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This paper aims to present an engineering computational method for fatigue life evaluation of welded structures on large-scale equipment under random vibration load.

Based on a case study of the traction transformers, virtual fatigue test (VFT) was proposed via numerical simulation approach. Static analysis was conducted to identify the risky zone and then dynamic response of the risky welds under random vibration load was calculated based on frequency-domain structural stress method (FDSSM) theory, life distribution and associated survivability at various locations of the structure were obtained. Structural modification was finally performed according to the evaluation results. Moreover, experimental test was carried out and compared with the virtual test result.

By applying the virtual test, fatigue life of the complex welded structures on large-scale equipment can be accurately and efficiently obtained considering dynamic effect under random vibration load. Meanwhile, risky welds can be directly determined and targeted modification scheme can be accordingly concluded. Validity of the VFT result was proved by comparing with the experimental test.

The proposed method can help obtain equivalent structural stress and fatigue life distribution of the welded structure at any position with various survivability and make quantitative evaluation on the life-extending effect of the structural modification. This method shows significant cost and efficiency advantages over experimental test during design stage of the large-scale structures in numerous manufacturing industries.

Off-farm employment is an important factor associated with fertility transition in many developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of female off-farm employment on their fertility desire in rural China.

Based on the data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey, the authors adopt an instrumental variable approach to address the endogeneity issue. Desired number of children and desire for a second child are used to measure fertility desire.

The results show that off-farm employment participation significantly reduces women's desired number of children and the likelihood of their desire for a second child. Moreover, off-farm employment reduces women's fertility desire mainly through pathways including the weakening of son preference and a decrease in job autonomy, rather than the changes in leisure hours. Further evidence suggests that social health insurance plays an important role in moderating the adverse relationship between off-farm employment and the desire for a second child. The fertility-reducing effects are more pronounced among younger women, among those participating in off-farm wage employment and among families with only wives' participation in the off-farm labor market.

This paper contributes to the existing research by investigating the causal impact of off-farm employment on fertility desire in a rural developing context and the possible underlying mechanisms responsible for this relationship. This study provides important insights on this topic in developing countries and may have important implications for theory and practice.

Since the implementation of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) in 2003, this program has experienced rapid growth. Even so, little is known about the association between NCMS expansion and labor force supply among rural residents in China. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of the NCMS on labor force supply for rural Chinese populations.

Using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), a difference-in-differences (DD) approach is employed to estimate the impact of NCMS expansion on labor supply outcomes, including hours of worked in agriculture, off-farm labor force participation, not working, and weeks off due to illness. A number of falsification tests are conducted to identify whether the assumption of common trends of DD analyses is satisfied. The robustness of results is checked through additional estimation, including panel fixed effects and instrumental variable approach.

Results show that the NCMS expansion has a positive effect on the hours of worked in agriculture and off-farm labor force participation, and reduces the likelihood of not working and weeks off due to illness. The effect on hours of agricultural production is larger for male adults, those aged 50 or more, and individuals in low-income families. This study demonstrates the importance of potential health improvements from public health insurance in promoting rural residents’ labor productivity.

Studies concerning the effects of public health insurance on labor supply in developing countries remain limited. The findings of this study provide important insights into how public health insurance programs, like the NCMS, may affect patterns of labor supply among rural residents, and can help policymakers improve health policies aimed to reduce the number of uninsured farmers while maintaining high levels of labor supply, productivity, and health status among the most vulnerable of populations.

This study aims to find how can fashion micro-influencers and their electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) messages increase consumer engagement on social media, focusing on micro-influencers’ influence, typology, eWOM content and consumer engagement.

A total of 20,000 microblogs were collected from Irish fashion micro-influencers and analyzed through keyword classification and content analysis in NVivo. The determinants of eWOM persuasiveness for consumer engagement on social media were investigated based on Sussman and Siegal’s information adoption model.

The study finds that among the four types of micro-influencers, market mavens and their eWOM messages have the highest impact on consumer engagement on social media, and it presents a repetitive and persuasive eWOM model of market mavens to increase consumer participation. Also, the study discovers that micro-influencers’ occasion-related microblogs have an increasing impact on consumer interactions whereas microblogs with brands have a decreasing engagement with consumers on social media.

This study advances prior studies on the relationship between influencers’ eWOM messages and consumer participation on social media by the development of a persuasive eWOM model of micro-influencers to increase consumer engagement and fill in the lack of relevant literature. Also, findings provide actionable insights for marketing communication practitioners to persuade consumers to participate in eWOM communications and establish strong consumer-brand relationships on social media.

Public housing in Hong Kong plays an essential role in accommodation supply to people of low income. Access to social resources and rent levels of nearby private residential housing are two critical issues impacting the well-being of residents living in public housing estates. However, previous research has rarely focused on the spatial distribution of public housing estates through exploring these two critical issues. On the other hand, Hong Kong is currently experiencing an urban renewal process. It would be beneficial to consider these critical issues for spatial allocation of public housing in urban renewal decision making. The purpose of this paper is to investigate these two critical issues in relation to the spatial distribution of public housing estates in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Seven spatial variables were selected to reflect these critical issues. Spatial analysis in Geographic Information System was conducted to process the data required. Multiple logistic regression was employed to analyse the relationships between the spatial location of public housing estates and the seven selected variables.

Based on the analysis results, several problems as well as geographical advantages of the current location of public housing estates were discovered, which can be valuable references for decision making by government authorities for public housing development in the future.

This research is a pilot study on the spatial distribution of public housing estates and the critical influencing factors in Hong Kong, undertaken by applying both spatial analysis and statistical methods. It can help relevant decision makers deal with current problems of public housing location and make informed decisions on where to locate new housing projects in an urban renewal process, which can increase the equal distribution of social resources and improve the well-being of people living in public housing.

Walking on inclined ground is an important ability for humanoid robots. In general, conventional strategies for walking on slopes lack technical analysis in, first, the waist posture with respect to actual robot and, second, the landing impact, which weakens the walking stability. The purpose of this paper is to propose a generic method for walking pattern generation considering these issues with the aim of enabling humanoid robot to walk dynamically on a slope.

First, a virtual ground method (VGM) is proposed to give a continuous and intuitive zero-moment point (ZMP) on slopes. Then, the dynamic motion equations are derived based on 2D and 3D models, respectively, by using VGM. Furthermore, the waist posture with respect to the actual robot is analyzed. Finally, a reformative linear inverted pendulum (LIP) named the asymmetric linear inverted pendulum (ALIP) is proposed to achieve stable and dynamical walking in any direction on a slope with lower landing impact.

Simulations and experiments are carried out using the DRC-XT humanoid robot platform with the aim of verifying the validity and feasibility of these new methods. ALIP with consideration of waist posture is practical in extending the ability of walking on slopes for humanoid robots.

A generic method called ALIP for humanoid robots walking on slopes is proposed. ALIP is based on LIP and several changes, including model analysis, motion equations and ZMP functions, are discussed.

The purpose of this paper is to explore China’s labour dispute arbitration system reform through analysing the degree to which it has attained its stated objectives – notably, independence, justice, efficiency and professionalism – from the perspectives of the arbitrators, previously ignored in research on China.

This paper used a mixed research method using questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires were sent to all full-time labour dispute arbitrators in Beijing, China with a useable response rate of 71 per cent. Additionally, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 key stakeholders involved in the arbitration process.

Instead of establishing an impartial platform, the arbitration system endeavours to promote the state’s capacity to rule over labour relations. Its recent reform excluded arbitrational independence owing to concerns about reducing the Chinese Communist Party’s arbitrary power. Arbitrational justice was perceived to improve through case resolution efficiency, which made arbitrators minimise arbitration time, partly because of high caseloads but largely because of their key performance indicators. Quality of arbitration was compromised. The arbitrators understood the spaces and boundaries of the reform, and focused on increasing professionalism to enable them to more fluidly manoeuvre between the different political economic interests, above safeguarding labour rights.

The questionnaire size was too small for regression analysis. Future research should expand the sample sizes and conduct cross-regional studies.

In 2008, China undertook an arbitrational system reform – probing its practical influence contributes to the authors understanding about the changing institutional environment of Chinese labour relations.

As a pilot study on labour dispute arbitrators, this research presents the dynamics of the Chinese labour dispute resolution mechanism.

Due to social transformation in China, more than 100,000,000 people are migrating within the country. Many parents are forced to leave their children behind when they migrate. In 2008, 58,000,000 children were living as left‐behind children, mainly in the rural parts of China (Zhang, 2009).Migration and its accompanying stressors may affect the mental health of the left‐behind children. This unique literature review of Chinese literature summarises the present state of knowledge and reviews the influential factors. Possible approaches to intervention and system reforms are discussed.A literature review was performed of published studies between 2001 and 2008. Databases used were Fujian Medical University Library Interface, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and VIP Information. The Chinese word for ‘left‐behind’ was used as a key word. Books, book chapters, monographs and studies on caring were searched electronically and by hand. Altogether, 53 items were found, discussed and grouped together. Migration affected the mental health of the left‐behind children in a passive way, especially their emotions and social behaviour.There is still controversy over how serious mental health problems are among children who have been left behind. Life events, personality, coping strategies and social suppor t can be regarded as four main factors that are predictive of mental health, which provides theoretical guidance for intervention. Suppor t and prevention of mental health problems in schools, in families and in primary care should be developed and studied.

The effect of sodium N,N‐diethyl dithiocarbamate (SDEDTC) on the corrosion of carbon steel in 0.5mol/L hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution was studied using weight loss, potentiodynamic polarisation curves and impedance measurement methods. Experimental results revealed that SDEDTC acted as an inhibitor in acid environments. Moreover, the compound was a mixed‐type inhibitor, acting predominantly as a cathodic inhibitor. Inhibition efficiency increased with increasing SDEDTC concentration at different temperatures. The corrosion inhibition mechanism of SDEDTC for carbon steel in HCl solution was also investigated by impedance techniques.

A kind of novel heterocyclic bisquaternary ammonium salt (MBQA) was successfully synthesised with metronidazole as matrix and dichloroethyl ether as the link agent. Weight loss measurement, potentiodynamic polarisation curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to evaluate the corrosion inhibiting performance of MBQA in simulated oilfield water. Experimental data revealed that MBQA acted as an inhibitor in the acidic environment and, furthermore, the compound was a mixed‐type inhibitor. It was found that inhibition efficiency increased with an increase in MBQA concentration at different temperatures. The process of inhibition was attributed to the formation of an adsorbed film on the metal surface, which protected the metal against corrosive agents.