Chin-Feng Lai, Hua-Xu Zhong, Po-Sheng Chiu and Ying-Hung Pu
This study aims to adopt cloud technology and develop a “cloud bookcase system” to make it possible to provide consistent mobile reading experiences to allow readers to use all…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to adopt cloud technology and develop a “cloud bookcase system” to make it possible to provide consistent mobile reading experiences to allow readers to use all kinds of mobile devices to read e-books.
Design/methodology/approach
This study implements a cloud bookcase and uses four indicators (system quality, information quality, service quality, user satisfaction) to evaluate the system for reading e-books.
Findings
After completing the system, the authors used a questionnaire to evaluate the system. The results show that the quality can meet the needs and satisfaction of users. Subsequent interviews with some of the participants also reveal the biggest concerns of readers include library policy, resources and system quality.
Practical implications
System quality, information quality, service quality and satisfaction are adopted as the indicators to assess the ratings from people using mobile devices to read e-books on the cloud bookcase system developed in this study to evaluate whether the cloud bookcase system is a successful information system as well as the relations between mobile device factors and user ratings. The results indicate that the ratings from more than half of the readers for the system, as shown in the various indicators, achieve more than 60%. From the interview results, the results show that some participants also reveal there is still room for improvement in some areas.
Originality/value
This study implements a cloud bookcase and there are three contributions: (1) the cloud bookcase system developed in this study based on related theories proves able to meet the needs of users, (2) this system had high ratings for all four indicators, (3) the interview responses reveal that most people regard system quality as the most important, and some of the people value some of the items more, including library policy, readers' interests and more resources, especially the number of e-books available.
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Jui-Hung Chang, Chi-Jane Wang, Hua-Xu Zhong, Pei-Wen Chen, Ai-Jou Pan and Po-Sheng Chiu
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the Perceptions of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) questionnaire and the Information System Success Questionnaire on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the Perceptions of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) questionnaire and the Information System Success Questionnaire on students when using the school's COVID-19 epidemic prevention website. The study is aimed toward analyzing both questionnaires as well as evaluating an epidemic prevention website.
Design/methodology/approach
The school's COVID-19 prevention website and two questionnaires (Perceptions of COVID-19 and the Information System Success Questionnaire) are examined in order to investigate 73 students' COVID-19 perceptions. An open-ended question was used as the qualitative data to support quantitative data and evaluate a university's COVID-19 epidemic prevention website from a southern university in Taiwan.
Findings
The findings indicated that most students evaluated the school's COVID-19 website positively and were satisfied. In the open-ended questions, the majority of students rated the quality of the system positively and the need to fix some defects. Students have different COVID-19 perceptions and social distance compliance based on their current situations.
Practical implications
This study provides researchers and website developers a broader understanding of the construction of the school's COVID-19 prevention website and a better understanding of student's COVID-19 perceptions.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study examining a school's epidemic prevention website, which is measured by the Information Success Questionnaire and the Perceptions of COVID-19 Questionnaire for college students.
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Abstract
Purpose
An improved simulation model of switched reluctance motor (SRM) for steady-state operation that considers the core losses in the stator and rotor is established to obtain the steady performance of the high-speed SRM during the design, analysis and control of SRM driving system more accurately.
Design/methodology/approach
The transient core loss model for the material and SRM is presented. Then a new method for calculating the flux density of the motor in real time is introduced, and a steady-state simulation model of the SRM including real-time transient core losses calculation model is established according to the transient flux density. Because the transient core losses calculated by above method are the total core losses of the motor, a core losses distribution method is proposed and the steady-state simulation model of the SRM including the distributed core losses’ effect on the phase winding is established.
Findings
The comparison results show that the proposed model has higher accuracy than the traditional model, excluding core losses, especially at the moments when phase voltage is turn-on and turn-off. The proportion of the core losses to the motor losses increases with the increase in speed. So, the core losses’ effect on the steady-state performance of the high-speed SRM cannot be ignored.
Originality/value
The method to obtain flux density in the real time is presented and the improved steady-state simulation model of SRM that considering transient core losses is proposed.
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Lyn Courtney and Neil Anderson
This paper aims to address the mechanisms of, and barriers to, knowledge transfer between Australia and China in the tertiary sector.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to address the mechanisms of, and barriers to, knowledge transfer between Australia and China in the tertiary sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Individual focused interviews are conducted with one Chinese and ten Australian senior academics engaged in supervisory roles at all levels of knowledge transfer. Content and sociolinguistics analysis is conducted on the questions: How is knowledge transferred between key academic/research staff? What is the potential for commercialization of research findings between Australia and China? What role does information and communication technology (ICT) play in knowledge transfer?
Findings
Knowledge transfer between Chinese and Australian universities consists of research partnerships, collective publications, and joint degree programs. One‐way transfer of knowledge from Australia to China, rather than the desired reciprocal transfer of knowledge, appears to be most common. Barriers to bi‐directional knowledge sharing include misunderstandings surround intellectual property and cultural differences, which undermine trust between China and Australia. The participants overwhelmingly hold optimistic views about the potential of commercialization of research findings between China and Australia and report that ICT enhances communications assisted in successful knowledge transfer. However, ICT is reported to be under‐utilized because of unequal access to hardware and broadband in China as well as blocking and censorship of communication by China.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the discourse on international, intercultural and bi‐directional knowledge transfer in the tertiary sector and has implications for enhanced academic and research excellence between China and Australia. Moreover, insight into the mechanisms of successful knowledge transfer may be applicable to improve knowledge transfer between Australia and other countries.
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This article examines the major modifications made to the national revenue system since the initial reform and opening up of China in the late 1970s. A detailed analysis of…
Abstract
This article examines the major modifications made to the national revenue system since the initial reform and opening up of China in the late 1970s. A detailed analysis of revenue structures at the central and local levels of government is presented; several emerging issues are also discussed. The authors suggest that past reforms were largely successful in terms of rationalization of intergovernmental fiscal relations and have profoundly impacted the current revenue system to meet certain policy goals and administrative needs. A brief comparison illustrates that although central and local revenue systems share basic similarities such as a general reliance on tax revenue and an overall dependence on turnover and income taxes, striking differences are also in evidence which include extra-budgetary revenues and a high concentration of land-related revenue in local governments as well as a highly diversified local revenue structure. Key emergent issues identified include the readjustment of the roles played by the different levels of government in revenue administration and expenditure assignment, the increased importance of intergovernmental transfer and accountability, and possibilities for the adoption of new taxes such as a real property tax, a social security tax, and a volume-based vehicle emission tax.
Xu Ming, Fu Xiehong and Yu Junying
In this paper a case study of mystery shopping is described, which was jointly conducted by a large apparel retailing company headquartered in Hong Kong and a management school in…
Abstract
In this paper a case study of mystery shopping is described, which was jointly conducted by a large apparel retailing company headquartered in Hong Kong and a management school in Shanghai. The program of mystery shopping in the stores of the company has been carried out for six years, and the scope of the activity covers some 30 cities in China. The reinforcement learning model is used to explain how mystery shopping can be employed as one strategy to improve service quality. The paper summarizes the main measures adopted by the company for continuous improvement. The whole processes of mystery shopping, the follow-up measures, and the evaluation sheet and work instruction are described as well. The paper also suggests the ways to select, train and control college students as mystery shoppers
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Sheng Peng, Lu-jun Cai, Tian-hua Jiang and Xu Kai
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the explosive performance and explosion damage mechanism of T-beam bridge structure.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the explosive performance and explosion damage mechanism of T-beam bridge structure.
Design/methodology/approach
On the basis of the existing specification, two T-beam bridge models were designed and fabricated. Test specimens of different explosive dosage and different blast height were carried out. The mechanical process, failure mode, blast damage model, damage identification mechanism and blast evolution law and quantitative evaluation were taken into account.
Findings
The results revealed that the web plate fracture failure is the key to the unstable failure of the whole T-beam bridge. The explosion failure phenomenon and blast damage evaluation criterion of RC T-beam bridge was divided into five stages: the original cracks stage of concrete material (D = 0 ∼ 0.1), the fractures initiation stage of concrete material (D = 0.1 ∼ 0.3), the stable expansion stage of cracks in concrete material (D = 0.3 ∼ 0.55), the unstable expansion stage of cracks in concrete material (D = 0.55 ∼ 0.8), the explosion fracture of steel bars and the overall instability and damage of the bridge (D = 0.8 ∼ 1.0), which can also be described as basically intact, slight damage, moderate damage, severe damage and collapsed.
Social implications
The research result will provide basis for the antiknock evaluation and damage repair technical specifications of the RC T-beam bridge.
Originality/value
The research results of damage evaluation serve as a basis for damage repair and reinforcement of bridge structures after explosion.
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Dazhong Wu, Mohamad Sepehri, Jian Hua and Feng Xu
This paper aims to conduct an empirical study to investigate whether an industry’s position affects the transmission of information and economic shocks.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to conduct an empirical study to investigate whether an industry’s position affects the transmission of information and economic shocks.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper conducts an empirical study of inventory performance based on a large panel of 71 industries in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail sectors over a 10-year period (2007–2016).
Findings
It is found that the position of a focal industry in the supply chain network moderates the impacts of macroeconomic uncertainty shocks and shocks from supplier/customer industries on the focal industry’s inventory. On the one hand, more central industries are more sensitive to macroeconomic uncertainty shocks as well as spillover shocks from their supplier and customer industries. On the other hand, uncertainty shocks from more central industries have higher impact on their partner industries than those from less central industries.
Practical implications
A manager needs to take into account the network positions of suppliers/customers in supply network when making inventory decisions. For example, when sharing information with partners, the network position of a partner affects how important its information is.
Originality/value
The key novelty of this paper is the introduction of network structure that represents the supplier–customer relationships in the entire economy, and the modeling of uncertainty shocks transmitted through the supply chain network.
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Diana Baker, Helen McCabe, Mary Kelly and Tian Jiang
Findings from a comparative qualitative study with parents in the USA and China increase the understanding of experiences of adults with autism in both countries.
Abstract
Purpose
Findings from a comparative qualitative study with parents in the USA and China increase the understanding of experiences of adults with autism in both countries.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-Structured interviews were conducted with families in the USA and in China. In total, 18 families participated in the study – 7 in the USA, 11 in China.
Findings
Analysis of the comparative data led to the emergence of three overarching themes, expressing both similarities and differences in experiences: 1) transition to adult services plays out differently in the two nations, 2) parent advocacy and efforts in supporting and securing services for their children are strong in both countries but are also defined by the variability in access to services and 3) due to the scarcity of adult services in their country, Chinese parents express significantly more worries about their own aging and mortality as compared with USA parents.
Research limitations/implications
Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Originality/value
By examining the experiences of families of adults with autism in the USA and China, the research reveals themes that would not be visible in a single-nation study.
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Gives a momentum theory analysis to analyze the effects of the shroud on aerodynamic performance in a helicopter shrouded tail rotor system for hover and side wind states. As the…
Abstract
Gives a momentum theory analysis to analyze the effects of the shroud on aerodynamic performance in a helicopter shrouded tail rotor system for hover and side wind states. As the key to the analysis, introduces a thrust distribution factor to represent the ratio of the shroud thrust to the total thrust of the shrouded rotor. With the help of the factor, fully derives the relations of the thrust, power and disk area for a shrouded rotor. Discusses the effects of the airflow velocity on the thrust gains of the shroud. Makes comparisons between a shrouded rotor and an isolated rotor for different cases and analyzes the variations of the thrust and power of a shrouded rotor with the thrust distribution factor. Gives several conclusions.