Exploring Antecedents, Performance Outcomes And Psychological Processes Of Multi-Device Use

Given the widespread use of multiple devices (such as desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets) in performing a task, systematic, theoretic, and empirical studies pertaining to motivations regarding, performance outcomes, and attitudes toward multi-device use have become essential. Despite the increasing importance of multi-device use, research remains scarce regarding this topic. To comprehensively understand the issues of multi-device use, this dissertation comprises three complementary studies, each of which focuses on a different aspect of multi-device use: Given the availability of multiple devices, what are the motivations behind multi-device use as opposed to the use of only one device to complete a set of related tasks (antecedents; Study 1)? How do people use multiple devices to lead to better performance than when using a single device (performance outcomes; Study 2)? How do users feel about multi-device use when they are free or forced to switch from using one device to another to complete a task (psychological processes; Study 3)? Drawing on task\u27technology fit theory and mental workload, this dissertation presents two research models for Study 1 and Study 2, in order to gain deep insight into what happens before (i.e., motivations) and after multi-device use (i.e., task performance). Moreover, on the basis of task\u27technology fit theory and psychological reactance theory, this dissertation presents a research model for Study 3 to understand the impact of flexibility of multi-device use on users\u27 attitudes. A survey, video recording, and experiments were conducted to collect data for Study 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Partial least squares were used to analyze research models of Studies 1, 2, and 3. Our empirical findings of Study 1 indicate that perceived task fit with multi-device use is a critical factor that forms users\u27 attitudes toward and expected satisfaction with multi-device use, both of which trigger their intentions to use multiple devices. However, unfamiliarity with multi-device use increases perceived complexity of multi-device use. Such complexity hinders users from perceiving good task fit with multi-device use. The results of Study 2 show that when users can select the right device from their device portfolios to deal with a certain subtask, the task can be completed more quickly and accurately. They also indicate that increasing the number of device switches generates a higher number of application switches and physical movements, both of which add time to task completion. The results of Study 3 indicate the existence of psychological reactance (i.e., as assertive affective and cognitive reactions to a threatened or eliminated freedom) in the context of non-flexibility of multi-device use. This reactance negatively influences affective and cognitive appraisals and in turn affects users\u27 satisfaction with multi-device use and continued intention toward multi-device use. Furthermore, forcing users to use the devices with the best fit for dealing with a simple task forms positive affective appraisals, resulting in a reduction in the detrimental effects of psychological reactance. The results of this dissertation have several theoretical contributions and provide important guidelines for device manufacturers, such as Apple, Samsung, and Google, and for companies whose employees use multiple devices at work. I hope that this dissertation will inspire future research on this emerging and critical topic

Using Single or Multiple Personal IT Devices? Exploring the Task Performance in Consumerization of IT

As an increasing number of organizations started allowing their employees to bring and to adopt consumer IT (i.e., consumerization of IT) for business purposes, more than one personal IT device (PITD) that is available to use to deal with a task has gradually become common. The combination of PITDs may, under certain conditions, provide support for different ways of carrying out an activity and may generate an overall better result than if each PITD within the PITD portfolio were working toward the same task individually. This study calls such a result multiple-PITD outperformance . To achieve multiple-PITD outperformance, the key may lie in increasing the benefits of multiple PITD use while decreasing its costs. This study proposes a model with six hypotheses to test this possibility. The results can contribute to our understanding on what situations may lead to better performance when using multiple PITDs to complete a task

How Does the Power of Crowdvoting Affect Purchase Decisions? Effects of Majority and Minority Influence in Online Rating Systems

Online rating systems gather review scores on products from different customers’, creating collective opinions and accumulating the power formed by the crowdvoting. Such the power of the crowdvoting generates two influences: majority and minority influences. Both of which may form a signal that guides or misleads product/service evaluation and in turn purchase decision. This study draws from signaling theory to examine the effects of (1) majority, (2) minority influence and (3) number of reviewers on online shoppers’ perceived product quality and perceived social risk and how they further influence purchase intention. We conducted a scenario-based experiment to test the research model and employed a 2x2x2 full factorial design. A total of 371 undergraduates had participated. The results of this study suggest that majority influence increases perceived product quality and decreases perceived social risk, influencing shoppers’ purchase decision. Implications for theory, practice, and future research directions are discussed

AtPAN: an integrated system for reconstructing transcriptional regulatory networks in Arabidopsis thaliana

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Construction of transcriptional regulatory networks (TRNs) is of priority concern in systems biology. Numerous high-throughput approaches, including microarray and next-generation sequencing, are extensively adopted to examine transcriptional expression patterns on the whole-genome scale; those data are helpful in reconstructing TRNs. Identifying transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in a gene promoter is the initial step in elucidating the transcriptional regulation mechanism. Since transcription factors usually co-regulate a common group of genes by forming regulatory modules with similar TFBSs. Therefore, the combinatorial interactions of transcription factors must be modeled to reconstruct the gene regulatory networks.</p> <p>Description For systems biology applications, this work develops a novel database called <it>Arabidopsis thaliana </it>Promoter Analysis Net (AtPAN), capable of detecting TFBSs and their corresponding transcription factors (TFs) in a promoter or a set of promoters in <it>Arabidopsis</it>. For further analysis, according to the microarray expression data and literature, the co-expressed TFs and their target genes can be retrieved from AtPAN. Additionally, proteins interacting with the co-expressed TFs are also incorporated to reconstruct co-expressed TRNs. Moreover, combinatorial TFs can be detected by the frequency of TFBSs co-occurrence in a group of gene promoters. In addition, TFBSs in the conserved regions between the two input sequences or homologous genes in <it>Arabidopsis </it>and rice are also provided in AtPAN. The output results also suggest conducting wet experiments in the future.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The AtPAN, which has a user-friendly input/output interface and provide graphical view of the TRNs. This novel and creative resource is freely available online at <url>http://AtPAN.itps.ncku.edu.tw/</url>.</p

The Relationship between Stock Price and EPS: Evidence Based on Taiwan Panel Data

In this study, we use panel cointegration methods to investigate the relationship between stock prices and earnings-per-share (EPS). Furthermore, we consider whether stock prices respond to EPS under the different level of growth rate of operating revenue. The empirical result indicated that the cointegration relationship existed between stock prices and EPS in the long-run. Furthermore, we found that for the firm with a high level of growth rate, EPS has less power in explaining the stock prices however, for the firm with a low level of growth rate, EPS has a strong impact in stock prices.Earnings Response Coefficient (ERC)

Therapeutic and Radiosensitizing Effects of Armillaridin on Human Esophageal Cancer Cells

Background. Armillaridin (AM) is isolated from Armillaria mellea. We examined the anticancer activity and radiosensitizing effect on human esophageal cancer cells. Methods. Human squamous cell carcinoma (CE81T/VGH and TE-2) and adenocarcinoma (BE-3 and SKGT-4) cell lines were cultured. The MTT assay was used for cell viability. The cell cycle was analyzed using propidium iodide staining. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential was measured by DiOC6(3) staining. The colony formation assay was performed for estimation of the radiation surviving fraction. Human CE81T/VGH xenografts were established for evaluation of therapeutic activity in vivo. Results. AM inhibited the viability of four human esophageal cancer cell lines with an estimated concentration of 50% inhibition (IC50) which was 3.4–6.9 μM. AM induced a hypoploid cell population and morphological alterations typical of apoptosis in cells. This apoptosis induction was accompanied by a reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. AM accumulated cell cycle at G2/M phase and enhanced the radiosensitivity in CE81T/VGH cells. In vivo, AM inhibited the growth of CE81T/VGH xenografts without significant impact on body weight and white blood cell counts. Conclusion. Armillaridin could inhibit growth and enhance radiosensitivity of human esophageal cancer cells. There might be potential to integrate AM with radiotherapy for esophageal cancer treatment

Hierarchy of Graph Isomorphism Testing

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