Yunmiao Gui, Huihui Zhai, Feng Dong and Zhi Liu
This paper aims to investigate how user expectations affect value-added service (VAS) investment and pricing decisions of two-sided platforms. It draws on the information…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate how user expectations affect value-added service (VAS) investment and pricing decisions of two-sided platforms. It draws on the information asymmetry theory and offers suggestions on how platform operators can manage user expectations.
Design/methodology/approach
According to the game theory, this study considers three user expectations (responsive, passive and wary). By framing the Hotelling duopoly model and comparing the VAS investment, price and platform profits, the optimal platform decision is analyzed and discussed.
Findings
The conclusions demonstrate that the monopolistic two-sided platform obtains more profits from the informed users with responsive expectations than uninformed users with passive or wary expectations. The marginal investment cost and cross-network externalities are two key factors that determine the platform's VAS investment and pricing strategies of passive or wary users. Furthermore, considering the expectation preferences, i.e. the uniformed users hold wary expectations with more information and hold passive expectations with less or no information, the results suggest that the proportion of wary users to all uninformed users increases the platform's VAS investment, profits and the price of informed users, and increase (decrease) the price of uninformed users when the cross-network externalities of informed users are relatively small (larger).
Practical implications
These results can provide insightful enlightenment into how platform operators utilize bilateral users' expectations and information level to guide their VAS investment and pricing decisions.
Originality/value
This paper is one of the first to explore the impact of three user expectations and the heterogeneity of preferences in informing users' passive or wary expectations, based on different levels of information on the decision-making of two-sided platforms regarding VAS.
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Xiaodong Li, Zheng Ma, Feng Dong and Mengyan Su
According to the resource dependence theory and peer effect theory, this paper explores the mechanism of the focal firm’s knowledge coherence on technological distance among its…
Abstract
Purpose
According to the resource dependence theory and peer effect theory, this paper explores the mechanism of the focal firm’s knowledge coherence on technological distance among its supply chain partners.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on patent data of 301 Information Technology and Communication Services firms over 18 years from 1998 to 2015, this paper conducts panel regression analysis.
Findings
Empirical results find the positive relationship between the focal firm’s knowledge coherence and technological distance among its supply chain partners. Furthermore, conclusions indicate that the focal firm’s degree centrality and ego network density negatively and positively moderate this relationship respectively.
Originality/value
The findings of this paper contribute to the existing research in supply chain network innovation and offers guidelines to choose partners with varying technological compositions according to their knowledge bases and network structure characteristics.
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Feng Dong, Hao Chen, Shuai Xu and Sihang Cui
This paper aims to present a novel position sensorless control scheme with fault-tolerance ability for switched reluctance motor at low speed.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a novel position sensorless control scheme with fault-tolerance ability for switched reluctance motor at low speed.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the detection pulses are injected in the freewheeling and idle intervals of each phase. Second, the aligned position of each phase can be detected by comparing the consecutive rise time of detection current. Third, the whole-region rotor position and real-time rotational speed can be updated four times for the improvement of detection accuracy. Finally, the fault-tolerant control strategy is performed to enhance the robustness and reliability of proposed sensorless scheme under faulty conditions.
Findings
Based on proposed sensorless control strategy, the estimated rotor position is in good agreement with the actual rotor position and the maximum rotor position error is 1.5°. Meanwhile, the proposed sensorless scheme is still effective when the motor with multiphase loss and the maximum rotor position error is 1.9°. Moreover, the accuracy of the rotor position estimation can be ensured even if the motor is in an accelerated state or decelerated state.
Originality/value
The proposed sensorless method does not require extensive memory, complicated computation and prior knowledge of the electromagnetic properties of the motor, which is easy to implement. Furthermore, it is suitable for different control strategies at low speed without negative torque generation.
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Jiancheng Shen, Mohammad Najand, Feng Dong and Wu He
Emotion plays a significant role in both institutional and individual investors’ decision-making process. Emotions affect the perception of risk and the assessment of monetary…
Abstract
Purpose
Emotion plays a significant role in both institutional and individual investors’ decision-making process. Emotions affect the perception of risk and the assessment of monetary value. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence available that addresses how investors’ emotions affect commodity market returns. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether media-based emotions can be used to predict future commodity returns.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors examine the short-term predictive power of media-based emotion indices on the following five days’ commodity returns. The research adopts a proprietary data set of commodity-specific market emotions, which is computed based on a comprehensive textual analysis of sources from newswires, internet news sources and social media. Time series econometrics models (threshold generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity and vector autoregressive) are employed to analyze 14 years (January 1998-December 2011) of daily observations of the CRB commodity market index, crude oil and gold returns, and the market-level sentiments and emotions (optimism, fear and joy).
Findings
The empirical results suggest that the commodity-specific emotions (optimism, fear and joy) have significant influence on individual commodity returns, but not on commodity market index returns. Additionally, the research findings support the short-term predictability of the commodity-specific emotions on the following five days’ individual commodity returns. Compared to the previous studies of news sentiment on commodity returns (Borovkova, 2011; Borovkova and Mahakena, 2015; Smales, 2014), this research provides further evidence of the effects of news and social media-based emotions (optimism, fear and joy) in the commodity market. Additionally, this work proposes that market emotion incorporates both a sentimental effect and appraisal effect on commodity returns. Empirical results are shown to support both the sentimental effect and appraisal effect when market sentiment is controlled in crude oil and gold spot markets.
Originality/value
This paper adopts the valence-arousal approach and cognitive appraisal approach to explain financial anomalies caused by investors’ emotions. Additionally, this is the first paper to explore the predictive power of investors’ emotions (optimism, fear and joy) on commodity returns.
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Run-Hua Song, Hai-Long Qin, Zhong-Nan Bi, Ji Zhang, Hai Chi, Esteban P Busso and Dong-Feng Li
The purpose of this paper is to systematically investigate the dynamic strain aging (DSA) effect in solid solution treated IN718 at different temperatures through experiments and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to systematically investigate the dynamic strain aging (DSA) effect in solid solution treated IN718 at different temperatures through experiments and simulations to gain an understanding of the inelastic deformation mechanisms.
Design/methodology/approach
In the present work, uniaxial tensile tests have been carried out in conjunction with finite element (FE) simulations to investigate the behaviour of the solid solution treated Inconel 718 superalloy at different temperatures and strain rates. Dynamic strain aging (DSA) effects, which manifested during the tests in the form of a negative strain rate sensitivity and stress serrations, are investigated. The most significant DSA effect occurs at 500°C and at a strain rate of 10–4 s-1. In a newly proposed rate-dependent constitutive formulation, the DSA model, proposed by McCormick, Kubin and Estrin, was introduced into slip-assisted solute hardening, and an activation energy-dependent exponential flow rule was adopted.
Findings
The observed negative strain rate sensitivity and stress serrations are well predicted by a 3 D FE. The FE results indicate that the equivalent plastic strain rate distribution in the specimen gauge length is as highly inhomogeneous as in the other materials exhibiting DSA effects such as aluminium and titanium alloy. During inelastic deformation, propagating high strain rate bands can be closely correlated to the stress serrations.
Originality/value
For the DSA effect in solid solution treated IN718, the existing researching mainly focuses on the mechanical properties experiment and microstructure observation. In this study, a constitutive formulation, combined with the DSA model, has been proposed, and the mechanical behaviors, including the DSA effect, have been well predicted by a finite element model.
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Feng Dong, Xiao Wang and Jiawen Chen
This study aims to investigate the impact of family ownership on cooperative research and development (R&D). Drawing on the ability and willingness paradox framework in family…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of family ownership on cooperative research and development (R&D). Drawing on the ability and willingness paradox framework in family business research, the authors suggest that family ownership influences cooperative R&D via two opposing mechanisms: power concentration and wealth concentration. It also deepens the current understanding of the boundary conditions of informal institutions for the impact of family ownership on cooperative R&D by investigating the moderating role of political ties.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyze a panel of 610 Chinese manufacturing family firms and 2,127 firm-year observations from 2009 to 2017. Fixed effects regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses, with the two-stage Heckman model to address sample selection bias.
Findings
The research findings indicate that family ownership has an inverted U-shaped relationship with cooperative R&D and political ties moderate the relationship in such a way that the inverted U-shaped relationship will be steeper in firms with more political ties than in firms with fewer political ties.
Practical implications
Family ownership influences firms’ cooperative R&D through the positive effect of power concentration and the negative effect of wealth concentration. Family owners should, therefore, take advantage of concentrated power, for instance, by adapting quickly and committing sufficient resources to cooperative R&D opportunities, while controlling path-dependent relationship development caused by concentrated family wealth. The effect of political ties on the relationship between family ownership and cooperative R&D is found to be a double-edged sword.
Originality/value
This study extends the ability and willingness paradox framework and provides novel insights into cooperative R&D in family businesses by integrating power concentration and wealth concentration associated with family ownership. Moreover, this study provides a contingency perspective and introduces the moderating role of political ties in shaping cooperative R&D in family firms.
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Salim Ahmed, Khushboo Kumari and Durgeshwer Singh
Petroleum hydrocarbons are naturally occurring flammable fossil fuels used as conventional energy sources. It has carcinogenic, mutagenic properties and is considered a hazardous…
Abstract
Purpose
Petroleum hydrocarbons are naturally occurring flammable fossil fuels used as conventional energy sources. It has carcinogenic, mutagenic properties and is considered a hazardous pollutant. Soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons adversely affects the properties of soil. This paper aim to remove pollutants from the environment is an urgent need of the hour to maintain the proper functioning of soil ecosystems.
Design/methodology/approach
The ability of micro-organisms to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons makes it possible to use these microorganisms to clean the environment from petroleum pollution. For preparing this review, research papers and review articles related to petroleum hydrocarbons degradation by micro-organisms were collected from journals and various search engines.
Findings
Various physical and chemical methods are used for remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons contaminants. However, these methods have several disadvantages. This paper will discuss a novel understanding of petroleum hydrocarbons degradation and how micro-organisms help in petroleum-contaminated soil restoration. Bioremediation is recognized as the most environment-friendly technique for remediation. The research studies demonstrated that bacterial consortium have high biodegradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons ranging from 83% to 89%.
Social implications
Proper management of petroleum hydrocarbons pollutants from the environment is necessary because of their toxicity effects on human and environmental health.
Originality/value
This paper discussed novel mechanisms adopted by bacteria for biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons, aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation pathways, genes and enzymes involved in petroleum hydrocarbons biodegradation.
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Winifred Aldrich, Brian Smith and Feng Dong
This paper describes research undertaken at the Nottingham Trent University which investigated body movements and their relationship to garment design. The study identifies the…
Abstract
This paper describes research undertaken at the Nottingham Trent University which investigated body movements and their relationship to garment design. The study identifies the difference between ergonomic measuring positions and the natural postures used by real figures in real activities. A new approach to the identification and coding of upper body postures has been made. A body coding system and a simple piece of equipment was designed that enables extended natural body positions to be recorded, thus achieving repeatability. This work enabled comparisons of aesthetic appearance and the functional comfort of women's tailored jackets to be examined.
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Shaobing Tang, Jiafang Lu and Philip Hallinger
Like other nations in Asia, mainland China has undergone continuous reforms in its economic, political and social institutions over the past two decades. These changes are also…
Abstract
Purpose
Like other nations in Asia, mainland China has undergone continuous reforms in its economic, political and social institutions over the past two decades. These changes are also reflected in its education system, which has been both the target of government reforms and an agent for social change. In this context, China's Ministry of Education has cast school principals as key actors in leading and managing change in schools at the local level throughout the country. The purpose of this paper is to explore how Chinese school leaders successfully respond to the implementation of educational reform.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper the authors explore how school leaders in one city in South China perceive their roles and actions in fostering successful change. The study employed extensive literature review with qualitative interviews of five school principals who had demonstrated success at leading change in their schools.
Findings
The findings of both the literature review and interview study unexpectedly found more similarities than differences between how leaders contribute to successful change in China as compared with the Western literature.
Research limitations/implications
The research findings are limited by two main features. First, the sources analyzed in the literature review were of highly varying quality. Moreover, relatively few employed replicable analytical methods capable of generalization. These limitations of the literature mean that the results of the review can only be interpreted as suggestive rather than conclusive. Second, the interview study was framed as an effort to further explore the trends of the literature review. Although the findings from the small-scale interview study were consistent with the broader Chinese literature, the research design suffers form the same limitations as the general literature. Therefore, these findings must also be treated as emergent rather than explanatory.
Practical implications
The paper identifies directions for future research and discusses implications for school leaders in implementing educational change in China.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies in its attempt to synthesize a previously inaccessible literature on change leadership in Chinese schools. Despite China's rising role as a global leader, the literature in educational leadership and management remains sparse and largely unknown to Western scholars. Therefore, the study's limitations are balanced by the need to provide better descriptions of current practices employed by leaders as they attempt to improve China's schools.
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Shaw‐Jyh Shin, I‐Shou Tsai and Po‐Dong Lee
Reports how the theorem of the texture “tuned” mask was modified to solve some problems encountered in the automatic faults (including filling bars, oil stains, weft‐lacking and…
Abstract
Reports how the theorem of the texture “tuned” mask was modified to solve some problems encountered in the automatic faults (including filling bars, oil stains, weft‐lacking and holes) detection and recognition of the plain woven fabrics. These problems are the faults of variable shapes and sizes, those of variable structure and the grey‐level differences in the faults of oil stains. The index of the “tuned” mask in the texture “tuned” mask theorem was modified to converge the variability of the faults, and to elongate the distances between each fault’s average texture energy so that the texture energy in normal texture and in faults can be confined to different fixed ranges. The results show that the optimum texture “tuned” mask found from the modified theorem of the texture “tuned” mask can be used satisfactorily to identify different faults due to structure, shapes and size variation. However, in the case of undertoned oil stains and lower density filling bars, this method may sometimes cause misidentification.