A diary study of credibility assessment in everyday life information activities on the web: Preliminary findings

This study investigates how people's credibility assessment processes have evolved as they engage in increasingly diverse types of online activities beyond seeking for information or reading online news. Using an online activity diary method, information on people's online activities and their associated credibility assessment processes were collected at multiple points throughout the day for three days. This paper reports on a preliminary analysis of 2,471 diary entries received from 333 respondents. Content analysis was applied to people's descriptions of their online activities, yielding 17 different types of information objects and 26 categories of online content. People's credibility judgments were examined on three levels: construct, heuristics, and interaction. The results, although preliminary, indicate that distinct credibility assessment heuristics are in fact emerging as people engage in online activities involving more user-generated and multimedia content. The unique contribution of this paper is its identification of the importance of taking a heuristic approach to credibility assessment by studying a large sample of heavy Internet users within the context of the everyday life information activities they conduct online.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/83172/1/14504701182_ftp.pd

An online activity diary method for studying credibility assessment on the Web

No Abstract.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78324/1/1450460388_ftp.pd

How content contributors assess and establish credibility on the web

The proliferation of user‐generated content (UGC) is one of the distinguishing characteristics of Web 2.0. Internet users contribute content online through platforms such as blogs, wikis, video sharing sites, and sites that allow user feedback. Yet little is known of the credibility practices of these content contributors. Through phone interviews conducted with 29 online content contributors, this study investigates how content contributors assess credibility when gathering information for their online content creation and mediation activities, as well as the strategies they use to establish the credibility of the content they create. These contributors reported that they engaged in content creation activities such as posting or commenting on blogs or online forums, rating or voting on online content, and uploading photos, music, or video. We found that credibility judgments made when gathering information for online content creation and mediation activities could be grouped into three levels: intuitive, heuristic, and strategy‐based. We identified three distinctive ways of establishing credibility that are applied during different phases of content contribution: ensuring credibility during the content creation phase; signaling credibility during the content presentation phase; and reinforcing credibility during the post‐production phase. We also discovered that content contributors tend to carry over the strategies they used for assessing credibility during information gathering to their strategies for establishing the credibility of their own content. Theoretical implications for credibility research and practical implications for developing information literacy programs are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90253/1/14504801163_ftp.pd

Comparison of tracheal temperature and core temperature measurement in living donor liver transplant recipients: a clinical comparative study

Abstract Background Body temperature is a vital sign, and temperature monitoring during liver transplantation is important. Tracheal temperature can be measured via an endotracheal tube with a temperature sensor on the cuff of the tube. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy and trending ability of tracheal temperature measurement compared to those of the core temperature measured at the esophagus and pulmonary artery (PA) in living donor liver transplant recipients. Methods Twenty-two patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) were enrolled. Patients were intubated using an endotracheal tube with a temperature sensor placed on the inner surface of the tube cuff. Tracheal, esophageal, and PA temperatures were recorded at five time points corresponding to the different phases of liver transplantation. The tracheal and esophageal, tracheal and PA, and esophageal and PA temperatures were compared using Bland–Altman analysis, four-quadrant plot/concordance analysis, and polar plot analysis. Results Bland–Altman analysis showed an overall mean bias (95% limits of agreement) between tracheal and esophageal temperatures of -0.10°C (-0.37°C to 0.18°C), with a percentage error of 0.27%; between tracheal and PA temperatures, -0.05°C (-0.91°C to 0.20°C), with a percentage error of -0.15%; and between esophageal and PA temperatures, 0.04°C (-0.27°C to 0.35°C), with a percentage error of 0.12%. The concordance rates between tracheal and esophageal temperatures, tracheal and PA temperatures, and esophageal and PA temperatures were 96.2%, 96.2%, and 94.94%, respectively. The polar plot analysis showed a mean angular bias (radial limits of agreement) of 4° (26°), -3° (13°), and 2° (21°). Conclusions Monitoring core temperature at the inner surface of the endotracheal tube cuff is accurate in all phases of LDLT with good trending ability; thus, it can be an excellent alternative for monitoring during LDLTs

Electroacupuncture Delays Hypertension Development through Enhancing NO/NOS Activity in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), this study investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) could reduce early stage hypertension by examining nitric oxide (NO) levels in plasma and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels in the mesenteric resistance artery. EA was applied to the acupuncture point Governor Vessel 20 (GV20) or to a non-acupuncture point in the tail twice weekly for 3 weeks under anesthesia. In conscious SHR and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, blood pressure was determined the day after EA treatment by the tail-cuff method. We measured plasma NO concentration, and evaluated endothelial NO syntheses (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) protein expression in the mesenteric artery. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were lower after 3 weeks of GV20 treatment than EA at non-acupuncture point and no treatment control in SHR. nNOS expression by EA was significantly different between both WKY and no treatment SHR control, and EA at GV20 in SHR. eNOS expression was significantly high in EA at GV 20 compared with no treatment control. In conclusion, EA could attenuate the blood pressure elevation of SHR, along with enhancing NO/NOS activity in the mesenteric artery in SHR

Synthesis of High Crystalline Al-Doped ZnO Nanopowders from Al 2

High crystalline Al-doped ZnO (AZO) nanopowders were prepared by in-flight treatment of ZnO and Al2O3 in Radio-Frequency (RF) thermal plasma. Micron-sized (~1 μm) ZnO and Al2O3 powders were mixed at Al/Zn ratios of 3.3 and 6.7 at.% and then injected into the RF thermal plasma torch along the centerline at a feeding rate of 6.6 g/min. The RF thermal plasma torch system was operated at the plate power level of ~140 kVA to evaporate the mixture oxides and the resultant vapor species were condensed into solid particles by the high flow rate of quenching gas (~7000 slpm). The FE-SEM images of the as-treated powders showed that the multipod shaped and the whisker type nanoparticles were mainly synthesized. In addition, these nanocrystalline structures were confirmed as the single phase AZO nanopowders with the hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure by the XRD patterns and FE-TEM results with the SAED image. However, the composition changes of 0.3 and 1.0 at.% were checked for the as-synthesized AZO nanopowders at Al/Zn ratios of 3.3 and 6.7 at.%, respectively, by the XRF data, which can require the adjustment of Al/Zn in the mixture precursors for the applications of high Al doping concentrations

Quadruple 9-mer-based protein binding microarray with DsRed fusion protein

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The interaction between a transcription factor and DNA motif (<it>cis</it>-acting element) is an important regulatory step in gene regulation. Comprehensive genome-wide methods have been developed to characterize protein-DNA interactions. Recently, the universal protein binding microarray (PBM) was introduced to determine if a DNA motif interacts with proteins in a genome-wide manner.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We facilitated the PBM technology using a DsRed fluorescent protein and a concatenated sequence of oligonucleotides. The PBM was designed in such a way that target probes were synthesized as quadruples of all possible 9-mer combinations, permitting unequivocal interpretation of the <it>cis</it>-acting elements. The complimentary DNA strands of the features were synthesized with a primer and DNA polymerase on microarray slides. Proteins were labeled via N-terminal fusion with DsRed fluorescent protein, which circumvents the need for a multi-step incubation. The PBM presented herein confirmed the well-known DNA binding sequences of Cbf1 and CBF1/DREB1B, and it was also applied to elucidate the unidentified <it>cis</it>-acting element of the OsNAC6 rice transcription factor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our method demonstrated PBM can be conveniently performed by adopting: (1) quadruple 9-mers may increase protein-DNA binding interactions in the microarray, and (2) a one-step incubation shortens the wash and hybridization steps. This technology will facilitate greater understanding of genome-wide interactions between proteins and DNA.</p

Effects of a Postnatal Care Program on Self-efficacy, Self-management, and Glycemic Control in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

PURPOSE: To examine effects of a postnatal care program on self-efficacy, self-management, and glycemic control in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized quasi-experimental design was used. Sixty-two women with GDM were enrolled and assigned to either an experimental group (n=30) or a control group (n=32). The experimental group received an intervention which was postnatal care program for women with GDM. The postnatal care program for GDM included an individual education with leaflet and mobile web-based video with three times of telephone counseling. Effects of the intervention were measured with self-efficacy, self-management questionnaire, and a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (75g OGTT). Statistical significance was examined using independent t-test and χ2-test. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference in 75g OGTT (χ2=.11, p=.748) or self-management (t=−1.28, p=.206), there was a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy (t=−2.02, p=.048) in the experimental group compared to that in the control group. CONCLUSION: A postnatal care program is needed for women with GDM to improve their self-efficacy. Further studies are warranted to improve self-management and glycemic control through tailored education for GDM postpartum women