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Online educational empowerment

Research suggests that online educational empowerment enables learners to acquire knowledge efficiently through social networks. However, individual self-governance is key to success in these communities. The study explores how personal factors like goals, communication skills, and IT skills affect learning outcomes.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Web Based Communities·DateMay 22, 2009

A genomic CluE for cloud computing

Researchers at the University of Maryland are working on a project to analyze vast amounts of DNA sequencing data using remote computer clusters, also known as Cloud Computing. The goal is to determine whether this approach can be more cost-effective and efficient than traditional local clusters.

Internet can warn of ecological changes

Researchers explore using web crawlers to mine informal web-based sources for ecosystem monitoring, providing early warnings of potential ecological disasters. The Internet may contain information on drivers of change, such as global seafood markets, which can help avoid abrupt ecosystem collapse.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateMar 19, 2009

Spreading high-speed Internet to rural areas

A new device using a Raman amplifier has successfully transmitted data over 37 miles of single-mode fiber, error-free, at a speed of 2.5 Gb/s. This technology could provide high-speed Internet to 99% of Australians living in Victoria, closing the digital divide.

SourceOptica·DateMar 16, 2009

Coming of age on the Internet

A new report suggests that teenagers' increased internet use has transformed it into a social networking tool, fostering closer relationships and reducing superficial connections. The study also highlights the positive effects of online communication on mental health, including reduced inhibition and higher quality friendships.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateMar 3, 2009

K-State marketing professor says online shopping will look something like Second Life in the future

A Kansas State University marketing professor says online shopping will borrow from Second Life, allowing shoppers to interact with virtual avatars and purchase items in a social setting. The future of e-commerce may also involve mobile devices, with research suggesting that gaming and chat features are key to attracting young customers.

SourceKansas State University·JournalInternational Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing·DateFeb 19, 2009

Pharmaceutical disobedience

A report highlights the growing trend of US healthcare consumers purchasing unapproved prescription drugs online, driven by high prices and limited access to affordable treatments. This phenomenon carries significant social and policy implications, particularly in a period of economic recession.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Electronic Healthcare·DateJan 27, 2009

Fake internet drugs risk lives and fund terrorism, warns journal editor

The counterfeit drugs market is expected to be worth £55 billion by 2010, with nearly 62% of prescription-only medicines being fakes. Harmful ingredients found in counterfeit medicines include arsenic, boric acid, and leaded road paint, which can have devastating consequences for patients with potentially fatal conditions.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Clinical Practice·DateJan 27, 2009

Technology improves treatment options for drug users

The special issue highlights various new treatment options, including mobile phones, Internet-based interventions, and computers. Researchers have seen promising results, such as a high number of students logging on to screening programs and increased access for hard-to-reach populations.

SourceWiley·JournalDrug and Alcohol Review·DateJan 18, 2009

Paintballs can cause 'devastating' eye injuries

A study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology reports that paintball injuries can result in rupture of the eyeball, detached retina, and even enucleation. Eye protection can prevent nearly all injuries, with over 97% of cases avoided by proper use.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology·DateJan 15, 2009

Help for the overweight could be at the end of a phone

A Dutch study published in BMC Public Health found that phone and internet counselling is effective for weight management in overweight workers. The study compared counselling via phone and e-mail with standard practice and found significant weight loss in all groups, with those in the phone group losing the most weight.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Public Health·DateJan 8, 2009

Search engine marketing for non-profits

A study published in the International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising suggests that non-profits can exploit online marketing strategies to gain traffic and raise awareness. By focusing on relevant keywords and optimizing their websites, non-profits can improve their search engine rankings and increase donations.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising·DateDec 8, 2008

Only some Web sites provide patients with reliable information before having an operation

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that unsponsored web sites have significantly higher quality information compared to commercially sponsored ones. The researchers suggest that surgeons can help patients find reliable information by providing them with technical search terms.

SourceWeber Shandwick Worldwide·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateOct 10, 2008

Researchers teach computers to search for photos based on their contents

A team of Penn State researchers has developed a new approach called Automatic Linguistic Indexing of Pictures in Real-Time (ALIPR) that enables computers to recognize the contents of photographs. The system uses statistical models to assign keywords to images based on pixel information, improving accuracy rates up to 90%.

SourcePenn State·JournalIEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence·DateOct 9, 2008

Bullying common in cyberspace

A study of 1,454 youth found that 72% experienced cyberbullying, with online incidents often accompanied by in-school bullying. Most victims kept the abuse secret, fearing parental restrictions on internet use.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of School Health·DateOct 2, 2008

Doctors bone up on orthopaedics through wiki project

A new study shows that web-based academic discussions are a cost-effective and effective method of continuing medical education for orthopaedic surgeons. The interactive Orthochina.org wiki project, launched in 1998, allows professionals to share real patient cases and engage in collaborative discussions.

SourceSpringer·JournalClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research·DateSep 29, 2008

Researchers examine safety of Internet prescriber service providing erectile dysfunction medications

Researchers compared online prescribing and traditional physician consultation for treating erectile dysfunction, finding that the online system outperformed in patient education and prescription appropriateness. The study concludes that a well-regulated Internet prescriber service can be comparable to traditional medical practice.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateAug 12, 2008

Focused Internet services provide better support to breast cancer patients

A study published in the Journal of Communication found that access to an integrated system of internet health resources significantly improved quality of life, perceived social support, and health information management for breast cancer patients. In contrast, providing only a list of URLs or standard care offered little benefit.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Communication·DateJul 15, 2008

The Internet, alcohol and sleep

A new study found that more Internet time, less sleep, and higher alcohol consumption are associated with weight gain in adolescent girls. Girls who consumed 2 or more alcoholic beverages a week or slept less than 6 hours a night gained more weight.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateJul 9, 2008

Was it good for you too?

A new study by Professor Anne Campbell found that women are more likely to experience regret and decreased satisfaction after a one-night stand compared to men. Despite taking part in casual sex, women do not view it as a precursor to long-term relationships.

SourceSpringer·JournalHuman Nature·DateJun 25, 2008

A new way to protect computer networks from Internet worms

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new way to protect computer networks from Internet worms by automatically detecting infections within minutes. The method involves monitoring the number of scans sent out by machines on a network and isolating infected machines in quarantine for repairs.

SourceOhio State University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing·DateJun 4, 2008