Chara Vavoura, Dimitris Manolopoulos and Ioannis Vavouras
In this chapter, we investigate the interactions between governance quality and economic development. More specifically, we analyze how the institutions through which state…
Abstract
In this chapter, we investigate the interactions between governance quality and economic development. More specifically, we analyze how the institutions through which state authority is exercised influence the level of economic development. In that respect, governance could be considered as a quasi-factor of production which affects the country's economic growth and development, an issue that lies in the heart of institutional economics. The effect of governance on economic development is mainly played out via two channels. Namely, the quality of democracy, distinguished in political rights and civil liberties, and the level of corruption, associated with the exercise of state authority. Good governance is in principle associated with a high quality of democracy and a low level of corruption. Both generate positive effects on the level of economic growth and development, mainly due to their impact on state effectiveness and private and public investment. At the same time, there also exists an inverse causality: the level of economic development affects positively the quality of democracy and negatively the level of corruption which in turn tend to improve the quality of democracy. These coexistent mechanisms are associated with crucial policy issues which are largely neglected by the traditional theory of economic growth.
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D.T. Tsahalis, S.K. Katsikas and D.A. Manolas
In order to achieve maximum noise reduction inside an aircraft cabin through the use of an active noise control system (ANCS), it is important that the number and positions of the…
Abstract
In order to achieve maximum noise reduction inside an aircraft cabin through the use of an active noise control system (ANCS), it is important that the number and positions of the sensors for monitoring the noise field; the control system for driving the actuators; and the number and positions of the actuators that generate the secondary noise field, which partially cancels the primary noise field, must be optimally determined. An optimization strategy for the positioning of the actuators, based on genetic algorithms (GA), is presented, assuming a fixed sensor configuration and a given control system. The application of the developed GA to a propeller aircraft is also discussed. The work presented was performed under the CEC BRITE/EURAM‐Aeronautics project “ASANCA”, in which a demonstrator ANCS was developed.
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D.A. Manolas, I. Borchers and D.T. Tsahalis
Active noise control (ANC) became in the last decade a very popular technique for controlling low‐frequency noise. The increase in its popularity was a consequence of the rapid…
Abstract
Active noise control (ANC) became in the last decade a very popular technique for controlling low‐frequency noise. The increase in its popularity was a consequence of the rapid development in the fields of computers in general, and more specifically in digital signal processing boards. ANC systems are application specific and therefore they should be optimally designed for each application. Even though the physical background of the ANC systems is well‐known and understood, tools for the optimization of the sensor and actuator configurations of the ANC system based on classical optimization methods do not perform as required. This is due to the nature of the problem that allows the calculation of the effect of the ANC system only when the sensor and actuator configurations are specified. An additional difficulty in this problem is that the sensor and the actuator configurations cannot be optimized independently, since the effect of the ANC system is directly involved in the combined sensor and actuator configuration. For the solution of this problem several intelligent techniques were applied. In this paper the successful application of a genetic algorithm, an optimization technique that belongs to the broad class of evolutionary algorithms, is presented.
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T.P. Gialamas, D.A. Manolas and D.T. Tsahalis
In the present paper a weighted residual formulation of wave propagation through a porous material for a three‐dimensional case, based on the theoretical formulation of Zwikker…
Abstract
In the present paper a weighted residual formulation of wave propagation through a porous material for a three‐dimensional case, based on the theoretical formulation of Zwikker and Kosten for sound propagation in porous material, is described. Based on this formulation, a MATLAB code was developed which simulates an experimental configuration that consists of: a double wall cavity, formed by two parallel aluminum panels; and a reverberation room. A loudspeaker is placed on the reverberation room to provide the acoustical excitation of the double wall set‐up. The results which are obtained from the MATLAB code, in terms of the sound pressure level (SPL) in the double wall cavity and the displacement of the two panels, are compared with the corresponding experimental ones for the cases of air and thermal insulation material being the medium filling the double wall cavity.
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José Alexandre Matelli, Jonny C. Silva and Edson Bazzo
The purpose of this paper is twofold: to analyze the computational complexity of the cogeneration design problem; to present an expert system to solve the proposed problem…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is twofold: to analyze the computational complexity of the cogeneration design problem; to present an expert system to solve the proposed problem, comparing such an approach with the traditional searching methods available.
Design/methodology/approach
The complexity of the cogeneration problem is analyzed through the transformation of the well-known knapsack problem. Both problems are formulated as decision problems and it is proven that the cogeneration problem is np-complete. Thus, several searching approaches, such as population heuristics and dynamic programming, could be used to solve the problem. Alternatively, a knowledge-based approach is proposed by presenting an expert system and its knowledge representation scheme.
Findings
The expert system is executed considering two case-studies. First, a cogeneration plant should meet power, steam, chilled water and hot water demands. The expert system presented two different solutions based on high complexity thermodynamic cycles. In the second case-study the plant should meet just power and steam demands. The system presents three different solutions, and one of them was never considered before by our consultant expert.
Originality/value
The expert system approach is not a “blind” method, i.e. it generates solutions based on actual engineering knowledge instead of the searching strategies from traditional methods. It means that the system is able to explain its choices, making available the design rationale for each solution. This is the main advantage of the expert system approach over the traditional search methods. On the other hand, the expert system quite likely does not provide an actual optimal solution. All it can provide is one or more acceptable solutions.
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Yen-Ning Su, Chia-Cheng Hsu, Hsin-Chin Chen, Kuo-Kuang Huang and Yueh-Min Huang
This study aims to use sensing technology to observe the learning status of learners in a teaching and learning environment. In a general instruction environment, teachers often…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to use sensing technology to observe the learning status of learners in a teaching and learning environment. In a general instruction environment, teachers often encounter some teaching problems. These are frequently related to the fact that the teacher cannot clearly know the learning status of students, such as their degree of learning concentration and capacity to absorb knowledge. In order to deal with this situation, this study uses a learning concentration detection system (LCDS), combining sensor technology and an artificial intelligence method, to better understand the learning concentration of students in a learning environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed system uses sensing technology to collect information about the learning behavior of the students, analyzes their concentration levels, and applies an artificial intelligence method to combine this information for use by the teacher. This system includes a pressure detection sensor and facial detection sensor to detect facial expressions, eye activities and body movements. The system utilizes an artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm to optimize the system performance to help teachers immediately understand the degree of concentration and learning status of their students. Based on this, instructors can give appropriate guidance to several unfocused students at the same time.
Findings
The fitness value and computation time were used to evaluate the LCDS. Comparing the results of the proposed ABC algorithm with those from the random search method, the algorithm was found to obtain better solutions. The experimental results demonstrate that the ABC algorithm can quickly obtain near optimal solutions within a reasonable time.
Originality/value
A learning concentration detection method of integrating context-aware technologies and an ABC algorithm is presented in this paper. Using this learning concentration detection method, teachers can keep abreast of their students' learning status in a teaching environment and thus provide more appropriate instruction.
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Liang Yan, Lei Zhang, Zongxia Jiao, Hongjie Hu, Chin-Yin Chen and I-Ming Chen
Force output is extremely important for electromagnetic linear machines. The purpose of this study is to explore new permanent magnet (PM) array and winding patterns to increase…
Abstract
Purpose
Force output is extremely important for electromagnetic linear machines. The purpose of this study is to explore new permanent magnet (PM) array and winding patterns to increase the magnetic flux density and thus to improve the force output of electromagnetic tubular linear machines.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on investigations on various PM patterns, a novel dual Halbach PM array is proposed in this paper to increase the radial component of flux density in three-dimensional machine space, which in turn can increase the force output of tubular linear machine significantly. The force outputs and force ripples for different winding patterns are formulated and analyzed, to select optimized structure parameters.
Findings
The proposed dual Halbach array can increase the radial component of flux density and force output of tubular linear machines effectively. It also helps to decrease the axial component of flux density and thus to reduce the deformation and vibration of machines. By using analytical force models, the influence of winding patterns and structure parameters on the machine force output and force ripples can be analyzed. As a result, one set of optimized structure parameters are selected for the design of electromagnetic tubular linear machines.
Originality/value
The proposed dual Halbach array and winding patterns are effective ways to improve the linear machine performance. It can also be implemented into rotary machines. The analyzing and design methods could be extended into the development of other electromagnetic machines.
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Azzouz Zouaoui, Mounira Ben Arab and Ahmad Mohammed Alamri
This paper aims to investigate the economic, political or sociocultural determinants of corruption in Tunisia.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the economic, political or sociocultural determinants of corruption in Tunisia.
Design/methodology/approach
To better understand the main determinants of corruption in Tunisia. This study uses The Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) model, which allows us to include a large number of explanatory variables and for a shorter period.
Findings
The results show that economic freedom is the most important variable of corruption in Tunisia. In second place comes the subsidies granted by the government, which is one of the best shelters of corruption in Tunisia through their use for purposes different from those already allocated to them. Third, this paper finds the high unemployment rate, which, in turn, is getting worse even nowadays. The other three factors considered as causal but of lesser importance are public expenditures, the human development index (HDI) and education. Education, the HDI and the unemployment rate are all socio-economic factors that promote corruption.
Originality/value
The realization of this study will lead to triple net contributions. The first is to introduce explicitly and simultaneously political, social and economic determinants of corruption in developing countries. Second, unlike previous studies based on the simple and generalized regression model, the present research uses another novel and highly developed estimation method. More precisely, this study uses the BMA model, on the set of annual data for a period of 1998–2018. The third contribution of this research resides in the choice of the sample.
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Syed Waqar Akbar, Ajid Ur Rehman and Muhammad Shahzad Ijaz
This paper aims to examine the impact of corruption on bank stability and bank profitability separately for Islamic banks as well as conventional banks. Moreover, it also…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the impact of corruption on bank stability and bank profitability separately for Islamic banks as well as conventional banks. Moreover, it also investigates whether the existence of Islamicity and corruption in the environment can moderate the Islamic banks-stability and Islamic banks-profitability relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Sample of the study consists 136 banks comprising 70 Islamic and 66 conventional banks over the period 2015–2021 from nine countries with dual banking systems. Panel data fixed effect estimator with year effects is used to estimate the results.
Findings
Results of the study show that Islamicity is positively and corruption is negatively related to bank stability as well as bank profitability. Further, it is found that the effect of corruption is significantly different between Islamic and conventional banks, wherein conventional banks are more adversely affected than Islamic banks. However, an insignificant difference between Islamic and conventional banks is observed in the case of Islamicity.
Practical implications
The study provides theoretical and practical implications. On theoretical side, the study presents Islamicity as more reliable measure of religiosity based on Islamic values that can help in control of corruption by moderating corruption-bank stability nexus especially in dual banking economies which have high share of Muslim population. On practical side, the study recommends policy and operational measures for mitigating corruption aiming bank stability.
Originality/value
The results of this study contribute to the corruption-finance, religion-finance and dual banking literature. This study suggests that regulators and bank management must consider corruption and Islamicity while formulating their policies for better bank performance/stability.
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The purpose of this paper is to assess the determinants of corruption-control (CC) with freedom dynamics (economic, political, press and trade), government quality (GQ) and a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the determinants of corruption-control (CC) with freedom dynamics (economic, political, press and trade), government quality (GQ) and a plethora of socio-economic factors in 46 African countries using updated data.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantile regression approach is employed while controlling for the unobserved heterogeneity. Principal component analysis is also used to reduce the dimensions of highly correlated variables.
Findings
With the legal origin fundamental characteristic, the following findings have been established. First, while political freedom increases CC in a bottom quantile of English common-law countries, there is no such evidence in their French civil-law counterparts. Second, GQ consistently improves CC across all quantiles in English common-law countries but fails to exert the same effect in middle quantiles of French civil-law countries. Third, economic freedom ameliorates CC only in common-law countries with low existing CC levels (bottom quantiles). Fourth, The authors find no significant evidence of a positive “press freedom”-CC nexus and having the status of low-income English common-law (French civil law) countries decreases (increases) CC. From a religious domination scenario, the authors also find the following. First, political and trade freedoms only reduce CC in Christian-dominated countries while press freedom has a mitigation effect in both religious cultures (though more consistent across quantiles of Christian-oriented countries). Second, GQ is more pro-CC in Christian than in Muslim-dominated countries. Third, while economic freedom has a scanty negative nexus with CC in Christian-oriented countries, the effect is positive in their Muslim-dominated counterparts. Fourth, having a low-income status in countries with Christian common-law tradition improves CC.
Originality/value
The authors complement the literature on the fight against corruption in Africa by employing recently documented additional factors that should be considered in corruption studies.