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ANY system based on a standard unit capable of being divided by tenths or hundredths for any lesser value enormously simplifies calculations and through a saving of time…
Abstract
ANY system based on a standard unit capable of being divided by tenths or hundredths for any lesser value enormously simplifies calculations and through a saving of time and labour reduces costs. It is therefore a matter for satisfaction that this country, laggard as usual, will within a matter of days fall into step with other industrial nations. Indeed, as the official guide to the decimal system points out, almost every country in the world uses it. So Britain at last joins the great majority.
Irene Lopatovska, Sarah Hatoum, Saebra Waterstraut, Lisa Novak and Sara Sheer
The purpose of this paper is to understand young children’s knowledge of visual literacy elements as well as their ability to comprehend newly introduced visual literacy…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand young children’s knowledge of visual literacy elements as well as their ability to comprehend newly introduced visual literacy concepts. The study also examined existing support for visual literacy programs from parents and educators.
Design/methodology/approach
The study explored the knowledge of basic visual literacy elements of young children enrolled in two private schools in the New York City metropolitan area. The authors interviewed 17 children, aged four to six years old, about fine art paintings using a semi-structured interview format. Children’s responses were qualitatively analyzed to determine their initial level of visual literacy and their ability to learn and retain the concepts of visual literacy after receiving basic instruction. The children’s educators and parents completed online questionnaires that were quantitatively analyzed to determine their level of support for visual literacy programs.
Findings
The findings show that young children exhibited extensive knowledge of simple visual literacy elements (color, shape, line), and limited understanding of more abstract elements (perspective and salience). Children’s knowledge of visual elements improved after instruction. Parents and educators expressed support for incorporating visual literacy instruction in early childhood education.
Research limitations/implications
The study relied on a sample of children and adults drawn from two private schools. The sample’s demographics might have affected study findings. More studies are needed using a larger and more diverse sample.
Practical implications
The study suggests that young children are ready to receive instruction on visual literacy elements using art images. Children reacted positively to the images and were engaged in the discussions about them, supporting the use of fine art paintings as an instrument to introduce visual literacy concepts to young children. Survey of children’s parents and teachers indicated strong interest in, and support for such programs.
Social implications
With the increase of visual information production and consumption, it is important to introduce visual literacy early in life. The study advances research in methods for developing visual literacy instruction for young children.
Originality/value
There are no previously reported studies that have examined pre-kindergarten children’s knowledge of basic visual literacy elements and reactions to visual literacy instruction.
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In this study, industrialisation has been evaluated in the context of social change theory. Industrialisation as a period of social change is the source of public library…
Abstract
In this study, industrialisation has been evaluated in the context of social change theory. Industrialisation as a period of social change is the source of public library development. The public library has emerged as a result of the changes in educational and cultural structure caused by industrialisation. Public libraries emerged as supporting elements of basic and adult diffused education effort. The change in thoughts, attitudes and values by the effect of urbanisation made public libraries a part of the new culture that is social life. The public library is a product of social change.
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Marsha D. Loda, Karin Teichmann and Andreas H. Zins
The purpose of this research is to help tourism marketers maximize the persuasiveness of their websites toward the objective of increasing visitation to their destination.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to help tourism marketers maximize the persuasiveness of their websites toward the objective of increasing visitation to their destination.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes a two‐part research project: a content analysis of websites to determine the most frequently used elements; and an experiment wherein respondents view one of ten randomly assigned websites and complete a survey about the credibility, message strength, and persuasiveness of that site.
Findings
Results support the importance of message credibility to message strength, and that both may impact on change of propensity to visit a destination. It also points out new information about website elements. While more organic website elements such as testimonials and web cams are expected to affect the most change, they do not. Rather, information on fundamental elements such as accommodations and attractions has the most effect on message credibility, and on respondents' change in propensity to visit a destination.
Originality/value
Substantial differences exist in the persuasiveness of various tourism websites. Website elements concerning basic information seem to induce the most positive changes. Therefore, funds and energy to develop and maintain novel website elements such as web cams, guest books, message boards and e‐cards may not be worth the effort when it comes to increasing visitation.
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Che-Chih Tsao, Ho-Hsin Chang, Meng-Hao Liu, Ho-Chia Chen, Yun-Tang Hsu, Pei-Ying Lin, Yih-Lin Chou, Ying-Chieh Chao, Yun-Hui Shen, Cheng-Yi Huang, Kai-Chiang Chan and Yi-Hung Chen
The purpose of this paper is to propose and demonstrate a new additive manufacturing approach that breaks the layer-based point scanning limitations to increase…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose and demonstrate a new additive manufacturing approach that breaks the layer-based point scanning limitations to increase fabrication speed, obtain better surface finish, achieve material flexibility and reduce equipment costs.
Design/methodology/approach
The freeform additive manufacturing approach conceptually views a 3D article as an assembly of freeform elements distributed spatially following a flexible 3D assembly structure, which conforms to the surface of the article and physically builds the article by sequentially forming the freeform elements by a vari-directional vari-dimensional capable material deposition mechanism. Vari-directional building along tangential directions of part surface gives surface smoothness. Vari-dimensional deposition maximizes material output to increase build rate wherever allowed and minimizes deposition sizes for resolution whenever needed.
Findings
Process steps based on geometric and data processing considerations were described. Dispensing and forming of basic vari-directional and vari-dimensional freeform elements and basic operations of joining them were developed using thermoplastics. Forming of 3D articles at build rates of 2-5 times the fused deposition modeling (FDM) rate was demonstrated and improvement over ten times was shown to be feasible. FDM compatible operations using 0.7 mm wire depositions from a variable exit-dispensing unit were demonstrated. Preliminary tests of a surface finishing process showed a result of 0.8-1.9 um Ra. Initial results of dispensing wax, tin alloy and steel were also shown.
Originality/value
This is the first time that both vari-directional and vari-dimensional material depositions are combined in a new freeform building method, which has potential impact on the FDM and other additive manufacturing methods.
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The aim of this study is to assess the metadata element sets of electronic theses and dissertations that are currently used at Canadian academic institutional…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to assess the metadata element sets of electronic theses and dissertations that are currently used at Canadian academic institutional repositories, and to discuss issues related to variations and inconsistencies in Dublin Core data used by participating repositories.
Design/methodology/approach
The formats and usage patterns of metadata elements at ten participating institutional repositories are identified and analyzed. Additionally, metadata element variations are grouped by different types.
Findings
Current metadata elements have a significant level of inconsistency and variation.
Research limitations/implications
The observations drawn from this study are limited to Canadian cases only. However, the results provide insights into developing a metadata framework for institutional repositories in other countries.
Originality/value
This study examines empirical data collected from data providers among Canadian institutional repositories. The result of this study may be beneficial to the achievement of interoperability across institutional repositories and to the development of a standardized application profile for Canadian institutional repositories.
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THE accountant is the latest competitor for management power. The Institute of Cost & Works Accountants—the value of whose Associate qualification we acknowledge—has…
Abstract
THE accountant is the latest competitor for management power. The Institute of Cost & Works Accountants—the value of whose Associate qualification we acknowledge—has re‐cast its requirements for the grade of Fellowship. Cost Accountants' or for that matter many other kinds of accountant, are now invited to sit for the Fellowship examination, the syllabus for which has just been published. This comprises the now familiar: Management—Factory and Distribution, Statistical Method, Advanced Cost Accountancy, Company Law, Management Accountancy and the Economic Aspects of Industry and Commerce. (The Management Section includes Motion & Time Study). Assuming that they are successful in this and that they satisfy a Reviewing Board of the adequacy of their experience, they may then call themselves “Management Accountants”.
Jianyu Zhao, Anzhi Bai, Xi Xi, Yining Huang and Shanshan Wang
Malicious attacks extremely traumatize knowledge networks due to increasing interdependence among knowledge elements. Therefore, exposing the damage of malicious attacks…
Abstract
Purpose
Malicious attacks extremely traumatize knowledge networks due to increasing interdependence among knowledge elements. Therefore, exposing the damage of malicious attacks to knowledge networks has important theoretical and practical significance. Despite the insights being offered by the growing research stream, few studies discuss the diverse responses of knowledge networks’ robustness to different target-attacks, and the authors lack sufficient knowledge of which forms of malicious attacks constitute greater disaster when knowledge networks evolve to different stages. Given the irreversible consequences of malicious attacks on knowledge networks, this paper aims to examine the impacts of different malicious attacks on the robustness of knowledge networks.
Design/methodology/approach
On the basic of dividing malicious attacks into six forms, the authors incorporate two important aspects of robustness of knowledge networks – structure and function – in a research framework, and use maximal connected sub-graphs and network efficiency, respectively, to measure structural and functional robustness. Furthermore, the authors conceptualize knowledge as a multi-dimensional structure to reflect the heterogeneous nature of knowledge elements, and design the fundamental rules of simulation. NetLogo is used to simulate the features of knowledge networks and their changes of robustness as they face different malicious attacks.
Findings
First, knowledge networks gradually form more associative integrated structures with evolutionary progress. Second, various properties of knowledge elements play diverse roles in mitigating damage from malicious attacks. Recalculated-degree-based attacks cause greater damage than degree-based attacks, and structure of knowledge networks has higher resilience against ability than function. Third, structural robustness is mainly affected by the potential combinatorial value of high-degree knowledge elements, and the combinatorial potential of high-out-degree knowledge elements. Forth, the number of high in-degree knowledge elements with heterogeneous contents, and the inverted U-sharp effect contributed by high out-degree knowledge elements are the main influencers of functional robustness.
Research limitations/implications
The authors use the frontier method to expose the detriments of malicious attacks both to structural and functional robustness in each evolutionary stage, and the authors reveal the relationship and effects of knowledge-based connections and knowledge combinatorial opportunities that contribute to maintaining them. Furthermore, the authors identify latent critical factors that may improve the structural and functional robustness of knowledge networks.
Originality/value
First, from the dynamic evolutionary perspective, the authors systematically examine structural and functional robustness to reveal the roles of the properties of knowledge element, and knowledge associations to maintain the robustness of knowledge networks. Second, the authors compare the damage of six forms of malicious attacks to identify the reasons for increased robustness vulnerability. Third, the authors construct the stock, power, expertise knowledge structure to overcome the difficulty of knowledge conceptualization. The results respond to multiple calls from different studies and extend the literature in multiple research domains.
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Christoffer Rybski and Roland Jochem
Industry 4.0 is one of the most used terms in the current industrial discussion. There are several perspectives and approaches related to Industry 4.0 so far, but no…
Abstract
Purpose
Industry 4.0 is one of the most used terms in the current industrial discussion. There are several perspectives and approaches related to Industry 4.0 so far, but no universal definition. Often-mentioned basic requirements to “implement” Industry 4.0 are lean and well-organized processes. In the past and still until today, a lot of companies try to implement lean production systems (LPS) according to the example of Toyota to realize a systematic approach to ensure well-organized processes. The process model aims to support organizations to integrate Industry 4.0 elements into LPS, regardless of the size of the organization. The purpose of this paper to describe a model as a first basis for further elaborations that could focus on the detailed design of each model-phases. Furthermore, the identified digital elements of Industry 4.0 build a first foundation to choose pilot projects related to existing challenges of the organizations LPS. In this context, especially the suitability of LPS and Industry 4.0 elements should be further investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
To investigate the current status regarding the realization of Industry 4.0 approaches and related challenges in the German industry, the two authors realized a survey with over 300 participants from different sectors and company sizes, using an online questionnaire. The results of the survey will be a part of this paper and a technology analysis, which was the outcome of an extensive literature analysis. The results were summarized in a model to integrate digital elements into existing LPS. Practitioners can use the process model as a first orientation to integrate industry 4.0 technologies into their existing LPS, based on specific challenges with their LPS processes.
Findings
Even if most of the participating German companies recognize Industry 4.0 as an important or very important topic, many of them do not consider themselves well prepared. The participants see huge challenges with regard to the needed qualifications and investments Industry 4.0 requires. In general, the companies hope to improve productivity and customer satisfaction to name two main objectives of the implementation of digital elements of Industry 4.0. In addition to the survey, a profound literature analysis was made and identified eight core digital elements. On this basis a milestone-based model to integrate these digital elements into existing LPS was developed.
Originality/value
This paper considers results from a study and analysis regarding the potentials of digital elements of Industry 4.0 for production system from different angles and introduces a model for integrating these elements.
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Reina Ferrández-Berrueco, Tauno Kekale and David Devins
European policy is placing an increasing emphasis on involving employers and labour market institutions in the design and delivery of higher education (HE) programmes that…
Abstract
Purpose
European policy is placing an increasing emphasis on involving employers and labour market institutions in the design and delivery of higher education (HE) programmes that match curricula to current and future needs of the economy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the curriculum development process for work-based learning (WBL) programmes and to connect it to the basic pillars, organizational and pedagogical strategies and key stages that enable higher education institutions (HEIs) to foster students’ learning, employability and innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
Case studies of 14 European WBL programmes in HE are reported using interviews and document analysis. These case studies are used to develop a final framework and examples of practice.
Findings
A framework was designed to develop WBL programmes that include three basic pillars and the interactions between them to enhance learning quality (doctrine), provide authentic experiences (authenticity) and respect the ways of developing and delivering WBL (culture).
Research limitations/implications
While selecting the cases on this “best practices” basis, some important pitfalls were not discussed. Thus, rather than offering a definitive theory, the authors provide a framework of issues that should at least be taken into account in the different stages of planning, delivery and reflection.
Practical implications
The framework is simultaneously a kind of “checklist” for WBL curriculum developers.
Originality/value
The research presents 14 case studies from programmes recognized in six European countries and develops an original WBL programme planning, delivery and evaluation framework that can also be used as a checklist for HEIs offering WBL programmes.
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