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The purpose of this study was to reuse cement kiln dust (CKD) in cement products and report the results of determining the long-term compression and flexural tensile strengths of mortars containing CKD as a partial replacement of sulfate-resistant cement (SRC). During the manufacturing of Portland cement, voluminous quantities of the byproduct dust are produced, which is commonly known as CKD. In the past decade, according to environmental requirements, many researchers have attempted to reuse CKD in cement products.

The long-term compression and flexural tensile strengths of mortars containing CKD as a partial replacement of SRC were tested. The replacement ratios in this study were 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 per cent. The specimens were exposed to a highly saline environment after normal curing in water for a 28-day period.

The results indicated a slight increase in the strength of CKD–SRC mortar containing 10 per cent CKD and moderate sulfate resistance when the CKD ratio reached 20 per cent, as compared to the reference mortar. In addition, CKD did not adversely affect the properties of SRC mortar subjected to sulfate exposure, even after one year.

The tests were inducted for the first time on SRC, and the new results can be used to produce an environmental-friendly concrete.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between some aspect‐oriented metrics and aspect fault proneness, content and fixing effort.

An exploratory case study was conducted using an open source aspect‐oriented software consisting of 76 aspects, and 13 aspect‐oriented metrics were investigated that measure different structural properties of an aspect: size, coupling, cohesion, and inheritance. In addition, different prediction models for aspect fault proneness, content and fixing effort were built using different combinations of metrics' categories.

The results obtained from this study indicate statistically significant correlation between most of the size metrics and aspect fault proneness, content and fixing effort. The cohesion metric was also found to be significantly correlated with the same. Moreover, it was observed that the best accuracy in aspect fault proneness, content and fixing effort prediction can be achieved as a function of some size metrics.

Fault prediction helps software developers to focus their quality assurance activities and to allocate the needed resources for these activities more effectively and efficiently; thus improving software reliability. In literature, some aspect‐oriented metrics have been evaluated for aspect fault proneness prediction, but not for other fault‐related prediction problems such as aspect fault content and fixing effort.

This paper aims to investigate the pricing of discretionary earnings in South Africa. This is a unique setting, as South African listed firms also report mandatory non-GAAP earnings (“headline earnings”).

Results are based on multivariate regression analyses for South African firms that report from 2010 to 2019.

Findings show that the value-relevance of discretionary earnings exceeds that of both GAAP earnings and headline earnings. In addition, placement of discretionary earnings reconciliations communicates information about the decision-usefulness of earnings.

Discretionary earnings remain the most value-relevant earnings measure, despite the divergent decision-useful characteristics offered by headline earnings and GAAP earnings. Therefore, the most decision-useful earnings reflect unique industry or firm characteristics rather than the assurance arising from regulation.

Quality in research and development (R&D) work has become increasingly important as companies commit themselves to quality improvement programmes in all areas of their activity. Quality improvement forms an important part of their competitive strategy. Quality management systems have been successfuly designed and implemented for manufacturing and service functions; but so far the quality principles and systems have been difficult to translate to the R&D function. Looks at the challenge of effective implementation of quality management and total quality principles in R&D. Discusses quality concepts, terms, systems and critical factors for successful implementation. Uses brief case histories to highlight particular approaches to implementation. Finally, introduces a new, versatile method for evaluating the capabilities of an R&D organization in terms of total quality management. It is presented in the form of a case study showing its use in a large R&D laboratory of a major multinational corporation.

The purpose of this paper is to improve our understanding of how firms can maintain longitudinal satisfaction. Previous research on longitudinal satisfaction demonstrates that the product attributes weight on satisfaction shifts over time. However, the existing literature lacks an understanding of the intervening mechanism. Inspired by the hedonic adaptation theory, this research first argues that the shift depends on the attribute’s variability. Then, it posits that hedonic adaptation might play a mediation role in connecting the attribute’s weight and longitudinal satisfaction. Finally, the research incorporates consumer intentional activities into the antecedents of longitudinal satisfaction.

The authors test a series of hypotheses across two studies. Using the Slope-shift Parameter Theory and Structural Equation Modeling, data collected from smartphone owners in four MBA classes (Study 1) and eight business venues in China (Study 2) are analyzed to confirm the research model.

The findings suggest that hedonic adaptation occurs during the ownership process. It is revealed that both the attribute’s variability and consumption behavior play important roles in sustaining long-term satisfaction, confirming the mediating effects of hedonic adaptation on the relationship above.

The hedonic adaptation theory is applied to study the mediating role of product attribute variability and consumption behavior in sustaining customer satisfaction over time. Three contributions are offered: First, hedonic adaptation occurs during the ownership process; second, the attribute’s variability and consumption behavior both play important roles in sustaining longitudinal satisfaction; third, the mediating effects of hedonic adaptation are confirmed for the relationship between attribute’s variability and sustaining satisfaction and consumption behavior and sustaining satisfaction.

This study aims to investigate marketing managers’ views on the existence and nature of the academic–practitioner gap in the branding domain.

Using a purposive sampling method, the researchers conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 experienced marketing managers from a wide range of industries and organisations, whose roles are focussed on the planning, implementation and management of broad marketing and branding strategies.

Branding practitioners have little or no contact with academics and their theories-in-use with regard to brand management suggest they do not consider academic research relevant to their work.

The process of describing and explaining the gap provides valuable insights into bridging the gap; it provides actionable branding strategies that include raising awareness, building relationships, improving the benefits offer and communicating more effectively.

This research has practical implications for branding academics. The interviewed practitioners confirm the gap, viewing it as academics’ (not practitioners’) problem and responsibility. They characterise it as a branding problem that academics can overcome using branding strategies, to establish themselves as credible sources of branding expertise for practitioners. Key areas for increasing collaboration stem from practitioners’ desire for independent, credible, ethical and timely third-party advice on branding issues; relevant, timely and shorter professional branding education across their organisations; and closer connections with universities to identify new branding talent and ideas.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to empirically examine and recommend solutions to the academic-practitioner gap in the branding domain by studying marketing professionals with branding responsibilities, using in-depth interviews.

Biomedical radio frequency (RF) transceivers require miniaturized forms with long battery life and low power consumption. The medical implant communication service (MICS) band in the frequency range of 402–405 MHz is widely used for medical RF transceivers because the MICS band signals have reasonable propagation characteristics and are suited to achieve good results. The implementation of the RF front-end for medical devices has many challenges as these dictate low power consumption. In particular, phase-locked loop is one of the most critical blocks of the RF front-end. The purpose of this paper is to the design of controller-based all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) in a 45 nm CMOS process.

Initially, an open-loop architecture phase frequency detector (PFD) is designed. Then based on the concept of differential buffer, a differential ring oscillator (RO) is built using capacitive boosting technique. After that, the frequency controller block is built by proper mathematical modeling that does the job of loop filter, which behaves like a phase interpolator. Frequency controller block has tuning register block, tuning word register. The tuning block is built using the Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) caps. Finally, the integration of all the blocks is done and the ADPLL architecture that locks at 402 MHz is achieved.

The designed PFD is dead zone free that operates at 1 GHz. The differential RO oscillates at 495 MHz. The proposed ADPLL operates at 402 MHz with measured phase noise of −98.36 at 1-MHz offset. This ADPLL exhibits rms jitter of 4.626 ps with a total power consumption of 216.5 µW.

A time to digital converter (TDC)-less controller-based low power ADPLL covering the MICS frequency band for biomedical applications has been designed in 45 nm/0.68 V CMOS technology. The ADPLL proposed in this draft uses differential oscillator with capacitively boosted technique which reduced the operating voltage to as low as 0.68 V. This ADPLL has a bandwidth of 20 kHz and works at reference frequency of 20 MHz consumed power of 216.5 µW, while generating an output frequency of 402 MHz. The tuning range is from 375 to 428 MHz. With the phase noise of −98.36 dbc/Hz at 1 MHz, a frequency controller block replaces the usage of TDC.

The designed ADPLL will definitely pave way to greater research arena in the field of biomedical field. This ADPLL is a unique combination that combines electronics and biomedical field. The designed ADPLL is itself a broader application to biomedical field that will have a positive impact on the society.

The implementation of open-loop PFD and RO using the capacitive boosting technique is a unique combination. This is comprehended well with frequency controller block that eliminates the usage of TDC and behaves as phase interpolator. The entire design of ADPLL which suits the application of MICS band of frequency has been designed carefully to work at low power.

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to identify and analyse existing resource efficiency (RE) and resource effectiveness measures and indicators (REMIs); and second, to identify gaps and develop a new indicator of “operational resource effectiveness” (ORE_ft) suitable for manufacturing units.

Research methodology consists of three stages: gap identification, development and testing. Through review of academic literature, 40 REMIs are identified and analysed. A survey of manufacturers is carried out to validate the hypothesis and seek inputs on the development of the new indicator. The proposed indicator is tested by comparing ORE_ft index of two manufacturing units with each other, with resource intensity per unit (RIPU), waste intensity per unit (WIPU) and with four other REMIs.

Analysis of 40 REMIs clearly points towards the absence of a hypothesised REMI. In total, 78 per cent of manufacturers surveyed in north England substantiate the hypothesis. Inverse correlation established between the proposed ORE_ft indicator, RIPU, WIPU and other comparisons is likely to validate the output generated by the proposed indicator.

Testing of this indicator is limited to two dissimilar manufacturing units that shared data.

The proposed indicator is useful for comparing the operational resource effectiveness of individual factories over a period as well as with other factories. RIPU and WIPU captured in this indicator also represent operational RE that can be used to initiate improvement action.

Inclusion of both, the resource consumption and the waste generation along with discount/multiplying factors that capture the circularity aspects is likely to be the distinguishing feature of this indicator.

Purpose: This chapter discusses the role and use of chatbots adopted by the different categories of banks (private and public sector banks) in India. The chapter presents brief essential services offered by Indian chatbots regarding accuracy, technology providers and virtual assistance, ways to connect, etc. This chapter concluded that most of the questions answered by the Indian chatbots are already available on the banks’ websites, and there is a need for enhancement in the capabilities of Indian chatbots.

Need for the Study: The need for the study is based on the working of banking chatbots, customer query handling, and the efficiency of the chatbots in India. The chapter helps to analyze the services offered by various banks.

Methodology: This chapter is based on secondary data collected from banks’ websites and articles from various journals. The study is based on nine banks (both private and public sectors) those are having working chatbots (SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, IndusInd Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, Andhra Bank, Bank of Baroda). The present study is focused on chatbots, their services, and software applications for various customer-handling capacities.

Findings: The research concluded that Indian banks are investing a small amount in using chatbots, yet Indian chatbots are deficient regarding far too provincial administrations as they are adequate just for standard and basic inquiries. Also, Indian customers are not properly aware of chatbots and virtual assistance.

Practical Implications: This study provides an overview of the working chatbots in India (for both public and private sector banks) and their functions, as well as the capacities of these chatbots. The previous conducted studies are based on the uses, importance, and working of chatbots/artificial intelligence (AI) in banking. In this study, after discussing the different services, it is found that Indian banks need to update their AI/Virtual assistance with more features.