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The proposed metamaterial absorber (MMA) has the following advantages: first, the structure of the MMA consists of one planar metallic resonator, which presents a new design approach to obtain a multiband absorption response, rather than using multiple unit-cells in the one large unit cell or stacking different layers. Second, the simultaneous realization of triple-band and dual-band absorption (or bi-functional absorption) at five different frequencies can integrate the respective advantages of the triple functions of the triple-band MMA and double-band MMA, and therefore, the bi-functional MMA will find more application prospects than multiple-functional devices of triple-band and dual-band. Third, the authors simulated the three combinations of MMA here, which is indium tin oxide (ITO)-Polyimide-ITO, ITO-Teflon-ITO and ITO-polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-ITO for the same planar structure and achieve a high absorption rate. Finally, the proposed structure is polarization and angle independent in nature.

This absorption device consists of the top circular resonator, the middle insulating SiO₂ medium layer and the bottom metallic copper ground plane placed on a substrate. The conductivity of the copper metal is s = 5.8 × 10⁷ s/m. As the transmission of the MMA structure is zero, the substrate materials can be selected randomly. Totally four combinations of terahertz MMA are designed and simulated here which are ITO- SiO₂ –ITO, ITO-Polyimide-ITO, ITO-Teflon-ITO and ITO- PET-ITO for the same planar structure.

Compared with previous MMAs, the proposed MMA has the following advantages: First, the structure of the MMA consists of one planar metallic resonator, which presents a new design approach to obtain a multiband absorption response, rather than using multiple unit-cells in the one large unit cell or stacking different layers. Second, the simultaneous realization of triple-band and dual-band absorption (or bi-functional absorption) at five different frequencies can integrate the respective advantages of the triple functions of the triple-band MMA and double-band MMA, and therefore, the bi-functional MMA will find more application prospects than multiple-functional devices of triple-band and dual-band. Third, the authors simulated the three combinations of MMA here, which is ITO-polyimide-ITO, ITO-Teflon-ITO and ITO- PET-ITO for the same planar structure and achieve a high absorption rate. Finally, the proposed structure is polarization and angle independent in nature.

First, the structure of the MMA consists of one planar metallic resonator, which presents a new design approach to obtain a multiband absorption response, rather than using multiple unit-cells in the one large unit cell or stacking different layers. Second, the simultaneous realization of triple-band and dual-band absorption (or bi-functional absorption) at five different frequencies can integrate the respective advantages of the triple functions of the triple-band MMA and double-band MMA, and therefore, the bi-functional MMA will find more application prospects than multiple-functional devices of triple-band and dual-band. Third, the authors simulated the three combinations of MMA here, which is ITO-polyimide-ITO, ITO-Teflon-ITO and ITO-PET-ITO for the same planar structure and achieve a high absorption rate. Finally, the proposed structure is polarization and angle independent in nature.

Stereolithography apparatus (SLA) is capable of in situ fabrication of complex parts, as well as mechanisms and complex devices with embedded components. In this paper, a series of example devices are presented to illustrate the power of building around embedded components (inserts). The problem formulation, solution approach, and specific rules and procedures are presented using these examples and experimental results. A case study approach is used for presentation. These procedures and results lend insight into promising new applications of SLA technology, as well as novel methods of implementing additional functionality into SLA and other rapid prototyping technologies.

This purpose of this study is to analyze consumer behavior in relation to Google Glass. The study considers the adoption and diffusion of the innovation, aspects related to technological convergence and the theories of utilitarian, hedonic and social value.

This qualitative, exploratory study uses the methodological approach of netnography via passive observation. Data collection was conducted using the social network Reddit over a period of about four months.

Three categories and two subcategories of consumers were found, namely, socially satisfied; socially constrained; and early adopters, divided into enthusiasts and visionaries.

A limitation of this research pertains to the data collected regarding consumption preferences of users and potential adopters. No questions were created, but rather, discussions were selected, from the social network Reddit, that focused on factors pertaining to the theories studied.

The research brings an important insight regarding the launch of new products: to obtain a good market position for new devices, failures or inadequate perceptions that will negatively impact the technology’s dissemination must be minimized.

This study presents social value of technological consumption as a function of the conspicuousness, status and position of users who own devices that differ from those commonly available on the market.

This study reveals which elements exert the greatest influence on intention to consume so-called wearable technology. In particular, it analyzes consumer behavior in relation to Google Glass, evaluating the reasons that were perceived as positive and negative for consumers which blocked the technology launch in the market.

This paper aims to investigate the dynamics of ephemerality within consumer tribes by conceptualizing how tribes constitute, disperse and reconstitute. Building upon assemblage thinking, a philosophical approach that redistributes agency from the subject to a web of interconnected human–material actants, this paper shows that tribes manifest via hybrid assemblages of people, things and ideas.

Insights are drawn from a three-year assemblage-oriented ethnographic study of a salsa-dancing tribe, specifically their ephemeral gatherings across multiple sites without hierarchical organization. Methods include observations as a consumer–participant, producer–participant and in-depth interviewing.

Introduces a framework documenting how tribes disperse temporarily and reconstitute via a dual process of ascription and distribution. Tribes reconstitute when consumers reproduce an assemblage that effectively overcomes a meshwork of practical challenges. Consumers ascribe to the standards of the tribe while, alternatively, tribes distribute the assemblage beyond the immediate group.

Conceptualizes the socio-technical dynamics that tribes mobilize to disassemble and reassemble through ephemeral gatherings. Proposes a framework on hybrid interdependencies, including not only participants but also techniques, devices and sites.

While previous research shows that tribes can collapse, the authors propose that marketers can intervene to foster long-term resilience. As tribes disperse, consumer and marketing efforts operate at different temporal sequences to enable tribal reconstitutions.

Contributes to the literature on consumer tribes by theorizing ephemerality per ascription and distribution mechanisms.

Autonomous mobile manipulation depends on a lot of effort at various levels. In general, the hardware design is as important as algorithm (or software) design. In particular, the absence of certain capabilities of hardware can seriously affect the feasibility and performance of algorithms. The purpose of this paper is to present work on developing hardware capability for mobile manipulation by low‐cost humanoids (LOCH) humanoid robot.

This paper presents research work on developing the hardware support which enables vision‐guided mobile manipulation realized on top of a biped humanoid robot called LOCH. One important goal which guides the development is to achieve the hardware capability with human‐like dexterity, modularity, functionality, and appearance.

This paper discusses the detail of solutions leading to the realization of the intended hardware capability, focusing in particular on the issues related to mechanism, actuation, distributed sensing, and distributed control of humanoid head, humanoid hands and humanoid arms. Finally, the paper shows the result of the actual prototype, which can be controlled by a remote control station through wireless connection.

In designing a machine, it is common to do motor‐sizing and material selection. Since these are standard procedures, these details are omitted because readers with the training in mechanical engineering should be able to work out such details in order to select the appropriate motors and materials. Also, this paper does not delve into the description of the biped system of LOCH humanoid, because such work requires another long paper in order to reveal major details.

This paper presents the major detail of research efforts toward developing hardware capabilities for achieving autonomous mobile manipulation by LOCH humanoid robot, focusing on three important modules, namely: perception head, human‐like hands, and arms. The uniqueness of this work is twofold. First, LOCH humanoid robot's perception head has the most versatile sensing capabilities, which are fully integrated into a compact and human‐like head. Second, each of LOCH humanoid robot's hands has 14 degrees of freedom, which are realized within a mechanism which is of human‐hand size and shape. In addition, the perception head, humanoid hands and humanoid arms are seamlessly integrated together owing to the adoption of a distributed system which supports networked sensing and control through the use of both control area network bus and transmission control protocol/internet protocol internet.

The paper aims to investigate the impact of e-books on attitude towards reading among elementary school students. The paper also reflects on issues related to readings and e-books.

Experimental method of research was used to carry out the study. Experiment was conducted on fourth-grade students in an international school in Kuwait. The control group consisted of nine students. The experimental group had 16 students: eight read the book under the “read-to-me” feature and the other half read the book alone. Students in the two groups were assigned readings randomly and their reactions were studied and compared using different methods.

The experiment demonstrated that students enjoyed reading the electronic medium more than the paperback alternative. The difference, however, was not significant. In addition, difference between the comprehension levels of the three conditions was also insignificant. Students did, however, finish reading the paperback book in a significantly shorter time.

A pilot study would have been desirable and also the number of questions asked in the comprehension test could have been expanded. The authors were also not able to explore the possibility of using an automated tool to record the reading time. The two reading instruments used (iPads and iPods) might have affected the students’ understanding and enjoyment of the book, although no noticeable differences were found.

The experiment indicted that one of the apparent benefits of reading the e-book was its built-in picture dictionary, as the book used in the study incorporated a lot of word coinage in his texts. Lessons learnt from the study can benefit in enhancing features of e-books and designing reading programmes to help build more positive attitude towards reading among children.

Little research has been reported in the literature on investigation of e-books towards reading attitude particularly using empirical studies or experimental research. Most literature focuses on availability of e-books and their features. This study makes a good contribution to the literature on this important aspect of research and makes available useful practical information as well.

The Fabry-Perot sapphire optical fiber sensor is an excellent choice for high-temperature sensing in civil and military fields, such as oil exploitation, engine and turbine. The purpose of this paper is to study the high-reflective film system withstanding high temperature in Fabry-Perot sapphire optical fiber high-temperature sensor. To improve the performance of the sensor and reduce the difficulty of signal acquisition, one of the key ways is to enhance the normalized light intensity of F-P sensor, which can be achieved by coating the high-reflective film system on the fiber end.

The high-reflective film system can be achieved by a multilayer film with alternating ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ film layers whose refractive indexes are different. In addition, the optimum film alternating sequences and the influence of the number of film layers, incident angle and temperature should be obtained by numerical analysis.

With the increase of the number of film layers, the reflectivity rises gradually and the change trend is more and more gentle. A minimum of the spectral reflectivity will occur at a certain incident angle depending on the design of the periodic multilayer system. Temperature affects the reflectivity of high-reflective film system. The normalized light intensity of the F-P sensor coated with high-reflective film system enhances greatly which is helpful to the signal demodulation. The temperature response of the F-P sensor is mainly determined by the characteristics of the F-P cavity.

Higher reflectivity, lower cost and easy signal acquisition are the most important features of the introduced high-reflective film system for the Fabry-Perot sapphire optical fiber high-temperature sensor.

Shape memory polymer (SMP) is capable of recovering its original shape from a high degree of deformation by applying an external stimulus such as thermal energy. This research presents an integration of two commercial SMP materials (DiAPLEX and Tecoflex) and a material extrusion (ME) printer to fabricate SMP parts and specimens. The material properties such as Young’s modulus of the specimens was examined as a process output. Furthermore, stress-strain curve, strain recovery, instant shape-fixity ratio, long-term shape-fixity ratio and recovery ratio of SMP specimens during a thermo-mechanical cycle were investigated.

The ME fabrication settings for the SMP specimens were defined by implementing a design of experiments with temperature, velocity and layer height as process variables.

It was found, according to main effect and iteration plots, that fabrication parameters have an impact on Young’s modulus and exist minimum iteration among variables. In addition, Young’s modulus variation of DiAPLEX and Tecoflex specimens was mostly caused by velocity and layer height parameters, respectively. Moreover, results showed that SMP specimens were able to recover high levels of deformation.

This paper is a reference for process control and for rheological properties of SMP parts produced by ME fabrication process.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the transfer of learning among older adults and the importance of physical activity (PA) related to aging in place.

A mixed-methods approach examined 10 older adults aged 65–88, who were receiving occupational therapy and contemplating aging in place. Semistructured interviews determined participants' perceptions of aging in place and PA. Accelerometers assessed levels of PA over 14 days.

Interviews revealed that most participants were aware of the importance of PA but did not specify PA as being a primary contributor to continued independence with aging. Accelerometer data revealed that, on average, 96.7% of the day is spent in sedentary behavior.

Health-care professionals may ask the question, “What will my patient do with the information he or she has learned?” This study was useful to increase understanding of older adults’ learning, lifestyles and effects on aging independently.

As older adults have true expectations of requirements for successful aging in place, realistic levels of PA and transfer of learning could improve the intended outcome of aging independently.

PA is often an overlooked factor for occupational engagement and aging in place and is novel to investigate in combination with interviews.