Structure and Extensions of the User Information Satisfaction Construct

User Information Satisfaction (UIS) remains one of the most important constructs in Information Systems research. This paper investigates the application of the UIS instrument across a number of key variables including respondent characteristics. Several findings emerge from a survey of 379 IS and non-IS managers: First, the UIS factors are stable and generalizable. Second, the level of satisfaction varies quite substantially when compared to prior UIS reports, although the IS product satisfaction dominates. Third, IS managers, not surprisingly, evaluate their systems significantly higher than non-IS managers, indicating the importance of stakeholders in evaluating Information Systems success.Finally, respondents evaluate their internal systems differently than their inter-organizational systems, indicating that in the IS evaluation process system type must be considered as a moderating variable.published_or_final_versio

Early Childhood Caries among a Bedouin community residing in the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>ECC is commonly prevalent among underprivileged populations. The Jahalin Bedouin are a severely deprived, previously nomadic tribe, dwelling on the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem. The aim of this study was to assess ECC prevalence and potentially associated variables.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>102 children aged 12–36 months were visually examined for caries, mothers' anterior dentition was visually subjectively appraised, demographic and health behavior data were collected by interview.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among children, 17.6% demonstrated ECC, among mothers, 37.3% revealed "fairly bad" anterior teeth. Among children drinking bottles there was about twice the level of ECC (20.3%) than those breast-fed (13.2%). ECC was found only among children aged more than one year (p < 0.001); more prevalent ECC (55.6%) was found among large (10–13 children) families than among smaller families (1–5 children: 13.5%, 6–9 children: 15.6%) (p = 0.009); ECC was more prevalent among children of less educated mothers (p = 0.037); ECC was more prevalent among mothers with "fairly poor" anterior dentition (p = 0.04). Oral hygiene practices were poor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ECC levels in this community were not very high but neither low. This changing population might be on the verge of a wider dental disease "epidemic". Public health efforts clearly need to be invested towards the oral health and general welfare of this community.</p

Early childhood caries in preschool children of Kosovo - a serious public health problem

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a serious public health problem, especially in countries where there is no national program of oral health assessment and no genuine primary oral health care, such as in Kosovo. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of ECC and analyze caries risk factors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The subjects were 1,008 preschool children, selected by stratified random cluster sampling, in the municipality of Prishtina, capital of Kosovo. Data were collected through clinical examination and interviews. Dmft data were recorded according to WHO criteria. Bacterial examination (CRT bacteria test) and plaque test of Greene-Vermillion were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean dmft of preschool children was found to be 5.8. The prevalence of ECC was 17.36%, with a mean dmft of 11 ± 3.6. Streptococcus mutans prevalence in ECC children was 98%. A significant correlation between dmft and S mutans counts (≥10⁵CFU/mL saliva) was demonstrated. A correlation was also found between daily sweets consumption and dmft in children with ECC (<it>P </it>< 0.001). Comparing the dmft of ECC children and duration of bottle feeding showed a statistical correlation (<it>P </it>< 0.001). The mean plaque test was 1.52. None of the examined children had ever used fluoride.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of ECC was high among preschool children in the municipality of Kosovo. We recommend increasing parents' knowledge of proper feeding habits and oral health practices, and increasing preschool children's accessibility to dental services.</p

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

EDI Innovation Patterns and Dimensions

Management systems are critical to exploiting technological, process and product innovations. This paper examines the adoption of a particular systems innovation, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This empirical study of 379 organisations compares organisations in the stages of adoption. A systems innovation approach is used in order to examine the internal effects of adoption. The specific issues evaluated are the effects on users regarding satisfaction with training, involvement, participation, and the MIS/User interface. Implementation issues are found to be the principal difference between adopters and non-adopters. Different factors are found to affect the timing of the adoption. Organisation size and systems satisfaction discriminate between early and late adopters. This indicates that future adoptions are likely to be influenced more by a new set of characteristics that are primarily internal rather than external to the organisation. Adoption patterns are found to vary between industries. Adoption choice is affected by the type of pressure experienced by the organisation. The type of pressure is also found to have an impact on internal management practices. Recommendations are made for addressing the internal issues which will be affected by the changing pattern of EDI adoption

Administrative innovation applied to systems adoption

Innovation has become not only the domain of a few progressive enterprises but the key to survival and success of the many. Innovative changes in management practices can assist in ensuring survival in an increasingly competitive world. The systems in place to manage and administer organizations are critical to exploiting technological, process, and product innovations. This paper examines the adoption and non-adoption of a particular systems innovation, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This empirical study of 379 companies compares adopters, adopters-in-process, and non-adopters of EDI. The focus is on the internal characteristics of firms. It is found that larger firms have a knowledge advantage which is a key factor in the adoption process. This knowledge advantage overcomes some of the misconceptions regarding EDI perceived by non-adopters. Further, critical barriers to adoption such as management support, systems cost, and implementation are important, but overcome by adopters, whereas non-adopters have difficulties in these areas. Adopters and non-adopters are compared according to their satisfaction and experience with internal systems. The exception is when implementation issues are involved. Non-adopters' perceptions are found to differ from adopters on this critical dimension. The results suggest that systems innovations may not be consistent with traditional taxonomies of innovations.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Knowledge Worker Constraints in Productive Use of Information Technology

The impact of Information Technology on managing enterprises continues unabated. Realizing the potential of IT has become a critical concern as the investments mount exponentially. The prosperity of organizations requires that IT resources are used productively by people.This study tests for constraints in the productive use of Information Technology by knowledge workers in organizations. The QRS® NUD*IST™ analysis package is used to analyze one hundred and twenty-five knowledge workers' written assessments. The non-directive assessments identified infrastructure, technical, information, and task categories of issues. The sub-categories of these issues lead to the identification of the structure of constraints.Information Technology can be better utilized to address users needs. The analyses reveal that infrastructure issues are critical. Organizations are not providing support necessary to utilize IT effectively. Technical issues are also important. The expected advantages of IT, such as speed and reliability, do not match knowledge workers expectations. Instead, they are perceived as constraints. The gap between expected and realized IT capabilities is much larger than expected. This leads to difficulties in alienation, anxiety, overload, and lower productivity. Knowledge workers offered their own solutions to resolving the principal, and sub-categories of constraints. Their views provide the basis for addressing practical problems and future research directions in improving knowledge worker productivity using Information Technology

Improving management information systems research: Question order effects in surveys

This paper demonstrates the impact that question order can have in using survey research in management information systems (MIS). Using data from a survey of 379 companies concerning electronic data interchange (EDI), significant differences are found in the evaluation of successful implementations. The overall evaluation of success is increased (or decreased) depending upon alternative versions of question order. In addition, the analyses show that the main effects from question order interact in different ways with respondent characteristics, including functional area, educational background and being a systems user. The bias tends to be consistent for some types of respondents, such as systems users. However, other classes of respondents, especially persons with professional backgrounds in systems or MIS, are influenced in more complex ways by question order. The order in which queries regarding systems output and quality occur tends to be especially important in anchoring subsequent responses and overall assessments. The final section addresses corrective actions and future research.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Managerial information overload

Overwhelmed by the organizational imperative to collect every kind of information available, and finding technical solutions generally miss the point, knowledge workers need to improve their personal capacity for inquiry.link_to_subscribed_fulltex