Search results

The main challenge in preparing body armor is achieving a high protection level by using lightweight materials with minimum cost.

In this study, a three-hybrid multilayered armor system is prepared for protection against a ballistic impact wave. These armor systems consist of glass or ceramic tile as a front layer followed by three intermediate layers made of woven fiber reinforced polymer composites and a back layer made of either aluminum or polypropylene.

All armor systems were successful in impeding the projectile from perforating, that is materials selection played an important role in stopping the ballistic impact wave. Almost an identical ballistic behavior was recorded between the experimental and numerical simulation by using ANSYS AUTODYN which means that the simulation could be used in advance to reduce the time required for practical experiments and the cost of using materials in experimental tests will be lessened. The effect of projectile geometry also had been studied, and it showed a noticeable role in changing ballistic behavior.

The originality of this research is in using carbon and glass fiber which are woven together in addition to adding polypropylene layers in armor preparation.

Flying ad hoc networks (FANETs) have a major effect in various areas such as civil projects and smart cities. The facilities of installation and low cost of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have created a new challenge for researchers. Cluster head (CH) selection and load balancing between the CH are the most critical issues in the FANETs. For CH selection and load balancing in FANETs, this study used efficient clustering to address both problems and overcome these challenges. This paper aims to propose a novel CH selection and load balancing scheme to solve the low energy consumption and low latency in the FANET system.

This paper tried to select the CH and load balancing with the help of low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (LEACH) algorithm and bat algorithm (BA). Load balancing and CH selection are NP-hard problems, so the metaheuristic algorithms can be the best answer for these issues. In the LEACH algorithm, UAVs randomly generate numerical, and these numbers are sorted according to those values. To use the load balancing, the threshold of CH has to be considered; if the threshold is less than 0.7, the BA starts working and begins to find new CH according to the emitted pulses.

The proposed method compares with three algorithms, called bio-inspired clustering scheme FANETs, Grey wolf optimization and ant colony optimization in the NS3 simulator. The proposed algorithm has a good efficiency with respect to the network lifetime, energy consumption and cluster building time.

This study aims to extend the UAV group control concepts to include CH selection and load balancing to improve UAV energy consumption and low latency.

The aim of this study is to extend the rationale and comprehensive understanding in respect of the notion of functionality and beauty in the smart skin buildings. Smart skin in buildings plays a key role in improving building functionality, and the future lies in the use of innovative smart skin strategies. The methodology focused on the objectivity and subjectivity of human perception to assess the aesthetic value of a building's smart skin. A theoretical analysis has been conducted based on the results of the investigation model and fortified by comparing the results with the findings obtained through the opinions of experts based in AHP methodology. The study demonstrates that there is a relation between both the aesthetic value and the functionality of the smart skin of a building. The findings revealed the difference in the aesthetic evaluation between the subjective functionality and the objective functionality of the building skin. The findings contribute useful evidence for the promotion of our understanding regarding the aesthetic value of the smart skin of a building, based on its functionality.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the unique aspects of Islamic finance and its role in economic development. It also explores the suitability of Islamic finance in China.

The paper explores the potential of Islamic banking and finance for economic sustainability in China. This study adopts the content analysis approach and focuses on various aspects of finance. Moreover, a critical investigation has been done by using various indicators of a new finance system adoption by considering the economic, cultural, religious and political aspects of China.

The study reveals that China already tested Islamic finance on a pilot basis in Ningxia, China. China is suitably positioned to adopt Islamic finance for its economic development. It also reports that Islamic finance will be more helpful to implement One Belt One Road initiative of China, as the Gulf and Arab Islamic finance-based countries are the major partners of China. This study analyzes Islamic micro-finance literature and proposes suitable measures for adoption in China.

Despite some limitations, the findings have a large implication on Islamic financing in general. It will be helpful to researchers and practitioners to understand the Islamic finance model for implementing it in a new environment.

This study analyzes the demand, rules and regulations, related challenges and potential of launching Islamic banking and finance in China.

This study analyzes the demand, rules and regulations, related challenges and potential of launching Islamic banking and finance in China. The paper fills a gap to the existing literature on Islamic finance uniqueness, challenges and opportunities from the perspective of a non-Muslim country.

This study investigates a novel educational strategy in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching that integrates the engineering design process (EDP) as a framework. The strategy aims to help teachers explain STEM concepts in a simplified way. We employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology to enable a systematic review that evaluated the effectiveness of this approach in improving both teaching and learning in STEM subjects.

In order to fulfill the objectives of the review, key data were extracted from each of the 400 articles that were reviewed from three databases: Scopus, ProQuest Central and EBSCO. Two types of analysis were conducted, namely descriptive analysis and literature classification.

This systematic review analyzed 44 articles on the EDP, focusing on 18 detailed studies mainly from ProQuest, SCOPUS and EBSCO. It revealed a limited focus on gender’s impact on EDP and a trend toward interdisciplinary use and integrated research approaches. The study underscores the need for further exploration of demographic influences and preparation programs in EDP across various disciplines, aiming to inform future research and educational policies.

The study’s value lies in its comprehensive assessment of engineering design (ED) research over the past decade, serving as a key reference point. It highlights progress in the field, consolidates findings and provides insights into the field’s evolution, guiding future research directions in ED.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the barriers to freshwater fish consumption in Morocco.

The survey was conducted on 220 consumers in different food outlets (supermarkets and local fishmongers) during their purchases of fish. Only those who have already had experience of eating or handling and preparing a freshwater fish were selected for the study.

According to result of factors analysis test, the low consumption of freshwater fish is linked to three factors: sensory barriers (28.54 percent), convenience barriers (22.83 percent) and quality barriers (19.65 percent). These factors explained about 71.04 percent of the total variance of the research variables. Sensory attributes constitute a major barrier for freshwater fish consumption. Most consumers revealed that freshwater fish has a muddy-earthy taste, bad texture, unpleasant appearance and with numerous bones. Not surprisingly, convenience orientation is cited as a barrier by the most respondents. They reported that freshwater fish will require more effort, time and/ or skills at different stages of the provisioning process which includes acquisition, preparation, eating and cleaning up. Quality attributes (place, freshness and knowledge about freshwater fish) has also an influence on fish’s value and acceptance. It is considered a negative characteristic of freshwater fish.

Little is known on consumer attitude toward barriers of fish consumption in Morocco. This study is a preliminary one investigating the barriers affecting consumer purchasing decision of freshwater fish.

This study explores the phenomenon of compassionate leadership, a promising concept in management literature. Despite significant contributions towards the understanding of its antecedents and consequences, the specific role of compassion concerning the leader behavior under extreme pressure remains unexplored.

Drawing empirically on the case of three banks under three different logics, the authors trace how heads of banking branches, namely, middle managers, deal with the paradoxical phenomenon of integrating their human nature with the coetaneous need to achieve aggressive objectives. The authors analyzed interviews using the interpretive research method (Hatch and Yanow, 2003).

The authors identified that the logic of savings banks and credit cooperatives, together with specific human elements, created a healthier environment to develop compassionate behaviors compared to commercial banks. The authors found coherence when linking the institutional message of putting the spotlight on a personalized treatment of customers, and the middle manager compassionate actions towards customers and subordinates.

Suggestions for future theorizing and research are advanced, along with constructive practical implications to rehumanize the dark side of banking for both employees and customers.

The findings provided in this paper are original because they provide further evidence of linking business logics with compassionate leadership of middle managers and its impact on employees and customers.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a surge in demand for health-care facilities, medicines, vaccines and other health-care items. The purpose of this study is to investigate different facets of integrated Green Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0 approach in the context of COVID-19 for better healthcare management. Integrating Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has the potential to meet the modern demand of health-care units and also leads to improving the quality of inpatient care with better safety, hygiene and real-time diagnoses. A systematic review has been conducted to determine the tools/techniques, challenges, application areas and potential benefits for the adoption of an integrated GLSS-I4.0 approach within health-care facilities from the perspective of COVID management. Further, a conceptual framework of integrated GLSS-I4.0 has been proposed for better COVID management.

To conduct the literature review, the authors used the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis and covers relevant papers from the arrival of COVID-19. Based on the systematic understanding of the different facets of the integrated GLSS-I4.0 approach and through insights of experts (academicians and health-care personnel), a conceptual framework is proposed to combat COVID-19 for better detection, prevention and cure.

The systematic review presented here provides different avenues to comprehend the different facets of the integrated GLSS-I4.0 approach in different areas of COVID health-care management. In this study, the proposed framework reveals that the Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence are the major constituents of I4.0 technologies that lead to better COVID management. Moreover, integration of I4.0 with GLSS aids during different stages of the COVID management, right from diagnosis, manufacture of items and inpatient and outpatient care of the affected person.

This study provides a significant knowledge database to the practitioners by understanding different tools and techniques of an integrated approach for better COVID management. Moreover, the proposed framework aids to grab day-to-day information from the affected people and ensures reduced hospital stay with better space utilization and the creation of a healthy environment around the patient. This inclusive implementation of the proposed framework will enhance knowledge base in medical areas and provides different novel prospects to combat other medical urgencies.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to review different facets of the integrated GLSS-I4.0 approach with a view of the COVID health-care perspective and provides a conceptual framework.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the effect of service quality and innovation on competitive advantage and sustainable local economy, with marketing mix strategy as the mediating variable (Study in small and medium enterprise (MSME) in Java and Sumatera).

The study population of this paper is the MSME in Sumatera and Java Islands in Indonesia, as the highest population in Indonesia in 2010–2016 (portion of MSME in Indonesia: Java 58.29 percent and Sumatera 22.22 percent, or total 80.51 percent), and total 16 province in Indonesia: Aceh, Sumatera Utara, Riau, Sumatera Barat, Jambi, Sumatera Selatan, Bengkulu, Lampung, Kep Riau, Kep Bangka Belitung (Sumatera Island), and Banten, DKI Jakarta, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, DI Yogyakarta (Java Island). The analysis used in this study is a quantitative approach, namely, structural equation modeling based on variance, also known as the WarpPLS method.

The findings of this study are as follows: first, service quality has an influence on marketing mix strategies, meaning the application of service quality according to customer needs will create satisfaction. In other words, the better the quality of service provided, the higher the customer satisfaction will be. Second, the quality of service has a direct influence on creating a sustainable local economy, meaning that improving service quality to understand customer needs can enhance sustainable economic growth and competitive advantage through marketing mix strategies. This means that improving service quality in accordance with customer needs will improve the marketing mix strategy leading to a sustainable local economy. Third, the marketing mix strategy has a positive influence on the sustainable local economy, meaning that the higher the marketing mix strategy, the better the strategy for sustainable economic growth and competitive advantage will be.

The effect of marketing mix strategy as mediation (using the Sobel test) on the influence of service quality and product innovation on sustainable local economy and competitive advantage is shown in this study. No previous research studies this relationship at the research location: MSME in Indonesia, especially in Java and Sumatra Islands. Hence, this is one of few studies comprehensively evaluating the effect of service quality and innovation, toward competitive advantages and local sustainable economic: marketing mix strategy as mediating variable (study in MSME in Java and Sumatera).