Hongyi Tu, Donglei Liu, Zhenbin Chen and Chunli Liu
Using a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer reaction, a series of resins were prepared by using N, N-diethyl acrylamide (DEA), poly (ß-hydroxyethyl methacrylate…
Abstract
Purpose
Using a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer reaction, a series of resins were prepared by using N, N-diethyl acrylamide (DEA), poly (ß-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) as hydrophilic blocks and poly (glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) as hydrophobic blocks (and as a target for immobilizing penicillin G acylase [PGA]) and the low critical solution temperature (LCST) of which could be adjusted by changing the segment length of blocks.
Design/methodology/approach
To make the catalytic conversion temperature of immobilized PGA fallen into the temperature range of the sol state of thermosensitive block resin, a type of thermosensitive block resin, i.e. PDEA-b-PHEMA-b-PGMA (DHGs) was synthesized to immobilize PGA, and the effect of segment order of block resin was investigated on the performance of PGA.
Findings
Carrier prepared with monomers molar ratio of n(DEA) : n(HEMA): n(GMA) = 100: 49: 36 presented loading capacity (L) and enzyme activity recovery ratio (Ar) of 110 mg/g and 90%, respectively, and a block resin with LCST value of 33 °C was essential for keeping higher Ar of PGA.
Originality/value
PGA has become an important biocatalyst in modern chemistry industry. However, disadvantages include difficulty in separation, poor repeatability and high cost, which limits the scope of PGA applications. The effective method is to immobilize the enzyme to the carrier, which could overcome the disadvantage of free enzyme.
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Yangdong Liu, Siyuan Lu, Hongyi Tu, Boyuan Zhang, Yaqin Zhao, Jiasheng He, Liangliang He and Zhenbin Chen
To save the economic cost and improve the performance of enterprises, this study aims to synthesize high performance immobilized penicillin G acylase (PGA) carriers with fast…
Abstract
Purpose
To save the economic cost and improve the performance of enterprises, this study aims to synthesize high performance immobilized penicillin G acylase (PGA) carriers with fast reaction speed, high recovery rate of enzyme activity and good reusability through corresponding theoretical guidance and experimental exploration.
Design methodology approach
A diblock resin was synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization method using N, N-diethylacrylamide (DEA) and β-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as functional monomers poly(N, N-diethylacrylamide)-b-poly(β-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PDEA-b-PHEMA) was obtained, and the effect of the ratio of DEA and HEMA on the activity of PGA was investigated, and the appropriate block ratio of DEA and HEMA was obtained. After that, the competitive rate of HEMA and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) under the carrier preparation conditions was investigated. Based on the above work, a thermosensitive resin carrier PDEA-b-PHEMA-b-P(HEMA-co-GMA) with different target distances was synthesized, and the chemical structures and molecular weight of copolymers were investigated by hydrogen NMR (1H NMR).
Findings
The lower critical solution temperature of the resin support decreases with the increase of the monomer HEMA in the random copolymerization; the catalytic performance study indicated that the response rate of the immobilized PGA is fast, and the recovery rate of the enzyme activity of the immobilized PGA varies with the distance between the targets. When the molar ratio of HEMA to GMA in the resin block is 8.15:1 [i.e. resin PDEA100-b-PHEMA10-b-P(HEMA65-co-GMA8)], the activity recovery rate of immobilized PGA can reach 50.51%, which was 15.49% higher than that of pure GMA immobilized PGA.
Originality value
This contribution provides a novel carrier for immobilizing PGA. Under the optimal molar ratio, the enzyme activity recovery could be up to 50.51%, which was 15.49% higher than that of PGA immobilized on the carrier with nonregulated distance between two immobilization sites.
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The purpose of this paper is to propose a modular product design system and a product development roadmap (PDR), which can help to improve modular design (MD) and product…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a modular product design system and a product development roadmap (PDR), which can help to improve modular design (MD) and product innovation capabilities, respectively. Their relationships with product newness (PN) and new product performance are also assessed.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed model was tested through structural equation modelling using data from a survey of 153 manufacturers in the electronic and electrical appliance industries in China.
Findings
The findings reveal that the proposed modular product design system and PDR can improve MD and product innovation capabilities. The authors also explore the conflicting relationships of MD and product innovation capability with PN.
Research limitations/implications
The findings contribute to the literature by showing that MD can constrain PN while product innovation can improve it. The study provides new empirical evidence of these relationships and has strategic implications. In addition, this study identifies two product development techniques that can improve MD and innovation capability, respectively.
Originality/value
The authors provide new evidence of the relationship between MD and innovation capability at product level, and confirm a side effect of pursuing both in terms of new product development. Through empirical testing, the authors first verify two product development techniques for implementing modular product design and product innovation.
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Maurizio Bevilacqua, Filippo Emanuele Ciarapica and Ilaria De Sanctis
The purpose of this paper is to analyze relationships between operational characteristics and business growth in Italian manufacturing companies comparing high lean performers…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze relationships between operational characteristics and business growth in Italian manufacturing companies comparing high lean performers (HLPs), which are companies with a high degree of application of lean practices, and low lean performers (LLPs). This analysis aims at highlighting the effect of the implementation level of lean practices on operational characteristics of Italian companies and, as a consequence, on business growth.
Design/methodology/approach
A classification in “LLPs” and “HLPs” of Italian manufacturing industries has been developed in order to measure the company’s degree of application of lean practices. A survey was carried out, and a combination of cluster analysis and multi-group structural equation path model was developed in order to answer research hypotheses.
Findings
Results suggest that HLPs are characterized by a greater number of employees and a larger turnover. The operational characteristics that contribute to the business growth owing to the introduction of lean practices are as follows: the range of different finished products managed, the delivery reliability, and speedy response to warranty claim. No differences between HLPs and LLPs in terms of business growth have been highlighted when companies vary the batch size, reduce the medium production time, reduce the percentage of finished products which are subject to claim, and increase the percentage (of turnover) of R&D investment. The study highlights that “LLPs” companies are apparently capable of changing their production schemes and adjusting themselves better for customizing their products.
Practical implications
Companies that aim at implementing lean practices should focus their attention on practices that affect the operational characteristics that contribute to the business growth. Moreover, because of the complexity and effort for the implementation of certain lean practices connected to supplier, workforce, quality, and production efficiency, these practices are more suitable only for large firms with enough resources.
Originality/value
As an attempt to offer strategic and operational perspective on Italian lean practices implementation, this study examined how the degree of application of the different lean practices has an impact on operational and companies’ performance. Hence, even if the present study is limited to the Italian manufacturing companies, it could be a representative of companies that are operating in developed countries that are facing the so-called “anemic growth.”
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The emergence of artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) technology has markedly enhanced the capabilities of digital human content generation and natural language…
Abstract
Purpose
The emergence of artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) technology has markedly enhanced the capabilities of digital human content generation and natural language processing, thus further advancing the development of digital humans. To enable enterprises and governments to effectively address the challenges and opportunities arising from the rapid development of digital humans, it is imperative to understand the public opinion and discussion dynamics of digital humans.
Design/methodology/approach
This study initially analyzed the trends and distribution patterns of public attention to digital humans. By utilizing word cloud technology, we explored the primary focal points of public interest and conducted a topic analysis using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) techniques. Subsequently, content analysis was conducted on the popular application domains of digital humans. Finally, this study examined the influence of user characteristics on emotional scores toward digital humans and the presence of differences in focus across user groups.
Findings
The results indicate a sustained increase in public attention toward digital humans, accompanied by notable geographic disparities in the distribution of discussions. Discussions on Weibo are primarily focused on four domains, whereas areas within the digital human application domain that provoke widespread discussion include live streaming, service, cultural entertainment and digital avatars. Significant impacts of user characteristics on sentiment scores were observed, revealing divergent focal points of interest among different user groups toward digital humans.
Originality/value
Through the deep analysis of Weibo data, this study offers new insights into the digital human industry, enabling governments and businesses to understand industry trends and develop targeted digital human customization strategies based on customer characteristics.
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Mobile location-based service (m-LBS) seems like a new class of personalized service due to location positioning technologies. This work aims to investigate consumer readiness…
Abstract
Purpose
Mobile location-based service (m-LBS) seems like a new class of personalized service due to location positioning technologies. This work aims to investigate consumer readiness (RED) toward m-LBS based on integrating pull effect- and push effect-related factors into the technology acceptance model (TAM).
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey collected data from 423 participants, and the research framework was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Findings
The results divulge that consumer RED is determined by TAM antecedents, including usefulness (USE) and ease of use (EOU). EOU motivates USE in m-LBS. Regarding pull effect-related factors, absorptive capacity (ABC) is the strongest positive factor influencing consumer RED to use m-LBS, followed by technology willingness (TWI) and innovativeness (INN). Moreover, INN, trust (TRU) and perceived risk (RIS) significantly influence USE and EOU.
Originality/value
This work endeavors to explicate customer RED toward m-LBS by incorporating some meaningful pull effect-related dimensions (i.e. ABC, TWI and INN) and pushing effect-related dimensions (i.e. RIS) into crucial antecedents rooted in TAM. Thus, the findings assist practitioners in developing marketing strategies by boosting pull effects and controlling push effects on customer engagement in m-LBS.