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The purpose of this paper is to explore how the communication of corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributes towards a favourable corporate reputation. It explores the communication strategies and channels organisations deemed reputable by stakeholders use to achieve an effective CSR communication.

To achieve this, a qualitative content analysis using the directed approach was conducted on the textual CSR communication materials of ten reputable organisations in South Africa based on the 2018 South Africa Reptrak survey.

Result showed that seven out of ten organisations use both self-serving and society-serving motive in their CSR communication, while the other 3 use only the society serving motive. The informing strategy was also more evident in the CSR communication materials than the interactive strategy. In terms of the communication channels, the study found that organisations mainly utilise controlled channels for CSR communication.

The literature reviewed and the findings of this study reveal a gap between the theory and practice of CSR communication. This drives the need for organisations to research and tailor CSR communication based on stakeholders' unique characteristics and preferences. The paper also contributes to improving the knowledge on the role different CSR communication strategies and channels play in CSR communication.

The purpose of this paper is to design an innovative autonomous carrier landing system (ACLS) using novel robust adaptive preview control (RAPC) method, which can assure safe and successful autonomous carrier landing under the influence of airwake disturbance and irregular deck motion. To design a deck motion predictor based on an unscented Kalman filter (UKF), which predicts the touchdown point, very precisely.

An ACLS is comprising a UKF based deck motion predictor, a previewable glide path module and a control system. The previewable information is augmented with the system and then latitude and longitudinal controllers are designed based on the preview control scheme, in which the robust adaptive feedback and feedforward gain’s laws are obtained through Lyapunov stability theorem and linear matrix inequality approach, guarantying the closed-loop system’s asymptotic stability.

The autonomous carrier landing problem is solved by proposing robust ACLS, which is validated through numerical simulation in presence of sea disturbance and time-varying external disturbances.

The ACLS is designed considering the practical aspects of the application, presenting superior performance with extended robustness.

The novel RAPC, relative motion-based guidance system and deck motion compensation mechanism are developed and presented, never been implemented for autonomous carrier landing operations.

At first, the organic/inorganic and hybrid PV materials by their electrical model are described. Then the proposed converter topology, circuit analysis and various operating modes of converter according to on/off timing of switches are investigated. The current and voltage in the converter components are illustrated and the voltage gain and switching stress of proposed converter are presented. Finally, to show the effectiveness of the proposed converter, the power loss analysis is provided and the simulation is done in PSIM software. In the last section, the advantages of the proposed topology of higher efficiency by lower number of components in compare with other conventional topologies are presented.

In this paper, an improved topology of DC-DC converter based on VL technique is proposed for Perovskite Solar cells (PeSCs). The PeSCs attracted a lot of interest due to their potential in combining the advantages of both organic and inorganic components. The proposed converter by using fewer components and higher output voltage generation in compare with conventional ones could be a good candidate for PeSCs due to lower efficiency of this cells. The performance of converter is expressed in continuous conduction mode (CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), and the boundary conditions for the proposed converter is presented.

By using VL technique, this converter is used to boost the lower output voltage levels of PeSCs for grid connection. The PV cell output voltage is increased from 24.5 V to 106 V by proposed converter topology. The step-by-step voltage increasing by charging and discharging of inductor and capacitor is used for boosting the input voltage. By comparing other converters, there is no design complexity in the proposed converter structure, and the power loss is much reduced which increases the converter efficiency. On the other hand, due to using lower number of elements of energy storage elements such as inductors and capacitors, the converter cost is also diminished. Therefore, the design topology simplicity which result simple control algorithm and lower number of components which diminish the system cost by appropriate voltage boosting capability are the main advantages of this proposed topology for new PeSCs which don’t have enough efficiency in compare with old Si PV cells.

In this paper, by using the lower number of components a new structure of DC-DC converter based on the VL technique is proposed. The advantages of this converter such as the simplicity, easier control and high voltage gain by lower power loss, could make this converter a good candidate for new PeSCs where the system whole efficiency will be a critical point to have the unique properties of this new materials in lower loss.

The purpose of this paper is to study the variations of composition and properties of the passive film on 316 L stainless steel surface in 80°C, 0.5 mol L-1 H2SO4 + 2 mg L-1 NaF solution, is helpful to understand the mechanisms of corrosion resistancethe of plated Pd on 316 L ss.

The variations of composition and properties of the passive film on 316 L stainless steel surface in 80°C, 0.5 mol L-1 H2SO4 + 2 mg L-1 NaF solution after connected to Pd electrode were studied with methods of potential monitor, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) measurement.

By connecting to a Pd electrode, the potential of the SS sample increased from the active region to the passive region. By connecting to the Pd electrode, the contents of Cr, Cr(OH)3 and Fe3O4 in passive film increased obviously. With increased Pd/SS area ratio, the Cr(OH)3 content in passive film increased but the Fe3O4 content changed little. The results show that after connecting to Pd the corrosion resistance of the passive film on 316 L stainless steel increases obviously, which may be attributed to the more compact passive film because of higher Cr, Cr(OH)3 and Fe3O4 contents and less point defects in the film.

The effects and mechanism of Pd on passivation of SS was studied.

The purpose of this study is to design a more flexible and larger range of the dimming circuit that achieves the independence of multiple LED strings drive and can time-multiplex the power circuit.

The state-space method is used to model the BUCK circuit working in Pseudo continuous conduction mode, analyze the frequency characteristics of the system transfer function and design the compensation network. Build a simulation platform on the Orcad PSPICE platform and verify the function of the designed circuit through the simulation results. Use Altium Designer 16 to draw the printed circuit board, complete the welding of various components and use the oscilloscope, direct current (DC) power supply and a signal generator to verify the circuit function.

A prototype of the proposed LED driver is fabricated and tested. The measurement results show that the switching frequency can be increased to 1 MHz, Power inductance is 2.2 µH, which is smaller than current research. The dimming ratio can be set from 10% to 100%. The proposed LED driver can output more than 48 W and achieve a peak conversion efficiency of 91%.

The proposed LED driver adopts pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming at a lower dimming ratio and adopts DC dimming at a larger dimming ratio to realize switching PWM dimming to analog dimming. The control strategy can be more precise and have a wide range of dimming.

This study aims to compare the fundamental indexation (FI) portfolio vis-à-vis the cap-weighted index (CWI). It also explored the return-generating attributes of the FI portfolios.

This study extracted relevant data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy’s Prowess database from March 1996 to March 2017 from a sample of National Stock Exchange (NSE) 500 companies. The FI portfolios were constructed with First_50 and Next_50 stocks using the latest and five years of trailing average aggregations. Further, the regression technique was used to identify the return-generating attributes of FI portfolios.

It was found that the FI portfolios based on First_50 and Next_50 stocks outperformed the CWI (i.e. NSE_First_50 and NSE_Next_50) in the Indian capital market, and between the two, the FI portfolios based on Next_50 stocks were superior to the FI portfolios based on First_50 stocks. The cross-sectional superiority of FI portfolios is obvious if they are sorted according to four fundamentals, namely, total income, sales, operating cash flows and profit before depreciation interest tax and amortisation. The return-generating process of FI portfolios is well-explained by market premium followed by value premium and investment premium.

This study may enable portfolio managers and investors to measure FI portfolios’ superiority in the Indian capital market and identify the return-generating attributes of FI portfolios so that the loadings can be switched amongst different priced factors for higher yield. Further, this study extends the FI literature, providing evidence from one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

To the best of the knowledge, this is amongst the first few studies to explore the performance of FI portfolios vis-à-vis CWIs in India, and to use Fama and French (2015) asset pricing models to understand the return-generating attributes of FI portfolios. It is also novel in the sense that it considers the FI portfolios for a longer duration, predating 1997 and coinciding with the inception of CWIs, namely, NSE_First_50 (inception: 1995) and NSE_Next_50 (inception: 1996), reducing the apprehensions of data-snooping biases.

During the service period of communication satellite systems, their performance is often degraded due to the depletion mechanism. In this paper, the grey system theory is applied to the multi-state system effectiveness evaluation and the grey Lz-transformation ADC (availability, dependability and capability) effectiveness evaluation model is constructed to address the characteristics of the communication satellite system such as different constituent subsystems, numerous states and the inaccuracy and insufficiency of data.

The model is based on the ADC effectiveness evaluation method, combined with the Lz transformation and uses the definite weighted function of the three-parameter interval grey number as a bridge to incorporate the possibility of system performance being greater than the task demand into the effectiveness solution algorithm. At the same time, using MATLAB (Matrix laboratory) to solve each state probability, the same performance level in the Lz transform is combined. Then, the system effectiveness is obtained by Python.

The results show that the G-Lz-ADC model constructed in this paper can accurately evaluate the effectiveness of static/dynamic systems and certain/uncertain system and also has better applicability in evaluating the effectiveness of the multi-state complex system.

The G-Lz-ADC effectiveness evaluation model constructed in this paper can effectively reduce the complexity of traditional effectiveness evaluation models by combining the same performance levels in the Lz-transform and solving the effectiveness of the system with the help of computer programming, providing a new method for the effectiveness evaluation of the complex MSS. At the same time, the weaknesses of the system can be identified, providing a theoretical basis for improving the system’s effectiveness.

The possibility solution method based on the definite weighted function comparing the two three-parameter interval grey numbers is constructed, which compensates for the traditional calculation of the probability based on numerical values and subjective preferences of decision-makers. Meanwhile, the effectiveness evaluation model integrates the basic theories of three-parameter interval grey number and its definite weighted function, Grey−Markov, grey universal generating function (GUGF), grey multi-state system (GMSS), etc., which is an innovative method to solve the effectiveness of a multi-state instantaneous communication satellite system.

This meshless collocation method is applicable not only to the Helmholtz equation with Dirichlet boundary condition but also mixed boundary conditions. It can calculate not only the high wavenumber problems, but also the variable wave number problems.

In this paper, the authors developed a meshless collocation method by using barycentric Lagrange interpolation basis function based on the Chebyshev nodes to deduce the scheme for solving the three-dimensional Helmholtz equation. First, the spatial variables and their partial derivatives are treated by interpolation basis functions, and the collocation method is established for solving second order differential equations. Then the differential matrix is employed to simplify the differential equations which is on a given test node. Finally, numerical experiments show the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method.

The numerical experiments show the advantages of the present method, such as less number of collocation nodes needed, shorter calculation time, higher precision, smaller error and higher efficiency. What is more, the numerical solutions agree well with the exact solutions.

Compared with finite element method, finite difference method and other traditional numerical methods based on grid solution, meshless method can reduce or eliminate the dependence on grid and make the numerical implementation more flexible.

The Helmholtz equation has a wide application background in many fields, such as physics, mechanics, engineering and so on.

This meshless method is first time applied for solving the 3D Helmholtz equation. What is more the present work not only gives the relationship of interpolation nodes but also the test nodes.

To reflect the future traffic environment, the authors simultaneously incorporate the electronic throttle (ET) and traffic jerk into the traditional continuum model. The authors derive the stability criterion of the enhanced continuum model via the perturbation method.

To facilitate insight into the propagation and evolution mechanism of traffic jam near the stability condition, the authors use the nonlinear stability analysis method to derive the KdV-Burgers equation of proposed continuum model. Finally, the numerical example verified that the new item of ET opening angle and traffic jerk have a positive impact on suppressing traffic congestion and improving road robustness.

The new item of ET opening angle and traffic jerk have a positive impact on suppressing traffic congestion and improving road robustness.

To better reflect the real traffic environment, a extend continuum model taking into account the ET opening angle and traffic jerk effect is presented. The stability criterion of the extended model is got based on perturbation method. The evolution characteristics and propagation mechanism of the traffic jam near the neutral stability condition are further received by deriving the KdV-Burgers equation in the nonlinear stability analysis. From simulation, we found that the ET opening angle information and traffic jerk have a significant effect on the traffic jam.

This paper aims to select a type of mordant from aluminium salts, namely, aluminium sulphate, aluminium nitrate and polyaluminium chloride (PAC) with the lowest potential for contamination so that their use will minimise pollution from natural dye waste. It also aims to determine the pollution value of natural dye immersion waste from jackfruit wood extract, secang wood, mangsi fruit and several synthetic dyes, to identify potential environmental pollution.

Dyeing with natural dyes was performed by exhaust at room temperature by the pre-mordant method, while with synthetic dyes it was performed by exhaust according to the dyeing procedure (reactive, vat and naphthol). The groundwater, mordant solutions, natural dye extract and the waste-water from the natural and synthetic dyes were then tested to determine their biological oxygen demand (BOD₅), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), pH, Al and heavy metal contents such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb).

Aluminium sulphate had the lowest pollution load while PAC had the highest, as aluminium sulphate had a higher BOD₅/COD ratio (0.62–0.67) than aluminium nitrate (0.56–0.64) or PAC (0.44–0.54). The dyeing waste from the three natural dyes contained an acidic pH of 3.5–4.2, Al of 75.280–621.34 mg/L, Cr of 0.154–0.215 mg/L and Cu of 0.035–0.072 mg/L. The values of TSS, COD and BOD₅ are higher than the quality standards of the waste but are environmentally friendly because the ratio of the BOD₅/COD values from the waste ranges from 0.44–0.67.

The findings indicate that as a mordant, aluminium sulphate results in lower pollution loads than aluminium nitrate and PAC. However, all three mordants contain Cr and Cu, albeit in negligible concentrations. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies strive to identify a mordant that has lower pollution loads and does not contain metals but can increase dyeing results to satisfy consumer requirements. It is the hope that, with the discovery of a new mordant, natural dyes will be the solution for the heavy metal pollution caused by synthetic dyes.

The use of environmentally-friendly mordants and natural dyes in the Indonesian textile and batik industry will give rise to superior quality eco-textile and eco-batik products. Such environmentally-friendly and high-quality products will not only increase competition and consumer interest but increase product sales as well which will, in turn, increase incomes and the economy. Additionally, an increase in the use of natural dyes by the textile and batik industry will serve as additional income to the communities and farmers from which the raw materials for the natural dyes are sourced thereby creating jobs and increasing welfare.

As environmentally-friendly mordants and natural dyes replace the hazardous and toxic materials currently used in the textile and batik industry, it guarantees the health and safety of its consumers and workers. Furthermore, as the waste-water produced is biodegradable, it reduces river and groundwater pollution. It is, therefore, expected that this information will not only lead to a shift in attitude within the textile and batik industries but the adoption of environmentally-friendly materials, for the sake of the environment, as well as the development of eco-textile and eco-batik products.

Aluminium sulphate is a mordant type of aluminium salt with a lower potential for contamination than aluminium nitrate and PAC. However, PAC has been discovered to be a mordant for natural dyes, as has the fruit of the mangsi shrub, which has recently been discovered as a naturally occurring blue dye.