Estimating the Monetary Value of Information Privacy in the Context of SNS

The dramatic growth of SNS has created a myriad of information privacy. To achieve our objective, first, this study estimates the monetary value of information privacy by using the CVM. Second, it is estimated how the monetary value of information privacy would change according to demographic information, SNS usage cycle information, the Characteristics of SNS users, and the SNS features. As a result, sensitive SNS users for information privacy have following characteristics: 30s, higher education, less Monthly Expenditure or far more monthly expenditure, lower SNS use ability, more number of followers, little event experiences, shorter SNS experience, higher account open limit level and privacy invasion experiences. Also, the total WTA mean is $28/number. The monetary value of information privacy according to SNS features have the following characteristics. Those who use private SNS, the value of Profile, Location information, and the purpose of Sharing and Friendship are more important

Investigating Factors Affecting Electronic Word-Of-Mouth In The Open Market Context: A Mixed Methods Approach

Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) has been identified as one of key factors affecting online sales. There has been, however, lack of understanding about the factors leading to eWOM in the open market context. As many Internet vendors have adopted the open market business, it is essential to understand the factors leading to eWOM for the success of open market business. This study investigates factors affecting eWOM in the open market context based on a sequential combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. The exploratory findings in the qualitative study become the basis for the quantitative study, survey research. The findings from the mixed methods explain the significance of three new factors (information sharing desire, self-presentation desire, and open market reward) and two other factors (open market satisfaction and open market loyalty) affecting eWOM directly and indirectly. This study contributes to research by adding to the broader literature on eWOM. The findings also can inform open market providers on how to promote and manage eWOM for their online business success

A Green Flag over Mobile Industry Start-Ups: Human Capital and Past Investors as Investment Signals

Crowdfunding and online start-up platforms are becoming important communication tools for start-ups and investors. Existing literatures on online start-up platforms usually focus on reward-based crowdfunding platform, which do not offer any equity to backers. In addition, there have not been many empirical researches about equity-based crowdfunding due to the novelty of the regulation. This study analyzes the association between funding amount and early stage start-ups’ underlying characteristics, the type of past investors, and influence of investors in the context of equity-based crowdfunding. The distinction of our research is the aspect of approach that we use population data from online start-up platform for the mobile industry. We find that start-up’s funding outcome is positively related to start-up’s human capital and pure investors. Moreover, our study extends theoretical understanding of the importance of human capital and past investors in start-up, and also contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by examining creditable signals for early stage start-up investment

Want-To vs. Have-To Socializations in Social Network Sites: Fear of Isolation, Jealousy, and Tie Strengths

As social network sites (SNS) expand the boundaries of one’s social life, we often observe encounters between two different types of motivations for socialization - I want-to socialize vs. I have-to socialize. SNS at present are considered commodities. People do not always start using SNS because they want to, but often because everyone else is using it; people do not wish to be isolated from social circles. This study aims to examine different types of user motivations in SNS and observe how these lead to actual socialization behaviours with different progress dynamics. We apply constraint- and dedication- based relationship framework to distinguish motivations and identify constructs for each motivation. We plan to collect data from one of the major SNS to validate how their socialization intentions are differently realized into actual behaviours. We develop a two-staged research model and this research-in-progress presents the result of the pilot study conducted for the first stage. We also discuss how the second stage of the study will be executed, and how it will benefit the related literature when the project is successfully completed

Investigation of reliability of the cutoff probe by a comparison with Thomson scattering in high density processing plasmas

A “cutoff probe” uses microwaves to measure the electron density in a plasma. It is particularly attractive because it is easy to fabricate and use, its measurement is immune to surface contamination by dielectric materials, and it has a straightforward analysis to measure electron density in real time. In this work, we experimentally investigate the accuracy of the cutoff probe through a detailed comparison with Thomson scattering in a low temperature, high density processing plasma. The result shows that the electron density measured by the cutoff probe is lower than that by Thomson scattering and that the discrepancy of the two results becomes smaller as the gap between the two tips increases and/or the neutral gas pressure decreases. The underestimated electron density found by the cutoff probe can be explained by the influence of the probe holder, which becomes important as the pressure increases and the gap gets closer

Synchronous double primary malignant tumor of the gallbladder and liver: a case report

We report a case of synchronous double primary tumor of gallbladder and liver. A 63-year-old male was admitted to the hospital complaining of abdominal discomfort. Enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed acute cholecystitis with tiny gallbladder stones and a 2.2 cm size enhanced nodule in the left lobe of the liver. Under the impression of acute cholecystitis with gall bladder stones and hepatocellular carcinoma of the left Liver, the patient underwent a laparotomy. At laparotomy, a mass was palpated on the surface of the neck portion of the gall bladder. Intraoperative frozen diagnosis revealed adenocarcinoma of the gall bladder. The patient was diagnosed as having gall bladder cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, so extended cholecystectomy with dissection of regional lymph nodes and left hemihepatectomy were performed. Histological examination revealed moderated differentiated adenocarcinoma of gallbladder and hepatocellular carcinoma of liver. To our knowledge, the simultaneous occurrence of primary malignant tumor of the gallbladder and liver has never been published before. The patient is doing well with no evidence of recurrence 17 months after surgery

Design principles for transforming making programs into online settings at public libraries

Purpose This paper aims to investigate design principles for transforming existing making communities of practice within public libraries into online knowledge-building communities to support youths, families with young children and adult members’ making and tinkering during COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach Building upon C4P and connected learning framework, the authors analyze existing literature and practitioner reports on informal learning projects related to making and STEM learning, family learning and online learning as well as emergent cases of innovative approaches in response to COVID-19 from public libraries, informal learning institutions and community groups. Findings The authors suggest 11 design principles around five areas: program design, facilitation, tools and materials, process documentation and sharing and feedback. Originality/value This work contributes to the information and learning sciences concerned with community engagement and knowledge creation by suggesting a design model to transform and sustain existing making communities of practice within public libraries into online knowledge-building communities during COVID-19

An Active and Soft Hydrogel Actuator to Stimulate Live Cell Clusters by Self-folding

The hydrogels are widely used in various applications, and their successful uses depend on controlling the mechanical properties. In this study, we present an advanced strategy to develop hydrogel actuator designed to stimulate live cell clusters by self-folding. The hydrogel actuator consisting of two layers with different expansion ratios were fabricated to have various curvatures in self-folding. The expansion ratio of the hydrogel tuned with the molecular weight and concentration of gel-forming polymers, and temperature-sensitive molecules in a controlled manner. As a result, the hydrogel actuator could stimulate live cell clusters by compression and tension repeatedly, in response to temperature. The cell clusters were compressed in the 0.7-fold decreases of the radius of curvature with 1.0 mm in room temperature, as compared to that of 1.4 mm in 37 degrees C. Interestingly, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) in MCF-7 tumor cells exposed by mechanical stimulation was expressed more than in those without stimulation. Overall, this new strategy to prepare the active and soft hydrogel actuator would be actively used in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and micro-scale actuators

Improving disclosure of medical error through educational program as a first step toward patient safety

Participant’s Response to medical errors. Description of data: Raw data of participant’s response to medical errors (3 clinical cases with different severity of error outcome), satisfaction and change after the education program. (XLSX 18 kb