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This paper aims to investigate the free convection, heat transfer and entropy generation numerically and experientially. A numerical/experimental investigation is carried out to investigate the free convection hydrodynamically/thermally and entropy generation.

The coupled lattice Boltzmann method is used as a numerical approach which keeps the significant advantages of standard lattice Boltzmann method with better numerical stability. On the other hand, the thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity are measured using modern devices in the laboratory.

Some correlations based on the temperature at different nanofluid concentration are derived and used in the numerical simulations. In this regard, the results will be accurate with respect to using theoretical properties of nanofluid, and close agreements will be detected between present results and the previous numerical and experimental works. The numerical investigation is done under the effect of Rayleigh number (103 < Ra < 106), volume concentration of nanofluid (?? = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3%) and thermal configuration of the cavity (Cases A, B, C and D).

The originality of the present work lies in coupling of the lattice Boltzmann method with experimental observations to analyse the free convection in a cavity.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common form of anemia in the world, affecting children, women and the elderly, while also being a common comorbidity in several medical conditions. Several studies have suggested a possible association between IDA and neurological dysfunction. Epilepsy, one of the common neurological disorders, has an unknown association with IDA. This pa per aims to investigate whether there is a causal relationship between IDA and epilepsy using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design.

This paper obtained summary data on IDA and epilepsy from the FinnGen consortium. Genetic variants significantly associated with IDA were used as instrumental variables (IVs). Epilepsy, focal epilepsy and generalized epilepsy were the outcomes. This paper used inverse variance weighted (IVW) as the primary estimate, and other MR methods were used as supplementary measures. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

IVW estimates genetically predicted a causal relationship between IDA and the risk of epilepsy [odds ratio (OR), 1.15; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.05–1.26; p = 0.002] and focal epilepsy (OR, 1.978, 95% CI, 1.58–2.48, p ≤ 0.0001), while no significant causal relationship was found with generalized epilepsy (OR, 1.1, 95% CI, 0.94–1.3, p = 0.24). There was no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity in the sensitivity analysis.

This two-sample MR study found that IDA has a negative effect on the development of epilepsy. Clinical control of IDA may be helpful in the prevention of epilepsy. There is a need for further studies to explain the underlying mechanisms of this association.

To implement a risk-based regulatory approach, this paper aims to make an assessment on customers' money laundering risk and conducts some applications.

During the transition of a regulatory approach from “rule-based” to “risk-based”, this paper considers that the area of a customer, types of business and the industries to which the customer belongs are the main indicators to judge money laundering risk of a customer. Based on the statistical analysis of 221 typical money laundering cases, first-class index weights are given by using the entropy weight method and then by combining with the membership function, this paper determines a customer’s money laundering risk levels. On the basis of the entropy weight method, this paper uses the C5.0 algorithm to construct a decision tree model and then carries out application research on customer money laundering risk assessment to verify the effectiveness of the entropy weight method and the decision tree model.

This empirical research found the weights of three key money laundering indicators: customer areas, business types and corresponding industries.

Asserting that current money laundering risk assessments of customers are marginal at best, this paper contends from the perspective of practice, and applies the entropy weight method and the decision tree model for money laundering risk assessment of customers.

The purpose of this paper is to examine farmer preference for swine price index insurance in China focusing on whether Chinese farmers are willing to consider purchasing swine price index insurance, the premium they would like to pay, as well as the extend of heterogeneity in their preferences.

A sample of 443 swine farmers in Jiangsu and Henan provinces is collected and analyzed. An Ordered Probit model is used to analyze farmers’ willingness to buy swine price index insurance and a Tobit model is used to analyze farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for insurance premium.

Results show that some farmers are not willing to purchase swine price index insurance. However, WTP of majority of farmers is higher than what is prescribed in the current insurance policy. Factors affecting farmers’ willingness to buy varied between two provinces. Experience in purchasing traditional swine insurance and risk perception affect farmers’ willingness to buy in Jiangsu province, while joining agricultural cooperatives, experience in purchasing traditional swine insurance and understanding of swine price index insurance affect farmers’ willingness to buy in Henan province. Farmers with non-agricultural income, longer years of swine breeding, higher degree of specialization, experience in purchasing traditional insurance, higher understanding of swine price index insurance and trust in local governments, stronger risk perception and risk preference, and not being a member of agricultural cooperatives have higher WTP.

Few studies have been conducted on swine price index insurance in China. Even less information, to the authors’ knowledge, is available on farmer preferences. The research provides a timely contribution to understand the Chinese swine price index insurance market from the perspectives of farmers.

Business model innovation is a new way for Chinese firms to compete in the global economy. Due to the unique context in China, the authors aim to clarify what is a business model, how to design a business model, and how different designs affect firms' competitive advantages in China.

Literature review and multiple case studies (i.e. Dinghan Technology, Flush Network, Aier Eye, and Huayi Brothers) are used.

After defining business model, the authors integrate the activity system approach and the configurational approach to construct a unique framework for business model design, and four different models for Chinese firms emerge, namely, focused cost innovation, integrated cost innovation, focused value innovation, and integrated value innovation. Then the authors explore the main mechanisms through which different designs could help firms achieve competitive advantages.

Business model matters for Chinese firms. The authors' results provide a roadmap for Chinese entrepreneurs to design effective and efficient business models. Future success of Chinese new firms depends on the continuous improvement of their business model.

The authors' results contribute to a better understanding of business model, particularly in the context of China. The authors also contribute to the entrepreneurship literature by providing insights of how to configure entrepreneurial activity system to gain competitive advantages.

The authors analyse narratives of Chinese consumers of Vintage Costume Jewellery to show how value is attributed to vintage items, often in direct contrast to contemporary luxury goods. Examining a range of factors in this process, including uniqueness, scarcity, historical specificity, social meaning and cultural legitimacy, authenticity is shown to be central to the positioning of jewellery and those who collect, trade and appreciate it as tasteful and discerning consumers.

This paper aims to study the seismic response of frame structure with friction dampers.

The state equation of the structure subjected to the earthquake is presented and solved, from which the maximum drift and the interlayer drift angle of the floors of the structure subjected to the seismic waves of four types of sites are analyzed.

The result indicates that the damping effect is significant on the floors with the friction damper but is almost little influence on the other floor.

The result indicates that the damping effect is significant on the floors with the friction damper but is almost little influence on the other floor.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role played by corporate social responsibility (CSR) in building relationship quality (RQ) in the context of sports organisations. In turn, the link between RQ and customer loyalty is examined. Acknowledging that customers develop a psychological connection with the sports organisation over time, the study also examines whether the link between CSR and RQ is moderated by the psychological continuum model (PCM) stages (awareness, attraction, attachment and allegiance).

The survey data were drawn from almost 6,000 season ticket holders of a professional sports club. Structural equation modelling and the non-parametric bootstrapping regression technique were used to test the hypotheses.

The results support the direct impact of CSR activities on RQ. RQ, in turn, drives customer loyalty. Importantly, RQ is found to fully mediate the relationship between CSR and customer loyalty. However, as customers move through the psychological connection stages, the effect of CSR on customer loyalty via RQ tends to diminish.

This study provides evidence of a direct impact of CSR activities on RQ, and also attests the role of psychological connection in sports organisations.

The incorporation of a multidimensional RQ construct and the PCM stages allows a deeper understanding of how CSR might be employed to achieve organisational goals.

The main purpose of this paper is to develop a novel thermal lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) based on finite volume (FV) formulation. Validation of the suggested formulation is performed by simulating plane Poiseuille, backward-facing step and flow over circular cylinder.

For this purpose, a cell-centered scheme is used to discretize the convection operator and the double distribution function model is applied to describe the temperature field. To enhance stability, weighting factors are defined as flux correctors on a D2Q9 lattice.

The introduction of pressure-temperature-dependent flux-control coefficients in the streaming operator, in conjunction with suitable boundary conditions, is shown to result in enhanced numerical stability of the scheme. In all cases, excellent agreement with the existing literature is found and shows that the presented method is a promising scheme in simulating thermo-hydrodynamic phenomena.

A stable and accurate FV formulation of the thermal DDF-LBM is presented.

This chapter provides a logical extension to the understanding of firm-specific advantages and disadvantages and the enabling role of existing and emerging country-specific advantages relevant to the process of Chinese firm internationalization. Its longitudinal perspective considers the changing objectives and actions of firms that enable them to compensate for disadvantages and create new or strengthen existing competitive advantages. The case study evaluation reveals that the evolution of strategic resources is the key motivator behind the internationalization of Chinese firms. Decisively encouraged by the Chinese government firms with corporate entrepreneurship aspire to alter themselves from home market leaders and regional players into globally competing multi-nationals. This process is made possible via the development of firm-specific advantages and continuous compensation for firm-specific disadvantages. The aspiration for strategic asset acquisition from developed countries combined with cost leadership and independent customer-centred innovation brought about strong firm-specific advantages stimulating the internationalization process of firms. The chapter focuses on the interdependence of country- and firm-specific advantages and disadvantages, thus recognizing the significance of the home country institutional context in Chinese outward foreign direct investment. It has been identified that corporate entrepreneurship is a significant firm-specific advantage for firm internationalization being a major force in gaining, accumulating, utilizing and leveraging resources for transforming firm-specific disadvantages into advantages. We argue that if the relational framework between governmental institutions and firms is more developed, the impact of country-specific advantages on firm-specific advantages is more favourable. This assumes that the government espouses an ideology that is favourable to corporate entrepreneurship.