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1 – 10 of 11Jinsong Luo, Ligong Zhang, Haigui Yang, Nan Zhang, Yongfu Zhu, Xingyuan Liu and Qing Jiang
This paper aims to study the oxidation kinetics of the nanocrystalline Al ultrathin films. The influence of structure and composition evolution during thermal oxidation will be…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the oxidation kinetics of the nanocrystalline Al ultrathin films. The influence of structure and composition evolution during thermal oxidation will be observed. The reason for the change in the oxidation activation energy on increasing the oxidation temperature will be discussed.
Design/methodology/approach
Al thin films are deposited on the silicon wafers as substrates by vacuumed thermal evaporation under the base pressure of 2 × 10−4 Pa, where the substrates are not heated. A crystalline quartz sensor is used to monitor the film thickness. The film thickness varies in the range from 30 to 100 nm. To keep the silicon substrate from oxidation during thermal oxidation of the Al film, a 50-nm gold film was deposited on the back side of silicon substrate. Isothermal oxidation studies of the Al film were carried out in air to assess the oxidation kinetics at 400-600°C.
Findings
The activation energy is positive and low for the low temperature oxidation, but it becomes apparently negative at higher temperatures. The oxide grains are nano-sized, and γ-Al2O3 crystals are formed at above 500°C. In light of the model by Davies, the grain boundary diffusion is believed to be the reason for the logarithmic oxidation rate rule. The negative activation energy at higher temperatures is apparent, which comes from the decline of diffusion paths due to the formation of the γ-Al2O3 crystals.
Originality/value
It is found that the oxidation kinetics of nanocrystalline Al thin films in air at 400-600°C follows the logarithmic law, and this logarithmic oxidation rate law is related to the grain boundary diffusion. The negative activation energies in the higher temperature range can be attributed to the formation of γ-Al2O3 crystal.
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Yun Liu, Xingyuan Wang and Heyu Qin
This paper aims to explore the matching effect of hospitality brand image (cool vs non-cool) and service agents (Artificial intelligence [AI] vs human staff) on brand attitude…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the matching effect of hospitality brand image (cool vs non-cool) and service agents (Artificial intelligence [AI] vs human staff) on brand attitude, with a focus on assessing the role of feeling right as a mediator and service failure as a moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper tested the hypotheses through three experiments and a Supplementary Material experiment, which collectively involved 835 participants.
Findings
The results indicated that the adoption of AI by cool brands can foster the right feeling and enhance consumers’ positive brand attitudes. In contrast, employing human staff did not lead to improved brand attitudes toward non-cool brands. Furthermore, the study found that service failure moderated the matching effect between service agents and cool brand images on brand attitude. The matching effect was observed under successful service conditions, but it disappeared when service failure occurred.
Practical implications
The findings offer practical guidance for hospitality companies in choosing service agents based on brand image. Cool brands can swiftly transition to AI, reinforcing their modern, cutting-edge image. Traditional brands may delay AI adoption or integrate it strategically with human staff.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper represents one of the first studies to address the issue of selecting the optimal service agent based on hospitality brand image. More importantly, it introduces the concept of a cool hospitality brand image as a boundary condition in the framework of AI research, providing novel insights into consumers’ ambivalent responses to AI observed in previous studies.
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Junbo Liu, Yaping Huang, Shengchun Wang, Xinxin Zhao, Qi Zou and Xingyuan Zhang
This research aims to improve the performance of rail fastener defect inspection method for multi railways, to effectively ensure the safety of railway operation.
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to improve the performance of rail fastener defect inspection method for multi railways, to effectively ensure the safety of railway operation.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, a fastener region location method based on online learning strategy was proposed, which can locate fastener regions according to the prior knowledge of track image and template matching method. Online learning strategy is used to update the template library dynamically, so that the method not only can locate fastener regions in the track images of multi railways, but also can automatically collect and annotate fastener samples. Secondly, a fastener defect recognition method based on deep convolutional neural network was proposed. The structure of recognition network was designed according to the smaller size and the relatively single content of the fastener region. The data augmentation method based on the sample random sorting strategy is adopted to reduce the impact of the imbalance of sample size on recognition performance.
Findings
Test verification of the proposed method is conducted based on the rail fastener datasets of multi railways. Specifically, fastener location module has achieved an average detection rate of 99.36%, and fastener defect recognition module has achieved an average precision of 96.82%.
Originality/value
The proposed method can accurately locate fastener regions and identify fastener defect in the track images of different railways, which has high reliability and strong adaptability to multi railways.
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Xingyuan Wang, Zhifeng Lou, Xiaodong Wang, Yue Wang, Xiupeng Hao and Zhize Wang
The purpose of this paper is to design an automatic press-fit instrument to realize precision assembly and connection quality assessment of a small interference fitting parts…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to design an automatic press-fit instrument to realize precision assembly and connection quality assessment of a small interference fitting parts, armature.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, an automatic press-fit instrument was developed for the technical problems of reliable clamping and positioning of the armature, automatic measurement and adjustment of the attitude and evaluation of the connection quality. To compensate for the installation error of the equipment, corresponding calibration method was proposed for each module of the instrument. Assembly strategies of axial displacement and perpendicularity were also proposed to ensure the assembly accuracy. A theoretical model was built to calculate the resistant force generated by the non-contact regions and then combined with the thick-walled cylinder theory to predict the press-fit curve.
Findings
The calibration method and assembly strategy proposed in this paper enable the press-fit instrument to achieve good alignment and assembly accuracy. A reasonable range of press-fit curve obtained from theoretical model can achieve the connection quality assessment.
Practical implications
This instrument has been used in an armature assembly project. The practical results show that this instrument can assemble the armature components with complex structures automatically, accurately, in high-efficiency and in high quality.
Originality/value
This paper provides a technical method to improve the assembly quality of small precision interference fitting parts and provides certain methodological guidelines for precision peg-in-hole assembly.
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The purpose of this paper is to analyze the dynamical state of a discrete time engineering/physical dynamic system. The analysis is performed based on observability…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the dynamical state of a discrete time engineering/physical dynamic system. The analysis is performed based on observability, controllability and stability first using difference equations of generalized motion obtained through discrete time equations of dissipative generalized motion derived from discrete Lagrange-dissipative model [{L,D}-model] for short of a discrete time observed dynamic system. As a next step, the same system has also been analyzed related to observability, controllability and stability concepts but this time using discrete dissipative canonical equations derived from a discrete Hamiltonian system together with discrete generalized velocity proportional Rayleigh dissipation function. The methods have been applied to a coupled (electromechanical) example in different formulation types.
Design/methodology/approach
An observability, controllability and stability analysis of a discrete time observed dynamic system using discrete equations of generalized motion obtained through discrete {L,D}-model and discrete dissipative canonical equations obtained through discrete Hamiltonian together with discrete generalized velocity proportional Rayleigh dissipation function.
Findings
The related analysis can be carried out easily depending on the values of classical elements.
Originality/value
Discrete equations of generalized motion and discrete dissipative canonical equations obtained by discrete Lagrangian and discrete Hamiltonian, respectively, together with velocity proportional discrete dissipative function are used to analyze a discrete time observed engineering system by means of observability, controllability and stability using state variable theory and in the method proposed, the physical quantities do not need to be converted one to another.
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Keywords
- Control systems
- Circuit analysis
- Sensors
- Coupled systems
- Mechatronics
- MEMS modelling
- Observability
- Controllability and stability analysis of discrete time systems
- Discrete physical coupled dynamic systems
- Discrete energy and dissipative systems
- Discrete Lagrangian and Hamiltonian systems
- Discrete time engineering systems
Costanza Nosi, Tommaso Pucci, Yioula Melanthiou and Lorenzo Zanni
The study tests a model that considers online brand trust in different nonbrand-owned touchpoints as a multifactorial construct constituted by: social network influencers…
Abstract
Purpose
The study tests a model that considers online brand trust in different nonbrand-owned touchpoints as a multifactorial construct constituted by: social network influencers, bloggers, online retail platforms and brand-related user generated content. Furthermore, it examines the influences that offline and online brand trust exert on consumer buying intention.
Design/methodology/approach
A convenience sample of 3,335 total individuals participated in the survey. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Online brand trust is significantly influenced by trust in all investigated nonbrand-owned touchpoints. Both offline and online brand trust positively influence buying intention.
Research limitations/implications
Whereas brand trust is considered a multidimensional construct that includes both cognitive and affective aspects, in addition to individuals' personality traits, the present study only investigated the rational dimension of the brand trust paradigm. Moreover, this study examined the influence of brand trust on consumers' buying intention and not overt behavior. In addition, even though the extant literature suggests that the relation between trust and behavioral outcomes may vary across cultures, no test of the possible influences that culture exerted on brand trust and BInt was run. Finally, given the convenience sampling method used in this research, statistically significant surveys would provide a more solid basis for the investigated phenomenon, and they would enable an appropriate generalization of the findings.
Practical implications
To build brand trust and favour buying intention, marketers should monitor and influence the online touchpoints that are partially under or totally out of their control, and reconceive and manage physical stores.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the stream of literature on online brand trust by proving that it is a multifactorial construct resulting from trust in different non-proprietary online entities and pointing out the prevalent role that physical stores play in shaping consumer buying intention. It also indicates that a trust transfer effect takes place between different online information sources and offline outlets.
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Shujie Zhang, Qian Sun, Lejiao Dai and Xingyuan Wang
The purpose of this paper is to construct an integrated theoretical framework of firm resilience, and examine the relationship between resource reconfiguration, firm resilience…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to construct an integrated theoretical framework of firm resilience, and examine the relationship between resource reconfiguration, firm resilience, disruption impact, profit growth, innovation and environmental uncertainty in the context of COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was distributed to 220 companies and a total of 207 respondents returned the survey. chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO) of each company participants in the survey. The hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) technique.
Findings
The results showed that firm resilience can be stimulated through the reconstruction of existing resources, and environmental uncertainty played a moderating role in this process; in turn, the improvement of firm resilience enabled companies to reduce the impact of disruptions, achieve profit growth and promote innovation.
Practical implications
This study provides practical implications for how business management shapes firm resilience and promotes organization recovery and development.
Originality/value
This study expands the literature of firm resilience by providing an integrated theoretical framework of firm resilience. Firstly, based on the perspective of dynamic capabilities, this study reveals that resource reconfiguration plays a key role in shaping firm resilience. Secondly, this study enriches the boundary research on firm resilience by incorporating environmental uncertainty into the research framework. Thirdly, this study validates the impact of firm resilience on disruption impact, profit growth and innovation of companies, providing sufficient empirical evidence for the outcomes of firm resilience.
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Krishna Regmi, Jennie Naidoo, Alan Greer and Paul Pilkington
Despite enormous progress in health globally, primary healthcare services in many developing countries are facing different challenges. Many studies have documented that…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite enormous progress in health globally, primary healthcare services in many developing countries are facing different challenges. Many studies have documented that decentralisation could be useful in supporting and developing health services closer to citizens. The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of decentralisation on health services, and to draw general lessons which might help to develop appropriate strategies to improve health services in Nepal.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed method was used, consisting of reviews of current literatures relevant to decentralisation and health performance, engaging with health service inputs‐outputs data between 2001 and 2007, and assessing the range of choices (management, finance and governance) available to local authorities using Bossert's “decision‐space approach”.
Findings
Decentralisation in many countries, including Nepal, suggests a new form of service delivery.
Originality/value
Review of the selected studies in triangulation with health services data has revealed that decentralisation in many cases has improved access to, utilisation of, and management of health services. The effects on other performance dimensions such as policy, equity, quality and service effectiveness are poorly investigated topics in the literature. The findings suggest that the successful implementation of decentralisation requires a broader context of institutional capacity building and resource management, and underlines the need for their consideration during implementation processes, and further investigation.
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This study aims to propose a conceptual framework for transition of brand trust to brand love in an uncertain market situation, from the perspective of cognitive-emotion theory…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose a conceptual framework for transition of brand trust to brand love in an uncertain market situation, from the perspective of cognitive-emotion theory (CET).
Design/methodology/approach
Since brand anthropomorphism is successfully established in branding research, this study takes cognitive characteristics of brand trust and emotional characteristic of brand love from extant literature to develop a conceptual framework for transformation of brand trust (cognition) into brand love (emotion). This study situates the relationship in the context of market uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses in the development of the conceptual framework by taking cognitive components of brand trust and brand behavioural characteristics as moderator, in uncertain market situation.
Findings
Findings suggest that transition of brand trust (cognition) to brand love (emotion) is possible in uncertain situation, and brand behavioural characteristics moderate this relationship. Brand behavioural characteristics are brand innovativeness, brand ethicality, brand empathy, brand expertise and brand agility, which have the potential to further strengthen the relationship in the given situation.
Research limitations/implications
This research proposes a conceptual model and propositions that add a rich understanding to the relationship of brand trust and brand love, which requires empirical testing in any brand category context. Through a richer understanding of conditions and the underlying psychological mechanism, researchers and marketers, brand managers, policymakers and so forth can gain insights that aid strategic decision-making. Trusted brands can leverage on the situation by highlighting unique behavioural characteristics to establish a strong and sustainable long-term relationship.
Originality/value
The current research is an attempt to provide deeper insights from the perspective of CET, into the relationship of brand trust (cognition) and brand love (emotion) by introducing conditions under which a trusted brand becomes a lovable brand in uncertain market situation, thereby adding new knowledge to branding, customer-brand relationship sustainability, in uncertainty literature. The new perspective, that is CET, puts forward a novice view on the advantage of brand love over brand trust that could help in formulating strategic decisions in managing brands in crisis situation.
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Michelle Childs, Hongjoo Woo and Seeun Kim
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns have become increasingly popular among fashion apparel brands to reduce environmental impacts of their operations and position…
Abstract
Purpose
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns have become increasingly popular among fashion apparel brands to reduce environmental impacts of their operations and position themselves as sustainable. In light of attribution theory, this paper aims to investigate how aspects of a CSR campaign affect consumers’ perceptions of brand authenticity, brand attitudes and CSR attitudes.
Design/methodology/approach
This research is based on a 2 (brand image: sustainable vs disposable brand) × 2 (message source: brand website vs news article) between-subjects experimental design with random assignment to conditions and manipulation checks.
Findings
When exposed to messages about CSR campaigns, consumers have more favorable perceptions of brand authenticity, brand attitudes and CSR attitudes for a sustainable brand than for a disposable brand, particularly when consumers view information about a CSR campaign on the brand’s website. However, this is not true for disposable brands when CSR campaigns are promoted through a news source.
Practical implications
Sustainable brands can derive benefits by strategically partnering with causes through CSR campaigns, particularly when their campaigns are promoted through their brand’s website (vs news source). However, brands that offer disposable products (e.g. fast fashion brands) should exercise caution when implementing these campaigns; CSR campaigns may confuse customers as they do not align with the everyday practices of disposable brands.
Originality/value
As the apparel industry faces increased scrutiny for negative impacts on the environment, this study helps to understand whether customers perceive CSR campaigns as trustworthy and authentic, or as ploys aimed at creating more positive brand images.
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