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1 – 10 of 27P. Glynne‐Jones and N.M. White
A range of self‐power technologies is reviewed. Self‐powered systems are defined as those that operate by harnessing ambient energy present within the environment of the system…
Abstract
A range of self‐power technologies is reviewed. Self‐powered systems are defined as those that operate by harnessing ambient energy present within the environment of the system. As MEMS and smart‐material technologies mature, embedded and remote systems become more attractive. Self‐power offers a potential for solving the difficult problem of supplying energy to these devices.
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Stelios Sapountzis, Kathryn Yates, Mike Kagioglou and Ghassan Aouad
This paper seeks to focus on the requirements to manage change, tangible and intangible benefits in a joint approach to deliver outputs on time, to quality and cost without…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to focus on the requirements to manage change, tangible and intangible benefits in a joint approach to deliver outputs on time, to quality and cost without failing to realise the benefits of the change. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the need for benefits‐driven programme/project management as well as the importance of identifying the stakeholders' level of involvement and contribution throughout the process, and manage their expectations.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology used is based on an action research approach, combining findings from a literature review and case studies within UK's primary healthcare sector.
Findings
Findings demonstrate development of a Benefits Realisation (BeReal) approach in healthcare through looking at case studies taking place within UK's primary and acute healthcare sector.
Research limitations/implications
The framework development is based on theoretical evidence and further research is needed to test and validate its robustness.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the application of benefits realisation and management in developing and delivering primary healthcare facilities.
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Yannapol Sriphutkiat and Yufeng Zhou
The capability of microparticle/objects patterning in the three-dimensional (3D) printing structure could improve its performance and functionalities. This paper aims to propose…
Abstract
Purpose
The capability of microparticle/objects patterning in the three-dimensional (3D) printing structure could improve its performance and functionalities. This paper aims to propose and evaluate a novel acoustic manipulation approach.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel method to accumulate the microparticles in the cylindrical tube during the 3D printing process is proposed by acoustically exciting the structural vibration of the cylindrical tube at a specific frequency, and subsequently, focusing the 50-μm polystyrene microparticles at the produced pressure node toward the center of the tube by the acoustic radiation force. To realize this solution, a piezoceramic plate was glued to the outside wall of a cylindrical glass tube with a tapered nozzle. The accumulation of microparticles in the tube and printing structure was monitored microscopically and the accumulation time and width were quantitatively evaluated. Furthermore, the application of such technology was also evaluated in the L929 and PC-12 cells suspended in the sodium alginate and gelatin methacryloyl.
Findings
The measured location of pressure and the excitation frequency of the cylindrical glass tube (172 kHz) agreed quite well with our numerical simulation (168 kHz). Acoustic excitation could effectively and consistently accumulate the microparticles. It is found that the accumulation time and width of microparticles in the tube increase with the concentration of sodium alginate and microparticles in the ink. As a result, the microparticles are concentrated mostly in the central part of the printing structure. In comparison to the conventional printing strategy, acoustic excitation could significantly reduce the width of accumulated microparticles in the printing structure (p < 0.05). In addition, the possibility of high harmonics (385 and 657 kHz) was also explored. L929 and PC-12 cells suspended in the hydrogel can also be accumulated successfully.
Originality/value
This paper proves that the proposed acoustic approach is able to increase the accuracy of printing capability at a low cost, easy configuration and low power output.
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Mansoor Ahmad, Ayhan Bozkurt and Omid Farhanieh
This paper aims to Separation and sorting of biological cells is desirable in many applications for analyzing cell properties, such as disease diagnostics, drugs delivery…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to Separation and sorting of biological cells is desirable in many applications for analyzing cell properties, such as disease diagnostics, drugs delivery, chemical processing and therapeutics.
Design/methodology/approach
Acoustic energy-based bioparticle separation is a simple, viable, bio-compatible and contact-less technique using, which can separate the bioparticles based on their density and size, with-out labeling the sample particles.
Findings
Conventionally available bioparticle separation techniques as fluorescence and immunomagnetic may cause a serious threat to the life of the cells due to various compatibility issues. Moreover, they also require an extra pre-processing labeling step. Contrarily, label-free separation can be considered as an alternative solution to the traditional bio-particle separation methods, due to their simpler operating principles and lower cost constraints. Acoustic based particle separation methods have captured a lot of attention among the other reported label-free particle separation techniques because of the numerous advantages it offers.
Practical implications
This study tries to briefly cover the developments of different acoustic-based particle separation techniques over the years. Unlike the conventional surveys on general bioparticles separation, this study is focused particularly on the acoustic-based particle separation. The study would provide a comprehensive guide for the future researchers especially working in the field of the acoustics, in studying and designing the acoustic-based particle separation techniques.
Originality/value
The study insights a brief theory of different types of acoustic waves and their interaction with the bioparticles is considered, followed by acoustic-based particle separation devices reported till the date. The integration of acoustic-based separation techniques with other methods and with each other is also discussed. Finally, all major aspects like the approach, and productivity, etc., of the adopted acoustic particle separation methods are sketched in this article.
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Thomas H. Owen, Stefan Kestermann, Russel Torah and Stephen P. Beeby
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of using kinetic energy harvesting to power wireless condition monitoring sensors.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of using kinetic energy harvesting to power wireless condition monitoring sensors.
Design/methodology/approach
The system presented duty cycles its operation depending upon the energy being harvested. The harvested energy is stored on a supercapacitor and the system samples sufficient vibration data to enable an FFT to be performed at the receiver.
Findings
The results of this study show it is perfectly feasible to power practical wireless condition monitoring sensors entirely from the vibrations of the machines being monitored.
Originality/value
Energy harvesting techniques can be used to power wireless sensors in a range of applications. Removing the need for a battery power supply presents obvious environmental benefits and avoids the need to periodically replace batteries.
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Daniel Forgues and Lauri Koskela
The purpose of the paper is to study the influence of procurement on the performance of integrated design teams.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to study the influence of procurement on the performance of integrated design teams.
Design/methodology/approach
The research paradigm is based on Russian socio‐constructivist approach to activity theory. Activity theory, as opposed to natural or social science, is a design science approach that focuses on the context aspect of project. A triangulation of qualitative research methods is used to investigate the dynamic of integrated teams in two different procurement contexts.
Findings
The paper is conclusive regarding the influence of procurement on team efficiency. It demonstrates that traditional procurement processes reinforce socio‐cognitive barriers that hinder team efficiency. It also illustrates how new procurement modes can transform the dynamic of relationships between the client and the members of the supply chain, and have a positive impact on team performance.
Practical implications
The paper demonstrates first that problems with integrated design team efficiency are related to context and not process – they are not technical but socio‐cognitive; second that fragmented transactional contracting increases socio‐cognitive barriers that hinder integrated design team performance; third that new forms of relational contracting may help to mitigate socio‐cognitive barriers and improve integrated design team performance, fourth that changing the context through procurement does not address the problem of obsolete design practices.
Originality/value
The paper brings together theories of production in lean construction and social learning as a rival approach to traditional project management theory for demonstrating the importance of context on team performance.
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Iyappan Gunasekaran, Govindaraj Rajamanickam, Santhosh Narendiran, Ramasamy Perumalsamy, Kiruthika Ramany and Radha Sankararajan
Various approaches have been made to alter the vibration sensing properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) films to achieve high sensitivity. This paper aims to report the experimental study…
Abstract
Purpose
Various approaches have been made to alter the vibration sensing properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) films to achieve high sensitivity. This paper aims to report the experimental study of the fabrication of precursor molar ratio concentration varied ZnO nanostructures grown on rigid substrates using the refresh hydrothermal method. The effect of these fabricated ZnO nanostructures-based vibration sensors was experimentally investigated using a vibration sensing setup.
Design/methodology/approach
ZnO nanostructures have been grown using low temperature assisted refresh hydrothermal method with different precursor molar concentrations 0.025 M (R1), 0.075 M (R2) and 0.125 M (R3). Poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene polystyrene sulfonate, a p-type material is spun coated on the grown ZnO nanostructures. Structural analysis reveals the increased intensity of the (002) plane and better c-axis orientation of the R2 and R3 sample comparatively. Morphological examination shows the changes in the grown nanostructures upon increasing the precursor molar concentration. The optical band gap value decreases from 3.11 eV to 3.08 eV as the precursor molar concentration is increased. Photoconductivity study confirms the formation of a p-n junction with less turn-on voltage for all the fabricated devices. A less internal resistance of 0.37 kΩ was obtained from Nyquist analysis for R2 compared with the other two fabricated samples. Vibration testing experimentation showed an improved output voltage of the R2 sample (2.61 V at 9 Hz resonant frequency and 2.90 V for 1 g acceleration) comparatively. This also gave an increased sensitivity of 4.68 V/g confirming its better performance when compared to the other fabricated two samples.
Findings
Photoconductivity study confirms the formation of a p-n junction with less turn-on voltage for all the fabricated devices. A less internal resistance of 0.37 kΩ was calculated from the Nyquist plot. Vibration testing experimentation proves an increased sensitivity of 4.68 V/g confirming its better performance when compared to the other fabricated two samples.
Originality/value
Vibration testing experimentation proves an increased sensitivity of 4.68 V/g for R2 confirming its better performance when compared to the other fabricated two samples.
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Bengi Aygün and Vehbi Cagri Gungor
The purpose of this paper is to provide a contemporary look at the current state‐of‐the‐art in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for structure health monitoring (SHM) applications…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a contemporary look at the current state‐of‐the‐art in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for structure health monitoring (SHM) applications and discuss the still‐open research issues in this field and, hence, to make the decision‐making process more effective and direct.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a comprehensive review of WSNs for SHM. It also introduces research challenges, opportunities, existing and potential applications. Network architecture and the state‐of‐the‐art wireless sensor communication technologies and standards are explained. Hardware and software of the existing systems are also clarified.
Findings
Existing applications and systems are presented along with their advantages and disadvantages. A comparison landscape and open research issues are also presented.
Originality/value
The paper presents a comprehensive and recent review of WSN systems for SHM applications along with open research issues.
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Mary Tomsic and Claire Marika Deery
The purpose of this paper is to examine how the contemporary “refugee crisis” is being presented to children through picture books and teaching materials. It uses the concept of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how the contemporary “refugee crisis” is being presented to children through picture books and teaching materials. It uses the concept of refugeedom as an approach that takes into account the multiple facets involved in the forced movement of people in the past and present and seeks to show the value of historical understandings in educational contexts when framing resources for teachers and students.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper examines a sample of high-profile English language picture books about children’s stories of forced displacement and the most prominent freely available teaching materials connected to the books. A critical discursive analysis of the books and educative guides considers the ways in which ideas and information about forced displacement is framed for child readers and children in primary school classrooms. The context for the authors’ interest in exploring these books and educational resources is that in response to the numbers of children who are part of the current “refugee crisis” alongside a public call for the “crisis” to be explained to children.
Findings
The paper argues that picture books open up spaces for children to explore refugeedom through experiences of forced movement and various factors involved in the contemporary “refugee crisis”. In contrast, in the teaching resources and some peritextual materials, the child in the classroom is addressed as entirely disconnected from children who are forcibly displaced, students in classrooms are positioned to learn from the refugee “other”. When links are made between students in classroom and children who have been forcibly displaced it is through activities that position students in classrooms to imagine themselves as forcibly displaced, or to suggest they act within a humanitarian framework of welcoming or helping refugees. The authors believe that if teaching resources were more directly informed by discipline specific tools of historical concepts, more nuanced approaches to past and present histories of forced movement could be considered and from that more fruitful learning opportunities created for all students.
Practical implications
This research provides ideas about how materials to support the use of picture books in educational settings could be developed to promote historical thinking and contextualisation around key social and political issues in the world today. It also makes the case for historians to be involved in the creation of teaching materials in a collaborative way so that academic insights can be brought to teachers and students at all levels of education.
Originality/value
The value of this research is to understand how children are positioned in reading and learning about forced displacement and query the impact of decontextualised approaches to learning. It argues for the critical interpretative value that historical understanding can bring to present day issues which are history in the making.
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Pawan Budhwar, Andy Crane, Annette Davies, Rick Delbridge, Tim Edwards, Mahmoud Ezzamel, Lloyd Harris, Emmanuel Ogbonna and Robyn Thomas
Wonders whether companies actually have employees best interests at heart across physical, mental and spiritual spheres. Posits that most organizations ignore their workforce …
Abstract
Wonders whether companies actually have employees best interests at heart across physical, mental and spiritual spheres. Posits that most organizations ignore their workforce – not even, in many cases, describing workers as assets! Describes many studies to back up this claim in theis work based on the 2002 Employment Research Unit Annual Conference, in Cardiff, Wales.
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