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1 – 10 of 86Shih-Shuo Yeh, Tao Ma and Tzung-Cheng Huan
Social entrepreneurship by hoteliers in “going green” promotes a better future for the environment and arguably also for the human race. However, going green potentially increases…
Abstract
Purpose
Social entrepreneurship by hoteliers in “going green” promotes a better future for the environment and arguably also for the human race. However, going green potentially increases costs for both hoteliers and their guests. Environmental education (EE) is possibly a useful vehicle for the hotel industry to gain support for greener operations. This research aims to investigate the potential impact of EE on increasing customer uptake of green hotels.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted to collect data from three winners of a green hotel competition. Six surveyors were dispatched, and 155 usable responses were obtained. Data were analyzed with AMOS 16.0 to estimate an structural equation modeling (SEM) model of how EE affects environmental motivation (EM) and how this relates to visitors’ intentions.
Findings
Model estimation shows that a moderating variable effect exists between EE and visitors’ intentions. The cause is approximately 40 per cent direct and 60 per cent mediated through EM. That environmental education affects visit intention for green hotels both directly and through creating environmental motivation is evidence that the hotel industry can expect to enhance the use of their socially responsible green services by facilitating EE. In research terms, how best to invest in EE to support the social entrepreneurship of hotels providing green services is a research area to pursue for developing criteria to maximize benefits while supporting business viability.
Originality/value
This study shows that social entrepreneurs who provide green services can expand their area of social responsibility and generate more potential customers by supporting EE. The findings and applications of this study are useful both for academia and practitioners.
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to focus on numerical simulation investigations of deformation analysis of asymmetric break-down rolling of a hollow steel, which seriously affects the service life of the final product.
Design/methodology/approach
The 3D rigid-plastic thermo-mechanical coupled finite element method (FEM) for a large strain was used to analyze metal deformation in the deformation zone for asymmetric rolling with different roller diameters.
Findings
The distribution of stress, strain and dimension accuracy for different diameters was obtained. The results show that the additional shear strain which is different from the normal compression deformation is generated in an asymmetric rolling process. The higher the ratio between upper and lower diameters, the greater the additional shear deformation.
Originality/value
Asymmetric rolling is an important factor affecting the dimensional accuracy of the hollow steel. This study can provide a theoretical basis for developing a reasonable rolling process of the hollow steel.
The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the institutions play a role in tourism development and international recognition, specifically the influence of marketization on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the institutions play a role in tourism development and international recognition, specifically the influence of marketization on the international tourists’ inbound arrivals in different Chinese provinces.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper constructs a demand model of tourism and empirically analyzes the relationship between marketization and inbound tourism demand with the panel data of the provinces of China and NERI Index of Marketization.
Findings
Marketization does have an influence on inbound tourism demand of China. Specially, the relationship between government and market, the development of product market, the market intermediary organizations and the legal system environment can increase the demand of the foreign tourists to visit China, although the magnitudes are different.
Practical implications
This paper argues that the qualities of marketization intuitions are important in increasing inbound tourism, given that it can bring better tourism experience and improve the international recognition. Strengthening the legislation and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of consumers can attract more international travelers to China. Market distribution of competitive economic resources, reducing political intervention into corporate activities and relieving tax burdens of enterprises can improve the competitiveness and the service qualities of Chinese domestic tourism firms.
Originality/value
This paper leads the discussions of institutions and tourism. It combines the consumer theory and uses static and dynamic panel data models to analyze the influencing factors of Chinese tourism. It argues that Chinese inbound tourism shall develop with the systemic marketization progress in China.
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Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to focus on numerical simulation investigations of phase transformation during cooling of 55SiMnMo steel, which is commonly applied to improve mechanical properties.
Design/methodology/approach
A mathematical model based on the finite element method (FEM) and the phase transformation kinetics model has been proposed to predict microstructure changes during continuous cooling of 55SiMnMo steel. This model can be employed to analyze the variation of austenite, special upper bainite and lump-like composite structure with cooling time at different cooling rates.
Finding
According to the continuous cooling experiments, when the cooling rate is lower than 0.1°C/s, the special upper bainite is the only transformation product which decreases with increasing cooling rate; when the cooling rate is above 0.5°C/s, the transformation products include special upper bainite and lump-like composite structure. Meanwhile, the results of continuous cooling experiment verified the correctness of this finite element model.
Originality/value
This model has a great value for proper controlling of the cooling process which can improve the quality of hollow drill steel and increase the service life of the final product.
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Tianning Ma, Shuo Li and Xu Feng
This paper studies whether individual stocks provide higher returns than government bond in the Chinese market.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper studies whether individual stocks provide higher returns than government bond in the Chinese market.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors compare individual stock returns and government bond returns in the Chinese market.
Findings
The authors find that more than half of individual stocks underperform government bonds over the same period in China, which highlights the important role of positive skewness in the distribution of individual stock returns. The high return of a few stocks is the reason why the stock market return is higher than that of government bond in China.
Originality/value
The results of this paper emphasize that portfolio diversification plays an important role in the Chinese market.
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Kailun Feng, Shiwei Chen, Weizhuo Lu, Shuo Wang, Bin Yang, Chengshuang Sun and Yaowu Wang
Simulation-based optimisation (SO) is a popular optimisation approach for building and civil engineering construction planning. However, in the framework of SO, the simulation is…
Abstract
Purpose
Simulation-based optimisation (SO) is a popular optimisation approach for building and civil engineering construction planning. However, in the framework of SO, the simulation is continuously invoked during the optimisation trajectory, which increases the computational loads to levels unrealistic for timely construction decisions. Modification on the optimisation settings such as reducing searching ability is a popular method to address this challenge, but the quality measurement of the obtained optimal decisions, also termed as optimisation quality, is also reduced by this setting. Therefore, this study aims to develop an optimisation approach for construction planning that reduces the high computational loads of SO and provides reliable optimisation quality simultaneously.
Design/methodology/approach
This study proposes the optimisation approach by modifying the SO framework through establishing an embedded connection between simulation and optimisation technologies. This approach reduces the computational loads and ensures the optimisation quality associated with the conventional SO approach by accurately learning the knowledge from construction simulations using embedded ensemble learning algorithms, which automatically provides efficient and reliable fitness evaluations for optimisation iterations.
Findings
A large-scale project application shows that the proposed approach was able to reduce computational loads of SO by approximately 90%. Meanwhile, the proposed approach outperformed SO in terms of optimisation quality when the optimisation has limited searching ability.
Originality/value
The core contribution of this research is to provide an innovative method that improves efficiency and ensures effectiveness, simultaneously, of the well-known SO approach in construction applications. The proposed method is an alternative approach to SO that can run on standard computing platforms and support nearly real-time construction on-site decision-making.
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Shuting Xiang, Guoquan Chen, Wei Liu, Qiwei Zhou and Shuo Xing
Ambidexterity is the source of organizational sustainable development and long-term success. However, understanding the role of individual ambidexterity in organizations remains…
Abstract
Purpose
Ambidexterity is the source of organizational sustainable development and long-term success. However, understanding the role of individual ambidexterity in organizations remains underdeveloped. Recently, scholars have increasingly emphasized the importance of individual ambidexterity, calling for more research on the topic. This study aims to explore the factors influencing individual ambidexterity. It proposed that goal orientation would be related to individual ambidexterity, and perceived cooperative goal interdependence and constructive controversy would play moderating roles in this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper opted for a survey study. Questionnaires were distributed to enterprise managers from a part-time MBA program at a university located in Beijing, China. They were also asked to bring copies to their colleagues, so they could fill them out. The authors obtained 229 valid questionnaires and used hierarchical regression analysis to test the relationships.
Findings
The results revealed that both learning goal orientation and performance goal orientation were significantly and positively related to individual ambidexterity. Perceived cooperative goal interdependence and constructive controversy positively moderated the relationship between learning goal orientation/ performance goal orientation and individual ambidexterity.
Practical implications
The paper provides beneficial suggestions for both managers and employees. It offers a reference for managers regarding how to promote employee ambidexterity. It also provides suggestions for employee career development.
Originality/value
The paper explored the factors influencing ambidextrous activities at the individual level, a very scare approach in extant studies. It also constructed a systematic process mechanism of individual ambidexterity, integrating both internal and external factors.
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Shengnan Zeng, Richard Bailey, Shuo Peng and Xiaohui Chen
This paper aims to explore how the term “mental health literacy” (MHL) is defined and understand the implications for public mental health and educational interventions.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore how the term “mental health literacy” (MHL) is defined and understand the implications for public mental health and educational interventions.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive search was conducted by searching PubMed, ERIC, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science. Keywords such as “mental health literacy” and “definition” were used. The publication year ranges from 1997 to 2023.
Findings
In total, 17 papers met the inclusion criteria. Three distinct themes characterise the definitions of MHL: cognitive understanding; affective empowerment; and behavioural change. In the mental health educational context, inspiration, transformation and practice can be viewed as three stages for curriculum development.
Research limitations/implications
Despite conducting a systematic literature review, there remains the possibility that certain relevant studies may not have been identified. Specifically, the selection criteria prioritise papers that explicitly addressed MHL.
Practical implications
Traditional educational approaches prioritise knowledge dissemination and attitude change; integrating MHL into mental health well-being curriculum advocates for action-oriented intervention to address mental health challenges.
Social implications
Understanding different definitions and concepts in a field can be valuable for consolidating shared understandings, highlighting tensions and contradictions, and enhancing communication among researchers. Ironically, perhaps, the process also highlights the provisional nature of these definitions.
Originality/value
The exploration of MHL with three themes of definitions sheds light on the understanding of this concept. Three core themes in MHL definitions guide future curriculum development. This study underscores the importance of prioritise action-oriented intervention in mental health education, emphasising the need to move beyond knowledge dissemination towards transformative practices that promote holistic mental well-being.
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Shuo Su, Xiong-Tao Zhu and Hong-Qiang Fan
This paper aims to study the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on the corrosion behavior of BC550 weathering steel in simulated marine atmospheric environment.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on the corrosion behavior of BC550 weathering steel in simulated marine atmospheric environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The effect of UV light on the corrosion behavior of BC550 weathering steel in simulated marine atmospheric environments were investigated by the corrosion weight gain experiment, in situ electrochemical noise, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction.
Findings
UV light accelerated the corrosion process of BC550 weathering steel in the simulated marine atmospheric environment during the first 168 h. The maximum influence factor of UV light was 0.32, and it was only 0.08 after 168 h of corrosion process.
Originality/value
As the extension of corrosion time, the thickness and density of the corrosion product layer increased, which weakened the acceleration effect of UV light.
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