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The purpose of this paper is to present a novel method for minor fabric defects detection.

This paper proposes a PETM-CNN algorithm. PETM-CNN is designed based on self-similar estimation algorithm and Convolutional Neural Network. The PE (Patches Extractor) algorithm extracts patches that are possible to be defective patches to preprocess the fabric image. Then a TM-CNN (Triplet Metric CNN) method is designed to predict labels of the patches and the final label of the image. The TM-CNN can perform better than normal CNN.

This algorithm is superior to other algorithms on the data set of fabric images with minor defects. The proposed method achieves accurate classification of fabric images whether it has minor defects or not. The experimental results show that the approach is effective.

Traditional fabric defects detection is not effective as minor defects detection, so this paper develops a method of minor fabric images classification based on self-similar estimation and CNN. This paper offers the first investigation of minor fabric defects.

For anyone involved in moving large numbers of people, indeed in any aspect of crowd management, the biggest threats are ignorance of crowd behavioural dynamics and complacency. When the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) in Hong Kong was faced with excessive passenger growth, serious safety problems and concerns arose. As part of a study into “Passenger and Crowd Behaviour Safety”, the author recommended that staff be put through a comprehensive programme of passenger management and behaviour training. As a result of this he was asked to design and deliver such a programme, consisting of two‐day modules for all those directly concerned and one‐day modules for all other managers throughout the organisation. These have now been followed up with update training, and a redesigned course has been implemented for the new Airport Express railway.

Playing as a global city, to maintain the economic dynamics and urban vitality, Hong Kong government would like to take urban regeneration in urban core as a kind of urban growth strategy. The government monopolizes land supply for urban development through the leasehold system, while the redevelopment agency is authorized to take land acquisition for urban redevelopment. The transformation of agency from Land Development Corporation (LDC) to Urban Renewal Authority (URA) reflected the formation of a coalition composed of quasi-public redevelopment agency and private developer, which facilitates land and property resumption in urban redevelopment. The URA-led projects often tend to redevelop obsolete communities into up-market neighborhoods, which possibly enables redevelopment agency and developers to gain more economic benefits from real estate appreciation. Nevertheless, evidences from some large redevelopment projects conducted by URA in Hong Kong such as Lee Tung Street, Langham Palace and Kennedy Town have presented that urban redevelopment is closely associated with gentrification triggered by displacement of original neighborhood residents. Hence gentrification in Hong Kong has raised more and more concerns about booming housing price as well as fragmentation of social networks. Through urban regime combined with growth machine approach, this paper will explain the collusion of redevelopment agency and private developers that jointly turns the URA-led redevelopment into neighborhood gentrification. And by examining Kwun Tong Town Centre Project (KTTCP), findings indicate that soaring property value will crowd low-income groups and working classes out from their original neighborhoods; and then those gentrified residential estates will be occupied by rich class. Moreover, increasing rent and operation costs will inevitably eliminate those family-operated small businesses; and then they will be superseded by high-end retailing and services. In this way, urban morphology will be reshaped perpetually through more and more gentrified neighborhoods.

Purpose – This chapter discusses the planning and construction of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Xiamen, analyses the existing problems and puts forward proposals about the development of BRT, in order to provide a basis for similar systems in other cities.

Methodology – The focus of the analysis is strategies for construction, including using BRT to guide urban development, building an integrated transport system, and making allowances for future upgrade of the system to light rail. In addition, the operating effectiveness of BRT is discussed.

Findings – (1) At the initial stage of rapid urban expansion, BRT can be used to encourage transit-oriented development (TOD) in the expansion of urban space. (2) The construction of an integrated transport system and the strategies of providing for later upgrade of the system to light rail improves the service quality of public transport provides for rapid growth in the passenger flows, which not only meets the current passenger requirements, but also satisfies the needs for long-term urban development.

Practical and social implications – (1) The elevated BRT has a significant influence on the urban landscape and environment, but the operating organization is inflexible. (2) The low price of the tickets has resulted in a serious operating loss.

Agency theory postulates that research and development (R&D) investments are subject to managerial discretion and thus may not enhance firm value as expected. The inconclusive empirical findings in the literature is a testament of that. This paper aims to investigate the interplay between board gender diversity (i.e. women on boards) and value relevance of firms’ effort to innovate as indicated by firms’ R&D investments.

Through a sample of 1,626 US-listed firms from the period 2004 to 2019, the authors examine whether board gender diversity promotes or hampers value relevance of firms’ efforts to innovate. The authors use ordinary least squares as the baseline model and address potential endogeneity through instrumental variable two-stage least square, and selection bias through Heckman selection model. Finally, the authors use the financial crisis of 2008 as a natural experiment to investigate the effect of board gender diversity during the crisis period.

The results show that board gender diversity positively moderates the relation between R&D and firm value. In times of financial crisis, R&D does not destroy firm value in firms with gender diverse board. The results are robust to measurement error, endogeneity issue, particularly simultaneity and selection bias.

The findings in this study have several practical implications. Firms that invest heavily in R&D should be mindful of gender diversity in their board recruitment strategies to enhance innovation outputs and firm value. Current and potential investors (i.e. shareholders) should take into consideration board gender diversity in their investment decision-making processes as the results show that gender diverse boards promote more effective governance, which, in turn, leads to better alignment of R&D investments with shareholder value. Regulators aiming to improve corporate governance policies should encourage gender diversity on the boards. The results align with global initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality. Policymakers may use the findings in this study to advocate for more gender diverse governance structures within corporations.

This study investigates the role gender diverse boards play in creating value from firms’ R&D activities.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between dividend policy and earnings quality of Vietnamese listed firms.

The sample includes firms listed on Vietnam stock exchange during the period between 2010 and 2016. Two measures of earnings quality are the annual firm-specific absolute value of residuals from Dechow and Dichev’s (2002) model and from Dechow and Dichev (2002) as modified by McNichols’s (2002) model. The firms’ dividend policy is captured by dividend paying status. This is a dummy variable that takes the value of 1 if the firm pays dividends and 0 otherwise. In addition, dividend yield and dividend payout ratio, which are continuous variables, are also used in this paper as alternative proxies for dividend policy.

Using panel data analysis, this paper documents that dividend payers have higher earnings quality than dividend non-payers. Dividends are an indicator of earnings quality. These findings are consistent with prior studies. After controlling for variables that may be related to earnings quality as well as for the year and industry fixed effects, this relation remains unchanged. In addition, this result is also robust after controlling for firm fixed effects.

This paper offers the empirical evidence on the relation between dividend policy and earnings quality in Vietnam, which is a frontier market.

Investigates the evolution of mass rapid transit (MRT) in relation to the Hong Kong market and analyses the effect of surrounding land values. Outlines the unique features of Hong Kong which make an urban railway system ideal and discusses the changes brought about by MRT. Summarizes the growth of commercial development on Hong Kong island and gives case studies on the Admiralty, Sheung Wan and Taikooshing/Kornhill areas in respect of their development with the advent of MRT. Notes that the shortening of travelling time for workers has increased demand for, and hence the price of, sites immediately adjacent to MRT stations.

This study aims to examine the relationship between personal values and small and medium enterprise (SME) innovation in Minangkabau, a Muslim ethnic group in Indonesia.

A quantitative approach was used to survey 400 small business owners. Structural models were estimated using WarpPLS.

The study established that SME owners had mixed values. This highlights the context of entrepreneurship because it provides an understanding of the links between personal values and some innovation-related constructs.

The study made a little comparison of personal values in other Muslim societies. It is beneficial as a reference for future studies on comparisons between the Minangkabau and other ethnic Muslim groups.

Minangkabau small enterprise entrepreneurs need reflection on their values and business innovation because integrating these two aspects strengthens business identity.

The entrepreneurs may need to balance personal and socio-cultural values to implement both business innovation and social harmony successfully.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that takes into account the innovation concept. It examines personal values related to some concepts on innovation. It can partly be explained by the high level of religiosity in the Minangkabau ethnic group.

This exploratory pilot study investigated the experiences and perceptions of young people who use N₂O recreationally. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first qualitative research conducted in Australia with young people investigating this topic in detail. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore young people’s perceptions, motives and experiences of N₂O use by exploring the positive and negative effects of N₂O, motives for use, practices and methods and suggested advice to help define targeted harm reduction messages.

Participants were recruited via hard copy posters, social media advertisements and snowball sampling. Seven in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with young people aged between 18 and 25 years who had used N₂O on at least ten occasions. The interview transcripts were analysed thematically. The study was completed in accordance with COREQ for qualitative research.

The findings identified four overarching themes about N₂O use: the nature of N₂O use; the appeal of N₂O; influences on N₂O use; and perception of risk and harms of N₂O use.

Young people in the study described their experiences as being largely pleasurable. However, several identified negative impacts, although harms, were primarily disregarded. Exploration of N₂O effects alongside other substance use highlighted how N₂O is a unique substance and should be considered as such when developing harm reduction strategies.

Projects often present specific difficulties for the Records Manager. Records are created in a manner which is fast and furious — with many records being generated in a short space of time. These records are created by different organisations — by the project team, by contractors and by sub‐contractors — and are circulated between them. Different types of document are produced: drawings are often particularly important, as are parts lists. Complex computer applications are now used in many projects, and the records generated by the system should ideally be retained in native format, rather than printed on paper. Change control is important both for hard copy documents and computer based material: documents may go through many revisions, and it is essential that these revisions are managed effectively. The hand‐over of documentation from project to operator can be problematic if the views and requirements of both groups are not considered at an early stage. In this programme, the opportunity was provided to meet with both project and operations personnel: it was significant that both groups were aware of the importance of the documentation generated during the project and were concerned that important records series should be identified and retained. Project staff were aware of the importance of retaining material as a basis for new projects while operating railway personnel require items such as as‐built drawings and manuals to provide an effective ongoing railway service.