Search results

The study aims at reviewing the concept of travel typologies. For this purpose the two determination factors explaining travel behavior, motivation and destination choice, are chosen to verify the validity of travel typologies. The study is based on an extensive and representative travel survey covering almost 2,000 households and more than 12,000 trips within Switzerland. Generally, travel typologies seem to be a valuable instrument for the tourism industry to anticipate consumer behavior and to plan marketing activities appropriately. The results reveal that there is no clear and highly significant connection between travel typologies and the selected determination factors. As a conclusion, the concept of travel typologies seems to be not reliable.

The purpose of this paper is to compare a firm’s net cost and post-apprenticeship benefits of providing apprenticeship training in Austria and Switzerland: two countries with many similarities but some critical institutional differences.

The authors draw on detailed workplace data with information on the costs and benefits of apprenticeship training, as well as on hiring costs for skilled workers from the external labour market. The authors use nearest-neighbour matching models to compare Austrian firms with similar Swiss firms based on observable characteristics.

On average, a Swiss firm generates an annual net benefit of €3,400 from training an apprentice, whereas a firm in Austria incurs net costs of €4,200. The impetus for this difference is largely a higher relative apprentice pay in Austria. However, compared with Swiss firms, Austrian firms generate a higher post-training return by retaining a higher share of apprentices and savings on future hiring costs.

The authors demonstrate that apprenticeship systems can exist under different institutional environments. For countries currently in the process of establishing or expanding apprenticeship systems, the comparative analysis clearly shows that policymakers should consider more than just one country’s particular apprenticeship model.

The authors provide a first comparative analysis between two apprenticeship countries that empirically assesses a firm’s costs and benefits of training during an apprenticeship programme and also provides a monetary value of a particular type of post-training benefits that firms can generate by retaining former apprentices as skilled workers (i.e. savings in future hiring costs for skilled workers).

This chapter synthesizes two complementary streams in the economic thought of David M. Gordon, and explores their shared relevance to the rise of the “gig” economy in modern economies. Gordon made lasting contributions to the radical political-economic analysis of work and employment. At the microeconomic level of individual workplaces, he and his collaborators originally explained the factors affecting employers’ labor extraction strategies, through which they seek maximum work effort from waged employees while minimizing unit labor costs. At the macroeconomic or structural level, he linked that conflictual process to the broader institutional and structural features of the overall accumulation regime which is essential to any successful incarnation of capitalism. Employment practices and social structures have evolved considerably since Gordon’s passing, but his insights are still useful in understanding the rise of, and limits to, modern work arrangements. In particular, Gordon’s dual portrayal of the parameters of labor extraction, and their positioning within a broader structural and institutional context, provides a convincing explanation of both the recent rise of gig economy practices, and their potential limits.

A contactless electromyography (EMG) electrodes design and development for prosthetics, particularly the Touch Hand 3, was the main objective of this paper. The correlation between EMG electrodes and patch antenna are described, with the problem relating to the dimensions of the covidien electrodes. The purpose of this paper is to improve the signal strength of the EMG electrodes and having them to not be in contact with the skin to cause irritation in the person.

A combination of the contact covidien electrodes and aluminium foil was used to develop electrodes that were in a similar configuration than a Yagi antenna. Different layers of patch elements were designed, developed and implemented.

Different layers of Yagi-patch electrodes are tested with different volunteers and compared with the average signal strengths obtained from the covidien electrodes. An improvement in signal strength with the Yagi-patch electrodes has been found.

The purpose of the work was to design, develop and test EMG electrodes that are cost-effective, reusable and able to improve the signal strengths that are recorded, for better functionality of prosthetic devices.

The integration of EMG and antennae theory to implement a Yagi-patch EMG electrode to improve on signal reception. The electrodes have the properties of being cheap, easy available, can eliminate direct contact and avoiding patches on the skin. Comparison of different layered electrodes with the contactless electrodes close to the skin. Comparison of the different electrodes on a silicone sleeve, which are commonly worn by amputees, placed between the skin and the prosthetic’s socket. Testing the Yagi-patch electrodes with an application with the prosthetic Touch Hand, to allow for the control of a system such as the Touch Hand.

In this chapter we study the intra-group transactions between the parent bank and its foreign subsidiaries in European Union (EU) countries during the crisis. We use hand-collected data from annual statements on related party transaction and find that they may create a serious problem for the stability of the foreign banks’ subsidiaries. Moreover, as some of those subsidiary banks were large by assets in some of the member states the related party transactions with the parent bank created a serious threat to the host countries’ financial system stability. We attribute this transaction to the weak governance in foreign subsidiaries. We suggest improvements in governance as well as greater disclosure of related party transactions in bank holding companies in Europe.

This chapter will provide examples of how Chicano faculty teach and practice social justice in the U.S. college classroom, where subtle forms of racism operate through White privilege, and influence faculty credibility and authority. From a Latino Critical Theory (LatCrit) perspective, the authors address the question, What are the similarities and differences in classroom experiences of Chicano faculty in Predominately White Institutions (PWI) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)? In addressing this question, the authors will provide examples from their teaching experiences at both PWIs and HSIs, and how a Chicana/o-centered social justice perspective can help to mediate and overcome classroom challenges. The chapter will end with a discussion of how a social justice framework is necessary in college classrooms that are becoming increasingly diverse; and recommendations for how PWIs and HSIs can support Chicana/o faculty in endeavors to institutionalize a social justice framework in the college curriculum.

In this survey we present (after an Introduction) a guide to the major doctrinal trends of Spanish accounting of the period, classified in various categories: different views of the scientific nature of accounting, dominant theories, purposes of accounting, special areas, views on classification and on the recording of transactions, views on valuation and depreciation, cost accounting, inflationary issues, auditing, accounting terminology, historical concerns, and the practical orientation of publications. A separate section offers further details about prominent Spanish scholars; it is followed by the conclusion. The latter indicates that during the period under investigation, Spanish accountants contributed little to novel accounting thought, but strongly relied on French and Italian doctrines, though neglecting German ideas. Despite of this, Spanish accountants were aware of many theoretical and instrumental novelties of the day, and applied them without substantial delay to their own environment.

Multi-jet fusion (MJF) process is based on a polymeric powder bed that is heated and irradiated by infra-red lamps. The layer under construction is jetted with inks to provide the desired heat management conditions for selective melting. Depending on several process variables, manufactured parts can exhibit lifting of the borders of the top surface of the shape under construction. This phenomenon is related to the capillarity effect. As a result, the top surface of MJF-manufactured parts can present a peculiar convex shape. This study aims to propose a solution that instead induces the capillarity effect outside of the part under construction.

A specific design is developed to avoid the capillarity effect in MJF. It is based on an analytical model that was previously developed by the authors to estimate the shape and extent of the capillary on top surfaces of benchmark components. The proposed methodology is established by the predicted calculation of maximum values of capillarity rise and length, and safety factors. A fin-shaped geometry is designed to avoid the capillarity effect. An experimental campaign is implemented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed solution. Prototypes are manufactured by an HP MultiJet 4200 in the original design and the so-called finned-riser design, by adding a well-dimensioned appendage on the top surface to shift the capillarity effect outside the border of the part under construction. Measurements are done by a CAM2 ScanArm contactless measuring system to achieve the real shape of top surfaces. Geomagic Control X software by 3D systems is used to evaluate the quality of measured surfaces in comparison with the expected geometry of the top plane of the benchmark.

The investigated approach involves adding an auxiliary finned-shape appendage, which acts similarly to the risers in foundry technology, to the top surface of the part that is being produced by MJF technology. The procedure and rules for determining the dimensions of the fin are established based on physical considerations and process modelling. The method is then applied to a prototype part, which is designed to highlight the effectiveness of the finned-riser design for improving the dimensional accuracy of the top surfaces of products manufactured by the MJF process. Experimental measurements of top surfaces of the original benchmark are compared to the same ones in the case of the finned-riser benchmark. Reported results are satisfactory, and the capillary effect occurred in the fins outside the border edges of the part. Further developments are planned to extend the proposed design.

MJF technology is attracting large interest from manufacturers to produce mass customised products. The quality of manufactured parts could be affected by peculiar defects related to process parameters. The present work aims to show a method to avoid the capillarity effect. It is based on an original analytical model developed by the authors and implemented successfully in the case of a benchmark geometry.

A mixed metal oxide-based spinel ceramic pigment has been successfully synthesized incorporating inorganic, high-temperature stable furnace cement as an inbuilt binder. Step by step synthesis was done for the spinel and cement mix formulations.

The pigment mix was synthesized by a solid-solid method where the inorganic binder was incorporated in the mix. The results suggested that CoCuMn-based spinel ceramic pigment with cement mix could be obtained at an annealing temperature of 1,100ºC for 1 h and the size, morphology and crystallinity of spinel mix were greatly influenced by the calcination temperature.

The pigment mix synthesized was applied as a coating to different substrates such as aluminum, glass and Mild steel. The results revealed that spectral selectivity of TSSS paint coatings based on the CoMnCu spinel ceramic mix was much better than that of solvent-based coatings for high-temperature applications. The presence of cement as an inorganic binder makes the functioning and application of paint easy as it becomes that of a waterborne type.

Ease of application, stability at high temperatures, best absorptivity at the solar selective spectrum and excellent adhesion properties for the selected surface are the key features of the designed pigment system. The applied pigment mix was studied as a coating to get the results for solar selective system.