This paper aims to show that systemic methods and thinking can be used to develop useful tools to address problems open in traditional science, such as Newtonian physics…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to show that systemic methods and thinking can be used to develop useful tools to address problems open in traditional science, such as Newtonian physics, universal gravitation, planetary motions, and the three‐body problem.
Design/methodology/approach
Expanded on the yoyo model introduced earlier for general systems, a new figurative analysis method is introduced in this paper.
Findings
After establishing its theoretical and empirical foundations, this method is used to generalize Newton's laws of mechanics by addressing several unsettled problems in the history. Through the concept of equal quantitative effects, it is argued that this new method possesses some strength not found in pure quantitative methods. After studying the characteristics of whole evolutions of converging and diverging fluid motions, the concept of time is revisited using the new model. As further applications of the new method, one covers Kepler's laws of planetary motion, Newton's law of universal gravitation, and explains why planets travel along elliptical orbits, why no external forces are needed for systems to revolve about one another, and why binary star systems, tri‐nary star systems, and even n‐nary star systems can exist, for any natural number n≥2. By checking the study of the three‐body problem, a brand new method is provided to analyze the movement of three stars, visible or invisible. At the end, some open problems are cast for future research.
Originality/value
This paper shows for the first time in history that several well‐established laws in physics can be generalized using systemic thinking. Beyond that, an operative method of analysis is introduced to investigate problems that have been extremely difficult to handle in the scientific history. With adequate quantitative tools developed to accompany this method, it can be reasonably expected that an active systemic scientific era with a slightly different tilt from the contemporary science will follow shortly.
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Research demonstrates that social class affects where high-achieving students apply to college, but the processes through which such effects come about are not well understood…
Abstract
Research demonstrates that social class affects where high-achieving students apply to college, but the processes through which such effects come about are not well understood. This chapter draws on 46 in-depth interviews with high-achieving students in the Bay Area to examine how social class impacts college application decisions. I argue that the upbringing and experiences associated with students’ social class shape their narratives regarding how much autonomy or constraints they perceive in making college decisions. Higher-SES students present a narrative of independence about what they have done to prepare themselves for college and where to apply. In contrast, lower-SES students speak of experiences and considerations that reflect a narrative of interdependence between themselves and their parents that is grounded in the mutual concern they have for one another as the prospect of college looms. As a result, higher-SES students frame college as an opportunity to leave their families and immerse themselves in an environment far from home while lower-SES students understand college as a continuation of family interdependence. Consequently, higher-SES students are more likely to apply to selective private universities in other parts of the country, while lower-SES students tend to limit their choices to primarily selective and nonselective public colleges closer to home. This research enhances our understanding of the mechanisms by which social class differences in family experiences contribute to the perpetuation of social inequality.
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This paper presents the numerical examination of wind pressure distributions on U-plan shaped buildings having four different depth ratios (DR) as 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 over wind…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper presents the numerical examination of wind pressure distributions on U-plan shaped buildings having four different depth ratios (DR) as 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 over wind incidence angle (WIA) of 0°. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of irregular building form, DRs, distances from the reentrant corner, wind velocity values on and around wind pressure distributions of the buildings. With this aim, ANSYS Fluent 20.0 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) program is used for the analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
Four U-shaped buildings having the same height, width and wing length but having different DR in plan were analyzed by the application of CFD package of ANSYS 20. With this purpose, wind pressure distributions on and around U-plan shaped buildings were analyzed for the wind velocity values of 2 and 5 m/s over WIA of 0°. Comprehensive results were obtained from the analyses.
Findings
While the change in the DR values did not create a significant change in positive pressure coefficients on A and E surfaces, negative pressure values increased as the DR decreased. The negative pressure coefficients observed on the A and E surfaces become higher than the positive pressure coefficients with the decrease in the DR. On contrary to that condition, with the decrease in the DR, G surfaces take higher positive pressure coefficients than the negative pressure coefficients. The reason for this is that the DR decreases and negative pressure values on G surface significantly decrease. The effect of the DR on the pressure coefficients is remarkable on B and D surfaces. The negative pressure coefficients on the B and D surfaces tend to increase as the DR decreases.
Research limitations/implications
This study focused on DRs and wind velocity values effect on pressure coefficients to limit variables. Different building wing dimensions did not take into account.
Originality/value
Although there are a number of studies related to wind behavior of irregular plan shaped buildings, irregular building forms have not been extensively investigated parametrically, especially in terms of the effect of DR on wind pressures. This study is therefore designed to fill this gap by analyzing impacts of various parameters like building shape with various DRs, WIA and wind velocity values on wind pressure distributions and velocity distributions on and around the building.
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Jawad Raza, Azizah M. Rohni, Zurni Omar, M. Awais and A.Q. Baig
The purpose of this paper is to investigate some multiple solutions for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a porous channel with changing walls. Moreover, the intention of the study is to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate some multiple solutions for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a porous channel with changing walls. Moreover, the intention of the study is to examine the physicochemical and rheological properties of titania and CNTs.
Design/methodology/approach
The mathematical modeling is performed for the laws of conservation of mass, momentum and energy profiles. Governing partial differential equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations by applying suitable similarity transformation and then solved numerically with the help of shooting technique.
Findings
The effects of different physical parameters on the rheology of nanofluids are discussed graphically and numerically, in order to make the analysis more interesting. The present study revealed that multiple solutions of nanofluids in a channel with changing walls are obtained only for the case of suction.
Originality/value
Some new branches of the solution for nanofluids in a channel with changing walls are obtained in this research, which has never been reported before. Combined effects of physicochemical and rheology of titania and carbon nanotubes are investigated briefly. The effects of physical parameters on velocity and temperature profile are examined in detail which is more realistic than real-world problem.
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Yuan Di, Rigoberto Lopez and Xiaoou Liu
The purpose of this paper is to quantify the impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters (WMSs) on supermarkets’ profit margins using fluid milk in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to quantify the impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters (WMSs) on supermarkets’ profit margins using fluid milk in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area in the USA as a case study.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop a two-stage dynamic entry game to model market competition in the pre- and post-WMS stages, and test the theoretical model using the method of simulated moments and milk scanner data from Dallas/Fort Worth supermarkets.
Findings
The empirical findings show that the entry of WMSs accounts for an average of about 16.29-25.69 percent decline in milk profit margins of nearby, or incumbent, supermarkets. Economies of scale and chain synergies are found to be five times more significant for WMSs than for incumbent supermarkets, granting Wal-Mart a significant competitive edge.
Originality/value
This paper quantifies the impact of WMS’s entry on incumbent supermarkets’ profit margins through a structural model of entry. In addition, this paper assesses the effect economies of scale stemming from the ability to provide shopping convenience to consumers as well as chain economies from operating stores near each other.
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Ivan Alvarez Leon, Anais Cavallin and Nuria Louzao
This research aims to reveal that accessibility of hotels to major points of attraction in the urban–territorial continuum of Catalonia, with its urban and coastal landscapes, has…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to reveal that accessibility of hotels to major points of attraction in the urban–territorial continuum of Catalonia, with its urban and coastal landscapes, has a direct impact on the dependent variables of customer satisfaction and average room rate.
Design/methodology/approach
The study collected data from 84 of 4-star hotel establishments, divided into urban and coastal hotels. Both coastal and urban hotels were differentiated depending on their distance to, the beach and the urban city center, respectively. Customer satisfaction and average room rate data were retrieved from online review platforms.
Findings
The study proves that hotels located in the urban–territorial continuum of Catalonia have different behaviors in terms of customer satisfaction and hotel pricing according to the variables of distance and landscape. The study shows that room rate and customer satisfaction are both higher in urban landscapes than in coastal landscapes. Urban hotels present significant differences in their levels of customer satisfaction and room rates depending on their location in the city of Barcelona. However, coastal hotels do not represent significant differences in room rates depending on their location, although they do represent significant differences in terms of customer satisfaction.
Originality/value
The originality of this study is based on how a dynamic urban–territorial model consisting of Barcelona and the Maresme coast, the hotel location and distances to main interest points impact in the variables of customer satisfaction and average room rate.
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M. Awais, A. Alsaedi and T. Hayat
The authors presented the time-dependent flow of an upper-convected Maxwell (UCM) fluid in the presence of chemical reaction, thermal-diffusion and diffusion-thermo effects. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors presented the time-dependent flow of an upper-convected Maxwell (UCM) fluid in the presence of chemical reaction, thermal-diffusion and diffusion-thermo effects. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Recent technique namely homotopy analysis method (HAM) is utilized to compute the solution of the problem.
Findings
Chemical reaction has opposite effects on the concentration field for the destructive and constructive cases. The Deborah number acts as a retarding agent.
Originality/value
Combined effects of thermal-diffusion, diffusion-thermo and chemical reaction are analyzed.
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Helen L. Bruce and Emma Banister
The spouses or partners of serving members of the UK Armed Forces are often subject to similar constraints to those of enlisted personnel. This paper aims to examine the…
Abstract
Purpose
The spouses or partners of serving members of the UK Armed Forces are often subject to similar constraints to those of enlisted personnel. This paper aims to examine the experiences and wellbeing of a group of army wives. In particular, it focuses on their shared experiences of consumer vulnerability and related challenges, exploring the extent to which membership of military wives’ communities can help them to cope.
Design/methodology/approach
Using an interpretivist approach, data were collected through four focus group discussions involving 30 army wives, and seven individual in-depth interviews.
Findings
The paper highlights shared experiences of consumer vulnerability and demonstrates how army wives’ approaches to coping incorporate both individual and community-based approaches. It proposes that communities of coping develop within the army wives community, providing women with both practical and emotional support.
Research limitations/implications
The paper acknowledges that there is a range of factors that will impact military spouses’ experiences of consumer vulnerability and strategies for coping. This heterogeneity was difficult to capture within a small exploratory study.
Practical implications
The UK Government should consider their duties towards military spouses and children. This would entail a significant cultural shift and recognition of military personnel’s caring responsibilities.
Originality/value
This research contributes to understandings regarding the potentially shared nature of both consumer vulnerability and coping strategies. The study introduces the relevance of communities of coping to consumer contexts, highlighting how members can benefit from both practical and emotional support.
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M. Awais, T. Hayat, M. Mustafa, K. Bhattacharyya and M. Asif Farooq
– The aim of this work is to analyze the combined effects of melting, thermal-diffusion and diffusion-thermo on the flow of non-Newtonian fluid.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this work is to analyze the combined effects of melting, thermal-diffusion and diffusion-thermo on the flow of non-Newtonian fluid.
Design/methodology/approach
An efficient approach namely homotopy analysis method is applied to compute the solution of the non-linear problem. Moreover, numerical results using MATLAB function bvp4c are also computed.
Findings
Main findings are an increase in the melting process corresponding to increase in the velocity and the boundary layer thickness. However, surface heat and mass transfer decrease by increasing the values of melting parameter M.
Originality/value
Combined effects of thermal-diffusion and diffusion-thermo are analyzed and the solutions are computed both numerically and analytically. Some deduced results can be obtained in a limiting sense.