Search results

The purpose of this article is to propose and evaluate a novel system architecture for Smart City applications which uses ontology reasoning and a distributed stream processing framework on the cloud. In the domain of Smart City, often methodologies of semantic modeling and automated inference are applied. However, semantic models often face performance problems when applied in large scale.

The problem domain is addressed by using methods from Big Data processing in combination with semantic models. The architecture is designed in a way that for the Smart City model still traditional semantic models and rule engines can be used. However, sensor data occurring at such Smart Cities are pre-processed by a Big Data streaming platform to lower the workload to be processed by the rule engine.

By creating a real-world implementation of the proposed architecture and running simulations of Smart Cities of different sizes, on top of this implementation, the authors found that the combination of Big Data streaming platforms with semantic reasoning is a valid approach to the problem.

In this article, real-world sensor data from only two buildings were extrapolated for the simulations. Obviously, real-world scenarios will have a more complex set of sensor input values, which needs to be addressed in future work.

The simulations show that merely using a streaming platform as a buffer for sensor input values already increases the sensor data throughput and that by applying intelligent filtering in the streaming platform, the actual number of rule executions can be limited to a minimum.

The research article's primary purpose is to understand the advancements in urban logistics and allied fields over time along with a consideration of its enabling technologies.

An initial review is used to build a keyword vocabulary, combinations of which were then applied to the Scopus, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insights, the Web of Science (WOS), Elsevier, Taylor and Francis, Wiley, Inderscience, Springer, Google Scholar and IEEE Xplore for extracting academic publication collection. The first part includes bibliometric analysis; network analysis is done based on the finally selected 645 papers (only those articles include either of the keywords mentioned above in title, abstract, and keywords). The second part conducts a review of the existing literature review studies (only 21 literature review studies out of 645 articles). The last one discusses the advancement in the topics based on the selected research articles.

This research discussed the advancement of the urban logistics and allied field, key academic forums and key researchers. It is evident from the analysis that the research related to key emerging themes like implementing innovative concepts and sustainability; application of green technologies; data collection, visualization, monitoring and sharing; and automatic logistic systems are still in the nascent stage. However, these research areas gained momentum in the recent past.

Urban logistics are essential and play a crucial role for such rapidly growing cities to function. Despite playing a vital role, urban ecosystem logistics is often neglected in formal urban planning. Hence, as a response to customer and business demand, private entities regularly invest in new technologies and solutions. Since such investments are toward profits, various environmental, social and economic challenges arise.

This research investigates the advancements in urban logistics toward smart, sustainable reforms in developing enabling technologies and markets. The obtained research articles are subjected to bibliometric, descriptive, network and content analysis to present a rundown of advancements, relationships and trends in emerging research gaps.

This paper aims to find out the performance of the Grameen Banks of West Bengal after their merger.

The objective of the paper is to measure the performance of Paschim Banga Gramin Bank (PBGB) and Bangiya Gramin Vikash Bank (BGVB) after their amalgamation, to compare the performance of PBGB and BGVB, using the key performance indicators and to analyze the future scope of these two banks. The factors that are considered for this study are number of branches (if these banks could reach maximum of the rural mass), number of staffs (if these banks generated employment after the merger), investments, deposits, composition of total funds (owned funds and borrowed funds), lending services, productivity per branch and per staff, etc. The study uses statistical tools to analyze the data.

It has been observed that there exists a significant difference in the “Branch Network” of PBGB and BGVB. A significant difference has been observed in the “Number of Staffs” of PBGB and BGVB. It has been found that there is a significant difference in the “three type of funds” of PBGB and BGVB. It has been found that there is a significant difference in the “Investments” of PBGB and BGVB. A significant difference has been observed in the “Deposits” of PBGB and BGVB. It has been found that there is a significant difference in the “Outstanding Loan” amount of PBGB and BGVB. It has been observed that there is a significant difference in the “Loan Issued” amount of PBGB and BGVB. It has been found that there is no significant difference in the Productivity “Per Branch” and “Per Employee” of PBGB and BGVB.

The study is based on the published/secondary data and is restricted to two Regional Rural Banks of West Bengal, the PBGB and the BGVB, for nine years, 2012–2020.

The paper will help the future researchers, to know the performance of the Grameen Banks for the study period; this will help them to carry on with the study in the future.

The work is original and never sent to anywhere else for publication.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the financial sustainability of Islamic Saving Credit Corporative Society (SACCOS) and the factor(s) affecting their financial sustainability in the Tanzanian context.

The data set used in this study comes from four SACCOS audited financial reports from the year 2010 to 2014 and from interviews with SACCOS’s management.

The study found that the IMFIs in Tanzania are not financially sustainable. Additionally, having responsible staff members, regular review of financial guidelines, education to members, cooperation between employees and management and staff training are found to be highly contributing factors towards SACCOS’s financial sustainability. Moreover, the findings reveal that depending on the single source of income, i.e., charges on members contributed much in these SACCOS’s not being financially sustainable.

Only two available registered Islamic SACCOS was used. Additionally, conventional SACCOS have been in service provision for a long time as compared to Islamic ones; hence, caution must be taken for comparison purposes.

Based on these findings, the Islamic SACCOS needs to initiate productive projects that can enable them to have other income sources apart from charges on members.

This study traces the financial trend of Islamic SACCOS in Tanzania since its establishment in 2010. Such trace enables Islamic SACCOS and other stakeholders to be aware on the financial progress of Islamic SACCOS and act accordingly to ensure sustainability.

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) covers a wide range of actions toward sustainable development. While there are growing bodies of research examining the drivers of CSR, little has been done to examine the effect of the characteristics of the managerial team on CSR. This paper aims to investigate the interplay between managerial characteristics and CSR practices to discover how such a fit affects financial performance.

A partial least squares-path modeling approach was applied to a sample of 60 French companies in the tourism sector (hotels, restaurants, leisure and leisure equipment) from 2014 to 2019. This choice was triggered by the importance of this sector in job creation, which has been strongly impacted by the pandemic crisis.

The findings suggest the positive impact of the managerial characteristics on the practices of CSR activities under certain financial constraints related to the size and indebtedness level. Then, the authors clarify that the variable characteristics component of the managerial team is mainly the educational level, the managerial experience and the ethical behavior. However, no age effect is mentioned. Third, the authors show that the managerial team characteristics and the practices of CSR activities restore the financial tourism sector performance.

This study has obviously certain limitations: first, the selected European sample can mark a big difference in the founding results because of the difference in civil rights. Second, the sample is more marked in the CSR activities. Third, this study did not take into consideration variables operationalizing ownership structure and board nature.

This study develops a model based on “managerial team” mechanisms in a sensitive area. This is a breakthrough in understanding the determinants of CSR strategies and their impact on performance while taking into account the management team’s personal characteristics.

This study aims at understanding how higher education institutions (HEIs) can contribute to sustainable development, by designing their programmes for bringing about a transformative impact on communities and students, and also to examine what alternative pedagogical approaches could be used for that. In the past decades, HEIs have increasingly created social innovation (SI) programmes, as a way to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These community-oriented and field-based programmes are difficult to ally with conventional classroom education. This study explores how these programmes could integrate the participatory approach and what would be the benefits. It also investigates the effectiveness of the experiential learning approach for teaching sustainability.

A case study method is used to document SI projects initiated by an HEI programme in rural India.

It was found that the participatory approach contributes to empowering communities and also benefits the students in terms of academic, professional and personal growth. Empirical findings show that experiential learning is an efficient method to teach sustainability. Ultimately, both pedagogical approaches are found to be mutually beneficial.

This study fills a gap in the literature, by providing empirical evidence on how HEI can implement innovative educational strategies such as participatory approach and experiential learning in their programmes towards teaching sustainability. A conceptual model for HEI interested in developing similar programmes is also proposed. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first studies focusing on the context of Indian HEI.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of initial stress and heterogeneity on the propagation of torsional waves in dissipative medium. The problem consists of dry sand poroelastic half-space embedded between heterogeneous self-reinforced half-space and poroelastic medium. The frequency equation is derived in the framework of Biot's theory with some variants.

Torsional wave propagation in dry sand poroelastic half-space embedded between self-reinforced half-space and poroelastic medium. All the constituents here are assumed to be dissipative, heterogeneous and initial stressed.

Phase velocity and attenuation are computed against wavenumber for various values of self-reinforcement parameter, inhomogeneity parameter and initial stress. Particular cases are discussed in absence of dissipation. The numerical results are presented graphically.

Initial stress and heterogeneity effects on torsional waves in dry sand half-space between reinforced half-space and poroelastic medium are investigated. The frequency equation is derived, and which intern gives the phase velocity and attenuation coefficient for various values of initial stress, self-reinforcement parameter and heterogeneity parameter. From the numerical results, it is clear that as wavenumber varies phase velocity and attenuation are periodic in nature for all the cases. Particular cases are discussed in absence of dissipation. This kind of analysis can be extended to any elastic solid by taking magnetic, thermo and piezoelectric effects into account.