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International exchange students have been known for an often-neglected population in tourism research and their intention to revisit the host country has not been explored. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships among international exchange students’ memorable experiences, nostalgia, satisfaction and revisit intention.

Data were collected from students (N = 169) with recent international exchange experience using snowball sampling approach through various online platforms. The hypothesised relationships were tested using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Results showed that memorable experiences had a positive effect on nostalgia and satisfaction, and nostalgia significantly affected satisfaction. Satisfaction was also found to have a positive effect on revisit intention. In addition, memorable experiences and nostalgia had indirect effects on satisfaction and intention to revisit a host country in the near future.

The findings of this study contribute to the extant literature on international exchange students’ experience and provide tourism marketers with strategies to encourage them to revisit a host country.

我还会回来吗？由高校学生难忘的交换项目经历而激发的故地重游

摘要

国际交换生在旅游研究中是经常被忽视的一个群体, 且他们再访交换国家之意图尚未被探讨。因此, 本研究之目的是研究国际交换生难忘的经历, 怀旧, 满意度和再访意图之间的关系。

本研究的样本以滚雪球抽样的方式在各种网路平台收集有国际交换经验的学生（N = 169）, 且使用偏最小平方-结构方程模型（PLS-SEM）检验了研究模型中的假设关系。

本研究发现, 难忘的经历对怀旧情绪和满意度有正向的影响, 而怀旧会显著影地响满意度, 且满意度对再访意图有正向影响。此外, 难忘的经历和怀旧情绪对满意度以及再访交换国家意图有间接的影响。

此研究结果贡献于现有国际交换生体验的文献, 并为旅游营销人员提供了鼓励他们重新访问交换国家的策略。

¿Volveré? Evocar nostalgia a través de experiencias memorables del programa de intercambio de estudiantes universitarios.

Los estudiantes de intercambio internacional han sido conocidos por una población a menudo descuidada en la investigación turística, y su intención de volver a visitar el país anfitrión no ha sido explorada. En consecuencia, el propósito de este trabajo fue examinar las relaciones entre las experiencias memorables de los estudiantes de intercambio internacional, la nostalgia, la satisfacción y la intención de volver a visitar.

Se recolectaron datos de estudiantes (N = 169) con experiencia de intercambio internacional reciente utilizando el método de muestreo de bola de nieve a través de varias plataformas en línea. Las relaciones hipotéticas se ensayaron utilizando los mínimos cuadrados parciales — modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (PLS-SEM).

Este estudio encontró que las experiencias memorables tuvieron un efecto positivo en la nostalgia y la satisfacción, y la nostalgia afectó significativamente la satisfacción. También se determinó que la satisfacción tenía un efecto positivo en la intención de volver a visitar. Además, las experiencias memorables y la nostalgia tuvieron efectos indirectos en la satisfacción y la intención de volver a visitar un país anfitrión en un futuro próximo.

Los hallazgos de este estudio contribuyen a la literatura existente sobre la experiencia de los estudiantes de intercambio internacional y proporcionan a los vendedores de turismo estrategias para alentarlos a volver a visitar un país anfitrión.

This paper aims to propose a novel design concept for a biomimetic dolphin-like underwater glider, which can offer the advantages of both robotic dolphins and underwater gliders to achieve high-maneuverability, high-speed and long-distance motions.

To testify the gliding capability of dolphin-like robot without traditional internal movable masses, the authors first developed a skilled and simple dolphin-like prototype with only gliding capability. The hydrodynamic coefficients, including lift, drag and pitching moment, are obtained through computational fluid dynamics method, and the hydrodynamic analysis in the steady gliding motion is also executed.

Experimental results have shown that the dolphin-like glider could successfully glide depending on the pitching torques only from buoyancy-driven system and controllable fins without traditional internal moveable masses.

A hybrid underwater glider scheme that combines robotic dolphin and glider is firstly proposed, shedding light on the creation of innovation gliders with maneuverability and durability.

Previous research has posited country image to operate at two levels: the country’s macro image, based on general politico-economic descriptors of the country, and the country’s micro image, based on perceptions of products from the country. The purpose of this paper is to further explore this premise in a practical study, using a psychometric assessment of macro and micro country images by ascertaining the nature of differences in macro and micro images of leading exporters, the USA and China, for consumers in Malaysia, a top import destination of US and Chinese goods; the images of Malaysian goods were similarly assessed.

The study used a systematic sample, with questionnaires distributed to adult respondents using a street intercept. Interviewers asked every other passer-by to fill out a questionnaire, and stood in close proximity to address any questions from respondents. The study hypothesized that there is a significant difference between country macro and micro image, respectively for the USA, China and Malaysia, and that there is significant relationship between country macro image and country micro image in each country, respectively, USA, China and Malaysia.

The study found support for the reliability of existing country micro and macro image measures, and further refined them for increased validity. The study compared between the countries and found significant differences on both macro and micro dimensions of country image. The US scored highest on technological research, high quality products, standards of living, labor costs, welfare system, industrialization, civilian government, development, literacy, free-market system and democracy, followed by China on technological research, industrialization, development and free-market system, with Malaysia scoring higher on product quality, labor costs, welfare system, civilian government is civilian/non-military, literacy, free-market system and democracy.

A broader study of countries that share geopolitical and cultural similarities might offer additional insights into country macro and micro image.

The study cautions marketers to assess the acceptance of their products in the context of their country’s macro and micro image perceptions in target markets, and steer those perceptions in a manner that would be beneficial to their marketing efforts.

The conceptualization of the macro and micro aspects of country image has been one of the less studied dimensions of country image. This study is the first to address these dimensions from an emerging-market perspective, suggesting that, at the macro level, country perceptions regarding technology, economy, and politics contribute to an overall impression of the country, which would then influence the desirability of its products originating there. For the micro country image, products from countries perceived as innovative, excelling in product design, and producing prestigious products, are likely to be perceived as desirable.

The purpose of this paper is to maraging 18Ni-300 steel fabricate by powder bed based selective laser melting (SLM) process. Microstructure and mechanical properties of the maraging steel part before and after heat treatment at a slow cooling rate were investigated.

The microstructure of the printed part was observed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The phases were determined by X-ray diffraction. The surface roughness of the part was recorded by a profilometer. The tensile properties and microhardness of the parts before and after heat treatment were characterized by an electronic universal tensile testing machine and a Vickers hardness tester, respectively.

Maraging 18Ni-300 steel part comprised of the martensitic phase and a small fraction of austenite phase. After heat treatment, the volume fraction of austenite slightly increased. The surface roughness of the part was about 96 µm. The printed part was dense, but irregular pores were present. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), elongation and Young’s modulus of as-fabricated parts were 554.7 MPa, 1173.1 MPa, 10.9% and 128.9 GPa, respectively. The yield strength, UTS, elongation and Young’s modulus of as-treated parts were 2065 MPa, 2225 MPa, 4.2% and 142.5 GPa, respectively. The microhardness values of surface and cross-section of the as-fabricated part were 407.1 HV and 443.0 HV, respectively. After short-time heat treatment, the microhardness values of the surface and cross-section of the part were 542.7 HV and 567.3 HV, respectively. After long-time heat treatment, the microhardness values of the surface and cross-section of the part were 524.4 HV and 454.8 HV, respectively. The microhardness and tensile strength increased significantly with decreasing elongation due to the changes in phases and microstructure of the parts after heat treatment.

This work studied the effect of heat treatment at 550°C combined with a subsequent slow cooling rate on microstructure and mechanical properties of maraging 18Ni-300 steel obtained by the powder bed based SLM process.

Many studies have shown that rehabilitation robots are crucial for lower limb dysfunction, but application of many robotics have yet to be seen to actual use in China. This study aimed to improve a lower limb rehabilitation robot by details improving and practical design.

Structures and control system of a lower limb rehabilitation robot are improved in detail, including joint calculations, comfort analysis and feedback logic creation, and prototype experiments on healthy individuals and patients are conducted in a hospital.

All participating subjects did not experience any problems. The experiment shows detail improving is reasonable, and feasibility of the robot was confirmed, which has potential for overcoming difficulties and problems in practical application.

Therapeutic effects need to be evaluated in the future. Also, more details should be improved continuously based on the actual demand.

The improved robot could assist the lower limb during standing or walking, which has significance for practical application and patients in China.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how supply chain management (SCM) practices and knowledge management (KM) capabilities affect firm performance. This study was conducted in the Asia Pacific region, which had not been examined before.

A three‐phase statistical analysis which comprised phase one (convergent validity, reliability, and discriminant validity), phase two (mediated regression analysis) and phase three (path analysis) was used to analyze the data.

The results from this paper have shown that the implementation of SCM practices will interact with KM capabilities to influence firm performance.

The proposed model does not consider firm performance from multiple perspectives. In addition, the use of longitudinal data would be more useful to examine how changes in certain variables affect performance.

These findings provide important insights for managers to understand the disposition of the firm to better leverage internal capability (knowledge), by exploiting relationships with supply chain partners.

This paper has extended knowledge in the mainstream management and provides valuable clues on how to improve organizational effectiveness, which is the crux of management.

The paper is among the first empirical works that specifically investigate the relationships between KM and SCM; thus this paper fills an important gap in the supply chain literature.

This paper aims to develop a new approach for aeroelastic analysis of hingeless rotor blades.

The aeroelastic approach developed here is based on the geometrically exact fully intrinsic beam equations and three-dimensional unsteady aerodynamics.

The developed approach is accurate, fast and very useful in rotorcraft aeroelastic analysis.

This beam formulation has been never combined with three-dimensional aerodynamic model to be used for aeroelastic analysis of blades. In addition, it is possible to handle the composite blades, as well as blades with initial curvatures and twist with this proposed formulation.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a concept of an alignment between market and technology orientations (MTs) and investigates the difference in new product innovation activities and performance among the four groups of high-tech firms which are classified into four categories labeled as MT, technology orientation (TO), market orientation (MO) and conservative (CO) firms.

Data were collected from 360 high-tech firms in China. MANOVA was used to identify whether or not new product innovation activities (i.e. timing of market entry and product quality) and performance vary across the four groups.

The results indicate that the four groups of firms significantly differ with respect to new product performance and with new product innovation activities pertaining to timing of market-entry strategy and product quality. Further, the results show that first, MT firms have highest new product performance; second, TO firms are speed leaders which have first-to-market with new product; and third, MO firms are quality champions which are best for the perceived new product quality.

This paper responds to call for synthetic studies of multiple orientations and cross-disciplinary research, especially in the areas of marketing and strategic management. This paper is the first to integrate MO and TO and examine the interactive effects of these two orientations on new product innovation. Against prior study believing the combination of strategic orientations play an important role in innovation management, the findings that TO firms are speed leaders and MO firms are quality champions suggest that the combination of different strategic orientations is not beneficial to all respects of new product innovation, such as timing of market-entry strategy and product quality.

The purpose of this paper is to obtain the single-tooth stiffness, single-tooth time-varying meshing stiffness and comprehensive meshing stiffness of the internal and external face gears and to analyze the influence of the modulus, pressure angle and tooth width of each face gear on the single-tooth stiffness of the gear in nutation face gear transmission.

From the point of view of material mechanics, the gear teeth of nutation face gear are simplified as spacial variable cross-section beams. The shear deformation of gear teeth, the bending deformation of tooth root and the additional elastic deformation caused by the base deformation are gotten by simplified trapezoidal section method, thus the stiffness of nutation face gear teeth can be obtained. The comparison with finite element method results verifies the rationality of simplified trapezoidal section method for calculating the tooth stiffness of nutation face gear.

The variation of stiffness of internal and external face gears along the meshing line and tooth height in nutation face gear transmission is studied, and the variation laws of single tooth stiffness, single-tooth-pair mesh stiffness and single tooth time-varying meshing stiffness of nutation face gear teeth are obtained.

Nutation face gear transmission is a new type of transmission. The stiffness of face gear teeth is analyzed, and the variation rules of single tooth stiffness, single-tooth-pair mesh stiffness and single tooth time-varying meshing stiffness of nutation face gear teeth are obtained, which not only enriches the research of nutation face gear transmission but also has important guiding significance for the application of nutation face gear in engineering practice.