Online Persuasion as Psychological Transition, and The Multifaced Agents of Persuasion: A Personal Construct Theory Perspective

Extant literature has largely backgrounded the psychological processes of those being persuaded in online persuasion situations. If we do not examine these processes, we may not be able to fully understand or measure the impact of persuasive artefacts outside of their observable outcomes. In response to this issue, this paper conceptualizes the persuasion process as a state of psychological transition with respect to the individual being persuaded (cf. Kelly 1955; Stojnov 2003). We do this by drawing on the work of George Kelly and personal construct theory, and illustrate how this theory may be useful in better understanding both the process of persuasion and its outcomes. Finally, we discuss how online persuasion is further challenged by the multitude of ways in which the digital artefact can materialize

Examining How Perceptions of Websites Encourage Prosocial Behaviour

Organisations are increasingly reliant on information and communications technology (ICT) to encourage prosocial behaviour (i.e., volunteering, philanthropy and activism). However, little is known about how to use ICT to encourage prosocial behaviour. Given this research gap, the objective of this study is to outline and test a research model that assesses the role of specific perceptions of websites in encouraging prosocial behaviour. To do this, we review the literature to derive a theoretical model of relevant perceptions. We then test the extent to which this model can predict participants’ volunteering and philanthropic behaviour subsequent to their usage of a website that encourages prosocial behaviour. The findings are expected to contribute by (i) giving insights into how perceptions of websites encourage prosocial behaviour, (ii) explaining the roles of negative and positive affect in ICT domains, and (iii) developing a “persuasiveness of website scale” to help IS researchers to measure this construct

Modelling of multilayered foams for universal seat design

Patients with chronic disability, or in a transient disability state post-surgery may require a mobility device for their safety and convenience. Patients with a low to mid-level severe mobility impairment are mostly comfortable to leave hospital in a factory wheelchair without further modifications, however in particular chronically disabled wheelchair bound patients require wheelchair cushion modifications specifically designed for their condition. Such personalized cushions minimise pain from sitting, avoid pressure ulcers, and correct patient posture to prevent musculoskeletal and spinal damage. To identify physical properties of a complex seat cushion design with multiple layers, for the simulation of optimum seat cushions for mobility impaired users, long-term testing was undertaken with multiples of different layer combination samples. Physical indentation results for reorganised cushions were obtained and further evaluated. We present the first study where a complex, multi-layered foam cushion structure is cycle-tested using a custom-specific human-shape indenter, derived from 3-D body scanning of a 95th percentile stature subject. The test provides physical material properties of the complex foam structure under realistic human shape indentation for the selected anthropometry. The test results feed and validate a realistic material model, and confirm durability and stability over time of the complex foam

Erratum: "Ultraviolet poling of pure fused silica by high-intensity femtosecond radiation" [Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 071106 (2005)]

Erratu

Exploring Pressures, Tissue Reperfusion and Body Positioning: A Pilot Evaluation

Objective: To assess the relationship in healthy adults and critically ill patients between: patient position, body mass index (BMI), patient body temperature; and interface pressure (IP) and tissue reperfusion (TR). Also to assess the relationship in critically ill patients between: sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, Braden Scale score for predicting pressure injury risk, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) severity of disease classification score, and IP and TR. Setting: 27-bed intensive care unit (ICU) of an Australia tertiary hospital. Participants: 23 low- and high-acuity ICU patients and 9 healthy adult volunteers. Methods: IP and TR outcomes were measured at the sacrum and greater trochanter. Repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and doubly multivariate repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted using peak pressure index (PPI), and peak time (PT), settled time constant (STC) and normalised hyperaemic area (NHA) measures of TR as outcomes. Participant type, body mass index (BMI), Braden and APACHE II scores and patient body temperature were considered as between-groups factors and covariates. Results Not all IP readings could be obtained from ICU patients. TR readings were collected from all recruited patients, but not all TR measurements were mutually uncorrelated. Controlling for age, PPI readings substantively differed between participant types (p=0.093), with the highest values associated with high-acuity patients and the lowest with healthy adults; the association was not substantive when controlling additionally for age and BMI. The controlling variable of age was also significant (p=0.008), with older participants having higher scores than younger ones. No statistically significant associations between any measured parameter and TR variables were revealed; however, temperature was revealed to be substantively related to TR (p=0.091). Conclusions: While not being powered to detect significant effects, this pilot analysis has nonetheless determined several associations of importance, with substantive differences in outcomes observed between low- and high-acuity ICU patients; and between ICU patients and healthy volunteer

Driven dynamics and rotary echo of a qubit tunably coupled to a harmonic oscillator

We have investigated the driven dynamics of a superconducting flux qubit that is tunably coupled to a microwave resonator. We find that the qubit experiences an oscillating field mediated by off-resonant driving of the resonator, leading to strong modifications of the qubit Rabi frequency. This opens an additional noise channel, and we find that low-frequency noise in the coupling parameter causes a reduction of the coherence time during driven evolution. The noise can be mitigated with the rotary-echo pulse sequence, which, for driven systems, is analogous to the Hahn-echo sequence

Outcome in patients with cystic fibrosis liver disease

AbstractBackgroundLiver disease is an important complication in CF.AimsTo determine if CFLD is a risk factor for mortality in CF, and which baseline characteristics predict all-cause mortality.MethodsIrish children with CFLD, and their age and gender matched controls were enrolled at baseline and reviewed after 10years to determine which characteristics predict mortality.Results72/84 (85.71%) participants were followed, (mean age Cases 21.71yrs SD 6.5, CF controls 23.62 SD 5.6, 22 (61%) males), with no difference in duration of follow-up. Nineteen participants (26.4%) died, 38.9% (14/36) with CFLD and 13.89% (5/36) CF controls (Odds Ratio (OR) 3.94 95% CI:1.23–12.56 p=0.005). In logistic regression, liver disease (OR 4.28 95% CI 1.07–17.16) female gender (OR 12.25 95% CI 2.37–63.24), reduced pulmonary function, (OR 5.11 95% CI 1.09–23.81) were each independent risk factors for mortality in CF.ConclusionsLiver disease is an independent risk factor for mortality in CF

A Mouse Model of Harlequin Ichthyosis Delineates a Key Role for Abca12 in Lipid Homeostasis

Harlequin Ichthyosis (HI) is a severe and often lethal hyperkeratotic skin disease caused by mutations in the ABCA12 transport protein. In keratinocytes, ABCA12 is thought to regulate the transfer of lipids into small intracellular trafficking vesicles known as lamellar bodies. However, the nature and scope of this regulation remains unclear. As part of an original recessive mouse ENU mutagenesis screen, we have identified and characterised an animal model of HI and showed that it displays many of the hallmarks of the disease including hyperkeratosis, loss of barrier function, and defects in lipid homeostasis. We have used this model to follow disease progression in utero and present evidence that loss of Abca12 function leads to premature differentiation of basal keratinocytes. A comprehensive analysis of lipid levels in mutant epidermis demonstrated profound defects in lipid homeostasis, illustrating for the first time the extent to which Abca12 plays a pivotal role in maintaining lipid balance in the skin. To further investigate the scope of Abca12's activity, we have utilised cells from the mutant mouse to ascribe direct transport functions to the protein and, in doing so, we demonstrate activities independent of its role in lamellar body function. These cells have severely impaired lipid efflux leading to intracellular accumulation of neutral lipids. Furthermore, we identify Abca12 as a mediator of Abca1-regulated cellular cholesterol efflux, a finding that may have significant implications for other diseases of lipid metabolism and homeostasis, including atherosclerosis