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Theorizing collective action—Instrumental collectivism as a key concept for explaining workplace collective action
Get PDFAbstract This article addresses workplace collective action. Through a discussion of instrumental and norm-driven motivations for workers' collective action, it is argued that most workers are driven mainly by instrumental motivations?meaning, that they aim to achieve certain outcomes. Consequently, the theoretical concept of instrumental collectivism from Alan Fox is utilized to explain and understand collective action. Finally, six conditions facilitating workplace collective action, including an ideational and hence constructivist element, are identified and discussed providing a more nuanced theoretical framework of workers' collective action that allows for workers' agency and refutes that instrumentalism per se leads to individualized behavior.This article addresses workplace collective action. Through a discussion of instrumental and norm-driven motivations for workers' collective action, it is argued that most workers are driven mainly by instrumental motivations—meaning, that they aim to achieve certain outcomes. Consequently, the theoretical concept of instrumental collectivism from Alan Fox is utilized to explain and understand collective action. Finally, six conditions facilitating workplace collective action, including an ideational and hence constructivist element, are identified and discussed providing a more nuanced theoretical framework of workers' collective action that allows for workers' agency and refutes that instrumentalism per se leads to individualized behavior.</p
The Cybersecurity Dilemma Game:Collaborative Boardgame for Organizational Cybersecurity
Get PDFThis board game was developed to engage players in real-world cybersecurity dilemmas; it is a collaborative game and aims to introduce a new conversation about cybersecurity where problems are not solvable through better technologies or more investment (which are both out of reach for SMEs). We base the dilemmas on real cases we found during our ethnographic study of 30 SMEs in Denmark. Through a set of resource cards that represent realistic technical, organizational, knowledge and social tactics that SMEs use to tackle their security dilemmas, players get the chance to step into the world of SMEs; a world where security is not solvable and measures are low-tech, patched together and mundane
Optimizing Grid-Forming Wind Turbines Share for Frequency Regulation and LOLF Reduction in Modern Power Systems
No full textThis paper explores the optimal proportion of grid forming wind turbines (GFM-WTs) necessary for effective participation in frequency regulation during power system disturbances, with the aim of minimizing the loss of load frequency (LOLF) index. To achieve this, the security constrained unit commitment (SCUC) problem is first formulated and then solved to determine the dispatch of conventional and wind power plants. Then a generation unit for failure is selected based on predefined failure and repair rates. Wind turbines are categorized into grid following wind turbines (GFL-WTs), which do not contribute to frequency regulation, and GFM-WTs, which operate slightly below their maximum capacity to provide additional power support when needed. The Hydro-Québec controller is applied to GFM-WTs for frequency recovery. A Monte Carlo simulation is employed to assess the number of events in which the system frequency falls below 49.5 Hz, indicating an unstable power system that leads to load shedding. The optimal percentage of GFM-WTs is determined as the configuration that minimizes the LOLF index. The proposed methodology is implemented on the IEEE 24-bus reliability test system, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing frequency stability
A review of challenges and strategies towards integrating sustainability and due diligence in the buyer-supplier relationship
Get PDFGlobal supply chains account for 80% of international trade but pose significant human rights and environmental risks. The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and similar regulations impose new compliance requirements, challenging companies to integrate sustainability, due diligence, and supplier relationship management. This paper reviews the challenges of com-plying with these regulations, including supply chain dilemmas related to regulations, complexity, and transparency. It explores how risk-based and collaborative approaches and leveraging technologies can promote effective sustainability due diligence in global supply chains. This study contributes to understanding how large firms can navigate evolving supply chain regulations to ensure com-pliant, sustainable practices by addressing challenges and mitigating strategies
Calculating emissions: Challenges and different perceptions in carbon accounting
No full textOrganizations are increasingly adopting calculative practices for greenhouse gas accounting. Existing literature has explored a number of challenges related to calculating and reporting of carbon emissions. This study contributes to these discussions by investigating different perceptions and ways of mobilizing carbon calculations, drawing on a field study in a maritime and logistics organization in Denmark. The study shows how the quality of carbon accounting numbers is perceived differently and how such calculations are considered ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depending on the agendas of carbon accounting in different contexts. A ‘good quality’ calculation does not necessarily aim at an objective representation of phenomena, but instead carbon calculations are expected to have different potentials when mobilized in diverse locations. The study identifies five contexts, namely compliance, planning, supplier relationships, marketing and customers, and business development with rather different expectations for sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions. The paper contributes to the existing literature by showing how carbon calculations are neither exclusively aiming for truthful representation nor are they merely a means for mobilizing broader agendas in the organization. Rather, carbon calculations are shown to involve varying combinations of different pursuits in different contexts
An Overview of Recent AI Applications in Combined Heat and Power Systems
No full textCombined heat and power (CHP) systems are among the important components for enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability by simultaneously generating electricity and useful thermal energy, reducing waste and costs. Consequently, the effective control of these systems is considered important. To that end, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the intelligent methodologies applied to CHP systems, emphasizing their prevalence in the USA and Europe through statistical insights. It outlines the mathematical foundations of CHP systems, analyzing the advancements in intelligent control methods for optimal planning, economic dispatch, and cost minimization. Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM), and Random Forest, are described and applied to a simulated CHP system. The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) derived from these models demonstrate their efficacy for optimizing CHP performance. This paper also highlights the impact of AI-driven models for enhancing CHP system efficiency, while identifying the challenges in AI-CHP integration and envisioning CHP systems as important components of future sustainable energy systems.</p
Global Andrology Forum (GAF) Clinical Guidelines on the Management of Non-obstructive Azoospermia:Bridging the Gap between Controversy and Consensus
Get PDFPURPOSE: Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), defined as the absence of sperm in the ejaculate due to testicular failure, is observed in 5% to 15% of infertile men and accounts for two-thirds of azoospermia cases. The management of NOA is marked by significant controversy and global variation in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, highlighting the crucial need for well-designed and standardized clinical practice guidelines. We present comprehensive graded clinical practice recommendations and statements for diagnosing and treating NOA, aiming to establish standardized strategies that can globally help guide practitioners in their practice.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to gather evidence on the epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of NOA. The Global Andrology Forum (GAF) recommendations were developed through the collaboration of a global panel of experts using the Delphi method and surveys to achieve consensus. Statements were graded according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine "GRADE" classification as either "Strong" or "Weak." Statements receiving at least 80% expert consensus were graded as "Strong," while others were categorized as "Weak."RESULTS: The GAF has formulated a total of 49 recommendations and statements on the diagnosis and treatment of NOA, including 21 for diagnosis and 28 for treatment. The recommendations and statements were evaluated and graded by a panel of 48 GAF experts from 25 countries worldwide. The majority of experts (60.5%) had more than 10 years of clinical experience in managing NOA.CONCLUSIONS: The GAF guidelines address discrepancies in NOA management across diverse clinical settings and provide comprehensive graded recommendations to guide clinicians in its diagnosis and treatment. Developed and graded by a large worldwide panel of experts, the current guidelines present simplified, high-standard strategies that can be seamlessly integrated into the daily global practice, offering practitioners a clear framework for managing NOA.</p
Serum Licht Chain Neurofilament in New-Onset Post-COVID-19 Chronic Pain:A Controlled Cross-Sectional Study
No full textGaN HEMT Gate Driver Circuit Utilizing Variable Capacitors
Get PDFActive gate drivers promise lowered switching energies, decreased over-voltages, and improved system EMI. Controllability of gate charging process in available active drivers is limited by discrete, multi-step changes in voltage and gate resistance, or single-shot pulsed charge injection. This work investigates using a charge-coupled variable capacitor instead, to drive a GaN transistor with a controllable, near-linear current source gate driver. The proposed circuit can potentially offer higher efficiency than a standard voltage source driver, without introducing duty cycle or switching frequency limitations as in e.g. resonant gate drivers. Due to the current lack of suitable commercially available variable capacitors it is an exploratory work, utilizing a custom plate capacitor driven by an electric motor to experimentally validate the concept