctions may have measurable influences on computer user’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses. An experiment was conducted where participants conducted a series of web search tasks while wearing functional nearinfrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and galvanic skin response sensors. Two computer malfunctions were introduced during the sessions which had the potential to influence correlates of user trust and suspicion. Surveys were given after each session to measure user’s perceived emotional state, cognitive load, and perceived trust. Results suggest that fNIRS can be used to measure the different cognitive and emotional responses associated with computer malfunctions. These cognitive and emotional changes were correlated with users’ self-report levels of suspicion and trust, and they in turn suggest future work that further explores the capability of fNIRS for the measurement of user experience during human-computer interactions

An Examination of the Benefits of E-Business to Small and Medium Size Businesses

Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) play a significant part in economies throughout the world. In the early developmental stages of e-commerce/e-business many believed that it would enable these SMEs to compete head-to-head with large companies. While much has been done to examine the adoption of e-commerce/e-business, few have addressed the benefit that it is providing these businesses. This study identifies the types of e-commerce that SMEs are using and examines the benefits that are received from this use

Pandemic pedagogy in Life Sciences: the assessment conundrum and diversifying delivery modes

COVID-19 had a significant impact on higher education, forcing emergency remote teaching.  The quantity versus quality assessment conundrum is a continuing debate and the rapid transition to online delivery provided an opportunity to assess this. We compared data on assessment number and type, student experience and outcomes, pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on perceptions of differential modes of learning are assessed in the form of extra-curricular summer schools to replace or enhance modular laboratory and fieldwork practicals. There was minimal decrease in assessment load (9.6%) and type (12.5%). Differences in student perceptions of assessment and modules were insignificant (t=22, p=0.1) between years and student outcomes revealed an average 4% increase in the COVID-19 year. Summer schools were viewed very positively, with 72% preferring the intensive teaching format. This study provides additional evidence in the assessment dilemma and developments towards more flexible modes of learning

Early Exposure to Traumatic Stressors Impairs Emotional Brain Circuitry

Exposure to early life trauma (ELT) is known to have a profound impact on mental development, leading to a higher risk for depression and anxiety. Our aim was to use multiple structural imaging methods to systematically investigate how traumatic stressors early in life impact the emotional brain circuits, typically found impaired with clinical diagnosis of depression and anxiety, across the lifespan in an otherwise healthy cohort. MRI data and self-reported histories of ELT from 352 healthy individuals screened for no psychiatric disorders were analyzed in this study. The volume and cortical thickness of the limbic and cingulate regions were assessed for all participants. A large subset of the cohort also had diffusion tensor imaging data, which was used to quantify white matter structural integrity of these regions. We found a significantly smaller amygdala volume and cortical thickness in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex associated with higher ELT exposure only for the adolescence group. White matter integrity of these regions was not affected. These findings demonstrate that exposure to early life trauma is associated with alterations in the gray matter of cingulate-limbic regions during adolescence in an otherwise healthy sample. These findings are interesting in the context that the affected regions are central neuroanatomical components in the psychopathology of depression, and adolescence is a peak period for risk and onset of the disorder

Reprint of “The Single-Case Reporting Guideline In BEhavioural interventions (SCRIBE) 2016: explanation and elaboration”

There is substantial evidence that research studies reported in the scientific literature do not provide adequate information so that readers know exactly what was done and what was found. This problem has been addressed by the development of reporting guidelines which tell authors what should be reported and how it should be described. Many reporting guidelines are now available for different types of research designs. There is no such guideline for one type of research design commonly used in the behavioral sciences, the single-case experimental design (SCED). The present study addressed this gap. This report describes the Single-Case Reporting guideline In BEhavioural interventions (SCRIBE) 2016, which is a set of 26 items that authors need to address when writing about SCED research for publication in a scientific journal. Each item is described, a rationale for its inclusion is provided, and examples of adequate reporting taken from the literature are quoted. It is recommended that the SCRIBE 2016 is used by authors preparing manuscripts describing SCED research for publication, as well as journal reviewers and editors who are evaluating such manuscripts.Published versio

Respiratory medication use in Australia 2003–2013: treatment of asthma and COPD

This report describes patterns of dispensing of respiratory medications in Australia through detailed analyses of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data, as well as other sources, to draw inferences about respiratory medication use among patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Summary This report focuses on medications dispensed for asthma (a chronic airways disease affecting children and adults) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which primarily affects older adults who have been smokers). In 2013, one or more respiratory medications were dispensed to 2,042,104 people in Australia (9.1% of the population)

A new technique for assessing arterial pressure wave forms and central pressure with tissue Doppler

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive assessment of arterial pressure wave forms using applanation tonometry of the radial or carotid arteries can be technically challenging and has not found wide clinical application. 2D imaging of the common carotid arteries is routinely used and we sought to determine whether arterial waveform measurements could be derived from tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of the carotid artery. METHODS: We studied 91 subjects (52 men, age 52 ± 14 years) with and without cardiovascular disease. Tonometry was performed on the carotid artery simultaneously with pulsed wave Doppler of the LVOT and acquired digitally. Longitudinal 2D images of the common carotid artery with and without TDI were also acquired digitally and both TDI and tonometry were calibrated using mean and diastolic cuff pressure and analysed off line. RESULTS: Correlation between central pressure by TDI and tonometry was excellent for maximum pressure (r = 0.97, p < 0.0001). The mean differences between central pressures derived by TDI and tonometry were minimal (systolic 5.36 ± 5.5 mmHg; diastolic 1.2 ± 1.2 mmHg). CONCLUSION: Imaging of the common carotid artery motion with tissue Doppler may permit acquisition of a waveform analogous to that from tonometry. This method may simplify estimation of central arterial pressure and calculation of total arterial compliance