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Article
Publication date: 7 July 2023

Yasmina Maïzi and Ygal Bendavid

Assess the realistic impacts of implementing an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)/Internet of Things (IoT) uniforms’ distribution system for managing medical personnel’s…

352

Abstract

Purpose

Assess the realistic impacts of implementing an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)/Internet of Things (IoT) uniforms’ distribution system for managing medical personnel’s scrubs in operating rooms. The authors use a hybrid simulation framework to address the following objectives and challenges: a) reduce and control operating rooms’ level of inventory; b) stabilize scrubs’ demand and c) improve infection control and prevention of cross-contamination (through scrubs over manipulation and hoarding).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt a Design Science approach. This methodological approach is used to design, develop, create and evaluate information technology “artifacts” (e.g. constructs, models, methods and instantiations) intended to solve organizational problems and make research contributions (Peffers et al., 2007). More specifically, the authors follow the Design Science Research Methodology process model which includes six steps: problem identification and motivation, definition of the objectives for a solution, design and development, demonstration, evaluation, and communication.

Findings

To assess the realistic impacts of implementing an RFID-IoT uniforms’ distribution system for managing medical personnel’s scrubs in operating rooms, the authors adopted a design science approach and initiated the research by documenting the business case and reviewed the existing literature to build a comparative analysis of existing uniforms’ distribution systems. The authors used a hybrid simulation model to assess the impact of three business cases: present mode of operation, implementing smart shelves or the smart distributors. The authors show that smart dispensers allow a greater control on scrubs’ utilization while eliminating the cross-contamination of the medical personnel.

Practical implications

Through this research study, the authors provide hospitals’ managers a scientific support for uniforms’ (scrubs) distribution process improvement. The authors use a hybrid simulation model to compare innovative solutions for uniforms’ distribution systems in the form of “smart cabinets” supported by Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)/Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and choose the most appropriate design for the hospital to meet two main challenges: a) inefficiency of uniform replenishment-distribution system and b) noncompliancy with infection control regulations caused by the distribution system.

Originality/value

From a methodological perspective, this paper addresses concerns from researchers calling quantitative research methods and using case-based research strategy to address IoT issues and assess the system in practice. From a broader point of view, this work confirms the predominant interest of RFID-IoT research work in the arena of supply chain management and logistics as the technology is used for tracking purpose and for monitoring applications. It is also one response to the research community suggesting that “hospitals should evaluate the medical effectiveness of the new technologies as well as the cost before adoption”.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 29 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 7 March 2023

Amélia Brandão and Paolo Popoli

This paper aims to investigate whether brand anthropomorphism has a direct impact on brand hate and what are the prevailing factors that play a significant role in this…

1952

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether brand anthropomorphism has a direct impact on brand hate and what are the prevailing factors that play a significant role in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides insights on brand anthropomorphism phenomenon and negative consumer–brand relationships in the context of social media-based anti-brand communities. Using a quantitative analysis of the data gathered from an online survey, this study analyzes brand anthropomorphism in the three main online anti-brand communities toward Apple.

Findings

Findings indicated that brand anthropomorphism in itself does not impact on brand hate directly. Nevertheless, when it is used by consumers to express their negative feelings toward the hatred brand, the consumers’ attribution of responsibility and intentionality to Apple brand’s behavior positively affects brand hate, and ideological incompatibility is a good moderator for brand hate.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study are based on a limited number of survey respondents because anti-brand community members are very difficult to access, and thus, it was not easy to have their collaboration for this research.

Practical implications

This study highlights the power of social media as a tool for establishing negative consumer–brand relationships. Therefore, brand managers must recognize that consumer activists may be a serious threat to the company and deal with the consumers’ tendency to use anthropomorphism to express their hate.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the link between brand anthropomorphism and brand hate, analyzed through a quantitative analysis.

Details

European Business Review, vol. 35 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-534X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 September 2023

Chengkuan Zeng, Shiming Chen and Chongjun Yan

This study addresses the production optimization of a cellular manufacturing system (CMS) in magnetic production enterprises. Magnetic products and raw materials are more critical…

Abstract

Purpose

This study addresses the production optimization of a cellular manufacturing system (CMS) in magnetic production enterprises. Magnetic products and raw materials are more critical to transport than general products because the attraction or repulsion between magnetic poles can easily cause traffic jams. This study needs to address a method to promote the scheduling efficiency of the problem.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this problem, this study formulated a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to describe the problem and proposed an auction and negotiation-based approach with a local search to solve it. Auction- and negotiation-based approaches can obtain feasible and high-quality solutions. A local search operator was proposed to optimize the feasible solutions using an improved conjunctive graph model.

Findings

Verification tests were performed on a series of numerical examples. The results demonstrated that the proposed auction and negotiation-based approach with a local search operator is better than existing solution methods for the problem identified. Statistical analysis of the experiment results using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software demonstrated that the proposed approach is efficient, stable and suitable for solving large-scale numerical instances.

Originality/value

An improved auction and negotiation-based approach was proposed; The conjunctive graph model was also improved to describe the problem of CMS with traffic jam constraint and build the local search operator; The authors’ proposed approach can get better solution than the existing algorithms by testing benchmark instances and real-world instances from enterprises.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 March 2024

Çağın Bolat, Nuri Özdoğan, Sarp Çoban, Berkay Ergene, İsmail Cem Akgün and Ali Gökşenli

This study aims to elucidate the machining properties of low-cost expanded clay-reinforced syntactic foams by using different neural network models for the first time in the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to elucidate the machining properties of low-cost expanded clay-reinforced syntactic foams by using different neural network models for the first time in the literature. The main goal of this endeavor is to create a casting machining-neural network modeling flow-line for real-time foam manufacturing in the industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Samples were manufactured via an industry-based die-casting technology. For the slot milling tests performed with different cutting speeds, depth of cut and lubrication conditions, a 3-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine was used and the force data were collected through a digital dynamometer. These signals were used as input parameters in neural network modelings.

Findings

Among the algorithms, the scaled-conjugated-gradient (SCG) methodology was the weakest average results, whereas the Levenberg–Marquard (LM) approach was highly successful in foreseeing the cutting forces. As for the input variables, an increase in the depth of cut entailed the cutting forces, and this circumstance was more obvious at the higher cutting speeds.

Research limitations/implications

The effect of milling parameters on the cutting forces of low-cost clay-filled metallic syntactics was examined, and the correct detection of these impacts is considerably prominent in this paper. On the other side, tool life and wear analyses can be studied in future investigations.

Practical implications

It was indicated that the milling forces of the clay-added AA7075 syntactic foams, depending on the cutting parameters, can be anticipated through artificial neural network modeling.

Social implications

It is hoped that analyzing the influence of the cutting parameters using neural network models on the slot milling forces of metallic syntactic foams (MSFs) will be notably useful for research and development (R&D) researchers and design engineers.

Originality/value

This work is the first investigation that focuses on the estimation of slot milling forces of the expanded clay-added AA7075 syntactic foams by using different artificial neural network modeling approaches.

Details

Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1573-6105

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 January 2024

Meng Zhu and Xiaolong Xu

Intent detection (ID) and slot filling (SF) are two important tasks in natural language understanding. ID is to identify the main intent of a paragraph of text. The goal of SF is…

Abstract

Purpose

Intent detection (ID) and slot filling (SF) are two important tasks in natural language understanding. ID is to identify the main intent of a paragraph of text. The goal of SF is to extract the information that is important to the intent from the input sentence. However, most of the existing methods use sentence-level intention recognition, which has the risk of error propagation, and the relationship between intention recognition and SF is not explicitly modeled. Aiming at this problem, this paper proposes a collaborative model of ID and SF for intelligent spoken language understanding called ID-SF-Fusion.

Design/methodology/approach

ID-SF-Fusion uses Bidirectional Encoder Representation from Transformers (BERT) and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) to extract effective word embedding and context vectors containing the whole sentence information respectively. Fusion layer is used to provide intent–slot fusion information for SF task. In this way, the relationship between ID and SF task is fully explicitly modeled. This layer takes the result of ID and slot context vectors as input to obtain the fusion information which contains both ID result and slot information. Meanwhile, to further reduce error propagation, we use word-level ID for the ID-SF-Fusion model. Finally, two tasks of ID and SF are realized by joint optimization training.

Findings

We conducted experiments on two public datasets, Airline Travel Information Systems (ATIS) and Snips. The results show that the Intent ACC score and Slot F1 score of ID-SF-Fusion on ATIS and Snips are 98.0 per cent and 95.8 per cent, respectively, and the two indicators on Snips dataset are 98.6 per cent and 96.7 per cent, respectively. These models are superior to slot-gated, SF-ID NetWork, stack-Prop and other models. In addition, ablation experiments were performed to further analyze and discuss the proposed model.

Originality/value

This paper uses word-level intent recognition and introduces intent information into the SF process, which is a significant improvement on both data sets.

Details

Data Technologies and Applications, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 March 2023

Michal Cichowicz, Wojciech Pilecki, Marcin Wardach, Paweł Prajzendanc, Kamil Cierzniewski and Ryszard Palka

This paper aims to present the project of a permanent magnet synchronous machine which can be used as generator in the vertical axis wind turbine.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present the project of a permanent magnet synchronous machine which can be used as generator in the vertical axis wind turbine.

Design/methodology/approach

In the study, finite element analysis was used to perform simulation research of electrical machines. Based on the simulation studies, an experimental model was built. The paper presents also selected experimental results.

Findings

During the research, it was found that the radial arrangement of the permanent magnets is more favorable than the tangential one for the selected structure of the generator with permanent magnets.

Research limitations/implications

During the experimental research, a problem was encountered involving the correct control of the constructed generator at low rotational speeds.

Practical implications

The proposed solution can be used in low-speed vertical axis wind turbines.

Social implications

The presented research fits the global trend toward the use of alternative and renewable energy sources.

Originality/value

The paper presents new simulation studies of two low-speed generator topologies. The results for the radial and tangential arrangement of the permanent magnets in the rotor were verified. Based on this research, an experimental prototype of a generator for a slow-speed vertical axis wind turbine was built.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering , vol. 42 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 January 2024

Lazhar Roubache, Kamel Boughrara, Frédéric Dubas, Brahim Ladghem Chikouche and Rachid Ibtiouen

This paper aims to propose a semianalytical model of a squirrel-cage induction machine (SCIM), considering local magnetic saturation and eddy-currents induced in the rotor bars.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a semianalytical model of a squirrel-cage induction machine (SCIM), considering local magnetic saturation and eddy-currents induced in the rotor bars.

Design/methodology/approach

The regions of the rotor and stator are divided into elementary subdomains (E-SDs) characterized by general solutions at the first harmonic of the magneto-harmonic Maxwell’s equations. These E-SDs are connected in both directions (i.e., along the r- and θ-edges).

Findings

The calculation of the magnetic field has been validated for various values of slip and iron permeability. All electromagnetic quantities were compared with those obtained using a two-dimensional finite-element method. The semianalytical results are satisfactory compared with the numerical results, considering both the amplitude and waveform.

Originality/value

Expansion of the recent analytical model (E-SD technique) for the full prediction of the magnetic field in SCIMs, considering the local saturation effect and the eddy-currents induced in the rotor bars.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering , vol. 43 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 September 2023

A. Tamilarasan, A. Renugambal and K. Shunmugesh

The goal of this study is to determine the values of the process parameters that should be used during the machining of ceramic tile using the abrasive water jet (AWJ) process in…

Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this study is to determine the values of the process parameters that should be used during the machining of ceramic tile using the abrasive water jet (AWJ) process in order to achieve the lowest possible values for surface roughness and kerf taper angle.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present work, ceramic tile is processed by the AWJ process and experimental data were recorded using the RSM approach based Box–Behnken design matrix. The input process factors were water jet pressure, jet traverse speed, abrasive flow rate and standoff distance, to determine the surface roughness and kerf taper angle. ANOVA was used to check the adequacy of model and significance of process parameters. Further, the elite opposition-based learning grasshopper optimization (EOBL-GOA) algorithm was implemented to identify the simultaneous optimization of multiple responses of surface roughness and kerf taper angle in AWJ.

Findings

The suggested EOBL-GOA algorithm is suitable for AWJ of ceramic tile, as evidenced by the error rate of ±2 percent between experimental and predicted solutions. The surfaces were evaluated with an SEM to assess the quality of the surface generated with the optimal settings. As compared with initial setting of the SEM image, it was noticed that the bottom cut surface was nearly smooth, with less cracks, striations and pits in the improved optimal results of the SEM image. The results of the analysis can be used to control machining parameters and increase the accuracy of AWJed components.

Originality/value

The findings of this study present an innovative method for assessing the characteristics of the nontraditional machining processes that are most suited for use in industrial and commercial applications.

Details

Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, vol. 19 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1573-6105

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 March 2023

S. Ray Cho, Anthony F. Lucas and Ashok K. Singh

This study aims to understand how free-play credits affect risk-seeking behavior in slot players. Extant results suggest they encourage risk aversion, counter to the primary aim…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to understand how free-play credits affect risk-seeking behavior in slot players. Extant results suggest they encourage risk aversion, counter to the primary aim of increasing spend per visit. The results inform operators as to the effectiveness of what has become the primary play incentive for casino marketers within many of the world’s markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Within a quasi-experimental grouped design, 365 days of player-level performance data from four different casinos were analyzed to determine whether player losses (casino revenues) and time played differed on visits that included free-play redemptions from those that did not. Hypotheses were tested via paired-samples t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests.

Findings

On balance, neither player losses nor time played were significantly different on the free-play visits. Neither the house money effect nor the endowment effect was supported. The results were most consistent with the prospect-theory-with-memory editing rule. No findings indicated increased risk-seeking behavior associated with the free-play offers.

Practical implications

Casino operators are afforded insight related to how costly free-play campaigns affect gaming spend and playtime. Both are critical to understanding the impact of free-play on the gambler’s experience.

Originality/value

The 365-day samples extended existing research by analyzing the impact of free-play offers on risk-taking behaviors within the scope of a perpetual/ongoing campaign. Comparisons of observed daily behavior/outcomes were made between separate tiers of like-kind gamblers from each of four different casinos. Quasi-hedonic editing rules were applied to a multistage decision framework.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 35 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 February 2024

Changbin Wang and Libo Yan

This study aims to examine the problems of the concession system that Macao has long-term adopted to regulate its gaming industry and discuss alternatives.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the problems of the concession system that Macao has long-term adopted to regulate its gaming industry and discuss alternatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretical reflection was used to provide qualitatively different insights about governmental supervision of the gaming industry.

Findings

Two options for reform are proposed: (1) replace the concession system with a licensing system that does not restrict the number of concessionaires or the period of concession or (2) adopt a modified form of the concession system that changes the number of concessionaires, period of concessions and methods for selecting concessionaires.

Practical implications

This study’s results have implications for the Macao government and other gaming jurisdictions in Asia.

Originality/value

This study provides a comprehensive examination of the concession system for governmental supervision of the gaming industry.

Details

Asian Education and Development Studies, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-3162

Keywords

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