Yong Chen, Zhixian Zhan and Wei Zhang
As the strategy of 5G new infrastructure is deployed and advanced, 5G-R becomes the primary technical system for future mobile communication of China’s railway. V2V communication…
Abstract
Purpose
As the strategy of 5G new infrastructure is deployed and advanced, 5G-R becomes the primary technical system for future mobile communication of China’s railway. V2V communication is also an important application scenario of 5G communication systems on high-speed railways, so time synchronization between vehicles is critical for train control systems to be real-time and safe. How to improve the time synchronization performance in V2V communication is crucial to ensure the operational safety and efficiency of high-speed railways.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposed a time synchronization method based on model predictive control (MPC) for V2V communication. Firstly, a synchronous clock for V2V communication was modeled based on the fifth generation mobile communication-railway (5G-R) system. Secondly, an observation equation was introduced according to the phase and frequency offsets between synchronous clocks of two adjacent vehicles to construct an MPC-based space model of clock states of the adjacent vehicles. Finally, the optimal clock offset was solved through multistep prediction, rolling optimization and other control methods, and time synchronization in different V2V communication scenarios based on the 5G-R system was realized through negative feedback correction.
Findings
The results of simulation tests conducted with and without a repeater, respectively, show that the proposed method can realize time synchronization of V2V communication in both scenarios. Compared with other methods, the proposed method has faster convergence speed and higher synchronization precision regardless of whether there is a repeater or not.
Originality/value
This paper proposed an MPC-based time synchronization method for V2V communication under 5G-R. Through the construction of MPC controllers for clocks of adjacent vehicles, time synchronization was realized for V2V communication under 5G-R by using control means such as multistep prediction, rolling optimization, and feedback correction. In view of the problems of low synchronization precision and slow convergence speed caused by packet loss with existing synchronization methods, the observer equation was introduced to estimate the clock state of the adjacent vehicles in case of packet loss, which reduces the impact of clock error caused by packet loss in the synchronization process and improves the synchronization precision of V2V communication. The research results provide some theoretical references for V2V synchronous wireless communication under 5G-R technology.
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Chayanon Phucharoen and Nichapat Sangkaew
A leading characteristic of international tourists at every tourist destination is their role as foreign–income disseminator, and a large number of papers have been dedicated to…
Abstract
Purpose
A leading characteristic of international tourists at every tourist destination is their role as foreign–income disseminator, and a large number of papers have been dedicated to exploring their behavior. In contrast, this paper aims to shed light on the supply-side of tourism through the study of a hotels’ ability to internationalize their businesses.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on each hotel’s input data, its efficiency was estimated by a data envelopment analysis approach. Then, the hotel’s intensity of demand from foreign guests was regressed against hotel efficiency along with firm’ control variables.
Findings
Results from Heckman correction model indicate that ordinary least squares regression would be subject to selection bias, and the results from the correction model strongly indicate a positive linkage between the hotel’s efficiency level and its foreign to total guest ratio, especially in the sub-sample of hotels located in non-tourist destinations. In addition, the results also reveal that the availability of certain services and facilities at hotels are positively related to the number of foreign guests, namely, a spa service and swimming pools.
Originality/value
Therefore, the main implications from this study are twofold. First, if a hotel’s target market is international travelers, a swimming pool and the availability of a spa service are essential features for hotels in Thailand. Second, policies to improve productivity in hotels should be simultaneously implemented along with tourist-destination-promotion campaigns to optimize the economic impact of international tourist arrivals.
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Hussein Y.H. Alnajjar and Osman Üçüncü
Artificial intelligence (AI) models are demonstrating day by day that they can find long-term solutions to improve wastewater treatment efficiency. Artificial neural networks…
Abstract
Purpose
Artificial intelligence (AI) models are demonstrating day by day that they can find long-term solutions to improve wastewater treatment efficiency. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are one of the most important of these models, and they are increasingly being used to forecast water resource variables. The goal of this study was to create an ANN model to estimate the removal efficiency of biological oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and total suspended solids (TSS) at the effluent of various primary and secondary treatment methods in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).
Design/methodology/approach
The MATLAB App Designer model was used to generate the data set. Various combinations of wastewater quality data, such as temperature(T), TN, TP and hydraulic retention time (HRT) are used as inputs into the ANN to assess the degree of effect of each of these variables on BOD, TN, TP and TSS removal efficiency. Two of the models reflect two different types of primary treatment, while the other nine models represent different types of subsequent treatment. The ANN model’s findings are compared to the MATLAB App Designer model. For evaluating model performance, mean square error (MSE) and coefficient of determination statistics (R2) are utilized as comparative metrics.
Findings
For both training and testing, the R values for the ANN models were greater than 0.99. Based on the comparisons, it was discovered that the ANN model can be used to estimate the removal efficiency of BOD, TN, TP and TSS in WWTP and that the ANN model produces very similar and satisfying results to the APPDESIGNER model. The R-value (Correlation coefficient) of 0.9909 and the MSE of 5.962 indicate that the model is accurate. Because of the many benefits of the ANN models used in this study, it has a lot of potential as a general modeling tool for a range of other complicated process systems that are difficult to solve using conventional modeling techniques.
Originality/value
The objective of this study was to develop an ANN model that could be used to estimate the removal efficiency of pollutants such as BOD, TN, TP and TSS at the effluent of various primary and secondary treatment methods in a WWTP. In the future, the ANN could be used to design a new WWTP and forecast the removal efficiency of pollutants.
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Yu-Hsiang (John) Huang, Bradley Meyer, Daniel Connolly and Troy Strader
Taiwan’s hotel industry was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine the effect of strategic choices by Taiwanese international tourist hotels…
Abstract
Purpose
Taiwan’s hotel industry was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine the effect of strategic choices by Taiwanese international tourist hotels before and during the pandemic environments.
Design/methodology/approach
A data envelopment analysis (DEA)-based Malmquist methodology is used in this study to provide a mechanism to assess Taiwanese hotel strategy performance. Changes in the productivity and performance of Taiwanese international tourist hotels were analyzed in the periods before and during the pandemic to uncover insights useful should a similar crisis occur in the future. Panel data were obtained from the annual report of international tourist hotels published by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau from 2017–2020. Two groups of hotels were analyzed in this study: city hotels and scenic hotels.
Findings
The findings of this study reveal that chain hotels tended to perform better than independent hotels in both city and scenic areas during the global pandemic. Specifically, the crisis caused a substantial decline in productivity and profitability for international tourist hotels in Taipei City during the COVID-19 period. Compared to city hotels, findings also indicate that most international tourist hotels in scenic areas were able to maintain better productivity, including larger-sized scenic hotels.
Originality/value
The DEA-based analysis provides unique and valuable insights for hotel firm leaders on how to better identify and make strategic choices when responding to future crises.
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Hemad Hamedi and Amir Mehdiabadi
The purpose of this paper is to find and prioritize human factors affecting entrepreneurial resilience.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to find and prioritize human factors affecting entrepreneurial resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
The statistical population consists of prominent Iranian university professors in this field, and the statistical sample is ten of them randomly. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. After a comprehensive review of the theoretical foundations, the research model was formed with 5 main indices and 21 sub-indices. Fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-based (DANP) technique and MATLAB software was used for analysis.
Findings
Indicators of Values and Beliefs (A3) and Motivation Index (E5) as Influential Indicators and indicators of personal attributes (S1), formal and informal relationships (R2) and human capital (C4) are effective indicators of entrepreneurial resilience. In the final rankings, formal and informal relationships had the highest weight with 0.263 and the lowest with priority and motivation index with 0.080. In addition to the final rankings of the sub-indices, the indicators of first-hand experience, recognition of opportunities and consulting services were given the highest weight.
Practical implications
This study proposes that resilience is a real-life process and not just a list of each characteristic. All human beings have an innate ability to be resilient, but resilience is a learned and learned behavior, and the emphasis of experts is on the learning of various resilience skills.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the field of entrepreneurship by examining the institutional backgrounds of entrepreneurship resilience.
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Carolanne Mahony, Ciara Heavin and David Sammon
The purpose of this article is to identify design guidelines for online resources based on the subjective assessment criteria used by individuals to assess and process information…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to identify design guidelines for online resources based on the subjective assessment criteria used by individuals to assess and process information resources. This method of creating design guidelines targeted at precise user groups has the potential to aid designers and developers to create more user-centred information resources.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors gathered data using a prospective longitudinal study investigating the information behaviour of expectant and new mothers. Women were asked to report on their information-seeking activities in a series of semi-structured interviews covering pregnancy and early motherhood.
Findings
This research identified 15 assessment criteria that were utilised by women to assess and process information resources. The most popular resource criteria amongst participants were credibility and convenience, while completeness and relevance were the most popular information content criteria. The authors found that assessment criteria were not considered in isolation, with criteria such as formatting and search engine ranking impacting on participants' perception of other criteria.
Practical implications
This research demonstrates the potential of linking a user groups subjective assessment criterion to design guidelines. The authors propose that these guidelines could be used to help design an online information resource. They could also be used to assess if an existing online resource met the needs of a user group. The methodology used in this study could be leveraged to create design guidelines for user groups.
Originality/value
This research uses subjective assessment criteria as a means of understanding how expectant new mothers process information resources. People use subjective judgements when processing information resources, and this should be incorporated into the design of information resources. Analysing longitudinal data allowed the authors to build a rich picture of how participants evaluated and compared different information resources.
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Deborah Richards, Salma Banu Nazeer Khan, Paul Formosa and Sarah Bankins
To protect information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and resources against poor cyber hygiene behaviours, organisations commonly require internal users to…
Abstract
Purpose
To protect information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and resources against poor cyber hygiene behaviours, organisations commonly require internal users to confirm they will abide by an ICT Code of Conduct. Before commencing enrolment, university students sign ICT policies, however, individuals can ignore or act contrary to these policies. This study aims to evaluate whether students can apply ICT Codes of Conduct and explores viable approaches for ensuring that students understand how to act ethically and in accordance with such codes.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors designed a between-subjects experiment involving 260 students’ responses to five scenario-pairs that involve breach/non-breach of a university’s ICT policy following a priming intervention to heighten awareness of ICT policy or relevant ethical principles, with a control group receiving no priming.
Findings
This study found a significant difference in students’ responses to the breach versus non-breach cases, indicating their ability to apply the ICT Code of Conduct. Qualitative comments revealed the priming materials influenced their reasoning.
Research limitations/implications
The authors’ priming interventions were inadequate for improving breach recognition compared to the control group. More nuanced and targeted priming interventions are suggested for future studies.
Practical implications
Appropriate application of ICT Code of Conduct can be measured by collecting student/employee responses to breach/non-breach scenario pairs based on the Code and embedded with ethical principles.
Social implications
Shared awareness and protection of ICT resources.
Originality/value
Compliance with ICT Codes of Conduct by students is under-investigated. This study shows that code-based scenarios can measure understanding and suggest that targeted priming might offer a non-resource intensive training approach.
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This study aims to evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI) research in the hospitality industry based on the service AI framework (mechanical-thinking-feeling) and highlight…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI) research in the hospitality industry based on the service AI framework (mechanical-thinking-feeling) and highlight prospective avenues for future inquiry in this growing domain.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper conceptualizes timely concepts supported by research spanning multiple domains.
Findings
This research introduces a novel classification for the domain of AI hospitality research. This classification encompasses prediction and pattern recognition, computer vision, NLP, behavioral research, and synthetic data generation. Based on this classification, this study identifies and elaborates upon five emerging research topics, each linked to a corresponding set of research questions. These focal points encompass the realms of interpretable AI, controllable AI, AI ethics, collaborative AI, and synthetic data generation.
Originality/value
This viewpoint provides a foundational framework and a directional compass for future research in AI within the hospitality industry. It pushes the industry forward with a balanced approach to leveraging AI to augment human potential and enrich customer experiences. Both the classification and the research agenda would contribute to the body of knowledge that will guide the industry toward a future where technology and human service coalesce to create unparalleled value for all stakeholders.