bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Political Risks on Foreign Companies’ Market Entry Strategies in China
Authors: Songqui Zhou , Quijano Ma. Florisa
Published: October 2024

This study explores the challenges faced by multinational companies operating in China, focusing on political risks and entry challenges. The analysis is based on five established companies: IBM (China) Co., Maersk Logistics (China) Co., Ltd., Schneider Electric (China) Co., Ltd., 3M China Limited, and Marriott International (Greater China) Limited. The findings reveal high risks associated with government regulations, cultural differences, intellectual property protection, trade barriers, compliance requirements, and technology/cybersecurity. Political challenges during market entry include concerns about intellectual property theft, piracy, and cyber espionage. In response, a strategic plan is proposed to mitigate these challenges, emphasizing financial cooperation, cultural adaptation, intellectual property management, trade compliance, and cybersecurity readiness. The goals include enhancing corporate image, reducing disputes, increasing market share, and achieving leadership in compliance and cybersecurity. Conclusions highlight the strategic approaches adopted by the analyzed companies and the necessity for careful consideration of regulatory environments. Recommendations include building local partnerships, investing in research and development, implementing sustainability initiatives, and developing comprehensive compliance systems. The proposed strategies aim to help foreign companies navigate the complex Chinese market successfully.
Enhancing Field Reporting at DPWH: A Mobile App Case Study
Authors: Serrano Jarred , Jocson Joefil
Published: October 2024

This case study examines the deployment of a mobile reporting application at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) within the Nueva Ecija 1st District Engineering Office, aimed at enhancing field reporting processes. Employing a qualitative approach, the study involved five key participants and utilized surveys, interviews, and observational studies to gather comprehensive data on the app’s usability and effectiveness. Results indicate that the app significantly improved operational efficiency by reducing the time and error associated with report submissions. Participants reported a moderate to high satisfaction level, highlighting the app’s impact on streamlining field reporting tasks. However, challenges such as usability issues under poor network conditions and difficulties with data entry on small screens were identified, suggesting areas for further improvement. This study underscores the potential of digital tools in transforming public sector management and outlines both the benefits and the barriers to technology adoption in governmental settings.
VIDEO PODCAST (VODCAST) – PEDAGOGICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CREATIVE STRATEGY “CREATING YOUR OWN DIGITAL CONTENT”
Authors:   Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, Karagyozova Silvana
Published: October 2024

The study examines the use of videocasting as a specific form of the “learner-generated videos” pedagogical strategy and its impact on the three main areas of learning – knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The benefits for the knowledge and skills, and in general for the cognitive behavioral experience that the learners acquire through such contextualized and active actions, are proven by numerous studies and were naturally reconfirmed in the current video podcast creation process. Therefore, the present study focuses on the learners’ attitudes (without neglecting the first two – knowledge and skills), how they evaluate their experience, and the value of the specific pedagogical tool. In this activity, the teacher’s assumption was confirmed that the video podcast created by the students is an active, interesting, engaging, and motivating form for them to acquire and consolidate several valuable skills, which will give them practical experience in situ, a sense of meaningful learning, authenticity, autonomy, collaboration, and confidence in their subsequent professional realization.
DAS KLAVIER ALS RAUM DES KULTURELLEN AUSTAUSCHS
Authors:   Kunstuniversität Graz (KUG), Österreich, Mehraban Maryam
Published: October 2024

Die Untersuchung der Klaviertechniken im Iran durchläuft verschiedene Phasen, darunter die Sammlung historischer Daten, die Erforschung der genealogischen Entwicklung der Spieltechniken und die Problematisierung bestehender Ansätze. Die Mikrotöne sind ein wesentliches Element der persischen Musik, die ihr eine einzigartige Klangfarbe verleihen. Sie erfordern eine sorgfältige Analyse und Anpassung, um sie auf das Klavier zu übertragen, ein Instrument, das traditionell nicht für die feinen Nuancen der persischen Tonskalen ausgelegt ist. Das modale System der persischen Musik, das auf einer komplexen Struktur von Tetrachorden und Pentachorden basiert, umfasst eine Vielzahl von Modi, die in sieben Dastgāhs und fünf Avazes organisiert sind, und stellt eine Herausforderung für die Übertragung auf das Klavier dar, das mit seiner gleichschwebenden Stimmung konzipiert ist. Das gleiche gilt für die Rhythmen und Spielpraxis der persischen Musik. In Zusammenarbeit mit einem Team aus internationalen Komponisten entstehen in einem kritischen Kontext neue Stücke.
PLAYING WITH SOUNDS. EARLY AND PRESCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATION THROUGH KODALY APPROACH AND EDWIN GORDON’S MUSIC THEORY
Authors:   Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, Karaminkova-Kabakova Emilia
Published: October 2024

The early introduction of children to the art of music is a recommendation in numerous curricula and approaches to music education. However, there is a need for a more profound understanding and the development of clear guidelines for working with music educators in children's educational institutions. In addition to guidance for music educators, it is crucial to persuade parents, the primary source of musical stimulation for their children, to engage with their children's musical development. Children in early childhood express natural curiosity in exploring the sounds of their environment. The incorporation of music into the natural surroundings of children can stimulate their interest in singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments. Many scholars engaged in research on children’s music education are interested in understanding how to develop children’s musical abilities to support their understanding of musical language.
THE SYN(ES)THESIS PROJECT – A MULTI-PURPOSE EXPERIMENT IN INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS
Authors:   ‘Prof. Pancho Vladigerov’ National Academy of Music,, Lialios Alexander ,   ‘Pancho Vladigerov’ House Museum, Sofia
Published: October 2024

In the spring of 2021, the “Pancho Vladigerov” House Museum in Sofia brought to life a new creative initiative that aimed to simultaneously enlarge the scope of the museum’s activities, open up new artistic paths, and allow for an innovative approach to the cultivation of a wider audience base given the ongoing pandemic at the time. In April of the same year, the SYN(es)THESIS Project was officially introduced to the public through its inaugural concert exhibition; since then, it has involved the partnership and support of no less than twelve institutions in Bulgaria and has culminated in three complete annual editions with multiple events and components. Three years later, with a remarkable array of creative results in several artistic fields, the project presents the intriguing tale of an original interdisciplinary experiment. This paper invites a closer look into its structure and organization, its participants' compelling and inspired productions, and its potential for further expansion into new creative territories following its main established principles. In its essence, the SYN(es)THESIS Project aims to explore the multitude of possibilities for synthesis, interactions, and interconnections between the various arts through inspired individual and group-coordinated creative work. As such, it is meant to build bridges, often in unexpected ways, between artists, artistic disciplines, and institutions at multiple levels, even between the educational and professional spheres and their respective audiences. To foster the above goals, the project employs an array of creative approaches that, as its very name suggests, allow for manifold combinations and artistic interpretations. In practice, the root words “SYN” (Greek, “together”), “THESIS” (“statement”), “aesthesh” (“feeling”), and “SYNTHESIS” all have a certain relationship to its main guiding principles; and, while the number of these morphemes is fixed, the project does provide an open framework in which the potential directions for artistic work can, at least in theory, be limited only by one’s imagination and the specific relationships between the various creative mediums. In this regard, the project encompasses a rather open general format; concurrently, with every new session, all possibilities are narrowed down to specific combinations of artistic activities. This consequently allows for a clear, yet ever-evolving structure to be re-established as the basis for creative work.
THE GREAT MUSIC BOOK OF AL FARAB – A MEDIEVAL MODEL FOR MUSIC THEORETICAL RESEARCH
Authors:   Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, Mihaylov Ilia
Published: October 2024

The Great Book of Music (Kitab al-Musiqa al-Kabir), by the Golden Age Islamic philosopher al-Farabi, is a X th. century treatise on music in Arabic. It consists of two parts, the first being an introduction in which the definition of melody and its subdivisions, the origin of music, and some acoustic problems are discussed. The second part is devoted to the specifics of musical instruments popular among Arabs, the variety of rhythms, and the composition of melodies. Influenced by Pythagoras' theory of harmonic relationships, Farabi gives us a detailed definition of music, reveals its categories, and describes the elements from which a musical work is formed. The author systematically and subversively explains the importance of induction, and supports his theory emphatically by evidence, asserting that many of the principles he derives are acquired through sense experience, as in astronomy, optics, medicine, and other sciences.
THE NEAPOLITAN PIANO SCHOOL: FROM ITS ORIGINS TO VINCENZO VITALE
Authors:   Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, Majoni Tatiana
Published: October 2024

This article is a journey through the Neapolitan keyboard tradition, from its origins to the school of Vincenzo Vitale, whose students still spread his music and pedagogical legacy all over the world, in music academies and on concert podiums. Nearly five hundred years of music: from the pre-classic harpsichord masters and composers, through the development of the music tradition in Neaples over the centuries, specifically the evolution of its music conservatories and their first piano teachers, to the fundamental pedagogues and their methods the XIX and XX centuries.
STYLISTIC AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN VIOLIN SOLO CAPRICCIOS IN THE 20th CENTURY – KONSTANTIN G. MOSTRAS, GRAŻYNA BACEWICZ, STANLEY WEINER, AND JOAQUIN RODRIG
Authors:   Sofia Opera and Ballet, Nikolov Evgeni
Published: October 2024

The history of the capriccio is relatively well studied. Based on historical documents, the term can be traced back to 1561, when in France this term was used to refer to madrigals and instrumental music, mostly for keyboard instruments of an improvisational nature. In violin literature, the genre of capriccio categorically begins with the extraordinary virtuoso discoveries of Pietro Antonio Locatelli. Today, the work of this original master is overshadowed by the fame of Paganini. Still, in the interests of justice, it is fair to admit that Paganini borrowed 90% of Locatelli’s achievements in bow technique and his discoveries are reduced only to: - Double flageolets in the left hand; - Guitar fretboard in the left hand, in which the thumb is also used to fix tones of G string; - The widespread use of the ricochet articulation in the right hand, though Locatelli contributed to this discovery.
MICHAIL GOLEMINOV’S SOUNDSCAPES – A STEP AHEAD
Authors:   ORANGE FACTORY, Tosheva Angela ,   PSYCHOACOUSTIC ARTS, Kerekovsky Ivan
Published: October 2024

The article portrays one of Bulgaria’s leading composers of the past few decades, who has received international recognition, particularly in the field of electroacoustic music. Michail Goleminov (1956-2022) composed scores for chamber and symphony orchestras. He was a multi-media artist and author of various programming applications, notation games, and generative software. He specialized in musical notation with long years of professional experience as an editor at the Vienna-based Doblinger Publishers and an active pianist and performer of free improvisations. Goleminov completed his musical education in Bulgaria but left for Austria at the age of 28, where he resided, studied, and worked for 16 years. In 2000/2001, he returned to Bulgaria and created Orange Factory Psychoacoustic Arts, an experimental studio for contemporary art, along with pianist Angela Tosheva. They have organized concerts, festivals, master classes, and competitions for musical compositions, published books, and released audio and video productions and multi-media applications at various levels. The duo was also actively engaged in educational activities. Together they carried out more than 250 projects over the years 2001-2022.
THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONTEXT AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMANCE ART IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Authors:   Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, Dvorianov Orlin , Prezhdarova Veronika ,   Plovdiv University ‘Paisii Hilendarski’
Published: October 2024

The study investigate the influence that the economic, political and cultural context had on artists expressing their ideas through the means of performance in the first half of the 20th century. Dynamic changes in every field of social life, and especially in the scientific and technical, directly or indirectly, stimulate artists to publish manifestos, search for a synthesis between the arts, protest artistic actions, or those aimed at self-examination. These attitudes impact the discovery and practice of new forms of expression in modern art.
Das Halleluja – Oratorium balbulum von Peter Eötvös als instrumental-chorisches Theater, und Musik des Scheiterns
Authors:   Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG, Mainz, Germany, Krause Andreas ,   Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
Published: October 2024

Mit Peter Eötvös ist am 24. März 2024 einer der großen Komponisten unserer Zeit verstorben. Er gehörte zu der Generation, deren Kindheit noch von den Wirren des II. Weltkriegs direkt geprägt war, bis hin zur direkten Bedrohung durch die Flächenbombardierung Deutschlands. 1944 in Transsylvanien geboren und noch ein Kleinkind, übersteht er im Februar 1945 nur knapp die Bombardierung Dresdens, den „Dresdner Feuersturm“, seine Familie war wie viele andere vor der vorrückenden Front dorthin geflohen. Es bleiben traumatischen Nachwirkungen. Zurück in Ungarn wird der Vater als Offizier inhaftiert, auch 1956 zur Zeit des ungarischen Aufstands später nochmals. Die Budapester Musikakademie, in die Zoltán Kodály ihn bereits 1958 aufnimmt, und Theaterbesuche werden ein früher Fluchtpunkt. Die Ausbildung an der Musikakademie betont die ungarische Tradition von Liszt bis Bartók. Seine Kompositionslehrer Janós Viski, ein Schüler von Zoltán Kodály, und Ferenc Szabó lassen ihn „den ganzen Liszt“ auf dem Klavier spielen – bis zuletzt wirke dessen Klangwelt in seinen Stücken nach. In einem der zentralen Spätwerke, dem Halleluja – Oratorium balbulum aus dem Jahre 2015, komponiert Eötvös mit leichter Hand ein Bartók-Fake: „wenn Bartók ein Halleluja geschrieben hätte“. Obwohl politisch äußerst ungewünscht, gehörte auch Anton Webern mit zum Unterrichtsstoff bei Viski, Eötvös ist „verblüfft“ und „verzaubert“.
Navigating the Landscape of Kubernetes Security Threats and Challenges
Authors: Kampa Sandeep
Published: October 2024

The rise of containerization and the widespread adoption of Kubernetes have revolutionized the way applications are deployed and managed. This paradigm shift has introduced new security risks and challenges that must be addressed. This paper delves into the various security threats and vulnerabilities associated with Kubernetes, exploring mitigation strategies and best practices to enhance the overall security posture of containerized environments. Kubernetes, as a leading container orchestration platform, has become the de facto standard for managing and scaling containerized applications in modern IT infrastructure. While Kubernetes offers numerous benefits, such as improved scalability, portability, and resource optimization, it also introduces a unique set of security concerns that must be carefully navigated. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the security threats and challenges faced in Kubernetes environments, as well as the current approaches and tools used to address these critical issues.
Toyota Culture!
Authors: Horvat Matthew
Published: October 2024

How do world-class organizations do it? The question seems to be on everyone's mind. We assume it takes a great product, good marketing, good employees, and discipline. World Class organizations are characterized as getting better and better. In the construction industry we are beginning to know this as 'Lean Construction'. Maybe you have experience with TQM or have been in a lecture that mentioned Deming's 14 Management Points. Now, you or your firm is investigating Lean Construction. Lean involves an organizational change and that means culture. What does culture really mean? Just how can a continuous improvement effort really change things?
Book Review: Schedule for Sale: Workface Planning for Construction Projects by Geoff Ryan
Authors: Ballard Glenn , Choo James
Published: October 2024

Schedule for Sale: Workface Planning for Construction Projects, was published in 2009 by Geoff Ryan3. The idea behind the title is that productivity can be improved through better management, and that poor productivity causes projects to have longer durations. The book proposes a method of production planning and control designed specifically for megaprojects in the process industries. According to the book’s preface, the method of workface planning was developed by Ryan with Lloyd Rankin, who intends to publish a companion piece You Can Have It All, which is to provide instruction how to do workface planning, while Ryan’s book provides the concept, the ‘what’ versus the ‘how’. “Work must be achievable before it is released to installers.” (p. 57) This is the main principle behind the design and execution of Workface Planning. The goal is to increase labor utilization, which Ryan equates with labor productivity. Framed in terms of Taiichi Ohno’s seven types of waste4, Workface Planning tries to eliminate the waste of workers waiting on work, but does so by increasing the waste of work waiting on workers. For example, on page 5, it is stated that the size of FIWPs (elemental work packages) is based on foremen estimates of best results, plus 10% so “you don’t run out of work”. Despite the book’s title, schedule is systematically sacrificed to labor utilization through the creation of buffers of inventory and time larger than needed to absorb variation in flows and larger than needed to force continuous improvement. What’s more, opportunities for productivity improvement that go beyond labor utilization are not pursued. But before expanding the critique of Workface Planning, we describe it in the following section.
Competition and Collaboration are not mutually exclusive
Authors: Strickland John
Published: October 2024

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to help advocates of the integrated approach respond to the ubiquitous challenge of “how do I know I couldn’t have gotten it cheaper unless I bid it?” by explaining how an integrated project approach need not compromise the owner’s ability to benefit from competitive pricing and may well deliver lower cost than traditional competitive bidding Findings: The integrated approach may provide a more effective level of competition and can lower the risk for both the owner and the contractor in ways that may not be fully recognized by those making contracting decisions and allows the owner to have far greater cost certainty, especially during early stages of the project. Competitive pricing can be secured on the key areas over which the contractor has discretion without a detailed design. An integrated approach can actually enhance competition by making the project more attractive to contractors, largely because it reduces their risk. This reduction in risk is not merely shifting the risk to the Owner or to others, but represents reducing the risk across the board. The reduction in risk is accompanied by an improvement in project collaboration, communication and culture that may be the biggest benefit of the approach. The commercial arrangements can take many forms, and owners do not necessarily need to use the excellent Integrated Form of Agreement. Limitations: The integrated approach is not likely to work in organizations that pre- suppose that service providers must be coerced by market pressure to deliver their best pricing. Implications: Projects need not be difficult and confrontational. Using an integrated approach can lead to lower risks, lower costs, and shorter schedules than the traditional design-bid-build method. Value for practitioners: This paper will help practitioners contrast and compare integrated and traditional contracting approaches and recognize where an integrated approach might lower their risk and cost. The paper provides practitioners with a line of logic to counter the common argument that the lowest price is always found through traditional competitive bidding.
Step-by-Step Modularity – a Roadmap for Building Service Development
Authors: Sands Mark
Published: October 2024

Purpose — Construction’s coming age of innovation and high performance will naturally flow from the effective development of whole-building standards and measures. Findings —Construction analysts correctly identify performance-based standards and measures as the missing link to overcoming poor performance throughout the industry. But neither the analysts, nor the industry, have identified the measurement science, technology or structures needed to establish and apply standards, starting with the whole-building as a system. Limitations — While the proposed approach and technologies will readily adapt to horizontal (roadway), heavy and process oriented construction projects, the science and modelling presented in this paper has been limited to vertical (commercial) building project types. Implications — The building process lacks standards beyond the commodity measure; i.e., at the point-of-production or trade level. Commodity-based standards and procurement practices necessarily prohibit innovation, leading to high cost and low performance. So, commodity-based standards must be replaced with performance-based standards and practices, wherever performance improvements are needed. The Implication of changing this basis in procurement and contracting will be transformational. Decades of pent up productivity decline will give way to a process that equips, empowers and rewards lean principles from the early planning through the completion of building projects. Value for Practitioners — Two key indices will result from whole-building standards; the CEI (cost effectiveness index) and BPI (building performance index). Like safety’s the Experience Modification Rate (EMR), these and many other indices will impact the building process and completed building performance. As a result, practitioners will be able to produce much greater value for their customers. Key Words — Performance Standards and Measures, Function-based BIM, Systems thinking, High Performance, Prediction, Validation and Calibration, Market Average Baseline, Benchmarking, Industry Target, Project Target, Performance-based, Commodity-based. Paper Type — Forum Paper
Social Construction: Understanding Construction in a Human Context
Authors: Slivon Christine A. , Howell Gregory A. , Koskela Lauri
Published: October 2024

Research Question: Is the context of a natural science, e. g. physics, sufficient to explain the phenomena of a construction project, or is a broader context needed, one which would account for human behavior in terms of linguistic action as well as physical activity? Such an explanation is needed to improve our ability to manage construction projects. Purpose: To show that the broader framework of human concerns is a necessary context for understanding construction and that linguistic actions are a key distinction for observing the process in a way that makes sense. This perspective explains the success of the Last Planner ® System (LPS) and the Integrated Form of Agreement, which are the major innovations underlying the success of Lean Construction. Research Method: Conceptual analysis and our collective experience with LPS as an example of the appearance of our findings in real world situations. Findings: 1. The linguistic action of a “request” brings about subsequent physical activity. Commitment provides the initiative for material flows. 2. Collaborative planning is more effective than planning done in isolation by a single person. 3. Making promises in public provides an incentive for people to keep them, out of a concern for their reputation in the community, resulting in higher levels of reliability. 4. Trust can grow out of the repeated, reliable fulfillment of promises. 5. Higher levels of trust and reliability among the members of a project team enable them to improve their effectiveness by reducing the cost and duration of projects. Limitations: This paper does not address issues of power nor of bad faith nor of agency. Implications: Methods and approaches for assessing trust could be developed and tested. Value for practitioners: Practitioners can use the linguistic actions of requests and promises to have more effective project conversations
The Combination of Last Planner System and Location-Based Management System
Authors: Seppänen Olli , Ballard Glenn , Pesonen Sakari
Published: October 2024

Research Question: The Last Planner System (LPS) and Location-Based Management System (LBMS) both aim to achieve the lean goals of decreasing waste, increasing productivity and decreasing variability. Q1: How to best link these two systems together to achieve better project performance? Q2: can the LBMS control mechanisms be integrated with LPS? Q3: Can phase pull scheduling be integrated with LBMS? Purpose: The purpose of this research is to develop a process and best practices to combine the benefits of LPS and LBMS. Research Method: Skanska Finland has used LPS and LBMS together. Because the planning and controlling methods in different industries can vary, a series of workshops was conducted at a hospital project on the US West Coast, and three other US companies were interviewed, to discover the factors specific to industries where activity-based scheduling systems dominate. These three sources of information were combined to the latest case study results on the stand-alone use of LBMS and LPS. Findings: The paper proposes processes to integrate LPS and LBMS in pre-bid master scheduling, pull phase scheduling, look-ahead scheduling, and weekly planning. Limitations: The proposed processes need to be tested in practice. Implications: The hypotheses for future research are that after implementing the proposed process, H1: schedule conformance will improve, H2: project durations will shrink, H3: productivity will increase, and H4: cascading delay chains will show a decrease. Value for practitioners: General Contractors or Construction Managers can begin to use the proposed processes in order to decrease durations and increase productivity.
Lean production, value chain and sustainability in precast concrete factory – a case study in Singapore
Authors: Peng Wu , Pheng Low Sui
Published: October 2024

Research Question: Is the lean production philosophy applicable in precast concrete factories to achieve sustainability? If it is, what are the imperfections that can be improved to achieve sustainability? Purpose: This study aims to identify the contribution of the lean concept to achieve sustainability in precast concrete factories. By using appropriate lean principles, the precast concrete industry can move closer towards sustainability. Research Method: Quantitative assessment of each non-value adding activity is provided. Qualitative descriptions are provided for activities that cannot be assessed quantitatively. Findings: The results indicate that the value chain in precast concrete factories has the potential to improve. Carbon emissions can be reduced in precast concrete factories to achieve low-carbon production. Limitations: Precast concrete products are investigated in this study, which may limit the applicability of this study to other construction materials. Further researches are suggested. Implications: The lean production philosophy has practical contributions to sustainable development, which can be adopted by precasters to achieve better performance in some sustainability factors, such as energy consumption, carbon emissions as well as production efficiency. Value for practitioners: By eliminating the non-value adding activities identified in this study, precasters can achieve more environment-friendly and efficient production. In addition, regulatory bodies may initiate a lean benchmark for the precasters to identify how efficient current production is, as well as for the consumers to choose truly environment-friendly construction materials.
The Impact of Path Dependencies on Lean Implementation Within a Construction Company
Authors: Morrey Nicola , Pasquire Christine , Dainty Andrew
Published: October 2024

Hypotheses: The hypothesis under consideration is that path dependencies can influence the implementation of lean and enactment of that strategy in practice. Purpose: The effect path dependency has on a lean implementation is being investigated using a major UK construction company as a case study. This paper describes the nature of the issues arising from path dependency and presents the preliminary findings. Research Design/Method: A literature review on path dependency has been carried out, with emphasis on finding literature concerned with path dependencies in the context of implementing change. Findings: The paper finds that many elements that are required to implement and embed a lean culture are path dependent. Limitations: The findings from the literature review are not limited to a particular company or industry, and so the findings concerning elements that can influence change being path dependent have a wide relevance. Implications: The implication for industry is that history matters, and that it is necessary to understand the past and the path dependencies in existence within a business in order to change the future. Value for practitioners: A study of path dependencies could be considered to be a form of root cause analysis of barriers and/or enablers for change within the business. It is suggested that other practitioners could carry out a study of the path dependencies that exist within their business in order that any lean implementation/change program can be tailored to either overcome or capitalize upon these dependencies and to ensure that the change program will be fully realized and sustainable.
Book Review: Build Lean: Transforming construction using Lean Thinking by Adrian Terry & Stuart Smith
Authors: Howell Greg
Published: October 2024

Presented as a narrative like Goldratt’s The Goal, Build Lean: Transforming Construction Using Lean Thinking2 traces the lean journey of one company led by Steve, a senior officer. It begins when he is confronted by some dismal results on one project and a significant success, attributed to Lean, on another. Three sections –  Lean in a Construction Context  Implementing Lean in a Construction Organization  Using Lean to Maintain an Edge frame the story and speak to issues important to every organization adopting Lean Construction. This is not a book about adopting Lean Construction or applying it on a project. By “Lean” here I mean the principles and practices drawn from Toyota and popularized by Womack & Jones (2003) — Value, Value Stream, Flow, Pull, Perfection. Lean Construction3 is defined by fundamental concepts, basic practices and a common vocabulary. Together these create a new paradigm for managing work in projects from concept to completion. While the book may be useful to some, I found it disappointing for a variety of reasons. Even so, I recommend it for designers and contractors trying to establish a lean initiative and to their clients hiring organizations implementing lean principles and practices. More on that along the way.
Using a design-build contract for Lean Integrated Project Delivery
Authors: Darrington Joel
Published: October 2024

Purpose: By making a distinction between design-build as a project delivery system and design-build as a contract type, I suggest that design-build contracts can be a useful vehicle for implementing Lean Integrated Project Delivery. Research Method: Experience, observations and personal insight. Findings: Not all owners are legally allowed or institutionally prepared to enter a threeparty relational contract that some consider the hallmark of Integrated Project Delivery™. Some of those owners are better suited to a design-build contract format. A design-build contract can be structured as a relational contract in order to more fully implement Lean IPD, or can be structured as a transactional contract using a traditional design-build form in which the supply chain chooses to implement Lean IPD principles without an owner mandate. Limitations: Design-build contracts do not displace the need for three-party relational contracts. Owners who have legal authority and suitable temperament may be better served by a three-party integrated agreement. Since not all owners fit that description, design-build contracts may be useful vehicles to deliver Lean IPD projects. Implications: Lean IPD can more deeply penetrate the industry if more owners are able to utilize it. Increasingly, public owners are gaining legal authority to use design-build procurement. Many private owners would have difficulty getting internal stakeholders to agree to a three-party integrated agreement, but may be able to implement Lean IPD using a design-build contract instead. Value for practitioners: Having an alternative contracting method opens up new avenues for practitioners to implement Lean IPD on projects that might not otherwise allow for it. Keywords: Lean; Integrated Project Delivery; design-build; contract type; relational contract Paper type: Forum essay
Administración de los cambios de ingeniería para reducir los impactos negativos en el proceso de implementación
Authors: García Arrieta Brissa Carolina , Tarango Hernández Luz Elena , Loera Castro Adrián Francisco
Published: October 2024

Este artículo presenta los resultados de lasimulación hecha en Bizagi®, de cómo es el proceso de implementación de los cambios de ingeniería, La simulación incluye la interacción de todos los departamentos involucrados en este proceso, mencionalas actividades que deben de ejecutarse, además de contar con un tiempo estimado para concretar la actividad. Se seleccionó a un cliente que se maneja con una bajademanda de volumen anual y una alta mezcla en números de partes. El objetivo de la investigación es simular el proceso actual, para ver si la empresa está cumpliendo o fallando con la implementación respecto a el tiempopactado, ver las actividades que afectan el proceso, buscar alternativas para reducir los tiempos negativos. Para esteestudio se trabajó con un cliente que es el más demandante, agrupando sus productos en 3 categorías, la empresa maneja un tiempo establecido por ellos mismos de ocho, diez y doce semanas para la implementación respectivamente, simulando el proceso con tiemposactuales, se corroboró que la empresa no está logrando implementar los cambios a tiempo, la simulación evidencio que el departamento de producción yplaneación consumen más tiempo, específicamente la actividad de entregar el corte para realizar medios procesos. La falta de capacidad en la empresa impacta de manera negativa, debido a que están aceptando nuevo negocio, pero no le están invirtiendo a la maquinaria, un escenario alterno fue la propuesta de generar un tercer turno exclusivo a cortar requerimientos de cambios de ingeniería que están comprometido a fechas próximas, esto con la finalidad de reducir a una semana la entrega del corte, se simulo este escenario y el tiempo de implementación está dentro del tiempo pactado. Al realizar el diagrama se observaron actividades que pueden trabajarse a la par, para reducir aún más los tiempos de espera entre actividades.
Evaluación ergonómica de nuevas estaciones de trabajo para prevenir eventos relacionados un mal diseño
Authors: Olivas González Christian Nicolas , Tarango Hernández Luz Elena , Sandoval Chávez Diego Adiel , Zorrilla Briones Francisco
Published: October 2024

La prevención de trastornos musculoesqueléticos en los últimos años ha jugado rol importante en el sector salud como en el sector manufacturero, por lo cual la presente investigación aborda un estudioergonómico en una planta de vehículos recreativos ubicada en Ciudad Juárez Chihuahua México. La evaluación ergonómica se realizó en el área desubensamble de dirección, y se llevo a cabo por medio de la metodología RULA, para el desarrollo del modelo estadístico se utilizó una comparación de medias para identificar si existe una diferencia significativa en la evaluación de las estaciones de trabajo
CRECHES PARA TERCEIRA IDADE: IMPACTOS E BENEFÍCIOS NA GESTÃO PÚBLICA
Authors: Brenda de Araújo Pires Alina , Do Amaral Moisés
Published: October 2024

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar os impactos e benefícios das creches para a terceira idade na qualidade de vida dos idosos em um município do Estado de Rondônia. A pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, adotou o método de estudo de caso, com a aplicação de entrevistas de campo. A creche para a terceira idade, serviços municipais que oferecem cuidados diurnos a idosos em ambientes seguros e acolhedores, desempenham papel crucial na promoção do bem-estar físico, mental e social dos idosos, além de contribuir para o aumento da socialização e a manutenção da autonomia dos longevos. Os resultados indicam que, além de beneficiar diretamente os idosos e seus familiares, essas instituições geram impactos positivos na comunidade por meio do desenvolvimento de Políticas Públicas voltadas para o envelhecimento saudável, a geração de empregos e a criação e manutenção de instituições locais. Contudo, desafios como a capacitação contínua dos profissionais, a acessibilidade e a inclusão permanecem, destacando a necessidade de equidade no acesso aos serviços. Este estudo ressalta que os impactos e benefícios desse modelo variam conforme o contexto e as necessidades específicas de cada sociedade, sendo fundamental a realização de análises aprofundadas para maximizar seus efeitos, aplicando soluções tecnológicas e autossustentáveis alinhadas às demandas da população idosa e da sociedade.
Ciberseguridad: Un enfoque interdisciplinario para la protección del mundo digital
Authors: Romero Palmera Jose Antonio , Calzolaio Cristofano Vita Maria
Published: October 2024

La ciberseguridad se ha convertido en un tema de vital importancia en la era digital, donde la interconexión de sistemas y la dependencia de tecnologías avanzadas han creado un entorno propicio para la vulnerabilidad. Este libro, titulado "Ciberseguridad: un enfoque interdisciplinario para la protección del mundo digital", busca abordar este fenómeno desde múltiples perspectivas, integrando conocimientos y prácticas de diversas disciplinas que son esenciales para comprender y enfrentar los retos actuales en el ámbito de la seguridad cibernética. En un mundo donde los datos son considerados el nuevo petróleo, la ciberseguridad no solo es una necesidad técnica, sino también una cuestión estratégica que afecta a empresas, gobiernos y ciudadanos por igual.
Marco Legal fundamental de las empresas personas físicas y morales en México
Authors: Morales Reyes Eric , Jiménez Suazo Ana , Figueroa Duarte Juan Francisco , Díaz Enríquez Jorge , Díaz Enríquez Iván Jesús
Published: October 2024

El cumplir con el Marco legal de las empresas personas físicas y morales en México es fundamental, porque de ello se desprenden las obligaciones y contribuciones fiscales que se derivan del  funcionamiento de las organizaciones que existen en el país y  están obligadas a tributar por medio del pago de los impuestos que están establecidos dentro de las leyes a nivel nacional, estatal y local. Con la finalidad de contribuir al gasto público, las obligaciones fiscales se derivan del giro de cada una de ellas, las más comunes en general son:  Impuestos Federales; Impuesto Sobre la Renta (ISR), Impuesto al Valor Agregado (IVA), Impuestos Estatales; Impuesto Sobre Erogaciones por Remuneraciones e Impuesto para el Fomento a la Educación, Cuotas de Seguridad Social para los trabajadores; Cuotas Obrero-Patronales, Retiro Cesantía y Vejez y Ahorro para el Retiro, Aportación de INFONAVIT. Estas obligaciones son aplicables a todas las personas físicas y morales que obtengan su riqueza en el país o fuera de él si realizan operaciones con países extranjeros.
Innovando la Didáctica en la Educación Superior: Estrategias para Mejorar el Proceso de Enseñanza-Aprendizaje
Authors: Chulde Cabrera Sandra Valentina , Beltrán Arcos María Teresa , Chazi Nacimba Fernanda Gabriela , Lopez Espinoza Katya Lorena , Rodriguez Cabrera Valeria Diana
Published: October 2024

La educación superior enfrenta desafíos para adaptarse a las necesidades y expectativas de los estudios del siglo XXI. La educación superior es un campo en constante evolución, y la innovación en la didáctica es la clave para mejorar el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje. El objetivo es proporcionar un resumen exhaustivo de las principales estrategias innovadoras que pueden ser implementadas para mejorar y proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en la educación superior en modalidad en línea. A continuación, se presentan algunas estrategias innovadoras para impulsar el aprendizaje en entornos universitarios: Aprendizaje adaptativo para personalizar el contenido y ritmo de aprendizaje según las necesidades y el progreso de cada estudiante, gamificación para la inclusión de juegos en entornos educativos para motivar y fomentar el aprendizaje incluyendo desafíos, recompensas y competencias, comunidades de aprendizaje en línea para crear ambientes de discusión a través de foros y redes sociales, y la alfabetización de la IA para fomentar el desarrollo de habilidades digitales y de uso ético. En resumen, la implementación de estas estrategias innovadoras en la educación superior en línea puede mejorar significativamente el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, fomentando la participación activa, la personalización, la colaboración y el desarrollo de habilidades relevantes para el éxito académico y profesional de los estudiantes.
IMPLEMENTATION OF SVM-PSO IN SENTIMENT ANALYSIS OF GOOGLE PLACE REVIEW USERS AT CAFE HEADQUARTERS
Authors: Rosmawan Hendri , Setyanto Setyanto , Wibowo Ferry Wahyu
Published: October 2024

Sentiment analysis plays an important role in understanding customer perceptions of businesses, allowing companies to respond more effectively to customer needs and satisfaction. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model optimized with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) in classifying the sentiment of user reviews on Markas Cafe. The dataset consists of 1,533 user reviews categorized into three sentiment classes: positive, neutral, and negative. The optimization process using PSO is used to find the optimal SVM parameters. The results showed that the SVM-PSO model achieved an accuracy of 87.7% and an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.85, with the best performance on positive sentiment (94.7% precision and 92.8% recall). Although the model showed good ability in detecting positive sentiments, the results for neutral and negative sentiments indicated the need for further improvement. This study confirms the effectiveness of SVM-PSO in sentiment analysis and suggests this approach can be utilized by businesses to improve marketing and customer service strategies based on user feedback.
Time Series Analysis of River Discharge, Water Stage, and Rainfall at Lokoja Section of Benue River, Kogi State, Nigeria
Authors:   Department of Geography, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria, Patricia Ali , Yisaga Deborah , Akpegi Onah Monday , Adimanyi Odeh , Grace Stephen Ene
Published: October 2024

This study carried out a time analysis of river water level (stage), rainfall, and discharge in the Lokoja section of River Benue and assessed their implications for flooding. The specific objectives that guided the study were focused on monthly and annual variability in water level, rainfall, and discharge are examined, along with their interrelationships. Data on water level and discharge were acquired from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA), Abuja covering 22 years (2001 -2021), while rainfall data were obtained from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Lagos Operational Headquarters. Time series analysis was carried out using the Least Square Regression Model. The significance of the trend was tested using the student’s t-test at a 0.05 (95%) confidence level. While descriptive statistics employed are mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation. The results indicate a decline in water levels from January to April, followed by a significant rise from May to October. Annual water levels show a significant positive trend over 21 years (R² = 0.2968, r= 0.5448), with notable fluctuations. Peak discharge exhibits a fluctuating monthly pattern, with a significant increasing trend over the years (R² = 0.2451, r = 0.4951), indicating potential flood risks. Monthly rainfall varies significantly, with notable peaks between April and August. Although annual rainfall shows a slight increasing trend, it’s not statistically significant. Strong correlations exist between peak discharge and water levels (r ≈ 0.982), while relationships between discharge and rainfall, and water levels and rainfall are moderate. Multiple regression analysis reveals water level significantly influences discharge (β ≈ 30.27, R² = 0.960). The study recommends implementing seasonal water management plans to address seasonal fluctuations, enhancing flood forecasting systems, adopting adaptive management strategies, investing in long-term monitoring and research, and promoting stakeholder collaboration. These measures aim to improve water resource management resilience, flood preparedness, and response capabilities in the face of climate variability and change.
SIMULATION OF COLD EMISSION FROM A CNT-BASED CATHODE WITH COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS
Authors:   Ulyanovsk State University, Rozhleys I.A. , Tertyshnikova G.V. ,   Ulyanovsk State University, Moiseev S.G. ,   Ulyanovsk State University, Sannikov D.G. ,   Ulyanovsk State University
Published: October 2024

A two-dimensional model of an electron emitter based on a carbon nanotube is considered. Using the COMSOL Multiphysics package the falling Fowler-Nordheim dependences are obtained when the electron emission period changes inversely proportional to the cube of the voltage applied to the anode. The reasons for the deviation of the obtained results from the experimental and Fowler-Nordheim theory predictions are discussed.
INVESTIGATION OF OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NANOPHOTONIC SYSTEMS BASED ON THE NANOMATERIAL WITH QUASI-UNITY EFFECTIVE REFRACTIVE INDEX
Authors:   Ulyanovsk State University of Education, Altunin K.K. , Rodionova A.A. ,   Ulyanovsk State University of Education
Published: October 2024

The results of a theoretical and numerical study of optical characteristics of nanocomposite structures with a quasi-unit effective complex refractive index are presented. The results of the description of optical reflection and transmission of nanocomposite structures in the effective medium approximation are presented.