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1 – 10 of 66
Article
Publication date: 9 December 2022

Ying Zhou, Yu Wang, Chenshuang Li, Lieyun Ding and Cong Wang

This study aimed to propose a performance-oriented approach of automatically generative design and optimization of hospital building layouts in consideration of public health…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to propose a performance-oriented approach of automatically generative design and optimization of hospital building layouts in consideration of public health emergency, which intended to conduct reasonable layout design of hospital building to meet different performance requirements for both high efficiency during normal periods and low risk in the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design follows a sequential mixed methodology. First, key points and parameters of hospital building layout design (HBLD) are analyzed. Then, to meet the requirements of high efficiency and low risk, adjacent preference score and infection risk coefficient are constructed as constraints. On this basis, automatic generative design is conducted to generate building layout schemes. Finally, multi-objective deviation analysis is carried out to obtain the optimal scheme of hospital building layouts.

Findings

Automatic generative design of building layouts that integrates adjacent preferences and infection risks enables hospitals to achieve rapid transitions between normal (high efficiency) and pandemic (low risk) periods, which can effectively respond to public health emergencies. The proposed approach has been verified in an actual project, which can help systematically explore the solution for better decision-making.

Research limitations/implications

The form of building layouts is limited to rectangles, and future work can explore conducting irregular layouts into optimization for the framework of generative design.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is the developed approach that can quickly and effectively generate more hospital layout alternatives satisfying high operational efficiency and low infection risk by formulating space design rules, which is of great significance in response to public health emergency.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 31 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 17 February 2023

Luca Pugi, Giulio Rosano, Riccardo Viviani, Leonardo Cabrucci and Luca Bocciolini

The purpose of this work is to optimize the monitoring of vibrations on dynamometric test rigs for railway brakes. This is a quite demanding application considering the continuous…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this work is to optimize the monitoring of vibrations on dynamometric test rigs for railway brakes. This is a quite demanding application considering the continuous increase of performances of high-speed trains that involve higher testing specifications for brake pads and disks.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, authors propose a mixed approach in which relatively simple finite element models are used to support the optimization of a diagnostic system that is used to monitor vibration levels and rotor-dynamical behavior of the machine. The model is calibrated with experimental data recorded on the same rig that must be identified and monitored. The whole process is optimized to not interfere with normal operations of the rig, using common inertial sensor and tools and are available as standard instrumentation for this kind of applications. So at the end all the calibration activities can be performed normally without interrupting the activities of the rig introducing additional costs due to system unavailability.

Findings

Proposed approach was able to identify in a very simple and fast way the vibrational behavior of the investigated rig, also giving precious information concerning the anisotropic behavior of supports and their damping. All these data are quite difficult to be found in technical literature because they are quite sensitive to assembly tolerances and to many other factors. Dynamometric test rigs are an important application widely diffused for both road and rail vehicles. Also proposed procedure can be easily extended and generalized to a wide value of machine with horizontal rotors.

Originality/value

Most of the studies in literature are referred to electrical motors or turbomachines operating with relatively slow transients and constant inertial properties. For investigated machines both these conditions are not verified, making the proposed application quite unusual and original with respect to current application. At the same time, there is a wide variety of special machines that are usually marginally covered by standard testing methodologies to which the proposed approach can be successfully extended.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. 21 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 November 2023

Siu-Kam Jamie Lo, Pimtong Tavitiyaman and Wing-Sze Lancy Tsang

This research investigates the effects of consumers' online information searching on their dining satisfaction in upscale restaurants during the pandemic. Customers frequently…

Abstract

Purpose

This research investigates the effects of consumers' online information searching on their dining satisfaction in upscale restaurants during the pandemic. Customers frequently rely on online sources to gather information about upscale restaurants prior to their visits.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 307 diners across the top ten popular upscale restaurants in Hong Kong were analysed by using SEM to explore the links between customers' needs, information search, restaurant attributes and customer satisfaction.

Findings

This study uncovers customers' online search behaviours and identifies restaurant attributes that are associated with customer satisfaction, which were not typically emphasised before the COVID-19 pandemic. Driven by their social and psychological needs, customers devoted more time to reading written comments by other consumers compared to visual images or self-descriptions from restaurants. Only service attribute significantly influenced customer satisfaction, while food and price attributes were not significant.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners, shedding light on the altered needs and preferences of consumers following the unprecedented health crisis.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the development of expectancy disconfirmation theory and needs theory through the investigation of consumers' online information searching behaviours and dining satisfaction in upscale restaurants during the pandemic. By identifying the most important attributes influencing customer satisfaction, this research can aid upscale restaurants in developing effective marketing strategies and enhancing customer experiences.

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2024

Kai Naumann and Andreas Neuburger

Starting from the status quo, the paper outlines perspectives and challenges for the connection and interlinking of digitised and digital archival data. The following topics are…

Abstract

Purpose

Starting from the status quo, the paper outlines perspectives and challenges for the connection and interlinking of digitised and digital archival data. The following topics are addressed: Where are fields of action and what are the means of archives? Which functional and technical requirements are to be considered, and what is the role of portal infrastructures linking together various different institutions?

Design/methodology/approach

Considering needs of users and general framework conditions, the paper examines new approaches emerging in Germany. It outlines recent projects and considerations aiming to improve services and visibility of archives within the national data infrastructure in Germany.

Findings

Cross-connections are no new phenomenon, but change their appearance significantly in a digital context. In this respect, both smaller and bigger archives profit from participation in larger digital networks. Furthermore, archives need to keep in mind to reflect the quality of their digital (meta)data regularly and to offer or join systems that functionally and technically support cross-connection and interlinking of data.

Originality/value

The paper endeavours to show the importance of digital cross-connections and the role of portal infrastructures for visibility, online-distribution and use of digital archival metadata and data.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 September 2023

Xenia J. Mamakou, Panagiotis Zaharias and Maria Milesi

The purpose of this study is to explore the interplay between electronic service quality, user experience (UX) and overall customer satisfaction. Additionally, it aims to assess…

1941

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the interplay between electronic service quality, user experience (UX) and overall customer satisfaction. Additionally, it aims to assess the suitability of E-S-QUAL and UX metrics within the cultural context of Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 310 Internet users based on their last online purchase from an e-retail website. To evaluate the conceptual model, the authors used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The findings of this study validate the scales' reliability and validity in the realm of electronic commerce (e-commerce) in Greece. The findings also emphasize the favorable association between e-service quality and UX with overall satisfaction, while indicating that e-service quality plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between UX and customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

The authors' study enhances the existing theory by introducing a new multi-dimensional conceptual framework that illuminates the relative importance of the dimensions within the scales. Additionally, it offers valuable insights into the impacts of e-service quality and UX on overall satisfaction, providing managers and practitioners with a tool to evaluate the quality of their electronic services and make necessary adjustments to meet the needs of their customers.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 41 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 May 2024

Pablo Guillén, Hector Sarnago, Oscar Lucia and José M. Burdio

The purpose of this paper is to develop a load detection method for domestic induction cooktops. The solution aims to minimize its impact in the converter power transmission while…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a load detection method for domestic induction cooktops. The solution aims to minimize its impact in the converter power transmission while enabling the estimation of the equivalent electrical parameters of the load. This method is suitable for a multi-output resonant inverter topology with shared power devices.

Design/methodology/approach

The considered multi-output converter presents power devices that are shared between several loads. Thus, applying load detection methods in the literature requires a halt in the power transfer to ensuring safe operation. The proposed method uses a complementary short-voltage pulse to excite the induction heating (IH) coil without stopping the power transfer to the remaining IH loads. With the current through the coil and the analytical equations, the equivalent inductance and resistance of the load is estimated. The precision of the method has been evaluated by simulation, and experimental results are provided.

Findings

The measurement of the current through the induction coil as a response to a short-time single-pulse voltage variation provides enough information to estimate the load equivalent parameters, allowing to differentiate between no-load, non-suitable IH load and suitable IH load situations.

Originality/value

The proposed method provides a solution for load detection without requiring additional circuitry. It aims for low power transmission to the load and ensures zero-voltage switching and reduced peak current even in no-load cases. Moreover, the proposed solution is extensible to less complex converters, as the half bridge.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering , vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 March 2024

Emma Clarke, Katharina Näswall, Jennifer Wong, Fleur Pawsey and Sanna Malinen

The anticipation of organizational change and the transition process often creates uncertainty for employees and can lead to stress and anxiety. It is therefore essential for all…

Abstract

Purpose

The anticipation of organizational change and the transition process often creates uncertainty for employees and can lead to stress and anxiety. It is therefore essential for all organizations, especially those that operate in high-demand working environments, to support the well-being of staff throughout the change process.

Design/methodology/approach

Research on how employees respond to the organizational change of relocating to a new work space is limited. To fill this gap in the research, we present a case study examining the well-being of clinical and health care employees before and after a disruptive change: relocation in workplace facilities. In addition, factors that enabled successful change in this high-stress, high-demand working environment were investigated. Interviews were conducted with 20 participants before the relocation and 11 participants after relocation. Following an inductive approach, data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes.

Findings

Our findings suggest that a supportive team, inclusive leadership and a psychologically safe environment, may buffer negative employee well-being outcomes during disruptive organizational change.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature on successful organizational change in health care by highlighting the resources which support well-being throughout the change process and enabling the successful transition to a new facility.

Details

Journal of Health Organization and Management, vol. 38 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7266

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 December 2023

Anshika Singh Tanwar, Harish Chaudhry and Manish Kumar Srivastava

This study aims to provide a holistic review of social media influencers (SMIs) research based on a unique approach of bibliometric analysis and content analysis between 2011 and…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to provide a holistic review of social media influencers (SMIs) research based on a unique approach of bibliometric analysis and content analysis between 2011 and 2020. The review examines the main influential aspects, themes and research streams to identify research directions for the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample selection and data collection were done from the Scopus database. The sample dataset was refined based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria to determine the final dataset of 183 articles. The dataset was exported in the BibTeX format and then imported into the BiblioShiny app for bibliometric analysis. The content analysis was done following the theory-context-methodology framework.

Findings

The several findings of this study include (1) Co-word analysis of most used keywords; (2) Longitudinal thematic evolution; (3) The focus of the research papers as per the theory-context-methodology review protocol are persuasion knowledge model, fashion and beauty industries, Instagram and content analysis, respectively; and (4) The network analysis of the research studies is known as the co-citation analysis and depicts the intellectual structure in the domain. This analysis resulted in four clusters of the research streams from the literature and two emergent themes (Chen et al., 2010)

Originality/value

In general, the previous reviews in the area are either domain, method or theory-based. Thus, this study aims to complement and extend the existing literature by presenting the overall picture of the SMI research with the help of a unique combined approach and further highlighting the trends and future research directions based on the findings of this study.

Details

Journal of Advances in Management Research, vol. 21 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0972-7981

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 March 2023

Muthuram N. and Saravanan S.

This paper aims to improve the life of the printed circuit boards (PCB) used in computers based on modal analysis by increasing the natural frequency of the PCB assembly.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to improve the life of the printed circuit boards (PCB) used in computers based on modal analysis by increasing the natural frequency of the PCB assembly.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, through experiments and numerical simulations, an attempt has been made to increase the fundamental natural frequency of the PCB assembly as high as practically achievable so as to minimize the impacts of dynamic loads acting on it. An optimization tool in the finite element software (ANSYS) was used to search the specified design space for the optimal support location of the six fastening screws.

Findings

It is observed that by changing the support locations based on the optimization results the fundamental natural frequency can be raised up to 51.1% and the same is validated experimentally.

Research limitations/implications

Manufacturers of PCBs used in computers fix the support locations based on symmetric feature of the board not on the dynamic behavior of the assembly. This work might lead manufacturers to redesign the location of other surface mount components.

Practical implications

This work provides guidelines for PCB manufacturers to finalize their support locating points which will improve the dynamic characteristics of the PCB assembly during its functioning.

Originality/value

This study provides a novel method to improve the life of PCB based on support locations optimization which includes majority of the surface mount components that contributes to the total mass the PCB assembly.

Details

Microelectronics International, vol. 41 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-5362

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 10 May 2022

Rosanna Leung

This study investigates human behavior, specifically attitude and anxiety, toward humanoid service robots in a hotel business environment.

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates human behavior, specifically attitude and anxiety, toward humanoid service robots in a hotel business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The researcher adopted direct observations and interviews to complete the study. Visitors of Henn-na Hotel were observed and their spatial distance from the robots, along with verbal and non-verbal behavior, was recorded. The researcher then invited the observed hotel guests to participate in a short interview.

Findings

Most visitors showed a positive attitude towards the robot. More than half of the visitors offered compliments when they first saw the robot receptionists although they hesitated and maintained a distance from them. Hotel guests were also disappointed with the low human–robot interaction (HRI). As the role of robots in hotels currently remains at the presentation level, a comprehensive assessment of their interactive ability is lacking.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the HRI theory by confirming that people may treat robots as human strangers when they first see them. When a robot's face is more realistic, people expect it to behave like an actual human being. However, as the sample size of this study was small and all visitors were Asian, the researcher cannot generalize the results to the wider population.

Practical implications

Current robot receptionist has limited interaction ability. Hotel practitioners could learn about hotel guests' behavior and expectation towards android robots to enhance satisfaction and reduce disappointment.

Originality/value

Prior robot research has used questionnaires to investigate perceptions and usage intention, but this study collected on-site data and directly observed people's attitude toward robot staff in an actual business environment.

Details

International Hospitality Review, vol. 38 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2516-8142

Keywords

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