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1 – 10 of over 4000
Article
Publication date: 14 August 2019

Jin-yuan Qian, Zan Wu, Qian-Kun Zhang, Zhi-Jiang Jin and Bengt Ake Sunden

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of dimple geometries and arrangements on the heat transfer enhancement in a dimple jacketed heat exchanger.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of dimple geometries and arrangements on the heat transfer enhancement in a dimple jacketed heat exchanger.

Design/methodology/approach

For the purpose of this paper, with the experimental validated numerical model, this paper carries out numerical simulations of both single dimples with different geometries and the whole dimple jacketed heat exchanger with different dimple arrangements. For a single dimple, its secondary vortex flow, temperature differences and the pressure drop performance for different geometries are analyzed. For the whole dimple jacketed heat exchanger, the heat transfer and pressure drop performances are investigated by comparing the no dimple, triangular and rectangular dimple arrangements.

Findings

Results show that dimples can improve the heat transfer efficiency compared with conventional jacketed heat exchanger, and specific geometries and arrangement of dimples for better heat transfer performance are figured out.

Originality/value

This paper considers both dimple geometries and arrangements, which can be useful for further applications in specific integrated devices or similar applications.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 29 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 August 2023

Huosong Xia, Qian Zhang, Justin Zuopeng Zhang and Leven J. Zheng

This paper aims to investigate investors' willingness to use robo-advisors from customers' perspectives and analyzes the factors that drive them to use robo-advisors, including…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate investors' willingness to use robo-advisors from customers' perspectives and analyzes the factors that drive them to use robo-advisors, including perceived usefulness and emotional response.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors extend the Cognition-Affect-Conation (CAC) framework to the behavioral domain of robo-advisor users on financial technology platforms and conduct an empirical study based on 248 valid questionnaires.

Findings

The authors find two types of factors driving the willingness to use robo-advisors: perceived usefulness, trust and perceived risk as external driving forces and investor sentiment as an internal driving force. Trust has a significant positive effect on willingness to use, and arousal in emotional response plays a mediating role between perceived usefulness and willingness to use.

Originality/value

This research provides valuable insights for financial institutions to engage in robo-advisor innovation from customers' perspectives.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 123 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 February 2022

Qian Zhang, Bee Lan Oo and Benson Teck-Heng Lim

The ability of construction firms to become more environmentally conscious and socially responsible for their business activities has been touted as the key driver for improved…

1178

Abstract

Purpose

The ability of construction firms to become more environmentally conscious and socially responsible for their business activities has been touted as the key driver for improved individual firms' competitiveness. This study explores the key dimensions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and their impact factors among construction firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the institutional, stakeholders and self-determination theories, this study proposed a conceptual framework of CSR implementation. For its validation, data were collected from 90 top-tier construction firms using an online survey and analyzed via a two-pronged factor analysis method.

Findings

The empirical results demonstrate that the CSR practices of construction firms include eight key dimensions, e.g. shareholders' interests, government commitment and CSR institutional arrangement. The three key groups of impact factor of CSR implementation are (1) identified factors (i.e. contractors' perceived importance of CSR practices); (2) external institutional factors (i.e. coercive and normative factors and mimetic factors); and (3) intrinsic factors (i.e. strategic business direction, resource and capability and organizational culture).

Practical implications

The research findings inform the practitioners about how to enact, manage and improve firms' socially responsible goals so as to fulfill their key stakeholders' requirements and expectations and thus enhance their legitimacy in construction businesses.

Originality/value

This study contributes to CSR knowledge by identifying and empirically demonstrating valid measurements of the key dimensions of practices and impact factors toward CSR implementation by construction firms.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 August 2021

Lili Qian, Chunhui Zheng, Jinwei Wang, María de los Ángeles Pérez Sánchez, Eduardo Parra López and Hanliang Li

This study aims to explore how tourists construct destination images in the context of dark tourism and reveals the relationships between on-site experience, destination image and…

1849

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore how tourists construct destination images in the context of dark tourism and reveals the relationships between on-site experience, destination image and behavioural intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The earthquake-ravaged county town of Beichuan in China was chosen as the study site. The study collected 298 viable questionnaires from tourists. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was performed to explore the relationships between the variables of on-site experience, destination image and behavioural intention.

Findings

The study identified four dimensions of dark tourism destination image (TDI) from its attribute and functional perspective. It found that “image of memorial place” and “image of educational place” were the most perceptual images and positively related with most subdimensions of on-site experience and behavioural intention. “Image of leisure place” and “image of landscapes of fear” were less perceived by tourists and negatively related with some subdimensions of on-site experience and behavioural intention.

Originality/value

To our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to explore the complex mechanisms of dark TDI formation with the framework of “on-site experiences–destination images–behavioural intentions”. By identifying tourists’ most and least perceptual images and their effective antecedents and consequences help to reconcile and manage the controversial and contradictory images of a dark tourism destination.

摘要

目标

本文探讨了游客如何建构黑色旅游目的地形象, 进一步研究了游客现场体验、目的地形象、行为意愿之间的作用关系。

设计/方法

以汶川地震重灾区北川老县城遗址为案例地, 本研究收集了游客结构化问卷298份, 采用偏最小二乘结构方程模型(PLS-SEM)分析了游客现场体验、目的地形象和行为意愿各维度之间的作用关系。

研究发现

从目的地属性和功能角度, 本文区分了黑色旅游目的地形象四个维度。研究发现“纪念地形象”和“教育地形象”是游客感知最强的两大维度, 与绝大多数游客现场体验和行为意愿的维度呈显著正向影响关系。 “休闲地形象”和“恐惧景观形象”, 游客感知较弱, 与现场体验和行为意向的一些维度呈负向影响关系。

创新/价值

本文首次利用“现场体验-目的地形象-行为意愿”这一研究框架, 揭示黑色旅游目的地形象的复杂生成机制。通过识别游客感知最强和最弱的形象维度, 揭示其前因与后果, 有助于调和与管理有争议和矛盾的黑色旅游目的地形象。

Propósito

Este estudio explora cómo los turistas construyen la imagen del destino en el contexto del turismo oscuro, revelando las relaciones entre experiencias en el lugar, imágenes del destino e intenciones de comportamiento.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

El terremoto que devastó la ciudad del condado de Beichuan en China fue elegido lugar de estudio por sus peculiaridades para el desarrollo del destino oscuro. El estudio recopiló 298 cuestionarios viables de turistas. Se planteo un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (PLS-SEM) para explorar las relaciones entre las variables de experiencias en el lugar, imágenes de destino e intenciones de comportamiento.

Hallazgos

El estudio identificó cuatro dimensiones de la imagen del destino turístico oscuro desde su atributo y perspectiva funcional. De igual forma, se encontró que la “imagen del lugar conmemorativo” y la “imagen del lugar educativo” eran las imágenes más perceptivas y estaban relacionadas positivamente con la mayoría de los subdimensiones de las experiencias en el lugar e intenciones de comportamiento. Los turistas percibieron menos la “imagen de un lugar de ocio” y la “imagen de paisajes de miedo” y se relacionaron negativamente con algunos subdimensiones de las experiencias en el lugar e intención de comportamiento.

Originalidad/valor

Hasta donde sabemos, este estudio es el primer intento de explorar el complejo mecanismo en la formación de TDIs oscuros con el marco de “experiencias en el lugar- imágenes de destino – intenciones de comportamiento”. Al identificar las imágenes más o menos perceptivas de los turistas, y sus antecedentes y consecuencias efectivos, ayuda a conciliar y gestionar las imágenes controvertidas y contradictorias de un destino turístico oscuro.

Article
Publication date: 14 September 2022

Qian Zhang, Bee Lan Oo and Benson Teck-Heng Lim

The interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become burgeoning in the construction industry as firms are under constant pressure from socially conscious stakeholders…

Abstract

Purpose

The interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become burgeoning in the construction industry as firms are under constant pressure from socially conscious stakeholders to demonstrate their efforts to address various CSR issues. This study aims to unveil the key practices and impact factors (KPIFs) of CSR implementation in construction firms and the interrelationships among different key impact factors toward attaining CSR practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Mobilizing the integrated institutional, stakeholder and self-determination theories, a theoretical framework was first developed to elaborate the potential inter-relationships among the key impact factors toward CSR implementation. Data were collected from extra-grade contractors through an online questionnaire survey and was then analyzed by the partial least square structural equation modeling method.

Findings

The results show that construction firms' CSR practices could be classified into eight distinct key dimensions, e.g. shareholders' interests, government commitment and environment preservation. It is found that three groups of key impact factors – external institutional factors (especially coercive-normative factors), intrinsic factors (especially strategic business direction and organizational culture) and identified factors (i.e. the perceived importance of CSR practices) – have statistically significant positive impacts on most key dimensions of CSR practices.

Practical implications

The research findings have implications for top management to better understand CSR implementation, thereby helping them secure legitimacy to survive and advance in the competitive construction businesses.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the theoretical body of knowledge in CSR by modeling and empirically demonstrating the influence mechanism of CSR implementation in construction within an integrated model.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2020

Zhenrong Zheng, Wei Zhi, Kezhu Mao, Qian Zhang and Lijuan Luo

The purpose of this paper is to study the ablative behavior of the silicone resin-coated carbon fabric (coated fabric) that will swell significantly during ablation.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the ablative behavior of the silicone resin-coated carbon fabric (coated fabric) that will swell significantly during ablation.

Design/methodology/approach

The ablation experiments of three coated fabrics were conducted by quartz lamp radiant. Based on the experimental analysis, a numerical model was proposed for the coated fabrics to study the ablative process in term of the energy balance, mass conservation and thermal decomposition equations.

Findings

Results showed that the average relative errors between the simulated temperatures and experimental values of back surfaces of coated fabric 1, 2 and 3 were 10.01, 7.53 and 7.32%, respectively. The average density of silicone resin of coated fabric 1 was reduced by 47.96%, and the closer the distance from the heated surface was, the more the density decreased. The thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of silicone resin of coated fabric 1 increased with time. Before 50 s, each decomposition rate curve showed an inflection point, at which the silicone resin decomposed most intensely.

Research limitations/implications

Based on experimental observations, the ablative behavior of the material with fixed expansion layer was simulated. In the further research, the moving expansion layer could be considered.

Originality/value

This paper provides the theoretical basis to evaluate the effectiveness of thermal protection materials that will swell during ablation.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 50 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 16 October 2017

Yingfeng Zhang, Lin Zhao and Cheng Qian

The huge demand for fresh goods has stimulated lots of research on the perishable food supply chain. The characteristics of perishable food and the cross-regional transportation…

12632

Abstract

Purpose

The huge demand for fresh goods has stimulated lots of research on the perishable food supply chain. The characteristics of perishable food and the cross-regional transportation have brought many challenges to the operation models of perishable food supply chain. The purpose of this paper is to address these challenges based on the real-time data acquired by the Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Design/methodology/approach

IoT and the modeling of the Supply Hub in Industrial Parks were adopted in the perishable food supply chain.

Findings

A conceptual model was established for the IoT-enabled perishable food supply chain with two-echelon supply hubs. The performance of supply chain has improved when implementing the proposed model, as is demonstrated by a case study.

Originality/value

By our model, the supply hubs which act as the dominators of the supply chain can respond to the real-time information captured from the operation processes of an IoT-enabled supply chain, thus to provide public warehousing and logistic services.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 117 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2017

Qian Zhang, Chao Wu, Han Qiao and Shouyang Wang

This paper is dedicated to answer two questions: What is the business model of interactive television (iTV) ad at China’s Spring Festival Gala; and Why the business model of iTV…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper is dedicated to answer two questions: What is the business model of interactive television (iTV) ad at China’s Spring Festival Gala; and Why the business model of iTV ad creates different commercial values for different firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The two questions can be summarized as what and why problems; so, this paper adopts the method of the qualitative case study. For the first question, this paper uses the method of system activity diagram to design the business model. For the second question, this paper proposes a new analytical method – voice, incentive and convenience (VIC) model, which is used to analyze the commercial value of iTV ad. The proposal of VIC model is based on Wang et al.’s Iceberg theory.

Findings

The effect of interactive advertising is significantly better than that of traditional advertising, and interactive advertising is becoming the first choice for marketers. The business model innovation of iTV ad brings new business opportunities. In addition, the larger the area of the triangle surrounded by the three elements of VIC, the higher the commercial value of iTV ad.

Originality/value

Current business model studies focus on business model definitions and innovations, whereas the studies on business model evaluation and its influential factors are rare. A new analytical model named VIC is proposed. It explores the effect of VIC on the commercial value of iTV ad and provides a reference for the quantitative empirical analysis. The combination of activity system theory and VIC model contributes to the understanding of the explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge of iTV ad business model. This framework can be used to guide TV stations and stakeholders for business model innovations and optimizations.

Details

Chinese Management Studies, vol. 11 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-614X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 May 2017

Benfu Wang, Decai Ren, Qian Zhang, Xuduo Bai and Xiankai Jiang

This paper aims to investigate the electrochromic (EC) properties of poly(triphenylamine alkyl ether) and poly(triphenylamine aryl ether) in two different electrolyte solution to…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the electrochromic (EC) properties of poly(triphenylamine alkyl ether) and poly(triphenylamine aryl ether) in two different electrolyte solution to study the resistive switching behaviour of acid-doped poly(triphenylamine alkyl ether).

Design/methodology_appach

By Buchwald–Hartwig coupling reaction, two novel poly[N-p-phenoxy-N-[4-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy]triphenylamineandpoly[N,N-bis(4-phenoxy)]triphenylamine were synthesized from 4-phenoxyaniline and two dibromo aromatic compounds, 1,2-bis[β,β′-(p-bromophenoxy)ethoxy]ethane and bis(4-bromophenyl) ether.

Findings

Poly(triphenylamine alkyl ether) displayed excellent EC characteristics, with a coloration change from a colourless neutral state to light blue and red oxidized states, while poly(triphenylamine aryl ether) showed coloration a change from a colourless neutral state to light blue oxidized state in tetrabutylammonium perchlorate electrolyte solution. Moreover, p-toluenesulfonic acid-doped poly(triphenylamine alkyl ether) exhibited a non-volatile bistable resistive switching behaviour with a high high-conductivity/low-conductivity ratio of up to 104, long retention time exceeding 2.5 × 103 s and the switching threshold voltage was also lower than −2V.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, the non-volatile bistable resistive switching behaviour of acid-dopedpoly(triphenylamine alkyl ether) was in accordance with the molar ratio of 1:1. The effects of different molar ratios remained to be studied.

Practical implications

Poly(triphenylamine ether)s may find optoelectronic applications as new EC and resistive switching materials.

Originality/value

The effects of alkyl and aryl ether structures in the main chain on the EC and resistive switching behaviour of triphenylamine unit have not yet been reported.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 46 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 December 2019

Liyan Yang, Yuan Jiang, Wei Zhang, Qian Zhang and Hao Gong

The purpose of this paper is to verify and extend the application of the policy acceptance model (PAM) in the field of green behavior. Under the PAM framework, the authors develop…

1082

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to verify and extend the application of the policy acceptance model (PAM) in the field of green behavior. Under the PAM framework, the authors develop and empirically examine on how employee perception of corporate green policy (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness) increases the acceptance of corporate green policy, which further leads to two types of employee green behavior. The authors also test the moderating roles of moral reflectiveness and performance orientation on these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected complete survey data from 223 work professionals in this study. Multiple regression method was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results showed that there were significant positive impacts of two types of employee perceptions of corporate green policy (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness) on their attitudes toward corporate green policy. Second, this study reported positive relationships between employees’ attitudes toward corporate green policy and their two types of green behavior. Finally, supplemental analyses supported moderated mediation models, that is, moral reflectiveness and performance orientation, respectively, and moderated indirect effects of employee perceptions on green behaviors through attitude toward corporate green policy.

Research limitations/implications

The data came from a narrow demographic population, which restricts the generalizability of the findings and also raises questions about the specificity of green behaviors manifest in different industries. Besides, this study used cross-sectional, self-reported data, which limits our ability to draw causal conclusions.

Practical implications

Companies can shape employee perceptions regarding the usefulness and ease of corporate green policy to induce and consolidate employees’ task-related and proactive green behaviors.

Social implications

This research will help companies to pay more attention to employees’ reflections and attitudes toward green policies, thus effectively promoting employees’ green behavior in the workplace. These actions will further promote the green development of the economy and society.

Originality/value

The authors extend the PAM framework to the area of green behavior. The PAM is applied to a more micro level of corporate green policy. Further, this paper points out that employees’ instrumental value (performance orientation) and moral trait (moral reflectiveness) moderate the impact of employees’ policy perceptions on their green behaviors.

Details

International Journal of Manpower, vol. 41 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7720

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 4000