bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A chordwise offset of the wing-pitch axis enhances rotational aerodynamic forces on insect wings: a numerical study
Authors: van Veen Wouter G. , van Leeuwen Johan L. , Muijres Florian T.
Published: June 2019

Most flying animals produce aerodynamic forces by flapping their wings back and forth with a complex wingbeat pattern. The fluid dynamics that underlies this motion has been divided into separate aerodynamic mechanisms of which rotational lift, that results from fast wing pitch rotations, is particularly important for flight control and manoeuvrability. This rotational force mechanism has been modelled using Kutta–Joukowski theory, which combines the forward stroke motion of the wing with the fast pitch motion to compute forces. Recent studies, however, suggest that hovering insects can produce rotational forces at stroke reversal, without a forward motion of the wing. We have conducted a broad numerical parametric study over a range of wing morphologies and wing kinematics to show that rotational force production depends on two mechanisms: (i) conventional Kutta–Joukowski-based rotational forces and (ii) a rotational force mechanism that enables insects with an offset of the pitch axis relative to the wing's chordwise symmetry axis to generate rotational forces in the absence of forward wing motion. Because flying animals produce control actions frequently near stroke reversal, this pitch-axis-offset dependent aerodynamic mechanism may be particularly important for understanding control and manoeuvrability in natural flyers.
Simple mechanics of protein machines
Authors: Flechsig Holger , Mikhailov Alexander S.
Published: June 2019

While belonging to the nanoscale, protein machines are so complex that tracing even a small fraction of their cycle requires weeks of calculations on supercomputers. Surprisingly, many aspects of their operation can be however already reproduced by using very simple mechanical models of elastic networks. The analysis suggests that, similar to other self-organized complex systems, functional collective dynamics in such proteins is effectively reduced to a low-dimensional attractive manifold.
Human plague system associated with rodent diversity and other environmental factors
Authors: Sun Zhe , Xu Lei , Schmid Boris V. , Dean Katharine R. , Zhang Zhibin , Xie Yan , Fang Xiye , Wang Shuchun , Liu Qiyong , Lyu Baolei , Wan Xinru , Xu Jianguo , Stenseth Nils Chr. , Xu Bing
Published: June 2019

Plague remains a threat to public health and is considered as a re-emerging infectious disease today. Rodents play an important role as major hosts in plague persistence and driving plague outbreaks in natural foci; however, few studies have tested the association between host diversity in ecosystems and human plague risk. Here we use zero-inflated generalized additive models to examine the association of species richness with human plague presence (where plague outbreaks could occur) and intensity (the average number of annual human cases when they occurred) in China during the Third Pandemic. We also account for transportation network density, annual precipitation levels and human population size. We found rodent species richness, particularly of rodent plague hosts, is positively associated with the presence of human plague. Further investigation shows that species richness of both wild and commensal rodent plague hosts are positively correlated with the presence, but only the latter correlated with the intensity. Our results indicated a positive relationship between rodent diversity and human plague, which may provide suggestions for the plague surveillance system.
A substrate-independent framework to characterize reservoir computers
Authors: Dale Matthew , Miller Julian F. , Stepney Susan , Trefzer Martin A.
Published: June 2019

The reservoir computing (RC) framework states that any nonlinear, input-driven dynamical system (thereservoir) exhibiting properties such as a fading memory and input separability can be trained to perform computational tasks. This broad inclusion of systems has led to many new physical substrates for RC. Properties essential for reservoirs to compute are tuned through reconfiguration of the substrate, such as change in virtual topology or physical morphology. As a result, each substrate possesses a unique ‘quality’—obtained through reconfiguration—to realize different reservoirs for different tasks. Here we describe an experimental framework to characterize the quality of potentiallyanysubstrate for RC. Our framework reveals that a definition of quality is not only useful to compare substrates, but can help map the non-trivial relationship between properties and task performance. In the wider context, the framework offers a greater understanding as to what makes a dynamical system compute, helping improve the design of future substrates for RC.
Linearly polarized waves of finite amplitude in pre-strained elastic materials
Authors: Pucci Edvige , Saccomandi Giuseppe , Vergori Luigi
Published: June 2019

We study the propagation of linearly polarized transverse waves in a pre-strained incompressible isotropic elastic solid. Both finite and small-but-finite amplitude waves are examined. Irrespective of the magnitude of the wave amplitude, these waves may propagate only if the (unit) normal to the plane spanned by the directions of propagation and polarization is a principal direction of the left Cauchy–Green deformation tensor associated with the pre-strained state. A rigorous asymptotic analysis of the equations governing the propagation of waves of small but finite amplitude reveals that the time scale over which the nonlinear effects become significant depends on the direction along which the wave travels. Moreover, we design theoretically an experimental procedure to determine the Landau constants of the fourth-order weakly nonlinear theory of elasticity.
Chromosome-scale assembly comparison of the Korean Reference Genome KOREF from PromethION and PacBio with Hi-C mapping information
Authors: Kim Hui-Su , Jeon Sungwon , Kim Changjae , Kim Yeon Kyung , Cho Yun Sung , Kim Jungeun , Blazyte Asta , Manica Andrea , Lee Semin , Bhak Jong
Published: June 2019

Background

Long DNA reads produced by single molecule and pore-based sequencers are more suitable for assembly and structural variation discovery than short read DNA fragments. For de novo assembly, PacBio and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) are favorite options. However, PacBio’s SMRT sequencing is expensive for a full human genome assembly and costs over 40,000 USD for 30x coverage as of 2019. ONT PromethION sequencing, on the other hand, is one-twelfth the price of PacBio for the same coverage. This study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of ONT PromethION and PacBio’s SMRT sequencing in relation to the quality.

Findings

We performed whole genome de novo assemblies and comparison to construct an improved version of KOREF, the Korean reference genome, using sequencing data produced by PromethION and PacBio. With PromethION, an assembly using sequenced reads with 64x coverage (193 Gb, 3 flowcell sequencing) resulted in 3,725 contigs with N50s of 16.7 Mbp and a total genome length of 2.8 Gbp. It was comparable to a KOREF assembly constructed using PacBio at 62x coverage (188 Gbp, 2,695 contigs and N50s of 17.9 Mbp). When we applied Hi-C-derived long-range mapping data, an even higher quality assembly for the 64x coverage was achieved, resulting in 3,179 scaffolds with an N50 of 56.4 Mbp.

Conclusion

The pore-based PromethION approach provides a good quality chromosome-scale human genome assembly at a low cost with long maximum contig and scaffold lengths and is more cost-effective than PacBio at comparable quality measurements.
A workflow for visualizing human cancer biopsies using large-format electron microscopy
Authors: Riesterer Jessica L. , López Claudia S. , Stempinski Erin S. , Williams Melissa , Loftis Kevin , Stoltz Kevin , Thibault Guillaume , Lanicault Christian , Williams Todd , Gray Joe W.
Published: June 2019

Recent developments in large format electron microscopy have enabled generation of images that provide detailed ultrastructural information on normal and diseased cells and tissues. Analyses of these images increase our understanding of cellular organization and interactions and disease-related changes therein. In this manuscript, we describe a workflow for two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) imaging, including both optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods, that allow pathologists and cancer biology researchers to identify areas of interest from human cancer biopsies. The protocols and mounting strategies described in this workflow are compatible with 2D large format EM mapping, 3D focused ion beam-SEM and serial block face-SEM. The flexibility to use diverse imaging technologies available at most academic institutions makes this workflow useful and applicable for most life science samples. Volumetric analysis of the biopsies studied here revealed morphological, organizational and ultrastructural aspects of the tumor cells and surrounding environment that cannot be revealed by conventional 2D EM imaging. Our results indicate that although 2D EM is still an important tool in many areas of diagnostic pathology, 3D images of ultrastructural relationships between both normal and cancerous cells, in combination with their extracellular matrix, enables cancer researchers and pathologists to better understand the progression of the disease and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Compensatory sequence variation between trans-species small RNAs and their target sites
Authors: Johnson Nathan R. , dePamphilis Claude W. , Axtell Michael J.
Published: June 2019

Trans-species small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are delivered to host plants from diverse pathogens and parasites and can target host mRNAs. How trans-species sRNAs can be effective on diverse hosts has been unclear. Multiple species of the parasitic plant Cuscuta produce trans-species sRNAs that collectively target many host mRNAs. Confirmed target sites are nearly always in highly conserved, protein-coding regions of host mRNAs. Cuscuta trans-species sRNAs can be grouped into superfamilies that have variation in a three-nucleotide period. These variants compensate for synonymous-site variation in host mRNAs. By targeting host mRNAs at highly conserved protein-coding sites, and simultaneously expressing multiple variants to cover synonymous-site variation, Cuscuta trans-species sRNAs may be able to successfully target homologous mRNAs from diverse hosts.

One Sentence Summary

The parasitic plant Cuscuta produces a diverse set of sRNAs that compensate for sequence variation in mRNA targets in diverse hosts.
Porous ZnO/Co3O4/N-doped carbon nanocages synthesized via pyrolysis of complex metal–organic framework (MOF) hybrids as an advanced lithium-ion battery anode
Authors: Cheng Erbo , Huang Shoushuang , Chen Dayong , Huang Ruting , Wang Qing , Hu Zhangjun , Jiang Yong , Li Zhen , Zhao Bing , Chen Zhiwen
Published: June 2019

Metal oxides have a large storage capacity when employed as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, they often suffer from poor capacity retention due to their low electrical conductivity and huge volume variation during the charge–discharge process. To overcome these limitations, fabrication of metal oxides/carbon hybrids with hollow structures can be expected to further improve their electrochemical properties. Herein, ZnO-Co3O4 nanocomposites embedded in N-doped carbon (ZnO-Co3O4@N-C) nanocages with hollow dodecahedral shapes have been prepared successfully by the simple carbonizing and oxidizing of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Benefiting from the advantages of the structural features, i.e. the conductive N-doped carbon coating, the porous structure of the nanocages and the synergistic effects of different components, the as-prepared ZnO-Co3O4@N-C not only avoids particle aggregation and nanostructure cracking but also facilitates the transport of ions and electrons. As a result, the resultant ZnO-Co3O4@N-C shows a discharge capacity of 2373 mAh g−1 at the first cycle and exhibits a retention capacity of 1305 mAh g−1 even after 300 cycles at 0.1 A g−1. In addition, a reversible capacity of 948 mAh g−1 is obtained at a current density of 2 A g−1, which delivers an excellent high-rate cycle ability.
A multimedia case-based reasoning framework for assembly sequence planning
Authors: Chen Junhao , Jia Xiaoliang
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Assembly sequence planning (ASP) is a crucial job during assembly process design. However, it is still difficult to reuse the existing solution to solve a new ASP problem. In particular, with the rapid development of digital technologies, the reusable assembly information of an existing solution is not concentrated in one multimedia but dispersed in multiple heterogeneous multimedia, e.g. text, three-dimensional graphics, even images and videos. This paper aims to propose a multimedia case (MC)-based reasoning framework to solve ASP by reusing the existing solution whose assembly information is dispersed in multimedia.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed framework is designed with the introduction of the MC. An MC seamlessly integrates the dispersed assembly information of an existing solution. Under the proposed concept and architecture, the assembly information of an existing solution is extracted to build assembly descriptors of multimedia. Therefore, the MC is captured by organizing the assembly descriptors of corresponding multimedia.

Findings

By means of the framework proposed, it is possible to reuse the existing solution whose assembly information is dispersed in multimedia to solve ASP. Moreover, the extraction method of assembly information can flexibly parse most of the multimedia. Finally, the MC has the capability to represent the existing solution by collecting dispersed assembly information.

Originality/value

The proposed framework can discover the similar existing solution and avoid the potential failures confronted in the past so that the feasibility of ASP result can be improved as much as possible.
Identification of nonlinear state-space time-delay system
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhang Hang , Zhu Pengbo , Yang Xianqiang , Du Zhiwei
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate an identification strategy for the nonlinear state-space model (SSM) in the presence of an unknown output time-delay. The equations to estimate the unknown model parameters and output time-delay are derived simultaneously in the proposed strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The unknown integer-valued time-delay is processed as a latent variable which is uniformly distributed in a priori known range. The estimations of the unknown time-delay and model parameters are both realized using the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm, which has a good performance in dealing with latent variable issues. Moreover, the particle filter (PF) with an unknown time-delay is introduced to calculated the Q-function of the EM algorithm.

Findings

Although amounts of effective approaches for nonlinear SSM identification have been developed in the literature, the problem of time-delay is not considered in most of them. The time-delay is commonly existed in industrial scenario and it could cause extra difficulties for industrial process modeling. The problem of unknown output time-delay is considered in this paper, and the validity of the proposed approach is demonstrated through the numerical example and a two-link manipulator system.

Originality/value

The novel approach to identify the nonlinear SSM in the presence of an unknown output time-delay with EM algorithm is put forward in this work.
When do interest rates matter? Two methodological approaches to loyalty
Authors: Pan Huifeng , Ha Hong-Youl
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Changes in consumers’ awareness of interest rates (deposits and loans) are important for making financial decisions, particularly in the banking industry. However, little is known about the effect of consumer awareness on customer orientation and loyalty. The purpose of this paper is to examine how changes in consumers’ awareness of interest rates in Korea can influence customer loyalty, considering banks’ efforts to improve customer orientation. The authors explicitly rationalize the fact that consumers’ awareness of interest rates can play an important role in moderating the strength of the relationship between customer orientation and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from participants (n=327) who had made banking transactions based on their real income in Seoul. Participants mainly focused on personal loans and debts, and most people had banked with a specific bank (one of the main Korean banks) for longer than three years. The authors tested the effect of interest rates using two methodologies, namely, a field study using SEM and an experimental design.

Findings

The study tested these relationships with survey data and two simulated experiments. The findings indicated that the influence of customer orientation on customer loyalty decreased with the increase in loan interest rate awareness. Moreover, the customer orientation-loyalty link weakened with the increase in awareness of central bank base rates. Conversely, the awareness that loan rates were decreasing strengthened the relationship.

Research limitations/implications

Banks need to know the importance of periodic consultation services with valuable consumers who transact with one or more banks because changes in the consumer awareness of interest rates influence customer loyalty (or switching behavior), particularly when their awareness of loan interest rates increases.

Originality/value

This paper is, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the first to investigate the consequence of such a change in consumers’ awareness of both deposit and loan interest rates with regard to the relationship between customer orientation and loyalty.
Regret type matters
Authors: Tzeng Shian-Yang , Shiu Jerry Yuwen
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate post-purchase regret and its relationships with complaint and risk aversion in a four-dimensional framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 548 effective samples, this study employed structural equation modeling to test proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Based on levels of perceived self-responsibility, post-purchase regret due to forgone alternatives, under consideration and over consideration was positively associated with customer complaining, whereas post-purchase regret due to significance change exhibited no such correlation. Moreover, a higher level of risk aversion increased the effect of utilitarian motivation on post-purchase regret due to over consideration but decreased this effect on post-purchase regret due to under consideration.

Research limitations/implications

First, regret can positively influence consumer complaints. Next, consumers are unlikely to complain to third parties unless they experience strong action regret. Finally, risk aversion can alleviate or reinforce the effect of utilitarian motivation on regret. Future research could examine the customer group who feel less or no regret of their purchases to contribute to regret theory.

Practical implications

To reduce regret among such consumers, marketers are advised to apply precision marketing techniques to reach their target consumers. Second, to forestall customer regret due to forgone alternatives, sellers should proactively provide target buyers with information regarding their products and those of competing brands. Third, another method of minimizing regret is to ensure that consumers’ risk-aversion activities are effective.

Originality/value

This study empirically demonstrated a multidimensional scale of regret to illuminate the multicausal role of regret in relation to consumers’ complaining and risk-aversion behaviors.
Hydroponic cultivation: life cycle assessment of substrate choice
Authors: Vinci Giuliana , Rapa Mattia
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Nowadays, hydroponic cultivation represents a widely used agricultural methodology. The purpose of this paper is to study comparatively on hydroponic substrates. This study is highlighting the best substrate to be involved in hydroponic systems, considering its costs and its sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Seven substrates were evaluated: rock wool, perlite, vermiculite, peat, coconut fibres, bark and sand. Life cycle assessment (life cycle inventory, life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) and life cycle costing (LCC)) was applied to evaluate the environmental and economic impact. Through the results of the impacts, the carbon footprint of each substrate was calculated.

Findings

Perlite is the most impacting substrate, as highlighted by LCIA, followed by rock wool and vermiculite. The most sustainable ones, instead, are sand and bark. Sand has the lower carbon footprint (0.0121 kg CO2 eq.); instead, bark carbon footprint results in one of the highest (1.1197 kg CO2 eq.), while in the total impact analysis this substrate seems to be highly sustainable. Also for perlite the two results are in disagreement: it has a high total impact but very low carbon footprint (0.0209 kg CO2 eq.) compared to the other substrates. From the LCC analysis it appears that peat is the most expensive substrate (€6.67/1,000 cm3), while sand is the cheaper one (€0.26/1,000 cm3).

Originality/value

The LCA and carbon footprint methodologies were applied to a growing agriculture practice. This study has highlighted the economic and environmental sustainability of seven substrates examined. This analysis has shown that sand can be the best substrate to be involved in hydroponic systems by considering its costs and its sustainability.
From precision agriculture to Industry 4.0
Authors: Trivelli Leonello , Apicella Andrea , Chiarello Filippo , Rana Roberto , Fantoni Gualtiero , Tarabella Angela
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Circumstances that are have a significant impact on it. In particular, environmental sustainability related to the increase of worldwide population, and market demand for agricultural products (with consumers more and more aware about cultivation and breeding techniques and interested in healthy and high-quality products) represent two of the key challenges that the agricultural sector is going to face in next years. In such a landscape, technological innovations that can support organizations and entrepreneurs to face these problems become increasingly important, and Industry 4.0 is the most striking example. Indeed, the Industry 4.0 paradigm aims to integrate digital technologies into business processes to raise productivity levels and to develop new business models. Accordingly, digital technologies play a similar role in the precision agriculture domain, and the purpose of this paper is to understand if the technologies at the basis of these two paradigms are the same or not.

Design/methodology/approach

The present work investigates how the two domains of Industry 4.0 and precision agriculture are connected to one another by analyzing the most used technologies in both the fields in order to highlight common patterns and technological overlaps. To reach such goal, an approach combining manual and automated analysis was developed.

Findings

The research work generated three main results: a dictionary of precision agriculture technologies including 324 terms; a graph, describing the connections between the technologies composing the dictionary; and a representation of the main technological clusters identified.

Originality/value

These show how the two domains under analysis are directly connected and describe the most important technologies to leverage when approaching digital transformation processes in the agricultural sector.
Analyzing the influence of job satisfaction on hostage employee loyalty in Isfahan Province Gas Company
Authors: Jahanbazi Goujani Afshin , Shahin Arash , Nasr Isfahani Ali , Safari Ali
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of job satisfaction on hostage employee loyalty in Isfahan Province Gas Company (IPGC).

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical population of this study included the formal recruited employees of IPGC out of which, 212 employees have been selected using a stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire has been developed and used for data collection regarding job satisfaction and employee loyalty. In this study along with the other studies of the authors, employees of IPGC were classified into four different categories on the basis of loyalty matrix, and the majority (78 percent) of them were located in the hostage category. Structural equation modeling has been used for data analysis.

Findings

The findings imply that job satisfaction does not have a significant influence on the loyalty of hostage employees.

Practical implications

Organizations are encouraged to identify the individual and organizational factors and obstacles, take necessary measures to increase job satisfaction and maintain the level of employee loyalty and gradually shift them from the hostage category to the apostle category, which results in an increased number of loyal and satisfied employees.

Originality/value

This study indicates how the application of the concepts of loyalty matrix, particularly its hostage category, can be expanded in the field of organizational behavior management.
The role of psychological capital in employee creativity
Authors: Yu Xiaofen , Li Donghua , Tsai Chia-Han , Wang Chunhsien
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the roles of four distinct but related aspects of psychological capital – optimism, hope, self-efficacy and resilience – in facilitating employee creativity. Drawing on the psychological capital perspective and the creativity literature, we propose that optimism and hope increase employee self-efficacy and resilience, which benefits employee creativity. Moreover, the authors hypothesize that self-efficacy and resilience have mediating roles in the psychological capital context, which, in turn, has a positive effect on individual employees’ creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from a survey of multiple manufacturing firms on individual employee psychological capital and creativity. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses regarding psychological capital and creativity in a sample of 468 individual employees.

Findings

The results provide evidence that only resilience plays a mediating role between optimism and hope and employee creativity. The authors found that psychological capital is positively related to employee creativity.

Practical implications

These findings provide guidance for understanding how to better address the psychological capital that contributes to employee creativity in the workplace. Specifically, this study provides a rationale for facilitating the development of employee creativity by exposing the effect and path of psychological capital.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine the antecedents and mediating role of four distinct yet correlated dimensions of psychological capital on employee creativity. The findings of this study contribute to the theoretical development of a conceptual model that investigates the black box of the four aspects of psychological capital and creativity.
The effects of employee stock ownership plans on career development in a new era
Authors: Xiao Hongjun , Shi Ying , Varma Arup
Published: June 2019

Purpose

China’s workforce is currently experiencing increased career-related stress. Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) may be used to help employees overcome these challenges. Little is known about how ESOPs affect employee career development. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between ESOPs and employee career sustainability and provide guidance for corporate management.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a multiple linear regression model using a sample of 614 companies that implemented ESOPs between July 2014 and September 2017.

Findings

Employees’ career development benefited when ESOP funds originated from employee compensation and self-raised funds, and when the plan’s stock came from a source other than the secondary market. Career development also improved when employees and senior executives held a higher proportion of a firm’s total shares. In addition, the benefits to employee career development were greater in manufacturing enterprises, non-state-owned enterprises, and in Southern China.

Research limitations/implications

This study combined individual and organization research using person–organization fit theory and demonstrated that well-designed ESOPs are beneficial for career stability and sustainability. This work was based on data from Chinese companies; future studies could usefully investigate the effects of ESOPs in other countries and their particular impact in technology-intensive industries.

Practical implications

Decision makers in firms or government can use ESOPs to address employees’ career-related stress and challenges, especially during industry transformation.

Originality/value

The paper fills a gap in ESOPs research by showing the positive effects of ESOPs on career development.
Decision making under uncertainty? R&D activity and market value during financial crisis
Authors: Sofronas Christos , Archontakis Fragiskos , Smart Palie
Published: June 2019

Purpose

In the research & development (R&D) and innovation management literature, the question of whether or not to perform research in the private sector is always a pertinent one. Several studies have used market value to measure its association with a firm’s R&D performance. Nevertheless, in Europe there have been considerably less studies as compared to the USA because the analysis is complicated by data issues and different country-specific laws. The purpose of this paper is to further advance this field of research. The study provides insights into the strategic decision behind conducting R&D.

Design/methodology/approach

The econometric analysis is based on a unique panel data set of 133 companies in 13 European countries which is collected from the Bloomberg database covering the time period from 2002 to 2012.

Findings

The empirical findings are as follows: there is weak evidence in support of the hypothesis that R&D expenditure positively affects the firm’s market value, a fact which is confirmed by other published works; there is weak evidence that economic events can disrupt the connection of R&D programs with the market value of firms; and for a highly controversial topic in the literature, data suggest that small firms are rather favoured more from R&D expenditure than large firms.

Originality/value

The current study expands the discussion regarding the effect of R&D on the market value of firms via empirical evidence, within the specific environment of the European financial crisis. Future managerial, informed-based, decisions can be drawn on the present results.
The prioritisation and satisfaction on Thai’s Rating of Energy and Environmental Sustainability criteria
Authors: Riratanaphong Chaiwat , Jermsiriwattana Pongkorn
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The environmental performance of buildings can be measured by using an existing green building indicator system. In Thailand, the Thai’s Rating of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (TREES) has been applied to 70 buildings including condominiums. It is important to collect feedback from stakeholders to identify the criteria of green features that respond to the expectation of condominium’s potential buyers as well as the satisfaction of current occupants. This paper aims to examine prioritised aspects from potential buyers and occupant satisfaction of the TREES criteria in the case study, a green condominium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study was conducted at IDEO Mobi Sathorn in Bangkok, the only condominium certified with the TREES system so far. Research methods include interviews, observations, document analysis and the surveys from the condominium’s potential buyers and current occupants.

Findings

The findings indicate that the condominium’s potential buyers are more concerned about site and landscape, indoor environmental quality and energy and atmosphere, whereas the current occupants are more satisfied about water conservation, site and landscape and energy and atmosphere in comparison with the other TREES criteria. Despite the provision of green features in the condominium, occupants are less satisfied about green innovation as showed in the least satisfied percentage of TREES criteria. In Facilities Management perspective, the paper shows connections between TREES criteria and FM functions in multi-unit residential project. The findings show that the application of TREES criteria focuses on the provision of value in FM, whereas stakeholder perceptions regarding the TREES criteria contribute to the perception of value in FM.

Practical implications

The findings and reflections upon the finding can help to understand the impact of green building aspects of the TREES system on perceptions of different stakeholders, that is, potential buyers and current occupants of the condominium. Recommendations for real estate developers and facilities managers regarding the development of green building concept on the TREES system are provided.

Originality/value

There has been no prior research in this area. The paper provides better understanding with regard to prioritised aspects from the potential buyers and occupant satisfaction of TREES criteria in Bangkok green condominium. This paper provides empirical data regarding stakeholder perception on TREES criteria that can be used to compare with similar data of the TREES-certified condominiums when they are available in the future.
Socio-technological scenarios of Japan’s future energy issues in 2050 based on scanning-based foresight method
Authors: Takahashi Reiko , Nakamura Ryoji , Washida Yuichi
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create socio-technological future scenarios of Japan in the year 2050 and beyond, with a particular focus on energy and its relation to science and technology (S&T).

Design/methodology/approach

A workshop based on the scanning-based foresight method (SBFM) was conducted. Social change scenarios were created by participants browsed scanning materials about futuristic topics. Then, energy and society scenarios were produced by combining social change scenarios and future issues describing S&T related to energy in Japan in the future.

Findings

The participants who have different scientific and technological experties produced various images of Japan’s energy society around the year 2050. Based on these depictions, future visions of scenarios about energy and society were different in terms of consistency between S&T and future needs from current visions which focus on the transient of social awareness. The sociocentric view and confidence in self-made technology were found in the workshop and the participants believed some social problems would be solved with rich experiences and expertises in S&T even if human resources were limited. It was also found that each scenario portrayed an optimistic view of the relatively near future, in which innovative energy-related technologies are developed to optimize both personal satisfaction and social efficiency. On the other hand, we found rather pessimistic survival scenarios about the far future as concerns climate change and natural disasters.

Originality/value

Experts from several fields used their insight to apprehend an energy future and depicted, from scientific and technological perspectives, a vision of a different future society from the one that would emerge in a traditional linear scenario in which a proper balance is struck between the usage of S&T and its limitations. SBFM was also found to be beneficial for insight into energy S&T with its many uncertainties.
Flexible approach to apprenticeship education
Authors: Liyanagunawardena Tharindu R. , Moore Nicholas
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Apprenticeship education in England has undergone dramatic change following the “Richard Review” (Richard, 2012), trailblazer apprenticeship standards development and the introduction of the apprenticeship levy. University College of Estate Management’s (UCEM) new Level 3 Surveying Technician Apprenticeship programme was developed using a novel approach of flipped-blended learning, with assessment by e-portfolio and computer-marked assessments. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the challenges faced by UCEM as it moved into Level 3 provision with a new delivery approach and explains the lessons learned.

Design/methodology/approach

A wide range of programme stakeholders – including UCEM’s senior leadership team, apprentice-management team, academic delivery team, surveying apprenticeship trailblazer group and learning designers – were interviewed to gather data for the study.

Findings

A considerable volume of work was needed to implement the envisioned flipped-blended approach in the first phase of delivery. This was due to time constraints, unforeseen challenges of the new approach and compliance requirements. In addition, difficulties around communicating learning expectations with the apprentices regarding the flipped-blended model added an extra level of pressure in the delivery phase.

Originality/value

UCEM has undergone several internal reorganisations to adapt to the uncertain political and educational landscape surrounding apprenticeship education. UCEM was the first provider of the new standard-based surveying apprenticeship and has the largest number of apprenticeship students on its programmes. The journey UCEM has taken and the problems it has overcome will be valuable to individuals and institutions looking to enter this market segment.
Influence of gravity and micro-temperatures on the thermoelastic porous medium under three theories
Authors: Othman Mohamed I.A. , Abd-Elaziz Elsayed M.
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to obtain a general solution to the field equations of thermoelastic solid with voids and micro-temperatures under the gravitational field in the context of the three theories, namely, coupled theory (CT), Lord and Shulman theory and Green and Lindsay theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The normal mode analysis is used to obtain the exact expressions for the considered variables. Comparisons are made with the results obtained in the three theories with and without gravity. Some particular cases are also deduced from the present investigation.

Findings

The effect of the gravity on the displacement, the micro-temperature vector, the temperature distribution, the normal stress, the changes in the volume fraction field and the heat flux moments have been depicted graphically.

Research limitations/implications

Some particular cases are also deduced from the present investigation.

Originality/value

The results of the physical quantities have been illustrated graphically by a comparison between three different theories in the presence and absence of gravity.
Managerial framework for bank advertising
Authors: Alt Mónika Anetta , Săplăcan Zsuzsa , Berács József
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create a managerial framework for selecting the most effective bank advertisement appeal for different financial services. Financial services were classified based on the FCB grid: high/low involvement and think/feel decision.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 62 banks with content analysis based on 1,514 unique print advertisements, published between 2006 and 2014 in national newspapers in Romania and Hungary. The ads were coded, based on Pollay’s appeals, and then a cluster analysis was performed to identify appeal and financial service clusters.

Findings

The results revealed ten bank-specific appeals which can be used for advertising four different banking services categories. All type of savings and loans for B2B are advertised with quality appeals (safety, productivity); current account and card, personal/home loans are advertised with financial value appeals (convenient, cheap); corporate branding with emotional appeals (affiliation, distinctive, enjoyment); and services with mixed appeals.

Research limitations/implications

The study could be extended for different target market, creative strategy, other media and more countries.

Practical implications

The paper provides guidelines on how the FCB grid could be extended for bank services to recommend specific appeals for each category.

Originality/value

The financial service literature proposes guidelines regarding bank advertisements. However, the recommended advertisement appeals were not linked to different bank services. This paper creates a comprehensive managerial framework in order to match the bank’s specific appeals with different bank services.
How can ecological fairs increase sustainability in a university campus?
Authors: Brandli Luciana Londero , Lange Salvia Amanda , Dal Moro Leila , Tibola da Rocha Vanessa , Mazutti Janaina , Reginatto Giovana
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the contribution of ecological fairs to the promotion of sustainability in university campuses, based on a case study carried out at the University of Passo Fundo, located in Southern Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

Producers and consumers of the ecological fairs were interviewed to analyse how the social, economic and environmental spheres of sustainable development are impacted by these fairs. In total, 24 interviews were conducted.

Findings

The results showed how fairs positively impact the academic and local community while bringing sustainability into university campuses.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations of this study were the number of interviews and the short period during when the study was conducted.

Practical implications

This case study demonstrated how the promotion of ecological fairs on a university campus plays an important role in the implementation and practice of sustainability and can serve as an example for other institutions that intend to work on similar projects.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by providing a discussion on how ecological fairs represent a good addition in the process of universities to become more sustainable and which aspects of each sustainability sphere are involved.
Creating a context for campus sustainability through teaching and learning
Authors: Pretorius Rudi Wessel , Anderson Ryan , Khotoo Anisa , Pienaar Richelle
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to reflect on approaches through which open, distance and e-learning (ODeL) students can use their local environments for assessments and explores how this shapes their conceptualisations of “university” and “campus”. Key issues and lessons learnt are covered, thus providing pointers for implementation of the type of assessment approaches that are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

Using three undergraduate sustainability-related modules in the Department of Geography, University of South Africa (Unisa), the lecturers’ reflections on the real-world sustainability learning experiences of students in these modules (2015-2018) have been cross-correlated and compared to present an integrated picture of emerging best practice.

Findings

The use of real-world, place-based applications, which form a central theme in the assessment strategy for all three modules, allows students to deal hands-on with sustainability issues, establishes a connection between ODeL students and the university and presents an opportunity to engage these students in real-world sustainability learning despite not being on campus.

Research limitations/implications

The case study format and qualitative, reflective methodology present limitations, while specifically focusing on ODeL and the final phase of undergraduate studies. Despite these limitations, the lessons learnt can be of value to universities currently transferring to online offerings, with possible impacts for sustainability learning.

Originality/value

This paper addresses misconceptions on the role of ODeL in transforming to sustainability. The criticism that ODeL is suitable for primarily theoretical training is countered by evidence that appropriately structured assessments requiring ODeL students to engage with real-world issues in their local environments, can provide valuable sustainability learning experiences.
Post-socialism and “ordinary” tourism: New Belgrade
Authors: Nicic Milos , Iguman Sanja
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the emerging practices of the “tourism of the ordinary” in the wider frame of post-socialist transformation of Serbia’s capital city – Belgrade. By sourcing the inspiration in cultural studies and classics of the studies of the ordinary, focus is directed to the patterns of tourism consumption of practices, places and people that do not fall in the category of tourism attraction. The attention is drawn to New Belgrade (Novi Beograd in Serbian), residential part of Belgrade built predominantly after the Second World War. New Belgrade lacks proper tourism infrastructure, commoditized attractions and consumerable tourism experiences on a large scale. Nevertheless, this part of the city is slowly becoming explored by tourists individually or in organized walking or cycling tours. Visits to New Belgrade are most often connected to alternative or hip visitors and have the allure of both urban exploration and cultural practice, as the tours are offered by specialist architectural organizations or individual guides. By introspecting the case of New Belgrade, this paper attempts to address the prospect that ordinary exist only in relation to the attraction and that its appeal comes from the fact that what is ordinary to someone is attraction to another.

Design/methodology/approach

As far as specific approach is concerned, some archival and librarian materials have been analyzed in order to map the territory that is being researched (New Belgrade) and to frame the significance of potential heritagisation (Harrison, 2013) on the built environment and its territory. Further, relevant websites and both primary and secondary resources have been consulted. This mostly refers to the websites of Tourist Organization of Belgrade (TOB) and the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Belgrade as two most relevant bodies connecting the urban fabric of the city and its tourism valorization.

Findings

In this paper, the authors have tried to demonstrate how tourism of the ordinary might be conducted in urban environment that lacks no tangible resources, whose physical physiognomies are not insignificant and which, in another, alternative tourism regime might be considered attractions. However, in the specific set of characteristics spanning from contested past to ambiguous contemporary valorization, New Belgrade remains an uncharted part of the city for much of the mainstream tourism, leaving its charms for very few visitors, most often engaged in interest of the “ordinary.”

Originality/value

Although Belgrade is experiencing steady rise in numbers regarding tourist arrivals, length of stay and on-site expenditure, New Belgrade is nowhere to be seen on the map of tourism offer, as per Belgrade’s Tourism Organization. TOB’s official web page, at the time this piece is written, in the section Attractions, mentions nothing regarding New Belgrade. Among 13 entries – 12 are historic sites of more than a century behind them and one is a lake and outdoor destination.