Community Usage Research Articles

Exploring the Determinants of Perceived Irreplaceability in Online Community

With the rapid development of online community, it is a challenge for many community operators to retain existing users. By integrating perceived investment and perceived benefit that user achieves through online community usage, we propose a research model to investigate the determinants of perceived irreplaceability of online community users. Based on the data collected from 336 users of online community, we empirically test the proposed model. The results of structural equation modeling analysis indicate that personalization, learning and hedonic value jointly determine online users’ perceived irreplaceability.

A cross-sectional study assessing the residual bio-efficacy and durability of field-distributed long-lasting insecticidal nets in malaria endemic ethnic communities of Assam, Northeast India.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are being promoted for malaria vector control in the northeastern Indian state of Assam. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the current residual bio-efficacy and durability of both the Olyset(®) and PermaNet(®)2.0 LLINs that were distributed earlier in 2009, 2011 and 2013 to help formulate informed policy regarding net procurement, supplies and replacement. The study was undertaken in three different malaria endemic blocks of Assam during the period of June to October of 2014. The residual bio-efficacies were ascertained using the WHO cone-bioassay method for mosquito mortality post-exposure and corroborated with the ring-net assay for the median knockdown times of both types of LLINs in use by these communities. Cross-sectional community surveys were distributed to assess net ownership, utilization, community practices and the physical conditions of the nets in terms of being torn and the numbers of holes per position. Both the Olyset(®) and PermaNet(®)2.0 LLINs that were distributed in 2009 (i.e., nearly after five years of community usage) were completely torn, worn out and obsolete. However, the LLINs distributed in 2011 (i.e., three years of community usage) retained their residual bio-efficacies in susceptibility ranges that varied from 57% to 79%. However, for the LLINs that were distributed in 2013, the observed residual efficacy was adequate and resulted in a mosquito mortality rate >80 percent. Of the two types of LLINs inspected, the Olyset(®)nets were more durable and robust in terms of being torn less frequently (37.1%, 39/105) compared with the PermaNet(®)2.0 nets (51.8%, 204/394). Regarding the LLINs that were distributed in 2013, all were physically intact and in good condition. The majority of the distributed LLINs (99.2%, 639/644) were still in the possession of the householders of the surveyed populations. This study revealed that the serviceable life of the nets was slightly less than three years in terms of waning residual bio-efficacy and durability that warranted replacement. The communities were aware of the benefits of the use of mosquito net for personal protection and regularly used the nets; thus, LLIN-based interventions for sustained vector control should be scaled up.

Usage pattern, physical integrity & insecticidal efficacy of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Odisha State, India.

Background & objectives:One of the major strategies being pursued for malaria control by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme is the distribution of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) in endemic areas since 2009. Information on durability of insecticidal efficacy and physical integrity of LLINs and community usage at different time intervals of their use is essential to plan net replacements to maintain universal coverage for an effective and sustainable malaria control strategy. Therefore, a study was undertaken to assess these parameters in two malaria endemic districts of the Odisha State.Methods:A total of 309 households were selected in 15 villages of two community health centres (CHCs) (Borigumma and Laxmipur) from Koraput district and one (Khairput) from Malkangiri district. Data on net usage were collected during March to July 2014 using semi-structured questionnaires. PermaNet 2.0 were sampled from all households, replaced with new ones, and bioassays were carried out to determine the insecticidal efficacy of LLINs after four and half, four and two years of field use following the standard procedure of World Health Organization.Results:LLIN use rate varied from 57.9 to 90.2 per cent in the study CHCs. The annual washing rate per net in Borigumma, Khairput and Laxmipur was 6.6, 3.2 and 4.8, respectively. The LLINs used two years in the field caused 100 per cent mortality and four to four and half years caused below 80 per cent mortality, except one net.Interpretation & conclusions:Nearly 20 per cent of the people were out of net coverage and hence the Programme to ensure 100 per cent coverage. The community should adequately be educated so as to increase the net use rate and avoid incorrect washing practices.

Impacts of Community Usage Motives on Knowledge Sharing and Brand Loyalty in Online Brand Communities

Impacts of Community Usage Motives on Knowledge Sharing and Brand Loyalty in Online Brand Communities

Community Usage Motive, Knowledge Sharing, Brand Loyalty

Community Usage Motive, Knowledge Sharing, Brand Loyalty

Antibacterial consumption in Romania in 2012: specific features and quality indicators for community usage

Background The use of antimicrobials is the main cause for development of antimicrobial resistance. Many countries increasingly implement actions to control antimicrobial resistance through rational use. The information on national and local antimicrobial consumption can be an important source for planning rational use interventions and for monitoring progress towards a more prudent use of antibiotics. In Romania, the particularities of national antimicrobial consumption were never analyzed before 2012. We aimed to identify specific features of national antimicrobial consumption in Romania, and to calculate the quality indicators for community antibiotic usage.

Field evaluation in Chad of community usage of CD4 T lymphocyte counting by alternative single-platform flow cytometry

BackgroundField and community evaluation of the routine usage of CD4 T counting platforms is essential in resource-poor countries for efficient and cost-effective monitoring of HIV-infected adults and children attending health care centers.MethodsWe herein addressed the principal issues raised by the implementation of the single-platform, volumetric Auto40 flow cytometer (Apogee Flow Systems Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, UK) in 8 community HIV monitoring laboratories of different levels throughout Chad. This is a country with particularly difficult conditions, both in terms of climate and vast geographical territory, making the decentralization of the therapeutic management of HIV-infected patients challenging.ResultsThe routine usage of the Auto40 flow cytometers for a period of 5 years (2008–2013) confirms the reliability and robustness of the analyzer for community-based CD4 T cell enumeration in terms of both absolute numbers and percentages to enable accurate monitoring of HIV-infected adults and children. However, our observations suggest that the Auto40 mini flow cytometer is not suitable for all laboratories as it is oversized and ultimately very expensive.ConclusionThe Chad experience with the Auto40 flow cytometer suggests that its usage in resource-limited settings should be mainly reserved to reference (level 1) or district (level 2) laboratories, rather than to laboratories of health care centres (level 3).

The Effects of Social and Technical Factors on User Satisfaction, Sense of Belonging and Knowledge Community Usage

Knowledge communities allow individuals to share knowledge and collaborate with each other based on common interests. The authors apply socio-technical theory as the overarching theoretical framework to propose a research model which posits that both technical factors (system quality and information quality) and social factors (community governance and pro-sharing norms) collectively influence user satisfaction, sense of belonging, and knowledge community usage. Survey data collected from members of a computer programming knowledge community show that community governance is an important social factor which affects users’ perceptions of information quality, system quality, and pro-sharing norms. These factors in turn provide a nurturing atmosphere which results in increased user satisfaction, sense of belonging, and community usage. The implications for research and practice are discussed.

The Effects of Social and Technical Factors on User Satisfaction, Sense of Belonging and Knowledge Community Usage

Knowledge communities allow individuals to share knowledge and collaborate with each other based on common interests. The authors apply socio-technical theory as the overarching theoretical framewo...

CASE STUDY: SUCCESSFULLY EMBEDDING THE ACQUISITION OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS ON A WORK BASED LEARNING PROGRAMME, THROUGH SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP WITH FROST CHARITY ORGANISATION

ABSTRACT Wasserman (2012) suggests that entrepreneurship can be taught. A number of education proponents have argued that if you can teach people general skills that are useful in business, also lessons about running their own companies can be successfully instilled into various programmes. The Work Based Learning programme at The University of Plymouth Business School has successfully embedded the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills into its scheme. This case study reports one of the triumphant cases on a Work Based Learning programme which enabled successful acquisition of entrepreneurial skills and this was achieved by the scheme through sustainable partnership with an organisation called FROST charity. University students developed advanced key entrepreneurial skills through securing finance for FROST charity and using the funding acquired to revamp the stage area of the FROST charity’s main hall that had become disused, dilapidated and was serving as a storage area for unwanted items. The skills that the University students developed include persuasion, negotiating, leadership, accountability, goal orientation and interpersonal skills. When students were executing the FROST project students had to also develop the ability to think quickly on their feet, have confidence in undertaking challenging tasks, budgeting, purchasing and completing tasks on time. The project also benefited the University’s staff by enabling them to satisfy the University’s corporate objectives by delivering an engaging, fun and exciting learning environment for the students to develop. A further benefit of the project was that by refreshing and redecorating the main hall, the students enhanced the services that FROST delivers to the community and improved community usage of this resource to stage dance and drama performances for all age groups. Keywords Work Based Learning (WBL), accounting education, entrepreneurial skills

Can we get from liking to buying? Behavioral differences in hedonic and utilitarian Facebook usage

Companies’ Facebook pages have emerged as a commonly used marketing channel and their importance as a sales channel is likely to increase. Details about consumers’ underlying motivations to use these pages need to be linked to their effect on the host company’s business. This study distinguishes between consumers’ hedonic and utilitarian motivations for using company-hosted Facebook pages and relates them to two types of community usage behavior: browsing and participation. The effects on variables closely linked to business performance are examined. Analysis of data collected from 1162 members of a travel agency’s Facebook page reveals that hedonic motivations indicate a higher propensity to participate in the community whereas utilitarian motivations relate more strongly to merely browsing the community page. The participating members, however, do not show intentions to buy from the host company or refer it to others, while the browsers do. For practitioners, the finding that hedonic community participants are needed to maintain the community, but that they are unlikely to profit the company, is crucial.

Economic Modeling of Site-Specific Optimum Wind Turbine for Electrification Studies

A generalized approach for the economic selection of wind turbine for a given wind regime is proposed in this paper. It draws from the literature and standards being used in the field to arrive at an economic site specific wind turbine based on minimizing the annual cost of energy produced (AEP) while tracking the initial capital cost (ICC) of investment required. It is meant to provide an initial study to guide decision makers who are contemplating using wind energy as a power source to generate electricity in commercial quantity for community usage. It is a general estimation approach which does not require surfing for manufacture prices and wind turbine parameters. The input data consists of site specific wind data, hub height, rotor diameter and turbine power rating. The output gives a range of plots of feasible wind turbine ratings, rotor diameters, rated speed against initial capital cost (ICC) and also cost of energy produced (COE).

Wood properties of teak (Tectona grandis) from a mature unmanaged stand in East Timor

The wood quality from 50- to 70-year-old Tectona grandis trees from an unmanaged forest in East Timor was assessed. The aim was to evaluate teak in mature stands that had undergone uncontrolled disturbances, e.g., fire and local community usage. Heartwood represented 91% of the tree radius at a height of 1.7 m, and sapwood contained on average nine rings. The mean ring width showed within-tree and between-tree variability. The chemical compositions of heartwood and sapwood were similar. Within-tree chemical variation occurred only in terms of extractives, which increased from the pith (8.3%) to the heartwood-sapwood transition (12.7%) and decreased in the sapwood (9.2%). Overall, the wood properties of teak from a unmanaged forest in East Timor were comparable to those reported for plantation teaks of other origin: 607 kg/m3 basic density, 3.5% and 5.2% radial and tangential shrinkage, 141 N/mm2 modulus of rupture, 10684 N/mm2 modulus of elasticity, and 50 N/mm2 maximum crushing strength in compression parallel to the grain. Disturbances on individual tree growth arising from the unmanaged status of the stand were evidenced by higher within-tree variability of ring width. However, the longitudinal and radial variations of wood density and mechanical properties were of low magnitude and in a degree that did not negatively impact on timber quality.

온라인 게임(MMORPG)의 콘텐츠 특성 및 시스템 특성이 게임이용에 미치는 영향

본 논문에서는 게임 구성요소를 콘텐츠 요소와 게임 시스템적 요소로 구분 짓고, 또한 많은 온라인 게임의 출현으로 기존에 의미에 새롭게 추가적인 의미가 필요한 요소 즉, 새롭게 생겨나는 게임 안에서의 콘텐츠 특성을 도출하여 실제 게임 사용자들이 어떠한 요소에 영향을 받아 재미를 느끼고 게임을 이용하는지를 규명 해보고자한다. 또한 게임의 콘텐츠 특성을 캐릭터의 조작가능성, 스토리텔링의 특성, 아이템 특성으로 정하고 시스템 특성을 사용자 인터페이스, 커뮤니티의 편의성으로 정하여 이러한 특성이 플로우에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 알아보고자 하였다. 연구결과, 콘텐츠 특성 중 아이템 특성을 제외한 나머지 특성 즉, 캐릭터의 조작가능성과, 스토리텔링의 특성은 플로우에 유의한 영향을 미쳤으며 시스템 특성은 커뮤니티의 편의성만 유의한 영향을 미쳤다. 그리고 이러한 플로우는 최종적으로 게임이용에 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 연구결과를 바탕으로 논의와 시사점을 제공하였다. The purpose of this study is to investigate the contents and system characteristics of online game and analyzed how these characteristics are related to the flow and online game usage. For this purpose, we identified character customization, storytelling traits, item properties as the contents characteristics of online game(MMORPG) and user interface and ease of community usage as the system characteristics of online game(MMORPG) based on previous researches and in-depth interviews from MMORPG users. The results of this paper revealed that character customization, storytelling traits and item properties positively influence the flow, however, game reality has not impact on the flow. In the system characteristics, only ease of community usage positively influence the flow at a significant level. Furthermore, it is proven that flow has an impact online game usage. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

The Gene Wiki: community intelligence applied to human gene annotation.

Annotating the function of all human genes is a critical, yet formidable, challenge. Current gene annotation efforts focus on centralized curation resources, but it is increasingly clear that this approach does not scale with the rapid growth of the biomedical literature. The Gene Wiki utilizes an alternative and complementary model based on the principle of community intelligence. Directly integrated within the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, the goal of this effort is to build a gene-specific review article for every gene in the human genome, where each article is collaboratively written, continuously updated and community reviewed. Previously, we described the creation of Gene Wiki ‘stubs’ for approximately 9000 human genes. Here, we describe ongoing systematic improvements to these articles to increase their utility. Moreover, we retrospectively examine the community usage and improvement of the Gene Wiki, providing evidence of a critical mass of users and editors. Gene Wiki articles are freely accessible within the Wikipedia web site, and additional links and information are available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Gene_Wiki.

Babbling before banking? Online communities and pre‐purchase information seeking

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the use of online communities for information seeking in the financial products purchasing process and identify relevant usage antecedents.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical framework is proposed based on the three dimensions community, environment and user characteristics. Subsequently, a representative survey among German consumers is described, illustrating the value of the framework.FindingsThe study validates the framework to analyze online community usage and identifies financial knowledge and employment status as main drivers of financial community usage among user characteristic.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study was carried out in only one country, but provides a starting point for more international research.Practical implicationsThe results identify community users as an interesting clientele, which should be considered in financial services providers' online strategy development, especially by encouraging word‐of‐mouth communication. Usage drivers should be considered in web site development to prevent churn. Providers of communities should be concerned about system usability, but also especially take measures to boost the social aspects of community experience.Originality/valueThe study is the first to explain online community usage in the economically highly relevant pre‐purchase stage for financial services.

Extending Standards for Genomics and Metagenomics Data: A Research Coordination Network for the Genomic Standards Consortium (RCN4GSC)

Through a newly established Research Coordination Network for the Genomic Standards Consortium (RCN4GSC), the GSC will continue its leadership in establishing and integrating genomic standards through community-based efforts. These efforts, undertaken in the context of genomic and metagenomic research aim to ensure the electronic capture of all genomic data and to facilitate the achievement of a community consensus around collecting and managing relevant contextual information connected to the sequence data. The GSC operates as an open, inclusive organization, welcoming inspired biologists with a commitment to community service. Within the collaborative framework of the ongoing, international activities of the GSC, the RCN will expand the range of research domains engaged in these standardization efforts and sustain scientific networking to encourage active participation by the broader community. The RCN4GSC, funded for five years by the US National Science Foundation, will primarily support outcome-focused working meetings and the exchange of early-career scientists between GSC research groups in order to advance key standards contributions such as GCDML. Focusing on the timely delivery of the extant GSC core projects, the RCN will also extend the pioneering efforts of the GSC to engage researchers active in developing ecological, environmental and biodiversity data standards. As the initial goals of the GSC are increasingly achieved, promoting the comprehensive use of effective standards will be essential to ensure the effective use of sequence and associated data, to provide access for all biologists to all of the information, and to create interdisciplinary opportunities for discovery. The RCN will facilitate these implementation activities through participation in major scientific conferences and presentations on scientific advances enabled by community usage of genomic standards.

Getting Straight on What’s Flushed: “Sewage Epidemiology” Measures Community Drug Consumption

Vol. 116, No. 8 EnvironewsOpen AccessGetting Straight on What’s Flushed: “Sewage Epidemiology” Measures Community Drug Consumption Tanya Tillett Tanya Tillett Search for more papers by this author Published:1 August 2008https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.116-a351aCited by:1AboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit Active pharmaceutical agents and other chemicals in sewage pose a considerable concern when one considers the potential for inadvertent exposures through treated water. On the flip side, wastewater can also provide a wealth of economical and accessible epidemiologic data on common drug products consumed and excreted into community sewage systems. Now researchers have successfully tested a new “sewage epidemiology” analysis strategy to obtain near real-time information on community usage rates of drugs, allowing trends and patterns to be promptly monitored [EHP 116:1027–1032; Zuccato et al.].Many drug usage studies focus on prevalence data—reported use rates based on the integration of population surveys with medical records, drug production and seizure rates, and crime statistics. But obtaining information through these channels can often be time-consuming and the accuracy questionable, as the data are based partly on self-reported use. Using a novel approach first proposed in 2001, the researchers in the current study gathered data from sewage treatment plants in Milan (Italy), Lugano (Switzerland), and London (England) to obtain information on community-wide consumption of cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and amphetamines.The investigators collected composite samples of untreated wastewater from major sewage treatment plants in each of the cities every 20 minutes for 24 hours in a time-proportional mode and pooled the samples using a computer-controlled device. They also tested field data from a given treatment plant for reproducibility over time: samples were taken on consecutive days for 1 week on 3 different occasions in Milan and Lugano, and on 2 days at 2 major plants in London. Wastewater samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, which measured drug residues using a highly selective multiresidue assay.This new testing method enabled the research team to accurately measure the drugs in wastewater samples using objective quantitative data—drug concentration, wastewater flow rate, and population size—and to acquire near real-time reporting of results because of the short 1- to 2-day completion time for mass spectrometric analysis of samples. The new approach also makes it possible to integrate wastewater monitoring data with other information on drug use to obtain more refined estimates of community consumption patterns and user profiles.The authors note this approach has certain limitations, including lack of data regarding the number of drug users in a given community, but say that the results on overall consumption rates compare reasonably well with official prevalence-based figures. For the sake of accuracy, detailed information would be needed on the metabolism and kinetics of any compound for which the approach is used. Furthermore, it can be difficult to accurately characterize “typical” users of certain pharmaceuticals or drugs. However, the authors state that with further testing, the method could be used in future research to provide real-time epidemiologic data for application to other public health issues.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited by Cecinato A, Balducci C, Mollica R and Serpelloni G (2013) Social [and health] relevance of psychotropic substances monitoring in air, Environmental Pollution, 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.03.067, 179, (27-32), Online publication date: 1-Aug-2013. Vol. 116, No. 8 August 2008Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Originally published1 August 2008Published in print1 August 2008 Financial disclosuresPDF download License information EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted. Note to readers with disabilities EHP strives to ensure that all journal content is accessible to all readers. However, some figures and Supplemental Material published in EHP articles may not conform to 508 standards due to the complexity of the information being presented. If you need assistance accessing journal content, please contact [email protected]. Our staff will work with you to assess and meet your accessibility needs within 3 working days.

Effects of oxybutynin transdermal system on health-related quality of life and safety in men with overactive bladder and prostate conditions.

AimsOveractive bladder (OAB) is common in men and may exist concomitantly with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and obstruction. We present a subanalysis of results from men with OAB in a 6-month, open-label study of treatment with the oxybutynin transdermal system (OXY-TDS). Broad entry criteria were incorporated to yield a clinically representative population.MethodsAll participants received OXY-TDS 3.9 mg/day. Effectiveness was assessed by changes in scores on validated questionnaires, which included the single-item Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC), the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).ResultsThe proportion of men (n = 369; mean age = 69.6 years) who reported that their bladder condition caused moderate, severe or many severe problems (PPBC ≥ 4) improved from 77.3% at baseline to 38.1–53.6% in subsequent months. Mean KHQ scores decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.0196) from baseline to study end in eight of 10 domains, indicating improved health-related quality of life. The proportion of men with BDI-II score > 12 (associated with a diagnosis of depression) decreased from 23.9% to 17.9% (p = 0.0055). Men with a history of ‘prostate problems’ or use of ‘BPH medication’ (32.2%) had KHQ domain changes that were similar (p ≥ 0.1016) to those of other men. Most men (76.2%) reported no treatment-related adverse events; two men (0.5%) experienced symptoms of mild urinary retention, but neither required catheterisation.ConclusionsOxybutynin transdermal system treatment of men with OAB was effective and well tolerated, regardless of history of prostate condition.What's knownCombined treatment of men with and without BPH is an evolving paradigm.What's newThis article contributes significant safety data, from the largest study to date, in a community use situation, where anticholinergics are commonly used.The study provides significant quality of life benefit data in a large population.The community usage design did not employ inclusion or exclusion criteria that would restrict the primary care physician from administrating the medication in a ‘real life’ setting.

Key determinants of AIDS impact in Southern sub-Saharan Africa

To investigate why Southern sub-Saharan Africa is more severely impacted by HIV and AIDS than other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, I conducted a review of the literature that assessed viral, host and transmission (societal) factors. This narrative review evaluates: 1) viral factors, in particular the aggregation of subtype-C HIV infections in Southern sub-Saharan Africa; 2) host factors, including unique behaviour patterns, concomitant high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, circumcision patterns, average age at first marriage and immunogenetic determinants; and, 3) transmission and societal factors, including levels of poverty, degrees of literacy, migrations of people, extent of political corruption, and the usage of contaminated injecting needles in community settings. HIV prevalence data and published indices on wealth, fertility, and governmental corruption were correlated using statistical software. The high prevalence of HIV in Southern sub-Saharan Africa is not explained by the unusual prevalence of subtype-C HIV infection. Many host factors contribute to HIV prevalence, including frequency of genital ulcerating sexually transmitted infections, absence of circumcision (compiled odds ratios suggest a protective effect of between 40% and 60% from circumcision), and immunogenetic loci, but no factor alone explains the high prevalence of HIV in the region. Among transmission and societal factors, the wealthiest, most literate and most educated, but also the most income-disparate, nations of sub-Saharan Africa show the highest HIV prevalence. HIV prevalence is also highest within societies experiencing significant migration and conflict as well as in those with government systems experiencing a high degree of corruption. The interactions between poverty and HIV transmission are complex. Epidemiologic studies currently do not suggest a strong role for the community usage of contaminated injecting needles. Areas meriting additional study include clade type, host immunogenetic determinants, the complex interrelationship of HIV with poverty, and the community usage of contaminated injecting needles.