Xiaoyi He, Liping Li, Xiaojian Liu, Yongsheng Wu, Shujiang Mei and Zhen Zhang
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease in infants and children. HFMD has caused millions of cases and a large epidemic worldwide. A number of studies…
Abstract
Purpose
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease in infants and children. HFMD has caused millions of cases and a large epidemic worldwide. A number of studies have shown that the incidence of HFMD is closely related to various factors such as meteorological factors, environmental air pollution factors and socio-economic factors. However, there are few studies that systematically consider the impact of various factors on the incidence of HFMD. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used grey correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) method to systematically analyse the impact of meteorological factors, health resource factors, socio-economic factors and environmental air pollution factors on the incidence of HFMD in Shenzhen.
Findings
The incidence of HFMD in Shenzhen was affected by multiple factors. Grey correlation analysis found eight influencing factors which are as follows: volume of industrial waste gas emission; the days of air quality equal to or above grade; the volume of industrial nitrogen oxide emission; precipitation; the mean air temperature; the gross domestic product; the expenditure for medical and health care; and the gross domestic product per capita. PCA found that the gross domestic product, the volume of industrial soot emission, the relative humidity, and the days of air quality equal to or above grade have a higher load value.
Originality/value
This study is the one of the first studies that apply the grey correlation analysis to analyse the influencing factors of HFMD in the English literature, which to some extent fills up the blank in this field.
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Zhen Yang, Yun Lin, Xingsheng Gu and Xiaoyi Liang
The purpose of this paper is to study the electrochemical properties of electrode material on activated carbon double layer capacitors. It also tries to develop a prediction model…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the electrochemical properties of electrode material on activated carbon double layer capacitors. It also tries to develop a prediction model to evaluate pore size value.
Design/methodology/approach
Back-propagation neural network (BPNN) prediction model is used to evaluate pore size value. Also, an improved heuristic approach genetic algorithm (HAGA) is used to search for the optimal relationship between process parameters and electrochemical properties.
Findings
A three-layer ANN is found to be optimum with the architecture of three and six neurons in the first and second hidden layer and one neuron in output layer. The simulation results show that the optimized design model based on HAGA can get the suitable process parameters.
Originality/value
HAGA BPNN is proved to be a practical and efficient way for acquiring information and providing optimal parameters about the activated carbon double layer capacitor electrode material.
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Yan Gao, Kai Chang, Xuguang Xing, Jiaping Liang, Nian He and Xiaoyi Ma
Traditional laboratory measurements of soil water diffusivity (D) and soil water retention curve (SWRC) are always time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, this paper aims…
Abstract
Purpose
Traditional laboratory measurements of soil water diffusivity (D) and soil water retention curve (SWRC) are always time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, this paper aims to present a simple and robust test method for determining D and SWRC without reducing accuracy.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, a D model of unsaturated soil was established based on Gardner–Russo model and then a combination of Gardner–Russo model with one-dimensional horizontal absorption method to obtain n and a parameters of Gardner–Russo model. One-dimensional horizontal absorption experiments on loam, silt loam and sandy clay loam were conducted to obtain the relationships between measured infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration with wetting front distance. Based on the obtained relationships, the measured infiltration data from the one-dimensional horizontal absorption tests were used to calculate n and a parameters and further constructing D and SWRC.
Findings
Both the calculated D and SWRC inversed from the infiltration data were in good agreement with the measured ones that obtained from the traditional horizontal absorption method and the centrifuge method, respectively. Error analysis indicated that only the infiltration data are enough to reliably synchronously determine D and SWRC.
Originality/value
A simple and robust method is proposed for synchronous determination of soil water diffusivity and water retention curve.
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Roberto S. Santos, Sunny Li Sun and Xiaoyi Luo
Why do some individuals become entrepreneurs while others do not? This fundamental question has vexed entrepreneurship scholars for some time, giving rise to various schools of…
Abstract
Theoretical basis
Why do some individuals become entrepreneurs while others do not? This fundamental question has vexed entrepreneurship scholars for some time, giving rise to various schools of thought. Traditional economic motivation theories, for example, suggest that entrepreneurial opportunities arise from changes in either supply (Shane, 2000) or demand (Dew et al., 2004) and emphasize personal economic gain as a motivator for pursuing entrepreneurship. Both neoclassical equilibrium and psychological theories take a person-centric perspective whereby stable, enduring differences among people’s characteristics, determines who becomes an entrepreneur. Opportunity recognition may be enhanced through perspective taking (i.e. putting oneself in the shoes of another person) (Prandelli et al., 2016).
Research methodology
The founders of the company provided us with access to the inner workings of the company, their mentors and advisors and themselves. This study used archival research and interviews when preparing this case. Interviews allow for the development of uncensored, real-life insights into the entrepreneur’s business experience. The authors first conducted a 90-min interview with Rajia and Ray at DifferenceMaker® Central on the UMass Lowell campus. DifferenceMaker® provided us with pictures and timelines from when Rajia and Ray participated in the various DifferenceMaker® activities and competitions. A follow-on 90-min interview was conducted with the founders four months later at the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub to delve deeper into their transition from engineers to entrepreneurs.
Case overview/synopsis
In the summer of 2016, the future of invisaWear suddenly became uncertain. Rajia Abdelaziz and Ray Hamilton had conceived an idea for smart jewelry that they felt solved a real problem. But it was one thing to have a great idea and quite another to turn that idea into a real business. As engineering students, they were accustomed to solving problems, but if they truly wanted to make an impact, they had to learn to solve problems as entrepreneurs. With the help of DifferenceMaker® and their mentors, they developed an entrepreneurial mind-set and decided to build invisaWear into a company.
Complexity academic level
This case is suitable for an undergraduate course in business or entrepreneurship. This case is intended to illustrate to both business and non-business students how individuals with different backgrounds can become entrepreneurs. Presented as a real-life example of how engineering students can make the transition to an entrepreneurial mind-set, the case can also be used to hone in on select topics including opportunity recognition, problem-solving, ideation and the business model canvas.
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Roberto S. Santos, Sunny Li Sun and Xiaoyi Luo
Forming ties with prominent partners can help convey greater status and legitimacy to the company (Hallen, 2008) and also increases the entrepreneur’s influence within their own…
Abstract
Theoretical basis
Forming ties with prominent partners can help convey greater status and legitimacy to the company (Hallen, 2008) and also increases the entrepreneur’s influence within their own network (Bonacich, 1987). This allows entrepreneurs to gain greater access to the information, experience or resources that the company needs.
Research methodology
The founders of the company provided us with access to the inner workings of the company, their mentors and advisors and themselves. The authors used archival research and interviews when preparing this case. Interviews allow for the development of uncensored, real-life insights into the entrepreneur’s business experience. The authors also interviewed two of their mentors and investors.
Case overview/synopsis
Having graduated from UMass Lowell with engineering degrees, co-founders Rajia Abdelaziz and Ray Hamilton build invisaWear into a venture, but they did not know much about business. With coaching from their mentors, Rajia and Ray focused on building their network to raise capital to finance the business. Despite all their hard work networking, however, they faced a hurdle. Rajia and Ray contemplated their dilemma. “Are the authors doing something wrong? What can the authors do differently to attract investors?”
Complexity academic level
This case is suitable for an undergraduate course in business or entrepreneurship. This case is intended to illustrate to both business and non-business students how entrepreneurs can go about building their networks to grow their businesses. Presented as a real-life example of how entrepreneurs build their networks, the case can also be used to hone in on select topics including mentoring, searching for resources and coachability.
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Li Cui, Shanshan He, Hepu Deng and Xiaoyi Wang
With the rapid development of fresh food e-commerce, sustaining customer loyalty is becoming critical for fresh food e-tailers (FFE) to be competitive. This study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
With the rapid development of fresh food e-commerce, sustaining customer loyalty is becoming critical for fresh food e-tailers (FFE) to be competitive. This study aims to investigate how to sustain customer loyalty of FFE in China.
Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive literature review leads to the development of a conceptual model using the American customer satisfaction index (ACSI). This model is then tested and validated through structural equation modelling (SEM) of the survey data in China.
Findings
The study reveals that trust and perceived product risk significantly affect customer loyalty. It states that trust is significantly influenced by customer satisfaction and perceived product risk. Furthermore, the study shows that perceived risk of online shopping does not significantly influence customer trust and loyalty.
Originality/value
This study is the first in China for exploring how to sustain customer loyalty of FFE. The findings are significant for FFE to develop customer loyalty by formulating appropriate policies and strategies.
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Xiaoyi Pan, Andy Hao, Cuiling Guan and Tsun-Jui Hsieh
The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptualization of the construct of cultural identity (CI) and develop and validate a measurement scale for the construct. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptualization of the construct of cultural identity (CI) and develop and validate a measurement scale for the construct. This study examines experience-related cognitions and the positive and negative emotional dimensions in cultural identity.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes the process of the development of the instrument, the sample, as well as the validation of the instrument. This study performs both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to examine the reliability and validity of the scale developed.
Findings
The final CI scale has three dimensions: six items for the cognitive dimension, five items for the emotional dimension and seven items for the behavioral dimension. The scale shows internal consistency, reliability, construct validity and nomological validity.
Originality/value
This is the first CI scale to be developed for the measurement of CI of traditional Chinese medicine.
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Cuiwei Mao, Xiaoyi Gou and Bo Zeng
This paper aims to overcome the problem that the single structure of the driving term of the grey prediction model is not adapted to the complexity and diversity of the actual…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to overcome the problem that the single structure of the driving term of the grey prediction model is not adapted to the complexity and diversity of the actual modeling objects, which leads to poor modeling results.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, the nonlinear law between the raw data and time point is fully mined by expanding the nonlinear term and the range of order. Secondly, through the synchronous optimization of model structure and parameter, the dynamic adjustment of the model with the change of the modeled object is realized. Finally, the objective optimization of nonlinear driving term and cumulative order of the model is realized by particle swarm optimization PSO algorithm.
Findings
The model can achieve strong compatibility with multiple existing models through parameter transformation. The synchronous optimization of model structure and parameter has a significant improvement over the single optimization method. The new model has a wide range of applications and strong modeling capabilities.
Originality/value
A novel grey prediction model with structure variability and optimizing parameter synchronization is proposed.
Highlights
The highlights of the paper are as follows:
A new grey prediction model with a unified nonlinear structure is proposed.
The new model can be fully compatible with multiple traditional grey models.
The new model solves the defect of poor adaptability of the traditional grey models.
The parameters of the new model are optimized by PSO algorithm.
Cases verify that the new model outperforms other models significantly.
A new grey prediction model with a unified nonlinear structure is proposed.
The new model can be fully compatible with multiple traditional grey models.
The new model solves the defect of poor adaptability of the traditional grey models.
The parameters of the new model are optimized by PSO algorithm.
Cases verify that the new model outperforms other models significantly.
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Ruipeng Tong, Lulu Wang, Lanxin Cao, Boling Zhang and Xiaoyi Yang
Psychosocial factors have received increasing attention regarding significantly influencing safety in the construction industry. This research attempts to comprehensively…
Abstract
Purpose
Psychosocial factors have received increasing attention regarding significantly influencing safety in the construction industry. This research attempts to comprehensively summarize psychosocial factors related to safety performance of construction workers. In the context of coronavirus disease 2019, some typical psychosocial factors are selected to further analyze their influence mechanism of safety performance.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a literature review process was conducted to identify and summarize relevant psychosocial factors. Then, considering the impact of the epidemic, hypotheses on the relationship between six selected psychosocial factors (i.e. work stress, role ambiguity, work–family conflict, autonomy, social support and interpersonal conflict) and safety performance were proposed, and a hypothetical model was developed based on job demands-resources theory. Finally, a meta-analysis was used to examine these hypotheses and the model.
Findings
The results showed these psychosocial factors indirectly influenced workers’ safety performance by impacting on their occupational psychology condition (i.e. burnout and engagement). Work stress, role ambiguity, work–family conflict and interpersonal conflict were negatively related to safety performance by promoting burnout and affecting engagement. Autonomy and social support were positively related to safety performance by improving work engagement and reducing burnout.
Originality/value
This research is the pioneer systematically describing the overall picture of psychosocial factors related to the safety performance of construction workers. Through deeply discussed the mechanism of psychosocial factors and safety performance, it could provide a reference for the theory and application of psychosocial factors in the field of construction safety management.
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Because of increasing wealth inequality, China has been confronted with resentment against the rich (referred to hereafter as RAR or Choufu in Chinese), which is a growing concern…
Abstract
Purpose
Because of increasing wealth inequality, China has been confronted with resentment against the rich (referred to hereafter as RAR or Choufu in Chinese), which is a growing concern owing to its potential to foment social conflict. Drawing on social comparison and deonance theories, this paper aims to provide theoretical insights into RAR within the Chinese context and to develop an RAR scale. Following spillover theory, the attitudinal and behavioral outcomes of RAR in organizational settings will be explored.
Design/methodology/approach
This research consists of two studies. Study 1 conceptualizes RAR and develops an RAR scale by using three separate samples. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are conducted to establish scale reliability and validity. Study 2 uses hierarchical linear regression analysis to test whether employees’ RAR attitude spills over from the societal to the organizational setting.
Findings
Results suggest that RAR can be conceptualized as two distinct but related dimensions – emotional RAR and moral RAR. These two forms spill over to the workplace, influencing employees’ work attitudes and behaviors. Emotional RAR relates negatively to life satisfaction and prosocial organizational behaviors and positively to unethical organizational behaviors. Moral RAR relates negatively to pay satisfaction and positively to prosocial behaviors.
Practical implications
This research suggests that RAR has spillover effects from societal to organizational settings and demonstrates that a more robust understanding of employees’ workplace experience requires acknowledging social experiences, such as conflicts beyond the workplace.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the conflict management literature by exploring RAR as a negative attitude that serves to potentially ignite social conflict. It not only develops a theory-grounded, conceptual RAR model and a reliable RAR scale but also for the first time explores RAR attitudinal and behavioral outcomes beyond the social domain. This study serves as a meaningful touchstone for future research to incorporate social attitudes into organizational behavior research.