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1 – 10 of 138Bo Li, Jian ming Wang, Qi Wang, Xiu yan Li and Xiaojie Duan
The purpose of this paper is to explore gas/liquid two-phase flow is widely existed in industrial fields, especially in chemical engineering. Electrical resistance tomography…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore gas/liquid two-phase flow is widely existed in industrial fields, especially in chemical engineering. Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) is considered to be one of the most promising techniques to monitor the transient flow process because of its advantages such as fast respond speed and cross-section imaging. However, maintaining high resolution in space together with low cost is still challenging for two-phase flow imaging because of the ill-conditioning of ERT inverse problem.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a sparse reconstruction (SR) method based on the learned dictionary has been proposed for ERT, to accurately monitor the transient flow process of gas/liquid two-phase flow in a pipeline. The high-level representation of the conductivity distributions for typical flow regimes can be extracted based on denoising the deep extreme learning machine (DDELM) model, which is used as prior information for dictionary learning.
Findings
The results from simulation and dynamic experiments indicate that the proposed algorithm efficiently improves the quality of reconstructed images as compared to some typical algorithms such as Landweber and SR-discrete fourier transformation/discrete cosine transformation. Furthermore, the SR-DDELM has also used to estimate the important parameters of the chemical process, a case in point is the volume flow rate. Therefore, the SR-DDELM is considered an ideal candidate for online monitor the gas/liquid two-phase flow.
Originality/value
This paper fulfills a novel approach to effectively monitor the gas/liquid two-phase flow in pipelines. One deep learning model and one adaptive dictionary are trained via the same prior conductivity, respectively. The model is used to extract high-level representation. The dictionary is used to represent the features of the flow process. SR and extraction of high-level representation are performed iteratively. The new method can obviously improve the monitoring accuracy and save calculation time.
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Although an important facet of modernist architecture in which function plays a prominent role, building flexibility is not entirely a new concept. Its relevance transcends…
Abstract
Although an important facet of modernist architecture in which function plays a prominent role, building flexibility is not entirely a new concept. Its relevance transcends generations, allowing space and structure to evolve through time. This paper investigates the relationship among main building structures, infill elements, and space by studying examples in ancient Chinese architecture. It reveals the role of building owners, users, and craftsmen from a survey of historical documentation. In studying these examples, it is concluded that craftsmen in ancient China were involved not only during the construction phase but throughout the period of use as well. Thus, in select cases, the relationship between craftsmen and owners or users had been preserved for generations. Finally, this paper suggests potential strategies for the building industry and technology in the move towards sustainable development.
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Moustafa Mohamed Nazief Haggag Kotb Kholaif, Xiao Ming and Gutama Kusse Getele
This research aims to profoundly investigate the post-COVID-19's opportunities for customer-centric green supply chain management (GSCM) and perceived customer resilience by…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to profoundly investigate the post-COVID-19's opportunities for customer-centric green supply chain management (GSCM) and perceived customer resilience by studying the correlation between fear-uncertainty of COVID-19, customer-centric GSCM, and the perceived customers' resilience. Moreover, to examine how the perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities moderates the relationship among the variables.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was adopted on a sample of 298 managers and customers in the Egyptian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) market for data analysis and hypotheses testing.
Findings
Preliminary results indicate that the fear-uncertainty of COVID-19 positively affects customer-centric GSCM. Also, external CSR moderates the association between fear-uncertainty towards COVID-19 and customer-centric GSCM. However, internal CSR does not moderate this relationship. Customer-centric GSCM has a significant positive impact on the perceived environmental and social resilience. However, it has an insignificant effect on the perceived financial resilience. Also, customer-centric GSCM has a significant mediation outcome on the relation between fear-uncertainty of COVID-19 and the perceived environmental and social resilience. However, this relation is insignificant regarding the perceived financial resilience.
Practical implications
Managers could develop a consistent strategy for applying CSR practices, providing clear information and focusing on their procedures to meet their customer needs during COVID-19. Governments and managers should develop a consistent strategy to apply customer-oriented green practices to achieve customers' resilience, especially during the pandemic.
Originality/value
Based on the “social-cognitive,” “stakeholder” and “consumer culture” theories, this study shed light on the optimistic side of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it also brings the concepts of social responsibility, resilience and green practices back into the light, which helps in solving customers' issues and help to achieve their resilience.
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Fang Wang, Shiting Lin, Xiaoyu Liu, Chunyan Jiang and Jianing Li
The former residences of historical figures are typical landscape elements of historic districts, which are characterised by the styles of these residences and spiritual…
Abstract
Purpose
The former residences of historical figures are typical landscape elements of historic districts, which are characterised by the styles of these residences and spiritual historical figures cultures. The purpose of this paper is to determine how the former residences respond once the historical figures living there have passed.
Design/methodology/approach
The history of human culture and progression of urban construction – which are submerged in societal transformation – is recorded for old Beijing city. Narrative space theory is used and methods such as a content analysis, map overlay and the Geographic Information System are employed to analyse the selected 300 former residences of historical figures in old Beijing city.
Findings
The results are as follows: the political setting played a key role in the evolution process, three political narrative areas in the inner city and one cultural narrative area in the outer city form the narrative spatial structure of the former residences of historical figures, “government construction” and “resident construction” are the main reasons for the loss and destruction of narrative spaces and ordinary life is an important channel for showcasing the history of former residences. The narrative spaces of these residences carry double histories, namely, the development of human history and of city construction.
Originality/value
Different from former studies that focus on the preservation of the single historical building, this study explores the integral logic of historic buildings in the whole city through narrative space theory to get a combination of culture and space.
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Fei Zhou, Jian Mou, Wei Wang and Yenchun Jim Wu
Previous studies overemphasize the negative effects of social media usage (SMU) within organizations and underestimate its positive influences on employees' behavior. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
Previous studies overemphasize the negative effects of social media usage (SMU) within organizations and underestimate its positive influences on employees' behavior. This study attempts to link employees' social media use at work to their creativity performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the bounded generalized reciprocity theory and unbounded indirect reciprocity (UIR) theory, the authors developed a research model. To test the model, the authors collected a set of 172 paired data of organizations and employees from 31 knowledge-intensive enterprises in China to test the hypothesis.
Findings
This research found that the social, cognitive and hedonic uses of social media all directly affect employee creativity. Relational energy fully mediates the effects of the cognitive and hedonic usages on creativity. Moreover, job autonomy moderates the effects of the relationships among the social, cognitive and hedonic uses on employee creativity.
Originality/value
The conclusions not only enriched authors’ understanding of the effectiveness of interpersonal interaction but also extended the research boundary of the relationship between SMU and employee creativity.
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Moustafa Mohamed Nazief Haggag Kotb Kholaif and Xiao Ming
The research aims to profoundly investigate the correlation between uncertainty-fear against COVID-19, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and labor practices issues based on…
Abstract
Purpose
The research aims to profoundly investigate the correlation between uncertainty-fear against COVID-19, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and labor practices issues based on ISO 26000.
Design/methodology/approach
Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was adopted for data analysis and hypotheses testing on a sample of 304 managers and employees in the Egyptian small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Findings
Preliminary results indicate that the uncertainty-fear against COVID-19 positively affects CSR practices in SMEs. CSR positively impacts labor practices dimensions. However, CSR has an insignificant effect on the social protection and work condition dimension. Also, CSR has a significant mediating role in the association between uncertainty-fear toward the pandemic and labor practices. But, this relation is insignificant regarding social protection and work condition dimension.
Practical implications
Managers could develop a consistent strategy for applying CSR practices, providing clear information and focusing on their procedures to protect their workforce during COVID-19. Governments should impose policies to guarantee that all employees have the same opportunities and not discriminate directly or indirectly in any labor practice.
Originality/value
Based on both the “stakeholder” and “social-cognitive” theories, this study shed light on the optimistic side of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it also brings the concepts of social responsibility, sustainability and green practices back into the light, which helps in solving labor issues.
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Muhammad Rafi, Zheng Jian Ming and Khurshid Ahmad
The study aims to expand the literature on evaluating the performance of professionals and academic libraries, rationalizing management and providing reliable services to the…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to expand the literature on evaluating the performance of professionals and academic libraries, rationalizing management and providing reliable services to the academic community. The performance assessment model covers the four components (management competence, professional experience, financial add/projects and library services) in the context of the knowledge management model.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on quantitative data, the study defines a set of assumptions for testing the four components of performance evaluation within a knowledge management framework to develop appropriate and robust models for improving employee performance and library services. The structural equation model has been applied to sample data from 339 administrative librarians at 190 universities in Pakistan.
Findings
Statistical evidence confirms that the applicability of the proposed performance-based model enhances management competence, makes accurate decisions, develops professional skills and strengthens human resource organization and knowledge management techniques in developing the efficiency of academic libraries.
Practical implications
In the long term, academic leaders and policymakers value investment in the professional development of top library management as they participate in the decision-making process. Organizing training for service employees, supporting innovative research projects and providing library technology infrastructures ultimately improve academic performance and research when integrated into the knowledge management model.
Originality/value
So far, comprehensive literature on performance and knowledge management has been published separately. However, based on the key data collected by senior library administrators using the structured research questionnaire, the comprehensive performance evaluation research based on a knowledge management model is innovative to improve academic library services and close the literature gap.
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Decision-making is always an issue that managers have to deal with. Keenly observing to different preferences of the targets provides useful information for decision-makers who do…
Abstract
Purpose
Decision-making is always an issue that managers have to deal with. Keenly observing to different preferences of the targets provides useful information for decision-makers who do not require too much information to make decisions. The main purpose is to avoid decision-makers in a dilemma because of too much or opaque information. Based on problem-oriented, this research aims to help decision-makers to develop a macro-vision strategy that fits the needs of different clusters of customers in terms of their favorite restaurants. This research also focuses on providing the rules to rank data sets for decision-makers to make choices for their favorite restaurant.
Design/methodology/approach
When the decision-makers need to rethink a new strategic planning, they have to think about whether they want to retain or rebuild their relationship with the old consumers or continue to care for new customers. Furthermore, many of the lecturers show that the relative concept will be more effective than the absolute one. Therefore, based on rough set theory, this research proposes an algorithm of related concepts and sends questionnaires to verify the efficiency of the algorithm.
Findings
By feeding the relative order of calculating the ranking rules, we find that it will be more efficient to deal with the faced problems.
Originality/value
The algorithm proposed in this research is applied to the ranking data of food. This research proves that the algorithm is practical and has the potential to reveal important patterns in the data set.
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Suming Xie, Chunyun Li, Jian Wang, Wanpeng Li and Chunliang Niu
Based on the DVS1608-2011 and IIW-2008 and BS EN15085-3 standards, the stress state grade of welded joints of aluminum alloy EMU (Electric Multiple Units) body was studied.
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the DVS1608-2011 and IIW-2008 and BS EN15085-3 standards, the stress state grade of welded joints of aluminum alloy EMU (Electric Multiple Units) body was studied.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the calculation methods of the stress state grade of aluminum alloy welded joints analyzed by DVS1608-2011 and IIW-2008 standards were studied, and the two methods were programmed by the APDL language of ANSYS. Then, the finite element model of aluminum alloy EMU body was established; the static strength calculation result of the body was compared with the test result, and the error is basically within 10%. Finally, under the acceleration fatigue load provided by BS EN12663 standard, the fatigue analysis was carried out on the welded joint of the vehicle body, and the stress state of the welded joint of the vehicle body was studied according to IIW-2008 and DVS1608 standards, respectively.
Findings
The results show that the assessment method based on IIW-2008 standard is more rigorous, and the maximum stress factor of the longitudinal weld between the side beam and the side wall is 0.811; the position occurs in the area where the longitudinal weld of the side beam and the side wall is close to the lower door angle.
Originality/value
The stress state is medium, and the rest of the weld stress states are low.
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Ming Jiang, Mengyang Shi, Jiamao Li, Juan Liu, Lei Zhang, Jian Qin, Yongtao Jiu, Bin Tang and Dong Xu
This paper aims to study the effects of MnO2 on the ZnO–Bi2O3-based varistor prepared via flash sintering (FS)
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the effects of MnO2 on the ZnO–Bi2O3-based varistor prepared via flash sintering (FS)
Design/methodology/approach
MnO2-doped ZnO–Bi2O3-based varistors were successfully prepared by the FS with a step-wise increase of the .current in 60 s at the furnace temperature <750°C under the direct current electric field of 300 V cm−1. The FS process, microstructure and the electrical performance of ZnO–Bi2O3-based varistors were systematically investigated.
Findings
The doping of MnO2 significantly decreased the onset temperature of FS and improved the electrical performance of FS ZnO varistor ceramic. The sample with 0.5 mol% MnO2 doping shows the highest improvement, with the nonlinear coefficient of 18, the leakage current of 16.82 µA, the threshold voltage of 459 V/mm and the dielectric constant of 1,221 at 1 kHz.
Originality/value
FS is a wonderful technology to enhance ZnO varistors for its low energy consumption, and a short sintering time can reduce grain growth and inhabit Bi2O3 volatilize, yet few research studies work on that. In this research, the authors analyzed the FS process and improved the electrical characteristics through MnO2 doping.
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