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Article
Publication date: 29 June 2012

Shujing Zhou and Beibei Yang

To overcome the problems of premature convergence and lower local search ability of the Genetic Algorithm (GA), an improved GA based on the Fish Algorithm was proposed. The new…

54

Abstract

To overcome the problems of premature convergence and lower local search ability of the Genetic Algorithm (GA), an improved GA based on the Fish Algorithm was proposed. The new algorithm can speed up the optimal and the cluster behavior of the GA with the ability to overcome the local maximum. Then the improved algorithm was applied to the optimization of the reinforced concrete frame structure. The optimization model was established with the objective of minimizing the cost of beams and columns. The total cost of the structure obtained from the algorithm was compared with that obtained using the fuzzy algorithm and found to be lower. Thus the improved GA is proven to be practical and efficient when used for the optimization of frame structures.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

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Article
Publication date: 2 November 2021

Nan Sun, Beibei Tan, Bolun Sun, Jinjie Zhang, Chao Li and Wenge Yang

Sargassum fusiforme is a popular edible seaweed in coastal cities of China that contains diverse nutrients including iodine. Cooking is an effective way to improve food safety…

171

Abstract

Purpose

Sargassum fusiforme is a popular edible seaweed in coastal cities of China that contains diverse nutrients including iodine. Cooking is an effective way to improve food safety, but it can alter both the contents of elements along with speciation and bioavailability. Three common cooking methods, the soaking, steaming and boiling, were evaluated for their effects on the protein structures, protein digestibility, iodine content and iodine bioavailability of S. fusiforme.

Design/methodology/approach

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to study the structural changes of protein, and an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture system was used to evaluate the digestibility of protein, bioaccessibility and bioavailability of iodine.

Findings

Boiling and steaming altered the protein secondary structure demonstrated by increased a-helix and random coil and decreased β-sheet, which improved the in vitro protein digestibility. Iodine content was reduced by cooking, with the highest loss observed after boiling, followed by soaking and steaming, while it was found that both bioaccessibility and cellular uptake of iodine were significantly elevated by boiling and steaming using an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture system. The presence of ascorbic acid, citric acid or tyrosine was beneficial for the iodine absorption, while oxalic acid and phytic acid hindered the iodine bioavailability.

Originality/value

The present finding suggested that cooking was conducive to the digestion and absorption of iodine in S. fusiforme. In addition, different dietary factors could have a certain impact on the absorption of iodine. Results of the study are essential for improving the application value of S. fusiforme to ensure reasonable consumption of seaweeds.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 124 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

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Article
Publication date: 11 February 2025

Dong Qian, Xuejing Wei, Guoqi Zhu, Xurong Ma, Beibei Hu and Xiaojun Pang

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of the influence of paradoxical thinking (PT), which characterizes the ability of college students to balance and integrate the…

3

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of the influence of paradoxical thinking (PT), which characterizes the ability of college students to balance and integrate the conflict between hedonic and normative goals, on their campus low-carbon behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual model of “PT − Paradoxical salience (climate change concern, CCC) − Paradoxical acceptance (support for low-carbon behavioral norms, SN) − paradoxical resolution (campus low-carbon intentions and behaviors, CLCIs and CLCBs)” was developed. Then, it was tested by PLS-SEM using survey data obtained from 501 Chinese college students, and the relative importance of each factor of CLCBs was determined by the importance-performance map analysis method. Finally, a mechanistic difference analysis was conducted.

Findings

PT, CCC and SN have the potential to influence the CLCBs of college students, with each of the three factors showing approximately 40% room for improvement in their impact. There exists an influential pathway of “PT → CCC → SN → CLCIs → CLCBs.” Notably, PT exhibits a stronger direct influence on college students’ private-sphere CLCBs compared to the public-sphere CLCBs.

Practical implications

Colleges should integrate the development of PT into the foundational framework of the entire education for sustainable development curriculum, while emphasizing the provision of opportunities for training in PT through pedagogical methods, and PT training can be integrated across various social levels.

Originality/value

This study offers a paradox theoretical framework for comprehending and elucidating the decision-making process underlying personal low-carbon behaviors, and advances the quantitative research of microindividual paradox processing by effectively conceptualizing and measuring paradoxical salience and acceptance.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

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Publication date: 29 October 2018

Zhanna V. Gornostaeva

The purpose of the work is to verify the offered hypothesis and to evaluate the potential of the modern Russian entrepreneurship in economy’s informatization.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the work is to verify the offered hypothesis and to evaluate the potential of the modern Russian entrepreneurship in economy’s informatization.

Methodology

A specially developed proprietary method of evaluation of entrepreneurship’s potential in economy’s informatization and the level of its opening is used, which is created on the basis of the classical method of effectiveness evaluation. The information and analytical basis of studying the entrepreneurship’s potential in economy’s informatization is the materials of the report “The Global Information Technology Report 2016. Innovating in the Digital Economy”, prepared and presented by INSEAD, JOHNSON (Cornell University) and World Economic Forum. The offered proprietary method envisages evaluation of entrepreneurship’s potential in economy’s informatization and the level of its opening on the basis of statistical data according to four criteria: business and innovational environment, business ICT infrastructure, usage of new ICT in business, and economic consequences of using new ICT in business.

Results

The author evaluates the entrepreneurship’s potential in economy’s informatization in modern Russia in 2016 and concludes that entrepreneurship’s potential in modern Russia is rather high, due to which high value of the index of information economy’s formation in Russia is achieved. That is, large entrepreneurship’s potential in economy’s informatization should be viewed as a precondition for information economy’s formation in modern Russia.

Recommendations

The author proves that entrepreneurship’s potential in economy’s informatization is an important component of the process of information economy’s formation in the economic system and can stimulate successful and quick implementation of this process or, quite on the contrary, slow down it rated, based on which it should be paid more attention.

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Article
Publication date: 14 September 2011

Yancang Li, Beibei Heng, Lingren Kong and Weijuan Yang

Much work has been done on the optimization of the discrete variable structure design. In order to handle the optimization problem effectively, the related theories, methods, and…

62

Abstract

Much work has been done on the optimization of the discrete variable structure design. In order to handle the optimization problem effectively, the related theories, methods, and other beneficial results were summarized. On the basis of analyzing the predecessors' research, the development direction was introduced. Then, some practical methods, including their improvements, for discrete structural optimization were analyzed. Finally, the Ant Colony Optimization algorithms were shown as promising methods. This work has significance in theory and practice for the development of structural optimization.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

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Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 2 October 2017

Beibei Xiong, Yongli Li, Ernesto D.R. Santibanez Gonzalez and Malin Song

The purpose of this paper is to measure Chinese industries’ eco-efficiency during 2006-2013. The Chinese industry attained rapid achievement in recent decades, but meanwhile…

1535

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure Chinese industries’ eco-efficiency during 2006-2013. The Chinese industry attained rapid achievement in recent decades, but meanwhile, overconsumption of energy and environmental pollution have become serious problems. To solve these problems, many research studies used the data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure the Chinese industry’s eco-efficiency. However, because the target set by these works is usually the furthest one for a province to be efficient, it may hardly be accepted by any province.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper builds a new “closest target method” based on an additive DEA model considering the undesirable outputs. This method is a mixed-integer programming problem which can measure the ecological efficiency of provinces and more importantly guide the province to perform efficiently with minimum effort.

Findings

The results show that the eco-efficiency of Chinese provinces increased at the average level, but the deviations remained at a larger value. Compared to the “furthest” target methods, the targets by the approach proposed by this study are more acceptable for a province to improve its performance on both economy and environment counts.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to introduce the closest targets concept to measure the eco-efficiency and set the target for each provincial industry in China.

Details

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, vol. 9 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-8692

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Article
Publication date: 1 September 2016

Ren Hong, Du Yongjie, Cai Weiguang, Ma Xianrui, Wang Peng, Qin Beibei and Chen Mingman

With high-speed urbanization and strict requirements on energy conservation and environmental protection, eco-city has become the priority of urban development in China…

32

Abstract

With high-speed urbanization and strict requirements on energy conservation and environmental protection, eco-city has become the priority of urban development in China. Governments of all levels promote various eco-city planning schemes within a short term, but most schemes are characterized by randomness and subjectivity. To solve the lack of scientific pre-implementation evaluation for eco-city planning and improve eco-city construction quality, a systematic analysis is conducted in this study from three dimensions, namely, eco-city planning scheme, operating mechanism, and guarantee measures. A 3D evaluation model for eco-city planning is constructed through index selection. Schemes are ranked comprehensively with the distance measure method, and projection analysis is performed with the four-grid evaluation screen. Finally, the 3D evaluation model is applied to evaluate eco-city planning for Shenzhen, Chongqing, and Weifang. Results show that the model can be used to evaluate eco-city planning schemes effectively and comprehensively and offers targeted optimization suggestions in accordance with the evaluation results. Construction of the 3D evaluation model of eco-city planning based on the distance measure to determine the reasonability of eco-city planning reduces the institutional and social costs of eco-city planning practices.

Details

Open House International, vol. 41 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0168-2601

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Article
Publication date: 6 April 2021

Chong Chen, Daojuan Wang and Beibei Wang

This paper explores the contextual factors involved in the development and application of paradigmatic theories in general, and the application and development of Agency Theory in…

1106

Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores the contextual factors involved in the development and application of paradigmatic theories in general, and the application and development of Agency Theory in the Chinese context in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

Referring to four templates for the design of conceptual papers as outlined by Jaakkola (2020), i.e. theory synthesis, theory adaptation, typology and model – we adopt an approach combining theory/literature synthesis and model establishment. Based on a thorough analysis and discussion of the literature on the topics of “context effect “, “interface between theory and context”, “special characteristics of Chinese context” and “invalid application of Agency Theory in a Chinese context”, we use Agency Theory as the lens to discuss the importance of context in applying and developing paradigmatic theory specifically. We start from the contextualization of Agency Theory and then explore approaches to theorizing the Chinese context by developing a conflict coefficient model.

Findings

First, the application validity of paradigmatic theories is not sustainable; contextual factors are critical in applying and developing not only propositional but also paradigmatic theories, such as Agency Theory. Second, the Chinese context requires special attention when applying paradigmatic theories originating from Western countries. Third, the traditional application logic of Agency Theory is invalid in the Chinese context due to the coexistence of principal-agent conflicts (PAC) and principal–principal conflicts (PPC), and changeable dominance status of two conflicts according to the contexts. Based on these observations, a model of contextualization theory of PAC and PPC (i.e. conflict coefficient model) is developed from a dynamic perspective, which connects the separated situation states and allows the identification and measurement of the relative severity of the two types of agency conflicts.

Practical implications

Practitioners can also use this model to identify and measure the relative strength of the two conflicts and determine the direction of control and improvement. Moreover, analysis of Chinese context and agency problems of Chinese firms also has great practical significance considering the increased importance of the Chinese market and the increasingly important role played by Chinese firms in the international economy in general, and in specific host countries in particular.

Originality/value

First, in general, this study expands Whetten's (2009) study of the interface between theory and context. It specifically discusses approaches to considering contextual factors in the development and application of the relatively overlooked paradigmatic theories, using traditional and widely used Agency Theory as a lens. Our study suggests that typical Agency Theory, developed based on Western-centric assumptions, does not completely hold in the context of Chinese business practices because of different cultural, legal and governance realities. Second, it improves and extends the application of Agency Theory by proposing the new perspective that PAC and PPC coexist in specific contexts and positing that the relative severity of two types of agency conflicts depends on the context variables. Third, it puts forward a conflict coefficient model offering a more comprehensive, intuitive and quantifiable method for comparing the extent of the two conflicts in different scenarios, providing a reference for empirical studies of corporate governance.

Details

International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. 18 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-8809

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Article
Publication date: 25 January 2022

Beibei Li, Ruirui Li, Xiumei Liu, Qiao Zhao, Jichao Ma and Jie He

Flow force is one of the crucial factors affecting the performance of conical throttle valves. The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between the flow force…

134

Abstract

Purpose

Flow force is one of the crucial factors affecting the performance of conical throttle valves. The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between the flow force and operating parameters of the conical throttle valve.

Design/methodology/approach

The flow force of the throttle valve can be obtained by the difference between the axial force and static pressure on the valve spool. In this paper, the internal fluid is divided into two regions and the axial force and static pressure are obtained, respectively. In addition, a two-dimensional axisymmetric simulation model and experimental test are carried out to validate the results of the flow force.

Findings

It can be seen that the theoretical, simulation and experimental results exhibit high agreement with each other and the error between them decreases with the increase in the size of the opening. The curves of pressure distribution reveal that the pressure on the spool first decreases then increases when it reaches the minimum pressure at the orifice. Additionally, the minimum pressure decreases with the increase of opening and pressure difference. The results also indicate that the increase in the size of the opening and inlet pressure has a positive effect on the flow force. However, the increase in outlet pressure has a negative effect on the flow force.

Originality/value

In this paper, the flow force calculation model of conical throttle valve is established and the influence of operating parameters on the flow force of conical throttle valve is studied.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 74 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

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Article
Publication date: 8 September 2022

Lixia Wang, Xin Zhang, Beibei Yan and Vigdis Boasson

This paper aims to examine the internal logical relationship between two intergenerational inheritance ways of passing property rights and residual control rights (RCR) and to…

191

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the internal logical relationship between two intergenerational inheritance ways of passing property rights and residual control rights (RCR) and to construct a conceptual model comprising transfer elements, paths and timing of succession in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

Driven by the cases of Haixin, Tianyijiao and Changhe Group, this paper applies research methods of copying and expanding analysis logic, progressive deduction, content analysis and comparative research based on the perspective of HeXie theory to explore the deep interrelation of transfer elements, paths and timing during family business succession.

Findings

The findings present that the content of intergenerational inheritance of a family firm is the inheritance of property rights and RCR. First, the inheritance of property rights is a static inheritance of time-point delivery, whereas the inheritance of RCR is a dynamic inheritance process for a period of time. Second, the inheritance of property rights and RCR are not independent; only a “HeXie” succession of both rights can realize a successful inheritance of family firms.

Originality/value

This paper constructs the paths and timing model of intergenerational inheritance of property rights and RCR in family firms. This paper integrates the current literature studies on the family inheritance of property rights and RCR and explains their internal mechanisms. This paper also provides a theoretical foundation and empirical evidence for family business transitions in the business world.

Details

Chinese Management Studies, vol. 17 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-614X

Keywords

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