Xinzhi Cao, Yinsai Guo, Wenbin Yang, Xiangfeng Luo and Shaorong Xie
Unsupervised domain adaptation object detection not only mitigates model terrible performance resulting from domain gap, but also has the ability to apply knowledge trained on a…
Abstract
Purpose
Unsupervised domain adaptation object detection not only mitigates model terrible performance resulting from domain gap, but also has the ability to apply knowledge trained on a definite domain to a distinct domain. However, aligning the whole feature may confuse the object and background information, making it challenging to extract discriminative features. This paper aims to propose an improved approach which is called intrinsic feature extraction domain adaptation (IFEDA) to extract discriminative features effectively.
Design/methodology/approach
IFEDA consists of the intrinsic feature extraction (IFE) module and object consistency constraint (OCC). The IFE module, designed on the instance level, mainly solves the issue of the difficult extraction of discriminative object features. Specifically, the discriminative region of the objects can be paid more attention to. Meanwhile, the OCC is deployed to determine whether category prediction in the target domain brings into correspondence with it in the source domain.
Findings
Experimental results demonstrate the validity of our approach and achieve good outcomes on challenging data sets.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations to this research are that only one target domain is applied, and it may change the ability of model generalization when the problem of insufficient data sets or unseen domain appeared.
Originality/value
This paper solves the issue of critical information defects by tackling the difficulty of extracting discriminative features. And the categories in both domains are compelled to be consistent for better object detection.
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Jing Zheng, Chuan‐You Deng, Shao‐Min Cheng, Wen‐Ya Liu and A‐Tao Wang
The purpose of this paper is to examine the great contributions made by the American library expert, Mary Elizabeth Wood, to Chinese library development.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the great contributions made by the American library expert, Mary Elizabeth Wood, to Chinese library development.
Design/methodology/approach
As a pioneer of the modern library movement Mary Elizabeth Wood devoted herself to a Chinese library career. It was structured according to the following theme: setting up the Boone Library and introducing the modern American public library into China; establishing Boone Library School and initiating Chinese library science education; raising money and appealing for China's library development; helping forward the foundation of the Library Association of China; as well as promoting Chinese library intercommunion and cooperation with the West.
Findings
With the background of underdeveloped Chinese librarianship, Mary Elizabeth Wood introduced modern American public library spirit into China, opened the gate of Chinese library science, and promoted Chinese library science.
Research limitations/implications
The paper discusses the library history of China and the role of an American librarian in Chinese library history; thus, it should be of wide interest to researchers involved in library history.
Originality/value
Mary Elizabeth Wood devoted herself to a Chinese library career, and promoted Chinese library science greatly, but research on her is limited. This paper considers her contribution to Chinese library science.
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Keywords
Abstract
Subject area
Crisis management.
Study level/applicability
Graduate and MBA.
Case overview
This case analyzes the event of disappearing flight MH370 belonging to Malaysia Airlines which attracted worldwide attention from a third-party perspective. This case describes clearly the entire process of the crisis, mainly focusing on the decisions made and action taken by the Malaysian Government, and then illustrates the assessment and diagnosis of the crisis.
Expected learning outcomes
This case not only provides a sample for the teaching of strategic and crisis management but also supplies effective guidance for the measures a nation can take regarding a huge crisis.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
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Ruoshi Geng, Ruijie Sun, Jie Li, Fan Guo, Wangshuai Wang and Gong Sun
This paper examined the relationship between firm innovativeness and consumer trust in the sharing economy. In addition, the authors examine the mediating effect of organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examined the relationship between firm innovativeness and consumer trust in the sharing economy. In addition, the authors examine the mediating effect of organizational legitimacy and the moderating effect of social worth.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine the hypotheses, the authors collected data from 276 users of a sharing platform (Didi) in China to conduct empirical research. The “lavaan” packages in R and SPSS were used to analyze the data and test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The results reveal that sharing platforms' innovativeness is positively related to consumer trust, and this relationship is mediated by organizational legitimacy. Furthermore, sharing platforms' social worth moderates the relationship between firm innovativeness and organizational legitimacy as well as the indirect effect of firm innovativeness on consumer trust via organizational legitimacy.
Practical implications
This article proposes strategies that enable sharing platforms to increase consumer trust, which can also better promote the development of the sharing economy.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature by focusing on the social attributes of the sharing economy. By building a more detailed model of consumer trust, this paper adds to the knowledge on the influencing mechanism of consumer trust in the sharing economy.
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Dong Huan Shen, Shuai Guo, Hao Duan, Kehao Ji and Haili Jiang
The paper focuses on the issue of manual rebar-binding tasks in the construction industry, which are marked by high labor intensity, high costs and inefficient operations. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper focuses on the issue of manual rebar-binding tasks in the construction industry, which are marked by high labor intensity, high costs and inefficient operations. The rebar-binding robots that are currently available are not fully mature. Most of them can only bind one or two nodes in one position, which leads to significant time wastage in movement. Based on a new type of rebar-binding robot, this paper aims to propose a new movement and binding control that reduces manpower and enhances efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
The robot is combined with photoelectric sensors, travel switches and other sensors. It is supposed to move accurately and run in a limited area on the rebar mesh through logical judgment, speed control and position control. Machine vision is used by the robot to locate the rebar nodes and then adjusts the binding-gun position to ensure that multiple rebar nodes are bound sequentially.
Findings
By moving on the rebar mesh with accuracy, the robot meets the positioning accuracy requirements of the binding module, with experimental testing accuracy within 5 mm. Furthermore, its ability to bind four rebar nodes in one place results in a high efficiency and a binding effect that meets building standards.
Originality/value
The innovative design of the robot can adapt itself to the rebar mesh, move accurately to the target position and bind four nodes at that position, which reduces the number of movements on the mesh. Repetitive and heavy rebar-binding tasks can be efficiently completed by the robot, which saves human resources, reduces worker labor intensity and reduces construction overhead. It provides a more feasible and practical solution for using robots to bind rebar nodes.
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Zimeng Wang, Fabrice Colin, Guigao Le and Junfeng Zhang
The purpose of this paper is to develop a counter-extrapolation approach for computational heat and mass transfer with the interfacial discontinuity considered at conjugate…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a counter-extrapolation approach for computational heat and mass transfer with the interfacial discontinuity considered at conjugate interfaces.
Design/methodology/approach
By applying finite-difference approximations for the interfacial gradients along the local normal direction, the conjugate system can be simplified to the Dirichlet boundary problems for individual domains. A suitable method for the Dirichlet boundary value condition can then be used. The lattice Boltzmann method has been used to demonstrate the method. The model has been carefully validated by comparing the simulation results and theoretical solutions for steady and unsteady systems with flat or circular interfaces. Furthermore, the cooling process of a hot cylinder in a cold flow, which involves unsteady flow and heat transfer across a curved interface, has been simulated as an example to illustrate the practical usefulness of this model.
Findings
Good agreement has been observed in comparisons of simulations and theoretical solutions. The convergence and stability of the method have also been examined and satisfactory results have been obtained. Results of the cylinder cooling process show that a surface insulation layer can effectively reduce the heat transfer process and slow down the cooling process.
Originality/value
This method possesses several technical advantages, including the simple and straightforward algorithm, and accurate representation of the interface geometry. The basic idea and algorithm of the counter-extrapolation procedure presented here can be readily extended to other lattice Boltzmann models and even other computational technologies for heat and mass transfer systems with interface discontinuity.
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Lu Chen, Chenchen Xu, Mingfei Ma, Wen Wang, Liang Guo and Patrick Wong
The cleaning of food production equipment using cleaning detergents may contaminate the lubricant of the bearings, thereby reducing the bearing service life. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
The cleaning of food production equipment using cleaning detergents may contaminate the lubricant of the bearings, thereby reducing the bearing service life. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cause and mechanism of such damage of bearings lubricated by cleaning detergent/water-in-oil emulsions.
Design/methodology/approach
The emulsion was prepared by adding a mixture of cleaning detergent and water in one base oil. A self-designed ball-on-disc optical interference test rig was applied to examine the effect of emulsion on lubrication and wear of bearing contacts under pure sliding conditions.
Findings
The emulsion reduced lubricating film thickness at a relatively low-sliding speed but only when the water concentration (20%) in emulsion was high. Water droplets were trapped around the ball-on-disc contact area under static conditions because of a high capillary force. The emulsion can induce damages on the soft surface in the startup mainly due to the presence of water around the contact.
Originality/value
The basic lubrication behaviour of water/oil emulsions containing cleaning detergent under pure sliding was experimental studied and the mechanism of bearing damage in food production equipment was investigated. Based on the study, the solution to avoid such damage was proposed.
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Ma Juan, Chen Jian‐jun, Zhang Jian‐guo and Jiang Tao
The uncertainty of the interval variable is represented by interval factor, and the interval variable is described as its mean value multiplied by its interval factor. Based on…
Abstract
The uncertainty of the interval variable is represented by interval factor, and the interval variable is described as its mean value multiplied by its interval factor. Based on interval arithmetic rules, an analytical method of interval finite element for uncertain structures but not probabilistic structure or fuzzy structure is presented by combining the interval analysis with finite element method. The static analysis of truss with interval parameters under interval load is studied and the expressions of structural interval displacement response and stress response are deduced. The influences of uncertainty of one of structural parameters or load on the displacement and stress of the structure are examined through examples and some significant conclusions are obtained.
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This paper aims to investigate the practices of a well-established professional development committee (PDC) at an academic library to reveal the development of effective…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the practices of a well-established professional development committee (PDC) at an academic library to reveal the development of effective professional development programs with various themes and the diversified delivering formats and the assessment of library employees’ training needs and the effectiveness of professional development programs with Needs Assessment Surveys and Program Follow-up Employee Opinion Surveys. Professional development programs are widely adopted in academic libraries to support the professional growth of library employees and improve the quality of library services. Developing, promoting and administering professional development programs are main responsibilities of the PDC.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based upon the PDC’s recent practices since 2011. The Needs Assessment Surveys (in 2012 and 2013) are conducted electronically, so are the Opinion Surveys since 2013 which are formerly conducted in paper.
Findings
The well-planned professional development program themes with special designed delivery formats have demonstrated their effectiveness through high attendance of each professional development event. The positive results and high compliments from both Need Assessment Surveys and Opinion Surveys also endorse their values to employee’s professional growth.
Originality/value
This paper classifies various professional development program ideas into six program themes and three special delivery formats, and each is presented with intention, planning and organization. This paper also provides details of using different Need Assessment Surveys and Opinion Surveys for evaluation, which is also lacked in published literature.