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Article
Publication date: 11 June 2018

Xuguang Li, Andrew Cox and Zefeng Wang

Social network sites are emerging as a popular communication tool for knowledge sharing and construction. LinkedIn, which concentrates on professional networking, is reported to…

1471

Abstract

Purpose

Social network sites are emerging as a popular communication tool for knowledge sharing and construction. LinkedIn, which concentrates on professional networking, is reported to generate great informational benefits to its users. The purpose of this paper is to explore product users’ knowledge construction in solving technical problems on LinkedIn, which was chosen as a case example.

Design/methodology/approach

Discussion threads with rich knowledge elements were selected from an interest group about solving technical problems with laptops. Adopting a qualitative content analysis method, selected threads were analysed with a prior analysis framework built in the context of traditional IT company sponsored peer user support forums.

Findings

The analysis revealed that the iterative and progressive knowledge construction process and associated trial-and-error strategy used on LinkedIn are similar to those found in peer support forums. However, LinkedIn members are more engaged in knowledge construction episodes. Meanwhile, the sub-category “proposing a new idea” accounts for a larger portion of discussions reflecting the high-level of expertise. One-to-one direct interaction is quite salient. Therefore, LinkedIn can support knowledge construction in a more efficient way due to the character of its social capital, including trust, sense of belonging, norms of cooperation, visible identity, knowledge articulation skills, one-to-one direct interaction and suitable strength of ties.

Originality/value

This research is novel in empirically revealing how LinkedIn attributes and its social capital attributes interact with each other and together facilitate an efficient knowledge construction process.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. 42 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 29 March 2024

Xingwen Wu, Zhenxian Zhang, Wubin Cai, Ningrui Yang, Xuesong Jin, Ping Wang, Zefeng Wen, Maoru Chi, Shuling Liang and Yunhua Huang

This review aims to give a critical view of the wheel/rail high frequency vibration-induced vibration fatigue in railway bogie.

Abstract

Purpose

This review aims to give a critical view of the wheel/rail high frequency vibration-induced vibration fatigue in railway bogie.

Design/methodology/approach

Vibration fatigue of railway bogie arising from the wheel/rail high frequency vibration has become the main concern of railway operators. Previous reviews usually focused on the formation mechanism of wheel/rail high frequency vibration. This paper thus gives a critical review of the vibration fatigue of railway bogie owing to the short-pitch irregularities-induced high frequency vibration, including a brief introduction of short-pitch irregularities, associated high frequency vibration in railway bogie, typical vibration fatigue failure cases of railway bogie and methodologies used for the assessment of vibration fatigue and research gaps.

Findings

The results showed that the resulting excitation frequencies of short-pitch irregularity vary substantially due to different track types and formation mechanisms. The axle box-mounted components are much more vulnerable to vibration fatigue compared with other components. The wheel polygonal wear and rail corrugation-induced high frequency vibration is the main driving force of fatigue failure, and the fatigue crack usually initiates from the defect of the weld seam. Vibration spectrum for attachments of railway bogie defined in the standard underestimates the vibration level arising from the short-pitch irregularities. The current investigations on vibration fatigue mainly focus on the methods to improve the accuracy of fatigue damage assessment, and a systematical design method for vibration fatigue remains a huge gap to improve the survival probability when the rail vehicle is subjected to vibration fatigue.

Originality/value

The research can facilitate the development of a new methodology to improve the fatigue life of railway vehicles when subjected to wheel/rail high frequency vibration.

Details

Railway Sciences, vol. 3 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2755-0907

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 April 2018

Zefeng Xiao, Yongqiang Yang, Di Wang, Changhui Song and Yuchao Bai

This paper aims to summarize design rules based on the process characteristics of selective laser melting (SLM) and structural optimization and apply the design rules in the…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to summarize design rules based on the process characteristics of selective laser melting (SLM) and structural optimization and apply the design rules in the lightweight design of an aluminum alloy antenna bracket. The design goal is to reduce 30 per cent of the weight while maintaining the stress levels in the original part.

Design/methodology/approach

To reduce weight as much as possible, the titanium alloy with higher specific strength was selected during the process of optimization. The material distribution of the bracket was improved by the topology optimization design. The redesign for SLM was used to obtain an optimization model, which was more suitable for SLM. The component performance was improved by shape optimization. The modal analysis data of the structural optimization model were compared with those of the stochastic lightweight model to verify the structural optimization model. The scanning data were compared with those of the original model to verify whether the model was suitable for SLM.

Findings

Structural optimization design for antenna bracket realized the mass decrease of 30.43 per cent and the fundamental frequency increase of 50.18 per cent. The modal analysis data of the stochastic lightweight model and the structural optimization model indicated that the optimization performance of structural optimization method was better than that of the stochastic lightweight method. The comparison results between the scanning data of the forming part and the original data confirmed that the structural optimization design for SLM lightweight component could achieve the desired forming accuracy.

Originality/value

This paper summarizes geometric constraints in SLM and derives design rules of structural optimization based on the process characteristics of SLM. SLM design rules make structural optimization design more reasonable. The combination of structural optimization design and SLM can improve the performance of lightweight antenna bracket significantly.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 24 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 April 2018

Yuchao Bai, Yongqiang Yang, Zefeng Xiao and Di Wang

This paper aims to verify whether selective laser melting (SLM) could be used for manufacturing mold with conformal cooling channels and determine whether the mechanical…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to verify whether selective laser melting (SLM) could be used for manufacturing mold with conformal cooling channels and determine whether the mechanical properties development of SLM manufacturing maraging steel mold would be beneficial to improve the quality of mold.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of block specimens and cylindrical tensile specimens are manufactured by SLM, and then are heat treated by solution treatment (ST) and solution treatment + aging treatment (ST + AT), respectively. The development of microstructure, microhardness and tensile strength of specimens is investigated. Then, a mold with conformal cooling channels is designed and manufactured by SLM and machined after ST with microhardness decreasing.

Findings

The morphology of microstructure varies widely under different heat treatment. The microhardness and tensile strength decrease after ST with cellular structure broken, which is conducive to mechanical finishing for mold to improve surface accuracy. After that, the hardness and strength of the mold increase significantly by AT with the precipitation of Ni3Mo, Fe2Mo and Ni3Ti particles. The maraging steel mold with conformal cooling channels can be manufactured by SLM successfully. And the surface accuracy of mold could be improved easily by machining.

Originality/value

Compared with the traditional mold with simple cooling channels, the mold with conformal cooling channels can be manufactured by SLM directly. The hardness of maraging steel mold manufactured by SLM can be reduced through ST, which is conducive to mechanical finishing for overcoming the defect of low precision of SLM directly manufacturing mold. This provides a new way for manufacturing mold of high quality.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 24 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2017

Zefeng Jing, Shuzhong Wang and Zhende Zhai

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the combined effects of slip and rheological parameters on the flow and heat transfer of the Herschel-Bulkley fluid.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the combined effects of slip and rheological parameters on the flow and heat transfer of the Herschel-Bulkley fluid.

Design/methodology/approach

The combinative dimensionless parameter method is introduced into the equations of the slip flow and heat transfer to make the discussion more comprehensive. More specifically, the slip and rheological parameters are transformed into the dimensionless slip number as well as Herschel-Bulkley number. We solve the dimensionless equations and then focus on the effects of these parameters on the slip flow and heat transfer.

Findings

The results show that, for a given value of Herschel-Bulkley number, there is a finite critical value of slip number at which the pressure gradient reaches the lowest value and both the dimensionless yield radius and slip velocity become 1. Meanwhile, the Nusselt number tends to be infinite at this critical value of slip number. For the case of slip, the Nusselt number also approaches infinity at a finite critical value of Herschel-Bulkley number. Furthermore, the dimensionless velocity as well as temperature of the yield pseudoplastic fluid with higher slip number is lower within a small radius but becomes higher near the wall. Meanwhile, from the velocity and temperature profiles, the effect of Herschel-Bulkley number on these two parameters of the Bingham fluid at the smaller radius is opposite.

Originality/value

These associated expressions can be generalized to the flow and heat transfer of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid under slip boundary condition. It can provide a reference for the engineering application relating to the heat transfer and flow of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid. Meanwhile, it also suggests some revelations for dealing with this similar problem.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 27 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 April 2024

Xiaoli Tang, Xiaolin Li and Zefeng Hao

Based on sensory marketing theory and cognitive appraisal theory, this study investigates whether and how the background visual complexity of live-streaming affects consumers'…

Abstract

Purpose

Based on sensory marketing theory and cognitive appraisal theory, this study investigates whether and how the background visual complexity of live-streaming affects consumers' purchase intention and reveals the underlying mechanisms through which background visual complexity influences consumers' purchase decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiment was conducted with 180 college students, using eye-tracking technology to explore the impact mechanism of live background visual complexity on consumers' purchase intention, considering three types of background visual complexity (high vs medium vs low) and two levels of need for cognitive closure (high vs low).

Findings

Firstly, the background visual complexity of live-streaming positively influences consumers' purchase intention by eliciting positive emotions (pleasure and arousal), and the relationship between consumer emotions and purchase intention is nonlinear. Secondly, need for cognitive closure to significantly moderate the influence of background visual complexity on purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

The limited sample size makes it difficult to generalize to other consumer groups. Also, the study only focuses on one visual factor, lacking comprehensive analysis from multiple perspectives.

Practical implications

It is recommended that live e-commerce companies optimize the visual design of live-streaming backgrounds and identify consumer traits to match the visual complexity with consumers' level of need for cognitive closure, thereby stimulating positive emotions and facilitating more satisfactory shopping decisions.

Originality/value

This paper addresses an interesting and practical issue related to the effects of live background visual complexity on consumers' purchase intention.

Details

Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-5855

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 October 2018

Mingkang Zhang, Yongqiang Yang, Changhui Song, Yuchao Bai and Zefeng Xiao

This study aims to focus on the heat treatment influence on the corrosion resistance, adhesion of Streptococcus mutans and mechanical properties of CoCrMo alloys manufactured by…

541

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to focus on the heat treatment influence on the corrosion resistance, adhesion of Streptococcus mutans and mechanical properties of CoCrMo alloys manufactured by the selective laser melting (SLM).

Design/methodology/approach

CoCrMo alloys were manufactured using the Dimetal-100 machine. X-ray diffraction (XRD), metallographic analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical corrosion, Vickers microhardness and tensile tests were used to characterize SLM-produced CoCrMo alloys and compare them with the ones manufactured by casting and with the ASTM F75 standard.

Findings

The electrochemical results showed that SLM900 samples had the best corrosion resistance in artificial saliva. The adhesion results showed least propagation and overall quantity of Streptococcus mutans on the SLM900 sample. The microhardness, tensile and yield strength of As-SLM, SLM900 and SLM1200D samples were measured according to the ASTM F75 standard. The elongation of SLM900 was less than 8 per cent, which does not meet the standard specifications. Analysis of the fracture morphology showed that the fracture mechanisms of As-SLM and SLM1200D belong to the quasi-cleavage fracture type, and the mechanical fracture mechanism of SLM900 can be characterized as brittle fracture.

Originality/value

This paper presents the adhesion properties of Streptococcus mutans on the surface of CoCrMo alloys manufactured by SLM and proposes how to regulate the effect of the heat treatment on the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of CoCrMo alloys manufactured by SLM.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 24 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 March 2023

Xinmeng Hou, Hongji Xie, Shulin Xu, Zefeng Tong and Zeqi Liu

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the accounting system reform on corporate innovation behavior and the heterogeneity and underlying mechanisms of this…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the accounting system reform on corporate innovation behavior and the heterogeneity and underlying mechanisms of this impact. This paper further aims to study the impact of accounting system reform on corporate value.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes China's A-share listed corporates as a sample and uses the exogenous policy shock of the implementation of the New Accounting Standards in 2007 to design the identification strategy of propensity score matching and difference-in-differences method. By comparing the differences between the innovation level of corporates in high-tech industries and non-high-tech industries before and after the implementation of the New Accounting Standards, the impact of the accounting system reform on corporates' innovative behavior can be identified.

Findings

Results show that compared with corporates in traditional industries, high-tech corporates obtained higher patent output after the implementation of the New Accounting Standards. This reform mainly affects corporate innovation by improving corporate risk-taking. In addition, this paper finds that the reform of the accounting system has increased the market value of high-tech corporates in the long run.

Originality/value

This study provides new empirical evidence for addressing the insufficient innovation incentives for market entities and enriches the existing literature on the economic effects of the change of accounting systems and the influencing factors of corporate innovative behavior from the accounting system perspective.

Article
Publication date: 28 May 2021

Zhenning Zhu, Lingcheng Kong, Gulizhaer Aisaiti, Mingzhen Song and Zefeng Mi

In the hybrid electricity market consisting of renewable and conventional energy, the generation output of renewable power is uncertain because of its intermittency, and the power…

Abstract

Purpose

In the hybrid electricity market consisting of renewable and conventional energy, the generation output of renewable power is uncertain because of its intermittency, and the power market demand is also fluctuant. Meanwhile, there is fierce competition among power producers in the power supply market and retailers in the demand market after deregulation, which increases the difficulty of renewable energy power grid-connection. To promote grid-connection of renewable energy power in the hybrid electricity market, the authors construct different contract decision-making models in the “many-to-many” hybrid power supply chain to explore the pricing strategy of renewable energy power grid-connecting.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the dual-uncertainty of renewable energy power output and electricity market demand, the authors construct different decision-making models of wholesale price contract and revenue-sharing contract to compare and optimize grid-connecting pricing, respectively, to maximize the profits of different participants in the hybrid power supply chain. Besides, the authors set different parameters in the models to explore the influence of competition intensity, government subsidies, etc. on power pricing. Then, a numerical simulation is carried out, they verify the existence of the equilibrium solutions satisfying the supply chain coordination, compare the differences of pricing contracts and further analyze the variation characteristics of optimal contract parameters and their interaction relations.

Findings

Revenue-sharing contract can increase the quantity of green power grid-connection and realize benefits Pareto improvement of all parties in hybrid power supply chain. The competition intensity both of power supply and demand market will have an impact on the sharing ratio, and the increase of competition intensity results in a reduction of power supply chain coordination pressure. The power contract price, spot price and selling price have all been reduced with the increase of the sharing ratio, and the price of renewable power is more sensitive to the ratio change. The sharing ratio shows a downward trend with the increase of government green power subsidies.

Originality/value

On the basis of expanding the definition of hybrid power market and the theory of newsvendor model, considering the dual-uncertainty of green power generation output and electricity market demand, this paper builds and compares different contract decision-making models to study the grid-connection pricing strategy of renewable energy power. And as an extension of supply chain structure types and management, the authors build a “many-to-many” power supply chain structure model and analyze the impact of competition intensity among power enterprises and the government subsidy on the power grid-connecting pricing.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 121 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 August 2023

Hongji Xie, Shulin Xu and Zefeng Tong

This study examines the effect of local government debt (LGD) on corporate earnings management using 25,624 firm-year observations from 2007 to 2019.

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines the effect of local government debt (LGD) on corporate earnings management using 25,624 firm-year observations from 2007 to 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

Pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) regression is used to examine the impact of LGD on earnings management. A difference-in-differences (DID) method is also used to alleviate potential endogeneity.

Findings

Results show that LGD motivates firms to increase earnings management, especially income-decreasing earnings management. Findings are robust to DID method and robustness tests. Heterogeneity analyses show that the positive effect of LGD on earnings management is pronounced in firms with political dependence and moderated by external governance mechanisms. Further discussions indicate that tax enforcement is an underlying channel for LGD to affect earnings management. Firms engage in downward real earnings management by increasing their abnormal discretionary expenditures and higher LGD leads to a greater book-tax difference in those firms that manipulate income-decreasing earnings management.

Originality/value

This study contributes towards examining the political costs hypothesis, the microeconomic effects of LGD and the determinants of earnings management.

Details

International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-8809

Keywords

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