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The authors explore the under-researched area of post-decision evaluation in PPPs (public–private partnerships), focusing upon how and whether Post-decision Project Evaluation (PdPE) is considered and provided for in United Kingdom (UK) public infrastructure projects.

The authors’ research design sought insights from overviewing UK PPP planning and more focused exploration of PPP operational practice. The authors combine the extensive analysis of planning documents for operational UK PPP projects with interviews of different stakeholders in PPP projects in one city. Mobilising an open critical perspective, documents were analysed using ethnographic content analysis (ECA) and interviews were analysed using thematic analysis consistent therewith. The authors theorise the absence and ambiguities of PdPE drawing on the sociology of ignorance.

The authors find a long-standing absence and lack of PdPE in PPP projects throughout planning and operational practice, reflecting a dynamic, multi-faceted ignorance. Concerning planning practice, the authors’ documentary analysis evidences a trend in PdPE from its absence in the early years (which may indicate some natural or genuine ignorance) to different levels or forms of weak inclusion later. Regarding this inclusion, the authors find strategic ignorance played a substantive role, involving “deliberate engineering” by both public sector and private partners. Interview findings indicate lack of clarity over PdPE and its under-development in PPP practice, deficiencies again suggestive of natural and strategic ignorance.

The authors draw from the sociology of ignorance vis-à-vis accounting's absence and ambiguity in the context of PPP, contributing to an under-researched area.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the curvilinear relationship between workplace ostracism (supervisor ostracism and co-worker ostracism) and knowledge hoarding by using the conservation of resources theory. In addition, the paper predicts one possible situational context (political skill) that may influence employees’ reaction to ostracism.

Using a two-wave research design, the authors collected data from 240 samples in a Chinese diversified company. Hierarchical regression models were used to test the hypotheses.

The authors found that the relationship between workplace ostracism (supervisor ostracism and co-worker ostracism) and knowledge hoarding was U-shaped. Moreover, political skill moderated the linkage between workplace ostracism and knowledge hoarding such that the U-shaped association was stronger for people higher, rather than lower, in political skill.

By exploring a curvilinear relationship between ostracism and knowledge hoarding, the study enriches the knowledge hoarding literature by adding a substantive predictor of knowledge hoarding. The findings can also extend the workplace ostracism literature by providing a new conceptual analysis of interpreting the inconsistent findings involving the influence of workplace ostracism. Moreover, identifying political skill as a moderator can gain a better understanding of when and why an ostracized employee’s knowledge hoarding behavior can be less likely.

The novel structures and properties of nanostructure and nanomaterials give people perfect artistic expression of feeling and sense, then the nanoart discipline is developed and is closely related on the nanotechniques. The many achieved novel nanostructures with strong anti-corrosion prepared by the anodization have been reviewed. The paper would raise public awareness of nanotechnology, nanomaterial and their impact on our lives.

Anodization is a very effective and simple technique to form various nanostructures of metal oxide. It includes hard anodization, mild anodization and pulse anodization. Many measures have been introduced anodization process to improve the quality of formed nanostructure and enhance its properties, such as anti-corrosion.

The formation mechanism of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) by using the mild, hard and pulse anodization has been discussed. The pretexture process and many other measures have been taken in mild and hard anodization to improve the regularity of pore array and greatly accelerate the formation rate of AAO. The pulse anodization has been used to prepare the multilayer Y-branched AAO film, which exhibits steady rich and vivid structure colors and gives a very good artistic expression. Furthermore, many other metal oxide nanostructures such as TiO₂ and CuO have also been fabricated using the anodization techniques.

Various nanostructures of metal oxide prepared by anodization have been reviewed and are itself a perfect artwork in mesoscale. Also, many nanostructures have exhibited steady, rich and vivid structure colors and give people a very good artistic expression.

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize a new kind of conductive grease which possesses a prominent conductive capacity and good tribological properties.

A two-step method was used to prepare complex lithium-based grease. Ketjen black (KB), acetylene black (AB) and carbon black (CB) were characterized by transmission electron microscope and used as lubricant additives to prepare conductive greases. Conductive capacity was evaluated by a conductivity meter, a surface volume resistivity meter and a circuit resistance meter. Tribological properties were investigated by a reciprocating friction and wear tester (MFT-R4000). The worn surfaces were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope, Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope.

The conductive grease prepared with KB has a prominent conductive capacity at room temperature, 100°C and 150°C. Further, this conductive grease also possesses better tribological properties than AB and KB greases. When the concentration of KB is 1.8 Wt.%, the coefficient of friction and wear width reduced by 11 and 14 per cent, respectively.

This work is a new application of nanometer KB as a lubricant additive in grease, which provides a direction for preparing conductive grease. The conductivity and tribology experiments have been carried out though the variation of experiment conductions.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the electrical conductivity and tribological properties of magnetron sputtered silver (Ag), copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al) thin films under conductive grease lubrication.

Three types of silver (Ag), copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al) thin films were prepared by magnetron sputtering. Current-carrying friction tests were carried out by a ball-on-plate reciprocating friction and wear tester. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to observe and analyze the worn surface and cross-section morphology of the films.

Silver and Cu films exhibited good conductivity and tribological properties, which were mainly attributed to the synergy of the protective tribofilm generated by conductive grease, current-induced thermal effect and magnetron sputtered films effect. Al film was worn through. Large pitting storing lubricate were only found in Ag film. Cu film showed a similar surface uniformity with Ag film.

This study provides a reference for the design and application of conductive grease and investigates the current-carrying friction behaviors of magnetron sputtered films as electrical contact materials. The comparison of current-carrying friction behaviors of the three films was rarely covered in previous studies.

Urinary incontinence is one of the most important health problems for people over 65 years of age. It is defined as involuntary and uncontrolled loss of urine. This paper aims to present a contemporary view on the effects of physiotherapeutic procedures in combating urinary incontinence. Physiotherapeutic procedures were compared: pelvic floor muscle exercises, physical therapy and biofeedback (BF) to demonstrate their effectiveness in managing urinary incontinence in the elderly.

The databases Pubmed and GoogleScholar have been searched for articles on the impact of interventions – physiotherapeutic procedures on the effectiveness of the treatment of urinary incontinence in the elderly.

Pelvic floor muscle exercises are effective in the treatment of urinary incontinence, strengthen muscle strength and improve patients' quality of life. A long-lasting, systematic and individual training program with a physiotherapist is the most effective. BF helps to intensify the therapeutic effect of exercise but also allows you to achieve good results as an independent treatment method. Positive effects are also noticeable in physical therapy, electrostimulation and magnetotherapy are very effective. Physiotherapeutic procedures have a positive effect in the treatment of urinary incontinence in the elderly. However, further research is needed to clarify the most effective methods.

This paper offers many ways to deal with urinary incontinence in the elderly using physiotherapeutic procedures, thus helping to improve the quality of life of those affected by urinary incontinence.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a historical review of China’s anti-corruption efforts, from the ancient period of Chinese slavery societies to the late 1970s before China launched its profound economic reform, under the current status of the harsh crusade against corruption that the Chinese new leadership initiated.

This paper is mainly based on a great deal of historical literature and empirical findings, with relevant comparative analysis on policies and regulations between various periods of China.

The phenomenon of corruption has existed in Chinese history for thousands of years, throughout Chinese slavery societies, feudal societies, republic period and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Anti-corruption laws formed an important part of ancient Chinese legal system, and each dynasty has made continuous and commendable progress on fighting such misconduct. Innumerable initiatives have also been taken by the ruling party Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since the founding of the PRC. The PRC government created various specially designed government organizations and a series of updated regulations for preventing economic crimes. They have realized that periodic movements against corruption would no longer be helpful, and the paramount issue nowadays is indeed how bold the leaders are in striking out those unhealthy tendencies.

This paper fills in the blanks in the Western world with a comprehensive description of, and comments on, the historical efforts on China’s corruption and economic crime prevention. It also, in various ways, provides meaningful information that links to China’s current furious war against corruption.

The pandemic has reinforced the need for revamping the healthcare service delivery systems around the world to meet the increased challenges of modern-day illnesses. The use of medical cyber–physical system (MCPS) in the healthcare is one of the means of transforming the landscape of the traditional healthcare service delivery system. The purpose of this study is to critically examine the impact of MCPS on the quality of healthcare service delivery.

This paper uses an evidence-based approach, the authors have conducted a systematic literature review to study the impact of MCPS on healthcare service delivery. Fifty-four articles were thematically examined to study the impact of MCPS on eight characteristics of the healthcare service delivery proposed by the world health organisation.

The study proposes support that MCPS will positively impact (1) comprehensiveness, (2) accessibility, (3) coverage, (4) continuity, (5) quality, (6) person-centredness, (7) coordination, (8) accountability and (9) efficiency dimension of the healthcare service delivery. The study further draws nine propositions to support the impact of MCPS on the healthcare service delivery.

This study can be used by stakeholders as a guide point while using MCPS in healthcare service delivery systems. Besides, healthcare managers can use this study to understand the performance of their healthcare system. This study can further be used for designing effective strategies for deploying MCPS to be effective and efficient in each of the dimensions of healthcare service delivery.

The previous studies have focussed on technology aspects of MCPS and none of them critically analysed the impact on healthcare service delivery. This is the first literature review carried out to understand the impact of MCPS on the nine dimensions of healthcare service delivery proposed by WHO. This study provides improved thematic awareness of the resulting body of knowledge, allowing the field of MCPS and healthcare service delivery to progress in a more informed and multidisciplinary manner.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate knowledge on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission, attitude toward the measures of COVID-19 prevention and control, explore social responsibility behaviors and test for the association between variables and social responsibility among university students.

It was a cross-sectional study. The population was 7,754 students from a university in Yala province. The sample size was 370 students according to Krejcie and Morgan table. Google form was introduced to make the self-administered questionnaires. Content validity was evaluated by three experts, and for reliability of knowledge and attitude, the coefficient was 0.707 and 0.702. Data collection was done in the early April 2020. Descriptive statistics and χ² were used to analyze the data. Ethical approval number 095–63.

The results found that students' knowledge on COVID-19 transmission was in a moderate level, attitude toward the state measures for COVID-19 prevention and control was at a high level. Their social responsibility behaviors were at a high level. Their knowledge, attitude and payment were significant association with social responsibility behaviors among university students (p < 0.05).

University students' knowledge on disease transmission as well as positive attitude toward the measures of regulation led them to have cooperation. Social distancing and lockdown measures affected their lifestyle. However, they have responsibility behaviors to the society, especially in the pandemic situation.

This study aims to develop a bimodal nano-silver paste with improved mechanical property and reliability. Silicon carbide (SiC) particles coated with Ag were introduced in nano-silver paste to improve bonding strength between SiC and Ag particles and enhance high-temperature stability of bimodal nano-silver paste. The effect of sintering parameters such as sintering temperature, sintering time and the proportion of SiC particles on mechanical property and reliability of sintered bimodal nano-silver structure were investigated.

Sandwich structures consist of dummy chips and copper substrates with nickel and silver coating bonded by nano-silver paste were designed for shear testing. Shear strength testing was conducted to study the influence of SiC particles proportions on the mechanical property of sintered nano-silver joints. The reliability of the bimodal nano-silver paste was evaluated experimentally by means of shear test for samples subjected to thermal aging test at 150°C and humidity and temperature testing at 85°C and 85 per cent RH, respectively.

Shear strength was enhanced obviously with the increase of sintering temperature and sintering time. The maximum shear strength was achieved for nano-silver paste sintered at 260°C for 10 min. There was a negative correlation between the proportion of SiC particles and shear strength. After thermal aging testing and humidity and temperature testing for 240 h, the shear strength decreased a little. High-temperature stability and high-hydrothermal stability were improved by the addition of SiC particles.

Submicron-scale SiC particles coated with Ag were used as alternative materials to replace part of nano-silver particles to prepare bimodal nano-silver paste due to its high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical property.