User Perceptions of Information Quality in China: The Boomerang Decade

China has adopted and implemented the Internet as a vehicle for economic development during the past several decades. As this has occurred, the Chinese national government has sought to control access to information in various ways over time. As political philosophies have changed over time, so has control over the ways in which users are able to publish and access information through the Internet in China. This study examines user perceptions of information quality in China over the decade beginning in 2007 and ending in 2017. Data were collected three times at five-year intervals. The results show that user perceptions have changed in a way that is consistent with changes in control over use of the Internet in China during this ten-year period. Specifically, user perceptions of information quality along a number of dimensions are similar at the beginning and end of this decade and either significantly higher or lower in the middle of the decade in ways that are consistent with Chinese control of the Internet in the middle of this decade. Our research shows that users are sensitive to information quality issues in that the changes in Chinese Internet users’ perceptions have shifted in parallel with public events and governmental practices. China is a prototypical case of tight government control of the Internet. The findings of this study shed light on user perceptions in one society of this type. In the long run, information providers should strive to provide high quality information as a strategy for mitigating the effects of fake news

User-Centered Evaluation of the Quality of Blogs

Blogs serve multiple purposes, resulting in several types of blogs that vary greatly in terms of quality and content. It is important to evaluate the quality of blogs, which requires appropriate evaluation criteria. Unfortunately, there are minimal studies on framework and the specific criteria and indicators for evaluating the quality of blogs. Moreover, quality is related to user perception, and should therefore be evaluated by the receivers. This dissertation examines the criteria and indicators that blog users consider important for evaluating the quality of blogs, and develops a user-centered framework for evaluating quality by conducting user surveys and post-survey email interviews. The personal characteristics that affect the users’ choices of criteria to evaluate the quality of blogs are examined as well. The study’s findings include 1) the criteria that users consider important when evaluating the quality of blogs are content quality, usability, authority, and blog credibility; 2) the indicators that blog users consider most important for evaluating the quality of blogs are understandability, accuracy, believability, currency, ease of use, and navigation; and 3) gender, education level, age, profession, purpose of use, and specific interests affect the user’s choices of criteria for evaluating the quality of blogs. Future research may involve exploring and applying the framework developed in this study to build automatic quality blog identification system for the purpose of assisting web users and information specialists to identify quality blogs

Study to investigate factors influencing adoption of mobile devices in the healthcare environment

In this research project, modified graphene was employed as filler to enhance the electrical conductivity and to reinforce mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR). The defect sites in the graphene sheets were investigated for further modification. The latex mixing and mechanical mixing methods to load functional graphene sheets into the NR matrix, improved the mechanical and electrical properties of the composite material. Graphene was prepared by a chemical oxidation-reduction approach to fill the NR matrix. The oxidation approaches were employed in progress, which will induce various defects in the final product. It is known that these defects decrease the properties of the graphene and graphene/natural rubber composites, which are prepared by traditional method as well. However, these defects could cause improvements in performance of the graphene composites with re-designed methods, the main focus of this thesis. Before loading into NR matrix, the defect information of graphene oxide (GO) prepared using Hummers method was examined through positron testing, which is known to be highly effective in the study of the defects in graphite and its derivatives. The different types of defects were detectable, which revealed that the vacancy clusters and vacancy-oxygen group complexes were present on the GO sheets. No large open-volume hole was detected in GO. The reduction of GO by potassium carbonate (K2CO3) as a green noble preparation approach was developed, and the oxygen groups dispersion status in the GO sheet was further investigated. K2CO3 was used as a reusable reduction agent to convert GO to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) in two steps, based on the conversion of the different types of oxygen groups detected. Carbon dioxide was the only by-product of this process, which was absorbed by K2CO3. In addition, the study further elucidates the structure of GO sheets. The oxygen groups on the GO sheets not only aligned but also randomly dispersed in different areas. Antistatic NR nanocomposites with partly interconnected graphene architectures offer significant enhancement in various properties. RGO/NR composites were prepared using latex mixing and in-situ reduction process. The oxygen groups on the GO played a key role in attaching GO sheets to the surface of NR particles. Segregated current transfer routes were partly constructed in an NR matrix with an electrical conductivity of 0.1 S/m and reinforcing the tensile strength and elongation-at-break as well. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used to decorate GO, which further increased the electrical conductivity of NR nanocomposites. Electrically conductive AgNPs/RGO filled NR with well-organized three-dimensional (3D) microstructures were prepared through electrostatic self-assembly integrated latex mixing. The oxygen groups in GO acted as an anchor for AgNPs growth, resulting in the electrical conductivity of 31000 S/m for the AgNPs/RGO. A honeycomb-like AgNPs/RGO 3D network was constructed in the NR matrix after freeze-drying and hot compression moulding. The AgNPs/RGO/NR nanocomposites show a percolation threshold of 0.63 vol.% and electrical conductivity of 196 S/m at AgNPs/RGO content of 4.03 vol.%. The oxygen groups can not only be used to improve the electrical conductivity of NR but also used to reinforce mechanical properties. The effect of functionalized GO on the mechanical properties of NR was investigated through two strategies. In the first strategy, one layer of silica particles were attached to the GO surface through hydrogen bonds. The strength were reinforced because of well-dispersed SiO2/GO in the NR matrix. GO acted as a surfactant dispersed by silica into the NR matrix to reinforce the mechanical properties using latex mixing. Oxygen groups on the graphene sheets banded with silica to achieve the target. In the second strategy, the strength reinforcement of NR nanocomposites was achieved by construction of an interpenetrating network between the NR molecules and porous graphene. In this project, porous graphene loaded NR nanocomposites were prepared through an ultrasonically assisted latex mixing and in-situ reduction process. The oxygen groups showed chemo-selectivity etched by potassium permanganate (KMnO4), forming pores possessing suitable dimensions in graphene sheets. Porous graphene/NR nanocomposites show strong interactions between the NR molecules and porous graphene than RGO/NR, which contributed to an increase in tensile strength compared to the RGO/NR nanocomposites. Furthermore, the scorch time compared to RGO/NR was decreased, and density of cross-linking was increased, which demonstrate the pores on the graphene sheets formed a mass transfer route, indicating an interpenetrating network was constructed

Razvoj Modela uspješnosti ePortfolio sustava

Electronic Portfolio constitutes an extension to e-learning and has therefore been very strongly popularized in the last few years. Since the field of ePortfolio is still unexplored, there is not a model to describe the successful implementation of an ePortfolio taking into account the individual (student, educator), academic institution, and industry (employer) level. However, research conducted so far refer to the importance of ePortfolio system and suggest the need to develop an integral model which will comprehend both the pedagogical and ICT potential of an ePortfolio system. In this doctoral dissertation, an instrument to evaluate ePortfolio success, using the DeLone&McLean updated IS success model as the assessment framework, will be developed. Based on the results of instrument developed and D&M model, an integral model of ePortfolio success will be proposed.Elektronički Portfolio ili ePortfolio predstavlja proširenje e-učenja, te se vrlo snažno popularizira u posljednjih nekoliko godina. Kako je područje još uvijek vrlo neistraženo, ne postoji model koji opisuje mogućnosti uspješne implementacije ePortfolio sustava koji bi obuhvaćao pojedinca (studenta, nastavnika), akademsku instituciju, te poslodavca (industrije). Dosadašnja istraživanja upućuju na važnost ePortfoliosustava, te sugeriraju izgradnju cjelovitog modela koji će obuhvaćati i pedagoški i ICT potencijal ePortfolio sustava. U ovoj doktorskoj disertaciji razvit de se instrument za vrednovanje uspješnosti ePortfolija korištenjem DeLone i McLean poboljšanog modela uspješnosti informacijskog sustava (u daljnjem tekstu: D&M model) kao okvira za procjenu. Na temelju rezultata razvijenog instrumenta i spomenutog D&M modela predložit će se cjeloviti model uspješnosti ePortfolio sustava

Razvoj Modela uspješnosti ePortfolio sustava

Electronic Portfolio constitutes an extension to e-learning and has therefore been very strongly popularized in the last few years. Since the field of ePortfolio is still unexplored, there is not a model to describe the successful implementation of an ePortfolio taking into account the individual (student, educator), academic institution, and industry (employer) level. However, research conducted so far refer to the importance of ePortfolio system and suggest the need to develop an integral model which will comprehend both the pedagogical and ICT potential of an ePortfolio system. In this doctoral dissertation, an instrument to evaluate ePortfolio success, using the DeLone&McLean updated IS success model as the assessment framework, will be developed. Based on the results of instrument developed and D&M model, an integral model of ePortfolio success will be proposed.Elektronički Portfolio ili ePortfolio predstavlja proširenje e-učenja, te se vrlo snažno popularizira u posljednjih nekoliko godina. Kako je područje još uvijek vrlo neistraženo, ne postoji model koji opisuje mogućnosti uspješne implementacije ePortfolio sustava koji bi obuhvaćao pojedinca (studenta, nastavnika), akademsku instituciju, te poslodavca (industrije). Dosadašnja istraživanja upućuju na važnost ePortfoliosustava, te sugeriraju izgradnju cjelovitog modela koji će obuhvaćati i pedagoški i ICT potencijal ePortfolio sustava. U ovoj doktorskoj disertaciji razvit de se instrument za vrednovanje uspješnosti ePortfolija korištenjem DeLone i McLean poboljšanog modela uspješnosti informacijskog sustava (u daljnjem tekstu: D&M model) kao okvira za procjenu. Na temelju rezultata razvijenog instrumenta i spomenutog D&M modela predložit će se cjeloviti model uspješnosti ePortfolio sustava

Razvoj Modela uspješnosti ePortfolio sustava

Electronic Portfolio constitutes an extension to e-learning and has therefore been very strongly popularized in the last few years. Since the field of ePortfolio is still unexplored, there is not a model to describe the successful implementation of an ePortfolio taking into account the individual (student, educator), academic institution, and industry (employer) level. However, research conducted so far refer to the importance of ePortfolio system and suggest the need to develop an integral model which will comprehend both the pedagogical and ICT potential of an ePortfolio system. In this doctoral dissertation, an instrument to evaluate ePortfolio success, using the DeLone&McLean updated IS success model as the assessment framework, will be developed. Based on the results of instrument developed and D&M model, an integral model of ePortfolio success will be proposed.Elektronički Portfolio ili ePortfolio predstavlja proširenje e-učenja, te se vrlo snažno popularizira u posljednjih nekoliko godina. Kako je područje još uvijek vrlo neistraženo, ne postoji model koji opisuje mogućnosti uspješne implementacije ePortfolio sustava koji bi obuhvaćao pojedinca (studenta, nastavnika), akademsku instituciju, te poslodavca (industrije). Dosadašnja istraživanja upućuju na važnost ePortfoliosustava, te sugeriraju izgradnju cjelovitog modela koji će obuhvaćati i pedagoški i ICT potencijal ePortfolio sustava. U ovoj doktorskoj disertaciji razvit de se instrument za vrednovanje uspješnosti ePortfolija korištenjem DeLone i McLean poboljšanog modela uspješnosti informacijskog sustava (u daljnjem tekstu: D&M model) kao okvira za procjenu. Na temelju rezultata razvijenog instrumenta i spomenutog D&M modela predložit će se cjeloviti model uspješnosti ePortfolio sustava