Morteza Moradi, Mohammad Moradi, Farhad Bayat and Adel Nadjaran Toosi
Human or machine, which one is more intelligent and powerful for performing computing and processing tasks? Over the years, researchers and scientists have spent significant…
Abstract
Purpose
Human or machine, which one is more intelligent and powerful for performing computing and processing tasks? Over the years, researchers and scientists have spent significant amounts of money and effort to answer this question. Nonetheless, despite some outstanding achievements, replacing humans in the intellectual tasks is not yet a reality. Instead, to compensate for the weakness of machines in some (mostly cognitive) tasks, the idea of putting human in the loop has been introduced and widely accepted. In this paper, the notion of collective hybrid intelligence as a new computing framework and comprehensive.
Design/methodology/approach
According to the extensive acceptance and efficiency of crowdsourcing, hybrid intelligence and distributed computing concepts, the authors have come up with the (complementary) idea of collective hybrid intelligence. In this regard, besides providing a brief review of the efforts made in the related contexts, conceptual foundations and building blocks of the proposed framework are delineated. Moreover, some discussion on architectural and realization issues are presented.
Findings
The paper describes the conceptual architecture, workflow and schematic representation of a new hybrid computing concept. Moreover, by introducing three sample scenarios, its benefits, requirements, practical roadmap and architectural notes are explained.
Originality/value
The major contribution of this work is introducing the conceptual foundations to combine and integrate collective intelligence of humans and machines to achieve higher efficiency and (computing) performance. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this the first study in which such a blessing integration is considered. Therefore, it is believed that the proposed computing concept could inspire researchers toward realizing such unprecedented possibilities in practical and theoretical contexts.
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Mohammad Verij Kazemi, Morteza Moradi and Reza Verij Kazemi
A direct power control (DPC) of the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) is presented. A new method, which is based on the rotation of the space sector, clockwise or vice versa…
Abstract
Purpose
A direct power control (DPC) of the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) is presented. A new method, which is based on the rotation of the space sector, clockwise or vice versa, is proposed to improve the performance of the switching table. Then, it is combined with a fuzzy system to have advantages of both rotation sector and fuzzy controller. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a new DPC of the DFIG is presented. To improve the performance of the switching table, a new method is proposed. The method is based on the rotation of the space sector, clockwise or vice versa. The excellence of the proposed method is proven. Then, it is shown that the performance of the system can be enhanced by using a fuzzy logic controller. The rotation method is combined with a fuzzy system.
Findings
Simulation shows that although sector rotation and fuzzy controller can improve the performance of the DFIG, a combination of both demonstrates a smoother response in order that reactive and active power ripples and THD of the injected current decrease in different speeds. Also, it is demonstrated that the proposed method is robust against parameters variations. However, a hardware experiment should be performed to be practically verified.
Originality/value
A sector rotation is proposed and its effect on the performance of the DFIG is considered. A simple method to write rules table is presented and the performance of sector rotation and fuzzy controller on the DFIG is analysed.
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Rasoul Shafaei, Hamid Shahriari and Morteza Moradi
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the competitiveness of the Iranian leather value chain (LVC) and compare that with those of nine other countries including China…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the competitiveness of the Iranian leather value chain (LVC) and compare that with those of nine other countries including China, Pakistan, Turkey, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, Brazil and the USA. The results presented in the paper seek to assist in assessing the competitive performance of the LVC in Iran. In addition, based on Porter's diamond of competitive advantages, the aim is to provide recommendations to improve the competitive performance of the industry.
Design/methodology/approach
An economic method, i.e. revealed comparative advantage (RCA), as a well‐known approach, is used to investigate the competitive performance of LVC in Iran. The LVC products analyzed in this research include hide, skin, leather manufacture, trunks and cases, and footwear. In addition, in order to investigate the factors which affect the low competitive performance, a questionnaire based on Porter's diamond of competitive advantages was designed and completed by researchers and practitioners working in the field of leather industry. Finally the reasons for low competitive performance of the industry are discussed.
Findings
The results reveal that the competitiveness of the Iranian LVC is low, compared with those of some other countries. China and Italy have superior comparative advantages in the period studied. The results also indicate that except one product, Iran has no comparative advantage in LVC industry. In addition, Iran has mainly focused on the upstream sector of LVC whereas China and Italy compete more in the downstream sector which offers more value added products. The results also reveal that among the elements studied, specialized factors, availability of capital, quality of demand and stability of macroeconomics highly influence the competitive performance of LVC in Iran. This is followed by subsequent recommendations on how best to improve the competitive performance of the industry.
Originality/value
The results of the investigation presented in this paper give an insight into the competitiveness of the LVC in Iran compared with nine other countries which play an important role in this industry in the world. The results also confirm that RCA can be used as an effective approach to assess the competitive performance of industries. Furthermore, reommendations provided in this paper assist in improving the competitive performance of the industry. In general, the findings should prove useful for both researchers and practitioners.
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Mohammad Meskarpour Amiri, Abbas Assari, Mohammadkarim Bahadori, Ramin Ravangard and Sayyed Morteza Hosseini-Shokouh
Reducing informal payments (IPs) for health services has always been a top priority for health policymakers all over the world. As the newest attempts to reduce IPs, Iran’s…
Abstract
Purpose
Reducing informal payments (IPs) for health services has always been a top priority for health policymakers all over the world. As the newest attempts to reduce IPs, Iran’s Government applied a set of reforms in the health care system in 2014 called “Health Sector Evolution Plan” (HSEP). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence and nature of IPs one year after implementing this plan.
Design/methodology/approach
This descriptive and cross-sectional study was a nationwide survey on Iran's health sector informal payments carried out in 2016. To do this, a sample of 1,112 Iranain households was selected from all over the country using a multistage cluster-stratified sampling method. The prevalence and nature of IPs were determined through conducting face-to-face interviews using a standard questionnaire.
Findings
One year after implementing the HSEP, about 27.7 percent of sampled Iranians had at least one experience of IPs for health services. The prevalences of compulsory and voluntary IPs were 21.4 and 11.5 percent, respectively. IPs were reported by 26.1 and 12.5 percent in the inpatient and outpatient services, respectively.
Originality/value
According to the results, compulsory IPs are still prevalent in both the outpatient and inpatient services of Iran’s health system and it seems that the HSEP has not been completely successful in achieving the goal of eradicating IPs. It can be said that the HSEP has been the first step toward eradicating IPs in Iran and should not be the last one. The study provides useful results of the prevalence and nature of IPs after implementing the HSEP, which should be considered in designing the next steps.
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Morteza Abdullatif Khafaie, Narges Mobasheri, Mahin Kheirollahi and Leila Ghahremani
To evaluate the efficacy of a PRECEDE model-based educational program in enhancing awareness, attitudes and preventive behaviors against diabetes complications among rural…
Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the efficacy of a PRECEDE model-based educational program in enhancing awareness, attitudes and preventive behaviors against diabetes complications among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Design/methodology/approach
This quasi-experimental study included 160 T2DM patients from rural health centers in Andimeshk, Iran (2020–2021). Participants were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 80) or control (n = 80) groups. The intervention group received a six-session in-person educational program, supplemented by weekly lifestyle videos via WhatsApp over six weeks, guided by PRECEDE model constructs. A validated questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitudes, enabling and reinforcing factors, and preventive behaviors pre- and post-intervention.
Findings
Post-intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significantly (p < 0.001) higher mean scores in knowledge, attitudes, enabling factors, reinforcing factors and preventive behaviors than controls. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in the intervention group at three-month follow-up.
Originality/value
The findings demonstrate that a comprehensive program grounded in the PRECEDE model can significantly enhance patients’ awareness, strengthen positive attitudes, increase enabling and reinforcing factors and promote preventive lifestyle behaviors. Importantly, the intervention led to improved glycemic control, as evidenced by reduced fasting blood sugar levels at three-month follow-up. These results suggest that tailored, theory-driven educational initiatives have the potential to empower rural patients with type 2 diabetes to make sustainable lifestyle changes and better manage their condition. The study provides a model for developing and implementing effective diabetes self-management programs in underserved rural communities, which can ultimately contribute to reducing diabetes-related complications and improving overall health outcomes in this population.
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Srikant Gupta, Sachin Chaudhary, Prasenjit Chatterjee and Morteza Yazdani
Logistics is the part of the supply chain (SC) that plans, executes and handles forward and reverse movement and storage of products, services and related information, in order to…
Abstract
Purpose
Logistics is the part of the supply chain (SC) that plans, executes and handles forward and reverse movement and storage of products, services and related information, in order to respond to customers' needs effectively and efficiently. The main concern for logistics is to ensure that the correct product is placed at the right time. This paper introduces a linear model of shipping focused on decision-making, which includes configuration of shipping network, choosing of transport means and transfer of individual customer shipments through a particular transport system.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, authors try to address the problem of supply chain network (SCN) where the primary goal is to determine the appropriate order allocation of products from different sources to different destinations. They also seek to minimize total transportation cost and inventory cost by simultaneously determining optimal locations, flows and shipment composition. The formulated problem of getting optimal allocation turns out to be a problem of multi-objective programming, and it is solved by using the max-addition fuzzy goal programming approach, for obtaining optimal order allocation of products. Furthermore, the problem demand and supply parameters have been considered random in nature, and the maximum likelihood estimation approach has been used to assess the unknown probabilistic distribution parameters with a specified probability level (SPL).
Findings
A case study has also been applied for examining the effectiveness and applicability of the developed multi-objective model and the proposed solution methods. Results of this study are very relevant for the manufacturing sector in particular, for those facing logistics issues in SCN. It enables researchers and managers to cope with various types of uncertainty and logistics risks associated with SCN.
Research limitations/implications
The principal contribution of the proposed model is the improved modelling of transportation and inventory, which are affected by different characteristics of SCN. To demonstrate computational information of the suggested methods and proposed model, a case illustration of SCN is provided. Also, environmentalism is increasingly becoming a significant global concern. Hence, the concept proposed could be extended to include environmental aspects as an objective function or constraint.
Originality/value
Efficient integration of logistical cost components, such as transportation costs, inventory costs, with mathematical programming models is an important open issue in logistics optimization. This study expands conventional facility location models to incorporate a range of logistic system elements such as transportation cost and different types of inventory cost, in a multi-product, multi-site network. The research is original and is focused on case studies of real life.
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Maryam Khodayari, Morteza Akbari and Pantea Foroudi
The factors involved in and obstacles to sharing economy adoption have been studied with several methods, and several models have occurred to clarify the underlying procedure of…
Abstract
The factors involved in and obstacles to sharing economy adoption have been studied with several methods, and several models have occurred to clarify the underlying procedure of sharing economy (SE) adoption, which provide contradictory and scattered findings. This chapter seeks to offer a scientific outline of the academic structure of the SE adoption domain.
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Zeinab Zamani, Ameneh Khadivar, Hamid Padash, Javad Shekarkhah and Morteza Akbari
This chapter recognizes and ranks the factors that impact the adoption of mobile commerce (MC) by users. The results showed that compatibility, perceived usefulness (PU)…
Abstract
This chapter recognizes and ranks the factors that impact the adoption of mobile commerce (MC) by users. The results showed that compatibility, perceived usefulness (PU), perceived risk (PR), mobility, and perceived cost (PC) have a significant effect on the adoption of MC by users. The results of multilayer perceptron (MLP) showed that mobility, among other model variables, had the greatest impact on the adoption of MC, and PC had the lowest effect on the adoption of MC. The comparison of the MLP model with linear regression illustrates that the predictive power of MLP outperforms the linear regression model in predicting MC adoption.
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Mohamed Saad Bajjou and Anas Chafi
Lean construction (LC) consists of very effective techniques; however, its implementation varies considerably from one industry to another. Although numerous lean initiatives do…
Abstract
Purpose
Lean construction (LC) consists of very effective techniques; however, its implementation varies considerably from one industry to another. Although numerous lean initiatives do exist in the construction industry, the research topic related to LC implementation is still unexplored due to the scarcity of validated assessment frameworks. This study aims to provide the first attempt in developing a structural model for successful LC implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
This study developed a Lean construction model (LCM) by critically reviewing seven previous LC frameworks from different countries, defining 18 subprinciples grouped into 6 major principles and formulating testable hypotheses. The questionnaire was pre-tested with 12 construction management experts and revised by 4 specialized academics. A pilot study with 20 construction units enhanced content reliability. Data from 307 Moroccan construction companies were collected to develop a measurement model. SPSS V. 26 was used for Exploratory Factor Analysis, followed by confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS version 23. Finally, a structural equation model statistically assessed each construct's contribution to the success of LC implementation.
Findings
This work led to the development of an original LCM based on valid and reliable LC constructs, consisting of 18 measurement items grouped into 6 LC principles: Process Transparency, People involvement, Waste elimination, Planning and Continuous improvement, Client Focus and Material/information flow and pull. According to the structural model, LC implementation success is positively influenced by Planning and Scheduling/continuous improvement (β = 0.930), followed by Elimination of waste (β = 0.896). Process transparency ranks third (β = 0.858). The study demonstrates that all these factors are mutually complementary, highlighting a positive relationship between LC implementation success and the holistic application of all LC principles.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to develop a statistically proven model of LC based on structural equation modelling analysis, which is promising for stimulating construction practitioners and researchers for more empirical studies in different countries to obtain a more accurate reflection of LC implementation. Moreover, the paper proposes recommendations to help policymakers, academics and practitioners anticipate the key success drivers for more successful LC implementation.
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Mehran Ghasempour-Mouziraji, Daniel Afonso, Saman Hosseinzadeh, Constantinos Goulas, Mojtaba Najafizadeh, Morteza Hosseinzadeh, D.D. Ganji and Ricardo Alves de Sousa
The purpose of this paper is to assess the feasibility of analytical models, specifically the radial basis function method, Akbari–Ganji method and Gaussian method, in conjunction…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the feasibility of analytical models, specifically the radial basis function method, Akbari–Ganji method and Gaussian method, in conjunction with the finite element method. The aim is to examine the impact of processing parameters on temperature history.
Design/methodology/approach
Through analytical investigation and finite element simulation, this research examines the influence of processing parameters on temperature history. Simufact software with a thermomechanical approach was used for finite element simulation, while radial basis function, Akbari–Ganji and Gaussian methods were used for analytical modeling to solve the heat transfer differential equation.
Findings
The accuracy of both finite element and analytical methods was validated with about 90%. The findings revealed direct relationships between thermal conductivity (from 100 to 200), laser power (from 400 to 800 W), heat source depth (from 0.35 to 0.75) and power absorption coefficient (from 0.4 to 0.8). Increasing the values of these parameters led to higher temperature history. On the other hand, density (from 7,600 to 8,200), emission coefficient (from 0.5 to 0.7) and convective heat transfer (from 35 to 90) exhibited an inverse relationship with temperature history.
Originality/value
The application of analytical modeling, particularly the utilization of the Akbari–Ganji, radial basis functions and Gaussian methods, showcases an innovative approach to studying directed energy deposition. This analytical investigation offers an alternative to relying solely on experimental procedures, potentially saving time and resources in the optimization of DED processes.