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We examine whether firms in the emerging market whose controlling persons have foreign residency rights are more likely to invest overseas inefficiently. Using a sample from China’s private listed ...

A simulation study was conducted to explore the influence of partial measurement invariance on the second-order factor mean difference estimation. The types, positions, numbers, and directions of b...

A simulation study was conducted to explore robustness of general factor mean difference estimation in bifactor measurement models with ordered-categorical measures. Common analysis misspecificatio...

Infection with a novel H10N8 influenza virus in humans was first described in China in December 2013, which raised concerns related to public health. This novel virus was subsequently confirmed to have originated from a live poultry market. However, whether this virus can infect other mammals remains unclear. In the present study, antibody specific for H10N8 influenza virus was detected in swine herds in southern China during serological monitoring for swine influenza virus. The pathogenicity and transmissibility of this H10N8 influenza virus to swine was examined. The results showed that swine are susceptible to infection with human-origin H10N8 influenza virus, which causes viral shedding, severe tissue lesions, and seroconversion, while infection with avian-origin H10N8 influenza virus causes only seroconversion and no viral shedding. Importantly, human-origin H10N8 influenza virus can inefficiently be transmitted between swine and cause seroconversion through direct contact. This study provides a new perspective regarding the ecology of H10N8 influenza virus and highlights the importance of epidemiological monitoring of the H10N8 influenza virus in different animal species, which will be helpful for preventing and controlling future infections by this virus.

The localised corrosion due to the galvanic couples between the precipitated particles and matrix in a new aluminium alloy 2519A was investigated by scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy. Topography and Volta potential differences relative to the matrix in 3·5%NaCl solution were examined for two kinds of Al2Cu and Al7Cu2Fe particles. Almost the particles showed positive Volta potential difference relative to the matrix. A series of particles nobility was detected with Al7Cu2Fe being less noble than Al2Cu. The potential difference of Al2Cu particles from the matrix was 702 mV in average, while Al7Cu2Fe particles 526 mV. Both of the particles act as cathode and localised corrosion originated mainly from the periphery of coarse ones. The more obvious the particles, the more severe the corrosion pits are.

In the present paper, ZnO nanorod arrays (ZNAs) coating was covered onto wood surface via a hydrothermal method to improve wood flame retardancy. With the scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy disperses X-ray analysis characterisations, a wurtzite structured ZNAs with a length of ∼1·5 μm were densely coated onto the wood surface. Using the cone calorimetry technique, the significant difference in combustion parameters between the untreated and the ZNAs coated wood was observed. In comparison to the untreated wood, the time to ignition was increased about three times, and the burning time of ZNAs coated wood was extended by 55 s. Simultaneously, the heat release rate, total heat release, total smoke production and production of CO, CO2 (COP, CO2P) were significantly reduced. As a result, the thin ZNAs coating could be effectively acted as a protective layer for wood and convert wood from a flammable material into a non-flammable material.

Inspired by the porous structure of wood, a novel bio‐based composite, wood–polymer composite, was fabricated by thermoforming polymer from monomers [methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St)] in situ in the wood’s porous structure through a catalyst thermal treatment. SEM observation indicated that polymer was generated in situ and satisfactorily filled up wood pores without noticeable lacunae. FTIR analysis suggested that MMA and St copolymerised in the wood pores, and the resultant polymer was grafted onto the wood matrix through the reaction of ester group of MMA and hydroxyl group on wood components, achieving a chemical complex, which is in agreement with SEM observations. DMA analysis showed that the graft of copolymer of MMA and St onto wood improved the interface interaction between wood matrix and polymer, which rendered both the glass transition temperature and storage modulus at normal temperature of wood–P(MMA‐co‐St) composite evidently increased. The mechanical properties of wood–P(MMA‐co‐S...