Xiangbin Liu, Fandi Meng, Ruiping Liu, Junlin Kou, Zeyang Zhang, Jianrong Feng, Li Liu and Fuhui Wang
The marine environment presents a great challenge to the anticorrosion properties of organic coatings applied on equipment. Since the compactness of coatings is critical in marine…
Abstract
Purpose
The marine environment presents a great challenge to the anticorrosion properties of organic coatings applied on equipment. Since the compactness of coatings is critical in marine environments, a novel nepheline-epoxy resin (N-EP) composite was introduced into organic coatings to improve the interfacial compatibility between the pigments and the binder. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the N-EP composite in enhancing the corrosion resistance of the coatings in marine conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
These composite particles were prepared via the mechanical ball milling method at thermofield-assisted, leading to chemical bonding between inorganic nepheline and epoxy resin, the agglomeration of particles was avoided by this method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, particle size distribution, sedimentation and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis were used to verify the feasibility of thermal field-assisted mechanochemistry for achieving a direct reaction between epoxy resin and nepheline powder, as well as to determine the optimal reaction conditions. Additionally, water absorption tests, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope were conducted to assess the anticorrosive properties of the modified nepheline coatings.
Findings
The results further indicated that N-EP improved the barrier performance and mechanical properties of the coating. For example, after modified, the tensile strength of coating had increased from 41.96 ± 0.05–63.14 ± 0.05 MPa. This can be attributed to the less defective N-EP/binder interface and the uniform dispersion of N-EP in the coating. The optimal preparation conditions (500 r/min of ball grinding speed and 6 h of ball grinding time) for the composites were also studied for a superior corrosion resistance of the coating.
Originality/value
Thermofield-assisted mechanochemistry enables direct reactions between epoxy resin and nepheline powder, enhancing the dispersion stability and interfacial compatibility of N-EP. This modification improves coating compactness, reduces porosity and enhances corrosion resistance by strengthening the labyrinth effect on water diffusion.
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Feliza Marie Santos Mercado and Sungwon Shin
In response to challenges in traditional professional development, educators are increasingly utilizing social media platforms to customize their learning experiences and…
Abstract
Purpose
In response to challenges in traditional professional development, educators are increasingly utilizing social media platforms to customize their learning experiences and facilitate their professional growth. This systematic literature review seeks to examine articles published between January 2018 and July 2023 to synthesize evidence on the ways in which teachers are leveraging social media to improve their teaching practices.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to guide the literature review process. First, the authors established synthesis questions, set up eligibility criteria and determined search engines and search terms to identify the relevant literature. Second, the authors sorted and selected from the preliminary article search and screened based on the established criteria. Finally, the authors analyzed each selected article’s content, which included coding, interpreting the themes and organizing the findings.
Findings
Teachers are increasingly using social media for professional development, engaging in collaboration, empowering connection, and relationship-building through teacherpreneurship. They take on various roles, from info-consumers and info-networkers to self-seeking contributors, vocationalists and lurkers. Despite these benefits, challenges remain, such as potential for unexpected misunderstandings, social comparison that can lead to low self-esteem, which can hinder effective engagement in social media-based professional development. Additionally, this paper observed a growing trend in scholarly articles on this topic, particularly from 2020, 2021 and 2022, highlighting its increasing relevance and impact on the educational community.
Research limitations/implications
This systematic literature review focused exclusively on studies involving in-service K-12 teachers as participants, excluding perspectives from preservice teachers, higher education instructors, instructional coaches and school administrators. While these other educational professionals undoubtedly offer valuable insights into improving teaching practices and contribute significantly to social media-based professional development, this review aimed to center the experiences of K-12 in-service teachers to understand their unique professional development needs and practices. Consequently, it does not capture the potential synergies between K-12 teachers and other educator groups, such as the ways in which school administrators might support or enhance in-service teachers’ professional development through social media. Future studies could explore these interactions more deeply to provide a fuller picture of the collective expertise within these groups.
Practical implications
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the value of social media for informal professional development, as shown by the increased number of publications on this topic during that period. However, some social media platforms prioritize consumerism over educational resources, emphasizing the need for educators to critically evaluate their sources. Teachers should be discerning in their resource selection, ensuring that educational references are credible and free of hidden costs.
Social implications
This study uncovered several unique patterns in how teachers use social media, revealing both benefits and challenges. Notably, some teachers are leveraging social media not only to build professional connections but also to engage in commercial activities. While this practice can create a supportive network – where teachers promote one another’s visibility, share products and seek support – it can also detract from the intended purpose of professional learning. The focus on brand-building and profit-making may overshadow authentic community-building and collaborative growth. Additionally, the presence of paid content introduces financial barriers, as many teachers have limited resources for professional development.
Originality/value
This study provides a comprehensive review of recent literature (January 2018 to July 2023) on teachers' use of social media for professional development and learning, offering fresh insights into emerging trends. Notably, findings of this study highlight the role of teacherpreneurship in fostering beneficial social connections within digital spaces, a factor that has gained prominence as teachers seek collaborative and supportive networks. Additionally, this research sheds light on lurking as a common strategy among teachers to avoid conflict and misunderstandings when engaging in social media-based professional development. Furthermore, by addressing various challenges, this paper presents suggestions for thoughtfully integrating social media into school professional development programs, with the intention of supporting the diverse needs of teachers and fostering their professional growth.
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Qiuping Nie, Long Ma and Zhifu Li
Despite the rapid development of metaverse industry, the adoption rate of metaverse products is still very low. While prior studies mainly focused on investigating the motivators…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the rapid development of metaverse industry, the adoption rate of metaverse products is still very low. While prior studies mainly focused on investigating the motivators of metaverse adoption, this study explores the barriers affecting consumer intention to use metaverse products, utilizing the framework of innovation resistance theory (IRT).
Design/methodology/approach
Through a survey conducted in China, we examined the effects of variables such as usage barrier, value barrier, risk barrier, tradition barrier, image barrier, as well as the moderating effects of individuals’ innovativeness. Three hundred and seventy seven valid questionnaires were collected and hierarchical regression method was conducted to analyze the data.
Findings
Our findings reveal that usage and value barriers, as well as tradition barrier, significantly negatively influence consumer intention to use metaverse products. However, risk and image barrier do not exhibit a significant impact. Additionally, we discovered that individuals’ innovativeness positively influences consumer intention, indicating that users with higher innovativeness are more inclined to engage with metaverse products. Furthermore, innovativeness acts as a positive moderator, weakening the negative impact of tradition barrier on usage intention.
Originality/value
The study extends IRT by incorporating the role of individual innovativeness, providing a more holistic understanding of the factors that impede the widespread use of metaverse products. The findings are crucial for developing strategies to mitigate the negative influences of potential barriers, ultimately promoting the diffusion of metaverse products.
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Noor Afifah Nawawi and Su-Hie Ting
This study examined interactional metadiscourse markers in Q1 and Q3–Q4 political sciences and creative arts abstracts.
Abstract
Purpose
This study examined interactional metadiscourse markers in Q1 and Q3–Q4 political sciences and creative arts abstracts.
Design/methodology/approach
The corpus comprised 80 abstracts of articles published in Social Science Citation Index journals from 2011 to 2022 (40 in creative arts; 40 in political science). An analysis was conducted using Hyland’s (2005) interpersonal model for the distribution of hedges, boosters, self-mentions, attitude markers and engagement markers.
Findings
The analysis identified 598 interactional markers, with 61.9% in political science abstracts and 38.1% in creative arts abstracts. The political science writers were more into getting the readers involved in the argument (60.2 interactional markers per thousand words) than the creative arts writers (32.9 interactional markers per thousand words). For both disciplines, booster was the most frequently used marker followed by hedging, self-mention, attitude marker and engagement marker. Based on the total number and type of interactional marker, the creative arts abstracts in Q1 and Q3–Q4 journals were similar. However, the Q1 political science abstracts had a stronger authorial presence than the Q3–Q4 political science abstracts. The greater visibility of the Q1 political science writers was reflected in more frequent boosters, hedges and self-mentions. They were stronger in asserting their propositions with confidence.
Research limitations/implications
As is evident from past studies, each discipline has its own uniqueness in writer-reader engagement. The study did not investigate possible influences of cultural background on the use of interactional markers for engagement by referring to the background of the writers.
Practical implications
Academic writing courses can employ the findings on interactional metadiscourse markers for teaching college and university students to produce research reports that fit the conventions of the community of practice.
Social implications
The findings indicate that differences in interactional metadiscourse use by discipline and journal tier was more obvious in the political sciences than creative arts. This means that there is a greater focus on authorial identity in the political sciences. As for journal tier, the creative arts researchers are similar in the style and there is less demarcation in the quality of writing with respect to reader-writer engagement.
Originality/value
The study provides new insights on greater reader interaction by discipline and journal tier in the political sciences than in the creative arts.
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Ngo Giang Thy, Tu Van Binh and Linh Duong
With the wide adoption of information and communication technologies globally, digital marketing (DM) has emerged as an important and influential role in the growth and…
Abstract
Purpose
With the wide adoption of information and communication technologies globally, digital marketing (DM) has emerged as an important and influential role in the growth and development of firms. However, it remains unclear how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets that normally have limited digital technology resources can gain benefits from DM. Thus, this research aims to investigate how DM benefits SMEs in emerging markets.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the resource-based views (RBV) theory and a sample of 156,625 SMEs in Vietnam, this research uses statistical models and examines the performance of SMEs in terms of sales and productivity.
Findings
There is strong evidences that the sales and productivity performance of SMEs are positively affected by DM. Furthermore, there is evidence that corporate social responsibility plays an important role in moderating the influence of DM on SME performance.
Originality/value
This finding suggests that entrepreneurs should carefully consider using digital technologies to create DM strategies. This result also encourages local policymakers to invest more in digital technology and boost the growth of SMEs.
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Mingda Ping, Xiangrui Ji, Yan Liu and Weidong Wang
To supply temporary pressure testing devices with favorable performance for emergency environments, this paper aims to present a pressure sensor with a central boss and…
Abstract
Purpose
To supply temporary pressure testing devices with favorable performance for emergency environments, this paper aims to present a pressure sensor with a central boss and straight-annular grooves. The structural feature is modeled and optimized by neural network-based method, and the device prototype is fabricated by 3D printing techniques.
Design/methodology/approach
The study initially compares mechanical properties of the proposed structure with two conventional designs using finite element analysis. The impacts from structural dimensions on sensor performance are modeled using a Backpropagation neural network and optimized through genetic algorithms. The sensing diaphragm is fabricated using stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing, while the piezoresistors and necessary interconnects are realized with screen printing techniques.
Findings
The experimental results demonstrate that the fabricated sensor exhibits a sensitivity of 2.8866 mV/kPa and a nonlinearity of 6.81% within the pressure range of 0–100 kPa. This performance is an improvement of 118% in sensitivity and a decrease of 54% in nonlinearity compared to flat diaphragm structure, highlighting the effectiveness of proposed diaphragm configuration.
Originality/value
This research offers a holistic methodology that encompasses the structural design, optimization and fabrication of pressure sensors. The proposed diaphragm and corresponding modelling method can provide a practical approach to enhance the measurement capabilities of pressure sensors. By leveraging SLA printing for diaphragm and screen printing for circuit, the prototype can be produced in a timely manner.
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Jingyi Bai, Xinyuan (Roy) Zhao, Tzung-Cheng Huan and Aliana Man Wai Leong
Building on the social capital theory of career success (SCT), this paper aims to explore how and when newcomers’ overqualifications can grant them positions as informal leaders…
Abstract
Purpose
Building on the social capital theory of career success (SCT), this paper aims to explore how and when newcomers’ overqualifications can grant them positions as informal leaders within the workgroup over time.
Design/methodology/approach
The model was tested using a social relations modeling analysis conducted using a three-wave survey with 242 newcomers in Macau.
Findings
The results support the view that relatively qualified newcomers can enjoy social capital advantages in workgroup networks. Newcomers’ desired qualifications can grant them positions as informal leaders through leader–member exchange and advice network centrality. These relationships are moderated by relational dissimilarity, such that the benefits of being relatively overqualified will be weakened when relational dissimilarity is high (vs. low).
Practical implications
When assisting overqualified newcomers in integrating into their teams, practitioners shall be aware of the time and resources that new hires require for adjustment, especially when significant newcomer–veteran relational dissimilarity exists.
Originality/value
The present paper challenges the overtly detrimental outcomes of overqualification by highlighting the positive relational implications of being relatively overqualified.
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Yunfeng Li, Ruoxuan Li, Ao Tian, Xinming Xu and Hang Zhang
This paper aims to study the influence of different seal structure parameters and working conditions on the air-oil two-phase flow characteristics and leakage characteristics of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the influence of different seal structure parameters and working conditions on the air-oil two-phase flow characteristics and leakage characteristics of the seal cavity in the bearing cavity of the aero-engine spindle bearing tester.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the VOF method and RNG k-ε turbulence model are used to explore the flow characteristics and leakage characteristics of the labyrinth seal cavity of an aero-engine spindle bearing tester under the condition of air-oil two-phase flow.
Findings
The distribution of the lubricating oil is related to the sealing clearance and the air-oil ratio. The amount of oil leakage increases with increasing of sealing chamber clearance, air-oil ratio and inlet velocity and decreases with increasing curvature and speed. The amount of air leakage increases with sealing clearance and inlet velocity.
Originality/value
In comparison to the pure air-phase flow field, the air-oil two-phase flow field can more accurately simulate the lubricating oil flow in the sealing chamber.
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Keywords
Yajun Zhang, Luni Zhang, Junwei Zhang, Jingjing Wang and Muhammad Naseer Akhtar
Drawing upon the cognitive-affective processing system (CAPS) framework, the current study proposes a dual-pathway model that suggests self-serving leadership has a positive…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing upon the cognitive-affective processing system (CAPS) framework, the current study proposes a dual-pathway model that suggests self-serving leadership has a positive influence on employee knowledge hiding. The study also examines the mediating effects of relative deprivation and emotional exhaustion, as well as the moderating effect of political skill, to provide a comprehensive understanding of these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed two-wave time-lagged survey data collected from 644 employees in 118 teams within a company based in Shenzhen, China. Moreover, hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to test the hypothesized relationships.
Findings
The results indicated that self-serving leadership positively influenced employee knowledge hiding, and this relationship was mediated by relative deprivation and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, political skill was found to negatively moderate both the direct relationship between self-serving leadership and relative deprivation and emotional exhaustion, and the indirect path from self-serving leadership to employee knowledge hiding through relative deprivation and emotional exhaustion.
Originality/value
This study makes a unique contribution to the knowledge management literature in several ways. First, it introduces self-serving leadership as a predictor of employee knowledge hiding, expanding the current understanding of this phenomenon. Second, it offers a novel conceptualization, suggesting that employees coping with self-serving leadership may experience relative deprivation and emotional exhaustion, and these factors can predict their engagement in knowledge hiding. Third, the research findings on the moderating role of political skill push the boundaries of the knowledge-hiding literature, providing new insights into the conditions under which this behavior occurs.
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Lei Zhang, Ruijiang Li and Jia Chen
In this study, a novel grey combined model, termed the logistic-Grey-Markov model, is proposed. This model aims to construct a relation function between transition probabilities…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, a novel grey combined model, termed the logistic-Grey-Markov model, is proposed. This model aims to construct a relation function between transition probabilities and residual errors and fully utilize the information from residual errors to calculate optimal transition probabilities for more accurate predictions.
Design/methodology/approach
To address this issue, the logistic function is introduced and improved to accommodate different types of samples. Then the improved logistic function is applied to construct a relation function between transition probabilities and sample residual errors. Additionally, to obtain the optimal coefficients in the relation function, a least square objective function is constructed, and the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm is employed. With these optimal coefficients, the relation function can fully utilize the information of residual errors and calculate the optimal transition probabilities.
Findings
The improved logistic function in the logistic-Grey-Markov model ensures that the information from sample residual errors is fully utilized and case studies demonstrate that the proposed logistic-Grey-Markov model can effectively improve the prediction accuracy.
Originality/value
One of the strengths of the Grey-Markov model is its ability to predict outcomes with small and highly volatile samples. However, the prediction accuracy is not ideal due to the information waste of residual errors, especially when only a small sample size is available. The proposed logistic-Grey-Markov model can fully utilize the information in residual errors to calculate the optimal transition probabilities and improve the accuracy of the Grey-Markov model.