Sara Khamis, Daniel Oluwole Makinde and Yaw Nkansah-Gyekye
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the combined effects of buoyancy force and variable viscosity on unsteady flow and heat transfer of water-based nanofluid containing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the combined effects of buoyancy force and variable viscosity on unsteady flow and heat transfer of water-based nanofluid containing copper and alumina as nanoparticles through a porous pipe.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the Boussinesq and boundary-layer approximations with Buongiorno nanofluid model. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations for the continuity, momentum and energy balance are formulated. The equations obtained are solved numerically using a semi-discretization finite difference method (know) as method of line coupled with Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg integration scheme.
Findings
Numerical results for the skin-friction, heat transfer and for the velocity and temperature profiles are obtained. The results show that with suction, Cu-water produces higher skin friction and heat transfer rate than Al2O3-water. Both nanofluids velocity and temperature increase with a decrease in viscosity and an increase in buoyancy force intensity.
Practical implications
Buoyancy-driven flow and heat transfer in porous geometries has many significant applications in industrial and engineering such as, electrical and microelectronic equipments, solar-collectors, geothermal engineering, petroleum reservoirs, thermal buildings insulation. This work provides very important information for researchers on this subject.
Originality/value
This paper illustrates the effects of buoyancy force and temperature dependent on heat transfer and fluid flow problem using Cu-water and Al2O3-water nanofluids in a porous pipe.
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Valentino Moretto, Gianluca Elia, Sara Schirinzi, Roberto Vizzi and Gianpaolo Ghiani
The paper aims to propose a knowledge visualization approach and algorithm to support public decision makers to define the inner areas, which represents a strategic topic in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to propose a knowledge visualization approach and algorithm to support public decision makers to define the inner areas, which represents a strategic topic in the European debate about territorial inequality and development.
Design/methodology/approach
The study has been developed by following the design science research, which includes six steps: problem identification and motivation; identification of the objectives for a solution; design and development; demonstration; evaluation; and communication. As for the design and development step, the proposed approach and algorithm ground on association mining to discover hidden relationships existing among municipalities. They have been applied to analyse the 97 municipalities of the Lecce province, and each municipality has been described through 30 multi-domain indicators organized into seven categories, whose data have been collected from institutional datasets, local sources or web-scraping process.
Findings
A set of complementary analyses has been generated through the construction of dynamic and interactive knowledge maps that show “similar” municipalities according to the indicators selected.
Originality/value
The approach and algorithm proposed allow discovering similarities existing among distinct municipalities, based on the analysis of a set of multi-domain indicators. The approach may complement or completely substitute the existing ones used to define inner areas, thus overcoming both the methodological limits of the “top-down” line imposed by the central legislator, and the “bottom-up” paradox consisting in the illusion that single (and often small) towns have the economic and cognitive resources necessary to implement effective territorial mapping and development strategies. In such a way, policy makers can be aware on similarities existing among distinct towns and can thus share cognitive and financial resources to define a common plan and a set of practices for territorial development.
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Sara Ebrahim Mohsen, Allam Hamdan and Haneen Mohammad Shoaib
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into various industries, including the financial sector, has transformed them. This paper aims to examine the influence of integrating AI…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into various industries, including the financial sector, has transformed them. This paper aims to examine the influence of integrating AI, including machine learning, process automation, predictive analytics and chatbots, on financial institutions and explores its various aspects and areas. The study aims to determine the impact of AI integration on financial services, products and customer experience.
Design/methodology/approach
The research study uses quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as secondary data analysis. It investigates four AI subfields: machine learning, process automation, predictive analytics and chatbots.
Findings
The research findings indicate that integrating AI, particularly in machine learning and chatbot subfields, holds promise and high strategic potential for financial institutions. These subfields can contribute significantly to enhancing financial services and customer experience. However, the significance of predictive analytics integration and process automation is relatively lower. Although these subfields retain their usefulness, they might necessitate alternative workflows and tools that incorporate human involvement. Overall, AI integration minimizes human interactions and errors in financial institutions.
Originality/value
The research study contributes original insights by exploring the specific subfields of AI within the financial industry and assessing their strategic significance. It provides recommendations for financial institutions to adopt AI integration partially in multiple phases, measure and evaluate the impact of the transformation and structure internal units and expertise to strategize adoption and change.
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This chapter examines how the author, a teacher educator, uses self-study to reframe and reconceptualize her teaching of Emirati preservice teachers. The author describes how…
Abstract
This chapter examines how the author, a teacher educator, uses self-study to reframe and reconceptualize her teaching of Emirati preservice teachers. The author describes how conducting self-study helped her shift from using monolingual approaches to teaching Emirati preservice teachers and a focus on improving their English language proficiency, to affirming their bilingual identities, and becoming more culturally responsive. Initially, the researcher posed the question, “how do I frame and reframe my teaching to support the English language learning of my Emirati preservice teachers?” then progressed to asking and answering the question “how can I affirm the bilingual identities of my Emirati preservice teachers and support their English language proficiency?”
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Balkis Kasmon, Siti Sara Ibrahim, Dalila Daud, Raja Rizal Iskandar Raja Hisham and Sucihatiningsih Dian Wisika Prajanti
This study aims to analyse the existing literature on the utilisation of financial technology (FinTech) in the Islamic social finance (ISF) sector, focusing on tools, applications…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyse the existing literature on the utilisation of financial technology (FinTech) in the Islamic social finance (ISF) sector, focusing on tools, applications and benefits. From this study, it is to provide insights for literature or for practitioners on how FinTech can be used in ISF, such as using blockchain (tools) in waqf (application) that can help to enhance transparency and trust (benefits) with donors. It is important to explore new available tools or applications in ISF markets so that such effort can benefit the industry in promoting its growth.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out using Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES) which has been based on quality evaluation criteria, beginning with 41,945 entries in Scopus, 25,386 entries in the Web of Science and 1,590 entries in the Google Scholar databases and ending with 35 articles from data abstraction and analysis, all of which focus on tools, applications and benefits of FinTech in ISF sector.
Findings
This review yielded three primary themes and eleven sub-themes addressing FinTech, namely applications (four sub-themes: crowdfunding, blockchain, banking service and peer-to-peer (P2P), tools (three sub-themes: waqf, zakat and sadaqah), as well as benefits (four sub-themes: transparency, innovation, inclusiveness and efficiency).
Research limitations/implications
This study emphasises on innovative application of FinTech used in ISF industry which focuses on applications, tools and benefits of FinTech to the industry. However, the findings indicate that there is plenty of room for future investigation. The current work outlines several methodological issues and concerns as well as provides recommendations for future research. Various challenges associated with FinTech applications include inadequate regulations, complex permit application procedures, misuse of FinTech for terrorist financing, the existence of fraudulent FinTech companies and consumer disputes in the FinTech sector concerning ISF. There are few in-depth studies on the possible use of FinTech models in ISF, compared to studies focusing on upcoming challenges. This study also highlights the methodological limitations in previous research efforts, which can be used to improve future studies in this area. To offer a more comprehensive analysis, additional search keywords and engines that have not been included in this study could be used in future investigations with different methodologies.
Practical implications
For practitioners, the paper has significant managerial consequences. The analysis provides insights into real-life opportunities, limits and solutions for improving performance management by looking at FinTech applications from a larger and more diverse perspective. The practitioners, especially the State Islamic Religious Council, can recognise the benefits of using FinTech technology in ISF (waqf, zakat and sadaqah), namely under their jurisdiction.
Originality/value
This systematic literature assessment identifies critical knowledge gaps that must be addressed such as the applications of FinTech that are still ambiguous, with certain applications not completely embraced in the ISF industry. This study uses SLR technique to categorise literature, identify gaps in current studies and provide recommendations for the research issue (Paul and Criado, 2020), instead of using the other previous methodology such as content analysis or qualitative review. Hence, FinTech is considered an innovative or new approach in ISF industry.
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Sílvia Monteiro Fonseca, Sara Faria, Sónia Cunha, Márcio Silva, M. Joaquina Ramos, Guilherme Azevedo, Rui Campos, António Ruão Barbosa and Cristina Queirós
This study aims to explore patterns of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel's mental health, regarding their levels of anxiety, depression, stress, COVID-19 anxiety…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore patterns of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel's mental health, regarding their levels of anxiety, depression, stress, COVID-19 anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and well-being; and to explore variables that contribute to these patterns, among sociodemographic/professional and COVID-19 experience variables.
Design/methodology/approach
Participants were 214 EMS personnel, who answered the Patient-Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Well-Being Questionnaire and COVID-19 related questions.
Findings
EMS personnel showed an adequate psychological adjustment during COVID-19. Two clusters/patterns were found: the poorly (34%) and the well (66%) psychologically-adjusted. Personnel's age, COVID-19 fear and workplace security measures' adequacy contributed to which pattern they were more likely to belong to.
Research limitations/implications
Despite being cross-sectional and not controlling for pre-COVID-19 data, this study adds to the COVID-19 literature. Findings call for the need to explore: other COVID-19 fears; how personnel perceive workplace security measures; COVID-19 valid instruments; pre-COVID-19 data; and mental health patterns with different rescuers.
Practical implications
Findings explored EMS personnel's patterns of mental health during the COVID-19, as well as its covariates. Results allow to better prepare emergency management, which can develop prevention strategies focused on older professionals, COVID-19 related fears and how personnel assess security measures.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the scarce literature focused on COVID-19 mental health patterns instead of focussing on isolated mental health variables, as well as what contributes to these patterns. Moreover, it is one of the few studies that focused on EMS personnel rather than hospital staff.
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Seenu N., Kuppan Chetty R.M., Ramya M.M. and Mukund Nilakantan Janardhanan
This paper aims to present a concise review on the variant state-of-the-art dynamic task allocation strategies. It presents a thorough discussion about the existing dynamic task…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a concise review on the variant state-of-the-art dynamic task allocation strategies. It presents a thorough discussion about the existing dynamic task allocation strategies mainly with respect to the problem application, constraints, objective functions and uncertainty handling methods.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper briefs the introduction of multi-robot dynamic task allocation problem and discloses the challenges that exist in real-world dynamic task allocation problems. Numerous task allocation strategies are discussed in this paper, and it establishes the characteristics features between them in a qualitative manner. This paper also exhibits the existing research gaps and conducive future research directions in dynamic task allocation for multiple mobile robot systems.
Findings
This paper concerns the objective functions, robustness, task allocation time, completion time, and task reallocation feature for performance analysis of different task allocation strategies. It prescribes suitable real-world applications for variant task allocation strategies and identifies the challenges to be resolved in multi-robot task allocation strategies.
Originality/value
This paper provides a comprehensive review of dynamic task allocation strategies and incites the salient research directions to the researchers in multi-robot dynamic task allocation problems. This paper aims to summarize the latest approaches in the application of exploration problems.