Jiao Li, Tianshu Li, Jodie A. Yuwono, Guozhe Meng and Zhiyuan Feng
This study aims to develop a sol-gel-based coating to provide a long-lasting corrosion protection on AZ31 Mg alloy. Silane-based sol-gel coatings have been successfully applied to…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to develop a sol-gel-based coating to provide a long-lasting corrosion protection on AZ31 Mg alloy. Silane-based sol-gel coatings have been successfully applied to Mg alloys for corrosion protection. However, the micro or nano defects formed during condensation and solidification will cause the coating failure during a long-lasting immersion in a saline solution. More durable corrosion-protective sol-gel coatings are needed.
Design/methodology/approach
A sol-gel-based coating was modified on AZ31 Mg alloy by levodopa (DOPA). The long-lasting corrosion protection mechanism was studied by multiple electrochemical testing methods and surface characterization techniques.
Findings
Long-term testing by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in aqueous 0.1 M NaCl indicated that the modified DOPA@sol-gel coating exhibited significant corrosion protection performance (>14 days). In comparison, the DOPA-free sol-gel coating failed only after three days of testing. The improved corrosion protection is attributed to the self-polymerized DOPA filling to the micro or nano defects in the glassy cross-linked networks of the sol-gel coating, which greatly improves the compactness of the coating.
Originality/value
The method of this study is simple and easy to process, the raw materials are green and the protective effect is excellent, which is of significance for the study of magnesium alloy corrosion protection.
Tianshu Li, Shukai Duan, Jun Liu and Lidan Wang
Stochastic computing which is an alternative method of the binary calculation has key merits such as fault-tolerant capability and low hardware cost. However, the hardware…
Abstract
Purpose
Stochastic computing which is an alternative method of the binary calculation has key merits such as fault-tolerant capability and low hardware cost. However, the hardware response time of it is required to be very fast due to its bit-wise calculation mode. While the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) components are difficult to meet the requirements aforementioned. For this, the stochastic computing implementation scheme based on the memristive system is proposed to reduce the response time. The purpose of this paper is to provide the implementation scheme based memristive system for the stochastic computing.
Design/methodology/approach
The hardware structure of material logic based on the memristive system is realized according to the advantages of the memristor. After that, the scheme of NOT logic, AND logic and multiplexer are designed, which are the basic units of stochastic computing. Furthermore, a stochastic computing system based on memristive combinational logic is structured and its validity is verified successfully by operating a case.
Findings
The numbers of the elements of the proposed stochastic computing system are less than the conventional stochastic computing based on CMOS circuits.
Originality/value
The paper proposed a novel implementation scheme for stochastic computing based on the memristive systems, which are different from the conventional stochastic computing based on CMOS circuits.
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Keywords
Gangling Hou, Meng Li, Sun Hai, Tianshu Song, Lingshu Wu, Yong Li, Gang Zheng, Feng Shen and Yaodong Chen
Seismic isolation, as an effective risk mitigation strategy of building/bridge structures, is incorporated into AP1000 nuclear power plants (NPPs) to alleviate the seismic damage…
Abstract
Purpose
Seismic isolation, as an effective risk mitigation strategy of building/bridge structures, is incorporated into AP1000 nuclear power plants (NPPs) to alleviate the seismic damage that may occur to traditional structures of NPPs during their service. This is to promote the passive safety concept in the structural design of AP1000 NPPs against earthquakes.
Design/methodology/approach
In conjunction with seismic isolation, tuned-mass-damping (TMD) is integrated into the seismic resistance system of AP1000 NPPs to satisfy the multi-functional purposes. The proposed base-isolation-tuned-mass-damper (BIS-TMD) is studied by comparing the seismic performance of NPPs with four different design configurations (i.e. without BIS, BIS, BIS-TMD and TMD) with the design parameters of the TMD subsystem optimized.
Findings
Such a new seismic protection system (BIS-TMD) is proved to be promising because the advantages of BIS and TMD can be fully used. The benefits of the new structure include effective energy dissipation (i.e. wide vibration absorption band and a stable damping effect), which results in the high performance of NPPs subject to earthquakes with various intensity levels and spectra features.
Originality/value
Parametric studies are performed to demonstrate the seismic robustness (e.g. consistent performance against the changing mass of the water in the gravity liquid tank and mechanical properties) which further ensures that seismic safety requirements of NPPs can be satisfied through the use of BIS-TMD.
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Tianshu Xu, Dongyi Jiang and Dong Li
Study on the internal legalization process of strategic change for a large number of ultra-large enterprises in China.
Abstract
Purpose
Study on the internal legalization process of strategic change for a large number of ultra-large enterprises in China.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper takes formulation process of Suning Appliance Group’s 10-year strategy (2010–2020) as the research case, designs the research issues, propositions and analysis unit of the case study, and uses the data collection and analysis methods in the grounded theory to realize the theoretical development from data to viewpoint conceptualizing and to proposition categorizing.
Findings
There are four key concepts that affect the judgment of overall strategic legitimacy of super-large enterprises: Emerging-market opportunities and strategic operational positioning, legitimacy perspective mainly manifests as legitimacy judgment of strategic direction within organization. Positioning of core resources (including intangible resources) and their value identification methods or value evaluation criteria, the legitimacy perspective is mainly reflected in the organization's internal legitimacy judgment of functional planning, especially implementation path. The impact factors of the key performance of each SBU are positioned, and the legitimacy perspective is mainly reflected in the organization’s internal judgment on the legitimacy of strategic supporting measures, especially the resources needed for the implementation of the strategy and capacity development. The periodical strategic objectives and performance measurement indicators of each SBU are mainly reflected in the organization’s internal legitimacy judgment on strategic alignment and specific action plans for strategic operational units. The legitimacy of these four key concepts is strongly influenced by the rationality of these strategic concepts, which are closely related to their shaping patterns driven by right-brain and left-brain thinking modes.
Research limitations/implications
This case is a longitudinal study of the strategic decision-making process, not a longitudinal follow-up of the actual implementation of the strategy. In addition, given that the case enterprise was facing the emerging market at that time and focused on pushing firms to seize opportunities, not much research has been done on the impact of external legitimacy on the strategic formulation process, a variable that is increasingly being focused on today.
Practical implications
This model has guidance significance and practical demonstration role for a large number of enterprises that are implementing the “+Internet” strategic change under traditional offline operation.
Social implications
According to the summary of the connection between data and propositions in several rounds, this paper constructs a theoretical model of left and right brain thinking mode driving key concepts to achieve the internal legalization process of strategic changes.
Originality/value
In the analysis process, the legalization theory and the sense-making method are introduced into enterprises’ strategy making process. Based on this analysis framework, this paper analyzes in detail that the top decision-making level and the middle and high executive level form key strategic concepts to promote the internal legalization process of strategic decision-making driven by the right-brain intuitive thinking mode and the left-brain rational thinking mode, which greatly improves the quality of strategy formulation and the operability of strategy implementation.
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Jun Huang, Haijie Mo and Tianshu Zhang
This paper takes the Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect as a quasi-natural experiment and investigates the impact of capital market liberalization on the corporate debt…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper takes the Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect as a quasi-natural experiment and investigates the impact of capital market liberalization on the corporate debt maturity structure. It also aims to provide some policy implications for corporate debt financing and further liberalization of the capital market in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing the exogenous event of Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and using the data of Chinese A-share firms from 2010 to 2020, this study constructs a difference-in-differences model to examine the relationship between capital market liberalization and corporate debt maturity structure. To validate the results, this study performed several robustness tests, including the parallel test, the placebo test, the Heckman two-stage regression and the propensity score matching.
Findings
This paper finds that capital market liberalization has significantly increased the proportion of long-term debt of target firms. Further analyses suggest that the impact of capital market liberalization on the debt maturity structure is more pronounced for firms with lower management ownership and non-Big 4 audit. Channel tests show that capital market liberalization improves firms’ information environment and curbs self-interested management behavior.
Originality/value
This research provides empirical evidence for the consequences of capital market liberalization and enriches the literature on the determinants of corporate debt maturity structure. Further this study makes a reference for regulators and financial institutions to improve corporate financing through the governance role of capital market liberalization.
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Jun Sun, Cynthia Changxin Wang, Zhiling Yang, Tianshu Yu, Jintao Li and Xiaoqian Xiong
Modern construction projects are increasingly complex and rely heavily on multi-discipline collaboration, and this leads to a more and more decentralized project-based structure…
Abstract
Purpose
Modern construction projects are increasingly complex and rely heavily on multi-discipline collaboration, and this leads to a more and more decentralized project-based structure widely adopted in the construction industry. While job satisfaction (JS) and job performance (JP) have been heavily studied previously, few considered the impact of organizational structure and none investigated the relationship between the organizational decentralization degree with JS and JP. This research aims to fill this research gap and investigate the impacts of organizational decentralization degree on JS and JP and facilitate a better project management practice for large-scale construction projects.
Design/methodology/approach
This research firstly establishes four hypotheses based on the literature review on general project-based organizations, then the hypotheses are tested by a survey covering 25 large complex construction projects in China. A hierarchical linear model analysis was carried out to analyze the survey data and to study the relationships between organizational decentralization degree, job satisfaction and job performance.
Findings
Analysis results show that projects' employees' JS and JP are positively correlated with the construction project organizations' decentralization degree, respectively. The decentralization degree has a higher impact on JS than on JP. Employees' JP is positively correlated with their JS, and a higher decentralization degree leads to a more significant positive impact that JS puts on JP.
Originality/value
The findings are new evidence of how construction organization structure and its decentralization degree can affect project employees' JS and JP. This research provides valuable guidance for the industry's management practice and is particularly important for large, complex and highly decentralized construction projects.
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Gangling Hou, Yu Liu, Tao Wang, Binsheng Wang, Tianshu Song, Menghan Sun and Yong Li
An inter-story isolation structure (IIS) for AP1000 nuclear power plants (NPPs) is provided to resolve the conflict of seismic safety and the optimal location of air intakes.
Abstract
Purpose
An inter-story isolation structure (IIS) for AP1000 nuclear power plants (NPPs) is provided to resolve the conflict of seismic safety and the optimal location of air intakes.
Design/methodology/approach
The effect of passive cooling system (PCS) is better with lower altitude of air intakes than that in the original design of AP1000 NPPs. Seismic performances of IIS NPPs, including the seismic responses, damping frequency bandwidth and seismic reduction robustness, are improved by combining the position of air intakes lower and the optimal design method.
Findings
Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation are illustrated that the seismic reduction failure of IIS NPPs is the lowest probability of occurrence when PCS has highest working efficiency.
Originality/value
The IIS NPPs can transfer the contradiction between PCS work efficiency and seismic safety of NPPs to the mutual promotion of them.
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Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the driving forces and structural changes of China as a market provider for Korea. This paper gives the answers…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the driving forces and structural changes of China as a market provider for Korea. This paper gives the answers for the following questions: How do China’s final demands trigger the growth of its imports from Korea? And what’s the impact of China’s final demands on the import in different industries?
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the Multi-Regional Input-Output model and World Input-Output Table database, this paper constructs the non-competitive imports input-output (IO) table of China to Korea. According to this table, we can calculate the induced imports coefficient and comprehensive induced import coefficients of China’s four final demands for imports from Korea in the 56 industries in China.
Findings
Among the four driving forces, the strongest one is changes in inventories and valuables. The impact of final consumption expenditure and fixed capital formation is much lower than that of changes in inventories and valuables, but they have a broader impact for the 56 industries. This paper finds out the China’s import induction of the final demands to Korea peaked in 2005 and 2010 and decreased greatly in 2014, so the position of China as market provider for Korea will no longer rise substantially, contrarily it will be in a steady state.
Originality/value
First, this paper constructs the non-competitive IO table to analyze the market provider issues between two countries and provides practical ways and methods for studies on the issues of imports and market provider. Second, this paper investigates the different roles of four final demands on driving force of China as market provider for Korea and the structural changes of China as a market provider for Korea among 56 industries from 2000 to 2014.
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Byron Marlowe, Tianshu Zheng, John Farrish, Jesus Bravo and Victor Pimentel
The purpose of this study was to create a more balanced, comprehensive and valid illustration of the relationships between casino gaming volume and employment during economic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to create a more balanced, comprehensive and valid illustration of the relationships between casino gaming volume and employment during economic downturns in urban and rural locations in nondestination gaming states.
Design/methodology/approach
This study analyzes gaming volumes and employment prior, during and after the recession of 2007–2009, using a time series with intervention analysis on a monthly coin in, table drop and regression analysis on employment impacts of casinos.
Findings
Findings indicate that while there was a slight drop in gaming revenue and employment figures during the economic downturn, nondestination gaming locations such as Indiana proved relatively resilient to an economic downturn.
Originality/value
The Great Recession had no significant impact on gaming volume because gamblers chose to spend their more limited entertainment dollars on less expensive gaming options; in other words, casinos closer to home requiring the expenditure of fewer dollars on travel and/or hotel rooms. The current pandemic and pressures of the macro-environment again threaten the US gaming and casino market with an economic downturn and the results of this study are as timely as ever for hospitality professionals and social scientists to understand the behavior of casinos in recessionary environments.
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Jewoo Kim, Tianshu Zheng and Thomas Schrier
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the economic environment affects the merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in the restaurant industry.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the economic environment affects the merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in the restaurant industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The M&A transactions in the restaurant industry between 1981 and 2013 (n = 1,415) were examined. Data were collected from the Securities Data Corporation (SDC) database. Using an autoregressive distributed lag approach, this study developed three error correction models to explore the short- and long-term relationships between restaurant M&A activities and four macro-economic factors.
Findings
This study found that there was a long-term equilibrium relationship between the M&A activities and the four economic factors and that economic outlook had a significantly positive impact in the long term, while the effect of cost of debt was significantly negative in both the short and long terms. The findings suggest that restaurant firms are more likely to adopt M&A strategy when they are optimistic about the future economy and can take on debt at a low cost.
Practical implications
The findings of this study are expected to help practitioners make informative M&A decisions in the restaurant industry taking into consideration the economic environment. They will also help investors effectively manage their portfolios by predicting and ascertaining the proper time to invest in the restaurant industry based on the changes of economic environment.
Originality/value
No known study has been identified that examined the relationship between macro-economic factors and M&A activities in the restaurant industry. The findings of the study are expected to fill the gap in the literature by demonstrating the economic environment and the M&A activities in the restaurant industry are in a long-term equilibrium achieved by self-correction of their short-term disequilibrium.