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1 – 10 of 925
Article
Publication date: 14 July 2023

Guozhi Xu, Xican Li and Hong Che

In order to improve the estimation accuracy of soil organic matter, this paper aims to establish a modified model for hyperspectral estimation of soil organic matter content based…

Abstract

Purpose

In order to improve the estimation accuracy of soil organic matter, this paper aims to establish a modified model for hyperspectral estimation of soil organic matter content based on the positive and inverse grey relational degrees.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on 82 soil sample data collected in Daiyue District, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, firstly, the spectral data of soil samples are transformed by the first order differential and logarithmic reciprocal first order differential and so on, the correlation coefficients between the transformed spectral data and soil organic matter content are calculated, and the estimation factors are selected according to the principle of maximum correlation. Secondly, the positive and inverse grey relational degree model is used to identify the samples to be identified, and the initial estimated values of the organic matter content are obtained. Finally, based on the difference information between the samples to be identified and their corresponding known patterns, a modified model for the initial estimation of soil organic matter content is established, and the estimation accuracy of the model is evaluated using the mean relative error and the determination coefficient.

Findings

The results show that the methods of logarithmic reciprocal first order differential and the first-order differential of the square root for transforming the original spectral data are more effective, which could significantly improve the correlation between soil organic matter content and spectral data. The modified model for hyperspectral estimation of soil organic matter has high estimation accuracy, the average relative error (MRE) of 11 test samples is 4.091%, and the determination coefficient (R2) is 0.936. The estimation precision is higher than that of linear regression model, BP neural network and support vector machine model. The application examples show that the modified model for hyperspectral estimation of soil organic matter content based on positive and inverse grey relational degree proposed in this article is feasible and effective.

Social implications

The model in this paper has clear mathematical and physics meaning, simple calculation and easy programming. The model not only fully excavates and utilizes the internal information of known pattern samples with “insufficient and incomplete information”, but also effectively overcomes the randomness and grey uncertainty in the spectral estimation of soil organic matter. The research results not only enrich the grey system theory and methods, but also provide a new approach for hyperspectral estimation of soil properties such as soil organic matter content, water content and so on.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in realizing both a modified model for hyperspectral estimation of soil organic matter based on the positive and inverse grey relational degrees and effectively dealing with the randomness and grey uncertainty in spectral estimation.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 1998

Catherine W. Ng, Macauly P.Y. Ng and Stephanie C.K. Tse

Conducts two studies, one among working women and one among the employed physically handicapped, to assess their feelings about the recent introduction of equal opportunity…

212

Abstract

Conducts two studies, one among working women and one among the employed physically handicapped, to assess their feelings about the recent introduction of equal opportunity legislation in Hong Kong. Provides some background statistics on Hong Kong and outlines the development of anti‐discrimination legislation. Asks 78 women and 10 physically handicapped people if they thought discrimination was serious in Hong Kong and if the anti‐discrimination legislation and the Equal Opportunities Commission were effective in combating discrimination. Describes the methodology used and discusses the results. Reveals that both groups surveyed were ambivalent about discrimination, stating that legislation enforces behavioural changes but that they are only skin deep. Points out also that it is difficult to quantify discriminatory practices. Notes similarities between east and west, particularly with research suggesting that the only way forward in promoting equality is to reduce status distinctions for everyone and to make organizations much more democratic.

Details

Equal Opportunities International, vol. 17 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0261-0159

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 September 2010

Kelly Z. Peng, Chi‐Sum Wong and Hong‐Sheng Che

The purpose of this paper is to preliminary explain the possibly complicated moderating effects of job resources. The paper specifies the missing link between job demand and…

3182

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to preliminary explain the possibly complicated moderating effects of job resources. The paper specifies the missing link between job demand and burnout by focusing on the coping strategy argument.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper preliminary supports the mediated moderation model of the missing link by a large sample cross‐sectional survey.

Findings

The two coping strategies as mediators for the relationship between emotional demands and exhaustion are supported. Strong supports for the moderation effect of emotional intelligence on the relationship between emotional demands and the two coping strategies are found. Some support for the moderation of supervisor support on the relationship between deep acting and exhaustion are found.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes to the job demands‐control‐support and job demands‐resources models, as the proposed model helps to explain the inconsistent results for the buffering effect of job resources found in the literature. It also contributes to the literature of emotional intelligence, as it provides clear evidence of its importance in handling emotional demands.

Practical implications

Deep acting is important. An organization may take more efforts in training employees to equip them with it. Emotional intelligence is also a vital resource and so organizations may benefit if they engage in relevant selection and training practices.

Originality/value

Emotional intelligence, an individual ability, is empirically demonstrated to be an important type of job resources that can buffer the negative effect of job demands on employee well‐being.

Details

Journal of Managerial Psychology, vol. 25 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0268-3946

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 September 2014

Dennis Lai Hang Hui and Ryan Chi Yan Au

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the interplay between police legitimacy and protest policing with reference to the case of Hong Kong.

441

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the interplay between police legitimacy and protest policing with reference to the case of Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

This study will review the concepts of police legitimacy and protest policing and examine the evolving policing practices in Hong Kong since 2010.

Findings

The study argues that the increasing polarisation of society could render policing protest a potential source of problem for sustaining police legitimacy.

Originality/value

This is a pioneering study that looks at the interplay between police legitimacy and protest policing.

Details

Asian Education and Development Studies, vol. 3 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-3162

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 February 2018

Kehdinga George Fomunyam

This study aims to examine six South African universities with a particular focus on the quality of teaching and learning.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine six South African universities with a particular focus on the quality of teaching and learning.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study approach was adopted and data were mainly generated by means of open-ended questionnaires. The questionnaire was circulated to approximately 1,800 students and 746 completed it. The data were categorized and analysed thematically, using both national and international benchmarks for quality teaching and learning.

Findings

The findings reveal that teaching and learning in South African universities is marred by a plethora of challenges. Lecturers lack basic skills and essential resources to effectively facilitate teaching and learning. Furthermore, quality benchmarks set by the Council on Higher Education are only met on paper and little or nothing is done to translate this into practice.

Originality/value

The study proposes among others that clearer policies on funding are recommended to ensure proper allocation of resources, staff development and institutional comeliness. Finally, to enhance transformation, universities should prioritize teaching and learning and take steps to ensure that those teaching in the classroom are qualified to do so.

Details

Quality Assurance in Education, vol. 26 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0968-4883

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 June 2019

Ali Tarhini, Ali Abdallah Alalwan, Ahmad Bahjat Shammout and Ali Al-Badi

This study aims to investigate the factors that may hinder or facilitate consumers’ adoption of mobile-commerce (m-commerce) activities in the context of developing countries…

3434

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the factors that may hinder or facilitate consumers’ adoption of mobile-commerce (m-commerce) activities in the context of developing countries exemplified here by Oman.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was developed through integrating factors from UTAUT2 (performance expectancy, expectancy effort, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, price value, habit and self-efficacy) and SERVQUAL (system quality, service quality and information quality). Data were collected from 530 Omani m-commerce users through a cross-sectional survey.

Findings

The results of the structural equation modelling showed that consumers’ behavioural intention (BI) towards m-commerce adoption was significantly influenced by information quality, habit, performance expectancy, trust, hedonic motivation, service quality, price value and facilitating conditions, in their order of influencing strength, and explained 65.5 per cent of the variance in BI. Unexpectedly, effort expectancy, social influence, self-efficacy and system quality had no significant effect on BI.

Practical implications

This study will explain the currently relatively low penetration rate of m-commerce adoption in Oman, which will help local m-commerce businesses to develop the right organizational strategies, especially related to marketing strategies and developing mobile applications, which will draw the attention of many users.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that integrates UTAUT2 with SERVQUAL and tests the proposed model in non-Western cultural contexts. Specifically, in contrast to previous studies, diversity of individuals’ acceptance behaviour is examined in Oman.

Details

Review of International Business and Strategy, vol. 29 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2059-6014

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 June 2019

Zhe Tian, Seyed Amin Bagherzadeh, Kamal Ghani, Arash Karimipour, Ali Abdollahi, Mehrdad Bahrami and Mohammad Reza Safaei

This paper aims to propose a new nonlinear function estimation fuzzy system as a novel statistical approach to estimate nanofluids’ thermal conductivity.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a new nonlinear function estimation fuzzy system as a novel statistical approach to estimate nanofluids’ thermal conductivity.

Design/methodology/approach

A fuzzy system having a product inference engine, a singleton fuzzifier, a center average defuzzifier and Gaussian membership functions is proposed for this purpose.

Findings

Results indicate that the proposed fuzzy system can predict the thermal conductivity of Al2O3/paraffin nanofluid with appropriate precision and generalization and it also outperforms the classic interpolation methods.

Originality/value

A new nonlinear function estimation fuzzy system was introduced as a novel statistical approach to estimate nanofluids’ thermal conductivity for the first time.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 April 2022

Christian Nedu Osakwe and Juliet E. Ikhide

Until now, very little empirical research has focused on social media adoption behavior within relatively small firms, and fewer still on adoption drivers within the specific…

Abstract

Purpose

Until now, very little empirical research has focused on social media adoption behavior within relatively small firms, and fewer still on adoption drivers within the specific context of microentrepreneurs, including that of micro-retailers. The purpose of this manuscript is to contribute to the study on social media adoption at the firm level by focusing on the specific role of institutional pressures, as captured by coercive, mimetic and normative pressures, in the initial adoption of social media in the context of micro-retailers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study, based on self-administered questionnaires, collected data from more than 200 micro-retailers in an emerging market and utilized the partial least squares modeling approach.

Findings

Findings reveal that normative and mimetic (not coercive) pressures are critical to initial adoption. Additional analysis, though not directly the center of attention in the study, indicates that both coercive and normative pressures are critical to continued adoption, especially for retailers who currently use social media to promote their businesses.

Originality/value

This study represents one of the few attempts to extend the institutional theory to study social media adoption behavior in the firm. In addition, it is the first in the literature to extend the theory to social media adoption within the context of microenterprises, primarily micro-retailers, who form the significant majority in the world.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. 74 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2004

Lori Riley

This research outlines the Hong Kong film industry with examination of key actors, directors, films, and production companies within the martial arts genre of Hong Kong Action…

2244

Abstract

This research outlines the Hong Kong film industry with examination of key actors, directors, films, and production companies within the martial arts genre of Hong Kong Action Cinema. Hong Kong Film Award winners and nominees, core films within genres, and core reference works both general and theoretical from experts in the field of Hong Kong martial arts film research have been highlighted. Web sites are suggested that provide reviews of Hong Kong martial arts films, biographical information on a variety of actors and actresses as well as comprehensive bibliographic information on select films. Also included are commercial Web sites that provide Hong Kong martial arts films.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 23 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 October 2021

Wangqian Fu and Frank Okai Larbi

There have been regular policy enactment and dynamism to ensure progress and sustainability in the development of higher education (HE) in China after the Cultural Revolution…

Abstract

Purpose

There have been regular policy enactment and dynamism to ensure progress and sustainability in the development of higher education (HE) in China after the Cultural Revolution. This study was purposed to reveal the processes of the Chinese higher education (CHE) development through series of policy implementations from the epoch of economic reformation and opening-up policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed document analysis, and selected and critically analyzed documents that include published articles and books, the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Education, and historical documentaries of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and their HE aftermath. Again, a semi-structured interview was utilized with a sample size of 20 academics vested in the CHE history. Five academics from four universities in China were interviewed to analyze the historical events of the CHE transformation and current policies about the CHE development.

Findings

The authors established that enrollment in the CHE has increased since the economic reformation; there has been the enhancement of the CHE internationalization in recent decades and the emergence of world-class universities and programs in the CHE as a result of the world class policies and projects. For consistency of the innovative programs toward HE development, the authors have posited some challenges, future goals and the global impacts of the CHE development and its sustainability.

Originality/value

The utilization of document analysis cements the claims by the interviewees, which enriches the value of the results. This study would provide literature guidance to international researchers to critically concoct theoretical assumptions from the findings to critically investigate the developmental policy pattern of HE institutions.

Details

International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, vol. 24 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2396-7404

Keywords

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