Xiaogang Chen, Shu Li, Libo Su and Ting Huang
This study aims to reveal the decision-making process that micro and small merchants (MSMs) may go through when deciding on the mobile payment system (MPS) adoption and usage and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to reveal the decision-making process that micro and small merchants (MSMs) may go through when deciding on the mobile payment system (MPS) adoption and usage and explore how relevant factors may impact this process.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses the grounded theory approach. Specifically, this paper conducts individual, semi-structured interviews with MSMs in China. Each interview was focused on an MSM’s decisions on initial adoption and continued use of MPSs. The paper then coded the interviews to derive conceptual categories and integrated the categories to form a cohesive framework to explain how MSMs make decisions on MPS adoption and usage.
Findings
MSMs make decisions on MPS adoption and usage in three phases: first, due to variations in social and economic surroundings, some merchants develop intentions to adopt MPSs, whereas others do not. Second, merchants developing adoption intentions in phase one have to select which MPS brands to adopt and then begin using them. The brand value affects their selection. Finally, the use of MPSs of their initial choice has consequences for business operations. Merchants with different levels of personal innovativeness evaluate the consequences differently. Satisfied merchants continue using the initial MPSs, while dissatisfied merchants switch to other brands.
Originality/value
The findings first give a more complete depiction of how MSMs make MPS adoption and usage decisions; second show that MSMs’ MPS adoption intention is solely influenced by pro-mobile-payment surroundings and explain what constitutes pro-mobile-payment surroundings and through what mechanisms the surroundings influence adoption intentions; third reveals that selecting which MPS brand to adopt is an important decision phase; fourth explain both why merchants may continue using MPSs and why they may switch from one MPS brand to another.
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Dingyu Shi, Xiaofei Zhang, Libo Liu, Preben Hansen and Xuguang Li
Online health question-and-answer (Q&A) forums have developed a new business model whereby listeners (peer patients) can pay to read health information derived from consultations…
Abstract
Purpose
Online health question-and-answer (Q&A) forums have developed a new business model whereby listeners (peer patients) can pay to read health information derived from consultations between askers (focal patients) and answerers (physicians). However, research exploring the mechanism behind peer patients' purchase decisions and the specific nature of the information driving these decisions has remained limited. This study aims to develop a theoretical model for understanding how peer patients make such decisions based on limited information, i.e. the first question displayed in each focal patient-physician interaction record, considering argument quality (interrogative form and information details) and source credibility (patient experience of focal patients), including the contingent role of urgency.
Design/methodology/approach
The model was tested by text mining 1,960 consultation records from a popular Chinese online health Q&A forum on the Yilu App. These records involved interactions between focal patients and physicians and were purchased by 447,718 peer patients seeking health-related information until this research.
Findings
Patient experience embedded in focal patients' questions plays a significant role in inducing peer patients to purchase previous consultation records featuring exchanges between focal patients and physicians; in particular, increasingly detailed information is associated with a reduced probability of making a purchase. When focal patients demonstrate a high level of urgency, the effect of information details is weakened, while the interrogative form is strengthened.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies in its exploration of the monetization mechanism forming the trilateral relationship between askers (focal patients), answerers (physicians) and listeners (peer patients) in the business model “paying to view others' answers” in the online health Q&A forum and the moderating role of urgency in explaining the mechanism of how first questions influence peer patients' purchasing behavior.
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The aim of this study is to explore the host–guest relationship at a macro level, investigating the sociopsychological relationship between a destination and its markets.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to explore the host–guest relationship at a macro level, investigating the sociopsychological relationship between a destination and its markets.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted netnography to fulfill the research purpose. Data were collected from Sina Microblog, the predominant social media platform in China, focused on bloggers responses to a fatal conflict between a tour participant and the guide during a shopping tour.
Findings
Bloggers' attributional discussions help to understand the nature of the host–guest relations. Responses from Chinese and Hong Kong bloggers showcased criticism toward the other community and criticism of one's own community. These were reflected in three themes: concerns with the place of conflict or the identities of the perpetrators, hospitableness or discrimination and the Chinese and Hong Kong cultures.
Research limitations/implications
The major limitation is that the subject of this study (young bloggers) does not represent a complete cross section of the residents of China and Hong Kong. This study suggests a need for a broader theoretical perspective of the host–guest encounter. The study results have practical implications for destinations receiving Chinese group package tours.
Practical implications
The study results have practical implications for destinations receiving Chinese group package tours.
Originality/value
On-site interaction has been the focus of previous studies of the host–guest relationship, and off-site interactions were seldom explored. This study bridges the gap and extends the discourse on the host–guest relationship to a wider temporal (by taking a post event view) and spatial (by assessing the issue off-site) scale.
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The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a qualitative study exploring the conditions associated with the creation, preservation and transmission of Shuishu archives…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a qualitative study exploring the conditions associated with the creation, preservation and transmission of Shuishu archives in China, and the crises today in their preservation and transmission and the reasons behind them. It also proposes activation mechanisms to shift Shuishu archives from jeopardized collective memory to preservable cultural memory.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews and ethnographic fieldwork were conducted over the course of a month in 2015.
Findings
The creation, preservation and transmission of Shuishu archives in the community of the Shui rely upon the community’s closed system. But this system has been broken as a result of modernization and wide use of new media in China. To preserve and transmit Shuishu archives to future generations, there needs to be mutual trust and equitable cooperation between government archives and the Shuishushi. The “cultural consciousness” of the Shui needs to be stimulated, and more members of the Shui and the whole of society need to participate in the preservation and transmission of this distinctive memory.
Practical implications
The study can provide a provocative example for education in preservation and LIS about community culture and archiving, and the preservation of social memory, identity and culture. The activation mechanisms seek to aid in the preservation and transmission of Shuishu archives and other similar community memory.
Originality/value
The study uses semi-structured interviews and ethnographic methodology to develop a rich understanding of the history and the status quo of the preservation and transmission of Shuishu archives. It redefines Shuishu archives and sheds light on the roles government archives should play in the preservation and transmission of Shuishu archives.
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Meimei Zhao, Dalong Li, Yaqin Xu, Xueying Bu, Chen Shen, Libo Wang, Yu Yang and Jingwen Bai
This paper aims to explore the adsorption kinetics of syringin from Syringa oblata Lindl. leaves on macroporous resin and develop an efficient, simple and recyclable technology…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the adsorption kinetics of syringin from Syringa oblata Lindl. leaves on macroporous resin and develop an efficient, simple and recyclable technology for the separation and purification of syringin.
Design/methodology/approach
Static adsorption and desorption properties of six resins were tested to select a suitable resin for the purification of syringin. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to estimate the adsorption behavior of syringin on AB-8 resin. Breakthrough point and eluent volume were determined by dynamic adsorption and desorption tests. High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry was applied to identify the syringin in the purified product [syringin product (SP)]. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of SP in vitro were evaluated by free radical scavenging ability and biofilm formation inhibitory tests.
Findings
AB-8 exhibited the most suitable adsorption and desorption capacity. Adsorption isotherm parameters indicated favorable adsorption between AB-8 and syringin. The optimal results were as follows: for adsorption, the sample concentration was 1.85 mg/mL, the sample volume was 3.5 bed volume (BV), the flow rate was 0.5 mL/min; for desorption, the ethanol concentration was 70%, the elution volume was 2.5 BV, the elution velocity was 1.0 mL/min. SP with 80.28% syringin displayed the potent antioxidant activities and inhibitory effects on biofilm formation of Streptococcus suis.
Originality/value
To the best of authors’ knowledge, there are no reports on purifying syringin from Syringa oblata Lindl. leaves using macroporous resins. This paper may also provide a theoretical reference for the purification of other phenylpropanoid glucosides.
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Kristijian Mirkovski, Yanli Jia, Libo Liu and Kun Chen
The purpose of this paper is to explain how individuals form microblogging habits and why they continue to use microblogs from the perspective of direction social networks.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explain how individuals form microblogging habits and why they continue to use microblogs from the perspective of direction social networks.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the social network theory and the social presence theory, the authors develop a theoretical framework to explain how individuals form microblogging habits and why they continue to use microblogs. To test the proposed model and examine its external validity, the authors collected data from two microblogs: Twitter and Sina Weibo.
Findings
Satisfaction and habit have a significant influence on microblogging continuance intention. Whereas, users’ microblogging habits are developed by two key factors – satisfaction and frequency of past behavior – that are further determined by social presence and social network centrality.
Research limitations/implications
Larger sample size with diverse populations is highly recommended for future studies. In addition, exploring the distinct technical functionalities of microblogs when conceptualizing habit formation would be of benefit in future studies.
Practical implications
In this study, it was found that social presence increases both the satisfaction of users and the frequency of past use behavior. Hence, microblog designers should provide users with greater freedom to modify the form and content of their interface, and enable these modifications to be visible in real time to increase the interactivity of microblogs.
Originality/value
In contrast to past studies that have largely neglected the impacts of the directed social network structure, this study aims to focus on microblogging continuance intention from the directed social network perspective. The results from two independent data sets converge on the conclusion that users’ continuance intention to use is affected by both their conscious evaluations (i.e. satisfaction) and unconscious reactions (i.e. habit).
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Jing Bill Xu and Libo Yan
This paper aims to highlight unconventional or underused theories that can be considered for the study of hospitality and tourism consumers. The authors discuss how these theories…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to highlight unconventional or underused theories that can be considered for the study of hospitality and tourism consumers. The authors discuss how these theories can be applied.
Design/methodology/approach
This research paper is conceptual and descriptive in nature. The authors address the proposed theories by applying the Delphi method.
Findings
Theories such as dramaturgical theory, persuasion theory, script theory, customer inspiration theory and segmented assimilation theory are underused but can be applied to studies of hospitality and tourism consumers’ behavior. They can be helpful for understanding various aspects of consumer behavior, such as their decision-making, motivations, attitudes and perceptions, in hospitality and tourism.
Originality/value
Consumer behavior is more diverse and complex in the post-pandemic era. The authors draw attention to theories that are underused but have explanatory power with regards to hospitality and tourism consumers’ behaviors. These non-conventional theories can provide new theoretical perspectives and offer new insights.
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Dejian Yu and Libo Sheng
Supply chain finance (SCF), which is able to manage financial flows along the supply chains effectively, has received wide attention from all over the world. Faced with the…
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chain finance (SCF), which is able to manage financial flows along the supply chains effectively, has received wide attention from all over the world. Faced with the increasing number of outputs, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the SCF development over the past decades effectively, including the hot topics, knowledge diffusion trajectories and structure.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts the keyword co-occurrence cluster and main path analysis (MPA) including four types of main paths, studying the historical development of SCF based on 2,233 papers retrieved from Web of Science during 1970–2019.
Findings
The results show that: (1) the research focuses on several aspects, including trade credit, supply chain management, procurement, health financing and sustainability, etc. and (2) trade credit financing has been the mainstream and the research focus has shifted from one-level trade credit to two-level trade credit. Recently, there is a trend to use game-theoretic models to find the best solutions for members in the supply chain.
Originality/value
This paper addresses the need to investigate the knowledge evolution in the SCF domain. It provides a framework to study the knowledge diffusion trajectories and structure, which helps scholars to handle thousands of papers effectively and deepen their understanding of the history, present and future trends of SCF development.
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Xuwen Chi, Cao Tan, Bo Li, Jiayu Lu, Chaofan Gu and Changzhong Fu
The purpose of this paper is to solve the common problems that traditional optimization methods cannot fully improve the performance of electromagnetic linear actuators (EMLAs).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to solve the common problems that traditional optimization methods cannot fully improve the performance of electromagnetic linear actuators (EMLAs).
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) method based on the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) algorithm was proposed. An electromagnetic-mechanical coupled actuator analysis model of EMLAs was established, and the coupling relationship between static/dynamic performance of the actuator was analyzed. Suitable optimization variables were designed based on fuzzy grayscale theory to address the incompleteness of the actuator data and the uncertainty of the coupling relationship. A multiobjective genetic algorithm was used to obtain the optimal solution set of Pareto with the maximum electromagnetic force, electromagnetic force fluctuation rate, time constant and efficiency as the optimization objectives, the final optimization results were then obtained through a multicriteria decision-making method.
Findings
The experimental results show that the maximum electromagnetic force, electromagnetic force fluctuation rate, time constants and efficiency are improved by 18.1%, 38.5%, 8.5% and 12%, respectively. Compared with single-discipline optimization, the effectiveness of the multidiscipline optimization method was verified.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a MDO method for EMLAs that takes into account static/dynamic performance, the proposed method is also applicable to the design and analysis of various electromagnetic actuators.
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Haijie Wang, Jianrui Zhang, Bo Li and Fuzhen Xuan
By incorporating the defect feature information, an ML-based linkage between defects and fatigue life unaffected by the time scale is developed, the primary focus is to…
Abstract
Purpose
By incorporating the defect feature information, an ML-based linkage between defects and fatigue life unaffected by the time scale is developed, the primary focus is to quantitatively assess and elucidate the impact of different defect features on fatigue life.
Design/methodology/approach
A machine learning (ML) framework is proposed to predict the fatigue life of LPBF-built Hastelloy X utilizing microstructural defects identified through nondestructive detection prior to fatigue testing. The proposed method combines nondestructive micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT) technique to comprehensively analyze the size, location, morphology and distribution of the defects.
Findings
In the test set, SVM-based fatigue life prediction exhibits the highest accuracy. Regarding the defect information, the defect size significantly affects fatigue life, and the diameter of the circumscribed sphere of the largest defect has a critical effect on fatigue life.
Originality/value
This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights into the fatigue mechanism of structural materials in defective states, offering a novel perspective for better understanding the influence of defects on fatigue performance.