Ubiquitous conformable systems for imperceptible computing

foresight ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara V. Fernandez ◽  
David Sadat ◽  
Farita Tasnim ◽  
Daniel Acosta ◽  
Laura Schwendeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Marked Change ◽  
Seamless Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Current State ◽  
Mechanical Compliance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Physical Comfort

Purpose Although conformable devices are commonly designed to couple with the human body for personalized and localized medicine, their applications are expanding rapidly. This paper aims to delineate this expansion and predict greater implications in diverse fields. Design/methodology/approach Today’s device technologies continue to face fundamental obstacles preventing their seamless integration with target objects to effectively access, evaluate and alter self-specific physical patterns, while still providing physical comfort and enabling continuous data collection. Due to their extreme mechanical compliance, conformable devices permit the query of signals occurring at interfaces so as to decode and encode biological, chemical and mechanical patterns with high resolution, precision and accuracy. These unique and versatile capabilities allow for a marked change in the approach to tackling scientific questions, with the ability to address societal challenges at large. Findings Here, this study highlights the current state of these devices in a wide range of fields, such as interactive teaching, textiles, robotics, buildings and infrastructure, agriculture, climate and space, and further forecasts essential features of these devices in the near future. Originality/value This study justifies conformable devices’ growing utility through a novel quantitative analysis methodology that indexes peer-reviewed journal articles based on specific keywords, whereby this study tracks keyword frequency over time across specific fields in conjunction with conformability-like topics. The resulting trends’ trajectories provide the foundation for this study’s future projections. This study concludes with a perspective on the possible challenges concomitant with a ubiquitous presence of these technologies, including manufacturing, wireless communication, storage, compression, privacy and sharing of data, environmental sustainability, avoidance of inequality and bias and collaboration between stakeholders at all levels of impact.

Systematic bibliometric analysis on Kaizen in scientific journals

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 356-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Álvarez-García ◽  
Amador Durán-Sánchez ◽  
María de la Cruz del Río-Rama
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Bibliometric Study ◽  
Scientific Journals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Japanese Companies ◽  
Specific Search

Purpose Since Masaaki Imai coined the term Kaizen in the mid-1980s, it has been seen as a key element for the competitiveness of Japanese companies, and it is currently a widely discussed philosophy and is applied in a wide range of organizations throughout the world. The purpose of this paper is to serve as guidance for researchers who are developing their studies in the field of the Kaizen philosophy, in order to improve their knowledge on the most relevant articles, the most productive authors or the key scientific journals that make up this subject. Design/methodology/approach In order to fulfill the proposed objective, a descriptive bibliometric study was carried out with the analysis of citations from 138 articles included in the multidisciplinary database Scopus (Elsevier) until 2016. For the search of documents, a tracking strategy was chosen that allowed for the development of the ad hoc database required to analyze each of the basic variables of the bibliometric indicators. Findings The results obtained show a growing interest of the scientific community in its study in the last decade, as shown by the significant increase in citations received by articles, despite the reduction in the number of papers published in the last two years. Research limitations/implications The main limitations are derived from the choice of a specific database, as well as the specific search equation. Originality/value The study presents an in-depth analysis of the current state of research regarding the Kaizen philosophy through its bibliometric study, providing useful information for academics and professionals by providing a series of significant indicators to measure the bibliographic material.

scholarly journals Developments in understanding tourism policy

2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Airey
Keyword(s):  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Part Structure ◽  
Tourism Policy ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Over 40 Years ◽  
Recent Policy ◽  
Current Stage

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the current stage of the development of the study of tourism policy and some of the key issues that have come in for attention. Design/methodology/approach – The work is based on a review of the literature relating to tourism policy over a 40-year period. Based on one of the models of tourism policy-making, it uses a five-part structure to organise the literature and for each part, it explores the issues dealt with by researchers over the period. Findings – After a slow start, most aspects of tourism policy are now well-covered in the literature, and notably, there has been a marked quickening in the pace of study over the past decade. Influences on policy are well-documented, as are the roles of the different stakeholders in the policy process. This contrasts with the understanding of the work of the policymakers, which is less well-developed, as is the nature and influence of the different forms of policy output. Neoliberalism and governance have been prominent among recent policy themes pursued by researchers. Research limitations/implications – The paper draws on a wide range of work over 40 years, but it cannot be comprehensive. Originality/value – The paper’s originality lies in it providing a brief overview of the current state of research into tourism policy.

Chinese culture in tourist research: a review and comparison of Chinese and English studies in 1993-2012

2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junju Li ◽  
Ying (Tracy) Lu
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Cultural Theory ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Tourism Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Chinese Studies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Chinese And English

Purpose With the worldwide growth of the Chinese tourism market, a number of studies have emerged, that attempt to understand the phenomenon, including the influence of Chinese culture on Chinese tourist behavior. This research aims to answer four questions: How has Chinese culture been adopted in tourism literature? What is the current state of tourism research on Chinese culture? What are the similarities, differences and research gaps between international and Chinese studies in this area of investigation? What are the directions that future tourism research will take? Design/methodology/approach The articles for this systematic review were published in major international hospitality and tourism journals and Chinese journals over a period of 20 years (1993-2012). A meta-review was carried out on 80 Chinese and English tourism literature dating from 1993 to 2012. Findings This review showed that Chinese culture has been fragmentally operationalized due to underdeveloped Chinese cultural theories in tourism, independent and unrelated extant cultural systems and perspectives and lack of empirical testing for theory development. Two major theoretical systems of Chinese culture in tourist research were revealed in this review: cross-cultural theory and traditional Chinese cultural framework. The current state of tourism research on Chinese culture was also analyzed. The similarities, differences and research gaps were identified between international and Chinese studies on this inquiry. Implications for future tourism research in this area were suggested. Research limitations/implications Unveiling the evolving research progress of a single culture helps to provide a deeper insight into how culture was used to analyze the behavior of individual tourist markets, and hence to better understand a particular tourist market. Originality/value This research has synthesized a wide range of literature to unveil the extant understanding of Chinese culture as reflected in Chinese tourists and outline the ways forward in this area of investigation.

Introducing sharing-focused business models in the B2B context: comparing interaction and environmental sustainability for selling, renting and sharing on industrial markets

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Melander ◽  
Ala Arvidsson
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Business Models ◽  
High Technology ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Industrial Markets

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the sales-, rental- and sharing-focused business models for industrial markets by analysing interactions and environmental sustainability efforts within them. Design/methodology/approach Case studies are conducted at two world-leading manufacturing firms of complex industrial products. The analysis compares how interaction takes place in sales-, rental- and sharing-focused business models in industrial markets for high-technology products in connection with environmental sustainability outcomes. Findings The findings show the need for different interaction patterns in sales-, rental- and sharing-focused business models at firm, relationship and network levels. The implementation of sharing-focussed business models requires new interactions with actors within firms, between firms and key collaborators and in networks. The firms in our study have made a wide range of efforts to improve the environmental sustainability of their products. Sharing-focused business models have the potential to be environmentally sustainable if products can be shared among customers. However, under-usage of products and the increased need to transport them may reduce environmental sustainability. Originality/value This study reveals that although manufacturing firms and customers are willing to implement sharing-focused business models, there are obstacles to achieving the expected environmental sustainability associated with this business model. These are due to the high-technology nature and level of customisation of the associated firms’ products and services, which make it difficult to share resources across firms without advanced adaptations to products such as re-programming. This study contributes to the sharing-focused business model literature for the business-to-business context, by pointing to the pivotal role partnerships with new actors and closer collaboration with existing actors in supply chains can play in enabling sharing-focused business models in the future.

Desolated milieu: exploring the trajectory of workplace loneliness (2006-2019)

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mantasha Firoz ◽  
Richa Chaudhary ◽  
Aamna Khan
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Location ◽  
Theoretical Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Current State ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Tools And Techniques

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to trace the trajectory of research done exclusively on the topic of Workplace Loneliness from 2006 to 2019. Based on the content analysis of 29 articles, this paper critically assesses, summarizes and consolidates the existing body of knowledge in the field of workplace loneliness. Design/methodology/approach This review is organized around five major themes – origin and the conceptual grounding of the construct; emergence of the concept of workplace loneliness, conceptualizations and overlap with the related constructs; measurement tools and techniques; analysis of its predictors, outcomes, mediators and moderators; and development of an integrated model specifying the nomological network of workplace loneliness for clarifying the current state of thinking and guiding future research in the area. Findings The concept of workplace loneliness started receiving attention from the year 2006 and gained momentum in 2016. The studies from wide range of countries show that workplace loneliness is not restricted to one geographical location but is a phenomenon that affects people and economies around the world. The review highlights the conceptualization and measurement challenges along with the need for theoretical development of the field. Further, the existing literature fails to provide a comprehensive picture of the predictors, underlying processes, contingencies and outcomes of workplace loneliness. Originality/value This study being one of the rare attempts to consolidate the existing body of knowledge on loneliness at work will provide academicians and practitioners with a comprehensive account of the state of research and development on an important and yet neglected issue of workplace loneliness.

Yield and economic performance of the use of GM cotton worldwide over time

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 616-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Witjaksono ◽  
Xiaowen Wei ◽  
Suchun Mao ◽  
Wankui Gong ◽  
Yabing Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Net Revenue ◽  
Yield Gain

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on the economic performance of genetically modified (GM) cotton worldwide based on a wide range of data and source from available literature, and second to assess yield gain and economic performance. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic review was captured to provide the evidence of potential benefits of GM cotton. A country-specific analysis was conducted in order to compare economic indicators and employed meta-analysis to find out the significance of the different of GM cotton over its counterpart. Findings – This paper depicts positive impact of commercialized GM cotton in terms of net revenue, and the benefits, especially in terms of increased yields, are greatest for the mostly farmers in developing countries who have benefitted from the spill over of technology targeted at farmers in industrialized countries. Research limitations/implications – Due to the variability of the data which came from different methodologies, it is difficult to determine the differences of the performances each individual study. Practical implications – This, it is believed that results from this study can be useful for operations of all sizes as the authors think about what needs to be focussed on for long-term producers survival. Originality/value – The paper clearly indicates that China is the highest cotton yield of GM cotton, the lowest cost of GM seed and the lowest cost of chemical spray compare to any other countries. Therefore, this is the fact that the adoption of GM cotton has been widely spread among the farmers across the regions in China.

The role of stakeholders in shifting environmental practices of music festivals in British Columbia, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Hazel ◽  
Courtney Mason
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Environmental Practices ◽  
Music Festivals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stakeholder Relationships ◽  
Environmental Objectives ◽  
Wide Range

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to increase understandings of the complexity of stakeholder relationships and their impact on environmental practices in music festivals in Western Canada, but also to highlight how managers can leverage their festival platform for stakeholders to create new partnerships that foster and support primary values around sustainability.Design/methodology/approachWe use a community-based participatory framework to guide this study, and qualitative research methods in the form of in-depth interviews and surveys at three separate music festivals within the interior of British Columbia, Canada.FindingsThe majority of patrons are aware of the environmental impacts of music festivals and are more likely to attend a festival with effective practices. By making environmental sustainability a core value of the festival and communicating environmental objectives with both stakeholders and patrons, managers can begin to alleviate the operational barriers to environmentalism.Originality/valueOne of the primary contributions of this study is that it provides management with deeper understandings of a wide range of barriers to effective environmental practices in Western Canada. We consult directly with both festival management and attendees about environmental practices. This paper presents a fuller perspective of how to move beyond simple measures and craft a more sophisticated and flexible environmental strategy that reduces risk, anticipates obstacles and greatly improves the odds of successful implementation.

scholarly journals Sustainability in facilities management: an overview of current research

Facilities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 535-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Balslev Nielsen ◽  
Anna-Liisa Sarasoja ◽  
Kirsten Ramskov Galamba
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Practical Knowledge ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Societal Level

Purpose Climate adaptation, energy efficiency, sustainable development and green growth are societal challenges for which the Facilities Management (FM) profession can develop solutions and make positive contributions on the organisational level and with societal-level effects. To base the emerging sub-discipline of sustainable facilities management (SFM) on research, an overview of current studies is needed. The purpose of this literature review is to provide exactly this overview. Design/methodology/approach This article identifies and examines current research studies on SFM through a comprehensive and systematic literature review. The literature review included screening of 85 identified scientific journals and almost 20,000 articles from the period of 2007-2012. Of the articles reviewed, 151 were identified as key articles and categorised according to topic. Findings The literature review indicated that the current research varies in focus, methodology and application of theory, and it was concluded that the current research primary addresses environmental sustainability, whereas the current research which takes an integrated strategic approach to SFM is limited. The article includes lists of reviewed journals and articles to support the further development of SFM in research and practice. Research limitations/implications The literature review includes literature from 2007 to 2012, to manage the analytical process within the project period. However, with the current categorisation and the access to the reviewed journals and articles, it is possible to continue with the latest literature. Practical implications The article provides an overview of theoretical and practical knowledge which can guide: how to document and measure the performance of building operations in terms of environmental, social and economical impacts? How to improve the sustainability performance of buildings? What are the potentials for and barriers to integrating sustainability into FM on strategic, tactical and operational levels? Originality/value The paper presents the most comprehensive literature study on SFM so far, and represents an important knowledge basis which is likely to become a key reference point for pioneers and scholars in the emerging sub-discipline of SFM.

scholarly journals Changing the game: a case for gamifying knowledge management

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 143-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnessa Shpakova ◽  
Viktor Dörfler ◽  
Jill MacBryde
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Environment ◽  
Current State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
A Company

Purpose This exploratory paper investigates gamification as a medium for knowledge workers to interact with each other. The purpose of this paper is to open the discussion around the sustaining impact that gamification might have on knowledge management (KM). Design/methodology/approach The paper employs an exploratory literature review investigating the current state of the art in relation to KM and gamification; this literature review serves as the starting point of subsequent theorizing. Findings Based on the literature review the authors theorize that the use of gamification in KM can go far beyond the motivational aspects. To name just a few uses of gamification, it can help in: supporting flexibility, facilitating transparency and therefore improving trust, visualizing skills and competences as well as generating requirements for new competences and promoting a collaborative environment among the knowledge workers. Research limitations/implications This paper opens the discussion around KM and gamification and suggests a wide range of areas for further research. Practical implications In this paper the authors argue that by looking at gamification as more than just a set of tools for improving motivation and engagement a company can address some pitfalls of a particular type of knowledge workers. Originality/value Gamification is a new, but increasingly popular approach, which has been shown to be powerful in many areas. This paper is novel in that it initiates a dialogue around the impact that gamification might have on KM.

scholarly journals Microbiota-Mediated Modulation of Organophosphate Insecticide Toxicity by Species-Dependent Interactions with Lactobacilli in a Drosophila melanogaster Insect Model

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan A. Daisley ◽  
Mark Trinder ◽  
Tim W. McDowell ◽  
Stephanie L. Collins ◽  
Mark W. Sumarah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus ◽  
Organophosphate Insecticide ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Probiotic Lactobacilli

ABSTRACT Despite the benefits to the global food supply and agricultural economies, pesticides are believed to pose a threat to the health of both humans and wildlife. Chlorpyrifos (CP), a commonly used organophosphate insecticide, has poor target specificity and causes acute neurotoxicity in a wide range of species via the suppression of acetylcholinesterase. This effect is exacerbated 10- to 100-fold by chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO), a principal metabolite of CP. Since many animal-associated symbiont microorganisms are known to hydrolyze CP into CPO, we used a Drosophila melanogaster insect model to investigate the hypothesis that indigenous and probiotic bacteria could affect CP metabolism and toxicity. Antibiotic-treated and germfree D. melanogaster insects lived significantly longer than their conventionally reared counterparts when exposed to 10 μM CP. Drosophila melanogaster gut-derived Lactobacillus plantarum , but not Acetobacter indonesiensis , was shown to metabolize CP. Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry confirmed that the L. plantarum isolate preferentially metabolized CP into CPO when grown in CP-spiked culture medium. Further experiments showed that monoassociating germfree D. melanogaster with the L. plantarum isolate could reestablish a conventional-like sensitivity to CP. Interestingly, supplementation with the human probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (a strain that binds but does not metabolize CP) significantly increased the survival of the CP-exposed germfree D. melanogaster . This suggests strain-specific differences in CP metabolism may exist among lactobacilli and emphasizes the need for further investigation. In summary, these results suggest that (i) CPO formation by the gut microbiota can have biologically relevant consequences for the host, and (ii) probiotic lactobacilli may be beneficial in reducing in vivo CP toxicity. IMPORTANCE An understudied area of research is how the microbiota (microorganisms living in/on an animal) affects the metabolism and toxic outcomes of environmental pollutants such as pesticides. This study focused specifically on how the microbial biotransformation of chlorpyrifos (CP; a common organophosphate insecticide) affected host exposure and toxicity parameters in a Drosophila melanogaster insect model. Our results demonstrate that the biotransformation of CP by the gut microbiota had biologically relevant and toxic consequences on host health and that certain probiotic lactobacilli may be beneficial in reducing CP toxicity. Since inadvertent pesticide exposure is suspected to negatively impact the health of off-target species, these findings may provide useful information for wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability planning. Furthermore, the results highlight the need to consider microbiota composition differences between beneficial and pest insects in future insecticide designs. More broadly, this study supports the use of beneficial microorganisms to modulate the microbiota-mediated biotransformation of xenobiotics.

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