Yanfei Yang, Xiaobo Wang, Sen Mei, Xing Zhu, Shiqiang Chen, Peng Xiong, Zhihai Hu, Kun Xiong and Dong Song Yuan
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the tribological performance and mechanisms of BN/calcium borate nanocomposites (BCBNs) as additives in lubricating oil.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the tribological performance and mechanisms of BN/calcium borate nanocomposites (BCBNs) as additives in lubricating oil.
Design/methodology/approach
BCBNs were prepared by heterogeneous deposition method. And the morphology and structure of samples were analysed by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray powder diffraction pattern. The maximum non-seizure load (PB) of samples was tested using four-ball friction tester. The average friction coefficients and wear tracks were obtained. In addition, tribological mechanism was also investigated using optical microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope.
Findings
It was found that the nanocomposites present core-shell nanostructure with the thickness of shell around 12 nm and the diameter of particles 100-200 nm, and tribological tests indicate that the PB value of BCBNs was increased by 113 per cent, whereas the average friction coefficient was decreased by 23.6 per cent and the bloom’s wear area was also decreased by 25.2 per cent.
Originality/value
This paper involves investigation on tribological properties and mechanism of the BCBNs with core-shell structure.
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Yueping Song and Xiao-Yuan Dong
This paper examines the gender patterns of occupational mobility in post-reform urban China using a national representative dataset. The results show there are marked gender…
Abstract
This paper examines the gender patterns of occupational mobility in post-reform urban China using a national representative dataset. The results show there are marked gender differences in both direction and self-reported cause of occupational mobility. With respect to the direction of mobility, married women are more likely than married men to undergo downward occupational changes, but are less likely to experience upward moves. In terms of the cause of mobility, compared to married men, married women are less likely to change jobs for career development or move to a new job assigned by the employer, but are more likely to change jobs for family reasons or as a result of involuntary separation. The results also show that the public-sector restructuring has increased the incidence of downward occupational mobility, more for women than men. The analysis suggests that women are disadvantaged in the occupational mobility process by a variety of social and institutional factors.
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Yan-Chun Zhang, Wu-Zan Luo, Ming Shan, Dong-Wen Pan and Wen-Jie Mu
The aims of this study are to conduct a systematic review of public–private partnership (PPP) studies published from 2009 to 2019, to compare the results with Ke et al. (2009) who…
Abstract
Purpose
The aims of this study are to conduct a systematic review of public–private partnership (PPP) studies published from 2009 to 2019, to compare the results with Ke et al. (2009) who reviewed the PPP literature published from 1998 to 2008, and to trace the evolution of the PPP knowledge in the past two decades. This study also presents the possible directions that the PPP research may go towards in the future, arguably.
Design/methodology/approach
This study carried out a top journal-based search to identify the quality PPP articles published from 2009 to 2019. A total of 12 top-tier construction journals were systematically searched in the database of web of science (WOS), from which 279 PPP articles were identified for review.
Findings
The number of the identified articles, the titles of the journals, institutions, the most cited papers, and prevalent research methods were analyzed and compared. The existing PPP studies in construction journals were classified into seven streams. Through analysis of the PPP research status and gaps, five future research directions were revealed.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the current body of knowledge by revealing the research trend of PPP from 2009 to 2019. It presents the change of PPP development trend in the past decade through comparison with Ke et al. (2009). It also reveals the major research streams and points out the directions that the PPP research may go towards in the future. Moreover, this study is helpful to the practice as well. It can enhance the practitioners' understanding of the PPP development in the past decade. In addition, it identified the research institutions contributing the most in the area of PPP, which may serve as valuable reference for practitioners to locate the best institutions for consultancy or collaboration.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide the historical background of genealogical records and analyze the value of Chinese genealogical research through the study of names and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide the historical background of genealogical records and analyze the value of Chinese genealogical research through the study of names and genealogical resources.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper examines the historical evolution and value of Chinese genealogical records, with the focus on researching the Islamic Chinese names used by the people living in Guilin. The highlight of this paper includes the analysis and evolution of the Islamic Chinese names commonly adopted by the local people in Guilin. It concludes with the recommendations on emphasizing and making the best use of genealogical records to enhance the research value of Chinese overseas studies.
Findings
The paper covers the history of Islam and describes how the religion was introduced into China, as well as Muslims' ethnicity and identity. It also places focus on the importance of building a research collection in Asian history and Chinese genealogy.
Research limitations/implications
This research study has a strong subject focus on Chinese genealogy, Asian history, and Islamic Chinese surnames. It is a narrow field that few researchers have delved into.
Practical implications
The results of this study will assist students, researchers, and the general public in tracing the origin of their surnames and developing their interest in the social and historical value of Chinese local history and genealogies.
Social implications
The study of Chinese surnames is, by itself, a particular field for researching the social and political implications of contemporary Chinese society during the time the family members lived.
Originality/value
Very little research has been done in the area of Chinese local history and genealogy. The paper would be of value to researchers such as historians, sociologists, ethnologists and archaeologists, as well as students and anyone interested in researching a surname origin, its history and evolution.
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This paper aims to collect and compile the historical data of Guanfu Salt Farm, officially built by the Song Dynasty (960–1279) within modern Hong Kong territories, to reconstruct…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to collect and compile the historical data of Guanfu Salt Farm, officially built by the Song Dynasty (960–1279) within modern Hong Kong territories, to reconstruct its history for the reflection of Hong Kong society of the time.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is largely based on identification and analysis of historical documents, including keyword search on electronic databases and verification with the original sources, with reference to archaeological findings when necessary.
Findings
This paper reconstructs the history of Guanfu Salt Farm based on documentary sources with reference to archaeological findings. English translation of Chinese sources is also provided when necessary.
Originality/value
There has been an absence of systematic compilation of historical data of Hong Kong during the Song Dynasty, which are limited in quantity and scattered across different sources. This paper seeks to fill the vacuum of knowledge about pre-colonial Hong Kong, with a more comprehensive reconstruction of the history of Guanfu Salt Farm.
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Jing Jiang, Yuan Yuan, Yanan Dong and Huijuan Dong
This study aims to examine the joint impact of customer mistreatment (external stressor) and team performance pressure (internal stressor) on employees’ proactive customer service…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the joint impact of customer mistreatment (external stressor) and team performance pressure (internal stressor) on employees’ proactive customer service performance (PCSP) using the stressor-emotion model.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample consisted of 220 employees and 54 branch leaders from a large restaurant chain in China. This study conducted a multi-time and multi-source design study using Mplus 7.4 to examine the hypotheses.
Findings
Customer mistreatment has a positive effect on employees’ emotional exhaustion, which further reduces PCSP. Team performance pressure strengthens the dysfunctional effect of customer mistreatment on emotional exhaustion, whereas leaders’ positive affective presence mitigates the negative relationship between emotional exhaustion and PCSP.
Originality/value
This study investigates how internal and external stressors jointly affect employees’ PCSP. Thus, it provides a comprehensive perspective of employee stress management and active service management for organization managers.
研究目的
基于压力源-情绪模型, 本研究旨在了解客户不当对待(外部压力源)和团队绩效压力(内部压力源)如何共同影响员工的主动对客服务绩效。
设计/方法/方法
我们的样本来自中国一家大型连锁餐厅的220名员工和54名分店负责人。我们进行了多时间和多来源设计, 并采用Mplus 7.4检验所有假设。
研究结果
客户不当对待会导致员工情绪衰竭, 进而降低主动对客服务绩效。团队绩效压力加强了客户不当对待对员工情绪衰竭的消极影响,而领导者积极情感体现可以减弱员工情绪衰竭对其员工主动对客服务绩效的负面影响。
原创性
本文的贡献是全面探讨内部和外部压力源如何共同影响员工的主动对客服务绩效, 从而为组织管理者提供一个更全面的员工压力管理和主动服务管理的视角。
Objetivo
Este estudio examina el impacto conjunto de los abusos de los clientez (estresor externo) y la presión sobre el rendimiento del equipo (estresor interno) en el rendimiento proactivo del servicio al cliente (PCSP) de los empleados utilizando el modelo estresor-emoción.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Nuestra muestra está formada por 220 empleados y 54 jefes de establecimientos pertenecientes a una gran cadena de restaurantes de China. Realizamos un diseño multitemporal y multifuente con Mplus 7.4 para examinar todas las hipótesis.
Resultados
Los abusos de los clientes tienen un efecto positivo sobre el agotamiento emocional de los empleados, lo que reduce aún más la PCSP. La presión sobre el rendimiento del equipo refuerza el efecto disfuncional del abuso de los clientes sobre el agotamiento emocional, mientras que la presencia afectiva positiva de los líderes mitiga la relación negativa entre el agotamiento emocional y la PCSP.
Originalidad/valor
Este artículo contribuye a investigar cómo los factores estresantes internos y externos afectan conjuntamente a la PCSP de los empleados. Proporciona una perspectiva más completa de la gestión del estrés de los empleados y de la gestión activa de los servicios para los directivos de las organizaciones.
Details
Keywords
- Customer mistreatment
- Employees’ emotional exhaustion
- Proactive customer service performance
- Team performance pressure
- Leaders’ positive affective presence
- 顾客不当对待、员工情绪衰竭、主动对客服务绩效、团队绩效压力、领导者积极情感体现
- Abuso del cliente
- Agotamiento emocional de los empleados
- Rendimiento proactivo del servicio al cliente
- Presión sobre el rendimiento del equipo
- Presencia afectiva positiva de los líderes
Yongliang Yuan, Shuo Wang, Liye Lv and Xueguan Song
Highly non-linear optimization problems exist in many practical engineering applications. To deal with these problems, this study aims to propose an improved optimization…
Abstract
Purpose
Highly non-linear optimization problems exist in many practical engineering applications. To deal with these problems, this study aims to propose an improved optimization algorithm, named, adaptive resistance and stamina strategy-based dragonfly algorithm (ARSSDA).
Design/methodology/approach
To speed up the convergence, ARSSDA applies an adaptive resistance and stamina strategy (ARSS) to conventional dragonfly algorithm so that the search step can be adjusted appropriately in each iteration. In ARSS, it includes the air resistance and physical stamina of dragonfly during a flight. These parameters can be updated in real time as the flight status of the dragonflies.
Findings
The performance of ARSSDA is verified by 30 benchmark functions of Congress on Evolutionary Computation 2014’s special session and 3 well-known constrained engineering problems. Results reveal that ARSSDA is a competitive algorithm for solving the optimization problems. Further, ARSSDA is used to search the optimal parameters for a bucket wheel reclaimer (BWR). The aim of the numerical experiment is to achieve the global optimal structure of the BWR by minimizing the energy consumption. Results indicate that ARSSDA generates an optimal structure of BWR and decreases the energy consumption by 22.428% compared with the initial design.
Originality/value
A novel search strategy is proposed to enhance the global exploratory capability and convergence speed. This paper provides an effective optimization algorithm for solving constrained optimization problems.
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Douqing Zhang, Mingjun Li, Xiang Ji, Jie Wu and Yilun Dong
The purpose of this paper is to generate quantitative managerial insights for the improvement of the energy-saving potential and the coordinated development between economic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to generate quantitative managerial insights for the improvement of the energy-saving potential and the coordinated development between economic growth and environmental protection.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, based on the classical DEA theory, is developed from the perspective of emission reduction.
Findings
The empirical results indicate that China’s overall environmental efficiency is low and that there is huge improvement space for energy saving. Under the concerns of emission reduction, the energy-saving potential of the central region exceeds that of both the eastern and western regions. With regard to water, electricity and gas consumption, the electricity-saving potential exceeds the potential for both water saving and gas saving.
Originality/value
Previous studies rarely focused on the energy-saving potential, while considering environmental pollution. This paper applies a novel DEA method to evaluate the energy-saving potential of 30 Chinese provinces for 2015 with a focus on emission reduction concerns. Furthermore, both regional differences and energy type differences of the saving potential were analyzed.
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Nima Gerami Seresht, Rodolfo Lourenzutti, Ahmad Salah and Aminah Robinson Fayek
Due to the increasing size and complexity of construction projects, construction engineering and management involves the coordination of many complex and dynamic processes and…
Abstract
Due to the increasing size and complexity of construction projects, construction engineering and management involves the coordination of many complex and dynamic processes and relies on the analysis of uncertain, imprecise and incomplete information, including subjective and linguistically expressed information. Various modelling and computing techniques have been used by construction researchers and applied to practical construction problems in order to overcome these challenges, including fuzzy hybrid techniques. Fuzzy hybrid techniques combine the human-like reasoning capabilities of fuzzy logic with the capabilities of other techniques, such as optimization, machine learning, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and simulation, to capitalise on their strengths and overcome their limitations. Based on a review of construction literature, this chapter identifies the most common types of fuzzy hybrid techniques applied to construction problems and reviews selected papers in each category of fuzzy hybrid technique to illustrate their capabilities for addressing construction challenges. Finally, this chapter discusses areas for future development of fuzzy hybrid techniques that will increase their capabilities for solving construction-related problems. The contributions of this chapter are threefold: (1) the limitations of some standard techniques for solving construction problems are discussed, as are the ways that fuzzy methods have been hybridized with these techniques in order to address their limitations; (2) a review of existing applications of fuzzy hybrid techniques in construction is provided in order to illustrate the capabilities of these techniques for solving a variety of construction problems and (3) potential improvements in each category of fuzzy hybrid technique in construction are provided, as areas for future research.