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Irregularly shaped architectural designs with surfaces curved in multiple directions, known as free-form designs, have gained significant public interest in recent decades. However, it is challenging to convert complex designs into real structures. This paper aims to realize free-form construction by developing a novel workflow in which additively manufactured thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) molds are used.

The workflow is developed through mechanical tests on additively manufactured TPU specimens, determination of TPU mold design criteria and exploration of mold preparation methods. Two concrete elements with free-form geometries are fabricated using the proposed workflow.

TPU is a thermoplastic elastomer that is strong and inexpensive, making it an ideal mold material for casting complex concrete structures. An innovative workflow is developed in which TPU molds are used, appropriate release agents are selected for different concrete casting conditions and a mold subdivision method is proposed to facilitate the demolding process. Furthermore, the integrity of TPU molds can be maintained by following the proposed workflow, enabling repetitive use of molds. The fabrication of the two free-form structures shows that complex concrete members with high dimensional accuracy and excellent surface quality can be manufactured using the proposed method.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic study on using additively manufactured TPU molds for concrete casting of complex structures. The new techniques developed in this research can be applied to large-scale architectural, engineering and construction projects.

The purpose of this study is to improve the efficiency and accuracy of response surface method (RSM), as well as its robustness.

By introducing cut-high-dimensional representation model (HDMR), the delineation of cross terms and the constitution analysis of component function, a new adaptive RSM is presented for reliability calculation, where a sampling scheme is also proposed to help constructing response surface close to limit-state.

The proposed method has a more feasible process of evaluating undetermined coefficients of each component function than traditional RSM, and performs well in terms of balancing the efficiency and accuracy when compared to the traditional second-order polynomial RSM. Moreover, the proposed method is robust on the parameter in a wide range, indicating that it is able to obtain convergent result in a wide feasible domain of sample points.

This study constructed an adaptive bivariate cut-HDMR by introducing delineation of cross-terms and constitution of univariate component function; and a new sampling technique is proposed.

The purpose of this study is to explore the U-shaped relationship between ambidextrous leadership and employee silence by examining power distance orientation as a boundary condition and role stress and relational energy as mediators.

The authors tested the theoretical model with 212 matched samples collected across three-wave-data from 21 companies and branches in China.

Results revealed that ambidextrous leadership showed a U-shaped relationship with employee silence through role stress and relational energy. Moreover, the authors found that the curvilinear relationship was more significant for employees higher in power distance orientation.

Organizations should be aware of the negative side of ambidextrous leadership as well as its stimulation on employee silence. The leaders should pay more attention to subordinates and judge whether they are under too much stress, as well as treat employees more cautiously in both work and non-work situations.

This study provides a first step to the understanding of curvilinear influence of ambidextrous leadership through investigating the mediating effects of role stress and relational energy, and integrating the moderating role of power distance orientation in the process.

This paper aims to study a parameter tuning method for the active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) to improve the anti-interference ability and position tracking of the performance of the servo system, and to ensure the stability and accuracy of practical applications.

This study proposes a parameter self-tuning method for ADRC based on an improved glowworm swarm optimization algorithm. The algorithm is improved by using sine and cosine local optimization operators and an adaptive mutation strategy. The improved algorithm is then used for parameter tuning of the ADRC to improve the anti-interference ability of the control system and ensure the accuracy of the controller parameters.

The authors designed an optimization model based on MATLAB, selected examples of simulation and experimental research and compared it with the standard glowworm swarm optimization algorithm, particle swarm algorithm and artificial bee colony algorithm. The results show that the response time of using the improved glowworm swarm optimization algorithm to optimize the auto-disturbance rejection control is short; there is no overshoot; the tracking process is relatively stable; the anti-interference ability is strong; and the optimization effect is better.

The innovation of this study is to improve the glowworm swarm optimization algorithm, propose a sine and cosine, local optimization operator, expand the firefly search space and introduce a new adaptive mutation strategy to adaptively adjust the mutation probability based on the fitness value, improve the global search ability of the algorithm and use the improved algorithm to adjust the parameters of the active disturbance rejection controller.

The objectives of this study were to demonstrate that the high-density 7-Eleven c-stores in Taiwan benefit from economies of scale in distribution and can, therefore, leverage the logistics costs; and to decide the proper locations for the future inauguration of c-stores.

The study spatially analysed the c-stores located in Tainan, Taiwan and examines the influence of spatial configuration on c-store revenue. This study developed models to quantify the revenue and logistics costs that the 7-Eleven convenience store (c-store) chain encountered when adopting a high-density expansion strategy. The revenue models’ parameters were calibrated utilizing data collected from financial statements in 7-Eleven chains’ 2015 corporate annual reports and modelling was used to quantify the influence of agglomeration forces and the distance separating c-stores on revenue.

Positive agglomeration forces increased 7-Eleven’s company-wide sales and the average daily revenue of its individual c-stores, and decreased those of competitors. The study findings demonstrate the high-density 7-Eleven c-stores in Tainan benefit from economies of scale in distribution and can, therefore, leverage their logistics costs. The spatial analysis concluded that higher-density and higher-revenue c-stores were spatially clustered.

The study extends the use of analytical revenue and spatial models to decide the proper locations for the future inauguration of c-stores.

The purpose of this case study was to explore senior librarians’ perceptions of successful leadership skills in the 21st century. The data gathered from 10 senior library leaders consisted of demographic information and responses to six open-ended interview questions. From the NVivo 10 analysis, several significant themes emerged regarding successful library leadership skills in the 21st century at two levels: foundational and interpersonal. At the foundational level, technical and knowledge skills form the building blocks for the next level of interpersonal skills. Persuasion and collaborative skills are interwoven with these interpersonal skills, both of which are at the core of the postindustrial paradigm of leadership. These two levels of skills, with an emphasis on persuasion skills, should form the basis of succession planning programs for next generation librarians. Implementing such programs could lead to increased leadership diversity, greater job satisfaction, improved job performance and effectiveness, all of which help retain librarians and ease staff shortages. Further studies are recommended.

As globalization increasingly affects the university sector around the world, there is a great advantage being placed on those universities that can respond timely and flexibly with appropriate innovation and internationalization strategies. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature of strategic aspects of innovation and internationalization in higher education. Based upon the premises of the Salford Prime Minister's Initiative 2 (PMI2) project, this paper aims to develop a theoretical framework which demonstrates how various objectives of innovation and internationalization can be translated and achieved in a learning organization context.

Theoretical analysis supported by empirical experiences. The paper explores the ideas and links between globalization and innovation/internationalization in higher education. The main concern of the paper is the implementation strategy of innovation and internationalization rather than the concepts and process of innovation and internationalization in higher education.

With examination of the impact of globalization upon higher education and strategic aspects of innovation and internationalization, this paper focuses on the implementation of innovation and internationalization and how to translate the overall institutional strategy into managed objectives. Organizational learning not only asserts and promotes organizational outcome and improved performance but also plays a significant role in achieving innovation and internationalization, e.g. staff engagement, staff motivation, empowerment, leadership and configuration. Furthermore, the paper identifies a number of strategic elements which are crucial to the successful implementation strategy of innovation and internationalization. The paper is based on the Salford PMI2 project and how various objectives were implemented which demonstrates the significance of collaboration in higher education between China and the UK.

Based on a comprehensive examination of the theoretical elements on innovation and internationalization and critical analysis of the Salford PMI2 project, adapting a typology of learning organizational framework, this study emphasizes the significance of incorporating both cultural and organizational learning factors. The paper develops a theoretical framework which enables policy makers and decision makers to make appropriate arrangements in designing international development strategy. Furthermore, the paper addresses the appropriateness and effectiveness of knowledge transfer, individual and organizational learning during the implementation of the internationalization strategy.

The purpose of this paper is to find the characteristic of entrepreneurial process for the student in free enterprise (SIFE) team in China, and to provide theoretical guidance for the entrepreneurial process of SIFE student team through a new Timmons model.

Taking an entrepreneurial project of Shantou University SIFE team as example, a Timmons model was proposed describing the SIFE student team entrepreneurial process based on the famous entrepreneurial process model established by Jeffry A. Timmons. The application value of the new Timmons model was proved by case analysis.

The paper summarized the main characteristics of the entrepreneurial model for the SIFE student team as: the nature of creation free enterprises, the excellent entrepreneurship networks, and the spirit of social entrepreneurship orientation. By case study, the paper proved the practical value of the new Timmons model by analysis of the key factors such as business opportunities, resources and entrepreneurial team, and their dynamic balance process.

The new model proposed in the paper will have theoretical value to provide a direction for student entrepreneurial practice, the analysis of the characteristics of the new model will also enrich the research on entrepreneurship theory.

This paper is the first research on SIFE student entrepreneurial process in China. In the past two years, the authors observed dozens of successful worldwide SIFE students' practical projects, but few of them appeared in the literature. It is hoped that this paper can offer some constructive advice to the entrepreneurial process of the SIFE student team and enrich the theory of general entrepreneurial education.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the evolution of service supply chain management from a behavioural operations perspective, pointing out future research directions for scholars.

This study searched five databases for relevant literature published between 2009 and 2018, selecting 64 papers for this review. The selected literature was categorised according to two dimensions: a service supply chain link perspective and a behavioural factor perspective. Comparative analysis was used to identify gaps in the literature, and five future research agendas were proposed.

In terms of the perspective of service supply chain link, extant literature primarily focuses on service supply and service co-ordination management, and less on service demand and integration management. In terms of the behavioural factor’s perspective, most focus on classic behaviour factors, with less attention paid to emerging behaviour factors. This paper thus proposes five research agendas: demand-oriented management and integrated supply chain-oriented behavioural research; broadening the understanding of the scope of behavioural operations; integrating the latest backgrounds and trends of service industry into the research; greater attention to behavioural operations in service sub-industries; and multimethod combination is encouraged to be used to dig into the interesting research problems.

This study constitutes the first systematic review of service supply chain research from a behavioural perspective. By categorising the literature into two dimensions, the state of existing research is evaluated with an eye towards future research avenues.

While many believe that nonperforming loans (NPLs), privatization of banks, informal lending, and other forms of shadow-banking, as well as technological advances in machine learning for assessing creditworthiness will place China's financial regulatory system on a trajectory toward openness and privatization, other trajectories are possible and likely. Consider that each disturbance can be met with controlled alternatives. For NPLs, there are asset management companies; for informal lending, there is new technology to lower transaction costs and increase formalization and consolidation; for systemic risk presented by other forms of shadow-banking, there is systemic isolation of the traditional banking sector which substantially lowers that risk; and while machine learning promises more accurate assessments of creditworthiness for millions of individuals and small- to medium-sized enterprises, it promises far less improvement to assessments of China's 3,500 large enterprises that present substantially different variables. Privatization and openness is not necessary for China's continued development for a time just as liberalized payment regimes and foreign direct investment rules do not imply the implementation of broad, liberal capital controls. Financial regulators in China, therefore, will continue to implement policies of limited and piecemeal openness so long as the benefits of control continue to exceed those of faster-paced development.