An Extended Model Of Review Helpfulness: Exploring The Role Of Tie Strength, Perceived Similarity, And Normative Susceptibility

Previous studies on review information evaluation focus on the important roles of two key factors namely argument strength and source credibility but pay less attention to how social influence and social relationship exert impact on this information evaluation behavior. To fill this research gap, based on the similarity – attraction theory and social capital theory, we articulate how source credibility is determined by two social relationship factors: tie strength and perceived similarity. Further, drawing upon the social influence model, we propose that the susceptibility to normative influence intensifies the impact exerted on source credibility by tie strength and perceived similarity. Also, relationships between argument strength and review helpfulness and between source credibility and review helpfulness are both moderated by normative susceptibility. A survey is conducted to test the proposed research model and the results suggest that hypotheses are supported. The results offer important and interesting insights to information systems research and practice

REVISIT THE INFORMATION ADOPTION MODEL BY EXPLORING THE MODERATING ROLE OF TIE STRENGTH: A PERSPECTIVE FROM CONSTRUAL LEVEL THEORY

Previous studies on review information adoption, drawing upon dual process theory, focus on the important roles of two key review-related factors namely argument strength and source credibility, but pay less attention to the social relationships between review sources and recipients. To fill this research gap, based on the construal level theory, we articulate that tie strength moderates the impacts of argument strength and source credibility on content diagnosticity. A survey was conducted to examine the proposed research model and hypotheses and the results showed that the relationship between argument strength and content diagnosticity is stronger when tie strength is weak than when tie strength is strong while the relationship between source credibility is stronger when tie strength is strong than when tie strength is weak. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are also discussed

Preparation and Self-Cleaning Performance of High-Strength Double-Layer PVDF-PVC-Nano-Graphite/PVDF-PVC Super-Hydrophobic Composite Membrane

The double-layer PVDF-PVC (D-PP/PP) super-hydrophobic composite membrane was prepared by the coating immersion phase separation method to enhance the mechanical properties of the composite membrane. The D-PP/PP super-hydrophobic membrane was prepared using the casting solution concentration of 12 wt% PVDF-PVC composite membrane as basement and 4% casting of PVDF-PVC coating. The contact angle of the D-PP/PP membrane was 150.4 ± 0.3°, and the scanning electron microscope showed that the surface of the D-PP/PP membrane was covered by a cross-linked micro–nano microsphere. The mechanical properties showed that the maximum tensile force of the D-PP/PP composite membrane was 2.34 N, which was 19.4% higher than that of PVDF-PVC (1.96 N). Nano-graphite was added to the coating layer in the experiment. The prepared double-layer PVDF-PVC-nano-graphite/PVDF-PVC (D-PPG/PP) composite membrane reached 153.7 ± 0.5°, the contact angle increasing by 3.3°. The SEM comparison showed that the D-PPG/PP composite membrane had a more obvious micro–nano level microsphere layer. The mechanical properties are also superior. By preparing the D-PP/PP membrane, the mechanical properties of the membrane were improved, and the super-hydrophobic property of the coating was also obtained. At the same time, it was found that adding nano-graphite to the coating layer can better improve the hydrophobic, mechanical, and self-cleaning properties of the D-PP/PP composite membrane

A Versatile Approach for the Synthesis of Antimicrobial Polymer Brushes on Natural Rubber/Graphene Oxide Composite Films via Surface-Initiated Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization

A simple strategy was adopted for the preparation of an antimicrobial natural rubber/graphene oxide (NR/GO) composite film modified through the use of zwitterionic polymer brushes. An NR/GO composite film with antibacterial properties was prepared using a water-based solution-casting method. The composited GO was dispersed uniformly in the NR matrix and compensated for mechanical loss in the process of modification. Based on the high bromination activity of α–H in the structure of cis-polyisoprene, the composite films were brominated on the surface through the use of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) under the irradiation of a 40 W tungsten lamp. Polymerization was carried out on the brominated films using sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) as a monomer via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The NR/GO composite films modified using polymer brushes (PSBMAs) exhibited 99.99% antimicrobial activity for resistance to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. A novel polymer modification strategy for NR composite materials was established effectively, and the enhanced antimicrobial properties expand the application prospects in the medical field

Grafting photochromic spiropyran polymer brushes on natural rubber surface via surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization

The modification of stereoregulated functionalized polymers on the surface of natural rubber (NR) is a challenging task. This work provided a practicable grafting method to design photochromic polymer brushes on the NR surfaces using surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP). The designed photochromic polymer brushes were based on norbornenes with spiropyrin (SP) pendents, and grew from the surface of NR films in the presence of Grubbs 2nd catalyst. The results showed that the grafting rate of polymer brushes with photoisomerization structure reached up to 44.91 %. The modified natural rubber (NR-SP) films exhibited rapid coloring/decolorization property under UV irradiation and visible light. This photochromic property initiated by the light-induced isomerisation of the spiropyran structure and the increased surface energy under light stimuli. NR-SP films exhibited stable photochromic characteristics and outstanding anti-fatigue properties after exposing to over six cycles of consecutive UV/Vis irradiation. A simple and practical strategy for the preparation of highly sensitive photochromic natural rubber materials is proposed and provides a potential application in the fields of information storage and anti-counterfeiting

The Regulatory Roles of MicroRNAs in Bone Remodeling and Perspectives as Biomarkers in Osteoporosis

MicroRNAs are involved in many cellular and molecular activities and played important roles in many biological and pathological processes, such as tissue formation, cancer development, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, it has been reported that microRNAs can modulate the differentiation and activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, the key cells that are involved in bone remodeling process. Meanwhile, the results from our and other research groups showed that the expression profiles of microRNAs in the serum and bone tissues are significantly different in postmenopausal women with or without fractures compared to the control. Therefore, it can be postulated that microRNAs might play important roles in bone remodeling and that they are very likely to be involved in the pathological process of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In this review, we will present the updated research on the regulatory roles of microRNAs in osteoblasts and osteoclasts and the expression profiles of microRNAs in osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture patients. The perspective of serum microRNAs as novel biomarkers in bone loss disorders such as osteoporosis has also been discussed