Search results
1 – 10 of 154Xiao Wang, Xuan Liang, Bo Wang, Chang-qing Guo, Shan-gui Zhang, Kai Yang, Shi-ya Shao, Yan Sun, Zheng Guo, Xue-yan Yu, Donghai Zhang, Tai-jiang Gui, Wei Lu, Ming-liang Sun and Rui Ding
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of graphene, basalt flakes and their synergy on the corrosion resistance of zinc-rich coatings. As the important heavy-duty…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of graphene, basalt flakes and their synergy on the corrosion resistance of zinc-rich coatings. As the important heavy-duty anticorrosion coatings, zinc-rich coatings provided cathodic protection for the substrate. However, to ensure cathodic protection, a large number of zinc powder made the penetration resistance known as the weakness of zinc-rich coatings. Therefore, graphene and basalt flakes were introduced into zinc-rich coatings to coordinate its cathodic protection and shielding performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Three kinds of coatings were prepared; they were graphene modified zinc-rich coatings, basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings and graphene-basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings. The anticorrosion behavior of painted steel was studied by using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique in chloride solutions. The equivalent circuit methods were used for EIS analysis to obtain the electrode process structure of the coated steel system. Simultaneously, the corrosion resistance of the three coatings was evaluated by water resistance test, salt water resistance test and salt spray test.
Findings
The study found that the addition of a small amount of graphene and basalt flakes significantly improved the anticorrosion performance of coatings by enhancing their shielding ability against corrosive media and increasing the resistance of the electrochemical reaction. The modified coatings exhibited higher water resistance, salt water resistance and salt spray resistance. The graphene-basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings demonstrated the best anticorrosion effect. The presence of basalt scales and graphene oxide in the coatings significantly reduced the water content and slowed down the water penetration rate in the coatings, thus prolonging the coating life and improving anticorrosion effects. The modification of zinc-rich coatings with graphene and basalt flakes improved the utilization rate of zinc powder and the shielding property of coatings against corrosive media, thus strengthening the protective effect on steel structures and prolonging the service life of anticorrosion coatings.
Originality/value
The significance of developing graphene-basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings lies in their potential to offer superior performance in corrosive environments, leading to prolonged service life of metallic structures, reduced maintenance costs and a safer working environment. Furthermore, such coatings can be used in various industrial applications, including bridges, pipelines and offshore structures, among others.
Details
Keywords
Dongmin Li, Shiming Zhu, Shangfei Xia, Peisi Zhong, Jiaqi Fang and Peng Dai
During drilling in coal mines, sticking of drill rod (referred to as SDR in this work) is a potential threat to underground safety. However, no practical measures to deter SDR…
Abstract
Purpose
During drilling in coal mines, sticking of drill rod (referred to as SDR in this work) is a potential threat to underground safety. However, no practical measures to deter SDR have been developed yet. The purpose of this study is to develop an anti-SDR strategy using proportional-integral-derivative (PID) and compliance control (PIDC). The proposed strategy is compatible with the drilling process currently used in underground coal mines using drill rigs. Therefore, this study aims to contribute to the PIDC strategy for solving SDR.
Design/methodology/approach
A hydraulic circuit to reduce SDR was built based on a load-independent flow distribution system, a PID controller was designed to control the inlet hydraulic pressure of the rotation motor and a typical compliance control approach was adopted to control the feed force and displacement. Moreover, the weight and optimal combination of the alternative admittance control parameters for the feed cylinder were obtained by adopting the orthogonal experiment approach. Furthermore, a fuzzy admittance control approach was proposed to control the feed displacement. Experiments were conducted to test the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Findings
The experimental results indicated that the PIDC strategy was appropriate and effective for controlling the rotation motor and feed cylinder; thus, the proposed method significantly reduces the SDR during drilling operations in underground coal mines.
Research limitations/implications
As the PIDC strategy solves the SDR problem in underground coal mines, it greatly improves the safety of coal mine operation and decreases the power cost. Consequently, it brings the considerable benefits of coal mine production and vast application prospects in other corresponding fields. Actual drilling conditions are difficult to accurately simulate in a laboratory; thus, for future work, drilling experiments can be conducted in actual underground coal mines.
Originality/value
The PIDC-based anti-SDR strategy proposed in this study satisfactorily controls the rotation motor and feed cylinder and facilitates the feed and rotation movements. Furthermore, the tangible novelty of this study results is that it improves the frequency response of the entire drilling system. The drilling process with PIDC decreased the occurrence of SDR by 50%; therefore, the anti-SDR strategy can significantly improve the safety and efficiency of underground coal mining.
Details
Keywords
Gang Zhu, Liang Shen, Lianjiang George Jiang, Biyuan Yang, Keyuan Shi and Juanjo Mena
Although the importance of teacher induction is widely acknowledged, how teachers experience inductions, particularly those conducted in under-resourced areas, remains…
Abstract
Purpose
Although the importance of teacher induction is widely acknowledged, how teachers experience inductions, particularly those conducted in under-resourced areas, remains underexplored.
Design/methodology/approach
This study narrates a novice teacher's induction experience in a Chinese high school, from the perspectives of professional capital and community, social realist theory, practice architecture and teacher agency. The participant, Ming, reflected on a broad array of formal and informal induction activities and participated during the induction period.
Findings
Through the three-dimensional narrative space, namely broadening, burrowing and storying and re-storying, five themes emerged from Ming's induction experience: (1) heightened awareness of the meaning of teaching, (2) interacting with various professional communities, (3) professional identity tension and development, (4) the discursive influence of various aspects of culture and (5) the influence on future professional development. Overall, this narrative study shows that teacher expertise and identity development play central roles in teacher induction, and context acts as an important mediating factor in teacher induction. These findings echo the importance of teachers' agency in inductions. The implications for facilitating novice teacher induction are also discussed.
Originality/value
This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of a novice teacher's induction experience in China from the perspectives of practice architectures, professional capital and professional community. The conclusion highlights the importance of professional capital and agency during Ming's induction period. This paper unpacks the complexity of teacher induction by revealing new ways of thinking about induction.
Details
Keywords
Xunfa Lu, Jingjing Sun, Guo Wei and Ching-Ter Chang
The purpose of this paper is to investigate dynamics of causal interactions and financial risk contagion among BRICS stock markets under rare events.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate dynamics of causal interactions and financial risk contagion among BRICS stock markets under rare events.
Design/methodology/approach
Two methods are adopted: The new causal inference technique, namely, the Liang causality analysis based on information flow theory and the dynamic causal index (DCI) are used to measure the financial risk contagion.
Findings
The causal relationships among the BRICS stock markets estimated by the Liang causality analysis are significantly stronger in the mid-periods of rare events than in the pre- and post-periods. Moreover, different rare events have heterogeneous effects on the causal relationships. Notably, under rare events, there is almost no significant Liang's causality between the Chinese and other four stock markets, except for a few moments, indicating that the former can provide a relatively safe haven within the BRICS. According to the DCIs, the causal linkages have significantly increased during rare events, implying that their connectivity becomes stronger under extreme conditions.
Practical implications
The obtained results not only provide important implications for investors to reasonably allocate regional financial assets, but also yield some suggestions for policymakers and financial regulators in effective supervision, especially in extreme environments.
Originality/value
This paper uses the Liang causality analysis to construct the causal networks among BRICS stock indices and characterize their causal linkages. Furthermore, the DCI derived from the causal networks is applied to measure the financial risk contagion of the BRICS countries under three rare events.
Details
Keywords
Ming Li and Jing Liang
Knowledge adoption is the key to effective knowledge exchange in virtual question-and-answer (Q&A) communities. Although previous studies have examined the effects of knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge adoption is the key to effective knowledge exchange in virtual question-and-answer (Q&A) communities. Although previous studies have examined the effects of knowledge content, knowledge source credibility and the personal characteristics of knowledge seekers on knowledge adoption in virtual Q&A communities from a static perspective, the impact of answer deviation on knowledge adoption has rarely been explored from a context-based perspective. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of two-way deviation on knowledge adoption in virtual Q&A communities, with the aim of expanding the understanding of knowledge exchange and community management.
Design/methodology/approach
The same question and the same answerer often yield multiple answers. Knowledge seekers usually read multiple answers to make adoption decisions. The impact of deviations among answers on knowledge seekers' knowledge adoption is critical. From a context-based perspective, a research model of the impact of the deviation of horizontal and vertical answers on knowledge adoption is established based on the heuristic-systematic model (HSM) and empirically examined with 88,287 Q&A data points and answerer data collected from Zhihu. Additionally, the moderation effects of static factors such as answerer reputation and answer length are examined.
Findings
The negative binomial regression results show that the content and emotion deviation of horizontal answers negatively affect knowledge seekers' knowledge adoption. The content deviation of vertical answers is negatively associated with knowledge adoption, while the emotion deviation of vertical answers is positively related to knowledge adoption. Moreover, answerer reputation positively moderates the negative effect of the emotion deviation of horizontal answers on knowledge adoption. Answer length weakens the negative correlation between the content deviation of horizontal and vertical answers and knowledge adoption.
Originality/value
This study extends previous research on knowledge adoption from a static perspective to a context-based perspective. Moreover, information deviation is expanded from a one-way variable to a two-way variable. The combined effects of static and contextual factors on knowledge adoption are further uncovered. This study can not only help knowledge seekers identify the best answers but also help virtual Q&A community managers optimize community design and operation to reduce the cost of knowledge search and improve the efficiency of knowledge exchange.
Details
Keywords
Examine the effects of sudden environmental disasters on the advancement of both renewable and conventional energy technologies.
Abstract
Purpose
Examine the effects of sudden environmental disasters on the advancement of both renewable and conventional energy technologies.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilizing panel data from 31 Chinese provinces spanning 2011 to 2022, the SEM (Spatial Error Model) dual fixed model is utilized to examine the impact of sudden environmental disasters on energy technologies.
Findings
The findings reveal that: (1) Sudden environmental disasters exert a markedly positive influence on the Innovation of Renewable Energy Technologies (IRET), while their impact on conventional energy technologies is positively non-significant. (2) Sudden environmental disasters not only significantly enhance innovation in local renewable energy technologies but also extend this positive influence to neighboring regions, demonstrating a spatial spillover phenomenon. (3) Research and Development (R&D) funding serves as a partial mediator in the relationship between sudden environmental disasters and renewable ETI. In contrast, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) exhibits a masking effect.
Originality/value
Consequently, the study advocates for intensified efforts in post-disaster reconstruction following abrupt environmental events, an elevation in the quality of foreign direct investments, and leveraging research funding to catalyze innovation in renewable energy technologies amid unforeseen environmental crises.
Details
Keywords
Jing Liang, Ming Li and Xuanya Shao
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of online reviews on answer adoption in virtual Q&A communities, with an eye toward extending knowledge exchange and community…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of online reviews on answer adoption in virtual Q&A communities, with an eye toward extending knowledge exchange and community management.
Design/methodology/approach
Online reviews contain rich cognitive and emotional information about community members regarding the provided answers. As feedback information on answers, it is crucial to explore how online reviews affect answer adoption. Based on signaling theory, a research model reflecting the influence of online reviews on answer adoption is established and empirically examined by using secondary data with 69,597 Q&A data and user data collected from Zhihu. Meanwhile, the moderating effects of the informational and emotional consistency of reviews and answers are examined.
Findings
The negative binomial regression results show that both answer-related signals (informational support and emotional support) and answerers-related signals (answerers’ reputations and expertise) positively impact answer adoption. The informational consistency of reviews and answers negatively moderates the relationships among information support, emotional support and answer adoption but positively moderates the effect of answerers’ expertise on answer adoption. Furthermore, the emotional consistency of reviews and answers positively moderates the effect of information support and answerers’ reputations on answer adoption.
Originality/value
Although previous studies have investigated the impacts of answer content, answer source credibility and personal characteristics of knowledge seekers on answer adoption in virtual Q&A communities, few have examined the impact of online reviews on answer adoption. This study explores the impacts of informational and emotional feedback in online reviews on answer adoption from a signaling theory perspective. The results not only provide unique ideas for community managers to optimize community design and operation but also inspire community users to provide or utilize knowledge, thereby reducing knowledge search costs and improving knowledge exchange efficiency.
Details
Keywords
Moustafa Mohamed Nazief Haggag Kotb Kholaif, Bushra Sarwar, Ming Xiao, Milos Poliak and Guido Giovando
This study aims to explore the pandemic's opportunities for enhancing the environmental practices of the food and beverages green supply chains and its effect on the supply…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the pandemic's opportunities for enhancing the environmental practices of the food and beverages green supply chains and its effect on the supply chains' viability by exploring the relationship between fear and uncertainty of COVID-19, food and beverages green supply chain management (F&B-GSCM) and supply chains’ viability based on the two dimensions (robustness and resilience) and examine the moderating effect of innovative technology adoption like big data analysis (BDA) capabilities and blockchain technologies (BCT) on this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on a sample of 362 F&B small and medium enterprises (SMEs)’ managers in the Egyptian market for data analysis and hypothesis testing.
Findings
The empirical results show that the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic have a significant positive effect on green supply chain management (GSCM). Also, BDA moderates the relationship between fear and uncertainty of COVID-19 and GSCM. However, BCT do not moderate that relationship. Similarly, GSCM positively affects supply chain viability dimensions (robustness and resilience). In addition, F&B-GSCM significantly mediates the relationship between fear and uncertainty of COVID-19 and supply chain viability dimensions (robustness and resilience).
Practical implications
Food and beverages (F&B) managers could develop a consistent strategy for applying BCT and BDA to provide clear information and focus on their procedures to meet their stakeholders' needs during COVID-19. Governments and managers should develop a consistent strategy to apply food and beverages supply chains (F&B SCs)' green practices to achieve F&B SCs' resilience and robustness, especially during the pandemic.
Originality/value
The Egyptian F&B SCs have been linked directly with many European countries as a main source of many basic food and agriculture products, which have been affected lately by the pandemic. Based on the “social-cognitive,” “stakeholder” and “resource-based view” theories, this study sheds light on the optimistic side of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it also brings the concepts of F&B-GSCM, SC resilience, SC robustness and innovative technologies back into the light, which helps in solving F&B SC issues and helps to achieve their viability.
Details
Keywords
Wenjing Chen, Bowen Zheng and Hefu Liu
Employee voice is crucial for organizations to identify problems and make timely adjustments. However, promoting voice in organizations is challenging. This study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Employee voice is crucial for organizations to identify problems and make timely adjustments. However, promoting voice in organizations is challenging. This study aims to investigate how social media use (SMU) in the workplace affects employee voice by examining its intrinsic mechanisms and boundary conditions. Specifically, this study examines the mediating roles of social identifications and the moderating effects of job-social media fit on the relationship between SMU and social identifications.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted a survey of 348 employees in China.
Findings
First, SMU affects voice through social identifications. Second, distinct identifications have different effects on voice, such that organizational identification positively affects employee voice, while relational identification positively affects promotive voice and negatively affects prohibitive voice. Third, when social media is highly suitable for the job, the positive effect of work-related SMU on organizational identification is strengthened, while the positive effect of social-related SMU on organizational identification is weakened.
Originality/value
The results indicate that different identifications have distinct impacts on voice. Additionally, this study reveals a double-edged sword effect of SMU on voice through different social identifications. Further, job-social media fit moderates the relationship between SMU and social identifications. These findings have important implications for organizations adopting social media.
Details
Keywords
Ashok Kumar Dua, Ayesha Farooq and Sumita Rai
The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of relationship between ethical leadership and employee voice behavior. Study of employee voice behavior is important, because…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of relationship between ethical leadership and employee voice behavior. Study of employee voice behavior is important, because leaders in organizations make numerous decisions based on employees’ work-related inputs which do influence the decision quality and team performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected through structured questionnaire from Indian organizations. Data were analysed through statistical techniques such as confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.
Findings
The findings showed that ethical leadership did impact the employee voice in a positive and significant but moderate manner. The study also found no significant differences in ethical leadership and voice behavior across demographic variables such as gender, age, educational qualification and job level in the Indian context.
Research limitations/implications
The study is conducted using single cross-sectional research design, and for better causal inferences of the relationship between various variables, future research studies may be conducted with longitudinal research design, multiple data sources and variety of industries with large sample size.
Practical implications
With erosion of ethical values and corporate scandals, managers need to develop and display ethical leadership as employees emulate their leaders’ ethical behavior because ethical leadership, or its perception, relates positively and significantly to employee voice behavior.
Originality/value
There is less study to understand ethical leadership and its influence on voice behavior in developing countries, especially in India. Ethical leadership behavior encourages employees to voice their work-related constructive opinions and concerns for improved decision-making and reduced unethical practices. Also, there is scarcity of research that explores the impact of demographic variables and this study is an effort to understand this gap.
Details