Artificial Self-Recovery Opens up a New Journey of Autonomous Health of Mechanical Equipments

1.Introduction With the implementation of modern production strategies,such as“Industry 4.0”and“Made in China 2025,”the development of high-end mechanical equipment is gradually reaching a high degree of parameterization,digitalization,networking,and intelligence[1].High-end mechanical equipment no longer consists of traditional single devices,but is closely linked to the overall production process;that is,a variety of devices interact with each other and collectively form a complex system.However,faults can lead to production delays throughout the system and even seriously threaten the safety of workers[2].In addition,equipment operating in unmanned air or space vehicles(including space robots)cannot be repaired by humans if they break down[3].Until recently,the typical method of addressing machine faults was primarily the“fault cure”method,which involves manually shutting down,inspecting,and repairing the equipment to restore normal operation.Accordingly,the maintenance cycle of the traditional“fault cure”method is time-consuming,and the quality of the maintenance depends on the skills of the technician[4].

Neurovascular unit on a chip:the relevance and maturity as an advanced in vitro model

The brain is a high-energy demanding organ,consuming around 20%of the metabolic energy generated.To fulfill this demand,cerebral blood flow(CBF)supplies oxygen and glucose continuously through the intricate network of cerebral blood vessels.Although for many years brain activity and blood flow were conceived as independent processes,MRI-based functional brain imaging demonstrated that there is a coupling between them.

书信

Dear readers:The refractory industry is entering into an exciting new era.If we look back over recent decades,we see an innovative industry has responded to the needs of the refractory consuming industries,with significant reductions in refractory consumption with higher performance.

Omni-Channel Retailing and Firm Performance from a Customer Lifetime Value Perspective

In the digital era,retailers are keen to find out whether omni-channel retailing helps improve long-term firm performance.In this paper,we employ machine learning techniques on a large consumption data set in order to measure customer lifetime value(CLV)as the basis for determining long-term firm performance,and we provide an empirical analysis of the relationship between omni-channel retailing and CLV.The results suggest that omni-channel retailing may effectively enhance CLV.Further analysis reveals that this process is influenced by heterogeneous consumer requirements and that significant differences exist in the extent to which the omni-channel transition may influence CLV depending on consumer preferences for diversity of commodities,sensitivity to the cost of contract performance,and sensitivity to warehousing costs.Hence,retailers should provide consumers with a complete portfolio of goods and services based on target consumers’heterogeneous requirements in order to increase omni-channel efficiency.

Production Chain Length and PPI-CPI Divergence:Analysis Based on the Global Input-output Price Model

Productivity and international energy price shocks are reflected in PPI and CPI via industrial chains.China’s in-depth participation into the global value chains has increasingly lengthened its industrial production chains.The question is how the changing length of production chains will affect CPI and PPI,as well as CPI-PPI correlation?By constructing a global input-output price model,this paper offers a theoretical discussion on the impact of production chain length on the CPI-PPI divergence.Our findings suggest that the price shock of international bulk commodities has a greater impact on China’s PPI than that on CPI.The effects on both China’s PPI and CPI estimated by using the single-country input-output model are higher than the results estimated with the global input-output model.However,the difference between CPI and PPI variations estimated with the global input-output model is greater than the result estimated with the single-country input-output model,which supports the view that the lengthening of production chains,especially international production chains,leads to a divergence between CPI and PPI.Empirical results based on cross-national panel data also suggest that the lengthening of production chains has reduced the CPI-PPI correlation for countries,i.e.the lengthening of production chains has increased the PPI-CPI divergence.That is to say,policymakers should target not just CPI in maintaining price stability,but instead focus on the stability of both PPI and CPI.Efforts can be made to proactively adjust the price index system,and formulate the industrial chain price index.

Current Status and Prospects of China’s Natural Gas Industry

In 2023,China’s natural gas sector experienced robust growth in both supply and demand dynamics,as consumption regained an upward trend,reaching 394.53 billion m3,reflecting a 7.6%year-on-year surge.Domestic gas production and reserves persistently progressed,hitting a production volume of 228.84 billion m3 and achieving a seven-year consecutive increment exceeding 10 billion m^(3).After an initial sharp decline,imported natural gas rebounded to record growth;the combined import volume of pipeline gas and LNG climbed to 163.92 billion m^(3),a notable 11.3%rise compared to the previous year.As China’s policies for stable economic growth are further entrenched in 2024,the macroeconomic recovery is anticipated to continue.Bolstered by the dual-carbon strategy and the transformative policies targeting high-energy-consuming industries,the natural gas market is expected to sustain its rapid expansion,with estimated growth in demand ranging between 5.8%and 7.1%.

Significance of Live Streaming in Shaping Business: A Critical Review and Analytical Study

With the rise of live streaming on social media, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have become powerful business tools. They enable users to share live videos, fostering direct connections between businesses and their customers. This critical literature review paper explores the impact of live streaming on businesses, focusing on its role in attracting and satisfying consumers by promoting products tailored to their needs and wants. It emphasizes live streaming’s crucial role in engaging customers, a key to business growth. The study also provides viable strategies for businesses to leverage live streaming for growth and customer engagement, underscoring its importance in the business landscape.

A Study on the Relationship Between Skin Sensitivity and Lifestyle, Skin Conditions

Investigate the self-assessment of the skin sensitivity degree of Chinese cosmetic consumers,and explore the differences in lifestyle and skin conditions among consumers with different degrees of skin sensitivity.The study selected 716 female participants from different cities,and collected relevant data through questionnaire surveys,instrument tests,and other methods.The results found that the participants who self-assessed as having sensitive skin had a lower average age,frequency of skin care,frequency of makeup,and years of makeup.The proportion of choosing medical cosmetology and staying up late was higher,the skin was more elastic,the skin tone was more biased towards red,there were more red areas,and the skin texture was better(p<0.05).The research results can be used to guide the development of cosmetics to meet the needs of consumers with different degrees of skin sensitivity.

Sensory Evaluation of Freeze-Dried Facial Mask and Analysis of User Profile

To thoroughly understand market opportunity of freeze-dried facial mask and deeply get insight of consumers’usage behavior and needs,evaluate sensory feelings of 10 screened commercial freeze-dried facial mask products,group test products according to the differences of sensory attributions via Principal Component Analysis(PCA)and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering(AHC),pick up the representative products.Freeze-dried facial mask users evaluate satisfaction degree of picked up products and participate survey of usage behavior/cognition.Analyze consumer data by AHC to get consumer segmentations and their profile.The test results show that,sensory data and consumer data,which is from consumers test of screened representative products by performing PCA and AHC on sensory data,can be verified mutually.It is helpful to understand the needs of consumer segmentations and reason to buy by combining sensory data and consumer test.

Consumer Culture in The Great Gatsby

F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby successfully portrays the“Jazz Age”.In the early 20th century,the United States transitioned from a production-based society to a consumer-based society,leading to an era of unparalleled prosperity.However,in the context of consumer culture,individuals often transition from being masters of their possessions to becoming enslaved by them.As a result,their behaviours and values become increasingly associated with extravagance and consumption.This paper uses Baudrillard’s theory of consumer society and textual analysis to explore the impact of consumer culture on human beings through the symbolization of men and objectification of women in The Great Gatsby.The meanings embedded in the novel are revealed from a different perspective.

Application of Color Psychology in Korean Brand Identity Design-Etude House

The purpose of this analysis is to delve into the application of color psychology in the logo design of Korean cosmetic brands,using Etude House as an example for an exhaustive analysis.By examining the history of the Etude House brand,the evolution of the logo design,and the changes in color choices,we analyze the traditional concepts of color symbolism in Korean culture and the culture of color in contemporary society in order to reveal the important role of color in cosmetic brand image.Through an in-depth analysis of the use of color in Etude House’s brand identity,we further analyze the impact of color on consumer emotions and purchasing behavior,as well as the potential impact of brand identity changes on market performance.Finally,the conclusions of the analysis summarize the practical application of color psychology in Etude House’s brand logo design,suggest recommendations for other Korean cosmetic brands to draw upon in their logo design,and discuss future directions.

Study on the Influence of Food Packaging on the Psychology of Different Groups of Consumers

With the vigorous development of consumer culture in today’s society,various types of food packaging also appear in front of consumers in different forms.There are very big differences in food packaging in terms of shape,color,style and other aspects of information transmission,which have the most direct impact on the audience’s food consumption needs.Driven by the consumption-oriented society,food packaging has shown very obvious comprehensive characteristics,is significantly interdisciplinary,and has close connections with other disciplines.This article will analyze and sort out the impact of food packaging on consumer psychology from different perspectives.

Consumers’ Perception and Knowledge of Food Additives in Senegal: A Pilot Study

Food safety has become a major concern for consumers, as well as a priority for regulatory authorities. Faced with the growing industrial and domestic use of food additives, many questions are being asked and concerns are being felt by consumers around the world. Consumer perception defines the acceptability or rejection of food products, and has an impact on consumption patterns and behavior. To assess the level of knowledge and perception of food additives, a pilot study was carried out on a sample of 200 people in Dakar and Saint-Louis. A questionnaire was used to assess the acceptance or rejection, use and impact of food additives by consumers in Senegal. The results revealed several aspects. On the whole, the people surveyed expressed great mistrust and even rejection of these substances added to food products. This consumer perception is shared throughout the world, as indicated in numerous surveys. It also emerges from this study that, although most consumers are aware of the existence of these additives and their uses in the home, they feel that the use of these substances in industrial production is too excessive. What’s more, consumers associate food additives with numerous pathologies such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke and even sexual impotence. For some of these indexed pathologies, scientific studies have reached the same conclusions, although controversy still persists. On the other hand, for some of the other adverse effects mentioned, no cause-and-effect relationship has been scientifically demonstrated. In these latter cases, it seems that negative communication, misinformation and misconceptions have a major influence on consumer perception of food additives.

The competitive dynamics of Bangladesh and Turkey in apparel exports

Turkish-made apparel now costs approximately 40%more than similar products from Bangladesh,a gap that was only 15-20%a few years ago.This is creating opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters to attract consumer's attention.

EVENTS CALENDAR

China Sees Rising Retail Sales in Q1 China’s retail sales of consumer goods,a major indicator of the country’s consumption strength,climbed 4.7 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2024.The figure was slightly lower than the 5.5 percent rise registered during the January-February period,according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS).

Determinants of Online Buying Behaviour of Social Media Users in Cameroon

Online shopping in Cameroon is growing rapidly and gaining considerable ground.The phenomenon is relatively new as compared to the traditional brick-and-mortar store(serving customers face-to-face in a building rather than online).As the world faces digital transformations,businesses in Cameroon are seeking new ways to reach their customers and create favourable environments to effectively carryout online purchase.This study examines the factors that affect consumer online buying behaviour in Cameroon.Three theories guided this investigation:the Technology Acceptance Model(Davis,1989),Diffusion of Innovations Theory(Rogers,1995),and Uses and Gratifications Theory(Katz&Blumler,1974).The study focuses on students of the University of Buea who carry out online shopping.Purposive sampling is used,and data are collected from 365 respondents through a questionnaire with open and closed ended questions.Analysis of data is done with the use of the Statistical Package for Social Scientists(SPSS)Version 21 to determine the types of products consumers buy online;the degree to which consumer trust and satisfaction affect consumer loyalty;and the specific social,economic,and market factors that affect online buying behaviour.Findings indicate that:Consumers mostly buy fashion items(74.3%),electronics(44.7%),cosmetics(37.3%),and house equipment(34%)online.Consumers will repeat purchase from a marketer if they trust and are satisfied with the product and service quality(81.1%);hence,they will also encourage others to buy.If they are dissatisfied,they will not repeat purchase from the online store.Advertisement(76.1%),attractive pricing/discount(71.7%),product quality(71%),service quality(64.1%),convenience(72.3%),available income/money(49.6%),word of mouth recommendation(41.9%),and personal motivation(62.7%)constitute the major factors that affect consumer online buying behaviour.Results of the hypotheses testing show that:H1=Consumers buy more of fashion items online(X^(2)=9.950;df=16;p=0.869);H2=There is a significant relationship between trust and satisfaction and consumers online buying behaviour(X^(2)=270.765;df=16;p=0.000);and H3=Social,economic,and market factors significantly affect consumer online buying behaviour(X^(2)=106.328;df=16;p=0.000).The study recommends online marketers to develop their marketing strategies towards customer orientation and focus on the ease of use of their online shopping services.

A Study on the Factors Influencing Consumer Purchase Decision Under the Live-Streaming Sales Model

In recent years,with the rapid development and popularization of Internet information technology,many new media platforms have risen rapidly,and major e-commerce companies have begun to explore the mode of livestreaming.Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,due to the lockdown,live-streaming has become an important means of economic development in many places.Owing to its remarkable characteristics of timeliness,entertainment,and interactivity,it has become the latest and trendiest sales mode of e-commerce channels,reflecting huge economic potential and commercial value.This article analyzes two models and their characteristics of live-streaming sales from a practical perspective.Based on this,it outlines consumer purchasing decisions and the factors that affect consumer purchasing decisions under the live-streaming sales model.Finally,it discusses targeted suggestions for using the live-streaming sales model to expand the consumer market,hoping to promote the healthy and steady development of the live-streaming sales industry.

The Prediction for the Consumer Price Index of Residents in Perspective of Time Series Method in Case of Chongqing

The consumer price index (CPI) measures the relative number of changes in the price level of consumer goods and services over time, reflecting the trend and degree of changes in the price level of goods and services purchased by residents. This article uses the ARMA model to analyze the fluctuation trend of the CPI (taking Chongqing as an example) and make short-term predictions. To test the predictive performance of the model, the observation values from January to December 2023 were retained as the reference object for evaluating the predictive accuracy of the model. Finally, through trial predictions of the data from May to August 2023, it was found that the constructed model had good fitting performance.

Biodiversity of Edible Caterpillars of Imbrasia and Host Plants in Boukoko (Central African Republic)

In Central African Republic, edible caterpillars of Imbrasia gender are income of rural populations, present an opportunity to improve food security and belonging to the category of Non-wood forest products. The goal of this study is to document the ecology of caterpillars of genre Imbrasia in relation to its host plants in Boukoko. The questionnaire was addressed to the actors of the collection and consumption of caterpillars in this Commune, to their local knowledge concerning this food resource as well as the plants of their locality on which caterpillars are collected. The survey took place in September to October 2022 and as a general rule, the 120 respondents were elderly people whose age range varied from 35 to 70 years old. Plant samples are collected in their natural environment. Based on local names;herbaria are mounted, plants photographed and samples collected. The types of edible caterpillars have been inventoried in the field in collaboration with the local populations who consume them. Based on local names, the caterpillars are captured manually from morphological traits and then stored in bottles containing 70% ethanol. The specimens were identified. The data was entered into the Excel spreadsheet which also made it possible to produce histograms with the frequencies of the plant species most valued by the different caterpillars. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was then performed using R software to highlight the correlation between caterpillars and host plants. The main economic importance trees hosting edible caterpillars of Imbrasia gender in Boukoko region are: Entandrophragma cylindricum, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Maesopsis eminii, Albizia ferruginea, Macaranga spinosa, Amphimas ferrugineus, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Racosperma auriculiforme, Eribroma oblonga. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) carried out to assess the variability between the different species of caterpillars according to their host plants shows that the first two axes F1 and F2 explain 27.34% of the overall variability. The different variables along the two factorial axes are weakly correlated. The caterpillar species Imbrasia truncata, Imbrasia epimethea, Imbrasia obscura, Imbrasia petiveri, Imbrasia forda and Imbrasia alopia have more host plant diversity than the caterpillar species: Imbrasia melanops, Imbrasia eblis, Imbrasia anthina, Imbrasia wahlbergii and Imbrasia oyemensis.

Trust beyond Technology Algorithms: A Theoretical Exploration of Consumer Trust and Behavior in Technological Consumption and AI Projects

In an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), establishing customer confidence is crucial for the integration and acceptance of AI technologies. This interdisciplinary study examines factors influencing customer trust in AI systems through a mixed-methods approach, blending quantitative analysis with qualitative insights to create a comprehensive conceptual framework. Quantitatively, the study analyzes responses from 1248 participants using structural equation modeling (SEM), exploring interactions between technological factors like perceived usefulness and transparency, psychological factors including perceived risk and domain expertise, and organizational factors such as leadership support and ethical accountability. The results confirm the model, showing significant impacts of these factors on consumer trust and AI adoption attitudes. Qualitatively, the study includes 35 semi-structured interviews and five case studies, providing deeper insight into the dynamics shaping trust. Key themes identified include the necessity of explainability, domain competence, corporate culture, and stakeholder engagement in fostering trust. The qualitative findings complement the quantitative data, highlighting the complex interplay between technology capabilities, human perceptions, and organizational practices in establishing trust in AI. By integrating these findings, the study proposes a novel conceptual model that elucidates how various elements collectively influence consumer trust in AI. This model not only advances theoretical understanding but also offers practical implications for businesses and policymakers. The research contributes to the discourse on trust creation and decision-making in technology, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary efforts to address societal challenges associated with technological advancements. It lays the groundwork for future research, including longitudinal, cross-cultural, and industry-specific studies, to further explore consumer trust in AI.