Search results

1 – 10 of 505
Per page
102050
Citations:
Loading...
Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 30 September 2020

Li Liu, ChengYang Zhou, Xiao Pei, LiZhu Guo, JiaHuan Li, RuiXin Wu and Ding Huang

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on clonal growth in a rhizome clonal plant, Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel.

933

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on clonal growth in a rhizome clonal plant, Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel.

Design/methodology/approach

The study established seven N concentration gradients (0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 g N m−2) to simulate the continuous increase in N deposition for the cultivation of L. chinensis seedlings and assess the response mechanism of the cloned L. chinensis plant at different N levels by analyzing the aboveground and belowground plant appearance traits, parent ramets and daughter ramets of resource allocation and biomass allocation.

Findings

The results of this study showed that the different N treatment levels could promote clonal growth and had certain regularity under the seven treatments. The addition of N could significantly increase the ramet number, rhizome length, rhizome spacer length, biomass of mother ramets, daughter ramets and belowground L. chinensis population when the N addition was greater than 4 g m−2; however, the clonal growth ability of L. chinensis decreased and the rhizome length, ramet number, stem and leaf biomass of daughter ramets and stem biomass of mother ramets significantly decreased when the N addition was greater than 32 g N m−2.

Originality/value

With global warming, atmospheric N deposition is increasing and it is of great significance to explore the response mechanism of different N levels for the growth of clone plants. This study provides basic data and a theoretical basis for the survival prediction of cloned plants under the background of a global climate change strategy and has important theoretical and practical significance for the scientific management of grasslands in the future.

Details

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, vol. 12 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-8692

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 16 January 2009

Wu Yan and Lisa Catherine Ehrich

The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of principal preparation and training in China by providing a background discussion of principal preparation in a number…

2099

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of principal preparation and training in China by providing a background discussion of principal preparation in a number of countries. As an illustration, it provides an overview of the curriculum used in the initial preparation of school principals at Beijing Normal University.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws mainly on writing and research from China, Australia and the USA to explore principal preparation and training in China.

Findings

In addition to providing a rich description of principal preparation in China, the paper's main findings comprise seven key challenges that confront China as it endeavours to provide quality principal preparation. These challenges include China's diversity and uneven social, cultural and educational development; limited resources in some regions throughout China; the place and importance of study tours for principal preparation; the teaching approach used to train principals; the process used for assessing principal learning during their training programs; the limited transfer of learning from the classroom to the school environment; and the timing of training for principals.

Practical implications

Each of the challenges arising here raises important practical implications for developers of principal training programs.

Originality/value

The paper paints a picture of principal preparation in China and raises a number of issues and challenges with which it continues to grapple. Of note is that China is not alone in facing some of these ongoing concerns.

Details

International Journal of Educational Management, vol. 23 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-354X

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Book part
Publication date: 1 December 2009

Ataur Rahman Belal and Mahmood Momin

Purpose – Previous reviews of Corporate Social Reporting (CSR) literature have tended to focus on developed economies. The aim of this study is to extend reviews of CSR literature…

Abstract

Purpose – Previous reviews of Corporate Social Reporting (CSR) literature have tended to focus on developed economies. The aim of this study is to extend reviews of CSR literature to emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach – A desk-based research method, using a classification framework of three categories.

Findings – Most CSR studies in emerging economies have concentrated on the Asia-Pacific and African regions and are descriptive in nature, used content analysis methods and measured the extent and volume of disclosures contained within the annual reports. Such studies provide indirect explanation of the reasons behind CSR adoption, but of late, a handful of studies have started to probe managerial motivations behind CSR directly through in-depth interviews finding that CSR agendas in emerging economies are largely driven by external forces, namely pressures from parent companies, international market and international agencies.

Originality/value – This is the first review and analysis of CSR studies from the emerging economy perspective. Following this analysis, the authors have identified some important future research questions.

Details

Accounting in Emerging Economies
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84950-626-7

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 29 April 2021

Mohamed Haddache, Allel Hadjali and Hamid Azzoune

The study of the skyline queries has received considerable attention from several database researchers since the end of 2000's. Skyline queries are an appropriate tool that can…

137

Abstract

Purpose

The study of the skyline queries has received considerable attention from several database researchers since the end of 2000's. Skyline queries are an appropriate tool that can help users to make intelligent decisions in the presence of multidimensional data when different, and often contradictory criteria are to be taken into account. Based on the concept of Pareto dominance, the skyline process extracts the most interesting (not dominated in the sense of Pareto) objects from a set of data. Skyline computation methods often lead to a set with a large size which is less informative for the end users and not easy to be exploited. The purpose of this paper is to tackle this problem, known as the large size skyline problem, and propose a solution to deal with it by applying an appropriate refining process.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem of the skyline refinement is formalized in the fuzzy formal concept analysis setting. Then, an ideal fuzzy formal concept is computed in the sense of some particular defined criteria. By leveraging the elements of this ideal concept, one can reduce the size of the computed Skyline.

Findings

An appropriate and rational solution is discussed for the problem of interest. Then, a tool, named SkyRef, is developed. Rich experiments are done using this tool on both synthetic and real datasets.

Research limitations/implications

The authors have conducted experiments on synthetic and some real datasets to show the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. However, thorough experiments on large-scale real datasets are highly desirable to show the behavior of the tool with respect to the performance and time execution criteria.

Practical implications

The tool developed SkyRef can have many domains applications that require decision-making, personalized recommendation and where the size of skyline has to be reduced. In particular, SkyRef can be used in several real-world applications such as economic, security, medicine and services.

Social implications

This work can be expected in all domains that require decision-making like hotel finder, restaurant recommender, recruitment of candidates, etc.

Originality/value

This study mixes two research fields artificial intelligence (i.e. formal concept analysis) and databases (i.e. skyline queries). The key elements of the solution proposed for the skyline refinement problem are borrowed from the fuzzy formal concept analysis which makes it clearer and rational, semantically speaking. On the other hand, this study opens the door for using the formal concept analysis and its extensions in solving other issues related to skyline queries, such as relaxation.

Details

International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, vol. 14 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-378X

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 24 March 2022

Ya-Peng Jia, Wan-Chang Sun, Yan Xiao, Jing-Pei Liu, Cong-Xiao Zhang, Tong-Qiang Zhang and Ze-Feng Hou

This paper aims to research the effect of different concentrations for Nd(NO3)3 and Ce(NO3)3 on the microstructures and corrosion resistance of Ni-W-P composite coatings through…

149

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to research the effect of different concentrations for Nd(NO3)3 and Ce(NO3)3 on the microstructures and corrosion resistance of Ni-W-P composite coatings through electroless plating method.

Design/methodology/approach

Scanning electron microscope, attached energy dispersive spectroscopy system and X-ray diffraction were used in this work. Meanwhile, the immersion test and electrochemical tests were used to characterize the corrosion behavior of the coating.

Findings

The coatings prepared at 1.00 g·L−1 Nd(NO3)3 exhibit a dense structure and high phosphorus content (12.38 wt.%). In addition, compared to the addition of Ce(NO3)3, when Nd(NO3)3 was introduced at a concentration of 1.00 g·L−1, the minimum corrosion rate of the coating was 1.209 g·m−2·h−1, with a noble Ecorr (−0.29 V) and lower Icorr (8.29 × 10−4 A·cm−2).

Originality/value

The effects of rare earths on the deposition and corrosion resistance mechanisms of Ni-W-P composite coatings were explored, with the rare earth elements promoting the deposition of nickel and tungsten atoms. Simultaneously, the amorphization of the coating increases, which excellently enhances the corrosion resistance of the coating.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 69 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 18 January 2022

Yanhong Yan, Chengwen Yang, Yanfei Zhou, Wenbin Dong, Pengjuan Yan and Zhining Jia

Previously, the effect of pore-forming agents on the properties of pore size and morphology was studied. In this paper, we determine the optimal combination of parameters by…

222

Abstract

Purpose

Previously, the effect of pore-forming agents on the properties of pore size and morphology was studied. In this paper, we determine the optimal combination of parameters by tensile strength and perform tribological tests with optimal combination of parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, porous polyimide (PI) materials were fabricated using vacuum hot molding technology. The orthogonal experiment was designed to test the mechanical properties of porous PI materials with the process parameters and the content of pore-forming agent as the changing factors. The porous PI oil-bearing materials were obtained by vacuum immersion, and tribological test were carried out.

Findings

The results showed that porous PI oil-bearing materials are suitable for low-speed and low-load conditions. The actual value of the friction coefficient basically match with the theoretical value of the regression analysis, and the errors of the friction coefficient are within 10% and 3%, respectively, which proves that the method used in the study is feasible for the friction coefficient prediction.

Originality/value

In this paper, we have produced a new porous oil-bearing material with good tribological properties. This study can effectively predict the friction coefficient of PI porous material.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 74 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 19 June 2017

Jia Chen Tu, Xiao Ming Qian and Pei Huang Lou

The paper aims to propose general design rules and route plan for automated guided vehicle system (AGVS). The AGVS is applied to automated meter verification areas through a case…

387

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to propose general design rules and route plan for automated guided vehicle system (AGVS). The AGVS is applied to automated meter verification areas through a case study of meter verification shop floor to verify the feasibility.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper gives an appropriate route design for AGVS and proposes an optimized strategy for designed routes and a control system to manage traffic conflict.

Findings

This case study indicates that the application of AGVS can highly improve the efficiency of manufacturing and production. Besides, a reasonable transportation plan is beneficial in making the system run smoothly and in cutting conveying time.

Practical implications

The application of AGVS integrates a variety of advanced technologies (i.e. information technology, artificial intelligence, etc.) into the electricity meter verification system, which brings great economic and social benefits via enhancing the verification efficiency and reducing the total labor costs.

Originality/value

The application proposed in the paper solves the problem that the verification almost relies on workers, labor intensity is high and work efficiency is hard to improve. Furthermore, the general rules and strategies of AGVS transportation can be applied not only to the automated electricity meter verification but also in other industrial areas.

Details

Industrial Robot: An International Journal, vol. 44 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 8 November 2021

Chiou-Shiu Lin, Ran Xiao, Pei-Chi Huang and Liang-Chih Huang

Drawing on signaling theory, the purpose of this study is to explore how high-performance work systems (HPWS) interact with leader–member exchange (LMX) to predict employees'…

781

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing on signaling theory, the purpose of this study is to explore how high-performance work systems (HPWS) interact with leader–member exchange (LMX) to predict employees' proactive behavior and job engagement. Moreover, the present study also proposes the mediating role of job engagement in the interactive effects of HPWS and LMX quality on proactive behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The data of this study include 228 customer-contact employees and 44 store managers from chain store enterprises in the service sector in Taiwan. The proposed models were tested with hierarchical linear modeling and Monte Carlo simulation.

Findings

The results show a significant interactive effect of HPWS and LMX on job engagement and proactive behavior. In addition, job engagement serves as a vital mechanism linking the interactive effect of HPWS and LMX quality on proactive behavior.

Originality/value

This study uses signaling theory to unpack the question when and how HPWS can be more influential on employees' proactive behavior. In particular, the positive effect of HPWS on proactive behavior is more prominent only when employees enjoy high LMX quality with their respective line managers. In addition, the interactive effects of HPWS and LMX quality on proactive behavior are mediated by job engagement. The findings provide valuable theoretical and managerial contribution by integrating HRM and leadership research.

Details

Personnel Review, vol. 51 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0048-3486

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 19 September 2019

Yi Xiao, Xiaoling Ren, Pei Zhang and Antonnette Ketlhoafetse

The purpose of this paper is to examine foreign participants’ service quality, satisfaction and behavioral intention during the 2016 Shanghai International Marathon, and to gain a…

1191

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine foreign participants’ service quality, satisfaction and behavioral intention during the 2016 Shanghai International Marathon, and to gain a better understanding of the impact of service quality on their satisfaction and behavioral intention.

Design/methodology/approach

An English questionnaire was originally designed on the basis of the literature review of service quality, overall satisfaction and re-participation intention to assess the purpose of the study. Data were collected from 308 foreign runners including 61.7 percent (n=190) of male and 38.3 percent (n=118) of the female. Structural equation modeling was employed to check the proposed model and to test the impact of service quality on foreign participants’ overall satisfaction and behavioral intention.

Findings

A positive correlation was captured between the following: service quality and overall satisfaction (r=0.752, p<0.01), overall satisfaction and behavioral intention (r=0.876, p<0.01), and between service quality and participants’ behavioral intention (r=0.760, p<0.01). Furthermore, the service quality of Shanghai International Marathon had an indirect effect on foreign participants’ behavioral intention. The structural model fits the data well (R2=0.823).

Research limitations/implications

First, the sample size was small and was just drawn from one event, which can be taken with caution in the context of the generalization of findings. Second, the results are specific to 2016 Shanghai International Marathon participants and cannot be generalized with other events in China or around the world.

Practical implications

The results are practical for the marathon event organizers to better understand foreign participants’ needs and improve their services. This study has a significant importance to the sports events organizers, especially the organizers of the Shanghai International Marathon in terms of a better understanding the level of their service. This study will also help the event organizers to adapt their strategies and their efforts to increase Shanghai International Marathon foreign participants’ satisfaction and intention to repurchase or to share with others.

Social implications

This study contributes to the foreign participant’s satisfaction literature. In fact, many studies were carried on event spectators’ satisfaction while rare studies were carried on event participants’ satisfaction, especially marathon foreign participants’ satisfaction, and this study will supplement studies related to sport events participation. This will be convenient for sports managers and scholars to better understand the impact of service quality on participants’ satisfaction and behavioral intention in the field of sports events management. Meanwhile, the results were extremely useful to Shanghai during the process of constructing a “world-famous sports city” and “modern international metropolis”.

Originality/value

Little literature focus on foreign participants of Shanghai International Marathon, which is important in the process of shaping city image and building world-famous city. Are foreign participants satisfied with the Shanghai International Marathon? Which aspect of the service quality is of greater value for them? What are the influencing factors of their behavioral intention and word-of-mouth communication? What are the specific impact paths among the service quality, overall satisfaction and behavioral intention variables? To examine the objectives, the study was designed to target foreign participants’ service quality, satisfaction and behavioral intention. Besides, structural equation model was applied in this study to explore the path relationship between service quality, satisfaction and behavioral intention specifically.

Details

International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, vol. 21 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1464-6668

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 7 September 2021

Ming Qi, Jiawei Zhang, Jing Xiao, Pei Wang, Danyang Shi and Amuji Bridget Nnenna

In this paper the interconnectedness among financial institutions and the level of systemic risks of four types of Chinese financial institutions are investigated.

2959

Abstract

Purpose

In this paper the interconnectedness among financial institutions and the level of systemic risks of four types of Chinese financial institutions are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

By the means of RAS algorithm, the interconnection among financial institutions are illustrated. Different methods, including Linear Granger, Systemic impact index (SII), vulnerability index (VI), CoVaR, and MES are used to measure the systemic risk exposures across different institutions.

Findings

The results illustrate that big banks are more interconnected and hold the biggest scales of inter-bank transactions in the financial network. The institutions which have larger size tend to have more connection with others. Insurance and security companies contribute more to the systemic risk where as other institutions, such as trusts, financial companies, etc. may bring about severe loss and endanger the financial system as a whole.

Practical implications

Since other institutions with low levels of regulation may bring about higher extreme loss and suffer the whole system, it deserves more attention by regulators considering the contagion of potential risks in the financial system.

Originality/value

This study builds a valuable contribution by examine the systemic risks from the perspectives of both interconnection and tail risk measures. Furthermore; Four types financial institutions are investigated in this paper.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 51 no. 13
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

1 – 10 of 505
Per page
102050