235 research outputs found
Understanding Continuance Intention to Use Mobile Fitness Services: The Roles of Technological Characteristics and Network Effects
Mobile fitness platforms are effective in promoting healthy behaviors but these platforms generally suffer from low retention rates. It is necessary to study how to retain users of mobile fitness platforms. Based on customer value theory and Socio-technical approach, this study proposed a theoretical model to study the factors that affect usersâ continuance intention to use mobile fitness platforms from a holistic perspective. A total of 320 valid questionnaires were collected to verify the model. The results indicate that utilitarian value and hedonic value are positively related to continuance intention. Social ties are negatively related to continuance intention. Meanwhile, it is found that technological characteristics have significant positive influences on utilitarian value, hedonic value and social ties. Network effects have significant positive influences on hedonic value and social ties. These findings extend our understanding of usersâ continued usage of mobile fitness platforms and provide practical implications for mobile fitness service providers
Photoacoustic computed tomography guided microrobots for targeted navigation in intestines in vivo
Tremendous progress in synthetic micro/nanomotors has been made for potential biomedical applications. However, existing micro/nanomotor platforms are inefficient for deep tissue imaging and motion control in vivo. Here, we present a photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) guided investigation of micromotors in intestines in vivo. The micromotors enveloped in microcapsules exhibit efficient propulsion in various biofluids once released. PACT has visualized the migration of micromotor capsules toward the targeted regions in real time in vivo. The integration of the developed microrobotic system and PACT enables deep imaging and precise control of the micromotors in vivo
Graphene on Non-Polar SiC Facets
Graphene nanoribbons (SW-GNR) grown on sidewall SiC substrate facets exhibit exceptional quantized ballistic transport over 15 ÎŒm even at room temperature. For micron long ribbons, transport in these charge neutral ribbons involves a single conducting channel with a conductance of e^2/h, which to this day is not fully understood. We have therefore studied here graphene grown on SiC full wafers cut along the same crystallographic orientation as the sidewall facets. We characterize graphene growth on these non conventional (non-polar) faces and identify preferred orientation and the presence of an interface layer. Transport measurements of Hall-bar patterned graphene devices shows strong similarities with that of SW-GNR ribbons. In particular an analysis in terms of edge and bulk electronic states reveal a ballistic edge state conduction, with mean free path larger than 10 ÎŒm, and a bulk conduction with a ~ 10 nm mean free path. Segment quantization is also discussed. The findings in this thesis point to a new route towards future large scale high-performance electronics.Ph.D
Restructuring multimodal corrective feedback through Augmented Reality (AR)-enabled videoconferencing in L2 pronunciation teaching
The problem of cognitive overload is particularly pertinent in multimedia L2 classroom corrective feedback (CF), which involves rich communicative tools to help the class to notice the mismatch between the target input and learnersâ pronunciation. Based on multimedia design principles, this study developed a new multimodal CF model through augmented reality (AR)-enabled videoconferencing to eliminate extraneous cognitive load and guide learnersâ attention to the essential material. Using a quasi-experimental design, this study aims to examine the effectiveness of this new CF model in improving Chinese L2 studentsâ segmental production and identification of the targeted English consonants (dark /É«/, /Ă°/and /Ξ/), as well as their attitudes towards this application. Results indicated that the online multimodal CF environment equipped with AR annotation and filters played a significant role in improving the participantsâ production of the target segments. However, this advantage was not found in the auditory identification tests compared to the offline CF multimedia class. In addition, the learners reported that the new CF model helped to direct their attention to the articulatory gestures of the student being corrected, and enhance the class efficiency. Implications for computer-assisted pronunciation training and the construction of online/offline multimedia learning environments are also discussed
Block-Level Interference Exploitation Precoding for MU-MISO: An ADMM Approach
We study constructive interference based block-level precoding (CI-BLP) in
the downlink of multi-user multiple-input single-output (MU-MISO) systems.
Specifically, our aim is to extend the analysis on CI-BLP to the case where the
considered number of symbol slots is smaller than that of the users. To this
end, we mathematically prove the feasibility of using the pseudo-inverse to
obtain the optimal CI-BLP precoding matrix in a closed form. Similar to the
case when the number of users is small, we show that a quadratic programming
(QP) optimization on simplex can be constructed. We also design a
low-complexity algorithm based on the alternating direction method of
multipliers (ADMM) framework, which can efficiently solve large-scale QP
problems. We further analyze the convergence and complexity of the proposed
algorithm. Numerical results validate our analysis and the optimality of the
proposed algorithm, and further show that the proposed algorithm offers a
flexible performance-complexity tradeoff by limiting the maximum number of
iterations, which motivates the use of CI-BLP in practical wireless systems
Photoacoustic computed tomography guided microrobots for targeted navigation in intestines in vivo
Tremendous progress in synthetic micro/nanomotors has been made for potential biomedical applications. However, existing micro/nanomotor platforms are inefficient for deep tissue imaging and motion control in vivo. Here, we present a photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) guided investigation of micromotors in intestines in vivo. The micromotors enveloped in microcapsules exhibit efficient propulsion in various biofluids once released. PACT has visualized the migration of micromotor capsules toward the targeted regions in real time in vivo. The integration of the developed microrobotic system and PACT enables deep imaging and precise control of the micromotors in vivo
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