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Article
Publication date: 21 June 2013

A.D. Drozdov and N. Dusunceli

The purpose of this paper is to compare mechanical response of polypropylene in multi‐cycle tensile tests with strain‐controlled and mixed deformation programs and to develop…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare mechanical response of polypropylene in multi‐cycle tensile tests with strain‐controlled and mixed deformation programs and to develop constitutive equations that describe quantitatively the experimental data.

Design/methodology/approach

Multi‐cycle tensile tests are performed on isotactic polypropylene with strain‐controlled (oscillations between fixed maximum and minimum strains) and mixed (oscillations between a fixed maximum strain and the zero minimum stress) programs. A constitutive model is derived in cyclic viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity of semicrystalline polymers, and its parameters are found by fitting observations. The effect of damage accumulation of material parameters is analyzed numerically.

Findings

The model predicts accurately mechanical behavior of polypropylene in tests with numbers of cycles strongly exceeding those used to determine its parameters. In the regime of developed damage, material constants in the stress‐strain relations are independent of deformation program.

Originality/value

A novel constitutive model is derived in cyclic viscoelastoplasticity of semicrystalline polymers and comparison of its adjustable parameters is performed for different deformation programs.

Details

Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1573-6105

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 May 2017

Linhai Wu, Qipeng Hu, Jianhua Wang and Dian Zhu

In China, a major grain producer, rice losses during harvest cannot be ignored. The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent of rice harvest losses in major grain-producing…

Abstract

Purpose

In China, a major grain producer, rice losses during harvest cannot be ignored. The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent of rice harvest losses in major grain-producing areas in China by a sampling survey, and to further analyze the main factors influencing rice harvest losses using an ordered multinomial logistic model.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, data were collected using a multi-stage sampling method from ten major rice-producing provinces/regions in China. On this basis, five counties were selected from each of these provinces/regions. In the actual survey, house numbers were randomly selected, and then corresponding farmer households were visited by trained investigators.

Findings

The survey found that 56.22 percent of respondents believed that rice harvest losses were 4 percent or lower in China, though there were differences among the provinces. The proportion of family business income, planting scale, mechanization level, timely harvest, and operational meticulousness had negative effects on rice harvest losses. On the other hand, farmers’ experience of employment as migrant workers had a positive effect on rice harvest losses. In addition, bad weather and short handedness during harvest significantly increased rice harvest losses.

Originality/value

The meaning of rice harvest losses was defined based on previous research findings on the definition of grain harvest losses and the realities in China. The current rice harvest losses in different areas in China were analyzed based on sampling survey data from 957 farmers in ten provinces in China.

Details

China Agricultural Economic Review, vol. 9 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-137X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2022

Saime Erol, Kamer Gur, Semra Karaca, K. Burcu Çalık, Arzu Uzuner and Çiğdem Apaydın Kaya

The purpose of this study is to determine the mental health status and risk factors for the mental health of first-year university students on a health sciences campus.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the mental health status and risk factors for the mental health of first-year university students on a health sciences campus.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a descriptive study. The research was conducted with first-year students in the health sciences, dentistry and medical faculties of a state university (n = 770). The data were collected with a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Risk Behavior of Young Adults Survey, the Bergen Insomnia Scale, General Health Questionnaire-28 and the Mental Health Improvement Scale. Body mass ındex was calculated.

Findings

Among the students, 53.7% experienced feelings of hopelessness in the last year and 1% had attempted suicide. The percentage of students found to be at risk in terms of mental health was 41.9%; 39.4% reported that they suffered from insomnia. It was found that those who had been subjected to bullying, felt hopelessness, had suicidal thoughts, planned to commit suicide and students who experienced sleeping problems were more at risk in terms of psychological issues (p < 0.01). Insomnia (β: 3.341) and smoking (β: 2.226) were identified as the strongest risk factors for mental health in first-year health sciences students (p < 0.005).

Practical implications

The results of the research offer an opportunity to get to know the characteristics of first-year university students who are at risk for mental health. It offers the opportunity to closely monitor and protect the mental health of students starting from the first grade.

Originality/value

In this study, it was determined that approximately half of the first-year university students were in the risk group in terms of mental health. Female gender, having a chronic illness, smoking a day or more in the past 30 days, not doing any physical activity, having a weak BMI, being bullied in the past 12 months, being cyberbullied in the past 12 months and having insomnia have been identified as risk factors that negatively affect mental health.

Details

The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, vol. 18 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1755-6228

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 March 2021

Poonam Mehta

In the service industry, there is an involvement of the human factor which comprises continuous interpersonal interactions. Sometimes, these interactions create incongruence…

Abstract

Purpose

In the service industry, there is an involvement of the human factor which comprises continuous interpersonal interactions. Sometimes, these interactions create incongruence between displayed and felt emotions which distract the employees from their authentic self and impair their well-being. This paper aims to made an attempt to review different studies to identify an association between authenticity at the workplace and employee well-being with reference to emotional work.

Design/methodology/approach

The different studies have been reviewed mentioning the association between authenticity at the workplace and employee well-being with reference to emotional work published during the period of 1983–2020. The database which is used to identify and extract the research papers includes APA PycNET, Business Perspectives, Elsevier, Emerald Insight, Inderscience Publishers, SAGE, Taylor and Francis, etc. The keywords used for shortlisting the studies include employee well-being, emotional work, emotional dissonance, job satisfaction, surface acting, authenticity, burnout, authentic living, self-alienation.

Findings

The study has determined that emotional work influences the authenticity of an employee which further impacts the well-being of employees.

Research limitations/implications

The present review would aid the researchers in explaining the relevance of authenticity at the workplace for enhancing the employee well-being specifically in emotional work settings.

Social implications

Promoting well-being at the workplace requires an action-oriented approach from the national level also. Hence, the present study may help in drawing inferences for framing well-being policies for employees at the national level.

Originality/value

The paper is amongst the few reviews which have analysed the substantial role of authenticity in the context of emotional work to improve employee well-being.

Details

Mental Health and Social Inclusion, vol. 25 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-8308

Keywords

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