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The application of galvanized steel is widespread across industries due to its protective zinc coating that protects against atmospheric corrosion. However, previous studies have primarily focused on long-term corrosion rates rather than the full-scale corrosion behavior of the zinc. This paper aims to study the full-scale corrosion evolution of galvanic steel under simulated marine atmospheric environment using real-time EIS measurement.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) provides an advanced method in monitoring such behavior. Therefore, the EIS method has been used to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the corrosion behavior of galvanic steel in a full-time manner.

The results indicate that the corrosion process of galvanic steel can be divided into three stages: an initial stage with an increased corrosion rate, a subsequent stage with a reduced corrosion rate, and finally a third stage with the lowest and constant corrosion rate. The evolution of corrosion resistance is closely related to changes in composition and structure of the patina layer. In the initial stage, galvanized steel undergoes the formation of soluble ZnCl₂ and needle-like Zn₅(OH)₈Cl₂·H₂O, which promotes the generation and maintenance of an electrolyte layer, consequently leading to an increase in corrosion rate. With prolonged corrosion time, there is a continuous accumulation of Zn₅(OH)₈Cl₂·H₂O within the patina layer, which reduces the content of soluble components and promotes the development of a denser inner layer, thus enhancing corrosion resistance.

This work holds significance in the monitoring of corrosion, understanding the evolution of corrosion and predicting the lifespan of galvanized steel.

This research is aimed to examine how environmental pollution affects consumers' preference for self-improvement products.

Through a series of three experimental studies, this research substantiates our hypotheses by employing various manipulations of environmental pollution and examining different types of self-improvement products.

The research demonstrates that environmental pollution enhances consumers' preference for self-improvement products via the mediation of perceived environmental responsibility. And the effect is negatively moderated by social equity sensitivity.

The recurrent incidence of environmental pollution has elicited significant concern among the general public and academic scholars. An overwhelming majority of research examining the impact of pollution on consumer behavior has concentrated on its influence on environmentally friendly and healthy consumption patterns. Nevertheless, the current research proposes that pollution fosters a preference for products associated with self-improvement, mediated by perceived environmental responsibility, with the effects being moderated by social equity sensitivity.

This study aims to investigate the corrosion resistance and electrochemical dissolution behavior of superalloys treated by different oxidation treatments.

Ni-based superalloys were subjected to oxidation treatment at 1000 °C for 10 h, 1150 °C for 10 h and 1200 °C for 20 h. The microstructure, electrochemical dissolution behavior, elemental distribution, as well as compactness and composition of the oxide layer, were studied.

The results show that both the thickness and the granular oxide size of the oxide layer on Ni-based superalloys increase with longer oxidation times and higher temperatures. The electrochemical dissolution efficiency of Ni-based superalloys decreases with increasing oxidation time and temperature. The reduced electrochemical dissolution efficiency observed in Ni-based superalloys oxidation-treated at 1200 °C for 20 h is primarily attributed to the thicker oxide layer, which contains the highest Cr oxide content.

The findings contribute to the advancement of recycling and utilization of Ni-based superalloy scrap.

This paper aims to solve the problem of uncertain position and attitude between unstructured terrain robot and grasped target and insufficient control accuracy in extreme environment, a grasping mechanism based on attraction domain relationship is proposed, which can realize autonomous positioning, capturing and grasping of robot under low control accuracy.

The grasping mechanism was designed, taking inspiration from fishing behavior this mechanism introduces attraction domains and flexible-elastic structures through the active and passive ends to achieve automatic positioning and capture. After the capture is completed, the grasping mechanism connects the active end and the passive end, simultaneously relying on the gravity of the target object to achieve locking and release between the robot and the target object. This paper adopts theoretical, simulation and experimental verification methods to conduct theoretical and simulation analysis on the autonomous positioning and grasping process of the mechanism, and produces grasping experimental prototypes with different positions and postures.

The experiment shows that the gripping mechanism designed in this paper can achieve automatic positioning capture and gripping of large deviation situations under low control accuracy, with a displacement deviation of up to 10 mm (about 1/6 diameter of the end of the mechanism) and an angle deviation of up to 3°. The scientific research task in the extremely high altitude environment has finally been successfully accomplished.

Inspired by fishing behavior, this paper proposes a positioning, capturing and grasping mechanism. The attraction area built with permanent magnets, coupled with the flexible connection, enables precise capture under low control, while the grasping mechanism can also rely on gravity to self-lock and release.

Building a smart city is a necessary path to achieve sustainable urban development. Smart city public–private partnership (PPP) project is a necessary measure to build a smart city. Since there are many participants in smart city PPP projects, there are problems such as uneven distribution of risks; therefore, in order to ensure the normal construction and operation of the project, the reasonable sharing of risks among the participants becomes an urgent problem to be solved. In order to make each participant clearly understand the risk sharing of smart city PPP projects, this paper aims to establish a scientific and practical risk sharing model.

This paper uses the literature review method and the Delphi method to construct a risk index system for smart city PPP projects and then calculates the objective and subjective weights of each risk index through the Entropy Weight (EW) and G1 methods, respectively, and uses the combined assignment method to find the comprehensive weights. Considering the nature of the risk sharing problem, this paper constructs a risk sharing model for smart city PPP projects by initially sharing the risks of smart city PPP projects through Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to determine the independently borne risks and the jointly borne risks and then determines the sharing ratio of the jointly borne risks based on utility theory.

Finally, this paper verifies the applicability and feasibility of the risk-sharing model through empirical analysis, using the smart city of Suzhou Industrial Park as a research case. It is hoped that this study can provide a useful reference for the risk sharing of PPP projects in smart cities.

In this paper, the authors calculate the portfolio assignment by EW-G1 and construct a risk-sharing model by TOPSIS-Utility Theory (UT), which is applied for the first time in the study of risk sharing in smart cities.

This paper aims to explore the impact of Sc element on the microstructure and corrosion properties of Mg-0.5Zn alloy.

Three kinds of Mg-0.5Zn-xSc (x = 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 Wt.%) alloys were obtained, and the microstructure and corrosion properties were both analyzed.

As the Sc concentration increases, the corrosion resistance of the alloys initially improves and subsequently deteriorates. The trace addition of Sc can effectively reduce the grain size of Mg-Zn-Sc alloys and enhance the density of the corrosion products film. Consequently, an appropriate amount of Sc can reduce the corrosion rate of Mg-0.5Zn alloy.

However, the addition of Sc also introduces the second phase particles in the alloy, leading to galvanic corrosion, which adversely affects the corrosion resistance of Mg-0.5Zn alloy. Therefore, the amount of Sc added should be carefully controlled.

This study aims to explore key questions within the context of Asian countries: How do artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain adoption in accounting influence enterprise risk management and environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance? What role does enterprise risk management have as a mediator in this relationship? In addition, how does environmental uncertainty shape the interplay between AI and blockchain adoption in accounting, enterprise risk management and ESG performance?

The authors collected data from Thomson Reuters Eikon Datastream, initially targeting the 20 Asian countries with the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Using stringent selection criteria, the research sample included 22,212 firms from these countries: Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. After a rigorous screening process, the final sample comprised 1,742 firms, representing 17,420 firm-year observations over the 2014–2023 period. This paper applied maximum likelihood structural equation modeling to analyze the data.

The findings reveal that both AI and blockchain adoption in accounting, along with enterprise risk management, positively impact ESG performance in the Asian context. Enterprise risk management serves as a mediating factor between AI and blockchain adoption in accounting and ESG performance. In addition, environmental uncertainty significantly moderates the relationships between AI and blockchain adoption in accounting and enterprise risk management, as well as between enterprise risk management and ESG performance.

This study uncovers the interplay between internal factors – such as AI and blockchain adoption in accounting and enterprise risk management – and external factors, notably environmental uncertainty, in fostering sustainable value for Asian firms. Internal factors enable firms to integrate ESG considerations into their operations, facilitating risk mitigation and enhancing ESG performance. Meanwhile, heightened environmental uncertainty drives the adoption of sustainable practices. Consequently, Asian Governments should prioritize the development of regions characterized by high environmental uncertainty to advance national sustainable development goals and encourage responsible business practices.

This study contributes to the existing literature by uncovering the combined effects of internal and external factors on ESG performance, offering empirical evidence from Asian countries with high GDP per capita. Specifically, it underscores the efficacy of AI and blockchain adoption in accounting and enterprise risk management, as well as the moderating role of environmental uncertainty, within the Asian context.

This study explores how environmental crowdfunding initiatives on Kickstarter promote mindful consumption types—acquisitive, repetitive and aspirational temperance—by examining their alignment with sustainable innovation and circular economy principles. The aim is to identify project attributes that resonate with backers and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices.

Using thematic content analysis, the study analyses project descriptions of successful Kickstarter campaigns in the environmental category. It identifies thematic patterns and distinctions among mindful consumption types and explores their relationship with crowdfunding success.

Study results reveal that financial success alone does not ensure alignment with mindful consumption principles. Key insights highlight differences in thematic priorities across mindful consumption types: acquisitive temperance emphasizes functional benefits; repetitive temperance focuses on self-reliance and renewable energy; aspirational temperance centres on creativity and community building. These variations reflect the current stage of environmental entrepreneurship and reveal a gap for achieving disruptive sustainability models.

This research contributes a novel framework for understanding how crowdfunding platforms can facilitate shifts towards mindful consumption by identifying specific project attributes and themes that resonate with different consumption temperance. Insights offer practical guidance for entrepreneurs and policymakers aiming to promote systemic sustainability through crowdfunding.

In social media context, service failures become public domain, making them visible to vast audiences of customers who are virtually present. Thus, this study aims to discuss the roles of service failure type and management response on observers’ perceived helpfulness.

The authors conducted econometric analyses on a dataset incorporating 107,984 reviews and 34,641 management responses to negative reviews.

The results reveal that, for process failures, specifying a form of action (initiatives for solving the problem) is associated with more perceived helpfulness of reviews than accounts (explanation) or acknowledgments (recognition and acceptance), while responding to an outcome failure by providing an account is associated with increased perceived helpfulness of reviews.

For process failures, managers should make every effort to convince observers through specific actions that similar failures are less likely to occur in the future. For outcome failures, managers should strive to provide clear and fast explanations of the failure causes to restore observers’ evaluation of the firm’s capabilities.

The authors’ work extends sparse insights on observers and sheds new light on the effect of service failure type and response strategy on observers’ actual behaviors. The interplay between service failure type and response strategy provides guidance on how to use management responses to influence potential customers.

Given the sudden disruption caused by COVID-19, knowledge sharing between organizations has become a meaningful way to improve supply chain resilience. However, there is still a lack of in-depth research on how to reduce the threat to knowledge sharing caused by increased levels of relational risk. With the emergence of new digital technologies, whether blockchain governance can control relational risk and replace traditional relational governance remains to be demonstrated.

This study uses a cross-sectional survey approach in which quantitative data are collected from 300 participants from Chinese manufacturing enterprises to test the hypotheses.

The results show that relational and blockchain governance can significantly and complementarily reduce the level of relational risk in knowledge sharing. When the relational risk is at a low, medium or high level, the best matches of relational and blockchain governance are low-level relational governance–low-level blockchain governance, high-level relational governance–low-level blockchain governance and high-level relational governance–high-level blockchain governance, respectively.

The findings of this study have important practical implications for manufacturing enterprises in terms of how to choose reasonable governance modes to manage relational risk behaviour according to different relational risk levels to better understand the positive role of knowledge sharing in supply chain resilience.

The antecedent variables of knowledge sharing in previous studies are based on transaction cost theory or relational theory and have not moved beyond the original theoretical framework. This paper addresses this limitation, puts knowledge sharing in the academic context of digital technology, considers blockchain governance into the process of relational risk-knowledge sharing and defines blockchain governance, which is a novel approach in the supply chain resilience management literature.