Xiuying Wang, Michael Khonsari, Siyuan Li, Qingwen Dai and Xiaolei Wang
This study aims to simultaneously enhance the load-carrying capacity and control the leakage rate of mechanical seals by optimizing the texture shape.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to simultaneously enhance the load-carrying capacity and control the leakage rate of mechanical seals by optimizing the texture shape.
Design/methodology/approach
A multi-objective optimization approach is implemented to determine the optimal “free-form” textures and optimal circular dimples. Experiments are conducted to validate the simulation results.
Findings
The experimental coefficient of friction (COF) and leakage rate are in good agreement with the calculated results. In addition, the optimal “free-form” texture shows a lower COF and a lower leakage in most cases.
Originality/value
This work provides a method to optimize the surface texture for a better combination performance of mechanical seals.
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China's Confucius Institutes (CIs) have been under increasing scrutiny in the West while their development in Africa has been steady and strong. This article aims to examine the…
Abstract
Purpose
China's Confucius Institutes (CIs) have been under increasing scrutiny in the West while their development in Africa has been steady and strong. This article aims to examine the establishment, operation and effects of this institute in Africa, and discuss its role in a wider context of education, development and China's foreign policy towards Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
This empirical research is a case study of China's Confucius Institutes in Africa. Fieldwork data was collected in China and seven CIs in four African countries.
Findings
This research found that the CIs were not just Chinese language and culture promotion organisations in Africa. Rather, they played a deeper and more profound role in training local individuals, involving them in different forms of Chinese presence in Africa and linking their own personal development with the rise of China. In that sense, this article argues that the CI plays a positive role in promoting China's soft power and national interest in Africa. This article also highlights the problems of the institute's operational mode, and casts doubt on some aspects of its future development.
Originality/value
This research systematically examines the establishment, operation and effects of the CIs in Africa, in an attempt to understand the real role of this institute in China's foreign policy towards Africa and demonstrate the uniqueness of the situation of the CIs in Africa.
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This study aims to propose a comprehensive conceptual framework for the characterization of agricultural heritage in desert-prone areas, with a focus on Siwa Oasis in Egypt.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose a comprehensive conceptual framework for the characterization of agricultural heritage in desert-prone areas, with a focus on Siwa Oasis in Egypt.
Design/methodology/approach
The research utilizes a multidimensional approach, integrating perspectives from sustainability principles, stakeholders and the agricultural heritage frameworks of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). It involves thematic analysis of qualitative data collected through focus group discussions and interviews with a diverse range of participants, including community members, government officials, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and researchers.
Findings
The study identifies five key elements of agricultural heritage in Siwa Oasis: cultural, ecological, economic, social and scientific. Cultural elements include traditional farming practices, irrigation systems and architectural features, while ecological elements encompass crop biodiversity, wildlife habitats and traditional landraces. Economically, date palm cultivation, olive production and agritourism activities play crucial roles in livelihood security and local economies. Socially, community cohesion, gender roles and cultural practices shape the social fabric of the oasis, with festivals and rituals fostering a sense of belonging. From a scientific perspective, the integration of traditional knowledge with modern agricultural practices enhances sustainability and resilience.
Research limitations/implications
The study focused solely on Siwa Oasis as a case study, limiting generalizability to other desert-prone areas. Further research could explore additional regions to enhance the understanding of agricultural heritage in diverse contexts. Additionally, the qualitative nature of the study may limit statistical analysis. Future studies could employ mixed-methods approaches for a more comprehensive understanding of agricultural heritage dynamics.
Practical implications
Understanding the multifaceted aspects of agricultural heritage in Siwa Oasis can inform sustainable development initiatives, tourism planning and cultural preservation efforts. Local policymakers and stakeholders can utilize these insights to develop policies that support traditional farming practices, ecotourism and community development. Furthermore, the promotion of agricultural heritage can enhance economic opportunities, food security and environmental sustainability in desert-prone regions.
Social implications
Recognition of the social elements embedded within Siwa Oasis’s agricultural heritage highlights the importance of community cohesion, gender roles and cultural practices. By acknowledging and preserving these aspects, initiatives can be developed to empower local communities, promote gender equality and preserve cultural identity. Such efforts can enhance social cohesion, strengthen cultural bonds and promote inclusivity in the development agenda of desert-prone areas.
Originality/value
This study contributes a novel conceptual framework that bridges multifunctionality concepts, sustainability principles and stakeholder perspectives to characterize agricultural heritage in desert-prone areas. It offers insights into the complex interplay of cultural, ecological, economic, social and scientific dimensions of agricultural heritage systems.
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Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact mechanism of the degree of innovation failure on breakthrough innovation in Chinese listed companies, and examines the moderating effect of the company’s own knowledge-based capabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on organizational learning theory and using the innovation failure data of invention patents from Chinese A-share listed companies on the main board from 2003 to 2017 as research samples, this study constructs and examines a comprehensive framework and its impact on breakthrough innovation regarding “what kind of innovation failure will promote breakthrough innovation”, focusing on innovation failure, enterprise knowledge base, and breakthrough innovation.
Findings
Empirical research has found a U-shaped relationship between innovation failure and breakthrough innovation. In other words, both a low level of failure and an extremely high level of failure can significantly promote breakthrough innovation in enterprises. Furthermore, when the depth of enterprise knowledge is high, it further strengthens the non-linear relationship between innovation failure and breakthrough innovation.
Originality/value
The research results enrich the study of the failure predicament and breakthrough innovation of Chinese technology innovation enterprises, revealing effective paths for Chinese technology innovation enterprises to get rid of the passive situation of innovation failure, and providing theoretical support and practical reference for “breaking new ground and achieving breakthrough innovation”.
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Jialin Yang, Yunting Guo, Wei Zai, Siyuan Ma, Liang Dong and Guangyu Li
This paper aims to find a way to improve the surface insulation, corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of Fe-Cr-Al electrothermal alloy, exploring the best oxidation…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to find a way to improve the surface insulation, corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of Fe-Cr-Al electrothermal alloy, exploring the best oxidation condition and analyzing the oxidation mechanism.
Design/methodology/approach
Electrochemical workstation was used for anodic oxidation, and the effect of current density, ethylene glycol concentration and oxidation time on properties of the film were investigated by resistivity test, scanning electron microscope, electrochemical tests (potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and mechanical tests, and the oxidation process was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Findings
According to the potential-time curves of anodic oxidation and the analysis of XPS, the whole oxidation process can be divided into four stages. When the current density is 0.8 A/dm2, the ethylene glycol concentration is 10%, and the oxidation time is 60 min, the film has the best corrosion protection, mechanical properties and surface morphology. The resistivity of the samples is about 13 orders magnitude than that of the matrix.
Originality/value
In this paper, a protective electrically insulating film was prepared by anodic oxidation in an alkaline electrolyte solution. The oxidation conditions were optimized and the oxidation mechanism was analyzed.
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Siyuan Huang, Limin Liu, Xiongjun Fu, Jian Dong, Fuyu Huang and Ping Lang
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the existing point cloud target detection algorithms based on deep learning, and provide reference for researchers in related fields. In…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the existing point cloud target detection algorithms based on deep learning, and provide reference for researchers in related fields. In recent years, with its outstanding performance in target detection of 2D images, deep learning technology has been applied in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point cloud data to improve the automation and intelligence level of target detection. However, there are still some difficulties and room for improvement in target detection from the 3D point cloud. In this paper, the vehicle LiDAR target detection method is chosen as the research subject.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, the challenges of applying deep learning to point cloud target detection are described; secondly, solutions in relevant research are combed in response to the above challenges. The currently popular target detection methods are classified, among which some are compared with illustrate advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, approaches to improve the accuracy of network target detection are introduced.
Findings
Finally, this paper also summarizes the shortcomings of existing methods and signals the prospective development trend.
Originality/value
This paper introduces some existing point cloud target detection methods based on deep learning, which can be applied to a driverless, digital map, traffic monitoring and other fields, and provides a reference for researchers in related fields.
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Siyuan Zhou and Jing Song
This study aims to examine whether skilled female migrants can overcome gender constraints and social stigma attached to women’s service work in host societies.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine whether skilled female migrants can overcome gender constraints and social stigma attached to women’s service work in host societies.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on interviews with 40 women who moved from mainland China and entered Hong Kong’s cross-border insurance business, the study examines how highly educated young women negotiate gender expectations and mobilize social networks in doing business.
Findings
This study finds different strategies women used in mobilizing social networks and constructing gender identities: some relied heavily on the warm market – networks of their family, relatives and friends – in doing business and developed careers by performing dutiful daughters, considerate “nieces” and caring “sisters”; some women also relied on the warm market but their jobs were regarded as nonconventional, and they had to deal with suspicions of inappropriate and instrumental womanhood and tried to prove themselves and gain support in the warm market; some women relied mainly on the cold market – connections with strangers – and performed feminine affinity to expand client networks away from judgments of families and friends; and some other women chose to expand the cold market by cultivating a professional image among strangers.
Originality/value
The findings speak to previous research about women’s subordinate roles in migrant networks and their devalued femininity in service work by illustrating women’s diverse forms of agency in negotiating gender identities in the stratified service sectors.
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Yangdong Liu, Siyuan Lu, Hongyi Tu, Boyuan Zhang, Yaqin Zhao, Jiasheng He, Liangliang He and Zhenbin Chen
To save the economic cost and improve the performance of enterprises, this study aims to synthesize high performance immobilized penicillin G acylase (PGA) carriers with fast…
Abstract
Purpose
To save the economic cost and improve the performance of enterprises, this study aims to synthesize high performance immobilized penicillin G acylase (PGA) carriers with fast reaction speed, high recovery rate of enzyme activity and good reusability through corresponding theoretical guidance and experimental exploration.
Design methodology approach
A diblock resin was synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization method using N, N-diethylacrylamide (DEA) and β-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as functional monomers poly(N, N-diethylacrylamide)-b-poly(β-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PDEA-b-PHEMA) was obtained, and the effect of the ratio of DEA and HEMA on the activity of PGA was investigated, and the appropriate block ratio of DEA and HEMA was obtained. After that, the competitive rate of HEMA and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) under the carrier preparation conditions was investigated. Based on the above work, a thermosensitive resin carrier PDEA-b-PHEMA-b-P(HEMA-co-GMA) with different target distances was synthesized, and the chemical structures and molecular weight of copolymers were investigated by hydrogen NMR (1H NMR).
Findings
The lower critical solution temperature of the resin support decreases with the increase of the monomer HEMA in the random copolymerization; the catalytic performance study indicated that the response rate of the immobilized PGA is fast, and the recovery rate of the enzyme activity of the immobilized PGA varies with the distance between the targets. When the molar ratio of HEMA to GMA in the resin block is 8.15:1 [i.e. resin PDEA100-b-PHEMA10-b-P(HEMA65-co-GMA8)], the activity recovery rate of immobilized PGA can reach 50.51%, which was 15.49% higher than that of pure GMA immobilized PGA.
Originality value
This contribution provides a novel carrier for immobilizing PGA. Under the optimal molar ratio, the enzyme activity recovery could be up to 50.51%, which was 15.49% higher than that of PGA immobilized on the carrier with nonregulated distance between two immobilization sites.
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Xiaolin Ge, Qing Zhang, Rui Xiong, Haibo Yu, Siyuan Liu, Shanghao Song and Xiaokun Liu
Drawing upon strengths-based inclusive work theory, this study explores how strengths-based leadership promotes employee career sustainability, particularly in the absence of…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing upon strengths-based inclusive work theory, this study explores how strengths-based leadership promotes employee career sustainability, particularly in the absence of protean career orientation (PCO), with career adaptability as a mediator.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-wave survey of 329 Chinese employees tested the moderated mediation model. Hypotheses were assessed using SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.3.
Findings
Strengths-based leadership positively influences career adaptability, leading to greater career sustainability. The effect is stronger when PCO is low, highlighting the compensatory role of strengths-based leadership.
Originality/value
The present paper extends the existing literature on strengths-based leadership and unveils that strength-based leadership can compensate for a lack of PCO. Also, it augments strengths-based inclusive work theory and provides meaningful insights to cultivate employee career sustainability.
Research limitations/implications
The cross-sectional design and self-reported data limit causal conclusions. Future research should use longitudinal methods and diverse cultural contexts to improve generalizability.
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Yanhong Gan, Xingyu Gao, Wenhui Zhou, Siyuan Ke, Yangguang Lu and Song Zhang
The advanced technology enables retailers to develop customer profile analysis (CPA) to implement personalized pricing. However, considering the efficiency of developing CPA, the…
Abstract
Purpose
The advanced technology enables retailers to develop customer profile analysis (CPA) to implement personalized pricing. However, considering the efficiency of developing CPA, the benefit to different retailers of implementing more precise personalized pricing remains unclear. Thus, this essay aimed to investigate the impact of efficiency on participants’ strategies and profits in the supply chain.
Design/methodology/approach
A two-stage game model was introduced in the presence of a manufacturer who sets his wholesale price and a retailer that decides her CPA strategy. The equilibrium results were generated by backward induction.
Findings
Most retailers are willing to develop the highest CPA to implement perfect personalized pricing, but those inefficient retailers with high production costs would like to determine a middle CPA to implement bounded personalized pricing. The retailers’ profits may decrease with the efficiency of developing CPA when the efficiency is middle. In this case, as the efficiency improves, the manufacturer increases the wholesale price, resulting in lower demand and thus lower profits. Moreover, define a Pareto Improvement (PI) strategy as one that benefits both manufacturers and retailers. Therefore, uniform pricing is a PI when the unit cost is high and the efficiency is low; personalized pricing is a PI when the unit cost is low and the efficiency is low or high; otherwise, there is no PI.
Originality/value
This study is the first that investigates how the retailer develops CPA to implement personalized pricing on a comprehensive spectrum, which can provide practical insights for retailers with different efficiencies.