Sheng Zhang, Peng Lan, Hai-Chao Li, Chen-Xi Tong and Daichao Sheng
Prediction of excess pore water pressure and estimation of soil parameters are the two key interests for consolidation problems, which can be mathematically quantified by a set of…
Abstract
Purpose
Prediction of excess pore water pressure and estimation of soil parameters are the two key interests for consolidation problems, which can be mathematically quantified by a set of partial differential equations (PDEs). Generally, there are challenges in solving these two issues using traditional numerical algorithms, while the conventional data-driven methods require massive data sets for training and exhibit negative generalization potential. This paper aims to employ the physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) for solving both the forward and inverse problems.
Design/methodology/approach
A typical consolidation problem with continuous drainage boundary conditions is firstly considered. The PINNs, analytical, and finite difference method (FDM) solutions are compared for the forward problem, and the estimation of the interface parameters involved in the problem is discussed for the inverse problem. Furthermore, the authors also explore the effects of hyperparameters and noisy data on the performance of forward and inverse problems, respectively. Finally, the PINNs method is applied to the more complex consolidation problems.
Findings
The overall results indicate the excellent performance of the PINNs method in solving consolidation problems with various drainage conditions. The PINNs can provide new ideas with a broad application prospect to solve PDEs in the field of geotechnical engineering, and also exhibit a certain degree of noise resistance for estimating the soil parameters.
Originality/value
This study presents the potential application of PINNs for the consolidation of soils. Such a machine learning algorithm helps to obtain remarkably accurate solutions and reliable parameter estimations with fewer and average-quality data, which is beneficial in engineering practice.
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Ling Zhang, Sheng Zhang and Yingyuan Guo
The purpose of this paper is to compare the effects of equity financing and debt financing on technological innovation, and prove that the enhancement of a financing system’s risk…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare the effects of equity financing and debt financing on technological innovation, and prove that the enhancement of a financing system’s risk tolerance for technological innovation can enhance the innovation risk preference of enterprises and thus promote innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on a transnational sample of 35 developed countries from 1996 to 2015, by using the panel econometric model to empirically examine the effects of two financing modes on innovation.
Findings
The findings showed that equity financing, which has higher risk tolerance, has a more positive impact on innovation than debt financing in terms of both economic uptrend and economic downtrend, and that government efficiency plays a significant role in supporting the performance of technological innovation.
Originality/value
The paper provides a research framework for examining how a financing system’s risk tolerance capacity affects the development of technological innovation through promoting risk preference among enterprises. This paper provides transnational and cross-cycle comparative evidence that equity financing with a strong risk tolerance capacity can better support technological innovation, even in periods of economic downtrend. Moreover, the importance of financing system’s risk tolerance capacity for innovation during economic crises is discussed.
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Huang Huan, Ma Yongyuan, Zhang Sheng and Dou Qinchao
The aim of this study is to provide some important insights for knowledge stickiness from the perspective of the characteristic of knowledge and the people engaged in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to provide some important insights for knowledge stickiness from the perspective of the characteristic of knowledge and the people engaged in the knowledge transfer. It proposes an empirical model about factors that influence knowledge stickiness.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on knowledge-based view (KBV), this paper systematically elaborated the research model, and then conducted a survey to test the hypotheses. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews in R&D team of knowledge-intensive firms in China. The empirical results generally support the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The paper provides empirical insights about how the knowledge transfer willingness, transfer ability, knowledge residence, knowledge articulability and absorption ability affect the knowledge stickiness in the process of knowledge transfer in R&D team.
Research limitations/implications
This paper provides guidelines about how firms should optimally respond to knowledge stickiness in knowledge transfer process practically.
Practical implications
The proposed framework helps to understand what factors impact knowledge stickiness in R&D teams. Furthermore, the research also provides guidelines about how firms should optimally respond to knowledge stickiness in knowledge transfer process practically from both aspects of characteristics of knowledge itself and people involved in knowledge transfer.
Originality/value
This study, grounded on KBV, constructs a countermeasure model of weakening knowledge stickiness, which contributes to an understanding of factors leading to the success or failure of knowledge transfer. It eventually theoretically extends the KBV of the firm and commits to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of knowledge transfer practically.
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Timothy Amoako, Zhang Huai Sheng, Courage Simon Kofi Dogbe and Wisdom Wise Kwabla Pomegbe
The paper investigates the mediation role of external integration in the relationship between internal integration and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) performance. Information…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper investigates the mediation role of external integration in the relationship between internal integration and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) performance. Information and communication technology (ICT) was used to moderate the relationship between internal and external, and external integration and SMEs performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Cross sectional method was used to distribute questionnaires to owners of SMEs in Abossey Okai business enclave to assess the various dimensions in the study. Structural equation modeling was employed to assess the relationship among the dimensions, based on 163 validated questionnaires. Analysis of Moment Structures (Amos) and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were used in analyzing the data.
Findings
The results indicate that, external integration mediated the relationship between internal integration and SMEs performance. In addition, ICT had positive moderating effect in the relationship between internal and external integration, and external integration and SMEs performance.
Practical implications
Practically, this research informs owners and managers of SMEs to appreciate the importance of developing internal structures of a firm and further linking their operations with external partners. Additionally, findings will aid managers’ and owners’ leverage on ICT capabilities to enhance performance in their operations.
Originality/value
Engaging external integration to mediate the relationship between internal integration and SMEs performance and extending the relationship to include moderating role of ICT in both relationship that is internal and external integration on one side, and external and firm performance, the current study contributes to supply chain integration (SCI) and ICT available literature.
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Canjun Yang, Weitao Wu, Xin Wu, Jifei Zhou, Zhangpeng Tu, Mingwei Lin and Sheng Zhang
Variable stiffness structure can significantly improve the interactive capabilities of grippers. Shape memory alloys have become a popular option for materials with variable…
Abstract
Purpose
Variable stiffness structure can significantly improve the interactive capabilities of grippers. Shape memory alloys have become a popular option for materials with variable stiffness structures. However, its variable stiffness range is limited by its stiffness in two phases. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the manipulation capabilities of tendon-driven flexible grippers by designing a wide-range variable stiffness structure.
Design/methodology/approach
Constitutive models of shape memory alloy and mechanical models are used to analyze the performance of the variable stiffness structure. A separated solution was used to combine the tendon-driven gripper and the variable stiffness structure. The feed-forward control algorithm is used to enhance the control stability of the variable stiffness structure.
Findings
The stiffness variable capability of the proposed variable stiffness structure is verified by experiments. The stability of the feedback control algorithm was verified by sinusoidal tracking experiments. The variable stiffness range of 8.41 times of the flexible gripper was tested experimentally. The interaction capability of the variable stiffness flexible gripper is verified by the object grasping experiments.
Originality/value
A new wide-range variable stiffness structure is proposed and validated. The new variable stiffness structure has a larger range of stiffness variation and better control stability. The new flexible structure can be applied to conventional grippers to help them gain stiffness variable capability and improve their interaction ability.
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Sihan Jiang, Lu Shen, Chuang Zhang and Xubing Zhang
This paper aims to examine how channel whistleblowing intensity affects a distributor’s compliance to the manufacturer’s request and how that impact is influenced by institutional…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine how channel whistleblowing intensity affects a distributor’s compliance to the manufacturer’s request and how that impact is influenced by institutional environments.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on paired survey data, which was collected from an automobile manufacturer in China and its 211 distributors, combined with secondary data, this study used hierarchical regression analyses to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The study finds that channel whistleblowing intensity has an inverted U-shaped effect on distributor compliance. In addition, this curvilinear effect is stronger in regions with more effective legal systems and higher social trust, but the authors do not find perceived vertical control moderating the effect of whistleblowing intensity on distributor compliance.
Research limitations/implications
First, this study enriches the marketing literature by highlighting the significance of whistleblowing and especially its downside in marketing channel management. Second, moving beyond prior marketing studies’ focus on bilateral controls, it recognizes channel whistleblowing as a peer-enforced control mechanism. Third, it identifies environmental factors as shift parameters that alter the impact of channel whistleblowing, attesting to the importance of “discriminating alignment.”
Practical implications
The findings caution channel managers against the double-edged effects of whistleblowing and inform the conditions that amplify this impact.
Originality/value
This work highlights the bright and dark sides of channel whistleblowing and uncovers situations in which it works or fails to promote distributor compliance.
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Shunchong Li, Xinjun Sheng, Honghai Liu and Xiangyang Zhu
This paper aims to describe the design of a multi-degree of freedom (DOF) prosthetic hand prototype implementing postural synergy mechanically, which is actuated by two motors via…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the design of a multi-degree of freedom (DOF) prosthetic hand prototype implementing postural synergy mechanically, which is actuated by two motors via a transmission unit, and is controlled using surface electromyography (sEMG) signal.
Design/methodology/approach
First, an anthropomorphic robotic hand is designed to imitate the human hand. The robotic hand has 18 DOF, 12 of which are actively driven by Bowden cables. Next, a set of different grasp modes are performed on a “full actuation” robotic hand, and principal component analysis (PCA) method is used to extract the first two postural synergies. Then, they are used to design a differential pulley-based transmission unit using two independent inputs to drive 12 output tendons. Finally, two control signals extracted from six channels of sEMG signals are used to proportionally control the two motors for achieving hand posture synthesis.
Findings
Using a differential pulley-based mechanical transmission unit to implement the synthesis of the first two postural synergies can make the prosthetic hand achieve different grasps by two motors, such as power, precision and lateral grasps. It is also feasible to control this “two actuation” prosthetic hand by relating the two-dimensional sEMG inputs with the first two postural synergies.
Originality/value
Mechanical implantation of postural synergies reduces the number of independent actuators without sacrificing the prosthetic hand’s versatility and simplifies its controller. Two-dimensional control extracted from sEMG is mapped into the combination coefficients of postural synergy synthesis. It shows potential application in the practical prosthetic hand.
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Shanshan Zhang, Zhiqiang Wang, Xiande Zhao and Min Zhang
The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the effects of institutional support on product and process innovation and firm performance and describe how dysfunctional…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the effects of institutional support on product and process innovation and firm performance and describe how dysfunctional competition influences relevant outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
This study develops a research model based on institution-based view and tests it using structural equation modeling and empirical data collected from 300 manufacturers in China.
Findings
The results show that institutional support positively affects product and process innovation and firm performance. Both product and process innovation improve firm performance. The findings reveal that dysfunctional competition significantly reduces the positive effects of institutional support on product and process innovation but leaves the effects of institutional support and product and process innovation on firm performance unaffected.
Originality/value
This study contributes to innovation literature by providing insights into the impact of China’s institutional environment on manufacturing firms’ product and process innovation decisions. The findings also contribute to institution-based view literature by providing empirical evidence on the joint effects of institutional support and dysfunctional competition on product and process innovation and firm performance. This study can help manufacturers in China take advantage of institutional environment and adjust product and process innovation decisions accordingly.
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Rui Zhang, Zehua Dong, Yanjun Zhang, Liuhu Fu and Qiaofeng Bai
This paper aims to propose a new ultrasonic detection method for stainless steel weld defects based on complex synergetic convolutional calculation to solve two problems in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose a new ultrasonic detection method for stainless steel weld defects based on complex synergetic convolutional calculation to solve two problems in the ultrasonic detection of austenitic stainless steel weld defects. These include ignoring the nonlinear information of the imaginary part in the complex domain of the signal and the correlation information between the amplitude of the real part and phase of the imaginary part and subjective dependence of diagnosis model parameters.
Design/methodology/approach
An ultrasonic detection method for weld defects based on complex synergetic convolution calculation is proposed in this paper to address the above issues. By mapping low-density, 1D detection samples to a complex domain space with high representation richness, a multi-scale and multilevel complex synergetic convolution calculation model (CSCC) is designed to match and transform samples to mine amplitude changes, phase shifts, weak phase angle changes and amplitude-phase correlation features deeply from the detection signal. This study proposed an Elite Sine-Cosine Sobol Sampling Dung Beetle Optimization Algorithm, and the detection model CSCC achieves global adaptive matching of key hyperparameters in 19 dimensions. Finally, a regulative complex synergetic convolutional calculation model is constructed to achieve high-performance detection of weld defects.
Findings
Through experiments on a self-developed Taiyuan intelligent detection and information processing weld defect dataset, the results show that the method achieves a detection accuracy of 92% for five types of weld defects: cracks, porosity, slag inclusion and unfused and unwelded components, which represent an average improvement of 11% relative to comparable models. This method is also validated with the PhysioNet electrocardiogram public dataset, which achieves better detection performance relative to the other models.
Originality/value
This method provides a theoretical basis and technical reference for developing and applying intelligent, efficient and accurate ultrasonic defects detection technology.
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Jiangang Wang and Fanghong Liu
This study aims to examine the effects of formal and informal institutional factors (i.e. marketization and guanxi culture) on interorganizational conflicts (IOCs) and their…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the effects of formal and informal institutional factors (i.e. marketization and guanxi culture) on interorganizational conflicts (IOCs) and their interaction effects.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on IOC literature and an institution-based view, the authors use a sample of 12,022 Chinese firms from the World Bank’s Investment Climate Survey. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to analyze the data.
Findings
The results suggest that guanxi culture has U-shaped effects, but marketization does not negatively affect IOCs. Furthermore, a low level of marketization weakens the U-shaped effect of guanxi culture on IOCs. A moderate level of guanxi culture can enable marketization to reduce IOCs.
Practical implications
This study provides a better understanding of the management of IOCs. Managers should fully understand the differential effects of the institutional environment in different regions and their interactions by adopting different response strategies.
Originality/value
This study enriches the literature on IOCs’ antecedents and contextual factors by examining the institutions’ direct and interaction effects on IOCs.