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1 – 10 of 54Yang Tian, Tak Jie Chan, Tze Wei Liew, Ming Hui Chen and Huan Na Liu
Electronic wallets (e-wallet) systems have revolutionized transactional activities, prompting individuals to adopt digital payment methods. This study investigates the…
Abstract
Purpose
Electronic wallets (e-wallet) systems have revolutionized transactional activities, prompting individuals to adopt digital payment methods. This study investigates the determinants of the continuance intention of the e-wallet system Touch 'n Go in Malaysia. We propose a framework integrating the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI) and mental accounting theory, thereby assessing the impacts of product-related factors (convenience, compatibility, perceived risk and perceived compatibility) and the moderating role of personal-related factors [personal innovativeness (PI) and personal anxiety].
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected involving 381 Malaysian Touch 'n Go users. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied as a data analysis technique.
Findings
As demonstrated by the results, convenience serves as a facilitator, while perceived risk acts as an inhibitor, influencing the continuance intention of the application. Compatibility and perceived complexity are found to be insignificant antecedents. However, neither PI nor personal anxiety was found as moderators.
Originality/value
This research brings contributions to the electronic commerce literature by extending the understanding of the predictors and moderators of the continuance intention of Touch 'n Go users in Malaysia. We discuss how these findings implicate the two theories and offer insights for service providers and policymakers to promote the post-adoption intentions of Touch 'n Go.
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H.Y. Liu, Na Si and Ji-Huan He
The purpose of this paper is to point out a paradox in variational theory for viscous flows. Chien (1984) claimed that a variational principle of maximum power loses for viscous…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to point out a paradox in variational theory for viscous flows. Chien (1984) claimed that a variational principle of maximum power loses for viscous fluids was established, however, it violated the well-known Helmholtz’s principle.
Design/methodology/approach
Restricted variables are introduced in the derivation, the first order and the second order of variation of the restricted variables are zero.
Findings
An approximate variational principle of minimum power loses is established, which agrees with the Helmholtz’s principle, and the paradox is solved.
Research limitations/implications
This paper focusses on incompressible viscose flows, and the theory can be extended to compressible one and other viscose flows. It is still difficult to obtain a variational formulation for Navier-Stokes equations.
Practical implications
The variational principle of minimum power loses can be directly used for numerical methods and analytical analysis.
Originality/value
It is proved that Chien’s variational principle is a minimum principle.
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Thandiwe Bongani Radebe, Zhongjie Huan and Jeffrey Baloyi
South Africa is the highest consumer of commercial energy per capita in Africa, ranking 16th in the world for primary energy consumption. It is also ranked among the bottom 50 of…
Abstract
Purpose
South Africa is the highest consumer of commercial energy per capita in Africa, ranking 16th in the world for primary energy consumption. It is also ranked among the bottom 50 of the 150 countries regarding energy efficiency. The cold chain is a large contributor through refrigerated transport vehicles. To comply with the changing climate regulations, cryogenic and eutectic systems are systems with great potential for small distance refrigerated transport. The purpose of this paper is to introduce eutectic system to medium distance refrigerated transport.
Design/methodology/approach
This study presents the potential use of Eutectic plates inside a medium refrigerated transport vehicle, by numerically investigating the characteristics of phase change material eutectic plates applied at low-temperature ranges. A physical model and a mathematical model for three-dimensional transient natural flow were developed as proposed by Xiaofeng and Zhang. Using the governing equation of mass, momentum and energy conservation, three Eutectic plate configurations were modeled and simulated in ANSYS Fluent for 5 h.
Findings
A uniform heat transfer and airflow condition inside a refrigerated compartment were predicted using the Reynolds stress model. The configuration with eutectic plates placed at the top and side showed great potential for the system functioning in the South African climate.
Research limitations/implications
Medium refrigerated transport vehicle.
Originality/value
This configuration had a high-temperature distribution across the compartment and promoted high air circulations, showing that it could be ideal for medium refrigerated transport vehicles delivering perishable foodstuffs or non-food goods.
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Hong-Xin Cui, Ke Feng, Huan-Liang Li and Jin-Hua Han
To improve the trajectory tracking accuracy of 6R decoupled manipulator in singularity region, this paper aims to propose a singularity avoidance algorithm named “singularity…
Abstract
Purpose
To improve the trajectory tracking accuracy of 6R decoupled manipulator in singularity region, this paper aims to propose a singularity avoidance algorithm named “singularity separation plus improved Gaussian distribution damped reciprocal”.
Design/methodology/approach
The manipulator is divided into forearm and wrist, and the corresponding singularity factors are separated based on kinematics calculation. Singularity avoidance is achieved by replacing the common reciprocal with the improved Gaussian distribution damped reciprocal.
Findings
Compared with common damped reciprocal algorithm and classical Gaussian distribution algorithm, the continuity of the proposed algorithm is improved and the tracking error is minimized. The simulation and experiment results prove effectiveness and practicability of the proposed algorithm.
Originality/value
This study has an important significance to improve the efficiency and operation accuracy of 6R decoupled manipulator.
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Dongmin Zhang, Zihui Fang and Min Liao
Educational accountability and student achievement polarization, which result in high dropout rates, pose significant challenges and pressures on teachers' pedagogical leadership…
Abstract
Purpose
Educational accountability and student achievement polarization, which result in high dropout rates, pose significant challenges and pressures on teachers' pedagogical leadership. Whether pedagogical leadership, which originates in the Western educational environment, can significantly improve student achievement in Chinese high schools remains unclear. This concept has not yet been fully explored in the Chinese educational environment, and its direct impact on student achievement and the mediating role of English teaching methods remain to be investigated. However, existing research has concentrated on the effectiveness of principals' pedagogical leadership, with variations in teachers' pedagogical leadership practices. Many reform measures have been implemented in China to improve student achievement, but past educational practices have analyzed the impact on student achievement from a single instructional leadership, school capital or teaching method perspective. Furthermore, there is a lack of multidimensional and systematic assessments of the direct effects of teacher pedagogical leadership on student achievement and the mediating effects of English teaching methods.
Design/methodology/approach
To address this gap, this study analyzed the impact of teachers' pedagogical leadership on student achievement and the mediating effect of English teaching methods with the support of the theory of action for teacher leadership, specifically using pedagogical leadership and English teaching methods models.This study conducted a questionnaire survey of 968 participants in Taian City, China, and quantitatively analyzed the data using SmartPLS structural equation modeling (SEM).
Findings
This study revealed that pedagogical leadership has a positive direct effect on student achievement. Meanwhile, among the four mediating factors, the Direct Method, Audio-Lingual Method and Communicative Language Teaching had significant mediating effects.
Originality/value
This study shows that the effective use of academic and professional capital allocation in pedagogical leadership, combined with effective measures of using multiple effective English teaching methods, helps achieve high-quality student achievement.
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Xinhua Guan, Jinhong Gong, Mingjie Li and Tzung-Cheng Huan
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the robot restaurant servicescape and robot service competence (RSC) on customers’ behavioral intentions and to analyze the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the robot restaurant servicescape and robot service competence (RSC) on customers’ behavioral intentions and to analyze the mediating role of hedonic value (HV) and utilitarian value (UV) in these relationships and the moderating role of individual characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
This research involves seven constructs to be measured, namely, servicescape, RSC, negative attitude toward robots (NAR), openness to change (OC), HV, UV and behavioral intention. This research selects Foodom robot restaurants, located in Shunde and Guangzhou of China, as the research site, and the research objects are customers having dinner in the restaurant. A total of 485 valid data was collected. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, verify the proposed research model, and test the research hypotheses.
Findings
The study finds that servicescape and RSC improve customer behavioral intention. Additionally, HV and UV mediate the influence of servicescape and RSC on customer behavioral intention. Moreover, OC negatively moderates the influence of servicescape on UV and that a NAR negatively moderates the influence of RSC on HV.
Originality/value
Through carefully design of servicescape and the improvement in service capabilities of robots, the original service delivery dominated by frontline service personnel can be transformed into service delivery dominated by service robots, which is conductive to providing a pleasant and unforgettable experience for customers.
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Zheng Liu, Na Huang, Chunjia Han, Mu Yang, Yuanjun Zhao, Wenzhuo Sun, Varsha Arya, Brij B. Gupta and Lihua Shi
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of carbon reduction efforts and preservation efforts on system benefits in the cold chain industry of fresh products.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of carbon reduction efforts and preservation efforts on system benefits in the cold chain industry of fresh products.
Design/methodology/approach
This study develops an optimal decision game model for the fresh products in the cold chain, incorporating the retailer's preservation effort and the supplier's carbon emission reduction effort. It quantifies the relationship between carbon emission reduction effort, preservation effort and system profit. The model considers parameters like carbon trading price, consumer low-carbon preference and consumer freshness preference, reflecting real-world conditions and market trends. Numerical simulations are conducted by varying these parameters to observe their impact on system profit.
Findings
Under the carbon cap-and-trade policy, the profit of the fresh cold chain system is higher than that of the fresh cold chain system without carbon constraints, and the profit of the supplier under decentralized decision-making is increased by nine times in the simulation results. The increase in carbon trading prices can effectively improve the freshness level of fresh products cold chain, carbon emission reduction level and system profit.
Originality/value
This study comprehensively considers the factors of freshness and carbon emission reduction, provides the optimal low-carbon production decision-making reference for the fresh food cold chain and promotes the sustainable development of the fresh food cold chain.
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Ali Hassanzadeh, Ebrahim Ghorbani-Kalhor, Khalil Farhadi and Jafar Abolhasani
This study’s aim is to introduce a high-performance sorbent for the removal of both anionic (Congo red; CR) and cationic (methylene blue; MB) dyes from aqueous solutions.
Abstract
Purpose
This study’s aim is to introduce a high-performance sorbent for the removal of both anionic (Congo red; CR) and cationic (methylene blue; MB) dyes from aqueous solutions.
Design/methodology/approach
Sodium silicate is adopted as a substrate for GO and AgNPs with positive charge are used as modifiers. The synthesized nanocomposite is characterized by FTIR, FESEM, EDS, BET and XRD techniques. Then, some of the most effective parameters on the removal of CR and MB dyes such as solution pH, sorbent dose, adsorption equilibrium time, primary dye concentration and salt effect are optimized using the spectrophotometry technique.
Findings
The authors successfully achieved notable maximum adsorption capacities (Qmax) of CR and MB, which were 41.15 and 37.04 mg g−1, respectively. The required equilibrium times for maximum efficiency of the developed sorbent were 10 and 15 min for CR and MB dyes, respectively. Adsorption equilibrium data present a good correlation with Langmuir isotherm, with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9924 for CR and R2 = 0.9904 for MB, and kinetic studies prove that the dye adsorption process follows pseudo second-order models (CR R2 = 0.9986 and MB R2 = 0.9967).
Practical implications
The results showed that the proposed mechanism for the function of the developed sorbent in dye adsorption was based on physical and multilayer adsorption for both dyes onto the active sites of non-homogeneous sorbent.
Originality/value
The as-prepared nano-adsorbent has a high ability to remove both cationic and anionic dyes; moreover, to the high efficiency of the adsorbent, it has been tried to make its synthesis steps as simple as possible using inexpensive and available materials.
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