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Interface normal and curvature calculation for the conservative level set method
Full text linkWe proposed a novel diffused interface approach for the interface normal and curvature calculation in the conservative level set method framework for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian multiphase flows. The standard benchmark of reversible vortex problem is used to test the interface capturing method for both standard and conservative level set method. In addition, the new approach is validated to accurately simulate oscillating droplet, bubble rising in a viscoelastic fluid, and droplet impact in a deep pool, in which a good agreement is obtained with analytical solutions and experimental measurements
Attitude strength as a novel predictor of willful ignorance
No full textWillful ignorance is a pervasive phenomenon with significant consequences for decision-making, belief maintenance, and social polarization. While past research has identified various motivational and contextual factors underlying this behavior, less attention has been paid to attitude characteristics that shape the likelihood of engaging in willful ignorance. Addressing this gap, this paper introduces attitude strength as a critical and heretofore unexplored psychological factor that should affect when and why individuals engage in willful ignorance. We argue that strong attitudes, such as those held with certainty, highly accessible, or perceived as morally relevant, are particularly likely to elicit willful ignorance. Drawing on cognitive dissonance theory and motivated reasoning, we synthesize findings across domains, from political partisanship to responses to misinformation and AI-mediated communication
Navigating across the uncertainty: investigating the impact of buyer firms' digital transformation on operational efficiency
No full textPurpose:
Extensive literature and business consultants assert that digital transformation (DT) substantially enhances firm business operations, while there are significant counterarguments suggesting that DT may squander resources and fall short of delivering the anticipated benefits. Additionally, the impact of uncertainties arising from the buyer–supplier relationship has been largely overlooked. Drawing upon information processing theory (IPT), we propose to decipher the relationship between DT and operational efficiency through the buyer–supplier perspective, and further examine how uncertainties at the task, source and supply network levels moderate this relationship by influencing information processing capabilities.
Design/methodology/approach:
Using secondary data derived from Chinese A-share listed firms, our study evaluated a total of 257 listed buyer firms with 892 firm-year observations.
Findings:
The findings reveal that DT positively influences operational efficiency, with this effect being moderated by buyers’ technological resources and supplier dependency (SD). Interestingly, the supplier digitalisation level and buyer–supplier distance (BSD) do not significantly moderate this relationship.
Originality/value:
This study contributes to technology literature by empirically investigating the actual impacts of DT on operational efficiency and identifying how various uncertainties at different levels can be managed for improved performance. The distinctive application of IPT offers a novel perspective on addressing these uncertainties in technological advancements. Moreover, this research provides valuable practical insights for firms on effective digitalisation process and offers guidance to policymakers in supporting DT initiatives
Performance evaluation of major world container ports in the post-pandemic era: the 6th generation ports model with smart ports
No full textThe port sector faces both challenges and opportunities in digital transformation and decarbonization in the post-pandemic era. To address these issues, the Sixth Generation Port (6 GP) model with smart ports comprising six aspects and 14 criteria was proposed, iteratively refined, and validated. In order to extend the test scope and assess the applicability of the 6 GP model, this study aims to evaluate the performance of major world container ports, namely the Port of Singapore, Shanghai, Busan, Hong Kong, and Rotterdam, by applying the 6 GP model with smart ports. An innovative hybrid methodology integrating CFPR, MOORA, and VIKOR was employed to explore the business needs and development priorities of port stakeholders and to assess each port's performance with reference to the 6 GP model. The test results indicate that the Port of Singapore, Rotterdam, and Shanghai performanc, with Asian container ports achieved better performance in "service" and "smart port governance system and policy". Specifically, Shanghai has emphasized automation optimization to facilitate the seamless cargo and vessel flows, while Rotterdam achieved significant performance in digitalization and decarbonization by fostering a smart port–city symbiosis. The contribution of this study lies in theoretical, methodological, and empirical aspects. i) Theoretically, it validates the applicability of the 6 GP model, enriching the existing literature on Port Devolution Theory by integrating digitalization and decarbonization into the 6 GP model; ii) Methodologically, it applies a novel hybrid CFPR–MOORA–VIKOR framework to enhance multi-criteria decision-making in port studies; iii) Empirically, it offers a comparative evaluation of container ports in both Asia and Europe, providing actionable insights for policymakers and port managers, and advocates collaborative action among different stakeholders
Care-based corporate sociopolitical activism: Identifying dark sides and envisioning an ethical framework
No full textAlthough corporate sociopolitical activism (CSA) has gained traction in research and practice, little is known about its potential dark sides - especially from the consumer’s perspective. We address this gap by examining how CSA can burden or harm consumers, beyond typical economic risks to firms. We identify and categorise six dark sides into two overarching themes: (1) emotional and cognitive burden (individual level) and (2) public division and harm (societal level). These underscore the ethical complexities of CSA and the need for a revised, more responsible approach. Inspired by emerging CSA practices that prioritise empathy and connectedness over neoliberal logics, we introduce an ‘ethics of care’ to the CSA literature as an alternative moral guideline. A care-based CSA approach is proposed, including an audit tool and strategic solutions to manage negative consequences. This reimagines CSA as a form of moral responsibility that emphasises relationships, interdependence and responsiveness in ethical deliberations
Resting cerebrovascular haemodynamics and dynamic assessment of cerebrovascular function in polycystic ovary syndrome
Full text linkObjective
Despite an increased cerebrovascular disease risk, the impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) on cerebrovascular haemodynamics and function is unknown. This study characterised cerebrovascular haemodynamics and function in women with PCOS versus healthy controls.
Design
Case-control study.
Patients
Fifteen women with PCOS (age: 31 ± 6 years; body mass index (BMI): 31.8 ± 5.7 kg/m2) and 16 controls (age: 30 ± 7 years; BMI: 29.9 ± 5.5 kg/m2).
Measurements
Resting global cerebral blood (CBF) was assessed by 3T MRI. Middle- and posterior cerebral artery blood velocities (MCAv, PCAv) were measured by Doppler ultrasound and pulsatility index (MCAPI, PCAPI) calculated. Neurovascular coupling (NVC), internal carotid artery cerebrovascular reactivity (CVRCO2) and dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) directional sensitivity were assessed using a visual stimulus, 6% fixed-inspired CO2 and repeated squat-stand manoeuvres, respectively.
Results
Resting CBF (PCOS: 57.2 ± 7.5 ml/100 g/min; controls: 61.6 ± 11.6 ml/100 g/min, p = 0.25) and MCAv, PCAv, MCAPI and PCAPI (all p > 0.05) were similar between groups. NVC (14 ± 4.9% vs. 13 ± 3.4%, p = 0.45), CVRCO2 (5.1 ± 1.9% vs. 6.5 ± 2.9%, p = 0.20) and dCA directional sensitivity were similar between groups. However, women with PCOS had elevated relative PCAPI during NVC (PCOS: 12.0 ± 5.6% vs. controls: 7.0 ± 3.8%, p = 0.04), and impaired vasodilation of the internal carotid artery during CVRCO2 (PCOS: −0.10 ± 0.22 mm vs. controls: 0.18 ± 0.24 mm, p < 0.01).
Conclusions
Cerebrovascular function is largely preserved in women with PCOS, although elevated arterial pulsatility and impaired vasodilatory response to carbon dioxide may indicate early endothelial dysfunction in the cerebral vasculature. Larger studies are needed to confirm this in view of our limited study power
Compressible effects in the propagation of nonlinear shallow water waves: Models and simulations
Full text linkWe investigate the effects of compressibility in the propagation of shallow-water waves and extend the classical shallow-water equations to a compressible regime. Both non-dispersive and weakly-dispersive nonlinear waves are then analysed with the help of the multiple scales method, ultimately leading to the studying of a Burgers and a Korteweg–deVries equation, respectively. A parametric study is conducted in order to investigate the interplay of both nonlinearity and compressibility and assess how compressibility may alter the nonlinear properties of the waves. In particular, parameters varied are the compressibility coefficient
, the amplitude of the waves
and the width of the initial wave profile
. In a non-dispersive regime, shock and rarefaction waves form and interact one another leading to a progressive reduction of the wave amplitude in time. The compressibility of the fluid
speeds up the shock formation, with beneficial effects in terms of wave amplitude reduction. In a weakly dispersive regime, on the other hand, higher compressibility values may amplify the initial perturbation, leading to the formation of a discrete number of solitons having amplitudes much greater than the amplitude at the initial stage. The analysis presented in this work aims at improving our predictions on the dynamics of nonlinear compressible shallow-water waves both in terms of wave amplitude variation and propagation time. Among various applications, our enhanced models can notably improve the estimation of tsunami arrival times and contribute to more accurate weather forecasts. Furthermore, the work presented here lays the foundation for future experimental studies and assessments in this field
The senses-in-action: visual and haptic encounters with occasioned environments
No full textThis chapter advances the sociology of the senses by developing a radical praxeological approach to the perceptual availability of landscapes and environments, particularly within the context of orienteering. In challenging traditional views of passive perception, it emphasises how environments are actively produced through sensory practices tied to specific tasks. Drawing on ethnomethodology and natural language sociology, the chapter explores how sensory experiences are socially and contextually accomplished rather than
merely communicated. Through the analysis of video materials gathered from an orienteering race, the chapter examines how features of the environment, such as fences and stiles, become practical resources for navigation, occasioning shifts in perception and action relating to the work of route-finding. Additionally, it discusses how haptic encounters, and specifically being stung by a plant, reconfigure the perceptual field, leading to shifts in aspect and environmental awareness. The chapter ultimately argues for a reflexive understanding of
sensory practices as integral to the dynamic accomplishment of the environment-in-action
A multi-dimensional data integration approach for machining system multi-level energy consumption modelling and prediction
No full textMulti-level energy consumption modeling and prediction (MECMP) of machining systems is crucial for refined energy management (REM). Due to the complexity of the coupling relationship between system levels (equipment, part and process) and corresponding energy influencing factors, it is difficult to select appropriate data for MECMP. Moreover, the multi-dimensional nature of the influencing factors also poses a challenge to integrate them for energy consumption modeling. To fill these gaps, this paper proposes a multi-dimensional data integration (MDDI) approach for MECMP. First, the associated influencing factors are identified by analyzing the energy consumption nature of machining systems, and a data cube model is established to facilitate efficient MDDI. Second, energy consumption models at three levels are developed to establish the correlation between energy consumption and multi-dimensional data. Then, a convolutional neural network with long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) model is designed for energy consumption prediction. Finally, a milling case is exploited to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed model achieves 99% accuracy in multi-level energy consumption prediction, and MDDI improves the accuracy by 7–8% compared to single dimension data. Furthermore, CNN-LSTM model outperforms the benchmark model in prediction accuracy and response time, thereby supporting REM implementation and promoting sustainable manufacturing
Home death as a conditional ideal: ethnographic insights from an English hospital
Full text linkAdvance care planning is a process that involves ascertaining and documenting a patient’s preference for future care, especially in the context of end-of-life care. Based on an ethnographic study of advance care planning involving fieldwork in an English teaching hospital in 2018, this paper highlights how for healthcare staff, advance care planning is about more than patient preferences. Instead, for staff, advance care planning links to notions of how to achieve a good death, which many interpreted as ensuring patients can die at home. Within this logic, home death was conceived as a strived for ideal. Yet, staff acknowledged home deaths were not always possible, dependent on the availability and capability of home-based care and symptom management. As such, staff recognised a need for ‘flexibility’ with processes that may focus on ensuring a patient dies at home. Consequently, we interpret this as seeing home death as a conditional ideal. This builds on existing literature that outlines and challenges expectations of good death, home death and discussion of place of death, crucially adding a term – conditional ideal – by which to understand the nuance that exists between discourses of end-of-life care and how it unfolds for staff, patients, and families