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11 – 20 of 991Qing-Wen Zhang, Heap-Yih Chong, Pin-Chao Liao and Yao-Lin Wan
This study aims to determine the influences of explanatory factors on the efficacy of the implementation of corporate safety policy (CSP) in international projects from the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the influences of explanatory factors on the efficacy of the implementation of corporate safety policy (CSP) in international projects from the perspective of international contractors.
Design/methodology/approach
Four explanatory factors were identified for the implementation of CSP in international projects based on literature review. A questionnaire survey was then conducted among Chinese organizations that have been involved in international projects. In total, 121 valid responses were received from the questionnaire survey and were modeled using logistic regression to examine the impact of each factor on the observed event of interest.
Findings
The factors related to the effectiveness of implementing CSP, including “attitudes toward safety management measures (ASMM),” “operational mechanism for safety regulations (OM),” “safety knowledge management system (SKMS)” and “systematic safety training scheme (STS),” were selected. The results revealed that OM and SKMS were significant predictors (p < 0.05) of the odds of implementation satisfaction of CSP, but ASMM and STS were not. The probability of satisfactory CSP implementation increased as the value of SKMS increased, whereas the probability of unsatisfactory implementation improved as the value of OM increased.
Research limitations/implications
The questionnaire was distributed to respondents in international contractors headquartered in China. Other types of international organizations can be covered in future research. Furthermore, other factors, such as the local construction environment, should be considered in future studies.
Practical implications
The results provide new insights on CSP implementation overseas. Effective implementation of CSP contributes to the improvement of the safety performance of contractors. The practical significance of interpreting the influence factors is that the contractors can implement more efficient and targeted approaches and tools in the execution of their CSP. The impact of OM reminds safety managers of the synchronization of CSP as well as its implementation environment and characteristics. The effect of ASMM encourages contractors to adopt Web-based and digital knowledge management systems to improve the implementation efficiency of CSP.
Originality/value
The novelty of this study lies in the selection of factors and their impacts on CSP implementation in international projects. This study has also extended knowledge on normative safety in international projects based on quantitative modeling.
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Xin Gu, Qing Zhang and Erdogan Madenci
This paper aims to review the existing bond-based peridynamic (PD) and state-based PD heat conduction models, and further propose a refined bond-based PD thermal conduction model…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the existing bond-based peridynamic (PD) and state-based PD heat conduction models, and further propose a refined bond-based PD thermal conduction model by using the PD differential operator.
Design/methodology/approach
The general refined bond-based PD is established by replacing the local spatial derivatives in the classical heat conduction equations with their corresponding nonlocal integral forms obtained by the PD differential operator. This modeling approach is representative of the state-based PD models, whereas the resulting governing equations appear as the bond-based PD models.
Findings
The refined model can be reduced to the existing bond-based PD heat conduction models by specifying particular influence functions. Also, the refined model does not require any calibration procedure unlike the bond-based PD. A systematic explicit dynamic solver is introduced to validate 1 D, 2 D and 3 D heat conduction in domains with and without a crack subjected to a combination of Dirichlet, Neumann and convection boundary conditions. All of the PD predictions are in excellent agreement with the classical solutions and demonstrate the nonlocal feature and advantage of PD in dealing with heat conduction in discontinuous domains.
Originality/value
The existing PD heat conduction models are reviewed. A refined bond-based PD thermal conduction model by using PD differential operator is proposed and 3 D thermal conduction in intact or cracked structures is simulated.
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Minggui Yu, Yujing Huang, Huijie Zhong and Qing Zhang
There are two opposite views about whether the Antitrust Law is conducive to the development of the economy. One view is that the Antitrust Law can restrain monopoly, maintain…
Abstract
Purpose
There are two opposite views about whether the Antitrust Law is conducive to the development of the economy. One view is that the Antitrust Law can restrain monopoly, maintain market competition and benefit economic growth. The other view is that the Antitrust Law inhibits innovation by monopolistic firms and fosters rent-seeking, which is bad for economic growth. To provide a possible perspective for clarifying the controversy, this paper aims to answer the following two questions: first, will the Antitrust Law inhibit corporate innovation? Second, does the antitrust enforcement agency discriminate against private enterprises?
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the samples of A-share listed companies from 2003 to 2013, the authors use the implementation of China’s Antitrust Law in 2008 as a policy shock, take the monopoly enterprises in each industry as the treatment group and competitive enterprises as the control group, using the difference-in-differences method to test the impact of the implementation of the Antitrust Law on corporate innovation activities.
Findings
The results show that compared with competitive enterprises, the patent output of monopolistic enterprises was significantly reduced after the implementation of the Antitrust Law, which indicates that the Antitrust Law does inhibit the innovation activities of monopolistic enterprises. Further research finds that the innovation suppression effect of the Antitrust Law is more prominent in state-owned enterprises, which means that the government does not have “selective law enforcement” against private enterprises in the process of law enforcement. Therefore, the results provide evidence for the idea that government intervention is neutral.
Originality/value
First, the paper enriches and expands the research on the factors affecting corporate innovation from the perspective of market structure. Second, it enriches and expands relevant research on the consequences of implementing the Antitrust Law from the perspective of corporate innovation. Third, it not only provides the relevant empirical evidence for clarifying the dispute about the Antitrust Law but also is helpful to clarify whether the Chinese Government has “selective law enforcement” against private enterprises.
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Chang-E Zhou, Haidan Niu, Qing Zhang, Huixia Li, Chi Wai Kan, Chang Sun, Jinmei Du and Changhai Xu
This paper aims to prepare an associative thickener base on two polyacrylate-based copolymers, which can be used for digital printing of nylon carpet with enhanced performance.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to prepare an associative thickener base on two polyacrylate-based copolymers, which can be used for digital printing of nylon carpet with enhanced performance.
Design/methodology/approach
An associative thickener was prepared by compounding two polyacrylate-based copolymers, cationic starch and polyacrylic acid; and mediated by polyethylene glycol and polyacrylamide crosslinker. The formulation of the associative thickener was optimized by using the orthogonal array testing strategy. The stability of the associative thickener was investigated by measuring effects of temperature, electrolytes, storage time and auxiliaries on viscosity. The associative thickener was compared with a commercial thickener by evaluating their performance in digital printing of nylon carpet.
Findings
The associative thickener provided same color strength and fastness in the printing of nylon carpet as the commercial one, but was more easily washed off for a better hand feeling of the printed carpet.
Practical implications
The prepared associative thickener can be applied for digital printing of nylon carpet.
Originality/value
The associative thickener can be facilely prepared from commercially available chemicals and suitable for digital printing of nylon carpet.
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Minhua Yang, Xin-guang Lv, Xiao-jie Liu and Jia-qing Zhang
This paper aims to present a method of color three-dimensional (3D) printing based on color adherence.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a method of color three-dimensional (3D) printing based on color adherence.
Design/methodology/approach
First, experiments of the color effects of 3D printings using different carriers and different printing methods were performed. Second, the color of a specific point could be calculated through a theory of dimension-reducing, and the color distribution of 3D model was transformed from 3D to 1D color line corresponding with 3D print sequence. At last, the color lines, which were printed on a PE film by silk-screen printing, was carried by a filament and then printed through a fused deposition modeling 3D printer.
Findings
The printing ink and PE film are suitable as the pigment and carrier under this investigation, respectively. Based on an idea of reducing dimension, the method of 3D color printing through adhering color to a filament is realized. The color saturation of the sample was relatively high through the method.
Research limitations/implications
It is hard to avoid that there may be some residual color in the nozzle through this method, and the purity of following color will be affected. As a result, continuous improvements should be made to perfect the method.
Practical implications
An approach of 3D color printing is described in detail, and what kind of model is more applicable is discussed particularly.
Originality/value
This approach is implemented to print color 3D objects with just one nozzle by means of color adherence. That is, printing the 3D objects using the filament is carried out with 1D color line, which is printed by a traditional printing method.
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Fanming Meng, Minggang Du, Xianfu Wang, Yuanpei Chen and Qing Zhang
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the axial piston pin motion on the tribological performances of the piston skirt and cylinder liner vibration for an…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the axial piston pin motion on the tribological performances of the piston skirt and cylinder liner vibration for an internal combustion engine (ICE) under different operation conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The dynamic equation for the piston incorporating into axial piston pin motion is derived first. Then, the proposed equation and associated lubrication equations are solved using the Broyden algorithm and difference method, respectively. Moreover, the axial motion of the piston pin and its slap on the cylinder liner are studied under different operation conditions.
Findings
The axial piston pin motion leads to an overall increase in the friction power consumption. Increments in the ICE speed and lubricant viscosity can augment the axial pin motion and cylinder liner vibration, especially in the power stroke. The said increments cause the instability of the piston motion in the cylinder. The axial motion of piston pin can be restrained through the eccentricity of the piston pin close to the thrust side of the cylinder liner.
Originality/value
This study conducts detailed discussions of the effect of axial piston pin motion on tribological and dynamic performances for piston skirt-cylinder liner system of an internal combustion engine and gives a helpful reference to analyses and designs of internal combustion engines.
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Jihong Liang, Hao Wang and Xiaojing Li
The purpose of this paper is to explore the task design and assignment of full-text generation on mass Chinese historical archives (CHAs) by crowdsourcing, with special attention…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the task design and assignment of full-text generation on mass Chinese historical archives (CHAs) by crowdsourcing, with special attention paid to how to best divide full-text generation tasks into smaller ones assigned to crowdsourced volunteers and to improve the digitization of mass CHAs and the data-oriented processing of the digital humanities.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper starts from the complexities of character recognition of mass CHAs, takes Sheng Xuanhuai archives crowdsourcing project of Shanghai Library as a case study, and makes use of the theories of archival science, including diplomatics of Chinese archival documents, and the historical approach of Chinese archival traditions as the theoretical basis and analysis methods. The results are generated through the comprehensive research.
Findings
This paper points out that volunteer tasks of full-text generation include transcription, punctuation, proofreading, metadata description, segmentation, and attribute annotation in digital humanities and provides a metadata element set for volunteers to use in creating or revising metadata descriptions and also provides an attribute tag set. The two sets can be used across the humanities to construct overall observations about texts and the archives of which they are a part. Along these lines, this paper presents significant insights for application in outlining the principles, methods, activities, and procedures of crowdsourced full-text generation for mass CHAs.
Originality/value
This study is the first to explore and identify the effective design and allocation of tasks for crowdsourced volunteers completing full-text generation on CHAs in digital humanities.
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Keywords
Junru Zhang, Yumeng Liu and Bo Yan
This study aims to research the large cross-section tunnel stability evaluation method corrected after considering the thickness-span ratio.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to research the large cross-section tunnel stability evaluation method corrected after considering the thickness-span ratio.
Design/methodology/approach
First, taking the Liuyuan Tunnel of Huanggang-Huangmei High-Speed Railway as an example and taking deflection of the third principal stress of the surrounding rock at a vault after tunnel excavation as the criterion, the critical buried depth of the large section tunnel was determined. Then, the strength reduction method was employed to calculate the tunnel safety factor under different rock classes and thickness-span ratios, and mathematical statistics was conducted to identify the relationships of the tunnel safety factor with the thickness-span ratio and the basic quality (BQ) index of the rock for different rock classes. Finally, the influences of thickness-span ratio, groundwater, initial stress of rock and structural attitude factors were considered to obtain the corrected BQ, based on which the stability of a large cross-section tunnel with a depth of more than 100 m during mechanized operation was analyzed. This evaluation method was then applied to Liuyuan Tunnel and Cimushan No. 2 Tunnel of Chongqing Urban Expressway for verification.
Findings
This study shows that under different rock classes, the tunnel safety factor is a strict power function of the thickness-span ratio, while a linear function of the BQ to some extent. It is more suitable to use the corrected BQ as a quantitative index to evaluate tunnel stability according to the actual conditions of the site.
Originality/value
The existing industry standards do not consider the influence of buried depth and span in the evaluation of tunnel stability. The stability evaluation method of large section tunnel considering the correction of overburden span ratio proposed in this paper achieves higher accuracy for the stability evaluation of surrounding rock in a full or large-section mechanized excavation of double line high-speed railway tunnels.
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Huiqi Lin, Xi Li, Siyu Xu, Jun He and Noshaba Aziz
Broiler meat is the most commonly used meat product worldwide. Although China is regarded as one of the three largest broiler producers, the per capita chicken consumption remains…
Abstract
Purpose
Broiler meat is the most commonly used meat product worldwide. Although China is regarded as one of the three largest broiler producers, the per capita chicken consumption remains low. Consumers' cognitive bias and the information acquisition channels are believed to be the main factors contributing to this. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned issue.
Design/methodology/approach
To explore the phenomenon empirically, the current study uses the survey data of 1,056 consumers from China and analyses them using ordered logistic regression.
Findings
The results revealed that consumers' cognitive bias significantly affects their behaviour toward broiler products, and the order of influence is cognitive bias regarding industry cognitive > product nutrition and taste > food safety. The study further revealed that the more diverse the information acquisition channels, the more likely they are to promote consumer behaviour toward broiler chickens. The order of influence of the channels was self-organising > new media > traditional media.
Practical implications
Overall, the findings suggest that the government and enterprises should strengthen and upgrade information channels to boost both the broiler industry and consumer consumption behaviour regarding poultry products.
Originality/value
Rather than the usual focus on the impact of consumer cognition on consumer behaviour, this study examines the impact of cognitive bias on consumer behaviour. Further, centring on broiler products with high protein, low fat and feed-to-meat ratios, this study explores the reasons the per capita consumption of broiler products in China is far lower than the national average.
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Guo Qing Zhang, S C.M Yu and J Schlüter
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the aerodynamics characteristics (especially the side force/moment and rolling characteristics), to analyze the impacts generated by…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the aerodynamics characteristics (especially the side force/moment and rolling characteristics), to analyze the impacts generated by different parameters of wrap-around fins (WAFs) and to find the corresponding mechanism.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper has adopted three different types of WAFs for the rocket configurations and the sub-regions divided technology to investigate the lateral and rolling characteristics of WAFs, including the fins with variations in span to chord ratio, thickness, leading-edge sweep, curvature radius, fin numbers, setting angles and rotated angles. Simulations have been performed at Mach numbers from 3 to 4 through an angle-of-attack range of about 0° to 10° and at model rolling angles of 45° to 90°.
Findings
The paper shows that the WAF configurations can greatly improve the longitudinal stability and enhance the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics for the whole rocket. The total drag of the whole rocket is mainly stemmed from the body, while the drag generated by the WAF account for only about 7.42 per cent. The extra side forces and rolling moments are due largely to the unequal pressure distributions on both sides of the fin (windward or leeward). Maintaining a certain negative setting angle (d) can effectively avoid the coning movement and improve the flight stability at high angles of attack. The size of the span and chord are two main factors in controlling the longitudinal characteristics. For the side force/moment and rolling characteristics, different geometric parameters of the WAFs have played different roles.
Originality/value
The paper provides the qualitative and quantitative analysis for different WAFs configurations by investigating the curves of different parameters and contouring of static pressure distributions. Findings can provide some suggestions for the designers for avoiding some significant dynamic problems, such as Magnus instability and roll rate variations during flight.
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