Barriers to Environmental Technology Adoption in Hotels

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 829-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric S. W. Chan ◽  
Fevzi Okumus ◽  
Wilco Chan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management System ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Barriers To Adoption ◽  
Environmental Technology ◽  
General Managers ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Engineering Department ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Environmental Technologies ◽  
Internal Barriers

This study investigates potential barriers to the adoption of environmental technologies used in Hong Kong hotels. Data were collected via in-depth semistructured interviews with senior hotel professionals including general managers, financial controllers, directors of engineering department, and environmental management system managers. The research findings illustrate several specific barriers to adoption of environmental technologies which are grouped under three categories: (1) product-related barriers, (2) external barriers, and (3) internal barriers. The study findings are discussed and specific recommendations for overcoming these barriers are put forward. Conclusions and suggestions for future research are also provided.

Reaching Out: The Lived Experiences of Self-Becoming Through International Service-Learning

2021 ◽  
pp. 154134462110319
Author(s):  
Chin-Ping Liou
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
International Service Learning ◽  
International Service ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Research Findings

Research findings generally agree that international-service-learning (ISL) experiences may contribute to changes in the self in service learners. However, few studies have investigated how the self is experienced and rediscovered in the process of ISL. The purpose of this study was to investigate how students experienced their own self-becoming in interpersonal encounters with locals during ISL experiences. Seven in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with seven college students engaged in a 21-day ISL project in Ghana; their accounts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three major themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) experiencing a gap, (2) launching out into the deep, and (3) embracing new possibilities. The findings provide a basis for future research and demonstrate the potential of ISL to help students explore and reconstruct their sense of self.

scholarly journals A comprehensive review of the influences of nanoparticles as a fuel additive in an internal combustion engine (ICE)

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1326-1349
Author(s):  
Siti Nurul Akmal Yusof ◽  
Nor Azwadi Che Sidik ◽  
Yutaka Asako ◽  
Wan Mohd. Arif Aziz Japar ◽  
Saiful Bahri Mohamed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Combustion Efficiency ◽  
Fuel Properties ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Biodiesel Fuel ◽  
Fuel Additive ◽  
Engine Combustion ◽  
Research Findings

Abstract Nanofluid is a colloidal mixture consisting of nano-sized particles dispersed in a liquid medium. It improves heat transfer properties and promotes high energy efficiency in a wide spectrum of engineering applications. In recent years, particularly in the automotive industry, the addition of nanofluid in diesel/biodiesel as an additive for ICE has become an attractive approach to promote enhanced combustion efficiency and emission reduction due to their superior thermophysical properties. Many researchers have previously demonstrated that the addition of nanoparticles in diesel/biodiesel fuel improved the overall engine combustion characteristics. As a whole, this study aims to summarize the recent research findings related to the effect of nanoparticles on the fuel properties and engine combustion efficiency. Furthermore, different types of additive blended with varying fuel properties are also compared and discussed. Lastly, the advantages and prospects of using nanofluid as an additive fuel are summarized for future research opportunities.

scholarly journals Drivers for uptake of environmental management systems by pastoralists in western Queensland

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. I. Pahl ◽  
L. Z. Weier ◽  
N. M. Sallur ◽  
A. L. Bull ◽  
B. M. Howard
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Environmental Management System ◽  
Barriers To Adoption ◽  
Red Tape ◽  
Market Benefits ◽  
Industry Sectors ◽  
Training Opportunities ◽  
Considerable Pressure

Pastoralists from 37 beef cattle and sheep properties in western Queensland developed and implemented an environmental management system (EMS) over 18 months. The EMS implemented by them was customised for the pastoral industry as part of a national EMS pilot project, and staff from this project encouraged and assisted pastoralists during this trial. The 31 pastoralists surveyed at the end of the pilot project identified few benefits of EMS implementation, and these were largely associated with environmental management and sustainability. In terms of the reasons for uptake of an EMS, these pastoralists identified drivers similar to those reported in other primary industry sectors. These included improving property and environmental management, financial incentives, a range of market benefits, assistance with red tape issues, access to other training opportunities and assistance and support with the development of their EMS. However, these drivers are weak, and are not motivating pastoralists to adopt an EMS. In contrast, barriers to adoption such as the time involved in developing and implementing EMS are tangible and immediate. Given a lack of effective drivers and that pastoralists are under considerable pressure from ongoing rural adjustment processes, it is not surprising that an EMS is a low priority. It is concluded that widespread uptake and on-going use of an EMS in the pastoral industry will not occur unless pastoralists are required or rewarded for this by markets, governments, financiers, and regional natural resource management bodies.

scholarly journals Foeniculum vulgareMill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application, and Toxicology

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamkant B. Badgujar ◽  
Vainav V. Patel ◽  
Atmaram H. Bandivdekar
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Foeniculum Vulgare ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Valuable Compounds

Foeniculum vulgareMill commonly called fennel has been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory systems. Additionally, it is also used as a galactagogue agent for lactating mothers. The review aims to gather the fragmented information available in the literature regarding morphology, ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology ofFoeniculum vulgare. It also compiles available scientific evidence for the ethnobotanical claims and to identify gaps required to be filled by future research. Findings based on their traditional uses and scientific evaluation indicates thatFoeniculum vulgareremains to be the most widely used herbal plant. It has been used for more than forty types of disorders. Phytochemical studies have shown the presence of numerous valuable compounds, such as volatile compounds, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids. Compiled data indicate their efficacy in severalin vitroandin vivopharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antithrombotic, apoptotic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and memory enhancing property.Foeniculum vulgarehas emerged as a good source of traditional medicine and it provides a noteworthy basis in pharmaceutical biology for the development/formulation of new drugs and future clinical uses.

A sociosemiotic interpretation of cultural heritage in UNESCO legal instruments: a corpus-based study

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwen Bouvier ◽  
Zhonghua Wu
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Negotiation ◽  
Heritage Studies ◽  
Securitization Theory ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
International Instruments

Abstract The past few decades have seen a plethora of interest in heritage studies in international law, as the legitimization of cultural heritage is a significant aspect of protecting the legacy of humanity’s collective memory, which is fully reflected in a series of international instruments on culture. This paper examines the meaning-making process of UNESCO legal documents on cultural heritage from a sociosemiotic perspective. The data for the corpus-based study were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by applying the securitization theory to heritage studies. Research findings reveal three significant shifts in cultural heritage, i.e., from property to heritage, from tangible to intangible, and from material-centered to human-centered, which embodies the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature, a philosophical idea embedded in traditional Chinese culture. As noted, terms targeting cultural heritage in UNESCO international instruments are the sign vehicle, generally mediated and shaped by social values, cultural beliefs, and conventional wisdom, etc. as a part of the interpretant, making different categories of heritage meaningful and interpretable. Characterized by temporality and spatiality, cultural heritage is subject to multiple interpretations. The meaning-making of international instruments for consideration is a sociosemiotic operation that can be construed through contextual factors and a process of social negotiation. This paper argues that a sociosemiotic approach to heritage studies is conducive to explicating the construction and deconstruction of heritage as discursive practices while offering some implications for future research.

A multiperspective on the broad dissemination of research findings to past research participants and the community-at-large

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilicia L Mayo-Gamble ◽  
Jennifer Cunningham-Erves ◽  
Chioma Kas-Osoka ◽  
George W Johnson ◽  
Nicole Frazier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Past Research ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
Funding Agencies ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Dissemination Of Research ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Dissemination Process ◽  
Research Continuum

Abstract Dissemination of research findings to past research participants and the community-at-large is a critical element to improving health outcomes, yet it is often overlooked by researchers. Few studies have explored how to provide study findings to the community, and no studies have investigated how community members can be involved in this process. This study explored views on the broad dissemination of research findings to community members and the role of the community in the dissemination process. We conducted a comparative analysis from the perspective of researchers, community members, and program officers (POs) from national health research funding agencies. Semistructured interviews were conducted with community members (African American, N = 10; Latino, N = 10), academic researchers (N = 10), and POs (N = 5). Thematic analysis was utilized in which codes and themes were created. One cross-cutting theme was identified, Views on Disseminating Research Findings to Communities. There were three additional themes identified among community members, five among researchers, and four among POs. All groups perceived the value of dissemination to communities as meaningful and ethical. Groups differed in their perceptions of prioritization of dissemination audiences. This study highlighted consensus on the value of broad dissemination to the community-at-large and identified areas of insufficiency in the translational research continuum that could be expanded or improved to ensure targeted groups receive the intended benefits of positive research findings. The long-term benefit of disseminating findings to the community-at-large is increased acceptability of interventions and reduced mistrust in research and researchers.

Impact and paybacks of biomedical research findings in Malaysia 2005–2015

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei Kuan Lai ◽  
S Nalliah ◽  
CL Teng ◽  
NLP Chen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Health System ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Biomedical Research ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Relevant Research ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health System Policy

Background: Impact in research encompasses health, economic, and cultural benefits beyond adding to the knowledge base. Funders are under immense pressure to be accountable for the paybacks from funded research.Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to look into the impact of funded biomedical research between the years 2005 and 2015 in Malaysia from the aspects of knowledge production, research targeting and capacity building, as well as health system policy and decision making.Methods: This study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods research design. Biomedical projects related to breast cancer, coronary heart disease, and dengue, funded by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), and Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) between the years 2005 and 2015, were included.Findings: From the questionnaire responses (n=58), on average each funded project managed to produce two outputs and one higher degree student. More than half (61.4%) of the funded projects led to subsequent future research. However, low citations in systematic reviews (10.3%), health policies (6.9%), and clinical practice guidelines (5.2%) were reported. In-depth interviews with the key opinion leaders also saw that most of the local research findings were found to be irrelevant to be adopted into policies by the policymakers.Discussion and conclusions: Paybacks on knowledge production as well as research targeting and capacity building had been achieved, but impact on health system policy and decision making had not been well attained, due to the lack of relevant research findings needed by the policymakers.<br />Key messages<br /><ul><li>Payback on knowledge production was achieved, as there had been a lot of new knowledge generated as captured in academic publications, conference proceedings, policy briefs, technical reports, and research highlights, which is important to advance the frontiers of knowledge.</li><br /><li>Payback on research targeting was achieved, with the current research leading to future study with identification of the knowledge gap and generation of new ideas for new research.</li><br /><li>Payback on capacity building was achieved with the training of researchers, building up research capacity and competencies, production of MSc and PhD graduates, promotion of lecturers, and development of new partnerships and networks.</li><br /><li>Impact on health system policy and decision making was not well attained. There had been a lack of relevant research data and findings being incorporated into policymaking, due to the basic and fundamental nature of most of the funded biomedical research in Malaysia.</li></ul>

Consumer Confusion in Mobile Application Buying

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 52-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tathagata Ghosh ◽  
Venu Gopal Rao
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Consumer Confusion ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Research Findings

This study aims to examine effects of consumer confusion proneness on two consumer behavior variables, word of mouth and buying decision, in a confusion prone product market like smartphone and mobile applications (app). Additionally, the study examines the moderating influence of a personality trait variable pertinent to information processing – need for cognition, on the afore-mentioned relationships. Data were collected via a survey from 254 post-graduate students and analyzed with the help of structural equation modeling with a partial least square (PLS) approach using SmartPLS 2.0. Research findings indicate that the dimensions of consumer confusion proneness behave differently in terms of their linkages with consumer behavior. Further, as expected, consumers' need for cognition also play a major moderating role which helps to fathom the concept of consume confusion in the context of mobile and smartphone applications. Academic and managerial implications as well as scope for future research are also discussed.

scholarly journals Towards a multi-criteria framework for stereotomy – Workflows for subtractive fabrication in complex geometries

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 468-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayani Fernando ◽  
Simon Weir ◽  
Dagmar Reinhardt ◽  
Adam Hannouch
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Structural Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Advanced Manufacturing ◽  
Essential Condition ◽  
Robotic Fabrication ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Comparative Case Studies ◽  
End Effectors

Abstract In a context of stereotomy, robotic subtractive cutting enables design-to-production processes that integrate craftsmanship with advanced manufacturing technology. This paper discusses empirical research into the fabrication of complex and custom-designed geometries by means of robotic subtractive cutting, with a specific focus on modular elements and joint typologies that form an essential condition for self-supporting stone structures. The paper presents research findings in two parts. In the first part, four case studies for jointing techniques and a cross-comparison between these are introduced to derive strategies for multiple criteria, including macro-and-micro geometries, modules and joints, structural performance, material variations, machine cutting methods and end-effectors, and robotic workspace. In the second part, the paper focuses on the structural performance of the joint geometry typologies, expanded towards material constraints and robotic fabrication process. The paper concludes with a discussion on these varied subtractive cutting methodologies and a resulting design-to-fabrication workflow, and indicates future research work. Highlights Demonstrates applications of stereotomic practice for robotic subtractive cutting. Reports on comparative case studies for four different module and joint structures. Discusses structural performance for Interlocking base block geometries. Provides a multi-criteria framework for structural, material/machine cutting methods. Develops a design-to-fabrication workflow in robotic subtractive cutting.

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