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The purpose of this paper is to consider the following problem: the authors consider a new constructed unit system to indicate the characteristics of the inputs and outputs of different decision-making units (DMUs) and propose several modified models to calculate their efficiencies based on overall value judgment and weight restriction in the production process.

This paper applies principal component analysis (PCA) to analyze the original value judgment information, and the key indices in the production process are extracted. The modified data envelopment analysis (DEA) models are proposed and DEA efficiencies and their projections are calculated.

By incorporate PCA and DEA, the authors propose new virtual DMUs composed of unique optimal multipliers of each DMU. Crucial indexes are extracted and the weights of inputs and output are ranked through using PCA by taking the preference and value judgments of all DMUs into consideration. Weight constraints from the ranking are utilized to improve the traditional CCR-DEA model. The empirical results validate the feasibility of the approach.

The method can be used in many organizations which have excessive amounts of inputs and outputs variables, such as banks, chain stores, car factory, etc.

This paper presents an integrated methodology of using PCA and DEA for considering the preferences of the inputs and outputs and value judgment of all DMUs and ranks the importance of the indicators from the overall perspectives.

The purpose of this paper is to present a crack initiation mechanism of the external hydrogen effect on type 304 stainless steel, as well as on fatigue crack propagation in the presence of hydrogen gas.

The effects of external hydrogen on hydrogen-assisted crack initiation in type 304 stainless steel were discussed by performing fatigue crack growth rate and fatigue life tests in 5 MPa argon and hydrogen.

Hydrogen can reduce the incubation period of fatigue crack initiation of smooth fatigue specimens and greatly promote the fatigue crack growth rate during the subsequent fatigue cycle. During the fatigue cycle, hydrogen invades into matrix through the intrusion and extrusion and segregates at the boundaries of α′ martensite and austenite. As the fatigue cycle increased, hydrogen-induced cracks would initiate along the slip bands. The crack initiation progress would greatly accelerate in the presence of hydrogen.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is an original work carried out by the authors on the hydrogen environment embrittlement of type 304 stainless steel. The effects of external hydrogen and argon were compared to provide understanding on the hydrogen-assisted crack initiation behaviors during cycle loading.

This study aims to analyze the temperature difference between aluminum-based brake disc (ABD) and cast steel brake disc (CSBD) for rail vehicles in the braking process, which is related to the popularization and use of ABD.

Two friction pairs composed of ABD, CSBD and copper-based powder metallurgy brake pad were studied in this paper. The temperature characteristics of the two friction pairs were compared by 1:1 braking test and simulation calculation.

When the speed is 160–250 km/h and the braking pressure is 18 and 29 kN, the calculated maximum temperature of CSBD is 574°C and 681°C, respectively, which is higher than that of ABD 49°C–148°C and 73°C–217°C. Under the test conditions, the maximum temperature of CSBD is 487°C and 624°C respectively, which is higher than that of ABD 63°C–95°C and 63°C–188°C. The temperature difference between ABD and CSBD increases with the increase of braking pressure and speed. The surface temperature distribution of CSBD is “three-peak,” whereas that of ABD is “single-peak.”

This paper reveals the temperature difference between ABD and CSBD and provides data support for promoting the use of ABD.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2024-70320/

This study aims to explore the impact of printing parameters, specifically raster angle and layer thickness, on the microstructure and mechanical properties of green and sintered parts produced through filament-based fused filament fabrication (FFF) using a self-developed filament. The goal is to improve the quality and performance of the final sintered components.

A filament containing 92 Wt.% 316L stainless steel with polyoxymethylene (POM)-based binder was formulated and evaluated for flexibility through a buckling resistance test. Green parts were printed with varying raster angles (+45°/−45°, 0°/90°) and layer thicknesses (0.2 mm, 0.3 mm), followed by catalytic debinding and high-temperature sintering. Microstructure, dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties, including microhardness, tensile strength and elongation at break, were analyzed to identify optimal parameters.

A raster angle of (+45°/−45°) produced denser interlayer bonding and a more compact green part structure, whereas a thicker layer (0.3 mm) resulted in a looser structure with larger pores. The optimal combination of +45°/−45° raster angle and 0.2 mm layer thickness achieved the highest relative density (99.37%) and superior mechanical properties: microhardness (216.83 HV), tensile strength (467.59 MPa) and elongation at break (16.81%).

A 92 Wt.% 316L stainless-steel filament for FFF was independently developed and near dense steel components were successfully fabricated. This study provides new insight into developing a novel formula of filament and optimizing printing parameters for FFF technology.

Although the facilitating role of green customer integration in business-to-business (B2B) markets has been highlighted in some green product innovation literature, analysis of the difficulties it can pose is still an underdeveloped field. This paper extends the conflict-based view and examines the effect of green customer integration on customer–firm conflicts and thereby investigates the influence of conflict on green product innovation.

This study conducts a questionnaire survey. Ordinary Least Square regression and structural equation model with Maximum Likelihood Estimation are applied to test the hypotheses.

The results show that green customer information integration is positively related to cognitive conflict, whereas green customer process integration has an inverted U-shaped relationship with cognitive conflict and a positive relationship with affective conflict. Moreover, green product innovation is promoted by cognitive conflict and is damaged by affective conflict.

This study highlights the conflict-related factors that play a role in firm–customer collaboration for green product innovation in B2B markets. It also reveals the potential dark side of green customer integration by explicitly delineating its effects on conflicts.

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors have attracted great attention worldwide for a variety of applications in measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters. However, stability has been one of the key issues which have limited their effective commercial applications. To fully understand this challenge of operation stability, this paper aims to systematically review mechanisms, stability issues and future challenges of SAW sensors for various applications.

This review paper starts with different types of SAWs, advantages and disadvantages of different types of SAW sensors and then the stability issues of SAW sensors. Subsequently, recent efforts made by researchers for improving working stability of SAW sensors are reviewed. Finally, it discusses the existing challenges and future prospects of SAW sensors in the rapidly growing Internet of Things-enabled application market.

A large number of scientific articles related to SAW technologies were found, and a number of opportunities for future researchers were identified. Over the past 20 years, SAW-related research has gained a growing interest of researchers. SAW sensors have attracted more and more researchers worldwide over the years, but the research topics of SAW sensor stability only own an extremely poor percentage in the total researc topics of SAWs or SAW sensors.

Although SAW sensors have been attracting researchers worldwide for decades, researchers mainly focused on the new materials and design strategies for SAW sensors to achieve good sensitivity and selectivity, and little work can be found on the stability issues of SAW sensors, which are so important for SAW sensor industries and one of the key factors to be mature products. Therefore, this paper systematically reviewed the SAW sensors from their fundamental mechanisms to stability issues and indicated their future challenges for various applications.

This study aims to explore the effect of competitive aggressiveness on firm performance and the moderating effect of firm 2019s ego-network structures in the international coopetition network.

From the perspective of strong cooperation of the global automobile industry in recent years, this study uses the global automobile firms in Factiva database as samples to test hypotheses using the least squares dummy variable (LSDV) model.

This study finds that there is different relationship between the number and variety of competitive actions and firm performance. In addition, ego-network structures have different coefficients for the number and variety of competitive actions.

The conclusions provide theoretical support and policy suggestions for firms to develop effective competitive strategies according to ego-network structures in the international coopetition network.

As megaprojects bear extensive and profound social responsibilities throughout the project life cycle, formulating effective measures for improving construction enterprise social responsibility is key to project success. Given the current research is relatively lack of these measures, this study aims to formulate a meta-network framework to improve the megaproject social responsibility behaviour (MSRB) for construction enterprises.

First, this study implements literature review, expert interview and field investigation to identify the construction enterprise MSRB and its influencing factors. Second, this study evaluates the MSRB implementation level of the selected construction enterprises and proposes the above mentioned meta-network framework. Next, this meta-network is configured to reflect the impact of MSRB strategic adjustment. Last but not least, a real-world case study is carried out to validate this framework.

The best MSRB performance is always witnessed from the contractor group, followed by the project client group and the site supervisor group. The outcomes of implementing certain managerial strategies indicate that (1) social responsibility cognition is a critical factor for all the groups; (2) communication mechanism and normative pressure are the critical factors for clients; (3) coercive pressure is a critical factor for supervisors and (4) cultural cognitive pressure is a critical factor for clients and contractors.

The use of the framework in proactive assessment and management of MSRB can lead to effective strategies for construction enterprises to increase the efficiency and quality of projects.

This study investigates business model innovation in small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) and its impact on firm growth.

The study was based on analyzing data collected through a questionnaire survey. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the hypotheses.

Business model innovation has a positive effect on SME growth in the manufacturing sectors. Moreover, growth is also achieved through the indirect effect of business model innovation on customer trust and commitment.

Managers will benefit from understanding how business model innovation can help their companies to overcome resource constraints and achieve sustained growth. When manufacturing SMEs engage in modular or structural changes to their business model, they may find it worthwhile to focus on maintaining a relationship of trust and commitment with their customers.

This study highlights business model innovation as a unique and important, yet underexplored, factor in manufacturing SME growth. The findings also untangle the complex processes of customer relationship management by which business model innovation improves manufacturing competitive advantage for SMEs.

The relationship between online reviews and purchase intention has been studied in previous research. However, there was little knowledge about the effect of information quality and the social presence of online reviews on purchase intention based on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework. The purpose of this study is to explore the intrinsic relationship between the stimulus (perceived information quality and social presence) generated from online reviews and the response (purchase intention).

This study developed a research model by applying the S-O-R framework to test the proposed hypotheses. A combination of a web-based experiment and an online survey was employed to collect data. Hypotheses were empirically tested using Smart PLS.

The PLS analysis shows that both perceived information quality and the social presence of online reviews positively affect trust. Moreover, satisfaction with online reviews affects purchase intention, whereas trust has a positive impact on satisfaction, playing a mediating role between two stimuli and satisfaction. Besides, perceived information quality of positive online reviews is found to have a more significant impact on trust, satisfaction and purchase intention.

The results of this study are of great value for expanding both theoretical research and practical applications of online reviews in relation to purchase intention. This study with a new research model reveals the understanding of how the purchase intention will be motivated by online reviews. Meanwhile, the moderating effects and the mediating effects are also discussed.