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Background The aim of this study was to examine whether the effects of acupotomy therapy were beneficial for the treatment of protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc. Methods The number of patients (n = 80) were equally assigned into treatment group and control group. Treatment group was given acupotomy therapy twice a week, and control group was given acupuncture 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. The beneficial effect and changes in score of the Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA) for low back pain were observed. Results Among 40 cases in the treatment group, there were 25 (62.5%) with an excellent effect, 13 (32.5%) with good effect, 1 (2.5%) with a medium effect and 1 (2.5%) with poor effect, with the total experiencing an excellent/good effect of 95.0%. Among 40 cases in the control group, there were 11 (27.5%) with an excellent effect, 17 (42.5%) with good effect, 10 (25.0%) with a medium effect, and 2 (5.0%) with poor effect, with an excellent/good rate of 70.0%. The result of the rank sum test showed Z = −4.923, p < 0.05 in the comparison, indicating a significantly better outcome following acupotomy compared with acupuncture. JOA scores increased in both groups after treatment (p < 0.05), which was more significant in the acupotomy treatment group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Acupotomy therapy has a beneficial effect on protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc.

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2010.01511.x Byline: Wei Peng (1), Mira Lee (1), Carrie Heeter (1) Abstract: Serious games are emerging as a new medium for social change. This study investigated the influence of presentation mode afforded by different media on willingness to help in the context of humanitarian aid. Two online experiments were conducted. The first experiment demonstrated that playing the Darfur is Dying game elicited greater role-taking and resulted in greater willingness to help the Darfurian people than reading a text conveying the same information. The second experiment deconstructed the variable presentation mode in more detail by adding a game watching condition. Similar results were found such that game playing resulted in greater role-taking and willingness to help than game watching and text reading. Implications for researchers and game developers are also discussed. Abstract (French) Les effets d'un jeu serieux sur la prise de role et la volonte d'aider Wei Peng, Mira Lee & Carrie Heeter Les jeux serieux apparaissent comme de nouveaux mediums de changement social. Cette etude a explore l'influence des modes de presentation permis par differents medias sur la volonte d'aider dans le contexte de l'aide humanitaire. Deux experiences en ligne ont ete menees. La premiere a demontre que jouer au jeu ' Darfur is Dying ' (le Darfour se meurt) a suscite une plus grande prise de role et a eu pour resultat une plus grande volonte d'aider les Darfouriens que ne l'a suscite la lecture d'un texte contenant les memes informations. La seconde experience a deconstruit les differents modes de presentation en plus de details en ajoutant une condition de visionnement du jeu. Des resultats similaires ont ete reveles : participer au jeu a suscite plus de prise de role et de volonte d'aider que ne l'ont suscite le visionnement du jeu et la lecture d'un texte. Les consequences pour les chercheurs et pour les developpeurs de jeux sont egalement discutees. Mots cles : prise de role, communication et technologie, ludologie Abstract (German): Der Einfluss von Serious Games auf Rollenubernahme und Hilfsbereitschaft Wei Peng, Mira Lee & Carrie Heeter Serious Games entwickeln sich zunehmend zu einem neuen Medium fur sozialen Wandel. Die Studie untersuchte den Einfluss der Prasentationsart, dargeboten durch verschiedene Medien, auf die Bereitwilligkeit im Kontext humanitarer Hilfsma[sz]nahmen zu helfen. Dazu wurden zwei Online-Experimente durchgefuhrt. Das erste Experiment zeigt, dass das Spielen des Spiels Darfur is Dying im Vergleich zum Lesen eines Textes mit identischen Informationen zu gro[sz]erer Rollenubernahme und einer gro[sz]eren Bereitschaft fuhrte, den Menschen von Dafur zu helfen. Das zweite Experiment dekonstruierte die Variable Prasentationsart noch detaillierter, indem eine Spielrezeptionsbedingung hinzugefugt wurde. Es zeigten sich ahnliche Ergebnisse wie im ersten Experiment, namlich dass das Spielen im Vergleich zum Sehen des Spiels oder Lesen des Texts zu gro[sz]erer Rollenubernahme und gro[sz]erer Hilfsbereitschaft fuhrte. Implikationen fur Forscher und Spieleentwickler werden diskutiert. Schlusselbegriffe: Rollenubernahme, Kommunikation und Technologie, Game Studies Abstract (Spanish): Los Efectos de un Juego Serio sobre la Toma de Roles y la Buena Disposicion para Ayudar Wei Peng, PhD Mira Lee, PhD Carrie Heeter, PhD College of Communication Arts and Sciences Michigan State University Resumen Los juegos serios estan emergiendo como un nuevo medio de cambio social. Este estudio investigo la influencia del modo de presentacion proporcionado por los distintos medios sobre la buena disposicion para ayudar en el contexto de la ayuda humanitaria. 2 experimentos online fueron conducidos. El primer experimento demostro que al jugar el juego Darfur se esta muriendo obtuvo mayores tomas de rol y resultaron en una mayor disposicion para ayudar a la gente de Darfur que leer un texto que expresaba esta misma informacion. El segundo experimento deconstruyo la variable de modo de presentacion en mas detalle agregando una condicion de observar el juego. Los resultados similares fueron encontrados tal que el jugar el juego resulto en una mayor asuncion del rol y disposicion para ayudar que los que observaron el juego y leyeron el texto. Las implicancias para los investigadores y los que desarrollan los juegos son discutidas tambien. Palabras Claves: Toma de rol, Comunicacion y Tecnologia, Estudios de Juego Author Affiliation: (1) College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA Article note: Wei Peng; e-mail: pengwei@msu.edu

The Internet has apparently become an important source of information for consumers and partly because of this trend, the Internet now presents a huge opportunity for advertisers who seek effective communication with their target markets. The purpose of this article is to provide an understanding of the qualities and potentials of the Internet as an advertising medium. First, an overview of the various forms of Internet advertising is provided, as well as a review of existing literature regarding the effectiveness of each form. The article next compares the Internet with traditional mass media from the perspective of the consumer information environment and shows how unique characteristics of the Internet may alter consumer experience and decision making. The article concludes with a discussion of the needs and challenges facing the field. Keywords: advertising; Internet; new media; consumer information; consumer behavior