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21 – 30 of over 3000
Article
Publication date: 4 August 2022

Jianjin Yue, Wenrui Li, Jian Cheng, Hongxing Xiong, Yu Xue, Xiang Deng and Tinghui Zheng

The calculation of buildings’ carbon footprint (CFP) is an important basis for formulating energy-saving and emission-reduction plans for building. As an important building type…

Abstract

Purpose

The calculation of buildings’ carbon footprint (CFP) is an important basis for formulating energy-saving and emission-reduction plans for building. As an important building type, there is currently no model that considers the time factor to accurately calculate the CFP of hospital building throughout their life cycle. This paper aims to establish a CFP calculation model that covers the life cycle of hospital building and considers time factor.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of field and literature research, the basic framework is built using dynamic life cycle assessment (DLCA), and the gray prediction model is used to predict the future value. Finally, a CFP model covering the whole life cycle has been constructed and applied to a hospital building in China.

Findings

The results applied to the case show that the CO2 emission in the operation stage of the hospital building is much higher than that in other stages, and the total CO2 emission in the dynamic and static analysis operation stage accounts for 83.66% and 79.03%, respectively; the difference of annual average emission of CO2 reached 28.33%. The research results show that DLCA is more accurate than traditional static life cycle assessment (LCA) when measuring long-term objects such as carbon emissions in the whole life cycle of hospital building.

Originality/value

This research established a carbon emission calculation model that covers the life cycle of hospital building and considered time factor, which enriches the research on carbon emission of hospital building, a special and extensive public building, and dynamically quantifies the resource consumption of hospital building in the life cycle. This paper provided a certain reference for the green design, energy saving, emission reduction and efficient use of hospital building, obviously, the limitation is that this model is only applicable to hospital building.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 January 2013

Cheng-Seong Khe, Azizan Aziz and Zainovia Lockman

Cobalt/gold hollow microspheres were successfully prepared through galvanic replacement in an organic solvent. The diameters of these hollow microspheres ranged from 800 nm to 1…

Abstract

Cobalt/gold hollow microspheres were successfully prepared through galvanic replacement in an organic solvent. The diameters of these hollow microspheres ranged from 800 nm to 1 μm. However, the surface of the hollow microsphere was very rough. Nanospikes of various lengths from about 40 to 100 nm were grown on the surface of these spheres. Initially, particles with "island-like" rough surfaces were found with the addition of 4 ml chloroauric acid (HAuCl4). When the volume of HAuCl4 increased from 4 to 5 ml, microspheres with a hollow structure were formed. Some broken microspheres were observed when HAuCl4 was further increased to 6 ml. X-ray diffraction results showed a high-intensity sharp peak of gold when the HAuCl4 in the sample increased. After the galvanic replacement reaction, the cobalt content in the sample decreased meanwhile the gold content increased. This can be seen from energy dispersive X-ray analysis spectroscopy and also evident from the thermo gravimetric analysis result. The hollow Au/Co microspheres showed two broad plasmonic peaks in the ultraviolet-visible measurement. The plasmonic peaks at longer wavelengths shifted to the near-infrared region with the addition of HAuCl4.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. 9 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2022

Chenglei Qin and Chengzhi Zhang

The purpose of this paper is to explore which structures of academic articles referees would pay more attention to, what specific content referees focus on, and whether the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore which structures of academic articles referees would pay more attention to, what specific content referees focus on, and whether the distribution of PRC is related to the citations.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, utilizing the feature words of section title and hierarchical attention network model (HAN) to identify the academic article structures. Secondly, analyzing the distribution of PRC in different structures according to the position information extracted by rules in PRC. Thirdly, analyzing the distribution of feature words of PRC extracted by the Chi-square test and TF-IDF in different structures. Finally, four correlation analysis methods are used to analyze whether the distribution of PRC in different structures is correlated to the citations.

Findings

The count of PRC distributed in Materials and Methods and Results section is significantly more than that in the structure of Introduction and Discussion, indicating that referees pay more attention to the Material and Methods and Results. The distribution of feature words of PRC in different structures is obviously different, which can reflect the content of referees' concern. There is no correlation between the distribution of PRC in different structures and the citations.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the differences in the way referees write peer review reports, the rules used to extract position information cannot cover all PRC.

Originality/value

The paper finds a pattern in the distribution of PRC in different academic article structures proving the long-term empirical understanding. It also provides insight into academic article writing: researchers should ensure the scientificity of methods and the reliability of results when writing academic article to obtain a high degree of recognition from referees.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. 75 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 January 2024

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

Library Hi Tech, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 September 2021

Zhong Wu, Qing Hu, Zhenbo Qin, Yiwen Zhang, Da-Hai Xia and Wenbin Hu

Nickel-aluminum bronze (NAB) has been widely used in ship propellers. It is always subjected to local micro-plastic deformation in service environments. This paper aims to study…

Abstract

Purpose

Nickel-aluminum bronze (NAB) has been widely used in ship propellers. It is always subjected to local micro-plastic deformation in service environments. This paper aims to study the influence of plastic deformation on the mechanical strength and corrosion resistance of NAB in 3.5 Wt.% NaCl solution.

Design/methodology/approach

Scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the microstructure of NAB alloy with different plastic deformations. Mechanical properties of the sample were measured by tensile experiment, and corrosion behavior was studied by electrochemical measurements and the long-term immersion corrosion test.

Findings

Results showed that the plastic deformation caused lattice distortion but did not change the microstructure of NAB alloy. Microhardness and yield strength of NAB were significantly improved with the increase of deformation. The lattice distortion accelerated the formation of corrosion product film, which made the deformed alloy show a more positive open-circuit potential and an increased Rp. However, during the long-term immersion corrosion, the corrosion resistance of NAB alloys deteriorated with the increase of plastic deformation. This is because larger plastic deformation brought about higher internal stress in corrosion product film, which resulted in the premature peeling of the film and the loss of its protective effect on the alloy substrate.

Originality/value

Tensile plastic deformations were found to cause a decline in the corrosion resistance of NAB. And the mechanism was clarified from the evolution of corrosion products during the corrosion process.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 68 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 July 2015

Jiahuan Du, Qiang Li, Chuanli Qin, Xugang Zhang, Zheng Jin and Xuduo Bai

– The purpose of this paper is to develop nitrogen-enriched carbon (NC) with high conductivity and specific capacitance as electrode materials for supercapacitors.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop nitrogen-enriched carbon (NC) with high conductivity and specific capacitance as electrode materials for supercapacitors.

Design/methodology/approach

Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by the modified Hummers–Offeman method. NC was synthesized by carbonization of melamine formaldehyde resin/graphene oxide (MF/GO) composites. Supercapacitors based on Ni(OH)2/Co(OH)2 composites as the positive electrode and NC as the negative electrode were assembled. The electrochemical performances of NC and supercapacitors are studied.

Findings

The results show that obtained NC has high nitrogen content. Compared to NC-GO0 without GO, high conductivity and specific capacitance were obtained for NC with GO due to the introduction of layered GO. The presence of pseudocapacitive interactions between potassium cations and the nitrogen atoms of NC was also proposed. When the weight ratio of GO to MF is 0.013:1, the obtained NC-GO3 has the highest specific capacitance of 154.07 F/g due to GO and its highest content of N-6. When the P of the asymmetric supercapacitor with NC-GO3 as the negative electrode is 1,326.70 W/kg, its Cps and Ep are still 23.84 F/g and 8.48 Wh/Kg, respectively. There is only 4.4 per cent decay in Cps of the supercapacitor over 1,000 cycles.

Research limitations/implications

NC is a suitable electrode material for supercapacitors. The supercapacitors can be used in the field of automobiles and can solve the problems of energy shortage and environmental pollutions.

Originality/value

NC based on MF/GO composites with high nitrogen content and conductivity was novel and its electrochemical properties were excellent.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 44 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 September 2019

Yan Liu, Hai Wang, Wei Zhao, Min Zhang and Hongbo Qin

Inspired by the development of eco-friendly flexible electronics, this paper aims to present a series of paper-based electronics drawn by pencils, which can be used as favorable…

232

Abstract

Purpose

Inspired by the development of eco-friendly flexible electronics, this paper aims to present a series of paper-based electronics drawn by pencils, which can be used as favorable sensing elements in daily life.

Design/methodology/approach

Pencil traces are deposited on the porous surface of Xerox paper by the mechanical exfoliation during writing process, which can be used as basic components to construct functional electronics for daily sensing applications. By changing pencil grade, the obtained traces can work as conductive wires, electrodes, resistors and piezoresistive gauges.

Findings

The experimental results confirm their practical applications in sensing several daily activities, including finger motion, touching and the temperature of water in paper cup. Moreover, the used electronics can be easily handled and recycled.

Research limitations/implications

The shortage in functionality, reliability and performance consistency induced by manual operation is an evident challenge, which makes the pencil-on-paper devices more suitable to work as a temporary solution to satisfying the demands from emergency circumstances.

Originality/value

The pencil-on-paper devices, motivated by the electroconductibility and piezoresistivity of pencil trace, can be explored as sensing prototypes in detecting daily activities. Meantime, their advances in easy accessibility, rapid fabrication, low cost and eco-fitness endow them excellent capacity of meeting the “on-site, real-time” demands.

Details

Circuit World, vol. 45 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0305-6120

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 5 October 2018

Long Chen and Wei Pan

With numerous and ambiguous sets of information and often conflicting requirements, construction management is a complex process involving much uncertainty. Decision makers may be…

Abstract

With numerous and ambiguous sets of information and often conflicting requirements, construction management is a complex process involving much uncertainty. Decision makers may be challenged with satisfying multiple criteria using vague information. Fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (FMCDM) provides an innovative approach for addressing complex problems featuring diverse decision makers’ interests, conflicting objectives and numerous but uncertain bits of information. FMCDM has therefore been widely applied in construction management. With the increase in information complexity, extensions of fuzzy set (FS) theory have been generated and adopted to improve its capacity to address this complexity. Examples include hesitant FSs (HFSs), intuitionistic FSs (IFSs) and type-2 FSs (T2FSs). This chapter introduces commonly used FMCDM methods, examines their applications in construction management and discusses trends in future research and application. The chapter first introduces the MCDM process as well as FS theory and its three main extensions, namely, HFSs, IFSs and T2FSs. The chapter then explores the linkage between FS theory and its extensions and MCDM approaches. In total, 17 FMCDM methods are reviewed and two FMCDM methods (i.e. T2FS-TOPSIS and T2FS-PROMETHEE) are further improved based on the literature. These 19 FMCDM methods with their corresponding applications in construction management are discussed in a systematic manner. This review and development of FS theory and its extensions should help both researchers and practitioners better understand and handle information uncertainty in complex decision problems.

Details

Fuzzy Hybrid Computing in Construction Engineering and Management
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78743-868-2

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 January 2021

Goh Chia Yee, Chin Jeng Feng, Mohd Azizi Bin Chik and Mohzani Mokhtar

This research proposes weighted grey relational analysis (WGRA) method to evaluate the performance of 325 multilevel dispatching rules in the wafer fabrication process.

Abstract

Purpose

This research proposes weighted grey relational analysis (WGRA) method to evaluate the performance of 325 multilevel dispatching rules in the wafer fabrication process.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology involves multilevel dispatching rule generation, simulations, WGRA and result analysis. A complete permutation of multilevel dispatching rules, including the partial orders, is generated from five basic rules. Performance measures include cycle time, move, tool idling and queue time. The simulation model and data are obtained from a wafer fab in Malaysia. Two seasons varying in customer orders and objective weights are defined. Finally, to benchmark performance and investigate the effect of varying values of coefficient, the models are compared against TOPSIS and VIKOR.

Findings

Results show that the seasons prefer different multilevel dispatching rules. In Normal season, the ideal first basic dispatching rule is critical ratio (CR) and CR followed by shortest processing time (SPT) is the best precedence pairing. In Peak season, the superiority of the rule no longer heavily relies on the first basic rule but rather depends on the combination of tiebreaker rules and on-time delivery (OTD) followed by CR is considered the best precedence pairing. Compared to VIKOR and TOPSIS, WGRA generates more stable rankings in this study. The performance of multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods is influenced by the data variability, as a higher variability produces a much consistent ranking.

Research limitations/implications

As research implications, the application illustrates the effectiveness and practicality of the WGRA model in analyzing multilevel dispatching rules, considering the complexity of the semiconductor wafer fabrication system. The methodology is useful for researchers wishing to integrate MCDM model into multilevel dispatching rules. The limitation of the research is that the results were obtained from a simulation model. Also, the rules, criteria and weights assigned in WGRA were decided by the management. Lastly, the distinguishing coefficient is fixed at 0.5 and the effect to the ranking requires further study.

Originality/value

The research is the first deployment WGRA in ranking multilevel dispatching rules. Multilevel dispatching rules are rarely studied in scheduling research although studies show that the tiebreakers affect the performances of the dispatching rules. The scheduling reflects the characteristics of wafer fabrication and general job shop, such as threshold and look-ahead policies.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 11 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 24 September 2019

Jing Bai, Le Fan, Shuyang Zhang, Zengcui Wang and Xiansheng Qin

Both geometric and non-geometric parameters have noticeable influence on the absolute positional accuracy of 6-dof articulated industrial robot. This paper aims to enhance it and…

4289

Abstract

Purpose

Both geometric and non-geometric parameters have noticeable influence on the absolute positional accuracy of 6-dof articulated industrial robot. This paper aims to enhance it and improve the applicability in the field of flexible assembling processing and parts fabrication by developing a more practical parameter identification model.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is developed by considering both geometric parameters and joint stiffness; geometric parameters contain 27 parameters and the parallelism problem between axes 2 and 3 is involved by introducing a new parameter. The joint stiffness, as the non-geometric parameter considered in this paper, is considered by regarding the industrial robot as a rigid linkage and flexible joint model and adds six parameters. The model is formulated as the form of error via linearization.

Findings

The performance of the proposed model is validated by an experiment which is developed on KUKA KR500-3 robot. An experiment is implemented by measuring 20 positions in the work space of this robot, obtaining least-square solution of measured positions by the software MATLAB and comparing the result with the solution without considering joint stiffness. It illustrates that the identification model considering both joint stiffness and geometric parameters can modify the theoretical position of robots more accurately, where the error is within 0.5 mm in this case, and the volatility is also reduced.

Originality/value

A new parameter identification model is proposed and verified. According to the experimental result, the absolute positional accuracy can be remarkably enhanced and the stability of the results can be improved, which provide more accurate parameter identification for calibration and further application.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 47 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

21 – 30 of over 3000