Search results

This study aims to examine the factors influencing the adoption intention of information service mashup in digital library (DL). The study is an empirical study on DLs in China.

This paper employs the theory of information service mashup as its theoretical background and applies it to the field of DL to develop the measurement model which is based on technology acceptance model (TAM). A structured questionnaire was developed including the demographic information, the advantages of information service mashup in DL and the Likert evaluation of each construct. As a result, of 303 questionnaires distributed among DL users, 281 were remained as acceptable answers. The data were processed and analyzed with the aid of the SPSS 20.0 and SmartPLS 2.0.

The results show that beyond perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, both perceived integration and perceived risk have direct impacts on user’s intention to adopt information service mashup in DL. Perceived integration has the dramatic positive effects, while perceived risk negatively correlates to adoption intention. Moreover, perceived integration and individualization have positive impacts on perceived ease of use, while network externality positively influences perceived usefulness.

Information service mashup is still a relatively new technology in DL. There were few theoretical and empirical studies that examine the user adoption behaviour of the service. This study contributes to existing information service mashup application studies by modifying and extending TAM. The results would help the DL gain a deeper understanding of the factors affecting DL user adoption of information service mashup.

This paper aims to explore question and answer (Q&A) participation and behavioral patterns on academic social networking sites (ASNSs) from the perspective of multiple subjects such as academic, corporate and government institutions.

Focused on the Q&A service of ASNSs, this study chooses ResearchGate (RG) as the target ASNS and collects a large-scale data set from it, involving a sample of users and a Q&A sample about academic, corporate and government institutions. First, it studies the law of Q&A participation and the distribution of the type of user according to the sample of users. Second, it compares question-asking behavior and question-answering behavior stimulated by questions among the three types of institutions based on the Q&A sample. Finally, it discusses the Q&A participation and behavioral patterns of the three types of institutions in academic Q&A exchanges with full consideration of institutional attributes, and provides some suggestions for institutions and ASNSs.

The results show that these three types of institutions generally have a low level of participation in the Q&A service of RG, and the numbers of questions and answers proposed by institutional users conform to the power-law distribution. There are differences in Q&A participation and Q&A behavioral patterns among academic, corporate and government institutions. Government and academic institutions have more users participating in the Q&A service and their users are more willing to ask questions, while corporate institutions have fewer users who participate in the Q&A service and their users are inclined to provide answers. Questions from corporate institutions attract much more attention than those from the other two types of institutions.

This study reveals and compares the Q&A participation and the behavioral patterns of the three types of institutions in academic Q&A, thus deepening the understanding of the attributes of institutions in the academic information exchange context. In practice, the results can help guide different institutions to use the Q&A service of ASNSs more effectively and help ASNSs to better optimize their Q&A service.

As an important platform for academic communication and knowledge acquisition, academic social network (ASN) has attracted worldwide researchers. The purpose of this paper is to examine and compare the differences of corporation researchers in ASN utilization from the two aspects of social performance and academic performance.

Applying knowledge-based theory, this paper decoupled ASN into social network and academic network and measured utilization of users by social performance and academic performance. Hypotheses were proposed from the perspectives of research areas and corporate reputation. In the part of empirical research, the top 92 research corporations were selected as the sample, and relevant metric data from the member profile pages on ResearchGate was collected for comparing analysis to explore their utilization characteristics.

The results show that users of different research corporations have certain favoritism in their utilization of ASNs. Science and technology-oriented corporations are better in comprehensive social performance and academic quality. Science-oriented corporations are better at utilizing the interactive functions. However, neither social utilization nor academic utilization, technology-oriented corporations perform well.

This paper focuses on corporation researchers, who have started to embrace ASNs but whose behaviors were less studied. The research paradigm is an expansion and enrichment of the dual network decoupling theory in the field of ASN research. It also deepens the research on ASN utilization of corporation researchers and could give references for ASNs to improve service for corporation users in different research areas.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-12-2019-0389

This paper raises a question of how to assess the effectiveness of foresight activity. Among the various assessments of foresight activity, the author explores how to develop and assess an individual’s abilities in relation to foresight activity. More specifically, the author suggests a possible metric for assessing how foresight activity can help individuals cultivate self-efficacy toward postulated futures. This paper aims to propose that researchers and practitioners working in foresight can leverage the concept of self-efficacy toward futures to develop a method of evaluating foresight activities on an individual level.

To assess the concept of self-efficacy toward futures, this research identifies the factors that could create a possible metric of self-efficacy with respect to various futures on an individual level. For this study, citizens living in Korea participated in a futures studies program, where the author measured and analyzed to what extent participatory foresight activities could help these individuals perceive their own self-efficacy toward futures. The changes in the participants’ attitudes were measured by conducting the survey before and after the program.

Based on the literature review and a survey, the author crafted a potential self-efficacy in relation to a scale of futures, which consists of four subscales: an ability to shape new meanings, an ability to challenge the status quo, an ability to make a decision and put it into action and an ability to learn something new by cooperating with others. These abilities are believed to be relevant elements to prepare for, adapt to and evolve with social changes. This paper also uses the possible metric to assess the effectiveness of foresight activity in Korea and argues that foresight activity helps Korean individuals perceive self-efficacy toward postulated futures.

Researchers attempted to answer the question of what foresight activities are generally useful to laypersons. The author proposes that perceiving self-efficacy toward futures is one of the efficacies that foresight pursues. The author endeavors to create a metric to assess the effectiveness of foresight attempts to identify which capabilities can be developed through participation in foresight activities.

The purpose of this paper is to frame an empirical model with the priority of implementing soft critical successful factors (CSFs) of total quality management (TQM) in Chinese manufacturing companies.

In total, 23 hypotheses regarding the relationships among TQM factors and business results have been developed through literature review and are tested using the structural equation modelling (SEM). The data used in this study are collected from 228 manufacturing companies in the central area of China.

Of the 23 hypotheses, 11 were statistically significant, and according to the empirical results a conceptual framework complying to Chinese condition is constructed and discussed in the finding parts to group soft CSFs of TQM into different levels of importance.

Researchers can use the framework to further study soft CSFs of TQM in detail, and extend it to explore their impact mechanism for a clearer and deeper understanding of the TQM.

The empirical framework for soft CSFs of TQM provides a new perspective for managers to implement the soft CSFs and optimise the quality management system of their manufacturing companies.

This research uses multiple, distinct indicators for each soft factor to test an elaborate SEM model of the relationships among them, according to the empirical results constructs a holistic framework classifying the importance level of soft CSFs of TQM, which is novel and subjected with Chinese condition and manufacturing characteristics.

This study aims to build a research model from the perspectives of knowledge hiding and idea implementation to examine what factors influence idea implementation and the cross-level moderating role of team territory climate.

Data were collected from universities, 52 (R&D) teams in China via a two-wave survey. The final sample contained 209 team members and their immediate supervisors. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test hypotheses.

The results indicated that individuals’ knowledge-hiding behavior had a significantly negative impact on idea implementation and creative process engagement, which played a mediating role. Team territorial climate played a cross-level moderating role between knowledge hiding and idea implementation. If team territorial climate was at a high level, then the negative connection between knowledge hiding and idea implementation would be weaker.

Under the perspective of territorial behavior in Chinese cultural, it can help to distinguish territorial behavior and be preventive at individual and team levels. This study not only enables managers to clearly understand the precipitating factors of idea implementation but also provides constructive strategies for alleviating the negative effects of knowledge territoriality on creative process engagement and idea implementation.

This study constructs a cross-level model to explore the relationship among knowledge hiding, creative process engagement and idea implementation at individual and team levels in the context of Chinese R&D enterprises. Additionally, the study analyzes the influence of territoriality on idea implementation under boundary conditions.

This study aims to improve detection efficiency of fluorescence biosensor or a graphene field-effect transistor biosensor. Graphene field-effect transistor biosensing and fluorescent biosensing were integrated and combined with magnetic nanoparticles to construct a multi-sensor integrated microfluidic biochip for detecting single-stranded DNA. Multi-sensor integrated biochip demonstrated higher detection reliability for a single target and could simultaneously detect different targets.

In this study, the authors integrated graphene field-effect transistor biosensing and fluorescent biosensing, combined with magnetic nanoparticles, to fabricate a multi-sensor integrated microfluidic biochip for the detection of single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Graphene films synthesized through chemical vapor deposition were transferred onto a glass substrate featuring two indium tin oxide electrodes, thus establishing conductive channels for the graphene field-effect transistor. Using π-π stacking, 1-pyrenebutanoic acid succinimidyl ester was immobilized onto the graphene film to serve as a medium for anchoring the probe aptamer. The fluorophore-labeled target DNA subsequently underwent hybridization with the probe aptamer, thereby forming a fluorescence detection channel.

This paper presents a novel approach using three channels of light, electricity and magnetism for the detection of single-stranded DNA, accompanied by the design of a microfluidic detection platform integrating biosensor chips. Remarkably, the detection limit achieved is 10 pm, with an impressively low relative standard deviation of 1.007%.

By detecting target DNA, the photo-electro-magnetic multi-sensor graphene field-effect transistor biosensor not only enhances the reliability and efficiency of detection but also exhibits additional advantages such as compact size, affordability, portability and straightforward automation. Real-time display of detection outcomes on the host facilitates a deeper comprehension of biochemical reaction dynamics. Moreover, besides detecting the same target, the sensor can also identify diverse targets, primarily leveraging the penetrative and noninvasive nature of light.

This paper aims to address the polymerization of 1-decene by [Emim]Cl/AlCl₃ ionic liquid and the film-forming properties of the product compared with commercially available base stocks.

Experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of [Emim]Cl/AlCl₃ mole ratio, catalyst dosage, reaction temperature, reaction time and water on the polyreaction. Poly alpha-olefin (PAO) is prepared under optimal reaction condition. Film-forming properties of PAO have been compared with those of Group I, Group II and Group III base stocks, which are selected with approximately the same viscosity.

Experimental results show that after a 4-h reaction time, yield of PAO can be higher than 85 per cent and viscosity index can be up to 160 with [Emim] Cl/AlCl₃ mole ratio of 2:1, catalyst dosage of 3 per cent wt. and water content of 20 ppm. A strong influence of water on reaction is observed. With approximately the same viscosity, PAO shows the superiority in film thickness at low-sliding speeds compared with Group I and Group II base stocks. At high temperature, PAO provides a thicker film than other base stocks.

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in ionic liquids. As a novel catalyst, it has so many advantages including low corrosion, low toxicity, low cost and a potentially wide range of properties compared with traditional catalysts. This paper reports the polymerization of 1-decene by [Emim]Cl/AlCl₃ ionic liquid and the study on lubricating properties of PAO compared with mineral base stocks.

This study empirically evaluates the effect of China’s 2016 Green Financial System (GFS) framework on corporate green development, focusing on the role of green investment in achieving sustainability.

This study uses a quasinatural experiment design to combine difference-in-difference and propensity score matching methods for analysis. It examines 799 polluting and 1,130 nonpolluting firms from 2013 to 2020, enabling a comprehensive assessment of the GFS framework’s influence.

This study affirms a statistically significant positive influence of the GFS framework on escalating green investment levels in polluting firms. Robust sensitivity analyses, encompassing parallel trend assessment, entropy balancing test, and alternative proxies, corroborate these findings. A mediation analysis identifies the implementation of an environmental management system as the potential underlying mechanism. A cross-sectional analysis identifies high financial slack, high profitability, mandatory CSR regulations, and marketization level as the influencing factors.

The study’s findings have critical implications for policymakers, regulators, and companies. Demonstrating the effectiveness of the GFS framework in driving green investment underscores the importance of aligning financial systems with sustainability goals.

This study contributes novel empirical evidence on the positive effect of China’s GFS framework on corporate green development. The quasinatural experiment design, coupled with comprehensive sensitivity analyses, strengthens the robustness of the findings.

N-containing heterocyclic benzotriazole derivatives as new corrosion inhibitor for mild steel contained in emulsion were synthesized, and their inhibition behaviors for mild steel (MS) contained in emulsion were investigated by experiments and theoretical calculations, and this study aims to prove that two new inhibitors have excellent inhibition efficiency for steel corrosion.

2-(1H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-N,N-dioctylacetamide (BTN) and O-(3-(1H-benzo[d] [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)propyl) S-(2-(dioctylamino)-2-oxoethyl) carbonodithioate (BTSC) as a new corrosion inhibitor were synthesized, and their inhibition behaviors for MS contained in emulsion were investigated by gravimetric experiment, electrochemical tests and theoretical calculations.

Results of gravimetric experiment, electrochemical tests show that BTSC exhibit excellent inhibition performance, and it has a higher inhibition efficiency of 96.6% than that BTN. The resultant adsorption films from BTN/BTSC adsorbed on MS, effectively inhibiting the corrosion of MS is mainly through chemisorption and follow to Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm.

Experimental and theoretical calculations display that two new synthesized inhibitors are excellent corrosion inhibitor for MS contained in emulsion. Electrons of inhibitors mainly focus on the C, N, S and O atoms, which demonstrate these atoms are the centers of negative charge, and they supply electrons to Fe atoms through coordination bonds.