bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consolidação das contas públicas: análise do cumprimento do art. 51 da LRF pelos municípios do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte
Authors: Silva Maurício Corrêa da , Moreira Leilane Gomes , Oliveira Edmilson Jovino de , Lima Bruno Bulhões de
Published: November 2014

A consolidação das contas tem por objetivo apresentar demonstrações financeiras de duas ou mais sociedades, como se fossem uma única entidade. As sociedades consolidadas continuam existindo juridicamente, sendo a consolidação efetuada apenas extracontabilmente. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa é analisar a situação dos municípios do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte quanto a cumprir o encaminhamento de suas contas, conforme determinado pelo Art. 51 da LRF, no período de 2000 a 2008. Para tal, foram utilizadas as pesquisas descritiva, documental, bibliográfica e qualitativa. Os dados da pesquisa foram extraídos do sítio eletrônico da Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (STN) - www.stn.fazenda.gov.br. Na pesquisa foi utilizada uma amostra intencional dos 167 municípios do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, agrupados em quatro Mesorregiões. Os resultados revelaram que dos 167 municípios do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, 20 municípios se encontram pendentes, em determinado ano, de encaminhar os dados de suas contas para a consolidação das contas públicas nacionais, e que a grande maioria dos municípios potiguares remeteu seus dados com atraso (após 30 de abril).
Proposta de Indicadores de Performance sob a Perspectiva do Balanced Scorecard: o caso de uma cooperativa de crédito
Authors: Hubner Bianca Thais , Tiecker Sirlei Salete , Utzig Mara Jaqueline Santore , Dal Magro Cristian Baú , Dittadi Jadir Roberto , Lavarda Carlos Eduardo Facin
Published: November 2014

O estudo teve por objetivo propor um conjunto de fatores que podem se constituir em indicadores de desempenho sob a perspectiva do BSC em uma cooperativa de crédito. Quanto aos procedimentos metodológicos, a pesquisa classifica-se como descritiva, do tipo levantamento e abordagem quantitativa do problema. A população de pesquisa foram os agentes que se relacionam com a cooperativa de crédito: gerentes, administradores, contador, controller, clientes e colaboradores. A amostra resultou em 50 respondentes para a perspectiva clientes, 10 para a perspectiva financeira, 40 para aprendizado e crescimento e de processos internos. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário para captar os fatores ligados às quatro perspectivas do BSC e, posteriormente, validados em uma segunda rodada de questionários. O estudo mostrou que a cooperativa de crédito deverá desenvolver esforços para atender aos clientes e incentivar os colaboradores, afim de que a organização continue desenvolvendo com sucesso suas atividades. Conclui-se que a organização necessita, também, avaliar a qualidade dos produtos e serviços financeiros oferecidos, bem como a satisfação dos clientes, acompanhando não só os indicadores financeiros, mas também os indicadores não-financeiros.
Efeitos da Migração do Nível de Governança Corporativa Sobre o Valor e Estruturas de Capital e Propriedade da Empresa
Authors: Beck Franciele , Kreuzberg Fernanda , Rodrigues Junior Moacir Manoel , Krespi Nayane Thais , Cunha Paulo Roberto da
Published: November 2014

O objetivo do estudo consiste em determinar os efeitos da migração do nível de Governança Corporativa sobre o valor de mercado, a estrutura de capital e a estrutura de propriedade das empresas. A amostra utilizada é composta de 9 empresas da BM&FBovespa que possuíam dados disponíveis referentes a 10 trimestres anteriores e 5 trimestres posteriores à data do evento. Conclui-se que as empresas que passaram para um nível superior de governança corporativa demonstram tendência de apresentar o mesmo comportamento, ou seja, aumentar seu valor de mercado, a participação de capital próprio em sua estrutura de capital e a dispersão acionária.
A Composição e a Evolução das Despesas com Pessoal no Estado de Santa Catarina de 2000 a 2011
Authors: Souza Paula de , Platt Neto Orion Augusto
Published: November 2014

A existência de limites para as despesas com pessoal no âmbito da União, dos Estados e dos Municípios se mostra presente desde a Carta Magna de 1967. Entretanto, a Lei Complementar n. 101, de 4 de maio de 2000, conhecida como Lei de Responsabilidade Fiscal (LRF), conferiu mudanças consideráveis, impondo regras e limites mais específicos para as referidas despesas. Nesse contexto, este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar a composição e a evolução das despesas com pessoal nos Poderes e órgãos do Estado de Santa Catarina, no período de 2000 a 2011. Além dos limites globais, contemplaram-se os limites prudencial e o de alerta. Adicionalmente, realizou-se ajuste monetário dos valores conforme o Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo (IPCA), tornando-se possível identificar o desempenho do Estado catarinense em relação ao cumprimento dos limites específicos. Dessa forma, constatou-se que o Estado de Santa Catarina, considerado o ente, ultrapassou todos os limites para as despesas com pessoal apenas no ano de 2000. Todavia, nos anos de 2001 e 2005 o limite de alerta foi extrapolado e nos anos de 2002 a 2004 o limite prudencial foi excedido. Em apenas três anos do período em estudo o aumento da despesa com pessoal foi maior do que a realização dos juros e encargos da dívida pública. A receita corrente líquida representou cerca de 9% do PIB do Estado no período, enquanto que a despesa com pessoal chegou a representar o máximo de 5,24% em 2002.
The Benefits of Repeated Collaboration for Team Performance in a Chinese Context
Authors: Long Jing , Zang Zhimei , Chen Chuanming
Published: November 2014

With teamwork being the norm since the 1980s, many researchers have conducted studies on the relationships among different characteristics of team performance. We investigated 55 teams formed by 294 Master of Business Administration students at a university in China, asking them to
complete a task as part of a team of 3-8 members before filling out surveys to assess repeated collaboration and time pressure. Task performance was assessed by the students' instructors. The results showed that repeated collaboration had a negative influence on team performance and that time
pressure moderated this relationship. Managerial implications are discussed.
A Note on a New Study of Intelligence in Egypt
Authors: Bakhiet Salaheldin Farah Attallah , Lynn Richard
Published: November 2014

Three studies of intelligence in Egypt published between 1957 and 1989 and based on small samples gave British IQs between 77 and 83. The present paper reports the results of a recent study based on a much larger sample in order to examine how far the results of the older studies can be replicated. The Coloured Progressive Matrices was standardized in Egypt in 2011–2013 on a sample of 11,284 children aged 5.6 to 10.5 years. The sample obtained a British IQ of 84.2 and provides a satisfactory replication of the earlier studies.
Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Dissimilar Material Welded Joints
Authors: Ziewiec A. , Tasak E. , Ziewiec K. , Formowicz K.
Published: November 2014

The paper presents results of the mechanical testing and the microstructure analysis of dissimilar welded joint of the R350HT steel and the high-manganese (Hadfield) cast steel using Cr-Ni cast steel spacer. The simulation tests of the welded joint surface deformation were carried out. The macroscopic and microscopic investigation were made using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Content of the magnetic phase was measured using magnetoscope. The quantitative metallographic investigation was used for assessment of ferrite and martensite contents and X-ray diffraction phase analysis was carried out. The results showed that during cooling of the spacer after welding, the transformation of metastable austenite into martensite proceeded. In addition to work hardening, the phase transformation of austenite into martensite occurs during the process of the superficial deformation of the spacer while simulated exploitation. This leads to a substantial increase of hardness, and at the same time, causes the increase of wear resistance of the welded joints of crossovers.
Microstructure and Wear Properties of FeCrC, FeW and Feti Modified Iron Based Alloy Coating Deposited by PTA Process on AISI 430 Steel
Authors: Teker T. , Karataş S , Yilmaz S. O.
Published: November 2014

The plasma transferred arc (PTA) process was used for developing wear resistance of AISI 430 steel substrate. Appropriate quantities of FeCrC, FeW and FeTi powders were combined to create conditions that synthesized M7C3 particles into reinforced Fe-based composite surface coating. The phase transformations on new created coated surfaces were comprehensively examined by using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microanalysis by energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), microhardness and abrasive wear tests. The microstructure studies of the superficial layers of the coating revealed presence of a mixture of the dendritic phase structure of austenite (γ) and fine eutectic M7C3 carbides. The results show that; the concentrations of the elements (Cr, W, Ti) added as ferroalloys, the size of dendrites formed in the coated surface, the change of hardness of the coated surfaces, the carbide volume rate and thickness of the coating changed by the variation of the processing parameters (ratio of reinforcement particulates and heat input).
Thermogravimetric Analysis of the Zinc Concentrates Oxidation Containing Various Iron Compounds
Authors: Małecki S. , Jarosz P.
Published: November 2014

This paper presents the results of oxidation of zinc concentrates containing various iron compounds. Using the thermogravimetry and thermal analysis methods it was shown that the influence of the iron form affects the thermal oxidation process. They influence the rate of, oxidation of zinc sulphide and consequently the resulting rate of oxidation of the concentrate.
Effect of Technical Quality of Thermomechanical Die Forging of AA2099 Alloy
Authors: Łukaszek-Sołek A.
Published: November 2014

The paper presents the results of investigations of a multicomponent third-generation aluminium alloy, classified as AA2099. The actual forging conditions were determined basing on the assessment of the quality of side surface of specimens subjected to compression in Gleeble 3800 simulator and on flow curves of the alloy, as well as numerical modelling of forging process performed with application of QForm 3D v.7 software. Compression tests were realized at temperatures 400-500 °C, with a strain rate of 0.001-100 s-1, up to a specified constant true strain value of 0.9. Microstructure examination in as-delivered state was performed with application of Leica DM 4000M optical microscope. The obtained results of isothermal deformation of specimens were correlated with the analysis of a characteristic layered pancake-type microstructure. The simulation of die forging of a complex-shape forging (high-current contact tip used in power engineering) at the temperature 500 °C, was performed. The shape of a forging makes it possible to fully analyse the influence of thermomechanical process conditions on technical quality of a product. The simulation of forging process showed full correctness of material flow, with no signs of instability. At the same time, the analysis of investigations allowed to prepare and realize the industrial forging trials for a forging of a very complex shape, in a single step, at the temperature 500 °C, with application of thermomechanical treatment. The forging attained high quality of shape and surface. Directional specimens were taken, in order to be subjected to microstructure examination and hardness testing. The data obtained from industrial tests, combined with the results of testing using Gleeble simulator as well as from numerical modelling, make up the guidelines for mechanical processing of AA2099 alloy at the temperatures 470-500 °C.
Formation of Medium Carbon TRIP Steel Microstructure During Annealing in the Intercritical Temperature Range
Authors: Kokosza A. , Pacyna J.
Published: November 2014

The paper presents the results of research conducted on austenite formation in the microstructure of 41MnSi6-5 TRIP steel during annealing in the intercritical temperature range. The influence of the annealing temperature on the volume fraction of retained austenite in the microstructure of the investigated steel after water quenching was also determined.

Based on the results of a dilatometric analysis and metallographic investigation it was noted that the pearlite-to-austenite transformation does not occur at a constant temperature, which is referred to as Ac1, but rather within some, possible to determine, temperature range which is bounded by the values Ac1s and Ac1f.

Moreover, through X-ray analysis, it was stated that the largest amount of retained austenite remained in the samples which were annealed at the lowest temperatures in the Ac1s-Ac1f range prior to quenching. Increasing the annealing temperature to a two-phase a+g (ferrite + austenite) range, resulted in a decrease of the volume fraction of retained austenite.

It was also found that during annealing in Ac1s÷Ac1f temperature range, austenite is also formed from ferrite simultaneously. This could be the reason for the decrease the carbon content in the formed austenite and consequently the decrease in the volume fraction of retained austenite in the microstructure of the investigated steel, which was quenched after having reached temperatures higher than Ac1s + 30°C.
Hypothesis Testing to Confirm the Influence of Technological Parameters on Poor Quality Production
Authors: Lakomá R. , Čamek L.
Published: November 2014

This report addresses some chosen statistical methods that could be used to confirm and set up the required functions of technology in foundry companies where parts are cast by the low-wax casting method, whereas these chosen statistical methods are intended to reduce poor quality of produced parts. This research was made on a practical example. Utilization of hypothesis testing methods was examined in order to confirm technological parameters having some influence on the products quality. The data were compared before and after the implementation of changes aimed at reduction of poor quality produced parts in the wax department. The results confirmed that the implemented change had a statistically conclusive influence.
Characterization of the Parameters of Sand Moulds in Compaction Process by Use of the Industrial Computer Tomography (ICT)
Authors: Kadauw A.
Published: November 2014

One main problem in moulding is the proper characterization of the local density of the mould, the best without its destroying, for assessment the quality of the mould and to compare results of compaction modeling with experimental results. Industrial computer tomography (ICT) is a technique that allows the non-destructive and contact-free visualization and characterization of the internal and external parts of physical objects including also sand moulds. It is possible to apply ICT technique for the specific research presented here. Moulding sand compaction plays an important role for the quality of the mould and as the consequence for the quality of manufactured casting. The required quality of the castings can be achieved by selecting optimum manufacturing process parameters. The determination of these parameters is often carried out by trial-and-error-method, which is expensive and time consuming. To improve the understanding of the influence of various parameters, mathematical modeling of the compaction processes using numerical solutions was performed. Theoretical results of the compaction simulations have then been compared with practical results of mould compaction obtained by ICT. Itwasfound that simulation results agree well with data from computer tomography and provide insight into the spatial distribution of the density of sand moulds under industrial condition.
Influence of Cumulative Plastic Deformation on Microstructure of the Fe-Al Intermetallic Phase Base Alloy
Authors: Bednarczyk I. , Kuc D. , Niewielski G.
Published: November 2014

This article is part of the research on the microstructural phenomena that take place during hot deformation of intermetallic phase-based alloy. The research aims at design an effective thermo - mechanical processing technology for the investigated intermetallic alloy. The iron aluminides FeAl have been among the most widely studied intermetallics because their low cost, low density, good wear resistance, easy of fabrication and resistance to oxidation and corrosion. There advantages create wide prospects for their industrial applications for components of machines working at a high temperature and in corrosive environment. The problem restricting their application is their low plasticity and their brittle cracking susceptibility, hampers their development as construction materials. Consequently, the research of intermetallic-phase-based alloys focuses on improvement their plasticity by hot working proceses. The study addresses the influence of deformation parameters on the structure of an Fe-38% at. Al alloy with Zr, B Mo and C microadditions, using multi – axis deformation simulator. The influence of deformation parameters on microstructure and substructure was determined. It was revealed that application of cumulative plastic deformation method causes intensive reduction of grain size in FeAl phase base alloy.
Temperature of NiCrBSi Powder Particles Detonation Sprayed – Theory and Practice
Authors: Babul T.
Published: November 2014

The article compared the results of theoretical calculations with results of actual temperature measurements of detonation sprayed NiCrBSi powder heated by the impact of the detonation products stream. Theoretical distributions of temperature in the powder particle were calculated by the Finite Element Method FEM, using the COSMOS/M program algorithm. In the absence of the heat transfer equations in the solid state being in movement, which is influenced by dynamic heat wave, the conduction mechanism described by Fourier's law was adopted. Experimental temperature measurements as a function of the acceleration path length were conducted using an own construction two-channel pyrometric system. The obtained data confirmed good agreement between the results obtained using FEM calculations method and results of experimental measurements using the pyrometric devices.
The Development of Explosive Metalworking in Poland
Authors: Babul W.
Published: November 2014

The author coordinated the research in Poland by the collaboration with civil and military scientific and research centres. In result they elaborated detonation process of spraying coats designed and constructed stands equipped with detonative devices, they also elaborated the techniques of basic coating parameter measurement and built devices for commercial and scientific services. In the research the author's achievements within the range of explosive welding have been used. The experience of the scientific teams was very effective. It was observed that many phenomena that take place in the processes of detonative layer coating and explosive welding are the same. In order to obtain a required connection the plastic strain of the connected material surfaces has to be achieved and cumulative flows have to be formed. There are a similar range of the connecting process conditions and the mechanisms of plastic strain. The highest connection strength is obtained when an intermediate zone is formed. The zone has to be composed of the two connected materials. The intermediate layer is formed as a result of mechanical alloying of the materials due to large plastic strain. The plastic strain leads to forming meta-stable phases that have properties of pseudo solid solution, chemical compounds, intermetallic phases and fragmentation corresponding to nanomaterials and amorphous states.
Explosive Device for Current Switching
Authors: Bogdanovich P. T. , Komorny A.A. , Tarnopolsky B.A.
Published: November 2014

The present paper deals with explosive devices for switching of kiloampere and megaampere current. The parameters of cumulation from a grooved surface and the parameters of shaped charge jet penetration into a barrier were analyzed depending on the initial properties of the explosive charge, the inert material and the barrier.
Influence of Heat Treatment Conditions on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Austempered Ductile Iron After Dynamic Deformation Test
Authors: Myszka D. , Cybula L. , Wieczorek A.
Published: November 2014

In this article, an attempt was made to determine the effect of dynamic load on the austempered ductile iron resistance obtained under different conditions of heat treatment. Tests were carried out on six types of cylindrical ductile iron samples austempered at 320, 370 and 400oC for 30 and 180 minutes. For each type of material, two samples were collected. As a next step in the investigations, the samples were subjected to a Taylor impact test. The samples after striking a non-deformable, rigid target were deformed on their front face. After Taylor test, a series of material tests was performed on these samples, noting a significant increase of hardness in the deformed part. This was particularly well visible in the ductile iron isothermally quenched at higher temperatures of 370 and 400oC. Inthezone of sample deformation, an increase in the content of ferromagnetic phase was also reported, thus indicating the occurrence of martensitic transformation in the microstructure containing mechanically unstable austenite. A significant amount of deformed graphite was also observed, which was a symptom of the deformation process taking place in samples. The ductile iron was characterized by high toughness and high resistance to the effect of dynamic loads, especially as regards the grade treated at a temperature of 370oC.
Effect of Heating Rate on Accelerated Carbide Spheroidisation (ASR) in 100CrMnSi6-4 Bearing Steel
Authors: Hauserova D. , Dlouhy J. , Novy Z.
Published: November 2014

Typical processing routes for bearing steels include a soft annealing stage, the purpose of which is to obtain a microstructure containing globular carbides in ferritic matrix. A newly developed process called ASR cuts the carbide spheroidisation times several fold, producing considerably finer globular carbides than conventional soft annealing. The present paper explores the effect of the heating rate and temperature on the accelerated carbide spheroidisation process and on the resulting hardness. Accelerated spheroidisation was achieved by thermal cycling for several minutes around various temperatures close to the transformation temperature at various heating rates applied by induction heating.
Manufacture of Toothed Elements in Nanoausferritic Ductile Iron
Authors: Myszka D. , Skołek E. , Wieczorek A.
Published: November 2014

The technology currently used for the fabrication of toothed wheels, gear couplings and chain drums involves the induction hardening process or hardening and tempering after carburising. All these processes take a long time and cause adverse changes in the dimensions and surface quality of products, requiring post-treatment machining to remove the resulting cavities. The paper proposes the implementation of gear elements made of ductile iron with nanoausferritic matrix obtained by a new appropriate heat treatment process. The new material offers good performance characteristics and nearly no need for the application of other technological processes commonly used in the manufacture of gears.
Fitzgerald's Anglo-Persian Rubáiyát
Authors: Taher-Kermani Reza
Published: November 2014

This article examines Edward FitzGerald's translation practice and the poetics of his Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859) in order to to enrich and supplement previous critiques. FitzGerald succeeded in ‘Persianising’ his re-writing of the rubáiyát by importing matter of peculiar Persian significance. In order to identify it, his translation of Khayyám needs to be read with, so to speak, a Persian eye; it has to be scrutinized as a native critic would read and analyse the poetry of, for example, Hāfiz. This is the fundamental approach of this essay.
Infestation Level Influences Oviposition Site Selection in the Tomato Leafminer Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)
Authors: Bawin Thomas , De Backer Lara , Dujeu David , Legrand Pauline , Megido Rudy , Francis Frédéric , Verheggen François
Published: November 2014

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a devastating pest that develops principally on solanaceous plants throughout South and Central America and Europe. In this study, we tested the influence of three levels of T. absoluta infestations on the attraction and oviposition preference of adult T. absoluta. Three infestation levels (i.e., non-infested plants, plants infested with 10 T. absoluta larvae, and plants infested with 20 T. absoluta larvae) were presented by pairs in a flying tunnel to groups of T. absoluta adults. We found no differences in terms of adult attraction for either level of infestations. However, female oviposition choice is influenced by larvae density on tomato plants. We discuss the underlying mechanisms and propose recommendations for further research.
Chitin and Chitosan Nanofibers: Preparation and Chemical Modifications
Authors: Ifuku Shinsuke
Published: November 2014

Chitin nanofibers are prepared from the exoskeletons of crabs and prawns, squid pens and mushrooms by a simple mechanical treatment after a series of purification steps. The nanofibers have fine nanofiber networks with a uniform width of approximately 10 nm. The method used for chitin-nanofiber isolation is also successfully applied to the cell walls of mushrooms. Commercial chitin and chitosan powders are also easily converted into nanofibers by mechanical treatment, since these powders consist of nanofiber aggregates. Grinders and high-pressure waterjet systems are effective for disintegrating chitin into nanofibers. Acidic conditions are the key factor to facilitate mechanical fibrillation. Surface modification is an effective way to change the surface property and to endow nanofiber surface with other properties. Several modifications to the chitin NF surface are achieved, including acetylation, deacetylation, phthaloylation, naphthaloylation, maleylation, chlorination, TEMPO-mediated oxidation, and graft polymerization. Those derivatives and their properties are characterized.
Adaptive Systems: History, Techniques, Problems, and Perspectives
Authors: Black William , Haghi Poorya , Ariyur Kartik
Published: November 2014

We survey some of the rich history of control over the past century with a focus on the major milestones in adaptive systems. We review classic methods and examples in adaptive linear systems for both control and observation/identification. The focus is on linear plants to facilitate understanding, but we also provide the tools necessary for many classes of nonlinear systems. We discuss practical issues encountered in making these systems stable and robust with respect to additive and multiplicative uncertainties. We discuss various perspectives on adaptive systems and their role in various fields. Finally, we present some of the ongoing research and expose problems in the field of adaptive control.
CMV-Promoter Driven Codon-Optimized Expression Alters the Assembly Type and Morphology of a Reconstituted HERV-K(HML-2)
Authors: Hohn Oliver , Hanke Kirsten , Lausch Veronika , Zimmermann Anja , Mostafa Saeed , Bannert Norbert
Published: November 2014

The HERV-K(HML-2) family contains the most recently integrated and best preserved endogenized proviral sequences in the human genome. All known elements have nevertheless been subjected to mutations or deletions that render expressed particles non-infectious. Moreover, these post-insertional mutations hamper the analysis of the general biological properties of this ancient virus family. The expression of consensus sequences and sequences of elements with reverted post-insertional mutations has therefore been very instrumental in overcoming this limitation. We investigated the particle morphology of a recently reconstituted HERV-K113 element termed oriHERV-K113 using thin-section electron microscopy (EM) and could demonstrate that strong overexpression by substitution of the 5'LTR for a CMV promoter and partial codon optimization altered the virus assembly type and morphology. This included a conversion from the regular C-type to an A-type morphology with a mass of cytoplasmic immature cores tethered to the cell membrane and the membranes of vesicles. Overexpression permitted the release and maturation of virions but reduced the envelope content. A weaker boost of virus expression by Staufen-1 was not sufficient to induce these morphological alterations.
Cultural Product Management from Environment to Territorial Context
Authors: Ferri Maria Antonella , Dominici Gandolfo , Basile Gianpaolo , Aiello Lucia
Published: November 2014

This chapter aims to represent the evolution of the cultural vocation of the territory with relation to the cultural product. The authors achieve this by adopting a holistic, viable-systemic approach. This approach proves useful to draw a better representation of the relationships existing among members of the territory - which is a prerequisite for the creation of any cultural product - and among them and the stakeholders to whom the cultural product itself is targeted. The authors consider the notion of relationship as a form of interactive connection determining - in causal fashion - a series of input-output effects among system members.
A Business Model for Accessible Tourism
Authors: Ferri Maria Antonella
Published: November 2014

The present contribution aims to propose some research on business models in tourism, with a particular focus on accessible cultural tourism. This chapter takes up part of a previous monograph on the reconfiguration of Abell's model that, in the final part, is applied to accessible cultural tourism. The main objective is to bring some of the reflections and results obtained during these years in tourism to an international level, whilst taking into account the particular role that culture has in tourism activities of an area, and how it may provide a key point for the development of certain businesses as well as accessible tourism. The chapter also considers tourism that is able to satisfy special requirements, which would otherwise limit or exclude some groups of individuals, such as those with mobility, cognitive or perceptual impairments (related to age and / or temporary conditions) from the process of touristic consumption.
Cultural Heritage Information System (CHIS)
Authors: Colace F. , De Santo M. , Greco L. , Chianese A. , Moscato V. , Picariello A.
Published: November 2014

The Campania region boasts one of the largest and most priceless cultural heritages in the world: five sites in this region have already been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and many other sites considered “minor” are not adequately promoted in spite of the fact they are of high artistic value. The project “Cultural Heritage Information System,” (referred to from now on as “CHIS”), aims to investigate the possibility of developing a technological infrastructure that can support activities related to the specific context of Cultural Heritage, and the various user involved. CHIS represents the technological leverage with which it will be possible to develop value-added services which can enhance the business environment by means of personalized services. In this paper the authors will describe the proposed framework and its main characteristics.
The Effect of Web 2.0 Usage in E-Service Quality in Hospitality
Authors: Andrlic Berislav , Ariwa Ezendu
Published: November 2014

This chapter explores the usage of Web 2.0 technologies in determining the level of quality of Websites in the Croatian hotel industry. Namely, in order to determine the level of quality, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of Websites qualitatively and quantitatively. From the data obtained, it is possible to determine the degree of information compliance with the wishes and needs of potential clients. As the basis of primary research, the authors use the original model evaluation on a selected sample of hotels in Croatia.
Tourism E-Booking and ‘E-Purchasing'
Authors: Valek Nataša Slak , Axelsson Eva Podovšovnik
Published: November 2014

Information technology plays a significant role in tourism, but mainly as an informational tool. Ideally, the information search process on the Internet should try to encourage consumers to book and purchase travel services and products prior to leaving for their vacation, but cultural differences in booking on-line are found. The present study research problem is to understand the complex of e-booking and e-purchasing travel behaviors among Slovenes, since no research between Slovene tourists was done before. In details, the relationship between e-booking and paying travel accommodation and travel transportation on the Internet in the period of five years is investigated. The results show slow changes and an increase in booking and buying travel transportation, while booking and paying tourism accommodation gains greater interest during a five-year period.
The Implementation of Rural Heritage Measures in Ukraine
Authors: Moroz Serhiy
Published: November 2014

The paper describes the current state and tendencies in the development of rural heritage in Ukraine. Special attention is given to the nature reserve fund, forests, water resources, and historical-cultural objects. The preparatory steps for the implementation of rural heritage measures are presented, taking into account the necessity of the adaptation of the rural development policy of Ukraine to the requirements of the European Union. The aims, objects, and main directions of measures regarding the preservation of cultural and natural heritage in the rural regions of Ukraine are identified. The indicators for the evaluation of rural heritage measures are proposed.
Impact of Social Media in Service Innovations
Authors: Ng Eric , Lien Ching-Yu
Published: November 2014

Service innovations have become an important source for organisations to gain competitive advantage in today's increasingly dynamic, complex, and unpredictable business environment. While the concept of technology as a driving force for service innovations has long been recognised, the recent growing popularity in the use of social media has given rise to many concerns by businesses as there is insufficient knowledge and understanding about the usage of social media in the context of service innovations. This research seeks to investigate the impact of social media and the key challenges that impede businesses from leveraging social media in service innovations within the Australian hotel industry. The research adopts the use of a case study methodology that involves 12 in-depth interviews conducted with 6 businesses in the hotel sector. The findings highlight 4 key themes (i.e. behavioural change, online reputation, customer service channel, and monitoring and responding) in which social media has impacted service innovations and also revealed 9 major challenges (i.e. lack of adequate funding, difficult to determine financial gains, lack of human resources, lack of management support, lack of understanding of social media innovation, resistance to change, lack of proven evidences, lack of technological infrastructure and knowledge, and security concerns) that pose potential barriers for businesses to adopt and leverage the use of social media in service innovations.
Sports Tourism Marketing
Authors: Hallmann Kirstin , Dallmeyer Sören , Breuer Christoph
Published: November 2014

Research dealing with the motives of sports tourists from a marketer's perspective remains underdeveloped. This chapter describes the phenomenon of sports tourism and aspires to examine with an empirical study the motives of winter and summer sports tourists. The first sample (n=339) was comprised of active as well as passive summer sports tourists. The second sample (n=477) only focused on active participants being winter sports tourists. Both samples were sharing a particular profile of consumers: The respondents were predominantly male, medium-aged, well-educated, and affluent. Cluster analysis based on the items of involvement and strengths of motivation revealed the clusters Casual and Committed. The Committed cluster showed a higher level of involvement, whereas sport motivation differed between the two clusters. Implications for marketing are presented.
Entertainment and Food Tourism in the Backdrop of Late Modernity and a Reflection on Turkey
Authors: Kesimoglu Aysegul
Published: November 2014

It is widely accepted today that food is symbolically and culturally bounded, which make it also emblematic for cultural and creative industries, as well as entertainment and leisure. This is observed in the increasing use of food in media entertainment such as cooking shows and competitions but also in other variant forms such as culinary schools, specialist food boutiques, gastronomic festivals, and the expansion of traditional media into digital platforms (i.e. with food blogging). This chapter is interested in one particular form of food entertainment. This is food tourism, which is deemed to incorporate different aspects of food entertainment forms within. The chapter initiates on a brief assessment of changing conceptualizations of food in the backdrop of late modernity with the conviction that food's changing conceptualizations are driving food's popularity as an entertainment scheme. Consequently, food tourism is discussed with an evaluation of its development and current positioning in Turkey.
Consumer Loyalty to an Airline
Authors: Forgas-Coll Santiago , Palau-Saumell Ramon , Sánchez-García Javier
Published: November 2014

The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the loyalty of airline users in both online and offline environments, and the influence exercised by the virtual environment on overall loyalty to an airline company. An empirical study was carried out, with a total of 1710 personal interviews with users of different airline companies. In the analysis of the data, structural equations models were used, in particular the technique of confirmatory factor analysis. The results reveal that satisfaction, trust and perceived value all explain the relationships of loyalty between passengers and airline companies and that satisfaction trust and loyalty online influence overall satisfaction, trust, and loyalty to the company. Perceived quality, satisfaction, and trust online explain online loyalty.
Customer Satisfaction Evaluation for Greek Online Travel Agencies
Authors: Drosos Dimitrios , Tsotsolas Nikolaos
Published: November 2014

The rapid development of tourist supply and demand makes Information Technologies (IT) significant, and thus, they increasingly play a more critical role in tourism marketing, distribution, promotion, and coordination. IT influences the strategic management and marketing of contemporary organisations as a paradigm-shift is experienced, transforming the best business practices globally. IT is one of the main key influences of competitiveness in the tourism/travel industry. The original purpose for adopting IT systems was simply to provide an automatic means of store and manage data (e.g. on flights and accommodation). At the same time, IT in the tourist sector enables an increased volume of transactions to be handled rapidly and effectively. This chapter presents an original customer satisfaction survey in the Greek Online Travel Agencies. For the collection of the data, a Website questionnaire was used in order to better record the customers' views on the service overall as well as their satisfaction levels on particular aspects of the service. The survey was conducted within the period September – November 2012. Final input data consists of 510 questionnaires.
Consumer Preferences and Key Aspects of Tourism and Hospitality Marketing on Island Destinations
Authors: Pappa Nikolaos
Published: November 2014

The decision of destination's selection is almost always accompanied by hotel selection. Hence, it is essential for tourism stakeholders to understand the marketing means' correlation toward destinations and hotels. In addition the purchasing behavior of consumers in tourism and hospitality needs to be examined in order to give the ability to optimize marketing strategies and promotional campaigns. The purpose of this chapter is to examine and present the perspectives on the island's destination and hospitality marketing held by consumers visiting Crete. The study's contribution is based on the clarification of consumers' purchase behavior and consumerism patters in tourism with reference to destination and hotel selection. It also gives an understanding for the marketing's influential importance for tourism purchases. The research was undertaken with departed tourists from Crete. As the research findings revealed, the perspectives of tourists concerning destination and hospitality marketing may vary significantly toward gender, age, education, and income. The research findings also indicate that younger and more educated consumers seem to have better knowledge and higher use of Information Technologies. On the contrary, elder people and those who are less educated are dependant to traditional ways of advertising. Furthermore, income plays a significant role dealing with additional services, better accommodation, and – in general – higher quality of provided products, whilst pricing policy still remains crucial for all tourists, no matter their financial revenues. The chapter also provides suggestions for further destination and hospitality marketing development, and information for the importance of each marketing mean used to lure tourists to visit the destination.
The Reflections of the Recent Global Economic Crisis on the Turkish Tourism Sector
Authors: Yılmaz Ali , Aktaş Semra Gunay
Published: November 2014

In this chapter, the reflections of the recent global crisis on the tourism sector have been studied. In the first part of the chapter, the effects of the global crisis on the tourism sector in the world and Turkey are examined. The latter parts of the research constitute of the evaluations regarding the effects of the global crisis on the Fairy Chimneys Area in the Cappadocia Tourism Region, and the hotels, motels, and souvenir shops there. Cappadocia was chosen as the research area since it is an important tourism attraction at both national and international level. Therefore, a survey has been conducted at the work places in Avanos, Urgüp, Göreme, and Nevsehir City Center in Cappadocia Tourism Region. The data obtained through the survey has been analized by SPSS 17 programs. At the end of the research, it was determined that the effects causing concern in the tourism sector started to be seen on the tourism region as well, although the economic crisis started in the USA and the European Countries.
The Influence of Travel Experience on Mature Travelers' Quality of Life
Authors: Wang Yawei , McGuire Francis A. , Zhou Bin
Published: November 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of past travel experience (i.e., number of trips and number of days away from home in last year), and on mature travelers' quality of life (i.e., self-perceived health and global life satisfaction). A total number of 217 respondents (50+) in a southern state were used in this study. Path analysis (PROC CALIS in SAS) was performed to test the proposed model. An estimation of the proposed theoretical model revealed that the model fit the data. However, the model should be further examined and applied with caution.
What Do We Know about Europe?
Authors: Santos Carmen R. , Abad-González Julio , Pertejo Ana R. , Casarin Francesco , Rosin Umberto , Ganassali Stéphane , Kaufmann Hans Rüdiger , Laaksonen Pirjo
Published: November 2014

This chapter provides a descriptive report on factors influencing the behaviour of European consumers, highlighting their similarities and differences, based on secondary data. The analysis focuses on the presentation of comparable data that could provide clusters of characteristics of consumption among the COBEREN partners. The authors concentrated on describing the society using ten categories: 1) Demography and education, 2) Society, 3) Economy and industry, 4) Health, 5) Lifestyle, 6) Satisfaction and importance, 7) Consumption patterns, 8) Cost of food basket, 9) Leisure time, and 10) Media consumption.
Resource Integration and Value Co-Creation in Cultural Heritage Management
Authors: Barile Sergio , Saviano Marialuisa
Published: November 2014

Cultural Heritage-Management (CHM) in Italy appears to chronically suffer from resources fragmentation. The aim of this chapter is to highlight the need for a value co-creation logic based on resource integration in CHM to improve awareness and involve citizens, organizations and other stakeholders in the cultural heritage preservation and enhancement activities. The methodological approach adopted is an integration among Service-Dominant-logic (S-DL) and Service-Science (SS), within the general framework of the Viable-Systems-Approach (VSA). By shifting focus from the objects of exchange to the relations among parties, S-DL and SS emphasize the importance of collaboration in market interaction. VSA integrates the two perspectives within the structure-system paradigm explaining how collaboration among viable systems takes place. On the basis of the proposed integrated perspective a Service-Based-Systems approach is defined that allows developing a model for CHM based on a value co-creation logic. The authors argue that, to implement an effective co-creation, actors should be linked as resource integrators within a network relationship and share a governance approach inspired cooperating principles as postulated by the VSA consonance model. The chapter provides a conceptual framework of reference for integrating the wide variety of resources needed for an effective management approach to cultural heritage preservation and enhancement. This approach requires a cultural change in CHM organizations in order to effectively exploit: opportunities of a co-creation logic oriented to integrate multi-disciplinary; multi-professional resources; capabilities and competences. By adopting the VSA consonance framework, the authors highlight the relational conditions for resource integration in a Cultural Heritage Territorial System model on the basis of a value co-creation logic.
Cultural Heritage Management at the Local Level
Authors: Rocca Lorena , Chiabai Aline , Chiarullo Livio
Published: November 2014

In a virtual space conveniently chosen, citizens of the Web can interact and develop social capital and empowerment, intended as the consciousness of possibilities to influence the social context and to improve it, by increasing capacity of taking reasoned decisions on problems and of adopting adequate behaviour to face them. The Web can be seen in this sense as an innovative decisional system where it is possible to activate processes of electronic governance (e-governance) to make notions and expectations appear for a self-promoted and self-sustained local development. From this basis, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei has taken part to the research project ISAAC (Integrated e-Services for Advanced Access to Heritage in Cultural Tourist Destinations)1, with the objective of designing, experiencing, and testing innovative forms of participation by taking advantage of the potential of the New Technologies for Information and Communication (NTIC) to support and promote e-governance processes.