Zhiwei Yang, Qingshan Zhou, Dickson K.W. Chiu and Yuqi Wang
Academic social network site (ASNS) is a new form of academic service in the social media age, and the study of ASNS user behavior is of great significance to academic librarians…
Abstract
Purpose
Academic social network site (ASNS) is a new form of academic service in the social media age, and the study of ASNS user behavior is of great significance to academic librarians due to its recent popularity. This research explores the influencing factors of the continuous usage intention of ASNSs.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of academics in China was conducted, and 361 responses were collected and analyzed with a structural equation model, which involves satisfaction, continuous usage intention, expectation confirmation, perceived usefulness (PU), social identity, referent network size and perceived interactivity (PI).
Findings
Satisfaction, expectation confirmation, PU, referent network size, social identity and PI significantly impact continuous usage intention. Satisfaction is a mediating variable by which expectation confirmation, PU, referent network size, social identity and other influencing factors affect continuous usage intention. Expectation confirmation and referent network size are two endogenous variables that can explain and predict the continuous usage intention of ASNSs.
Originality/value
Existing research does not consciously distinguish between adoption, use and continuous use, and only scant studies have conducted empirical research. Further, despite the widespread ASNS usage in China, Chinese scholars' studies are few, as existing studies have mainly focused on users of the UK, the US and India.
Details
Keywords
Xiaoping Zhang, Yanhui Li, Meixiu Li, Qiuju Du, Hong Li, Yuqi Wang, Dechang Wang, Cuiping Wang, Kunyan Sui, Hongliang Li, Yanzhi Xia and Yuanhai Yu
In order to discover a new adsorbent that can be used to purify dye wastewater in the textile and apparel industry, a novel type of graphene oxide/gluten composite material using…
Abstract
Purpose
In order to discover a new adsorbent that can be used to purify dye wastewater in the textile and apparel industry, a novel type of graphene oxide/gluten composite material using an improved acid bath coagulation method was synthesized, which can remove methylene blue in an aqueous environment.
Design/methodology/approach
After experimentally compounding different ratios of graphene oxide and gluten, the graphene oxide/gluten composite material with 20% graphene oxide content and superlative adsorption effect was chosen. The synthesized material was characterized by different techniques such as FT-IR and SEM, indicating the microstructure of the material and the success of the composite. Various factors were considered, namely, the influence of temperature, dosage, pH and contact time. The isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamic parameters were successively discussed.
Findings
The qmax value of 214.29 mg/g of the material was higher compared to the general sorbent, thus, the graphene oxide/gluten composite material was a suitable sorbent for methylene blue removal. Overall, the graphene oxide/gluten composite material can be considered as an effectual and prospective adsorbent to remove methylene blue in the textile and apparel industrial effluent.
Originality/value
Graphene oxide is a potentially excellent sorbent. However, the high dispersibility of GO is detrimental to adsorption, it disperses rapidly in an aqueous solution making separation and recovery difficult. The high load capacity and recyclability of gluten as a colloid make it a suitable carrier for fixing GO. Studies on the combination of GO and GT into composite adsorption material and for the removal of dyes from dyeing wastewater have not been reported. The composite material research on GO and GT can provide new ideas for the research of these kinds of materials and contribute to its wider and convenient application in wastewater treatment.
Details
Keywords
Xiaoping Zhang, Yanhui Li, Meixiu Li, Heng Zheng, Qiuju Du, Hong Li, Yuqi Wang, Dechang Wang, Cuiping Wang, Kunyan Sui, Hongliang Li and Yanzhi Xia
The purpose of this paper is to purify the wastewater in the garment industry.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to purify the wastewater in the garment industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The preparation of the calcium alginate (CA)/activated carbon (AC) composite membrane was achieved by vacuum freeze-drying and the cross-linking reaction between sodium alginate and CaCl2. Effective parameters in the methylene blue (MB) adsorption such as temperature, dose, contact time and pH were discussed. The adsorption properties of the composite membrane were investigated by isotherm, kinetics and thermodynamic analysis. The adsorption equilibrium data were described by the adsorption isotherm Langmuir model and the Freundlich model. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion equations were selected to evaluate the kinetics. The thermodynamic study described that the adsorption reaction was spontaneous and exothermic.
Findings
The AC/CA membrane is an efficient and powerful adsorbent to remove MB in printing and dyeing wastewater, and provides a new idea for the selection of adsorption materials for industrial printing and dyeing wastewater.
Practical implications
The composite membrane research on CA and AC can provide new ideas for the research of these kinds of materials.
Social implications
The paper contributes to its wider and convenientapplication in wastewater treatment.
Originality/value
Studies on the combination of CA and AC into adsorption membranes and for the removal of dyes from printing and dyeing wastewater have not been reported. A novel composite material is provided for treatment dyeing wastewater in garment production. The composite membrane research on CA and AC can provide new ideas for the research of these kinds of materials and contribute to its wider and convenient application in wastewater treatment.
Details
Keywords
The paper aims to present a modeling method for multi‐layer, multi‐material printed circuit boards (PCBs) in both micro‐structure and board levels.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to present a modeling method for multi‐layer, multi‐material printed circuit boards (PCBs) in both micro‐structure and board levels.
Design/methodology/approach
The method incorporates a multilayer finite element model that is established in two parts: the first part is an elasto‐plastic damaging model, which is presented to model metallic plies in the multi‐layer PCBs, while the second is a bi‐phase model for glass‐fiber/epoxy‐resin composite ply with fiber/matrix structure.
Findings
Numerous composite parts and complex material properties of multi‐layer PCBs complicate the reliability of the simulation. Therefore, the board level simulation and the micro‐structure modeling cannot be performed at the same time. A multi‐layer FEM code can solve this problem: with the use of bi‐phase and elasto‐plastic plies in this code, the micro‐structure and board‐level modeling for multi‐layer PCBs can be incorporated.
Research limitations/implications
With the implementation of a virtual boundary method, the current multi‐layer model can be combined with the unit‐cell modeling method to perform detailed analysis at the micro‐structure level.
Originality/value
This paper presents a method for multi‐layer PCB modeling at both the micro‐structure and board levels. It provides a way to individually design the fabric types and the properties of glass fibers, epoxy resin, and copper foil in PCBs, to meet specific reliability requirements. With the proposed modeling, the static and shock responses of optimized PCBs can be analyzed with less computation.
Details
Keywords
To present a method to model woven fibre reinforced metal matrix composite for multilayer circuit boards.
Abstract
Purpose
To present a method to model woven fibre reinforced metal matrix composite for multilayer circuit boards.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a hybrid modelling method to model multilayer multimaterial composites with the combination of metallic and woven composite plies. Firstly, 3D unit cells of woven composite are idealized as orthotropic plies, while metallic layers are taken as isotropic plies. Secondly, the idealized composite plies and metallic plies are modelled into a 2D multilayer finite element (FE). Lastly, scalar damage parameters are used for damage modelling.
Findings
Based on this method, static and dynamic analysis of multilayer composite can be performed at both micro and board levels. Meanwhile, the hybrid model illustrates a good agreement with the experimental results and good computational efficiency required for FE simulation. Conceptually, this study is aimed to provide an efficient damage modelling techniques for laminate composites and flexible modelling methodology for further development of new composite material systems.
Research limitations/implications
Damaging testing and simulation is not involved, although damaging modelling method is presented.
Originality/value
This model has high flexibility and efficiency: the micro structure and properties of reinforced fibres, polymer matrix and metallic plies can be changed conveniently in 3D mechanics unit‐cell model; the 2D structure of geometry model provides a high‐computational efficiency in the numerical simulation. The presented work also provides the damage modelling methods, multi‐linear damage law and scalar damage parameters, to simulate damage behaviour after impact.
Details
Keywords
Belverd E. Needles, Marian Powers, Mark L. Frigo and Anton Shigaev
This study establishes a baseline evaluation of sustainability reporting (SR) and integrated reporting (IR) practices among groups of companies globally using a combined…
Abstract
This study establishes a baseline evaluation of sustainability reporting (SR) and integrated reporting (IR) practices among groups of companies globally using a combined evaluation matrix. We evaluate a sample of high performance companies (HPC), global reporting initiative (GRI) companies, international integrated reporting committee (IIRC) companies, and a control group of companies that do not belong to any of these groups. We test for high performance and compliance with a 30-point evaluation matrix for financial reporting, corporate governance, integrated disclosure, SR, and assurance developed from the standards set by GRI and IIRC. This chapter provides evidence as to the current IR and SR states, and shows that considerable variation exists even among companies that have pledged to improve reporting in this arena. The analysis also shows that companies that belong to no special group do in fact score on a level that shows that SR and IR standards are being implemented by many companies in the world, not just those in special groups like the HPC, GRI, and IIRC. Finally, this study provides direction for global regulators and professional associations, and to the management of companies that aspire to HPC status while meeting the IR and SR standards.
Details
Keywords
Belverd E. Needles, Mark L. Frigo, Marian Powers and Anton Shigaev
Prior research shows that companies that achieve high performance excel at certain financial objectives. This chapter addresses the question: Do companies that excel at these…
Abstract
Purpose
Prior research shows that companies that achieve high performance excel at certain financial objectives. This chapter addresses the question: Do companies that excel at these financial performance objectives also excel in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting?
Methodology/approach
We compare a sample of high performance companies (HPC) with a sample of companies that purport to support integrated reporting, and a sample that purport to support sustainability reporting. Our hypotheses are that HPC will equal or exceed the integrated reporting and sustainability reporting practices shown by International Integrated Reporting Committee (IIRC) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) companies and US companies will be less at these practices than non-US companies.
Findings
Our findings indicate that IIRC companies and GRI companies generally do not meet the high financial performance measures of the HPC. Based on an integrated reporting and sustainability reporting matrix, we show that HPC exhibit equal performance on the practices of sustainability and integrated reporting compared to GRI companies, but both HPC and GRI are lower on these practices than IIRC companies. Also, US companies disclose less information in sustainability reports and integrated reports as compared to non-US companies. Overall, all three groups fall short of full compliance with standards of integrated reporting and sustainability reporting.
Originality/value
This chapter provides evidence as to the financial performance and the current state of integrated reporting and sustainability reporting among HPC, GRI, and IIRC companies. This chapter highlights the global need for a generally accepted set of standards for sustainability and integrated reporting practices.
Details
Keywords
Guangyao Zhang, Licheng Wang, Weixi Xie, Furong Shang, Xinlu Xia, Chunlin Jiang and Xianwen Wang
The purpose of this paper is to reveal a symbol – “however” that authors are very interested in, but few research studies pay attention to the existing literature. The authors aim…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reveal a symbol – “however” that authors are very interested in, but few research studies pay attention to the existing literature. The authors aim to further insight its function.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research, the authors selected 3,329 valid comments on articles published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) from 2015 to 2020 as the research objects. The authors showed the length distribution of reviewers' comments. In what follows, the authors analyzed the general distribution of words in comments and reviewer comments’ position to understand reviewers' comments qualitatively in word dimension. Specially, the authors analyzed functions of “however” and “but”, words that authors are most concerned with. In addition, the authors also discussed some factors, which may be related to “however,” that reflect reviewers' praise through regression analysis.
Findings
The authors found that there are marked differences in the length of reviewers' comments under different review rounds. By mapping the reviewers' comments to different sections, the authors found that reviewers are deeply concerned to methods section. Adjectives and adverbs in comments written in different sections of the manuscripts also have different characteristics. The authors tried to interpret the turning function of “however” in scientific communication. Its frequency of use is related to reviewers' identities, specifically academic status. More precisely, junior researchers use “however” in praise more frequently than senior researchers do.
Research limitations/implications
The linguistic feature and function of “however” and “but” in the reviewers' comments of the rejected manuscripts may be different from accepted papers and also worth exploring. Regrettably, the authors cannot obtain the peer review comments of rejected manuscripts. This point may limit the conclusion of the investigation of this article.
Originality/value
Overall, the survey results revealed some language features of reviewers' comments, which could provide a basis of future endeavors for many reviewers in open peer review (OPR) field. Specially, the authors also put forward an interesting symbol to examine the review comments, “however”, for the first time.
Details
Keywords
Abstract
Purpose
Based on social cognitive theory, this study aims to investigate the influence of perceived overqualification (POQ) on employees’ cyberloafing behavior. The mediating role of moral disengagement and the moderating roles of organizational identification (OID) and organizational decline are further examined.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected 740 valid questionnaires from participants across multiple organizations. To minimize common method bias (CMB) and enhance the reliability of the findings, data were gathered at two different time points, with a 30-day interval.
Findings
POQ positively impacts cyberloafing through the mechanism of moral disengagement. Additionally, the indirect relationship between POQ and cyberloafing via moral disengagement is moderated by OID and organizational decline. Specifically, a higher degree of OID weakens the indirect effect of POQ on cyberloafing, while a higher level of perceived organizational decline strengthens this effect.
Originality/value
While most existing studies on cyberloafing focus on insufficient resources, such as role conflict and workload, the authors propose that surplus personal resources, exemplified by POQ, can also lead to cyberloafing. This research contributes to a broader understanding of antecedents of cyberloafing, highlighting the mechanism of ethical considerations and the interplay between personal qualifications, organizational identification and organizational decline.
Details
Keywords
Zhaoyang Wang, Bing Wu, Jiaqing Huang, Yuqi Yang and Guangwen Xiao
The purpose of this study is to develop a transient wheel–rail rolling contact model to primarily investigate the rail damage under wet condition when the train passes through the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to develop a transient wheel–rail rolling contact model to primarily investigate the rail damage under wet condition when the train passes through the welded joints.
Design/methodology/approach
The impact force induced by welded joints is obtained through vehicle–track coupling dynamics. The normal and tangential wheel–rail contact pressures were solved by elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) theory and simplified third-body layer theory, respectively. Then, the obtained tangential pressure and normal pressure were applied to the finite element model as moving loads, simulating cyclic loading. Finally, the shakedown map and critical plane method were used to predict rolling contact fatigue (RCF) and the initiation of fatigue cracks.
Findings
The results indicate that RCF will occur and fatigue cracks are more prone to appear on the subsurface of the rail, specifically around 2.7 mm below the rail surface in the vicinity of the welded joint and its heat-affected zone.
Originality/value
The cosimulation of numerical model and finite element model was implemented. The influence of surface roughness and fluids was considered. In this model, the normal and tangential wheel–rail contact pressure, the stress and strain and the rail fatigue cracks were obtained under a rail-welded joint excitation.