Search results

1 – 10 of 287
Per page
102050
Citations:
Loading...
Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 21 November 2018

Lifang Wu, Lidong Zhao, Meng Jian, Yuxin Mao, Miao Yu and Xiaohua Guo

In some three-dimensional (3D) printing application scenarios, e.g., model manufacture, it is necessary to print large-sized objects. However, it is impossible to implement…

1505

Abstract

Purpose

In some three-dimensional (3D) printing application scenarios, e.g., model manufacture, it is necessary to print large-sized objects. However, it is impossible to implement large-size 3D printing using a single projector in digital light processing (DLP)-based mask projection 3D printing because of the limitations of the digital micromirror device chips.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-projector DLP with energy homogenization (EHMP-DLP) scheme is proposed for large-size 3D printing. First, a large-area printing plane is established by tiling multiple projectors. Second, the projector set’s tiling pattern is obtained automatically, and the maximum printable plane is determined. Third, the energy is homogenized across the entire printable plane by adjusting gray levels of the images input into the projectors. Finally, slices are automatically segmented based on the tiling pattern of the projector set, and the gray levels of these slices are reassigned based on the images of the corresponding projectors.

Findings

Large-area high-intensity projection for mask projection 3D printing can be performed by tiling multiple DLP projectors. The tiled projector output energies can be homogenized by adjusting the images of the projectors. Uniform ultraviolet energy is important for high-quality printing.

Practical implications

A prototype device is constructed using two projectors. The printable area becomes 140 × 210 mm from the original 140 × 110 mm.

Originality/value

The proposed EHMP-DLP scheme enables 3D printing of large-size objects with linearly increasing printing times and high printing precision. A device was established using two projectors to practice the scheme and can easily be extended to larger sizes by using more projectors.

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 23 August 2021

Lifang Wu, Zechao Liu, Yupeng Guan, Kejian Cui, Meng Jian, Yuanyuan Qin, Yandong Li, Feng Yang and Tianqin Yang

This paper aims to address the problem of uncertain product quality in digital light processing (DLP) three-dimensional (3D) printing, a scheme is proposed to qualitatively…

372

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to address the problem of uncertain product quality in digital light processing (DLP) three-dimensional (3D) printing, a scheme is proposed to qualitatively estimate whether a layer is printed with the qualified quality or not cured .

Design/methodology/approach

A thermochromic pigment whose color fades at 45°C is prepared as the indicator and it is mixed with the resin. A visual surveillance framework is proposed to monitor the visual variation in a period of the entire curing process. The exposure region is divided into 30 × 30 sub-regions; gray-level variation curves (curing curves) in all sub-regions are classified as normal or abnormal and a corresponding printing control strategy is designed to improve the percentage of qualified printed objects.

Findings

The temperature variation caused by the releasing reaction heat on the exposure surface is consistent in different regions under the homogenized light intensity. The temperature in depth begins to rise at different times. The temperature in the regions near the light source rises earlier, and that far from the light source rises later. Thus, the color of resin mixed with the thermochromic pigment fades gradually over a period of the entire solidification process. The color variation in the regions with defects of bubbles, insufficient material filling, etc., is much different from that in the normal curing regions.

Originality/value

A temperature-sensitive organic chromatic chemical pigment is prepared to present the visual variation over a period of the entire curing process. A novel 3D printing scheme with visual surveillance is proposed to monitor the layer-wise curing quality and to timely stop the possible unqualified printing resulted from bubbles, insufficient material filling, etc.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 27 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 5 September 2018

Ying Huang, Chao Hao, Jian Liu, Xiaohui Guo, Yangyang Zhang, Ping Liu, Caixia Liu, Yugang Zhang and Xiaoming Yang

The purpose of this study is to present a highly stretchable and flexible strain sensor with simple and low cost of fabrication process and excellent dynamic characteristics…

508

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present a highly stretchable and flexible strain sensor with simple and low cost of fabrication process and excellent dynamic characteristics, which make it suitable for human motion monitoring under large strain and high frequency.

Design/methodology/approach

The strain sensor was fabricated using the rubber/latex polymer as elastic carrier and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)/carbon black (CB) as a synergistic conductive network. The rubber/latex polymer was pre-treated in naphtha and then soaked in SWCNTs/CB/silicon rubber composite solution. The strain sensing and other performance of the sensor were measured and human motion tracking applications were tried.

Findings

These strain sensors based on aforementioned materials display high stretchability (500 per cent), excellent flexibility, fast response (approximately 45 ms), low creep (3.1 per cent at 100 per cent strain), temperature and humidity independence, superior stability and reproducibility during approximately 5,000 stretch/release cycles. Furthermore, the authors used these composites as human motion sensors, effectively monitoring joint motion, indicating that the stretchable strain sensor based on the rubber/latex polymer and the synergetic effects of mixed SWCNTs and CB could have promising applications in flexible and wearable devices for human motion tracking.

Originality/value

This paper presents a low-cost and a new type of strain sensor with excellent performance that can open up new fields of applications in flexible, stretchable and wearable electronics, especially in human motion tracking applications where very large strain should be accommodated by the strain sensor.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 39 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 2 January 2020

Meng-Meng Wang, Jian-Jun Wang and Wan-Ning Zhang

The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying mechanisms through which interactivity and fairness perception impart influence on solvers’ continuance intention in…

664

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying mechanisms through which interactivity and fairness perception impart influence on solvers’ continuance intention in crowdsourcing contest settings.

Design/methodology/approach

On basis of self-determination theory and social exchange theory, this study focuses on the mediating roles of motivation and platform trust to explain the underlying influence processes of interactivity and fairness perception on continuance intention. A sample of 306 solvers was obtained from an online crowdsourcing platform through two separated surveys. The hypotheses were tested using the partial least squares method and bias-corrected bootstrapping method.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that motivation and platform trust together fully mediate the effect of interactivity on continuance intention, and the effect of fairness perception on continuance intention is also fully mediated by motivation and platform trust. While motivation is found to have a stronger mediating effect than platform trust does.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the crowdsourcing research by figuring out the pathway through which interactivity and fairness perception influence solvers’ continuance intention.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. 44 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 6 February 2019

Meng-Meng Wang and Jian-Jun Wang

The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying mechanisms through which integration capability and learning capability influence IT outsourcing performance from vendor’s…

706

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying mechanisms through which integration capability and learning capability influence IT outsourcing performance from vendor’s perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a moderated mediation model to explain the underlying influence processes of integration capability and learning capability on vendor’s performance. A sample of 237 vendor firms was obtained from China through two separated surveys. The hypotheses were tested with the partial least squares method and bias-corrected bootstrapping method.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that external integration capability (EIC) mediates the effect of internal integration capability (IIC) on vendor outsourcing performance, and the relationship between EIC and vendor performance is positively moderated by learning capability, while learning capability has a negative moderating effect on the link between IIC and vendor performance. Further, the conditional indirect effect is suggested. The indirect effect of IIC on vendor performance through EIC becomes non-significant when learning capability is low.

Originality/value

This study highlights the counterintuitive notion that learning capability may not always have uniformly positive effects and figure out the mechanism through which integration capability and learning capability can effectively improve IT outsourcing performance.

Details

Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 32 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0398

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 2 June 2020

Jian-Jun Wang, Negin Sasanipoor and Meng-Meng Wang

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of PRINCE2 (PRoject IN Controlled Environments 2) standard on customer satisfaction jointly with vendor relationship…

1468

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of PRINCE2 (PRoject IN Controlled Environments 2) standard on customer satisfaction jointly with vendor relationship management capability in the information technology outsourcing (ITO) context. This paper further tries to explore the above underlying mechanism by studying the mediating effect of deliverable quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a mediated moderation model to explain the underlying influence processes of PRINCE2 standard, vendor relationship management capability and deliverable quality on ITO customer satisfaction. By conducting a pair-wise survey of 260 project managers in seven Iranian firms, the model and hypotheses are empirically tested with the partial least squares method.

Findings

Our results suggest that firms benefit more in terms of IT costs reduction when they have a higher level of complementary investment in an external standard, especially through an interplay effect of the external standard and internal relational aspect. Firms can make business processes more amenable to outsourcing and facilitate monitoring of vendor performance and effective coordination with vendors. More interestingly, we find that this interactive effect is fully mediated by deliverable quality, which, in turn, directly increases ITO customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study adds some new knowledge and provides new views to study ITO customer satisfaction by addressing the importance of PRINCE2 standard. This study further enhances our understanding in terms of the underlying pathway through which the PRINCE2 standard jointly affects customer satisfaction with vendor relationship management capability and deliverable quality. With the effort of explicitly explaining the complex mechanisms, this study helps ITO managers proactively escort outsourcing activities and projects.

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 15 November 2024

Xiawei Tan, Jing Jian Xiao, Kexin Meng and Jiuping Xu

This study examines the association between financial education and budgeting behavior among college students. Under the guidance of the extended theory of planned behavior, we…

187

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines the association between financial education and budgeting behavior among college students. Under the guidance of the extended theory of planned behavior, we use a comprehensive measure of budgeting behavior and explore mediating factors between financial education and budgeting behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Financial education was measured by both frequency and intensity of taking courses in finance and economics in college. Data from a sample of college students across China were analyzed using structural equation modeling and serial mediation analysis to explore the mediating roles of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control and budgeting intentions in this relationship between financial education and budgeting behavior.

Findings

Budgeting intentions alone did not mediate the relationship between financial education and budgeting behavior. However, the serial mediation involving attitudes, subjective norms and budgeting intentions was significant.

Practical implications

The findings of this study have significant implications for financial educators, universities, governments and families. Financial educators should prioritize budgeting in curricula and aim to enhance students’ budgeting attitudes and intentions. Universities should enhance their financial education offerings, while governments and families should foster supportive environments and positive norms and attitudes around budgeting.

Originality/value

This research contributes a nuanced measurement of budgeting, analyzes the link between financial education and budgeting behavior among college students and highlights the roles of various components of the theory of planned behavior. It extends the theory by identifying how financial attitudes, subjective norms and budgeting intentions mediate the relationship between financial education and budgeting behavior.

Details

International Journal of Bank Marketing, vol. 43 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-2323

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 8 September 2023

Mousumi Singha Mahapatra, Jing Jian Xiao, Ram Kumar Mishra and Kexin Meng

This study aims to examine the association between parental financial socialization and life satisfaction and the mediating roles of desirable financial behavior in the…

553

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the association between parental financial socialization and life satisfaction and the mediating roles of desirable financial behavior in the association between parental financial socialization and life satisfaction of college students in India. Furthermore, this research also explores the moderating effects of parents’ socioeconomic characteristics (education, income and professions) in the association between parental financial socialization and desirable financial behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 1,161 college students was collected in India. Parental financial socialization is measured by direct parental teaching in this study. The first stage moderated mediation model is performed to examine the direct and indirect effects through financial behavior of parental financial on life satisfaction as well as the moderating role of parents’ socioeconomic characteristics.

Findings

The mediation analysis shows that parental direct teaching is positively associated with young adults’ financial behavior, which in turn contributes to their life satisfaction. Furthermore, this study also finds negative moderation effects of parental education on the association between parental direct teaching and children's financial behavior.

Originality/value

This study extends the knowledge of family financial socialization in the context of India. Moreover, it examines the mediation roles of desirable financial behavior in the association between parental direct teaching and children’s life satisfaction. Furthermore, this paper explores the potential influence of parents’ education, income and professions on children’s financial behavior and life satisfaction.

Details

Young Consumers, vol. 25 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-3616

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 26 September 2023

Jing Jian Xiao and Kexin Meng

This paper aims to examine and compare the associations between financial capability and financial anxiety (FA) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic…

535

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine and compare the associations between financial capability and financial anxiety (FA) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, financial capability is measured by three indicators: financial knowledge, financial behavior and financial confidence. This study also examines and compares the association among different income groups before and during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are from 2018 to 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS). Structural equation modeling (SEM) is employed to examine the direct and indirect associations between financial capability factors and FA. Furthermore, this paper also conducts multi-group SEM for three income groups to examine the heterogeneous effects of household income.

Findings

Both before and during the pandemic, financial knowledge is directly positively and financial behavior is directly negatively associated with FA. In addition, both financial knowledge and financial behavior are positively associated with financial confidence, which in turn is negatively associated with FA. However, when taking the indirect effects into consideration, the total effects of financial capability factors on FA are all negative. Furthermore, the pandemic has intensified the negative association between financial behavior and FA rather than financial knowledge or financial confidence. Multi-group SEM shows that the positive direct effects of financial knowledge are only significant in the low-income group, while the negative direct effects of financial behavior are only significant in the low- and middle-income groups before the pandemic. However, direct effects of financial knowledge and financial behavior are significant in all income groups during the pandemic.

Originality/value

First, this study specifies a construct, financial confidence, to proxy perceived financial capability. Second, it examines the mediating role of financial confidence in the association between the other two financial capability factors (financial knowledge and financial behaviors) and FA. Third, it also compares the associations between financial capability factors and FA before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Details

International Journal of Bank Marketing, vol. 42 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-2323

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 12 August 2019

Lei Guo, Lien Zhu, Lei Ma, Jian Zhang, QiuYu Meng, Zheng Jin, Meihua Liu and Kai Zhao

The purpose of this paper is to prepare a spherical modifier-modified activated carbon fiber of high specific capacitance intended for electrode materials of supercapacitor.

118

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to prepare a spherical modifier-modified activated carbon fiber of high specific capacitance intended for electrode materials of supercapacitor.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, phenolic-based microspheres are taken as modifiers to prepare PAN-based fiber composites by electrospinning, pre-oxidation and carbonization. Pearl-chain structures appear in RFC/ACF composites, and pure polyacrylonitrile fibers show a dense network. The shape and cross-linking degree are large. After the addition of the phenolic-based microspheres, the composite material exhibits a layered pearlite chain structure with a large porosity, and the RFC/ACF composite material is derived because of the existence of a large number of bead chain structures in the composite material. The density increases, the volume declines and the mass after being assembled into a supercapacitor as a positive electrode material decreases. The specific surface area of RFC/ACF composites is increased as compared to pure fibers. The increase in specific surface area could facilitate the diffusion of electrolyte ions in the material. Owing to the large number of bead chains, plenty of pore channels are provided for the diffusion of electrolyte ions, which is conducive to enhancing the electrochemical performance of the composite and improving the RFC/ACF composite and the specific capacitance of the material. The methods of electrochemical testing on symmetric supercapacitors (as positive electrodes) are three-electrode cyclic voltammetry, alternating current impedance and cycle stability.

Findings

The specific capacitance value of the composite material was found to be 389.2 F/g, and the specific capacitance of the electrode operating at a higher current density of 20 mA/cm2 was 11.87 F/g (the amount of the microsphere modifier added was 0.3 g). Using this material as a positive electrode to assemble into asymmetrical supercapacitor, after 2,000 cycles, the specific capacitance retention rate was 87.46 per cent, indicating excellent cycle stability performance. This result can be attributed to the fact that the modifier embedded in the fiber changes the porosity between the fibers, while improving the utilization of the carbon fibers and making it easier for electrolyte ions to enter the interior of the composites, thereby increasing the capacitance of the composites.

Originality/value

The modified PAN-based activated carbon fibers in the study had high specific surface area and significantly high specific capacitance, which makes it applicable as an efficient and environment-friendly absorbent, as well as an advanced electrode material for supercapacitor.

1 – 10 of 287
Per page
102050