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1 – 10 of over 2000
Article
Publication date: 15 July 2024

Min Zhao, Wei He, Xiuyu He, Liang Zhang and Hongxue Zhao

Bionic flapping-wing aerial vehicles (FWAVs) mimic natural flyers to generate the lift and thrust, such as birds, bats and insects. As an important component of the FWAVs, the…

Abstract

Purpose

Bionic flapping-wing aerial vehicles (FWAVs) mimic natural flyers to generate the lift and thrust, such as birds, bats and insects. As an important component of the FWAVs, the flapping wings are crucial for the flight performance. The aim of this paper is to study the effects of different wings on aerodynamic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Inspired by the wings structure of birds, the authors design four cambered wings to analyze the effect of airfoils on the FWAVs aerodynamic performance. The authors design the motor-driven mechanism of flapping wings, and realize the control of flapping frequency. Combined with the wind tunnel equipment, the authors build the FWAVs force test platform to test the static and dynamic aerodynamic performance of different flapping wings under the state variables of flapping frequency, wind speed and inclined angle.

Findings

The results show that the aerodynamic performance of flapping wing with a camber of 20 mm is the best. Compared with flat wing, the average lift can be improved by 59.5%.

Originality/value

Different from the traditional flat wing design of FWAVs, different cambered flapping wings are given in this paper. The influence of airfoils on aerodynamic performance of FWAVs is analyzed and the optimal flapping wing is obtained.

Details

Robotic Intelligence and Automation, vol. 44 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2754-6969

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 November 2023

Zheng Zhang, Wenru Liu and Wei He

Based on the conservation of resource theory, this paper explores the impact of differentiated transformational leadership on employees' taking charge in the context of Chinese…

Abstract

Purpose

Based on the conservation of resource theory, this paper explores the impact of differentiated transformational leadership on employees' taking charge in the context of Chinese organizations, with psychological availability as a mediator and collectivism orientation as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors distributed paired questionnaires to 67 team managers and 219 team members to obtain research data and established a hierarchical linear model for the hypothesis testing.

Findings

The results show that team-focus transformational leadership has a significant positive impact on employees' taking charge, and individual-focus transformational leadership has a significant negative impact on employees' taking charge. Specifically, psychological availability plays a partial mediating role between differentiated transformational leadership and employees' taking charge. Moreover, collectivism orientation has no significant moderating effect between team-focus transformational leadership and psychological availability. But it has a significant moderating effect between individual-focus transformational leadership and psychological availability, i.e. the higher the level of collectivism orientation, the stronger the negative effect of individual-focus transformational leadership on psychological availability.

Originality/value

The paper notes the hierarchy of differentiated transformational leadership and divides it into team-focus transformational leadership and individual-focus transformational leadership. It also provides a new mechanism and boundary condition, i.e. differentiated transformational leadership has an impact on employees' taking charge through psychological availability and collectivism orientation is a moderator.

Details

Leadership & Organization Development Journal, vol. 45 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7739

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 May 2024

Tingting Liu, Danping Shao, Yulei Li, Chang-E Liu and Wei He

Despite an emerging interest in constructive deviance, the exploration of its antecedents is still limited, particularly from an ethical perspective. This study aims to uses moral…

Abstract

Purpose

Despite an emerging interest in constructive deviance, the exploration of its antecedents is still limited, particularly from an ethical perspective. This study aims to uses moral disengagement theory to investigate how team identification, moral justification and team environmental instability interact to affect employee constructive deviance.

Design/methodology/approach

With survey data collected in two waves from 315 employees of 49 work teams in five service companies in China, this study develops four hypotheses and tests them through hierarchical linear model.

Findings

The survey results support the complete mediating effect of moral justification on the positive impact of team identification on constructive deviance. They also confirm the moderating effect of environmental instability on the relationship between team identification, moral justification and constructive deviance.

Originality/value

This study explores the sources of constructive deviance at team level from the ethical decision-making perspective and reveals the mechanism and contingency factors in the relationship between identity and constructive deviance. In practice, the study findings imply that managers should encourage their employees to cultivate their identification with their team and align their moral justification with the team’s norms especially when the team faces turbulent environment.

Details

Chinese Management Studies, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-614X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 July 2024

Wei He, Wenqing Gao and Shaomeng Jia

The world population is getting older and housing decisions matter to the security of retirement life and well-being. However, senior housing and financing decisions are largely…

Abstract

Purpose

The world population is getting older and housing decisions matter to the security of retirement life and well-being. However, senior housing and financing decisions are largely overlooked in the literature. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the senior housing and financing decisions in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 2021 American Housing Survey data and ordinary least squares estimates, this paper studies senior housing and financing decisions in the 15 most populous US metropolitan areas. Multiple regressions are used to analyze the whole sample as well as various subsamples.

Findings

This paper finds strong evidence that seniors are more likely to own a house with a higher market value compared with nonseniors. More specifically, although race and gender do not matter in this relationship, it is less pronounced among those with higher education. Also, seniors, especially white senior homeowners, are more likely to have a lower mortgage debt burden due to a higher upfront down payment than nonseniors. Last, seniors are more likely to refinance their homes and receive cash than nonseniors.

Research limitations/implications

Constrained by the data limitations, this study specifically focuses on seniors’ housing and mortgage decisions. Future research could involve exploring seniors’ mortgage decisions by considering factors such as mortgage loan terms, borrower credentials and the evolving landscape of the senior housing market, among other aspects.

Practical implications

The findings would help policymakers and contractors in the construction industry better understand the uniqueness of challenges in the senior housing market and develop effective housing policies and programs that cater to the needs of the elderly. A comprehensive understanding of the senior housing market would also help seniors make informed purchase and financing decisions.

Social implications

The authors propose providing financial education to the elderly, particularly those of disadvantaged status, to improve their expertise and bargaining skills in the mortgage loan application process.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to understanding the dynamic senior housing market, which encounters challenges and opportunities associated with the aging population. The study fills the gap of limited research regarding seniors’ housing decision and their financing choices in the USA and would help policymakers and contractors in the construction industry develop effective housing policies and programs that cater to the needs of the elderly.

Details

International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8270

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 October 2022

Wei He and Shaomeng Jia

This paper aims to investigate the increasing trend of multigenerational co-living in the USA and to research the socioeconomic and cultural determinants of such decision.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the increasing trend of multigenerational co-living in the USA and to research the socioeconomic and cultural determinants of such decision.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the 2017 American Housing Survey data to run descriptive and regression analysis.

Findings

The authors find household income appears consistently to be the most significant factor determining multigenerational co-residence decision across all household compositions. Latino households are most likely to co-reside with multiple generations, followed by Asian and African American households. Immigrants tend to live in multigenerational co-residential housing units with smaller sizes and more impoverished neighborhoods, but show greater flexibility in making residential arrangements once they gain better education. In addition, older householders or female householders are significantly more likely to co-reside with multiple generations. Living in metropolitan areas has no impact on co-residence choice, although some evidence suggests that multigenerational co-residential families tend to live in inferior neighborhoods.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides updated evidence on multigenerational co-residence choice in the contemporary United States. The findings provide evidence on how households make residential choices in response to financial hardships and contribute to the theoretical understanding of the variations of such decisions among immigrants and different ethnic and aging groups.

Practical implications

This study on multigenerational co-residence choice imposes important practical implications. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic creates ideal research setting to study how households cope with the tremendous uncertainties in the job markets and financial markets. Although multigenerational co-living may work well for some households with lower or moderate-income for financial reasons, it is not an attractive option for every family.

Social implications

Sharing a home with multiple generations can be challenging. Policymakers should design policies and programs to provide households with guidance on how to live peacefully in multigenerational settings and make multigenerational co-living an appealing and cost-effective housing option for American families of all means.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by providing new evidence on the determinants of multigenerational co-residence decision. This study’s findings are fundamental to guide policymakers in carrying out policies and programs aimed at providing a more appealing and cost-effective housing arrangement for American families. The evidence on the senior and minority subsamples are especially meaningful as the vast majority of the baby boom generation in the USA is aging and substantial growth is expected in multigenerational households over the next several decades. Understanding the increasing burden of old-age depression in aging societies will help policymakers prioritize public resources in city planning to address the needs of this rapidly growing population.

Details

International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, vol. 17 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8270

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 July 2024

Muhammad Ibnu Rashyid, Mahendra Jaya and Muhammad Akhsin Muflikhun

This paper aims to use hybrid manufacturing (HM) to overcome several drawbacks of material extrusion three-dimensional (3D) printers, such as low dimension ranging from 0.2 to…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to use hybrid manufacturing (HM) to overcome several drawbacks of material extrusion three-dimensional (3D) printers, such as low dimension ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 µm, resulting in a noticeable staircase effect and elevated surface roughness.

Design/methodology/approach

Subtractive manufacturing (SM) through computer numerical control milling is renowned for its precision and superior surface finish. This study integrates additive manufacturing (AM) and SM into a single material extrusion 3D printer platform, creating a HM system. Two sets of specimens, one exclusively printed and the other subjected to both printing and milling, were assessed for dimension accuracy and surface roughness.

Findings

The outcomes were promising, with postmilling accuracy reaching 99.94%. Significant reductions in surface roughness were observed at 90° (93.4% decrease from 15.598 to 1.030 µm), 45° (89% decrease from 26.727 to 2.946 µm) and the face plane (71% decrease from 12.176 to 3.535 µm).

Practical implications

The 3D printer was custom-built based on material extrusion and modified with an additional milling tool on the same gantry. An economic evaluation based on cost-manufacturing demonstrated that constructing this dual-function 3D printer costs less than US$560 in materials, offering valuable insights for researchers looking to replicate a similar machine.

Originality/value

The modified general 3D printer platform offered an easy way to postprocessing without removing the workpiece from the bed. This mechanism can reduce the downtime of changing the machine. The proven increased dimension accuracy and reduced surface roughness value increase the value of 3D-printed specimens.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 30 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 April 2024

Kasun Gomis, Mandeep Saini, Chaminda Pathirage and Mohammed Arif

The need to enhance student support is evident in higher education (HE) curricula. In addition to the complications created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the current strategies used…

Abstract

Purpose

The need to enhance student support is evident in higher education (HE) curricula. In addition to the complications created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the current strategies used in academia are criticised for their lack of appropriate student support in HE. The study focused on the themes under Section 4 of the National Student Survey (NSS): availability to contact tutors, receiving good advice and guidance and availability of good advice. The study aimed to provide recommendations for enhancing academic support by developing drivers that need implementation during course delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

A documental analysis and a qualitative survey were adopted for this study. A documental analysis of 334 mid-module reviews (MMRs) from levels three to six students in the built environment (BE) discipline. Critical themes identified from the MMRs were fed forward in developing a questionnaire for academics. A sample of 23 academics, including a Head of school, a Principal lecturer, Subject leads and Lecturers, participated in the questionnaire survey. Content analysis is adopted through questionnaire data to develop drivers to enhance academic support in BE. These drivers are then modelled by interpretive structural modelling (ISM) to identify their correlation to NSS Section 4 themes. A level partition analysis establishes how influential they are in enhancing academic support.

Findings

The study identified nine drivers, where two drivers were categorised as fundamental, two as significant, four as important, and one insignificant in enhancing academic support in HE. Module leaders’/tutors’ improving awareness and detailing how academic support is provided were identified as fundamental. Differentiating roles in giving advice and the importance of one-to-one meetings were identified as significant. A level partitioning diagram was developed from the nine drivers to illustrate how these drivers need to be implemented to promote the best practices in academic support in HE.

Practical implications

The identified drivers and their categories can be used to set prioritised guidelines for academics and other educational institutions to improve students’ overall satisfaction.

Originality/value

Novelty from the study will be the developed drivers and the level partitioning diagram to assist academics and academic institutions in successfully integrating academic support into HE curricula.

Article
Publication date: 18 April 2024

Zhanghuang Xie, Xiaomei Li, Dian Huang, Andrea Appolloni and Kan Fang

We consider a joint optimization problem of product platform design and scheduling on unrelated additive/subtractive hybrid machines, and seek to find efficient solution…

Abstract

Purpose

We consider a joint optimization problem of product platform design and scheduling on unrelated additive/subtractive hybrid machines, and seek to find efficient solution approaches to solve such problem.

Design/methodology/approach

We propose a mathematical formulation for the problem of simultaneous product platform design and scheduling on unrelated additive/subtractive hybrid machines, and develop a simulated annealing-based hyper-heuristic algorithm with adjustable operator sequence length to solve the problem.

Findings

The simulated annealing-based hyper-heuristic algorithm with adjustable operator sequence length (SAHH-osla) that we proposed can be quite efficient in solving the problem of simultaneous product platform design and scheduling on unrelated additive/subtractive hybrid machines.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, we are one of the first to consider both cost-related and time-related criteria for the problem of simultaneous product platform design and scheduling on unrelated additive/subtractive hybrid machines.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 March 2022

Jiang Wei, Jie Zheng and Yan Zuo

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of cross-listing in overcoming liability of origin (LOO) facing emerging economy corporations (EECs).

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of cross-listing in overcoming liability of origin (LOO) facing emerging economy corporations (EECs).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes Chinese firms' cross-listing in Hong Kong and the firms' establishment of international joint ventures (IJVs) with foreign partners as the research setting. This is an empirical study using Heckman's self-selection model as the primary econometric technique and two-stage least square (2SLS) regressions as the supplementary estimation procedure.

Findings

Cross-listing in developed economies can serve as a signal for EECs to overcome the LOO. In addition, the regional institutional voids of emerging economies (EEs) and state ownership are prominent boundary conditions shaping this effect.

Research limitations/implications

Only Chinese firms and the firms' cross-listing in Hong Kong are considered for the empirical context as a result of data availability.

Practical implications

This paper provides a practical solution for EECs whose internationalisation tends to be hindered by the LOO.

Originality/value

This study is of high importance in that it centres on a distinctive and challenging problem faced with EECs—the LOO. Besides, it ascribes this liability to a matter of information asymmetries and explores how cross-listing can serve as a signal to cope with this challenge.

Details

International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. 18 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-8809

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 October 2022

Xiaoyu Chen

This study aims to investigate motivators, mediator and moderator of users' sustained information seeking on academic social networking sites (ASNSs).

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate motivators, mediator and moderator of users' sustained information seeking on academic social networking sites (ASNSs).

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon the expectancy–value theory and related information-seeking literature, the study developed a theoretical model to explain why and how users intend to continue seeking information on ASNSs. Thereafter, a field survey with 385 participants was conducted to test the model. Finally, a content analysis of participants' post-survey feedback was performed to complement the model test results by showing more fine-grained findings.

Findings

Results suggest that information usefulness and information adoption (IA) are significant to users' sustained information seeking on ASNSs, while users' satisfaction with ASNSs may play a mediating role in the relationship between information usefulness and sustained information seeking. Additionally, self-efficacy for critical thinking (SCT) weakens the impact of IA on users' satisfaction with ASNSs. The post-survey feedback analysis indicates that information usefulness is more critical to sustained information seeking for users with high SCT, whereas IA becomes more crucial to users' satisfaction with ASNSs and sustained information seeking for users with low SCT.

Originality/value

Although the extant literature has distinguished between information seeking and sustained information seeking, empirical research into users' sustained information seeking on ASNSs is limited. The study fills this gap by proposing and validating relevant factors and the boundary condition of users' sustained information seeking.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. 75 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

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