Search results

The purpose of this paper is to realize the lightweight of connecting rod and meet the requirements of low energy consumption and vibration. Based on the structural design of the original connecting rod, the finite element analysis was conducted to reduce the weight and increase the natural frequencies, so as to reduce materials consumption and improve the energy efficiency of internal combustion engine.

The finite element analysis, structural optimization design and topology optimization of the connecting rod are applied. Efficient hybrid method is deployed: static and modal analysis; and structure re-design of the connecting rod based on topology optimization.

After the optimization of the connecting rod, the weight is reduced from 1.7907 to 1.4875 kg, with a reduction of 16.93%. The maximum equivalent stress of the optimized connecting rod is 183.97 MPa and that of the original structure is 217.18 MPa, with the reduction of 15.62%. The first, second and third natural frequencies of the optimized connecting rod are increased by 8.89%, 8.85% and 11.09%, respectively. Through the finite element analysis and based on the lightweight, the maximum equivalent stress is reduced and the low-order natural frequency is increased.

This paper presents an optimization method on the connecting rod structure. Based on the statics and modal analysis of the connecting rod and combined with the topology optimization, the size of the connecting rod is improved, and the static and dynamic characteristics of the optimized connecting rod are improved.

This study aims to prepare probiotic sodium caseinate-gelatin films containing Lactobacillus paracasei, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus plantarum, and evaluate their application on the microbiological, chemical, mechanical and sensory properties of rainbow trout fillets during 12 days of refrigerated storage.

The physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the designed films were assessed. In addition, the rainbow trout fillets were examined for microbiological, chemical parameters and sensory attributes.

According to the results, a negative correlation was found between the survival of probiotic bacteria and the storage time of the films. The counts of L. paracasei, B. bifidum and L. plantarum showed a decreasing trend during the study, starting from (2.9, 3.9 and 1.9 log CFU/g, respectively) at day 0 and reaching (6.79, 5.84 and 6.14 log CFU/g, respectively) at the end of the study (day 12).

It was observed that the sodium caseinate-gelatin probiotic films delayed the microbial growth in rainbow trout fillets compared to the control group. Furthermore, significant differences in chemical changes were found in all treated fish fillets compared to the untreated group.

This study aims to examine the challenges facing the construction industry practitioners toward adopting digital construction technologies in the Jordanian construction industry.

Quantitative methods were used by reviewing the related literature to include 16 challenges that face the Jordanian construction industry in adopting digital construction. A questionnaire was used to achieve the desired study objectives for 373 respondents from various institutions and companies. The questionnaire was analyzed with SPSS using statistical tests such as mean score, Kruskal–Wallis H test and factor analysis.

After collecting the quantitative data, the study showed that the most challenges facing construction industry practitioners toward adopting digital construction techniques are lack of qualified workers, high requirement for computing equipment’s, high initial cost of bringing these technologies to the market and construction firms low investment in research and development. These challenges faced by respondents were divided into three main factors, namely, construction’s nature, financial constraints and poor management support.

This study provides information and statistics on the challenges that face individuals or companies toward adopting digital construction techniques in Jordan. It proposes recommendations and proper practical implantation strategies to overcome the challenges.

Through the scientific and reasonable evaluation of the site selection of the emergency material reserve, the optimal site selection scheme is found, which provides reference for the future emergency decision-making research.

In this paper, we have chosen three primary indicators and twelve secondary indicators to construct an assessment framework for the determination of suitable locations for storing emergency material reserves. By mean of the improved entropy weight-order relationship weight determination method, the evaluation model of kullback leibler-technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (KL-TOPSIS) emergency material reserve location based on relative entropy is established. On this basis, 10 regional storage sites in Beijing are selected for evaluation.

The results show that the evaluation model of the location of emergency material reserve not only respects the objective knowledge, but also considers the subjective information of the experts, which makes the ranking result of the location of the emergency material reserve more accurate and reliable.

Firstly, the modification factor is added to the calculation formula of traditional entropy weight method to complete the improvement of entropy weight method. Secondly, the order relation analysis method is used to assign subjective weights to the indicators. The principle of minimum information entropy is introduced to determine the comprehensive weight of the index. Finally, KL distance and TOPSIS method are combined to determine the relative entropy and proximity degree of alternative solutions and positive and negative ideal solutions, and the scientific and effective of the method is proved by case study.

Responding to the lack of research on work engagement and burnout of professionals in the communication industries, this work’s main objective is to evaluate the effect of psychosocial working conditions (meaningful work, trust and recognition) on work engagement and burnout. Additionally, the mediating role of employee voice is tested.

The study takes a quantitative approach. A sample of 3,386 European workers in the communication industries was taken from the 2021 European Working Conditions Survey. The measurement of the main concepts is based on the variables available in the database above. The hypotheses were tested using the partial least squares method.

The results reveal that all psychosocial working conditions (meaningful work, trust and recognition) contribute to promoting work engagement and reducing burnout. Furthermore, employee voice is a mediator of the relationship between psychosocial working conditions, work engagement and burnout, although the presence of employee voice reduces the robustness of those relationships.

These results present relevant practical implications for managing workers in the communication industries, namely some clues to promote positive employee outcomes through the management of psychosocial working conditions.

This study examines the underexplored topic of work engagement and burnout in professionals in the communication industries as well as the relevance of psychological working conditions and employee voice to those outcomes. Furthermore, this study provides insightful information that is particularly useful to the European setting, where cultural aspects and working conditions may vary greatly from those in other parts of the world.

This study aims to identify potential relational antecedents, the initial stage of the three-stage model of OPRs, in the public diplomacy context by focusing on a government organization and foreign public relationships.

This study conducted in-depth interviews with Fulbright scholars and students from various countries to gain insights into the motivations underlying the initiation of relationships with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) within the Fulbright program.

This study identified common expectations among foreign publics regarding their relationships with ECA within the Fulbright program. Moreover, this study reveals that the foreign publics are primarily motivated by their educational needs, laying the foundation for their emotional and financial requirements. These needs propel foreign publics to build relationships with government organizations. The fulfillment of these antecedents contributes to stronger government organizations and foreign public relationships, underscoring the importance of relational antecedents in theorizing about OPRs.

This study is one of the first empirical investigations to investigate the relational antecedents in the public diplomacy context.

Based on the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study explores the impact of tyrannical leadership on knowledge hiding through the mediating role of psychological distress. Furthermore, this study investigates the moderating role of psychological resilience in the tyrannical leadership, psychological distress and knowledge hiding relationships.

Quantitative data were collected from 364 employees working in the manufacturing and service sectors in Vietnam. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the proposed model.

The results show that tyrannical leadership and psychological distress enhance employees’ knowledge-hiding behaviors. Moreover, psychological distress mediates the nexus between tyrannical leadership and knowledge-hiding, while psychological resilience moderates these relationships.

The empirical findings of this investigation offer significant insights for managers to better undermine the negative effects of tyrannical leadership and enhance the psychological well-being of employees.

This study is probably the first attempt to explore how psychological distress mediates the impact of tyrannical leadership on knowledge hiding. This study also extends the current knowledge by considering the moderating role of psychological resilience in the relations between tyrannical leadership, psychological distress and knowledge hiding.

The construction industry has been investigating “where Henry Ford is in the industry system.” Given that listed construction enterprises are the backbone of the promotion of the high-quality development of the industry, their research and innovation are of considerable importance. This study aims to comprehensively assess the research and development (R&D) status quo and trends within various types of construction enterprises in order to identify effective strategies to enhance R&D efficiency in the construction industry.

Based on the data won from annual reports and the CSMAR database for the period 2016–2020, this study examines 104 listed construction enterprises in China. By applying both the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method and the Malmquist productivity index, this research compares and analyzes the static and dynamic differences in R&D efficiency across different types of construction enterprises.

Results suggest that the magnitude of change in the Malmquist decomposition index of 104 listed construction enterprises gradually narrowed, but the comprehensive technological level remained relatively low. Although state-owned enterprises had an advantage in scale efficiency, meaning they could maximize output with given inputs, their technological progress efficiency, also known as the degree of technological innovation, was significantly lower than that of private enterprises. As one finding, state-owned enterprises in comparison with private enterprises experience significant R&D inefficiency. It represents the main cause of their low degree of technological innovation and efficiency.

This study assesses the R&D efficiency of listed construction enterprises in China from the perspective of different market segments, state-owned and private enterprises and suggests approaches to improve strategies for various corporate types. Thus, the study’s new findings contribute to addressing the challenge of low R&D levels in the construction industry in the fields of engineering, construction and architectural management.

Building on the core concept of anthropomorphism and the empathy-helping theory, this research aims to examine how product anthropomorphism and buyer usage intentions affect sellers’ pricing in second-hand markets as well as explore the psychological dynamics underlying these effects.

To test the hypotheses, a series of four experiments were conducted. Studies 1a (n = 140) and 1b (n = 140) employed a one-factor (product anthropomorphism: yes vs no) between-subject design and used chi-square analysis. Study 2 (n = 145) and Study 3 (n = 162) employed a 2 (usage intention: protective vs destructive) × 2 (product anthropomorphism: yes vs no) between-subject design and used two-way ANOVA and moderated mediation analysis.

The study found that even when potential buyers with destructive (vs protective) usage intentions offer higher prices, sellers of anthropomorphized (vs non-anthropomorphized) products are less willing to choose them (Studies 1a and 1b). When potential buyers express destructive (vs protective) usage intentions, sellers of anthropomorphized (vs non-anthropomorphized) products are less willing to offer discounts (Study 2), and the lowest price they are willing to accept is higher (Study 3). The level of perceived capacity for pain mediates these effects (Study 3).

These findings offer insights into the application of product anthropomorphism strategies and the second-hand transactions of used anthropomorphized products.

This study aims to examine how women entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan's male-dominated sectors utilize the concept of positionality to navigate and redefine gender norms, focusing on their engagement with entrepreneurial masculinities and femininities. It explores the transformative potential of their strategic actions on gender dynamics within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Employing qualitative research through 27 in-depth interviews, this study adopts constructivist grounded theory to delve into how women entrepreneurs interact with gender norms within their entrepreneurial context. This approach highlights the dynamic interplay between gender norms and the strategies employed by women entrepreneurs to navigate these challenges.

The findings reveal that women entrepreneurs actively employ and navigate entrepreneurial masculinities and femininities as strategies to challenge traditional gender roles. Their approaches vary from conforming to, challenging and creatively redefining the gendered expectations encountered in their entrepreneurial journey. This demonstrates their agency in reshaping gender norms and contributing to the diversity of gender performances within the domain of entrepreneurship.

While focused on Kazakhstan, the study's findings suggest broader implications for understanding gender dynamics in entrepreneurship across different cultural contexts. Future research could extend this inquiry to varied sociocultural settings, employing post-structuralist and ethnographic methodologies to further explore the performance of gender roles and the negotiation of belonging in entrepreneurial contexts.

By foregrounding the concept of positionality, this study enriches the dialogue on gender dynamics within entrepreneurship, offering fresh perspectives on the agency of women entrepreneurs in male-dominated sectors. It illustrates how gender identities and performances are not fixed but are actively constructed and negotiated, contributing to the evolving landscape of entrepreneurial masculinities and femininities.