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1 – 10 of 207Li Jun Ji, Ya Shuai Jiang, Ge Liang, Zhu Qing Liu, Jian Zhu, Kai Huang and Ai Ping Zhu
The purpose of this paper was to synthesise a thermally expandable microsphere (TEMS) with fast thermal response property and small expansion temperature range, and investigate…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to synthesise a thermally expandable microsphere (TEMS) with fast thermal response property and small expansion temperature range, and investigate the factors affecting the expansion properties of the microspheres.
Design/methodology/approach
A new kind of TEMS with fast thermal response property was synthesised by suspension polymerisation method, using acrylonitrile, ethyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid as the main monomers; Mg(OH)2 as the main dispersing agent; and isooctane or n-hexane or n-pentane as the blowing agent.
Findings
The TEMS possessed the best expansion capacity when encapsulated isooctane and n-hexane were about 18.5 Wt.%. The expansion process of the TEMS could be finished by raising the temperature to 18°C from the expansion onset, much less than the reported 30-50°C. The morphology of the TEMS turned from sphere to irregular concave shape following the content increase of the blowing agent.
Originality/value
A new kind of TEMS composed of acrylonitrile/ethyl methacrylate/methacrylic acid as the polymer shell was synthesised. These TEMS showed the fastest thermal response speed reported.
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Hongliang Zhang, Fang Zhang, Wei Su, Ya Jiang and Yuchun Li
– The purpose of this paper was to evaluate corrosion resistance of superheater T91 material based on high temperature corrosion experiments with a condensate environment.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to evaluate corrosion resistance of superheater T91 material based on high temperature corrosion experiments with a condensate environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The contributions of water temperature, chloride concentration and corrosion time were considered and analyzed for modeling corrosion kinetics. The corrosion tendency also was predicted, and the results were compared with higher temperature exposures of T91 tube material installed in a biomass power plant.
Findings
High temperature exposure tests showed that the corrosion rates of T91 material would increase with temperature; there was a very evident corrosion acceleration point in 110°C. It was concluded that dimensional homogeneity analysis can serve as a viable evaluation method for T91 superheater material.
Originality/value
Dimensional homogeneity analysis was used as evaluation method for anti-corrosion performance of T91 superheater material.
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The inclusion of esports as an official event in the Hangzhou Asian Games is an important step towards the institutionalisation of esports. The significance of this event marks…
Abstract
The inclusion of esports as an official event in the Hangzhou Asian Games is an important step towards the institutionalisation of esports. The significance of this event marks that Asia once again takes a lead in the global esportisation. This chapter investigates a series of history events in the inclusion process of esports into the comprehensive Games in Asia using process sociology and actor network theory (ANT). This study will analyse the type characteristics of esports events in Hangzhou Asian Games, whilst examining how key stakeholders' interact and balance in the network composed of international sports organisations, host of the event, emerging esports organisations and esports game companies. The chapter also examines the functions of global game industrial economic geography, local cultural politics, esports geopolitics and Olympic values in esports sportization, aiming to reveal the implications of esports inclusion in the Asian Games on the debate of whether esports meets the criteria to be classified as a ‘sport’ and its enlightenment of digital strategy to the inclusion esports in the Olympics.
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Purpose – To examine corporate social responsibility in cyberspace within the context of the experience of Google Corporation in China in order to provide greater understanding of…
Abstract
Purpose – To examine corporate social responsibility in cyberspace within the context of the experience of Google Corporation in China in order to provide greater understanding of the complexities that corporations encounter when operating across cyber borders.Design/methodology/approach – The research is grounded in the theoretical debate: The Internet as democratic and universal space versus the Internet as autocratic and sovereign space. Historical analysis is drawn from the case of Google Corporation in China.Findings – Freedom in cyberspace is more likely to be advanced universally with a collective commitment to corporate social responsibility in the information technology sector.Research limitations/implications – The study provides insights into the appropriate balance between the ethical responsibilities of the firm and its need to compete and survive in the highly competitive information age.Originality/value of chapter – The case of Google Corporation in China offers a venue for further discussion on the ethical role of transnational information technology corporations and their improvements in fostering human rights and free enterprise in cyberspace.
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The concept and practice of e-services has become essential in business transactions. Yet there are still many organizations that have not developed e-services optimally. This is…
Abstract
The concept and practice of e-services has become essential in business transactions. Yet there are still many organizations that have not developed e-services optimally. This is especially relevant in the context of Indonesian Airline companies. Therefore, many airline customers in Indonesia are still in doubt about it, or even do not use it. To fill this gap, this study attempts to develop a model for e-services adoption and empirically examines the factors influencing the airlines customers in Indonesia in using e-services offered by the Indonesian airline companies. Taking six Indonesian airline companies as a case example, the study investigated the antecedents of e-services usage of Indonesian airlines. This study further examined the impacts of motivation on customers in using e-services in the Indonesian context. Another important aim of this study was to investigate how ages, experiences and geographical areas moderate effects of e-services usage.
The study adopts a positivist research paradigm with a two-phase sequential mixed method design involving qualitative and quantitative approaches. An initial research model was first developed based on an extensive literature review, by combining acceptance and use of information technology theories, expectancy theory and the inter-organizational system motivation models. A qualitative field study via semi-structured interviews was then conducted to explore the present state among 15 respondents. The results of the interviews were analysed using content analysis yielding the final model of e-services usage. Eighteen antecedent factors hypotheses and three moderating factors hypotheses and 52-item questionnaire were developed. A focus group discussion of five respondents and a pilot study of 59 respondents resulted in final version of the questionnaire.
In the second phase, the main survey was conducted nationally to collect the research data among Indonesian airline customers who had already used Indonesian airline e-services. A total of 819 valid questionnaires were obtained. The data was then analysed using a partial least square (PLS) based structural equation modelling (SEM) technique to produce the contributions of links in the e-services model (22% of all the variances in e-services usage, 37.8% in intention to use, 46.6% in motivation, 39.2% in outcome expectancy, and 37.7% in effort expectancy). Meanwhile, path coefficients and t-values demonstrated various different influences of antecedent factors towards e-services usage. Additionally, a multi-group analysis based on PLS is employed with mixed results. In the final findings, 14 hypotheses were supported and 7 hypotheses were not supported.
The major findings of this study have confirmed that motivation has the strongest contribution in e-services usage. In addition, motivation affects e-services usage both directly and indirectly through intention-to-use. This study provides contributions to the existing knowledge of e-services models, and practical applications of IT usage. Most importantly, an understanding of antecedents of e-services adoption will provide guidelines for stakeholders in developing better e-services and strategies in order to promote and encourage more customers to use e-services. Finally, the accomplishment of this study can be expanded through possible adaptations in other industries and other geographical contexts.
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Meng Wang, Yuwen Hua, Honglei Lia Sun, Ya Chen and Linping Jiang
This study aims to reveal the influencing factors of user churn behavior and explore how these factors influence user churn behavior of rural public digital cultural services…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to reveal the influencing factors of user churn behavior and explore how these factors influence user churn behavior of rural public digital cultural services (RPDCS), and then, to provide the avoidance strategies for user churn behavior of RPDCS.
Design/methodology/approach
Combined with the stimulus–organism–response theory and cognitive load theory, this study constructed a mixed model of user churn behavior. Data collected through online and offline questionnaire survey were tested using the partial least squares structural equation modeling approach, and finally, the authors proposed a user churn behavior model of RPDCS.
Findings
The results indicate that the environmental stimulus factors of RPDCS affected user churn behavior via user organism factors. This study suggests that administrators should pay more attention to the information demand of users and strengthen the effective supply of RPDCS. Meanwhile, it is necessary to improve the information literacy of rural users to restrain the user churn behavior and improve the effectiveness of RPDCS.
Originality/value
The research findings on the influencing factors of user churn behavior shed light on the user churn behavior in public digital cultural services, add new knowledge to the construction of the public cultural services system and provide empirical evidence for how to improve the utilization and effectiveness of RPDCS.
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Ya Guo, Zhenhua Sun, Xiaoqing Guo, Yanfen Zhou, Liang Jiang, Shaojuan Chen and Jianwei Ma
At present, the enzyme washing process is widely used in hemp garment in the industry. However, it has many disadvantages. First, it is inefficient and labor-intensive, which can…
Abstract
Purpose
At present, the enzyme washing process is widely used in hemp garment in the industry. However, it has many disadvantages. First, it is inefficient and labor-intensive, which can only be produced in small quantities and will take much time for workers to check. Second, its cost is high. The strength loss of the garment is up to 20 percent, with a bad damage. Presently, the enzyme washing process of the gray fabric is not industrialized. The purpose of this paper is to obtain a stable and efficient process for the enzyme washing of the gray fabric.
Design/methodology/approach
The whiteness, weight loss rate, strength, dyeing property and fabric style of enzyme washed gray fabrics were studied.
Findings
The results showed that the enzyme treated fabric has soft handle, smooth surface, good elasticity and high levelness, as well as low strength reduction rate under the optimized condition of bath ratio of 1:12, cellulase dosage of 0.3 percent, pectinase dosage of 1 g/L, treatment temperature of 55°C, treatment time of 80 min and pH of 6.
Originality/value
First, the process is environment friendly, green and sustainable and, second, it will make the industrialization of the enzyme washing process of gray fabrics, with a high commercial value.
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Peng-fei Guo, Tian-shun Hou and Ya-chuan Wang
The geological conditions of Longyang Reservoir are complex and it is located in strong earthquake area. In order to determine its seismic characteristics, the seismic response…
Abstract
Purpose
The geological conditions of Longyang Reservoir are complex and it is located in strong earthquake area. In order to determine its seismic characteristics, the seismic response and residual deformation of embankment dam should be studied to provide calculation basis for dam design and construction.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the geological survey data of Longyang Reservoir, the dam filling materials are tested by dynamic deformation tests, and the equivalent linear constitutive model parameters of the filling materials are obtained. Based on Duncan-Chang E-B model, the stress state of embankment dam in Longyang Reservoir before earthquake is calculated, and the dynamic response and earthquake residual deformation of embankment dam in Longyang Reservoir under earthquake condition are calculated by using equivalent linear model and Shen Zhu-jiang’s residual deformation model.
Findings
The results show that with the increase of dynamic shear strain, the dynamic shear modulus decreases and the damping ratio increases. The scatter plot between dynamic shear modulus and dynamic shear strain, and the scatter plot between damping ratio and dynamic shear strain under different confining pressures show strips. The calculation results shows that the acceleration of embankment dam in Longyang Reservoir increases with the increase of dam height, and the acceleration distribution has obvious amplification effect. Combined with the maximum dynamic shear strain during the earthquake and the state before the earthquake, the maximum vertical residual deformation of embankment dam in Longyang Reservoir is 2.98 cm which occurs at the top of the dam, calculated by the Shen Zhu-jiang’s residual deformation model.
Originality/value
Finite element calculation model parameters of embankment dam are obtained by dynamic triaxial tests. Seismic dynamic responses and residual deformation of embankment dam are analyzed. With the increase of dam height, the acceleration distribution shows an obvious amplification effect. The vertical displacement of embankment dam is larger along the dam axis and decreases in the upstream and downstream direction. The maximum horizontal displacement of embankment dam occurs in the middle of upstream and downstream dam slopes.
Highlights
- (1)
Finite element calculation model parameters of embankment dam are obtained by dynamic triaxial tests.
- (2)
Seismic dynamic responses and residual deformation of embankment dam are analyzed.
- (3)
With the increase of dam height, the acceleration distribution shows an obvious amplification effect.
- (4)
The vertical displacement of embankment dam is larger along the dam axis and decreases in the upstream and downstream direction.
- (5)
The maximum horizontal displacement of embankment dam occurs in the middle of upstream and downstream dam slopes.
Finite element calculation model parameters of embankment dam are obtained by dynamic triaxial tests.
Seismic dynamic responses and residual deformation of embankment dam are analyzed.
With the increase of dam height, the acceleration distribution shows an obvious amplification effect.
The vertical displacement of embankment dam is larger along the dam axis and decreases in the upstream and downstream direction.
The maximum horizontal displacement of embankment dam occurs in the middle of upstream and downstream dam slopes.
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Keywords
Muhammad Waqas, Sadaf Rafiq, Chen Ya and Jiang Wu
In recent years, the use of mobile devices for academic persistence has grown to be an indispensable element of students’ learning, highlighting the broad acceptance and…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, the use of mobile devices for academic persistence has grown to be an indispensable element of students’ learning, highlighting the broad acceptance and adaptability of mobile technology in learning environments. The current study examines how college students in rural areas use mobile devices and how self-efficacious they are when seeking online information. Additionally, the study investigated the connection between mobile devices usage (MDU), mobile devices self-efficacy (MDSE) and online information seeking behavior (OISB) on the basis of demographic differences.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research design was used by deploying a five-point Likert scale for measurement, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v.26 was used for data analysis. A variety of statistical methodologies, including t-tests, ANOVA and correlation coefficients, were conducted to inspect and assess MDU, MDSE and OISB across gender and age groups. Data from 331 students at the public sector college in a rural region was gathered using a questionnaire. A total of 315 legitimate replies were received.
Findings
The study's conclusions showed that the respondents used their mobile devices for educational purposes less frequently. Nonetheless, the respondents' degrees of MDSE and OISB appear to be high. Furthermore, a strong link was demonstrated among the MDU, MDSE and OISB. On the contrary, there was a negative correlation link between MDU and both MDSE & OISB, while a positive correlation between MDSE and OISB was found. The results also showed substantial variance in all research components based on age and gender, indicating that male and younger respondents performed more efficiently than female and adult respondents.
Originality/value
These results indicate that information literacy guidelines and a variety of educational initiatives should be put together by the government, educational policymakers, librarians and educators, with a focus on how to use mobile devices for learning and information seeking. This will make it possible for students to more efficiently find the information using their portable devices.
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Wenshen Xu, Yifan Zhang, Xinhang Jiang, Jun Lian and Ye Lin
In the field of steel defect detection, the existing detection algorithms struggle to achieve a satisfactory balance between detection accuracy, computational cost and inference…
Abstract
Purpose
In the field of steel defect detection, the existing detection algorithms struggle to achieve a satisfactory balance between detection accuracy, computational cost and inference speed due to the interference from complex background information, the variety of defect types and significant variations in defect morphology. To solve this problem, this paper aims to propose an efficient detector based on multi-scale information extraction (MSI-YOLO), which uses YOLOv8s as the baseline model.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the authors introduce an efficient multi-scale convolution with different-sized convolution kernels, which enables the feature extraction network to accommodate significant variations in defect morphology. Furthermore, the authors introduce the channel prior convolutional attention mechanism, which allows the network to focus on defect areas and ignore complex background interference. Considering the lightweight design and accuracy improvement, the authors introduce a more lightweight feature fusion network (Slim-neck) to improve the fusion effect of feature maps.
Findings
MSI-YOLO achieves 79.9% mean average precision on the public data set Northeastern University (NEU)-DET, with a model size of only 19.0 MB and an frames per second of 62.5. Compared with other state-of-the-art detectors, MSI-YOLO greatly improves the recognition accuracy and has significant advantages in computational cost and inference speed. Additionally, the strong generalization ability of MSI-YOLO is verified on the collected industrial site steel data set.
Originality/value
This paper proposes an efficient steel defect detector with high accuracy, low computational cost, excellent detection speed and strong generalization ability, which is more valuable for practical applications in resource-limited industrial production.
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