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The dependence of seam slippage values on fabric construction parameters makes this property an interesting case for study.

In this study, made on a significant wool and blended fabrics sample, the seam slippage was measured, either in warp direction (weft yarns slip), or in weft direction (warp yarns slip), using a specially equipped load‐elongation tester. Testing was done following the TM 117 Woolmark Company test method.

For most fabrics, the conventional variables that impact seam slippage most seriously are opacity, polyamide content, finish type and cover factor.

Since this research does not deal with the variable of yarn crimp in fabrics, it is the cover factor that plays the central role, as the property determining seam slippage. The yarns with lower cover factor (less crimped) are in less danger of slipping between the perpendicular yarns (more crimped) and vice versa.

Based on the equations given, and changing the most relevant variables concerning the explanation of the fabric seam slippage property, the fabric properties can be optimised for specific end‐uses.

Optimisation of seam slippage in fabric design.

Reports the emergency stopgap measures undertaken by industry giant Tele Link to counteract downward market trends and the ensuing problems caused by its Efficiency Program not being managed effectively, resulting in lingering and negative impact on surviving employees’ behaviors and attitudes, demonstrated by decreases in productivity, motivation, emotional health, job satisfaction, and confidence in management, as well as increases in absenteeism. Also reports Tele Link was unprepared to handle the inevitable pre‐announcement rumor mill and was forced to present cutbacks prematurely, lengthening the period of time from announcement to implementation and fueling anxiety at the time. While Tele Link’s handling of the Efficiency Program is well rated it did concentrate, almost entirely, on the “during” phase, with no formal plans to help survivors mourn or adjust to new circumstances. Emphasizes that the power of informal communication, in this case the “rumor mill”, should not be underestimated, and management should not overestimate their own ability to control it.

Considering that the human body is undeniable a fashion space, the purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of design and material choice in the relationship between clothing and accessories, namely, bags, for the fashion consumer.

Initially the paper provides a historical framing of the use of materials in bags and its relation with clothing. Then, are described the characteristics of materials and how the human body relates to them, specifically how the sense of touch plays a decisive role in materials choice. Thus a natural fiber-based fabric as wool fabric is presented as a choice for some brands in the development of fashion accessories.

It was found that there are an immense variety of materials that can be used in bags creation, and the use of them has changed over the years, influenced by social and economic conditions, fashion trends, and by technology evolutions in the production of fibers and composites. Taking in consideration that there is a long history of use of woven fabrics with natural fibers and a growing demand for sustainable and organic products, the use of wool natural fabrics in the production of bags were presented as a following road to the fashion industry.

Since the relationship between materials used in apparel and fashion accessories is an area barely documented, this paper contributes to underline the possibility to exceed conventional design barriers and develop innovative and creative wool products pleasant for the human body as a fashion space.

The purpose of this paper is to present the estimates of the value of the built environment stock in Cape Verde, a Sub-Saharan African country that is scattered through ten relatively small islands.

It applies the perpetual inventory method in a long series of construction investment data at 1980 and 2007 constant prices published by the Cape Verde’s National Statistics Office.

The results show that the capital-output ratio is similar to those in the advanced industrial countries. The high value of this indicator suggests that the country should shift its focus from building new investment projects to managing the considerable amount of built stock.

The main originality of the paper comes from the use of different data sets from the National Statistical Office to construct the indicators of the construction industry activity in a comprehensive way.

The net outward investment position (NOIP) indicator is insufficient for the purposes of understanding firms’ internationalization decision-making behaviour. The indicator does not allow for the withdrawal of insights into the structure of an economy and is a weak predictor of the degree of foreign direct investment. The purpose of this paper is to argue that a typology of firms aggregated according to intrinsic characteristics of those firms is a better predictor of the degree of internationalization of an economy than the NOIP.

This paper uses a database of 2,133 firms located in Portugal with international operations, made available by AICEP, a government agency. This paper uses multiple correspondence and cluster analyses to build a typology of firms and obtains evidence of common characteristics of the constituent groups.

This paper identifies a typology of firms characterized by five types differentiated by firm age, length of internationalization process, sector of economic activity, legal status and psychological/cultural proximity. These variables suggest an evolutionary, iterative, self-learning approach to internationalization, which can be better explained by the combined use of the investment development path (IDP) framework, the Uppsala Evolutionary School and Vernon’s product life cycle theory. Additionally, this paper finds that the most striking differences between developed and developing host countries are in terms of the economic sector, legal status of the firm and belonging (or not) to an economic group.

This paper establishes a link between the IDP framework, the Uppsala Evolutionary School and Vernon’s product life cycle theory, using a categorization of firms made according to selected characteristics to understand the internationalization of firms.

The vehicle´s body front pillar should absorb most of the striker kinetic energy, while only a fraction of that is absorbed by the door structure. This study aims to discuss the aforementioned issue. In this test the striker is a virtual entity. Six uniaxial strain gauges are installed throughout the door. Additionally, contactless 3D digital image correlation (DIC) allows to assess the major door panel’s continuous deformation and strain fields.

A coach is a large and heavy long-distance passenger transport vehicle. Their structural certification, classifies coaches as M3 Class III vehicles. New coach structures’ designs need analyses of each sub-system for critical pre-validation of the entire structure, aiming driver and passenger carrier safety. Also, a thorough examination due to increased travel speed is needed.

Experimental pseudo-dynamic (PSD) results were compared and validated using finite element method (FEM) with two pieces of distinct FEM software (Abaqus® and PamCrash®). The time dependent solution was carried out by explicit techniques. Results by FEM and PSD test showed good agreement, evidencing the reliability of the tools selected. Results by PamCrash® were closer to the experimental data.

R-29 is truck-only regulation, however can be adapted to coaches in case of a frontal collision. The present work focuses on the impact behavior of the passenger front door subsystem.

As a first validation the entire structure, the behavior of a vehicle door, under in-plane impacts was studied. The corresponding deformation energy absorbed by the frontal passenger coach door under virtual impacts of a swinging striker was assessed using a PSD approach.

The purpose of this paper is to improve the surface finish and, therefore, the fatigue resistance of some endodontic files by electrochemical polishing; the influence of applying an autoclave’s sterilising cycle to the endodontic files under study was also assessed during the research herein presented.

In total, 22 Ni-Ti endodontic instruments of two sizes, namely, ref. Hyflex 0.04/20 and 0.06/20 (taper: 0.04; 0.06 and tip diameter: 0.20 mm, respectively), were submitted to rotational bending tests at 500 rpm; the radius and the angle of curvature imposed to the endodontic instruments during the experimental tests were equal to 4.7 mm and 45°, respectively. In addition, 18 endodontic files (out of the 22) were subjected to electrochemical polishing before in vitro fatigue tests had been carried out. Several combinations of electrochemical parameters were considered during the preliminary experiments involving electrolyte, voltage, flow rate and duration. The endodontic files under study were weighted using a high-precision balance before and after polishing, and mass variation was determined. Also, a sterilising cycle was applied to six polished endodontic instruments, which were placed inside an autoclave at 134°C, for 30 min, and under a pressure of 2.16 bar.

The fatigue resistance of as-received endodontic files ref. 0.04/20 is much larger (+480 per cent) than the fatigue strength of endodontic files ref. 0.06/20. The weight variation due to electropolishing was comprehended between 0.53 mg and 1.01 mg, and the fatigue resistance of all polished endodontic instruments increased between 30 per cent (0.06/20) and 80 per cent (0.04/20) when compared with the fatigue resistance of the as-received files. The application of an autoclave’s sterilisation cycle had a negative impact on the fatigue resistance of instruments ref. 0.04/20 and a positive impact on the durability of instruments ref. 0.06/20.

The application of an electrochemical polishing process increased the fatigue resistance of the endodontic files under study significantly, and the values for the variables of the electrochemical process were never published elsewhere. The surface finish improvement was obtained by immersing the endodontic files in a Struers’ Electrolyte (ref. E2) for 3 s while applying 30 volts and a flow rate of 1.

The aim of this paper is to identify factors moderating the process of managing environmental objectives and to develop potential behavioural scenarios related to this process.

The main research method used by the authors was a systematic literature review. The applied procedure was consistent with the general methodology of conducting research and the methodology of research in management sciences. The conducted literature review was supplemented with an analysis of grey literature.

A number of factors influence the process of managing environmental objectives. Legal factors can stimulate the introduction of pro-environmental measures. The lack of universal legal regulations encourages unethical actions. The ethical values deserve special attention. If their level is high, then even the factors embedded in the environment that foster unethical behaviours are of little importance. In this sense, the performed literature review confirms the theory proposed by Locke. Managerial factors, including remuneration for the achievement of environmental objectives, may be the reason for weakening the process of minimising the negative impact on the environment.

On the basis of the conducted research and various theories of objectives, the authors formulated practical managerial recommendations aimed at reducing the number of errors in the process of setting environmental objectives.

Diverse factors may influence travelers when choosing a hotel. Even though breakfast is often commented on in hotel and booking sites, its relative role in hotel selection is rarely studied. This paper aims to determine which attributes clients consider essential regarding the option towards a hotel and their hierarchy namely of breakfast.

A systematic review was performed in Scopus, ISI-Web of Science and Google Scholar, including relevant original manuscripts published in all languages between 1998 and 2018.

Out of 337 initial references, 25 manuscripts were included. Features related to facilities and services were considered in most manuscripts with 21 and 20 citations, respectively, as being the more relevant factors in hotel selection. Room and accommodation were ranked first as the most important characteristic regarding the option for a hotel, whereas breakfast was only referred to in two articles, published in 2015 and 2017, rated in the tenth and fourth positions, respectively.

Breakfast seems to be addressed in recent published manuscripts, what may reflect a trend toward its evaluation in travelling experiences. More studies should address the relevance of breakfast and food to (diverse type of) costumers, and managers should also consider these factors when advertising their hotels.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic approach to this question, emphasizing the apparent contradiction of breakfast being often cited in booking sites and not adequately studied in tourism research.