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This paper discussed quantifying architect, engineer and contractor (AEC) professionals' cross-work culture productivity by comparing between Malaysian and United Kingdom (UK) projects during industrialized building project delivery. This study addressed the second part of a mixed method research design study.

This study hypothesized that with understanding of cultural work knowledge between professionals during design phase coupled with competent technological support, productivity can be improved. It utilized Cognitive Organizational Theory (COT) protocols to test conceptual models in SimVision®. Organizational structure, project intensity, and statistical validations parameters were performed to obtain the reliability and generalization of the result.

This study found that with Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology intervention, the handling of exception, coordination and decision-making time could be improved, resulting in better project performances. The result also indicated that in choosing organizational fit, national culture factor needed to be considered; otherwise, organizational change would be unacceptable. By changing the operational process from intensive to reciprocal task intensity with BIM technology intervention, the effect on productivity would be similar to changing hierarchical organizational structure to flatter organizational structure.

Project discrepancies issues are limitedly discussed due to companies' confidentiality. The paper only focuses on understanding the effects of human factors during the integrated project delivery phase.

The findings could support developing countries' professionals to collaborate effectively with developed countries' professionals.

The development of the project's cultural knowledge experimentations will provide guidance to teams involved in international projects from developed and developing countries in pursuing joint ventures in project deliveries in either country successfully.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretically rigorous and practically relevant summary of research findings that enables managers to drive sustainable profits improvements via pricing. It showcases multiple case studies that demonstrate how companies can achieve higher-than-average profitability by implementing intelligent pricing strategies and tactics.

Over the past 20 years, this writer has conducted dozens of academic surveys with managers exploring the antecedents, moderators and consequences of pricing practices for existing and new products. The writer has analyzed all pricing research published in leading academic journals over the past decades. Finally, as equity partner of Hinterhuber & Partners, a pricing consultancy (www.hinterhuber.com), this writer – through collaborations with companies and workshops conducted with practicing managers – has collected data and insights on best practices in managing pricing as a strategic activity.

Pricing is the most powerful driver of superior profits, yet managers view pricing as relevant only in the context of innovation. This narrow view prevents companies from realizing their full potential. Best practice examples of pricing as well as rigorous academic research suggest that pricing based on solid scientific principles helps average companies to achieve above-average results. This paper presents a review of recent research and summarizes the fundamental principles that managers must master so that pricing becomes an enabler of lasting superior performance.

Academic research in pricing surpasses managerial practice. Managers often rely on outdated concepts when it comes to pricing strategy and tactics.

The paper presents a framework that allows managers to implement pricing strategies that improve performance.

Effective pricing strategies benefit companies, customers and other stakeholders.

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research on pricing and thus documents that pricing based on solid, scientific principles is an enable of lasting, above-average profitability.

This study aims to examine the influence of accounting professionals’ Machiavellian behavior and ethical judgments on their intention to report fraudulent acts and also to examine the moderating effect of Machiavellianism on the relationship between professionals’ ethical judgments and whistleblowing intention, as well as the mediating effect of personal responsibility, personal costs/benefits and the seriousness of the questionable act on this relationship.

The data were collected via a survey sent to 201 Tunisian accounting professionals and analyzed using the structural equation method.

The results indicate that ethical judgments support the whistleblowing intentions among Tunisian accountants. However, this relationship is affected by Machiavellian behavior that minimizes whistleblowing. Furthermore, the results show that Machiavellianism is negatively associated with whistleblowing intention and has an indirect effect on whistleblowing through perceived personal benefit and the seriousness of the questionable act.

Examining the ethical ideologies that may affect whistleblowing, including Machiavellianism and ethical judgment, in the Tunisian context contributes to the literature on the accounting profession in the Middle East and North Africa. The results of this study could raise awareness among policymakers and regulators in developing countries, particularly in Tunisia, to value whistleblowing as a mechanism for detecting and controlling organizational misconduct and enact regulations that encourage accounting professionals to report fraudulent acts while protecting them.

To provide high torques needed to move a robot’s links, electric actuators are followed by a transmission system with a high transmission rate. For instance, gear ratios of 100:1 are often used in the joints of a robotic manipulator. This results into an actuator with large mechanical impedance (also known as nonback-drivable actuator). This in turn generates high contact forces when collision of the robotic mechanism occur and can cause humans’ injury. Another disadvantage of electric actuators is that they can exhibit overheating when constant torques have to be provided. Comparing to electric actuators, pneumatic actuators have promising properties for robotic applications, due to their low weight, simple mechanical design, low cost and good power-to-weight ratio. Electropneumatically actuated robots usually have better friction properties. Moreover, because of low mechanical impedance, pneumatic robots can provide moderate interaction forces which is important for robotic surgery and rehabilitation tasks. Pneumatic actuators are also well suited for exoskeleton robots. Actuation in exoskeletons should have a fast and accurate response. While electric motors come against high mechanical impedance and the risk of causing injuries, pneumatic actuators exhibit forces and torques which stay within moderate variation ranges. Besides, unlike direct current electric motors, pneumatic actuators have an improved weight-to-power ratio and avoid overheating problems.

The aim of this paper is to analyze a nonlinear optimal control method for electropneumatically actuated robots. A two-link robotic exoskeleton with electropneumatic actuators is considered as a case study. The associated nonlinear and multivariable state-space model is formulated and its differential flatness properties are proven. The dynamic model of the electropneumatic robot is linearized at each sampling instance with the use of first-order Taylor series expansion and through the computation of the associated Jacobian matrices. Within each sampling period, the time-varying linearization point is defined by the present value of the robot’s state vector and by the last sampled value of the control inputs vector. An H-infinity controller is designed for the linearized model of the robot aiming at solving the related optimal control problem under model uncertainties and external perturbations. An algebraic Riccati equation is solved at each time-step of the control method to obtain the stabilizing feedback gains of the H-infinity controller. Through Lyapunov stability analysis, it is proven that the robot’s control scheme satisfies the H-infinity tracking performance conditions which indicate the robustness properties of the control method. Moreover, global asymptotic stability is proven for the control loop. The method achieves fast convergence of the robot’s state variables to the associated reference trajectories, and despite strong nonlinearities in the robot’s dynamics, it keeps moderate the variations of the control inputs.

In this paper, a novel solution has been proposed for the nonlinear optimal control problem of robotic exoskeletons with electropneumatic actuators. As a case study, the dynamic model of a two-link lower-limb robotic exoskeleton with electropneumatic actuators has been considered. The dynamic model of this robotic system undergoes first approximate linearization at each iteration of the control algorithm around a temporary operating point. Within each sampling period, this linearization point is defined by the present value of the robot’s state vector and by the last sampled value of the control inputs vector. The linearization process relies on first-order Taylor series expansion and on the computation of the associated Jacobian matrices. The modeling error which is due to the truncation of higher-order terms from the Taylor series is considered to be a perturbation which is asymptotically compensated by the robustness of the control algorithm. To stabilize the dynamics of the electropneumatically actuated robot and to achieve precise tracking of reference setpoints, an H-infinity (optimal) feedback controller is designed. Actually, the proposed H-infinity controller for the model of the two-link electropneumatically actuated exoskeleton achieves the solution of the associated optimal control problem under model uncertainty and external disturbances. This controller implements a min-max differential game taking place between: (i) the control inputs which try to minimize a cost function which comprises a quadratic term of the state vector’s tracking error and (ii) the model uncertainty and perturbation inputs which try to maximize this cost function. To select the stabilizing feedback gains of this H-infinity controller, an algebraic Riccati equation is being repetitively solved at each time-step of the control method. The global stability properties of the H-infinity control scheme are proven through Lyapunov analysis.

Pneumatic actuators are characterized by high nonlinearities which are due to air compressibility, thermodynamics and valves behavior and thus pneumatic robots require elaborated nonlinear control schemes to ensure their fast and precise positioning. Among the control methods which have been applied to pneumatic robots, one can distinguish differential geometric approaches (Lie algebra-based control, differential flatness theory-based control, nonlinear model predictive control [NMPC], sliding-mode control, backstepping control and multiple models-based fuzzy control). Treating nonlinearities and fault tolerance issues in the control problem of robotic manipulators with electropneumatic actuators has been a nontrivial task.

The novelty of the proposed control method is outlined as follows: preceding results on the use of H-infinity control to nonlinear dynamical systems were limited to the case of affine-in-the-input systems with drift-only dynamics. These results considered that the control inputs gain matrix is not dependent on the values of the system’s state vector. Moreover, in these approaches the linearization was performed around points of the desirable trajectory, whereas in the present paper’s control method the linearization points are related with the value of the state vector at each sampling instance as well as with the last sampled value of the control inputs vector. The Riccati equation which has been proposed for computing the feedback gains of the controller is novel, so is the presented global stability proof through Lyapunov analysis. This paper’s scientific contribution is summarized as follows: (i) the presented nonlinear optimal control method has improved or equally satisfactory performance when compared against other nonlinear control schemes that one can consider for the dynamic model of robots with electropneumatic actuators (such as Lie algebra-based control, differential flatness theory-based control, nonlinear model-based predictive control, sliding-mode control and backstepping control), (ii) it achieves fast and accurate tracking of all reference setpoints, (iii) despite strong nonlinearities in the dynamic model of the robot, it keeps moderate the variations of the control inputs and (iv) unlike the aforementioned alternative control approaches, this paper’s method is the only one that achieves solution of the optimal control problem for electropneumatic robots.

The use of electropneumatic actuation in robots exhibits certain advantages. These can be the improved weight-to-power ratio, the lower mechanical impedance and the avoidance of overheating. At the same time, precise positioning and accurate execution of tasks by electropneumatic robots requires the application of elaborated nonlinear control methods. In this paper, a new nonlinear optimal control method has been developed for electropneumatically actuated robots and has been specifically applied to the dynamic model of a two-link robotic exoskeleton. The benefit from using this paper’s results in industrial and biomedical applications is apparent.

A comparison of the proposed nonlinear optimal (H-infinity) control method against other linear and nonlinear control schemes for electropneumatically actuated robots shows the following: (1) Unlike global linearization-based control approaches, such as Lie algebra-based control and differential flatness theory-based control, the optimal control approach does not rely on complicated transformations (diffeomorphisms) of the system’s state variables. Besides, the computed control inputs are applied directly on the initial nonlinear model of the electropneumatic robot and not on its linearized equivalent. The inverse transformations which are met in global linearization-based control are avoided and consequently one does not come against the related singularity problems. (2) Unlike model predictive control (MPC) and NMPC, the proposed control method is of proven global stability. It is known that MPC is a linear control approach that if applied to the nonlinear dynamics of the electropneumatic robot, the stability of the control loop will be lost. Besides, in NMPC the convergence of its iterative search for an optimum depends on initialization and parameter values selection and consequently the global stability of this control method cannot be always assured. (3) Unlike sliding-mode control and backstepping control, the proposed optimal control method does not require the state-space description of the system to be found in a specific form. About sliding-mode control, it is known that when the controlled system is not found in the input-output linearized form the definition of the sliding surface can be an intuitive procedure. About backstepping control, it is known that it cannot be directly applied to a dynamical system if the related state-space model is not found in the triangular (backstepping integral) form. (4) Unlike PID control, the proposed nonlinear optimal control method is of proven global stability, the selection of the controller’s parameters does not rely on a heuristic tuning procedure, and the stability of the control loop is assured in the case of changes of operating points. (5) Unlike multiple local models-based control, the nonlinear optimal control method uses only one linearization point and needs the solution of only one Riccati equation so as to compute the stabilizing feedback gains of the controller. Consequently, in terms of computation load the proposed control method for the electropneumatic actuator’s dynamics is much more efficient.

This study aims to explore the impact of decentralized long-term rental apartments on the value of in-community housing from two perspectives of housing price and rent.

This study uses the hedonic model to identify the factors affecting the housing value, and the influence of distributed long-rented apartments on the housing value in the community is analyzed from two aspects of housing price and rent by using the ordinary least square method and propensity score matching method.

The primary finding indicates that decentralized long-term rental apartments increase housing prices while decreasing general rental housing rents in the community, with the average degree of increase ranging from 0.93% to 2.59% and the average degree of decrease ranging from 2.23% to 4.34%. According to additional research, the prices of houses within communities rise by 0.042% for every 1% increase in the share of decentralized long-term rentals, while the rents for other types of rental property fall by 0.162%.

The government can regulate the housing market by regulating the access and layout of distributed long-rent apartments.

The findings of this study indicate that the existence and share of distributed long-rent apartments have a heterogeneous impact on the housing price and rent in the community, respectively.

This paper aims to study passive control techniques for transonic flow over a backward-facing step (BFS) using square-lobed trailing edges. The study investigates the efficacy of upward and downward lobe patterns, different lobe widths and deflection angles on flow separation, aiming for a deeper understanding of the flow physics behind the passive flow control system.

Large Eddy Simulation and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes were used to evaluate the results of the study. The research explores the impact of upward and downward patterns of lobes on flow separation through the effects of different lobe widths and deflection angles. Numerical methods are used to analyse the behaviour of transonic flow over BFS and compared it to existing experimental results.

The square-lobed trailing edges significantly enhance the reduction of mean reattachment length by up to 80%. At Ma = 0.8, the up-downward configuration demonstrates increased effectiveness in reducing the root mean square of pressure fluctuations at a proximity of 5-step height in the wake region, with a reduction of 50%, while the flat-downward configuration proves to be more efficient in reducing the root mean square of pressure fluctuations at a proximity of 1-step height in the near wake region, achieving a reduction of 71%. Furthermore, the study shows that the up-downward configuration triggers early spanwise velocity fluctuations, whereas the standalone flat-downward configuration displays less intense crosswise velocity fluctuations within the wake region.

The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of square-lobed trailing edges as passive control techniques, showing significant implications for improving efficiency, performance and safety of the design in aerospace and industrial systems.

This paper demonstrates that the square-lobed trailing edges are effective in reducing the mean reattachment length and pressure fluctuations in transonic conditions. The study evaluates the efficacy of different configurations, deflection angles and lobe widths on flow and provides insights into the flow physics of passive flow control systems.

This study is based on the consumer purchase intention (CPI) in real estate. The purpose of this study is to investigate the link between CPI and preferred individual investment capacity in buying real estate properties. This study investigates if commonly known factors of CPI such as attitude, social power or subjective norms, perceived behavior power or control, location, surrounding environment and socialization can influence a consumer’s preferred investment amount when buying a house, either for own use or for rental purpose.

A total of 334 respondents participated in this study. The survey data was analyzed using factor analysis technique, ordinary least square technique and Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood technique.

This study finds that location, surrounding environment, property/construction papers, roads, mosque/temple and fire services significantly influence the preferred investment amount of a real estate investor.

This study suggests that a link exists between CPI and real estate investment decision through factors such as location, surrounding environment, legal documentation and communication facility. These identified CPI factors require serious consideration by the real estate developers and their financing partners.

This paper aims to examine how an alternative accounting system developed by a marginalised group of women enables them to counter oppressive systems built at the intersections of gender, class and race.

The authors draw on diary notes taken over a period of 13 years in France and Senegal in the context of the first author's family interactions with a community of ten Black immigrant women. The paper relies on Black feminist perspectives, namely, Lorde's work on difference and survival to illuminate how this community of women uses the creative power of its “self-defined differences” to build its own accounting system – a tontine – and work towards its emancipation.

The authors find that to fight oppressive marginalising structures, the women develop a tontine, an autonomous, self-managed, women-made banking system providing them with cash and working on the basis of trust. This alternative accounting scheme endeavours to fulfil their “situated needs”: to build a home of their own in Senegal. The authors conceptualise the tontine as a “situated accounting” scheme built on the women's own terms, on the basis of sisterhood and opacity. This accounting system enables the women to work towards their “situated emancipation”, alleviating the burden of their marginalisation.

This paper gives visibility to vulnerable women's agentic capacities through accounting. As no single story captures the nuances and complexities of accounting, further exploration is encouraged.

This paper contributes to the counter-accounting literature that engages with vulnerable, “othered” populations, shedding light on the counter-practices of accounting within a community of ten Black precarious women. In so doing, this study problematises these counter-practices as intersectional and built on “survival skills”. The paper further outlines the emancipatory potential of alternative systems of accounting. It ends with some reflections on doing research through activist curiosity and the need to rethink academic research and knowledge in opposition to dominant epistemic standards of knowledge creation.

The purpose of this study, most recent advancements in threedimensional (3D) printing have focused on the fabrication of components. It is typical to use different print settings, such as raster angle, infill and orientation to improve the 3D component qualities while fabricating the sample using a 3D printer. However, the influence of these factors on the characteristics of the 3D parts has not been well explored. Owing to the effect of the different print parameters in fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology, it is necessary to evaluate the strength of the parts manufactured using 3D printing technology.

In this study, the effect of three print parameters − raster angle, build orientation and infill − on the tensile characteristics of 3D-printed components made of three distinct materials − acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), polycarbonate ABS (PC-ABS) and ULTEM-9085 − was investigated. A variety of test items were created using a commercially accessible 3D printer in various configurations, including raster angle (0°, 45°), (0°, 90°), (45°, −45°), (45°, 90°), infill density (solid, sparse, sparse double dense) and orientation (flat, on-edge).

The outcome shows that variations in tensile strength and force are brought on by the effects of various printing conditions. In all possible combinations of the print settings, ULTEM 9085 material has a higher tensile strength than ASA and PC-ABS materials. ULTEM 9085 material’s on-edge orientation, sparse infill, and raster angle of (0°, −45°) resulted in the greatest overall tensile strength of 73.72 MPa. The highest load-bearing strength of ULTEM material was attained with the same procedure, measuring at 2,932 N. The tensile strength of the materials is higher in the on-edge orientation than in the flat orientation. The tensile strength of all three materials is highest for solid infill with a flat orientation and a raster angle of (45°, −45°). All three materials show higher tensile strength with a raster angle of (45°, −45°) compared to other angles. The sparse double-dense material promotes stronger tensile properties than sparse infill. Thus, the strength of additive components is influenced by the combination of selected print parameters. As a result, these factors interact with one another to produce a high-quality product.

The outcomes of this study can serve as a reference point for researchers, manufacturers and users of 3D-printed polymer material (PC-ABS, ASA, ULTEM 9085) components seeking to optimize FDM printing parameters for tensile strength and/or identify materials suitable for intended tensile characteristics.

This study aims to consider the role of emotions, especially those related to empathy, in promoting a more humane education that enables students to reach out across kinship chasms to promote the development of communities predicated on a shared value on mutual respect. This attention to empathy includes a review of the rational basis for much schooling, introduces skepticism about the façade of rational thinking, reviews the emotionally flat character of classrooms, attends to the emotional dimensions of literacy education, argues on behalf of taking emotions into account in developmental theories and links empathic connections with social justice efforts. The study’s main thrust is that empathy is a key emotional quality that does not come naturally or easily to many, yet is important to cultivate if social justice is a goal of education.

The author clicked Essay and Conceptual Paper. Yet the author required to write the research design.

The author clicked Essay and Conceptual Paper. Yet the author required to write the research design.

The author clicked Essay and Conceptual Paper. Yet the author required to write the research design.

The paper challenges the rational emphasis of schooling and argues for more attention to the ways in which emotions shape thinking.