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Automated technologies have been applied to facility management (FM) practices to address labour demands of, and time consumed by, inputting and processing manual data. Less attention has been focussed on automation of visual information, such as images, when improving timely maintenance decisions. This study aims to develop image classification algorithms to improve information flow in the inspection-repair process through building information modelling (BIM).

To improve and automate the inspection-repair process, image classification algorithms were used to connect images with a corresponding image database in a BIM knowledge repository. Quick response (QR) code decoding and Bag of Words were chosen to classify images in the system. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) were developed to facilitate activity collaboration and communication. A pilot case study in an inspection-repair process was applied to demonstrate the applications of this system.

The system developed in this study associates the inspection-repair process with a digital three-dimensional (3D) model, GUIs, a BIM knowledge repository and image classification algorithms. By implementing the proposed application in a case study, the authors found that improvement of the inspection-repair process and automated image classification with a BIM knowledge repository (such as the one developed in this study) can enhance FM practices by increasing productivity and reducing time and costs associated with ecision-making.

This study introduces an innovative approach that applies image classification and leverages a BIM knowledge repository to enhance the inspection-repair process in FM practice. The system designed provides automated image-classifying data from a smart phone, eliminates time required to input image data manually and improves communication and collaboration between FM personnel for maintenance in the decision-making process.

Special education in China has lagged behind regular education for many years, however, the past few decades, the government has made considerable efforts to develop and improve the special education system. While the citizens of China have had a generic moral interest in disability since ancient times, the development of special education schools did not occur until American and European missionaries started schools for the visually and hearing impaired in the 19th century. The next major influence in the development of the special education system occurred with China’s Cultural Revolution in 1978. Interestingly, there is not any exclusive legislation on special education but in the 1980s, the government started Learning in Regular Classrooms (LRC), which is China’s version of inclusion. LRC has progressed rapidly the past two decades; however, the quality of instruction is low due to a lack of specialists, a shortage of personnel, inadequate funding, and limited technology as well as other barriers that are delineated in the chapter. The chapter emphasizes the government’s recent efforts in in-service teacher training, the preparation of preservice teachers, working with families, developing community rehabilitation training programs, and implementing evidence-based practices. Special education in China today is at a good place but it has quite a way from the ideal situation.

The purpose of this study was to develop a new approach using a pulse YAG laser with rational power density and pulse width to texture desired discrete distribution morphology on the cylinder wall.

Variational rules of the effects of these three parameters were found by calculating the oil film on the cylinder/piston ring system. The experiment results were compared between laser texturing cylinders and conventional honing cylinders.

It was found that the coefficient of friction and wear rate of laser texturing cylinders were reduced by 50 and 85.7 per cent, respectively, and the piston ring wear rate was decreased by 50 per cent under full lubrication condition. Under starved lubrication condition, the cylinder liner wear was reduced by 34.3 per cent.

The effectiveness of which was determined by three control parameters: depth-to-diameter ratio, area density and distribution angle of the dimples.

The goal of this chapter is to respond to the theoretical inquiries by scholars who are interested in how the public–private partnership (PPP) models adapt to China’s context where political power dictates economic strategies. We also want to provide suggestions to policy designers who aim to promote a sustainable investment environment for domestic and international investors. We review the literature that explains the upside and downside of PPP projects in contemporary China. (1) We classify the trajectory of PPP evolution into four phases, i.e., emergence, growth, recession and revival. (2) We note that private companies take a disadvantageous position in the partnership compared with governments and state-owned enterprises because of a lack of specialized legislation, unequal competition between private companies and state-owned enterprises and the opposition from the civic society. (3) We identify political risks as the most influential risks. Political risks also lead to the misallocation of other risks between public and private parties that contributes to the high failure rate of China’s PPP projects. Based on these findings, we recommend governments to draft specialized legislation, stabilize the political environment and provide favourable subsidies to local governments to limit the risks involved in PPP projects. We also advise private enterprises and state-owned enterprises to focus on negotiating over task and risk division with governments when they make decisions to participate in PPP projects. This full review of studies on PPP development in China provides reliable recommendations to scholars, governments and enterprises.

Through examining the development of the video compact disc player industry in China, this article aims to explore the main characteristics of world‐first innovation and identify four success factors for innovation followers to launch world‐first products in catching‐up countries.

This article takes the form of a case study

The main characteristics of world‐first innovation in catching‐up countries include: from the demand side, innovation is mainly pulled by the local market, rather than technology‐push; from the supply side, innovation cannot isolate itself from the rest of the world – suppliers of key technologies in advanced countries play an important role; inter‐firm alliances are an increasingly important way to generate world‐first innovation; and downstream integration capabilities are required for followers to mix pieces of technologies together at competitive pricing. The success of followers from catching‐up countries to launch world‐first products hinges on the four critical factors: strengths of complementary assets; figuring out ways to meet local market demand without relying on large R&D spending; emphasizing untapped innovation opportunities by multinationals; and positioning themselves on the proper points of the globally coordinated network for innovation.

This article identifies the main characteristics of world‐first innovation and points out four success factors for innovation followers to launch world‐first products, which could be significant to managers in catching‐up countries. Findings of this paper are more relevant to large catching‐up countries such as India, Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia where a large domestic market could serve as important launch markets for the world‐first innovation.

This paper aims to study the thermal oxidation performance of antioxidant additives in ester base oils deeply.

ReaxFF molecular dynamics was used to simulate the thermal oxidation process of butyl octyl diphenylamine and octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate as two antioxidant additives act on the Trimethylolpropane trioleate (TMPTO) base oil. Meanwhile, combining with the infrared spectroscopy characterization results of the thermal oxidation test, this paper provides theoretical support for the development of high-performance synthetic lubricants and their antioxidant additives.

The results show that butyl octyldiphenylamine easily removes the hydrogen atom on the secondary amine, which promotes the formation of more long carbon chain diene radicals or polyene hydroperoxides from TMPTO. Octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate could easily decompose into octadecyl hydroperoxide and 2,6-di-tert-butyl 4-propionylphenol, which could convert into 2-tert-butyl-4-peroxyethyl-6-hydroperoxy-tert-butylphenol in the middle of the thermal oxidation reaction, prompting TMPTO to form more short-chain alkenyl and olefin hydroperoxide or other oxide.

The main change characteristics of base oil molecules are the first thermal decomposition to form oleic acid groups and ethane cyclopropane methyl oleate. Under the action of butyl octyldiphenylamine and octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate, the deep oxidation and decomposition reaction are slowed down.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-01-2020-0037/

This paper aims to investigate the thermal oxidation behavior of trimethylolpropane trioleate (TMPTO) base oil when exposed to Fe surfaces.

Samples of TMPTO bulk oil were placed in Fe vessels and heated in an oven to accelerate the oxidation at different time intervals, while others were placed in glass vessels and used as experimental controls. Subsequently, the physicochemical properties of the oxidized TMPTOs, including the kinematic viscosity and acid value, were measured and a structural analysis was conducted using the Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques.

The results demonstrate that the TMPTO bulk oil exhibited an exponential increase in the kinematic viscosity along with the increasing acid value over the oxidation time. The Fe surface significantly increased the kinematic viscosity of TMPTO, while only mildly impacting its acid value compared with the experimental controls. The structural analysis results of the TMPTO suggest that the C = C and = C-H bonds were the vulnerable sites. Furthermore, the results suggest that the Fe surface evidently accelerates the chemical reactions of the C = C and the = C-H bonds, and less alcohols and more carbonyl products were identified in the oil samples that were heated in the Fe vessels.

The results demonstrate that the Fe surfaces affected the oxidation behavior of the TMPTO base oil, and an interaction mechanism between the Fe and the TMPTO is developed.

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize amines/phenolic antioxidants by a new method and to characterize the influence of antioxidants on thermo-oxidative degradation in trimethylolpropane trioleate (TMPTO) base oil.

The molecule structures of antioxidants and lubricants were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The oxidative stability of antioxidants and lubricants was evaluated by pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC).

These findings suggested that butyl-octyl-diphenylamine has obvious advantage on kinematic viscosity inhibition, and amine-phenol combination antioxidant has a slightly better suppression of total acid in TMPTO under thermal oxidation at 200°C for 96 h. The FTIR characterizations showed that all antioxidants could protect the basic structure of TMPTO in the early stage of thermal degradation.

Under the action of butyl-octyl-diphenylamine, the dehydrogenation of TMPTO is easily met with the alkenyl hydrogen = C–H bond in the unsaturated C = C. Meanwhile, as octadecyl 3-(3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate protects TMPTO, the unsaturated C = C bond in the base oil molecule easily breaks down during transition.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how organizational diversity may be associated with immigrants’ quality of coworker relationships. More specifically, this paper examines how immigrants’ perceived deep-level similarity and perceived workplace ethnic diversity may be associated with their quality of coworker relationships.

A final sample of 347 immigrant employees were surveyed. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses.

Immigrants’ quality of coworker relationships is positively associated with their perceived deep-level similarity with other coworkers. In addition, perceived workplace ethnic diversity moderates this relationship such that the relation is stronger as perceived workplace ethnic diversity increases.

The study and analyses are based on cross-sectional and single-source data and cannot determine causality. The study is also restricted to immigrants in the USA.

Findings provide evidence that increased levels of ethnic diversity and deep-level similarity in the workplace may improve immigrants’ quality of relationships, helping them integrate more successfully in organizations. Thus, managers seeking to benefit from diversity should strive for the creation of truly multicultural organizations or workgroups and focus on fostering similarities in deep-level attributes to maximize their potential.

Immigrants are an important asset for organizations, but research about their inclusion in organizations is limited, especially when examining their integration in their workplaces. This study addresses some of these limitations by looking at the effect of diversity in organizations.