Search results

As the concentration of environmental samples was generally very low and existing analytical instruments had limited sensitivity, developing mini pre-treatment systems for effectively concentrating the components was very important and necessary. The purposed of this paper is to develop mini pretreatment system integrated with micro pre-concentrator and micro GC column.

In this work, a mini pre-treatment system integrated with a micro pre-concentrator and a micro gas chromatograph (GC) column was proposed. The micro pre-concentrator filled with single-walled carbon nanotubes as adsorbent materials was able to effectively concentrate the trace environmental sample, which dramatically improved the response of detectors. In addition, instead of conventional columns, micro GC columns were able to effectively separate gas mixtures, which are able to overcome low resolution and poor anti-interference ability of portable instruments.

The results demonstrated that the proposed pre-treatment system was able to concentrate the trace sample with a concentration factor of 15 and effectively separate the gas mixtures with a resolution over 1.5.

A mini pre-treatment system integrated with a micro pre-concentrator and a micro GC column was proposed.

The purpose of this paper is to propose novel attitudinal prioritization and correlated aggregating methods for multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) with triangular intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral.

Based on the continuous ordered weighted average (COWA) operator, the triangular fuzzy COWA (TF-COWA) operator is defined, and then a novel attitudinal expected score function for triangular intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (TIFNs) is investigated. The novelty of this function is that it allows the prioritization of TIFNs by taking account of the expert’s attitudinal character. When the ranking order of TIFNs is determined, the triangular intuitionistic fuzzy correlated geometric (TIFCG) operator and the induced TIFCG (I-TIFCG) operator are developed.

Their use is twofold: first, the TIFCG operator is used to aggregate the correlative attribute value; and second, the I-TIFCG operator is designed to aggregate the preferences of experts with some degree of inter-dependent. Then, a TIFCG and I-TIFCG operators-based approach is presented for correlative MAGDM problems. Finally, the propose method is applied to select investment projects.

Based on the TIFCG and I-TIFCG operators, this paper proposes a novel correlated aggregating methods for MAGDM with triangular intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral. This method helps to solve the correlated attribute (criteria) relationship. Furthermore, by the attitudinal expected score functions of TIFNs, the propose method can reflect decision maker’s risk attitude in the final decision result.

This study aims to propose a cloud platform architecture considering information sharing based on blockchain to realize the security and convenience of enterprise information sharing in the automotive supply chain.

A bilateral matching model considering enterprises information contribution stimulates information sharing and improves the efficiency and quality of supply and demand matching. Three smart contracts are used to complete the information sharing process and match supply and demand in the automotive supply chain.

The system is tested on the local Ganache private chain, and the decentralized web page is designed based on the architecture prototype.

Solve the problem of information island in automobile supply chain.

The purpose of this paper is to design an oil-air lubrication system with low temperature rise, vibration and noise simplifies the spindle configuration. The oil-air lubrication unit is a key component for high-speed grinding machine tools. The development of oil-air lubrication unit suitable for high/ultrahigh rotational speed is a daunting task owing to the lubrication challenges.

This paper emphasizes three main issues: the analysis of oil-air two-phase flow for tradition oil-air lubrication unit with the simulation method; the design of new oil-air lubrication unit for the high/ultrahigh-speed grinding machine tools and the comparative experiment research of tradition and new oil-air lubrication unit. The optimum structure parameters that create the optimum flow pattern and operating conditions resulting in low temperature increase, vibration and noise of oil-air lubricated spindle can be achieved by the simulation method and experiments.

The simulation and experimental results show that new oil-air lubrication unit lubricating a high speed electric spindle has a better performance with a small temperature increase and vibration, which means that our proposed method is an effective design method for oil-air lubrication system.

A design method suitable for high-speed oil-air lubrication unit is proposed. New oil-air lubrication unit is expected to apply for high/ultrahigh rotational speed grinding machine tools.

Based on theory Z of leadership, this research aims to investigate the direct relationship between participative leadership (PL) and creative idea validation (CIV) fostering both radical (RC) and incremental creativity (IC). Additionally, by utilizing attribution theory, it explores the moderating effect of coworkers’ knowledge-sharing behavior (KSB) on both the direct and indirect relationships.

Data were collected through a descriptive approach and convenient sampling from three sources – leaders, subordinates and coworkers – in R&D departments at multi-levels within 97 high-tech firms in China. Data comprised 446 employees (subordinates and coworkers) and 94 leaders, and multilevel path analysis was conducted using Mplus software.

The results indicate that PL exhibits both a direct and indirect positive association with RC and IC through the CIV. Moreover, the relationship is enhanced by coworkers’ high-KSB.

Our study offers implications that managers can leverage to foster employee creativity. Leaders are encouraged to embrace a PL style for collective idea validation. However, to overcome coworkers’ reciprocal behavior, they may facilitate trust and team-building exercises, enabling employees to strengthen relationships and share critical information and knowledge resources for the development and validation.

This study is the first to empirically extend the relationship between PL and CIV, utilizing a multilevel approach to assess its impact on distinctive types of creativity – namely, radical and incremental. Further, it testifies the significance of coworkers’ knowledge as an attribution effect influencing the relationships.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the heat resistance and heat-resistant oxygen aging of 4-nitrophthalonitrile-etherified cardanol-phenol-formaldehyde (PPCF) to further use and develop the resin as the matrix resin of high-temperature resistant adhesives and coatings.

PPCF resin was synthesized by 4-nitrophthalonitrile and cardanol-phenol-formaldehyde (PCF). The structures of PPCF and PCF were investigated by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. In addition, the heat resistance and processability of PPCF and PCF resins were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques and rheological studies.

The results reveal that PPCF forms a cross-linked network at a lower temperature. PPCF resin has excellent resistance under thermal aging in an air atmosphere and that it still had a certain residual weight after aging at 500°C for 2 h, whereas the PCF resin is completely decomposed.

4-Nitrophthalonitrile was introduced into PCF resin, and XRD and SEM were used to investigate the high temperature residual carbon rate and heat-resistant oxygen aging properties of PPCF and PCF resins.

New quality productive forces (NQPF) are critical for high-quality economic development. As digital mergers and acquisitions (M&As) gain prominence in corporate digital transformation, understanding their impact on NQPF is essential. This study explores whether digital M&As enhance NQPF in firms and identifies key mechanisms that drive this effect.

This study investigates the impact of corporate digital M&As on NQPF using a multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) methodology. Analyzing a sample of Chinese listed firms from 2011 to 2021, the study explores how digital M&As contribute to NQPF, identifying firm innovation and data assets as key mechanisms. It also examines how external factors, such as industrial structure, urban human capital and economic policy uncertainty, moderate the effect of digital M&As on NQPF.

The study reveals three key findings: (1) Digital M&As significantly enhance corporate NQPF; (2) innovation and data assets serve as key mechanisms through which digital M&As drive NQPF and (3) external factors, including industrial structure, urban human capital and economic policy uncertainty, amplify the positive effects of digital M&As on NQPF.

Firms should leverage digital M&As as a strategic tool for improving NQPF, focusing on innovation and data assets. Policymakers can support this transformation by fostering an environment that enhances the positive impact of digital M&As on economic development.

This paper introduces a novel NQPF index, offering a comprehensive measurement of the concept. It provides new insights into how digital M&As affect NQPF, filling a gap in the literature on digital transformation and offering actionable recommendations for firms and policymakers.

Choosing the proper selling format for online retail has long been a critical issue for many platforms to consider, whereas the emergence and popularity of live-streaming have had a massive impact on the platform's business. As a result, selecting the suitable operating strategy for the live channel has become another critical issue for platforms. In such a context, what will be the impact of live-streaming on selling formats?

In order to explore these issues, we identified two selling formats (wholesale reselling or agency selling) as well as two operating strategies (introduce or discard). Thereby, four channel-structures are constructed, namely the reselling-discard model (WN), the reselling-introduce model (WL), the agency-discard model (AN), and the agency-introduce model (AL). We comprehensively compare how different structures affect stakeholders' interests, consumer surplus, and social welfare through equilibrium analyses.

These results help clarify the impact of critical factors (e.g. self-effort attribute, cross-effort attribute, and commission ratio) on the choice of models. We find that regardless of the selling agreement between the manufacturer and the platform, the introduction of a live store is necessary; specifically, when the commission ratio is high, the platform's optimal decision is first to sign an agency agreement and then apply live selling (AL); conversely, when the commission ratio is low, the platform's optimal strategy is first to enable the live channel and then to select the reselling format (WL), together, this also reveals, from a theoretical perspective.

Our study includes the dual analysis of selling formats and channel operations, considering the inherent dual attributes of service efforts and the external competitive environment.

The tactile sensor with array structure normally has the defects of existing nondetection zone, complex and nonstretchable structure. It is difficult to seamlessly attach to the surface of the robot. For this reason, this paper proposes a method to prepare nonarray structure tactile sensor directly on the surface of the robot by spraying process.

Based on the principle of gradient potential distribution, the potential fields are constructed in two different directions over the conductive film in time-sharing. The potentials at touching position in the two directions are detected to determine the coordinate of the touching point. The designed tactile sensor based on this principle consists of only three layers. Its bottom layer is designed as a weak conductive film made of graphite coating and used to construct the potential field. It can be sprayed either on PET substrate or directly on robot surface.

The radial basis function neural network is used for remodeling the potential distribution, which can effectively solve the problem of nonlinear potential distribution caused by irregular sensor shape, and uneven conductivity at different points of the spraying coating. The simulation and experimental results show that the principle of the proposed tactile sensor used for touching position detection is feasible to be applied to complex surfaces of the robot.

This paper proposed a nonarray customizable tactile sensor based on the spraying process. The sensor has a simple structure, and only five lead wires are needed to realize the coordinate detection of the touch position.

This study explores the influence of heritage brand extension on consumer purchase intention and analyses the effects of pop culture involvement. The extension of heritage brands is becoming increasingly difficult because such an extension needs to be consistent with the unique characteristics of brands and resonate with consumers. However, few scholars discuss the influence of consumers' level of pop culture involvement on brand extension and purchasing behaviour.

Taking time-honoured brands as an example, this study established a conceptual model based on a comprehensive review of the literature, and then tested the model using a sample of 255 respondents who were familiar with one of the selected Chinese time-honoured brands. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the relationships amongst brand extension fit, pop culture involvement, perceived value and purchase intention.

Time-honoured brand extension fit has a positive impact on consumer purchase intention, and this path is significantly influenced by the mediation mechanisms of perceived value. Situational pop culture involvement can significantly strengthen the relationship between time-honoured brand extension fit and perceived value, whereas enduring pop culture involvement does not.

The results clarify and expand on the different roles of cultural involvement in time-honoured brands and broaden research on the influence of cultural involvement in this regard. This study has significant theoretical value for the inheritance and revival of heritage brands and provides a reference for the practice of time-honoured brands.