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Book part
Publication date: 6 February 2023

Mainak Bhattacharjee, Sanghita Ghosh and Dipti Ghosh

The increasing threat of global warming and climate change has been a major worldwide concern for more than two decades. As the achievement of sustainable economic growth has…

Abstract

The increasing threat of global warming and climate change has been a major worldwide concern for more than two decades. As the achievement of sustainable economic growth has gradually become a major global concern both policy makers and researchers have given considerable attention over the years on the link among energy consumption, emissions and economic growth. In this study, following a solovian growth structure, the authors assume that the aggregate output depends on the stock of physical as well as human capital and energy or power. Depending on the sources, the energy can be categorised into cleaner input generated from renewable sources and a dirty input extracted from non-renewable resources having by-products like pollution. This study finds that less-developed countries (LDCs) failing to afford sufficient access to clean energy which in turn has deleterious impact on the human capital which cascades into low level of production, low saving and low per capita output forming a vicious loop. On the other side, the developed nations are better poised with access to clean energy and this is what is reflected in having larger reserve of human capital yielding higher production, higher income, higher saving and higher per capita capital stock in a circular process. This hence posits a clinching picturing divergence in per capital output and income between developed and less-developed nation mediated through degree of access to clean energy and thereof, the capacity to control emission. The convergence situation between the developed and the less-developed nations shows that each ends up with the relative energy mix below the threshold and it is not desirous for the world as a whole. In case of per capita emission, the divergence situation with the global level of emission is bit ambiguous.

Details

The Impact of Environmental Emissions and Aggregate Economic Activity on Industry: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80382-577-9

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Article
Publication date: 10 January 2024

Tony Yan and Michael R. Hyman

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical historical analysis of the business (mis)behaviors and influencing factors that discourage enduring cooperation between…

267

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical historical analysis of the business (mis)behaviors and influencing factors that discourage enduring cooperation between principals and agents, to introduce strategies that embrace the social values, economic motivation and institutional designs historically adopted to curtail dishonest acts in international business and to inform an improved principal–agent theory that reflects principal–agent reciprocity as shaped by social, political, cultural, economic, strategic and ideological forces

Design/methodology/approach

The critical historical research method is used to analyze Chinese compradors and the foreign companies they served in pre-1949 China.

Findings

Business practitioners can extend orthodox principal–agent theory by scrutinizing the complex interactions between local agents and foreign companies. Instead of agents pursuing their economic interests exclusively, as posited by principal–agent theory, they also may pursue principal-shared interests (as suggested by stewardship theory) because of social norms and cultural values that can affect business-related choices and the social bonds built between principals and agents.

Research limitations/implications

The behaviors of compradors and foreign companies in pre-1949 China suggest international business practices for shaping social bonds between principals and agents and foreign principals’ creative efforts to enhance shared interests with local agents.

Practical implications

Understanding principal–agent theory’s limitations can help international management scholars and practitioners mitigate transaction partners’ dishonest acts.

Originality/value

A critical historical analysis of intermediary businesspeople’s (mis)behavior in pre-1949 (1840–1949) China can inform the generalizability of principal–agent theory and contemporary business strategies for minimizing agents’ dishonest acts.

Details

Journal of Management History, vol. 30 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-1348

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Article
Publication date: 5 December 2023

Zhirui Zhao, Lina Hao, Guanghong Tao, Hongjun Liu and Lihua Shen

This study discusses the tracking trajectory issue of the exoskeleton under the bounded disturbance and designs an useful tracking trajectory control method to solve it. By using…

157

Abstract

Purpose

This study discusses the tracking trajectory issue of the exoskeleton under the bounded disturbance and designs an useful tracking trajectory control method to solve it. By using the proposed control method, the tracking error can be successfully convergence to the assigned boundary. Meanwhile, the chattering effect caused by the actuators is already reduced, and the tracking performance of the pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) elbow exoskeleton is improved effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

A prescribed performance sliding mode control method was developed in this study to fulfill the joint position tracking trajectory task on the elbow exoskeleton driven by two PAMs. In terms of the control structure, a dynamic model was built by conforming to the adaptive law to compensate for the time variety and uncertainty exhibited by the system. Subsequently, a super-twisting algorithm-based second-order sliding mode control method was subjected to the exoskeleton under the boundedness of external disturbance. Moreover, the prescribed performance control method exhibits a smooth prescribed function with an error transformation function to ensure the tracking error can be finally convergent to the pre-designed requirement.

Findings

From the theoretical perspective, the stability of the control method was verified through Lyapunov synthesis. On that basis, the tracking performance of the proposed control method was confirmed through the simulation and the manikin model experiment.

Originality/value

As revealed by the results of this study, the proposed control method sufficiently applies to the PAMs elbow exoskeleton for tracking trajectory, which means it has potential application in the actual robot-assisted passive rehabilitation tasks.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 51 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

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Article
Publication date: 4 January 2016

Chunyu Zhao, Shijun You, Hao Gao and Wei Yu

The purpose of this paper is to use numerical simulations to investigate the energy conversion performance and the flow and temperature structures inside horizontal tubes…

164

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use numerical simulations to investigate the energy conversion performance and the flow and temperature structures inside horizontal tubes connected to a vertical manifold channel.

Design/methodology/approach

The simulations are performed for different flow rates and inlet temperatures using CFD.

Findings

In both the “flowing wind mode” and “upwind mode,” the inlet velocity is not infinitely small under the influence of natural convection; however, such small inlet velocities cannot be achieved in practice and are of no practical significance. In the “flowing wind mode,” the appropriate velocity for achieving high efficiency is 0.01-0.02 m/s. In the “upwind mode,” the appropriate velocity for obtaining high efficiency is 0.1-0.2 m/s. A high inlet temperature can lead to high efficiency; therefore, a large temperature difference and a small flow can be used in actual designs.

Originality/value

The energy conversion performance and flow structures inside evacuated tubular collectors were investigated using CFD for different operating conditions, notably in the “following wind mode” and the “upwind mode.”

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 26 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

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Article
Publication date: 5 January 2015

Yawei Wang, Hao Gao, Zhuyong Li, Yang Ping, Zhijian Jin and Zhiyong Hong

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse and improve the temperature uniformity of aluminium billets heated by superconducting DC induction heaters.

242

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse and improve the temperature uniformity of aluminium billets heated by superconducting DC induction heaters.

Design/methodology/approach

A 3D electromagnetic model coupled with a heat transfer model is developed to calculate the heating process of the billets which are rotated in uniform transverse DC magnetic field. A laboratory-scale DC induction heater prototype has been built to validate the model. The results from simulation and measurement have a good agreement. The model is used to investigate the factors affecting the temperature uniformity of aluminium billets.

Findings

The results from simulation show that lower rotation speeds always mean better temperature uniformity along the radial direction, due to the increase in power penetration. However, the situation is very different for the temperature distribution along the axial direction. When the rotation speed is low, the temperature at the ends is lower than other parts. The situation reverses as the rotation speeds increase. This phenomenon is referred to as the “ending effect” in this paper.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the ending effect, a lower rotation speed does not always result in better overall temperature uniformity, especially for billets of smaller sizes.

Practical implications

There is an optimal rotation speed that yields the best overall temperature uniformity. Lower rotation speeds are not always preferred. The results and numerical model developed are very useful in the design of a superconducting DC induction heater.

Originality/value

The temperature uniformity of aluminium billets heated by DC induction heaters is investigated and optimized.

Details

COMPEL: The International Journal for Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, vol. 34 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

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Article
Publication date: 2 July 2020

Yu Luo, Zewei Fang, Juzhi Guo, Hao Lu and Juan Li

This paper aims to improve the scene sense of a virtual scene, the welding model of a virtual reality system of riser automatic equipment was constructed using Unity3D and UG…

503

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to improve the scene sense of a virtual scene, the welding model of a virtual reality system of riser automatic equipment was constructed using Unity3D and UG software, which mainly included a welding car, welding guide rail, welding power supply, virtual camera and other equipment and the model was rendered.

Design/methodology/approach

The human-computer interaction page and simulation test of the system was produced using the user interface GUI system for creating a human-computer interaction scene. The operator could capture the welding status of the physical equipment accurately and in real-time so the virtual reality technology was very suitable for the remote monitoring operation integrated with the welding system.

Findings

Human-computer interaction design and collision detection were realized. In addition, the system simulation experiment was accomplished. With the continuous improvement and development of virtual reality technology real-time virtual simulation and monitoring, technology will become the main development trend.

Research limitations/implications

Based on virtual reality, the monitoring system can capture the operation status of physical welding equipment in real-time and accurately, which is very suitable for remote monitoring operation integrated with the welding system and also conducive to improving the monitoring level of the welding process.

Practical implications

This technology is time-saving and money-saving, for the operators do not have to be in a real welding environment and therefore they can get away from dangerous places. Consequently, it can avoid unnecessary injuries and problems.

Social implications

This technology can replace people to enter the dangerous and extreme environment to carry out welding operation, so it becomes the most effective means of nuclear power plant maintenance, space structure construction and marine engineering construction. In addition, it is time-saving and money-saving.

Originality/value

With the rapid development of virtual reality technology in recent years, it is a new research direction to apply virtual reality technology to the remote welding operation. This technology is different from the traditional way of welding for the operators can stay away from the welding scene especially some dangerous places.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 48 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

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Book part
Publication date: 6 November 2018

Bruno S. Sergi and Andrey Berezin

The chapter considers the significance of the oil and gas industry for the Russian economy. The authors analyze the current state of the oil and gas industry, their specific…

Abstract

The chapter considers the significance of the oil and gas industry for the Russian economy. The authors analyze the current state of the oil and gas industry, their specific weight in the structure of Russian GDP, and tax revenues from this industry to the Russian budget that was estimated. We give scenario analysis that considers the problems that the Russian economy may face because of the sanctions, the price fluctuations at the commodity market, and the crisis phenomena in the world economy. The chapter points out that localization of technology production and development of technologies for offshore oil and gas production in the Arctic zone may become an incentive to further ensure import substitution for Russia. At present, the experience of Arctic defense enterprises in the production of equipment for oil and gas production and processing is becoming increasingly popular. The chapter elaborates the most significant examples of the creation of new industries in the Arctic zone, the prospects of seismic exploration on the Arctic shelf, and that localization of production capacities and service bases will allow obtaining a multiplicative incentive for a qualitatively new industrial and infrastructure development of the northern territories. Also, we provide an assessment of the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, which makes economically attractive use of natural gas on a regional level as LNG opens the way to fuel high-power needs and to long-distance transport.

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Article
Publication date: 4 April 2022

Olumide Olusegun Olaoye

The paper investigates the prevalence of extreme poverty in a panel of 39 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 2000–2018 while accounting for spillover effects.

238

Abstract

Purpose

The paper investigates the prevalence of extreme poverty in a panel of 39 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 2000–2018 while accounting for spillover effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts the recently developed spatial dependence-consistent, bias-corrected quasi-maximum likelihood (QML) estimators and the linear dynamic panel regression to control for the potential endogeneity in poverty and corruption spillovers.

Findings

The spatial model shows. consistently across all the specifications, that there is a substantial spillover effect of corruption and poverty across the region. Additionally, the study also found that investment in health and education is a significant determinant of poverty in the region. However, the effectiveness of these policy variables to reduce poverty declines in the face of corruption spillovers. More importantly, the empirical analysis shows that poverty does not only exhibit spatial spillovers but also has a persistent effect over time. The results, therefore, suggest that to reduce poverty in the region, sub-Saharan African governments must adopt spatially differentiated policies and programmes by working together to reduce unemployment and corruption in the region, and not the widely adopted spatially mute designs currently in place. The research and policy implications are discussed.

Originality/value

The study accounts for spatial dependency and spillover effects in the analysis of poverty and corruption in SSA

Details

Journal of Economic Studies, vol. 50 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3585

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Book part
Publication date: 13 December 2017

Qiongwei Ye and Baojun Ma

Internet + and Electronic Business in China is a comprehensive resource that provides insight and analysis into E-commerce in China and how it has revolutionized and continues to…

Abstract

Internet + and Electronic Business in China is a comprehensive resource that provides insight and analysis into E-commerce in China and how it has revolutionized and continues to revolutionize business and society. Split into four distinct sections, the book first lays out the theoretical foundations and fundamental concepts of E-Business before moving on to look at internet+ innovation models and their applications in different industries such as agriculture, finance and commerce. The book then provides a comprehensive analysis of E-business platforms and their applications in China before finishing with four comprehensive case studies of major E-business projects, providing readers with successful examples of implementing E-Business entrepreneurship projects.

Internet + and Electronic Business in China is a comprehensive resource that provides insights and analysis into how E-commerce has revolutionized and continues to revolutionize business and society in China.

Details

Internet+ and Electronic Business in China: Innovation and Applications
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78743-115-7

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Article
Publication date: 16 August 2024

Nipa Ouppara, Wayne Fallon and Gabriela Coronado

This paper aims to explain how the dynamics of inter-firm relations between small and large firms can, in the case of some behaviours, be interpreted as inter-organizational…

43

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explain how the dynamics of inter-firm relations between small and large firms can, in the case of some behaviours, be interpreted as inter-organizational bullying.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on a qualitative approach adopting the critical incident method to explore the subjective experiences of 13 individual managers and owners of small service businesses in dealing with the representatives/executives of the large corporations they serviced. The method facilitated an investigation of the significant occurrences identified by the small-firm respondents about the undue advantage taken by the large firms. This was found to be more than simple occasional opportunistic or unfair business practices perpetrated by representatives of the large firms but, instead, involved bullying.

Findings

The results revealed that large corporations actively, though covertly, sought to take advantage of their small service providers by resorting to bullying practices. Intimidation, opportunism, use of deceitful or unfair business practices, as well as abuse of power, were manifestations of inter-organizational bullying committed by the large and powerful corporations. The contrasting characteristics of size, access to resources, economic and market power were identified as strong impediments against building effective ethical relational exchanges between the large corporations and their small service providers.

Research limitations/implications

The study's findings provide valuable insights into the root causes and consequences of inter-organizational bullying. However, it is crucial to interpret these results in the context of this specific study. It is worth nothing that these findings primarily represent the self-perception of inter-organizational bullying among small service providers and may not capture other viewpoints or aspects of the industrial sector. Replicating this study in different sectors could enhance the generalizability of the conclusions drawn.

Practical implications

This analysis is valuable in understanding what constitutes the phenomenon referred to as inter-organizational bullying. It also assists to understand the conditions when large firms exhibit such behaviours and their implications on the well-being of relevant stakeholders.

Social implications

Firstly, the business partners should maintain a healthy relationship if they want to avoid incidents of bullying, which can harm the performance of the relationship. In doing so, they need to reduce the level of uncertainty in their business relationships through the transparent information exchange, formulating commonly agreeable contracts and enhancing communication procedures. They also need to put aside their self-interest, but rather strive for achieving results that will be beneficial to both parties.

Originality/value

This exploratory study offers a novel and unexplored way of theorizing inter-organizational bullying, as well as uncovering its antecedents and impacts on the welfare of small businesses, particularly small service providers.

Details

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, vol. 39 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0885-8624

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