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Multi‐functional rapid prototyping manufacturing system (M‐RPMS) is an important potential developing field and tendency of RP technique. Application area of the M‐RPMS has been discussed in this paper. It is believed that the M‐RPMS has to be developed both for industrial and academic purposes. The openness of software and hardware, the diversity of RP processes and the highest function/cost ratio are the outstanding speciality of the M‐RPMS. This paper also introduces the design principle of the M‐RPMS, the calculation method for function integration degree (FID), the running of SLS in the M‐RPMS and the key of early stage rapid feedback design system.

Can Chinese social media data (SMD) be used as an alternative to traditional surveys used to understand tourists' visitation of attractions in Chinese cities? The purpose of this paper is to explore this question.

Popular tourism SMD sources in China, such as Ctrip, Weibo and Dazhong Dianping (DZDP), were used as data source, and the relationships between these sources and traditional data sources were studied with statistical methods. Data from Shanghai were used in this study since it is rich in tourism resources and developed in information.

A systematic research method was followed and led to the following conclusions: There were positive correlations for attraction visitation between Chinese SMD and traditional survey data; Chinese SMD source could temporally indicate visits to Shanghai tourist attractions; Ctrip SMD generally performed less well than Weibo or DZDP, and different SMD performed differently depending on the specific attractions and time units in the visitation calculation process; and factors including visitation, distance from the city center and the grade of attractions might affect the prediction performance based on data from the SMD. The findings suggest that Chinese SMD could be used as a cost-efficient and reliable proxy for traditional survey data to predict Chinese attraction visitation.

This study applies and improves the methods of SMD reliability in attraction use studies, supplies the gap for premise, basis and foundation for the large amounts of tourism researches using SMD in China and could promote and inspire more efficient and advanced measures in tourism management and urban development.

The aim of this paper was to attempt to investigate the transformation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry in Guangdong Province of China by applying a perspective of sectoral system of innovation (SSI). TCM industry in China has experienced an evolution path from low-tech to modern industry.

An analytical framework of sectoral system innovation for explaining the change in TCM industry in Guangdong Province has been conducted.

It shows that during the successful transformation of the TCM industry in Guangdong from low-tech to modern sector, national and provincial institution are acting as main drivers. Knowledge integration is the decision factor of modernization and innovation strategy as an actor that makes the transformation adjust and operate efficiently. Other actors, such as demand and external networks interplay together and led to a gradual organizational, structural and institutional change and modernization of TCM industry.

SSI analyses of TCM in China have never been conducted before, this paper also contributes to enrich the experience of low-tech industry transformation and provide references to other low-tech industries around the world.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of fly ash content on the friction–wear performance of bronze-based brake lining material.

In this study, bronze-based brake linings containing 0-12 weight per cent fly ash were produced by the hot-pressing process. The friction-wear properties of the unreinforced bronze matrix brake lining material and fly ash reinforced samples were investigated using a Chase-type friction tester. The hardness and density of the samples were also determined. The microstructures and friction surfaces of the samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy.

The experimental results showed that the fly ash content significantly affects the friction-wear properties of the brake lining material. It was found that the friction coefficient increases with the increase in the fly ash content for the brake lining materials studied. Moreover, the mass losses in the wear test were lower for the brake linings containing over 4 weight per cent fly ash than unreinforced bronze-based lining material.

This study has proven to be useful in exploring fly ash particles as low cost reinforcing materials in improving the friction–wear performance of bronze-based brake lining material. In addition, the use of fly ash particles in the manufacture of brake lining materials contributes to reducing the production cost of brake linings and to a sustainable environment.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a simplified optimization calculation method to assess cable force of self-anchored suspension bridge based on optimization theories.

A simplified analysis method construction using Matlab is developed, which is then compared with the optimization method that considers the main cable’s geometric nonlinearity with software ANSYS in an actual bridge calculation.

This contrast proves the weak coherence and the adjacently interaction theory unreasonable and its limitation.

This paper analyzes the calculation method to assess cable force of a self-anchored suspension bridge and its application effect.

The purpose of this paper is to enhance the characteristics of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs). Because these NPs stick together easily and are difficult to distribute evenly, they cannot be used extensively in lubricating oils. Altering TiO₂ was recommended as an alternate way for making NPs simpler to disperse.

Through dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBDP)-assisted ball mill diagnostics and modeling of molecular dynamics, TiO₂@PEG-400 NPs were produced using the DBDP-assisted ball mill. The NPs’ microstructure was examined using FESEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR and TG-DSC. Using the CFT-1 reciprocating friction tester, the tribological properties of TiO₂@PEG-400 NPs as base oil additives were studied. EDS and XPS were used to examine the surface wear of the friction pair.

Tribological properties of the modified NPs are vastly superior to those of the original NPs, and the lipophilicity value of TiO₂ NPs was improved by 200%. It was determined through tribological testing that TiO₂@PEG-400’s exceptional performance might be attributable to a chemical reaction film made up of TiO₂, Fe₂O₃, iron oxide and other organic chemicals.

This work describes an approach for preventing the aggregation of TiO₂ NPs by coating their surface with PEG-400. In addition, the prepared NPs can enhance the tribological performance of lubricating oil. This low-cost, high-performance lubricant additive has tremendous promise for usage in marine engines to minimize operating costs while preserving navigational safety.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potentials of nano-additives in enhancement of oxidation and thermal stability of biolubricants thereby, improving the resistance of dispersed nanolubricants to thermal degradation under elevated temperature.

This study evaluates the oxidation stability and tribological performance of nano-enhanced biolubricants. Graphene and maghemite nanoparticles at 0.1% volume concentration were dispersed into coconut oil. Oxidation stability was analysed using a thermal analyser to understand the effect of nano-additives on thermal degradation of lubricants under increasing temperature. In addition, tribological performance and viscosity of the tested lubricants were evaluated using a four-ball friction tester and viscometer according to American Society for Testing and Materials standards.

The results reveal that the oxidation stability of biolubricants dispersed with nano-additives improves due to delayed thermal degradation. The nano-enhanced biolubricants’ oxidation onset temperature was delayed by 18.75 °C and 37.5 °C, respectively, for maghemite (MGCO) and graphene (XGCO) nanolubricants. This improvement imparts the performance viscosity and tribological performance positively. For graphene-enhanced nanolubricant, 10.4% and 5.6% were reduced, respectively, in coefficient of friction (COF)and wear scar diameter (WSD), whereas 3.43% and 4.3% reduction in COF and WSD, respectively, for maghemite-enhanced nanolubricant compared with coconut oil. The viscosity index of nanolubricants was augmented by 7.36% and 13.85%, respectively, for maghemite and graphene nanolubricants.

The excellent performance of nanolubricants makes them suitable candidate as sustainable lubricants for machining with regard to environmental benefits and energy saving.

The effect of graphene and maghemite nanoparticles on the oxidation stability and tribological performance of biolubricants has been investigated. It is an original work and yet to be published elsewhere.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the anti-wear (AW) and extreme pressure (EP) performances of CuO and graphite nanoparticles as a palm oil additive.

In this study, the AW and EP performances of CuO and graphite nanoparticles as additives in palm oil were evaluated using four ball tribotester in accordance to ASTM D4172 and ASTM D2783, respectively. The wear worn surfaces of the steel balls were analysed using high resolution microscope.

The results obtained demonstrate that CuO and graphite nanoparticles improved the AW and EP performances of the palm oil up to 2.77 and 12 per cent, respectively. The graphite nanoparticles provide better AW and EP performance than that of CuO nanoparticles.

This demonstrates the potential of CuO and graphite nanoparticles for improving AW and EP performances of palm oil base lubricant. Different morphology of nanoparticles will affect the AW and EP performances of nanolubricants.