Xinghong Wang, Qiang Bian, Xinhua Gao, Chunjiang Zhao, Minghui Liu, Xinghui Xie and Bowen Jiao
The purpose of this paper is to establish a dynamic model considering the actual operating conditions of the train and to study the dynamic performance and vibration…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to establish a dynamic model considering the actual operating conditions of the train and to study the dynamic performance and vibration characteristics of axle box bearings under different operating conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, based on the internal contact characteristics of double-row tapered roller bearings, a dynamic model considering the actual operating conditions of the train is established. The correctness of the model is verified by the vibration test of the bearing. Comparative analysis was conducted on the effects of axial force, radial force and rotational speed on the angular velocity of the cage, slip rate and vibration acceleration level of the inner ring.
Findings
As the force increases, the slip rate of the cages on both sides decreases, and the vibration acceleration level of the inner ring increases. With the increase of rotational speed, the cage slip rate of the axle box bearing increases and the vibration acceleration level of the inner ring increases.
Originality/value
A dynamic model is established considering the actual operating conditions, and the dynamic performance and vibration characteristics of the axle box bearing under different operating conditions are analyzed by numerical method. The research content can provide reference for the parameter design of high-speed railway bearings.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-03-2024-0085/
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This paper analyses the escalating Sino-Western race to develop a safe, efficacious and durable vaccine (i.e. “Goldilocks COVID-19 vaccine”). It argues that such efforts would be…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper analyses the escalating Sino-Western race to develop a safe, efficacious and durable vaccine (i.e. “Goldilocks COVID-19 vaccine”). It argues that such efforts would be considerably more effective if there is greater international cooperation instead of the corrosive rivalry driven by misplaced nationalism.
Design/methodology/approach
This study deploys a case-study approach, supported by literature on existing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine development efforts.
Findings
Despite the seeming success of recent COVID-19 vaccines, their actual efficacy is far from certain. Moreover, access to these vaccines would not be equitable internationally. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that their unique properties make storage and distribution prohibitively expensive, and international mechanisms to provide distribution to economically depressed regions are non-existent. Given the significant difficulties, it would be incumbent upon the great powers (i.e. China and America) to work together not only in vaccine development but also in the establishment of a distribution platform to ensure equitable access worldwide.
Originality/value
This study is one of the few social science research papers on COVID-19 vaccine development and its implications for society at large.
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D. Kirk Davidson, Kanji Tanimoto, Laura Gyung Jun, Shallini Taneja, Pawan K. Taneja and Juelin Yin
The origins of corporate social responsibility (CSR) have been widely attributed to the work of scholars, and business managers as well, in North America and Western Europe…
Abstract
The origins of corporate social responsibility (CSR) have been widely attributed to the work of scholars, and business managers as well, in North America and Western Europe. Inevitably, however, as the economic interaction of individual firms and entire nations has grown over the past several decades — call it globalization — so too has the concept and the practice of CSR spread throughout the world. It is certainly time to explore how CSR is being incorporated into the practice of business management in other regions and other countries. Therefore, in this chapter we will focus on Asia: specifically on Japan, South Korea, India, and China. It is interesting for academicians to understand how CSR is being absorbed and adapted into the business cultures of these four countries. Perhaps of even greater importance, it is vital that business managers know what to expect about the interaction between business and society as well as the government as their commercial activities grow in this burgeoning part of the world.
For each of these four countries, we will provide an overview of the extent to which CSR has become a part of the academic community and also how it is being practiced and incorporated in everyday management affairs. We will see that there are very significant differences among these countries which lead to the natural question: why? To answer this question, we will use an eight-part analytical framework developed specifically for this purpose. We will look at the history, the dominant religious beliefs, the relevant social customs, the geography, the political structures, the level of economic development, civil society institutions, and the “safety net” of each country. As a result of this analysis, we believe, academicians can learn how CSR is absorbed and spread into commercial affairs, and managers can profit from learning more about what to expect when doing business in this increasingly important region.
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Yaoqi Li, Lishan Xie, Teng Gao and Xinhua Guan
This paper aims to explore the physical attractiveness stereotype in service encounters. Specifically, this paper examines how physical attractiveness affects a customer’s…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the physical attractiveness stereotype in service encounters. Specifically, this paper examines how physical attractiveness affects a customer’s response and whether a customer’s social interaction anxiety and the consumption situation moderate this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Three experiments were used to test hypotheses. Participants were subject to scenarios of varying levels of physical attractiveness (more vs less), social interaction anxiety (high vs low) and consumption situation (private vs public). Customer participation intention and citizenship behavior were measured along scales.
Findings
The results indicate that the physical attractiveness of service providers positively affects customer citizenship behavior, and customer participation intention mediates this relationship. However, the effect only exists for a customer with low social interaction anxiety or presents itself under public consumption conditions.
Research limitations/implications
This work paints a more nuanced picture of missing links in the understanding of the influence of service providers’ physical attractiveness. It enriches the physical attractiveness stereotype literature by identifying the mediating role of customer participation intention while bounding the relationship within conditions related to a customer’s social interaction anxiety and the service consumption situation.
Practical implications
Management may alter the performance of service employees by considering the employee’s physical attractiveness and gauging customer social interaction anxiety while keeping in mind the consumption situation.
Originality/value
This study advances physical attractiveness stereotype research by examining its effect on customer participation intention and citizenship behavior in the service industry. Additionally, this study adds customer social interaction anxiety and consumption situation to the existing literature that addresses employee factors affecting customer behavior.
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Jiahe Wang, Yanbin Tan, Huajian Li, Xinhua Zhong, Jiaxuan Wang and Yu Gao
This study aims to analyze the impact mechanism of typical environments in China's western mountainous areas on the durability of railway concrete and propose measures to improve…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the impact mechanism of typical environments in China's western mountainous areas on the durability of railway concrete and propose measures to improve durability.
Design/methodology/approach
With the continuous promotion of infrastructure construction, the focus of China's railway construction has gradually shifted to the western region. The four typical environments of large temperature differences, strong winds and dryness, high cold and low air pressure unique to the western mountainous areas of China have adverse effects on the durability of typical railway structure concrete (bridges, ballastless tracks and tunnels). This study identified the characteristics of four typical environments in the western mountainous areas of China through on-site research. The impact mechanism of the four typical environments on the durability of concrete in different structural parts of railways has been explored through theoretical analysis and experimental research; Finally, a strategy for improving the durability of railway concrete suitable for the western mountainous areas of China was proposed.
Findings
The daily temperature difference in the western mountainous areas of China is more than twice that of the plain region, which will lead to significant temperature deformation and stress in the multi-layered structure of railway ballastless tracks. It will result in cracking. The wind speed in the western plateau region is about 2.5 to 3 times that of the plain region, and the average annual rainfall is only 1/5 of that in the plain region. The drying effect on the surface of casting concrete will significantly accelerate its cracking process, leading to serious durability problems. The environmental temperature in the western mountainous areas of China is generally low, and there are more freeze-thaw cycles, which will increase the risk of freeze-thaw damage to railway concrete. The environmental air pressure in the western plateau region is only 60% of that in the plain region. The moisture inside the concrete is more likely to diffuse into the surrounding environment under the pressure difference, resulting in greater water loss and shrinkage deformation of the concrete in the plateau region. The above four issues will collectively lead to the rapid deterioration of concrete durability in the western plateau region. The corresponding durability improvement suggestions from theoretical research, new technology development and standard system was proposed in this paper.
Originality/value
The research can provide the mechanism of durability degradation of railway concrete in the western mountainous areas of China and corresponding improvement strategies.
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Propose a more comprehensive explanation on the determinants and fluctuations of China’s exchange rate policy in the past decade (2005–2015).
Abstract
Purpose
Propose a more comprehensive explanation on the determinants and fluctuations of China’s exchange rate policy in the past decade (2005–2015).
Approach
Case study on China’s exchange rate policies in three respective stages since 2005 and then a comparative study on these three stages.
Findings
Put forward a two-pronged explanation on the determinants and fluctuations of China’s exchange rate policy in the past decade and arrive at three specific conclusions. First, external pressure is only one factor among many influencing the formation of China’s national interests (Guojia Liyi in Chinese) and the decision-making process on exchange rate policy. Second, national interest is the fundamental driving force and substratum for making China’s exchange rate policy. Third, in the short term, the specific exchange rate policies in different periods were not always in accordance to the national interests (or Guojia Liyi), due to the influences of some factors on the decision-making environment.
Value
The comprehensive view is conducive to better explaining the formation and fluctuations of China’s exchange rate policy and consequently contributes to understanding and even predicting future policies.
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Vasilii Erokhin and Tianming Gao
Sustainable development is inseparable from rational and responsible use of resources and promotion of green entrepreneurship. The contemporary green development agenda…
Abstract
Sustainable development is inseparable from rational and responsible use of resources and promotion of green entrepreneurship. The contemporary green development agenda encompasses climate, economic, technical, social, cultural, and political dimensions. International efforts to greening the global development are conducted by the major economies, including China as the world’s largest consumer of energy and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. China is aware of its environmental problems, as well as of its part of the overall responsibility for the accomplishment of the sustainable development goals. By means of the decarbonization efforts, the latter are integrated both into the national development agenda (the concept of ecological civilization) and China’s international initiatives (the greening narrative within the Belt and Road Initiative). Over the past decade, China has made a breakthrough on the way to promoting green entrepreneurship and greening of its development (better quality of air and water, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and organic farming). On the other hand, emissions remain high, agricultural land loses productivity, and freshwater resources degrade due to climate change. In conventional industries (oil, coal mining, and electric and thermal energy), decarbonization faces an array of impediments. In this chapter, the authors summarize fundamental provisions of China’s approach to building an ecological civilization and measures to reduce emissions and achieve the carbon neutrality status within the nearest decades. The analysis of obstacles to the decarbonization of the economy and possible prospects for the development of green entrepreneurship summarizes China’s practices for possible use in other countries.
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Wei Liu, Kaiying Guo and Bo Wendy Gao
The conventional customer lifecycle fails to acknowledge the “sleeping” stage between regular patronage and churn, particularly prevalent in the hospitality industry. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
The conventional customer lifecycle fails to acknowledge the “sleeping” stage between regular patronage and churn, particularly prevalent in the hospitality industry. This study constructs an awakening model to regain “sleeping” guests.
Design/methodology/approach
342 questionnaires from Macau using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were analyzed. The model was compared across different membership levels through multigroup analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that the point policy can awaken “sleeping” guests by influencing their perceived value, regret, and integrated satisfaction with a shorter “sleeping” period. Two path coefficients showed significant differences among basic and elite members.
Practical implications
Companies with loyalty programs should implement a transitional period before resetting points, leveraging altruistic point policies to awaken “sleeping” guests via direct communication. This strategy mitigates the negative impact of finite point expiration policies, enhancing customer re-engagement and point utilization.
Originality/value
Our study focuses on a crucial facet of hotel marketing—customer regain strategies. By identifying customer segments who have not revisited the hotel group for more than twelve months, we confirm the concept of “sleeping” guests. This term offers a nuanced perspective, distinguishing “sleeping” guests from generic lost customers. The “sleeping” guest segment provides valuable insights for enhancing targeted and effective marketing activities in the highly competitive hotel industry.