Search results

1 – 10 of over 3000
Article
Publication date: 11 December 2023

Zehui Bu, Jicai Liu and Xiaoxue Zhang

The paper aims to elucidate effective strategies for promoting the adoption of green technology innovation within the private sector, thereby enhancing the value of public–private…

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to elucidate effective strategies for promoting the adoption of green technology innovation within the private sector, thereby enhancing the value of public–private partnership (PPP) projects during the operational phase.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing prospect theory, the paper considers the government and the public as external driving forces. It establishes a tripartite evolutionary game model composed of government regulators, the private sector and the public. The paper uses numerical simulations to explore the evolutionary stable equilibrium strategies and the determinants influencing each stakeholder.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that government intervention and public participation substantially promote green technology innovation within the private sector. Major influencing factors encompass the intensity of pollution taxation, governmental information disclosure and public attention. However, an optimal threshold exists for environmental publicity and innovation subsidies, as excessive levels might inhibit technological innovation. Furthermore, within government intervention strategies, compensating the public for their participation costs is essential to circumvent the public's “free-rider” tendencies and encourage active public collaboration in PPP project innovation.

Originality/value

By constructing a tripartite evolutionary game model, the paper comprehensively examines the roles of government intervention and public participation in promoting green technology innovation within the private sector, offering fresh perspectives and strategies for the operational phase of PPP projects.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 October 2024

Shengbin Ma, Zhongfu Li and Jingqi Zhang

The waste-to-energy (WtE) project plays a significant role in the sustainable development of urban environments. However, the inherent “Not in my backyard” (NIMBY) effect presents…

Abstract

Purpose

The waste-to-energy (WtE) project plays a significant role in the sustainable development of urban environments. However, the inherent “Not in my backyard” (NIMBY) effect presents substantial challenges to site selection decisions. While effective public participation is recognized as a potential solution, research on incorporating it into site selection decision-making frameworks remains limited. This paper aims to establish a multi-attribute group decision-making framework for WtE project site selection that considers public participation to enhance public satisfaction and ensure project success.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, based on consideration of public demand, a WtE project site selection decision indicator system was constructed from five dimensions: natural, economic, social, environmental and other supporting conditions. Next, the Combination Ordered Weighted Averaging (C-OWA) operator and game theory were applied to integrate the indicator weight preferences of experts and the public. Additionally, an interactive, dynamic decision-making mechanism was established to address the heterogeneity among decision-making groups and determine decision-maker weights. Finally, in an intuitive fuzzy environment, an “acronym in Portuguese of interactive and multi-criteria decision-making” (TODIM) method was used to aggregate decision information and evaluate the pros and cons of different options.

Findings

This study develops a four-stage multi-attribute group decision-making framework that incorporates public participation and has been successfully applied in a case study. The results demonstrate that the framework effectively handles complex decision-making scenarios involving public participation and ranks potential WtE project sites. It can promote the integration of expert and public decision-making preferences in the site selection of WtE projects to improve the effectiveness of decision-making. In addition, sensitivity and comparative analyses confirm the framework’s feasibility and scientificity.

Originality/value

This paper provides a new research perspective for the WtE project site selection decision-making, which is beneficial for public participation to play a positive role in decision-making. It also offers a valuable reference for managers seeking to effectively implement public participation mechanisms.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 October 2024

Maryam Fatima, Peter S. Kim, Youming Lei, A.M. Siddiqui and Ayesha Sohail

This paper aims to reduce the cost of experiments required to test the efficiency of materials suitable for artificial tissue ablation by increasing efficiency and accurately…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to reduce the cost of experiments required to test the efficiency of materials suitable for artificial tissue ablation by increasing efficiency and accurately forecasting heating properties.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-step numerical analysis is used to develop and simulate a bioheat model using improved finite element method and deep learning algorithms, systematically regulating temperature distributions within the hydrogel artificial tissue during radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The model connects supervised learning and finite element analysis data to optimize electrode configurations, ensuring precise heat application while protecting surrounding hydrogel integrity.

Findings

The model accurately predicts a range of thermal changes critical for optimizing RFA, thereby enhancing treatment precision and minimizing impact on surrounding hydrogel materials. This computational approach not only advances the understanding of thermal dynamics but also provides a robust framework for improving therapeutic outcomes.

Originality/value

A computational predictive bioheat model, incorporating deep learning to optimize electrode configurations and minimize collateral tissue damage, represents a pioneering approach in interventional research. This method offers efficient evaluation of thermal strategies with reduced computational overhead compared to traditional numerical methods.

Details

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

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 May 2024

Xin Fan, Yongshou Liu, Zongyi Gu and Qin Yao

Ensuring the safety of structures is important. However, when a structure possesses both an implicit performance function and an extremely small failure probability, traditional…

Abstract

Purpose

Ensuring the safety of structures is important. However, when a structure possesses both an implicit performance function and an extremely small failure probability, traditional methods struggle to conduct a reliability analysis. Therefore, this paper proposes a reliability analysis method aimed at enhancing the efficiency of rare event analysis, using the widely recognized Relevant Vector Machine (RVM).

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the principles of importance sampling (IS), this paper employs Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) to ascertain the optimal design point. This approach not only guarantees precision but also facilitates the RVM in approximating the limit state surface. When the U learning function, designed for Kriging, is applied to RVM, it results in sample clustering in the design of experiment (DoE). Therefore, this paper proposes a FU learning function, which is more suitable for RVM.

Findings

Three numerical examples and two engineering problem demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Originality/value

By employing the HHO algorithm, this paper innovatively applies RVM in IS reliability analysis, proposing a novel method termed RVM-HIS. The RVM-HIS demonstrates exceptional computational efficiency, making it eminently suitable for rare events reliability analysis with implicit performance function. Moreover, the computational efficiency of RVM-HIS has been significantly enhanced through the improvement of the U learning function.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 October 2024

Hong Zhou, Li Zhou, Binwei Gao, Wen Huang, Wenlu Huang, Jian Zuo and Xianbo Zhao

The number of construction dispute cases has surged in recent years. The effective exploration and management of risks associated with construction contracts helps to directly…

Abstract

Purpose

The number of construction dispute cases has surged in recent years. The effective exploration and management of risks associated with construction contracts helps to directly enhance the overall project performance. The existing approaches to identify the risks associated with construction project contracts have a heavy reliance on manual review techniques, which are inefficient and highly restricted by personnel experience. The existing intelligent approaches only work for the contract query and storage. Hence, it is necessary to improve the intelligence level for contract risk management. This study aims to propose a novel method for the intelligent identification of risks in construction contract clauses based on natural language processing.

Design/methodology/approach

This proposed method can formalize the linguistic logic and semantic information of contract clauses into multiple triples and transform the structural processing results of general clauses in a construction contract into rights and interests rules for risk review. In addition, the core semantic information of special clauses in a construction contract, rights and interests rules are used for semantic conflict detection. Finally, this study achieves the intelligent risk identification of construction contract clauses.

Findings

The method is verified by selecting several construction contracts that had been applied in engineering contracting as a corpus. The results showed a high level of accuracy and applicability of the proposed method.

Originality/value

This novel method can identify the risks in contract clauses with complex syntactic structures and realize rule extension according to the semantic relation network of the ontology. It can support efficient contract review and assist the decision-making process in contract risk management.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 October 2024

Haize Pan, Hulongyi Huang, Zhenhua Luo, Chengjin Wu and Sidi Yang

During metro construction using the shield method, the construction process's complexity, the construction environment's variability, and other factors can easily lead to tunnel…

Abstract

Purpose

During metro construction using the shield method, the construction process's complexity, the construction environment's variability, and other factors can easily lead to tunnel construction accidents. This paper aims to explore the interconnections between risk factors and related accident types, as well as the risk chain formed between risk factors, and to analyze the key risk factors and vulnerabilities in shield tunnel construction through empirical data.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the social network analysis theory, the connection of various risk factors in subway shield tunnel construction is explored, and the mechanism of multiple risk factors is studied. Through literature analysis, articles on safety risk factors in metro shield tunnel construction are organized and studied, and the identified safety risk factors can comprehensively reflect the significant risks that need to be concerned in metro shield tunnel construction.

Findings

The results show that a small world characterizes the SNA network of safety risk factors for metro shield tunnel construction: The frequency of association between the five risk factors “unsafe behavior,” “site management,” “safety supervision and inspection,” “safety education system” and “safety protection” is higher than that of other factors. Only a few risks, such as “site management,” “safety supervision and inspection,” and “rapid response capability,” directly lead to accidents. In addition, risk factors such as the “safety education system” and “safety protection” will indirectly cause unsafe behaviors of construction personnel.

Research limitations/implications

During construction, the probability of occurrence of risk factors may vary with the construction phase and area and is not considered in this paper. In addition, although this paper identifies, determines and analyzes the risk factors affecting the safety of metro shield tunnel construction, including the importance of each risk factor and the connection between them, more detailed information before and after the accident could not be obtained based on the accident investigation report alone. Therefore, future research can collect the same accident case from more sources to obtain more information.

Practical implications

The theory of accident causation has been improved at the theoretical level. The identified safety risk factors can comprehensively reflect the significant risks that need to be paid attention to in metro shield tunnel construction. From a practical point of view, the results of the study provide a basis for the rational control of the risk factors in the construction of subway shield tunnels, which can help guide practitioners to do a good job of risk prevention before the construction of metro shield tunnels and reduce the probability of related accidents.

Originality/value

This study expands the application of social network analysis in the field of subway tunnel construction risk, quantitatively analyzes the key risk factors and vulnerabilities in shield method tunnel construction and proposes policy recommendations for future metro tunnel construction safety management.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 November 2024

Chenxia Zhou, Zhikun Jia, Shaobo Song, Shigang Luo, Xiaole Zhang, Xingfang Zhang, Xiaoyuan Pei and Zhiwei Xu

The aging and deterioration of engineering building structures present significant risks to both life and property. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, acclaimed for their…

Abstract

Purpose

The aging and deterioration of engineering building structures present significant risks to both life and property. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, acclaimed for their outstanding reusability, compact form factor, lightweight construction, heightened sensitivity, immunity to electromagnetic interference and exceptional precision, are increasingly being adopted for structural health monitoring in engineering buildings. This research paper aims to evaluate the current challenges faced by FBG sensors in the engineering building industry. It also anticipates future advancements and trends in their development within this field.

Design/methodology/approach

This study centers on five pivotal sectors within the field of structural engineering: bridges, tunnels, pipelines, highways and housing construction. The research delves into the challenges encountered and synthesizes the prospective advancements in each of these areas.

Findings

The exceptional performance of FBG sensors provides an ideal solution for comprehensive monitoring of potential structural damages, deformations and settlements in engineering buildings. However, FBG sensors are challenged by issues such as limited monitoring accuracy, underdeveloped packaging techniques, intricate and time-intensive embedding processes, low survival rates and an indeterminate lifespan.

Originality/value

This introduces an entirely novel perspective. Addressing the current limitations of FBG sensors, this paper envisions their future evolution. FBG sensors are anticipated to advance into sophisticated multi-layer fiber optic sensing networks, each layer encompassing numerous channels. Data integration technologies will consolidate the acquired information, while big data analytics will identify intricate correlations within the datasets. Concurrently, the combination of finite element modeling and neural networks will enable a comprehensive simulation of the adaptability and longevity of FBG sensors in their operational environments.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 August 2024

Yourong Yao, Zixuan Wang and Chun Kwok Lei

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of green finance on human well-being in China in the context of urbanization and aging population. It aims to explore the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of green finance on human well-being in China in the context of urbanization and aging population. It aims to explore the contributions of green finance in such demographic scenarios.

Design/methodology/approach

This study innovates and optimizes the calculation of the carbon intensity of human well-being (CIWB) index and strengthens the integrity of the assessment model for green finance development. It uses the serial multiple mediator model and moderation effect analysis to address the impact of green finance on human well-being in China on the provincial level from 2009 to 2020.

Findings

Green finance has a significant, positive and direct impact on human well-being. Simultaneously, it influences human well-being indirectly through three transmission channels. Urbanization and an ageing population are significant individual mediators through which green finance contributes to human well-being improvement. Notably, these two mediators also work together to transfer the promotional impact of green finance to human well-being.

Practical implications

The government can perfect the regulations to strengthen the market ecosystem to accelerate the development of green finance. Reforms on the administrative division to expand the size of cities with the implementation of ageing friendly development strategy is also necessary. Attracting incoming foreign direct investment in sustainable projects and adjusting public projects and trade activities to fulfil the sustainable principles are also regarded as essential.

Social implications

The findings challenge traditional views on the impact of aging populations, highlighting the beneficial role of green finance in improving well-being amidst demographic changes. This offers a new perspective on economic and environmental sustainability in aging societies.

Originality/value

A multi-dimensional well-being indicator, CIWB and the serial multiple mediator model are used and direct and indirect impacts of green finance on human well-being is exhibited. It offers novel insights on the transmission channels behind, identifies the mediating role of urbanization and ageing population and offers empirical evidences with strong academic and policy implications.

Details

Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8021

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 October 2024

Farah Jemili, Khaled Jouini and Ouajdi Korbaa

The primary purpose of this paper is to introduce the drift detection method-online random forest (DDM-ORF) model for intrusion detection, combining DDM for detecting concept…

Abstract

Purpose

The primary purpose of this paper is to introduce the drift detection method-online random forest (DDM-ORF) model for intrusion detection, combining DDM for detecting concept drift and ORF for incremental learning. The paper addresses the challenges of dynamic and nonstationary data, offering a solution that continuously adapts to changes in the data distribution. The goal is to provide effective intrusion detection in real-world scenarios, demonstrated through comprehensive experiments and evaluations using Apache Spark.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an experimental approach to evaluate the DDM-ORF model. The design involves assessing classification performance metrics, including accuracy, precision, recall and F-measure. The methodology integrates Apache Spark for distributed computing, using metrics such as processed records per second and input rows per second. The evaluation extends to the analysis of IP addresses, ports and taxonomies in the MAWILab data set. This comprehensive design and methodology showcase the model’s effectiveness in detecting intrusions through concept drift detection and online incremental learning on large-scale, heterogeneous data.

Findings

The paper’s findings reveal that the DDM-ORF model achieves outstanding classification results with 99.96% accuracy, demonstrating its efficacy in intrusion detection. Comparative analysis against a convolutional neural network-based model indicates superior performance in anomalous and suspicious detection rates. The exploration of IP addresses, ports and taxonomies uncovers valuable insights into attack patterns. Apache Spark evaluation attests to the system’s high processing rates. The study emphasizes the scalability, availability and fault tolerance of DDM-ORF, making it suitable for real-world scenarios. Overall, the paper establishes the model’s proficiency in handling dynamic, nonstationary data for intrusion detection.

Research limitations/implications

The research acknowledges certain limitations, including the potential challenge of DDM detecting only frequency changes in class labels and not complex concept drifts. The incremental random forest’s reliance on memory may pose constraints as the forest size increases, potentially leading to overfitting. Addressing these limitations could involve exploring alternative concept drift detection algorithms and implementing ensemble pruning techniques for memory efficiency. Further research avenues may investigate algorithms balancing accuracy and memory usage, such as compressed random forests, to enhance the model’s effectiveness in evolving data environments.

Practical implications

The study’s practical implications are noteworthy. The proposed DDM-ORF model, designed for intrusion detection through concept drift detection and online incremental learning, offers a scalable, available and fault-tolerant solution. Leveraging Apache Spark and Microsoft Azure Cloud enhances processing capabilities for large data sets in dynamic, nonstationary scenarios. The model’s applicability to heterogeneous data sets and its achievement of high-accuracy multi-class classification make it suitable for real-world intrusion detection. Moreover, the auto-scaling features of Microsoft Azure Cloud contribute to adaptability, ensuring efficient resource utilization without downtime. These practical implications underscore the model’s relevance and effectiveness in diverse operational contexts.

Social implications

The DDM-ORF model’s social implications are significant, contributing to enhanced cybersecurity measures. By providing an effective intrusion detection system, it helps safeguard digital ecosystems, preserving user privacy and securing sensitive information. The model’s accuracy in identifying and classifying various intrusion attempts aids in mitigating potential cyber threats, thereby fostering a safer online environment for individuals and organizations. As cybersecurity is paramount in the digital age, the social impact lies in fortifying the resilience of networks, systems and data against malicious activities, ultimately promoting trust and reliability in online interactions.

Originality/value

The DDM-ORF model introduces a novel approach to intrusion detection by combining drift detection and online incremental learning. This originality lies in its utilization of the DDM-ORF algorithm, offering a dynamic and adaptive system for evolving data. The model’s contribution extends to its scalability, fault-tolerance and suitability for heterogeneous data sets, addressing challenges in dynamic, nonstationary environments. Its application on a large-scale data set and multi-class classification, along with integration with Apache Spark and Microsoft Azure Cloud, enhances the field’s understanding and application of intrusion detection, providing valuable insights for securing digital infrastructures.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 September 2024

Himanshu Ahuja and Deep Shree

The idea of value co-creation involves the benefit actors gain from integrating resources through activities and interactions within a service network, with the environment…

Abstract

Purpose

The idea of value co-creation involves the benefit actors gain from integrating resources through activities and interactions within a service network, with the environment enabling high-quality collaboration. This paradigm highlights customers’ ability to co-create value with service providers and other customers. This idea is gaining traction in health care. These days, patients are no longer passive recipients of health-care services; rather they have started taking proactive roles in their self-health management. This study aims to understand the phenomenon of value co-creation among patients within online health communities (OHCs).

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review of papers published from 2003 to 2024 in Web of Science-indexed journals was conducted. The review highlights theories, contexts, characteristics and methodologies in this area, synthesizing insights from previous research and presenting a future research agenda for underexplored and unexplored contexts using emerging theoretical perspectives and analytical methodologies.

Findings

The review illuminates theoretical and empirical studies on value co-creation among patients in OHCs. Previous research shows that value co-creation among patients leads to cognitive, affective and physical benefits such as reduced anxiety and stress, increased assurance and self-confidence, improved quality of life, enhanced patient empowerment, acceptance of disease and treatment effectiveness and a sense of self-worth and well-being.

Originality/value

This review synthesizes insights from previous works and outlines a research agenda for future studies in underexplored and unexplored contexts using new theoretical perspectives and methodologies. Considering the role social media plays in an individual’s life, this work will help in deep diving into the role of such online communities in the health-care sector.

Details

International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6123

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 3000