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This study aims to examine whether a firm's demand for high-quality auditors is influenced by multiple large shareholders (MLS). As one type of ownership structure, MLS have gained popularity in China recently and have different types of large shareholders, including large institutional shareholder, large foreign shareholder and large state shareholder. The authors also examine whether different types of MLS have heterogeneous impacts on appointing high-quality auditors.

With a sample of 27,131 firm-year observations from Chinese public companies from 2003 to 2018, the authors use multivariate regressions to examine the effect of MLS on auditor choice. Heckman two-stage analysis, a firm fixed effects model, propensity score matching and difference-in-differences test are used as robustness checks.

This paper finds that the presence and power of MLS increase the likelihood of appointing high-quality auditors. With regard to the types of MLS, large institutional shareholders and foreign shareholders have significant positive effects on appointing high-quality auditors, while the presence of state-owned large shareholders has no effect on auditor choice. Further analyses reveal that the positive effect of MLS on high-quality auditor choice is more pronounced in firms with severe agency problems and information asymmetry. Taken together, these results suggest that MLS play a monitoring role by demanding high-quality auditors.

This paper contributes to the literature on the determinants of auditor choice. While prior studies primarily focus on the impact of concentrated ownership structure, corporate governance and the pressure from stakeholders on auditor choice, this paper complements the literature by providing evidence from the heterogeneous effects of different types MLS. This paper also extends the literature on the consequences of MLS from the perspective of auditor choice.

To ensure the motion attitude and stable contact force of massage robot working on unknown human tissue environment, this study aims to propose a robotic system for autonomous massage path planning and stable interaction control.

First, back region extraction and acupoint recognition based on deep learning is proposed, which provides a basis for determining the working area and path points of the robot. Second, to realize the standard approach and movement trajectory of the expert massage, 3D reconstruction and path planning of the massage area are performed, and normal vectors are calculated to control the normal orientation of robot-end. Finally, to cope with the soft and hard changes of human tissue state and body movement, an adaptive force tracking control strategy is presented to compensate the uncertainty of environmental position and tissue hardness online.

Improved network model can accomplish the acupoint recognition task with a large accuracy and integrate the point cloud to generate massage trajectories adapted to the shape of the human body. Experimental results show that the adaptive force tracking control can obtain a relatively smooth force, and the error is basically within ± 0.2 N during the online experiment.

This paper incorporates deep learning, 3D reconstruction and impedance control, the robot can understand the shape features of the massage area and adapt its planning massage path to carry out a stable and safe force tracking control during dynamic robot–human contact.

This paper aims to clarify the effects of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) additives and room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) on the tribological performance of electric contacts.

Tribological properties of copper (Cu) and silver (Ag) NPs as lubricant additives in different lubricants of ILs or polyalphaolefin (PAO) oils under applied electric currents were investigated. After tribological tests, morphologies of worn surfaces were observed; meanwhile, lubrication and anti-wear properties were analyzed.

The mixture solution of the IL and Cu NPs showed desirable lubrication and anti-wear properties due to the reduction of electrocorrosion and the enhancement of rolling effects of particles in the contact region. The anti-wear performance of Cu NPs is better than that of Ag NPs due to the difference in the particle size. The PAO oil with the Cu NPs additives showed poor lubrication properties due to the low solubility of the particles in the oil. When the direction of applied current was changed, the friction of the lubricant with better conductivity was more stable in the variation trend.

This paper begins with a study of tribological properties of Cu and Ag NPs as lubricant additives in different lubricants of IL or PAO oils under applied electric currents. The authors then propose several methods and possible solutions which could be implemented to improve the tribological performance of electric contacts.

This study aims to examine the impact of climate change on the total factor productivity (TFP) of tourism in Chinese cities. Using temperature and precipitation as proxies for climate change, the research analyzes both the direct negative effects of climate change on tourism productivity and the positive spillover effects on neighboring cities. In addition, it investigates how geographic location and economic development contribute to the variation in these effects. The study also explores the mechanisms through which government intervention and industrial structure upgrading influence these impacts.

This study uses a spatial Durbin model to analyze the relationship between climate change and tourism TFP in 287 Chinese cities from 2000 to 2020. Panel data is used, with temperature and precipitation serving as proxies for climate change. The model evaluates both the direct and spillover effects of climate change on tourism productivity, while also analyzing the mechanisms through which government intervention and industrial upgrading affect these relationships. The study further considers how geographic location and economic development impact the results.

This study finds that climate change directly reduces tourism TFP, while generating positive spillover effects for neighboring cities. Cities in the eastern and more economically developed regions are more sensitive to climate change, experiencing stronger impacts compared to cities in central and western regions. The findings suggest that government intervention and industrial structure upgrading are important mechanisms through which climate change affects tourism productivity in Chinese cities.

This research fills a gap in the literature regarding how climate change affects tourism productivity in developing countries, particularly in China. By applying a spatial Durbin model and panel data analysis, the study provides empirical evidence on both the direct and spillover effects of climate change on tourism productivity. It highlights the critical role of government intervention and industrial upgrading as mechanisms shaping the impact of climate change, offering new insights for policymakers and tourism businesses to address the challenges posed by climate change and enhance productivity and competitiveness.

本研究旨在探讨气候变化对中国城市旅游全要素生产率的影响。通过温度和降水量作为气候变化的代理变量, 研究分析了气候变化对旅游全要素生产率的直接抑制效应及其对邻近城市的积极溢出效应。此外, 研究考察了地理位置与经济发展水平如何导致这些效应的异质性。通过分析政府干预和产业结构升级的机制, 本研究为气候变化影响旅游全要素生产率的机制分析提供了理论支持, 为提升发展中国家旅游竞争力提供了指导。

本研究采用空间杜宾模型分析2000年至2020年期间, 中国287个城市的气候变化与旅游全要素生产率之间的关系。研究使用面板数据, 温度和降水量作为气候变化的代理变量。模型分析了气候变化对旅游全要素生产率的直接效应与溢出效应, 并研究了政府干预与产业结构升级的机制效应。研究还考察了基于地理位置与经济发展水平的异质性影响, 提供了气候变化对城市旅游全要素生产率影响的综合分析。

气候变化直接抑制旅游全要素生产率, 同时对邻近城市产生积极的溢出效应。东部城市及高经济水平地区对气候变化更为敏感, 影响强于中西部地区。研究发现, 政府干预与产业结构升级是气候变化影响中国城市旅游全要素生产率的关键机制。

本研究填补了气候变化如何影响发展中国家, 尤其是中国, 旅游全要素生产率领域的研究空白。通过运用空间杜宾模型和面板数据分析, 提供了气候变化对旅游全要素生产率的直接效应与溢出效应的实证证据。研究强调了政府干预和产业结构升级作为气候变化影响旅游全要素生产率的主要机制。通过关注区域异质性与经济发展水平, 本研究为旅游企业与政策制定者应对气候变化挑战,提升生产力和竞争力提供了新的思路。

Este estudio examina el impacto del cambio climático en la productividad total de los factores (PTF) del turismo en las ciudades chinas. Utilizando la temperatura y las precipitaciones como indicadores del cambio climático, la investigación analiza tanto los efectos negativos directos del cambio climático sobre la productividad del turismo como los efectos indirectos positivos sobre las ciudades vecinas. Además, investiga cómo la ubicación geográfica y el desarrollo económico contribuyen a la variación de estos efectos. El estudio también explora los mecanismos a través de los cuales la intervención gubernamental y la mejora de la estructura industrial influyen en estos impactos.

Este estudio utiliza un modelo espacial de Durbin (SDM) para analizar la relación entre el cambio climático y la productividad total de los factores del turismo en 287 ciudades chinas entre 2000 y 2020. Se emplean datos de panel, en los que la temperatura y las precipitaciones sirven como variables sustitutivas del cambio climático. El modelo evalúa tanto los efectos directos como los indirectos del cambio climático sobre la productividad del turismo, al tiempo que analiza los mecanismos a través de los cuales la intervención gubernamental y la modernización industrial afectan a estas relaciones. El estudio examina además cómo influyen en los resultados la ubicación geográfica y el desarrollo económico.

El estudio concluye que el cambio climático reduce directamente la productividad total de los factores del turismo, al tiempo que genera efectos indirectos positivos para las ciudades vecinas. Las ciudades de las regiones orientales y económicamente más desarrolladas son más sensibles al cambio climático y experimentan impactos más fuertes que las ciudades de las regiones centrales y occidentales. Los resultados sugieren que la intervención gubernamental y la mejora de la estructura industrial son mecanismos importantes a través de los cuales el cambio climático afecta a la productividad del turismo en las ciudades chinas.

Esta investigación llena un vacío en la literatura sobre cómo el cambio climático afecta a la productividad del turismo en los países en desarrollo, especialmente en China. Aplicando un modelo espacial de Durbin y un análisis de datos de panel, el estudio aporta pruebas empíricas sobre los efectos directos y indirectos del cambio climático en la productividad del turismo. Destaca el papel decisivo de la intervención pública y la modernización industrial como mecanismos que determinan el impacto del cambio climático, ofreciendo nuevas perspectivas a los responsables políticos y las empresas turísticas para afrontar los retos que plantea el cambio climático y mejorar la productividad y la competitividad.

Laser melting deposition (LMD) is an advanced additive manufacturing (AM) technology without powder waste, and nickel-based alloys with different Nb contents were created one-time by adjusting the ratio of mixed powders via a dual-feed system. Here, the authors provide a systematic report on the effects of the Nb content on the microstructure, Laves phase segregation and mechanical properties of as-received LMD nickel-based alloys. The effects of the Nb content on the microstructure, precipitation evolution and mechanical properties of the subsequent heat-treated LMD samples are also discussed in this paper.

Thus, the present research aims to obtain a better understanding of the effect of Nb content on the microstructural and mechanical properties of the as-received LMD Inconel 718 alloys through high-throughput sample fabrication. The microstructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, electron back-scattered diffraction and transmission electron microscopy methods. The mechanical properties were obtained from compressive tests and nano-indentation tests. Electrochemical tests, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarizations, were carried out to evaluate the durability of the Inconel 718 alloys. Results can provide a factual basis for future applications of the functionally graded by AM technology.

The grain size of the as-received LMD Inconel 718 alloys decreased with the Nb content. The Laves phase distribution at the macro level was relatively uniform and the Laves phase exhibited a 1.5-fold nano-hardness compared with the matrix. The strength improvement for the as-received LMD Inconel 718 alloys with Nb content was attributed to grain refinement and enhancement of the Laves phase in terms of both hardness and content. Meanwhile, the corrosion resistance increased with the increase of the Nb content, especially for the pitting potential, which was attributed to the optimization of carbide precipitates due to the strong affinity between niobium and carbon.

The results provide a factual basis for the Nb content effect in LMD nickel-based alloys, and this method can greatly promote the development of new materials. The authors believe that this study makes a significant contribution to the literature and is suitable for publication.

This study aims to build a global environmental quality protection convention to jointly address the problems of environmental pollution governance worldwide.

From the perspective of environmental pollution of the air, ocean, forest, water and solid waste, the authors summarize the main important measures and mechanisms of environmental pollution governance in various countries.

The results indicate that management research on biodiversity and natural resources must be strengthened, the relationship between economic development and environmental quality management needs to be balanced, the comparative study of domestic and international environmental governance theories and practices should be strengthened, empirical and applied research on environmental governance needs to be focused on, and complete system research on environmental governance and management should be explored. In the future, further strengthening environmental awareness, addressing environmental pollution and managing environmental quality are necessary.

The environment is the foundation of human survival and development. With the development of economy, contradictions between human and natural environment (e.g. air, ocean, forest and water) have become prominent. Environmental pollution governance cannot only help address existing environmental problems but also solve economic problems of various countries. The prerequisite for sustainable development is to lay a solid foundation for the coordinated development of economic growth and pollution management.

China’s rural elderly care system faces significant challenges in addressing the needs of an ageing population, particularly in resource-limited areas. This study aims to critically examine the rural mutual aid elderly care model in China through the lens of active ageing principles. It explores how this model tackles elder care challenges in rural areas by emphasising health, participation and security, aiming to assess its effectiveness in reducing care costs while fostering self-reliance and mutual assistance.

A qualitative research methodology was used, focusing on document analysis to explore the rural mutual aid elderly care model within an active ageing framework. The study reviewed policy documents, academic literature and organisational records, using thematic analysis to understand the historical context, policy evolution and institutional support for this model.

The research identifies a significant shift from traditional passive care models to those grounded in active ageing principles. The rural mutual aid model, centring on health, participation and security, enables elderly individuals to engage in self-help and mutual assistance, thereby enhancing autonomy and reducing dependency. Key success factors include strong community networks and culturally resonant support systems. However, challenges such as resource limitations and regional disparities suggest areas for further improvement.

The reliance on document analysis may not fully capture the experiences of elderly participants or account for regional variations in the model’s implementation. Future research could incorporate mixed methods, including interviews or case studies, for a more nuanced understanding of elderly care in rural China. The findings emphasise the need for scalable and adaptable policies to enhance the model’s effectiveness and support culturally appropriate care strategies.

The research presents significant implications for policymakers and practitioners regarding the rural mutual aid elderly care model. It emphasises the need for scalable policies that address resource limitations and enhance community engagement to improve care effectiveness. Key implications include promoting financial and social sustainability by fostering self-reliance among older adults, prioritising active ageing initiatives to enhance quality of life and community cohesion and adopting localised strategies that consider regional disparities. Moreover, these findings offer a blueprint for other countries facing similar ageing challenges, advocating for a culturally sensitive and community-driven approach to elderly care across East Asia.

The study’s findings significantly impact how ageing is perceived and managed in rural Chinese communities. The shift from traditional, passive elderly care models to those grounded in active ageing principles reflects a societal transformation in valuing and supporting older adults. By promoting health, participation and security, the rural mutual aid elderly care model creates inclusive environments where the elderly actively contribute to their well-being and that of others. This approach challenges perceptions of ageing as a decline, fostering autonomy and meaningful engagement, ultimately reducing social isolation and enhancing cohesion through strengthened intergenerational relationships and shared responsibilities.

This study contributes to the literature by focusing on the rural mutual aid elderly care model in China through active ageing principles, addressing a notable gap in the non-Western application of these concepts. The findings offer valuable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners, emphasising community-driven approaches to ageing challenges in rural areas.

Having read previous literature about vortex pump, we noticed that mechanisms of circulating flow and its relationship with energy transition remain unclear yet. However, this mechanism, which should be clarified, significantly influences the pump’s efficiency. To comply with the aim of investigating it, the 150WX-200-20 type pump is selected as study object in our present work.

Numerical simulation is conducted to formulate interactions between flow rate and geometric parameters of circulating flow with certain types of blade while experiments on inner flow are served as a witness to provide experimental confirmation of numerical results. Based on these, we coupled some parameters with the pump’s external performance to study their internal connections.

It is concluded that separatrix between circulating flow and other turbulent forms is not that clear under low flow rate. With flow increases, hydraulic losses coming of it will be dominant within the front chamber. Besides, we analogized circulating flow to vortices so as to make a quantitative analysis on its progressive evolution with changing flow, and vortices speaking for circulating flow can be divided into two groups. One is called main circulating flow vortex (hereinafter referred to as MCFV), which occurs all the time while subsidiary circulating flow vortices (hereinafter referred to as SCFV) appear in certain conditions. This context discusses the primary phase of our work with intent to follow up further with circulating flow characterized by vortices (hereinafter referred to as CFV). We confirmed that MCFV Vortex 1 (Vor1) directly influences the efficiency while SCFVs only play helping. As the flow goes to the given working condition, fluids in this pump tend to be steady with the size of CFVs getting larger and their shape being regular. Meanwhile, for MCFV Vor2 and Vor4, their geometric parameters are the key factors for efficiency. When CFVs become steady, they absorb other vortices nearby, as they have higher viscosity with the efficiency reaching its maximum.

The research results explore a new way to measure the circulating flow and help work out the causation of this flow pattern, which may be used to improve the vortex pump’s efficiency.

This paper investigates the relationship between product market competition and firms’ water information disclosure and how firms’ ownership type can affect this relationship in China, offering new insights into corporate water management.

The authors investigated 303 Chinese listed companies in highly water-sensitive industries to examine how product market competition influences corporate water information disclosure by subdividing the product market competition into market competition at the firm level and the industry competition intensity at the industry level.

The results show that there exists an inverted U-shaped relationship between industry competition and water information disclosure; enterprises with the highest market power in a mildly competitive industry are more willing to voluntarily disclose water information and play an industry benchmarking role. Further tests demonstrate that the relationship between industry competition intensity and water information disclosure is stronger for state-owned enterprises than for private enterprises.

The current water resources regulations in China are relatively lax and the water risk awareness of firms is weak, which may affect the applicability of the results. In addition, water information disclosure research is a relatively new field and a quantitative index system for water information disclosure is still in the exploratory stage. Further developments, including the selection, definition and measuring methods of a water index are required.

The authors developed a new direction of enterprise water management activities from the perspective of market competition. Based on the market conditions in China, the authors also investigated the impact of the ownership type of the enterprises on the relationship between market competition and water information disclosure.

The authors suggested that the government should improve laws and regulations and adopt incentive mechanisms to encourage enterprises to implement water resource management. In addition, the government should encourage high market status enterprises to actively fulfill their environmental responsibilities so that the entire industry is encouraged to follow suit.

This study represents an important development in the field of environmental accounting and is the first research on corporate water information disclosure; it also extends the research on the influence mechanisms of market competition on the environmental management practices of enterprises.

By modelling China’s property price changes and their effect on GDP, this study aims to develop a more general model of the costs and benefits driving price bubbles.

The authors develop a five-sector dynamic model (using data from China and seven other comparator jurisdictions), resulting in a bubble risk factor. The authors then correlate this risk factor with changes in property prices and resulting changes in GDP.

The authors find that economic structures (the way GDP, property prices and other variables change relative to each other) can change during/after a financial crisis. The authors also find that price disequilibria can help predict the risk of a property price fall – which thus reverberates into GDP change.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no dynamic models of price bubbles exist (though many exist of financial bubbles). The authors provide both theoretical novelties (such as providing a model of risk using non-linear differential equations) and practical ones (showing when we can expect Chinese GDP to fall).