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The purpose of this research is to explore how immigrant library users view Auckland Libraries as a multicultural bridge in New Zealand. The research explored the various factors keeping different cultures apart in the New Zealand socio cultural systems and to find out the gaps in the provision of multicultural services in Auckland public libraries. The study also discusses the specific roles Auckland public libraries play in the development of multiculturalism in New Zealand from the perspective of immigrant users.

The study uses a qualitative research approach. Semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 participants including five library staff members and ten users of the Auckland library. Thematic analysis (qualitative data analysis, where data is grouped into themes) was used for data analysis.

Participants perceive that the Auckland Library had an advantage over other citizen service institutions in the development and services of multiculturalism in New Zealand. The participants understand that language, cultural background, beliefs and values are some of the causes of gaps between different ethnic groups, and only by learning from each other can groups enhance mutual understanding between them. The services and programs Auckland Library offer to immigrant enable various interactions among different cultural groups and enhance learning from one another to facilitate their integration into the New Zealand society. The findings show that Auckland public libraries have some gaps in multicultural services. In particular, there are more than 200 different ethnicities in Auckland, but the Auckland library's website does not have the function of a multilingual search tab service, lacks a multicultural book collection and some of the existing collections of books are of low quality, low literary value and so on. The study suggests that these issues need to be improved.

This was small-scale research involving the perspectives of only 15 participants. Nevertheless, the findings provide constructive insight into the development of multicultural services in Auckland libraries that can serve as a useful basis for a broader exploration of more immigrant groups in Auckland and New Zealand as a whole.

The results of this research will provide valuable information for the Auckland libraries to have a better plan for multicultural services in the future. The findings will also serve as a reference for improving multicultural services in the Auckland libraries.

Although other studies have looked at immigrants’ behavior and perception on various issues in New Zealand, this study is the first to look at how different immigrant groups percept Auckland libraries as a multicultural bridge to help integrate them.

The purpose of this paper is to present some dynamic hesitant fuzzy aggregation operators to tackle with the multi-period decision-making problems where all decision information is provided by decision makers in hesitant fuzzy information from different periods.

First, the notions and operational laws of the hesitant fuzzy variable are defined. Then, some dynamic hesitant fuzzy aggregation operators involve the dynamic hesitant fuzzy weighted averaging (DHFWA) operator, the dynamic hesitant fuzzy weighted geometric (DHFWG) operator, and their generalized versions are presented. Some desirable properties of these proposed operators are established. Furthermore, two linguistic quantifier-based methods are introduced to determine the weights of periods. Next, the paper extends the results to the interval-valued hesitant fuzzy situation. Furthermore, the authors develop an approach to solve the multi-period multiple criteria decision making (MPMCDM) problems. Finally, an illustrative example is given.

The presented hesitant fuzzy aggregation operators are very suitable for aggregating the hesitant fuzzy information collected at different periods. The developed approach can solve the MPMCDM problems where all decision information takes the form of hesitant fuzzy information collected at different periods.

The presented hesitant fuzzy aggregation operators and decision-making approach can widely apply to dynamic decision analysis, multi-stage decision analysis in real life.

The paper presents the useful way to aggregate the hesitant fuzzy information collected at different periods in MPMCDM situations.

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of current-carrying condition on the electrochemical process and atmospheric corrosion behavior of the commercial aluminum alloys.

Potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed to study the electrochemical process of the aluminum alloys. Salt spray tests and weight loss tests were carried out to study the atmospheric corrosion behavior. The corrosion morphology of the alloys was observed, and the products were analyzed.

The corrosion process of four aluminum alloys was accelerated in the current-carrying condition. Moreover, the acceleration effect on A2024 and A7075 was much stronger than that on A1050 and A5052. The main factors would be the differences in microstructure and corrosion resistance between these alloys. As the carried current increased, the corrosion rate and corrosion current density of the aluminum alloys gradually increased, with the protection of the corrosion product film decreasing linearly.

This is a recent study on the corrosion behavior of conductors under current-carrying condition, which truly understands the corrosion status of power grid materials. Relevant results provide support for the corrosion protection and safe service of aluminum alloy in power systems.

The purpose of this paper is to provide the historical background of genealogical records and analyze the value of Chinese genealogical research through the study of names and genealogical resources.

The paper examines the historical evolution and value of Chinese genealogical records, with the focus on researching the Islamic Chinese names used by the people living in Guilin. The highlight of this paper includes the analysis and evolution of the Islamic Chinese names commonly adopted by the local people in Guilin. It concludes with the recommendations on emphasizing and making the best use of genealogical records to enhance the research value of Chinese overseas studies.

The paper covers the history of Islam and describes how the religion was introduced into China, as well as Muslims' ethnicity and identity. It also places focus on the importance of building a research collection in Asian history and Chinese genealogy.

This research study has a strong subject focus on Chinese genealogy, Asian history, and Islamic Chinese surnames. It is a narrow field that few researchers have delved into.

The results of this study will assist students, researchers, and the general public in tracing the origin of their surnames and developing their interest in the social and historical value of Chinese local history and genealogies.

The study of Chinese surnames is, by itself, a particular field for researching the social and political implications of contemporary Chinese society during the time the family members lived.

Very little research has been done in the area of Chinese local history and genealogy. The paper would be of value to researchers such as historians, sociologists, ethnologists and archaeologists, as well as students and anyone interested in researching a surname origin, its history and evolution.

Lenders in online peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms are always non-experts and face severe information asymmetry. This paper aims to achieve the goals of gaining high returns with risk limitations or lowering risks with expected returns for P2P lenders.

This paper used data from a leading online P2P lending platform in America. First, the authors constructed a logistic regression-based credit scoring model and a linear regression-based profit scoring model to predict the default probabilities and profitability of loans. Second, based on the predictions of loan risk and loan return, the authors constructed linear programming model to form the optimal loan portfolio for lenders.

The research results show that compared to a logistic regression-based credit scoring method, the proposed new framework could make more returns for lenders with risks unchanged. Furthermore, compared to a linear regression-based profit scoring method, the proposed new framework could lower risks for lenders without lowering returns. In addition, comparisons with advanced machine learning techniques further validate its superiority.

Unlike previous studies that focus solely on predicting the default probability or profitability of loans, this study considers loan allocation in online P2P lending as an optimization research problem using a new framework based upon modern portfolio theory (MPT). This study may contribute theoretically to the extension of MPT in the specific context of online P2P lending and benefit lenders and platforms to develop more efficient investment tools.

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the advances in grey system theory research and various application achievements in science and engineering. At the same time, it commemorates the 40th anniversary of the birth of grey system theory and the 10th anniversary of Grey Systems–Theory and Application.

Firstly, the innovations of theoretical research in grey system theory were summarized and some of the widely recognized new results are briefly described. By searching and combing the research results of grey system theory in China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI) database and Web of Science by Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), this paper shows the rapid development trend of grey system theory in the past 40 years, and the successful applications of grey system theory in the fields of social sciences, natural sciences and engineering technologies.

More than 227 thousands literature were found by input 10 phrases such as grey system, grey number and sequence operator etc. in CNKI database. After entering the new century, the number of grey system papers included in CNKI database is increasing rapidly. Since 2008, more than 10 thousands papers have been included per year and more than 15 thousands papers have been included per year since 2014. Grey system method and model are widely used in physics, chemistry, biology and other fields of natural science, as well as transportation, electric power, machinery and other fields of engineering technology, and a large number of valuable results have been achieved.

It can be seen that the grey system theory plays an important role in promoting China’s scientific and technological progress, innovation and development and high-level talent training from tens of thousands of literatures marked with important national science and technology projects and a large number of grey system literatures published by China’s double first-class universities and double first-class discipline construction universities.

Both innovations of theoretical research and practical application play important role in the growth of new theory. The innovations of theoretical research provide methods and tools for practical application, which is conducive to improve application efficiency and broaden application fields. A large number of practical applications needs have become the source of theoretical innovation and the solid background for the birth of theoretical innovation achievements.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a motion control method for WFF-AmphiRobot, which can effectively realize the flexible motion of the robot on land, underwater and in the transition zone between land and water.

Based on the dynamics model, the authors selected the appropriate state variables to construct the state space model of the robot and estimated the feedback state of the robot through the maximum a posteriori probability estimation. The nonlinear predictive model controller of the robot is constructed by local linearization of the model to perform closed-loop control on the overall motion of the robot. For the control problem of the terminal trajectory, using the neural rhythmic movement theory in bionics to construct a robot central pattern generator (CPG) for real-time generation of terminal trajectory.

In this paper, the motion state of WFF-AmphiRobot is estimated, and a model-based overall motion controller for the robot and an end-effector controller based on neural rhythm control are constructed. The effectiveness of the controller and motion control algorithm is verified by simulation and physical prototype motion experiments on land and underwater, and the robot can ideally complete the desired behavior.

The paper designed a controller for WFF-AmphiRobot. First, when constructing the robot state estimator in this paper, the robot dynamics model is introduced as the a priori estimation model, and the error compensation of the a priori model is performed by the method of maximum a posteriori probability estimation, which improves the accuracy of the state estimator. Second, for the underwater oscillation motion characteristics of the flipper, the Hopf oscillator is used as the basis, and the flipper fluctuation equation is modified and improved by the CPG signal is adapted to the flipper oscillation demand. The controller effectively controls the position error and heading angle error within the desired range during the movement of the WFF-AmphiRobot.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the effects of organizational and technological barriers to knowledge sharing between large and small firms through the lens of attribution theory.

The structural equation modeling approach was applied to estimate the conceptual model by using survey data from a list of Taiwan’s top 1,000 manufacturing and 500 service companies. A total of 229 valid questionnaires were collected.

The empirical results show that both organizational and technological barriers have relationships with an individual’s effort and ability with regard to knowledge sharing behavior. When organizational barriers occur, the perceived lack of effort has a direct effect on knowledge sharing behavior for large firms, while negative sharing behavior among employees of small firms is influenced by the perception of low ability through the perceived lack of effort.

A review of the literature reveals organizational and technological barriers that lead to the negative influences of internal attributions on knowledge sharing. This study, therefore, contributes to a comprehensive perspective on how to encourage knowledge sharing behavior at different sizes of firms.

This paper aims to report on a study that used the practice theory lens to understand how Chinese ethnic culture influences restaurant workers' learning through engagement in everyday work practices.

A multiple case study approach was used. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and site observations. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify how workers learnt the sayings, doings and relatings in their workplaces.

The findings show that the ethnic culture of the participants influences and enriches their learning in practice settings such as small Chinese restaurants.

The understandings presented here need to be verified through more research in different regions and nations. In addition, cross-cultural studies on other ethnic restaurants may contribute to deeper understandings of the influences of ethnic culture on practice-based learning.

The research contributes to understanding the influence of ethnic culture on practice-based learning.

The understandings gained from the findings of this study form a useful basis for curriculum development and instructional design of training programmes for practice-based as well as work-integrated-learning components of vocational curriculum. Furthermore, awareness of the strengths of the ethnic culture is of interest to owner/managers of small Chinese restaurants to afford supportive learning environments for workers.

Responding to natural resource depletion and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission problems, and also the stricter government’s energy regulations, the purpose of this paper is to develop a sustainable waste heat recovery optimal-profit-oriented management model especially targeting on the easily forgotten low- and medium-temperature waste heat in the industry. In the paper, a system is constructed to facilitate converting the low- and medium-grade waste heat in factories into electricity, and yields optimal profit.

This paper integrates an efficient Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system from both sustainable energy reservation and cost effectiveness approaches with an optimization model that adopts particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to determine proper installation locations and feasible generator sets. The system is constructed to facilitate converting the low- and medium-grade waste heat in factories into electricity, and yields optimal profit. The model considers the environmental factors: temperature, heat amount, equipment configuration of the number of ORC sets, and detailed investment cost constraints.

The results show that annual investment return rate, annual increase in electricity, power generation efficiency, and annual CO₂ emission reduction are all highly improved, and investment recovery period is shortened. Also, the larger scale of the waste heat emission, the better the performance is achieved. Finally, the study also completes a sensitivity test under dynamic conditions of electricity price, generator sales price and factory budget constraints, and the results are consistently robust. More valuably, this paper demonstrates applications on two different manufacturing industries with various waste heat emission scales to prove the accountability.

The main contributions are in three aspects. First, it proves that applying PSO to a nonlinear mathematical model can help determine the optimal number and style configuration of generators for waste heat sources. Second, different from the prior research works focusing on power generation, this paper also deliberates the cost factors, cost of generators, costs of numerous peripheral components and future maintenance costs to ensure the factories not conflict with the financial limitations. Third, it is not only successfully applied in two industries with different scales, but also robust with various economic tests, electricity price change, generator sales price change, and investment budget adjustments.