Industrial Strength Research Articles

The Source of K Fertilizer for Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Stem for Rammed Earth Walls

Industrial hemp, as a natural plant fiber, has received increased research attention recently. Potassium fertilization is one of the most important fertilizers for plant stem thickness, but how the formulation of K fertilizer influences stem morphology and stem tensile strength remains unclear. This study aims to examine the influence of K fertilizer sources on industrial hemp stem properties, with a specific focus on the fibers, to evaluate their potential applications as reinforcement material for stabilizing rammed earth in sustainable construction. A field experiment was set up with different K fertilizer types applied as pre-sowing fertilizer in the following doses: K0—control, K1—100 kg ha−1 KCl, and K2—100 kg ha−1 K2SO4. Different K fertilizations did not have significant influence on stem height, which was on average 71.2 cm, nor on stem diameter, which was on average 3.4 mm. Regarding the macronutrient content of the industrial hemp stem (N, P, and K), K fertilization treatment significantly influenced (p < 0.05) their accumulation. The N, P, and K content in the stem within fertilization treatment averaged 0.78, 0.72, and 1.26%, respectively. The average content of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin was not significantly different in relation to K fertilization treatments. In the stem, dry weight cellulose content varied from 57.8% (K0) to 59.0% (K1), hemicellulose from 11.0% (K2) to 11.6% (K0 and K1), and lignin from 10.2% (K2) to 10.5% (K0). The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the industrial hemp stem were non-homogenous within K fertilization treatments. The highest tensile strength (388.52 MPa) and Young’s modulus (32.09 GPa) were on K1 treatment. The lowest industrial hemp stem tensile strength was determined at K2 treatment (95.16 MPa), whereas stems in the control treatment had the lowest Young’s modulus (21.09 GPa). In the mixtures of hemp fibers with rammed earth, the higher compressive strength was determined on cubic samples than on cylindrical samples. This study contributes to the industrial hemp K fertilization of the newer genotypes, but there has been a lack of research in recent times. Since industrial hemp has great potential in various industry branches, this study also contributes to using fiber extracted from the stem in eco-friendly and renewable forms in mixtures with rammed earth.

Navigating the financial frontier: a case of investment decision-making in the wake of Reliance Industries Limited’s demerger

Learning outcomes This case study aims to equip students with the skills to evaluate the rationale behind a demerger decision, derive the enterprise value and equity value of the conglomerate using the discounted cash flow valuation modelling and assess the company’s value based on qualitative parameters using economy industry company analysis and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis. Case overview/synopsis This case study delves into the demerger of the financial services arm of Reliance Industries Limited into a separate unit named Jio Financial Services Limited. The independence of this unit is anticipated to enhance shareholder value and unlock the conglomerate discount. In light of these factors, a fundamental analysis of the firm is conducted to determine whether it presents a viable investment opportunity. Complexity academic level This case study is suitable for -graduate and postgraduate courses in financial management. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 1: Accounting and finance.

Optimization of Filling Material Ratio in Yellow Phosphorus Slag Mine.

Yellow phosphorus slag has been considered as a potential cement substitute for mine filling material due to its cementing activity; however, its slow setting and low early strength have limited broader use. This study investigates the grading, compactness, and strength of yellow phosphorus slag combined with tailing sand. Using yellow phosphorus slag as an aggregate, cement as a binder, and mixing tailing sand in different ratios, this study evaluates its feasibility as a coarse aggregate in mine backfill. The key findings are as follows. (1) The grading index of tailing sand was 0.5, aligning with Fuller grading, but it required mixing with coarse aggregates to enhance strength and reduce cement consumption. Yellow phosphorus slag, with a grading index of 0.97, does not match Fuller's curve and thus benefits from mixing with tailing sand. (2) For mixtures of waste rock and tailings, the 5:5 ratio aligned closely with Fuller's theory, showing optimal packing density and strength. Mixtures of yellow phosphorus slag and tailings at ratios of 3:7, 4:6, and 5:5 had R2 values of 0.73, 0.80, and 0.85, respectively, confirming reliable fit. The 5:5 mixture provided the best packing density and strength. (3) A new strength prediction model, accounting for aggregate, cement, and water effects, suggests that a 5:5 ratio with a 71% mass concentration and 1/7 ash-sand ratio meets industrial strength requirements. FLAC3D simulations indicated that cemented backfill reduces stress concentrations caused by excavation and supports stability during mining while also absorbing energy through compaction, creating favorable conditions for safe mining operations.

Indicators of Attracting Foreign Direct Investment in Developing Countries: Evidence from Vietnam

In today’s global economy, whether in advanced or emerging markets, the importance of being open to trade and investment is widely acknowledged as a key driver of economic growth. This economic openness is primarily demonstrated through the unrestricted exchange of goods and services as well as the free movement of international capital. While previous studies have investigated the effects of export-driven, import-driven, and capital-driven growth strategies, this research focuses on analyzing the impact of each indicator of the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). By utilizing a panel data model covering 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam from 2018 to 2022, this study explores the correlation between PCI, FDI, and economic expansion. Findings suggest that export-oriented growth policies can be more effective in fostering the development of Asian emerging economies than FDI-centric approaches. Nonetheless, FDI continues to be crucial for technology transfer, capital accumulation, and knowledge exchange in management. Regions with advanced economies are more appealing to FDI, while provinces with distinctive industrial strengths also attract foreign investment. To further boost FDI inflows, it is advised that the government streamline market entry procedures, reduce administrative and tax burdens, increase transparency, and promote fair competition. These measures are anticipated to improve the investment climate and enhance competitiveness on the global stage.

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Forces of Tourism Economic Resilience in Chinese Provinces

This study focuses on the resilience of tourism economies in Chinese provinces, exploring their spatiotemporal evolution and driving forces as a crucial prerequisite for promoting the high-quality development of China’s tourism industry. We construct a resilience evaluation index system from four dimensions: resistance resilience, recovery resilience, reshaping resilience, and development resilience, using provincial tourism data from 2012 to 2022. The study employs Moran’s Index, kernel density estimation, and GIS technology to investigate the differentiation characteristics, spatial evolution processes, and spatial agglomeration characteristics of provincial tourism economic resilience in China. Finally, the GeoDetector model is used to analyze the driving factors. The findings are as follows: (1) Over time, most provinces and cities in China have shown varying degrees of improvement in tourism economic resilience, with different changes observed across the four dimensions. (2) Spatially, significant differences exist between provinces, with better resilience in the east than in the west and in the south than in the north. (3) Regionally, while no polarization is observed, there is a distinct differentiation between high and low-value areas. (4) Regional linkages indicate the presence of interregional associations in China’s tourism economic resilience, with non-uniform distribution of cold and hot spots. (5) Key driving factors include per capita railway mileage, domestic tourism revenue, the number of travel agencies, and the number of employees in accommodation and catering. Under the backdrop of rapid tourism economic development, improving infrastructure construction and enhancing the comprehensive strength of the tourism industry is vital for boosting tourism economic resilience.

Tiny particles thermal motile in magnetized chemically reacting upper-convective Maxwell stagnation point fluid with radiation

The need to enhance industrial working fluid and material thermal strength for quality output of engineering and domestic devices, has increased diverse studies on non-Newtonian viscous fluid under different constraints. Various architectures and geometries have been considered for thermal propagation of fluid particles. As such, this study addresses thermal motility of tiny particles in magnetized chemically reacting upper-convective Maxwell stagnation point fluid with radiation owing to its usages. A partial-differential model is formulated under some certain assumptions and conditions, and with applicable similarity variables, a transformed invariant coupled ordinary-differential model is obtained. The solutions to the model are determined using Galerkin-weighted residual method. The computed outcomes are quantitatively tabulated and qualitatively demonstrated in graphs. The analysis revealed that the hydrodynamic bounding surface alongside with velocity profiles declines due to augmentation of the magnetic field and Deborah number terms.

Application of Selected Lean Manufacturing Tools to Improve Work Safety in the Construction Industry

Shaping safe and hygienic working conditions is the basic obligation of the employer. Employers are still looking for methods, tools, and solutions to improve work safety. The study reviews the literature on solutions aimed at improving occupational safety in construction. For this purpose, bibliometric analysis was used, consisting of the exploration and analysis of scientific studies in the field of occupational health and safety, including the possibility of using the LM tool to improve working conditions on construction sites. The study presents the possibility of implementing Lean Manufacturing (LM) tools in the construction industry. Their strengths and weaknesses were identified, and the benefits and possible barriers related to their effective implementation/use were identified. The result of the analyses was a summary of benefits for the construction industry (strengths and opportunities) as well as areas requiring improvement (weaknesses and hazards) regarding the LM tools used. Based on the conducted analyses, it was found that it is possible to use the tools of the LM concept to improve work safety and organize tasks performed on construction sites. The implementation of LM tools, such as 5S/6S, Poka-Yoke, and Standardization, enables risk reduction through a direct impact on the area being analyzed, in which occupational hazards have been identified. It is also noted that there is a need to simultaneously use LM tools (VM, Gemba-Walk, DHM) as solutions aimed at reducing risk.

Domestic renewable energy industries and national decarbonization policy

Does the growth of renewable energy industries catalyze national decarbonization policy? The idea that stronger domestic renewable energy industries increase the political feasibility of stringent energy and climate policies aiming to phase out fossil fuels has been championed by proponents of policy sequencing and underpins the global pivot to green industrial policy. Yet, the conditions necessary for such an effect to materialize have not been fully spelled out and its empirical veracity not been systematically scrutinized. This paper contends that the willingness and ability of renewable energy industries to influence policy should be weaker for fossil fuel phaseout policies compared to green industrial policies because of more diffuse material interests, less access to policymaking, and stronger countermobilization. The first large-scale investigation of this relation using extensive time-series cross-sectional data provides no evidence of a systematic positive effect of renewable energy industry strength on carbon pricing or fossil fuel subsidy phaseouts. These findings challenge the widespread argument that the emergence of domestic low-carbon industries translates into more ambitious decarbonization policy. Scholars and policymakers should scrutinize the mechanisms and scope conditions underlying this assumed relationship.

Advanced nanocomposite coating for aluminium alloy with enhanced corrosion resistance, flame retardancy, and mechanical strength in aircraft manufacturing industries

Nanocomposites incorporating impermeable two-dimensional materials offer promising solutions for safeguarding metals against corrosion. Here, we explore the integration of [3-(2-aminoethylamino)butyl]triethoxysilane (ABES) functionalized tantalum nitride (Ta3N5) into a coating matrix, leveraging Ta3N5's exceptional chemical and thermal stability to enhance the barrier effect. When combined with graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) within polyurethane (PU), functionalized Ta3N5 contributes to enhanced corrosion resistance and fire-retardant capabilities. Evaluation of aluminium's protective behavior in chloride environments using electrochemical methods reveals significant improvements with varying amounts of functionalized Ta3N5/GCN in PU coatings. The resulting PU composite exhibits superior flame retardation, evidenced by substantial reductions in peak heat release rate (pHRR), total heat release (THR), and total smoke production (TSP) compared to pure PU. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements demonstrate enhanced coating resistance (8.75×10¹¹ Ω.cm²) for PU/functionalized Ta3N5/GCN, even after 45 days of exposure to the electrolyte. Additionally, the newly formulated PU/functionalized Ta3N5/GCN coating exhibits exceptional water repellency, boasting a water contact angle (WCA) of 165°. Regarding mechanical properties, PU/functionalized Ta3N5/GCN displays favorable adhesion strength and hardness within the PU substrate, ensuring sustained integrity even under prolonged immersion. Consequently, this nanocomposite holds promise as a valuable coating component in aerospace applications. Therefore, the integration of functionalized Ta3N5/GCN within the PU matrix represents a novel approach to developing multifunctional coatings with improved performance across various metrics essential for aerospace materials. This work contributes significantly to advancing the field by offering novel solutions for corrosion protection and fire resistance, setting a new standard for the development of advanced coatings in aerospace and beyond.

A Comparative Study on the Aesthetics of Chinese and Russian War-themed Movies from the Perspective of Big Data

As an important component of national cinema, war-themed movies represent the strength of the national film industry and modern technology. From a historical perspective, Chinese war-themed films have been influenced by the aesthetics of Soviet cinema. This paper begins by exploring the historical origins and development of Chinese and Russian war-themed mainstream films, and conducts an aesthetic comparison from the aspects of ideological consciousness, humanistic reflection, new paradigms, and application of network big data technology. It elucidates the spiritual aspirations of Chinese and Russian war-themed films and grasps the development direction of such films in China.

Graduate Study with Online Education in the Post-Pandemic Era: An Experiential Case Study

It is important for the human resources industry to have the ability to overcome existing industrial challenges as well as to prepare for the coming challenges impacted by the changing strategic environment. This includes but is not limited to Industry 4.0, VUCA & BANI World, the COVID-19 pandemic, Society 5.0 and changing geopolitics. To be able to deal with more complex problems requires Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS). Therefore, improving HOTS, especially in the human resources industry, requires a solid partnership between industry and academia. The academic partnership will be meaningful in improving HOTS’s ability through a tailored master’s program known as a multi-disciplinary master’s program (MDMP). MDMP improve the HOTS of industry human resources by combining the strengths of academics and industry. This is an action research developed together between industry and academia and performed in several academic projects towards a master’s degree in various fields. It was concluded, based on the results, that MDMP showed promising results toward the improvement of industry human resources, especially in the ability of HOTS.
 Keywords: higher-order thinking skills, academic-industry partnership, multi disciplinary master’s program

Gastronomy and wine tourism transformation towards resilient destinations

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop research questions and explore industry expert perceptions related to the process of transformative changes in post-COVID-19 gastronomy and wine tourism. Design/methodology/approach To achieve this purpose, the authors applied individual and collective brainwriting techniques using the digital whiteboard, Mural. The research questions were answered within Mural's Sailboat template, which helped industry experts describe four situational areas and their symbolic elements. These included transformative change – the island, strategies – the wind, challenges – the anchors and strengths – the coral. The exploration was conducted across interpersonal, organisational and intra-destination levels. Findings This study results yielded a know-how framework that synthesised the insights of industry experts. The framework underscores the importance of a sequential approach to embrace transformative change to mindsets, practices and systems. It also advocates strategies (new leadership style, business solutions and community empowerment), potential challenges (self-doubt, established organisational culture and inertia within large systems) and leveraging industry strengths (personality traits, human resources and organisational interdependence) to effectively navigate the evolving gastronomy and wine tourism environment. Originality/value This paper represents a pioneering effort in assessing the key areas in the gastronomy and wine business and drawing parallels to the essential levels of transformation required to effectively cope with upcoming uncertainties.

Rethinking the American Industrial Policy Debate: The Political Significance of a Losing Idea

AbstractIn the early 1980s “industrial policy” seemed to be emerging as the American left’s answer to supply-side economics. Yet soon after, supply-side economics was triumphant and industrial policy back in the political wilderness. This article investigates why the American left rejected industrial policy in the 1980s but appears to be reembracing it under the Biden administration. Via reviewing the history of the industrial policy debate, I argue that the American left rejected industrial policy proposals for several reasons including disunity within the Democratic party coalition, the growing strength of the venture capital industry, and the perceived incompatibility of industrial policy with American political institutions. Despite the defeat of industrial policy movement in the 1980s, however, I argue that a process of adaptation and reworking during the Clinton administration allowed industrial policy ideas to survive in “hibernation,” ultimately reemerging in the changed policy environment which followed the 2008 financial crisis.

Macao's academic book publishing industry: A SWOT and PEST analysis

AbstractMacao's academic book publishing industry has a rich history and has grown significantly over the past two decades. This study employs a semi‐structured in‐depth interview to evaluate the current and prospective state of Macao's academic book publishing industry. The SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis and the PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) analysis are used in this study. The strengths of Macao's academic book publishing industry include that requesting an ISBN in Macao is easy and quick under the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and financial support from the Macao SAR government. However, the industry faces several weaknesses, including an underdeveloped cultural industry, a small seller market and a talent shortage, and less copyright output. Opportunities for the industry exist through constructing a Culture‐based Bay Area in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and developing an international hub for digital trade in the Guangdong–Macao In‐Depth Cooperation Zone–Hengqin. However, Macao's academic book publishing industry is threatened by emerging Internet technologies, such as augmented reality, the metaverse, and ChatGPT. This paper also proposes strategies for future practice, such as taking the initiative to encourage a group of top‐tier publishers to establish branches in Macao and improve publications’ cultural elements. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the strategic management of Macao's academic book publishing industry and will be of interest to publishers, academic researchers, and policymakers.

Evaluation of Core Competitiveness of New Energy Industry and Analysis of Obstacle Factors Taking Shandong Province as an Example

The new energy industry serves as a key driver for green growth, and unlocking its core competitiveness is essential for achieving sustainable development. This study focuses on the new energy industry in Shandong province from 2010 to 2021, constructing an evaluation system for core competitiveness across three dimensions: industrial competitive environment, industrial competitive strength, and industrial competitive potential. Utilizing the entropy weight TOPSIS method and the obstacle degree model, this paper delves into the evolving characteristics and hindering factors affecting the core competitiveness of the new energy industry in Shandong province. The findings reveal the following: (1) over the study period, the core competitiveness of the new energy industry in Shandong province underwent stages of small fluctuations, slow growth, and rapid expansion, indicating an overall upward trajectory. (2) The primary obstacle to improving core competitiveness lies in the industrial competitive environment, particularly highlighted by factors such as the number of industrial service departments, existing policies, the growth rate of investment in the new energy industry, and the number of research and development personnel in large-scale new energy enterprises.

Exploring the Formation of Sino-Japan Third-Party Market Cooperation Through the Lens of Industrial Strengths

With the intensification of the wave of anti-globalization and the prevalence of unilateralism, multilateral economic cooperation is urgently needed, due to the delicate bilateral relations between China and Japan, the field and strength of cooperation are limited, in this case, the third-party market cooperation has been explored. This paper focuses on the establishment of Sino-Japan third-party market cooperation, the impact of comparative advantages of different industries on the establishment of cooperation between the two sides, calculates the RCA indices of SITC classified products and some typical industries in recent years, searches for the complementary zone of the two countries' advantages, and evaluates the expected benefits of Japan; At the same time, it compares and discusses the trade and industrial structure of ASEAN countries as third-party market partners, and concludes that third-party cooperation is in line with the economic development needs and cooperation strategy of ASEAN. Finally, the article concludes that the establishment of Sino-Japan third-party market cooperation is in line with Japan's expected benefits and ASEAN regional development strategy, so it is necessary to make full use of the advantages of cooperation, take advantage of the industrial strengths of different regions to carry out a new type of industrial cooperation, and also reduce the negative competition in cooperation, so as to contribute to the recovery of the world economy.

China’s macroeconomic performance affects trading partners: How can their policies respond?

Utilizing expanded data analysis, this study aims to determine how China's macroeconomic performance affects the global economy. Employing the Global Vector Auto Regression (GVAR) model, we investigate the impact of China's macroeconomic variables on the economies of its selected trading partners throughout the world. For 2000Q1–2019Q4, developed countries (the US, Hong Kong), developing Europe countries (Russian Federation and Poland), and two developing Asia countries (Vietnam and India) show that Chinese macroeconomic performance has a greater impact than middle east and central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Western hemisphere. The Chinese GDP shock hits emerging Europe harder because of its extensive Russian production network. Results reveal that Chinese depreciation impacts developing Europe and Asia, while the Chinese stock market shock hits advanced economies more. Advanced and developing Asian economies are greatly affected by TV shock. Chinese FDI affects the Middle East and Central Asia, because of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. China trading partners use macroeconomic statistics to assess their economic priorities, industrial strengths, and weaknesses to create national interest plans. Currency adjustment, trade policies, domestic stimulus, and market diversification can minimize negative effects or capitalize on possibilities from China's macroeconomic conditions.

Analysis of Zhejiang Heping Financing Lease Model in the Context of Dual-Business Integration

Zhejiang Heping Automobile Sales and Service Co., Ltd., established in 2000, is a leading automotive sales enterprise integrating car sales and repair services. Undergoing three stages of development, namely, expanding and strengthening car sales, venturing into financing leasing, and consistently enhancing efficiency, the company has successfully achieved a clever integration of "financing leasing + car sales." This integration ensures a steady and ample supply of funds for the enterprise while simultaneously increasing profits. Seizing the opportunities of era development and conducting a rational analysis of the industry's strengths and weaknesses, Zhejiang Heping has innovatively adopted a new approach, combining "car sales + tunnel boring machine financing leasing," thereby ensuring a robust cash flow for the enterprise, continuously expanding business operations, reducing operational risks, and increasing overall company returns.

Architectural and Environmental Design for Rural Landscape Enhancement – Landscape and countryside in a painting

With the comprehensive advancement of rural revitalization strategies in the new era, sustainable architectural design is a response to environmental challenges. Improving the rural appearance to meet the needs of the masses has become an important part of rural revitalization and improving the rural living environment. This study selected Daluo Village, Tangxi Town, adopted Fengshun County, Meizhou City as the research area, and methods such as documentary data method, case study method, field survey method, questionnaire analysis method, and comprehensive analysis method. In terms of design concept, the concept of combining sustainability and environmentally friendly materials is adopted, and Chaoke elements are extracted and combined with the local Chaoke architectural village texture to form a series of riverside sightseeing routes in Daluo Village, as well as the Chaoke village architecture of the village. A pavilion and riverside park were also designed. Effectively combine the improvement of village landscape with tourism routes to enhance the economic benefits and comprehensive strength of the tourism industry in Daluo Village, Tangxi Town, Fengshun County.

Efficient clarification of industrial high strength phosphoric acid using microwave-activated carbon-based tire waste residue; Kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies

Efficient clarification of industrial high strength phosphoric acid using microwave-activated carbon-based tire waste residue; Kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies