Abanah Shirley J., Esther Florence Sundarsingh, Saraswathi V., Sankareshwari S. and Sona S.
Fall detection is a primary necessity for elderly people with medically tested nervous problems. This paper aims important to detect fall and prevent fatal injuries and untreated…
Abstract
Purpose
Fall detection is a primary necessity for elderly people with medically tested nervous problems. This paper aims important to detect fall and prevent fatal injuries and untreated attention for long hours.
Design/methodology/approach
The project is focused on developing a smart shoe with force-sensitive resistors placed at plantar pressure points to detect fall. This could draw immediate medical attention to the patient. The device is developed using sensors, microcontroller and accelerometer integrated into a compact module. A rule-based detection algorithm helps in transmitting the alert to an Internet of Things device when a fall is detected.
Findings
Based on the pressure applied, there is a change in resistive value of force sensitivity resistor. When it reaches the threshold value, fall gets detected and alert gets triggered through telegram bot with latitude and longitude details of the location.
Originality/value
The challenge in developing this device is to make it wearable reducing the overall hardware complexity. The entire module placed inside the sole of the shoe avoids inconvenience to the patients.
Details
Keywords
There are ten universal principles of United Nations Global Compact in four areas namely human rights, labour, environmental and anti-corruption, and this chapter will explore the…
Abstract
Purpose
There are ten universal principles of United Nations Global Compact in four areas namely human rights, labour, environmental and anti-corruption, and this chapter will explore the sixth principle of labour standard on elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation, in particular the doctrine of constructive dismissal in Malaysian labour relations. Constructive dismissal is creating a new challenge in labour relation in Malaysia.
Methodology/approach
This chapter specifically analyses some of the constructive dismissal awards and its implication to labour relations in Malaysia. The methodology employed in this chapter is the analysis of case laws using criterion-based sampling from the Industrial and Superior Court awards on constructive dismissal.
Findings
There has been an increasing number of awards on constructive dismissal made by the Malaysian Industrial Court over the last nine years. From the year 2009–2013, the Industrial Court has made 663 awards on constructive dismissal, mostly against employers. With compensation awarded to each employee amounted to as much as 24 months of back-pay salary plus a month’s pay for every year of service, employers can no longer neglect this pressing issue.
Research limitations/implications
The concept of constructive dismissal falls within the purview of section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act 1967 in Malaysia. Constructive dismissal is a ‘deemed dismissal’ if an employer is guilty of a breach of the employment contract which goes to the root of the contract. It arises when a workman terminates his/her contract of employment and considers himself/herself discharged from further obligations because of the employer’s conduct.
Practical implications
With a good understanding of the constructive dismissal awards, it is expected that organizations will manage and treat their human resources as their greatest assets and prevent constructive dismissal claims from taking place. This will eventually help to improve and maintain harmonious labour relations. This chapter is likely to provide insights into the Malaysian labour relations environment for international business operations.
Originality/value
In the context of Malaysian labour relations, studies on constructive dismissal are limited as it is considered as a new area and a specific area of study. This chapter therefore hopes to fill the existing gap in the literature, to highlight some of the recent awards and lessons to prevent constructive dismissal claims from taking place and generally to contribute to the constructive dismissal literature.
Details
Keywords
Anand Kuber Parande, Srinivasan Muralidharan, Velu Saraswathy and N. Palaniswamy
The acceleration of corrosion of rebars in concrete are due to several reasons such as carbonation, chloride attack, influence of microorganisms, etc. The aim of this…
Abstract
Purpose
The acceleration of corrosion of rebars in concrete are due to several reasons such as carbonation, chloride attack, influence of microorganisms, etc. The aim of this investigation mainly focused on how the microorganism was involved in the corrosion process and thereby affect a mechanical property of mortar and accelerate the corrosion of steel in mortar. ordinary portland cement (OPC) and portland pozzolona cement (PPC) was used for making mortar specimens. Sodium citrate was used as an inhibitor for the corrosion of steel in mortar.
Design/methodology/approach
Compressive strength measurements were conducted for mortar at different ages in the presence of microorganisms to understand the mechanical property of mortar. Potential‐time behavior studies were carried out to determine the status of rebars inside the mortar. Weight loss measurements were adopted to quantify the corrosion level due to microorganisms. The microbial count in the water samples at the initial and final exposure period was also examined.
Findings
All these studies showed that additions of sodium citrate level of greater than 1 percent by weight of OPC and PPC severely affected both the mechanical and the corrosion resistance properties of OPC and PPC. Microbiological examination reveals that bacteria consume citrates for their survival and thereby increasing the permeability of mortar specimens.
Originality/value
Generally, citrates are considered as being good corrosion inhibitor for steel in concrete. However, results from the present study indicated that sodium citrate concentrations only of less than 1 percent by weight of OPC and PPC are suitable for use in concretes that are exposed to heterotrophic bacterial environments.
Details
Keywords
Vineet Kumar and Deepak Kumar Verma
The global construction industry faces both challenges and opportunities from electronic waste (e-waste). This study aims to present a bibliometric analysis and comprehensive…
Abstract
Purpose
The global construction industry faces both challenges and opportunities from electronic waste (e-waste). This study aims to present a bibliometric analysis and comprehensive literature assessment on e-waste in concrete construction materials.
Design/methodology/approach
This study studies 4,122 Scopus documents to examine garbage generation in different countries and inventive ways to integrate e-waste into construction as a sustainable strategy. This study lists famous researchers and their cooperation networks, demonstrating a robust and dynamic area with a surge in research output, notably from 2018 to 2022. Data is visually represented using VOS Viewer to show trends, patterns and study interests throughout time.
Findings
The findings imply that e-waste can improve construction materials’ mechanical characteristics and sustainability. The results are inconsistent and suggest further optimization. e-Waste into construction has garnered scientific interest for its environmental, life cycle, and economic impacts. This field has great potential for improving e-waste material use, developing sophisticated prediction models, studying environmental implications, economic analysis, policy formulation, novel construction methods, global cooperation and public awareness. This study shows that e-waste can be used in sustainable building. It stresses this area’s need for research and innovation. This lays the groundwork for using electronic trash in buildings, which promotes a circular economy and environmental sustainability.
Research limitations/implications
The findings underscore the critical role of ongoing research and innovation in leveraging e-waste for sustainable building practices. This study lays the groundwork for integrating e-waste into construction, contributing to the advancement of a circular economy and environmental sustainability.
Social implications
The social implications of integrating e-waste into construction are significant. Using e-waste not only addresses environmental concerns but also promotes social sustainability by creating new job opportunities in the recycling and construction sectors. It fosters community awareness and responsibility towards sustainable practices and waste management. Additionally, this approach can reduce construction costs, making building projects more accessible and potentially lowering housing prices.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the field by offering a bibliometric analysis and comprehensive assessment of e-waste in concrete construction materials, highlighting its global significance.
Details
Keywords
Erfan Najaf, Hassan Abbasi and Seyed Mehdi Zahrai
Today, using lightweight structural concrete plays a major role in reducing the damage to concrete structures. On the other hand, lightweight concretes have lower compressive and…
Abstract
Purpose
Today, using lightweight structural concrete plays a major role in reducing the damage to concrete structures. On the other hand, lightweight concretes have lower compressive and flexural strengths with lower impact resistance compared to ordinary concretes. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of simultaneous use of waste glass powder, microsilica and polypropylene fibers to make sustainable lightweight concrete that has high compressive and flexural strengths, ductility and impact resistance.
Design/methodology/approach
In this article, the lightweight structural concrete is studied to compensate for the lower strength of lightweight concrete. Also, considering the environmental aspects, microsilica as a partial replacement for cement, waste glass powder instead of some aggregates and polypropylene fibers are used. Microsilica was used at 8, 10 and 12 wt% of cement. Waste glass powder was added to 20, 25 and 30 wt% of aggregates, while fibers were used at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt% of cement.
Findings
After making the experimental specimens, compressive strength, flexural strength and impact resistance tests were performed. Ultimately, it was concluded that the best percentage of used microsilica and glass powder was equal to 10 and 25%, respectively. Furthermore, using 1.5 wt% of fibers could significantly improve the compressive and flexural strengths of lightweight concrete and increase its impact resistance at the same time. For constructing a five-story building, by replacing cement with microsilica by 10 wt%, the amount of used cement is reduced by 5 tons, consequently producing 4,752 kg less CO2 that is a significant value for the environment.
Originality/value
The study provides a basis for making sustainable lightweight concrete with high strength against compressive, flexural and impact loads.
Details
Keywords
Junzhe Liu, Jundi Geng, Hui Wang, Mingfang Ba and Zhiming He
This paper aims to study the influence of NaNO2 on the chemical composition of passivation film.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the influence of NaNO2 on the chemical composition of passivation film.
Design/methodology/approach
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were selected to determine the composition of passivation film of steel bars in mortar. The specimens were exposed to the chloride solution, carbonation environment and the coupling effects of chloride solution and carbonation. The chemical composition and micro structures at 0 and 5 nm from the outer surface of the passivation film of steel bars were analyzed.
Findings
Results showed that the nitrite inhibitor improved the forming rate of the passivation film and increased the mass ratio of Fe3O4 to FeOOH on the surface of steel bars. The component of Fe3O4 at 5 nm of the steel passivation film was more than that at 0 nm. Sodium ferrite in the pore solution was easily hydrolyzed and then FeOOH was formed. Therefore, due to the nitrite inhibitor, a “double layer structure” of the passivation film was formed to prevent steels bars from corrosion.
Originality/value
This is original work and may help the researchers further understand the mechanism of rust resistance by nitrite inhibitor.
Details
Keywords
Altaf Ahmad, Ranveer Kumar and Anil Kumar
This paper aims to identify an inhibitor to protect rebar corrosion in concrete.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify an inhibitor to protect rebar corrosion in concrete.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use the simple method of polarization and calculate the change in open-circuit potential and corrosion current density.
Findings
Sodium molybdate is an efficient inhibitor compared with sodium tungstate for rebar corrosion in concrete.
Research limitations/implications
This paper has limitation of 0.0001 M concentration of inhibitors for 400 days of exposure in 3.5 per cent sodium chloride solution.
Originality/value
The research focused on the concentration of both inhibitors in the range from 0.1 to 0.0001 M, which resulted in greater structural protection from corrosion in adverse conditions, such as coastal areas.
Details
Keywords
Mohamed Zain and Norizan M. Kassim
The purpose of this study is to examine the opportunities and threats faced by family businesses (FBs) from globalization in a developing country environment and how those…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the opportunities and threats faced by family businesses (FBs) from globalization in a developing country environment and how those businesses responded strategically to these factors.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employs a questionnaire survey involving 108 firms listed in a database comprising 235 family businesses (FBs) obtained from the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Doha, Qatar. The principal analytical technique employed is structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results indicate that the availability of opportunities arising from globalization seems to be more important to FBs than the threats that they may face as a result of globalization. Also, the availability of collaborative networks represents an opportunity for the FBs to expand their business overseas that in turn influence them to look for sources of funds to expand their business. Finally, the availability of the sources of funds not only influences the firms’ readiness to face the forces of globalization but it also influences them to formulate new strategies to face such forces.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitation of this research is the rather small number of respondents. Nevertheless, the eventual sample of 108 FBs while small can still be regarded as representative. This limits the ability to make broad generalizations from the finding. However, since this is the first time the research on this subject is conducted based on the given framework, the authors believe the findings from this study are still interesting and useful.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that Qatari FBs need to work on establishing networking with foreign partners in order for them to be ready to face globalization. Also, Qatari government needs to find ways to ensure that funding is available for FBs to expand their business either through direct loans or grants or by making sure that financial institutions set aside a portion of their funds for family business lending.
Social implications
The results indicate that Qatari FBs were responding well to the changes resulting from globalization. Thus, this implies that FBs in Qatar are here to stay and will continue to contribute positively to the Qatari economy and society.
Originality/value
Since this is the first time the research on this subject was conducted in Qatar, the authors believe the findings are interesting and useful particularly for family businesses as well as the Qatari government in their efforts to further develop FBs.
Details
Keywords
Ghasem Pachideh and Majid Gholhaki
With respect to the studies conducted so far and lack of researches on the post-heat behavior of cement mortars containing pozzolanic materials, the purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
With respect to the studies conducted so far and lack of researches on the post-heat behavior of cement mortars containing pozzolanic materials, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the post-heat mechanical characteristics (i.e. compressive, tensile and flexural strength) of cement mortars containing granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) and silica fume (SF). In doing so, selected temperatures include 25, 100, 250, 500, 700 and 9000c. Last, the X-ray diffraction test was conducted to study the microstructure of mixtures and subsequently, the results were presented as power-one mathematical relations.
Design/methodology/approach
Totally, 378 specimens were built to conduct flexural, compressive and tensile strength tests. Accordingly, these specimens include cubic and prismatic specimens with dimensions of 5 × 5 × 5 cm and 16 × 4 × 4 cm, respectively, to conduct compressive and flexural strength tests together with briquette specimen used for tensile strength test in which cement was replaced by 7, 14 and 21 per cent of SF and GBFS. To study the effect of temperature, the specimens were heated. In this respect, they were heated with a rate of 5°C/min and exposed to temperatures of 25 (ordinary temperature), 100, 250, 500, 700 and 900°C.
Findings
On the basis of the results, the most profound effect of using GBFS and SF, respectively, takes place in low (up to 250°C) and high (500°C and greater degrees) temperatures. Quantitatively, the compressive, tensile and flexural strengths were enhanced by 73 and 180 per cent, 45 and 100 per cent, 106 and 112 per cent, respectively, in low and high temperatures. In addition, as the temperature elevates, the particles of specimens containing SF and GBFS shrink less in size compared to the reference specimen.
Originality/value
The specimens were cured according to ASTMC192 after 28 days placement in the water basin. First, in compliance with what has been specified by the mix design, the mortar, including pozzolanic materials and superplasticizer, was prepared and then, the sampling procedure was conducted on cubic specimens with dimension of 5 × 5 × 5 mm for compressive strength test, prismatic specimens with dimensions of 16 × 4 × 4 mm for flexural strength test and last, briquette specimens were provided to conduct tensile strength tests (for each temperature and every test, three specimens were built).
Details
Keywords
Muazzam Ghous Sohail, Mohammad Salih, Nasser Al Nuaimi and Ramazan Kahraman
The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a two-year long study carried out in order to evaluate the corrosion performance of mild steel bare bars (BB) and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a two-year long study carried out in order to evaluate the corrosion performance of mild steel bare bars (BB) and epoxy-coated rebar (ECR) in concrete under a simulated harsh environment of chlorides.
Design/methodology/approach
The blocks are subjected to Southern Exposure testing. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarization resistance (LPR) and Tafel plot are performed to measure the polarization resistance and corrosion current densities of these rebars. Knife-peel test was performed to assess the adhesion between epoxy and underlying steel after two years of exposure.
Findings
Mild steel BB showed a high corrosion current density of 1.24 µA/ cm2 in Tafel plots and a very low polarization resistance of 4.5 kΩ cm2 in LPR technique, whereas very high charge transfer resistance of 1672 and 1675 kΩ cm2 is observed on ECR and ECR with controlled damage (ECRCD), through EIS technique, respectively. EIS is observed to be a suitable tool to detect the defects in epoxy coatings. After two years of immersion in 3.89 percent NaCl− solution, the mild steel BB were severely corroded and a considerable weight loss was observed, whereas under heavy chloride attack, ECR showed no deterioration of epoxy coating and neither any corrosion of underlying steel. Results of this study show that the durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures with respect to corrosion could be enhanced by using ECR, especially in harsh climatic conditions.
Originality/value
The corrosion performance of mild steel and ECR in concrete under a simulating splash zone environment is evaluated. EIS was used to evaluate the health of epoxy and corrosion state of underneath steel rebars. EIS was able to detect the defects in epoxy. The durability of RC structures could be enhanced in harsh climate regions by using ECR.