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This study aims to shed new light on the effect of gift packaging shape, specifically the distinction between horizontal and vertical orientations, on the face consciousness of both gift givers and recipients. The underlying mechanism of the main effect is examined, focusing on the perception of social status symbols. In addition, downstream outcome variables were included in the study to explore the effects of gift package shape on willingness to buy (WTB) and word-of-mouth (WOM) in the giver and receiver contexts, respectively. Furthermore, these effects were repeatedly verified in both China and the USA, revealing the significance of cultural differences. The study also investigated the moderating effects of an individual’s power state (low or high power) on the giver’s face consciousness.

Six studies were conducted to address the research objectives. Study 1 compared the gift givers’ face consciousness of a gift when presented with vertical package shapes versus horizontal. Subsequently, Study 2 investigated whether consumers’ perception of social status symbols mediates the effect of gift package shape on gift givers’ face consciousness. Study 3a expanded the conceptual model to include the downstream outcome variable of WTB in the context of gift-giving. Study 3b was validated with American participants, revealing the influence of cultural background differences on face consciousness. Study 4 introduced a gift-receiving context to investigate the chain-mediated effects of gift package shapes on consumer WOM. Lastly, Study 5 critically examined the boundary effect of personal power states on the interaction between the gift givers’ face consciousness and WTB.

The results indicate that gift givers and recipients attribute higher face consciousness to gifts with vertical package shapes compared to horizontal ones. In addition, consumers’ perception of gifts as status symbols was the underlying mechanism driving the impact of gift packaging shape on face consciousness. Furthermore, the face consciousness for gift packages of vertical shape was enhanced when people were in lower-power states as opposed to higher-power states, subsequently leading to an increase in the WTB.

The research is limited to an online virtual brand study; future field studies could be conducted to enhance the authenticity of the participants’ gift-giving experience and the overall external validity of the studies. In addition, gender-based stereotypes and the relationship between the giver and the receiver (transactional or intimate) may also influence the relationship between gift package shapes and face consciousness.

The practical implications of this research focus on three points. First, gift brand managers should strategically employ vertical package shapes to signal high-end attributes and evoke face consciousness among consumers, aligning with the psychology of both givers and recipients. Second, managers must consider consumers’ power states in gift-giving scenarios, tailoring packaging recommendations to the dynamics between givers and recipients to maximize market share. Last, cultural differences in face consciousness, particularly between Asian and Western cultures, necessitate that managers adapt packaging designs to respect and enhance the social status of both givers and recipients in culturally sensitive ways. These findings underscore the importance of understanding and integrating consumer psychology, power dynamics, and cultural nuances into gift packaging strategies to boost market share.

The research contributes to understanding the impact of gift packaging shape on the perception of face consciousness among both gift givers and recipients. It highlights the mediating role of social status symbols and extends its scope by examining downstream effects such as WTB and WOM. It explores individual power states as a moderating factor, revealing how personal dynamics influence perceptions of face-saving consciousness. Also, the cross-cultural validation of these effects in China and the USA underscores the importance of considering cultural differences.

This paper aims to propose an active disturbance rejection control (ADRC)-based visual servoing strategy for regulating a wheeled mobile robot from varying initial poses to a desired pose at an exponential rate. It addresses challenges associated with non-holonomic constraints, uncertain depth information and unknown translational parameters in monocular vision systems.

The uncertain depth information in monocular vision and unknown camera-to-robot translational parameters are modeled as internal uncertainties of the visual servo system. An input-state scaling technique is used to decouple the system into two subsystems, controlled by angular and linear velocities, respectively. The angular velocity controller is designed to ensure strict exponential convergence, while the internal parametric and bounded uncertainties of the system are estimated and compensated for by an extended state observer and a switching linear velocity controller.

The separate design of the angular and linear velocity controllers effectively overcomes the non-holonomic constraints of the mobile robot, ensuring robust performance under diverse conditions. Furthermore, the ADRC-based strategy successfully handles uncertain depth information and unknown translational parameters. The convergence of the error system is rigorously proven using Lyapunov theory, and simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study introduces, for the first time, a novel approach that combines ADRC with visual servoing for non-holonomic mobile robots. This approach enhances the adaptability and accuracy of the robot’s navigation in environments characterized by unknown system uncertainties. The proposed method demonstrates enhanced practical performance over conventional techniques by effectively managing the inherent uncertainties of the system.

This study addresses a gap in understanding consumer retention in omnichannel retailing. It explores the impact of omnichannel capabilities on consumer retention by examining the roles of consumer empowerment, cross-channel integration, retailer uncertainty and consumer satisfaction.

Utilising the stimulus-organism-response theory, data from 338 Indian omnichannel consumers were analysed using SmartPLS V3 and Process Macro for SPSS. A structured questionnaire guided the investigation into the interconnected dynamics of omnichannel capabilities, consumer empowerment, cross-channel integration, retailer uncertainty and consumer satisfaction.

Findings suggest that omnichannel capabilities significantly and positively influence consumer retention, with a significant mediation impact on consumer empowerment and cross-channel integration. The results indicate that retailer uncertainty negatively moderates, whereas consumer satisfaction positively moderates the association between omnichannel capabilities and consumer retention. Moreover, the study unravels the mechanisms driving consumer retention in the omnichannel landscape.

This research pioneers unravelling the complexities of consumer retention in omnichannel retailing. It explores how consumer retention is enhanced through omnichannel capabilities. This study bridges a gap in existing research by examining the impact of omnichannel capabilities, consumer empowerment and cross-channel integration in omnichannel retailing. Therefore, this study provides innovative, unique and strategic adaptations in the retail industry.

This paper addresses the issue of internal spatial environmental pollution in non-blasting tunnel construction by proposing a comprehensive evaluation model. The model aims to provide a scientific basis for environmental pollution prevention in non-blasting tunnel construction, thereby facilitating green tunnel construction and sustainable development management.

The study firstly refines and constructs the evaluation index system from the perspective of pollution sources. A novel weight calculation method is introduced by integrating the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator, and a comprehensive evaluation model for internal environmental pollution in non-blasting tunnels is established by incorporating the grey clustering evaluation method. Finally, an empirical study is conducted using the Erbaoshan Tunnel as a case study to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the model.

The study develops an evaluation system for internal environmental pollution in non-blasting tunnels and applies it to the Erbaoshan Tunnel. The results classify the pollution level as “general pollution,” confirming the rationality and applicability of the evaluation system and model while also identifying the primary pollution factors.

This study first developed a comprehensive evaluation system for environmental pollution in non-blasting tunnel construction from the pollution source perspective, making the system more comprehensive. Additionally, it innovatively combined AHP–OWA and gray clustering methods to scientifically assess pollution levels, providing valuable scientific guidance for the evaluation and management of non-blasting tunnels and similar underground projects.

Online games are highly popular Internet applications. Some games enable players to save game progress and accumulate experiences or changes to avatars during gameplay, whereas some other games do not, requiring players to restart from the beginning each time. That is, games differ in avatar accumulability. However, we do not know whether games should be designed to permit avatar accumulability or not and how it affects players’ gameplay experience and therefore game outcomes, indicating gaps. Research addressing these gaps can inform game makers in designing games that effectively strengthen their players’ game loyalty.

We used social identity theory (SIT) to construct a theoretical model. To test this model, three waves of survey data were gathered from the same 778 participants.

These findings uniquely indicate that avatar accumulability fosters avatar identification and increases players’ focused immersion, thus increasing players’ loyalty.

Game providers could include game features that enable players to accumulate their avatars’ in-game skins, levels, items (weapons and equipment) and experience points. This accumulability can help strengthen players’ game loyalty.

Overall, our study extends SIT by adding a new trigger (avatar accumulability) and two novel consequences of avatar identification (image protection and focused immersion) in avatar-related systems (games or gamified systems). The new trigger offers an actionable means to apply SIT, while the novel consequences verify the value of applying SIT to study online games.

This paper aims to provide a full introduction, new classification, comparison and investigation of the challenges as well as applications of layerless 3D printing, which is one of the industry 4.0 pioneers.

Given the significance and novelty of uniform 3D printing, more than 250 publications were collected and reviewed in an unbiased and clear manner.

As a result, the majority of uniform parts printed in polymer form are known up to this point. In a novel division for better researchers’ comprehension, uniform printing systems were classified into three categories: oxygen inhibition (OI), liquid lubrication (LL) and photon penetration (PP), and each was thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, these three approaches were evaluated in terms of printing speed, precision and accuracy, manufacturing scale and cost.

The parameters of each approach were compared independently, and then a practical comparison was conducted among these three approaches. Finally, a variety of technologies, opportunities, challenges and advantages of each significant method, as well as a future outlook for layerless rapid prototyping, are presented.

The purpose of this study is to reveal the significant contribution of MXene on enhancing tribological properties and to obtain the influence mechanism of various factors on friction characteristics of rolling bearing under extreme conditions.

Under extreme working conditions, the friction characteristics of rolling bearings directly determine the safety and reliability of the transmission system. In this study, MXene is added to the origin lubricating grease (OLG) of rolling bearing to enhance their friction characteristics. Then, the effects of inner ring speed, radial load, grease filling volume and other factors on the friction coefficient of rolling bearing are analyzed using the Taguchi method.

The results indicate that the ranking of various factors affecting the friction coefficient is: radial load, inner ring speed, MXene additive content in grease and grease filling volume. Especially, the radial load and inner ring speed exhibit extremely significant effects, while the MXene additive content in grease (P < 0.05) has a significant influence on the friction coefficient of rolling bearing. The optimal condition for rolling bearing lubricated with MXene additives lubricating grease (MALG) achieves the lowest friction coefficient of 0.0049 under 1,000 rpm, 9 kN and 35% grease filling volume.

This study could offer reference solution for utilizing MXene nano-lubrication to fufill the demands of precision, heavy-load, or long-lifespan bearings. Furthermore, the lubrication approach has the potential to be expanded into aerospace, defense, and various industrial fields, thereby significantly promoting its practial engineering applications.

Given the expansion of cities and urbanization, developing efficient and reliable transportation infrastructure, especially urban tunnels, is essential. Failure to maintain such complex construction facilities with intelligent equipment systems could result in human losses and impose huge costs on governments. Therefore, it is necessary to have practical maintenance plans and operational safety monitoring for urban tunnels, which leads to their long lifespan, increases users’ safety and reduces operation risks.

Hence, this research aims to evaluate the maintenance risks of urban tunnel lighting systems (UTLS) using a hybrid risk-based maintenance (RBM) approach. In this vein, three rounds of a fuzzy Delphi survey were conducted to consolidate the specific operation criteria and maintenance risk factors to the circumstances of Iran and UTLS. Furthermore, the fuzzy DEMATEL method was applied to determine the cause-and-effect relationships among the identified critical operation criteria. The identified risks associated with maintenance in UTLS were then analyzed and ranked using a combination of fuzzy ANP-VIKOR techniques.

The ranking of the various risks revealed that the “poor performance of switchboards in power supply due to faults in switchboard equipment” risk was ranked first, followed by the “poor performance of panels in the power supply due to unfavorable environmental conditions,” “The poor performance of panels in the power supply due to problems with switches (key failure)” and “The poor performance of panels in power supply due to burning fuses due to unauthorized current” risks. The findings of this study indicate that this hybrid maintenance method, developed as a risk-based network, provides reliability for maintaining urban tunnel lighting systems (UTLS).

It is anticipated that the findings of this research will considerably contribute to improving UTLS maintenance management while enhancing different stakeholders’ understanding of the most critical risks in maintenance, particularly toward the UTLS in Iran. An RBM management program can result in preparing and formulating policies, comprehensive guidelines or regulations for the maintenance of urban tunnels that are recommended for future research.

This study aims to investigate the “digitalization paradox” in manufacturing digital transformation, where significant investments in digital technology may not necessarily lead to increased returns. Specifically, it explores the intricate relationship between digital technology convergence, financial performance, productivity and technological innovation in listed Chinese manufacturing firms, drawing upon theories of digital innovation and knowledge networks.

Using a large panel data from 747 listed firms in China’s manufacturing sector and their 428,927 patents spanning from 2013 to 2022, this research first quantifies manufacturing firm-level digital technology convergence through patent network analysis. Furthermore, this study employs hierarchical regression analysis and the instrumental variable method to investigate the curvilinear relationship between digital technology convergence and financial performance. Furthermore, the moderating role of firms’ productivity and technological innovation is tested.

Three types of firm-level digital technology convergence (DTC) are delineated and quantified: local authority in digital convergence (DegreeDTC), convergence with heterogeneous digital knowledge (BetweenessDTC) and shortest-path convergence with digital technologies (ClosenessDTC, where a higher value signifies a more conservative and shorter path in adopting digital technologies). Network visualization shows that manufacturing firms' DTC has consistently increased over time. Contrary to traditional assumptions, our research reveals a U-shaped relationship between DTC (specifically, DegreeDTC and BetweenessDTC) and financial performance. This relationship is characterized by a negative correlation at lower levels and a positive one at higher levels. The joint effect of firms’ productivity and technological innovation significantly strengthens this relationship. These findings are robust across a series of robustness checks.

Our findings offer practical insights for both managers and policymakers. We recommend a balanced approach to digital innovation management within the technology convergence paradigm. Manufacturing firms can generate economic value by strategically choosing to either shrink or expand their digital technology application areas, thereby reducing uncertainties related to emerging convergent businesses. Additionally, the study underscores the synergistic strategy of combining innovation with productivity. Within the DTC business context, integrating productivity with technological innovation not only enhances cost flexibility but also improves problem-solution matching, ultimately amplifying synergistic benefits.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to apply a digital technology co-occurrence network to unveil nuanced relationships in “DTC – finance performance” within the manufacturing sector. It challenges conventional thinking regarding the common positive effect of digital innovation and technological convergence. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of DTC, financial performance, productivity and technological innovation dynamics, as well as offers managerial implications for managers and policymakers.

• (1)

  We quantify manufacturing firm-level DTC through patent network analysis and find consistent increases over time.

• (2)

  A significant U-shaped relationship between DTC and financial performance, being negative at lower levels and positive at higher levels.

• (3)

  The joint effect of firms’ productivity and technological innovation reinforces this relationship by distributing costs and enhancing synergistic benefits.

• (4)

  We challenge existing literature by uncovering a complex relationship in “DTC – finance performance”, contrary to popular belief of a monotonic effect of digital innovation or technological convergence.

We quantify manufacturing firm-level DTC through patent network analysis and find consistent increases over time.

A significant U-shaped relationship between DTC and financial performance, being negative at lower levels and positive at higher levels.

The joint effect of firms’ productivity and technological innovation reinforces this relationship by distributing costs and enhancing synergistic benefits.

We challenge existing literature by uncovering a complex relationship in “DTC – finance performance”, contrary to popular belief of a monotonic effect of digital innovation or technological convergence.

Based on the job-demands resources (JD-R) model and the self-determination theory (SDT), this paper aims to explore team empowerment (TEMP) as a mediating mechanism through which team climate (TC) marked by innovativeness, cohesion and trust and knowledge management (KM) in teams.

Using a convenience sampling method, data were gathered from 246 employees of Tunisian knowledge-intensive firms (KIFs) and involved within 69 R&D teams. The partial least square-structural equation modeling approach through SMART PLS 3.2 software was used to evaluate the constructs’ psychometric properties and hypotheses. The mediating effect in the model was evaluated through the non-parametric bootstrapping method.

Results highlight that TC marked by innovativeness, cohesion and trust represents a key team contextual antecedent promoting TEMP and KM in teams. In turn, TEMP, as a critical intrinsic task motivation factor, is revealed as a driver of KM practices. This research demonstrates that TEMP partially mediates the relationship between TC and KM in teams.

This study pioneers the examination of TEMP’s mediating role between a TC marked by innovativeness, trust and cohesion and KM. By applying insights from the JD-R model and SDT to team-level dynamics, it uniquely positions TEMP as an intrinsic motivational factor explaining the mechanism through which the contextual resources provided by a supportive TC promote KM practices. It provides practical insights for KIFs’ managers through highlighting how intrinsically motivated teams of knowledge workers, empowered by a cohesive, innovative and trust-based TC, can effectively navigate the challenges inherent in knowledge-intensive teamwork, leading to enhanced KM practices.