Bi Ying Hu, Yuanhua Li, Chuang Wang, Barry Lee Reynolds and Shuang Wang
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between school climate and teacher stress. Specifically, the authors construct two parsimonious models to test two main…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between school climate and teacher stress. Specifically, the authors construct two parsimonious models to test two main hypotheses. First, whether preschool collegial leadership predicts teachers’ job stress through the mediating role of teacher self-efficacy; second, whether teacher professionalism influences teachers’ perceptions of occupational stress through the mediating role of teacher self-efficacy.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conceptualized the mediating role of teacher efficacy as an important mechanism that can help to explain the effect of school climate on teacher stress. School climate consisted of two dimensions: principal collegial leadership and professionalism. Therefore, the authors constructed and examined two mediation models by using Bootstrapping mediation modeling: first, preschool teacher self-efficacy as a mediator between preschool collegial leadership and teacher stress; second, preschool teacher self-efficacy as a mediator between preschool teacher professionalism and teacher stress.
Findings
Results from two mediation analyses showed that principal collegial leadership exerts a significant negative effect on preschool teachers’ stress through the mediating role of teacher self-efficacy. Moreover, professionalism was also a significant predictor of preschool teachers’ stress through the mediating role of teacher self-efficacy.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to the literature in terms of understanding the mechanism of how school climate helps to reduce teacher stress. First, the authors found that teachers’ individual well-being can be efficiently enhanced through a more collegial leadership. Second, the preschool leadership teams can create a supportive climate to reduce teachers’ stress by improving teachers’ professionalism.
Originality/value
This study offers a new perspective about understanding the internal and external mechanism of teacher stress. The authors discussed the results in light of the recent push by the Chinese Government to teacher quality improvement in early childhood education. The authors argued for prioritizing support for building a supportive school climate for teachers.
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Monica Singhania and Ibna Bhan
This study aims to systematically consolidate and quantitatively integrate the mixed empirical results on the association between ownership mechanisms and voluntary carbon…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to systematically consolidate and quantitatively integrate the mixed empirical results on the association between ownership mechanisms and voluntary carbon disclosure using meta-analysis and further propose potential country-level moderators of this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors apply meta-analytic procedures on 55 empirical studies conducted during 2008–2022, covering 13 countries, 85 effect sizes and 226,473 firm-year observations. To gauge the significance of the estimated mean effect size, a random-effects Hedges and Olkin meta-analysis procedure is adopted, followed by a restricted maximum likelihood based meta-regression, to test the effect of possible moderators.
Findings
Aligned with agency and stakeholder theories, the results highlight institutional and state ownership (SO) as having a significant positive impact on voluntary carbon disclosure. On the other hand, ownership concentration, managerial and foreign ownership have an insignificant effect on voluntary carbon disclosure. Based on institutional theory perspectives, the authors confirm the impact of institutional ownership on voluntary carbon disclosure to be more prominent in civil law countries and those countries that have implemented an emission trading scheme (ETS).
Practical implications
The finding that institutional and SO in firms can translate into higher voluntary disclosures deems investors and the government as crucial stakeholders in achieving carbon neutrality. Furthermore, the finding that the effect of institutional investors on carbon disclosure is heightened in ETS-implemented countries provides evidence to the regulatory authorities in favour of this scheme.
Social implications
The positive impact of institutional and government ownership on voluntary carbon disclosure highlights that these ownership structures not only have the potential to transform corporate decisions but also have implications for the wider society. As firms owned by institutional investors disclose their carbon information, it provides access to critical information about their environmental practices to the public. This fosters an environment of transparency and trust between the firm and its stakeholders (the community), leading to an overall well-informed society.
Originality/value
While prior meta-reviews studied the impact of corporate governance on voluntary disclosures, the meta-literature, as of 2024, has yet to address its influence specifically on carbon disclosures, which are pertinent amidst the ongoing global climate change crisis. The findings inform policymakers about the pivotal institutional factors that can amplify the impact of effective ownership structures on voluntary carbon disclosure. Future scope exists for investigating the effects of ownership mechanisms on firm-level sustainable investments. Furthermore, future empirical analysis could consider the moderating influence of “culture” and “ease of doing business” on the ownership-carbon disclosure relationship.
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Hongdan Zhao, Yunshuo Ma and Yuanhua Chen
As more hotels adopt artificial intelligence (AI), it becomes inevitable for employees to rely on abilities enhanced by the use of AI to complete tasks. However, our understanding…
Abstract
Purpose
As more hotels adopt artificial intelligence (AI), it becomes inevitable for employees to rely on abilities enhanced by the use of AI to complete tasks. However, our understanding of how employees adapt to this shift in work design remains limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore hotel employees’ approach and avoidance behavioral reactions to dependence on AI.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-wave field study was conducted, collecting data from 303 hotel employees and analyzed using Mplus 8.3.
Findings
Dependence on AI can be construed as a positive stimulus, augmenting employees’ harmonious work passion and subsequently promoting approach job crafting. The promotion focus of employees positively moderates this process. On the other hand, dependence on AI also can be perceived as a negative stimulus, heightening employees’ feelings of AI threat and, consequently, fostering avoidance job crafting. In this case, the prevention focus of employees positively moderates the process.
Practical implications
This study provides theoretical foundations and decision-making references for management practice. Managers should implement measures to guide employees in developing a proper understanding of AI and provide them with emotional support and institutional safeguards.
Originality/value
This study unveils the consequences of dependence on AI for employees, offering new perspectives for AI research in the hotel industry. By differentiating job crafting, this study theorizes and tests a dual-path model of how dependence on AI may influence hotel employees’ approach and avoidance job crafting, thereby enriching the AI–job crafting literature.
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Yucong Ma, Mohd Talha, Qi Wang, Zhonghui Li and Yuanhua Lin
The purpose of this paper is to study systematically the corrosion behavior of AZ31 magnesium (Mg) alloy with different concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) (0, 0.5, 1.0…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study systematically the corrosion behavior of AZ31 magnesium (Mg) alloy with different concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 5.0 g/L).
Design/methodology/approach
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potential dynamic polarization tests were performed to obtain corrosion parameters. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to analyze the local electrochemical activity of the surface film. Atomic force microscope (AFM), Scanning electron microscope-Energy dispersive spectrometer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to determine the surface morphology and chemical composition of the surface film.
Findings
Experimental results showed the presence of BSA in a certain concentration range (0 to 2.0 g/L) has a greater inhibitory effect on the corrosion of AZ31, however, the presence of high-concentration BSA (5.0 g/L) would sharply reduce the corrosion resistance.
Originality/value
When the concentration of BSA is less than 2.0 g/L, the corrosion resistance of AZ31 enhances with the concentration. The adsorption BSA layer will come into being a physical barrier to inhibit the corrosion process. However, high-concentration BSA (5.0 g/L) will chelate with dissolved metal ions (such as Mg and Ni) to form soluble complexes, which increases the roughness of the surface and accelerates the corrosion process.
Yuanhua Yang, Dengli Tang and Peng Zhang
Fiscal fund is the key support of carbon emissions control for local governments. This paper aims to analyze the impact of fiscal decentralization on carbon emissions by spatial…
Abstract
Purpose
Fiscal fund is the key support of carbon emissions control for local governments. This paper aims to analyze the impact of fiscal decentralization on carbon emissions by spatial Durbin model (SDM), and verify the existence of “free-riding” phenomenon to reveal the behavior of local governments in carbon emissions control.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the provincial data of carbon emissions from 2005 to 2016 in China, this paper uses spatial exploratory data analysis technology to analyze the spatial correlation characteristics and constructs SDM to test the impact of fiscal decentralization on carbon emissions.
Findings
The results show that carbon emissions exhibits significant spatial autocorrelation in China, and the increasing of fiscal decentralization in the region will increase carbon emissions in surrounding areas and on the whole. Then, by comparing the impact of fiscal decentralization on carbon emissions and industrial solid waste, it is found that “free-riding” phenomenon of carbon emissions control exists in China.
Practical implications
Based on the spatial cluster characteristics of China’s provincial carbon emissions, carbon emissions control regions can be divided into regions and different carbon emission control policies can be formulated for different cluster regions. Carbon emissions indicators should be included in the government performance appraisal policy, and carbon emissions producer survey should be increased in environmental policies to avoid “free-riding” behaviors of local government in carbon emissions control in China.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to fill this gap and fully considers the spatial spillover characteristics of carbon emissions by introducing spatial exploratory data analysis technology, constructs SDM to test the impact of fiscal decentralization on carbon emissions in the perspective of space econometrics, and tests the existence of “free-riding” phenomenon in carbon emissions control for local governments in China.
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Yue Yuan, Kuanhai Deng, Jiangjiang Zhang, Wenguang Zeng, Xiangwei Kong and Yuanhua Lin
This study aims to provide a theoretical basis to evaluate the suitability and integrity of corrosion pipes.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a theoretical basis to evaluate the suitability and integrity of corrosion pipes.
Design/methodology/approach
The three-dimensional models of the P110S oil pipe with local corrosion damage, general corrosion damage, pitting corrosion damage are established based on the API 579 standard using the nonlinear finite element analysis method for parametric research.
Findings
The reliability of the model is verified based on the experimental data from the existing literature. The effects of the oil pipe’s size and the corrosion damage’s type on the residual internal pressure strength are simulated and obtained. What’s more, a basic method for predicting the remaining life of corrosion damaged pipes is proposed.
Originality/value
The authors evaluated the residual strength of various corroded tubing, compared the tubing with different corrosion types and proposed a basic method for predicting the remaining life of the corroded tubing from the corrosion depth.
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The purpose of this paper is to make objective descriptions on various money‐laundering techniques and to put forward countermeasures in order to combat money laundering more…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to make objective descriptions on various money‐laundering techniques and to put forward countermeasures in order to combat money laundering more effectively and efficiently.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper based on 20 simplified money‐laundering cases, describes various money‐laundering techniques, analyses the reasons why these methods prevail, and points out the future efforts to be made in the fight against money laundering.
Findings
As usual, the ways of money laundering include cash smuggling, making use of banks or insurance company, or making use of shell‐company or front‐company. Nowadays, criminals also turn to real estate, lottery, international trade, offshore company to launder money. Sometimes lawyers, accountants are exploited by money launderers. With the wide use of electronic money and internet, criminals prefer to launder money through non‐face to face transactions. The fight against money laundering is the fight between justice and evil. It is of great importance to pierce the secret veil of money laundering so that we can combat money laundering more effectively and efficiently.
Originality/value
This paper prevents a comprehensive description of, and comments on, various money‐laundering techniques and future efforts to be made in the fight against money laundering, which would be beneficial to policy makers, enforcement authorities, and judicial professionals.
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Bo Huang, Yuanhua Lin, Ambrish Singh, Eno E Ebenso, Lujiang Zhou, Wanying Liu and Kuanhai Deng
– The purpose of this paper is to test bagasse extract as an effective corrosion inhibitor.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to test bagasse extract as an effective corrosion inhibitor.
Design/methodology/approach
The bagasse was extracted without any toxic substance and was found to be effective for corrosion of J55 steel.
Findings
The inhibition efficiency of bagasse was more than 90 per cent in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution saturated with CO2 for corrosion inhibition of J55 steel.
Research limitations/implications
The inhibition effect of Saccharum sinense bagasse extract on the corrosion of J55 steel in 3.5 weight per cent NaCl saturated with CO2 solution was investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, polarization curve and scanning electron microscope.
Practical implications
It can be used as low-cost corrosion inhibitor.
Social implications
It is an environment-friendly corrosion inhibitor.
Originality/value
This work is original and carried out in Southwest Petroleum University, China. This is not communicated anywhere else.
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Zhichao Guo, Yuanhua Feng and Thomas Gries
The purpose of this paper is to investigate changes of China’s agri-food exports to Germany caused by China’s accession to WTO and the global financial crisis in a quantitative…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate changes of China’s agri-food exports to Germany caused by China’s accession to WTO and the global financial crisis in a quantitative way. The paper aims to detect structural breaks and compare differences before and after the change points.
Design/methodology/approach
The structural breaks detection procedures in this paper can be applied to find out two different types of change points, i.e. in the middle and at the end of one time series. Then time series and regression models are used to compare differences of trade relationship before and after the detected change points. The methods can be employed in any economic series and work well in practice.
Findings
The results indicate that structural breaks in 2002 and 2009 are caused by China’s accession to WTO and the financial crisis. Time series and regression models show that the development of China’s exports to Germany in agri-food products has different features in different sub-periods. Before 1999, there is no significant relationship between China’s exports to Germany and Germany’s imports from the world. Between 2002 and 2008 the former depends on the latter very strongly, and China’s exports to Germany developed quickly and stably. It decreased, however suddenly in 2009, caused by the great reduction of Germany’s imports from the world in that year. But China’s market share in Germany still had a small gain. Analysis of two categories in agri-food trade also leads to similar conclusions. Comparing the two events we see rather different patterns even if they both indicate structural breaks in the development of China’s agri-food exports to Germany.
Originality/value
This paper partly originally proposes two statistical algorithms for detecting different kinds of structural breaks in the middle part and at the end of a short-time series, respectively.
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Hong-Wei Ying, Kang Cheng, Li-Sha Zhang, Chang-Yu Ou and Yong-Wen Yang
Deep excavation in soft clay often causes additional deformations to surroundings. Then, if deformations cannot be predicted reasonably, the adjacent buildings may be threatened…
Abstract
Purpose
Deep excavation in soft clay often causes additional deformations to surroundings. Then, if deformations cannot be predicted reasonably, the adjacent buildings may be threatened by the deep excavation. Based on the good field observations from ten deep excavations in Hangzhou, this paper aims to thoroughly investigate the characteristics of wall deflections and ground settlements induced by deep excavations.
Design/methodology/approach
On the basis of good field observation of ten deep excavations, the performances of excavations, supported by contiguous pile in Hangzhou, were studied, and also compared with other case histories.
Findings
The maximum wall deflections (dhm) rang mostly from 0.7 to 1.2 per cent He, where He is the final excavation depth, larger than those in Taipei and Shanghai. The observed maximum ground settlement in the Hangzhou cases generally ranges from 0.2 to 0.8 per cent He. Then, the settlement influence zone extends to a distance of 2.0-4.0 He from the excavation. The relatively large movements and influence zones in Hangzhou may be attributed to low stability numbers, large excavation widths and the creep effect. The excavation width is justified to have a significant influence on the wall deflection. Therefore, to establish a semi-empirical formula for predicting the maximum wall deflection, it is necessary to include the factor of excavation width.
Originality/value
The relevant literature concentrated on the characteristics of deep excavations supported by the contiguous pile wall in Hangzhou soft clay can rarely be found. Based on the ten deep excavations with good field observation in Hangzhou, the characteristics of wall deflection and ground settlements were comprehensively studied for the first time, which can provide some theoretical support for similar projects.