Journal of Management Information Systems Special Section on HCI Research in MIS
Winter 2005-2006, Vol. 22, No. 3
Ping Zhang, Syracuse University
Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Izak Benbasat, University of British Columbia
Human-Computer Interaction or Human Factors studies in MIS are concerned with the ways humans interact with information, technologies, and tasks, especially in business, managerial, organizational, and cultural contexts (Zhang et al. 2002). Although HCI studies in MIS share common interests and concerns with HCI studies in other disciplines such as Computer Science, Psychology, and Ergonomics (Zhang et al. 2003), HCI studies in MIS are also distinctive in its own ways. An MIS researcher's perspective affords emphasis and special importance to managerial and organizational contexts by focusing on analysis of tasks and outcomes at a level that is relevant to organizational performance and effectiveness. The two main distinctive features of MIS when compared to other 'homes' of HCI are its business application and management orientations (Nah et al. 2005; Zhang et al. 2004).
MIS-oriented HCI issues have been addressed since the earliest studies in the MIS discipline. Culnan (1986) identified nine factors or subfields in early MIS publications (1972-1982). Of these nine, three are related to issues in humans interacting with computers. In a second study of a later period of MIS publications (1980-1985), Culnan (1987) found the MIS field to be composed of five areas of study, one of which, individual (micro) approaches to MIS design and use, is closely related to human-computer interaction. After surveying 50 years of MIS publications in the Management Science journal, Banker and Kauffman (Banker et al. 2004) identified HCI as one of five main research streams in MIS and predicted that interest in HCI research will resurge.
The prediction of the resurge has already taken place. MIS scholars' interest in HCI has greatly increased in recent years and HCI has been gaining importance in the MIS discipline. For example, a large number of MIS scholars have self-reported their research interests in HCI-related issues and in teaching HCI-related topics (Zhang et al. 2002). HCI courses are also offered in many MIS programs (Carey et al. 2004; Chan et al. 2003; Kutzschan et al. 2005). HCI is recognized as an important topic in the most recent model curriculum for Masters in Information Systems majors (Gorgone et al. 2005). Both the total numbers and percentages of HCI studies published in primary MIS journals have increased over the recent years (Zhang et al. 2005). There are two forthcoming volumes on HCI research in MIS (Galletta et al. 2006; Zhang et al. 2006) that are part of the Advances in Management Information Systems series. Major MIS conferences, such as International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), Hawaii International Conference on Systems Science (HICSS), Americas Conferences on Information Systems (AMCIS), Pacific Asia Conferences on Information Systems (PACIS), and European Conferences on Information Systems (ECIS), have been paying attention to HCI studies over many years. Most of them have started to set up specifically-designated HCI tracks (ICIS started this in 2004, AMCIS in 2002, PACIS in 2005, and ECIS in 2006.) There is a workshop devoted to HCI research in the MIS discipline that started in 2002 - the pre-ICIS Annual Workshop on HCI Research in MIS. Finally, an official organization of HCI in MIS, the AIS Special Interest Group on HCI (SIGHCI), was established in 2001 to promote and support HCI research, teaching and practice in MIS (Zhang 2004).
This JMIS special section becomes the 5th journal special issue that are sponsored by AIS SIGHCI.
Manuscript Selection Process for Special Section
The papers for this special section are the expanded versions of the best papers from the 2nd Pre-ICIS Workshop on HCI Research in MIS, held in December 2003 in Seattle, Washington. A total of 42 papers were submitted to the workshop of which 17 were accepted for presentations. Nine of the 17 papers were selected for consideration in this special section. The authors of these nine papers expanded their manuscripts based on feedback from the workshop reviews and comments from the participants, and enhanced the theoretical, conceptual and empirical content of their papers. Each of the resulting manuscripts was then reviewed by one original reviewer from the workshop and two or three new reviewers. After three rounds of rigorous peer review and editorial feedback from the special section guest editors, four papers were accepted for this special section of JMIS.
Papers in the Special Section
This special section contains one introduction and four papers that illustrate some of the many interesting current HCI issues and concerns within the MIS discipline. The papers evolve around the theme of decision making in IT use and adoption. The first three papers examine interface issues and their impact on decision making and problem solving. The last paper examines the impact of task type on decision making relating to adoption of mobile technology for commerce.
Involvement and Decision-Making Performance with a Decision Aid: The Influence of Social Multimedia, Gender, and Playfulness
Traci Hess, Mark Fuller, and John Mathew
The study explored how multimedia vividness and the use of computer-based social cues can influence involvement with technology and decision-making outcomes by taking into account two individual differences, gender and computer playfulness. Findings indicate that personality similarity between the user and the decision aid as well as computer playfulness result in increased involvement with the decision aid. In addition, women reported higher levels of involvement with the decision aid. Increased levels of multimedia vividness are found to have a contradictory effect, with animation actually reducing involvement with the decision aid.
How Presentation Flaws Affect Perceived Site Quality, Trust, and Intentions to Purchase from an On-Line Store
Andrea Everard and Dennis Galletta
This paper studied the impact of three types of presentation flaws (errors, poor style, and incompleteness) on users' perceived quality and trust of e-commerce web sites as well as their intentions to purchase from the sites. The highest perceived quality was reported for web sites without flaws and a pattern of diminishing returns was observed with each subsequent flaw perceived. The findings indicate that errors, poor style, and incompleteness influence perceived quality via the perception of these flaws, and perceived quality influences trust which in turn affects purchase intentions. Because it is the perception of flaws on web sites rather than the actual presence of flaws that affects users' quality assessments, it is important for web stores to pay attention to how the features of web sites are perceived b y consumers. The findings indicate that presentation flaws influence perceived quality via an individual's perception of them, which may be highly subjective, for example, in the case of poor style. Perceived quality influences trust, which in turn affects purchase intentions.
Investigating Coherence and Multimedia Effects of a Technology-Mediated Collaborative Environment
Andrew Gemino, Drew Parker, and Adrienne Olnick Kutzschan
In this paper, the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning was applied to assess the coherence and multimedia design principles of a technology-mediated collaborative environment. The study examined the impact of the context relevance of graphics embedded into the background of a collaborative interface. The results indicate that including context relevant graphics can enhance knowledge acquisition, while including irrelevant graphical information neither adversely affects nor fosters acquisition. The results support the coherence and multimedia principles of the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning in the technology-mediated collaborative environment.
Moderating Effects of Task Type on Wireless Technology Acceptance
Xiaowen Fang, Susy Chan, Jacek Brzezinski, and Shuang Xu
Despite the many IS studies on user acceptance of various technologies, few studies emphasize the role and impact of task types on user acceptance. The authors addressed just such an issue in their paper. Three task categories were identified in the wireless context: (1) general tasks that do not involve transactions and gaming; (2) gaming tasks; and (3) transactional tasks. A validated conceptual model for wireless technology adoption indicates that task type moderates the effects of four possible determinants: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived playfulness, and perceived security. User intention to perform general tasks that do not involve transactions and gaming is influenced by perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use; user intention to play games is affected by perceived playfulness; and user intention to carry out transactions is influenced by perceived usefulness and perceived security. The study results have practical implications to designing wireless devices to better suit specific task types.
The guest editors thank the Editor-in-Chief, Vladimir Zwass, for his support in bringing this special section into fruition. We appreciate the cooperation of the authors who worked so diligently to produce their best work. We are indebted to the reviewers who helped to develop these manuscripts into their best form. The reviewers are Henri Barki, Dinesh Batra, Traci Carte, Ron Cenfetell, Patrick Chau, Jane Gravill, Zhenghui Jiang, Paul Lowry, Jiye Mao, Lorne Olfman, Judy Olson, Jonathan Palmer, Jeff Parson, Tom Roberts, Terry Shaft, Mark Silver, Diane Strong, James Teng, Peter Todd, Lai Lai Tung, Viswanath Venkatesh, Susan Wiedenbeck, Wei Zhang, and Ilze Zigurs.
Banker, R.D., and Kauffman, R.J. "The evolution of research on Information Systems: A fiftieth-year survey of the literature in management science," Management Science (50:3) 2004, pp 281-298.
Carey, J., Galletta, D., Kim, J., Te'eni, D., Wildermuth, B., and Zhang, P. "The Role of HCI in IS Curricula: A Call to Action," Communications of the AIS (13:23) 2004, pp 357-379.
Chan, S.S., Wolfe, R.J., and Fang, X. "Issues and strategies for integrating HCI in Masters level MIS and e-commerce programs," International Journal of Human-Computer Studies (59:4), 10 2003, pp 497-520.
Culnan, M.J. "The intellectual development of Management Information Systems, 1972-1982: A co-citation analysis," Management Science (32:2), February 1986, pp 156-172.
Culnan, M.J. "Mapping the Intellectual Structure of MIS 1980-1985: A Co-citation Analysis," MIS Quarterly (11:3) 1987, pp 341-353.
Galletta, D., and Zhang, P. (eds.) Human-Computer Interaction and Management Information Systems - Applications. M. E. Sharpe, Inc., Armonk, NY, 2006.
Gorgone, J.T., Gray, P., Stohr, E.A., Valacich, J.S., and Wigand, R.T. "MSIS 2006 Curriculum Review," Communications of the AIS (15) 2005, pp 544-554.
Kutzschan, A.O., and Webster, J. "HCI as MIS," in: Human-Computer Interaction and Management Information Systems: Foundations, P. Zhang and D. Galletta (eds.), M.E. Sharpe, 2005.
Nah, F.F.-H., Zhang, P., and McCoy, S. "Editorial Introduction: HCI in MIS," International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (19:1) 2005, pp 3-6.
Zhang, P. "AIS SIGHCI Three-Year Report," in: AIS SIGHCI Newsletter (http://sigs.aisnet.org/sighci/), 2004, pp. 2-6.
Zhang, P., Benbasat, I., Carey, J., Davis, F., Galletta, D., and Strong, D. "Human-Computer Interaction Research in the MIS Discipline," Communications of the AIS (9:20) 2002, pp 334-355.
Zhang, P., and Dillon, A. "HCI and MIS: Shared concerns," International Journal of Human-Computer Studies (59:4), Oct. 2003, pp 397-402.
Zhang, P., and Galletta, D. (eds.) Human-Computer Interaction and Management Information Systems - Foundations. M. E. Sharpe, Inc., Armonk, NY, 2006.
Zhang, P., and Li, N. "The intellectual development of Human-Computer Interaction research in MIS: A survey of the MIS literature (1990-2002)," Journal of Association for Information Systems (6:11), November 2005, pp 227-292.
Zhang, P., Nah, F.F.-H., and Preece, J. "HCI Studies in MIS," Behaviour & Information Technology (23:3), May-June 2004, pp 147-151.


Greeted by Mangaku
Welcome, fellow webtoon enthusiasts, to the world of Mangaku! If you are a fan of captivating storytelling, stunning artwork, and diverse characters, then Mangaku is the perfect virtual hub for you. Get ready to dive into a vast collection of Indonesian webtoons that will transport you to different realms, evoke a plethora of emotions, and leave you craving for more.
Indonesia has been bustling with incredible creative talent within the comics industry, and Mangaku has become the go-to platform for many aspiring artists and dedicated readers. In this article, we will take you on an exciting journey through the fascinating world of Mangaku, discussing its unique features, popular webtoons, and everything else you need to know about this captivating platform.
Discovering the Marvels of Mangaku
The Rise of Indonesian Webtoons
Indonesia has witnessed a tremendous surge in the popularity of webtoons in recent years. With its accessibility, unique storytelling format, and visually appealing artwork, webtoons have captured the hearts of millions of readers. Mangaku, as one of the pioneering webtoon platforms in Indonesia, has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the local comic industry by providing a vibrant space for both aspiring and established artists to showcase their talent.
Unleashing Your Imagination
Mangaku offers a diverse range of webtoons that cater to every taste and preference. Whether you are a fan of romance, fantasy, action, or comedy, you are bound to find a captivating series that will keep you hooked for hours on end. With a fusion of captivating storytelling, stunning artwork, and relatable characters, Mangaku guarantees to captivate your imagination and take you on an unforgettable journey with each webtoon you explore.
Community and Collaboration
One of the most appealing aspects of Mangaku is its strong sense of community. Mangaku encourages readers and artists to interact, fostering a supportive and engaging environment for all. With comment sections, fan theories, and fanart forums, readers are able to connect with each other and express their love for their favorite webtoons. Additionally, Mangaku also provides platforms for aspiring artists to collaborate and create their own webtoons, further nurturing the growth of the industry.
The Marvels of Mangaku: A Closer Look
Mangaku offers an impressive array of genres, ensuring that there is something for everyone. From heartwarming romances and thrilling action-packed adventures to thought-provoking dramas and hilarious comedies, Mangaku’s extensive library caters to a wide range of tastes. Whether you’re in the mood for an emotional rollercoaster or a laugh-out-loud comedy, you can find it all in Mangaku’s diverse collection.
Prepare to be amazed by the breathtaking artwork found in Mangaku’s webtoons. Indonesian artists have garnered widespread recognition for their exceptional skills in storytelling through visuals. From vibrant colors that bring scenes to life to intricate details that enhance the overall reading experience, the artwork in Mangaku’s webtoons is truly a feast for the eyes.
Get ready to embark on thrilling adventures and immerse yourself in compelling narratives. The talented writers behind Mangaku’s webtoons craft intricate storylines that will keep you eagerly turning the virtual pages. Each chapter will leave you on the edge of your seat, craving to know what happens next. With their ability to weave unforgettable tales, Mangaku’s webtoons ensure that you will never experience a dull moment.
Unraveling the Mangaku Experience: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Mangaku?
Mangaku is one of the leading webtoon platforms in Indonesia, offering a vast collection of webtoons created by both established and aspiring artists.
2. How do I access Mangaku?
You can access Mangaku by visiting their official website or downloading the Mangaku app on your smartphone.
3. Are the webtoons on Mangaku free to read?
Yes, the majority of webtoons on Mangaku can be read for free, although there are some premium series that require a subscription.
4. Can I leave comments on Mangaku webtoons?
Yes, Mangaku provides a comment section for each webtoon, allowing readers to share their thoughts and engage with other fans.
5. How often are new webtoons released on Mangaku?
Mangaku regularly updates its collection with new webtoons. The frequency of updates may vary depending on the artist and series.
6. Can I submit my own webtoon to Mangaku?
Yes, Mangaku welcomes submissions from aspiring artists who want to share their own webtoons with the community.
7. Are there any events or competitions held by Mangaku?
Yes, Mangaku frequently organizes events, competitions, and collaborations to further engage with readers and artists.
8. How can I support my favorite webtoon artists on Mangaku?
You can support your favorite webtoon artists by leaving positive comments, sharing their work on social media, and participating in community activities.
9. Can I read Mangaku webtoons offline?
Currently, Mangaku does not offer an official offline reading feature. However, you can save chapters for later reading if you have an internet connection.
10. Is Mangaku available in multiple languages?
While Mangaku primarily offers webtoons in Indonesian, there are some series that have been translated into English and other languages.
As you delve into the captivating world of Mangaku, remember that there are countless stories waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re seeking heartwarming romances, exhilarating adventures, or thought-provoking dramas, Mangaku has it all. Join the vibrant community, engage with fellow readers, and support the talented artists who bring these incredible webtoons to life. Embrace the magic of Mangaku and let your imagination soar.


As I’ve looked back on Davis and Sariah’s beautiful wedding weekend I keep thinking about the Father of the Bride (my brother) & his wedding toast.
Now, this isn’t verbatim, but you’ll get the gist of his meaning:
I know Sariah, and she is loving and kind… I don’t know Davis, but I know he makes her happy.
I know Sariah, and she is happy and generous… I don’t know Davis, but I know he makes her happy.
I know Sariah, and she is extremely loyal… I don’t know Davis, but I know he makes her happy.
I know Sariah, and she is intelligent and driven… I don’t know Davis, but I know he makes her happy.
I know Sariah, and she is fun and adventurous… I don’t know Davis, but I know he makes her happy.
I love that my brother can see how happy Davis makes Sariah! Every father of the bride should have this assurance!
But what about Davis?
I see how he looks at her…
I watch as he gets her door…
I see how tenderly he brushes back her hair…
He smiles at her in adoration…
(He is smiling so much that he’s radiating happiness!)
He works to get her to laugh, to make her comfortable, or makes her uncomfortable to get her to laugh!
What does all this mean? ~That she makes him happy, too!
They have enough in common to be compatible and enough different about them to make life interesting!
I have a feeling these two will be laughing quite a bit throughout their life together!
In true Sariah Style they were married on Friday, the 13th…
-proving that their happiness can defy all tradition!
The next morning Davis and Sariah were sealed together as a Forever Family in The Las Vegas Nevada Temple!
“If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t expose it to the elements. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by.”—F. Burton Howard
1 Corinthians 11:11—“Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”
Growing up, Sariah was always looking for adventure…
I believe she’s finally found her grand adventure with an amazing partner to walk beside her.
“We are not two but three—thee and me and God for eternity, a most sacred triangle, a relationship of which we are each a part.”—Ardeth G. Kapp
“Under the plan of heaven, the husband and wife walk side by side as companions, neither one ahead of the other, but a daughter of God and a son of God walking side by side. Let your families be families of love and peace and happiness.” —Gordon B. Hinckley
“Marriage is a gift from God to us; the quality of our marriages is a gift from us to Him.”—L. Whitney Clayton
“Because love is as much a verb as it is a noun, the phrase “I love you” is much more a promise of behavior and commitment than it is an expression of feeling.” – Lynn G. Robbins
“That said, none of us marry perfection; we marry potential. The right marriage is not only about what I want; it’s also about what she—who’s going to be my companion—wants and needs me to be.” -Robert D. Hales
“There is great power in a strong partnership. True partners can achieve more than the sum of each acting alone. With true partners, one plus one is much more than two.” – Russell M. Nelson
I’m so thankful that I was able to witness both ceremonies where they were able to start their own family for both time and eternity.
Congratulations on a wonderful start to your marriage! ~I love you both!
November 21, 2020


The acceptance of cannabis's medical use by eight states
[between 1996 and 2002] and the experiences of patients,
doctors, and state officials in these states establish
marijuana's accepted medical use in the United States.
Cannabis's accepted medical use in the United States
is increasingly recognized by health care professionals
and the medical community, including the Institute of
Medicine. Several medical organizations support legal
access to cannabis for medicinal purposes. A new medical
journal released in 2001 focuses on the medicinal use
of cannabis and cannabinoids. National clinical conferences
on the medicinal use of cannabis have been held in the
United States in 2000 and 2002 and are scheduled to
continue on a bi-annual basis.. Most importantly, data
on the number of physicians currently recommending therapeutic
marijuana use to their patients demonstrate its acceptance
by the medical community in the United States. More...
Patients' experience and their confirmation
by early studies
Following state laws that allow for the medical use
of cannabis, an increasing number of patients have collected
experience with cannabis. Many reported benefits from
its use. Some of this experience has been confirmed
in reports and clinical investigations or stimulated
clinical research that confirmed these patients' experience
on other patients suffering from the same disease. More...
Reviews of earlier clinical studies
Several scientific publications have reviewed evidence
from research on the medicinal uses of cannabis indicating
that cannabis in fact may offer benefits in the treatment
of certain illnesses. More...
The scientific understanding of the endogenous cannabinoid
system consisting of specific cannabinoid receptors
and their endogenous ligands (endocannabinoids) has
considerably increased since 1995. It largely supports
and helps explain many of the therapeutic benefits of
cannabis and cannabinoids in humans. More...
Results from clinical research demonstrate that both
dronabinol and whole plant cannabis can offer a safe
and effective treatment for the following illnesses:
muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis, Tourette syndrome,
chronic pain, nausea and vomiting in HIV/AIDS and cancer
chemotherapy, loss of appetite from cancer, hyperactivity
of the bladder in patients with multiple sclerosis and
spinal cord injury, and dyskinesia caused by levodopa
in Parkinson's disease. More...
Route of administration.
Progress has been made in recent years in reducing
the disadvantages of certain routes of cannabis administration,
notably the slow onset of action with oral use and harm
associated with the inhalation of combustion products
when smoking cannabis. More...
The pharmaceutical industry is showing not only increasing
interest in synthetic modulators of the endogenous cannabinoid
system, but also industry members are funding several
clinical studies with cannabis whole plant extracts
in Europe and Canada with the intention to develop approved
cannabis based medicines. This indicates that therapeutic
exploitation of natural cannabis will be economically
sound. However the present Schedule I classification
of cannabis and THC is an impediment to the pharmaceutical
development of cannabinoid drugs becaused of the costly
restrictions it places on research. More...


Edorium Journal of Otolaryngology is an international, peer reviewed, open access journal, publishing high-quality original articles on all aspects of otolaryngology.
The scope of Edorium Journal of Otolaryngology covers clinical studies and experimental research in otolaryngology and related disciplines, including otology, laryngology, rhinology, speech science and head and neck surgery. Studies of pathobiology from experimental models and human material are also welcome.
Following types of articles are published in Edorium Journal of Otolaryngology: Review Articles, Original Articles, Short Reports, Rapid Communication, Case Series, Case Reports, Clinical Images and Letter to Editors.
Submission to peer review: 28-42 days
Acceptance to final publication: 31 days
Page proofs to final publication: 14 days
Indexed in: Airiti Library, J-Gate, Google Scholar


In 2012, the first post marketing reports linking finasteride to depression and suicide were released. Since then, reports of adverse sexual side effects and persistent sexual dysfunction have been described in men taking finasteride for male pattern hair loss.
Two recent publications in the scientific literature have examined these potential side effects in young men taking finasteride for male pattern hair loss. These articles tried to answer two questions:
First, is there an increased risk of depression and suicidality in young men taking finasteride for male pattern hair loss?
Secondly, is there an increased risk of sexual side effects in young men taking finasteride for male pattern hair loss?
The first publication was entitled, Investigation of Suicidality and Psychological Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Finasteride (JAMA Dermatology, published in January 2021).
Summary of key findings:
In this study, the authors compared the risk of suicidality in young men between the age of 18 and 45 years of age taking 1 mg of finasteride for male pattern hair loss versus men older than 45 years of age taking 5 mg of finasteride for enlarged prostate.The authors found an increased risk of suicidality and adverse psychological effects in younger men taking finasteride for male pattern hair loss, but not in older men taking 5 mg of finasteride for enlarged prostate.
Secondly, the authors found no increased reports of suicidality in men using minoxidil (AKA Rogaine) for hair loss or Tamulosin in older men for enlarged prostate.
Third, authors compared finasteride to dutasteride (a medication with very similar mechanism of action, and more potent inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase). Interestingly, there was no increased risk of dutasteride leading to suicidality. Given that finasteride and dutasteride both block 5-alpha reductase, the authors suggest that the increased risk of suicidality with finasteride may simply be a reporting bias, given the media attention and public awareness surrounding this medication.
Further supporting this bias is the fact that the rates of suicidality reported after 2012 was three times higher than prior to 2012 (when attention in the media first began regarding potential side effects of finasteride).
The authors propose that men who experience increased rates of suicidality while taking finasteride may also be simultaneously experiencing adverse sexual side effects from finasteride which may be the contributing factor to depression and suicide.
The bottom line is that there may be an increased risk for depression and suicidality in young men taking finasteride for male pattern hair loss, though it is difficult to say for sure how much this is attributed to reporting bias. Those men taking finasteride for male pattern hair loss should be aware of this issue and should consult their physician should any symptoms of depression or other psychological disturbance occur while taking finasteride.
The second publication was entitled, Disproportional signal of sexual dysfunction reports associated with finasteride use in young men with androgenetic alopecia: a pharmacovigilance analysis of Vigibase (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, March 2022)
The authors specifically examined the association between finasteride use in young men for hair loss and sexual dysfunction (characterized by decreased sexual arousal or desire, difficulty maintaining erections, reduced intensity of erections, and ejaculatory dysfunction ).
The data was based upon the World Health Organization’s international database of individual case safety reports. The authors compared reports of finasteride to drugs with similar mechanism of action (dutasteride) and other drugs used for male pattern hair loss including minoxidil.
The authors found an increased risk of sexual side effects with finasteride than would be expected by chance alone. 7700 reports of sexual dysfunction in men taking finasteride were identified.
However, they also acknowledge that there may be a reporting bias based upon the following factors (quoted directly from the article below):
“(1) the signal of sexual dysfunction associated with finasteride after 2012 is >3 times greater than the signal for reports before 2012
(2) the signal associated with finasteride was nearly twice that of dutasteride
(3) the signal associated with finasteride in young patients with androgenetic alopecia was 30 times that of minoxidil
(4) the signal associated with the 1-mg dose of finasteride used for androgenetic alopecia was nearly twice that of the 5-mg dose used for benign prostatic hyperplasia.”
The bottom line is that is that there probably is increased risk of sexual side effects in young men taking finasteride for male pattern hair loss, though the risks are very unlikely to be as high as that described in the research paper above. The current estimates are around 2% risk of sexual side effects. Fortunately, these side effects are almost always reversible more than 99.9% of the time. This means that if you stop taking finasteride, the side effects almost always resolve.
My personal experience with finasteride has been a good one. I started taking finasteride around 30 years of age, when I started thinning over the vertex of the scalp. I have a very strong family history of hair loss, with both of my grandfathers being completely bald. Also, my older brother suffers from severe male pattern hair loss. In 20 years of taking finasteride, I have personally seen no sexual side effects nor any psychological adverse events. Furthermore, I have treated hundreds of patients with finasteride and have seen only a handful of patients that have needed to stop finasteride due to adverse events. Fortunately, in all these cases, the side effects completely resolved upon discontinuation of finasteride.


Forgot I wanted to post this sent to me by a friend. Both quotes are by Marianne Williamson. Please read through all the way even if you are not a believer so I can ask you a question.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?(my highlight) We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear in that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the World.
There is nothing enlightening about shrinking
so that other people won't feel unsure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
As we let our own Light shine,
we consciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
So even if you don't believe in God, can you deny the power that would energize your life if you lived as if other people needed your example to live by? What if you wanted to be a motivator to everyone who came in contact with you? WHAT IF people wanted to be like you?!
This is one of the most inspirational things I've ever read. I cannot fully put into words how it reachs me inside but I truly wish I had read it years ago. Who knows though, I might not have appreciated it then.


Book: Restaurant to Another World (Light Novel) Vol. 1
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
The basis for the beloved anime about a restaurant that welcomes fantasy creatures to dine!
“Western Cuisine Nekoya” seems like a typical restaurant on the outside, but it hides an amazing secret: on Saturdays, portals to another world appear that allow all manner of unearthly creatures to sit down for a nice meal. Elves, dragons, or anyone else who wants to sample our world’s cuisine is welcome to partake before returning to their world, sated and ready for their next quest. This lovely light novel series, never before published in English, celebrates even the simplest of our foods as fantastical adventures in fine dining. Bon appétit!
Due to licensing or platform-specific content restrictions, not all books are available digitally.More information is available in our Digital FAQ.


Guidelines for energy-saving behaviour in six fields of action
Six guidelines of the NRP 71 project “Sustainable lifestyles and energy consumption” support the authorities in promoting energy-saving behaviour in various fields of action.
As part of the NRP 71 project “Sustainable lifestyles and energy consumption”, the Mobility Competence Centre of the Lucerne School of Business, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Timo Ohnmacht, has developed six guidelines for promoting a sustainable lifestyle in cooperation with the cities of Lucerne and Biel/Bienne. The guidelines support the authorities in introducing targeted measures aimed at promoting energy-saving behaviour that are geared both specifically towards the various action areas and the willingness of those concerned. This increases the acceptance of the introduced measures, which can be implemented in future on a selective basis and in a manner that affects people’s behaviour.
The basis of the research project is formed by the investigation of social-psychological influencing factors that impact everyday behaviour and thus represent starting points for promoting sustainable lifestyles in a targeted manner. Effective measures for various areas of day-to-day life have been developed. For each of the six guidelines, the relevant influencing factors have been defined and supplemented with specific proposals for action. On the basis of the guidelines, both authorities and campaign planners can now analyse behaviour in an easily understandable manner and classify it within the developed phase model. For each phase, behaviour-influencing measures are then proposed that aim to reduce energy consumption. Behaviour is presented to those affected in relation to the phase it belongs to. This offers the key advantage that specific behaviour can be viewed on a differentiated basis and that possible development potential is revealed.
Overview of guidelines (PDF, German):
- 2. Hand – der Kauf von gebrauchten anstatt neuen Gütern (Second hand – the purchase of used instead of new goods)
- Energiesparsamer Wohnen (Energy-saving living)
- Förderung des Öffentlichen Verkehrs (Promotion of public transport)
- Reduktion von Fleischkonsum (Reduction of meat consumption)
- Velofahren (Bike riding)
- Verlängerung der Lebensdauer von Mobiltelefonen (Extending the lifespan of mobile phones)


Their Press Release
Every year book lovers spend millions of dollars on books they never finish, because there is no easy way of finding the right book. But now Shelftaught takes the gamble out of the search for a great read.
ShelfTaught is designed to help users choose their next read intelligently.
Other websites rank books on popularity by relying on best seller lists or unvetted voting, making it hard for readers to find suggestions for useful niche books; like the best crochet books or small business marketing books.
ShelfTaught uses an algorithm to combine individuals’ book suggestions whilst taking into account their professional and personal expertise. This creates a book recommendation engine that is precise, and based on recommendations from people in the know, rather than a popularity contest.
On ShelfTaught, one can connect with other users, endorse their skills and be a part of the world’s best book recommendation engine.
No matter how niche a persons’ interests are users can find high quality recommendations in any topic saving them time and money.
“I bought a project management book off of Amazon because it had a lot of 5 star reviews, but it was way too basic.” – Anna in London
The site is focused on Non-fiction readers and is attracting users who are tired of existing platforms such as Goodreads
“Wow. Exactly what I was looking for. Goodreads seriously needs a better alternative, especially for non-fiction.” – Nayan on Product Hunt.
ShelfTaught’s appeals to book worms who want to share with the world all the books they have read and the knowledge they’ve acquired. The easy to use interface and clean display makes displaying an online library, simple and attractive.
Goodreads’ users can copy their full library across with the click of a button.
Visit the site at www.shelftaught.com to find your next favourite book, show your knowledge off to the world, and be a part of the world’s best book recommendation engine.
ShelfTaught launched in February 2018 and was founded by Duncan Garde. Duncan is a self-proclaimed geek, who taught himself to code from scratch and then built the site in his spare time.


It started out as joke. I was offered the last three weeks in June to preach a series before my upcoming trip the States. My mind being what it is, I immediately thought of Randy Pausch’s “The Last Lecture,” and thought up the ominous-sounding title: “The Last Series.” It would most likely have a small subtitle “until the next one” or “in June.” As it turns out, no one around here knows who Randy Pausch is, so I changed tacks and came up with the title “The Last Words,” with the tagline, “What would you say if you knew they would be your last words?”
I thought it sounded catchy, but naturally they couldn’t be my last words. I’m a stickler for expository preaching. This led me to think about several people whose last words are recorded for us in Scripture. Not surprisingly, I picked Moses (whose last words are the basically the whole book of Deuteronomy), Paul (whose last words aren’t necessarily recorded, but 2 Timothy gets pretty close), and of course, Jesus.
I won’t go into all the details of each message because I want to get to a point (and I’m sure you want me to do so as well).
There are a number of ways to approach the last words of Jesus Christ. One can take it literally: the last thing He said on the cross (there is no lack of “The Seven Sayings of Jesus” material out there). The idea can be broadened a bit, and focus on His final words to the disciples before His crucifixion. But as I considered how I was going to handle it, it hit me:
Jesus will never speak His last words.
When speaking of Jesus’ “last words,” we always have to qualify a context. His last words to His disciples. His last words on the cross. Death has a way of rendering men speechless, but Jesus has a way of rendering death powerless. He rose again. So we must resort to more qualifying: His last words before His ascension. His words to Paul at his conversion. His words to John in Revelation. Surely, way at the end, in chapter 22, where He says He is coming quickly—those are his last words! Well, possibly the last ones recorded, but still not His last, because I imagine we will be doing most of the listening in eternity.
The Bible speaks of two different words as eternal: God’s Word, as in, the Scriptures (Is. 40:8; the same of Jesus’ words in Mt 24:35), and Jesus Himself, the incarnate Word (John 1:1; 14). Over the course of human history, God has revealed the written word to mankind, with the goal of pointing to the incarnate Word. It is God’s revelation, pointing to God revealed—God with us. Jesus is God’s ultimate and final word (Hb 1:1-2). Everything we need to know about His final Word is found in His written word. And neither will ever pass away.
I have already spoken on Moses and Paul at church, so I’m looking forward to the final Sunday in the series, as I speak of Jesus’ “last words.” It is encouraging to think that Jesus will never speak His last words; and yet humbling to think that He will always have the last word.
I can only hope that my last words—when the time comes for me to say them—will ring with a passion for God’s written Word as they point to God’s ultimate and final Word, Jesus Christ.


I just finished a book titled “Energy’s Digital Future” authored by Professor Amy Myers Jaffe. The book raises a few very important points that are worthy of deeper discussion (and more urgent action):
- The future of clean energy is digital (i.e. driven by technology).
- We need more swift and powerful US energy policies to ensure we can actually achieve a successful clean energy transition.
- The US can use this opportunity to not only lead in energy transition, but also in securing and upholding democracy.
The book is fascinating and convincing to me because it takes a historical perspective, and generates lessons learned from the history. Let me raise two particular important examples:
- GPS is a technology pioneered by the US government. It was due to the threat from the USSR having launched Sputnik, the first satellite.
- The US could have an electrified society in the 1910s. During that period, electrified vehicles were actually dominating gasoline cars. Again, the US government played an important role in steering us away from that technology and onto the gasoline-centric road.
I have long suspected that the US government had played a pivotal role in changing the course of US societal evolution in the past. This book firmly reinforced my view.
For those who are interested in knowing more about the book, here is a short webinar on the book launch:


Exactly 10 years ago, in 2006, I had written my book “I Promised to My Father”, in which I narrated my life and memories. My life and memories… They are all composed of only work. I believe those who have read that book might have seen that there is nothing in my life other than work and NUROL, which is our company that we have built up together with my brothers. I do not like much to talk about myself. As a man who has always refrained from being appeared on media, the book in question was, for me, a kind of first and longest bare my heart. It was a kind of a comprehensive response to the question of “Who is Nurettin Çarmıklı?” Those, who have read my book “I Promised to My Father” and had chance to get answers to the question about who I am, might have been realized that my life is majorly- maybe I have to say unfortunately- only composed of business life. So, the book “I Promised to My Father” is not only about my life and memories but also a summary of 40 years of NUROL.
While we celebrated the 40th birthday of NUROL, a kind of corporate history had been written with my words as well. Now, 10 years later, we celebrate 50th birthday of NUROL. As corporate, now we are in our years of maturity. 50 years those have been left behind means 50 years of my life. I am very well aware of that lives of institutions can be incomparably long, when they are managed well enough, in comparison the life of a human being. Although I will not be around, I am pretty confident that the second, third and so on 50th birthdays of NUROL will be celebrated in the future. Within the 50 years we left behind, we have put our signatures to various works that will serve to our people for additional several 50 years. We have built roads, dams, canals, tunnels, residences, and manufactured armored vehicles. We are proud of making a humble contribution to prevention of a military coupe and protection of our democracy by means of armored vehicles we have manufactured. In this book, I do not mention about what we have done within the country. But, I have to say that we put our signature on many huge projects, for which we all should be proud of.


AQUACEL® Ag+ wondverband onderzoeken, lees het bewijs:
Download the clinical summary of a recently published review1 summarising why biofilm is a key challenge for clinicians caring for chronic wounds.
- Biofilm is present in the majority of chronic wounds2
- It is a key cause of delayed wound healing3 and a precursor to infection4
- Formation tends to occur when wound moisture and exudate are not well controlled5
Biofilm has an increased tolerance to antimicrobials and antibiotics6
More research is needed to identify a rapid accurate technique to identify and characterise biofilms in ways that optimise their validity in diagnosing or screening patient risk of infection or delayed healing and to inform clinical decisions.1
Watch the video on how biofilm delays wound healing and how AQUACEL® Ag+ dressings perform.
- Hurlow J, Couch K, Laforet K, Bolton L, Metcalf D, Bowler P, 2014. Clinical Biofilms: A Challenging Frontier in Wound Care. Advances in Wound Care, DOI: 10.1089/wound.2014.0567.
- James G, Swogger E, Wolcott R, Pulcini E, Secor P, 2008. Biofilms in chronic wounds. Wound Repair and Regeneration; 16:37-44.
- Metcalf D and Bowler P, 2013. Biofilm delays wound healing: a review of the evidence. Burns & Trauma; 1:5-12
- Percival S and Bowler P, 2004. Biofilms and their potential role in wound healing. WOUNDS; 16: 234-240.
- Hurlow J and Bowler P, 2012. Potential implications of biofilm in chronic wounds: a case series. J Wound Care; 21:109-119.
- Burmølle M, Thomsen TR, Fazli M, et al. Biofilms in chronic infections—a matter of opportunity—monospecies biofilms in multispecies infections. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 2010;59:324–336.


In life, we meet many people. Some come into our lives to stay, while others are just passing through. However, have you ever considered that a stranger you encounter could be a blessing from God?
There are times in life when we feel lost or overwhelmed, and we don’t know where to turn. During these moments, a stranger can appear and offer us the guidance, support, or encouragement we need to keep going. These strangers may come in the form of a kind word, a helpful gesture, or a simple smile.
As Christians, we believe that God works in mysterious ways and that he can send people into our lives to help us when we need it most. The Bible teaches us that we should welcome strangers, treat them with kindness and respect, and be open to the blessings they may bring.
In Hebrews 13:2, we read, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” This verse reminds us that the strangers we encounter may be messengers from God, sent to help us on our journey.
Another example is in Matthew 25:35, where Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” This verse teaches us that when we help strangers, we are helping Jesus himself.
So, the next time you encounter a stranger, don’t be afraid to reach out and offer a helping hand. Remember that this person may be a blessing from God, and that by helping them, you are serving him.
God can use anyone to bless our lives, even strangers. Let’s be open to these blessings, and treat everyone with kindness and respect. Who knows, that stranger you encounter today may be the blessing you’ve been praying for!


Welcome to the 2018/19 edition of The Guide to Infant Feeding – the independent, comprehensive and essential training guide for community practitioner and health visitor teams.
Having a new baby in the home is both a joy and a challenge. Parents are given so much advice about caring for their baby that they can actually become confused or simply miss things that are said. Infant feeding can be a particularly confusing area about which parents often have questions, and sometimes they can feel uncomfortable asking what they perceive to be a minor query or something which they don’t feel is worth making a GP appointment for. This is where community practitioners and health visitors can help. There is a great opportunity in the community to answer these questions, allay concerns and deal with uncertainties. When you see a parent with a baby, take the time to get to know them and let them know you are there to help. Build a good relationship and you will gain their trust, as well as having the satisfaction of being able to help someone through one of the most important periods of their life.
This guide is designed to give community practitioner and health visitor teams information on all aspects of infant feeding from breastfeeding to fussy eaters and everything in between. It also focuses on the importance of understanding parents’ needs and how to advise them appropriately, confidently and sensitively. We hope you find this training and reference guide useful when helping parents in your community.


Dutch screenwriter Alec Gonzaga is facing an uncertain future. The love of his life - violinist Mary Douglas - is diagnosed with cancer. When she draws up a bucket list Alec is not surprised to learn about her wish to visit his homeland Indonesia. But her other request takes him by surprise: Mary wants him to write down the story of his youth. Alec is prepared to do everything for her, but he has always struggled with his painful memories. Will the visit to his old home traumatize him further or finally bring him peace of mind? And will it help both Mary and Alec to prepare themselves for the definite farewell that awaits them? Over de auteur Aloysius Keller is born in Bogor, Indonesia and grew up in Europe. He graduated from Wheaton College, Wheaton - Illinois, USA. His writing on posttraumatic stress disorder is based on personal experience. 'Symphony of everyday things' is his debut novel and was originally published in Dutch. Aloysius Keller has three daughters and presently resides in The Hague, the Netherlands.


Every now and again someone will ask an innocent question that has a profound impact on our view of life. Sometimes the impact is short lived as we return to the daily grind of activities filling our lives, but occasionally the question stays in our head and niggles away quietly in the background causing mild unrest. We almost do not want to answer the question as it will reveal an aspiration too hard to achieve, or perhaps make us face a situation we have successfully ignored up until now, or maybe because it will remind us of what we really wanted and who we really are and have since forgotten as we have adapted ourselves to fit in society and our work environment.
I was asked the following innocent question about four years ago:
“If you had achieved all you wanted to in life with no regrets and you were reflecting back on your life, what would be the highlights and the things you would be most proud of in your life?”
In answering this question I revisited my aspirations and my own personal goals, thus reminding myself of what I wanted to achieve. I realised I was putting off my own dreams using the lack of time as my biggest excuse.
There was always a reason not to start progressing towards my own personal goals; it was always “I will do something when I get around to it”. First I was studying, then I was working, now I am raising a family, tomorrow there will something else. Life goes on, but at some point life will pass me by and then it will be too late for me to do anything. If I make no effort to progress towards my own personal goals now, then I will be reminiscing on â€œwhat ifsâ€ and regrets. What a waste!
Don’t underestimate me. When thinking about this question I had it all: a job I loved, a career with good prospects and a lovely family and yet there was something that was not quite right. I thought I was doing an excellent job of juggling all the things in my life. Yet all I was doing was juggling more and more, faster and faster, rushing from A to B, B to C, nearly always on auto pilot. I enjoyed my work, I love my family, my husband and kids are great, so what was niggling away in the background?
This one question resulted in me re-evaluating my priorities. Somewhere along my journey I had put my dreams to one side as I got on with “life”. But not anymore! Having thought long and hard on what was important to me and what did I really want to achieve, I made the necessary changes in my life. These changes were not easy or quick decisions, nor would the benefits be realised immediately. However, having now made these changes, I am happy to say I consider my life to be richer in fulfilment.
We always have options. It is often too easy to go with the flow. Sometimes we go with the flow without even realising it. But once we realise something is not quite right, are we brave enough to challenge the status quo of our life and dare to change?
So let me now ask you an innocent question:
“If you were the person you really wanted to be, what would be different about your life?”
Do you dare to change?


For the 250th anniversary of John Quincy Adams's birth, a landmark new selected edition of an American masterpiece:the incomparable self-portrait of a man and his times from the Revolution tothe coming of the Civil War. The diary of John Quincy Adams is one of the most extraordinary works in American literature. Begun in 1779 at the age of twelve and kept more or less faithfully until his death almost 70 years later, and totaling some fifteen thousand closely-written manuscript pages, it is both an unrivaled record of historical events and personalities from the nation's founding to the antebellum era and a masterpiece of American self-portraiture, tracing the spiritual, literary, and scientific interests of an exceptionally lively mind. Now, for the 250th anniversary of Adams's birth, Library of America and historian David Waldstreicher present a two-volume reader's edition of diary selections based for the first time on the original manuscripts, restoring personal and revealing passages suppressed in earlier editions. Volume 2 opens with Adams serving as Secretary of State, amid political maneuverings within and outside James Monroe's cabinet to become his successor, a process that culminates in Adams's election to the presidency by the House of Representatives after the deadlocked four-way contest of 1824. Even as Adams takes the oath of office, rivals Henry Clay, his Secretary of State, John C. Calhoun, his vice president, and an embittered Andrew Jackson, eye the election of 1828. The diary records in candid detail his frustration as his far-sighted agenda for national improvement founders on the rocks of internecine political factionalism, conflict that results in his becoming only the second president, with his father, to fail to secure reelection. After a short-lived retirement, Adams returns to public service as a Congressman from Massachusetts, and for the last seventeen years of his life he leads efforts to resist the extension of slavery and to end the notorious "gag rule" that stifles debate on the issue in Congress. In 1841 he further burnishes his reputation as a scourge of the Slave Power by successfully defending African mutineers of the slave ship Amistad before the Supreme Court. The diary achieves perhaps its greatest force in its prescient anticipation of the Civil War and Emancipation, an "object," as Adams described it during the Missouri Crisis, "vast in its compass, awful in its prospects, sublime and beautiful in its issue."


Nobody but you has the right to define you. The words that define you have power and magic. As a hero you overcome severe challenges. In this way your story is transformed into one of triumph, inspiring and encouraging others.
What is Write to Recovery?
8 therapeutic writing workshops for anyone who has ever experienced some sort of distress, emotional difficulty or mental ill-health. These facilitated sessions will take on a new theme each week, set by the facilitators, and participants will be guided to learn a variety of techniques that will inspire them to write their own stories and experiences. The therapeutic benefits of putting pen to paper are enormous and provide an opportunity for participants to view their journey in a different light.
What should I expect?
Get together with others in a supportive environment which will enable you to engage with your creative energies to tell your story, in your way, to whom you want. There will be no pressure to read out what you’ve written and no one will be watching over your shoulder as you write. This group is very much participant led and the level of sharing will depend completely on individual preference.
No writing experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome to attend no matter their level of literacy as support can be provided from the facilitators if necessary.
This course will run it’s pilot group with Lifelink beginning on Thursday 25th January in our head office, Melisa House in the South of the city. To sign up please register yourself using the Eventbrite link below.
Please note: This course is freely available to anyone living in the Glasgow City Council boundary. If you do not have a Glasgow City postcode unfortunately we will not be able to offer you a place on this course.


Emphat!c Press is a bridge for artists to share quality work, grassroots style, in the form of chapbooks and paperbacks.
Essays, plays, poetry, and stories that inspire, transform, liberate and confront the world are considered for publishing.
To receive submission guidelines via email, for other inquiries, or to leave a comment, please fill out a form in the "contact" tab.
Thank you for visiting this site.
Cyd Charisse Fulton
Founder and Editor-in-Chief


Dr. Shekhar Srivastav regularly publishes, attends and speaks at international, national and regional conferences. He has presented well researched papers and has delivered Lectures in numerous conferences & workshops.
Dr. Shekhar Srivastav and his team have published a Paper “MRI Based Comparison of Tibial Bone Coverage by Five Knee Prosthesis: Anthropometric Study in Indians” in The Journal of Arthroplasty, one of the most prestigious international journals for joint replacement surgery. Its publication also indicates the relevance of knee and hip replacement surgery in India. At Delhi Institute of Trauma & Orthopaedics (DITO), Sant Parmanand Hospital, Dr. Shekhar Srivastav and his team are committed to ensuring they remain at the forefront of joint replacement technology and surgical practices.
|1||Total Hip Arthroplasty Following Failed Fixation of Proximal Hip Fractures. Indian Journal of Orthopaedics, Volume 42, Issue 3, Number279, July-September 2008. Shekhar Srivastav, Vivek Mittal, Shekhar Agarwal .|
|2||Fixation of the subtrochanteric fracture in two patients of osteopetrosis by using distal femur Locking Compression Plate ( DF-LCP) of the contralateral side report of 2 cases.European Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery. June 2010, Volume 36, Issue 3, pp 263-269. Shekhar Agarwal, Amit Srivastav, Vivek Mittal, Shekhar Srivastav, Biren Nadkarni.|
|3||Minimal invasive plate osteosynthesis of comminuted fracture shaft humerus using locking compression plates.Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery. 2012;20(3):292-6. Sachit Malhan, Simon Thomas, Divesh Gulati,Vivek Mittal, Biren Nadkarni, Shekhar Srivastav, Shekhar Agarwal.|
|4||Arthroscopic excision of subacromial osteochondroma causing impingement of shoulder in a patient with diaphyseal achalasia.Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma. Volume 4, March 2013, pp 40-42. Simon Thomas, Shekhar Srivastav, Harjoban Singh, Sarang Shete, Mohit Bhargav, Shekhar Agarwal.|
|5||MRI based Comparison of tibial bone coverage by five knee prosthesis : Anthropometric study in Indians.The Journal of Arthroplasty. September 2015 Volume 30, Issue 9, Pages 1643-1646. Sourabh Shah, Naresh Agarwal, Anuj Jain, Shekhar Arivastav, Simon Thomas, Shekhar Agarwal.|
|6||Acute spontaneous atraumatic bilateral anterior dislocation of the shoulder joint with hill – sach’s lesion : A rare case.Journal of Orthopaedic Case Report. 2015 Jan – March : 5 (1) Page 55-57. Sachit Malhan, Shekhar Agarwal, Shekhar Srivastav, Harjoban Singh.|
|7||Inflatable Self Locking Intramedullary Nailing in the Management of Long Bone Diahpyseal Fractures. Delhi Journal of Orthopaedics, Vol 3: Number 79, 2007.Amit Kumar, Shekhar Srivastav, Vivek Mittal, Shekhar Agarwal.|


Recently, a friend said to me, “Hey, George, if a space alien beamed you up to his ship and demanded that you explain what being human is like, what would you say?”
"Well," I said, "I’d advise the alien to spend a few days reading short stories." Short stories are the deep, encoded crystallizations of all human knowledge. They are rarefied, dense meaning machines, shedding light on the most pressing of life’s dilemmas. By reading a thoughtfully selected set of them, our alien could, in a few hours, learn everything he needs to know about the way we live. Except how it feels to lose one’s car in a parking garage and walk around for like three hours, trying to look as if you know where you’re going, so the people driving by—who have easily found their cars, having written the location on their wrists or something—don’t think badly of you. I don’t think there’s a short story about that yet.
George Saunders' intro for his list of his favorite short stories.


Of Self-Love and Dancing - Kate Speer
How do you become a light for others when you struggle with your own darkness?
Kate Speer was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, and went through 21 psychiatric hospitalizations and countless medication trials. But after decades of shame, anxiety, hiding and self-hatred, Kate finally took back her life. Her weapon? A serious love of self— in all its silliness, vulnerability and dorkiness. Her move? Jiggling and dancing for joy, without a care in the world.


Faith Alone, Grace Alone
1 John 4:9-10 9 "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." Oh, the love of Creator God! His love is pure and complete for humanity. We are a sinful, wretched and evil people. Yet God, in His great love provided salvation from His wrath, our sin and evilness.


Dreamweaver CC In Simple Steps is a book that helps you learn the procedure to create a website in Adobe Dreamweaver CC. Being precise and complete, it offers the reader a cutting edge in the field of Website development. An easy-to-understand style, lots of examples to support the concepts, and the use of practical approach to learn the features of Dreamweaver together make the book unique itself. The content in the book is presented in such a way that it will be equally helpful to the beginners as well as professionals.
1. Introducing Dreamweaver CC
2. Setting Up a Website and its Files
3. Getting Familiar with HTML5
4. Working with HTML Forms and Clean Up code
6. Working with Library Items, Layouts, and Templates
7. Adding Interactivity to a Website
8. Authentication and Publishing a Website
DreamTech Editorial Services (DTES) has been providing quality learning to a wide spectrum of readers across India. Imbibing the spirit of Knowledge, Creativity and Experience, DTES has presently become one of the leading publishers of IT, Engineering and Management books in India today. Our dynamic work culture passionately pronounces our lasting commitment to quality and technical accuracy of our books. Our effort to continuously enhance and enrich the quality of our books, published under different series catering to the specific needs of each segment of the readers, is a sturdy affirmation towards this end. DTES focuses largely in three segments: computers and technology, career and competition, and business and management.


Drs Acharya and Shrivastava have achieved in this book the multi-faceted objectives of furthering the knowledge and documentation of the vital yet potentially disappearing practices and peoples of traditional herbal medicines, as well as pleading for the establishment of respectful institutional structures which will help to preserve the people, their practices and prevent the destruction of an unquantifiable treasure to humanity.
I have greatly valued Dr Acharya’s work over the years, publishing his articles as inspirational tributes to the healing powers of herbal medicines. However, I guess that, much like the rest of the scientific and medical community, I had possibly pigeon-holed its subject matter as somewhat obscure Ethnobotany, and the documentation of remote Indian tribal knowledge of the healing power of plants. And, as a busy and over-worked publisher of a monthly magazine, perhaps I hadn’t really grasped the vital importance of this work to global conservation and the preservation of the life-enhancing medical knowledge of traditional herbal practices.
As I have read this book, my realization has deepened that the task of attempting to unite the hostile and diverse universes of so-called allopathic (western, drug-oriented) medicine with natural, traditional, non-drug treatment approaches, which I have engaged in for about two decades is possibly not so far away from the task of the authors in attempting to learn, document, preserve and conserve traditional herbal medicines and the indigenous peoples with the expertise to apply them to human health.
The scope of this book is truly impressive, reviewing the key historical Ethnobotanical work in Madhya Pradesh, Guarat and Rajasthan, with regard to the geographical locations, tribal populations and the plant species recognized and utilized for their medicinal potential. The authors highlight the importance of India as a major Asian country in terms of the diversity of systems for the traditional knowledge, a wide variety of species (17,000), including 7,500 as known as medicinal plants, and possessing the oldest and richest cultural traditions associated with the use of traditional folk herbs.
The authors extend the working definition of traditional medicines to integrate diverse health practices, knowledge and beliefs, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises applied to maintain well-being, treat, diagnose or prevent illness. They describe the districts and their characteristics, the healers, and the central importance of plants both to traditional medical practices, and more recently, as sources of plant-derived drugs by the pharmaceutical industry. The authors cogently argue and describe how it would be possible to conserve traditional medicine knowledge, how plants with medicinal and commercial potential value can be identified and how the entire structure of tribal communities, healers and the coming generations could be established as Traditional Medicine Centres by Governments.
Helpful Tables listing numerous disorders and the names of the remedial plants useful in alleviating or curing these complaints, including the common and scientific names of plants, as well as a useful glossary of terms, makes this book entirely readable by both the scholar and the lay person wishing to deepen their knowledge of herbal medicines.
Drs Acharya and Shrivastave are passionate in their idealism to preserve an important repository, document and grow knowledge and help Mankind. The authors highlight eloquently the intense and approaching international, indeed global deadline to prevent the disappearance of species of trees, plants, roots and seeds, as well as indigenous healers with traditional knowledge. They suggest measures which could be implemented to help further prevent the rape and destruction of habitat, the exploitation of plants and remedies for financial and commercial uses and ultimate destruction forever of tribes, people and their way of life.
The substance of the authors’ message include the integration of the traditional herbal medicines knowledge base, the ending of hostility between biotechnological and traditional disciplines and business interests, and the creation of a unity of purpose to document, catalogue, preserve and develop traditional knowledge and train the next generation and preserve these precious resources for all of Mankind.
Dr Acharya writes in the Dedication about how his life was saved when he was critically ill as an 8 year old boy by a now-deceased, and possibly forgotten herbal healer from the Changotola village of Balaghat District, Madhya Pradesh, India, to whom he was brought by his father who couldn’t afford expensive surgery and medical treatment. When he returned more than a decade later to express his gratitude to this healer, he discovered that he had died; hardly anyone knew about him and that his knowledge base had probably died with him. This has been a seminal event which has helped to spur Dr Acharya on in his quest to document this knowledge, the tribal peoples expert in its use, as well as to develop a sustainable system to preserve, nurture and pass it on to future generations.
There is an urgency to communicate the importance of projects such as these, as well as others internationally. Once precious plants, people and ecosystems are destroyed, our medical knowledge is stripped of vital information known to mankind over millennia, and we are all the poorer.
Reviewer: Sandra Goodman PhD
Publisher: Aavishkar Publishers and Distributors – Jaipur


Psychedelics information for everyone
Making information about psychedelics more widely available.
This website helps by providing you an overview of books about psychedelics.
All the Psychedelic Books
Collect, review, recommend
This website came to live from a need to know what book about psychedelics to read next. Searching online through the big stores left me hanging on what would match my personal taste. There were too many books and no real search criteria (as everything is grouped under spirituality).
Psychedelics Books is here to help you find what to read next. Search based on category, find books by date, or even search within the text of the review. At this time a part of the books have (community) reviews written, in the coming year I hope that all books will have a review written about them.
If you want to help out, you can provide a review or a book to review. Find out more on the donate page.
Who is Blossom
Think for yourself
Our mission is making information about psychedelics more widely available. To speed up the adoption of psychedelics as a tool in therapy and self-development. We do this by providing different resources, from articles to book reviews, that bring together different perspectives about psychedelics. We aim to be critical, grounded in a rational and scientific worldview, yet enthusiastic voice for psychedelics.
This website is one of our free informational services. See all that we do at our company website and our worldview on our about page. Send us an email if you want to get in touch.
Blossom donates 20% of revenue to effective mental health charities, like Strong Minds.
Floris Wolswijk - Founder
Floris is responsible for most thing you see on the website. He is currently making this website as complete and ready for a 'version 1' as possible. In the meantime he is also looking to recruit others to help build out this information platform.
Floris has studied Psychology (2008-2012) at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. After finishing his Masters degree, he co-founded a start-up in a different field. Through first personal experiences with psychedelics and subsequently an encounter with the scientific literature, he fell in love with the psychedelics field. He hopes to play a small part in making psychedelics more widely available and being used both in medicine and for self-development.


A global evidence response to the COVID-19 emergency
Healthcare decisions should be based on a synthesis of the global body of evidence rather than relying on discrete studies. Evidence synthesis methods seek to establish the overall balance of information on a topic, and are based on identifying, assessing and examining all the available evidence on a topic to inform health care decisions.
Evidence Synthesis Ireland, Cochrane Ireland and the HRB Trials Methodology Research Network are national initiatives based at the National University of Ireland Galway. The team are responding to the vast quantities of COVID-19 evidence by addressing key knowledge gaps to support healthcare policy and practice decision-making.
Working with colleagues across the university, the team formed the Emergency Evidence Response Service (EERS) to answer prioritized questions from the World Health Organization (WHO), Cochrane and governments. The team harnessed existing connections and developed new international collaborations to reduce duplication of effort, minimize research waste, share information, and ensure continued capacity building in innovative methodology
Infection prevention and control guidelines for healthcare workers
Cochrane, a global independent network for trusted evidence, produced a series of rapid reviews of relevant evidence to help decision makers during COVID-19.
One of these looks at the views of healthcare workers on infection prevention and control guidelines, published in April 2020. This work was cited in WHO interim guidance: Prevention, identification and management of health worker infection in the context of COVID-19.
Lead author, Dr. Catherine Houghton from NUI Galway describes the key findings in this podcast.
Supporting quality, timely and trustworthy evidence
The team are collaborating on the Covid-19 living network meta-analysis initiative - a live, open mapping of evidence to support decision-makers with relevant, accessible, up-to-date, and trustworthy synthesis of high-quality evidence on the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, including vaccines. The initiative, launched in March 2020 by Cochrane France, is developed and maintained by an international collaborative effort.
WHO use this living evidence ecosystem as their primary source of evidence, and it is also used to inform decision-making in Ireland. This highlights the benefits of contributing to a global initiative to optimise the use of a rapidly-evolving evidence base that answers both international and national questions.
Cochrane Ireland team publish COVID-19 scoping review to inform WHO guidance
Cochrane expanded its response to COVID-19 by publishing rapid scoping reviews which serve as exemplars for how similar research could be published by Cochrane beyond the pandemic.
One of these looks at care bundles for treating patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care setting. The review, published in December 2020, was commissioned by the WHO to use in their Clinical Management living guidance intended for clinicians caring for COVID-19 patients.
Extended use or reuse of face masks
Global shortages of PPE forced the consideration of extended use and reuse of face masks. This rapid review was carried out to inform evolving policies and practice and was published in September 2020 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
The review was cited in WHO interim guidance on use of personal protective equipment during severe shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Loneliness in older people: could video calls help?
This Cochrane rapid review searched for randomised trials that looked at the effects on mental health and loneliness of video calls for people aged 65 years or living in nursing homes.
Based on the evidence available at the time of this review, the effects of video calls on the mental health or loneliness of older people are uncertain. More studies testing the effectiveness of video calls for loneliness or isolation are needed. Lead author Dr Chris Noone describes what they found in the podcast.
Trials in a Pandemic
To support the trial methodology community, the HRB-TMRN hosted an online conference on the topic of clinical trials in a pandemic, embracing flexibility and ensuring integrity. In collaboration with Trial Forge, University of Aberdeen, the symposium brought together some of the world’s leading experts, including Dr Ana Maria Restrepo from WHO and Prof Isabelle Boutron, lead of COVID-NMA.
The conference had 1,600 registrations from 23 countries, 10 international speakers, and streamed in 17 timezones
Supporting the public's decision-making
Everyday, claims are made about ways to treat or prevent COVID-19 on social media, some reliable and some unreliable. Unreliable claims can lead to poorly informed health choices. iHealthFacts is a resource where the public can quickly and easily check the reliability of health claims circulated by social media.
iHealthFacts launched in April 2020. As of November 2020, we have had:
- 41,000 unique page views from more than 127 countries;
- 500 health claims submitted and more than 1000 searches about various claims;
- 36 health claims fact checked to date.
- Facebook posts reaching over 10,000 people, 428,00 Twitter impressions and 3,500 Instagram impressions.
Questions the public have asked us to research include ‘Does Chloroquine prevent or treat COVID-19?’, ‘Are face shields as effective as facemasks in protecting against COVID-19? and ‘Does a high BMI increase vulnerability to COVID-19?’
In the media
Claire Byrne Live - 23 Nov 2020


I am an international writer and author and a former long-serving journalist at the Financial Times and Reuters. I have co-written three business books:
Future Work: Changing organisational culture for the new world of work, with Peter Thomson (2011, 2014)
Why Women Mean Business: Understanding the emergence of our next economic revolution (2008, 2009) with Avivah Wittenberg-Cox
I have also contributed chapters to two other books: ‘The Power of Everyone – why the work revolution demands a fresh focus on inclusion’ (Work in the Age of Data, BBVA 2020) and ‘A Gender Power Shift in the Making’ (Reinventing the Company in the Digital Age, BBVA 2015).
I had a long career as a journalist and I continue to write commentary pieces on a freelance basis about leadership, inclusion and the changing world of work and careers. I’ve also written numerous special reports, including: ‘Closing the Gender Gap’ for The Conference Board; a guide to flexible working and a report on the over-50s workforce for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
I was on the staff of the Financial Times as a news editor, reporter and management feature writer, from 1986 to 2006. During my eight years as management writer, I interviewed a wide range of prominent figures for my column on leadership. I wrote series on business ethics and on the ageing workforce, and led special reports, including Responsible Business and Business & Diversity.
In 2012, I received a ‘World of Difference 100 Award’ from The International Alliance for Women for my writing on women and work. In 2004, the FT features team and I won the first media award given by The Conference Board Europe ‘for having raised awareness and public consciousness of the issues of diversity and work-life balance’.
In my earlier FT career, I led editorial coverage of world stock markets during the 1987 global crash, was European news editor when Eastern Europe opened up after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and reported on food and agriculture at the height of ‘Mad Cow Disease’ and genetically modified foods. All of these were busy and exciting beats, and I particularly loved my time working on Europe.
Prior to the FT, I was a journalist for Reuters in Paris and London, and before that I did my journalist training at the Liverpool Post & Echo.
Work is transforming in the digital age. This book sets out the compelling case for a similar transformation in organizational cultures to boost output, cut costs, give employees more freedom and contribute to a greener economy.
Future Work, published in an expanded and updated second edition in 2014, features insightful case studies and updates on fast-moving trends. It provides a clear framework and advice on introducing new ways of working for leaders, managers and employees, with an extra chapter on how individuals can make change happen.
It takes bold leadership and a break with old habits – but the benefits from adapting to the new world of work are already available, and organizations should grasp the opportunities now.
Watch the fact-packed short video: Future Work, Changing World
Gender is a business issue, not a women’s issue. This powerful book brings together in a single, concise volume the multiplicity of opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the global workplace and marketplace.
Women today make up much of the market and most of the talent pool. Reaching women consumers and developing female talent is essential for sustainable economic growth in the 21st century. Studies show that better gender balance in business means better bottom line results and greater resistance to economic crises.
The book shows why getting gender balance right matters. Packed with ideas from companies that have made it work, it offers views from top business leaders and a step-by-step guide to how we can all become gender bilingual.
“An invaluable resource for anyone who needs to increase employee productivity and reduce costs, and wants to do so in a way that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable” Stephen Leonard, General Manager Global Markets – Systems & Technology, IBM
“A fascinating analysis” Cherie Blair
“Any company that is serious about success must get serious about women, and this book shows them how” Margaret Heffernan


Tuesday, March 2, is National Read Across America Day. It is also the birthday of the beloved author Dr. Seuss. Join us in an exciting week of dress-up and good books. We hope that you will continue the celebration at home by reading together.
Monday, March 1, - The Cat in the Hat Day - Wear Strips
Tuesday, March 2, -Cozy Up to a Good Book - Wear Pajamas
Wednesday, March 3, -Green Eggs and Ham Day - Wear Green
Thursday, March 4, -Fox in Socks Day - Wear Mismatched Socks
Friday, March 5, - We "Read" ALL Week - Wear Red


Patients with moderate to severe acne may be receiving antibiotics for much longer than recommended.
Prior to eventually being commenced on oral Isotretinoin for moderate to severe acne, many patients are being prescribed antibiotics for much longer than is recommended. A recent report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) indicated that the average duration of antibiotic use was 331.3 days for patients with inflammatory/nodulocystic acne who eventually required treatment with oral Isotretinoin.
The study focused on the prescribing habits of dermatologists and general practitioners. The study noted that 64% of patients were prescribed oral antibiotics for 6 months or more and over 33% were prescribed oral antibiotics for 12 months or longer. Most patients eventually required oral Isotretinoin to adequately control their acne.
An important issue raised in the study is the threat of antibiotic resistance, particularly to Propionibacterium acnes. It was highlighted that recognising early those patients who fail to respond to antibiotics and earlier prescription of Isotretinoin would have a significant impact on over-prescribing of antibiotics for acne. Many experts have recommended that antibiotic use in acne be limited to approximately 3 months, with treatment courses of antibiotics greater than 6 months likely to induce bacterial resistance.
If antibiotics fail to clear acne after 3 or 4 months to a level that control can be maintained by topical treatments, then consideration should be given to starting oral Isotretinoin.
It is recommended that prescribing doctors be reminded of the risk of long term antibiotic prescribing, particularly where multiple courses are offered to patients, and a complete antibiotic history should be elicited from patients or practice records. Timely initiation of Isotretinoin should be considered if appropriate and discussed with patients earlier in the treatment cycle, particularly where acne fails to improve significantly with shorter courses of oral antibiotics.
Nagler, AR et al. The use of oral antibiotics before Isotretinoin therapy in patients with acne. J Am Acad Dermatology. 2015


It has been a while since I last posted in this blog. It was a combination of being busy, lazy, and having my smart phone in the repair shop. It has been a while and I know that in a way my fingers and brain are still rusty. I realized that writing is an important part of my life and growth. Summer is always one of the best times to write about something. It is the time of new adventures, new friends, new challenges, and most definitely, new articles and blog entries.
Summer 2014 is an exciting time for me. I am once again in a crossroads when it comes to my life and career. Big decisions are going to be made this summer. Changes will be a big part of it. So I will call my summer as the summer of Kaizen. Kaizen is a Japanese term for "change for the better". It will all be about continuous improvement. Growth. There will be some big changes. Changes in loyalty, company, mindset, and strategy.
I will be launching several personal projects in the days to come. They are somewhat related to "Happiness Project" or #100happydays. The concept is similar. It is about doing what makes me happy. It is also different as I will be focusing on a few things that could be a means to my happiness. My projects could be about getting rich, getting that awesome body, or starting a family. One big part of this "new me" is that I will be writing more. When I am bored, I usually get unique ideas on how to make life better and even concoct weird scenarios that end up happening in the future. I am unable to write about these funny epiphanies. I want to remember all of it.
I guess my first hashtag to be launched in the Summer of 2014 is #projectprophet. This hashtag is all about my thoughts about the future. It could even include some fantastic tales about certain things, people, places, and events. I am just going to give myself a venue to express my creative thoughts. I won't force myself to write on this hashtag. Articles will only come out only when I experience "prophetic" episodes.
The other hashtags that I will write on will be fitness (#projectdude), food (#kalamicebu), finances (#projectrainmaker), and family (#projectdad). It is going to be an interesting summer. I expect to sustain it and I expect to write about it as often as I could. I am glad to have my phone back I expect to start churning more blog entries using my Sony Xperia Z1.
Let us all have an amazing summer ahead!!!