Slack Adjuster Research Articles

The impact of big fund on the operational efficiency of semiconductor companies: Corporate social responsibility as a non-economic output

This study contributes to research on the total factor operational efficiency of the semiconductor company considering corporate social responsibility (CSR) by proposing a novel integer-valued nonparametric frontier method. This method adopts an endogenous directional distance function, which first selects the benchmark and then endogenously determines the directional vector. Avoiding the issue of non-integer slack adjustment increases the convenience of formulating incentive plans and calculating efficiency. We apply this method to the input–output data of 185 listed Chinese semiconductor companies from 2010 to 2022, considering integer-valued CSR as non-economic output. Global Malmquist productivity index analysis shows that the average total factor operational efficiency of companies that received investment from the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund (Big Fund) increased by 6.9%. Using the econometric technique, we verify that the total factor operational efficiency of semiconductor companies receiving Big Fund investment increased by 0.084 compared to those without Big Fund investment. Heterogeneity analysis showed that the effect of Big Fund was more significant in improving the total factor operational efficiency of state-owned, new, and non-integrated circuit semiconductor companies, implying the necessity of purposeful investment policies for the Big Fund.

Asymmetric slack contrastive learning for full use of feature information in image translation

Recently, contrastive learning has been proven to be powerful in cross-domain feature learning and has been widely used in image translation tasks. However, these methods often overlook the differences between positive and negative samples regarding model optimization ability and treat them equally. This weakens the feature representation ability of the generative models. In this paper, we propose a novel image translation model based on asymmetric slack contrastive learning. We design a new contrastive loss asymmetrically by introducing a slack adjustment factor. Theoretical analysis shows that it can adaptively optimize and adjust according to different positive and negative samples and significantly improve optimization efficiency. In addition, to better preserve local structural relationships during image translation, we constructed a regional differential structural consistency correction block using differential vectors. Comparative experiments were conducted using seven existing methods on five datasets. The results indicate that our method can maintain structural consistency between cross-domain images at a deeper level. Furthermore, it is more effective in establishing real image-domain mapping relations, resulting in higher-quality images being generated.

An optimization-based design approach for a novel self-adjuster using shear thickening fluid

Recently, the increasingly strict safety and emission regulations in the automotive industry drove the interest towards automatic length compensating devices, e.g., hydraulic lash adjusters (lower emission) and slack adjuster in brake systems (faster brake response). These devices have two crucial requirements: (a) be stiff during high load, while (b) be flexible in the released state to compensate for environmental effects such as wear and temperature difference. This study aims to use the advantageous properties of shear thickening fluids to develop a less complicated, cost-efficient design. The proposed design is modeled by a system of ordinary differential equations in which the effect of the non-Newtonian fluid flow is taken into account with a novel, simplified, semi-analytical flow rate-pressure drop relationship suitable for handling arbitrary rheology. The adjuster’s dimensions are determined with a multi-objective genetic algorithm based on the coupled solid-fluid mechanical model for six different shear thickening rheologies. The accuracy of the simplified flow model is verified by means of steady-state and transient CFD simulations for the optimal candidates. We have found that the dominating parameters of such devices are (a) the shear thickening region of the fluid rheology and (b) the gap sizes, while the piston diameters and the zero viscosity or the critical shear rate of the fluid have less effect. Based on the results, we give guidelines to design similar-length compensating devices.

Artificial neural network approach for air brake pushrod stroke prediction in heavy commercial road vehicles

In heavy commercial road vehicles, the air brake system is a critical vehicle safety system whose performance degradation increases the risk of accidents and hence requires periodic inspection and maintenance. The wear of brake pad lining and brake drum during operation leads to increase in the stroke of a component called pushrod whose ‘out-of-adjustment’ creates severe brake performance degradation. The fact that the driver does not receive a corresponding tactile feedback till it is too severe adds to the complexity of manual detection. Motivated by the increase in onboard sensing, electronics, and computation capabilities, this study proposes an artificial neural network–based approach to predict pushrod stroke based on measurement of brake chamber pressure. Here, a back propagation algorithm was used to train the multilayer feed-forward network. The effect of excessive pushrod stroke on vehicle braking response was first studied using a Hardware-in-Loop system that consists of brake system hardware and a commercial vehicle dynamics simulation software (IPG TruckMaker®). Experimental data collected from this system with manual slack adjuster and automatic slack adjuster have then been used to train and test the artificial neural network for pushrod stroke prediction. The performance of the prediction scheme has been tested over the entire range of brake operating conditions. The prediction error corresponding to manual slack adjuster was found to be within ±15% in 322 out of the entire test set of 328 instances (98.17%) and automatic slack adjuster within ±8% in all 57 test sets (100%). Statistical analysis based on confidence interval revealed a prediction error between −1.62% and −3.05% for manual slack adjuster and 0.43% and −1.62% for automatic slack adjuster for 99% confidence interval, which demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed prediction scheme.

Water Use Efficiency Improvement against a Backdrop of Expanding City Agglomeration in Developing Countries—A Case Study on Industrial and Agricultural Water Use in the Bohai Bay Region of China

Most city agglomerations of developing countries face water shortages and pollution due to population growth and industrial aggregation. To meet such water security challenges, policy makers need to evaluate water use efficiency at the regional or basin level because the prosperity of city agglomerations is indispensable to the sustainable development of the region or basin. To solve the issue, this paper adopts a non-directional distance function within the framework of environmental production technology to measure water use efficiency. Based on the distance between actual water use efficiency and the ideal efficiency, it calculates the potential reduction space of water input and pollutants by slack adjustment. Added to the Malmquist index, it forms a non-radial Malmquist water use performance index, which can be divided into technological change and technical efficiency change, to measure dynamic water use efficiency. Further, water use efficiency change is analyzed from the perspectives of technological improvement and institutional construction. Bohai Bay city agglomeration, a typical water-deficient city agglomeration in China, is taken as a case study, and data on water resource, environment, and economy from 2011 to 2014 have been used. In conclusion, there is much space for water use efficiency improvement on the whole. However, even having considered potential reduction space of water input and pollutant discharge under current environmental production technology, it is still not enough to support the city agglomeration’s sustainable development. To relieve current potential water safety hazards, not only technical improvement but also institution innovation for highly efficient water use should be kept accelerating in Bohai Bay region. In terms of urban water management in developing countries, the research conclusion is of theoretical and practical significance.

Research on Regional Energy Saving Potential Based on Nonparametric Radial Adjustment and Slack Adjustment

Research on Regional Energy Saving Potential Based on Nonparametric Radial Adjustment and Slack Adjustment

Determination of air brake adjustment from air pressure data

Continuing research in brake condition monitoring for vehicles equipped with air brakes considers the feasibility of using air pressure data to determine brake stroke, a vital parameter in determining the effectiveness of the total braking system. Recent statistics show there is an alarming number of vehicles operating with brakes that are out of adjustment even with the introduction and requirement of automatic slack adjustment in 1994. The importance of brake stroke information is thus highlighted. To address this problem, a mathematical model of an air brake chamber is developed and used to investigate parameter sensitivity. A method capable of indirectly determining brake stroke by examining air pressure data is formulated and its effectiveness is proven through simulation and testing.

Effectiveness of Shoulder Belts

To the Editor.— The greatest single automotive safety development to attenuate the carnage caravan of our highways is the three-point suspension, lap belt-shoulder harness. When properly used, it affords tremendous protection. A point of concern: I have noted a defect in the slack adjustment of the cross shoulder-chest strap in a large percentage of vehicles I have driven in the past two to three years. The harness locks are vehicleimpact actuated, and these devices apparently work well. But for the locked harness to be effective, it must be in close proximity to the chest. The slack reel was designed to allow people to move about and adjust instrument dials in greater comfort. If, when returning to the upright position, the slack in the shoulder strap is not automatically taken up, then this leaves approximately 13 to 20 cm of slack for forward travel of the torso. This can allow the