Zimou Tang, Min Yang, Jianxiong Xiao, Zheng Shen, Liming Tang and Jibin Wang
This paper aims to present an engineering computational method for fatigue life evaluation of welded structures on large-scale equipment under random vibration load.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present an engineering computational method for fatigue life evaluation of welded structures on large-scale equipment under random vibration load.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a case study of the traction transformers, virtual fatigue test (VFT) was proposed via numerical simulation approach. Static analysis was conducted to identify the risky zone and then dynamic response of the risky welds under random vibration load was calculated based on frequency-domain structural stress method (FDSSM) theory, life distribution and associated survivability at various locations of the structure were obtained. Structural modification was finally performed according to the evaluation results. Moreover, experimental test was carried out and compared with the virtual test result.
Findings
By applying the virtual test, fatigue life of the complex welded structures on large-scale equipment can be accurately and efficiently obtained considering dynamic effect under random vibration load. Meanwhile, risky welds can be directly determined and targeted modification scheme can be accordingly concluded. Validity of the VFT result was proved by comparing with the experimental test.
Originality/value
The proposed method can help obtain equivalent structural stress and fatigue life distribution of the welded structure at any position with various survivability and make quantitative evaluation on the life-extending effect of the structural modification. This method shows significant cost and efficiency advantages over experimental test during design stage of the large-scale structures in numerous manufacturing industries.
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Nowadays, more and more brands are developing their own virtual ambassadors for interactive communication and marketing with consumers. Exploring the interactive effectiveness of…
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, more and more brands are developing their own virtual ambassadors for interactive communication and marketing with consumers. Exploring the interactive effectiveness of virtual brand ambassadors on consumer behavior is crucial to understanding the interactions between brands, virtual ambassadors and consumers as well as further increasing consumer engagement in AI-mediated interactive marketing.
Design/methodology/approach
This study investigated different interactive effects of virtual ambassadors on consumer behavior in terms of virtual ambassadors’ anthropomorphism, virtual experience and consumer behavior through a mixed method of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
Findings
The results indicate that consumers’ sharing, reviewing and purchasing behavior is significantly and positively influenced by virtual ambassadors’ anthropomorphism and virtual experience. In addition, specific anthropomorphic features and virtual experiences were discussed in detail.
Originality/value
This study helps brands develop and manage their virtual ambassadors and consumers in AI-mediated interactive marketing and communication.
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Zheng Shen, Derek S. Brown and Kang Yu
Off-farm employment is an important factor associated with fertility transition in many developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of female…
Abstract
Purpose
Off-farm employment is an important factor associated with fertility transition in many developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of female off-farm employment on their fertility desire in rural China.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey, the authors adopt an instrumental variable approach to address the endogeneity issue. Desired number of children and desire for a second child are used to measure fertility desire.
Findings
The results show that off-farm employment participation significantly reduces women's desired number of children and the likelihood of their desire for a second child. Moreover, off-farm employment reduces women's fertility desire mainly through pathways including the weakening of son preference and a decrease in job autonomy, rather than the changes in leisure hours. Further evidence suggests that social health insurance plays an important role in moderating the adverse relationship between off-farm employment and the desire for a second child. The fertility-reducing effects are more pronounced among younger women, among those participating in off-farm wage employment and among families with only wives' participation in the off-farm labor market.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the existing research by investigating the causal impact of off-farm employment on fertility desire in a rural developing context and the possible underlying mechanisms responsible for this relationship. This study provides important insights on this topic in developing countries and may have important implications for theory and practice.
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Zheng Shen, Marie Parker, Derek Brown and Xiangming Fang
Since the implementation of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) in 2003, this program has experienced rapid growth. Even so, little is known about the association between…
Abstract
Purpose
Since the implementation of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) in 2003, this program has experienced rapid growth. Even so, little is known about the association between NCMS expansion and labor force supply among rural residents in China. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of the NCMS on labor force supply for rural Chinese populations.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), a difference-in-differences (DD) approach is employed to estimate the impact of NCMS expansion on labor supply outcomes, including hours of worked in agriculture, off-farm labor force participation, not working, and weeks off due to illness. A number of falsification tests are conducted to identify whether the assumption of common trends of DD analyses is satisfied. The robustness of results is checked through additional estimation, including panel fixed effects and instrumental variable approach.
Findings
Results show that the NCMS expansion has a positive effect on the hours of worked in agriculture and off-farm labor force participation, and reduces the likelihood of not working and weeks off due to illness. The effect on hours of agricultural production is larger for male adults, those aged 50 or more, and individuals in low-income families. This study demonstrates the importance of potential health improvements from public health insurance in promoting rural residents’ labor productivity.
Originality/value
Studies concerning the effects of public health insurance on labor supply in developing countries remain limited. The findings of this study provide important insights into how public health insurance programs, like the NCMS, may affect patterns of labor supply among rural residents, and can help policymakers improve health policies aimed to reduce the number of uninsured farmers while maintaining high levels of labor supply, productivity, and health status among the most vulnerable of populations.
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This study aims to find how can fashion micro-influencers and their electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) messages increase consumer engagement on social media, focusing on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to find how can fashion micro-influencers and their electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) messages increase consumer engagement on social media, focusing on micro-influencers’ influence, typology, eWOM content and consumer engagement.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 20,000 microblogs were collected from Irish fashion micro-influencers and analyzed through keyword classification and content analysis in NVivo. The determinants of eWOM persuasiveness for consumer engagement on social media were investigated based on Sussman and Siegal’s information adoption model.
Findings
The study finds that among the four types of micro-influencers, market mavens and their eWOM messages have the highest impact on consumer engagement on social media, and it presents a repetitive and persuasive eWOM model of market mavens to increase consumer participation. Also, the study discovers that micro-influencers’ occasion-related microblogs have an increasing impact on consumer interactions whereas microblogs with brands have a decreasing engagement with consumers on social media.
Originality/value
This study advances prior studies on the relationship between influencers’ eWOM messages and consumer participation on social media by the development of a persuasive eWOM model of micro-influencers to increase consumer engagement and fill in the lack of relevant literature. Also, findings provide actionable insights for marketing communication practitioners to persuade consumers to participate in eWOM communications and establish strong consumer-brand relationships on social media.
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Wei Zheng, Geoffrey Shen, Hao Wang and Patrizia Lombardi
Public housing in Hong Kong plays an essential role in accommodation supply to people of low income. Access to social resources and rent levels of nearby private residential…
Abstract
Purpose
Public housing in Hong Kong plays an essential role in accommodation supply to people of low income. Access to social resources and rent levels of nearby private residential housing are two critical issues impacting the well-being of residents living in public housing estates. However, previous research has rarely focused on the spatial distribution of public housing estates through exploring these two critical issues. On the other hand, Hong Kong is currently experiencing an urban renewal process. It would be beneficial to consider these critical issues for spatial allocation of public housing in urban renewal decision making. The purpose of this paper is to investigate these two critical issues in relation to the spatial distribution of public housing estates in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Design/methodology/approach
Seven spatial variables were selected to reflect these critical issues. Spatial analysis in Geographic Information System was conducted to process the data required. Multiple logistic regression was employed to analyse the relationships between the spatial location of public housing estates and the seven selected variables.
Findings
Based on the analysis results, several problems as well as geographical advantages of the current location of public housing estates were discovered, which can be valuable references for decision making by government authorities for public housing development in the future.
Originality/value
This research is a pilot study on the spatial distribution of public housing estates and the critical influencing factors in Hong Kong, undertaken by applying both spatial analysis and statistical methods. It can help relevant decision makers deal with current problems of public housing location and make informed decisions on where to locate new housing projects in an urban renewal process, which can increase the equal distribution of social resources and improve the well-being of people living in public housing.
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Serkan Eti, İrfan Ersin, Yaşar Gökalp, Çağatay Çağlayan and Duygu Yavuz
Agriculture is an activity that plays an important role in human life. Similarly, the agricultural sector plays an important role in the national economy. One of the biggest…
Abstract
Agriculture is an activity that plays an important role in human life. Similarly, the agricultural sector plays an important role in the national economy. One of the biggest problems of the agricultural sector is the carbon gas it produces during production. Fertilizing activities and tools used in plowing the fields cause this gas to be produced. The release of the said gas into nature causes serious damage to the environment. Therefore, carbon emissions in the agricultural sector are of vital importance. In line with this purpose, it is aimed to determine the most appropriate strategy for carbon emission in this study. As a result of the DEMATEL analysis, it was seen that the most appropriate strategy was effective regulations and auditing.
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Luqi Yang, Xiaoni Li and Ana Beatriz Hernández-Lara
The purpose of this study is to investigate the recovery and resilience tourism strategies and possible future development of four main Chinese tourism cities.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the recovery and resilience tourism strategies and possible future development of four main Chinese tourism cities.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected data from the official accounts of tourism administrations of these cities, tourist attractions and opinions from media and newspapers in Sina Weibo platform. The authors adopted an inductive approach in observing relevant social media posts and applied content analysis to identify main China’s tourism prevention and recovery strategies.
Findings
During the mass pandemic infection period, top-down prevention and control measures were implemented by the Chinese central and local governments, with feasible and regional recovery policies and protocols being adapted according to local situations. Measures related to tourism industrial re-employment, improvement of international images and governmental financial supports to re-boost local tourism in Chinese cities were paid great attention. Digitalization, close-to-nature and cultural heritages became important factors in the future development of China’s tourism. Dark tourism, as a potential tourism recovery strategy, also obtained huge emergence, for the memory of people deceased in the pandemic and for the inheritance of national patriotism.
Originality/value
This study enriches the current literature in urban tourism recovery studies analyzing the specific case of Chinese tourism cities and fulfill some voids of previous research mostly focused on the first wave of the pandemic and the recovery strategies mainly of Western cities. It also provides valuable suggestions to tourism practitioners, destinations and urban cities in dealing with regional tourism recession and finding possible solutions for the scenario associated to the COVID-19 and other similar health crisis.
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Fayong Guo, Tao Mei, Marco Ceccarelli, Ziyi Zhao, Tao Li and Jianghai Zhao
Walking on inclined ground is an important ability for humanoid robots. In general, conventional strategies for walking on slopes lack technical analysis in, first, the waist…
Abstract
Purpose
Walking on inclined ground is an important ability for humanoid robots. In general, conventional strategies for walking on slopes lack technical analysis in, first, the waist posture with respect to actual robot and, second, the landing impact, which weakens the walking stability. The purpose of this paper is to propose a generic method for walking pattern generation considering these issues with the aim of enabling humanoid robot to walk dynamically on a slope.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a virtual ground method (VGM) is proposed to give a continuous and intuitive zero-moment point (ZMP) on slopes. Then, the dynamic motion equations are derived based on 2D and 3D models, respectively, by using VGM. Furthermore, the waist posture with respect to the actual robot is analyzed. Finally, a reformative linear inverted pendulum (LIP) named the asymmetric linear inverted pendulum (ALIP) is proposed to achieve stable and dynamical walking in any direction on a slope with lower landing impact.
Findings
Simulations and experiments are carried out using the DRC-XT humanoid robot platform with the aim of verifying the validity and feasibility of these new methods. ALIP with consideration of waist posture is practical in extending the ability of walking on slopes for humanoid robots.
Originality/value
A generic method called ALIP for humanoid robots walking on slopes is proposed. ALIP is based on LIP and several changes, including model analysis, motion equations and ZMP functions, are discussed.
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Canh Minh Nguyen, Duyen Chau Thi Le, Bao Thai Pham and Ngoc Thi My Dang
The purpose of this study is to present an exploration of green intrinsic motivation’s mediating role in the relationship between socially responsible human resource management…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to present an exploration of green intrinsic motivation’s mediating role in the relationship between socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) and employee workplace green behaviour. Additionally, green leadership behaviour’s moderating role within this relationship is investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected via a survey using a convenience sampling approach with a sample of 300 employees in Vietnam. A path analysis and the bootstrapping technique in the SPSS Process macro were used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results demonstrate that employee green intrinsic motivation mediates the association between SRHRM and workplace green behaviour. Furthermore, the findings indicate that green leadership behaviour attenuates the mediation.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that managers should be aware of green intrinsic motivation’s role in encouraging employee workplace green behaviour that results from SRHRM implementation. Organisations should provide resources and enact policies to promote green intrinsic motivation and foster employees’ engagement in workplace environmental activities. Additionally, organisations must be aware of the potentially negative impact of green leadership behaviour and proactively ensure that such actions are authentic, aligned with SRHRM practices, applicable to employees’ work and administered carefully to prevent the perception of micromanagement.
Originality/value
This is the first study to examine green intrinsic motivation as the underlying psychological mechanism and green leadership behaviour as the boundary condition that affects the relationship between SRHRM and employee workplace green behaviour.