Wanqi Liang, Deyi Zhou, Muhammad Rizwan and Samir Huseynov
By conducting an online experiment, this paper proposes and tests a conceptual model about the impact of price labeling strategy on consumers' perceived price difference and…
Abstract
Purpose
By conducting an online experiment, this paper proposes and tests a conceptual model about the impact of price labeling strategy on consumers' perceived price difference and purchase intention. The authors also analyze differential influences of shopping channels and price levels on documented effects. The paper provides strategic suggestions for online grocery store managers to adopt profit-maximizing labeling decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
In a between-subject experiment, the authors simulated a shopping task with eight scenarios by exogenously manipulating price labeling strategies (unit price/retail price), sales channels (online/offline) and price levels (higher/lower than the average price). Participants are randomly assigned to one of the eight scenarios and asked to report their perceived price difference between the stimuli product and the average market price and their purchase intention on the stimuli product.
Findings
Experimental results show that compared to the unit price, the retail price increases the perceived price difference. It shows that the unit price increases consumers' purchase intention when the product price is higher than the average market price. However, these effects only exist in the online shopping context.
Originality/value
This paper extends the study of price labeling strategy to an online shopping context and examines the mediation effect of the perceived price difference.
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Zhengwei Wang, Guangjie Peng, Lingjiu Zhou and Deyi Hu
The pump of the Taipuhe Pump Station, larger flow discharge, lower head, is one of the largest 15° slanted axial‐flow pumps in the world. However, few studies have been done for…
Abstract
Purpose
The pump of the Taipuhe Pump Station, larger flow discharge, lower head, is one of the largest 15° slanted axial‐flow pumps in the world. However, few studies have been done for the larger slanted axial‐flow pump on safe operation. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impeller elevation, unsteady flow, hydraulic thrust and the zero‐head flow characteristics of the pump.
Design/methodology/approach
The flow field in and through the pump was analyzed numerically during the initial stages of the pump design process, then the entire flow passage through the pump was analyzed to calculate the hydraulic thrust to prevent damage to the bearings and improve the operating stability. The zero‐head pump flow characteristics were analyzed to ensure that the pump will work reliably at much lower heads.
Findings
The calculated results are in good agreement with experimental data for the pump elevation effects, the performance curve, pressure oscillations, hydraulic thrust and zero‐head performance.
Research limitations/implications
Since it is assumed that there is no gap between blades and shroud, gap cavitations are beyond the scope of the paper.
Originality/value
The paper indicates the slanted axial‐flow pump characteristics including the characteristic curves, pressure fluctuations, hydraulic thrust and radial force for normal operating conditions and zero‐head conditions. It shows how to guarantee the pump safety operating by computational fluid dynamics.
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Guanying Huo, Xin Jiang, Zhiming Zheng and Deyi Xue
Metamodeling is an effective method to approximate the relations between input and output parameters when significant efforts of experiments and simulations are required to…
Abstract
Purpose
Metamodeling is an effective method to approximate the relations between input and output parameters when significant efforts of experiments and simulations are required to collect the data to build the relations. This paper aims to develop a new sequential sampling method for adaptive metamodeling by using the data with highly nonlinear relation between input and output parameters.
Design/methodology/approach
In this method, the Latin hypercube sampling method is used to sample the initial data, and kriging method is used to construct the metamodel. In this work, input parameter values for collecting the next output data to update the currently achieved metamodel are determined based on qualities of data in both the input and output parameter spaces. Uniformity is used to evaluate data in the input parameter space. Leave-one-out errors and sensitivities are considered to evaluate data in the output parameter space.
Findings
This new method has been compared with the existing methods to demonstrate its effectiveness in approximation. This new method has also been compared with the existing methods in solving global optimization problems. An engineering case is used at last to verify the method further.
Originality/value
This paper provides an effective sequential sampling method for adaptive metamodeling to approximate highly nonlinear relations between input and output parameters.
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Lianhua Cheng, Huina Ren, Huimin Guo and Dongqiang Cao
Safety cognitive ability is a key factor influencing unsafe behavior. However, the existing achievements have not yet involved the division of the hierarchical relationship of…
Abstract
Purpose
Safety cognitive ability is a key factor influencing unsafe behavior. However, the existing achievements have not yet involved the division of the hierarchical relationship of factors influencing safety cognition and lack a quantitative evaluation system of safety cognitive ability. The purpose of this paper is to find out the deficiencies in the safety cognition of workers in high-risk construction positions and to provide practical suggestions for improving their safety cognitive ability and reducing unsafe behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the iceberg model, the factors influencing the safety cognitive ability of workers in high-risk construction positions and their hierarchical relationship were determined, and an evaluation index system consisting of four primary indicators and 20 secondary indicators was constructed. The game theory algorithm was used to optimize the subjective and objective weights of the indicators calculated by the sequential analysis method (G1) and the entropy weighting method (EWM) to obtain the optimal combination weight value. The Matlab software was used for cloud mapping and similarity calculation to determine the safety cognitive ability level of the object to be evaluated.
Findings
The research results indicate that the comprehensive level of safety cognitive ability of scaffolders in this construction project is at “Level III”, the fundamental factors and compliance factors are at “Level IV”, the auxiliary factors and driving factors are at “Level III”. This conclusion aligns with the situation learned from the previous field investigation, which validates the feasibility and scientificity of the proposed evaluation method.
Research limitations/implications
Considering that the safety cognitive ability of construction workers is constantly changing, this study has not yet delved into the specific impacts of various influencing factors on the level of safety cognitive ability. Future research can utilize simulation software, such as MATLAB and Vensim, to construct dynamic simulation models that accurately simulate the changing rules of construction workers’ safety cognitive ability under the influence of different factors.
Practical implications
This research broadens the application scope of the iceberg model, enriches the analysis model of the factors influencing the safety cognitive ability of workers in high-risk construction positions and provides a novel perspective for similar research. The safety cognitive ability evaluation method proposed in this paper can not only accurately evaluate the safety cognitive ability level of workers in high-risk positions such as scaffolders but also provide practical suggestions for improving the safety cognitive ability of workers, which is of great significance to improve the safety management level and reduce unsafe behavior in the construction field.
Originality/value
This research fills the research gap of workers in high-risk construction positions and the quantification of safety cognitive ability. The iceberg model is used to realize the hierarchical division of the factors influencing safety cognitive ability. Additionally, an evaluation method for the safety cognitive ability of workers in high-risk construction positions based on the game theory combination weighting method and cloud model is proposed, which realizes the quantitative evaluation of safety cognitive ability.
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Chunnian Liu, Qi Tian and Xiaogang Zhu
This study aimed to analyze existing problems in the dissemination and management of emergency information on social media platforms, improve social media users' experience…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to analyze existing problems in the dissemination and management of emergency information on social media platforms, improve social media users' experience regarding such information, increase the efficiency of emergency information dissemination and curb the spread of misinformation.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the emergency information quality on social media platforms was examined. Based on the evaluation principles of the quality of mature information, social media information characteristics and the rules of emergency information dissemination, combined with relevant academic research results, an index to evaluate the quality of emergency information on social media was constructed. In addition, the authors have introduced cloud theory as an information quality evaluation method and used social media users' emotional characteristics to assess information quality evaluation results. A comprehensive system for evaluating emergency information quality, including indexes, methods and detection strategies was established. Based on a comprehensive system, a case study was conducted on the forest fires in Sichuan Province and the African swine fever events as reported on the Zhihu platform. In accordance with the results of the case study, the authors expanded the research and introduced the emotional characteristics of social media users as an independent evaluation dimension to evaluate the quality of emergency information on social media.
Findings
The comprehensive system's effectiveness was verified through the case study. Further, it was found that users' emotional characteristics (reflected in their information behavior) are inconsistent with their evaluation of websites' information quality regarding major emergencies. Integrating users' emotional characteristics into the information evaluation system can enhance its effectiveness following major emergencies.
Originality/value
First, an evaluation index system of emergency information quality on social media about major emergencies was offered. Unlike the commonly available index system for information quality evaluation, this proposed evaluation index system not only accounted for the characteristics of social media, such as massive disordered information, multiple information sources and rapid dissemination, but also for the characteristics of emergency events, such as variability and the absence of precursors. This proposed evaluation index system enhances the pertinence of the information quality evaluation and compensates for the shortcoming that the current research only focuses on evaluating social media information quality in a broad context, but pays insufficient attention to major emergencies. Second, cloud theory was introduced as a method to evaluate the emergency information quality found on social media. Existing research has primarily included the use of traditional statistical methods, which cannot transform numerical values into qualitative concepts effectively. Various indeterminate factors inevitably affect the quality of emergency information on social media platforms, and the traditional methods cannot eliminate this uncertainty in the evaluation process. The method to assess emergency information quality based on cloud theory can effectively compensate for the gaps in the research and improve the accuracy of information quality assessment. Third, the inspection and the dynamic adjustment of assessment results are absent in the research on information quality assessment, and the research has relied principally on the information users' evaluation and has paid insufficient attention to their attitudes and behaviors toward information. Therefore, the authors incorporated users' emotional characteristics into the evaluation of emergency information quality on social media and used them to test the evaluation results so that the results of the information quality assessment not only include the users' explicit attitudes but also their implicit attitudes. This enhances the effectiveness of the information quality assessment system. Finally, through this case study, it was found that an inconsistency exists between user evaluation and user emotional characteristics after major emergencies. The reasons for this phenomenon were explained, and the necessity of integrating user emotional characteristics into information quality assessment was demonstrated. Based on this, the users' emotional characteristics were used as a separate evaluation dimension for assessing the quality of emergency information on social media. Compared with assessing the quality of general information, integrating the user's emotional characteristics into the evaluation index system can lead the evaluation results to include not only the users' cognitive evaluation but also their emotional experience, further enhancing their adaptability.
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– The purpose of this paper is to select the best scaling coefficient during the quantitative-qualitative conversion.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to select the best scaling coefficient during the quantitative-qualitative conversion.
Design/methodology/approach
Cloud model can describe the qualitative concept of randomness and fuzziness, achieve uncertain transition between qualitative and quantitative in the field of multi-criteria group decision and has been receiving widespread attention. This paper discusses scale conversion issues of the cloud model when evaluating qualitative information. In order to improve the accuracy of the evaluation on multi-attribute decision problems based on uncertainty of natural linguistic information, this paper proposes a method of self-testing cloud model based on a composite scale (with the exponential scale and the scale as a basis).
Findings
Through experimental verification results show that under composite scale, the best suitable selection of can effectively improve the accuracy and reliability of decision results.
Originality/value
This research presents a new approach to determine the suitable value for coefficient based on uncertain knowledge of natural multi-criteria group decision making, and gives concrete steps and examples. This method has positive significance to improve the quality of qualitative and quantitative conversion based on cloud model.
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Yanhao Sun, Tao Zhang, Shuxin Ding, Zhiming Yuan and Shengliang Yang
In order to solve the problem of inaccurate calculation of index weights, subjectivity and uncertainty of index assessment in the risk assessment process, this study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
In order to solve the problem of inaccurate calculation of index weights, subjectivity and uncertainty of index assessment in the risk assessment process, this study aims to propose a scientific and reasonable centralized traffic control (CTC) system risk assessment method.
Design/methodology/approach
First, system-theoretic process analysis (STPA) is used to conduct risk analysis on the CTC system and constructs risk assessment indexes based on this analysis. Then, to enhance the accuracy of weight calculation, the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP), fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (FDEMATEL) and entropy weight method are employed to calculate the subjective weight, relative weight and objective weight of each index. These three types of weights are combined using game theory to obtain the combined weight for each index. To reduce subjectivity and uncertainty in the assessment process, the backward cloud generator method is utilized to obtain the numerical character (NC) of the cloud model for each index. The NCs of the indexes are then weighted to derive the comprehensive cloud for risk assessment of the CTC system. This cloud model is used to obtain the CTC system's comprehensive risk assessment. The model's similarity measurement method gauges the likeness between the comprehensive risk assessment cloud and the risk standard cloud. Finally, this process yields the risk assessment results for the CTC system.
Findings
The cloud model can handle the subjectivity and fuzziness in the risk assessment process well. The cloud model-based risk assessment method was applied to the CTC system risk assessment of a railway group and achieved good results.
Originality/value
This study provides a cloud model-based method for risk assessment of CTC systems, which accurately calculates the weight of risk indexes and uses cloud models to reduce uncertainty and subjectivity in the assessment, achieving effective risk assessment of CTC systems. It can provide a reference and theoretical basis for risk management of the CTC system.
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Paul Adjei Kwakwa and Solomon Aboagye
The study examines the effect of natural resources (NRs) and the control of corruption, voice and accountability and regulatory quality on carbon emissions in Africa. Aside from…
Abstract
Purpose
The study examines the effect of natural resources (NRs) and the control of corruption, voice and accountability and regulatory quality on carbon emissions in Africa. Aside from their individual effects, the moderation effect of institutional quality is assessed.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from 32 African countries from 2002 to 2021 and the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) regression methods were used for the investigation.
Findings
In the long term, the NRs effect is sensitive to the estimation technique employed. However, quality regulatory framework, robust corruption control and voice and accountability abate any positive effect of NRs on carbon emissions. Institutional quality can be argued to moderate the CO2-emitting potentials of resource extraction in the selected African countries.
Practical implications
Enhancing regulation quality, enforcing corruption control and empowering citizens towards greater participation in governance and demanding accountability are essential catalyst to effectively mitigate CO2 emissions resulting from NRs.
Originality/value
The moderation effect of control of corruption, voice and accountability and regulatory quality on the NR–carbon emission nexus is examined.
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Shu Yi, Lin Xiao, Yong Zhang, Dujuan Duan and Maksim G. Blokhin
This paper describes the organic geochemical characteristics and their roles on barium enrichment in the No. 2 Coal from Huanglong Jurassic Coalfield, China. A total of 18 bench…
Abstract
This paper describes the organic geochemical characteristics and their roles on barium enrichment in the No. 2 Coal from Huanglong Jurassic Coalfield, China. A total of 18 bench samples were taken from Huangling Mine 2. The average content of barium (3701 mg/kg) was about 23 times higher than that of common world coals. Terrestrial higher plants were the main coal-forming parent material. Relying on the parameters of OEP, Pr/Ph and so on, there is little correlation between organic geochemical characteristics and barium enrichment. Therefore, organic material has little influence on the process of coal-forming and the enrichment of barium.
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Shakeel Sajjad, Rubaiyat Ahsan Bhuiyan, Rocky J. Dwyer, Adnan Bashir and Changyong Zhang
This study aims to examine the relationship between financial development (FD), financial risk, green finance and innovation related to carbon emissions in the G7 economies.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationship between financial development (FD), financial risk, green finance and innovation related to carbon emissions in the G7 economies.
Design/methodology/approach
This quantitative study examines the roles that financial development [FD: Domestic credit to private sector by banks as percentage of gross domestic product (GDP)], economic growth (GDP: Constant US$ 2015), financial risk index (FRI), green finance (GFIN: Renewable energy public research development and demonstration (RD&D) budget as percentage of total RD&D budget), development of environment-related technologies (DERTI: percentage of all technologies) and human capital (HCI: index) have on the environmental quality of developed economies. Based on panel data, the study uses a novel approach method of moments quantile regression as a main method to tackle the issue of cross-sectional dependency, slope heterogeneity and nonnormality of the data.
Findings
The study confirms that increasing economic development increases emissions and negatively impacts the environment. However, efficient resource allocation, improved financial systems, and green innovation are likely to contribute to emission mitigation and the overall development of a sustainable viable economy. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of risk management in financial systems for future emissions prevention.
Practical implications
The study uses a reliable estimation procedure, which extends the discussion on climate policy from a COP-27 perspective and offers practical implications for policymakers in developing more effective emission mitigation strategies.
Social implications
The study offers policy suggestions for a sustainable economy, focusing on both COP-27 and the G7 countries. Recommendations include implementing carbon pricing, developing carbon capture and storage technologies, investing in renewables and energy efficiency and introducing financial instruments for emission mitigation. From a COP-27 standpoint, the G7 should prioritize transitioning to low-carbon economies and supporting developing nations in their sustainability efforts to address the pressing challenges of climate change and global warming.
Originality/value
In comparison to the literature, this study examines the importance of financial risk for G7 economies in promoting a sustainable environment. More specifically, in the context of FD and national income with carbon emissions, previous researchers have disregarded the importance of green innovation and human capital, so the current study fills the gap in the literature related to G7 economies by exploring the link between the identified variables related to carbon emissions.