Search results

This study aims to explore the relationship between contemporary cities and traditional urban forms. The central focus lies in identifying the key factors that facilitate the harmonious coexistence of these contrasting sides of the city.

This study takes Iranian bazaars as exemplars of traditional urban forms. To assess their current status, a comprehensive examination of their general evolution is conducted, tracing the transition of these urban complexes up to the present day. Subsequently, morphological analysis and exploration of spatial arrangements across numerous cases are employed to unveil the factors contributing to their disappearance or adaptation within the framework of Iran’s contemporary urban era.

The evolution process of the Iranian bazaar shows that the encounter between traditional bazaars and modernity occurred swiftly and blindly, resulting in adverse effects on traditional urban forms, notably bazaars. In recent years, contemporary urban planning has undertaken corrective measures, adopting a more nuanced approach. This shift significantly strides in restoring the symbiotic relationship between cities and their traditional bazaars. Morphologically, certain bazaars have preserved their vitality in contemporary cities through their natural development patterns, adept integration with new urban textures and the implementation of ingenious adaptive strategies.

This study employs a comprehensive and equitable approach to examining a distinct category of traditional urban forms. It initiates the inquiry by meticulously considering historical continuity in conjunction with detailed contemporary circumstances, subsequently scrutinising their losses, damages and developmental aspects. An extensive collection of cases is assembled and subjected to a consistent analytical framework for comparative evaluation to obtain the most accurate result. Consequently, the outcomes of this research may help the present urban planners engaged in projects concerning the restoration, preservation, revitalisation and development of traditional urban forms.

This study aims to evaluate the potential of using the in-nozzle impregnation approach to reuse recycled PET (RPET) to develop continuous banana fiber (CBF) reinforced bio-composites. The mechanical properties and fracture morphology behavior are evaluated to establish the relationships between layer spacing–microstructural characteristics–mechanical properties of CBF/RPET composite.

This study uses RPET filament developed from post-consumer PET bottles and CBF extracted from agricultural waste banana sap. RPET serves as the matrix material, while CBF acts as the reinforcement. The test specimens were fabricated using a customized fused deposition modeling 3D printer. In this process, customized 3D printer heads were used, which have a unique capability to extrude and deposit print fibers consisting of a CBF core coated with an RPET matrix. The tensile and flexural samples were 3D printed at varying layer spacing.

The Young’s modulus (E), yield strength (sy) and ultimate tensile strength of the CBF/RPET sample fabricated with 0.7 mm layer spacing are 1.9 times, 1.25 times and 1.8 times greater than neat RPET, respectively. Similarly, the flexural test results showed that the flexural strength of the CBF/RPET sample fabricated at 0.6 mm layer spacing was 47.52 ± 2.00 MPa, which was far greater than the flexural strength of the neat RPET sample (25.12 ± 1.94 MPa).

This study holds significant social implications highlighting the growing environmental sustainability and plastic waste recycling concerns. The use of recycled PET material to develop 3D-printed sustainable structures may reduce resource consumption and encourages responsible production practices.

The key innovation lies in the concept of in-nozzle impregnation approach, where RPET is reinforced with CBF to develop a sustainable composite structure. CBF reinforcement has made RPET a superior, sustainable, environmentally friendly material that can reduce the reliance on virgin plastic material for 3D printing.

This study aims to explore the role of urban streets as transitional edges in coordinating socio-spatial interactions within the urban environment. It will focus on how streets can revitalize their surrounding environments and shape sustainable urban living through their characteristics.

Employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, this study systematically reviewed 67 international research articles published from 2013 to 2023. It delved into the functionalities of urban streets as transitional edges under various social and physical interactions, covering the multidimensional impacts of streets at the social, spatial and individual levels.

The results demonstrate that the physical and social dimensions of streets, through their characteristics as transitional edges, not only complement each other but also effectively promote social space interactions and sustainable urban development. As a key public space at the interface of social and physical realms, streets influence residents' daily lives and balance the socio-spatial environment.

Although this study deepens the understanding of urban streets as transitional edges, it faces limitations due to the scarcity of literature related to transitional edges, which may affect the depth and breadth of the research. Future studies are required to further verify theoretical findings through field research and case studies and to explore practical applications of street design to enhance data comprehensiveness and availability.

The originality of this article lies in defining urban streets as dynamic transitional edge spaces, redefining their dual role in urban design to connect physical forms and social functions. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study provides theoretical support for urban planning and design practices, emphasizing their application value in promoting urban social interaction and sustainable development.

This paper aims to address the need to adopt circular economy models in the urban development and infrastructure of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia. The purpose is to provide insights into the progress, challenges and potential benefits of transitioning from a linear to a circular economic model in response to the environmental challenges posed by rapid economic development and population growth in the GCC region. The study emphasizes the relevance of this research in fostering economic diversification, mitigating ecological concerns and attracting sustainable investments.

The study adopts a qualitative approach to investigate the adoption of circular economy principles in each GCC country’s urban development and infrastructure. It details the specific strategies and initiatives undertaken by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia. The research methodology includes a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), thematic, comparative and individual analysis of their goals, progress and the unique approaches employed. Additionally, a SWOT analysis is conducted to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with adopting circular economy models in the GCC region.

The case studies reveal each GCC country’s diverse approaches and progress in adopting circular economy models. Bahrain aims for carbon neutrality by 2060, Kuwait prioritizes sustainability in urban development, Oman focuses on waste reduction, Qatar integrates circular economy principles into its Vision 2030 initiative and Saudi Arabia explores closed-loop material flows. Whereas, the UAE focuses on infrastructure development with unique technological advancements in the near future. Despite common challenges such as traditional linear models and economic obstacles, the benefits of transitioning to circular economies in the GCC region are substantial. These include social, environmental and economic advantages, emphasizing sustainable growth, resource efficiency and enhanced environmental protection.

This paper contributes original insights into the adoption of circular economy models in the GCC region, providing a clear and succinct case for its value. The research underscores this transition’s economic, environmental and social benefits. It emphasizes the significance of sustainable resource management and economic opportunities while acknowledging challenges such as implementation obstacles and potential business impacts. The study invites reflection on future research steps, fostering a balanced and fair analysis of the value of the results. It positions the adoption of circular economy models as a crucial step toward achieving economic diversification, and environmental sustainability and attracting green investments in the GCC region.

Scholars of disaster have discussed how place attachment affects the disaster landscape. The rupture of self from home, of familiar into strange and disconnected is explored through this lens. I propose in this paper that it is possible that what we are seeing is not a sudden disruption of place attachment, but an ongoing process of alienation.

In this paper I discuss the concepts of both place attachment and alienation. In particular I explore Marx’s concept of alienation. I then look at examples from disaster research and identify instances and concepts that can be better interpreted as an ongoing process of alienation.

I find that, when using Marx’s framework of alienation, we can take examples from disaster studies that might appear as a sudden disruption of place attachment and critically examine them as cases of alienation.

This exploration of disaster theory offers a new framework for bringing together urban theory, in particular critical urban theory, with disaster research.

Demanding and highly competitive business environment has stimulated small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to restructure their manufacturing practices. Lean manufacturing (LM), a comprehensive alternative, is now being adopted, notably by manufacturing organizations, to increase business effectiveness and performance through a variety of lean approaches. Lean implementation, however, ran into a number of difficulties, which showed that non-technical factors such as human-related practices must also be integrated if lean is to be successful. This study aims to examine a thorough overview of the various human-related lean practices (HRLP) mentioned in recent literature and to determine which of them is more pertinent to a successful LM implementation in SMEs.

A total of 193 publications published in 45 journals between 2013 and 2023 and based on the 4 reputable publishers, namely, Science Direct, Emerald Online, Taylor and Francis and Springer Link, were gathered based on a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles in LM.

The amount of research on human resource management and lean management that has been conducted has increased dramatically during the past few years. The outcome of this study will offer a thorough analysis of soft lean practices found in the LM literature that manufacturing SMEs should take into account while implementing lean.

The scope of this research is restricted to a survey of scholarly works using the terms “Lean manufacturing” or “Lean production” as well as “human” or “people” or “soft-lean practices” in the title. Furthermore, only works published in scholarly publications that have undergone peer review were included. Also, due to the authors’ linguistic restrictions, only English articles were used. The HRLP linked to a smooth lean transition are described in this research. Thus, it can be used to assist the production and human resource departments in raising an organization’s long-term performance.

The study gives researchers a better grasp of the direction the subject is taking and what gaps still exist, which aids them in focusing their research on HRLP in small- and medium-sized businesses.

Utilizing the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework, this study examines how stimuli such as green sustainability efforts and brand image affect organisms namely brand experience and brand trust, leading to brand-related outcomes such as brand affinity, brand satisfaction and purchase intention in the soft drink industry in Singapore.

An online survey was administered to a total of 243 members of several Singapore-based Facebook groups. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

The results show the positive effects of green sustainability efforts on brand image, brand experience and brand trust. Brand experience affects brand satisfaction, brand affinity and purchase intention, whereas brand trust affects brand satisfaction and purchase intention. Moreover, the mediating roles of brand experience and brand trust are verified.

To build strong consumer-brand relationships, managers can elevate brand experience and brand trust through the implementation of green sustainability efforts.

This study adds to the body of green sustainability literature by verifying the mediating effect of brand experience and brand trust in the relationship between green sustainability efforts and brand-related outcomes. The study clarifies the direct and indirect antecedents of brand affinity, brand satisfaction and purchase intention.

In this study, the central objective is to foresee stock market signals with the use of a proper structure to achieve the highest accuracy possible. For this purpose, three hybrid models have been developed for the stock markets which are a combination of support vector machine (SVM) with meta-heuristic algorithms of particle swarm optimization (PSO), imperialist competition algorithm (ICA) and genetic algorithm (GA).All the analyses are technical and are based on the Japanese candlestick model.

Further as per the results achieved, the most suitable algorithm is chosen to anticipate sell and buy signals. Moreover, the authors have compared the results of the designed model validations in this study with basic models in three articles conducted in the past years. Therefore, SVM is examined by PSO. It is used as a classification agent to search the problem-solving space precisely and at a faster pace. With regards to the second model, SVM and ICA are tested to stock market timing, in a way that ICA is used as an optimization agent for the SVM parameters. At last, in the third model, SVM and GA are studied, where GA acts as an optimizer and feature selection agent.

As per the results, it is observed that all new models can predict accurately for only 6 days; however, in comparison with the confusion matrix results, it is observed that the SVM-GA and SVM-ICA models have correctly predicted more sell signals, and the SCM-PSO model has correctly predicted more buy signals. However, SVM-ICA has shown better performance than other models considering executing the implemented models.

In this study, the data for stock market of the years 2013–2021 were analyzed; the long length of timeframe makes the input data analysis challenging as they must be moderated with respect to the conditions where they have been changed.

In this study, two methods have been developed in a candlestick model; they are raw-based and signal-based approaches in which the hit rate is determined by the percentage of correct evaluations of the stock market for a 16-day period.

The first objective is to investigate and determine the social capital development of students in online education. The second objective is to analyze the influence of social capital on students’ academic success and educational satisfaction. The third objective is to generate recommendations to foster social capital development.

A quantitative research approach is employed, with 264 respondents comprising students from colleges and universities in Malaysia. The data gathering instrument is an online questionnaire administered with the informed consent of participants. Data analysis is performed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

The results show that the faculty capital and peer capital components of social capital have not been compromised in online education, but the family capital component has declined. As such, it is concluded that there is a general decline in overall social capital in online education. These findings form the basis for recommendations on promoting social capital development among students in colleges and universities internationally.

This study focused on study periods during the COVID-19 pandemic where online learning and communication were strictly enforced, providing a unique opportunity to explore how students adapted their social capital development. However, this is not meant to be a representation of scenarios where students are given the option of either physical or online education or a combination of both.

Academic and institutional management implications are evident, and recommendations are made based on the findings.

The findings and subsequent recommendations have considerable social implications in terms of social sustainability of education practices and policies.

The COVID-19 pandemic that started in March 2020 and subsequent prolonged periods of physical lockdowns in many countries have forced colleges and universities that customarily practice classroom education to shift to online education temporarily. This situation created a novel “natural experiment” when classes or programs from the same college or university that are customarily conducted in classrooms (in person) were conducted online during the pandemic, thus contributing to the originality of the findings.

This study aims to investigate the intricate interrelationships between brand experience, self-congruence, brand trust, brand image and brand love within the halal fashion industry. The primary objective is to uncover the underlying dynamics that influence consumer perceptions and behaviours in this unique market context.

Using a quantitative method and purposing sampling, data were collected from 500 consumers of halal fashion brands using online questionnaires by Google Forms. Partial least square-structural equation modelling techniques were used to analyse the data and test the hypothesized relationships between the variables.

The findings reveal significant positive relationships between brand experience and self-congruence, brand experience and brand trust, self-congruence and brand trust and self-congruence and brand image. Furthermore, brand trust and brand image emerged as a significant predictor of brand love within the halal fashion context.

The sample size and geographic scope were limited to consumers in Indonesia, which may impact the generalizability of the findings. Although fashion trends are often seen as more applicable to women, this research included both women and men to provide a comprehensive understanding of consumer behaviour. Future research should explore these constructs in diverse cultural contexts and consider gender-specific nuances to enhance generalizability and robustness.

This study offers actionable strategies for halal fashion branding. Marketers should create brand experiences aligned with Islamic values, ensure transparency in sourcing and halal certification and embrace cultural diversity in campaigns. Leveraging digital platforms and influencers can enhance engagement and foster brand loyalty. These insights provide a framework for building trust, inclusivity and long-term success in the halal fashion market.

This study offers a novel contribution by examining the relationships between brand experience, self-congruence, brand trust, brand image and brand love specifically within the halal fashion market. Unlike previous research, it focuses on how Islamic cultural and religious values influence these constructs, providing fresh insights into branding strategies in this niche sector. Theoretically, it enriches understanding of consumer behaviour in culturally specific markets, whereas practically, it offers actionable guidance for marketers to build trust and emotional connections with halal fashion consumers.