Search results for: Xiaoxian Zhu

Authors: Obedat Abdulazeez, Yongsheng Guo, Xiaoxian Zhu

Abstract:

This paper analyses the design and impact of public policies on the development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, focusing on the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). SMEs play a significant role in Nigeria’s economic growth, job creation, and income generation but face significant challenges including power supply, financing, insecurity, and taxation. This paper analyses how SMEDAN’s policies and initiatives address these challenges and promote SME growth. Using mixed methods, interviews and questionnaires were conducted with SME owners/managers and SMEDAN officials to evaluate the effectiveness of SMEDAN’s interventions. In this study, 336 responses were received from SMEs in Kaduna state, Nigeria, and descriptive analysis was utilized to analyze the data. Findings reveal that business-clinics, financial-linkage, and training, have positively impacted SME development. However, less than half of the respondents agree that there is a need for increased outreach and better implementation of policies to enhance SME growth. Recommendations are provided for policymakers to improve the design of support strategies by ensuring a more encouraging environment for SME development and by targeting the areas that have not been captured.

Keywords: Nigeria, public policy, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, SME, SMEDAN, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria.

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Authors: Yongsheng Guo, Obedat Abdulazeez, Xiaoxian Zhu

Abstract:

This study aimed to identify the barriers to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China and build a theoretical framework to evaluate the supports provided by the authorities and institutions. A grounded theory approach was adopted to collect and analyse data. 32 interviews were conducted with SME managers and open, axial and selective coding were utilised to develop themes. Based on Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Theory, a grounded theory model was used to present findings. The findings showed that the main barriers in the business environment were financial chain, payment default, limited supply chain and selling channels, and difficulties in recruiting and retaining talent employees. This study found that financial, industry, trade and human resource support were provided. A theoretical framework was developed to evaluate the performance of the programmes from the managers’ perspective. The concepts of Value for Money and economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity were used to evaluate the benefits and costs of the programmes. This study suggests that specialised programmes are needed to suit sector-specific requirements and inclusive packages are helpful to support SMEs' growth.

Keywords: Business barrier, China, public support, SME, small and medium-sized enterprises.

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Authors: Yongsheng Guo, Xiaoxian Zhu, Mandella Osei-Assibey Bonsu

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This study explores the effects of national culture on consumer behaviour by identifying the characteristics of Chinese consumers’ decision making in Europe. It offers a better understanding of how cultural factors affect consumers’ behaviour, and how consumers make decisions in other nations with different culture. It adopted a grounded theory approach and conducted 24 in-depth interviews. Grounded theory models are developed to link the causal conditions, process, and consequences. Results reveal that some cultural factors including conservatism, emotionality, acquaintance community, long-term orientation and principles affect Chinese consumers when making purchase decisions in Europe. Most Chinese consumers plan and prepare their expenditure and stay in Europe as cultural learners, and purchase durable products or assets as investment, and share their experiences within a community. This study identified potential problems such as political and social environment, complex procedures, and restrictions. This study found that external factors influence internal factors and then internal characters determine consumer behaviour. This study proposes that cultural traits developed in convergence evolution through social selection and Chinese consumers persist most characters but adapt some perceptions and actions overtime in other countries. This study suggests that cultural marketing could be adopted by companies to reflect consumers’ preferences. Agencies, shops, and the authorities could take actions to reduce the complexity and restrictions.

Keywords: National culture, consumer behaviour, cultural marketing, decision making.

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Authors: Yongsheng Guo, Mirza Muhammad Naseer, Xiaoxian Zhu

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This study explores the perceptions and conducts of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa from ethical and cultural perspectives. It offers a better understanding of how ethical and cultural factors affect Chinese investment in Africa and how the investment projects performed in Africa from both Chinese investors and African stakeholders’ perceptions. It adopted a grounded theory approach and conducted 30 in-depth interviews with corporate managers. Grounded theory models are developed to link the ethical and cultural factors, actions, and consequences. Results reveal that some ethical concepts like the unity of humans and nature, benevolence, virtue and responsibility, and cultural traits including propriety, righteousness, sincerity, equilibrium, long-term orientation, and principles affect Chinese investors when making investments in Africa. Most Chinese investors harmonize with local managers, cooperate with each other, and are gentle and courteous to partners. They take stable and steady actions and invest in infrastructure and agriculture projects and adopt a virtue governance system in the organization. This study finds that consequently, Chinese investors and local partners take complementary advantages, make achievements sequentially, and therefore both sides can win. They recognize great potentials and make sustainable development in Africa to achieve the Great Together in the future. This study proposes a Chinese ethics and governance system including economic, social, and political perspectives and compares it with alternative systems. It makes implications to the world island theory and propose suggestions to solve the Clash of Civilizations problem.

Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment, Ethics, National Culture, China, Africa.

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Authors: Shiping Wang, Peiyong Zhu, William Zhu

Abstract:

Rough set theory is a very effective tool to deal with granularity and vagueness in information systems. Covering-based rough set theory is an extension of classical rough set theory. In this paper, firstly we present the characteristics of the reducible element and the minimal description covering-based rough sets through downsets. Then we establish lattices and topological spaces in coveringbased rough sets through down-sets and up-sets. In this way, one can investigate covering-based rough sets from algebraic and topological points of view.

Keywords: Covering, poset, down-set, lattice, topological space, topological base.

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Authors: Ling Zhang, Ting-Zhu Huang

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A P0-matrix is a real square matrix all of whose principle minors are nonnegative. In this paper, we consider the class of P0-matrix. Our main aim is to determine which sign pattern matrices are admissible for this class of real matrices.

Keywords: Sign pattern matrices, P0 matrices, graph, digraph.

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Authors: Xin-Lei Feng, Ting-Zhu Huang

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Allowing diagonalizability of sign pattern is still an open problem. In this paper, we make a carefully discussion about allowing unitary diagonalizability of two sign pattern. Some sufficient and necessary conditions of allowing unitary diagonalizability are also obtained.

Keywords: Sign pattern, unitary diagonalizability, eigenvalue, allowing diagonalizability.

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Authors: Jianjun Wang, Peiyong Zhu

Abstract:

In this paper, we prove that if X is regular strongly screenable DC-like (C-scattered), then X ×Y is strongly screenable for every strongly screenable space Y . We also show that the product i∈ω Yi is strongly screenable if every Yi is a regular strongly screenable DC-like space. Finally, we present that the strongly screenableness are poorly behaved with its Tychonoff products.

Keywords: Topological game, strongly screenable, scattered, Cscattered.

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Authors: Kejun Zhuang, Hailong Zhu

Abstract:

The dynamics of a delayed mathematical model for Hes1 oscillatory expression are investigated. The linear stability of positive equilibrium and existence of local Hopf bifurcation are studied. Moreover, the global existence of large periodic solutions has been established due to the global bifurcation theorem.

Keywords: Hes1, Hopf bifurcation, time delay, transcriptional repression loop

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Authors: Hailong Zhu, Zhaoxiang Li

Abstract:

In this paper we investigate numerically positive solutions of the equation -Δu = λuq+up with Dirichlet boundary condition in a boundary domain ╬® for λ > 0 and 0 < q < 1 < p < 2*, we will compute and visualize the range of λ, this problem achieves a numerical solution.

Keywords: positive solutions, concave-convex, sub-super solution method, pseudo arclength method.

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Authors: Yanling Zhu, Kai Wang

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By means of Mawhin’s continuation theorem, we study a kind of third-order p-Laplacian functional differential equation with distributed delay in the form: ϕp(x (t)) = g  t,  0 −τ x(t + s) dα(s)  + e(t), some criteria to guarantee the existence of periodic solutions are obtained.

Keywords: p–Laplacian, distributed delay, periodic solution, Mawhin's continuation theorem.

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Authors: Ber-Lin Yu, Ting-Zhu Huang

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In this note, some properties of potentially powerpositive sign patterns are established, and all the potentially powerpositive sign patterns of order ≤ 3 are classified completely.

Keywords: Sign pattern, potentially eventually positive sign pattern, potentially power-positive sign pattern.

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Authors: Gu-Fang Mou, Ting-Zhu Huang

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An n×n matrix is called an N1 0 -matrix if all principal minors are non-positive and each entry is non-positive. In this paper, we study the partial non-combinatorially symmetric N1 0 -matrix completion problems if the graph of its specified entries is a transitive tournament or a double cycle. In general, these digraphs do not have N1 0 -completion. Therefore, we have given sufficient conditions that guarantee the existence of the N1 0 -completion for these digraphs.

Keywords: Matrix completion, matrix completion, N10 -matrix, non-combinatorially symmetric, cycle, digraph.

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Authors: Kejun Zhuang, Hailong Zhu

Abstract:

In this paper, stability and Hopf bifurcation analysis of a novel hyperchaotic system are investigated. Four feedback control strategies, the linear feedback control method, enhancing feedback control method, speed feedback control method and delayed feedback control method, are used to control the hyperchaotic attractor to unstable equilibrium. Moreover numerical simulations are given to verify the theoretical results.

Keywords: Feedback control, Hopf bifurcation, hyperchaotic system, stability.

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Authors: Rongtao Ding, Xinhao Ji, Linting Zhu

Abstract:

In recent years, the relevance feedback technology is regarded in content-based image retrieval. This paper suggests a neural networks feedback algorithm based on the radial basis function, coming to extract the semantic character of image. The results of experiment indicated that the performance of this relevance feedback is better than the feedback algorithm based on Single-RBF.

Keywords: Image retrieval, relevance feedback, radial basis function.

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Authors: Benshi Zhu

Abstract:

In this paper, the existence of multiple positive solutions for a class of third-order three-point discrete boundary value problem is studied by applying algebraic topology method.

Keywords: Positive solutions, Discrete boundary value problem, Third-order, Three-point, Algebraic topology

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Authors: Zhu Jiaming, Yu Mengna

Abstract:

In this article, models based on quantitative analysis, physical geometry and regression analysis are established, by using analytic hierarchy process analysis, fuzzy cluster analysis, fuzzy photographic and data fitting. The reasons of various leaf shapes among different species and the differences between the leaf shapes on same tree have been solved by using software, such as Eviews, VB and Matlab. We also successfully estimate the leaf mass of a tree and the correlation with the tree profile.

Keywords: Leaf shape; Mass; Fuzzy cluster; Regression analysis; Eviews; Matlab

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Authors: Xin-Lei Feng, Ting-Zhu Huang

Abstract:

According to conjugate gradient algorithm, a new consensus protocol algorithm of discrete-time multi-agent systems is presented, which can achieve finite-time consensus. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate our theoretical result.

Keywords: Consensus protocols; Graph theory; Multi-agent systems;Conjugate gradient algorithm; Finite-time.

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Authors: Chao Wang, Ting-Zhu Huang Chen Jia

Abstract:

In this paper, we propose a new linear complementarity problem named as bi-linear complementarity problem (BLCP) and the method for solving BLCP. In addition, the algorithm for error estimation of BLCP is also given. Numerical experiments show that the algorithm is efficient.

Keywords: Bi-linear complementarity problem, Linear complementarity problem, Extended linear complementarity problem, Error estimation, P-matrix, M-matrix.

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Authors: Yanling Zhu

Abstract:

In this paper, a higher order nonlinear neutral functional differential equation with distributed delay is studied by using the continuation theorem of coincidence degree theory. Some new results on the existence of periodic solutions are obtained.

Keywords: Neutral functional differential equation, higher order, periodic solution, coincidence degree theory.

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Authors: Benshi Zhu

Abstract:

In this paper, the existence, multiplicity and noexistence of positive solutions for a class of semipositone discrete boundary value problems with two parameters is studied by applying nonsmooth critical point theory and sub-super solutions method.

Keywords: Discrete boundary value problems, nonsmoothcritical point theory, positive solutions, semipositone, sub-super solutions method

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Authors: Yanling Zhu

Abstract:

In this paper, a predator-prey model with Holling III type functional response is studied. It is interesting that the system is always uniformly persistent, which yields the existence of at least one positive periodic solutions for the corresponding periodic system. The result improves the corresponding ones in [11]. Moreover, an example is illustrated to verify the results by simulation.

Keywords: Predator-prey model, Uniformly persistence, Comparisontheorem, Holling III type functional response.

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Authors: Benshi Zhu

Abstract:

In this paper, multiple positive solutions for semipositone discrete eigenvalue problems are obtained by using a three critical points theorem for nondifferentiable functional.

Keywords: Discrete eigenvalue problems, positive solutions, semipositone, three critical points theorem

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Authors: Xiangbin Zhu, Wenjuan Zhang

Abstract:

In wireless sensor networks,the mobile agent technology is used in data fusion. According to the node residual energy and the results of partial integration,we design the node clustering algorithm. Optimization of mobile agent in the routing within the cluster strategy for wireless sensor networks to further reduce the amount of data transfer. Through the experiments, using mobile agents in the integration process within the cluster can be reduced the path loss in some extent.

Keywords: wireless sensor networks, data fusion, mobile agent

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Authors: Kejun Zhuang, Hailong Zhu

Abstract:

In this paper, the three species food chain model on time scales is established. The Monod–Haldane functional response and time delay are considered. With the help of coincidence degree theory, existence of periodic solutions is investigated, which unifies the continuous and discrete analogies.

Keywords: Food chain system, periodic solution, time scales, coincidence degree.

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Authors: Chao Wang, Ting-Zhu Huang, Chen Jia

Abstract:

In this paper, we present a simplified higher-order Markov chain model for multiple categorical data sequences also called as simplified higher-order multivariate Markov chain model.

Keywords: Higher-order multivariate Markov chain model, Categorical data sequences, Multivariate Markov chain.

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Authors: Qiuling Xie, Shanliang Zhu, Zongdi Sun

Abstract:

In this paper, we analyzed the correlation relationship among PM2.5 from other five Air Quality Indices (AQIs) based on the grey relational degree, and built a multivariate nonlinear regression equation model of PM2.5 and the five monitoring indexes. For the optimal control problem of PM2.5, we took the partial large Cauchy distribution of membership equation as satisfaction function. We established a nonlinear programming model with the goal of maximum performance to price ratio. And the optimal control scheme is given.

Keywords: Grey relational degree, multiple linear regression, membership function, nonlinear programming.

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Authors: Tianxiu Lu, Peiyong Zhu

Abstract:

This paper is mainly concerned with a kind of coupled map lattices (CMLs). New definitions of dense δ-chaos and dense chaos (which is a special case of dense δ-chaos with δ = 0) in discrete spatiotemporal systems are given and sufficient conditions for these systems to be densely chaotic or densely δ-chaotic are derived.

Keywords: Discrete spatiotemporal systems, coupled map lattices, dense δ-chaos, Li-Yorke pairs.

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Authors: Iosif-Viorel Onut, Bin Zhu, Ali A. Ghorbani

Abstract:

We propose a novel graphical technique (SVision) for intrusion detection, which pictures the network as a community of hosts independently roaming in a 3D space defined by the set of services that they use. The aim of SVision is to graphically cluster the hosts into normal and abnormal ones, highlighting only the ones that are considered as a threat to the network. Our experimental results using DARPA 1999 and 2000 intrusion detection and evaluation datasets show the proposed technique as a good candidate for the detection of various threats of the network such as vertical and horizontal scanning, Denial of Service (DoS), and Distributed DoS (DDoS) attacks.

Keywords: Anomaly Visualization, Network Security, Intrusion Detection.

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Authors: Zilong He, Yuesheng Zhu

Abstract:

Based on the combined shape feature and texture feature, a fast object detection method with rotation invariant features is proposed in this paper. A quick template matching scheme based online learning designed for online applications is also introduced in this paper. The experimental results have shown that the proposed approach has the features of lower computation complexity and higher detection rate, while keeping almost the same performance compared to the HOG-based method, and can be more suitable for run time applications.

Keywords: gradient feature, online learning, rotationinvariance, template feature

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