Consumer Perceptions about E-Commerce- The Influence of Public Internet Trust

Access to the internet from public places has further strengthened the internet as an anywhere-everywhere concept. Globally more businesses offer free public Wi-Fi for their customers. This research looks at customer attitude towards the use of free public Wi-Fi for e-commerce transactions, specifically, how does trust of the free public internet influence customer perception of the security of the e-commerce retailer websites. We conduct a brief study of participants in both the US and India on their perceptions of conducting e-commerce transactions using free public Wi-Fi. Our results show that the trust of the free public internet is a significant predictor of perceived security of the e-commerce website. Encrypted connections notwithstanding, businesses may need to stress the message that their website is safe to transact over public Wi-Fi

SHOP, SOCIALIZE, SURF, AND SEARCH EQUALLY FROM EVERYWHERE – REALLY?

Individuals have a choice in selecting an internet channel (e.g. home, work, public Wi-Fi or cellular service) to shop, socialize, surf, and search on the web. However, individuals have perceptions toward an internet channel’s environmental factors (security, trust, task tracking, task privacy) affecting their sense of successfully accomplishing their desired activity without concern or disruption potentially causing preference of choosing one channel over another. This raises a heightened concern for online vendors and advertisers that expect consumers to use internet channels equally without discernment. Guided by the Web Motivation Inventory (WMI) (Rodgers et al., 2007) and the environmental facilitating conditions proposed by Triandis (1979) as an extension to the theory of reasoned action (TRA), this paper proposes a framework to explore internet channel’s environmental factors that influence a consumer’s decision to perform a specific internet activity using a channel to connect to the web

Perceived Differences of Trust, Risk, and Privacy in Different Internet Channels

Research on people\u27s perceptions of trust, risk, and privacy on the internet has generally neglected the impact of various channels available for consumers to access the internet. People primarily access the internet using network channels at home, work, public Wi-Fi (hotspots), or use their mobile data network to conduct various activities (shopping, surfing, searching and socializing). The aim of this research is to understand how people\u27s perceptions related to trust, risk, and privacy may vary between different internet access channels. Adapting existing trust, risk, and privacy scales, we conduct a pilot survey to compare people\u27s perceptions as it relates to home and public Wi-Fi internet channels. Our results, while validating the trust and risk scales found in the online behavior literature, suggest a significant difference in the perception of trust and risk factors depending on the internet channel. However, the results with regards to the privacy factor are intriguing and require further work. Also, future research could cast light on the impact of this difference on activities people would like to perform using these channels

Twitter Sentiment Toward Autism During Autism Awareness Month

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has increased over the past few years and several supporters of autism have launched campaigns over social media to bring attention to their cause. Twitter has been a popular and effective social media platform for getting health-related messages across the globe. In this study we look at data collected from Twitter to evaluate the messages people communicate during Autism Awareness campaigns (2015 Autism Awareness Month). We apply several descriptive analytical techniques to decipher people’s conversations during autism campaigns and analyze sentiment (opinions) related to their messages. We conclude our study with a discussion about our findings, what areas of work is still needed, and what some of the practical implications can be for public health workers with similar needs

EXPLORING USER PRIVACY BASED ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR WITH INTERNET OF THINGS DEVICES AT HOME (FORMATIVE RESEARCH)

The proposed research initiative is aimed at investigating potential security and privacy vulnerabilities in home based Internet of Things (IoT) smart devices, such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, and smart home appliances, by analyzing the type, nature, and frequency of its encrypted, network communications. Such communications may reveal private information about the activities occurring within a home, as well as behaviors, relationships, and habits. Regardless of the quality of encryption used for network communications, digital messages expose certain information in much the same way as a sealed envelope sent via the postal service. The results of this formative research initiative will encourage better design of future home based IoT smart devices for security and privacy, as well as educate consumers on risks

Mental adjustment to cancer in patients with colorectal cancer

Introduction.Exploration of the psychological aspects of cancer may play a key role in the disease’s progression. Active mental strategies have been associated with a better prognosis. Due to these associations, the aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and elucidate determinants influencing mental adjustment in patients with colorectal cancer. Material and methods.A cross-sectional study identifying 200 patients with colorectal cancer. The mental state of pa­tients was measured with an adaptation the of mini-MAC questionnaire. Results.Constructive determinants influencing the occurrence of mental adaptation to colorectal cancer are the presence of the disease in the family, fitness status and smoking status. Education level is an important destructive determinant influencing the occurrence of mental adaptation to colorectal disease. Conclusions.Among the patients with colorectal cancer, the destructive and constructive style of mental adaptation occurs with a similar frequency (26.5% and 22.5%).

Mental adjustment to cancer in patients with colorectal cancer

Introduction. Exploration of the psychological aspects of cancer may play a key role in the disease’s progression. Active mental strategies have been associated with a better prognosis. Due to these associations, the aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and elucidate determinants influencing mental adjustment in patients with colorectal cancer. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study identifying 200 patients with colorectal cancer. The mental state of patients was measured with an adaptation the of Mini-MAC questionnaire. Results. Constructive determinants influencing the occurrence of mental adaptation to colorectal cancer are the presence of the disease in the family, fitness status, and smoking status.   Education level is an important destructive determinant influencing the occurrence of mental adaptation to colorectal disease. Conclusions. Among the patients with colorectal cancer, the destructive and constructive style of mental adaptation occurs with a similar frequency (26.5% and 22.5%)

Gearing motion in cogwheel pairs of molecular rotors: weak-coupling limit

Variable-​temp. (VT) crystal structures, VT 1H spin-​lattice relaxation in static crystals, and DFT modeling of the rotational barriers of BCP rotators in cryst. arrays of a rod-​like mol. contg. two 1,​3-​bis(ethynyl)​bicyclo[1.1.1]​pentane (BCP) units demonstrate that a correlated gearing motion occurs in the limit of a weak coupling between two rotors in a pair

The Skin as a Mirror of Internal Disease: Comorbidities and Epidemiology of Acne Vulgaris and Adult Female Acne – A Cross-sectional Study and Current State of Knowledge

Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition affecting an increasing number of adults and might be a clue to identifying systemic disease. Objective of this study is assessment of the demographic and clinical characteristic, including comorbidities, of patients with acne with a special focus on adult female acne (AFA). This cross-sectional study analyzed the medical records of 354 patients with acne (323 outpatients and 31 hospitalized). Data concerning patient age, sex, lesions morphology and distribution on body areas, duration of the disease, Body Mass Index, and dermatologic and systemic comorbidities were collected. 61% of all patients were female, 45.37% of women were classified as AFA. The median age of patients with acne was 24 years and 32.5 years for AFA. The face was the most commonly affected area; patients with AFA had lesions on their back than less frequently non-AFA. Predominant eruptions were pustules and papules. 38.7% of patients had concomitant systemic chronic disease, 15.25% had an endocrinologic disorder, and 6.21% had thyroid gland dysfunction. Women with AFA had endocrinologic disorders more frequently (P=0.002), whereas cutaneous signs of hyperandrogenism were observed less frequently than in the non-AFA group (P=0.034). AFA possess distinct clinical features and it should raise suspicion towards possible underlying endocrinologic disturbance

Serological surveillance reveals patterns of exposure to H5 and H7 influenza A viruses in European poultry

Influenza A viruses of H5 and H7 subtype in poultry can circulate subclinically, and subsequently mutate from low to high pathogenicity with potentially devastating economic and welfare consequences. European Union Member States undertake surveillance of commercial and backyard poultry for early detection and control of subclinical H5 and H7 influenza A infection. This surveillance has moved towards a risk‐based sampling approach in recent years; however quantitative measures of relative risk associated with risk factors utilised in this approach are necessary for optimisation. This study describes serosurveillance for H5 and H7 influenza A in domestic and commercial poultry undertaken in the European Union from 2004 to 2010, where a random sampling and thus representative approach to serosurveillance was undertaken. Using these representative data, this study measured relative risk of seropositivity across poultry categories and spatially across the EU. Data were analysed using multivariable logistic regression. Domestic waterfowl, game birds, fattening turkeys, ratites, backyard poultry and the “other” poultry category holdings had relatively increased probability of H5 and/or H7 influenza A seropositivity, compared to laying‐hen holdings. Amongst laying‐hen holdings, free‐range rearing was associated with increased probability of H7 seropositivity. Spatial analyses detected ‘hotspots’ for H5 influenza A seropositivity in western France and England, and H7 influenza A seropositivity in Italy and Belgium, which may be explained by the demographics and distribution of poultry categories. Findings suggest certain poultry category holdings are at increased risk of subclinical H5 and/or H7 influenza A circulation, and free‐range rearing increases the likelihood of exposure to H7 influenza A. These findings may be used in further refining risk‐based surveillance strategies, and prioritising management strategies in influenza A outbreaks