Factors Impacting Male Students’ Behavioral Intentions to Purchase Mobile Reading Apps in Chengdu, China

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the factors impacting male students’ behavioral intention to purchase mobile reading apps in Chengdu, China. The conceptual framework contains key variables which are perceived value, satisfaction, service quality, trust, social influence, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. Research design, data, and methodology: The online and offline questionnaires were distributed to 500 male students, using judgmental, stratified random and convenience sampling methods. For the data analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation model (SEM) were employed to test measurement and structural models. Additionally, validity, reliability and goodness of fits were assessed. Results: The results explicated that perceived value and service quality are the predictors of satisfaction towards trust and behavioral intention. Furthermore, behavioral intention is significantly influenced by social influence perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Nevertheless, perceived ease of use has no significant impact on perceived usefulness. Conclusion: Eight hypotheses were proven to fulfill research objectives. Software developers should pay attention to consumer needs and attract college students with high-quality content, make sure of the security of payment, focus on the applicability, and provide knowledge that meets the needs of college students

Branding Chinese Products: Between Nationalism and Transnationalism

This paper examines how Chinese advertisers include concepts of both nationalism and transnationalism in recent Chinese advertisements. I situate my research in the context of China’s search for modernity, and its historical and contemporary relations with the West. I argue that the marketing of nationalism and transnationalism represents contradictory concepts of China as a nation and a state. It also symbolizes China’s deep anxiety and ambivalence toward its own tradition and global capitalism. On one hand, Chinese advertisers sell nationalism by celebrating Chinese history, contemporary events, and Chinese lineage. On the other hand, Chinese advertisers use Western symbols and values to elevate the status of advertised products. Chinese advertisers also sell a hybrid form of nationalism and transnationalism in an attempt to reconcile ‘Chineseness’ with global capitalism. To some extent, nationalism and transnationalism emerge as competing sites for ideas about China as a nation and a state in a globalized world characterized by unequal power relations between China and the West

Analysis of the Recent Made-in-China Campaign

China has recently launched its first global advertising campaign about products made in China. A 30-second television commercial, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and four Chinese trade associations, has been running on CNN, the Headline News and International Asia TV channels in the United States since November 23, 2009. Costing tens of millions of Yuan, the commercial was scheduled to run for six weeks. The commercial also started to run in some parts of Asia starting in December 2009

Geostatistical shale models for a deltaic reservoir analog: from 3D GPR data to 3D flow modeling

The effects of shales on fluid flow in marine-influenced lower delta-plain distributary channel deposits are investigated using a three-dimensional ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data volume from the Cretaceous-age Ferron sandstone at Corbula Gulch in central Utah, USA. Using interpreted GPR data, we formulate a geostatistical model of the dimensions, orientations, and geometries of the internal structure from the subaerial exposure surface down to about 12 m depth. The correlation function between GPR instantaneous amplitude and shale index is built after statistical calibration of the GPR attributes (amplitude) with well data (gamma ray logs). Shale statistics are computed from this correlation function. Semivariograms of shale occurrence for ten accretion surfaces indicate only slight anisotropy in shale dimensions. Sequential Gaussian Simulation stochastically maps shales on variably dipping stratigraphic surfaces. Experimental design and flow simulations examine the effects of semivariogram range and shale fraction on breakthrough time, sweep efficiency and upscaled permeability. Approximately 150 flow simulations examine two different geologic models, flow in all three coordinate directions, 8 geostatistical parameter combinations, and 5 realizations for each combination of parameters. Analysis of the flow simulations demonstrates that shales decrease the sweep, recovery and permeability, especially in the vertical direction

Graphene Based Ion Sensitive Field Effect Transistor for K+ Ion Sensing

Graphene, discovered in 2004, has drawn great interest in the wide range of applications due to its distinctive 2-dimensional material property. Sensing is the one application has been developed extensively owing to graphene’s ultra-high mobility, low electric noise, very high surface-to-volume ratio, and easy modulation of electrical characteristics. With these excellent properties, the present research explored graphene’s ion sensing potential with the goal of developing graphene-based K+ ion detector which can be applicable in implantable bio-sensors. As the major intracellular cation, potassium has very critical functions in various biological processes. Additionally, recent research found out that elevations in biological levels of K+ ions precede the onset of sudden cardiac death, epileptic seizures, and other clinical problems. Therefore, the development of implantable K+-sensitive sensor devices could be of great use in predicting the onset of those time-sensitive condition breakouts in medical applications. To synthesize high quality graphene to investigate graphene’s property and explore its ion sensing capability, a CVD system was built in the lab along with an automatic control program that can both control and monitor the synthesis process. Characterization was carried out with various tools (AFM, Raman spectroscopy, Hall measurement and etc.) and the results confirmed that the obtained graphene is high quality mono-layer graphene. In order to have a deeper insight into graphene’s sensing mechanism, graphene’s interactions with typical donor/ acceptor gas molecules and strong donor molecules were investigated by observing its three important electrical properties – carrier mobility, carrier density, and sheet conductivity change upon molecular adsorption. From the investigation, an empirical model was proposed to explain an interesting trend of graphene’s transport property changes during its molecular interactions. On the other hand, an advanced surface functionalization method was developed to greatly enhance graphene’s molecular sensing performance. A light oxygen plasma treatment can boost graphene’s electrical response to NH3 molecules both in response magnitude and response time. A systematic analysis was carried out and found an optimum power of oxygen plasma can induce a surface functionalization caused by graphene crystal grain size nano crystallization and oxygen species p-doping effect. Graphene-based ion sensitive field effect transistors (GISFETs) with high sensitivity and selectivity for K+ ion detection was demonstrated utilizing valinomycin based ion selective membrane. The performance of the GISFETs was studied in various media over a concentration range of 1 M – 2 mM. The sensitivity of the sensor was found to be \u3e60 mV/decade, which is comparable to the best Si-based commercial ISFETs, with negligible interference found from Na+ and Ca2+ ions in high concentration. The performance of the sensor also remained unchanged when fabricated on a flexible and biocompatible PET substrate. The sensor performance did not change significantly in Tris–HCl solution or with repeated testing over a period of two months highlighting its reliability and effectiveness for physiological monitoring. From Real-cell based extracellular K+ ion assay, the GISFET sensor demonstrated good detecting performance confirmed the possibility of using in implantable bio sensing application. Additionally, GISFET sensor arrays fabricated using CMOS compatible technique also showed the same sensing performance which proves mass production capability in the future. At the same time, graphene based ion sensitive diode (G-ISDiode) was also developed using graphene/silicon Schottky junction. Because of the exponential relation between diode current and graphene’s Fermi level, the G-ISDiode sensor demonstrated an exponential sensing performance in ionic detection. This is different from G-ISFET’s linear response to ion concentration, which can be a big advantage in certain applications where demand ultra-high sensitivity

Analysis of the Recent Made-in-China Campaign

China has recently launched its first global advertising campaign about products made in China. A 30-second television commercial, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and four Chinese trade associations, has been running on CNN, the Headline News and International Asia TV channels in the United States since November 23, 2009. Costing tens of millions of Yuan, the commercial was scheduled to run for six weeks. The commercial also started to run in some parts of Asia starting in December 2009

Behavioral Intention to Use Mobile Reading Apps Among Female Students in Chengdu, China

Purpose: This paper analyzes the factors affecting behavioral intentions of female students in Chengdu, China, to use and purchase mobile reading applications. The conceptual framework proposes the causal relationship among perceived value, satisfaction, service quality, trust, social influence, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and behavioral intention. Research design, data, and methodology: In this study, 840 female students were investigated by using judgmental, stratified random, and convenience sampling. The primary data collection tool was a questionnaire. Statistical software was used for data analysis, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation model (SEM). The validity and reliability test were accounted to verify the data. Results: Perceived value and service quality significantly impact satisfaction towards trust and behavioral intention. Perceived ease of use has a significant impact on perceived usefulness. Furthermore, behavioral intention is significantly impacted by social influence and perceived usefulness but not by perceived ease of use. Conclusion: Software developers should pay attention to consumer needs to be able to attract college students with high-quality content and ensure payment security. To sum up, the findings are helpful for mobile reading developers to enhance the behavioral intention to purchase and use the mobile reading apps in China