Syed Ainuddin, Chamawong Suriyachan, Ariya Aruninta, Daniel Aldrich and Abida Sher Mohammad
The purpose of this study is to foster disaster risk reduction as identified by the Sendai Framework through understanding disaster risk mitigation and strengthening disaster…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to foster disaster risk reduction as identified by the Sendai Framework through understanding disaster risk mitigation and strengthening disaster preparedness at the community level.
Design/methodology/approach
Using qualitative and quantitative data from Quetta, Balochistan, the team collected primary data from 400 households using stratified random sampling with proportionate allocation through a survey questionnaire, along with fieldwork and group discussions. SPSS was used for the survey data for analysis. This paper identifies factors that promote community resilience through raising community awareness, preparedness and reducing risk.
Findings
Natural hazards including seismic shocks and their consequences such as avalanches and landslides remain serious challenges to vulnerable communities in developing and developed nations around the world. The results of this study reveal that despite being in an active fault zone with large-scale earthquakes, most respondents had little interaction with warning systems, no engagement with planning efforts and a minimum knowledge of evacuation procedures.
Practical implications
This study provides policy guidance to government and non-government agencies to optimize disaster management activities in pre- and post-disaster situations.
Originality/value
To the best if the authors knowledge, the study is the first of its kind in the study area focusing on risk reduction strategies including up-grading bottom-up engagement and community risk mitigation through grassroots educational outreach to build resilience and reduce community vulnerability to natural disasters.
Details
Keywords
Shubham Raj, Sher Mohammad, Rima Das and Shreya Saha
This study aims to investigate the optimum proportion of coconut fibre and cement suitable for rammed earth wall construction. Coconut fibres and cement can be easily incorporated…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the optimum proportion of coconut fibre and cement suitable for rammed earth wall construction. Coconut fibres and cement can be easily incorporated into the soil mixture which adds strength and durability to the wall. This paper highlights the salient observations from a systematic investigation on the effect of coconut fibre on the performance of stabilized rammed earth blocks.
Design/methodology/approach
Stabilization of soil was done by adding Ordinary Portland Cement (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 per cent by weight of soil), whereas coconut fibre in length about 15 mm was added (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 per cent by weight of soil) as reinforcement. Thirty types of mixes were created by adding different proportions of cement and fibre to locally available soil and compacting the mix at constant compaction energy in three layers with Proctor rammer.
Findings
Samples were tested for compressive strength and tensile strength, and failure patterns were analysed. The use of cement and fibre increases ultimate strengths significantly up to an optimum limit of 0.8 per cent fibre content, provides a secondary benefit of keeping material bound together after failure and increases residual strength. Benefits of fibre reinforcement includes both improved ductility in comparison with raw blocks and inhibition of crack propagation after its initial formation.
Originality/value
After analysing the results, it is recommended to use 0.8 per cent fibre and 5-10 per cent cement by weight of soil to achieve considerable strength. This research may add a value in the areas of green and sustainable housing, waste utilization, etc.
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Khalilzad's efforts to kick-start a peace process have had a significant impact on Taliban thinking about future strategy. Some see transforming the insurgency into a political…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB242611
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
The Taliban agreed to talk to Kabul's delegation only reluctantly, under US pressure. The Kabul authorities were scarcely any keener. The insurgents' negotiating strategy appears…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB256302
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
AFGHANISTAN: Attacks show flaws of Taliban tactics
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-ES246523
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
The anodyne conclusions were not a surprise. However, rival senior Taliban figures used the event to float more liberal policies and call for greater pragmatism.
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB271535
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
AFGHANISTAN: Taliban may enter hard peace talks
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-ES206863
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Rasmi Meqbel, Aladdin Dwekat, Mohammad A.A. Zaid, Mohammad Alta’any and Asia Mohammad Abukhaled
This study aims to examine the impact of Audit Committee (AC) characteristics on carbon disclosures and performance among companies listed in the STOXX Europe 600 index.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of Audit Committee (AC) characteristics on carbon disclosures and performance among companies listed in the STOXX Europe 600 index.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample consists of companies listed in the STOXX Europe 600 index over a 11-year period (2012–2022). The study uses panel data regression methods and uses the two-step system generalized method of moments to control for endogeneity.
Findings
The results indicate that AC size, independence and financial expertise positively influence carbon disclosure, highlighting the significance of these characteristics in promoting transparency and accountability in reporting carbon emissions. Additionally, these attributes are significantly associated with improved carbon performance, suggesting their potential role in advancing environmental sustainability.
Practical implications
The study provides practical insights for policymakers and regulatory bodies aiming to enhance carbon-related practices through improved corporate governance (CG) structures. By emphasizing the importance of specific AC characteristics, the findings suggest pathways for enhancing the quality of carbon disclosures and performance.
Originality/value
Despite extensive attention on CG in promoting sustainability, the specific influence of AC characteristics on carbon disclosures and performance remains underexplored. This study addresses this significant literature gap and, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, is the first to link AC characteristics with both carbon disclosure and performance. It enriches the current body of knowledge in agency theory and provides critical insights for developing CG and regulatory policies that enhance the quality of carbon disclosures.
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Keywords
Fayaz Ahmad Loan, Aasif Mohammad Khan, Syed Aasif Ahmad Andrabi, Sozia Rashid Sozia and Umer Yousuf Parray
The purpose of the present study is to identify the active and dead links of uniform resource locators (URLs) associated with web references and to compare the effectiveness of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the present study is to identify the active and dead links of uniform resource locators (URLs) associated with web references and to compare the effectiveness of Chrome, Google and WayBack Machine in retrieving the dead URLs.
Design/methodology/approach
The web references of the Library Hi Tech from 2004 to 2008 were selected for analysis to fulfill the set objectives. The URLs were extracted from the articles to verify their accessibility in terms of persistence and decay. The URLs were then executed directly in the internet browser (Chrome), search engine (Google) and Internet Archive (WayBack Machine). The collected data were recorded in an excel file and presented in tables/diagrams for further analysis.
Findings
From the total of 1,083 web references, a maximum number was retrieved by the WayBack Machine (786; 72.6 per cent) followed by Google (501; 46.3 per cent) and the lowest by Chrome (402; 37.1 per cent). The study concludes that the WayBack Machine is more efficient, retrieves a maximum number of missing web citations and fulfills the mission of preservation of web sources to a larger extent.
Originality/value
A good number of studies have been conducted to analyze the persistence and decay of web-references; however, the present study is unique as it compared the dead URL retrieval effectiveness of internet explorer (Chrome), search engine giant (Google) and WayBack Machine of the Internet Archive.
Research limitations/implications
The web references of a single journal, namely, Library Hi Tech, were analyzed for 5 years only. A major study across disciplines and sources may yield better results.
Practical implications
URL decay is becoming a major problem in the preservation and citation of web resources. The study has some healthy recommendations for authors, editors, publishers, librarians and web designers to improve the persistence of web references.
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Keywords
Shima Yazdani, Erfan Salimipour, Ayoob Salimipour, Mikhail A. Sheremet and Mohammad Ghalambaz
Active flow control on the NACA 0024 airfoil defined as suction-injection jet at the chord-based Reynolds number of 1.5 × 1e + 5 is studied.
Abstract
Purpose
Active flow control on the NACA 0024 airfoil defined as suction-injection jet at the chord-based Reynolds number of 1.5 × 1e + 5 is studied.
Design/methodology/approach
The three-dimensional incompressible unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the SST k-ω turbulence model are used to study the effects of coflow-jet (CFJ) on the dynamic and static stall phenomena. CFJ implementation is conducted with several momentum coefficients to investigate their turnover. Furthermore, the current work intends to analyze the CFJ performance by varying the Reynolds number and jet momentum coefficient and comparing all states to the baseline airfoil, which has not been studied in prior research investigations.
Findings
It is observed that at the momentum coefficient (Cµ) of 0.06, the lift coefficients at low attack angles (up to a = 15) dramatically increase. Furthermore, the dynamic stall at the given Reynolds number and with the lowered frequency of 0.15 is explored. In the instance of Cµ = 0.07, the lift coefficient curve does not show a noticeable stall feature compared to Cµ = 0.05, suggesting that a more powerful stronger jet can entirely control the dynamic stall.
Originality/value
Furthermore, the current work intends to analyze the CFJ performance by varying the jet momentum coefficient and comparing all states to the baseline airfoil, which has not been studied in prior research investigations.