Determinants of the intention to use non-medical insertable digital devices: The case of Chile and Colombia

In the past, thinking of carrying electronic devices inside our bodies was only posed by non-real scenarios. The emergence of insertable devices has changed this. Since this technology is still in its initial development stages, few studies have investigated factors that influence its acceptance. This paper analyzes the predictors of the intention to use non-medical insertable devices in two Latin American contexts. We used partial least squares structural equation modeling to examine whether six constructs predicted intention to use insertable devices. A questionnaire was administered to undergraduate students located in Colombia and Chile (n = 672). We also examined whether these predictors influenced intention differently for both of them. Four common constructs significantly and positively influenced both Chilean and Colombian respondents to use insertable devices (hedonic motivation, habit, performance expectancy, and social influence). Also, the habit has a complementary mediating effect on the relationship between social influence and behavioral intention. By contrast, effort expectations were a positive and significant predictor, but only among Chilean respondents. Findings suggest that when technologies are emerging, well-known predictors of intention (e.g., performance and effort expectations) are less influential than predictors related to self-efficacy (e.g., habit and hedonic motivation). The use of insertable devices has a significant impact on society. Thus, a better understanding of what motivates their use has implications for both academia and industry.     

我国MTBE的生产使用现状及趋势分析

对我国MTBE的生产工艺及下游产品进行了详细的分析,重点分析了影响MTBE产品生产使用的各方面因素,从能源方针、车用燃料政策及环保要求等角度对我国MTBE产品的未来发展趋势进行了预测分析。结果显示,2020年以后我国汽油调和用MTBE的生产使用量将逐步降低,但此过程可能会较为平缓。     

Using enterprise social media to investigate the effect of workplace conflict on employee creativity

Enterprise social media (ESM) has been commonly used by businesses and companies to provide a framework for communication and cooperation among individuals. However, studies have presented vague results related to the characteristics of ESM usage, which may be beneficial for workplace managers to enhance individual creativity. This study uses primary data from 346 Chinese employees working in different companies to assess the role of ESM usage in managing workplace conflict. Findings show that ESM usage has negative and insignificant effects on task and relationship conflicts, respectively. In addition, relationship conflict has a negative effect on individual creativity, while task conflict shows a curvilinear relationship with creativity. Task interdependence strengthens the relationship between ESM use and task conflict, but shows an insignificant relationship between ESM use and relationship conflict. Lastly, this research discusses the theoretical and managerial implications.     

Individual internet usage and the availability of online content of local interest: A multilevel approach

This paper illustrates whether the availability of online content of local interest affects the likelihood of individuals to connect to the internet and spend more time online. While the literature demonstrates a number of factors which push or enable individuals to spend more time online, we know little about the conditions that pull or attract individuals online. Although we know that individuals use the internet to access information, we do not know whether such attraction forces are relevant at the local scale too. Gaining a better understanding of how such mechanisms work at the local scale can assist our efforts to bridge digital divides, which tend to be geographically clustered. To explore this we utilise innovative data, which contain all the archived webpages under the UK top level domain name (.uk) and we calculate the volume of internet content of local interest at the neighbourhood level using the geolocation information included in the text of these webpages. Specifically, we calculate the radius of gyration for every archived website using the different postcodes included in the archived webpages and then we create an aggregated measure at the neighbourhood level discounting websites that have less of a local focus. We merge this measure of Local Internet Content (LIC) with a large population survey, which contains information about the frequency of internet usage in the UK and estimate the effect of LIC on the likelihood of an individual being a frequent internet user. Multilevel models are employed to utilise both individual and geographical level characteristics. Our results indicate that even after controlling for the individual and geographical characteristics, which according to previous studies affect internet usage, the availability of internet content of local interest still attracts individuals online.     

Internet use and developmental tasks: Adolescents’ point of view

This study explored adolescents’ opinions about how Internet use supports the achievement of their developmental tasks. Qualitative data were collected in focus groups interviews with 127 Italian Internet users (11–20) attending middle and high schools. Discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Results showed that the Internet plays important functions in identity formation, personal autonomy, and relationships outside the family. It allows teens to develop their own interests, to identify with others and, at the same time, differentiate from others. The Internet is also an arena in which adolescents develop and practice autonomy. The Internet can be a source of conflict with parents, because of parents’ concerns about Internet use. However, the Internet can also be a meeting ground with parents. Finally, participants indicated the Internet is used to form close relationships with peers. Gender and age differences are discussed. Although the study is cross-sectional and relies only on adolescent report, findings illustrate how the conceptual framework of developmental goals may be helpful for understanding how the Internet can affect adolescents’ lives.     

Using travel socialization and underlying motivations to better understand motorcycle usage in Taiwan

This study introduces self-determination theory (SDT) to refine previous models of vehicle usage motivation. We add travel socialization theory regarding parental influence on vehicle usage to enhance previous structural models describing motorcycle usage behavior. Our newly developed model was empirically verified in a sample of 721 motorcycle users in Taiwan. In addition to instrumental, symbolic, and affective motivations, perceived parental attitudes (PPAs) towards motorcycle riding were found to have a significant effect on individuals’ motorcycle use habits. Additionally, participants who perceived their parents to have more positive attitudes toward motorcycles were found to have more experience being chauffeured on motorcycles by their parents. Based on these results, we suggest means to confront the challenges brought on by the rapid growth of motorcycle usage, especially serious motorcycle traffic accidents. These results improve our understanding motorcycle usage in Taiwan and can be used by transportation professionals who are seeking solutions to the rapid growth of motorcycle usage.     

Variation in the effect of system usage and individual impact: A meta-regression of empirical findings

The relationship between system usage and individual impact has received considerable attention in prior studies. However, the results for the relationship have been mixed. This study hypothesizes that the variation in the effect of system usage on individual impact may be attributed to characteristics of the research contexts. This research examines the effects of voluntariness of use, number of organizations, number of respondents, type of respondents, and information system type, while controlling for geographic region and industry sector using meta-regression methods to examine the findings from 74 studies published between 1992 and 2018. Implications for research and practice are discussed.     

广州市老年人使用空气调节设备状况及对健康影响调查

老人的健康与建筑室内环境存在重要联系，为了给适老建筑的暖通系统优化设计提供理论依据，有必要探究室内空气调节设备与老人健康的关系。对广州市104位本地老年人进行了问卷调查，收集了老年人的基本健康信息和家庭使用空气调节设备的情况，包括制冷、除湿、采暖和空气净化4种设备及其使用时长，使用习惯。收集到的信息用SPSS20.0进行了统计分析。结果包括广州市老年人家中四种设备拥有率、设备平均使用龄、设备使用时间以及常见日均使用时长；所调查的老年人健康比例达到55.8%。患病老人中心血管疾病的比例最高，其余为风湿性疾病和关节炎等疾病。相关性分析表明，广州地区夏天家庭采取制冷措施的老人患病可能性更小；制冷设备常见日均使用时长与身处空调区域时长的比值越大，老人患病的可能性越小。