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The paper aims to present a research on the impact of the stabilization process of a thin metallic layer (Ni-P) produced on a ceramic surface (Al₂O₃) by means of electroless metallization on its electric parameters and structure. On the basis of the research conducted, the existence of a relationship between resistance (R) and the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the test structure with a Ni-P alloy-based layer and the temperature of stabilization was proposed.

Metallic Ni-P layers were deposited on sensitized and activated substrates. Metallization was conducted in an aqueous solution containing two primary ingredients: sodium hypophosphite and nickel chloride. The concentration of both ingredients was (50-70) g/dm³. The process lasted 60 min, and the metallization bath pH was kept at 2.1-2.2, whereas the temperature was maintained at 363 K. The thermal stabilization process was conducted in different temperatures between 453 and 623 K. After the technological processes, the resistance and TCR of the test structures were measured with a micro ohmmeter. The composition and the morphology of the resistive layer of the structures examined was also determined.

The dependence of the resistance on the temperature of the stabilization process for the temperature range 553 to 623 K was described using mathematical relationships. The TCR of test resistors at the same thermal stabilization temperature range was also described using a mathematical equation. The measurements show that the resistive layer contains 82.01 at.% of nickel (Ni) and 17.99 at.% of phosphorus (P).

The results associate a surface morphology Ni-P alloy with the resistance and TCR according to temperature stabilization. The paper presents mathematical relationships that have not been described in the literature available.

During the 1980s Latin America’s inflation problem worsened and successive stabilization programmes failed in many countries. This led to an increasing concern about the degree of rigidity imposed on the economy by different labour market structures built up over many decades. Wage indexation, in particular, was often blamed for the failure of stabilization and adjustment programmes. Examines the different components of an indexing system and assesses the degree of flexibility that the systems implemented in some countries brought to the labour market. While a particular indexing system may have the effect of reducing wage flexibility in certain periods, the analysis of data at the macro level shows that in the long term wage indexation has not been insurmountable obstacle. Stresses that wage determination is just one of the key processes with a substantial influence on inflation. In the case of high inflationary countries, the existence of various key prices draw attention to the need for co‐ordination in the adjustment of different prices during the application of a stabilization programme.

Nowadays, various methods of observation from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are being widely developed. There are many ways of increasing the amount of information retrieved from captured material. Unfortunately, hardware solutions consume a lot of energy, which is unacceptable in UAV applications, as it can have direct impact on the observing time on UAV. Those kinds of problems have been identified during the development phase of stabilizing platform in Polish Research Space Centre in Warsaw. As a result of that fact, energy saving control methods have been implemented, which estimates quality of stabilization process for the observation-tracking device (OTD).

Mathematical model has been designed and validated with real-life experiments for the purpose of optimization of stabilization and control process. Two types of controlling algorithms have been implemented: linear quadratic regulator and proportional derivative method for driving the mechanism. Based on numerical simulations of the mechanical model being controlled by the mentioned driver, it was possible to define membership functions. After the process of defuzzification, the controller predicts quality of stabilization under defined environmental working conditions.

An autonomous energy saving system has been created that can be implemented in many applications, where environmental conditions may change significantly.

To test the proposed fuzzy controller, OTD has been chosen as an example object of application. It is a mechanical platform which houses the optical observation system. It is designed to provide the best working conditions during flight.

That kind of decision-making unit has never been implemented before during observations which were carried out during flying of an object. That innovative controller should bring significant energy consumption savings.

Over dependence on river/sea sand as building material has impacted the environment negatively. However, laterite, which is an environment-friendly indigenous building material in sub-Saharan Africa, has been less exploited as a suitable alternative. This paper aims to ascertain the optimum cement–laterite mix proportion at which laterite can be stabilized for production of walling units.

Using an experimental method, laterite was collected from three borrow pit sites. Sieve analysis was performed to determine the particle size distribution. Also, the degree of workability of the cement–laterite mix was ascertained using slump test. Compressive strengths were determined at cement stabilization percentages of 3%, 7% and 10% on 12 cubes of100 mm cast and cured for 14 and 28 days, respectively.

The results showed that the lateritic soil investigated, achieves its optimum strength in 28 days of curing, at a stabilization level of 10%. An average compressive strength of 2.41 N/mm2, which is 20.5% greater than the target strength, was achieved.

To meet the desired compressive strength of alternative walling units while achieving environmental sustainability and efficiency in production, cement stabilization of lateritic soils should become a recommended practice by built environment professionals in sub-Saharan Africa.

This paper is one of the first research works that attempts to determine the optimum level at which the abundant sub-Saharan laterite can be chemically stabilized for the production of non-load bearing walling units. This research promotes an environment-friendly alternative building material to sea sand, river sand and off-shore sand.

The purpose of this paper is to characterize electrical parameters of amorphous Ni‐P resistive layers used for fabrication of precise resistors.

Ni‐P resistive layers were produced by the chemical process in water solution using Ni^2 + and H₂PO₂⁻ ions. The paper presents the results of the studies concerning the influence of bath acidity and conditions of thermal stabilization on the structure and temperature coefficient of resistance of Ni‐P alloy.

The temperature coefficient of resistance of amorphous Ni‐P layers was found to depend significantly on the parameters of chemical metallisation process. It was stated that the changes of through‐casing resistivity versus the acidity of technological solution have roughly parabolic characteristics.

In this paper, it was at first explained how the changes of the structure of Ni‐P resistive layers depend on their temperature coefficient of capacitance.

The aim of this paper is to study the relation between intellectual capital (IC) and economic development (ED). The analysis presented aims to have both theoretical and practical relevance. The main hypothesis assumed is that IC, although fundamental, is not sufficient to assure the existence of ED. Instead, argues that, for a developing country to become a modern economy some facts have to happen. Those facts are: a process of stable political democratisation; a process of economic stabilization; a process of economic and political integration; a process of investment in development tools, like physical capital and intellectual capital. Furthermore, it is shown that the process of investment in IC implies the development of active social policies, but it is difficult for a developing county to make those social policies by itself. In consequence, in the future, due to the need of economic and political stability, the growing globalisation and the lack of development resources (IC, infrastructures, etc.) in developing countries, some Economic and Political Unions (EPUs) may emerge, or consolidate. Those EPUs are the European Union, the American Union (around Canada and the USA), the Asian Union (centred in Japan), the African Union (based in South Africa), the Oceanic Union (beginning with Australia and New Zealand), and the Arab Union (mainly constituted by Middle East oil producers).

This study examines the recent efforts by the governments of two Caribbean countries to enhance the competitiveness of their economies in the context of the framework of the use of functional versus selective government interventions. In the course of the study, however, it was discovered that rather than focus exclusively on the distinction between functional and selective interventions as if they represent competing models for public policy intervention, it was useful to examine, pragmatically, the range of policy options open to these governments, and then consider the scope and merits of intervention in the context of these policy options. In so doing, it becomes apparent that functional and selective government interventions, to the extent that they are always distinguishable, become points along a continuum, rather than orthogonal lines incapable of being joined. The lesson of these Caribbean economies and, it is argued, of the East Asian experience, is that there is no simple choice between selective and functional interventions for the developing economy seeking to enhance its international competitiveness. Governments of these countries, and others seeking to enhance the international competitiveness of their economies, may well have to be capable of managing the process of selecting functional interventions, and of reducing the risks and improving the functioning of selective interventions.

Although lean methods are considered easy to be implemented during the initial phases of the lean transformation process, few companies are able to maintain them in long term. One of the key factors for this maintenance is the role played by the leaders in their teams. The purpose of this paper is to show the outcomes of an action research that analyzed and developed leadership practices, using the lean leadership model for developing people as reference and considering the factors: to promote employees’ self-development; to coach and develop employees; to support daily kaizen; to create vision and align goal.

The results of this study are based on the action research method applied in a large Brazilian industrial company. The study was structured considering the phases of problem diagnosis, action plan, implementation and evaluation of practical and theoretical results.

The leadership practices implemented from the model were shown to be adequate to the lean production system (LPS) and it was observed that reflecting on the processes and the organizational learning are two main concepts that these practices support in the organization.

Since this study is based on action research in a single company, the generalization of results is limited. Suggestions for future research include the development of a quantitative research in different industrial contexts.

The practical implications of this research are to present activities that must be developed by the leadership of organizations to maintain LPS.

This paper raises the problems of organizational leadership that limit the implementation and maintenance of LPS, presenting the planning and implementation of changes in leadership practices to solve these problems.

The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated multi-risk identification procedure for World Cultural Heritage (WCH) sites exposed to seismic events, while considering characteristics of disasters from earthquakes in a multi-hazard context on one side and particular aspects of WCH (e.g. outstanding universal values and associated condition of authenticity and integrity) on the other.

An interdisciplinary review of current relevant approaches, methods, and practices is conducted through the existing literature of disaster risk management, heritage conservation, and seismology. Furthermore, a document analysis of concrete cases affected by seismic events supports concepts and the procedure.

This paper results in a methodology of identifying multi-risk of disasters induced by earthquakes. A bow-tie analysis diagram in combination with a risk identification matrix is developed for illustrating a multiple emergency scenario in identifying possible impacts of earthquakes’ primary effects, secondary hazards, and human-threats on tangible and intangible attributes of cultural properties.

The research aims to provide specialists and practitioners from multiple sectors engaged in pre-disaster risk mitigation and preparedness plan for cultural heritage with a practical risk identification tool. The proposed method, in a multiple hazard context, intends to enhance risk assessment procedure for determining more appropriate risk reduction strategies in the decision-making process.

This paper, through emphasising “earthquake disaster risk” rather than “earthquake risk”, illuminates the significance of quake-followed secondary hazards, potential human-induced hazards and human errors in the risk identification process, due to the fact that while a disaster may begin with a quake, its full scope might be triggered by a combination of the mentioned potential threats.