An online distributed gossiping protocol for mobile networks

Gossiping in a communication network has long been studied as a combinatorial optimization problem in graphs under many different objective functions and communication models. In this paper, we propose a new online distributed gossiping protocol in the multicasting communication environment, where each node knows only its immediate neighbors. We show that the protocol can tolerate multiple node and link faults, mobility of nodes in the network (as long as the network remains connected) and it is more efficient than the a recently proposed protocol. The research reported in this paper is supported by NSF grant # ANI-0218495.     

Understanding the Role of Individual Innovativeness in the Acceptance of IT‐Based Innovations: Comparative Analyses of Models and Measures*

As new technological innovations are rapidly introduced and changed, identifying an individual characteristic that has a persistent effect on the acceptance decisions across multiple technologies is of substantial value for the successful implementation of information systems. Augmenting prior work on individual innovativeness within the context of information technology, we developed a new measure of adopter category innovativeness (ACI) and compared its effectiveness with the existing measure of personal innovativeness in IT (PIIT). Further, we examined two alternative models in which the role of individual innovativeness was theorized differently—either as a moderator of the effects the perceived innovation characteristics of usefulness, ease of use, and compatibility have on future use intention (moderator model) or as a direct determinant of the innovation characteristics (direct determinant model). To ensure the generalizability of the study findings, two field studies (N= 634) were conducted, each of which examined the two models (moderator and direct determinant) and measured individual innovativeness using the two measures (ACI and PIIT). Study 1 surveyed the online buying practices of 412 individuals, and Study 2 surveyed personal digital assistant adoption of 222 healthcare professionals. Across the markedly different adoption contexts, the study results consistently show that individual innovativeness is a direct determinant of the innovation characteristics, and the two measures share many commonalities. The new measure offers some additional utilities not found in the PIIT measure by allowing individuals to be directly classified and mapped into adopter categories. Implications are drawn for future research and practice.     

B2C环境下影响消费者网上初始信任因素的实证分析

消费者对网站缺乏信任已经成为电子商务发展的一个主要障碍。如何采取有效措施来建立网民对网站的初始信任是当前亟待解决的问题。本文假设五个因素,即网站的有用性、网站的易用性、商家声誉、网站安全和消费者信任倾向会影响消费者对网站的初始信任的建立。同时,假定消费者的初始信任直接影响消费者网上购物的动机。通过采用SEM软件进行实证分析,证明了上述假设。     

Can incentives for research harm research? A business schools’ tale

This paper develops a simple model of the market for academic publications in business and economics. The supply of papers is presented as the outcome of a game between researchers and schools’ deans under imperfect information about the quality of a given paper. The demand for papers brings into the picture the editorial selection process. After defining the equilibrium of this market, the model allows us to study the consequences of more powerful incentives for publication in major journals. It turns out that too large bonuses, as implemented by business schools in the recent years, might bring about several unpleasant consequences, such as a drop in the quality of major journals, a decline in the number of top-tier publications realized by leading research institutions and a fall in the expected compensation of top researchers.     

“慕课”变革与高校思想政治理论课意义体认教学

"慕课"作为全球教育发展的当代创新,中国很多高校都以积极态度回应并推动"慕课"的应用和发展,"慕课"引领着中国当代教育变革的新潮流。高校思想政治理论课必须有效应对"慕课"所带来的冲击和挑战,创新"意义体认"教学模式,利用"慕课"平台增强思想政治理论课的有效性和实效性,确保中国的意识形态安全。     

Application of Web-based learning in teaching social work law

Computer-assisted learning is now well established in many universities and offers a number of virtues that should commend it to social work educators. It offers a unique and valuable way of achieving certain learning outcomes that are of particular value in social work education. This paper presents one attempt to develop its potential by integrating Web-based tutorials into teaching social work law. It is suggested that Web-based learning has a unique and specific contribution to offer in enhancing student learning, but it does need to be carefully planned and integrated into teaching. Resistance to this form of learning needs to be anticipated; and the reasons for it considered for they may partly explain why the use of computer-assisted learning in social work education has, so far, been fairly limited. Nevertheless the 'added value' of Web-based learning is considerable so long as it is not regarded as some kind of cheap or 'soft' teaching option.     

Using On-line Delivery to Support Students during Practicum Placements

Abstract

Finding ways to effectively support students while on placement remains a continuing endeavour for those who teach in professional education programmes. In The present paper, the multiple challenges and learning opportunities that social work students encounter during practicum learning will be discussed. Next, drawing from constructivist pedagogy and using authentic examples from an online discussion board, ways to supplement the support and educational input provided to students on placement will be demonstrated. Finally, some of the risks and limitations in engaging with on-line delivery are examined with the view to understanding how e-learning can be facilitated most effectively for students during the practicum.     

Portuguese PR consultancy websites: Content and presence

The overall objective of this work is to understand the online presence of Portuguese PR, Consultancies associated with APECOM by undertaking an analysis of the content and features of their, websites. This analysis will demonstrate how the PR Consultancies are promoting themselves and their, services.     

From #aufschrei to hatr.org: digital–material entanglements in the context of German digital feminist activisms

Abstract

This article delivers a snapshot of what digital feminisms can mean today. It argues that a commonality of current digital feminisms is a stance against digital dualism and that it is digital–material assemblages that shape certain forms of digital feminisms. In particular, two relatively recent examples of digital feminist activisms are analyzed, and I suggest ways of understanding the interplay of materialities within them: Germany’s Twitter campaign #aufschrei and the German anti-trolling website hatr.org. Finally, I suggest a typology of digital feminisms with varying degrees of digital–material entanglements.     

Analogical Problems with Digital Data

Current initiatives of digitally archiving ethnographic and linguistic data promise considerable advantages with regard to longevity and accessibility. This article discusses these ‘digital promises’ in the context of projects funded by recent research programs on endangered languages and cultures. It is argued that far from being merely a new technological tool for preserving data, digital archiving has considerable impact on the ways in which knowledge and research is organised and on the relationship between the participants in the research process. The new technological means change the structure of ethnographic data collections while highlighting a number of questions of data access and property rights that are analogous to earlier, and largely still unresolved, debates about the ethics of research and about data access and ownership.