Microfluidic devices fitted with “flowver” paper pumps generate steady,tunable gradients for extended observation of chemotactic cell migration     

Scott A. Baldwin  Shawn M. Van Bruggen  Joseph M. Koelbl  Ravikanth Appalabhotla  James E. Bear  Jason M. Haugh 《Biomicrofluidics》2021,15(4)

Microfluidics approaches have gained popularity in the field of directed cell migration, enabling control of the extracellular environment and integration with live-cell microscopy; however, technical hurdles remain. Among the challenges are the stability and predictability of the environment, which are especially critical for the observation of fibroblasts and other slow-moving cells. Such experiments require several hours and are typically plagued by the introduction of bubbles and other disturbances that naturally arise in standard microfluidics protocols. Here, we report on the development of a passive pumping strategy, driven by the high capillary pressure and evaporative capacity of paper, and its application to study fibroblast chemotaxis. The paper pumps—flowvers (flow + clover)—are inexpensive, compact, and scalable, and they allow nearly bubble-free operation, with a predictable volumetric flow rate on the order of μl/min, for several hours. To demonstrate the utility of this approach, we combined the flowver pumping strategy with a Y-junction microfluidic device to generate a chemoattractant gradient landscape that is both stable (6+ h) and predictable (by finite-element modeling calculations). Integrated with fluorescence microscopy, we were able to recapitulate previous, live-cell imaging studies of fibroblast chemotaxis to platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), with an order-of-magnitude gain in throughput. The increased throughput of single-cell analysis allowed us to more precisely define PDGF gradient conditions conducive for chemotaxis; we were also able to interpret how the orientation of signaling through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway affects the cells’ sensing of and response to conducive gradients.  相似文献   

The application of RFIDs in libraries: an assessment of technological, management and professional issues     

Forbes GibbAuthor Vitae  Clare ThornleyAuthor VitaeStuart FergusonAuthor Vitae  John WeckertAuthor Vitae 《International Journal of Information Management》2011,31(3):244-251

This paper starts by outlining the technologies involved in RFIDs and reviews the issues raised by their general application. It then identifies their potential application areas within the library sector based on a generic process view of library activities. Finally it highlights the issues that are raised by their application in libraries and provides an assessment of which of these issues are likely to raise ethical concerns for library professionals. The purpose is to provide an overview of the technology within the context of the library process and to highlight issues which may raise ethical concerns for the profession. A second paper will focus specifically on these concerns within the context of the professional obligations of the librarian.  相似文献   

The scope of external information-seeking under uncertainty: An individual-level study   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Bin Guo^{Author Vitae} 《International Journal of Information Management》2011,31(2):137-148

As a first attempt to empirically investigate the scope of external information-seeking under uncertainty, this paper examines the direct and interactive effects of task uncertainty on the scope of external information-seeking. Search depth and breadth are the two components of the scope of external information-seeking in defining an individual's external information search strategy. The empirical results show that at the source portfolio level, task uncertainty exhibits positive effects on both the depth and breadth of external information-seeking. It is also found that there is a positive relationship between task uncertainty and depth-first propensity, which is defined as a seeker's propensity to acquire information through increasing search depth instead of through widening search breadth at the source portfolio level. Furthermore, the results show that the positive relationship between task uncertainty and depth-first propensity in external information-seeking is stronger when perceived source accessibility is low than when it is high. This study makes a contribution to the information-seeking literature by helping us understand how task uncertainty and source characteristics shape an individual's external information-seeking at the level of source portfolio and providing evidence of the task-source fit perspective in explaining information-seeking behaviour under uncertainty at the source portfolio level.  相似文献   

Understanding career commitment of IT professionals: Perspectives of push-pull-mooring framework and investment model     

Jen-Ruei FuAuthor Vitae 《International Journal of Information Management》2011,31(3):279-293

Using push-pull-mooring framework and investment model as theoretical lenses, this study provides a compelling theoretical model that helps understand the important antecedents of career commitment of IT professionals. Especially, we examined the moderating role of IT career tenure. Data to test the hypotheses were drawn from a cross-sectional field study of MIS departments from top-1000 large-scale companies in Taiwan. The results generally supported the research model. Career satisfaction was the most important determinant of career commitment, followed by professional self-efficacy, threat of professional obsolescence and career investment. The moderating analysis revealed distinct patterns that IT professionals seemed to hold different attitudes about the careers at different stages. The career attitudes of senior IT professionals were largely driven by push factors. On the contrary, the expelling forces which driving people away from their current careers (push effects) and personal inhibitors and facilitators (mooring effects) seemed equally important to junior IT professionals on their attitudes toward committing to the IT career. Insight and implications on management strategy for IT/HR managers are discussed.  相似文献   

Emergency knowledge management and social media technologies: A case study of the 2010 Haitian earthquake   总被引：7，自引：0，他引：7  

Dave YatesAuthor Vitae  Scott Paquette^{Author Vitae} 《International Journal of Information Management》2011,31(1):6-13

The US response to the 2010 Haiti Earthquake was a large effort coordinated by three major agencies that worked in tandem with the Government of Haiti, the United Nations, and many countries from around the globe. Managing this response effort was a complex undertaking that relied extensively on knowledge management systems (KMS). For the first time, however, US government agencies employed social media technologies such as wikis and collaborative workspaces as the main knowledge sharing mechanisms. In this research we present a case study developed through action research of how these social media technologies were used, what influences they made on knowledge sharing, reuse, and decision-making, and how knowledge was effectively (and at times ineffectively) maintained in these systems. First-hand knowledge of the response is used, offering strategies for future deployment of social media and important research questions that remain regarding social media as knowledge management systems, particularly for disaster and emergency management.  相似文献   

‘Arrivederci CIAO.com, Buongiorno Bing.com’—Electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), antecedences and consequences     

Marwan KhammashAuthor VitaeGareth Havard GriffithsAuthor Vitae 《International Journal of Information Management》2011,31(1):82-87

The Internet facilitates access to online product reviews and comments written by consumers. This paper offers new insights on the motives and antecedents of the reading behaviour of consumer reviews in online opinion platforms. This research was carried out from 2005 to 2008 using a case study approach. The case involved working with a prominent and successful online opinion platform (CIAO.com). The company was so successful it was purchased by Microsoft for $486 million in 2008 and is now incorporated into their main search engine which is still a market leader today. The research highlights four different types of motives that drive customers to read online reviews: decision-involvement, product-involvement, social-involvement and economic-involvement motives. The outcomes also demonstrated four different new types of motives: self-involvement motives, consumer-empowerment motives, new social-involvement motives and site-administration motives. Several related themes were also investigated, such as the preference for reading or writing online reviews and the reasons for choosing one over the other. The research tested the relevance of the online reading motives and their influence on consumer buying and communication behaviour. In summary, some theoretical and practical implications are highlighted and discussed.  相似文献   

In-formation on the prairie: Signs, patterns, systems and prairie dogs     

Paul Beynon-Davies^{Author Vitae} 《International Journal of Information Management》2011,31(4):307-316

The concept of information is clearly foundational to the ‘information’ disciplines but lacking in a clear conceptual foundation. In this paper we propose that the concept is clearly overloaded and suggest that a new vocabulary is needed to enhance our powers of understanding and explanation. We argue that information is better situated at the intersection of signs, patterns and systems, which involves the enactment of forma (the substance of a sign), informa (the content of a sign) and performa (the use of signs in coordinated action). Within this perspective ‘information’ is considered an accomplishment not only of humans but also of animals. This leads us to use a well-documented case from the animal kingdom, that of communication amongst Gunnison prairie dogs, to both ground and expand upon significant elements from our conceptual framework. This we believe helps shed new light on what the juxtaposition of information with behaviour actually means.  相似文献   

Reinforcing the security of corporate information resources: A critical review of the role of the acceptable use policy   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Neil Francis DohertyAuthor Vitae  Leonidas AnastasakisAuthor VitaeHeather FulfordAuthor Vitae 《International Journal of Information Management》2011,31(3):201-209

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An investigation of consumers’ webstore shopping: A view of click-and-mortar company     

Her-Sen DoongAuthor Vitae  Hui-Chih Wang^{Author Vitae} 《International Journal of Information Management》2011,31(3):210-216

Consumers’ shopping intention is central to a Webstore's success. While past information system (IS) studies have examined this phenomenon extensively, they have focused on examining the single channel of e-tailing only. Knowledge of consumers’ cross-channel shopping behavior, which is common nowadays, was scarce. This study has empirically investigated a research model proposing how consumers’ brand loyalty in the retailing channel may impact on their shopping intentions at the same brand's Webstore. Specifically, in contrast to the system approach examined by past IS studies, this study has undertaken a brand perception approach and uncovered that by shaping consumers’ online perceptions of brand familiarity and Webstore reputation, consumers’ offline brand loyalty directly and indirectly enhances their trust in Webstore and lead to a higher shopping intention. Practical suggestions for click-and-mortar companies in building their channel strategies were proposed accordingly.  相似文献   

Deploying information technologies for organizational innovation: Lessons from case studies     

Jaka Lindi?Author VitaePeter BalohAuthor Vitae  Vincent M. RibièreAuthor Vitae 《International Journal of Information Management》2011,31(2):183-188

Organizations must innovate if they are to survive in today's fiercely competitive marketplace. In this paper, we explore how leading organizations are using emerging technologies to enable novel forms of ideation that can radically increase the sheer volume of ideas they explore. In addition, we outline how organizations use technologies to cost effectively manage this increased volume of ideas by optimizing generation, mobilization, advocacy and screening, experimentation, commercialization, and even the diffusion and implementation of ideas. Critical to this is the management of knowledge during the innovation process.  相似文献