Cheng Yan, Enzi Kang, Haonan Liu, Han Li, Nianyin Zeng and Yancheng You
This paper delves into the aerodynamic optimization of a single-stage axial turbine employed in aero-engines.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper delves into the aerodynamic optimization of a single-stage axial turbine employed in aero-engines.
Design/methodology/approach
An efficient integrated design optimization approach tailored for turbine blade profiles is proposed. The approach combines a novel hierarchical dynamic switching PSO (HDSPSO) algorithm with a parametric modeling technique of turbine blades and high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation analysis. The proposed HDSPSO algorithm introduces significant enhancements to the original PSO in three pivotal aspects: adaptive acceleration coefficients, distance-based dynamic neighborhood, and a switchable learning mechanism. The core idea behind these improvements is to incorporate the evolutionary state, strengthen interactions within the swarm, enrich update strategies for particles, and effectively prevent premature convergence while enhancing global search capability.
Findings
Mathematical experiments are conducted to compare the performance of HDSPSO with three other representative PSO variants. The results demonstrate that HDSPSO is a competitive intelligent algorithm with significant global search capabilities and rapid convergence speed. Subsequently, the HDSPSO-based integrated design optimization approach is applied to optimize the turbine blade profiles. The optimized turbine blades have a more uniform thickness distribution, an enhanced loading distribution, and a better flow condition. Importantly, these optimizations lead to a remarkable improvement in aerodynamic performance under both design and non-design working conditions.
Originality/value
These findings highlight the effectiveness and advancement of the HDSPSO-based integrated design optimization approach for turbine blade profiles in enhancing the overall aerodynamic performance. Furthermore, it confirms the great prospects of the innovative HDSPSO algorithm in tackling challenging tasks in practical engineering applications.
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Bisharat Hussain Chang, Niaz Ahmed Bhutto, Jamshid Ali Turi, Shabir Mohsin Hashmi and Raheel Gohar
This study examines the short-run and long-run impact of macroeconomic variables such as industrial production index, inflation, exchange rate, interest rate, foreign direct…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the short-run and long-run impact of macroeconomic variables such as industrial production index, inflation, exchange rate, interest rate, foreign direct investment and trade balance, on KSE 100 index and sectorial stock indices under bearish, bullish and normal states of the stock market prices. Moreover, we take into account the effect of three crises observed from 2005 to 2009.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) model for examining the short-run and long-run effect across various quantiles of the dependent variables and compare its' results standard autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model.
Findings
ARDL estimates indicate that, in the long-run, industrial production index, trade balance and foreign direct investment significantly affect stock prices. These findings remain same when three crises have been taken into consideration. In addition, estimates from QARDL model indicate that, in the short-run, the effect of exchange rate, interest rate, consumer price index and foreign direct investment, varies across bearish, bullish and normal states of the overall stock prices. Moreover, the short-run findings for Auto Assembler, Cement, Commercial Banks sector are consistent with overall stock indices, whereas other sectors, such as, Oil and Gas and Power Generation and distribution are asymmetrically affected by all macroeconomic variables. In the long-run, the effect of all macro-variables varies across different states of the stock markets except industrial production index for Auto Assembler sector, Oil and Gas sector and composite index of KSE 100 index.
Originality/value
We take into account the effect of three crises observed from 2005 to 2009 and also examine the macroeconomic effect across bullish, bearish and normal states of the sectorial stock indices and composite index of Pakistan stock exchange. Finally, we use novel approach, called QARDL model, which has several advantages over other techniques.
Tiancong Hao, Weiping Wang, Geng Wang, Qiuyue Yang and Kang Ma
This paper examines students’ educational choices in vocational education and training (VET) to understand the low reputation of vocational education in China. By analysing the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines students’ educational choices in vocational education and training (VET) to understand the low reputation of vocational education in China. By analysing the individualisation of these choices within structural and individual relationships, the study explores how the decline of state endorsement and the shift towards rational, individualistic actions influence students' decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
Multiple types of data were collected in this study, including administrative records, interviews and autobiographical stories, which were analysed using individualisation theory.
Findings
The research indicated three historical periods of the educational choice of Chinese VET students. Stage one (1978–1991) saw vocational education treated as “the first choice” for graduates. Stage two (1992–2000) was marked by the polarisation of educational choice during the social transition from a socialist planned economy to a market economy. During this period, more students started to choose academic high schools over vocational schools, even though the latter still had certain advantages for attracting the better-performing students. The third stage (2001-now) is a time in which vocational education is viewed as “the last choice” under the socialist market economy system. During this period, junior high school graduates prefer to enrol in academic high schools rather than in vocational schools. Aligned with the overall individualisation trend in Chinese society, vocational education decisions situated between societal structures and individuals are also experiencing a shift towards more micro-level individualized behaviours.
Research limitations/implications
The paper provides a historical analysis of education and training provision in China and the complexity of students’ educational choices, revealing the influencing factors across different stages.
Originality/value
This paper draws a comprehensive analysis of the developmental trajectory of vocational education in China across different historical periods, notably under the socialist planned economy and the socialist market economy systems.
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Jiaqing Xu, Weiling Jiao, Hao Chen and Yufei Yuan
Free trial is an effective strategy to gaining users’ data so as to strengthen and optimize product design. The purpose of this paper is to understand the IT companies' dynamic…
Abstract
Purpose
Free trial is an effective strategy to gaining users’ data so as to strengthen and optimize product design. The purpose of this paper is to understand the IT companies' dynamic decision-making behavior in the free trial of IT products and services context based on a three-stage theoretical framework and users' decision-making behavior in the respective stage.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-stage methodology is proposed to clarify relevant decision problems and actions in each stage from IT companies' and users' perspectives, respectively. It then investigates relating variables on IT companies' decision-making based on extant research and users' decision-making.
Findings
In this study, the authors argue that the IT companies have to make the offering, implementation and retention decision in different stage during the whole free trial process. Each decision is determined by several variables from their own and users, namely the offering decision is determined by product characteristics, network effects, product life cycle and WOM (word of mouth); the implementation decision is determined by the quality of products and services, trial type, incentive measures on user's usage and communication strategy; and the retention decision is determined by the product and price strategy.
Practical implications
The results are practical and can be used by IT companies as a decision basis or reference to make reliable decisions so that IT companies can take target measures to ensure the effectiveness of their free trial strategy so as to meet their users' needs based on products designed by data driven. Thus, the ultimate goal of supply chain management is achieved.
Originality/value
In this study, the decision-making process in the free trial of IT products and services context is investigated as a whole for the first time. From the IT companies' perspective, the process includes offering, implementation and retention decision stages, which are continuous and inseparable. The variables that determine IT companies' decision-making are identified based on users' decision and action. Hence, it represents a brand-new whole process perception to clearly understand the dynamic of the IT companies' decision-making. Considering users' decision and action, the final decisions of the IT companies will be more practical in respect of motivating, retaining and upgrading users.
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Jing Li, Rui Ling, Fangjie Sun, Jinming Zhou and Haiya Cai
This paper adds risk perception and personalized human-computer interaction to the technology acceptance model, and further analyzes the impact of personalized unmanned ride…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper adds risk perception and personalized human-computer interaction to the technology acceptance model, and further analyzes the impact of personalized unmanned ride hailing on users' behavior intention.
Design/methodology/approach
This study model was tested using a sample of 299 social media users from China and we apply structural equation modeling (SEM) to build the theoretical framework.
Findings
Our results show that perceived ease of use has a greater positive impact on behavior intention compared to perceived usefulness. In addition, we find that the impact of risk perception on behavior intention is manifested in a number of ways, including people’s risk perception of the new technology, people’s risk perception of data leakage, and so on. Finally, we find that users’ personalized human-computer interaction has a positive effect on their perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and behavior intention.
Originality/value
Our study contributes to illuminate the pivotal role of tailoring the human-computer interface to individual preferences and needs for ride-hailing platforms from the perspective of behavior intention.
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Haiya Cai, Yongqing Nan, Yongliang Zhao and Haoran Xiao
The purpose of this study is to regard winter heating as a quasi-natural experiment to identify the possible causal effects of winter heating on population mobility. However…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to regard winter heating as a quasi-natural experiment to identify the possible causal effects of winter heating on population mobility. However, there are scant research studies examining the effect of atmospheric quality on population mobility. There also exists some relevant research studies on the relationship between population mobility and environmental degradation (Lu et al., 2018; Reis et al., 2018; Shen et al., 2018), and these studies exist still some deficiencies.
Design/methodology/approach
The notorious atmospheric quality problems caused by coal-fired heating in winter of northern China have an aroused widespread concern. However, the quantitative study on the effects on population mobility of winter heating is still rare. In this study, the authors regard the winter heating as a quasi-natural experiment, based on the of daily panel data of 58 cities of Tencent location Big Data in China from August 13 to December 30 in 2016 and August 16 to December 30 in 2017, and examine the impacts of winter heating on population mobility by utilizing a regression discontinuity method.
Findings
The findings are as follows, in general, winter heating significantly aggravates regional population mobility, but the impacts on population mobility among different cities are heterogeneous. Specifically, the effects of winter heating on population mobility is greater for cities with relatively good air quality, and the effects is also more obvious for big and medium-sized cities than that in small cities. In addition, different robustness tests, including continuity test, different bandwidth tests and alternative empirical model, are adopted to ensure the reliability of the conclusion. Finally, the authors put forward corresponding policy suggestions from the three dimensions of government, enterprises and residents.
Originality/value
First, regarding winter heating as a quasi-natural experiment, a regression discontinuity design method is introduced to investigate the relationship between winter heating and population mobility, which is helpful to avoid the estimation error caused by endogeneity. Second, the authors use the passenger travel “big data” based on the website of Tencent Location Big Data, which can effectively capture the daily characteristics of China's population mobility. Third, this study discusses the population mobility from the perspective of winter heating and researches population mobility before and after winter heating, which is helpful in enriching the research on population mobility.
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Xiaomin Fan, Yingzhi Xu, Yongqing Nan, Baoli Li and Haiya Cai
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of high-speed railway (HSR) on industrial pollution emissions using the data for 285 prefecture-level cities in China from 2004…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of high-speed railway (HSR) on industrial pollution emissions using the data for 285 prefecture-level cities in China from 2004 to 2016.
Design/methodology/approach
The research method used in this paper is the multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model, which is an effective policy effect assessment method. To further address the issue of endogeneity, the DID integrated with the propensity score matching (PSM-DID) approach is employed to eliminate the potential self-selection bias.
Findings
The results show that the HSR has significantly reduced industrial pollution emissions, which is validated by several robustness tests. Compared with peripheral cities, HSR exerts a greater impact on industrial pollution emissions in central cities. In addition, the mechanism test reveals that the optimised allocation of inter-city industries is an important channel for HSR to mitigate industrial pollution emissions, and this is closely related to the location of HSR stations.
Originality/value
Previous studies have paid more attention to evaluating the economic effects of HSR, however, most of these studies overlook its environmental effects. Consequently, the impact of HSR on industrial pollution emissions is led by using multi-period DID models in this paper, in which the environmental effects are measured. The results of this paper can provide a reference for the pollution reduction policies and also the coordinated development of economic growth and environmental quality.
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As an Internet fashion brand, HSTYLE has developed into an Internet enterprise with annual sales of 1.5 billion RMB within 10 years, establishing its position as the top industry…
Abstract
As an Internet fashion brand, HSTYLE has developed into an Internet enterprise with annual sales of 1.5 billion RMB within 10 years, establishing its position as the top industry performer in China. This case studies HSTYLES' innovation in business model and organizational management. HSTYLE's workgroups have achieved the balance of responsibilities and rights in a small team of three members at minimum, while mobilizing the enthusiasm and initiative of the line managers with the support of public service sector. At the same time, HSTYLE enriches its brand style, establishes a fashion cloud platform, and integrates individual and organizational consumers into its existing fashion design, manufacturing and sales system.
Feier Yan, Fujin Yi and Huang Chen
This study investigates the effect of education on crop insurance knowledge within the context of noncompliance experiences. In addition, the study delves into the role of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the effect of education on crop insurance knowledge within the context of noncompliance experiences. In addition, the study delves into the role of government endorsement in education, which is instructive for the implementation of future insurance promotions.
Design/methodology/approach
The study designs a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Jiangsu Province, China. A total of 518 sample farmers were randomly assigned to two experiments: The Education Experiment and the government’s Endorsement Experiment, respectively. After conducting a set of rigorous exogeneity tests, econometric analysis was conducted using baseline survey data and post experiment data.
Findings
Our results revealed that insurance education served as an effective tool in improving farmers’ insurance knowledge, especially their understanding of insurance mechanisms. However, this effect can be mitigated by the noncompliant insurance experience of farmers. Moreover, government-endorsed education proved to be more efficient in improving farmers’ insurance knowledge, thus highlighting the significance of building trust between insureds and insurers.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that using a simple education tool, such as, brochures, can effectively improve farmers insurance knowledge. In addition, insurance mechanisms are now more urgently in need of universalization than policy information. Furthermore, by conducting the RCT, this study obtains unbiased causal inference on the effect of education on insurance knowledge and underscores the role of government endorsement in this process. In addition, the study illustrates the tradeoff between insurers’ efforts in enhancing education and regulating noncompliant insurance misconducts, which compromises education efforts. Overall, this study provides insights into the marketing strategies of insurers and government propaganda aimed at stimulating farmers’ incentives to purchase insurance.
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You-Kyung Lee, Yi Li and Yu Liu
This study aims to develop and validate a new scale for measuring green country image (GCI). The current country image (CI) concept is recognized as limited in capturing the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to develop and validate a new scale for measuring green country image (GCI). The current country image (CI) concept is recognized as limited in capturing the complexities of consumer perceptions today. By building a GCI scale, this study can provide a more nuanced understanding of how consumers evaluate a country’s image beyond traditional measures. This scale will be a valuable tool for international marketers to develop effective strategies in the 21st century’s dynamic global business landscape.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a mixed-methods approach to develop and validate a new scale for measuring GCI. This approach leverages the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of the concept and develop a reliable measurement tool.
Findings
A reliable and valid scale was developed to measure the six dimensions of GCI: social green country image (SOGCI), economic green country image (ECGCI), environmental green country image (ENGCI), technological green country image (TEGCI), leadership green country image (LEGCI) and people green country image (PEGCI). In results, the new GCI scale is a six-dimensional, 23-item, five-point scale. An important finding was that these six factors were statistically significant reflective scales.
Originality/value
By developing a validated GCI scale, this study offers valuable insights for international marketers navigating the evolving consumer perceptions of importing countries. This novel scale empowers the international marketers to tailor strategies and target specific markets based on GCI. The mixed-methods approach strengthens the GCI scale’s robustness, making it a significant contribution to both academic research and international marketing practice.