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1 – 10 of 84Honglei Lia Sun and Pnina Fichman
This study aims to explore the evolutionary pattern of discussion topics over time in an online depression self-help community.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the evolutionary pattern of discussion topics over time in an online depression self-help community.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) method, the authors analyzed 17,534 posts and 138,567 comments posted over 8 years on an online depression self-help group in China and identified the major discussion topics. Based on significant changes in the frequency of posts over time, the authors identified five stages of development. Through a comparative analysis of discussion topics in the five stages, the authors identified the changes in the extent and range of topics over time. The authors discuss the influence of socio-cultural factors on depressed individuals' health information behavior.
Findings
The results illustrate an evolutionary pattern of topics in users' discussion in the online depression self-help group, including five distinct stages with a sequence of topic changes. The discussion topics of the group included self-reflection, daily record, peer diagnosis, companionship support and instrumental support. While some prominent topics were discussed frequently in each stage, some topics were short-lived.
Originality/value
While most prior research has ignored topic changes over time, the study takes an evolutionary perspective of online discussion topics among depressed individuals. The authors provide a nuanced account of the progression of topics through five distinct stages, showing that the community experienced a sequence of changes as it developed. Identifying this evolutionary pattern extends the scope of research on depression therapy in China and offers a deeper understanding of the support that individuals with depression seek, receive and provide online.
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Mustafa Kuntoğlu, Emin Salur, Munish Kumar Gupta, Saad Waqar, Natalia Szczotkarz, Govind Vashishtha, Mehmet Erdi Korkmaz and Grzegorz M. Krolczyk
The nickel-based alloys Inconel 625 and Inconel 718 stand out due to their high strength and corrosion resistance in important industries like aerospace, aviation and automotive…
Abstract
Purpose
The nickel-based alloys Inconel 625 and Inconel 718 stand out due to their high strength and corrosion resistance in important industries like aerospace, aviation and automotive. Even though they are widely used, current techniques of producing materials that are difficult to cut pose several problems from a financial, ecological and even health perspective. To handle these problems and acquire improved mechanical and structural qualities, laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) has been widely used as one of the most essential additive manufacturing techniques. The purpose of this article is to focus on the state of the art on LPBF parts of Inconel 625 and Inconel 718 for microstructure, mechanical behavior and postprocessing.
Design/methodology/approach
The mechanical behavior of LPBF-fabricated Inconel is described, including hardness, surface morphology and wear, as well as the influence of fabrication orientation on surface quality, biocompatibility and resultant mechanical properties, particularly tensile strength, fatigue performance and tribological behaviors.
Findings
The postprocessing techniques such as thermal treatments, polishing techniques for surface enhancement, mechanical and laser-induced peening and physical operations are summarized.
Originality/value
The highlighted topic presents the critical aspects of the advantages and challenges of the LPBF parts produced by Inconel 718 and 625, which can be a guideline for manufacturers and academia in practical applications.
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Jian Shi, Zhenhua Ma, Jieyu Dai and Jundong Wang
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of high-temperature oxidation tests and gas thermal shock tests on IC10 simulated components with thermal barrier coatings…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of high-temperature oxidation tests and gas thermal shock tests on IC10 simulated components with thermal barrier coatings under different temperatures and oxidation times.
Design/methodology/approach
In the high-temperature oxidation test, specimens were oxidized at three different temperatures of 850, 980, and 1,100 °C for durations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 300 h, respectively. In the gas thermal shock test, specimens were pre-oxidized for 10, 20, 50, and 100 h, followed by a high-temperature gas thermal shock test at 1,100 °C.
Findings
In the high-temperature oxidation tests, with increasing oxidation time, the oxidation layer thickened, and the air-film holes diameter decreased. The microstructure of the bond coat transitioned from strip-like to block-like, and internal cracks transformed from numerous and short to larger and deeper. Below the bond coat, a noticeable disappearance layer of strengthening phase appeared, with increasing thickness. The strengthening phase in the substrate transitioned from regular square shapes to circles as temperature increased. In gas thermal shock tests at 1,100 °C, the oxidation weight gain ratio increased with longer pre-oxidation times, whereas the erosion weight loss ratio gradually decreased.
Originality/value
The originality and significance of this study lie in its departure from the typical subjects of high-temperature oxidation and thermal shock tests. Unlike common research targets, this study focuses on IC10 simulative specimens with thermal barrier coatings and air-film holes. Furthermore, it investigates the effects of varying temperatures and oxidation durations.
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Rongrong Shi, Qiaoyi Yin, Yang Yuan, Fujun Lai and Xin (Robert) Luo
Based on signaling theory, this paper aims to explore the impact of supply chain transparency (SCT) on firms' bank loan (BL) and supply chain financing (SCF) in the context of…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on signaling theory, this paper aims to explore the impact of supply chain transparency (SCT) on firms' bank loan (BL) and supply chain financing (SCF) in the context of voluntary disclosure of supplier and customer lists.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on panel data collected from Chinese-listed firms between 2012 and 2021, fixed-effect models and a series of robustness checks are used to test the predictions.
Findings
First, improving SCT by disclosing major suppliers and customers promotes BL but inhibits SCF. Specifically, customer transparency (CT) is more influential in SCF than supplier transparency (ST). Second, supplier concentration (SC) weakens SCT’s positive impact on BL while reducing its negative impact on SCF. Third, customer concentration (CC) strengthens the positive impact of SCT on BL but intensifies its negative impact on SCF. Last, these findings are basically more pronounced in highly competitive industries.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the SCT literature by investigating the under-explored practice of supply chain list disclosure and revealing its dual impact on firms' access to financing offerings (i.e. BL and SCF) based on signaling theory. Additionally, it expands the understanding of the boundary conditions affecting the relationship between SCT and firm financing, focusing on supply chain concentration. Moreover, it advances signaling theory by exploring how financing providers interpret the SCT signal and enriches the understanding of BL and SCF antecedents from a supply chain perspective.
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Prateek Kalia, Meenu Singla and Robin Kaushal
This study is the maiden attempt to understand the effect of specific human resource practices (HRPs) on employee retention (ER) with the mediation of job satisfaction (JS) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study is the maiden attempt to understand the effect of specific human resource practices (HRPs) on employee retention (ER) with the mediation of job satisfaction (JS) and moderation of work experience (WE) and job hopping (JH) in the context of the textile industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a quantitative methodology and applied quota sampling to gather data from employees (n = 365) of leading textile companies in India. The conceptual model and hypotheses were tested with the help of Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
The findings of a path analysis revealed that compensation and performance appraisal (CPA) have the highest impact on JS followed by employee work participation (EWP). On the other hand, EWP had the highest impact on ER followed by grievance handling (GRH). The study revealed that JS significantly mediates between HRPs like CPA and ER. During Multi-group analysis (MGA) it was found that the importance of EWP and health and safety (HAS) was more in employee groups with higher WE, but it was the opposite in the case of CPA. In the case of JH behavior, the study observed that EWP leads to JS in loyal employees. Similarly, JS led to ER, and the effect was more pronounced for loyal employees.
Originality/value
In the context of the Indian textile industry, this work is the first attempt to comprehend how HRPs affect ER. Secondly, it confirmed that JS is not a guaranteed mediator between HRPs and ER, it could act as an insignificant, partial or full mediator. Additionally, this study establishes the moderating effects of WE and JH in the model through multigroup analysis.
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Chong Zhang, Jiayi Xiang and Qifan Wen
Due to the harsh underground environment in coal mining, the surface of hydraulic support columns corrodes severely, resulting in significant economic losses. Therefore, a highly…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to the harsh underground environment in coal mining, the surface of hydraulic support columns corrodes severely, resulting in significant economic losses. Therefore, a highly corrosion-resistant coatings is needed to extend the service life of the columns.
Design/methodology/approach
This study aims to compare the corrosion resistance of ST-Cr3C2-NiCr (sealed treatment Cr3C2-NiCr) coatings with industrially applied chromium plating. The corrosion failure mechanism of the coatings was investigated.
Findings
The results demonstrated that the ST-Cr3C2-NiCr coatings exhibited excellent corrosion resistance. After sealing treatment, the corrosion potential of Cr3C2-NiCr coatings was −0.215 V, and the corrosion current density of Cr3C2-NiCr coatings was lower than that of the plated parts.
Practical implications
ST-Cr3C2-NiCr coatings prepared by supersonic atmospheric plasma spraying could provide excellent corrosion resistance in the coal industry.
Originality/value
The low porosity and the presence of the NiCr phase were crucial factors contributing to the preferable corrosion resistance exhibited by the ST-Cr3C2-NiCr coatings. The corrosive process of the coatings involved layer-by-layer delamination of surface oxide film, sub-surface pitting, formation and degradation of sub-surface passive film, as well as severe block-like delamination.
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Long Chen, Zheyu Zhang, Ni An, Xin Wen and Tong Ben
The purpose of this study is to model the global dynamic hysteresis properties with an improved Jiles–Atherton (J-A) model through a unified set of parameters.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to model the global dynamic hysteresis properties with an improved Jiles–Atherton (J-A) model through a unified set of parameters.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the waveform scaling parameters β, λk and λc are used to improve the calculation accuracy of hysteresis loops at low magnetic flux density. Second, the Riemann–Liouville (R-L) type fractional derivatives technique is applied to modified static inverse J-A model to compute the dynamic magnetic field considering the skin effect in wideband frequency magnetization conditions.
Findings
The proposed model is identified and verified by modeling the hysteresis loops whose maximum magnetic flux densities vary from 0.3 to 1.4 T up to 800 Hz using B30P105 electrical steel. Compared with the conventional J-A model, the global simulation ability of the proposed dynamic model is much improved.
Originality/value
Accurate modeling of the hysteresis properties of electrical steels is essential for analyzing the loss behavior of electrical equipment in finite element analysis (FEA). Nevertheless, the existing inverse Jiles–Atherton (J-A) model can only guarantee the simulation accuracy with higher magnetic flux densities, which cannot guarantee the analysis requirements of considering both low magnetic flux density and high magnetic flux density in FEA. This paper modifies the dynamic J-A model by introducing waveform scaling parameters and the R-L fractional derivative to improve the hysteresis loops’ simulation accuracy from low to high magnetic flux densities with the same set of parameters in a wide frequency range.
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Rosemond Desir, Patricia A. Ryan and Lumina Albert
The study aims to investigate market reactions associated with the JUST 100 rankings published by JUST Capital, a non-profit organization, as well as differences in financial…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to investigate market reactions associated with the JUST 100 rankings published by JUST Capital, a non-profit organization, as well as differences in financial reporting quality and performance between selected firms and their industry peers.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a sample of 431 firms selected as the 100 America’s Most Just Companies between 2016 and 2020 by JUST Capital. This study performs both an event study to determine whether the rankings are useful to investors and cross-sectional regression analyses on the characteristics of selected firms compared to their peers.
Findings
This study finds that investors react positively to selected firms around the time of the release of the JUST 100 rankings, suggesting that the rankings are decision-useful. This study also finds that selected firms exhibit higher accounting quality and financial performance than their peers.
Research limitations/implications
Rankings may not be free from bias because of JUST Capital’s ownership of an exchange-traded fund.
Social implications
The findings validate the rankings as well as the methodology used by JUST Capital, as they show market participants value firms that engage in socially responsible actions through their commitment to positively impact five key stakeholder groups: employees, customers, communities, environment and shareholders.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that shows the importance of the JUST 100 rankings for investment decisions. Considering the growing push for companies to disclose environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities, this study provides evidence to support ESG disclosure regulations.
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Yongliang Deng, Zedong Liu, Liangliang Song, Guodong Ni and Na Xu
The purpose of this study is to identify the causative factors of metro construction safety accidents, analyze the correlation between accidents and causative factors and assist…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify the causative factors of metro construction safety accidents, analyze the correlation between accidents and causative factors and assist in developing safety management strategies for improving safety performance in the context of the Chinese construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve these objectives, 13 types and 48 causations were determined based on 274 construction safety accidents in China. Then, 204 cause-and-effect relationships among accidents and causations were identified based on data mining. Next, network theory was employed to develop and analyze the metro construction accident causation network (MCACN).
Findings
The topological characteristics of MCACN were obtained, it is both a small-world network and a scale-free network. Controlling critical causative factors can effectively control the occurrence of metro construction accidents. Degree centrality strategy is better than closeness centrality strategy and betweenness centrality strategy.
Research limitations/implications
In practice, it is very difficult to quantitatively identify and determine the importance of different accidents and causative factors. The weights of nodes and edges are failed to be assigned when constructing MCACN.
Practical implications
This study provides a theoretical basis and feasible management reference for construction enterprises in China to control construction risks and reduce safety accidents. More safety resources should be allocated to control critical risks. It is recommended that safety managers implement degree centrality strategy when making safety-related decisions.
Originality/value
This paper establishes the MCACN model based on data mining and network theory, identifies the properties and clarifies the mechanism of metro construction accidents and causations.
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Anindya Bose, Sarthak Sengupta and Sayori Biswas
This study aims to provide a microfluidic blood glucose sensing platform based on integrated interdigitated electrode arrays (IDEAs) on a flexible quartz glass substrate, adhering…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a microfluidic blood glucose sensing platform based on integrated interdigitated electrode arrays (IDEAs) on a flexible quartz glass substrate, adhering closely to pertinent electrochemical characterizations.
Design/methodology/approach
Sensors are the key elements of the modern electronics era through which all the possible physical quantities can be detected and converted into their equivalent electrical form and processed further. But to make the sensing environment better, various types of innovative architectures are being developed nowadays and among them interdigitated electrodes are quite remarkable in terms of their sensing capability. They are a well-qualified candidate in the field of gas sensing and biosensing, but even their sensitivities are getting saturated due to their physical dimensions. Most of the thin film IDEAs fabricated by conventional optical lithographic techniques do not possess a high surface-to-volume ratio to detect the target specified and that reduces their sensitivity factor. In this context, a classic conductive carbon-based highly sensitive three dimensional (3D) IDEA-enabled biosensing system has been conceived on a transparent and flexible substrate to measure the amount of glucose concentration present in human blood. 3D IDEA possesses a way better capacitive sensing behavior compared to conventional thin film microcapacitive electrodes. To transmit the target biological analyte sample property for the detection purpose to the interdigitated array-based sensing platform, the design of a microfluidic channel is initiated on the same substrate. The complex 3D Inter Digital array structure improves the overall capacitance of the entire sensing platform and the reactive surface area as well. The manufactured integrated device displays a decent value of sensitivity in the order of 5.6 µA mM−1 cm−2.
Findings
Development of a low-cost array-based integrated and highly flexible microfluidic biochip to extract the quantity of glucose present in human blood.
Originality/value
Potential future research opportunities in the realm of integrated miniaturized, low-cost smart biosensing systems may arise from this study.
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