The impact of Industry 4.0 on organizational performance : the case of Pakistan’s retail industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to assess and determine the impact of the five core technologies of Industry 4.0 (3D Printing, Big Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT) and Robotics) on the organizational performance of the retail industry in the context of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach – Pakistan’s retail industry was chosen as the target sector, and the target population was composed of senior-level employees, including managers from first-level positions to top-level positions, as well as subordinate employees working under the supervision of first-level managers, possessing the technological know-how of Industry 4.0. The data were collected through a matrix-based survey questionnaire that was based on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” The process of data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics. Findings – The findings obtained by this research work showed a significant relationship among the five core pillars of Industry 4.0 and the organizational performance of Pakistan’s retail industry. Besides, the obtained findings provided preliminary evidence that Industry 4.0’s disruptive technologies, particularly, 3D printing, big data analytics, cloud computing, IoT and robotics, could help Pakistan’s retail industry solve various problems and challenges, such as meager revenues, increased expenses and unorganized systems. Originality/value – The present study extended the theoretical body of knowledge through studying and examining Industry 4.0’s five crucial factors that significantly contribute to the service sector, particularly, the retail industry, of the big emerging markets (BEM) economies, including Pakistan.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of Influence of Network Structure, Knowledge Stock and Absorptive Capacity on Network Innovation Achievements

AbstractIn the increasingly fierce competition and increasingly volatile environment today, the important position of innovation has been widely accepted by theorists and business enterprise resources. Based on the domestic and foreign relevant research, we discusses the influence of network structure, knowledge stock and absorptive capacity on the network innovation achievements, constructs the theoretical relation model and an empirical analysis by using 124 enterprises of Xi’an high-tech industrial parks as the object, the result of the research indicates that, the network structure and knowledge stock to absorptive capacity have a positive impact on role, and both can also influence innovation performance through absorbing ability, absorptive capacity played a certain role of intermediary; Meanwhile, the network structure and the knowledge accumulation play an directly positive promoting role to the innovation performance

Hydraulic Model Test on Diversion Structures of Gongguoqiao Hydropower Station during Construction

AbstractBased on hydrologic data and diversion structure arrangement of Gongguoqiao hydropower station during construction, the hydraulic model on diversion structures is built according to similarity principle. Then the hydraulic characteristic and its flow model were studied by hydraulic model test. Hydraulic characteristic and flow pattern for the diversion tunnel and dam gap combined discharge were studied subsequently in this paper. The study results show that half pressure flow state is formed in the diversion tunnel when quantity of flow is greater than 3500m3/s. That submerged flow is formed exactly in the inlet of diversion tunnel when quantity of flow is 5000m3/s. Three aeration segments are formed in the top of diversion tunnel when quantity of flow is greater than 6580m3/s. The study results also show non-interpenetrated turbulence is formed intermittently in the right bank of inlet for diversion tunnel when quantity of flow is greater than 7710m3/s, and the flow over the upstream cofferdam is near the submerged hydraulic jump

Knowledge capital and innovation management: Impact of transboundary investment and assimilative capacity

Background: In today’s volatile and highly competitive business environment, the importance of knowledge capital and innovation management for multinational manufacturing firms has been widely recognised by both academia and industry. Aim: This article aims to explore the impact of transboundary investment and assimilative capacity on the association between knowledge capital and innovation management in this specific context. Setting: A total of 217 managers and employees were selected from 19 multinational manufacturing firms listed on the Ghana stock exchange to participate in the survey. Method: Using a theoretical-based association existing research model, data were collected through an online electronic questionnaire survey. The collected data were then analysed using path analysis, utilising SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 24.0 software to test the formulated hypotheses. Results: The study found that an organisation-wide unified system, technological, organisational resource and knowledge capital-enabling structures strongly influence multinational manufacturing firms. Besides, knowledge capital and innovation management have a positive mediating role and a significant impact on multinational manufacturing firms. However, there was no significant impact between knowledge of empirical capital and innovation management. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the importance of knowledge capital in enhancing innovation management and emphasise the role of transboundary investment and assimilative capacity in mediating this relationship. Contribution: This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of how knowledge capital and innovation management are interconnected, as well as the relationship between transboundary investment and assimilative capacity, and their respective roles in mediating this relationship

Plastic zone distribution and main controlling factors analysis of large mining height face in steeply dipping coal seam

Coal wall of large mining height face in steeply dipping coal seam has large free height, wide free movement space and poor self-stabilization balance, coal wall is not an isolated body in the face, it can form a load-bearing structure with the surrounding rock, supports and other mediators, and the mining behavior is closely linked. The dip angle effect can easily promote the dissimilation of the coal wall bearing environment, complicate its response behavior, increase the difficulty of coal wall and surrounding rock stability control, and restrict the safe and efficient production of the face. In order to solve the problem of coal wall stability control of large mining height face in steeply dipping coal seam, theoretical analysis and numerical calculation are comprehensively used for research. The stress in the plastic zone of large mining height face in steeply dipping coal seam increases exponentially, there is an asymmetric arch residual stress influence zone in the vicinity of the coal wall, the plastic zone breadth is dissimilated in different regions, and the width from large to small is the upper, middle and lower part, and the distribution pattern is in the shape of stepped arch, coal in the plastic zone bears repeated pressure, and will be enhanced with the expansion of plastic zone. As the mining height increases, the residual abutment pressure near the coal wall decreases, the compressive strength, displacement value and disturbed range of the coal in front of the coal wall will increase. The stress and transport of the coal wall under the dip angle effect develop in a zonal manner, in which the stress distribution is lower> upper> middle, while for the displacement is middle> upper> lower. In addition, the working face inclination under the oblique angle will lead to the transformation of the coal wall instability mode, when the oblique angle is large, the dip angle of face is small, the compression component of abutment pressure is enhanced, and the external convex spalling mainly occurs. On the contrary, it’s the sliding instability under the coupling of mining stress and self weight. The comprehensive analysis shows that the coal wall mining behavior is regionally heterogeneous under the coupling effect of dip angle and mining height, and because the stress unloading and migration in the middle and upper part of the face are larger, therefore the two regions should be the key prevention and control areas for coal wall instability of large mining height face in steeply dipping panel

THE BIOLOGY OF PHENACOCCUS AZALEAE KUWANA, A PEST OF BUNGE PRICKLY ASH (ZANTHOXYLUM BUNGEANUM MAXIM) FOREST IN NORTHERN CHINA

THE BIOLOGY OF PHENACOCCUS AZALEAE KUWANA, A PEST OF BUNGE PRICKLY ASH (ZANTHOXYLUM BUNGEANUM MAXIM) FOREST IN NORTHERN CHINA. Phenacoccus azaleae Kuwana (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) is a major new pest of bunge prickly ash forest in northern China, where it causes high tree mortality when present for two consecutive years. This paper reports on the biology of this pest in northern China, where it has been studied since 1995. The life cycle can be divided into eight phases, two of which cause severe injury to the host plant, through the feeding of: (a) the 3rd-instar nymphs and adult females between late March and mid-May, and (b) the young nymphs which are present on the leaves between late June and October. The adult sex ratio was 6-7TM:1¢. The various development stages are described. Of the natural enemies, ladybirds (Coccinellidae) and lacewings (Neuroptera) were the major predators, but they were not abundant in the newly- infested areas. In addition, a few parasitic Hymenoptera were recorded but appeared to be ineffective. Key words: Aphis gossypii, Papilio xuthus, Podagri comeiashirahatai, Calloides magnificus, Agrilus zanthoxylumi, plum, elm, Azalea, Japan, Korea, voltinism, development, population dynamics, damage, Lasius fuliginosus, L. niger, sex ratio, growth rate, Harmonia axyridis, Coccinella septempunctata, Chrysopa

The Herb Medicine Formula “Chong Lou Fu Fang” Increases the Cytotoxicity of Chemotherapeutic Agents and Down-Regulates the Expression of Chemotherapeutic Agent Resistance-Related Genes in Human Gastric Cancer Cells In Vitro

The herb medicine formula “Chong Lou Fu Fang” (CLFF) has efficacy in inhibiting the proliferation of human gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo. To explore the potentially useful combination of CLFF with chemotherapeutic agents commonly used in gastric cancer therapy, we assess the interaction between CLFF and these chemotherapeutic agents in both SGC-7901 cell lines and BGC-823 cell lines using a median effect analysis and apoptosis analysis, and we also investigate the influence of CLFF on chemotherapeutic agent-associated gene expression. The synergistic analysis indicated that CLFF had a synergistic effect on the cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a relative broad dose inhibition range (20–95% fraction affected in SGC-7901cell lines and 5–65% fraction affected in BGC-823 cell lines), while the synergistic interaction between CLFF and oxaliplatin or docetaxel only existed in a low dose inhibition range (≤50% fraction affected in both cell lines). Combination of CLFF and chemotherapeutic agents could also induce apoptosis in a synergistic manner. After 24 h, CLFF alone or CLFF combination with chemotherapeutic agents could significantly suppress the levels of expression of chemotherapeutic agent resistance related genes in gastric cancer cells. Our findings indicate that there are useful synergistic interactions between CLFF and chemotherapeutic agents in gastric cancer cells, and the possible mechanisms might be partially due to the down-regulation of chemotherapeutic agent resistance related genes and the synergistic apoptotic effect

Direct observation of Si-related and Ge-related ring clusters on Si(1 1 1)-(7 Â 7) surface

Abstract In a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) study of Si(1 1 1)-(7 Â 7) surfaces, we observed the Si-related ring cluster and one new type of Ge-related ring cluster. For both clusters there is an electron transfer between them and the nearby Si centre atoms and their local density of states near the Fermi level is obviously reduced. Moreover, by differences in their electron transfer, the Si-related ring cluster and Ge-related ring cluster can be easily distinguished from each other.

The α1‐adrenergic receptor is involved in hepcidin upregulation induced by adrenaline and norepinephrine via the STAT3 pathway

Elevated body iron stores are associated with hypertension progression, while hypertension is associated with elevated plasma catecholamine levels in patients. However, there is a gap in our understanding of the connection between catecholamines and iron regulation. Hepcidin is a key iron‐regulatory hormone, which maintains body iron balance. In the present study, we investigated the effects of adrenaline (AD) and norepinephrine (NE) on hepatic hepcidin regulation. Mice were treated with AD, NE, phenylephrine (PE, α1‐adrenergic receptor agonist), prazosin (PZ, α1‐adrenergic receptor antagonist), and/or propranolol (Pro, β‐adrenergic receptor antagonist). The levels of hepcidin, as well as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), and ferritin‐light (Ft‐L) protein in the liver or spleen, were assessed. Six hours after AD, NE, or PE treatment, hepatic hepcidin mRNA levels increased. Pretreatment with PZ, but not Pro, abolished the effects of AD or NE on STAT3 phosphorylation and hepatic hepcidin expression. When mice were treated with AD or NE continuously for 7 days, an increase in hepatic hepcidin mRNA levels and serum hepcidin concentration was also observed. Meanwhile, the expected downstream effects of elevated hepcidin, namely decreased FPN1 expression and increased Ft‐L protein and non‐heme iron concentrations in the spleen, were observed after the continuous AD or NE treatments. Taken together, we found that AD or NE increase hepatic hepcidin expression via the α1‐adrenergic receptor and STAT3 pathways in mice. The elevated hepatic hepcidin decreased FPN1 levels in the spleen, likely causing the increased iron accumulation in the spleen