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Article
Publication date: 7 August 2017

Kevin Cullinane, Rickard Bergqvist, Sharon Cullinane, Shengda Zhu and Linkai Wang

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical conceptualization of how data envelopment analysis (DEA) can be applied to rail freight rolling stock in order to develop a…

401

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical conceptualization of how data envelopment analysis (DEA) can be applied to rail freight rolling stock in order to develop a tariff for track access charges which is functionally dependent upon the derived relative benchmark values of performance.

Design/methodology/approach

It is posited that track access charges should be differentiated to reflect differences in the performance of rolling stock and that this can be achieved purely on the basis of technical and other characteristics. The performance benchmarking of rolling stock is proposed as the basis for formulating and justifying a performance-based tariff structure. Using DEA, relative index measures of rolling stock performance can be derived, benchmark performance can be identified and a tariff structure can be developed.

Findings

A workable approach to implementing the concept, utilizing existing in-house databases, is found to be feasible and a template for tariff setting is established.

Research limitations/implications

In the absence of access to in-house technical data on rolling stock, which is commercially sensitive, no empirical application of the concept is possible.

Originality/value

There are many ways to improve the efficiency of a railway system. Many are inherently long term and involve significant investment. Using Sweden as an example, this paper proposes the more immediate, simpler and cheaper approach of incentivising the use of better rolling stock through appropriate track access charging. Such an approach should reduce the number of problems arising on the rail network and the costs imposed on other rail users, the infrastructure providers and society. Ultimately, the implementation of this approach would support the objective of increasing long-term robustness and reducing disruptions to railways.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 24 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

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Article
Publication date: 19 October 2012

Xiang Ren and Lucy Montgomery

The internet is transforming possibilities for creative interaction, experimentation and cultural consumption in China and raising important questions about the role that…

1968

Abstract

Purpose

The internet is transforming possibilities for creative interaction, experimentation and cultural consumption in China and raising important questions about the role that “publishers” might play in an open and networked digital world. The purpose of this paper is to consider the role that copyright is playing in the growth of a publishing industry that is being “born digital”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper approaches online literature as an example of a creative industry that is generating value for a wider creative economy through its social network market functions. It builds on the social network market definition of the creative industries proposed by Potts et al. and uses this definition to interrogate the role that copyright plays in a rapidly‐evolving creative economy.

Findings

The rapid growth of a market for crowd‐sourced content is combining with growing commercial freedom in cultural space to produce a dynamic landscape of business model experimentation. Using the social web to engage audiences, generate content, establish popularity and build reputation and then converting those assets into profit through less networked channels appears to be a driving strategy in the expansion of wider creative industries markets in China.

Originality/value

At a moment when publishing industries all over the world are struggling to come to terms with digital technology, the emergence of a rapidly‐growing area of publishing that is being born digital offers important clues about the future of publishing and what social network markets might mean for the role of copyright in a digital age.

Details

Arts Marketing: An International Journal, vol. 2 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-2084

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Article
Publication date: 24 March 2022

Zelin Tong, Fang Ma, Haowen Xiao, Perry Haan and Wenting Feng

The purpose of this research is to explore how experienced scarcity affects home country consumers' attitudes toward the firm engaging in cross-border philanthropy by analyzing…

483

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore how experienced scarcity affects home country consumers' attitudes toward the firm engaging in cross-border philanthropy by analyzing perceived distributive justice as a mediating variable. This research also investigates the moderating factor of this effect to identify practical strategies for managers.

Design/methodology/approach

This research conducted one survey (Study 1) and three experiments (Studies 2–4) by manipulating scarcity to provide robust evidence for the influence of experienced scarcity on consumer perception of the company conducting cross-border philanthropy.

Findings

This paper provides empirical insights about the significant negative effect of experienced scarcity on consumer attitudes toward the firm engaging in cross-border philanthropy. It proposes that home country consumers with high versus low experienced scarcity show lower perceived distributive justice for cross-border philanthropy, which generates less favorable attitudes toward the firm. To alleviate the negative impact of experienced scarcity on consumers' perceptions of corporate reputation, providing donation amount comparisons between home and foreign countries has a significant moderating effect.

Practical implications

This paper provides several suggestions for marketers seeking cross-border philanthropy to improve consumers' attitudes toward the firm.

Originality/value

This paper enriches the literature on corporate social responsibility in the domain of cross-border philanthropy and explains contradictory findings on consumers' attitudes toward corporate cross-border philanthropy. Moreover, this study makes meaningful contributions to the scarcity and justice literature.

Details

International Marketing Review, vol. 39 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-1335

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Article
Publication date: 5 August 2022

Wenjun Wang, Luting Shen, Yinsong Si, Islam MD Zahidul, Azim Abdullaev and Yubing Dong

Sodium alginate (Na-Alg) is a natural polysaccharide with a rich and renewable production that is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and daily necessities industries, among…

229

Abstract

Purpose

Sodium alginate (Na-Alg) is a natural polysaccharide with a rich and renewable production that is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and daily necessities industries, among other fields. The purpose of this study is to obtain a green and degradable shape memory material, calcium alginate (Ca-Alg) film was prepared and the mechanical properties, the shape memory effect of the film were investigated and confirmed.

Design/methodology/approach

The Ca-Alg films were prepared by Na-Alg, calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution, and flow extension method. Dissolve sodium alginate powder, remove bubbles, pour into petri dish, dry at 60°C, add calcium chloride solution cross-linking and finally dry naturally. The effect of CaCl2 solution concentration on the mechanical properties of the films were investigated and discussed by universal tensile tester. The shape memory behavior and degradation performance of thin films were verified and studied by the fold-deploy shape memory test and soil embedding method, respectively.

Findings

The Ca-Alg films exhibited good mechanical and shape memory properties, with a 72.2% shape memory fixity ratio and a 92.3% shape memory recovery ratio, respectively. For a period of 120 days, the film treated with a 6 wt% CaCl2 solution degraded at a rate of approximately 53%.

Research limitations/implications

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) as intelligent materials are an important research direction for the development of modern high-tech materials. On the other hand, plastic pollution is a major problem today; as a result, preparing green degradable SMPs is essential.

Originality/value

This study synthesized transparent and degradable shape memory Ca-Alg films using Na-Alg and CaCl2 solution and the flow extension method.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 53 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

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Article
Publication date: 4 September 2017

Wang Chengmin, Yang Xuefeng, Cai Xiguang, Ma Tao, Li Yunxi and Song Peilong

This paper aims to thrash out friction and wear properties of automobile brake lining reinforced by lignin fiber and glass fiber in braking process.

325

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to thrash out friction and wear properties of automobile brake lining reinforced by lignin fiber and glass fiber in braking process.

Design/methodology/approach

ABAQUS finite element software was used to analyze thermo-mechanical coupled field of friction materials. XD-MSM constant speed friction testing machine was used to test friction and wear properties of friction material. Worn surface morphology and mechanism of friction materials were observed by using scanning electron microscope.

Findings

The results show that when the temperature was below 350°C, worn mechanism of MFBL was mainly fatigue wear and abrasive wear, and worn mechanism of GFBL was mainly fatigue wear because MFBL contained lignin fiber. Therefore, it exhibits better mechanical properties and friction and wear properties than those of GFBL.

Originality/value

Lignin fiber can improve mechanical properties and friction and wear properties of the automobile brake lining.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 69 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 2 January 2018

Yongkun Wang, Tianran Ma, Wenchao Tian, Junjue Ye, Xing Wang and Xiangjun Jiang

The purpose of this paper is to prepare novel electroactive shape memory nanocomposites based on graphene and study the thermomechanical property and shape memory behavior of…

293

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to prepare novel electroactive shape memory nanocomposites based on graphene and study the thermomechanical property and shape memory behavior of nanocomposites.

Design/methodology/approach

Graphene was dispersed in N,N-dimethylformamide, and the mixture was spooned into epoxy-cyanate ester mixtures to form graphene/epoxy-cyanate ester nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were deformed under 150°C, and shape recovery test was conducted under an electric voltage of 20-100 V.

Findings

Graphene is used to improve the shape recovery behavior and performance of shape-memory polymers (SMPs) for enhanced electrical actuation effectiveness. With increment of graphene content, the shape recovery speed of nanocomposites increases significantly.

Research limitations/implications

A simple way for fabricating electro-activated SMP nanocomposites has been developed by using graphene.

Originality/value

The outcome of this study will help to fabricate the SMP nanocomposites with high electrical actuation effectiveness and improve the shape recovery speed of the nanocomposites.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 47 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

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Article
Publication date: 16 January 2020

Yongkun Wang, Yuting Zhang, Jinhua Zhang, Junjue Ye and Wenchao Tian

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of calcium sulfate whiskers (CSWs) on the thermodynamic properties and shape memory properties of epoxy/cyanate ester shape…

271

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of calcium sulfate whiskers (CSWs) on the thermodynamic properties and shape memory properties of epoxy/cyanate ester shape memory composites.

Design/methodology/approach

To improve the mechanical properties of shape memory cyanate ester (CE)/epoxy polymer (EP) resin, high performance CSWs were used to reinforce the thermo-induced shape memory CE/EP composites and the shape memory CSW/CE/EP composites were prepared by molding. The effect of CSW on the mechanical properties and shape memory behavior of shape memory CE/EP composites was investigated.

Findings

After CSW filled the shape memory CE/EP composites, the bending strength of the composites is greatly improved. When the content of CSW is 5 Wt.%, the bending strength of the composite is 107 MPa and the bending strength is increased by 29 per cent compared with bulk CE/EP resin. The glass transition temperature and storage modulus of the composites were improved in CE/EP resin curing system. However, when the content of CSW is more than 10 Wt.%, clusters are easily formed between whiskers and the voids between whiskers and matrix increase, which will lead to the decrease of mechanical properties of composites. The results of shape memory test show that the shape memory recovery time of the composites decreases with the decrease of CSW content at the same temperature. In addition, the shape recovery ratio of the composites decreased slightly with the increase of the number of thermo-induced shape memory cycles.

Research limitations/implications

A simple way for fabricating thermo-activated SMP composites has been developed by using CSW.

Originality/value

The outcome of this study will help to fabricate the SMP composites with high mechanical properties and the shape memory CSW/CE/EP composites are expected to be used in space deployable structures.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 50 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

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