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This paper aims to provide a simple and cheap calibration method to improve the odometry accuracy and to present an alternative method for the control of the path produced by an already existed path planning method.

Through the integration of systematic odometry errors the robot's odometry parameters are estimated and through the replacement of a caster with an omniwheel the unmodeled sources of odometry errors are removed. The control of the paths shape is achieved through the definition of intermediate points and robots velocity at these points.

The paper finds that the odometry calibration method improves significantly odometry accuracy. Caster and omniwheel performance depends on the paths characteristics and on their quality. The use of intermediate points offers a very good control on the paths' shape.

The paper encourages the manufacturers of casters and omniwheels to improve their quality. The described path planning method inevitably halts the robot at certain points. Further research must be done to avoid this drawback.

Odometry calibration has become a simple procedure and can be easily implemented by robot manufacturers or researchers to improve odometry accuracy.

The odometry calibration method significantly reduces systematic odometry errors and makes odometry reliable apart from cheap. The influence of caster and omniwheel to odometry is examined along with the influence of better controlled path shape.

The purpose of this paper is to produce cobalt (Co)-based thin films by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique and then to evaluate structural and mechanical integrity.

Co-based thin films were produced by metalorganic CVD technique. Boronizing, carburization and nitridation of the produced Co thin films were accomplished through a post-treatment stage of thermal diffusion into as-deposited Co thin films, in order to produce cobalt boride (Co₂B), cobalt carbide and cobalt nitride thin films in the surface layer of Co. The surface topography and the crystal structure of the produced thin films were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The mechanical integrity of the produced thin films was evaluated through nanoindentation technique.

The obtained results indicate that Co₂B thin film exhibits the highest nanomechanical properties (i.e. H and E), while Co thin film has enhanced plasticity. The cobalt oxide thin film exhibits higher resistance to wear in comparison to the cobalt thin film, a fact that is confirmed by the nanoscratch analysis showing lower coefficient of friction for the oxide.

This work is original.

The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, to explore the importance of specific work environment facets for the overall job satisfaction (JS) of primary full-time permanent teachers (PTs) and substitute/temporary teachers (STs). Second, to highlight the similarity or difference in JS patterns among PTs and STs. Third, to provide guidelines for effective evidence-based human resource management (HRM) interventions targeting to boost PTs and STs JS levels by considering: (1) the perceived importance of individual work facets for them and (2) the school's performance in providing a satisfactory work environment.

Data on overall and important JS facets (i.e. satisfaction with opportunities for self-fulfillment, work intensity/load, salary/income, leadership and collegial relations) were collected from a sample of 438 PTs and STs in Greece. Moreover, MUSA, a method that combines Multi-Criteria Decision (MCDA) and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), was applied to uncover the critical work environment facets of PTs and STs overall JS that call for interventions.

The findings suggest that PTs seem to value, more than STs, the transactional and economic aspects of the school environment. More precisely, on the part of PTs, self-fulfillment and salary/income are the main contributors to their JS, whilst leadership is the least important facet of JS. For STs self-fulfillment and collegial relationships are the aspects of work that contribute the most to their overall JS, whilst salary/income is the least important contributor. The study results further indicate that self-fulfillment is the strong attribute of Greek schools' work environment in boosting TJS regardless teachers' status, whilst salary/income and workload are potential threats.

It is one of the few studies that provide insights into the differing JS patterns of STs and PTs through the application of a MCDA/IPA method. Therefore, it offers evidence-based guidelines that take into consideration both the school's performance (overall and facet JS) and importance of core aspects of the work experience for STs and PTs.

The purpose of this paper is to outline the views of citizens on issues related to energy saving and the realization of bank products in buildings under renovation such as energy saving interventions in the building envelope, installment of maximum efficiency air-conditioning systems, etc.

The collection of data was done through a structured questionnaire. The data are important because they show the attitudes of citizens while they simultaneously assess the effectiveness of the program after the application for many years of the energy saving program by the state.

The results of the research show that with regard to responsible actions by citizens as far as impacts on climate change are concerned, cognitive factors are more important than behavioral factors. The most important reason with regard to citizens restricting the consumption of electrical energy is saving money. Finally, the vast majority of citizens declare that they know about the existence of “green” bank financial programs and claim that these contribute to environmental protection. Despite all this, a very small percentage of citizens have realized some sort of financial program in order to save energy claiming that the main reason for their choice was the country’s economic crisis.

This investigation of the views of citizens may constitute a tool both for designing of effective environmental policy but also for the assessment of energy saving programs such as the one discussed in this paper.

Through a comprehensive literature review and data analysis, the purpose of this paper is to adopt a multi‐perspective interrelation of different dimensions of existing theory to eventually bridge the fields of political and business marketing, identify the underlying causes of voter behaviour, and distil the critical factors of small political parties' (SPPs') strategic marketing communications (MCs) success. The research finally develops a preliminary conceptual strategic MCs model for SPPs that fits the context of developed countries and concentrates on the strategic aspects of MCs.

The paper is largely conceptual and is based on an extensive literature review and secondary data; strengthened through additional and focused quantitative and qualitative data.

The findings indicate an increasing association between business and political marketing, an environmental context that stimulates and nurtures a symbiotic relationship between parties and voters, an enhanced role of “perception management”, and substantial divergence of SPP reality from classical theory.

Further and focused primary research is required towards model testing.

A scientific basis is provided for practical strategic implementation of MCs by SPPs.

The research value stems from its focus on SPPs, its contribution to the generic discussion on business marketing theory applicability to politics; its reinforcement of existing research on the subject through further data and analyses; and additionally to existing researches' focus, its concentration on the strategic aspects of the subject and its contribution to literature of an analogous strategic political marketing model.

Green technology adoption (GTA) in small and micro enterprises (SMEs) is a complex multi-attribute group decision-making issue. Conflicts of opinions can hamper the achievement of group coherence. The purpose of this paper is to solve the conflict decision-making problem in SMEs.

This paper reconstructs the GTA evaluation index system for SMEs and proposes an intragroup coordination relationship model to mitigate group decision-making conflicts based on the cloud model and social networks (GCS). The numerical characteristics of these GTA indicators are determined using fuzzy theory and cloud model.

It was found that establishing a trust relationship network and a conflict coordination relationship could improve the consistency of group decision-making. The degree of coordination has subtle differences with the trust relationship. Particularly, the coordination relationship has obvious influences on the decision-making results among small groups in SMEs.

The conflict coordination model can significantly improve the consistency of group decision-making in SMEs. At the same time, it discusses the differences between the level of conflict coordination and the trust propagation in the process of group decision-making.

The aim of the paper is to study and propose a model of the effect of entrepreneurial culture on innovation, with the country's relevant institutional framework as a mediator. The model applies to the field of wine industry within the Greek institutional framework.

The research population consists of wineries in Greece. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. Due to the fact that the model includes latent variables and indirect effects, the partial least squares (PLS) algorithm and the SMART-PLS software were chosen to analyze the data. The effect of entrepreneurial culture and institutional framework on innovation was examined as well as the role of institutional framework as a mediator.

It was found that entrepreneurial culture affects innovation positively and statistically significantly. What is more, it was found that the Greek institutional framework affects innovation negatively and statistically significantly. Finally, institutional framework negatively mediates between entrepreneurial culture and innovation, highlighted as a partial mediator.

It is highlighted that it is up to entrepreneurs themselves to succeed. Furthermore, policymakers have to take the necessary measures to improve the external business environment of Greece. Indeed, entrepreneurship can succeed even further if the external environment is favorable.

It is interesting that despite the negative effect of institutional framework on innovation, the indirect positive effect of entrepreneurial culture on innovation is still statistically significant. This means that entrepreneurs who have the right mindset can overcome external barriers.