Yi-Hai Zhang, Hongyu Peng, Hin Wah Chris Cheung, King Man Eric Chong and Chin Fung Philip Chow
The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences between Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Mainland in terms of education and also the influence of it on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences between Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Mainland in terms of education and also the influence of it on doing comparative educational research. Hong Kong SAR is ruled by the Chinese Government under the framework of “One country, two systems.” It makes Hong Kong SAR different from other Mainland cities based on different aspects including, education. The finding of this paper provides a systematic review about the differences between these two Chinese societies in terms of education and also implication for conducting comparative educational research in these two societies and also generating some implications for cross-national and cross-cultural study in education.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper made references from the framework proposed by Bray and Thomas (1995) in relation to comparative educational research to make comparison between Hong Kong SAR and Mainland China. Multi-level comparison is conducted between two societies in terms of education, especially aspects relating to conducting educational research sat social, school and individual levels.
Findings
This paper identified the influence of “One county, two systems” on education at different levels such as ideology, school management system and use of languages in teaching. Such differences affect the choice of topics, sampling strategy, research design, data analysis and interpretation and also ethical considerations when conducting comparative research between Hong Kong SAR and Mainland China.
Originality/value
This paper is an integrated analysis of conducting educational research in two Chinese societies and provides insights for further discussions and possible research about this topic.
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Lin Liu, Hongyu Su, Jinjuan Xing, Dan Peng, Qiang Zhang and Jianhua Qian
This paper aims to evaluate the inhibitive effect and adsorption behavior of 5-(ethylthio)-1H-tetrazole (EHT) and 5-(benzylthio)-1H-tetrazole (BHT) on copper in a sulfur-ethanol…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the inhibitive effect and adsorption behavior of 5-(ethylthio)-1H-tetrazole (EHT) and 5-(benzylthio)-1H-tetrazole (BHT) on copper in a sulfur-ethanol system.
Design Methodology Approach
Evaluation was carried out using electrochemical measurement and surface analysis techniques. Measurements of static friction coefficient by scanning electron microscopy and contact angle analysis were applied and finally confirmed the existence of the adsorbed film. The inhibitive mechanism of the two compounds was evaluated by means of quantitative calculation and molecular dynamics simulation. The friction coefficient of corrosion surface before and after adding corrosion inhibitor was determined through static friction coefficient measurements.
Findings
The electrochemical measurement indicated that the most effective concentration of two corrosion inhibitors was 70 mg L–1, while the inhibition efficiency of that was EHT > BHT. The friction coefficient data showed that the addition of corrosion inhibitor reduced the roughness of the corrosion surface. Adsorption behavior of two inhibitors followed the Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm and was attributed to mixed-type adsorption. The results of quantitative calculation and molecular dynamics simulation showed that tetrazole rings of the two inhibitors and its connected S atoms were adsorbed on Cu(111) surface in parallel.
Originality Value
The corrosion inhibition performance of two tetrazolium derivatives in a sulfur-ethanol system was studied by combining experiments with theory, which provided a theoretical basis for the future research.
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Muhammad Hasnain Abbas Naqvi, Zhang Hongyu, Mishal Hasnain Naqvi and Li Kun
This study aims to determine whether or not fashion retail brands can maintain their essence by providing personalized care through conventional face-to-face interactions or the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine whether or not fashion retail brands can maintain their essence by providing personalized care through conventional face-to-face interactions or the use of e-services.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory investigation is being conducted to attain this goal. According to the findings of this research, Chatbots have an impact on consumer loyalty. The quality of a Chatbot’s system, service and information are all critical to providing a positive consumer experience.
Findings
The study concluded that Chatbot e-services might potentially enable dynamic and fascinating interactions between firms and their consumers. To personalize a Chatbot, firms might change the tone of the language used. Customers are more likely to use a Chatbot if it resembles a real person, which increases their pleasure and confidence in the product.
Originality/value
More precisely, the emphasis of the inquiry was on Chatbot, a relatively new digital tool that offers user-friendly, personalized and one-of-a-kind support to customers. Using information supplied by consumers, the authors examine a five-dimensional model that gauges how customers feel about Chatbots in terms of their ability to communicate with users, offer amusement, be trendy, personalize interactions and solve problems.
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Helen Inseng Duh, Hong Yu, Marike Venter de Villiers, Vladimira Steffek and Dan Shao
Large, influential and profitable young adults are being targeted for fast fashion that negatively impacts the environment. The transition from a fast to an environmentally…
Abstract
Purpose
Large, influential and profitable young adults are being targeted for fast fashion that negatively impacts the environment. The transition from a fast to an environmentally friendly slow fashion is a challenging process and culturally dependent. The process starts with slow fashion idea adoption. Thus, the authors modified an information acceptance model (IACM) to examine information characteristics (idea/information quality, credibility, usefulness, source credibility) and consumer factors (need for idea and attitudes) impacting intentions to adopt the slow fashion idea in Canada, South Africa (individualists) and China (collectivists).
Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional data were collected from South African (n = 197), Chinese (n = 304) and Canadian (n = 227) young adults (18–35 years old) at universities in metropolitan cities. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.
Findings
The results show that while most information characteristics and consumer factors are vital for slow fashion attitudes and intention formation, information quality and trust in the sources were a problem in individualistic cultures as opposed to the collectivist culture. This finding confirms the greater tendency of collectivists to trust disseminated information on environmental issues. In all cultures, attitudes impacted idea adoption intentions. On testing IACM, the multigroup analyses showed no significant differences between young adults in the individualistic cultures. Attitudes mediated most relationships and were highly explained by IACM (South Africa, 49.6%; China, 74.5%; and Canada, 64.5%).
Originality/value
In emerging and developed markets, this study informs environmentalists and green fashion brands of information characteristics that can create positive attitudes and slow fashion idea adoption intentions among influential young adults.
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Yue Shen, Eddie Chi‐man Hui and Hongyu Liu
This study investigates whether there was a housing price bubble in Beijing and Shanghai in 2003. The existence of a bubble can be interpreted from (abnormal) interactions between…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates whether there was a housing price bubble in Beijing and Shanghai in 2003. The existence of a bubble can be interpreted from (abnormal) interactions between housing prices and market fundamentals.
Design/methodology/approach
With monthly data from the two cities, this paper employs standard econometric methodologies: i.e. Granger causality tests and generalized impulse response analysis, and the reduced form of housing price determinants.
Findings
Our findings suggest that there appeared a bubble in Shanghai in 2003, accounting for 22 percent of the housing price. By contrast, Beijing had no sign of a bubble in the same year. The bubble phenomenon, of course, should not be taken without caution for the constraints of data. Nonetheless, this study has laid the ground work for further investigation into abnormal housing price phenomena in Mainland China.
Originality/value
Our findings may help foreign investors better understand the Chinese housing markets and make better housing investment decisions in the two cities.
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Cheng Gong, Hongyu Xu, Feng Xiong, Jian Zuo and Na Dong
Some papers have investigated the complex factors impacting building information modeling (BIM) application in prefabricated buildings (PBs), but few paid attention to their…
Abstract
Purpose
Some papers have investigated the complex factors impacting building information modeling (BIM) application in prefabricated buildings (PBs), but few paid attention to their interaction relationships. Ignoring the fact that different factors are not isolated may lead to some key factors being overlooked without appropriate improvement strategies being proposed. This paper aims to analyze those factors and their inter-relationships, with the view to identify the critical factors and their interaction relationships so as to derive constructive strategies that would effectively facilitate BIM adoption in Chinese prefabrication.
Design/methodology/approach
First, factors influencing BIM application in prefabrication are extracted and collated by literature review, expert interview and analysis of PBs characteristics. Thereafter, an evaluation laboratory (decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) and interpretive structural modeling are used to explore the relationships and hierarchy among the factors. Based on the degree of cause and centrality, critical factors are extracted and the interaction relationship are investigated.
Findings
The results show that BIM policies and standards for PBs are the main causal factors. The maturity of BIM software and BIM data interface for PBs, willingness to share data, the strategic goals of the enterprise, BIM law and BIM input and benefit are the main transitional factors while BIM staff and workflow, enterprise attitude, distribution of BIM liability and cooperation of participants are the main direct factors.
Originality/value
Based on the above findings, corresponding improvement strategies are proposed so as to promote BIM application in prefabrication and the rapid development of China’s PBs efficiently.
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Hongyu Gao, Shi Xu, Fukang Yang, Ziyue Zhang, Shuolei Wang, Xiaojian Jiang and Yubing Dong
Crystallization kinetics is a key factor that controls the crystallization process of polymers and influences the crystallinity and morphology of polymers. This study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Crystallization kinetics is a key factor that controls the crystallization process of polymers and influences the crystallinity and morphology of polymers. This study aims to explore the effects of functional filler SiO2 aerogel and co-modified filler organic montmorillonite (OMMT) on the crystallization process of polyester polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In this study, the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of OMMT/SiO2 aerogel/PET composites were studied by Jeziorny method.
Design/methodology/approach
The catalyst (Sb2O3), OMMT and SiO2 aerogel were uniformly dispersed in ethylene glycol (EG). Then, the mixture and terephthalic acid (PTA) were put into a semicontinuous polyester synthesis reactor, and the SiO2 aerogel/PET composites were prepared by esterification and polycondensation.
Findings
Non-isothermal kinetic results showed that the high cooling rate hindered the movement of the molecular chain of the composites and made the crystallization peak move toward the low-temperature direction. With the increase of crystallization temperature (Tc), the melt crystallization rate decreases, but the cold crystallization rate increases. The introduction of OMMT and SiO2 aerogel condensation affected the nucleation and growth mode of crystals, lengthened the time with a relative crystallinity of 50% (t1/2) and decreased the crystallization rate. OMMT improved the crystallinity and Avrami index of the composites.
Research limitations/implications
Effects of thermal insulation functional filler SiO2 aerogel and co-modified filler OMMT on the crystallization process of PET were studied by non-isothermal crystallization kinetics, and the effects of SiO2 aerogel and OMMT on the nucleation mechanism of PET were clarified, which provided a theoretical reference for the preparation and performance optimization of PET matrix composites.
Originality/value
In this study, the OMMT/SiO2 aerogel/PET composites were prepared by in-situ polymerization, the crystallinity of PET matrix composites was improved, and the effects of OMMT and SiO2 aerogel on the crystallization process of PET were clarified.
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Peng Xia, Kunjie Li, Fangui Zeng, Xiong Xiao, Jianliang Zhang, Jianhua Xiang and Beilei Sun
Pyrolysis for coal gas generation changes the composition, pore structure, permeability and adsorption capacity of coal. This work aims to discuss the utilization of coal…
Abstract
Purpose
Pyrolysis for coal gas generation changes the composition, pore structure, permeability and adsorption capacity of coal. This work aims to discuss the utilization of coal pyrolysis on enhancing coalbed methane (CBM) production in the Gujiao area, Shanxi province, China.
Design/methodology/approach
This research was conducted mainly by the methods of thermogravimetry mass spectrometry (TG-MS) analysis, liquid nitrogen adsorption experiment and methane isothermal adsorption measurement.
Findings
The results can be concluded as that 400-700°C is the main temperature range for generating CH4. Pore volume and specific surface area increase with increasing temperature; however, the proportion of micro pore, transition pore and macro pore has no difference. The optimum temperature for enhancing CBM production should be letter than 600°C because the sedimentation of tar and other products will occupy some pores and fissures after 600°C.
Originality/value
Here in, to accurately recognize the suitable maximum temperature for heating development, a method enhancing CBM production, TG-MS, was adopted to analyze the products and the weight loss of coals with different ranks in the Gujiao area at temperature of 30-1,100°C. And then the pore structure, porosity, permeability, methane adsorption capacity and thermal maturity of coals during pyrolysis were investigated with increased temperature from 30°C to 750°C. On these bases, the favorable condition for enhancing CBM production and the thermal evolution of coal were recognized.
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Hongyu Hou, Feng Wu and Xin Huang
The development of the digital age has made data and information more transparent, enhancing the strategic perspectives of both buyers (strategic waiting) and sellers (price…
Abstract
Purpose
The development of the digital age has made data and information more transparent, enhancing the strategic perspectives of both buyers (strategic waiting) and sellers (price fluctuations) in their decision-making. This research investigates the optimal dynamic pricing strategy of the content product developer in relation to their consideration of consumer fairness concerns to elucidate the impact of consumer fairness concerns on the dynamic pricing strategy of the developer.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper assumes that monopolistic content developers implement a dynamic pricing strategy for the content product. Through constructing a two-period dynamic pricing game model, this research investigates the optimal decisions of the content developer, contingent upon their consideration or disregard of consumer fairness concerns. In the extension section, the authors additionally account for the influence of myopic consumers on these optimal decisions.
Findings
Our findings reveal that the degree of consumer fairness concerns significantly influences the developer’s optimal dynamic pricing decision. When a developer offers content products with lower depth, there is a propensity for the developer to refrain from incorporating consumer fairness concerns into a dynamic pricing strategy. Conversely, in cases where the developer offers a high-depth content product, consumer fairness concerns benefit the developer. Furthermore, our analysis reveals a consistent benefit for the developer from the inclusion of myopic consumers.
Originality/value
Few studies have delved into the conjoined influence of consumer fairness concerns and strategic behavior on dynamic pricing strategy. Our findings indicate that consumer fairness concerns can enhance the efficiency of the value chain for content products under specific conditions. This paper not only enriches the existing literature on dynamic pricing by incorporating consumer fairness concerns theoretically but also offers practical insights. The outcomes of this research can guide content product developers in devising optimal dynamic pricing strategies.
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Zhiqing Tian, Bin Xu, Xiaobing Fan, Bingli Pan, Shuang Zhao, Bingchan Wang and Hongyu Liu
This paper aims to investigate the crucial roles of textured surfaces on oil-impregnated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) created by a facile tattoo strategy in improving…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the crucial roles of textured surfaces on oil-impregnated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) created by a facile tattoo strategy in improving tribological properties.
Design/methodology/approach
Pored PTFE (PPTFE) was prepared by mixing powder PTFE and citric acid and experienced a cold-press sintering molding process. Subsequently, textured surfaces were obtained with using a tattoo strategy. Surface-textured PPTFE was thus impregnated with polyethylene glycol 200, yielding oil-impregnated and pore-connected PPTFE.
Findings
This study found that oil-impregnated and surface-textured PPTFE exhibited excellent tribological performances with an 82% reduction in coefficient of friction and a 72.5% lowering in wear rate comparing to PPTFE.
Originality/value
This study shows an efficient strategy to improve the tribological property of PTFE using a tattoo-inspired surface texturing method.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2024-0378/