bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aircraft terrain following flights based on fuzzy logic
Authors: Rahim Mohammad , Móhammad‐Bagher Malaek Seyed 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach in terrain following (TF) flight using fuzzy logic. The fuzzy controller as presented in this work decides where and how the aircraft needs to change its altitude. The fast decision‐making nature of this method promises real‐time applications even for tough terrains in terms of shape and peculiarities. The method could always assist to design trajectories in an off‐line manner.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the aforementioned goal, the method effectively incorporates the dynamics of the aircraft. Basically, the mathematical method employs special relationships among existing slope of the terrain and its derivative together with aircraft flying speed and height above the ground to construct suitable fuzzy rules. The fuzzification method is based on Sugeno and three rule‐sets are used for fuzzy structure. These rules are implemented using Fuzzy Logic Toolbox in MATLAB.FindingsDifferent case studies conducted for flights in XZ‐plane show the effectiveness of the method as compared to other existing methods available to the authors. The results illustrate a good tracking based on the fuzzy approach while using both 18 and 27 rules with respect to the optimal approach. Furthermore, it is shown that decreasing number of rules from 27 to 18 rules causes only minor changes in the solution.Practical implicationsThe current work offers a new approach in low‐level flights where maintaining a suitable height above the ground is essential. This is especially important for civil aircraft approaching an airport with low or non‐visibility and during aborted landing manoeuvres. The domain of the current work is however confined to only planning of TF manoeuvres. Nevertheless, the work could be expanded into TF/terrain avoidance and three‐dimensional manoeuvres which are not in the scope of the current work.Originality/valueThe current work addresses the problems associated with low‐level flight; such as TF using artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic. The provided intelligence helps the aircraft conduct TF manoeuvres by understanding the general patterns of the existing terrain. The method is fast enough to be applied for real‐time applications.
Stratospheric communication platforms as an alternative for space program
Authors: Ilcev St. D. 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the potential applications of stratospheric communication platforms (SCP), which have been recently introduced as an alternative for satellite communications.Design/methodology/approachVarious applications, solutions and services are planned by using aircraft or airship SCP, which could be classified as digital narrowband or broadband, depending on the broadband required. The platforms as base stations can provide service for fixed and mobile applications, with commercial and military solutions. Subscribers will use uplink to the platform for transmitting and receiving information, where onboard SCP switching devices will downlink to the ground station and route traffic directly to other subscribers within the same platform coverage, to another platform via optical inter‐platform links, trough heterogeneous networks including satellite or to the terrestrial telecommunications network. Each SCP can deploy an antenna for large coverage area or a multibeam antenna capable of projecting numerous spot beams within its potential coverage area.FindingsThis paper outlines the findings of fixed and mobile applications, features, testing and some specific development programs of SCP using aircraft solutions, such as SkyTower and airship solutions, such as CRL/TAO/NAL.Research limitations/implicationsParticular consideration is given to the use of SCP for delivery of future broadband, broadcast and multimedia wireless communications including research for new communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) implications.Practical implicationsSCP will provide communication facilities that can exploit the best features for both terrestrial and satellite schemes.Originality/valueEmerging solutions of voice, data and video over IP are offered by SCPs operating in the stratosphere at altitudes of up to 25 km.
Muscadine‐wines, wineries and the hospitality industry
Authors: Duarte Alonso Abel 
Published: March 2011

PurposeMuscadines (Vitis Rotundifolia Michx.), a vine native to the southern USA, is processed into different products, including wines. Today, many wineries in the southern USA offer an experience that combines muscadine wine tastings, tours, education, and in some cases food. However, apart from offering on‐site sales and a tourist experience related to the hospitality industry, to what extent are wineries engaged in relationships with local or state restaurants? Also, what, if any, challenges do wine operators face in the process of seeking to market their wines to hospitality operations? The present study aims to explore these areas from a winery operator's perspective.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 31 winery owners located in different southern states, including Alabama, Florida and North Carolina, predominantly via telephone interviews.FindingsAlmost half of the respondents (15, 48.4 per cent) acknowledge synergies between their wineries and hospitality businesses; however, the other 16 (51.6 per cent) are not involved in such relationships. Such absence of networks and relationships is to a great extent due to concerns of surrendering control of their wines to wholesalers and distributors (in many cases winery operators are not allowed to sell directly to restaurateurs), and the apparent lack of appreciation of muscadine wines by many hospitality businesses.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the findings of this study may provide useful information to the muscadine wine industry, particularly as a foundation for future research, the low number of participating wineries presents a limitation.Practical implicationsMuscadine wines have the potential to enhance not only winery visitors' experience when travelling to areas where muscadine grapes are grown, but also their restaurant/dining experience. However, support in the form of promotion, education and legislation, allowing more direct winery‐hospitality industry relationship, is critical for the long‐term sustainability of the muscadine‐wine industry.Originality/valueThe present study examines an area that, despite its clear links to hospitality and tourism, to date has been overlooked in contemporary research.
A consumer‐oriented segmentation study in the Swiss wine market
Authors: Brunner Thomas A. , Siegrist Michael 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe main objectives of this study are to develop a comprehensive questionnaire and to analyze the nature of wine market segments. Past research has focused on involvement, lifestyle or motives as segmentation criteria. The present study seeks to combine all three perspectives.Design/methodology/approachA postal paper‐and‐pencil survey was sent out randomly using addresses from the telephone book in the German‐speaking part of Switzerland, resulting in a final sample size of n=929.FindingsA principal component analysis identified 17 factors with satisfactory reliability coefficients. Using factor scores, a hierarchical cluster analysis was run, resulting in six wine consumer segments. These segments were further analyzed and described as: the price‐conscious wine consumer; the involved, knowledgeable wine consumer; the image‐oriented wine consumer; the indifferent wine consumer; the basic wine consumer; and the enjoyment‐oriented, social wine consumer.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology used to identify the wine consumer segments was exploratory. It is recommended that future work should continue to develop and validate such a methodology for the wine industry.Practical implicationsWine producers and marketers should appreciate that there are different segments of wine consumers. The information provided by this research is useful for marketers who seek to gain a competitive advantage through differentiation.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the academic literature by presenting a useful extension to the available segmentation literature. Combining different approaches for segmenting a market proved to be a fruitful method in identifying wine consumer segments.
The moderating role of trust in contractual choice
Authors: Fernández‐Olmos Marta 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe aim of this research is to determine how trust might moderate the effect of asset specificity on the contractual choice.Design/methodology/approachThe sample is drawn from the qualified appellation of origin (DOCa) Rioja wine market. A binomial logit was used as the primary technique for investigation of the hypothesis for the final sample size of 68 observations (34 oral contracts and 34 written contracts).FindingsThe evidence presented in this paper points to the fact that asset specificity, the most important characteristic in transaction cost economics, will not be a strong predictor of the level of contract formalisation for transactions that enjoy a high level of trust.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has important limitations that imply caution in generalising the findings. First, the agrarian legal framework is likely to alter the effectiveness of formal contracts as governance devices. Another limitation of this analysis is that it is not a dynamic analysis and, hence, it does not consider the possibility of trust emerging over time.Practical implicationsIt is suggested that the possession of trust between contractual parties allows them to reduce transaction costs without resorting to a high level of contractual formalisation.Originality/valueThis paper is useful for practitioners and academics in the field of contractual choice. The research provides some initial insight into the moderating influence of trust on the relationship between asset specificity and level of contractual incompleteness in the viticulture sector.
Retailer brand share statistics in four developed economies from 1992 to 2005
Authors: Chimhundu Ranga , Hamlin Robert P. , McNeill Lisa 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine long‐term trends in retailer and manufacturer brand shares in grocery product categories, and to relate these trends to retailer category strategy with regard to these two types of brand.Design/methodology/approachThe study makes use of secondary data and empirical materials from the literature to establish and explain the trends in four countries: the UK, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, interview data are used to develop issues.FindingsThe results indicate the existence of long‐term equilibrium points between the shares of manufacturer brands and retailer brands in grocery product categories in the USA, New Zealand and Australia. Only the UK shows strong growth of retailer brands in line with retailer consolidation and power, but this trend is arrested, reversed and brought to equilibrium in 2001.Research limitations/implicationsThe data presented are restricted to four major English‐speaking economies between 1992 and 2005. The data are also consolidated national data. Equilibria within individual categories will vary due to variations in category structure and pace of innovation.Practical implicationsThis research indicates that major retailers deploy manufacturer brands to drive the categories via innovation and retailer brands to generate additional profit for the retailers. Therefore manufacturer brands do have a long‐term future. Individual manufacturer brands are likely to be assessed by the retailer primarily on this driving capability, and on the manufacturers' ongoing investment in the capacity to innovate that supports it.Originality/valueThe paper provides a fresh perspective of looking at retailer and manufacturer strategy via brand share trends.
National and regional ethnocentrism: a case study of beer consumers in Poland
Authors: Siemieniako Dariusz , Kubacki Krzysztof , Glińska Ewa , Krot Katarzyna 
Published: March 2011

PurposeEarlier studies into consumer ethnocentrism focused on identification of the level of ethnocentric tendencies in different countries and their investigation for various categories of products. This research contributes to a wider understanding of that phenomenon, aiming to explore the characteristics of Polish consumers' national and regional ethnocentric attitudes and behaviours, especially symptoms of those attitudes in relationship with locally produced brands of beer.Design/methodology/approachAll the data were collected on a university campus in Poland in late autumn 2007 in a group of ten university students. Purposive sampling was used to establish two focus groups within the industry's main target market age group, each of which met on two occasions, three weeks apart.FindingsThe main identified issues broadly covered two main categories: national ethnocentrism and regional ethnocentrism. The findings point to the relative importance of elements such as brand image (based on Polish culture and referring to its symbols), local brands as contributors to local identities and the form of their expression, as well as a moral obligation to buy local brands.Originality/valueIndicative findings suggest that several areas need to be further investigated in future research in order to better understand the characteristics of national and regional ethnocentric tendencies, and the contribution they make to local identities.
Dedicated and generic marketing strategies
Authors: Adinolfi Felice , De Rosa Marcello , Trabalzi Ferruccio 
Published: March 2011

PurposeWithin a competing global food market marketing strategies become ever more important; in Italy an important marketing strategy in the wine sector focuses on the so‐called designations of origins (Appellations). This paper aims to analyse the public perception of regional wines with designation of origins.Design/methodology/approachA semi‐structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of wine consumers in national wine shows in Rome and the provinces. The questionnaire aimed at testing consumers' knowledge and preferences toward wines with a designation of origin produced within the Lazio region. A multivariate analysis has clustered consumers according to their behaviors in relation to wines with a designation of origin. A perception analysis relative to the knowledge and meaning of designations of origins was further performed. The latter has made it possible to rank regional wines and to establish the market effect of designations of origin.FindingsWith regard to behaviors toward wines with a designation of origin, the data suggest three ideal‐types of customers: “sensible” (i.e. customers knowledgeable of the meaning of designations of origins); “indifferent”; and “thrifty” (i.e. customers who understand the importance of designation of origins but are also conscious of price). The conclusions indicate that a designation of origin is a necessary but not a sufficient factor for having a good market performance.Research limitations/implicationsImplications in terms of marketing strategies are evident: wine production is characterized by different worlds of production and marketing strategies should be consequential.Originality/valueThe enthusiasm towards designations of origin is not always justified: the proliferation of designations of origin can de‐sensitize consumers with dramatic effects on rural territories whose economy rotates around the production of quality wines. Organizational adjustment and more efficient communication strategies are indeed necessary complements to obtaining an appellation.
The relationship between student consumption of animal products and attitudes to animals in Europe and Asia
Authors: Izmirli Serdar , Phillips Clive J.C. 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThis research aims to determine the relationship between the consumption of animal products and attitudes towards animals among university students in Eurasia.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted with collaborators in each country who supervised volunteers to personally invite 16,777 students to take part. The sample was composed of 3,433 students from 103 universities in 11 Eurasian countries. ANOVA was used to compare the responses. All analyses were conducted using the statistical packages Minitab 15 and SPSS 15.FindingsA total of 47 per cent of university students avoided some meat products, 4 per cent were vegetarians and 0.4 per cent vegans. Students avoiding some meat did so principally for environmental and health reasons, and beef and lamb were the meats most likely to be avoided. Vegetarians avoided meat mainly for health reasons. Vegans had greater concern about humans using animals than vegetarians, who in turn had greater concerns than those avoiding some meat.Social implicationsAvoidance of animal products was related to an increased level of concern for animal rights, animal experimentation and wildlife, with vegans demonstrating the greatest concern. This implied that students' attitudes to animal welfare and rights can affect animal product‐eating behaviours.Originality/valueThis study conflicts with previous studies by demonstrating that health rather than environment was a major reason for vegetarianism. The study highlights the importance of environmental, health and welfare concerns but not religion in avoidance of animal products.
UK higher education libraries and the role of JISC, the Joint Information Systems Committee
Authors: Joint Nicholas 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to give a working librarian's view of the role of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), and make some suggestions about how effective it is from the perspective of practice with a view to justifying its role in terms of recent policies introduced by national government in the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe author sketches some of the broader government initiatives that affect this area and combines this sketch with commentary from the arena of information practice, in order to sum up the case for and against the value of JISC.FindingsIn balance, this paper finds the evidence for the beneficial impact of JISC's work to be quite compelling, but also argues that there is a lack of awareness of how strong this case is at practitioner level. At a time when all public services are under strong financially led scrutiny, this lack of appreciation at practitioner level is of some concern.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a brief and selective account of one particular sphere of JISC's workings. In order to make the case more effectively, a broader investigation could be carried out, but with the requirement that the findings should be focussed on practical outcomes and benefits that are well understood by information professionals working in everyday library and information environments.Practical implicationsThis account tries to make clear in straightforward and practical terms what the larger specific benefits of introducing federated access into the UK university community have been.Originality/valueThis paper gives a double viewpoint on its topic, combining a high‐level view of national information management issues from the government perspective, with a practice‐led view of the same issues.
Building an integrated work force through shared values
Authors: Keene Judith , Fairman Roger 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the need to integrate staff from a number of services from the public and academic sectors who will be working together in a new joint‐use library. Staff workshops aimed at producing agreed core values were used as a way of starting the process of integration and engaging all staff with the vision of the new library.Design/methodology/approachThe decision to focus on core values and to actively involve staff in their development is explained with reference to other work on vision and values. The format of the workshops is described, and an overview given of the qualitative and quantitative feedback from staff at the workshops, which was used to assess the success of the approach and inform future work, which is briefly outlined.FindingsThe paper concludes that the workshops were successful in helping staff start to get to know about each other's services and develop joint values. The opportunity to participate and be consulted by managers was welcomed.Practical implicationsPractical workshops can be an effective way of bringing together staff from different services and organisations and start engaging them with a vision. The authors intend to continue the process by working to embed the values and providing more of these opportunities for their staff, looking next at training needs.Originality/valueMerging staff from different services can be difficult and threaten the success of joint‐use libraries. As partnership work is increasingly promoted amongst libraries, this case study suggests one effective way of encouraging integration.
A survey of information literacy education in library schools in Africa
Authors: Baro Emmanuel E. 
Published: March 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the state of information literacy (IL) education in library schools in Africa. Principally, to understand how prepared the library schools are to take the lead by integrating IL courses into their school curricula.Design/methodology/approachThe survey was carried out in two parts: first, the researcher conducted a survey of web sites maintained by library schools in Africa to identify the IL course offered and also to analyze the course contents. That was followed by sending an e‐mail message containing three research questions to library and information science (LIS) faculty members to ascertain the availability of IL courses in their curricula.FindingsResults from the study revealed that, presently, only a few library schools offer the course IL as a stand‐alone course in their curricula. Many library schools have not yet incorporated “IL” as a stand‐alone course in their LIS curricula, rather, it is briefly discussed as a topic in related courses. The reason being that the LIS departments lack the technological facilities and qualified personnel to teach the course “IL.” Although not all the library schools in Africa were examined due to language barrier, more than 60 library schools were investigated, among them 20 institutions were found offering IL courses or a related area.Research limitations/implicationsThe researcher could not examine all the library schools in Africa due to language barriers, as many of the African countries have French as their official language and others Portuguese.Originality/valueThe results from the study reported in this paper will provide important data and insight into the current state of IL education in African library schools, and generate suggestions for educators and policy makers developing and including “IL” as a stand‐alone course in the LIS curriculum.