scholarly journals Web-Based Portal for Impact Evaluation Reveals Information Needs for Museums, Libraries and Archives

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
David Hook
Keyword(s):  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Evaluation Research ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Web Portal ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Level Of Understanding

Objective – This study reports on research into the information and support needs of practitioners in the museum, archive, and library sectors, who are undergoing an impact evaluation. Design – Qualitative survey. Setting – Web-based questionnaire. Subjects – Twenty-one practitioners in the fields of museums, archives, and libraries. Methods – The study made use of a small-scale web portal that provides impact evaluation research findings, toolkits, and examples of methods. The portal’s intent was to present to the users multiple views of the available information in order to overcome the problem of users not being able to identify their needs. A purposive sample group consisting of 50 practitioners from the museum, library, and archive fields was invited to participate in a questionnaire evaluating the website. Main Results – Despite a fairly low response rate (49%) and poor distribution among the three sectors (museums, libraries, and archives), the results indicated a significant difference in the levels of knowledge and understanding of impact evaluation. Over half of the organizations surveyed had done some assessment of their institution’s economic impact, and there appears to be a rising trend towards doing impact studies for specific projects and developments. Nearly a quarter of the organizations had not undertaken any impact evaluation study previously. Practitioners already familiar with impact evaluation tended to look at broader range of fields for expertise, whereas those with less familiarity remained within their own sector. Practitioners with less experience preferred tools, guidance, and examples of methodologies as opposed to actual evidence of impact. The results also provided the authors with feedback on their web portal and how to organize the information therein. Conclusions – One of the findings of the study was that the overall reaction to impact evaluation support through research evidence, guidance, and other mechanisms was positive. For most practitioners, evaluation itself and the level of understanding of impact evaluation are at early stages. The primary goals for those undertaking impact evaluation were found to be professional and organizational learning, thus there is a need for practical help and guidance in these areas. Time limitation appeared to be a significant factor in the responses – particularly with smaller organizations – suggesting that their portal material would provide much-needed assistance to such organizations. Finally, it was concluded that future emphasis should be placed on developing practical applications rather than pure research.

scholarly journals Information-seeking needs and behaviours of complementary health (chiropractic) practitioners and students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Helen Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Information Skills ◽  
Education Of Students

<p>Background: Research into the information-seeking behaviours and needs of alternative and complementary health professionals continues to be limited. Interest in complementary medicine is growing worldwide, reflected in New Zealand by the increase in numbers of practitioners, and the demand for accessible, reliable information and resources by professionals and consumers grows also. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the information seeking behaviours (access, sources, frequency of search, and motivation) and needs (research, practice or education) of students and professionals in one area of complementary health (chiropractic), and by investigating their reported practices and preferences identify their requirements, preferred approaches and any barriers that may limit their information-seeking. The intention is to use the information to assess a possible requirement for information services and information skills programmes for practitioners in the community and to add to the small body of research on information use among CAM professionals. Methods: The research project surveyed a random sample of both students and registered chiropractic practitioners by questionnaire and interview. The mailed questionnaire included twenty question intended to elicit information on the information-seeking behaviours of the respondents, with interview questions expanding on these responses. Results: Although the response was very low at 41.1%, (a known risk in survey research), results indicated that the information needs and behaviours of chiropractic professionals is similar to that of other health professionals. Respondents used the Internet and books frequently, but were unlikely to use databases or a library when seeking information. Respondents were generally confident in their skills but often lacked confidence in the information they located. Conclusions: Although the chiropractic field is quite narrow in scope, chiropractors' information seeking needs and behaviours are similar to those of other health professionals. They seek information regularly and use a number of sources, primarily for clinical reasons and for personal interest. They do not search for research-based information frequently and rely on the Internet, colleagues and their own collections to supply their main information needs. Although the results cannot reliably be extrapolated to the whole chiropractic community owing to the small scale of the survey, it appears that there is need to encourage the use of research-based information and to provide easier access to those resources contained in databases and libraries. As the overwhelming majority of chiropractors of all levels of experience use the Internet, the investigation of the provision of targeted web-based services and training in their use may be profitable. More precise investigation is required.</p>

scholarly journals A Web-Based Aggregate Information Portal

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 14-22
Author(s):  
Donatus I. Bayem ◽  
Henry O. Osuagwu ◽  
Chimezie F. Ugwu
Keyword(s):  
Programming Languages ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Relational Databases ◽  
Query Language ◽  
Web Portal ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Information Portal ◽  
Aggregate Information ◽  
The Web

A Web portal aggregates an array of information for a target audience and affords a variety of services including search engines, directories, news, e-mail, and chat rooms, and they have evolved to provide a customized gateway to Web information. Also, a high level of personalization and customization has been possible. The portal concept could further be established to function as a classy Web interface that can serves as sustenance for variety of the task performance. The aggregate information Web portal will serve as portals for the information needs of users on the web. The Web based portal enable marketing of users broadly across a wide variety of interests. Most of the popular usage of the Web based aggregate information portal probably refers to the visual and user interface (UI) design of a Web site. It is a crucial aspect since the visitor is often more impressed with looks of website and easy to use rather than about the technologies and techniques that are used behind the scenes, or the operating system that runs on the web server. In other words, it just does not matter what technologies that is involved in creating, when the site is hard to use and easy to forget. This paper explores the factors that must be painstaking during the design and development of a Web based aggregate information portal. Design as a word in the context of a Web application can mean many things. A working Web based aggregate information portal, kaseremulticoncept was developed to support the various users’ task performances. A number of technologies was studied and implemented in this research, which includes multi-tier architecture, server and client side scripting techniques and technologies such as PHP programming languages and relational databases such as MySQL, Structured Query language (SQL) and XAMPP Server.

scholarly journals Information-seeking needs and behaviours of complementary health (chiropractic) practitioners and students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Helen Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Information Skills ◽  
Education Of Students

<p>Background: Research into the information-seeking behaviours and needs of alternative and complementary health professionals continues to be limited. Interest in complementary medicine is growing worldwide, reflected in New Zealand by the increase in numbers of practitioners, and the demand for accessible, reliable information and resources by professionals and consumers grows also. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the information seeking behaviours (access, sources, frequency of search, and motivation) and needs (research, practice or education) of students and professionals in one area of complementary health (chiropractic), and by investigating their reported practices and preferences identify their requirements, preferred approaches and any barriers that may limit their information-seeking. The intention is to use the information to assess a possible requirement for information services and information skills programmes for practitioners in the community and to add to the small body of research on information use among CAM professionals. Methods: The research project surveyed a random sample of both students and registered chiropractic practitioners by questionnaire and interview. The mailed questionnaire included twenty question intended to elicit information on the information-seeking behaviours of the respondents, with interview questions expanding on these responses. Results: Although the response was very low at 41.1%, (a known risk in survey research), results indicated that the information needs and behaviours of chiropractic professionals is similar to that of other health professionals. Respondents used the Internet and books frequently, but were unlikely to use databases or a library when seeking information. Respondents were generally confident in their skills but often lacked confidence in the information they located. Conclusions: Although the chiropractic field is quite narrow in scope, chiropractors' information seeking needs and behaviours are similar to those of other health professionals. They seek information regularly and use a number of sources, primarily for clinical reasons and for personal interest. They do not search for research-based information frequently and rely on the Internet, colleagues and their own collections to supply their main information needs. Although the results cannot reliably be extrapolated to the whole chiropractic community owing to the small scale of the survey, it appears that there is need to encourage the use of research-based information and to provide easier access to those resources contained in databases and libraries. As the overwhelming majority of chiropractors of all levels of experience use the Internet, the investigation of the provision of targeted web-based services and training in their use may be profitable. More precise investigation is required.</p>

EFFECT OF WEB BASED INSTRUCTIONS ON ACHIEVEMENT IN SOCIAL STUDIES

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajwinder Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Conventional Method ◽  
Traditional Method ◽  
Statistical Techniques ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Based Instruction ◽  
Experimental Group

The purpose of the study was to study the Effect of Web based instructions on achievement in Social Studies. The sample consisted of 100 students from Grade 8th of schools affiliated to C.B.S.E of Ferozepur and were randomly split into two groups-control (taught by traditional method) and experimental (taught by Web based instruction) groups. Firstly pre-test was administered on both the groups; then the students in the control group were taught by conventional method while experimental group was taught by Web based instructions. Then post-test was administrated on both the groups. The Statistical techniques were then employed to data collected and analysis and interpretation of the data was done. The result of the study implied that there exists significant difference in achievement in Social Studies based on Web based instructions and conventional method. The study also revealed that there exist significant gender differences in achievement in Social Studies with Web based instructions.

Post creation strategies in a smoking cessation intervention based on motivational interviewing using Facebook: a mixed-methods content analysis (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pócs ◽  
Tímea Óvári ◽  
Csaba Hamvai ◽  
Oguz Kelemen
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Motivational Interviewing ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Smoking Cessation Intervention ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tobacco Use Cessation ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Cessation Intervention ◽  
Significant Difference

BACKGROUND Smoking cessation support on Facebook (FB) is a cost-effective and extensible way to reduce tobacco use among young people. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a practical counselling style in face-to-face smoking cessation support and can be useful in web-based interventions as well. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at identifying which post creation strategies based on MI could achieve positive changes in FB post characteristics and FB users’ comments. METHODS We included MI-adherent posts (N=701) which were not boosted and were targeted at tobacco users. These FB posts have been categorized into five different groups according to specific MI strategies. The control group comprised entertaining and informative posts. Primary outcomes seem to highlight how the content has stimulated interactions (engagement rate), inhibited interactions (negative feedback) or appealed to the audience of the FB page (fan-total reach ratio). The first comments received on the FB posts were evaluated and used as secondary outcomes. We applied the classification of MI approach: change talk (CT), sustain talk (ST), desire, ability, reason, need (DARN), and commitment, activation, taking steps (CAT). RESULTS FB posts which used MI strategies were associated with significantly higher engagement rate (p=.010), higher fan-total reach ratio (p<.001), and more CT (p<.001), DARN (p=.005), or CAT comments (p=.003) compared to the control group. ‘Elaborating CT’ strategies elicited considerably more CT (p<.001) and DARN comments (p=.020). ‘Affirming CT’ strategies obtained higher fan-total reach ratio (p=.011) and generated significantly more CT (p=.006) and CAT comments (p<.001). ‘Reflecting CT’ strategies received significantly higher fan-total reach ratio (p<.001). Finally, ‘relational MI’ strategies achieved significantly higher engagement rate (p<.001) compared to the control group. It should be noted that we did not find significant difference in negative feedback and the number of ST comments. CONCLUSIONS Post creation strategies based on MI stimulated interactions with FB users and generated conversation about tobacco use cessation without relevant negative feedback. Our findings suggest that MI strategies may play a remarkable role in post creation within a web-based smoking cessation intervention. In the future, these strategies could be applicable to other online platforms, such as public health websites, health blogs, mobile applications or social networking groups.

scholarly journals Improved Antioxidant Capacity of Black Tea Waste Utilizing PlantCrystals

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham M. Abraham ◽  
Reem M. Alnemari ◽  
Jana Brüßler ◽  
Cornelia M. Keck
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Aqueous Media ◽  
Natural Antioxidants ◽  
Black Tea ◽  
Pharmaceutical Products ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Plant Waste

Antioxidants are recommended to prevent and treat oxidative stress diseases. Plants are a balanced source of natural antioxidants, but the poor solubility of plant active molecules in aqueous media can be a problem for the formulation of pharmaceutical products. The potential of PlantCrystal technology is known to improve the extraction efficacy and antioxidant capacity (AOC) of different plants. However, it is not yet proved for plant waste. Black tea (BT) infusion is consumed worldwide and thus a huge amount of waste occurs as a result. Therefore, BT waste was recycled into PlantCrystals using small-scale bead milling. Their characteristics were compared with the bulk-materials and tea infusion, including particle size and antioxidant capacity (AOC) in-vitro. Waste PlantCrystals possessed a size of about 280 nm. Their AOC increased with decreasing size according to the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) assays. The AOC of the waste increased about nine-fold upon nanonization, leading to a significantly higher AOC than the bulk-waste and showed no significant difference to the infusion and the used standard according to DPPH assay. Based on the results, it is confirmed that the PlantCrystal technology represents a natural, cost-effective plant-waste recycling method and presents an alternative source of antioxidant phenolic compounds.

scholarly journals Information needs of patients with chronic diseases and their relatives for web-based advance care planning: a qualitative interview study

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris van der Smissen ◽  
Judith A. C. Rietjens ◽  
Lisette van Gemert-Pijnen ◽  
Sandra van Dulmen ◽  
Agnes van der Heide ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Disease Trajectory ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Practical Support ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Search For Information

Abstract Background Advance care planning (ACP) enables persons to identify preferences for future treatment and care, and to discuss, record and review these preferences. However, the uptake of ACP among patients with chronic diseases is relatively low. Web-based ACP programs can support patients and their relatives in ACP. However, information needs of patients and their relatives for ACP are unknown. The aim of this study is to explore information needs of patients with chronic disease and their relatives for web-based ACP. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients with chronic diseases and relatives at their home or at the study center. In three cases, the patient and relative were paired since they preferred to be interviewed together. We asked about information they would search for when to start with ACP, where they would search for information, what search terms they would use on the Internet, and what content and information they would consider important on an ACP website. The interviewer asked participants to clarify their responses during the interview. We used thematic analysis to analyze the interviewees’ responses. Results We interviewed nine patients with different chronic diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney diseases, and seven relatives, namely partners or (adult) children. The interviewees were aged 24 to 80 years, nine were female and seven were male. Both patients with a chronic disease and relatives mentioned comparable information needs. Many interviewees indicated they would use the Internet to search for information about ACP. Mentioned search terms were “advance care planning”, “treatment plan”, “disease trajectory” and names of patient associations. Information needs concerned their disease trajectory and quality of life, medical treatment decisions, practical support in arranging care, the concept of ACP and guidance in ACP, communication of treatment and care preferences, peer support of others with chronic diseases, and information for relatives. Many appreciated encouragement of their healthcare providers to take a pro-active role in ACP. Conclusions We conclude that information needs for ACP included guidance in ACP, support in making decisions about medical treatment, and practical support in arranging care. We recommend adapting web-based ACP information to the information needs of patients and their relatives to increase its findability, uptake and usefulness.

scholarly journals Lockdown, slow down: impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity—an observational study

Open Heart ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001600
Author(s):  
Joanne Kathryn Taylor ◽  
Haarith Ndiaye ◽  
Matthew Daniels ◽  
Fozia Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
New York ◽  
Heart Association ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Cardiac Devices ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
New York Heart Association ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Uk

AimsIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK was placed under strict lockdown measures on 23 March 2020. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects on physical activity (PA) levels using data from the prospective Triage-HF Plus Evaluation study.MethodsThis study represents a cohort of adult patients with implanted cardiac devices capable of measuring activity by embedded accelerometery via a remote monitoring platform. Activity data were available for the 4 weeks pre-implementation and post implementation of ‘stay at home’ lockdown measures in the form of ‘minutes active per day’ (min/day).ResultsData were analysed for 311 patients (77.2% men, mean age 68.8, frailty 55.9%. 92.2% established heart failure (HF) diagnosis, of these 51.2% New York Heart Association II), with comorbidities representative of a real-world cohort.Post-lockdown, a significant reduction in median PA equating to 20.8 active min/day was seen. The reduction was uniform with a slightly more pronounced drop in PA for women, but no statistically significant difference with respect to age, body mass index, frailty or device type. Activity dropped in the immediate 2-week period post-lockdown, but steadily returned thereafter. Median activity week 4 weeks post-lockdown remained significantly lower than 4 weeks pre-lockdown (p≤0.001).ConclusionsIn a population of predominantly HF patients with cardiac devices, activity reduced by approximately 20 min active per day in the immediate aftermath of strict COVID-19 lockdown measures.Trial registration numberNCT04177199.

scholarly journals A Threat of Farmers’ Suicide and the Opportunity in Organic Farming for Sustainable Agricultural Development in India

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karthikeyan Mariappan ◽  
Deyi Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Input Cost

Agriculture is the main sources of income for humans. Likewise, agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. In India, Tamil Nadu regional state has a wide range of possibilities to produce all varieties of organic products due to its diverse agro-climatic condition. This research aimed to identify the economics and efficiency of organic farming, and the possibilities to reduce farmers’ suicides in the Tamil Nadu region through the organic agriculture concept. The emphasis was on farmers, producers, researchers, and marketers entering the sustainable economy through organic farming by reducing input cost and high profit in cultivation. A survey was conducted to gather data. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been used to test the hypothesis regards the cost and profit of rice production. The results showed that there was a significant difference in profitability between organic and conventional farming methods. It is very transparent that organic farming is the leading concept of sustainable agricultural development with better organic manures that can improve soil fertility, better yield, less input cost and better return than conventional farming. The study suggests that by reducing the cost of cultivation and get a marginal return through organic farming method to poor and small scale farmers will reduce socio-economic problems such as farmers’ suicides in the future of Indian agriculture.

scholarly journals 2D Nanomaterials for Effective Energy Scavenging

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Al Mahadi Hasan ◽  
Yuanhao Wang ◽  
Chris R. Bowen ◽  
Ya Yang
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Material Selection ◽  
Power Supplies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Scavenging ◽  
Power Sources ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
2D Nanomaterials ◽  
Self Powered

AbstractThe development of a nation is deeply related to its energy consumption. 2D nanomaterials have become a spotlight for energy harvesting applications from the small-scale of low-power electronics to a large-scale for industry-level applications, such as self-powered sensor devices, environmental monitoring, and large-scale power generation. Scientists from around the world are working to utilize their engrossing properties to overcome the challenges in material selection and fabrication technologies for compact energy scavenging devices to replace batteries and traditional power sources. In this review, the variety of techniques for scavenging energies from sustainable sources such as solar, air, waste heat, and surrounding mechanical forces are discussed that exploit the fascinating properties of 2D nanomaterials. In addition, practical applications of these fabricated power generating devices and their performance as an alternative to conventional power supplies are discussed with the future pertinence to solve the energy problems in various fields and applications.

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