Omni-channel integration: the matter of information and digital technology

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how omni-channel data flows should be integrated by specifying what data, omni-channel agents and information and digital technologies (IDTs) should be considered and connected.Design/methodology/approachA multiple case study method is used with 17 British companies. The studies are supported by 68 interviews with the case companies and their consumers, 5 site visits, 4 focus group meetings and the companies’ archival data and documentations.FindingsThis paper provides novel frameworks for omni-channel data flow integration from consumer and business perspectives. The frameworks consist of omni-channel agents, their data transactions and their supporting IDTs. Relatedly, this paper formalizes the omni-channel data flow integration in the forms of horizontal, vertical and total integrations and explores their contributions to the adaptability of omni-channel, as a complex adaptive system (CAS). It also discusses that how inter-organizational governance mechanisms can support data flow integration and their relevant IDT implementations.Research limitations/implicationsThe breadth and depth of the required IDTs for omni-channel integration prove the necessity for omni-channel systems to move toward total integration. Therefore, supported by CAS and inter-organizational governance theories, this research indicates how data flow integration and IDT can transform the omni-channel through self-organization and autonomy capability enhancement.Originality/valueThis research’s recommended frameworks provide a robust platform to formalize data flow integration as the omni-channel's core driver. Accordingly, it moves the literature from a basic description of “what omni-channel is” and provides a novel and significant debate on what specific data should be shared at what levels between which agents of the omni-channel, and with what type of relationship governance mechanism, to assure omni-channel horizontal, vertical and total integrations.

2. Waging holy wars

‘Raging holy wars’ examines holy wars, beginning with an analysis of the integration of war and religion in the ancient world. Is a particular holy war fought to achieve a religious goal, such as converts or possession of a holy place; or is the war a religious activity in itself? In classical civilizations, it has quite often been the latter. As one moves toward the modern world, with its more universal sense of religion, and a less total integration of religion into communal life, the former becomes more of a factor. Perhaps the most controversial way to raise this question is the case of jihad. The chapter then considers the crusades.

Educational Augmented Reality Technology for Language Learning and Teaching: A Comprehensive Review

The purpose of this paper is to present a review of Augmented Reality (AR) technology as an educational tool for foreign language education. Following a short yet comprehensive literature review, the paper reviews educational AR technology in terms of learning theories, learning pedagogies, teachers, students, culture, infrastructure, and sustainability based on the framework developed by Osterweil et al. (2016) for evaluating the appropriateness of educational technology use in global development programs. The review showed that AR technology provides several benefits for language learning; however, it is not ready for total integration into language classes. The paper also provides practical suggestions for activities enriched with AR in four language skills and recommended applications. This review offers various implications for teachers, teacher educators, researchers and coursebook developers.

CFHT MegaPrime/MegaCam u-band source catalogue of the AKARI North Ecliptic Pole Wide field

ABSTRACT The $AKARI$ infrared (IR) space telescope conducted two surveys (Deep and Wide) in the North Ecliptic Pole (NEP) field to find more than 100 000 IR sources using its infrared camera (IRC). IRC’s nine filters, which cover wavebands from 2 to 24 μm continuously, make $AKARI$ unique in comparison with other IR observatories such as $Spitzer$ or $WISE$. However, studies of the $AKARI$ NEP-Wide field sources had been limited due to the lack of follow-up observations in the ultraviolet (UV) and optical. In this work, we present the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope MegaPrime/MegaCam u-band source catalogue of the $AKARI$ NEP-Wide field. The observations were taken in seven nights in 2015 and 2016, resulting in 82 observed frames covering 3.6 deg$^2$. The data reduction, image processing, and source extraction were performed in a standard procedure using the elixir pipeline and the astromatic software, and eventually 351 635 sources have been extracted. The data quality is discussed in two regions (shallow and deep) separately, due to the difference in the total integration time (4520 and 13 910 s). The 5$\sigma$ limiting magnitude, seeing full width at half-maximum, and the magnitude at 50 per cent completeness are 25.38 mag (25.79 mag in the deep region), 0.82 arcsec (0.94 arcsec), and 25.06 mag (25.45 mag), respectively. The u-band data provide us with critical improvements to photometric redshifts and UV estimates of the precious infrared sources from the $AKARI$ space telescope.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF BUILDING A UNIVERSITY DATABASE FOR THE FULL INTEGRATION OF DLS

The article discusses one of the important problems of implementation of DLS, namely the complete or partial lack of direct interaction with the data in the database of the institution. When introducing the DLS in the educational process of a higher educational institution, it is necessary to pre-prepare, and subsequently import data from the university database manually, which increases the total integration time, creates errors due to manual labor, and also requires the involvement of several specialists. Despite its relevance, this problem is poorly covered in the scientific and technical literature. The proposed solution method was tested and successfully used in the educational process of the SGUGT. The developed unified database structure is supported by the SGUGT DLS without writing additional code and transition modules.

Design of a Motorcycle Steering Damper for a Safer Ride

Powered-two-wheelers (PTWs) are increasingly popular because of their lower cost compared to cars, and therefore the riders’ exposure risk is increasing. Due to their complex dynamics characterized by high non-linearity and inherent instability, PTWs are more difficult to control compared to four-wheeled vehicles. Wobble is a high-frequency instability mode affecting the steering assembly of the PTW, and which often causes the rider to lose control and crash when it occurs. In this paper, we present the design of a new motorcycle semi-active steering damper integrated into the steering column and utilizing a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) for variable damping torque. An analytical model of the concept was first used to perform the preliminary sizing, followed by concept validation using a 3D FE multiphysics magnetic-fluid analysis. The final innovative design offers several advantages compared to traditional steering dampers: (i) a wide range of adjustable damping torque values, with a multiplication factor up to 10 with a maximum electrical current of 2 A; (ii) total integration into the motorcycle steering column enabled by its axial design and limited radius; (iii) a simple chamber geometry that allows for easy manufacture; (iv) longer seal life due to the absence of direct contact between seals and the MRF.

Deep into the core of dense star clusters: an astrometric and photometric test case for ELT

ABSTRACT We present a novel analysis of a young star cluster in the Large Magellanic cloud, R136-like, as seen by the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). The main aim of this study is to quantify precision and accuracy of stellar proper motion measurements in crowded field when using an ELT working at its diffraction limit. This can serve as a reference study for future development of ELT scientific cases. In particular, we investigate our future ability to detect the dynamical signature of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) with mass ∼104 M⊙ through detailed measurements of stellar proper motions. We have simulated two N-body dynamical cluster models with and without an IMBH. For each model, we have chosen two snapshots temporally spaced by 5 yr. Stellar fluxes in IJHK filters and star positions have been used to create ELT mock images for both single- and multiconjugate adaptive optics observing modes following the requierements given by ESO technical specifications for the first light imager. These images have been analysed using a classical software for seeing-limited data reduction, daophot/allstar. We make accurate photometry till the very faint pre-main-sequence stars, i.e. depending on the adaptive optics (AO) mode, magnitudes down to K ∼ 24 mag (single-conjugate AO) or K ∼ 22 mag (multiconjugate AO) in a total integration time of 20 min on target. Although daophot suite of programs is not devoted to precise astrometry, the astrometric accuracy is impressive, reaching few μas yr−1 or km s−1. In these assumptions, we are able to detect the IMBH signature at the centre of the cluster.