Xiaofan Liu, Yupeng Zhou, Minghao Yin and Shuai Lv
The paper aims to provide an efficient meta-heuristic algorithm to solve the partial set covering problem (PSCP). With rich application scenarios, the PSCP is a fascinating and…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to provide an efficient meta-heuristic algorithm to solve the partial set covering problem (PSCP). With rich application scenarios, the PSCP is a fascinating and well-known non-deterministic polynomial (NP)-hard problem whose goal is to cover at least k elements with as few subsets as possible.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, the authors present a novel variant of the ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm, called Argentine ant system (AAS), to deal with the PSCP. The developed AAS is an integrated system of different populations that use the same pheromone to communicate. Moreover, an effective local search framework with the relaxed configuration checking (RCC) and the volatilization-fixed weight mechanism is proposed to improve the exploitation of the algorithm.
Findings
A detailed experimental evaluation of 75 instances reveals that the proposed algorithm outperforms the competitors in terms of the quality of the optimal solutions. Also, the performance of AAS gradually improves with the growing instance size, which shows the potential in handling complex practical scenarios. Finally, the designed components of AAS are experimentally proved to be beneficial to the whole framework. Finally, the key components in AAS have been demonstrated.
Originality/value
At present, there is no heuristic method to solve this problem. The authors present the first implementation of heuristic algorithm for solving PSCP and provide competitive solutions.
Details
Keywords
Yupeng Zhou, Mengyu Zhao, Mingjie Fan, Yiyuan Wang and Jianan Wang
The set-union knapsack problem is one of the most significant generalizations of the Non-deterministic Polynomial (NP)-hard 0-1 knapsack problem in combinatorial optimization…
Abstract
Purpose
The set-union knapsack problem is one of the most significant generalizations of the Non-deterministic Polynomial (NP)-hard 0-1 knapsack problem in combinatorial optimization, which has rich application scenarios. Although some researchers performed effective algorithms on normal-sized instances, the authors found these methods deteriorated rapidly as the scale became larger. Therefore, the authors design an efficient yet effective algorithm to solve this large-scale optimization problem, making it applicable to real-world cases under the era of big data.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop three targeted strategies and adjust them into the adaptive tabu search framework. Specifically, the dynamic item scoring tries to select proper items into the knapsack dynamically to enhance the intensification, while the age-guided perturbation places more emphasis on the diversification of the algorithm. The lightweight neighborhood updating simplifies the neighborhood operators to reduce the algorithm complexity distinctly as well as maintains potential solutions. The authors conduct comparative experiments against currently best solvers to show the performance of the proposed algorithm.
Findings
Statistical experiments show that the proposed algorithm can find 18 out of 24 better solutions than other algorithms. For the remaining six instances on which the competitor also achieves the same solutions, ours performs more stably due to its narrow gap between best and mean value. Besides, the convergence time is also verified efficiency against other algorithms.
Originality/value
The authors present the first implementation of heuristic algorithm for solving large-scale set-union knapsack problem and achieve the best results. Also, the authors provide the benchmarks on the website for the first time.
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Keywords
Fuli Zhou, Panpan Ma, Yandong He, Saurabh Pratap, Peng Yu and Biyu Yang
With an increasingly fierce competition of the shipbuilding industry, advanced technologies and excellent management philosophies in the manufacturing industry are gradually…
Abstract
Purpose
With an increasingly fierce competition of the shipbuilding industry, advanced technologies and excellent management philosophies in the manufacturing industry are gradually introduced to domestic shipyards. The purpose of this study is to promote the lean management of Chinese ship outfitting plants by lean production strategy.
Design/methodology/approach
To promote the lean implementation of Chinese shipyards, the lean practice of ship-pipe part production is highlighted by lot-sizing optimization and strategic CONWIP (constant work-in-process) control. A nonlinear programming model is formulated to minimize the total cost of ship-pipe part manufacturing and the particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based algorithm is designed to resolve the established model. Besides, the pull-from-the-bottleneck (PFB) strategy is used to control ship-pipe part production, verified by Simulink simulation.
Findings
Results show that the proposed lean strategy of the programming model and strategic PFB control could assist Chinese ship outfitting plants to leverage competitive advantage by waste reduction and lean achievement. Specifically, the PFB double-loop control strategy shows better performance when there is high productivity and the PFB single-loop control outperforms at lower productivity scenarios.
Practical implications
To verify the effectiveness of the proposed lean strategy, a case study is performed to validate the formulated model. Also, simulation experiments realized by FlexSim software are conducted to testify results obtained by the constructed programming model.
Originality/value
Lean production management practice of the shipyard building industry is performed by the proposed lean production strategy through lot-sizing optimization and strategic PFB control in terms of ship-pipe part manufacturing.
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Keywords
Yupeng Mou, Yixuan Gong and Zhihua Ding
Artificial intelligence (AI) is experiencing growth and prosperity worldwide because of its convenience and other benefits. However, AI faces challenges related to consumer…
Abstract
Purpose
Artificial intelligence (AI) is experiencing growth and prosperity worldwide because of its convenience and other benefits. However, AI faces challenges related to consumer resistance. Thus, drawing on the user resistance theory, this study explores factors that influence consumers’ resistance to AI and suggests ways to mitigate this negative influence.
Design/methodology/approach
This study tested four hypotheses across four studies by conducting lab experiments. Study 1 used a questionnaire to verify the hypothesis that AI’s “substitute” image leads to consumer resistance to AI; Study 2 focused on the role of perceived threat as an underlying driver of resistance to AI. Studies 3–4 provided process evidence by the way of a measured moderator, testing whether AI with servant communication style and literal language style is resisted less.
Findings
This study showed that AI’s “substitute” image increased users' resistance to AI. This occurs because the substitute image increases consumers’ perceived threat. The study also found that using servant communication and literal language styles in the interaction between AI and consumers can mitigate the negative effects of AI-substituted images.
Originality/value
This study reveals the mechanism of action between AI image and consumers’ resistance and sheds light on how to choose appropriate image and expression styles for AI products, which is important for lowering consumer resistance to AI.
Details
Keywords
With the upgrade of natural language interaction technology, the simulation extension of intelligent voice assistants (IVAs) and the uncertainty of products and services have…
Abstract
Purpose
With the upgrade of natural language interaction technology, the simulation extension of intelligent voice assistants (IVAs) and the uncertainty of products and services have received more and more attention. However, most of the existing research focuses on investigating the application of theories to explain consumer behavior related to intention to use and adopt IVAs, while ignoring the impact of its privacy issues on consumer resistance. This article especially examines the negative impact of artificial intelligence-based IVAs’ privacy concerns on consumer resistance, and studies the mediating effect of perceived creepiness in the context of privacy cynicism and privacy paradox and the moderating effect of anthropomorphized roles of IVAs and perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) of IVAs’ companies. The demographic variables are also included.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the theory of human–computer interaction (HCI), this study addresses the consumer privacy concerns of IVAs, builds a model of the influence mechanism on consumer resistance, and then verifies the mediating effect of perceived creepiness and the moderating effect of anthropomorphized roles of IVAs and perceived CSR of IVAs companies. This research explores underlying mechanism with three experiments.
Findings
It turns out that consumers’ privacy concerns are related to their resistance to IVAs through perceived creepiness. The servant (vs. partner) anthropomorphized role of IVAs is likely to induce more privacy concerns and in turn higher resistance. At the same time, when the company’s CSR is perceived high, the impact of the concerns of IVAs’ privacy issues on consumer resistance will be weakened, and the intermediary mechanism of perceiving creepiness in HCI and anthropomorphism of new technology are further explained and verified. The differences between different age and gender are also revealed in the study.
Originality/value
The research conclusions have strategic reference significance for enterprises to build the design framework of IVAs and formulate the response strategy of IVAs’ privacy concerns. And it offers implications for researchers and closes the research gap of IVAs from the perspective of innovation resistance.
Details
Keywords
Yupeng Mou, Yali Ma, Duanyang Guo and Zhihua Ding
With the development of e-commerce network platforms, platform enterprises have mostly completed the first stage of user accumulation during the start-up period. How to enhance…
Abstract
Purpose
With the development of e-commerce network platforms, platform enterprises have mostly completed the first stage of user accumulation during the start-up period. How to enhance users’ stickiness and stimulate their continual participation in platform business activities through innovation and platform design has become a decisive factor for platform enterprises. To increase the motivation of e-commerce platform users, this paper explores the positive impact of gamified rewards on platform user stickiness by dividing the gamified rewards design into social and functional rewards, and studies the mediating role of self-identification and the moderating role of perceived goal progress and information disclosure.
Design/methodology/approach
This study applies the “S-O-R” (stimulus–organism–response) model as the theoretical basis for constructing a model of user stickiness for e-commerce platforms and subdivides gamified reward design into social rewards and functional rewards to explore how they affect platform user stickiness and the boundaries of the influencing mechanism.
Findings
It turns out both types of gamified rewards promote users’ perception of self-identification, which in turn affects the intention to continue using the platform. In addition, platforms with designs about users’ quantified self-behavior – perceived goal progress in the gaming experience can effectively enhance the effectiveness of users’ gamification rewards. Information disclosure moderates the relationship between the two types of gamification design and self-identification. For functional reward designs and social reward designs, information disclosure can improve users’ self-identification and therefore enhance users’ stickiness.
Originality/value
This study verifies the impact of gamification design on platform user stickiness, confirming the mediating role of self-identification and the moderating role of perceived goal progress and information disclosure, which has theoretical and practical implications for how platform enterprise can maintain user activity in the digital context.
Details
Keywords
Siyuan Xu, Yupeng Mou and Zhihua Ding
The continuous impact of the pandemic and the downturn of the global economy have brought new challenges to the tourism industry. In this context, effectively attracting consumers…
Abstract
Purpose
The continuous impact of the pandemic and the downturn of the global economy have brought new challenges to the tourism industry. In this context, effectively attracting consumers and improving user stickiness are the top priorities of tourism platform companies. This study explores the impact of ethical concerns raised by new issues under the multi-governance environment on user stickiness. Based on the trust theory, the authors provide solutions for tourism platforms.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a quantitative approach, gathering survey data via an online platform. A total of 400 participants were investigated, and 356 valid questionnaires were returned, with a recovery rate of 89%. Questionnaires that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded, leaving 298 valid responses.
Findings
Studies have found that consumers' ethical concerns about platform companies are key factors affecting user stickiness, and among these, consumer trust plays a mediating role. They have found that corporate social responsibility (CSR) behaviours help alleviate ethical concerns and improve trust in enterprises. At the same time, enterprises should properly control the number of platform collaborators, and excessive platform cooperation negatively moderates the impact of consumer ethical concerns on competence-based trust.
Originality/value
This study complements the deficiency of previous research with regard to ethical concerns in a multi-governance environment. These findings indicate that subject diversity exacerbates the negative impact of ethical concerns on consumer trust; however, CSR alleviates the impact of ethical concerns on consumer trust.
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Keywords
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
Weiquan Yang, Zhaolin Lu, Zengrui Li, Yalin Cui, Lijin Dai, Yupeng Li, Xiaorui Ma and Huaibo Zhu
The maturity of artificial intelligence technology and the emergence of AI-generated content (AIGC) tools have endowed college students with a human-AIGC tools collaboration…
Abstract
Purpose
The maturity of artificial intelligence technology and the emergence of AI-generated content (AIGC) tools have endowed college students with a human-AIGC tools collaboration learning mode. However, there is still a great controversy about its impact on learning effect. This paper is aimed at investigating the impact of the human-AIGC tools collaboration on the learning effect of college students.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a hypothesized model was constructed to investigate the effects of dependence, usage purpose, trust level, frequency, and proficiency of using AIGC tools on the learning effect, respectively. This paper distributed questionnaires through random sampling. Then, the improved Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to assign weights and normalize data. Lastly, one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression analyses were used to measure and analyze variables, revealing the mechanism of influence.
Findings
The usage purpose, frequency, and proficiency of using AIGC tools have a significant positive effect on learning. Being clear about the usage purpose of AIGC tools and matching the specific study tasks will enhance the learning effect. College students should organically integrate AIGC tools into each learning process, which is conducive to building a learning flow applicable to oneself, improving efficiency, and then enhancing learning effects. The trust level in AIGC tools is significant, but positively and weakly correlated, indicating that college students need to screen the generated content based on their knowledge system framework and view it dialectically. The dependence on AIGC tools has a negative and significant effect on learning effect. College students are supposed to systematically combine self-reflection and the use of AIGC tools to avoid overdependence on them.
Research limitations/implications
Based on the findings, the learning suggestions for college students in human-machine collaboration in the AIGC era are proposed to provide ideas for the future information-based education system. For further research, scholars can expand on different groups, professions, and fields of study.
Originality/value
Previous studies have focused more on the impact of AIGC on the education system. This paper analyzed the impact of the various factors of using AIGC tools in the learning process on the learning effect from the perspective of college students.
Details
Keywords
Yupeng Shi, Xinyu Wang and Siyu Zhang
The purpose of this study is to discover the uniqueness of China's online livestreaming industry and to make preliminary predictions about its future.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to discover the uniqueness of China's online livestreaming industry and to make preliminary predictions about its future.
Design/methodology/approach
Providing a panoramic description of China's online livestreaming industry and a comparative analysis with other countries' online livestreaming industries.
Findings
China's online livestreaming industry is world leader in general. In terms of user size and age structure, although China has a high proportion of online livestreaming users, the proportion of anchors is not high, while the age structure of users in both China and other countries shows the characteristics of younger users. In terms of policy, the difference between China and foreign support in online livestreaming is small, but developed countries have stricter regulations.
Originality/value
The research in this paper has great significance in gaining an in-depth understanding of the development status and trends of China's online livestreaming industry and in designing accurate support policies.