Godwin Amechi Okeke and Daniel Francis
This paper aims to prove some fixed-point theorems for a general class of mappings in modular G-metric spaces. The results of this paper generalize and extend several known…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to prove some fixed-point theorems for a general class of mappings in modular G-metric spaces. The results of this paper generalize and extend several known results to modular G-metric spaces, including the results of Mutlu et al. [1]. Furthermore, the authors produce an example to demonstrate the applicability of the results.
Design/methodology/approach
The results of this paper are theoretical and analytical in nature.
Findings
The authors established some fixed-point theorems for a general class of mappings in modular G-metric spaces. The results generalize and extend several known results to modular G-metric spaces, including the results of Mutlu et al. [1]. An example was constructed to demonstrate the applicability of the results.
Research limitations/implications
Analytical and theoretical results.
Practical implications
The results of this paper can be applied in science and engineering.
Social implications
The results of this paper is applicable in certain social sciences.
Originality/value
The results of this paper are new and will open up new areas of research in mathematical sciences.
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Godwin Amechi Okeke and Daniel Francis
The authors prove the existence and uniqueness of fixed point of mappings satisfying Geraghty-type contractions in the setting of preordered modular G-metric spaces. The authors…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors prove the existence and uniqueness of fixed point of mappings satisfying Geraghty-type contractions in the setting of preordered modular G-metric spaces. The authors apply the results in solving nonlinear Volterra-Fredholm-type integral equations. The results extend generalize compliment and include several known results as special cases.
Design/methodology/approach
The results of this paper are theoretical and analytical in nature.
Findings
The authors prove the existence and uniqueness of fixed point of mappings satisfying Geraghty-type contractions in the setting of preordered modular G-metric spaces. apply the results in solving nonlinear Volterra-Fredholm-type integral equations. The results extend, generalize, compliment and include several known results as special cases.
Research limitations/implications
The results are theoretical and analytical.
Practical implications
The results were applied to solving nonlinear integral equations.
Social implications
The results has several social applications.
Originality/value
The results of this paper are new.
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K. Ch Appa Rao, Anil Kumar Birru, Praveen Kumar Bannaravuri and E. Daniel Francis
Nowadays, ample industries are fascinated to look for high strength and light weight materials for the development of robust parts. Because of light weight and high stiffness to…
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, ample industries are fascinated to look for high strength and light weight materials for the development of robust parts. Because of light weight and high stiffness to weight ratio; usage of aluminum parts is growing rapidly, especially in automotive engineering. Process improvement of Al alloys and their grain structure refinement is the current area of interest in casting companies. In this research work, an investigation has been carried out to enhance the process improvement of die casting by optimization of various significant parameters and their refinement of grains by the effect of Nb-C novel grain refiner.
Design/methodology/approach
L27 orthogonal array (OA) has been considered to optimize the preferred casting input parameters such as molten metal temperature (°C), die temperature (°C), injection pressure (bar), Al-3.5Nb-1.5 C novel grain refiner and Ni alloying additions as key process parameters in order to increase the quality and efficiency of Al-9Si-3Cu aluminum alloy die casting by reducing the porosity formation.
Findings
It was observed that the porosity values have significantly decreased from 0.88% to 0.25% particularly at 0.1 wt.% of new grain refiner and 0.5 wt. % of Al-6Ni master alloy. As per the ANOVA results, it was observed that Al-3.5FeNb-1.5 C grain refiner (F value 2609.22), Al-6Ni alloying addition (F value 1329.13), molten metal temperature (F value 1002.43) and, injection pressure (F value 448.06) are the factors that significantly affects the porosity, whereas die temperature was found to be insignificant. The results show that new grain refiner is one the most significant factor among the other selected parameters. The contribution of the new grain refiner to the variation of mean casting porosity is around 57.74%. confidence interval (CI) has also been estimated as 0.013 for 95% consistency level to validate the predicted range of optimum casting porosity of aforesaid alloy.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has been conducted in the past to investigate the combined effect of these die casting parameters and composition factors for the development of Al-Si robust cast parts. The paper represents original research and provides new information for the fabrication of die casting parts.
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Peter Greenwood and Borje Gevert
The purpose of this paper is to study methods of reacting the surface of the particles of silica sols with silanes, primarily gamma‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study methods of reacting the surface of the particles of silica sols with silanes, primarily gamma‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and study some basic properties of the modified sols and the nature and structure of the silane groups attached to the particle surface.
Design/methodology/approach
The surface of the silica particles was modified by reacting the silica sols with aqueous solutions of silanes, chiefly GPTMS. The presence and structure of silane groups on the particle surface were established by Si‐NMR and C‐NMR, respectively.
Findings
Several silanes were studied but silica sols could be readily modified only with GPTMS and glycidoxypropylmethoxydiethoxysilane (GPMDES), most readily if the silanes were pre‐hydrolysed in water. Higher degrees of silylation were preferably done by continuous addition of silane. Lower degrees of modification can be achieved at room temperature by the stepwise addition of the silane solution. The silylation of the silica surface with GPTMS significantly reduces the number of charged surface groups and silanol groups. GPTMS binds covalently to the silica surface and the epoxy ring opens and transforms into a diol. Silica sols modified with GPTMS and GPMDES are stable toward aggregation.
Research limitations/implications
Only organo‐reactive silanes were studied.
Originality/value
This is the first work to study the modification by silanes of silica aquasols with high concentrations of silica. The silane modification can extend the use of silica to areas of applications previously inaccessible to silica sols.
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K. K. Raman and Wanda A. Wallace
The relationship between the size of state audit budgets, audit responsibilities, professional characteristics of staff, risk, and tax and expenditure limitations is explored…
Abstract
The relationship between the size of state audit budgets, audit responsibilities, professional characteristics of staff, risk, and tax and expenditure limitations is explored. Bivariate relationships are examined and then a model is estimated which controls for size, complexity, financial risk factors, and political risk factors. This provides a framework for considering the incremental influence of specialized audit inputs. Both "brand names" and size have been used in past research to proxy for quality dimensions intended to differentiate the audit product provided by different suppliers. This research extends such work by considering characteristics of the auditing services as reflected by specific inputs and by using cost data rather than audit fee data. The states are observed to differ in their responses to financial and political factors by spending resources on peer review, continuing professional education, certifications of professional staff, and expertise in both the computer science area and in law. A positive association of cost and auditor differentiation, implicit in past audit fee literature is corroborated.
Yu Tian, Fujun Lai and Francis Daniel
Using China's burgeoning logistics industry as a backdrop, the present study focused on how to build trust between logistics users and third‐party logistics (3PL) providers, and…
Abstract
Purpose
Using China's burgeoning logistics industry as a backdrop, the present study focused on how to build trust between logistics users and third‐party logistics (3PL) providers, and the antecedents and consequences of trust.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire‐based mail survey was conducted in mainland China. The conceptual model was tested using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The findings indicate that logistics users' satisfaction with prior interactions with logistics providers, 3PL provider's relationship‐specific investment, 3PL provider's information sharing, and 3PL provider's reputation are key determinants of logistics users' level of trust towards 3PL providers. Additionally, logistics users' trust may facilitate their loyalty behavior towards 3PL providers.
Research limitations/implications
The findings were drawn from a Chinese setting in which logistics outsourcing is in a relatively early developmental stage. The uniqueness of Chinese culture may also limit the findings' generalizability. China's transitional economy was not considered in the study. Different company ownership may significantly influence relationship formulation, maintenance and consequences.
Practical implications
The findings demonstrated how logistics providers can improve customers' trust in logistics outsourcing relationships. The study also revealed how logistics providers can improve customers' loyalty.
Originality/value
This paper was a pioneering study that investigates the logistics outsourcing relationship in China, a rapidly growing economy. The results offered valuable managerial insights regarding how to cultivate trust and loyalty in logistics outsourcing relationships.
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Gerald R. Ferris, Shanna R. Daniels and Jennifer C. Sexton
Although employee race has been an actively investigated area of scientific inquiry for decades, a thorough and informed understanding of the role of race in the organizational…
Abstract
Although employee race has been an actively investigated area of scientific inquiry for decades, a thorough and informed understanding of the role of race in the organizational sciences has eluded us for a number of reasons. The relationship of race and stress in organizations is a prime example of this neglect and deficiency in our knowledge base, as little work has been done in this area. We attempt to address this limitation in the literature by proposing an inductively derived, review-centric framework that attempts to articulate the multiple intermediate linkages that explain the process dynamics taking place in the relationship between employee race and health and well-being in organizations. We argue that socialization processes, social networks, information and resource access, and mentoring contribute to distance and differences between racial minorities and nonminorities concerning control, reputation, performance, and political understanding and skill, which in turn, creates barriers to success, and increased stress and strain for racial minorities. The implications of this framework along with directions for future theory and research are discussed in this chapter.
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Radosllaw Werner, Andrzej Krysztafkiewicz and Teofil Jesionowski
Studies on the surface modification of sodium‐aluminium silicate P‐820 using silane coupling agents are described. The best modifiers were selected, which induced a change of the…
Abstract
Studies on the surface modification of sodium‐aluminium silicate P‐820 using silane coupling agents are described. The best modifiers were selected, which induced a change of the silicate surface from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. Physicochemical analyses of the modified silicate were performed. The methods of evaluating silicate surface modification degree were presented. The degree of hydrophobization of silicate surface was determined by a calorimetric method. Near infra‐red spectroscopy (NIR) was used to determine the degree of condensation of the silicate surface silanol groups. Studies on morphology and microstructure using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed. Attempts were made to apply the unmodified and modified sodium‐aluminium silicate P‐820 as filler and pigment in silicate and dispersion paints.
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Kenneth M. Eades, David Glazer and Shachar Eyal
The case examines the liquidity issues that J. C. Penney (JCP) experienced in 2012 and 2013 following a decline in sales and profits over several years. Despite once being a…
Abstract
The case examines the liquidity issues that J. C. Penney (JCP) experienced in 2012 and 2013 following a decline in sales and profits over several years. Despite once being a highly profitable and growing company, the increasing pressures of competition led to changes in strategy and in management that were insufficient to return the company to the consistent financial results it had previously enjoyed. While sales and profits waned, the cash balance also suffered, and Wall Street analysts began expressing liquidity concerns as the company wrestled with having enough cash on hand to cover daily operating needs.
Students are asked to calculate a time series of quarterly liquidity and leverage ratios to illustrate the declining financial condition of the company. They are further challenged to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of raising equity versus debt as a solution for the company's lack of liquidity. To assess the amount of external capital required, students are asked to use a sources and uses analysis that provides intuition for the cash flow challenges facing the company. Set against the background of an iconic retailer, the case provides an engaging context in which to discuss the need for a major capital structure decision due to operational challenges.
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Communications regarding this column should be addressed to Mrs. Cheney, Peabody Library School, Nashville, Tenn. 37203. Mrs. Cheney does not sell the books listed here. They are…
Abstract
Communications regarding this column should be addressed to Mrs. Cheney, Peabody Library School, Nashville, Tenn. 37203. Mrs. Cheney does not sell the books listed here. They are available through normal trade sources. Mrs. Cheney, being a member of the editorial board of Pierian Press, will not review Pierian Press reference books in this column. Descriptions of Pierian Press reference books will be included elsewhere in this publication.