Jae-Pil Ha, Sun J Kang and Jaehyun Ha
This study proposes a conceptual model to comprehensively understand how sports fans perceive and accept smartphones and applications in a sport consumption context by developing…
Abstract
This study proposes a conceptual model to comprehensively understand how sports fans perceive and accept smartphones and applications in a sport consumption context by developing a series of propositions. Theoretically based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Sport Website Acceptance Model (SWAM), this study provides fundamental groundwork to better conceptualise sports fans' decision making processes involving the latest technology used to consume sport.
Jae-Pil Ha, Sun J. Kang and Yukyoum Kim
With the ever-increasing popularity of smartphones, it has become one of the most important medium to increase sport fan engagement. However, very little attention has been paid…
Abstract
Purpose
With the ever-increasing popularity of smartphones, it has become one of the most important medium to increase sport fan engagement. However, very little attention has been paid to understand how fans use smartphones to follow sport. With that in mind, the purpose of this paper is to investigate specific factors that influence the use of smartphones in the sport consumption context.
Design/methodology/approach
This research empirically examined theoretical relationships between three categories of variables (perceptions toward smartphones, sport-specific factors, and smartphone-specific factors) and intention to use the smartphone in following sports.
Findings
Of the 11 proposed hypotheses, eight hypotheses were supported. Approximately 79.4 percent of variance in the usage intention was explained by the three categories of the variables.
Originality/value
As one of the first to take a holistic approach toward understanding sport consumption behaviors using smartphones, results of the current research can be employed as a base for studies examining other multi-functional technology medium in various sport settings.
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Pradipta Patra and Unni Krishnan Dinesh Kumar
Opportunistic and delayed maintenances are increasingly becoming important strategies for sustainable maintenance practices since they increase the lifetime of complex systems…
Abstract
Purpose
Opportunistic and delayed maintenances are increasingly becoming important strategies for sustainable maintenance practices since they increase the lifetime of complex systems like aircrafts and heavy equipment. The objective of the current study is to quantify the optimal time window for adopting these strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study considers the trade-offs between different costs involved in the opportunistic and delayed maintenances (of equipment) like the fixed cost of scheduled maintenances, the opportunistic rewards that may be earned and the cost of premature parts replacement. The probability of the opportunistic maintenance has been quantified under two different scenarios – Mission Reliability and Renewal Process. In the case of delayed maintenance, the cost of the delayed maintenance is also considered. The study uses optimization techniques to find the optimal maintenance time windows and also derive useful insights.
Findings
Apart from finding the optimal time window for the maintenance activities the study also shows that opportunistic maintenance is beneficial provided the opportunistic reward is significantly large; the cost of conducting scheduled maintenance in the pre-determined slot is significantly large. Similarly, the opportunistic maintenance may not be beneficial if the pre-mature equipment parts replacement cost is significantly high. The optimal opportunistic maintenance time is increasing function of Weibull failure rate parameter “beta” and decreasing function of Weibull failure rate parameter “theta.” In the case of optimal delayed maintenance time, these relationships reverse.
Originality/value
To the best of our knowledge, very few studies exist that have used mission reliability to study opportunistic maintenance or considered the different cost trade-offs comprehensively.
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Jianlin Sun, Huang Ying and Mingyu Lu
The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive experimental study to achieve optimal surface roughness of aluminum rolled with freshly ground rollers of two high rolling…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive experimental study to achieve optimal surface roughness of aluminum rolled with freshly ground rollers of two high rolling mills.
Design/methodology/approach
Various rolling oils and processing conditions are applied in the rolling process. Resultant surface roughness is measured with a profilometer; and surface topography of aluminum after rolling is observed under scanning electron microscope. In order to examine the oil film thickness (the most critical factor in rolling process), a planimeter is used to measure the area of oil patch resulting from a precisely controlled oil droplet, which in turn allows calculation of outlet oil film thickness as an approximation to inlet oil film thickness in the deformation region.
Findings
The experimental results indicate that two major factors have dominant impacts on aluminum's surface roughness in the rolling lubrication process: reduction of roller; and viscosity of lubrication oil. Based upon analysis of the experimental data, optimal roller reduction is found to be within range (23%, 30%) and optimal oil viscosity should be chosen, such that the ratio between inlet oil film thickness in the deformation region and the combined surface roughness is around 1.
Originality/value
According to the authors' observations, the above parameter choices generally assure excellent surface quality of aluminum after rolling.
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Jixin Han, Haibang Zhang, Juncai Sun, Wenyuan Zhao and Jinlong Cui
The purpose of this study is to improve the surface electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of AISI430 stainless steel (430 SS) as bipolar plates for direct formic acid…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to improve the surface electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of AISI430 stainless steel (430 SS) as bipolar plates for direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC).
Design/methodology/approach
The niobium diffusion layers have been successfully synthesized on 430 SS substrate by the plasma surface diffusion alloying technique under different diffusion alloying time.
Findings
The surface morphology of Nb-modified 430 SS prepared under the diffusion alloying time of 2 h is more homogeneous, relatively sleek and compact without surface micropore and other common surface blemishes. The potentiostatic and potentiodynamic polarization measurements manifest that Nb-modified 430 SS prepared under the diffusion alloying time of 2 h enormously ameliorate the corrosion resistance of bare 430 SS compared with other Nb-modified 430 SS samples and its corrosion current density is maintained at −1.4 µA cm−2 in simulated anodic environment of DFAFC (0.05 M H2SO4 + 2 ppm HF + 10 M formic acid at 50 °C).
Originality/value
The effect of diffusion alloying time on the corrosion resistance and surface conductivity of Nb-modified 430 SS has been carefully studied. The Nb-modified 430 SS samples prepared at the diffusion alloying time of 2 h have the best surface electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance in the simulated anodic environment of DFAFC.
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Fupeng Cheng, Jinglong Cui, Shuai Xu, Hongyu Wang, Pengchao Zhang and Juncai Sun
The purpose of this paper is to improve the surface electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of AISI 430 stainless steel (430 SS) as bipolar plates for proton exchange…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to improve the surface electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of AISI 430 stainless steel (430 SS) as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), a protective Nb-modified layer is formed onto stainless steel via the plasma surface diffusion alloying method. The effect of diffusion alloying time on electrochemical behavior and surface conductivity is evaluated.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, the surface electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of modified specimen are evaluated by the potentiodynamic and potentionstatic polarization tests. Moreover, the hydrophobicity is also investigated by contact angle measurement.
Findings
The Nb-modified 430 SS treated by 1.5 h (1.5Nb) presented a lower passivation current density, lower interfacial contact resistance and a higher hydrophobicity than other modified specimens. Moreover, the 1.5 Nb specimen presents a smoother surface than other modified specimens after potentionstatic polarization tests.
Originality/value
The effect of diffusion alloying time on electrochemical behavior, surface conductivity and hydrophobicity of modified specimen is evaluated. The probable anti-corrosion mechanism of Nb-modified specimen in simulated acid PEMFC cathode environment is presented.
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Manisha Bhardwaj and Rajat Agrawal
The purpose of this paper is to facilitate perishable product supply chain (PPSC) managers and practitioners to assess PPSC failure events. The paper proposed fault tree…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to facilitate perishable product supply chain (PPSC) managers and practitioners to assess PPSC failure events. The paper proposed fault tree methodology for assessing failures associated with PPSC for evaluating the performance in terms of effective PPSC management adoption.
Design/methodology/approach
Initially, different failure events were identified from literature and semi-structured interviews from experts. Fault tree model was developed from the identified failure events. Probability of failure events was calculated using Poisson distribution based on the annual reports and interviews conducted from experts. Further, qualitative analysis – minimum cut sets (MCSs), structural importance coefficient (SIC) – and quantitative analysis – Birnbaum importance measure (BIM), criticality importance factor (CIF) and diagnosis importance factor (DIF) – were performed for ranking of failure events. In this study, fault tree development and analysis were conducted on apple supply chain to present the authenticity of this method for failure analysis.
Findings
The findings indicate that the failure events, given as failure at production and procurement (A2), that is, involvement of middleman (BE3), handling and packaging failure (BE4) and transportation failure (A3), hold the highest-ranking scores in analysis of PPSC using fault tree approach.
Originality/value
This research uses the modularization approach for evaluation of failure events of PPSC. This paper explores failures related to PPSC for efficient management initiatives in apple supply chain context. The paper also provides suggestion from managerial perspective with respect to each failure event.
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Reetu Yadav, Mamta Kushwah, Anna Nikolaevna Berlina and Mulayam Singh Gaur
The purpose of this study is determination of cadmium using silver-gold bimetallic nanoparticles (Ag-Au BMNPs) and an aptamer modified glassy carbon electrode.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is determination of cadmium using silver-gold bimetallic nanoparticles (Ag-Au BMNPs) and an aptamer modified glassy carbon electrode.
Design/methodology/approach
The maximum response of modified electrode was obtained with, 50 mV pulse amplitude, 20 mV/s scan rate in phosphate buffer of pH 4.0. Ag-Au BMNPs, as the mediators improved electron transmit during the entire electron transfer process and the aptasensor response. Herein, the authors used aptamer as the capture probe to prepare an aptasensor with enhanced stability.
Findings
The proposed aptasensor exhibited a wide linearity to cadmium in the range of 0.001–0.100 µg/L with a low detection limit of 0.005×10−3 µg/L. The glassy carbon electrodes with Ag-Au BMNPs showed a lower detection limit.
Originality/value
This aptasensor has good reproducibility, stability and repeatability and is cost-effective to regenerate. The specificity and selectivity of the novel modified electrode is tested in the presence of other interfering metal ions such as Fe2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, Sb3+ and Bi3+. The aptasensor shows 10 times more sensitivity and selectivity for Cd2+ ions.
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Xingya Wang and Guangchang Pang
This paper aims to provide a detailed review of weak interaction biosensors and several common biosensor methods for magnifying signals, as well as judiciously guide readers…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a detailed review of weak interaction biosensors and several common biosensor methods for magnifying signals, as well as judiciously guide readers through selecting an appropriate detecting system and signal amplification method according to their research and application purpose.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper classifies the weak interactions between biomolecules, summarizes the common signal amplification methods used in biosensor design and compares the performance of different kinds of biosensors. It highlights a potential electrochemical signal amplification method: the G protein signaling cascade amplification system.
Findings
Developed biosensors which, based on various principles, have their own strengths and weaknesses have met the basic detection requirements for weak interaction between biomolecules: the selectivity, sensitivity and detection limit of biosensors have been consistently improving with the use of new signal amplification methods. However, most of the weak interaction biosensors stop at the research stage; there are only a minority realization of final commercial application.
Originality/value
This paper evaluates the status of research and application of weak interaction biosensors systematically. The G protein signaling cascade amplification system proposal offers a new avenue for the research and development of electrochemical biosensors.
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Special purpose companies issue stocks to raise money to finance development of real estate and infrastructure. The advantage of a stock issue is that it does not entail financial…
Abstract
Purpose
Special purpose companies issue stocks to raise money to finance development of real estate and infrastructure. The advantage of a stock issue is that it does not entail financial cost such as interest on a loan. However, financing obtained in this way has been insufficient due to low interest by investors because of the large variability of the stocks’ earnings rates. The purpose of this paper is to propose methods to improve investment earnings rate for financing.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed methods are Markowitz’s model and a combination of Markowitz’s model and Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed methods were verified by comparison with actual earnings rate.
Findings
The earnings rate was increased by as much as 23 percent over the actual value. Then, earnings rate compared with risk was analyzed using the Sharpe ratio which is a method to measure investment performance. The performance was also increased by as much as 23 percent over the actual value. The proposed method can help activate investment by increasing investors’ interest in the stock issue.
Originality/value
This study verified that Markowitz’s portfolio model, which is used for econometrics, could be applied for financing of construction project. It is valuable because the previous studies did not propose the method for financing.