244 research outputs found
Conducting Social Cognition Research in IS: A Methodology for Eliciting and Analyzing Social Representations
This paper presents a methodology for socio-cognitive research based on the theory of social representations. Elements of the methodology include:1) data elicitation through free word association; 2) content analysis/coding to identify key concepts in the social representation; 3) analysis of the structure of the representation using analysis of similarity and core/periphery analysis; 4) correspondence analysis to place the concepts on a perceptual space; and 5) interpretation of the social representation. The methodology is demonstrated in use through a study examining early sense-making about electronic health records (EHRs). Analysis of qualitative survey data from 190 students identified 22 concepts forming the social representation. Merits of the methodology are discussed, including its potential value for investigations based on technology frames of reference (TFR), the social construction of technology (SCOT) and organizing visions for IT innovations
Culture Matters When Designing a Successful Happiness-Increasing Activity: A Comparison of the United States and South Korea
Research shows that performing positive activities, such as expressing gratitude and doing
acts of kindness, boosts happiness. But do specific positive activities work equally well across
cultures? Our study examined the role of cultureāactivity fit by testing two positive activities
across two cultures. Participants from the United States (n = 250) and South Korea (n = 270)
were randomly assigned to express gratitude, perform kind acts, or engage in a neutral activity
for the first half of a 6-week positive activity intervention. Multilevel growth modeling analyses
revealed that the effect of practicing gratitude or kindness was moderated by culture: U.S.
participants increased in well-being (WB) from both activities, Ī³11 = 0.19, SE = 0.06, t(511) =
3.04, p = .0006; Ī³12= 0.11, SE = 0.06, t(511) = 1.73, p = .03 (compared with the control group),
but South Korean participants benefited significantly less from practicing gratitude than did
U.S. participants, Ī³13 = ā0.24, SE = 0.07, t(511) = ā3.36, p = .002. South Korean participants,
however, showed similar increases in WB as did U.S. participants when performing kind acts,
Ī³14 = ā0.06, SE = 0.07, t(511) = ā0.82, ns. Finally, although greater self-reported effort yielded
significantly larger increases in WB for U.S. participants, the effect of effort was not as strong for
South Korean participants. We posit that, due to their dialectical philosophical tradition, South
Koreans might have been more prone to feel mixed emotions (e.g., indebtedness and gratitude)
while engaging in the gratitude letter activity than did U.S. participant
An Investigation in to Virtual World Adoption
Virtual worlds are emerging in importance as more multinational firms are investing heavily in these emerging communities. Although much excitement has been built up around the idea of virtual worlds, a gap exists between those who sign up and those who engage in the virtual world. Our analysis of the gap between those who initiate an action and have signed up to join a virtual world and those who follow through and ultimately engage the community on a regular basis derives from a lack of adoption. Through the use of a subject matter expert study, we identified 35 factors to explain adoption, which then explain through the use of seven psychological theories. After discussing and integrating these seven factors, we test our model through a test of 223 new users of Second Life. The results from our empirical test of these seven theories are presented, and we conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of understanding virtual world adoption
Fibrillar Amyloid Plaque Formation Precedes Microglial Activation
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), hallmark alpha-amyloid deposits are characterized by the presence of activated microglia around them. Despite an extensive characterization of the relation of amyloid plaques with microglia, little is known about the initiation of this interaction. In this study, the detailed investigation of very small plaques in brain slices in AD transgenic mice of the line APP-PS1(dE9) revealed different levels of microglia recruitment. Analysing plaques with a diameter of up to 10 mu m we find that only the half are associated with clear morphologically activated microglia. Utilizing in vivo imaging of new appearing amyloid plaques in double-transgenic APP-PS1(dE9) xCX3CR1(+/-) mice further characterized the dynamic of morphological microglia activation. We observed no correlation of morphological microglia activation and plaque volume or plaque lifetime. Taken together, our results demonstrate a very prominent variation in size as well as in lifetime of new plaques relative to the state of microglia reaction. These observations might question the existing view that amyloid deposits by themselves are sufficient to attract and activate microglia in vivo
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'It's Up to You': Experimentally Manipulated Autonomy Support for Prosocial Behavior Improves Well-Being in Two Cultures Over Six Weeks
Previous research has demonstrated a strong link between prosocial behavior ā particularly autonomous prosocial behavior ā and well-being. Little is known, however, about whether and how autonomy might be boosted in the context of everyday kindnesses. We tested the effect of supporting studentsā autonomy on well-being gains from practicing acts of kindness in a six-week randomized experimental study in the United States and South Korea. As predicted, performing kind acts while receiving autonomy support led to greater improvements in well-being than performing kind acts without autonomy support or engaging in comparison activities (i.e. focusing on oneās academic work, with or without autonomy support). Notably, these well-being improvements were mediated by feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The current study is one of the first to demonstrate the causal effect of autonomous prosocial behavior on well-being, as well as the psychological mechanism (i.e. need satisfaction) explaining this effect
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Digitalizing the Chemical Landscape: A Comprehensive Overview and Progress Report of NFDI4Chem
The Chemistry consortium NFDI4Chem aims to digitalise key steps in chemical research, supporting scientists in managing research data throughout its life cycle. The SmartLab, embedded in a federation of services, integrates various tools such as electronic lab notebooks, data repositories, and search services, to create a smart lab environment for structured data gathering. Utilizing terminology services and adhering to data format standards, NFDI4Chem promotes secure and FAIR data sharing, fostering collaboration and expediting scientific discoveries. This development is supported by community building measures, workshops, and training initiatives, along with collaboration on international minimum information standards
Characterization of the ribonuclease activity on the skin surface
The rapid degradation of ribonucleic acids (RNA) by ubiquitous ribonucleases limits the efficacy of new therapies based on RNA molecules. Therefore, our aim was to characterize the natural ribonuclease activities on the skin and in blood plasma i.e. at sites where many drugs in development are applied. On the skin surfaces of Homo sapiens and Mus musculus we observed dominant pyrimidine-specific ribonuclease activity. This activity is not prevented by a cap structure at the 5'-end of messenger RNA (mRNA) and is not primarily of a 5'- or 3'-exonuclease type. Moreover, the ribonuclease activity on the skin or in blood plasma is not inhibited by chemical modifications introduced at the 2'OH group of cytidine or uridine residues. It is, however, inhibited by the ribonuclease inhibitor RNasin(Ā® )although not by the ribonuclease inhibitor SUPERaseĀ· Inā¢. The application of our findings in the field of medical science may result in an improved efficiency of RNA-based therapies that are currently in development
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NFDI4Chem - A Research Data Network for International Chemistry
Research data provide evidence for the validation of scientific hypotheses in most areas of science. Open access to them is the basis for true peer review of scientific results and publications. Hence, research data are at the heart of the scientific method as a whole. The value of openly sharing research data has by now been recognized by scientists, funders and politicians. Today, new research results are increasingly obtained by drawing on existing data. Many organisations such as the Research Data Alliance (RDA), the goFAIR initiative, and not least IUPAC are supporting and promoting the collection and curation of research data. One of the remaining challenges is to find matching data sets, to understand them and to reuse them for your own purpose. As a consequence, we urgently need better research data management
Individualized web-based exercise for the treatment of depression : randomized controlled trial
Background: Due to the high prevalence of depressive disorders, it is mandatory to develop therapeutic strategies that provide universal access and require limited financial and human resources. Web-based therapeutic approaches fulfill these conditions.
Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a supervised, individualized 8-week Web-based exercise intervention conducted for patients with moderate to severe depression.
Methods: We recruited 20 patients with unipolar depression and randomly assigned them into 2 groups (intervention, exercise program group, n=14, and control, treatment-as-usual group, n=6). At baseline, depressive symptoms were rated via the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) by patients themselves (QIDSāself-report, QIDS-SR) and by a blinded psychiatrist (QIDSāclinician rating, QIDS-C). In addition, performance diagnostics (lactate analysis, spiroergometry during a treadmill walking test) were conducted. Quality of life was assessed via the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) and self-efficacy via the General Self Efficacy scale (GSE). In addition, habitual physical activity (HPA) was determined via the Baecke questionnaire. Participants of the intervention group received exercise schedules once weekly with endurance and strength training instructions. Rating of depressive symptoms was repeated after 6-12 days and 8 weeks; performance diagnostics and the completion of all the questionnaires were repeated after 8 weeks only.
Results: The severity of depression subsided significantly in the intervention group after 8 weeks (median change in QIDS-SR: ā5; interquartile range, IQR: ā2 to ā10), although it was already evident within the first 6-12 days (median change in QIDS-SR: ā6; IQR: ā2 to ā8). During the intervention, participants undertook a median of 75 (IQR: 63 to 98) minutes of endurance training per week or 84% (16 [IQR: 9 to 19] of 19 [IQR: 15 to 21]) recommended endurance units in total. In addition, 9 (IQR: 4 to 12) of 10 (IQR: 8 to 13) recommended strength training exercise units were conducted during the 8 weeks. Performance diagnostics revealed a substantial increase in the maximum output in Watt for the intervention group after 8 weeks. Moreover, the intervention showed a favorable effect on SF-36 items āemotional well-beingā and āsocial functioningā as well as on GSE and HPA scores.
Conclusions: Our individualized Web based exercise intervention for moderate to severe depression was highly accepted by the patients and led to a significant and clinically relevant improvement of depressive symptoms
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