Winner's regret in online C2C Auctions: an automatic thinking perspective

While human beings embody a unique ability for planned behaviour, they also often act automatically. In this study, we draw on the automatic thinking perspective as a meta‐theoretic lens to explain why online auction bidders succumb to both trait impulsiveness and sunk cost, ultimately leading them to experience winner's regret. Based on a survey of 301 online auction participants, we demonstrate that both trait impulsiveness as an emotional trigger and sunk cost as a cognitive trigger promote winner's regret. By grounding our research model in the automatic thinking view, we provide an alternative meta‐theoretical lens from which to view online bidder behaviour, thus bolstering our current understanding of winner's regret. We also investigate the moderating effects of competition intensity on the relationships between the triggers of automatic thinking and winner's regret. Our results show that both trait impulsiveness and sunk cost have significant impacts on winner's regret. We also found that the relationship between these two triggers and winner's regret is moderated by competition intensity.     

Sample preparation of chemical warfare agent simulants on a digital microfluidic (DMF) device using magnetic bead-based solid-phase extraction

In the present study, the purification and extraction of five chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants, dimethyl methyl phosphonate, di(propylene glycol) methyl ether, methyl salicylate, triethyl phosphate, and diethyl phthalate, on a digital microfluidic (DMF) device were demonstrated. The DMF on-chip purification and extraction was performed using a magnetic bead (MB)-based diol solid-phase extraction procedure. The extracted CWA simulants were detected using both matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The method detection limits of the DMF-MS approach using diol-MBs were also determined. In particular, for the DMF-GC-MS, the quantitative analysis ability was validated by determining accuracy, precision, calibration curve performance, and recovery efficiency. This study clearly shows that the CWA analyses can be automated on the DMF-MS platform, thereby minimizing human involvement.     

Integrating ICT adoption issues into (e-)leadership theory

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are having a profound effect in society and organizations. However, the literature on ICT adoption—from selection to implementation—has not been well integrated into leadership theory. This is particularly true in terms of adoption. Leaders must adopt ICTs not only for their own competence—an antecedent condition for what is considered e-leadership, but choose, recommend, and support implementation of ICTs for their organizations/units to use. Leaders are also expected to become effective in dealing and navigating the challenges of leading within the digital space. At this moment, there are two pertinent literatures: the technology adoption literature and the enterprise resource planning literature—which can be considered an important special case of leadership change management literature—and which could provide the theoretical basis for developing a unified theoretical perspective on e-leadership. This article provides a framework and propositions to connect these literatures by focusing on the effects of individual leader characteristics on the ICT adoption process from both a personal and enterprise-wide perspective. Study limitations and future research opportunities are outlined.     

Wafer‐Scale Single‐Crystalline Ferroelectric Perovskite Nanorod Arrays

1D ferroelectric nanostructures are promising for enhanced ferroelectric and piezoelectric performance on the nanoscale, however, their synthesis at the wafer scale using industrially compatible processes is challenging. In order to advance the nanostructure‐based electronics, it is imperative to develop a silicon‐compatible growth technique yielding high volumetric density and an ordered arrangement. Here, a major breakthrough is provided in addressing this need and ordered and close‐packed single crystalline ferroelectric nanorod arrays, of composition PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃ (PZT), grown on commercial grade 3 in. silicon wafer are demonstrated. PZT nanorods exhibit enhanced piezoelectric and ferroelectric performance compared to thin films of similar dimensions. Sandwich structured architecture utilizing 1D PZT nanorod arrays and 2D reduced graphene oxide thin film electrodes is fabricated to provide electrical connection. Combined, these results offer a clear pathway toward integration of ferroelectric nanodevices with commercial silicon electronics.     

Fully‐Inkjet‐Printed Ag‐Coil/NiZn‐Ferrite for Flexible Wireless Power Transfer Module: Rigid Sintered Ceramic Body into Flexible Form

Despite the material performances being superior to those of organic materials, inorganic materials are typically excluded for use in flexible and deformable electronic systems because of their rigid nature and the requirement for high processing temperature. This work presents a novel method of utilizing rigid NiZn‐ferrite films in a flexible platform and offers an opportunity to realize a flexible wireless power transfer (WPT) module. Inkjet printing is introduced in this study since it can coat NiZn‐ferrite films as well as pattern inductor coils for WPTs. A thermochemically inert buffer layer is selected based on a thermodynamic analysis and is introduced as a buffer layer for the NiZn‐ferrite to prevent chemical reaction between the ferrite film and the substrate and ensure that the ferrite film can be easily separated from the substrate during a high‐temperature sintering process. A Ag‐inductor coil is printed on the NiZn‐ferrite layer, and then the entire layer is embedded into polydimethylsiloxane, which renders the WPT module flexible. The flexibility of the WPT module is characterized by a bending test, and the structural and magnetic properties are also investigated. The performance of the flexible WPT module is demonstrated by transmitting wireless power to a light emitting diode.     

Energy‐Connectivity Tradeoff through Topology Control in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

In this study, we investigate topology control as a means of obtaining the best possible compromise between the conflicting requirements of reducing energy consumption and improving network connectivity. A topology design algorithm capable of producing network topologies that minimize energy consumption under a minimum‐connectivity constraint is presented. To this end, we define a new topology metric, called connectivity efficiency, which is a function of both algebraic connectivity and the transmit power level. Based on this metric, links that require a high transmit power but only contribute to a small fraction of the network connectivity are chosen to be removed. A connectivity‐efficiency‐based topology control (CETC) algorithm then assigns a transmit power level to each node. The network topology derived by the proposed CETC heuristic algorithm is shown to attain a better tradeoff between energy consumption and network connectivity than existing algorithms. Simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of the CECT algorithm.     

Correlation between the performance of organic bulk‐heterojunction solar cells and the molecular structures of alcohol solvents

Morphology control is an important issue for boosting the performance of organic bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. In this study, we investigated the correlation between alcohol solvents and the morphologies of poly({4,8‐bis[(2‐ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′] dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl}{3‐fluoro‐2‐[(2‐ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4‐b]thiophenediyl}) (PTB7) and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₇₀‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₀BM)‐based organic solar cells by spin‐casting the alcohol onto the active layers. We found that the morphologies strongly depended on the structure of the alcohol [alkyl chain length and hydroxyl (? OH) group position]. Ethanol or 2‐propanol showed the highest performance among the alcohols considered here. Atomic force microscopy images and absorption spectra demonstrated that the alcohols affected the morphologies of PC₇₀BM rather than those of PTB7. The morphologies of PC₇₀BM were dependent on the solubilities of the alcohols to the active layers and the hydrogen‐bonding strengths between the PC₇₀BM and alcohol molecules. Our results indicate that the use of alcohols for solvent annealing is a simple and efficient method for developing high‐performance organic BHJ solar cells. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 44367.     

Comparative study of EMI shielding effectiveness for carbon fiber pultruded polypropylene/poly(lactic acid)/multiwall CNT composites prepared by injection molding versus screw extrusion

The electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of the composites of polypropylene/poly(lactic acid) (PP/PLA) (70/30, wt %) with single filler of multiwall carbon nanotube (CNT) or hybrid fillers of nickel‐coated carbon fiber (CF) and CNT were investigated. For the single filler composite, higher electrical conductivity was observed when the PP‐g‐maleic anhydride was added as a compatibilizer between the PP and PLA. For the composite of the PP/PLA (70/30)/CF (20 phr)/CNT (5 phr), the composite prepared by injection molding observed a higher EMI shielding effectiveness of 50.5 dB than the composite prepared by screw extrusion (32.3 dB), demonstrating an EMI shielding effectiveness increase of 49.8%. The higher values in EMI shielding effectiveness and electrical conductivity of the PP/PLA/CF (20 phr)/CNT (5 phr) composite seemed mainly because of the increased CF length when the composites were prepared using injection molding machine, compared with the composites prepared by screw extrusion. This result suggests that the fiber length of the conductive filler is an important factor in obtaining higher values of electrical conductivity and EMI shielding effectiveness of the PP/PLA/CF/CNT composites. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45222.     

Electrochemical corrosion behavior and surface modification of ZrB2 in hydrofluoric acid aqueous solution

The electrochemical corrosion behavior in an open system of zirconium diboride (ZrB₂) was studied in hydrofluoric acid aqueous solution at room temperature. Based on analysis of the intermediate products of corrosion, a corrosion mechanism for ZrB₂ is suggested. The morphology evolution of anodic ZrB₂ is investigated. The density of the hexagonal‐pyramid grain array is dictated by current density, and the time dictates the length of the hexagonal pyramid grains. The microstructure of the surface can be controlled by the current density, which demonstrates that the surface wettability of ZrB₂ can be modified by tailoring the current density.     

Thermally induced phase separation in poly(lactic acid)/dialkyl phthalate systems

Thermally induced phase separation in poly(lactic acid)/dialkyl phthalate systems was investigated. Poly(DL ‐lactic acid) (PDLLA) and poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) with different molecular weights were used. A series of dialkyl phthalates, with different numbers of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, were employed as solvents to control the interaction between polymer and solvent. The liquid–liquid phase‐separation temperature of the poly(lactic acid) solutions decreased systematically with a shorter alkyl chain in the phthalate. Based on the interaction between polymer and solvent and the molecular weight of polymer influencing liquid–liquid phase‐separation temperature significantly but crystallization temperature only slightly, proper thermal conditions were employed to investigate competitive phase separation and crystallization in PLLA solutions. Factors that can influence the final morphology of PLLA solutions were examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2224–2232, 2003