Yuanzhuo Zhu, Zhihua Zhang and M. James C. Crabbe
Climatic extreme events are predicted to occur more frequently and intensely and will significantly threat the living of residents in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, this…
Abstract
Purpose
Climatic extreme events are predicted to occur more frequently and intensely and will significantly threat the living of residents in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, this study aims to assess climatic extremes’ response to the emerging climate change mitigation strategy using a marine cloud brightening (MCB) scheme.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on Hadley Centre Global Environmental Model version 2-Earth System model simulations of a MCB scheme, this study used six climatic extreme indices [i.e. the hottest days (TXx), the coolest nights (TNn), the warm spell duration (WSDI), the cold spell duration (CSDI), the consecutive dry days (CDD) and wettest consecutive five days (RX5day)] to analyze spatiotemporal evolution of climate extreme events in the arid Sahara-Sahel-Arabian Peninsula Zone with and without MCB implementation.
Findings
Compared with a Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 scenario, from 2030 to 2059, implementation of MCB is predicted to decrease the mean annual TXx and TNn indices by 0.4–1.7 and 0.3–2.1°C, respectively, for most of the Sahara-Sahel-Arabian Peninsula zone. It would also shorten the mean annual WSDI index by 118–183 days and the mean annual CSDI index by only 1–3 days, especially in the southern Sahara-Sahel-Arabian Peninsula zone. In terms of extreme precipitation, MCB could also decrease the mean annual CDD index by 5–25 days in the whole Sahara and Sahel belt and increase the mean annual RX5day index by approximately 10 mm in the east part of the Sahel belt during 2030–2059.
Originality/value
The results provide the first insights into the impacts of MCB on extreme climate in the arid Sahara-Sahel-Arabian Peninsula zone.
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Zhihua Zhang, Andy Jones and M. James C. Crabbe
Currently, negotiation on global carbon emissions reduction is very difficult owing to lack of international willingness. In response, geoengineering (climate engineering…
Abstract
Purpose
Currently, negotiation on global carbon emissions reduction is very difficult owing to lack of international willingness. In response, geoengineering (climate engineering) strategies are proposed to artificially cool the planet. Meanwhile, as the harbor around one-third of all described marine species, coral reefs are the most sensitive ecosystem on the planet to climate change. However, until now, there is no quantitative assessment on the impacts of geoengineering on coral reefs. This study aims to model the impacts of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering on coral reefs.
Design/methodology/approach
The HadGEM2-ES climate model is used to model and evaluate the impacts of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering on coral reefs.
Findings
This study shows that (1) stratospheric aerosol geoengineering could significantly mitigate future coral bleaching throughout the Caribbean Sea; (2) Changes in downward solar irradiation, sea level rise and sea surface temperature caused by geoengineering implementation should have very little impacts on coral reefs; (3) Although geoengineering would prolong the return period of future hurricanes, this may still be too short to ensure coral recruitment and survival after hurricane damage.
Originality/value
This is the first time internationally to quantitatively assess the impacts of geoengineering on coral reefs.
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Feng Liu, Qizheng Wang, Zhihua Zhang, Mingjie Fang and Shufeng (Simon) Xiao
For decades, financing constraints have been a major obstacle to corporate performance. Volumes have been written about the probable factors that can help firms alleviate such…
Abstract
Purpose
For decades, financing constraints have been a major obstacle to corporate performance. Volumes have been written about the probable factors that can help firms alleviate such financial constraints. Nonetheless, empirical evidence concerning the various perspectives on how inventory control may influence financing constraints has been surprisingly scant. Using the resource- and region-based view as theoretical lenses, this study seeks to estimate the relationship between lean inventory, regional financial technology (fintech) and financing constraints.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilizing a large-scale sample of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China's manufacturing sector, the authors empirically test their hypotheses by using hierarchical linear regression models with multiple high-dimensional fixed effects.
Findings
Results indicate that firms with higher levels of inventory leanness and those located in more fintech-developed regions are less likely to encounter financing constraints. Furthermore, inventory leanness and regional fintech ecosystem development interact with each other to mitigate financing constraints. Moreover, inventory leanness significantly decreases firms' financing constraints when the regional fintech ecosystem is highly developed.
Originality/value
The present research contributes to the literature on the interface of supply chain management and financial management. It also provides managerial implications for policymakers and SME stakeholders.
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This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/17488840610639681. When citing the…
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/17488840610639681. When citing the article, please cite: Xiujie Jiang, Huixian Sun, Xiaomin Chen, Zhihua Wang, Li Zhang, Daxing Wang, (2006), “Utilization of a COTS component in temperature measurement system for microgravity fluid experiment on SZ-4 spaceship”, Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 Iss: 1, pp. 45 - 49.
Qiushuang Zhang, Xin Jin, Zhihua Liu, Zhijing Zhang, Yan Fang, Zhongqing Zhang and Yann Ledoux
The modern manufacturing industry has put forward higher requirements for the assembly accuracy of components with the development of the industrial technology. For precision…
Abstract
Purpose
The modern manufacturing industry has put forward higher requirements for the assembly accuracy of components with the development of the industrial technology. For precision assembly, the traditional assembly process study based on tolerance has had difficulty in meeting these requirements. Hence, the distribution of the form errors must be considered. The registration between the two mating surfaces with form errors determines the parts’ assembly position, and is the basis for the prediction and control of the assembly accuracy. This study aims to provide a new surfaces registration method which takes form errors into consideration.
Design/methodology/approach
This study presents a new registration approach based on the minimum potential energy. A unique set of contact points on mating surfaces that meet the actual conditions can be obtained and the spatial position of the assembled part is calculated.
Findings
The experimental results show that the calculated values are in good agreement with the experimental values. Furthermore, the root mean square error is within 2%, which proves the validity and accuracy of the approach.
Originality/value
This paper provides an effective and new method for precision assembly which takes form errors into consideration. The method can give the optimal solution of the contact points, which is more consistent with the actual assembly situation and provides a basis for predicting assembly accuracy.
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Kumari Beck, Roumiana Ilieva, Ashley Pullman and Zhihua (Olivia) Zhang
The aim in this paper is to extend Dorothy Smith's conceptual understanding of work to consider the emerging labor of “knowmads” within internationalization of higher education…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim in this paper is to extend Dorothy Smith's conceptual understanding of work to consider the emerging labor of “knowmads” within internationalization of higher education. Through original research on everyday experiences of internationalization, the authors seek to illuminate the ways individuals develop skills and competencies in relation to these new forms of work in order to address the reproduction of inequities. The authors make a connection between internationalization of higher education and knowmadic labor based on the premise that cross‐border education is often pursued in order to develop knowmadic attributes.
Design/methodology/approach
Through a critical institutional ethnography of one mid‐sized Canadian university, the paper uses survey and interview data gathered from students and faculty ‐ individuals who are involved in knowmadic labor connected to internationalization – to illustrate some of the study participants' daily experiences of internationalization coordinated by the institutional structures of the university in times of globalization.
Findings
It is concluded that internationalization and connecting new forms of work involved in becoming and producing knowmads not only bypass and disregard present inequities in higher education, but work to reproduce them in new ways.
Practical implications
The paper provides insight in regards to processes and allocation of work within internationalization, while addressing forms of social inequities that often cut across these practices and concludes with brief comments on the implications of academic knowmadic labor in Western higher education institutions engaged in internationalization.
Originality/value
While research has been conducted on work in international contexts, little has addressed “the labor” that is involved in becoming knowmads, and that of “producing” knowmads. The paper draws connections between the internationalization of higher education and knowmadic work showing that knowmadic labor is often preceded by knowmadic educational opportunities. The cosmopolitan vision of creating globally aware citizens, with international knowledge, skills, and competencies that institutions espouse, are assumed to be good per se, and to lead to knowmadic qualities and attributes required in a knowmad society. The paper questions these assumptions and the relations of power on which they rest.
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This essay aims to introduce the “knowmads” concept in the context of converging futures of work, learning, and how people relate to one another in a world driven by exponential…
Abstract
Purpose
This essay aims to introduce the “knowmads” concept in the context of converging futures of work, learning, and how people relate to one another in a world driven by exponential, accelerating change.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual framework for understanding knowmad society is presented, with specific insight to how it impacts formal education systems. A summary of articles following this viewpoint in this issue of On the Horizon is presented to highlight key ideas and how the issue is structured.
Findings
Knowmad society is already here, but education systems seem ignorant of this reality. This essay highlights that in this issue, ideas, approaches, and original solutions are offered for further discussion.
Practical implications
It is too late to ignore the trends driving the creation of a knowmad society, and it has to be decided if there is to be an attempt to catch‐up to the present, or leapfrog ahead and create future‐relevant learning options today. Otherwise there is a risk of producing workers equipped for the needs of previous centuries, but not the kind that can apply their individual knowledge in contextually‐varied modes to create new value.
Originality/value
This essay presents a formal introduction to the knowmad concept, and calls for the co‐creation of a broader ecology of options for relevant learning in a knowmad society.
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Ahmad Sarani Ali Abadi and Saeed Balochian
The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of control in a typical chaotic power system. Chaotic oscillations cannot only extremely endanger the stabilization of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of control in a typical chaotic power system. Chaotic oscillations cannot only extremely endanger the stabilization of the power system but they can also not be controlled by adding the traditional controllers. So, the sliding mode control based on a fuzzy supervisor can sufficiently ensure perfect tracking and controlling in the presence of uncertainties. Closed-loop stability is proved using the Lyapunov stability theory. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method in damping chaotic oscillations of the power system, eliminating control signal chattering and also show less control effort in comparison with the methods considered in previous literatures.
Design/methodology/approach
The sliding mode control based on a fuzzy supervisor can sufficiently ensure perfect tracking and controlling in the presence of uncertainties. Closed-loop stability is proved using the Lyapunov stability theory.
Findings
Closed-loop stability is proved using the Lyapunov stability theory. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method in damping chaotic oscillations of power system, eliminating control signal chattering and also less control effort in comparison with the methods considered in previous literatures.
Originality/value
Main contributions of the paper are as follows: the chaotic behavior of power systems with two uncertainty parameters and tracking reference signal for the control of generator angle and the controller signal are discussed; designing sliding mode control based on a fuzzy supervisor in order to practically implement for the first time; while the generator speed is constant, the proposed controller will enable the power system to go in any desired trajectory for generator angle at first time; stability of the closed-loop sliding mode control based on the fuzzy supervisor system is proved using the Lyapunov stability theory; simulation of the proposed controller shows that the chattering is low control signal.
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Gan Zhan, Zhihua Chen, Zhenyu Zhang, Jigang Zhan, Wentao Yu and Jiehao Li
This study aims to address the issue of random movement and non coordination between docking mechanisms and locking mechanisms, and proposes a comprehensive dynamic docking…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to address the issue of random movement and non coordination between docking mechanisms and locking mechanisms, and proposes a comprehensive dynamic docking control architecture that integrates perception, planning, and motion control.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, the proposed dynamic docking control architecture uses laser sensors and a charge-coupled device camera to perceive the pose of the target. The sensor data are mapped to a high-dimensional potential field space and fused to reduce interference caused by detection noise. Next, a new potential function based on multi-dimensional space is developed for docking path planning, which enables the docking mechanism based on Stewart platform to rapidly converge to the target axis of the locking mechanism, which improves the adaptability and terminal docking accuracy of the docking state. Finally, to achieve precise tracking and flexible docking in the final stage, the system combines a self-impedance controller and an impedance control algorithm based on the planned trajectory.
Findings
Extensive simulations and experiments have been conducted to validate the effectiveness of the dynamic docking system and its control architecture. The results indicate that even if the target moves randomly, the system can successfully achieve accurate, stable and flexible dynamic docking.
Originality/value
This research can provide technical guidance and reference for docking task of unmanned vehicles under the ground conditions. It can also provide ideas for space docking missions, such as space simulator docking.