Search results

1 – 10 of 19
Per page
102050
Citations:
Loading...
Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 1 October 2006

J.H.vH. de Wet

Determining an optimal capital structure for a company is a multi‐facetted problem that has challenged and fascinated academics and practitioners for a long time. This study…

2154

Abstract

Determining an optimal capital structure for a company is a multi‐facetted problem that has challenged and fascinated academics and practitioners for a long time. This study investigates capital structures used in different countries and industries and explores the different theories on capital structure that have been put forward to date. A trade‐off model, incorporating taxes and financial distress costs, is applied to determine the optimal capital structure for three companies listed on the JSE South Africa. One of the conclusions drawn from the results of this analysis is that great care needs to be taken in ensuring the reasonableness of the input data and the valuation model. Secondly, significant amounts of value can be unlocked in moving closer to the optimum level of gearing. Lastly, even when one is using a model such as the one illustrated, it may be preferable to try to operate within an acceptable interval rather than to try to attain the absolute optimum capital structure.

Details

Meditari Accountancy Research, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1022-2529

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 19 April 2022

Sait Gül, Çağlar Sivri and Ozan Rıdvan Aksu

The purpose of this paper is to determine which criteria should be taken into account while choosing face masks for pandemic times and to what extent their effects are.

182

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine which criteria should be taken into account while choosing face masks for pandemic times and to what extent their effects are.

Design/methodology/approach

Nine face mask alternatives were evaluated based on the assessments of their performance with respect to twelve attributes. Seven experts were asked to evaluate the mask alternatives and the influences among attributes. In gathering expert judgments, spherical fuzzy number-based linguistic terms were utilized in the study to provide a more comprehensive representation domain to them.

Findings

According to the results, the most important attributes are found as material type, cost and bacteria–virus protection level. The best face mask is N95, which is followed by respirators and surgical masks.

Research limitations/implications

The implication of the research is to evaluate face masks in terms of criteria such as physical, performance, protection and cost to decide on what basis they were selected as a personal protective equipment (PPE) based on expert assessments. This is useful in selection of the right face mask with optimum performance and provides guidance to the general public and profession specific groups for this purpose. The face mask companies might be also benefitted from the implications of the present study in their design and research and development (R&D) operations.

Originality/value

The preference ranking of the face mask alternatives has not been studied in detail yet in the literature. Focusing on this issue, the present study provides a comprehensive assessment of the selection criteria of face masks in the pandemic era.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 34 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 1 January 1954

Under this heading are published regularly abstracts of all Reports and Memoranda of the Aeronautical Research Council, Reports and Technical Memoranda of the United States…

23

Abstract

Under this heading are published regularly abstracts of all Reports and Memoranda of the Aeronautical Research Council, Reports and Technical Memoranda of the United States National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and publications of other similar Research Bodies as issued

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 26 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 1 April 1978

The General Industries Division will be featuring a number of new products recently added to its Surcol range of acrylic polymers.

32

Abstract

The General Industries Division will be featuring a number of new products recently added to its Surcol range of acrylic polymers.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 7 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 1 May 1966

E.R. BRAITHWAITE

The reason I gave the name Contact Lubrication to cover the action of lamellar solids is that I do not think they can be fairly classified as boundary lubricants whose adsorptive…

33

Abstract

The reason I gave the name Contact Lubrication to cover the action of lamellar solids is that I do not think they can be fairly classified as boundary lubricants whose adsorptive and film strength properties are indigenious to the lubricant. At best, adsorptive forces provide temporary attachment of particle to sliding surface before the particles are mechanically worked in.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 18 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 27 November 2020

Huifang Sun, Liping Fang, Yaoguo Dang and Wenxin Mao

A core challenge of assessing regional agricultural drought vulnerability (RADV) is to reveal what vulnerability factors, under which kinds of synergistic combinations and at what…

204

Abstract

Purpose

A core challenge of assessing regional agricultural drought vulnerability (RADV) is to reveal what vulnerability factors, under which kinds of synergistic combinations and at what strengths, will lead to higher vulnerability: namely, the influence patterns of RADV.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-phased grey rough combined model is proposed to identify influence patterns of RADV from a new perspective of learning and mining historical cases. The grey entropy weight clustering with double base points is proposed to assess degrees of RADV. The simplest decision rules that reflect the complex synergistic relationships between RADV and its influencing factors are extracted using the rough set approach.

Findings

The results exemplified by China's Henan Province in the years 2008–2016 show higher degrees of RADV in the north and west regions of the province, in comparison with the south and east. In the patterns with higher RADV, the higher proportion of agricultural population appears in all decision rules as a core feature. A smaller quantity of water resources per unit of cultivated land area and a lower adaptive capacity, involving levels of irrigation technology and economic development, present a significant synergistic influence relationship that distinguishes the features of higher vulnerability from those of the lower.

Originality/value

The proposed grey rough combined model not only evaluates temporal dynamics and spatial differences of RADV but also extracts the decision rules between RADV and its influencing factors. The identified influence patterns inspire managerial implications for preventing and reducing agricultural drought through its historical evolution and formation mechanism.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 12 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 13 January 2012

Weiguo Bian, Dichen Li, Qin Lian, Xiang Li, Weijie Zhang, Kunzheng Wang and Zhongmin Jin

The purpose of this paper is to fabricate and characterize osteochondral beta‐tricalcium phosphate/collagen scaffold with bio‐inspired design by ceramic stereolithography (CSL…

2194

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to fabricate and characterize osteochondral beta‐tricalcium phosphate/collagen scaffold with bio‐inspired design by ceramic stereolithography (CSL) and gel casting.

Design/methodology/approach

Histological analysis was applied to explore the morphological characteristics of the transitional structure between the bone and the cartilage. The acquired data were used to design biomimetic biphasic scaffolds, which include the bone phase, cartilage phase, and their transitional structure. The engineered scaffolds were fabricated from β‐TCP‐collagen by CSL and gel casting. The cartilage phase was added to the ceramic phase by gel‐casting and freeze drying.

Findings

The resulting ceramic scaffolds were composed of a bone phase with the following properties: 700‐900 μm pore size, 200‐500 μm interconnected pores size, 50‐65 percent porosity, fully interconnected, ∼12 Mpa compressive strength. A suitable binding force between cartilage phase and ceramic phase was achieved by physical locking that was created by the biomimetic transitional structure. Cellular evaluation showed satisfactory results.

Research limitations/implications

This study is the first try to apply CSL to fabricate biological implants with β‐TCP and type‐I collagen. There are still some defects in the composition of the slurry and the fabrication process.

Practical implications

This strategy of osteochondral scaffold fabrication can be implemented to construct an osteochondral complex that is similar to native tissue.

Originality/value

The CSL technique is highly accurate, as well as biologically secure, when fabricating ceramic tissue engineering scaffolds and may be a promising method to construct hard tissue with delicate structures. The present strategy enhances the versatility of scaffold fabrication by RP.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 18 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 2 August 2024

Salma Ahmed, Lotfi Romdhane, Sameh Monir El-Sayegh and Solair Manjikian

The purpose of this study is to identify and assess new risks in construction projects that use 3D printing.

119

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify and assess new risks in construction projects that use 3D printing.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed approach of both qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Literature review was conducted to extract 30 risks of 3D printing in construction. A survey was then developed to assess the probability and impact of these risks. In total, 37 respondents, who have experience and/or knowledge of 3D printing, completed the survey. The risk priority was calculated using a fuzzy logic approach. The main benefit of the proposed model is being able to use numerical and linguistic data in the risk assessment model.

Findings

The results show that the main risks, in terms of priority, are lack of codes and regulations for 3D printing in construction, delay in government approvals, shortage in labour skilled in 3D printed construction, lack of knowledge and information of 3D printed design concepts and changes in 3D construction codes and regulations.

Originality/value

This paper fills an identified gap in the literature related to 3D printing in construction and provides insights into the key risks affecting this disruptive technology.

Details

Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction , vol. 30 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1366-4387

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 15 June 2022

Md Mamunur Rashid

This paper presents comparative studies of modern transportation systems in the Bengal Delta and British Borneo. To meet the demands of the new modes of resource extraction, the…

467

Abstract

This paper presents comparative studies of modern transportation systems in the Bengal Delta and British Borneo. To meet the demands of the new modes of resource extraction, the British colonial rulers introduced a new transportation system in both regions and built roads, railways, and navigational routes connecting major commercial and political centers. There has been little research into the historical connections between modern transportation and environmental changes in colonial South Asia and Malaysia. When modern transportation was introduced, environmental consequences were rarely considered. As a result, significant ecological changes and declines were unintentionally caused. The environmental changes brought about by these transportation systems in these two regions were not the same one from the other. For example, railroad construction harmed the plains and waterways in the Bengal Delta, whereas, in British Borneo, rubber plantations for the global market harmed the rainforests.

Details

Southeast Asia: A Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 22 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1819-5091

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 6 July 2021

İlker Gölcük

This paper proposes an integrated IT2F-FMEA model under a group decision-making setting. In risk assessment models, experts' evaluations are often aggregated beforehand, and…

462

Abstract

Purpose

This paper proposes an integrated IT2F-FMEA model under a group decision-making setting. In risk assessment models, experts' evaluations are often aggregated beforehand, and necessary computations are performed, which in turn, may cause a loss of information and valuable individual opinions. The proposed integrated IT2F-FMEA model aims to calculate risk priority numbers from the experts' evaluations and then fuse experts' judgments using a novel integrated model.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a novel failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) model by integrating the fuzzy inference system, best-worst method (BWM) and weighted aggregated sum-product assessment (WASPAS) methods under interval type-2 fuzzy (IT2F) environment. The proposed FMEA approach utilizes the Mamdani-type IT2F inference system to calculate risk priority numbers. The individual FMEA results are combined by using integrated IT2F-BWM and IT2F-WASPAS methods.

Findings

The proposed model is implemented in a real-life case study in the furniture industry. According to the case study, fifteen failure modes are considered, and the proposed integrated method is used to prioritize the failure modes.

Originality/value

Mamdani-type singleton IT2F inference model is employed in the FMEA. Additionally, the proposed model allows experts to construct their membership functions and fuzzy rules to capitalize on the experience and knowledge of the experts. The proposed group FMEA model aggregates experts' judgments by using IT2F-BWM and IT2F-WASPAS methods. The proposed model is implemented in a real-life case study in the furniture company.

1 – 10 of 19
Per page
102050