High Gear Research Articles

A Study on the Antecedent Grouping Pattern of ESG Decoupling in New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Companies

This study explores the decoupling phenomenon of listed companies in the new energy vehicle manufacturing category in terms of ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) by using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and necessity condition analysis (NCA) methods, and identifies four different groupings. These groupings reveal the complexity and diversity of firms' ESG performance and disclosure, including high gearing and low environmental commitment, high management compensation and low social responsibility, high media attention and selective disclosure, and high market competition and inadequate governance. The results of the study show that financial pressure, management incentives, media attention and market competition all significantly affect firms' ESG behavior. Based on this, policy and management recommendations are proposed, such as strengthening the regulation of ESG disclosure, incorporating ESG performance assessment in executive incentives, and balancing short-term financial goals with long-term sustainable development. Although this study reveals the complexity of ESG decoupling in new energy automobile manufacturing firms, the limitations of data source, sample scope and methodology still exist. Future research should expand the sample scope, conduct dynamic analysis, and synthesize multiple methods to deepen the understanding of corporate ESG decoupling behavior and provide scientific guidance for management and policy making.

Defect diagnosis of high contact ratio spur gear system with increasing level of fault

Breakage of tooth is common in power transmission gear systems with continuous running. Model of a system (virtual prototype) serves as a tool for generating large amount of data and can replace expensive experimentation. Dependability of a model depends on the purpose for which the data is generated. Two models of spur gear system are considered in this work: (1) block diagram-based planer kinematics model of spur gear system developed in Simulink environment which does not consider the support and torsional effects and (2) detailed CAD based multibody dynamics model (includes bearings, drive, coupling, connecting rod and supports) that considers backlash, axial and torsional effects developed using MBS ADAMS software. A custom-made high contact ratio gear system is fabricated for experiments. The time and frequency domain characteristics of experimental and simulated signals are compared to draw the conclusions of fault related symptom of the systems with increasing level of faults and the utility of models.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYEE STRESS MANAGEMENT ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger – whether it’s real or imagined – the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or- flight” reaction, or the stress response. The present study has been focused in to identify the reasons of employee stress and symptoms of the stress. It has also focused on to analyze whether the management is providing an adequate training facilities to their workers. The purpose of the study is also to identify whether the workers are able to manage their time in their job. KEY WORDS : job, management, training, stress, symptoms.

Efficiency of high speed spur gears with an isotropic superfinishing

Efficiency of high speed spur gears with an isotropic superfinishing

Development of a Prediction Model for Specific Fuel Consumption in Rotary Tillage Based on Actual Operation

Tractor fuel consumption has typically been predicted using indoor test results under specific conditions. This study analyzes the factors affecting fuel consumption during rotary tillage in actual fields and develops a prediction model. The test field was divided into sections using a grid method, and rotary tillage operations were performed to measure various parameters, including soil strength, tractor’s transmission and PTO gear stages, tillage pitch, travel speed, engine and PTO shaft torque and speed, and fuel consumption. Pearson correlation identified variables affecting specific fuel consumption, and regression analysis was used to develop a prediction model. The model’s accuracy was analyzed using the coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE), and it was compared with the ASABE’s fuel consumption prediction model. The test results showed that higher transmission and PTO gear stages, and tillage pitch decreased specific fuel consumption, while soil strength had no significant effect. Thus, operating at higher gear and PTO stages within suitable conditions enhances energy efficiency in rotary tillage. Statistical analysis showed that specific fuel consumption significantly correlated with tractor travel speed, PTO shaft power, and PTO shaft speed. The prediction model, including these variables, had the highest accuracy with R2 of 0.91 and RMSE of 0.011 L/kW·h. The developed prediction model showed significantly improved accuracy compared to the ASABE model, indicating that it can predict specific fuel consumption based on key operational variables in actual rotary tillage operations.

Modeling Method of Meshing Stiffness of High Speed Spur Gears

As one of the most important dynamic excitation sources, the gear time-varying mesh stiffness is the key parameter of gear system dynamic model. So how to calculate the gear mesh stiffness accurately is of great importance. Based on Euler beam theory, this paper proposes a primitive calculation algorithm (PCA) to calculate the time-varying mesh stiffness of spur gears. A simplified gear model is developed based on nonlinear strain-displacement relationships, and a finite element program is used to simulate the gear's meshing stiffness. The rationality of this method was verified through finite element analysis. The results indicate that mesh stiffness plays a crucial role in controlling mesh deformation. In view of this, this study lays a theoretical foundation for further analysis of the vibration and noise of gears.

Analysis of the tooth-root stress of external spur gears with high effective contact ratio

For spur gears with contact ratio close to 2, the extension of the contact interval resulting from loaded tooth deflections and local contact deformations may result in an effective contact ratio above 2. In these cases, the load is transmitted by at least two tooth-pairs, the maximum load and tooth-root stress decrease, and therefore the calculation methods of the gear rating Standards ISO and AGMA provide very conservative results. In this work, two models are applied to the calculation of the tooth-root stress of load-induced high contact ratio external gears: (i) an analytic model of load sharing, based on the minimum energy method, and (ii) a finite element model, which validates the results obtained from the previous model. Obtained values of the stress are compared with those provided by ISO and AGMA rating methods, which do not account for the stress reduction due to the higher contact ratio. A new modification coefficient is proposed to correct these conservative values, which allows the AGMA and ISO geometry factors to remain as no load-dependent factors and keep their actual calculation methods and significance.

Effects of cooling vest and personal protective equipment removal on thermoregulation in wildland firefighters during progressive thermal loads.

Wildland firefighters (WFFs) regularly face demanding physical and environmental conditions during their duties, such as high ambient temperatures, challenging terrains, heavy equipment and protective gear. These conditions can strain thermoregulatory responses, leading to increased fatigue and posing risks to their health and safety. This study examined the effectiveness of two cooling interventions during physical activity in hot environments. Eight active male WFFs participated, comparing the effects of wearing a cooling vest (VEST) and personal protective equipment removal (PASSIVE) against a control condition (PPE). Participants walked on a treadmill at a speed of 6 km·h-1 for approximately 75-min under hot conditions (30°C and 30% relative humidity). Incremental slope increases were introduced every 15 min after the initial 20 min of activity, with 5-min passive recovery between each increment. Physiological and perceptual parameters were monitored throughout the protocol. Significant main effects (p < 0.05) were observed in skin temperature (36.3 ± 0.2, 36.2 ± 0.4 and 35.4 ± 0.6°C in PPE, PASSIVE and VEST, respectively), physiological strain index (5.2 ± 0.4, 5.6 ± 1.1 and 4.3 ± 1.4 in PPE, PASSIVE and VEST) and thermal sensation (6.6 ± 0.6, 6.4 ± 0.7 and 5.3 ± 0.7 in PPE, PASSIVE, and VEST). However, no significant effects of the cooling strategies were observed on heart rate, gastrointestinal temperature or performance. Despite the observed effects on physiological responses, neither cooling strategy effectively mitigated thermal strain in WFFs under the experimental conditions tested.

Variable gearing at the ankle during walking in adults and young children: implications for foot development and evolution

Introduction: The human foot has evolved over the past seven million years from a relatively mobile, grasping appendage to a highly derived structure with a heel pad and longitudinal arch that can absorb shock at heel strike and weight-bearing yet also function as a powerful lever at toe-off. It has been proposed that the modern human foot evolved to allow our species to use “variable gearing” during walking and running. In this model, the gears of the human foot are defined relative to the ankle center of rotation as R, the distance from the ground reaction resultant vector, and r, the distance from the calf muscle vector. The gear ratio defines the torque generated to propel the body or stretch the triceps surae muscles. We test the hypothesis that variable gearing is associated with modern human pedal anatomy and a heel-to-toe rollover that allows a shift from “low gear” to “high gear” during stance.Methods: Using force plate and video analysis, we examined variable gearing in adults and children engaging in adult heel strike (AHS = 35), flat foot contact (FFC = 39), or initial heel contact (IHC = 26).Results and Discussion: Our hypothesis was partly supported. Although variable gearing was observed in IHC steps and was greater than in FFC steps, it was not as developed as in AHS steps. This may be related to anatomical and motor control differences between juvenile and adult feet, suggesting that adult anatomy, including a high arch, and neural control are critical for full use of variable gearing and that this feature would have evolved in later hominins around two million years ago with the appearance of a fully modern foot.

Analytical model of meshing stiffness, load sharing, and transmission error for internal spur gears with profile modification

The influence of the teeth geometry on the load distribution, transmission error, and meshing stiffness of internal spur gears is very similar to that of external gears. Therefore, the formulation of the models for strength and dynamic calculations for internal and external gears is also similar. However, the internal gears have usually greater values of the contact ratio, frequently above 1.8, even 1.9. In these cases, the lengthening of the contact interval due to the elastic deflections of the teeth may result in an effective contact ratio greater than 2, with the subsequent changes in the load sharing and transmission error. These changes are not properly described by the theoretical models for high contact ratio spur gears. In this paper, a model of load sharing, quasi-static transmission error, and time-varying meshing stiffness for internal spur gears with profile modification is presented, which has been applied to low contact ratio internal gears which, due to the transmitted load, become high contact ratio internal gears. The influence of the variations of the transmitted load on the load capacity is also studied.

Development and application of high strength gears

Development and application of high strength gears

Determining the Gear Design Parameters Which Have Strong Correlation with Gear Volume and Contact Ratio for Helical Gear Design Optimization

The market has a significant demand for low-cost, compact size, extended fatigue life and high load-carrying capacity helical gears. One way to manufacture such gears is by minimizing gear volume and maximizing contact ratio. Most researchers focus on gear design optimization, but minimal study has been conducted to identify design variables that significantly impact gear volume and contact ratio. Hence, it is crucial to determine gear design parameters that strongly correlate with gear volume and contact ratio beforehand. A single-stage helical gear train of local electric multiple units (EMU) is used as the gear model, and the calculations are done based on ISO 6336. Seven parameters have been chosen as independent variables; module, number of teeth of pinion, gear ratio, helix angle, tooth thickness factor, normal pressure angle and addendum factor. Graphs of total gear volume and contact ratio against independent variables are plotted to examine their relationship. The results indicate that normal module, number of teeth of the pinion, and gear ratio strongly correlate with the total gear volume. Meanwhile, the number of teeth of pinion, helix angle, tooth thickness factor, normal pressure angle and addendum factor strongly correlate with contact ratio. Therefore, these design parameters must be considered to improve the accuracy of the gear design optimization model, which aims to optimize gear volume and contact ratio.

A study on the influencing factors of corporate digital transformation: empirical evidence from Chinese listed companies

In an era where digital technology is reshaping business landscapes, understanding the factors that drive corporate digital transformation is essential. In this paper we explore these influencing factors, focusing on Chinese A-share listed companies from 2007 to 2021. Our approach involved a comprehensive analysis of multiple variables through regression techniques to determine their impact on digital transformation. The findings reveal the drive for reform in the digital transformation endeavours of enterprises. Notably, companies with higher gearing, overhead, and accounts receivable ratios exhibit a stronger inclination towards digital transformation. Conversely, enterprises in monopolistic industries and those at the inception stage of their life cycle show less propensity for such transformation. The findings of this research not only shed light on the strategic decisions behind digital transformation in response to financial and competitive challenges but also provide actionable insights for policymakers and business strategists. This study underscores the importance of contextualizing digital transformation efforts within the unique framework of industry characteristics and company development phases.

Out of a Crisis Comes Resilience: Community School Coordinators Work Through the Pandemic to Generate Social Capital in Baltimore’s Neighborhoods

The global pandemic was traumatic for everyone, and it revealed the vast inequity in public services to which people have access. Fortunately, community schools had been coordinating services to meet the needs of their families prior to the pandemic, and when schools closed in 2020, they kicked into high gear to provide for those needs. This paper reports on interviews with 15 community school coordinators in Baltimore conducted at the end of the pandemic period to find out how they went about meeting community needs. Findings indicate that coordinators played a crucial role in getting families’ basic needs (i.e. food, shelter, clothing) met, but they also built trusting relationships, generating social capital in their neighborhoods set in racially segregated neighborhoods as a result of decades of redlining and policies meant to isolate Black communities. In the end, this paper argues that community school coordinators need more support to convert the social capital into further advocacy alongside the families with whom they work.

Оцінка економічної ефективності оптимізації трансмісії пасажирських автобусів типу Setra S 417

The creation and implementation of technologies aimed at increasing fuel efficiency is becoming the focus of attention of car manufacturers. This may involve improving engines, using less dense materials to build cars, developing efficient transmissions, and implementing alternative energy sources. Changing the gear ratio of the main gear affects the force and speed of rotation of the car's wheels. When reducing the gear ratio (using a higher gear), the torque increases, but the speed of rotation of the wheels, which is used to overcome large obstacles or climb, decreases. Conversely, increasing the gear ratio (using a lower gear) decreases torque but increases wheel speed, resulting in higher speeds on flat surfaces. The effect of changing the gear ratio on fuel performance can be a bit complex. Basically, using a lower gear ratio (higher gear) can help save fuel at high speeds or when driving on level roads, because the engine can run more efficiently at lower rpm. However, in mountain conditions or when driving at low speeds, when more torque is needed, using a higher gear can result in more fuel consumption. The article proposes the reconstruction of the transmission, by replacing the gears of the main transmission, in order to change the gear ratio of the transmission of the Setra S 417 type passenger bus. The vehicle under study is operated at the "TRAVELBUS TERNOPIL" transport enterprise The traction-speed calculation of a bus with a unified transmission was carried out, the fuel-economical characteristic was calculated, and a reduction in the average consumption of fuel and lubricants was established. The effectiveness of the conducted unification was tested in different directions, and it was established that the greatest efficiency was achieved on the expressway. Such unification is not advisable on routes with mountainous terrain.

Fundamental study on estimation of tooth contact area based on combined image from temperature monitor images of tooth surface with a high-speed-camera thermography and on meshing vibration for high reduction ratio hypoid gear with a three-tooth pinion

Fundamental study on estimation of tooth contact area based on combined image from temperature monitor images of tooth surface with a high-speed-camera thermography and on meshing vibration for high reduction ratio hypoid gear with a three-tooth pinion

An Analysis of Time-Varying Meshing Stiffness of High Contact Ratio Gears Considering a High-Order Modification Curve

An Analysis of Time-Varying Meshing Stiffness of High Contact Ratio Gears Considering a High-Order Modification Curve

Msqrob2PTM: Differential Abundance and Differential Usage Analysis of MS-Based Proteomics Data at the Posttranslational Modification and Peptidoform Level

In the era of open-modification search engines, more posttranslational modifications than ever can be detected by LC-MS/MS-based proteomics. This development can switch proteomics research into a higher gear, as PTMs are key in many cellular pathways important in cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and aging. However, despite these advances in modification identification, statistical methods for PTM-level quantification and differential analysis have yet to catch up. This absence can partly be explained by statistical challenges inherent to the data, such as the confounding of PTM intensities with its parent protein abundance. Therefore, we have developed msqrob2PTM, a new workflow in the msqrob2 universe capable of differential abundance analysis at the PTM and at the peptidoform level. The latter is important for validating PTMs found as significantly differential. Indeed, as our method can deal with multiple PTMs per peptidoform, there is a possibility that significant PTMs stem from one significant peptidoform carrying another PTM, hinting that it might be the other PTM driving the perceived differential abundance. Our workflows can flag both differential peptidoform abundance (DPA) and differential peptidoform usage (DPU). This enables a distinction between direct assessment of differential abundance of peptidoforms (DPA) and differences in the relative usage of peptidoforms corrected for corresponding protein abundances (DPU). For DPA, we directly model the log2-transformed peptidoform intensities, while for DPU, we correct for parent protein abundance by an intermediate normalization step which calculates the log2-ratio of the peptidoform intensities to their summarized parent protein intensities. We demonstrated the utility and performance of msqrob2PTM by applying it to datasets with known ground truth, as well as to biological PTM-rich datasets. Our results show that msqrob2PTM is on par with, or surpassing the performance of, the current state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, msqrob2PTM is currently unique in providing output at the peptidoform level.

DETERMINATION OF POWER LOSSES DUE TO PERIODIC COMPRESSION-EXPANSION OF THE OIL-AIR MIXTURE BETWEEN THE TEETH OF GEARS. PART 1. MATHEMATICAL MODEL

The simultaneous contact of two pairs of teeth between their active profiles creates a closed volume of the oil-air mixture. Reducing this volume leads to the occurrence of such a negative phenomenon as periodic compression and expansion of the oil-air mixture in volume. At high gear rotation speeds, a significant increase in the pressure of the oil-air mixture is observed and, as a result, additional vibration of the gearing occurs. The oil-air mixture outflow rate can reach the speed of sound, which causes additional noise during gear operation, and at high rotational speeds, a hydraulic shock occurs in the space closed between the pinion and gear teeth, resulting in cavitation. By representing the helical gear as a set of spur gears displaced relative to each other in the tangential direction, it simplified the mathematical model to describe thermodynamic processes in a series of isolated cavities. The following variants are considered: a) the first cavity in the direction of engagement is connected to the environment on one side and to the next second cavity on the other side; b) some i-th cavity is connected to the cavities i - 1 and i + 1, respectively; c) the edge cavity N is connected to the previous cavity N - 1 and the environment. Thus, a mathematical model of the periodic compression-expansion of the oil-air mixture in the space closed between the teeth is presented, which considers the cross-sectional areas of the axial and radial flows of the oil-air mixture, the ambient pressure of the space closed between the teeth, the velocity of the radial flow of the oil-air mixture, the instantaneous volume of the elementary cavity closed between the teeth, and the current pressure in the cavity. Keywords: power losses, oil-air mixture, periodic compression-expansion, toothed gears, mathematical model, hydrodynamic model

The importance of experimental airframe noise research

Numerical methods progress rapidly in terms of capabilities and efficiency. Accordingly, one could conclude that experimental activities will sooner or later disappear. In this context the paper will exemplify the use of numerical methods for the proper design and conduct of wind tunnel experiments. Examples will cover the research topics on high lift system's aero-acoustic and landing gear noise. Finally, the paper will describe the development of selected noise reduction concepts from their first experimental assessment in wind tunnels up to being flight tested.