Users' loyalty to digital libraries is declining. There are quite a few studies on user satisfaction in digital libraries. However, the affinity theory and the loyalty theory are rarely applied to ...study digital library use. The purpose of this study is to integrate the information system success theory, Technology Acceptance Model, and affinity theory to identify the factors that may affect user satisfaction and user loyalty to digital libraries. A total of 426 valid survey questionnaires were collected. The structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed research model and hypotheses. The results indicated that, instead of information quality, system and service quality significantly affected perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and digital libraries (DLs)’ affinity. Both perceived ease of use and DLs' affinity impacted on perceived usefulness. Moreover, perceived usefulness and DLs' affinity had significant effects on user satisfaction, thereby affecting user loyalty. We also found that user differences, including age, gender, and educational level, significantly affected DLs’ affinity, which further influenced user satisfaction and loyalty. Implications for librarians and service providers to improve the quality of digital libraries are provided.
•Identifying the factors affecting user satisfaction and loyalty to digital libraries.•A total of 426 valid survey questionnaires were collected in mainland China.•The SEM method was employed to test the proposed research model and hypotheses.•We found DLs' affinity significantly impacted on user satisfaction and loyalty.•We found DLs' quality significantly affected user satisfaction and loyalty.
The utilization of aperiodic flickering visual stimuli under the form of code-modulated Visual Evoked Potentials (c-VEP) represents a pivotal advancement in the field of reactive Brain–Computer ...Interface (rBCI). A major advantage of the c-VEP approach is that the training of the model is independent of the number and complexity of targets, which helps reduce calibration time. Nevertheless, the existing designs of c-VEP stimuli can be further improved in terms of visual user experience but also to achieve a higher signal-to-noise ratio, while shortening the selection time and calibration process. In this study, we introduce an innovative variant of code-VEP, referred to as “Burst c-VEP”. This original approach involves the presentation of short bursts of aperiodic visual flashes at a deliberately slow rate, typically ranging from two to four flashes per second. The rationale behind this design is to leverage the sensitivity of the primary visual cortex to transient changes in low-level stimuli features to reliably elicit distinctive series of visual evoked potentials. In comparison to other types of faster-paced code sequences, burst c-VEP exhibit favorable properties to achieve high bitwise decoding performance using convolutional neural networks (CNN), which yields potential to attain faster selection time with the need for less calibration data. Furthermore, our investigation focuses on reducing the perceptual saliency of c-VEP through the attenuation of visual stimuli contrast and intensity to significantly improve users’ visual comfort. The proposed solutions were tested through an offline 4-classes c-VEP protocol involving 12 participants. Following a factorial design, participants were instructed to focus on c-VEP targets whose pattern (burst and maximum-length sequences) and amplitude (100% or 40% amplitude depth modulations) were manipulated across experimental conditions. Firstly, the full amplitude burst c-VEP sequences exhibited higher accuracy, ranging from 90.5% (with of calibration data) to 95.6% (with of calibration data), compared to its m-sequence counterpart (71.4% to 85.0%). The mean selection time for both types of codes (1.5 s) compared favorably to reports from previous studies. Secondly, our findings revealed that lowering the intensity of the stimuli only slightly decreased the accuracy of the burst code sequences to 94.2% while leading to substantial improvements in terms of user experience. Taken together, these results demonstrate the high potential of the proposed burst codes to advance reactive BCI both in terms of performance and usability. The collected dataset, along with the proposed CNN architecture implementation, are shared through open-access repositories.
In this paper, I offer a critical review of Russophone academic research published in 2022 focusing on the Ukraine-Russia crisis. As part of this study, I have examined a selection of articles that ...appeared in peer-reviewed journals in March - November 2022. Where appropriate, I pay special attention to the rhetoric and the context of published research, taking into account the personal circumstances of the authors and editors and their communicative actions outside scholarly work. I chose to analyse articles deposited in cyberleninka, a Russian Open Access electronic library. Texts analysed in this paper are freely accessible in Russia, so the Russian audience (academic or not) can read and share them without restrictions, complying with the Russian legal system and the sanctions imposed from outside. Hence, by familiarising themselves with some of the material that Russian academics publish and read, the readers of this article will achieve, to some extent, an insider's view of the Russian academic environment in 2022. Keywords: Ukraine, Russia, Russian academia, sanctions on Russia, Russian legislation Systeme academique russe en 2022 et la recherche sur l'Ukraine Dans cet article, je propose une critique de la recherche universitaire en langue russe publiee en 2022, axee sur la crise Ukraine-Russie. Dans le cadre de cette etude, j'ai examine une selection d'articles de revues a comite de lecture de mars a novembre 2022. J'ai accorde une attention particuliere a la rhetorique et au contexte de la recherche publiee, en tenant compte de la situation personnelle des auteurs et de leurs actions communicatives en dehors du travail scientifique. J'ai choisi d'analyser les articles deposes dans cyberleninka, une bibliotheque electronique russe en libre acces. Les textes analyses dans ce document sont librement accessibles en Russie, afin que le public russe (universitaire ou non) puisse les lire et les partager sans restriction, en respectant le systeme juridique russe et les sanctions imposees de l'exterieur. Ainsi, en se familiarisant avec certains articles que les universitaires russes publient et lisent, les lecteurs de cet article parviendront, dans une certaine mesure, a une vision interne de l'environnement universitaire russe en 2022. Mots-cles : Ukraine, Russie, systeme academique russe, sanctions contre la Russie, legislation russe
A digital institution is a set of computer-based rules that perform intermediating roles upon which one or more person’s well-being depends. This article argues that governance, the processes and ...customs by which rules are agreed, is critical to the sustainability of the digital institution and therefore of society more broadly. The objective of this work was to interrogate whether emerging decentralised architectures (blockchain) can offer new perspectives on digital sustainability in the form of decentralised governance. Firstly, the literature on decentralised modes of governance was synthesised. Then, existing digital institutions were reviewed, categorised and mapped onto a multi-domain layered conceptual framework that draws out three distinct modes for enactment of changes to digital institution rules; direct, integrated, and fork-based. We concluded that the coupling of decentralised governance approaches with fork-based or integrated enactment stands to enhance digital sustainability through increased perception of trustworthiness afforded through independently verifiable and cryptographically secure audit trails.
Despite a fitness cost imposed on bacterial hosts, large conjugative plasmids play a key role in the diffusion of resistance determinants, such as CTX-M extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. Among the ...large conjugative plasmids, IncF plasmids are the most predominant group, and an F2A1B- IncF-type plasmid encoding a CTX-M-15 variant was recently described as being strongly associated with the emerging worldwide Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131)-O25bH4 H30Rx/C2 sublineage. In this context, we investigated the fitness cost of narrow-range F-type plasmids, including the F2A1B- IncF-type CTX-M-15 plasmid, and of broad-range C-type plasmids in the K-12-like J53-2 E. coli strain. Although all plasmids imposed a significant fitness cost to the bacterial host immediately after conjugation, we show, using an experimental-evolution approach, that a negative impact on the fitness of the host strain was maintained throughout 1,120 generations with the IncC-IncR plasmid, regardless of the presence or absence of cefotaxime, in contrast to the F2 A1B- IncF plasmid, whose cost was alleviated. Many chromosomal and plasmid rear-rangements were detected after conjugation in transconjugants carrying the IncC plasmids but not in transconjugants carrying the F2A1B- IncF plasmid, except for insertion sequence (IS) mobilization from the filM gene leading to the restoration of motility of the recipient strains. Only a few mutations occurred on the chromosome of each transconjugant throughout the experimental-evolution assay. Our findings indicate that the F2A1B- IncF CTX-M-15 plasmid is well adapted to the E. coli strain studied, contrary to the IncC-IncR CTX-M-15 plasmid, and that such plasmid-host adaptation could participate in the evolutionary success of the CTX-M-15-producing pandemic E. coli ST131-O25bH4 lineage.
PurposeMajor objective of the instant study was to investigate the factors affecting the adoption of integrated semantic digital libraries (SDLs). It attempted to find out the challenges faced in ...implementing semantic technologies in digital libraries. This study also aimed to develop a framework to provide practical solutions to efficiently adopt semantic digital library systems to offer richer data and services.Design/methodology/approachTo meet the formulated objectives of the study, a systematic literature review was conducted. The authors adhered to the “Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” (PRISMA) guidelines as a research method. The data were retrieved from different tools and databases. In total, 35 key studies were included for systematic review after having applied standard procedures.FindingsThe findings of the study indicated that SDLs are highly significant as they offered context-based information resources. Interoperability of the systems, advancement in bilateral transfer modules, machine-controlled indexing, and folksonomy were key factors in developing semantic digital libraries. The study identified five different types of challenges to build an integrated semantic digital library system. These challenges included ontologies and interoperability, development of a suitable model, diversity in language, lack of skilled human resources, and other technical issues.Originality/valueThis paper provided a framework that is based on practical solutions as a benchmark for policymakers to devise formal standards for the initiation to develop integrated semantic digital libraries.
This open access collection examines how higher education responds to the demands of the automation economy and the fourth industrial revolution. Considering significant trends in how people are ...learning, coupled with the ways in which different higher education institutions and education stakeholders are implementing adaptations, it looks at new programs and technological advances that are changing how and why we teach and learn. The book addresses trends in liberal arts integration of STEM innovations, the changing role of libraries in the digital age, global trends in youth mobility, and the development of lifelong learning programs. This is coupled with case study assessments of the various ways China, Singapore, South Africa and Costa Rica are preparing their populations for significant shifts in labour market demands – shifts that are already underway. Offering examples of new frameworks in which collaboration between government, industry, and higher education institutions can prevent lagging behind in this fast changing environment, this book is a key read for anyone wanting to understand how the world should respond to the radical technological shifts underway on the frontline of higher education.
We are standing at the edge of a major transformation in manuscript studies.
Digital surrogates, Digital Humanities analyses and the rise of new scientific
analytical technologies proliferate across ...universities, libraries and museums.
They change the way we consult, research and disseminate historical manuscripts
to reveal hitherto unknown, and unknowable, information. This article looks at
how the field can best integrate these transformations. Concentrating on
training programmes for advanced students as a way of reimagining the field, it
provides concrete advice for the future of manuscript studies, arguing that the
existence of manuscript studies as removed from Digital Humanities and heritage
science is becoming more and more artificial and detrimental to the future of
the field.
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