This study attempts to measure the impact of information on national development by taking into consideration a set of IT variables, and analyses the contribution of each variable…
Abstract
This study attempts to measure the impact of information on national development by taking into consideration a set of IT variables, and analyses the contribution of each variable individually and collectively to the national economy and human resource development in the 21 sample countries. The authors developed a composite index to assess IT development in high, middle and low income nations. This paper highlights the disparities in IT development not only among different groups of nations but also within countries of the same group. The IT Index would assist policy makers to determine technologies suitable to people in different geographic regions and according to each country’s socio‐economic status. The authors also developed a tool to measure the extent of the IT gap between countries. This Informatisation Paucity Index (PI) combines several parameters such as the “Head Count Ratio”, “Informatisation Gap Ratio”, “Gini Ratio” and “Sen Index”. This index sheds light on the distance of individual countries from standard norms fixed for IT development. To assess the relationship between IT availability and the economic (GNP) and human resource development (HRD) of a country, a Correlation Analysis was applied and the impact of each IT sector on overall development was derived from the Regression Analysis.
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Symbols for concepts like ‘half life’, ‘impact factor’, ‘normalised impact factor’ and ‘immediacy index’ are proposed and formulas for the determination of their values are…
Abstract
Symbols for concepts like ‘half life’, ‘impact factor’, ‘normalised impact factor’ and ‘immediacy index’ are proposed and formulas for the determination of their values are provided. The features of the concepts are also highlighted.
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Carlos A. Suarez‐Balseiro and Elias Sanz‐Casado
The processes involved in accessing information are essential to the continuous acquisition of knowledge in university environments. Hence the vital importance of studies on the…
Abstract
The processes involved in accessing information are essential to the continuous acquisition of knowledge in university environments. Hence the vital importance of studies on the use of the information resources available in academic institutions to enable them to reach their objectives, thereby contributing to the ongoing enhancement of the quality of higher education. A number of statistical techniques, including mapping techniques with multivariate analyses, are used in this paper to identify and highlight the features that characterise the use of the Carlos III University of Madrid Library’s Database Access Services on the campus network from 1997 to 2000. Trends in the use of databases are evaluated and the indicators that typify tendencies and patterns by kind of user are analysed. Certain criteria on the interaction between users, new technologies and electronic information services in the academic networked environment are likewise discussed.
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Roma Harris and Margaret Ann Wilkinson
Young people entering their first year of university studies were asked to give their impressions of 12 high knowledge and information sector occupations. Their perceptions yield…
Abstract
Young people entering their first year of university studies were asked to give their impressions of 12 high knowledge and information sector occupations. Their perceptions yield a complex set of expectations that are consistent, in large measure, with experts’ predictions of the information sector's occupational winners and losers. The majority of students aspire to be self‐employed or to work in the private, rather than the public sector. Of the occupations included in the study, the students perceived the occupation “librarian” most negatively in terms of skill, status, compensation and future opportunity, unlike, for example, the similar occupation, “Internet researcher”. The results are discussed in term of the complex interactions of gender, computing, and skill on the attractiveness of difference types of work.
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Muhammad Asif and Farhan Sarwar
The purpose of this study is to examine how users’ intention to adopt online banking is influenced by perceived trust (PT), awareness (AWE) and social influence (SI) and to assess…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine how users’ intention to adopt online banking is influenced by perceived trust (PT), awareness (AWE) and social influence (SI) and to assess whether customer relationship management (CRM) moderates the impact of these factors on adoption intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 565 respondents in Pakistan using a stratified sampling technique. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling with SmartPLS-4 to examine the proposed relationships.
Findings
This study’s findings reveal that PT, AWE and SI do not directly influence users’ intention to adopt online banking. Trust impacts intention through perceived ease of use, while AWE and SI affect intention via both perceived usefulness and ease of use. CRM negatively moderates SI but positively moderates the effects of PT and AWE on users’ intention.
Originality/value
This study explores the novel role of CRM as a moderator, offering fresh insights into how CRM enhances the impact of PT, AWE and SI on online banking adoption.
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Muhammad Asif and Farhan Sarwar
This research used the technology acceptance model (TAM) to explore the effect of customer relationship management, financial literacy and social influence on users’ intentions to…
Abstract
Purpose
This research used the technology acceptance model (TAM) to explore the effect of customer relationship management, financial literacy and social influence on users’ intentions to adopt online banking. Furthermore, it explores the moderating role of personal innovativeness in technology in this context.
Design/methodology/approach
The measuring scale in this study was refined iteratively through talks with domain experts. A digital survey was used to gather data from 524 respondents, and PLS-SEM was used for analysis.
Findings
The findings reveal that customer relationship management and financial literacy significantly impact perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use but not the intention to adopt online banking. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use significantly influence intention, whereas personal innovativeness and social influence do not. Additionally, the moderation effects of personal innovativeness between customer relationship management, financial literacy, social influence and intention are insignificant.
Originality/value
This innovative study introduces personal innovativeness in technology as a moderator in the perspective of online banking adoption, setting new standards in the field. This important point has not been covered in previous studies.
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Rabia H. Haddad, Bushra Kh. Alhusamiah, Razan H. Haddad, Ayman M. Hamdan-Mansour, Younis H. Abuhashish and Jafar A. Alshraideh
This systematic review (SR) aims to evaluate and summarize the effectiveness of using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) intervention among individuals diagnosed…
Abstract
Purpose
This systematic review (SR) aims to evaluate and summarize the effectiveness of using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) intervention among individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as to highlight the standardized EMDR-based interventional protocol.
Design/methodology/approach
This SR is guided according to preferred reporting items for SRs and meta-analyses standards. Several online databases were used in searching for eligible studies in peer-reviewed journals relevant to the study keywords. The included studies were SRs and clinical trials that used EMDR interventions among patients experiencing PTSD symptoms, older than 18 years and were published in English language from 2015 to 2022. Three researchers independently contributed to study selections, data extraction and study evaluations from different aspects, including quality assessment, risk of bias and study synthesis.
Findings
A total of eight published studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this SR; four articles were randomized controlled trials and four were SR and meta-analysis studies. In all included studies, the EMDR was used as a primary psychotherapy intervention for PTSD symptoms. The results of this extensive and comprehensive review showed that EMDR is an effective psychotherapeutic intervention to reduce and control the severity of symptoms among individuals with PTSD.
Research limitations/implications
It is important to acknowledge several limitations inherent in this study. First and foremost, it is noteworthy to mention that only studies conducted in the English language were included in this review, potentially restricting the overall scope and diversity of the findings. Furthermore, the number of studies incorporated into this review was limited, which may have implications for the comprehensiveness and generalizability of the results. Finally, it is worth noting that certain studies within this review had a relatively small sample size, which could potentially limit the statistical power and precision of the conclusions drawn.
Practical implications
This paper, a review of the literature, gives an overview of EMDR effectiveness, provides baseline information and plays a significant role in decreasing the gap in Jordanian literature regarding using EMDR as the strongest evident psychotherapy approach for PTSD treatment to help psychiatrists, psychologists and psychiatric nurses in the health-care sectors to design comprehensive strategies to enhance and improve the quality of health care and patients’ status.
Social implications
EMDR intervention offers significant alternative treatment opportunities for individuals suffering from PTSD, depression and anxiety. The implementation of EMDR for depression, anxiety and PTSD improves patient outcomes as compared to standard therapeutic modalities in PTSD.
Originality/value
This SR gives an overview and explains strong supportive evidence for the effectiveness of EMDR interventions among individuals with PTSD. Therefore, EMDR therapy could be assumed as one standard treatment option for PTSD, aiming at reducing treatment duration and cost of treatment and restoring the mental well-being and functionality of those suffering from PTSD.
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Soumya Ranjan Guru, Chetla Venugopal and Mihir Sarangi
This study aims to investigate the behavior of vegetable oil with two additives. Base oil’s tribological qualities can be improved with the help of several additions. In the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the behavior of vegetable oil with two additives. Base oil’s tribological qualities can be improved with the help of several additions. In the present investigation, soybean oil is served as the foundational oil due to its eco-friendliness and status as a vegetable oil with two additives, named polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2).
Design/methodology/approach
As additives, PTFE and MoS2 are used; PTFE is renowned for its anti-friction (AF) properties, while MoS2 is a solid lubricant with anti-wear (AW) properties. This investigation examines the synergistic impact of AF and AW additions in vegetable oil. The lubricity of the base oil is measured by using a four-ball tester, and the wear properties of the oil at different additive amounts are determined by using a universal tribometer.
Findings
PTFE (at 5 Wt.%) and MoS2 (at 1 Wt.%) were found to improve the tribological performance of the base oil. The weld load is significantly increased when 5 Wt.% of PTFE + MoS2 is added to the base oil.
Originality/value
A better tribological characteristic can be achieved by combining additives that amount to less than 1% of the base oil. In experiments with highly concentrated MoS2, the adequate pressure improved dramatically, but the lubricant’s tribological characteristics did not.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-11-2022-0321/
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Asem Abdalrahim, Mohammad Suliman, Mohammed ALBashtawy, Abdullah Alkhawaldeh and Wafa'a Ta'an
This paper aims to explore examine the therapeutic potential of head-mounted display (HMD)-based Virtual Reality Relaxation Therapy (VRRT) sessions for people individuals with…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore examine the therapeutic potential of head-mounted display (HMD)-based Virtual Reality Relaxation Therapy (VRRT) sessions for people individuals with dementia in Jordan.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional survey recruited 75 dementia-diagnosed elderly individuals from three Jordanian care homes. A VRRT intervention comprising 10 tailored RT sessions held over the course of five weeks was administered to the participants. Apathy, cognitive performance, anxiety and depression were evaluated before and after the intervention to determine any changes. The Person-Environment Apathy Rating Scale's (PEARS) Arabic translation's validity and reliability were also evaluated.
Findings
The VRRT intervention yielded noteworthy results in reducing apathy, as indicated by a substantial decrease in PEARS scores from 17.20 to 11.15. The findings of the study revealed that the participants demonstrated enhanced cognitive abilities, as evidenced by a significant rise in their Saint Louis University Mental Status ratings, which increased from 15.11 to 19.70. The levels of anxiety and depression exhibited a significant decrease subsequent to the implementation of VRRT, with anxiety levels decreasing from 13.66 to 8.23 and depression levels decreasing from 13.62 to 9.33. Furthermore, a notable 70% of participants demonstrated statistically significant decreases in indifference.
Practical implications
This study makes a significant contribution to the advancement of innovative treatment approaches aimed at addressing the needs of the aging population, hence enhancing health outcomes and raising the quality of care in Jordan.
Originality/value
The effectiveness of VRRT in reducing apathy among Jordanian senior citizens residing in nursing homes has not yet been fully investigated. Therefore, this paper seeks to assess the effectiveness of HMD-based VRRT by conducting pre- and post-intervention evaluations. This research aims to provide valuable insights into the applicability and significance of VRRT in the Jordanian context, contributing to the development of culturally appropriate and cutting-edge therapeutic interventions for older individuals in Jordan. Through this study, the authors aim to promote improved health and elevated standards of care for this population.