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This paper aims to propose and establish a set of new benchmark models to investigate and confidently validate the modeling and prediction of total stray-field loss inside magnetic and non-magnetic components under harmonics-direct current (HDC) hybrid excitations. As a new member-set (P21^e) of the testing electromagnetic analysis methods Problem 21 Family, the focus is on efficient analysis methods and accurate material property modeling under complex excitations.

This P21^e-based benchmarking covers the design of new benchmark models with magnetic flux compensation, the establishment of a new benchmark measurement system with HDC hybrid excitation, the formulation of the testing program (such as defined Cases I–V) and the measurement and prediction of material properties under HDC hybrid excitations, to test electromagnetic analysis methods and finite element (FE) computation models and investigate the electromagnetic behavior of typical magnetic and electromagnetic shields in electrical equipment.

The updated Problem 21 Family (V.2021) can now be used to investigate and validate the total power loss and the different shielding performance of magnetic and electromagnetic shields under various HDC hybrid excitations, including the different spatial distributions of the same excitation parameters. The new member-set (P21^e) with magnetic flux compensation can experimentally determine the total power loss inside the load-component, which helps to validate the numerical modeling and simulation with confidence. The additional iron loss inside the laminated sheets caused by the magnetic flux normal to the laminations must be correctly modeled and predicted during the design and analysis. It is also observed that the magnetic properties (B27R090) measured in the rolling and transverse directions with different direct current (DC) biasing magnetic field are quite different from each other.

The future benchmarking target is to study the effects of stronger HDC hybrid excitations on the internal loss behavior and the microstructure of magnetic load components.

This paper proposes a new extension of Problem 21 Family (1993–2021) with the upgraded excitation, involving multi-harmonics and DC bias. The alternating current (AC) and DC excitation can be applied at the two sides of the model’s load-component to avoid the adverse impact on the AC and DC power supply and investigate the effect of different AC and DC hybrid patterns on the total loss inside the load-component. The overall effectiveness of numerical modeling and simulation is highlighted and achieved via combining the efficient electromagnetic analysis methods and solvers, the reliable material property modeling and prediction under complex excitations and the precise FE computation model using partition processing. The outcome of this project will be beneficial to large-scale and high-performance numerical modeling.

This paper considers firms’ incentive to preserve compatibility between product generations in a duopoly setting. A firm may or may not maintain backward compatibility depending on its first period market share. Firms’ compatibility choices consequently will affect their pricing behaviors. Specifically, it is shown that under certain conditions both firms will preserve compatibility and act as local monopolist in the second period. Hence, backward compatibility becomes a tool for firms to relax second period price competition.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) frequently overlook the importance of encouraging creative thinking in students. A review of the prevailing practices in a fully online tertiary distance education (DE) institution revealed a lack of learning activities that foster creativity. The study aims to find out whether the creative collaborative group project is a feasible, effective and acceptable learning activity for fostering creativity in students of a fully online graduate-level DE course.

Seven groups of five to six graduate students each had five weeks to conceptualize, prepare and deliver a creative collaborative group project on lifelong learning using key concepts learned from the course.

All groups submitted well-crafted creative projects within the given time frame. Reflections on their experience positively correlated with known outcomes associated with creative skills. Students valued the experience and had a better understanding of the concepts. These support the feasibility, effectiveness and acceptability of the project for fostering creativity in a fully online DE institution.

The feasibility, effectiveness and acceptability may vary in different contexts; future iterations in the same and/or other courses are recommended.

The creative collaborative group project is a feasible, effective and acceptable strategy for fostering creativity in online distance education.

Creativity can be enhanced through appropriate online collaborative learning activities.

The study adds to the body of literature on the use of creative collaborative group projects to foster creativity in HEIs.

The OPQ (Occupational Personality Questionnaire) is a factor‐analytic‐based, self‐report questionnaire which has been developed in Britain as a wide‐band assessment device for use in selection and counselling in jobs at managerial and professional level where personality factors are often important variables in success.

Studies have proved that wood sawmill workers are exposed to high occupational risks if not well managed. In developing countries, many wood sawmills are found in urban and semi-urban areas. Studies exploring how residents near these wood sawmills perceive and react to these risks is scarce in Nigeria. The application of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technology is possibly one of the ways to manage the likely hazards. This study aims to investigate the possible hazards associated with timber sawmills in residential areas and the role of 4IR technologies in proffering feasible solutions to mitigate them in Nigeria’s cities.

Data were sourced from three cities and nine sawmills across Nigeria. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with authoritative participants (residents, environmentalists, government agencies, sawmill owners, 4IR technology experts and medical experts) who have been championing the regulation and safety of timber sawmill locations within the cities (Lagos, Benin City and Owerri) via a phenomenology type of qualitative research and supplemented by secondary sources.

Findings show that timber sawmills are located across the three cities in Nigeria and may have contributed to the health and environmental challenges of the people living in the neighbourhood. The identified hazards were grouped into three sub-themes (physical, health and environmental hazards). Findings identify robots, modularisation, cyber-physical systems, the internet of things and services and human-computer interaction as the digitalised technology that can be used in sawmills to mitigate hazards for the benefit of mankind.

The paper is limited to hazards that residents in timber sawmills locations may face in Nigeria’s cities and data collected via face-to-face 23 interviews. The paper’s referral to past publications in the findings and discussion section compensated for the small sample size.

As part of this paper’s implications, the emerged recommendations will strengthen collaboration with relevant stakeholders regarding control measures via the use of 4IR technologies in timber sawmills. This will stir up policymakers to develop possible policies that will promote and create the platform for the implementation of 4IR technologies in city sawmills.

Apart from probably being the first paper to explore the hazards of residents in timber sawmill locations and proffer solutions via the usage of the 4IR technology, this paper’s contribution emphasis the need for in-depth future studies regarding the risk perceptions of Nigeria’s residents living in timber sawmill area.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the role of the body in the vocational anticipatory socialization (VAS) processes of classical musicians.

Using grounded theory, the paper analyzed semi-structured interviews with 48 musicians (27 children; 21 parents) to understand how classical musicians’ bodies intermediate the meaning of work. The Aristotelian concepts of potentiality and actuality frame this study.

The paper reveals that: “tuning” bodies is as important as tuning instruments (body as object of work), and diseases, occupational injuries, and accidents pose challenges to both health and performance (body as obstacle).

Theoretically, the paper contributes the notion that phases of VAS are fused not just through cognitive and relational processes, but also through embodied learning for classical musicians.

At the practical level, the paper reminds that the body is an important source of vocational socialization information.

The paper is filling a gap in organizational literature, which has under addressed the materiality of the body.

The strain energy method for the analysis of pin‐jointed redundant frameworks is expressed in matrix form suitable for solution on electronic computers. This is illustrated by its application to a zero‐length launcher framework having sixty‐three members, nine of which are redundant, using the Ferranti Pegasus computer. It is concluded that a framework must be reasonably complex before the use of this method is justified but that problems of greater complexity than would normally be attempted can readily be solved.

The purpose of this paper is to explore how firms can mitigate knowledge hiding behavior among their managers.

This study employs a multiple case study methodology by studying nine UAE based firms. Furthermore, 26 semi-structured interviews with senior managers are undertaken.

Based on the qualitative interviews and comprehensive data analysis, results unveil six strategies that firms can opt for in order to mitigate knowledge hiding behavior among managers (reducing chain of command, developing informal interaction among managers, introducing and implementing incentive policy, initiating easy performance appraisal, encouraging higher interdependency among managers and introducing open space work stations).

This study has some limitations. First, the results of this study are not generalizable to a broader population. Second, this study explores behavioral patterns with respect to United Arab Emirates culture only. Second, the results presented in this study should be tested.

Firms can use the findings from this study to understand strategies that can help them to mitigate the knowledge hiding behavior of managers.

This study contributes to knowledge hiding literature by revealing strategies, which discourages knowledge hiding behavior in firms.

This chapter explores the recent trend in libraries: that of the establishment of spaces specifically set aside for creative work. The rise of these dedicated creative spaces is owed to a confluence of factors that happen to be finding their expression together in recent years. This chapter examines the history of these spaces and explores the factors that gave rise to them and will fuel them moving forward.

A viewpoint piece, this chapter combines historical research and historical/comparative analyses to examine the ways by which libraries have supported creative work in the past and how they may continue to do so into the 21st century.

The key threads brought together include a societal recognition of the value of creativity and related skills and attributes; the philosophies, values, and missions of libraries in both their long-standing forms and in recent evolutions; the rise of participatory culture as a result of inexpensive technologies; improved means to build community and share results of efforts; and library experience and historical practice in matters related to creativity. The chapter concludes with advice for those interested in the establishment of such spaces, grounding those reflections in the author’s experiences in developing a new creative space at Virginia Commonwealth University.

While a number of pieces have been written that discuss the practicalities of developing certain kinds of creative spaces, very little has been written that situates these spaces in larger social and library professional contexts; this chapter begins to fill that gap.

This study aims to develop a conceptual framework for the role of chief financial officer (CFO) in an ever-changing environment. As previous research focused on responding to specific crises, there have been theoretical and practical gaps in the role of CFO. The study's goal is to fill a critical gap by developing a comprehensive and integrated set of roles to assist the CFO in a constantly changing environment.

Using a grounded theory approach, semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted with 21 CFOs from various industries in Thailand, including foreign multinational corporations and domestic companies with international operations. CFOs were asked how they frame their roles in the face of an ever-changing environment and how they prepare for the future.

The iCFO model is developed, which identifies the critical “core” roles of the CFO in securing the business foundation, as well as the “future opportunities” roles that function as growth engines for long-term business strength. The research delves into the importance of integrity, ethical mindset and corporate governance in the role of the CFO. The iCFO model is designed to help guide future research and provide practical applications for CFOs in both domestic and international contexts. The term “core” refers to the CFO’s primary responsibilities, which include driving profitability, managing risks and optimizing business performance. The “future opportunities” component focuses on the roles that CFOs can play in strengthening the future of business by optimizing investment efficiency, driving digital transformation and being the CEO’s business partner. The findings also emphasized “integrity,” which must encompass all decisions, actions or recommendations made by the CFO.

The study offers unique perspectives on an emerging economy, providing new insights. Through interviews with 21 CFOs, it contributes empirical evidence on the development of roles in accounting and finance, emphasizing good governance practices. The findings highlight the integrated role of the CFO and their self-reflection on their value within the company. Significantly, the study's implications are relevant and applicable to a global audience, particularly in developing economies that prioritize growth. Future studies could incorporate integrated thinking into the iCFO model to address social, environmental and economic factors, making it more universally relevant. Additionally, exploring the adoption of the chief value officer context in developing markets could enable CFOs to expand their focus beyond financial metrics, embracing a comprehensive approach to value creation. By integrating these concepts into the iCFO model, CFOs can effectively drive sustainable and impactful business outcomes on a global scale.