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Automatic milking systems (AMSs) are a relatively new technology characterized by uncertainty and irreversibility. The choice to invest in such a system is analyzed in a real options framework. Alternative financing arrangements, depreciation methods, and other factors are investigated to determine their influence on the optimal investment decision. The results suggest that farm capital structure, loan term, and depreciation method have little impact on the investment decision. The primary determinant in the AMS technology adoption decision appears to be whether the AMS will last longer than the existing parlor.

During the insertion of pin‐in‐hole (PIH) components in a printed circuit board (PCB), adhesively bonded and/or soldered surface mount components (SMCs) already on the board experience mechanical stress. This paper describes the results of a study investigating the forces induced in the adhesive bond and the surface mounts during the insertion of dual inline package (DIP) components. The failure criteria for the glue bonds as well as the gullwing leads were determined from experimental strength tests. The forces in the glue and in the leads were calculated by a combination of analytical and finite element methods. It was found that the adhesive bond as well as the soldered gullwing lead would not fail under the forces induced in the insertion operation.

Oblique impacts which occur in many situations in mineral industries leads to material removal and fail of mechanical parts. Studies will be helpful in optimal design to have minimum machine malfunctions.

In the present work, the Hertz-Di Maio Di Renzo nonlinear model of contact is used to simulate the impact phenomenon as a micro-sliding process. The modified Archard equation is used to evaluate wear over the impact. The wear coefficient is evaluated by a pin-disk machine. An impact-wear tester is used to validate the model results.

The measurements indicate an increase in surface hardness because of the several impacts. It is considered in the wear predictive model.

The model predictions compared with the experimental data, obtained from the impact-wear tester, show that the model well predicts the impact wear and can be used as a predictive tool to study the practical design problems and to explain some phenomena associated with the percussive impact.

Purpose: There has been a growing debate on whether generative AI can serve as the modern-day equivalent of white-collar knowledge workers. In a recent post, technology magnate Bill Gates boldly proclaimed that ChatGPT would soon become the quintessential white-collar worker of tomorrow (Dean, 2023). This is indeed an exciting prospect, as generative AI advances at breakneck speed.

Need for the Study: This research delves upon the implications of such advancements for industries reliant on skilled employees. It raises questions about how these individuals will adjust their skillset going forward, given the proliferation of generative AI solutions poised to disrupt traditional roles previously occupied by humans.

Methodology: The study uses an exploratory framework to understand AI’s implications on job roles, productivity, and skill requirements. It introduces generative AI and its relevance, focusing on how it could transform white-collar jobs.

Findings: One thing seems clear: its impact on future employment opportunities. However, this technology still has limitations, potentially leading to unintended consequences. While capable of performing certain functions precisely and accurately, it cannot fully replace the reasoning abilities or cognitive flexibility innate in human workers tasked with knowledge-based work.

Practical Implications: The potential implications for workforce development, policy-making, and future research in AI and labor economics are highlighted. This will also help gain insights into the integration process, benefits, challenges, and the changing nature of white-collar work due to generative AI.

In this study, the reliability of solder joints and plated‐through hole copper pads/barrels of pin grid array assemblies under rework condition has been determined by fatigue experiments. The cross‐sections of the re‐worked PGA assemblies (before and after fatigue tests) are also provided for a better understanding of the failure mechanisms of the composite structure. Furthermore, the load‐drop curves of the PGA interconnects for up to three reworks are provided for a better estimate of their fatigue life.

The currency premium is one of the three components of the differential between local and foreign interest rates. Emerging economies such as South Africa typically face positive interest rate differentials, that is, a higher cost of capital than developed economies. In this chapter we aim at identifying the determinants of the South African rand–U.S. dollar currency premium using monthly data over the period 1997–2008. We carry out an empirical analysis using dynamic time series econometric techniques to estimate the determinants of the one-month and one-year currency premia. Our findings show that the currency premia at both horizons are driven by long-run movements in the expected inflation differential between South Africa and the United States, risk aversion as a proxy for the price of rand exchange risk, and the volatility of the rand exchange rate as an indicator of the quantity of that risk. Misalignments in the real effective or rand–U.S. dollar bilateral exchange rates display mixed results in terms of their impact and statistical significance on both currency premium. Our parameter estimators overall are stable and robust to sample variations. Monetary policy is an important determinant of currency premia at both one-month and one-year horizons, but risk aversion is equally important to determine its time fluctuations.

The inchworm actuator is widely applied in space industry. One of the major issues in space instrumentation is the reliability, especially under space thermal load. The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical calculation method for the inchworm actuator reliability with considering the effect of space temperature.

First, the structure of designed inchworm actuator is introduced, and the main failure reason is analyzed. Then the wear model is proposed with considering the space temperature, and an experiment device is designed to verify the wear model. Finally, the reliability calculation method is developed based on the working principle of the inchworm actuator.

The numerical calculation method can be applied to calculate the reliability of the inchworm actuator with considering the space temperature. And the results provide a new perspective to discuss the influences of the temperature and driving voltage on the reliability of inchworm actuators.

This work presents a reliability calculation method of inchworm actuators with considering the space temperature.

The community college model is evolving in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. During June 2009, 11 of the 12 existing higher education institutions with “community college” in their official name were examined utilizing a qualitative multiple-case study approach. Data were collected in the field from June 1 to 23, 2009, while making visits to each of the 11 colleges, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), and the Vietnam Association of Community Colleges (VACC). Five data collection techniques were utilized to examine the bounded system: (a) semi-structured interviews, (b) survey of the college rectors, VACC informant and MOET informant, (c) participant observation with field notes, (d) document review, and (e) photographs taken during each site visit. After the field study stage, e-mail communication with the study informants between August 2009 and March 2010 clarified questions and developed a deeper level of understanding of the Vietnamese community college model. Results of the study (Epperson, 2010) indicate that although legislation does not exist to permanently establish the higher education institutions named community colleges, a community college model does exist and is in a state of evolution. The model can be defined by a set of core characteristics which emerged from the data. Five themes were particularly prominent: (a) public higher education institutions with community ownership at the provincial or city level, in conjunction with MOET oversight for academic matters; (b) multidisciplinary programs designed to meet the unique needs of the community; (c) multi-level certificates and diplomas conferred up through the college level (three year) of higher education and articulation agreements with universities enable students to earn a university bachelor's degree; (d) domestic and international partnerships are actively sought to develop social capital; (e) scientific and technological research based on community needs as required in the 2005 Education Law.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse social media issues that give rise to employment-related legal and ethical dilemmas, with reference made to recent case law development, and offer recommendations for employers and employees.

Prior research, statistical trends, and case laws are reviewed.

Employers using social media for employment decisions may risk crossing the lines of discrimination, infringement on personal privacy, and/or interference with employees’ concerted activities protected by US law. However, employers not using social media may face negligent hiring and damages for improper employee messages posted. For employees, while social media provides a connection tool, messages posted off-duty and thought to be “private” may still be used as evidence in support of disciplinary actions.

Employers, employees, and their unions must be cognizant of the ethical and legal implications of using social media in the employment context, and the latest developments in the privacy rights, human rights, labour relations rights, and contractual rights. Concerns about power shift need to be addressed.

Social media growth has blurred the boundary between work and private lives. With employers able to monitor employees’ social media activities almost at all times, this has implications for the overall power and control. On the other hand, employees may find social media offering another voice channel that can also potentially increase their power to some extent.

Social media is a fast developing area with new case laws emerging regarding its use in the employment context. The paper provides a systemic review of the issues and latest developments.

Neuromarketing is a science that can examine human subconscious decisions and activities. The study aimed to investigate the neuropsychological responses of consumers to promotion strategies and the decision to buy sports products, in order to determine the more effective strategy.

An experimental design clarifies whether there is a significant difference between the neuropsychological responses resulting from selective promotional strategies (charity, endorsement, advertising and discount). The authors conducted the research with 40 young adults (20 males and 20 females; age range 25–35 years). The Enobio 20-channel electroencephalograph (EEG) is used to record waves, a two-item questionnaire is used to measure purchasing decisions and self-assessment forms are used to measure arousal and pleasure. Data analysis performed by Friedman's statistical methods and logistic regression using SPSS 22 software.

Based on the alpha wave, the results showed the two charity and endorsement strategies had the highest effect on consumer attentions. The pleasure had the highest value in the discount, and the arousal had the highest value in the charity strategy. Neuropsychological responses also explain a significant percentage of the consumer decision to buy.

Access to research samples is difficult due to the ignorance of the samples as well as the fear of possible harm from imaging and brain scanning methods.

Neuromarketing is a science that can examine human subconscious decisions and activities.

The information obtained neural methods are more accurate than traditional research methods.

This study showed the alpha brainwave (attention), arousal and pleasure explain a significant part of the consumer decision to buy. More scientific data can be obtained through new scientific approaches such as neuromarketing, which has a great impact on understanding consumer behavior. Therefore, marketers and researchers can make their promotional activities more effective in terms of them.