Abstract: The advanced concepts of strategic and innovation management in the sphere of company dynamic and innovation capabilities, and achieving their mutual alignment and a synergy effect, are important elements in business today. This paper analyses the theory and empirically investigates the influence of a company’s dynamic capabilities on its innovation capabilities. A new multidimensional model of dynamic capabilities is presented, consisting of five factors appropriate to real time requirements, while innovation capabilities are considered pursuant to the official OECD and Eurostat standards. After examination of dynamic and innovation capabilities indicated their theoretical links, the empirical study testing the model and examining the influence of a company’s dynamic capabilities on its innovation capabilities showed significant results. In the study, a research model was posed to relate company dynamic and innovation capabilities. One side of the model features the variables that are the determinants of dynamic capabilities defined through their factors, while the other side features the determinants of innovation capabilities pursuant to the official standards. With regard to the research model, five hypotheses were set. The study was performed in late 2014 on a representative sample of large and very large Croatian enterprises with a minimum of 250 employees. The research instrument was a questionnaire administered to company top management. For both variables, the position of the company was tested in comparison to industry competitors, on a fivepoint scale. In order to test the hypotheses, correlation tests were performed to determine whether there is a correlation between each individual factor of company dynamic capabilities with the existence of its innovation capabilities, in line with the research model. The results indicate a strong correlation between a company’s possession of dynamic capabilities in terms of their factors, due to the new multi-dimensional model presented in this paper, with its possession of innovation capabilities. Based on the results, all five hypotheses were accepted. Ultimately, it was concluded that there is a strong association between the dynamic and innovation capabilities of a company.
Abstract: This paper presents the trajectory tracking control of a
spatial redundant hybrid manipulator. This manipulator consists of
two parallel manipulators which are a variable geometry truss (VGT)
module. In fact, each VGT module with 3-degress of freedom (DOF)
is a planar parallel manipulator and their operational planes of these
VGT modules are arranged to be orthogonal to each other. Also, the
manipulator contains a twist motion part attached to the top of the
second VGT module to supply the missing orientation of the endeffector.
These three modules constitute totally 7-DOF hybrid
(parallel-parallel) redundant spatial manipulator. The forward
kinematics equations of this manipulator are obtained, then,
according to these equations, the inverse kinematics is solved based
on an optimization with the joint limit avoidance. The dynamic
equations are formed by using virtual work method. In order to test
the performance of the redundant manipulator and the controllers
presented, two different desired trajectories are followed by using the
computed force control method and a switching control method. The
switching control method is combined with the computed force
control method and genetic algorithm. In the switching control
method, the genetic algorithm is only used for fine tuning in the
compensation of the trajectory tracking errors.
Abstract: Software vulnerabilities are increasing and not only impact services and processes availability as well as information confidentiality, integrity and privacy, but also cause changes that interfere in the development process. Security test could be a solution to reduce vulnerabilities. However, the variety of test techniques with the lack of real case studies of applying tests focusing on software development life cycle compromise its effective use. This paper offers an overview of how a Systematic Mapping Study (MS) about security verification, validation and test (VVT) was performed, besides presenting general results about this study.
Abstract: Introduction: Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are rare epithelial tumors located mainly in the sellar/parasellar region. CPs have been classified histopathologically, genetically, clinically and prognostically into two distinctive subtypes: adamantinomatous and papillary variants. Aim: To examine the pattern of expression of both the β-catenin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in surgically resected samples of adamantinomatous CP, and to asses for the possibility of using anti-EGFR in the management of ACP patients. Materials and methods: β-catenin and EGFR immunostaining was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 18 ACP cases. Result: 17 out of 18 cases (94%) of ACP exhibited strong nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of β-catenin, 15 (83%) of APC cases were positive for EGFR. Conclusion: Nuclear accumulation of β-catenin is a diagnostic hallmark of ACP. EGFR positivity in most cases of ACP could qualify the use of anti-EGFR therapy.
Abstract: During an earthquake, a bridge crane may be
subjected to multiple impacts between crane wheels and rail. In order
to model such phenomena, a time-history dynamic analysis with a
multi-scale approach is performed. The high frequency aspect of the
impacts between wheels and rails is taken into account by a Lagrange
explicit event-capturing algorithm based on a velocity-impulse
formulation to resolve contacts and impacts. An implicit temporal
scheme is used for the rest of the structure. The numerical coupling
between the implicit and the explicit schemes is achieved with a
heterogeneous asynchronous time-integrator.
Abstract: Within Vietnam's system of higher education, its
schools of business play a vital role in supporting the country’s
economic objectives. However, the crucial contribution of soft skills
for maximal success within the business sector has to date not been
adequately recognized by its business schools. This being so, the
development of the business school curriculum in Vietnam has not
been able to 'catch up', so to say, with the burgeoning need of
students for a comprehensive soft skills program designed to meet the
national and global business objectives of their potential employers.
The burden of the present paper is first to reveal the results of our
survey in Vietnam which make explicit the extent to which major
Vietnamese industrial employers’ value the potential role that soft
skill competencies can play in maximizing business success. Our
final task will be to determine which soft skills employers discern as
best serving to maximize the economic interests of Vietnam within
the global marketplace. Semi-structured telephone interviews have
been conducted with the 15 representative Head Employers of
Vietnam's reputedly largest and most successful of the diverse
business enterprises across Vietnam. The findings of the study
indicate that all respondents highly value the increasing importance
of soft skills in business success. Our critical analysis of respondent
data reveals that 19 essential soft skills are deemed by employers as
integral to business workplace efficacy and should thus be integrated
into the formal business curriculum. We are confident that our study
represents the first comprehensive and specific survey yet undertaken
within the business sector in Vietnam which accesses and analyses
the opinions of representative employers from major companies
across the country in regard to the growing importance of 19 specific
soft skills essential for maximizing overall business success. Our
research findings also reveal that the integration into business school
curriculums nationwide of the soft skills we have identified is of
paramount importance to advance the national and global economic
interests of Vietnam.
Abstract: The technological paradigm of the disaster
management field, especially in the case of governmental
intervention strategies, is generally based on rapid and flexible
accommodation solutions. From various technical solution patterns
used to address the immediate housing needs of disaster victims, the
adaptive re-use of existing buildings can be considered to be both
low-cost and practical. However, there is a scarcity of analytical
methods to screen, select and adapt buildings to help decision makers
in cases of emergency. Following an extensive literature review, this
paper aims to highlight key points and problem areas associated with
the adaptive re-use of buildings within the disaster management
context. In other disciplines such as real estate management, the
adaptive re-use potential (ARP) of existing buildings is typically
based on the prioritization of a set of technical and non-technical
criteria which are then weighted to arrive at an economically viable
investment decision. After a disaster, however, the assessment of the
ARP of buildings requires consideration of different/additional layers
of analysis which stem from general disaster management principles
and the peculiarities of different types of disasters, as well as of their
victims. In this paper, a discussion of the development of an adaptive
re-use potential (ARP) assessment model is presented. It is thought
that governmental and non-governmental decision makers who are
required to take quick decisions to accommodate displaced masses
following disasters are likely to benefit from the implementation of
such a model.
Abstract: Imazu Bay plays an important role for endangered
species such as horseshoe crabs and black-faced spoonbills that stay in
the bay for spawning or the passing of winter. However, this bay is
semi-enclosed with slow water exchange, which could lead to
eutrophication under the condition of excess nutrient inflow to the bay.
Therefore, quantification of nutrient inflow is of great importance.
Generally, analysis of nutrient inflow to the bays takes into
consideration nutrient inflow from only the river, but that from
groundwater should not be ignored for more accurate results. The main
objective of this study is to estimate the amounts of nutrient inflow
from river and groundwater to Imazu Bay by analyzing water budget
in Zuibaiji River Basin and loads of T-N, T-P, NO3-N and NH4-N. The
water budget computation in the basin is performed using groundwater
recharge model and quasi three-dimensional two-phase groundwater
flow model, and the multiplication of the measured amount of nutrient
inflow with the computed discharge gives the total amount of nutrient
inflow to the bay. In addition, in order to evaluate nutrient inflow to the
bay, the result is compared with nutrient inflow from geologically
similar river basins. The result shows that the discharge is 3.50×107
m3/year from the river and 1.04×107 m3/year from groundwater. The
submarine groundwater discharge accounts for approximately 23 % of
the total discharge, which is large compared to the other river basins. It
is also revealed that the total nutrient inflow is not particularly large.
The sum of NO3-N and NH4-N loadings from groundwater is less than
10 % of that from the river because of denitrification in groundwater.
The Shin Seibu Sewage Treatment Plant located below the observation
points discharges treated water of 15,400 m3/day and plans to increase
it. However, the loads of T-N and T-P from the treatment plant are 3.9
mg/L and 0.19 mg/L, so that it does not contribute a lot to
eutrophication.
Abstract: Waste polyethylene (PE) is classified as waste low
density polyethylene (LDPE) and waste high density polyethylene
(HDPE) according to their densities. Pyrolysis of plastic waste may
have an important role in dealing with the enormous amounts of
plastic waste produced all over the world, by decreasing their
negative impact on the environment. This waste may be converted
into economically valuable hydrocarbons, which can be used both as
fuels and as feed stock in the petrochemical industry. End product
yields and properties depend on the plastic waste composition.
Pyrolytic biochar is one of the most important products of waste
plastics pyrolysis. In this study, HDPE and LDPE plastic wastes were
co-pyrolyzed together with waste olive pomace. Pyrolysis runs were
performed at temperature 700°C with heating rates of 5°C/min.
Higher pyrolysis oil and gas yields were observed by the using waste
olive pomace. The biochar yields of HDPE- olive pomace and LDPEolive
pomace were 6.37% and 7.26% respectively for 50% olive
pomace doses. The calorific value of HDPE-olive pomace and
LDPE-olive pomace of pyrolysis oil were 8350 and 8495 kCal.
Abstract: The main purposes of this study are to develop a scale
that reflects emerging theoretical understandings of new media
credibility, based on the evolution of credibility studies in western
researches, identification of the determinants of credibility in the
media and its components by comparing traditional and new media
credibility scales and building accumulative scale to test new media
credibility. This approach was built on western researches using
conceptualizations of media credibility, which focuses on four
principal components: Source (journalist), message (article), medium
(newspaper, radio, TV, web, etc.), and organization (owner of the
medium), and adding user and cultural context as key components to
assess new media credibility in particular. This study’s value lies in
its contribution to the conceptualization and development of new
media credibility through the creation of a theoretical measurement
tool. Future studies should explore this scale to test new media
credibility, which represents a promising new approach in the efforts
to define and measure credibility of all media types.
Abstract: The aim of the paper is to investigate the effect of
corporate social responsibility (CSR) CSR on the National
Commercial Bank (NCB) in Saudi Arabia. In order to achieve this, a
case study was made of the CSR activities of this bank from the
perspective of its branch managers. The NCB was chosen as it was
one of the first Saudi banks to engage in CSR and currently has a
wide range of CSR initiatives. A qualitative research method was
used. Open-ended questionnaires were administered to eighty branch
managers of the NCB, with fifty-five usable questionnaires returned
and twenty managers were interviewed as part of the primary
research. Data from both questionnaires and interviews were
analysed using qualitative content analysis. Six themes emerged from
the questionnaire findings were used to develop the interview
questions. These themes are the following: Awareness of employees
about CSR in the NCB; CSR activities as a type of investment;
Government and media support; Increased employee loyalty in the
NCB; Prestige and profit to the NCB; and View of CSR in Islam.
This paper makes a theoretical contribution in that it investigates and
increases understanding of the effect of CSR on the NCB in Saudi
Arabia. In addition, it makes a practical contribution by making
recommendations which can support the development of CSR in the
NCB. A limitation of the paper is that it is a case study of only one
bank. It is therefore recommended that future research could be
conducted with other banks in Saudi Arabia, or indeed, with a range
of other types of firm within the financial services area in Saudi
Arabia. In this way, the same issues could be explored but with a
greater potential generalisability of findings of CSR within the Saudi
Arabian financial services industry. In addition, this paper takes a
qualitative approach and it is suggested that future research be carried
out using mixed methods, which could provide a greater depth of
analysis.
Abstract: This study presents an inverse analysis for predicting the thermal conductivities and the heat flux of a high-temperature metallurgical reactor simultaneously. Once these thermal parameters are predicted, the time-varying thickness of the protective phase-change bank that covers the inside surface of the brick walls of a metallurgical reactor can be calculated. The enthalpy method is used to solve the melting/solidification process of the protective bank. The inverse model rests on the Levenberg-Marquardt Method (LMM) combined with the Broyden method (BM). A statistical analysis for the thermal parameter estimation is carried out. The effect of the position of the temperature sensors, total number of measurements and measurement noise on the accuracy of inverse predictions is investigated. Recommendations are made concerning the location of temperature sensors.
Abstract: Broadband Wireless Network (BWN) is the promising technology nowadays due to the increased number of smartphones. Buffering scheme using network coding considers the reliability and proper degree distribution in Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) multi-hop network. Using network coding, a secure way of transmission is performed which helps in improving throughput and reduces the packet loss in the multicast network. At the outset, improved network coding is proposed in multicast wireless mesh network. Considering the problem of performance overhead, degree distribution makes a decision while performing buffer in the encoding / decoding process. Consequently, BuS (Buffer Scheme) based on network coding is proposed in the multi-hop network. Here the encoding process introduces buffer for temporary storage to transmit packets with proper degree distribution. The simulation results depend on the number of packets received in the encoding/decoding with proper degree distribution using buffering scheme.
Abstract: Edge detection is one of the most important tasks in image processing. Medical image edge detection plays an important role in segmentation and object recognition of the human organs. It refers to the process of identifying and locating sharp discontinuities in medical images. In this paper, a neuro-fuzzy based approach is introduced to detect the edges for noisy medical images. This approach uses desired number of neuro-fuzzy subdetectors with a postprocessor for detecting the edges of medical images. The internal parameters of the approach are optimized by training pattern using artificial images. The performance of the approach is evaluated on different medical images and compared with popular edge detection algorithm. From the experimental results, it is clear that this approach has better performance than those of other competing edge detection algorithms for noisy medical images.
Abstract: An approach to compute optimum seismic design parameters is presented. It is based on the optimization of the expected present value of the total cost, which includes the initial cost of structures as well as the cost due to earthquakes. Different types of seismicity models are considered, including one for characteristic earthquakes. Uncertainties are included in some variables to observe the influence on optimum values. Optimum seismic design coefficients are computed for three different structural types representing high, medium and low rise buildings, located near and far from the seismic sources. Ordinary and important structures are considered in the analysis. The results of optimum values show an important influence of seismicity models as well as of uncertainties on the variables.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the different facets of growth among micro, small and medium-sized firms in Croatia and to analyze the differences between models designed for all micro, small and medium-sized firms and those in creative industries. Three growth prediction models were designed and tested using the growth of sales, employment and assets of the company as dependent variables. The key drivers of sales growth are: prudent use of cash, industry affiliation and higher share of intangible assets. Growth of assets depends on retained profits, internal and external sources of financing, as well as industry affiliation. Growth in employment is closely related to sources of financing, in particular, debt and it occurs less frequently than growth in sales and assets. The findings confirm the assumption that growth strategies of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in creative industries have specific differences in comparison to SMEs in general. Interestingly, only 2.2% of growing enterprises achieve growth in employment, assets and sales simultaneously.
Abstract: Lightweight construction became more and more important over the last decades in several applications, e.g. in the automotive or aircraft sector. This is the result of economic and ecological constraints on the one hand and increasing safety and comfort requirements on the other hand. In the field of lightweight design, different approaches are used due to specific requirements towards the technical systems. The use of endless carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) offers the largest weight saving potential of sometimes more than 50% compared to conventional metal-constructions. However, there are very limited industrial applications because of the cost-intensive manufacturing of the fibers and production technologies. Other disadvantages of pure CFRP-structures affect the quality control or the damage resistance. One approach to meet these challenges is hybrid materials. This means CFRP and sheet metal are combined on a material level. Therefore, new opportunities for innovative process routes are realizable. Hybrid lightweight design results in lower costs due to an optimized material utilization and the possibility to integrate the structures in already existing production processes of automobile manufacturers. In recent and current research, the advantages of two-layered hybrid materials have been pointed out, i.e. the possibility to realize structures with tailored mechanical properties or to divide the curing cycle of the epoxy resin into two steps. Current research work at the Chair for Automotive Lightweight Design (LiA) at the Paderborn University focusses on production processes for fiber-metal-laminates. The aim of this work is the development and qualification of a large-scale production process for high-performance fiber-metal-laminates (FML) for industrial applications in the automotive or aircraft sector. Therefore, the prepreg-press-technology is used, in which pre-impregnated carbon fibers and sheet metals are formed and cured in a closed, heated mold. The investigations focus e.g. on the realization of short process chains and cycle times, on the reduction of time-consuming manual process steps, and the reduction of material costs. This paper gives an overview over the considerable steps of the production process in the beginning. Afterwards experimental results are discussed. This part concentrates on the influence of different process parameters on the mechanical properties, the laminate quality and the identification of process limits. Concluding the advantages of this technology compared to conventional FML-production-processes and other lightweight design approaches are carried out.
Abstract: Fenton oxidation technology is the general strategy for the treatment of organic compounds-contained wastewater. However, a considerable amount of ferric sludge was produced during the Fenton process as secondary wastes, which were needed to be further removed from the effluent and treated. In this study, heterogeneous catalysts based on ferrite oxide (Cu-Fe-Ce-O) were synthesized and characterized, and their application for Fenton-like oxidation of simulated and actual radioactive organic wastewater was investigated. The results of TOC decomposition efficiency around 54% ~ 99% were obtained when the catalyst loading, H2O2 loading, pH, temperature, and reaction time were controlled. In this case, no secondary wastes formed and the given catalysts were able to be separated by magnetic devices and reused again.
Abstract: This paper explains the educational timetabling problem, a type of scheduling problem that is considered as one of the most challenging problem in optimization and operational research. The university examination timetabling problem (UETP), which involves assigning a set number of exams into a set number of timeslots whilst fulfilling all required conditions, has been widely investigated. The limitation of available timeslots and resources with the increasing number of examinations are the main reasons in the difficulty of solving this problem. Dynamical change in the examination scheduling system adds up the complication particularly in coping up with the demand and new requirements by the communities. Our objective is to investigate these demands and requirements with subjects taken from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), through questionnaires. Integer linear programming model which reflects the preferences obtained to produce an effective examination timetabling was formed.
Abstract: There is a gap at combustor-turbine interface where leakage flow comes out to prevent hot gas ingestion into the gas turbine nozzle platform. The leakage flow protects the nozzle endwall surface from the hot gas coming from combustor exit. For controlling flow’s stream, the gap’s geometry is transformed by changing fillet radius size. During the operation, step configuration is occurred that was unintended between combustor-turbine platform interface caused by thermal expansion or mismatched assembly. In this study, CFD simulations were performed to investigate the effect of the fillet and step on heat transfer and film cooling effectiveness on the nozzle platform. The Reynolds-averaged Navier-stokes equation was solved with turbulence model, SST k-omega. With the fillet configuration, predicted film cooling effectiveness results indicated that fillet radius size influences to enhance film cooling effectiveness. Predicted film cooling effectiveness results at forward facing step configuration indicated that step height influences to enhance film cooling effectiveness. We suggested that designer change a combustor-turbine interface configuration which was varied by fillet radius size near endwall gap when there was a step at combustor-turbine interface. Gap shape was modified by increasing fillet radius size near nozzle endwall. Also, fillet radius and step height were interacted with the film cooling effectiveness and heat transfer on endwall surface.