Zhenyu Ma, Yupeng Zhang, Xuguang An, Jing Zhang, Qingquan Kong, Hui Wang, Weitang Yao and Qingyuan Wang
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of nano ZrC particles on the mechanical and electrochemical corrosion properties of FeCrAl alloys, providing a beneficial…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of nano ZrC particles on the mechanical and electrochemical corrosion properties of FeCrAl alloys, providing a beneficial reference basis for the development of high-performance carbide reinforced FeCrAl alloys with good mechanical and corrosion properties in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
Nano ZrC reinforced FeCrAl alloys were prepared by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering. Phases composition, tensile fractography, corrosion morphology and chemical composition of nano ZrC reinforced FeCrAl alloys were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. Microhardness and tensile properties of nano ZrC reinforced FeCrAl alloys were investigated by mechanical testing machine and Vickers hardness tester. Electrochemical corrosion properties of nano ZrC reinforced FeCrAl alloys were investigated by electrochemical workstation in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution.
Findings
The results showed that addition of nano ZrC can effectively improve the mechanical and corrosion properties. However, excessive nano ZrC could decrease the mechanical properties and reduce the corrosion resistance. In all the FeCrAl alloys, FeCrAl–0.6 wt.% ZrC alloy exhibits the optimum mechanical properties with an ultimate tensile strength, elongation and hardness of 990.7 MPa, 24.1% and 335.8 HV1, respectively, and FeCrAl–0.2 wt.% ZrC alloy has a lower corrosion potential (−0.179 V) and corrosion current density (2.099 µA/cm2) and larger pitting potential (0.497 V) than other FeCrAl–ZrC alloys, showing a better corrosion resistance.
Originality/value
Adding proper nano ZrC particles can effectively improve the mechanical and corrosion properties, while the excessive nano ZrC is harmful to the mechanical and corrosion properties of FeCrAl alloys, which provides an instruction to develop high-performance FeCrAl cladding materials.
Details
Keywords
Jing Wu, Xuguang An and Hui Wang
This study aims to report the oxidation behaviors of the T91 ferritic/martensitic steel (T91 steel) and 304 austenitic stainless steel (304 steel) in supercritical water (SCW) at…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to report the oxidation behaviors of the T91 ferritic/martensitic steel (T91 steel) and 304 austenitic stainless steel (304 steel) in supercritical water (SCW) at 600°C.
Design/methodology/approach
The microstructure, elemental distribution and phase structure of the oxidation layers derived from the corrosion of the T91 steel and 304 steel were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Oxford Instrument X-ray spectroscopy, electron scattered diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.
Findings
The oxidation layers on the T91 steel and 304 steel have duplex structure. The two steels all suffer internal oxidation, and the phase of the internal oxidation layers are indexed as Fe-Cr spinel, although their morphologies are different. The formation of a continuous Cr-rich layer is not detected because of the relatively low Cr content of the steels, which is attributed to the corrosion property.
Originality/value
The accelerated corrosion and corrosion mechanism of the T91 steel and 304 steel with low Cr occurring in SCW at 600°C was clarified.
Details
Keywords
Gaohui Cao, Mengli Liang and Xuguang Li
This paper aims to clearly conceptualize the idea of the smart library and propose a holistic approach to building smart libraries, in accordance with recent practices and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to clearly conceptualize the idea of the smart library and propose a holistic approach to building smart libraries, in accordance with recent practices and state-of-the-art technologies.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on an extensive review of existing literature and practice about library construction, this paper distinguishes between similar types of smart library and divides the concepts associated with smart library building into three dimensions: technology, service and human.
Findings
Traditional libraries can transform to smart libraries by strategic design and implementation of advanced technologies, such as cloud computing, data mining and artificial intelligence, but they also need to consider service building, user cultivation and librarian training.
Originality/value
Aligning to the three main dimensions of smart libraries (technology, service and human), this study clarifies the concept of the smart library and offers strategic principles: integration of infrastructures, construction of service and human learning. It provides guidelines and directions for public and academic libraries committed to becoming smart libraries.
Details
Keywords
Xuguang Li, Andrew Cox and Zefeng Wang
Social network sites are emerging as a popular communication tool for knowledge sharing and construction. LinkedIn, which concentrates on professional networking, is reported to…
Abstract
Purpose
Social network sites are emerging as a popular communication tool for knowledge sharing and construction. LinkedIn, which concentrates on professional networking, is reported to generate great informational benefits to its users. The purpose of this paper is to explore product users’ knowledge construction in solving technical problems on LinkedIn, which was chosen as a case example.
Design/methodology/approach
Discussion threads with rich knowledge elements were selected from an interest group about solving technical problems with laptops. Adopting a qualitative content analysis method, selected threads were analysed with a prior analysis framework built in the context of traditional IT company sponsored peer user support forums.
Findings
The analysis revealed that the iterative and progressive knowledge construction process and associated trial-and-error strategy used on LinkedIn are similar to those found in peer support forums. However, LinkedIn members are more engaged in knowledge construction episodes. Meanwhile, the sub-category “proposing a new idea” accounts for a larger portion of discussions reflecting the high-level of expertise. One-to-one direct interaction is quite salient. Therefore, LinkedIn can support knowledge construction in a more efficient way due to the character of its social capital, including trust, sense of belonging, norms of cooperation, visible identity, knowledge articulation skills, one-to-one direct interaction and suitable strength of ties.
Originality/value
This research is novel in empirically revealing how LinkedIn attributes and its social capital attributes interact with each other and together facilitate an efficient knowledge construction process.
Details
Keywords
Xuguang Li, Xiaoying Luo, Andrew Cox, Yao Zhang and Yingying Lu
This research aims to explore the nature of Chinese students' mental health information needs and to identify the online resources they use to meet those needs.
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to explore the nature of Chinese students' mental health information needs and to identify the online resources they use to meet those needs.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected from three Chinese research-oriented universities using semi-structured interviews and a survey. Twenty-five university students with varied backgrounds were selected for semi-structured interviews to explore the triggers and nature of their needs. Then, printed and online questionnaires were distributed to undergraduate and postgraduate students and 541 valid responses were processed for descriptive statistical analysis and variance analysis.
Findings
The following findings were incurred. First, the triggers of university students' mental health information needs mainly are mental health being in the news, personal interest in gaining mental health knowledge, mental health issues, required formal learning and preparation for mental health counselling. Second, eleven types of information are used, with an emphasis on employment pressure, study stress and self-understanding. Third, mental health information needs differ with mental health status and some social-demographic factors (including gender, urban or rural origin and educational stage). Fourth, information needs can be characterized as dynamic; complex and diverse but concentrated on a few types; ambiguous and hard for participants to define; private; stigmatized; self-dependent and substitutable. Fifth, Internet sources used to meet such needs are mainly search engines, Question and Answer platforms, public social media platforms. Finally, a model of mental health information needs was built based on the above findings to map the whole process from what triggers a need, to the content and characteristics of information need, and online resources used to meet those needs.
Practical implications
The paper provides suggestions for university mental health services in developing more tailored knowledge contents via effective delivery methods to meet diverse needs of student groups.
Originality/value
This research is novel in using empirical data to build a holistic model that captures the context and the nature of mental health information needs of university students.
Details
Keywords
Xuguang Li, Andrew Cox and Nigel Ford
The purpose of this paper is to develop a content analysis framework and from that derive a process model of knowledge construction in the context of virtual product user…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a content analysis framework and from that derive a process model of knowledge construction in the context of virtual product user communities, organization sponsored online forums where product users collaboratively construct knowledge to solve their technical problems.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a deductive and qualitative content analysis of discussion threads about solving technical problems selected from a series of virtual product user communities. Data are complemented with thematic analysis of interviews with forum members.
Findings
The research develops a content analysis framework for knowledge construction. It is based on a combination of existing codes derived from frameworks developed for computer-supported collaborative learning and new categories identified from the data. Analysis using this framework allows the authors to propose a knowledge construction process model showing how these elements are organized around a typical “trial and error” knowledge construction strategy.
Practical implications
The research makes suggestions about organizations’ management of knowledge activities in virtual product user communities, including moderators’ roles in facilitation.
Originality/value
The paper outlines a new framework for analysing knowledge activities where there is a low level of critical thinking and a model of knowledge construction by trial and error. The new framework and model can be applied in other similar contexts.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to examine the relationship between family responsibilities and family support, on the one hand, and decisions by men and women concerning owning a business, as…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the relationship between family responsibilities and family support, on the one hand, and decisions by men and women concerning owning a business, as well as how many hours they work in that business.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used data collected by the US Current Population Survey between 1989 and 2011 and had a starting sample of 1,258,430 individuals, and a final sample of 27,147.
Findings
The authors found that both women and men are more inclined to own a business when they are married, have children or receive financial support from their spouse. They also found widespread gender differences in these analyses. The influence of family-related issues on owning a business is stronger for women than for men.
Originality/value
The findings indicate that male business owners work longer hours if they have young children. In contrast, female business owners reduce their work hours if they are married, have young children and receive support from their spouse. Implications are discussed.
Details
Keywords
Dingyu Shi, Xiaofei Zhang, Libo Liu, Preben Hansen and Xuguang Li
Online health question-and-answer (Q&A) forums have developed a new business model whereby listeners (peer patients) can pay to read health information derived from consultations…
Abstract
Purpose
Online health question-and-answer (Q&A) forums have developed a new business model whereby listeners (peer patients) can pay to read health information derived from consultations between askers (focal patients) and answerers (physicians). However, research exploring the mechanism behind peer patients' purchase decisions and the specific nature of the information driving these decisions has remained limited. This study aims to develop a theoretical model for understanding how peer patients make such decisions based on limited information, i.e. the first question displayed in each focal patient-physician interaction record, considering argument quality (interrogative form and information details) and source credibility (patient experience of focal patients), including the contingent role of urgency.
Design/methodology/approach
The model was tested by text mining 1,960 consultation records from a popular Chinese online health Q&A forum on the Yilu App. These records involved interactions between focal patients and physicians and were purchased by 447,718 peer patients seeking health-related information until this research.
Findings
Patient experience embedded in focal patients' questions plays a significant role in inducing peer patients to purchase previous consultation records featuring exchanges between focal patients and physicians; in particular, increasingly detailed information is associated with a reduced probability of making a purchase. When focal patients demonstrate a high level of urgency, the effect of information details is weakened, while the interrogative form is strengthened.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies in its exploration of the monetization mechanism forming the trilateral relationship between askers (focal patients), answerers (physicians) and listeners (peer patients) in the business model “paying to view others' answers” in the online health Q&A forum and the moderating role of urgency in explaining the mechanism of how first questions influence peer patients' purchasing behavior.
Details
Keywords
Lingyun Guo, Xiayu Hu, Xuguang Wei and Xiaonan Cai
This paper aims to help hosts or service providers of sharing economy-based accommodation (SEA) to attract new customers and retain existing customers by exploring the antecedents…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to help hosts or service providers of sharing economy-based accommodation (SEA) to attract new customers and retain existing customers by exploring the antecedents and outcomes of customers’ participation intention.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire-based empirical study was conducted to explore the proposed relationships in SEA. Partial least squares modeling with SmartPLS was used to estimate the model and interpret the results.
Findings
The study shows that personal factors (utilitarian and hedonic motivation) positively influence customers’ participation intention. The relationship between environmental stimuli (perceived information fit-to-task and perceived visual appeal) and participation intention is negatively moderated by hedonic motivation. Furthermore, the results suggest a positive effect of participation intention on customer engagement behavior and the partial mediating role of experience evaluation.
Practical implications
This paper provides industry practitioners of SEA with valuable insights on attracting new customers and retaining regular customers. First, they can distinguish customers in terms of motivation and provide information based on their requirements. Second, they can encourage customers to evaluate their experience and provide feedback, which would help in promoting the accommodation and service and building a long-term and harmonious relationship with the customers.
Originality/value
This study first investigates the interaction effect of personal motivation and environmental stimuli on participation intention in SEA. It further examines the influence of participation intention on customer engagement behavior and the mediating role of experience evaluation.
研究目的
本论文旨在帮助SEA(共享经济住宿)的民宿老板或服务提供者, 通过探索顾客参与和契合的影响因子和反应变量, 来吸引新顾客以及保留老顾客。
研究设计/方法/途径
本论文采用问卷形式实际调研, 探索SEA中的各种假设关系。本论文采用SmartPLS软件, 使用PLS分析法来检验模型以及展示分析结果。
研究结果
本论文结果表明, 个人因素(功利与享乐需求)正向影响顾客参与。环境因素(感知信息适合和感知视觉吸引)与参与意愿之间被享乐需求负向调节。此外, 结果还表明参与意愿对于顾客契合行为有着正向作用, 以及体验评价的部分中介效应。
研究实践启示
本论文为SEA企业从业人员提供如何吸引新顾客以及留住老顾客的宝贵见解。首先, 顾客根据需求和基于他们的需求所提供的信息可进行区分。第二, 企业主应该鼓励顾客评价他们的体验和提供反馈, 从而帮助提高住宿服务以及建立与顾客长期和谐的关系。
研究原创性/价值
本论文首先调研了个人需求和环境刺激对SEA参与意愿的相互作用。其次, 本论文还检验了参与意愿对于顾客契合行为的作用, 以及体验评价的中介效应。
Details
Keywords
Xuguang Guo, Wei Chen and Denis Iurchenko
This study examines the impact of college education on incorporated and unincorporated self-employments. It specifically compares the effects on African Americans and Hispanics…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the impact of college education on incorporated and unincorporated self-employments. It specifically compares the effects on African Americans and Hispanics with the effects on Whites.
Design/methodology/approach
The study sample was drawn from the US Current Population Survey between 1989 and 2018. Based on a sample size of 1,657,043 individuals, this study employed logit regression models to test the hypotheses. Racial variations were examined using African Americans and Hispanics as moderators.
Findings
The results suggest that college education increases incorporated self-employment and reduces unincorporated self-employment. The impact of college education on incorporated self-employment is stronger for African Americans and Hispanics than for Whites. In contrast, its effect on unincorporated self-employment is stronger for Whites than for African Americans and Hispanics.
Research limitations/implications
The findings provide empirical evidence of how college experience changes the motivation of starting an incorporated or unincorporated business. The results suggest that college education impacts African Americans and Hispanics differently than Whites in pursuing their career path of entrepreneurship.
Originality/value
It is the first study that examines the relationship between college education and incorporated/unincorporated self-employment. It also sheds light on radical variations.