Rameshkumar Subramanian, T.P. Arjun and K.A. Ashique Ali
Personal financial management is gaining momentum in modern society, as it plays a vital role in shaping the financial behaviour of people looking forward to adequate financial…
Abstract
Personal financial management is gaining momentum in modern society, as it plays a vital role in shaping the financial behaviour of people looking forward to adequate financial well-being. Hence, people in general and the weaker sections of society in particular are expected to show desirable financial behaviour for achieving individual as well as societal well-being. The present study investigates the impact of socio-economic characteristics on the financial behaviour of migrant workers who have migrated to the state of Tamil Nadu. The primary data were collected using the interview schedule from 200 migrant workers selected using the snowball sampling technique. The results show that migrant workers have mediocre financial behaviour. Furthermore, it is also found that migrant workers’ financial behaviour is not influenced by their socio-economic characteristics, such as gender, age, marital status, family type, and family income. However, the level of education has a significant positive role in shaping the financial behaviour of the migrant workers. The study outlines the need for specially engineered financial education for migrant workers.
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Chunhui Kang, Decheng Kong, JiZheng Yao, Chunyun Guo, Li Wang, K. Xiao and C.F. Dong
This paper aims to investigate the corrosion behavior of zinc in a typical hot and dry atmosphere. It proposes the dynamic corrosion for different exposure periods. Results can…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the corrosion behavior of zinc in a typical hot and dry atmosphere. It proposes the dynamic corrosion for different exposure periods. Results can provide the basic data and corrosion mechanism of zinc in such environment.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors investigated the corrosion behavior of pure zinc exposed in the typical hot and dry environment in Turpan for one-four years, which has never been studied. Scanning electron microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were conducted to measure the corrosion morphology and products of zinc. Finally, combining electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning Kelvin probe techniques, the corrosion mechanism of zinc in Turpan was examined.
Findings
The thickness loss of the zinc followed an exponential law with respect to exposure time: D = 3.17 t0.61, and both of the rust layer resistance and the charge transfer resistance increased with exposure time. The corrosion products mainly comprised ZnO, Zn(OH)2, Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6, Zn4SO4(OH)6·5H2O and Zn12(SO4)3Cl3(OH)15·5H2O. The Kelvin potentials shifted toward the positive direction from −0.380 to −0.262 V (vs saturated calomel electrode [SCE]) when the exposure time extended from one to four years and the distribution of the corrosion products became more and more uniform.
Originality/value
The corrosion behavior of pure zinc in the typical hot and dry environment in Turpan has not been studied. The dynamic corrosion for different exposure periods was obtained. The corrosion products were systemically investigated via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, EPMA, XPS and XRD.
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Given that a prerequisite for COVID-19 transmission is the interaction between individuals, it is reasonable to suspect that transportation networks may have contributed to the…
Abstract
Given that a prerequisite for COVID-19 transmission is the interaction between individuals, it is reasonable to suspect that transportation networks may have contributed to the spread of COVID-19. This study uses the air transportation network to quantify the risk of COVID-19 spread in the United States. The proposed model is applied at the county level and identifies the risk of importing COVID-19-infected passengers into a given county. We also undertake an examination of the factors influencing the spread of COVID-19 in relation to air travel. Utilizing an extensive dataset encompassing various socioeconomic, demographic, and healthcare-related variables, our results indicate a positive relationship between these factors and the relative risk of COVID-19 spread, highlighting the pronounced impact of population density, air travel volume, and larger household sizes on increasing travel-related risk. Conversely, greater healthcare capacity, particularly in terms of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) beds, is associated with reduced risk. We provide estimates of expected relative risk for each county and a ranking that can be useful for informing public health policies to stem the spread of the virus by devoting resources such as screening and enhanced travel protocols to airports located in at-risk counties.
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Ye Li, Chengyun Wang and Junjuan Liu
In this essay, a new NDAGM(1,N,α) power model is recommended to resolve the hassle of the distinction between old and new information, and the complicated nonlinear traits between…
Abstract
Purpose
In this essay, a new NDAGM(1,N,α) power model is recommended to resolve the hassle of the distinction between old and new information, and the complicated nonlinear traits between sequences in real behavior systems.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, the correlation aspect sequence is screened via a grey integrated correlation degree, and the damped cumulative generating operator and power index are introduced to define the new model. Then the non-structural parameters are optimized through the genetic algorithm. Finally, the pattern is utilized for the prediction of China’s natural gas consumption, and in contrast with other models.
Findings
By altering the unknown parameters of the model, theoretical deduction has been carried out on the newly constructed model. It has been discovered that the new model can be interchanged with the traditional grey model, indicating that the model proposed in this article possesses strong compatibility. In the case study, the NDAGM(1,N,α) power model demonstrates superior integrated performance compared to the benchmark models, which indirectly reflects the model’s heightened sensitivity to disparities between new and old information, as well as its ability to handle complex linear issues.
Practical implications
This paper provides a scientifically valid forecast model for predicting natural gas consumption. The forecast results can offer a theoretical foundation for the formulation of national strategies and related policies regarding natural gas import and export.
Originality/value
The primary contribution of this article is the proposition of a grey multivariate prediction model, which accommodates both new and historical information and is applicable to complex nonlinear scenarios. In addition, the predictive performance of the model has been enhanced by employing a genetic algorithm to search for the optimal power exponent.
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Hao Liang, Luc Renneboog and Sunny Li Sun
We take a state-stewardship view on corporate governance and executive compensation in economies with strong political involvement, where state-appointed managers act as…
Abstract
Purpose
We take a state-stewardship view on corporate governance and executive compensation in economies with strong political involvement, where state-appointed managers act as responsible “stewards” rather than “agents” of the state.
Methodology/approach
We test this view on China and find that Chinese managers are remunerated not for maximizing equity value but for increasing the value of state-owned assets.
Findings
Managerial compensation depends on political connections and prestige, and on the firms’ contribution to political goals. These effects were attenuated since the market-oriented governance reform.
Research limitations/implications
Economic reform without reforming the human resources policies at the executive level enables the autocratic state to exert political power on corporate decision making, so as to ensure that firms’ business activities fulfill the state’s political objectives.
Practical implications
As a powerful social elite, the state-steward managers in China have the same interests as the state (the government), namely extracting rents that should adhere to the nation (which stands for the society at large or the collective private citizens).
Social implications
As China has been a communist country with a single ruling party for decades, the ideas of socialism still have a strong impact on how companies are run. The legitimacy of the elite’s privileged rights over private sectors is central to our question.
Originality/value
Chinese executive compensation stimulates not only the maximization of shareholder value but also the preservation of the state’s interests.
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Jianping Zhang, Leilei Wang and Guodong Wang
With the rapid advancement in the automotive industry, the friction coefficient (FC), wear rate (WR) and weight loss (WL) have emerged as crucial parameters to measure the…
Abstract
Purpose
With the rapid advancement in the automotive industry, the friction coefficient (FC), wear rate (WR) and weight loss (WL) have emerged as crucial parameters to measure the performance of automotive braking systems, so the FC, WR and WL of friction material are predicted and analyzed in this work, with an aim of achieving accurate prediction of friction material properties.
Design/methodology/approach
Genetic algorithm support vector machine (GA-SVM) model is obtained by applying GA to optimize the SVM in this work, thus establishing a prediction model for friction material properties and achieving the predictive and comparative analysis of friction material properties. The process parameters are analyzed by using response surface methodology (RSM) and GA-RSM to determine them for optimal friction performance.
Findings
The results indicate that the GA-SVM prediction model has the smallest error for FC, WR and WL, showing that it owns excellent prediction accuracy. The predicted values obtained by response surface analysis are closed to those of GA-SVM model, providing further evidence of the validity and the rationality of the established prediction model.
Originality/value
The relevant results can serve as a valuable theoretical foundation for the preparation of friction material in engineering practice.
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The purpose of this study is to provide a theoretical basis for the study of the galvanic corrosion mechanism of copper coupled silver-coating under a thin electrolyte layer in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide a theoretical basis for the study of the galvanic corrosion mechanism of copper coupled silver-coating under a thin electrolyte layer in electronic systems.
Design/methodology/approach
Electrochemical measurements and surface characterizations.
Findings
The results indicate that the potential difference between copper and silver electrodes first quickly increases, and then reaches a relatively stable and large value with the extension of the immersion time. With the significant increase in the cathode/anode area ratio in electronic systems, the area ratio effect obviously accelerates the corrosion of copper due to the remarkable promotion of the cathode process. For a large cathode/anode area ratio, the galvanic current density always maintains a large value and exhibits an increasing trend with the extension of the immersion time, which is attributed that the area ratio effect reduces the protection of corrosion products. For the same area of cathode and anode, the galvanic current density always maintains a small value with the extension of the immersion time due to a low galvanic effect and protective corrosion products.
Practical implications
This work provides some information for the establishment of reliably protective measures for electronic systems in service.
Social implications
This work not only provides some information for the establishment of reliably protective measures for electronic systems in service, but also provides a theoretical basis for the selection of metal materials in microelectronic systems.
Originality/value
This work provides not only a theoretical basis for the study of the galvanic corrosion mechanism of Cu/Ag under a thin electrolyte layer, but also provides some information for the establishment of reliably protective measures for electronic systems in service.
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Mansoor Ahmad, Ayhan Bozkurt and Omid Farhanieh
This paper aims to Separation and sorting of biological cells is desirable in many applications for analyzing cell properties, such as disease diagnostics, drugs delivery…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to Separation and sorting of biological cells is desirable in many applications for analyzing cell properties, such as disease diagnostics, drugs delivery, chemical processing and therapeutics.
Design/methodology/approach
Acoustic energy-based bioparticle separation is a simple, viable, bio-compatible and contact-less technique using, which can separate the bioparticles based on their density and size, with-out labeling the sample particles.
Findings
Conventionally available bioparticle separation techniques as fluorescence and immunomagnetic may cause a serious threat to the life of the cells due to various compatibility issues. Moreover, they also require an extra pre-processing labeling step. Contrarily, label-free separation can be considered as an alternative solution to the traditional bio-particle separation methods, due to their simpler operating principles and lower cost constraints. Acoustic based particle separation methods have captured a lot of attention among the other reported label-free particle separation techniques because of the numerous advantages it offers.
Practical implications
This study tries to briefly cover the developments of different acoustic-based particle separation techniques over the years. Unlike the conventional surveys on general bioparticles separation, this study is focused particularly on the acoustic-based particle separation. The study would provide a comprehensive guide for the future researchers especially working in the field of the acoustics, in studying and designing the acoustic-based particle separation techniques.
Originality/value
The study insights a brief theory of different types of acoustic waves and their interaction with the bioparticles is considered, followed by acoustic-based particle separation devices reported till the date. The integration of acoustic-based separation techniques with other methods and with each other is also discussed. Finally, all major aspects like the approach, and productivity, etc., of the adopted acoustic particle separation methods are sketched in this article.
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Kaveh Abhari, Mahsa Zarei, Mikay Parsons and Pamela Estell
Enterprise social media (ESM) applications offer new opportunities for organizations to mobilize employees for open innovation, by promoting innovation beyond traditional R&D…
Abstract
Purpose
Enterprise social media (ESM) applications offer new opportunities for organizations to mobilize employees for open innovation, by promoting innovation beyond traditional R&D functions. Despite the popularity and success of these applications, current research has yet to fully explore the potential of ESM applications as a driver of employee-driven innovation, specifically through advancements in innovation culture. To fill this gap, this study proposes a theoretical framework that explains the role of ESM applications in facilitating employee innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors administered a cross-sectional survey to collect data from professionals who use ESM applications regularly at work. Following a pilot study and instrument refinement, the authors conducted a field study to test measurement and the structural model by using the partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method.
Findings
The findings of this study support the validity of the proposed theoretical model. First, the results confirmed the three antecedents of ESM use for innovation: perceived innovation possibilities enabled by ESM technology, the expected value of ESM use for innovation and organizational support for using ESM applications for innovation. Next, the results confirmed the importance of ESM use in encouraging individual innovation productivity in terms of product/service innovation, process innovation and social innovation. Finally, the results corroborated the mediating role of risk-taking and knowledge-sharing culture in the use of ESM to increase innovation productivity.
Originality/value
The findings presented here have implications for theory and practices that would concern fostering a supportive environment and building an organizational culture that promotes employees' innovation behavior (internal open innovation) by using social technologies.
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The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in millions of lives lost. Beyond its devastating impact, did it also hurt consumer financial well-being? Consumer bankruptcy is often seen as a…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in millions of lives lost. Beyond its devastating impact, did it also hurt consumer financial well-being? Consumer bankruptcy is often seen as a sign of experiencing extremely overextended debt burdens. This study aimed to identify factors associated with bankruptcy risks, specifically focusing on insolvency (when total debt exceeds total assets) and debt delinquency (being late in debt payments for 60 or more days).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were from the US 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. Two bankruptcy risk variables included insolvency and debt delinquency. Potential influencing factors included in the analyses were COVID-19-induced shocks, financial capability, ownership of various debts and demographics. Logistic regression models were used to detect potential factors associated with bankruptcy risks.
Findings
First, a COVID-19-induced shock variable, new work schedule, reduced the risk of insolvency and four shock variables (COVID infection with serious persistent symptoms, work disruption due to childcare responsibilities, work reduction and work increase) increased the risk of debt delinquency. Second, financial capability factors played a crucial role. Desirable financial behavior reduced both risks of insolvency and debt delinquency. Subjective financial knowledge only reduced the risk of debt delinquency. Third, the types of debts held mattered. Holding credit card debt, student loans and other debts increased the risks of both insolvency and debt delinquency. Interestingly, holding auto loans reduced the risk of insolvency.
Research limitations/implications
The data are limited to cross-sectional so that findings are only correlational. The data are from one developed economy, and the results may not be generalized to other economies, especially developing economies. Also, due to the lack of direct measure of consumer bankruptcy, only bankruptcy risks are measured in the study, but the findings can still be informative for understanding consumer bankruptcy behavior.
Practical implications
The results of this study have practical implications for government, business and nonprofit organizations to help consumers reduce the bankruptcy risks. The results suggest that when facing external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, any work-related adjustments may help workers maintain income levels and reduce consumer bankruptcy risks, especially debt delinquency risk. Also, consumers should be encouraged to engage in desirable financial behaviors, such as spending within their income, seeking information before making financial decisions, using financial professionals and planning ahead, to reduce both insolvency and debt delinquency risks.
Originality/value
This study is the first to examine COVID-19-induced factors on bankruptcy risks, enriching the literature of COVID-19 impacts on consumers. Bankruptcy risks are used as negative indicators of consumer well-being, expanding the literature of consumer well-being. The study also examines if financial capability has the potential to reduce bankruptcy risks, an advancement in the literature of financial capability.