Gokul Krishna J., Roshan R. and Sivapriya S.V.
This paper aims to understand the incorporation of sustainability methods of construction through the study of a low-cost housing Tamil Nadu Housing Board settlement in a locality…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand the incorporation of sustainability methods of construction through the study of a low-cost housing Tamil Nadu Housing Board settlement in a locality in Chennai, India. Such a study helps to arrive at proper design decisions and incorporate a participatory approach involving the residents to enable the developers, here the decision-makers of the government, cater to the local interests.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a survey was conducted to understand the local conditions and people’s aspirations. Along with this, the parameters pertaining to a green housing were derived and compared with the needs of the locals, to arrive at the most influencing parameters by decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory model (DEMATEL) analysis.
Findings
The study finds that parameters viz. “ensuring basic services” and “social inclusivity” happen to be the causal factors that seem to influence the needs of the locals. These factors therefore can guide the future plans to redevelop the settlement or construct similar settlements in a more sustainable way.
Originality/value
This paper is a unique study to combine the twin pillars of low-cost housing and sustainability, which helps in developing settlements that are conducive to the city’s socio-developmental requirements as well as respectful of the natural environment. Further, the analysis conducted through DEMATEL method could essentially guide the decision-maker to tackle urban challenges in the most locally suitable and sustainable approach.
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Zhongliang Xie, Zhu-shi Rao, Na Ta and Ling Liu
As the companion paper of Part I, this paper aims to get more insight into the essence of lambda and to reveal its nature and role in the transition of lubrication states. Mixed…
Abstract
Purpose
As the companion paper of Part I, this paper aims to get more insight into the essence of lambda and to reveal its nature and role in the transition of lubrication states. Mixed lubrication (ML) model with micro-asperities contacts has been discussed in details in Part I.
Design/methodology/approach
Mimetic algorithm is used to get numerical solutions. Relationships between film thickness ratios and lubrication states transition with different external loads, rotating speeds, radial clearances, elastic modulus, surface hardness and roughness parameters are obtained.
Findings
The characteristic parameters of transitions from boundary lubrication (BL) to ML and ML to hydrodynamic lubrication (HL) are studied to determine how these parameters change with above factors. Finally, the essence and major influencing factors of lambda are summarized for such bearings.
Originality/value
In Part II, the authors believe that the paper presents for the first time: further insight into the essence of the lambda ratio, and its role in the lubrication states transition are given; the determinations of the characteristic parameters of transition from BL to ML and ML to HL are investigated for the first time; the characteristic parameters of transitions from BL to ML and ML to HL are also studied to determine how parameters (external load, rotating speed, radial clearance, elastic modulus, surface hardness and roughness parameter) change with above factors; a summary of the essence and major influencing factors of lambda for such bearings is given.
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Razieh Froutan, Reza Mazlom, Javad Malekzadeh and Amir Mirhaghi
Resilience can be of assistance to paramedics in order to maintain their own mental balance in stressful work environments. Since it is not well defined which personality traits…
Abstract
Purpose
Resilience can be of assistance to paramedics in order to maintain their own mental balance in stressful work environments. Since it is not well defined which personality traits are correlated with resilience in these personnel, the purpose of this paper is to explain the relationship between personality traits and levels of resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study was conducted on paramedics in Eastern Iran through field research. The study participants were selected by convenience sampling method. The data collection instruments included NEO-Five Factor Inventory-Short Form and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The data obtained were also analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (correlation and regression analysis) through the SPSS 16.0 software.
Findings
A total of 252 paramedics with a mean age of 28.9±5.1 years participated in this study. The personality traits of neuroticism (r=−0.24), openness to experience (r=−0.22), and agreeableness (r=−0.18) were significantly correlated with resilience. In contrast, extraversion (r=0.26) and conscientiousness (r=0.32) were in a significant relationship with resilience. In this respect, the given personality traits could account for 31.5 percent of changes in resilience.
Research limitations/implications
It was concluded that the paramedics with lower scores of neuroticism had higher levels of resilience and they could similarly show better compliance with their work conditions in stressful situations and consequently maintain their mental health.
Practical implications
It is recommended to conduct psychological examinations of personality traits in recruitment and selection stages of medical emergency personnel and to implement psychological interventions for those medical emergency staff with the personality trait of neuroticism.
Social implications
Resilient paramedics may also perceive less stress and it may be negatively associated with burnout.
Originality/value
The study examined the relationship between personality traits and resiliency in order to clarifying recruitment criteria in emergency medical services.
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Gyeongcheol Cho, Sunmee Kim, Jonathan Lee, Heungsun Hwang, Marko Sarstedt and Christian M. Ringle
Generalized structured component analysis (GSCA) and partial least squares path modeling (PLSPM) are two key component-based approaches to structural equation modeling that…
Abstract
Purpose
Generalized structured component analysis (GSCA) and partial least squares path modeling (PLSPM) are two key component-based approaches to structural equation modeling that facilitate the analysis of theoretically established models in terms of both explanation and prediction. This study aims to offer a comparative evaluation of GSCA and PLSPM in a predictive modeling framework.
Design/methodology/approach
A simulation study compares the predictive performance of GSCA and PLSPM under various simulation conditions and different prediction types of correctly specified and misspecified models.
Findings
The results suggest that GSCA with reflective composite indicators (GSCAR) is the most versatile approach. For observed prediction, which uses the component scores to generate prediction for the indicators, GSCAR performs slightly better than PLSPM with mode A. For operative prediction, which considers all parameter estimates to generate predictions, both methods perform equally well. GSCA with formative composite indicators and PLSPM with mode B generally lag behind the other methods.
Research limitations/implications
Future research may further assess the methods’ prediction precision, considering more experimental factors with a wider range of levels, including more extreme ones.
Practical implications
When prediction is the primary study aim, researchers should generally revert to GSCAR, considering its performance for observed and operative prediction together.
Originality/value
This research is the first to compare the relative efficacy of GSCA and PLSPM in terms of predictive power.
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Rafiu O. Yusuf, Zainura Zainon Noor, Ahmad Halilu Abba, Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan, Mohammed Rafee Majid and Nasiru Idris Medugu
The purpose of this paper is to compute the amount of methane generated from the waste of livestock from 1980 to 2008; then use the information in forecasting subsequent methane…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compute the amount of methane generated from the waste of livestock from 1980 to 2008; then use the information in forecasting subsequent methane emissions by the sector in Malaysia from 2009 to 2020.
Design/methodology/approach
The research study employed two approaches; computing methane emissions from 1980 to 2008 using the IPCC guidelines, and forecasting methane emissions for the animals from 2009 to 2020 using the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model from the predictive analysis software (PASW-SPSS 18.0).
Findings
Methane emissions from cattle, buffaloes and pigs accounted for over 95 per cent of total emissions and emissions from cattle are predicted to increase from 67.0 Gg in 2009 to 77.0 Gg by 2020. Emissions from the others will not be appreciable although poultry emissions will rise to 11.0 Gg by 2020. Attempt by the Malaysian Government to increase cattle production is not necessary at the moment as protein requirement has been met.
Research limitations/implications
ARIMA model suffers from linear and data limitation: the future value of a variable assumed to be a linear function of several past observations in ARIMA is sometimes unrealistic. Large amounts of historical data are needed in ARIMA models in order to get desired results. The inventory of the animals was taken from 1980 to 2008.This needs to be improved upon by updating it to cover up to 2011 so that the forecast will start from 2012.
Practical implications
The chosen ARIMA method has demonstrated its correctness in being adequate as a predicting tool for animal methane emissions. Policy makers can apply it so as to take practical steps to avoid these emissions.
Originality/value
This is a novice idea as animal methane emission forecasting tool. This model will be of immense use and help in predicting methane emissions from livestock.
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Juelin Yin, Jiaxin Zhao and Yunzhou Du
Integrating institutional logic theory with institutional configurational perspective, this study proposes a theoretical framework to explore the configurational effect of…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrating institutional logic theory with institutional configurational perspective, this study proposes a theoretical framework to explore the configurational effect of multiple institutional logics, including state, market, and social logics, on social entrepreneurship (SE) participation.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey combined with other international databases, this study applies a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify the pathways that how state, market and social logics jointly promote or hinder high SE prevalence among 38 developing countries.
Findings
Results show that high SE prevalence rates are achieved through the interaction of multiple institutional logics rather than by any single factor and identify three institutional configuration pathways leading to high SE participation. Further, the pathways impeding high SE participation are not simply the negation of conditions that lead to high SE prevalence.
Research limitations/implications
This study not only extends the institutional logics perspective to SE, enriching the growing research stream on how institutional complexity shapes entrepreneurial activities globally, but also underscores the significance of asymmetric institutional conditions in determining the presence and absence of high SE prevalence. These results have implications for policymakers to improve entrepreneurial institutional configurations that foster social entrepreneurial activities.
Originality/value
Compared with conventional statistical methods, which have limited effectiveness in exploring the synergies of multiple factors, the fsQCA method offers a more robust analysis of the causal complexity of institutional logics promoting or discouraging SE participation.
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Gayatri Nayak and Mitrabinda Ray
Test suite prioritization technique is the process of modifying the order in which tests run to meet certain objectives. Early fault detection and maximum coverage of source code…
Abstract
Purpose
Test suite prioritization technique is the process of modifying the order in which tests run to meet certain objectives. Early fault detection and maximum coverage of source code are the main objectives of testing. There are several test suite prioritization approaches that have been proposed at the maintenance phase of software development life cycle. A few works are done on prioritizing test suites that satisfy modified condition decision coverage (MC/DC) criteria which are derived for safety-critical systems. The authors know that it is mandatory to do MC/DC testing for Level A type software according to RTCA/DO178C standards. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper provides a novel method to prioritize the test suites for a system that includes MC/DC criteria along with other important criteria that ensure adequate testing.
Findings
In this approach, the authors generate test suites from the input Java program using concolic testing. These test suites are utilized to measure MC/DC% by using the coverage calculator algorithm. Now, use MC/DC% and the execution time of these test suites in the basic particle swarm optimization technique with a modified objective function to prioritize the generated test suites.
Originality/value
The proposed approach maximizes MC/DC% and minimizes the execution time of the test suites. The effectiveness of this approach is validated by experiments on 20 moderate-sized Java programs using average percentage of fault detected metric.
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Shaho Karami, Seyed Mohammad Shobeiri, Hamidreza Jafari and Hamidreza Jafari
Teachers can be regarded as key figures in climate change education (CCE). Therefore, the purpose of this study is assessment of Iranian lower secondary teachers? level of…
Abstract
Purpose
Teachers can be regarded as key figures in climate change education (CCE). Therefore, the purpose of this study is assessment of Iranian lower secondary teachers? level of knowledge, attitudes and practices toward CCE in a less-touched-upon context.
Design/methodology/approach
The present study used a cross-sectional survey design, which used a specially designed questionnaire administered in ten high schools (five boys’ and five girls’ lower secondary schools). A sample of 108 lower secondary school teachers was selected through a multistage stratified random sampling technique. The gender structure of the sample was 48.1 per cent male and 51.9 per cent female subjects. To determine the status of teachers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices, the obtained quantitative data were classified into three categories on a scale of 100 per cent: good status (more than 75 per cent), moderate status (50-75 per cent) and weak status (less than 50 per cent).
Findings
The findings revealed that the involved teachers were equipped with an appropriate knowledge, i.e. 22.2 per cent good and 52.8 per cent moderate levels of knowledge. Furthermore, the subjects’ level of attitude was moderate (44.5 per cent); however, their level of practice was weak (52.8 per cent). In terms of gender, male subjects’ knowledge and attitude levels were higher than those of female subjects. However, female subjects reported higher levels of practice in comparison with male subjects. Overall, the results of this study highlighted the necessity of improving lower secondary teachers’ CCE in general and of the level of their attitudes and practices in particular.
Originality/value
The present study sheds more light on the change management and environmental education within the Iranian context. The results of this study accentuate the necessity of presenting more CCE programs for teachers. Furthermore, curriculum planners can take advantage of the obtained results to carry out curriculum reforms.
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The purpose of this paper is to show the impact of climate change on yield and water requirement of three rainfed crops in Setif region.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show the impact of climate change on yield and water requirement of three rainfed crops in Setif region.
Design/methodology/approach
This study investigates likely changes in annual temperature and precipitation over Setif high plains region (North East of Algeria) among three future periods: 2025, 2050 and 2075. The projections are based on the SRES A2 and B2 scenarios. MAGICC-SCENGEN 5.3 v.2 was used as a tool for downscaling the four selected general circulation models (GCMs) output data. The expected impact of climate change on yield and water requirement of winter wheat, barley and olive was evaluated using the CROPWAT model.
Findings
The projection of the four GCMs showed that average temperature will increase by 0.73 to 3.42°C, and the precipitation will decrease by 1 to 52.7 percent, across the three future periods under the two SRES scenarios. Winter wheat and olive yields are expected to decrease under the three types of soils (heavy, medium and light). However, barley yield is expected to reduce under light soil only. Crop water requirements and irrigation water requirements are expected to increase under the two scenarios and across the three future periods.
Originality/value
This research is one of the first to study the impact of future climate change on water requirement and yield of rainfed crops over Setif region.
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Dinesh Kumar Anguraj, S. Balasubramaniyan, E. Saravana Kumar, J. Vakula Rani and M. Ashwin
The purpose of the research is to concentrate on the most important smart metropolitan applications which are smart living, smart security and smart maintainable. In that, Power…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the research is to concentrate on the most important smart metropolitan applications which are smart living, smart security and smart maintainable. In that, Power management and security is a most important problem in the current metropolitan situation.
Design/methodology/approach
A smart metropolitan area utilizes recent innovative technologies to improve its living, security and maintainable. The aim of this study is to recognize and resolve the difficulties in metropolitan area applications.
Findings
The main aim of this study is to reduce the metropolitan foremost energy consumption, to recharge the electric vehicles and to increase the lifetime of smart street lights.
Originality/value
The hybrid renewable energy street light applies smart resolutions to substructure and facilities in rural and metropolitan areas to create them well. This study will be applying smart metropolitan solar and wind turbine street light using renewable energy for existing areas. In future, the smart street light work will be implemented everywhere else.