Search results

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice and research regarding construction contractors are comparatively limited. The purpose of this research is to identify a series of CSR issues that reflect the major components of CSR, and to determine the perceived importance of these factors in the context of construction contractors.

A CSR indicator framework was developed based on stakeholder theory. CSR stakeholders and their corresponding CSR performance issues in construction contractors are classified into two levels, i.e. project level and organizational level. This is followed by a questionnaire survey to investigate the perceptions on relative importance of CSR issues of four key stakeholders in typical construction projects in China, i.e. construction contractors, clients, design and engineering consultancy and supervision firms.

The study highlighted a number of factors, e.g. “quality and safety of construction”, “occupational health and safety” and “supplier/partner relationship” were highly regarded; however, their relative importance varied according to the type of responding organization.

The findings indicated the major concerns of the different parties in construction projects, thereby providing a pathway for construction contractors to improve their CSR practice.

The priorities of various stakeholders described in this paper provide a useful reference for construction contractors in the selection and adoption of criteria for CSR performance. A better understanding of perceived priorities of CSR factors from different participating parties also serves useful inputs to construction contractors in their stakeholder management process.

Sustainability and competitiveness have received extensive attentions. Despite a large number of studies on sustainability and competitiveness in the construction industry, little research has been conducted to holistically explore the interactions between these two concepts. From a dynamic transition perspective, the purpose of this paper is to link sustainability and competitiveness of construction firms by developing a Sustainability-Competitiveness Dynamic Interaction Framework (SCDIF).

Conceptual theory-building approach was adopted to develop the conceptual framework. It is an iterative analysis and synthesis process, which involves reading literature, identifying commonalities and differences, synthesizing, proposing an initial framework, collecting additional literature, and revisiting and revising the framework.

There are complex interactions between sustainability and competitiveness of construction firms. This leads to uncertain relationships between sustainability and competitiveness, which is context dependent. Under evolving economic and socio-political environments, sustainability and competitiveness of construction firms could transition from mutually exclusive to mutually supportive, and finally merge into “sustainable competitiveness.”

A SCDIF proposed in this study demonstrates that the interactions between sustainability and competitiveness evolves according to the evolving economic and socio-political environments and firms’ strategies, and thus the relationships and interactions between sustainability and competitiveness are context dependent. This framework helps corporate managers to understand how corporate sustainability and competitiveness interact with each other, thereby informing their decision-making of sustainability strategy. Similarly, the framework provides useful references for policymakers to understand the mechanisms of transitioning industries toward sustainable competitiveness.

The proposed framework offers a new perspective for understanding sustainability and competitiveness. From the dynamic transition perspective, this study effectively illustrates that the interactions between sustainability and competitiveness evolves according to the evolving economic and socio-political environments and firms’ strategies. Compared to existing approaches, the dynamic and holistic approach proposed in this paper provides the capacity to capture the complexity of sustainability and competitiveness.

In modern integrated modular avionics (IMA), it plays an important role to guarantee safety and reliability of the system. The safety and reliability of communication scheduling plays a crucial role in this IMA platforms-based network system. To verify the safety and reliability of the communication scheduling in this network, sufficient and typical test data must be generated to input into the network, obtain and evaluate the corresponding output.

To generate communication scheduling data, this paper presents an iterative communication scheduling data generation algorithm for a configured network of IMA platforms. First, the algorithm generates all possible communication schedules for the first timestamp. Then, constraint is introduced to decrease the quantity of communication schedules to improve the efficiency. The communication schedules are gradually extended to the second timestamp until the final timestamp, i.e. length of communication scheduling sequence.

To verify the efficiency and feasibility of the algorithm, a model is built based on the architecture analysis and design language (AADL) by mapping the correlation time of generated communication scheduling data into task properties. Schedulability is analyzed by loading this model into AADL Inspector. The simulation result illustrates that the proposed algorithm is efficient and feasible.

The proposed method can provide data support for communication scheduling test for the network of IMA platforms.

A constraint-based iterative communication scheduling data generation algorithm is proposed for the network of IMA platforms automatically.

This paper aims to automatically generate load shedding sequences due to insufficient power supply, to ensure flight safety and complete flight task.

In this paper, a power allocation and load management model, including logical and physical submodels of the distribution system, is first established according to different requirements of the loads in different flight phase and the current total power supply. Then, an optimal load management scheme based on an improved ant colony algorithm is proposed to automatically generate load shedding sequences for both safety-critical and nonsafety critical loads, to achieve a reliable and safe power supply.

To verify the efficiency and feasibility of the algorithm, the proposed method is verified in a virtual simulation platform. Simulation result illustrates that the proposed algorithm is efficient and feasible.

The proposed method can provide guidance on load power supply when the civil aircraft is under abnormal power supply situation.

An optimal load management scheme is proposed by considering different requirements of the loads in different flight phase and the current total power supply.

This chapter derives sentiment indicators (implied volatility and implied skewness) from the option pricing models of Corrado and Su (1996), Bakshi, Kapadia, and Madan (2003), and Zhang, Zhen, Sun, and Zhao (2017), and then integrates these sentiment indicators with artificial intelligence deep neural network (AIDNN) for developing the behavioral finance AIDNN (BFAIDNN) algorithms. We apply the BFAIDNN algorithms to daily derivatives data of Taiwan Futures and Options markets from 2015 to 2017. Our results demonstrate that the trading strategies established by the BFAIDNN algorithms can generate positive rewards.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the tribological properties of carbonized polydopamine/reduced graphene oxide (CPDA/rGO) composite coatings.

CPDA/rGO composite coatings were prepared using the spray technique and subsequent pyrolysis under argon. The transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy revealed the conversion of PDA and GO into CPDA and rGO, respectively.

The results of tribological investigations show that the CPDA/rGO composite coatings with heat treatment at 300°C possess much better friction-reduction and anti-wear properties.

The worn surfaces of the PDA/GO composite films after heat treatment at 300°C were much smoother than that of the copper substrate. The tribofilms containing C, N, O and Cu played an important role on reducing friction and increasing wear resistance.

Partnering has drawn attention from both academics and practitioners in the construction industry in the context of construction and facilities management. The past decades have seen a number of articles reporting the application of partnering in construction. The Chinese construction industry is one of the largest industries in the world; however, to the authors' best knowledge, no project in mainland China has adopted this procurement approach in a formal and systematic manner as yet. This paper presents a timely study that aims to investigate the feasibility of implementing the partnering concept into Chinese industry and to understand the current barriers to this concept in China.

The study employed a qualitative approach to investigate the factors that support or impede the implementation of partnering in mainland China. The methodology encompassed a critical review of relevant laws, regulations, and policy documents; and semi‐structured interviews.

The findings indicate that the partnering practice is feasible in the construction industry of China due to the large demand brought about by China's strong economic growth and government support. However, the implementation of partnering in the Chinese construction industry is being impeded by the restrictions of the current Chinese regulatory framework and tender evaluation framework, the incompatible features of Chinese culture and the general lack of trust.

Six strategies that help to facilitate the implementation of partnering in China have been developed based on the supporting and impeding factors identified in this study. It is worth noting that not all aspects of Chinese culture are compatible with partnering principles. This study offers a useful reference to implement collaborative contracting models such as partnering in developing countries with a consideration of new factors such as political environment and emerging economies.

To provide the performance comparison between the conventional mixing ventilation (MV) and the displacement ventilation (DV) with and without cooling ceiling, which can be helpful to design.

The commercial CFD software FLUENT with RNG k‐ε turbulent model was used. The CFD method was validated via comparing with the available experimental data.

It was found that if properly designed, the DV system can supply better indoor air quality in the occupied zone, including better distribution in temperature field, higher ventilation efficiency, lower contaminant field and more thermal comfort compared with the MV system, because of the stratification effect of DV. And the locations of return air outlets have a great effect on the performance of the ventilation system. It was also found that the DV systems can be used to remove air contaminations more efficiently, but the temperature difference in the occupied zone in the DV system is higher than that in the MV system, especially if the heat load is higher. This problem may be solved if the cooled ceiling is combined with the DV, because the vertical temperature in the occupied zone will be reduced and more thermal comfort can be achieved.

More detailed computation should be performed on the thermal radiation between different surfaces in the room.

A very useful source of information for thermal designing of air condition.

This paper provides the performance comparison between the conventional MV and the DV with and without cooling ceiling, based on flow and temperature distribution.

This research aims to investigate the impacts of project culture on the performance of construction projects. Cultural issues in the construction industry have attracted growing attention from both practitioners and academia. However, there are few studies on culture issues at the project level. The influence of project culture has not traditionally been on the research radar.

A case study approach, utilising questionnaire surveys, in-depth interviews and review of project documents, was used to investigate project culture and its associated impacts in two major hospital projects.

The results indicated that project culture played an important role in achieving harmonious relationships between project participants and better project outcomes in terms of schedule, functionality, satisfaction with the process, satisfaction with the relationships, environmental issues addressed commercial success, further business opportunities and overall performance. Case 1 outperformed Case 2 in these performance indicators. Similarly, it became clear that the project’s culture should be developed from the outset and sustained during the project period. Furthermore, it was also highlighted that the project culture should be translated to all levels of the supply chain, i.e. sub-contractors and suppliers.

The findings enabled the client to understand the role of project culture and actively commit towards the development and maintenance of the project culture from very early on. It also helps project teams to understand how to deal with cultural issues at the project level.

This study is one of limited empirical studies that offer in-depth insights of how project culture affects the performance of construction projects. It is also the first study of hospital projects on the research topic.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a worldwide health problem. Blood pressure (BP) and inflammation are well-established risk factors for the cardiovascular complications of T2DM. Genistein is known to improve endothelial dysfunction. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of genistein supplementation on BP, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in postmenopausal women with T2DM.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is conducted on postmenopausal women with T2DM. A total of 54 subjects aged between 47 and 69 years are divided into two groups. Participants in the genistein group (n = 28) are given two genistein capsules (each capsule contained 54 mg genistein) and those in the placebo group (n = 26) received two placebo capsules (each capsule contained 54 mg maltodextrin) daily for 12 weeks. General characteristics, BP, hs-CRP and Hcy levels are measured at the baseline and at the end of the trial.

Genistein supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in systolic BP (SBP) (p < 0.001), diastolic BP (DBP) (p = 0.020), mean arterial pressure (MAP) (p < 0.001), serum levels of hs-CRP (p = 0.005) and Hcy (p = 0.001) in genistein group compared with placebo group at the end of the study. Significant decreases are also found in SBP by 5.4%, p < 0.001, DBP by 6.7%, p < 0.001, MAP by 6.2%, p < 0.001, serum levels of hs-CRP by 47.0%, p = 0.015 and Hcy by 18.4%, p < 0.001 in the genistein supplemented group. No significant changes are observed in terms of all post-intervention values in the placebo group.

Genistein administration improved BP, hs-CRP and Hcy levels in postmenopausal women with T2DM and may be useful in control of some CVD risk factors in these subjects.