Research Progress and Prospects of Total Factor Productivity in the Construction Industry

The high-quality development of the construction industry fundamentally stems from the significant improvement of total factor productivity.Therefore,it is of crucial significance for promoting the development of the construction industry to a higher level by scientifically and accurately measuring the total factor productivity of the construction industry and deeply analyzing the influencing factors behind it.Based on a comprehensive consideration of research methods and influencing factors,this paper systematically reviews the existing relevant literature on total factor productivity in the construction industry,aiming to reveal the current research development trend in this field and point out potential problems.This effort aims to provide a solid theoretical foundation and valuable reference for further in-depth research,and jointly promote the continuous progress and development of total factor productivity research in the construction industry.

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Innovative technologies significantly propel the development of casting industry

At this memorable moment,we are excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of CHINA FOUNDRY journal.Since its inception in August 2004,this academic platform dedicated to disseminating Chinese casting technology has traversed two full decades.Over this period,we have received strong support from numerous domestic and international industry experts and scholars.

The Effects of Disruptive Thinking on the Food Industry*

This study aimed to understand disruptive thinking and how its ideas can change the food industry. This was achieved by identifying, studying, and understanding the impacts, current trends, and different disruptive ideas and innovations emerging in the food industry. The study was conducted through interpretive research philosophy by carrying out secondary data collection processes, where both qualitative and quantitative information was presented. Deductive approaches were also selected to apply existing theories and models, which were used to construct research hypotheses and present detailed findings. The study finds that, with disruptive thinking, enhancements in the product life cycle, new flavors, and improvements in food packaging have been possible. The supply chain, which is always considered a complex part of the food industry, has been streamlined, offering greater transparency and real-time tracking and improving quality control across distribution systems.

Effect of Different Raw Material Processing Methods on the Quality of Apple Distilled Spirits

In this study,the effect of yeast strains(X16 and RMS2),fruit seed,and pectinase on the quality of apple distilled spirits were investigated with apple as material.The results showed that pectinase shortened the fermentation period.The strain X16,fruit seed remaining,and pectinase addition groups had higher yields of crude distilled spirits than the strain RMS2,fruit seed removal,and without pectinase groups,respectively.Regarding the first-grade distilled spirits quality,the X16 group had higher content of total acids,total esters,higher alcohols,and alcohol content than the RMS2 group;the group with fruit seeds had higher total acids but lower alcohol content and total esters than the group with fruit seed removal;the group with pectinase addition had higher total acids and alcohol content than the group without pectinase addition.Regarding the second-grade distilled spirits quality,the X16 group had higher total acids,total esters,and alcohol content than the RMS2 group;the group without fruit seeds had higher alcohol content than the group with fruit seeds;the group with pectinase addition showcased higher total acids but lower alcohol content than the group without pectinase addition.In summary,yeast strains and pectinase affected the quality of apple distilled spirits,and strain X16 was more suitable for brewing apple distilled spirits.Pectinase affected the quality of apple distilled spirits by affecting fermentation rate and temperature.

Impacts of agri-food e-commerce on traditional wholesale industry:Evidence from China

Rapidly expanding studies investigate the effects of e-commerce on company operations in the retail market.However,the interaction between agri-food e-commerce(AEC)and the traditional agri-food wholesale industry(AWI)has not received enough attention in the existing literature.Based on the provincial panel data from 2013 to 2020 in China,this paper examines the effect of AEC on AWI,comprising three dimensions:digitalization(DIGITAL),agrifood e-commerce infrastructure and supporting services(AECI),and agri-food e-commerce economy(AECE).First,AWI and AEC are measured using an entropy-based combination of indicators.The results indicate that for China as a whole,AWI has remained practically unchanged,whereas AEC exhibits a significant rising trend.Second,the findings of the fixed-effect regression reveal that DIGITAL and AECE tend to raise AWI,whereas AECI negatively affects AWI.Third,threshold regression results indicate that AECI tends to diminish AWI with three-stage inhibitory intensity,which manifests as a first increase and then a drop in the inhibition degree.These results suggest that with the introduction of e-commerce for agricultural product circulation,digital development will have catfish effects that tend to stimulate the vitality of the conventional wholesale industry and promote technical progress.Furthermore,the traditional wholesale industry benefits financially from e-commerce even while it diverts part of the traditional wholesale circulation for agricultural products.

Keeping planes safe:the role of IECQ in the aerospace industry

The avionics industry relies on the quality,reliability,and safety of electronic components.This is critically important given avionics failures can quickly become disastrous.Therefore,assurance of meeting stringent criteria for safety and quality becomes paramount.IECQ,the IEC Quality Assessment System,provides the necessary certification of compliance for electronic components that apply to critical industry sectors,including aerospace.

Production and achievements of Sesamum indicum industry in the world:Past and current state

Sesame production is important in agriculture,food industry,and the crop diversity due to its rich nutritional profile and health benefits.Despite its significant value,sesame is still an orphan crop that has received little scientific attention,resulting in low yield compared to other major oilseed crops.This review offers a comprehensive overview of the present state of production,knowledge,and research advancements concerning Sesamum indicum on a global scale.The FAOSTAT database was extensively used to examine the global trends from 1961 to 2021.In the past 60 years,global sesame production has substantially increased,with Asia and Africa being the primary producers.The integration of omics technologies and biotechnological interventions has revolutionized our understanding of the genetic basis of sesame,enhanced productivity,invigorated stress resilience,and improved seed quality.High-throughput sequencing methods such as RNA-seq,RAD-seq,SLAF-seq,and GBS technology are used in various studies,linkage mapping,and identification of trait-associated markers.Fine linkage maps,and multi-omics studies such as genomics,proteomics,transcriptomics,and metabolomics have been employed in sesame research for gene and QTL mapping.Proteins and metabolic pathways related to oil content,yield,and stress tolerance were reported.Genes and QTLs related to yield and its components,drought,salt,and osmotic stress tolerance were discovered.Candidate genes associated with capsule shattering and seed shattering were recently revealed.For more achievement in sesame,it is important to enhance sesame production efficiency through mechanization,advanced agricultural practices,and knowledge dissemination to farmers.MAS and multi-omics integration should be particularly reinforced.The advancements in sesame production present a significant and promising opportunity for farmers,governments,and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

From Rejection to Embracement:The Catholic Perception of Spiritism in Brazil

The history of the relationship between Spiritism and Catholicism in Brazil can be traced through pivotal moments in the trajectory of the First Republic and the religious field since the 19th century,reflecting Brazil’s evolution into a modern,urban,and industrial society.Introduced to Brazil in the 1880s,Spiritism initially faced severe opposition from the Catholic Church,being dismissed as superstition and demon worship due to its engagement with death and spirits.Unlike Christianity,Spiritism denies the divinity of Jesus,the resurrection,and the sanctity of Church sacraments,viewing demons and angels merely as disembodied souls at different spiritual stages.Early perceptions were further complicated by the mixing of Spiritism with African and indigenous rites,which led critics to associate it with madness and mental health threats.However,the relationship between Catholicism and Spiritism in Brazil has evolved positively,particularly following the popularization of Spiritism by figures like Chico Xavier.Modern Brazilian society,characterized by increased education and religious syncretism,has grown more tolerant of diverse practices and beliefs,diminishing historical prejudices against Spiritists.This qualitative study,drawing on scholarly research and first-hand interviews,reveals that Spiritism's acceptance among Brazilian Catholics is due to its convergence with contemporary social values and the evolving profile of the average Catholic.Despite possessing a religion-like character,Spiritism is seen less as a distinct religion and more as a complementary set of practices and beliefs that enhance Catholic faith.This phenomenon mirrors the integration of Agama Hindu practices,reinforcing rather than undermining traditional religious identities.

Exploring Paths for the High-Quality Development of Forest-Based Wel ness Industry:A Case Study of Sichuan Province

The forest-based wellness industry,as a rapidly growing sector that integrates various business forms with extensive coverage and an extended industrial chain,is undergoing rapid development due to the increasing aging population and people's suboptimal health conditions.As a forerunner in developing the forest-based wellness industry,Sichuan province is known for its early development,proactive efforts,diverse models,and significant impact in this industry.It has achieved certain milestones in terms of top-level design,pilot demonstration,standardized guidance,and public awareness campaigns to promote the development of this industry.Therefore,this paper utilizes Sichuan as a case study to systematically summarize and analyze the key practices made by the province in promoting the rapid development of the industry by investigating the development trajectory of the forest-based wellness industry.Additionally,it examines the development trends of this industry from the perspectives of supply,demand,and consumption.Finally,this paper proposes several measures to facilitate the high-quality development of the forest-based wellness industry.These measures encompass nurturing specialized talent in forest-based wellness,enhancing market players'capabilities in this domain,conducting extensive research on technologies that promote this industry,actively seeking support from relevant policies,and promoting integrated development across diverse sectors.

Application of Large Language Models in Data Governance in the Petroleum and Petrochemical Industry

This paper delves into the current application, challenges, and demands of data governance in the oil and gas industry, as well as methods and implementation strategies to enhance data governance efficacy through the latest technologies such as large language models and algorithm optimization. Through the analysis of the current application status of large language models in intelligent data classification, data quality improvement, knowledge extraction and management, and intelligent search and information retrieval, the main challenges and demands faced by the petroleum and petrochemical industry in data governance have been revealed. A set of data governance optimization solutions tailored for the oil and gas industry has been proposed. These solutions aim to address the current data management challenges in the industry through advanced data processing technologies and algorithmic optimization, enhance the efficiency and quality of data governance, and thereby support the digital transformation and development of the oil and gas industry.

City Network Evolution Characteristics of Smart Industry: Evidence from Yangtze River Delta, China

The dual-path model of industrial evolution and spatial progression has been widely acknowledged and incorporated into the strategic planning to promote the development of urban industries and regional collaborations.However,current research on inter-enter-prise city networks mainly focuses on the single sector of flows on all enterprise branches,such as product value chains and production factors,but neglects that of particular industry department.Built upon the new economic geography and city networks theory,this paper develops a methodological framework that focuses on the analysis of city network evolution characteristics of smart industry.Particu-larly,a conceptual model of smart industry enterprise-industry-city is proposed and then applied to a case study of smart industry in the Yangtze River Delta Region,China.Using enterprise supplier-customer data,a city network of smart industry is constructed and sub-sequently analyzed with the proposed model.Findings indicate that the smart industry network in Yangtze River Delta Region exhibits a hierarchical structure and the expansion of the network presents a small-world network characteristic.The study not only makes a meth-odological contribution for revealing the industrial and spatial evolution path of the current smart industry,but also provides empirical support for the formulation of new economic development policies focused on smart industries,demonstrating the role of city clusters as carriers of regional synergistic development.

Innovation and Practice of the Cultivation Mode of Application-Oriented Undergraduate Talents in Agricultural and Forestry Colleges under the Guidance of the Spirit of the Great Northern Wilderness

Heilongjiang reclamation area has made great progress since its development and construction, among which the agricultural and forestry colleges in China have played a key role in the input of talents for the production of reclamation area, and the spirit of the Great Wilderness has important strategic significance for the cultivation of agricultural and forestry talents. Taking Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University as an example, this paper analyzes the ways of the Great Northern Wilderness Spirit for cultivating application-oriented undergraduate talents in agricultural and forestry colleges, improving the curriculum system of undergraduate talents through innovation, strengthening the cultivation of students’ innovative ability, leading students’ scientific research and academic level, and enhancing students’ practical ability. To innovate the cultivation mode of application-oriented undergraduate talents in agricultural and forestry colleges under the guidance of the spirit of the Great Northern Wilderness, and to provide a reference mode for the cultivation of undergraduate talents in agricultural and forestry colleges in China.

Review on the Development of Cosmetic Industry from the Perspective of Group Standards

From the perspective of group standards, the dynamics of the cosmetic industry in the past few years were briefly reviewed and analyzed, including the number of group standards published, types of group standards, groups, and geographical distribution of the groups. The large number of participating groups and the wide range of geographical distribution indicated that group standards could play a positive role in the sustained and positive development of cosmetic industry. The future development of cosmetic industry was also prospected。

From Differential Mode of Association to Tianxia Worldview:A Study on Chinese Entrepreneurial Spirit

China has made significant strides in economic and social development since reform and opening up over the past four decades.This process has been influenced by the exceptional innovation and entrepreneurship of Chinese business leaders,as well as their profound sentiments of compassion for the world and their country.It is of great significance to foster and promote an entrepreneurial spirit with distinctive Chinese characteristics.Not only is such spirit essential to the high-quality development of enterprises and the economy,but it is also a critical impetus for achieving Chinese modernization.Nevertheless,there is still a paucity of adequate theoretical discourse on the cultural origins and entrepreneurial spirit of outstanding Chinese business leaders.This paper employs the classical grounded theory method to conduct a 10-year follow-up research on 11 representative entrepreneurs and their enterprises.The results indicate that these entrepreneurs exhibit an evolving worldview along the paths of“self-cultivation and moral conduct”,“assisting employees to achieve”,“multilateral symbiosis”,and“the oneness of existence”when interacting with themselves,employees,partners,the general public,and all things in nature.Such entrepreneurial spirit is embodied in this paper as the“Tianxia(all-under-heaven)worldview”.Through theoretical construction,this study defines the concept of“Tianxia worldview”and extensively examines the distinctions and connections between the broadminded“Tianxia worldview”and the kinship-centered“differential mode of association”in terms of internal structure,value orientation,and applicable groups.It is posited that the transition from the former to the latter is a continuous process of transcendence and evolution of the individual mindset.This study has theoretical significance in the context of advancing the research on the Chinese entrepreneurial spirit,transcending the constraints of the management approach based on the“differential mode of association”,and enhancing the research on social responsibility from the perspective of“benefit corporations”.It also has practical value in overcoming the trust dilemma and development impediment of family businesses,ensuring that enterprises consciously fulfill their social responsibilities in a broader social context,and achieving common prosperity and progress for both enterprises and society.

Software and Mobile Apps as a Strategy for Productivity Improvement in the Construction Industry

The construction industry, known for its low productivity, is increasingly utilising software and mobile apps to enhance efficiency. However, more comprehensive research is needed to understand the effectiveness of these technology applications. The PRISMA principles utilised a scoping review methodology to ascertain pertinent studies and extract significant findings. From 2013 onwards, articles containing data on mobile applications or software designed to enhance productivity in the construction sector were obtained from multiple databases, including Emerald Insight, Science Direct, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. After evaluating 2604 articles, 30 were determined to be pertinent to the study and were subsequently analysed for the review. The review identified five key themes: effectiveness, benefits, successful implementation examples, obstacles and limitations, and a comprehensive list of software and mobile apps. In addition, 71 software and mobile apps have shown potentially how these technologies can improve communication, collaboration, project management, real-time collaboration, document management, and on-the-go project information and estimating processes in the construction industry, increasing efficiency and productivity. The findings highlight the potential of these technologies such as Automation, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Internet of Things (IoT) to improve efficiency and communication in the construction industry. Despite challenges such as cost, lack of awareness, resistance to change, compatibility concerns, human resources, technological and security concerns and licensing issues, the study identifies specific mobile applications and software with the potential to enhance efficiency significantly, improve productivity and streamline workflows. The broader societal impacts of construction software and mobile app development include increased efficiency, job creation, and sustainability.

The heterogeneous impact of China-Europe railway express on the efficiency of logistics industry in node cities

Purpose-The spatiotemporal compression effect of China-Europe Railway Express(CR-Express)can reduce the filow costs of resources between China's node cities.Additionally,it can break through the limitations of low-added-value marine products,significantly impacting the logistics industry efficiency.However,there are few literature verifying and analyzing its heterogeneity.This study explores the impact of CR-Express on the efficiency of logistics industry in node cities and analyzes the heterogeneity.Design/methodology/approach-First,this study uses panel data to measure the efficiency of node city logistics industry.Secondiy,this study discusses the impact of the opening of CR-Express on the efficiency of logistics industry in node cities based on the multi-period differential model.Finally,according to the node city difference,the sample city experimental group is grouped for heterogeneity analysis.Findings-The results show that CR-Express can promote the urban logistics industry efficiency,with an average effect of 4.55%.According to the urban characteristics classification,the heterogeneity analysis shows that the efficiency improvement effect of logistics industry in inland cities is more obvious.The improvement effect of node cities and central cities in central and western China is stronger,especially in the sample of megacities and type I big cities.Compared with non-value chain industrial products,the CR-Express has significant promotion effects on the logistics efficiency of the cities where main goods are value chain products.Originality/value-Under the background of double cycle development,this paper can provide a scientific basis for the investment benefit evaluation of CR-Express construction and the follow-up route planning.

Spatio-temporal evolution of the coordinated development of high-tech industry agglomeration and resource-environmental carrying capacity in the Yellow River Basin

Under the background of new infrastructure,the Yellow River Basin’s superior growth cannot be separated originating with the synergistic effect of scientific and technological inventiveness and ecological civilization construction.In light of the coupling coordination analysis of the coordination effect of provincial high-tech industry agglomeration and resource carrying capacity in the Yellow River Basin from 2009 to 2021,The evolution of the geographical and temporal pattern of development was investigated using the Moran index and kernel density estimation.The results show that the agglomeration of high-tech industries in the Yellow River Basin presents a development trend of seek improvement in stability,and there is a good coupling and coordination throughout the progression of scientific and technological innovation and the loading capacity of the resource,from the viewpoint of a time series.From the perspective of spatial pattern distribution,the whole basin aims at the lower reaches,accelerates the optimization of digital industry and promotes Yellow River Basin development of superior quality through innovation support and increase of input,and based on policy guidance.

Carbon emission risk of construction industry in Hebei Province of China based on carbon sink thresholds

In order to assess the environmental risks caused by carbon emissions from the construction industry in Hebei Province of China,an environmental risk assessment model based on forest carbon sink threshold was constructed to evaluate the carbon emission risks of the construction industry in Hebei Province,China from 2005 to 2020.The results are shown as follows:(1)The overall carbon emissions of the construction industry in Hebei Province of China showed an inverted"V"-shaped evolution trend during the past 16 years.Tangshan and Shijiazhuang maintained high carbon emissions,while Langfang,Hengshui and Baoding saw rapid increases in carbon emissions.(2)The environmental safety threshold of carbon emission from the construction industry in Hebei Province,China,has been continuously improved,and the provincial environmental safety threshold is between 9475080-23144760 tons;The environmental safety threshold was the highest in Baoding and Langfang,and the lowest in Xingtai.(3)In the past 16 years,the carbon emission risk of the construction industry in Hebei Province of China has been in a state of extremely serious risk,and the risk index generally presents an inverted"V"type trend.(4)The carbon emission risk of Hebei city in China presents a spatial pattern of"high in the south and low in the north",which goes through two stages:risk increase period and risk reduction period.

Research status and application of artificial intelligence large models in the oil and gas industry

This article elucidates the concept of large model technology,summarizes the research status of large model technology both domestically and internationally,provides an overview of the application status of large models in vertical industries,outlines the challenges and issues confronted in applying large models in the oil and gas sector,and offers prospects for the application of large models in the oil and gas industry.The existing large models can be briefly divided into three categories:large language models,visual large models,and multimodal large models.The application of large models in the oil and gas industry is still in its infancy.Based on open-source large language models,some oil and gas enterprises have released large language model products using methods like fine-tuning and retrieval augmented generation.Scholars have attempted to develop scenario-specific models for oil and gas operations by using visual/multimodal foundation models.A few researchers have constructed pre-trained foundation models for seismic data processing and interpretation,as well as core analysis.The application of large models in the oil and gas industry faces challenges such as current data quantity and quality being difficult to support the training of large models,high research and development costs,and poor algorithm autonomy and control.The application of large models should be guided by the needs of oil and gas business,taking the application of large models as an opportunity to improve data lifecycle management,enhance data governance capabilities,promote the construction of computing power,strengthen the construction of“artificial intelligence+energy”composite teams,and boost the autonomy and control of large model technology.

Reform of Theory-practice Alternating Teaching of the Introduction to Architecture Course Oriented to“Employment Priority and Integration of Industry and Education”

In the new era of building a socialist modernization country with the goal of promoting high-quality development,we deeply analyze the knowledge system of the Introduction to Architecture course.This analysis is based on the cross-disciplinary specialties of local applied universities and the orientation of prioritizing employment and integrating industry and education.We propose the teaching reform of“theory-practice alternation”which is adapted to the current times and societal needs.Finally,we comprehensively summarize the effectiveness of curriculum construction,in order to provide theoretical references for the implementation of fostering character and civic virtue and deepening the reform of collaborative education mechanisms.