• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 2015

Mobile phone carriers face challenges from three synergistic dimensions: Wireless, social, and mobile. Despite significant advances that have been made about social networks and human mobility, respectively, our knowledge about the interplay between two layers remains largely limited, partly due to the difficulty in obtaining large-scale datasets that could offer at the same time social and mobile information across a substantial population over an extended period of time. In this paper, we take advantage of a massive, longitudinal mobile phone dataset that consists of human mobility and social network information simultaneously, allowing us to explore the impact of human mobility patterns on the underlying social network. We find that human mobility plays an important role in shaping both local and global structural properties of social network. In contrast to the lack of scale in social networks and human movements, we discovered a characteristic distance in physical space between 10 and 20 km that impacts both local clustering and modular structure in social network. We also find a surprising distinction in trajectory overlap that segments social ties into two categories. Our results are of fundamental relevance to quantitative studies of human behavior, and could serve as the basis of anchoring potential theoretical models of human behavior and building and developing new applications using social and mobile technologies.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.111-128
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• 2005

This paper examines the validity of the newly developed IT consulting SERVQUAL measurement tool. In an attempt to measure Ire IS customers' expectations and perceived quality of the services they received, the researchers developed a diagnostic tool of SERVQUAL based on the solid theoretical background, which can specifically be applied to the IT consulting service sector. This on-going research so far, has been applied to six (6) different organizations that have received IT consulting services over the past years. From the preliminary data collected, the correlation and the factor analyses were conducted to understand the underlying concept and refinement of the measurement tool. Although the correlation analysis showed a little tendency of collinearity among some of the variables, all showed sound relationship of the proposed hypotheses. The exploratory factor analytic approach was chosen because it does not set any priori constraints on the estimation of components or the number of components to be extracted. The number of different factor solutions was extracted and tested to see which solution represents better grouping of the variables. The Crombach's Alpha was computed on different combinations of the factor solutions to ensure validity. The results show 8-dimensional IT consulting SERVQUAL measures which they are, assurance, knowledge & skill, customer relationship, support, empathy, process management, expertise, and education, seem more appropriate than the originally proposed 6 dimensions. The study approach was non-experimental cross-sectional research design. The longitudinal design of follow-up studies to periodically revise and refine current measure is strongly recommended for fine tuning of the tool.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.6-19
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• 2019

The purpose of this article is to problematize the existence of a possible Ibero-American informational thinking. It was initially observed that a relative absence of Ibero-America in the international presentations and mappings of information science exists. Below, the reality of the 22 countries that compose Ibero-America is discussed, a region that can be understood from a sociocultural and geopolitical perspective. Then, a mapping of the information science research in these countries is made. The main research topics found are: epistemological studies, relationships with library science, information literacy, representation and organization, bibliometric studies, information management, user studies, technological dimensions, and relationships with archival science and museum studies. Finally, a general epistemological configuration of information science is presented at a global level, highlighting the great trends of study of information that marked the decades of the 1960s and 1970s (physical model), 1980s and 1990s (cognitive model), and the 21st century (sociocultural model), and which manifested themselves in the different subareas that make up the field. The most recent research in information science, in addition to addressing information transfer (physical dimension) and its relationship with data and knowledge (cognitive dimension), has also incorporated aspects related to the social effects of information, its role in the constitution of identities and culture, and the importance of its material conformations. Such expansion reflects attempts to address the complexity of informational phenomena. Therefore, it is concluded that it is important to place the specific contributions of Ibero-America in this context.

• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.754-771
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• 2021

In the task of continuous dimension emotion recognition, the parts that highlight the emotional expression are not the same in each mode, and the influences of different modes on the emotional state is also different. Therefore, this paper studies the fusion of the two most important modes in emotional recognition (voice and visual expression), and proposes a two-mode dual-modal emotion recognition method combined with the attention mechanism of the improved AlexNet network. After a simple preprocessing of the audio signal and the video signal, respectively, the first step is to use the prior knowledge to realize the extraction of audio characteristics. Then, facial expression features are extracted by the improved AlexNet network. Finally, the multimodal attention mechanism is used to fuse facial expression features and audio features, and the improved loss function is used to optimize the modal missing problem, so as to improve the robustness of the model and the performance of emotion recognition. The experimental results show that the concordance coefficient of the proposed model in the two dimensions of arousal and valence (concordance correlation coefficient) were 0.729 and 0.718, respectively, which are superior to several comparative algorithms.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2019

In this study, the multiplicity of synchronous online class discussion activity is explored at conceptual level. From the cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT), each utterance may be considered as a product of the activity system. Alderfer's ERG theory is employed as another theoretical framework for the study. Based on the subject's existence, relationship, growth needs, their class discussion activities constitute four different dimensions: physical/biological, cultural/institutional, social/relational, and cooperative knowledge construction. It is inherent in individual activities and has a different arrangement according to their interests and situations, and at the same time acts as a factor of cooperation and competition among the participants. Through this, collective discussion activities represent complex and dynamic development patterns.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.557-569
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• 2021

The study investigates the impact of strategic planning (SP) factors on service quality (SQ) in private universities (PUs) in Oman and how they fit together in the development of higher education institutions (HEIs). The reports of the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) in Oman revealed that the service quality in private universities is unsatisfactory. This study employs a quantitative method. Data were collected from a sample of 730 academics and administrators. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) based on AMOS software was applied for data analysis. The results of the structural paths showed that, among the strategic planning factors, only environmental scanning and leadership had a direct significant impact on service quality. However, mission statement and participation had insignificant direct impact on service quality. The findings suggest that environmental scanning and leadership are critical factors in predicting service quality dimensions of private universities. The findings add to the body of knowledge particularly in the Omani context, which can be useful in the neighboring countries as well. The study combines two different popular models in addressing service quality. The study also clarified the importance of each factor of the strategic planning process, which give a comprehensive picture of the university.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to review existing research on the definition, conceptualization, and measurement of relationship values to guide future research. This study specifically measures the relationship value between principals and retailers, which is still not widely discussed in previous research. Besides, to broaden our knowledge of the value-based determinants of competitive advantage, satisfaction, and retailer loyalty in business-to-business relationships. Research design, data, and methodology: This research assessed three alternative models of the relationship value construct's dimension structure and then tested for reliability, validity, and confirmatory factor analysis. The research sample is 185 retailers-data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: The results showed that product-based values and relationship-based values positively influenced competitive customer advantage, satisfaction, and loyalty. Conclusions: Relationship value construct can be measured and consist of five dimensions: product quality, delivery performance, customer orientation, service support, and personal interaction. They are key factors that maintain the relationship between principal and retailers. This study indicates that principals must invest more time and effort in building valuable relationships with their retailers. Finally, the value of relationships is a determinant of retailer performance: satisfaction and loyalty.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.352-366
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• 2021

To decrease Europe's harmful emissions, the European Union aims to substantially increase its offshore wind energy capacity. To further develop offshore wind energy, investment in ever-larger construction vessels is necessary. However, this market is characterised by seemingly unpredictable growth of market demand, turbine capacity and distance from shore. Currently it is difficult to deal with such market uncertainty within the ship design process. This research aims to develop a method that is able to deal with market uncertainty in early ship design by increasing knowledge when design freedom is still high. The method uses uncertainty modelling prior to the requirement definition stage by performing global research into the market, and during the concept design stage by iteratively co-evolving the vessel design and business case in parallel. The method consists of three parts; simulating an expected market from data, modelling multiple vessel designs, and an uncertainty model that evaluates the performance of the vessels in the market. The case study into offshore wind foundation installation vessels showed that the method can provide valuable insight into the effect of ship parameters like main dimensions, crane size and ship speed on the performance in an uncertain market. These results were used to create a value robust design, which is capable of handling uncertainty without changes to the vessel. The developed method thus provides a way to deal with market uncertainty in the early ship design process.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.595-603
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• 2022

Objectives: Poor menstrual health may lead to school absenteeism and adverse health outcomes for adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pubertal and menstrual health education on health and preventive behaviors among Iranian secondary school girls. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a health intervention program. A total of 578 students (including intervention and control participants) in 12 schools in Tehran Province, Iran were included by multistage random sampling. The program comprised seven 2-hour educational sessions. After confirming the reliability and validity of a researcher-made questionnaire, that questionnaire was used to collect the required data, and the groups were followed up with after 6 months. Results: After the educational intervention, the mean scores of menstrual health-related knowledge and constructs of the theory of planned behavior were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.001 for all dimensions). Conclusions: The results of this study emphasize the effectiveness of menstrual health interventions in schools. These findings should also encourage health policy-makers to take committed action to improve performance in schools.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Purpose: Public sector is usually not an attractive career choice for the youths, due to the uncompetitive income and the working environment. Therefore, understanding the motivations of the Generation Z, the currently early-career employees, to work in the public sector is important. This research aims to address a gap in the literature on the linkage between Personality Traits of Generation Z and Public Service Motivation (PSM). Research Design, Data, and Methodology: Using the sample of Vietnamese generation Z, it shows how individual personality, as defined by the Big Five, affects PSM. A quantitative survey of 355 university students, who are members of this generation and are preparing to join the labor market, was undertaken. We used SEM to examine the results. Results: Our findings show that Agreeableness, Neuroticism, and Conscientiousness are significant antecedents of PSM. Agreeableness, which leads to three PSM dimensions, namely Compassion, Self-Sacrifice, and Commitment to Public Values, is the best predictor of this motivation. Meanwhile, Neuroticism and Conscientiousness only affect the dimension of Compassion. Conclusion: This study adds to the limited current knowledge on the personality-PSM relationship among generation Z. The distribution of affective (Compassion, Self-Sacrifice) and norm-based (Commitment to Public Values) motives provide insight for both career counselors and recruiters in public service delivery.