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Impact of channel errors and data aggregation on throughput in THz communications
Get PDFIn Terahertz communications, the throughput can be affected by incoming packet rate from upper layers and channel bit error probability. The techniques like block aggregation and retransmission can be used to mitigate these effects. The impact of data aggregation and forward error control on the overall throughput of Terahertz communications is shown and modeled in this paper. The throughput is also analyzed based on buffer status. The results suggest that using block aggregation with forwarding error control can enhance the useful throughput and reduce the buffer load
EXPLORING WORK ENGAGEMENT OF THE FRONTLINE MANUFACTURING SECTOR
Get PDFWork engagement has captured attention in recent decades as a key organisational metric to enhance and sustain employee performance (Wollard and Shuck, 2011). It has also been identified as a critical factor for an organisation’s success and competitive advantage (Macey and Schneider, 2008; Rich et al., 2010). Despite the clear advantages of having a highly-engaged workforce, annual global engagement surveys show very little improvement in engagement levels over the past decade (Saks and Gruman, 2014). This issue of low engagement is particularly acute for frontline staff, as Anaza et al. (2016) reported that disengagement among frontline roles is alarmingly high due in part to the failure of the service provider to manage the emotional requirements of their position, thus leading to emotional disengagement. This study is focused on engagement levels of frontline operators in a manufacturing organisation as such a staff group can offer a competitive differentiation to organisations (Menguc et al., 2016) due to their direct impact on the customer experience (Popli and Rizvi, 2017). For such a group of frontline manufacturing staff, three main drivers of work engagement are proposed – leadership style, followership and autonomy. The focus on leadership style is linked to its ability to influence behaviours of subordinates in work (Sarti, 2014); the focus on followership supports Kelley’s (1988) findings on the quality of followers that subordinates may not follow leaders who employ directive approaches to managing a business, and finally, the inclusion of autonomy recognises that a frontline operator must be given a considerable degree of discretion in order to demonstrate high levels of engagement (Harter et al., 2002). The main research question to be addressed is how these three factors influence work engagement levels of frontline operators in a standardised manufacturing operation. An exploratory case study approach in a manufacturing organisation where the author is employed was chosen to address this question, and the research methods included an initial survey to establish baseline levels of engagement followed by semi-structured interviews with managers, supervisors and frontline staff. This approach answers the need for more interpretive methods when studying who people are and what they do in work (Jenkins and Delbridge, 2013) and the mixture of a survey combined with interviews allow a check on Kim et al. (2013)’s claim that subjective data based on personal experiences may be difficult to measure. Initially, the survey findings suggested that a relatively high percentage of operators believed that they were engaged; however, a deeper investigation through the semi-structured interviews concluded that approximately one third of the cohort (34%) can be considered to be engaged in a manner consistent with Kahn’s view of engagement. Most of the remaining operators are viewed as being engaged within boundaries – with group norms frequently cited as a reason for a ceiling on engagement levels. Finally, there were a group of disengaged operators who had high levels of self-awareness; this reinforces May et al., (2004) who linked lower levels of self-consciousness with less availability to engage in work tasks. The interviews also explored the influence of the three key drivers on engagement levels, and variations were noted; for example, those frontline workers who considered themselves to be engaged believed that they were in control of their job, and supervisors were largely adopting a supportive, shared leadership approach. This contrasts with the disengaged operators who feared a negative reaction from co-workers if engaging with management; these workers tended to be managed on a transactional basis by supervisors. In terms of a theoretical contribution, the role of followership emerged, offering a new perspective on work engagement levels; for example, those who are engaged within boundaries fit into the passive / conforming roles outlined by Kelley (2008). Furthermore, it was found that while there are limits to the extent of autonomy in this manufacturing environment, very few viewed this as an impediment to engagement levels. These findings have implications for a range of stakeholders in the manufacturing organisation (managers, supervisors and frontline operators) which are considered at the end of this study. From a management perspective, this includes embracing a more transformational approach to dealing with frontline staff while recognising that the mature age of the workforce in this organisation would make it difficult to expect big changes to engagement levels due in part to the considerable tenure with the organisation – with many coming towards the end of their careers. For the frontline operators, it highlights the positive aspects of improved engagement levels such as greater ability to work independently and a greater sense of job enrichment while acknowledging that there may be negative aspects if one is seen to be violating group norms. The study concludes with suggestions for future research and an acknowledgement of the research limitations. Keywords: Work Engagement, Leadership Style, Followership, Autonomy
Investigating the influence of attitudes to local food on travel behaviour and perceived authenticity
Get PDFIn recent years, food tourism has become economically significant, accounting for 35% of overall visitor spend (Fáilte Ireland, 2018, p.9). Studies indicate that local food is a critical tourism resource (Henderson, 2009; Quan and Wang, 2004) with recent studies highlighting that local food can be an attraction (Björk and Kauppinen-Räisänen, 2014; 2017), appealing to those seeking authentic and novel experiences (Okumus et al. 2007; Sims, 2009). Research shows that consumers are increasingly interested in local food (Bjork and Kauppinen-Räisänen, 2016; Hjalager and Richards, 2012). Yet, there is a dearth of literature investigating if this inherent interest affects consumers as tourists. With this in mind, this research aims to contribute to the field of tourism by focusing on the role of attitudes to local food as an antecedent and examine the influence of such an interest on travel behaviour. More specifically, the paper aims to investigate if tourist attitudes to local food impacts on destination choice travel motivation, satisfaction and perceived authenticity. Additionally, as local food embodies authenticity, the mediating role of object-related and existential authenticity on these relationships is also examined. Findings from a quantitative enquiry using online and face-to-face data collection are presented (n=368). Data were analysed using factor analysis and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Results show that tourist attitudes to local food influence destination choice (β=0.136; p< 0.001), satisfaction (β= 0.320; p<0.001) and perceptions of object-related (β= 0.542; p<0.001) and existential authenticity (β= 0.629; p<0.001). Furthermore, it was found that existential authenticity, rather than object-related authenticity had a greater impact on the relationships between tourist attitudes to local food and destination choice (β= 0.618; p<0.001), travel motivation (β= 0.817; p<0.001) and satisfaction (β= 0.386; p<0.001). The paper concludes that there is a clear and influential relationship between tourists’ attitudes to local food and travel behaviour. Results further show that tourists want an existential authentic local food experience where they can be actively involved. Consequently, by exploiting this finding, tourist stakeholders, food producers and destination marketers can add value to the tourist experience. Thus, benefiting the region by attracting more visitors and investment (Sims, 2009)
The Influence of Local Food on Tourist Motivation and Satisfaction: A Review of the Literature
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to explore the theoretical evidence illustrating the influence of local authentic food on tourist motivation and satisfaction on differing tourist segments. By examining the current literature, it is clear that this subject remains relatively unexplored. This paper addresses this identifiable gap in tourism research and shows how local authentic food can contribute to tourist motivation and satisfaction within various tourist typologies, adding to the very limited extant literature in an Irish context. Furthermore, it deduces a number of hypotheses which aim to address it. Relevant academic journals, articles and books were consulted and reviewed, allowing for the identification of key authors, findings and developments in the field of food tourism and authenticity. Literature identifies a continuum of commitment amongst tourists towards food (Björk and Kauppinen-Räisänen, 2016, 2017; Robinson and Getz, 2016). Therefore, although all tourists consume food while on holiday, their motivations in relation to food can be very different (Hjalager, 2003; Pesonen and Komppula, 2010). Certain tourists may have a special interest in food and for these, food experiences may be a determinant for destination choice (Björk and Kauppinen-Räisänen, 2014, Tikkanen, 2007). On the other hand, for some tourists, food may not be decisive for destination choice (Björk and Kauppinen-Räisänen, 2014). Similarly, experiencing food at a destination can be linked to overall satisfaction of the holiday, resulting in a positive or negative outcome (Kauppinen-Räisänen et al., 2013). Thus, in summary, a number of studies have demonstrated that food tourists can be segmented based on these differing expectations and attitudes towards food (Henderson, 2009; Sánchez-Cañizares and López-Guzmán, 2012). An increasing number of tourists are travelling to destinations seeking foods and food experiences considered traditional or local (Okumus et al., 2007). This pursuit can also be viewed as a search for authenticity (Sims, 2009). In the same vein, Fáilte Ireland stress that the authenticity of food offerings is a vital component of the visitor experience (Fáilte Ireland, 2013). Despite studies stressing its importance, an evaluation of the literature found that relatively little research focuses specifically on tourist typologies regarding the association between local food consumption and authenticity (Ozdemir and Seyitoğlu, 2017). There are a number of practical implications for this paper. The main implication is centred on addressing the gap identified from a review of the literature in relation to local food consumption and authenticity. Secondly, as tourists can be segmented into based on level of interest in food, it allows for the designing of promotional strategies specifically tailored to each segment (Levitt, et al., 2017). Additionally, the perceived authenticity of food experiences in a destination can have a strong impact on tourists' intention to revisit a place (Povey, 2011). Finally, by exploiting tourists’ desire for authenticity, development of local products and services can be encouraged. Which in turn will boost sustainability and benefit rural regions for visitors and residents alike (Andersson et al., 2017). Four hypotheses are proposed and discussed with the aim of addressing this identified research gap. Including: • Tourists show different attitudes toward food as a determining variable in their choice of destination. • The degree of satisfaction with the local food is conditioned by the food motivations of the tourist. • The culinary motivations are heterogeneous and conditioned by a tourist's attitude toward food on his/her trips. • Authentic local food is a factor that contributes and conditions the tourists’ experience and, therefore, tourist satisfaction
High-Carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diets, Exogenous Ketones: Performance and Health Effects in Endurance Athletes
Get PDFDespite conventional wisdom advocating a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets (LCKD) have grown in popularity among endurance athletes in recent years. In addition, the use of exogenous ketone esters to optimise performance is an emerging area of research within sports science. Little is known about the performance and health implications of a LCKD within endurance athletes, nor an exogenous ketone esters impact on performance within well-trained runners. A non-randomised 12 week dietary and training intervention was designed to assess performance, body composition and health responses to a traditional HC and LCKD within endurance athletes. In addition, a double blind randomised crossover designed investigation was carried out to determine a ketone esters impact on exercise metabolism and endurance performance when co-ingested with carbohydrates versus a group consuming equal carbohydrates (1.2 g·min-1). A LCKD maintained 100 km time trial (TT) performance, improved body composition and relative power outputs. The LCKD caused nutritional ketosis (0.5 ± 0.4 mM beta-hydroxybutyrate (βHB)), maintained homeostatic measures of wellness, including blood lipids, glycaemic control, inflammation and oxidative stress. Nutrient analysis demonstrated HC diet was reportedly deficient in fat soluble vitamins due to restricting fat to <20% of total energy, while the LCKD was reportedly deficient in fibre (19.2 ± 4.9 g/d) and high in saturated fat (29.5 ± 9.1 %/kcal). Ketone ester ingestion caused acute nutritional ketosis (1.2 ± 0.2 mM βHB) and homogenously improved (2.9%) simulated 10 km TT running performance in well-trained athletes; despite not measurably altering metabolic or peripheral responses to submaximal exercise. In conclusion, a LCKD appears proficient at maintaining submaximal exercise performance and homeostatic measures of wellness within an endurance trained population across a 12 week intervention, while ketone ester ingestion within well-trained runners’ appears to benefit endurance performance, however, additional work is needed to determine the mechanism for improved performance
ASSESSING THE ROLE OF THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN IN INJURY PREVENTION AND HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN ENHANCE ITS USE IN APPLIED SETTINGS
Get PDFThe Functional Movement Screen (FMS) assesses an individual’s mobility, stability and flexibility to identify any weaknesses or asymmetries that may exist. Research has considered if it can predict injury and performance, with inconclusive results. Reliability is high for total FMS scores, but decreases significantly for subtest scores. Study one assessed whether the FMS could accurately predict injury rates and performance in 116 soccer players (mean age=23.2±4.4 years). Players undertook the FMS and performance tests, and injury occurrence was tracked throughout one season. Results showed a cut-off score of 14 or less could not predict a player’s risk of all injuries (odds ratio=1.01), or non-contact injuries (odds ratio=0.63), but was significantly linked to vertical jump height (p=0.006). Additional studies discussed the development and validation of novel software to automatically assess the FMS. Study two assessed the software’s validity and test-retest reliability when scoring the deep squat (DS). Two validation sessions were completed. Initially, 141 participants (mean age=9.7±3.7 years) performed the DS three times, before 16 participants (mean age=29.8±8.1 years) performed the DS on two occasions, 72 hours apart. Results showed the software had good agreement (87.5%) and moderate correlation (rs=0.44) with manual scoring and had moderate test-retest reliability (ICC=0.74). Study three developed the software to assess three FMS subtests. Validation involved 27 participants (mean age=19.8± 3.8 years) performing each subtest three times, with the software showing good mean agreement (87.3%), and inter-rater reliability (Κw=0.76), and strong correlation (rs=0.76), with live manual scoring. The final study assessed the software’s validity and test-retest reliability compared to manual scoring for all seven subtests. Twenty-three participants (mean age=22.8±5.3 years) completed all seven FMS subtests. The software’s mean agreement (87.5%) with live and video manual scoring was good, and a strong mean correlation was also reported (rs=0.71), for the seven subtests. Mean test-retest reliability was good across all seven FMS subtests (ICC=0.96). Overall, this body of research suggests the FMS cannot accurately be used to predict injury or performance in soccer players, but the development of novel software has provided a valid alternative to manual assessment for certain FMS subtests, which could provide benefits for its use in applied settings
The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language and the Irish Speaking Communities: an Ethnographic Investigation
Get PDFThis study researched the impact of the recent Irish policy for language promotion and revival, the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language, on language usage in the country, especially in the Gaeltacht regions. It aimed at ascertaining how the policy had been received by the population and assessing its effects, so far, on Irish speaking communities.
The research employed ethnography as the primary method of investigation. Specifically, the study relied on participant observation and interviews, which were conducted in twelve villages and towns located in the seven Gaeltacht regions.
The research confirmed that the declining usage of the Irish language in Gaeltacht regions was no longer associated with historical or colonial legacies, but was partly the result of a larger worldwide phenomenon faced by all minority languages, with English as a dominant language globally. The research also demonstrated that the seven Gaeltacht counties are not homogeneous. Beyond contrasts of linguistic dialects, there are significant differences between each county, in relation to such variables as economy, geography and social structure, and these differences have significant policy implications. More importantly, the research found that a number of social problems continue to affect rural isolated areas in the western seaboard of Ireland, where most of the Gaeltacht regions are located, adversely affecting language preservation in the area.
As the government strategy for the Irish language is in its initial implementation phases, the study proposed to following up on the policy’s progress, especially with regards to the community language planning processes proposed for the Gaeltacht regions
Learning in the compressed data domain: Application to milk quality prediction
Get PDFSmart dairy farming has become one of the most exciting and challenging area in cloud-based data analytics.
Transfer of raw data from all farms to a central cloud is currently not feasible as applications are generating
more data while internet connectivity is lacking in rural farms. As a solution, Fog computing has become a key
factor to process data near the farm and derive farm insights by exchanging data between on-farm applications
and transferring some data to the cloud. In this context, learning in the compressed data domain, where decompression
is not necessary, is highly desirable as it minimizes the energy used for communication/computation,
reduces required memory/storage, and improves application latency. Mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) is used
globally to predict several milk quality parameters as well as deriving many animal-level phenotypes. Therefore,
compressed learning on MIRS data is beneficial both in terms of data processing in the Fog, as well as storing
large data sets in the cloud. In this paper, we used principal component analysis and wavelet transform as two
techniques for compressed learning to convert MIRS data into a compressed data domain. The study derives near
lossless compression parameters for both techniques to transform MIRS data without impacting the prediction
accuracy for a selection of milk quality traits
Towards Decomposed Data Analytics in Fog Enabled IoT Deployments
No full textWith the exponential growth rate of technology, the future of all activities involves an omnipresence of widely connected devices, or as we better know it, the ‘Internet of Things (IoT)’. In its report [1], McKinsey estimates a user base with 1 trillion interconnected IoT devices by 2025; while the recent publications [2] by Cisco in June 2017 indicate that we have already reached the Zettabyte Era, and the number of devices connected to the Internet is growing exponentially.
The increasing range of real-world IoT deployments essentially increase the sources of data generation, thereby globally strengthening the challenges already being faced in the Big Data space [3], particularly regarding moving data from one end (i.e. from data sources such as sensor/IoT devices at the edge level of infrastructure) to the other extreme end (i.e. centralized data centres at the cloud) in the network infrastructure. Sending the entire data set across the extreme ends in the infrastructure becomes an unrealistic solution, specifically in scenarios with constrained network bandwidth and low/no internet connectivity. Instead, approaches that collect data and perform computational processing near the source of data itself present a more practical alternative to such scenarios, and is beneficial for a number of reasons such as in cases of video, whose transport across infrastructure can claim considerable network resources such as the requirement for storage at each node from source to destination. While IoT deployments vary across use cases, the most prominently common underlying aim is to analyse the data generated from the devices to achieve a specific set objective
Food tourism and the search for authenticity: a literature review
Get PDFFood and drink is an important element of the overall tourist experience accounting for 35% of overall visitor spend (Failte Ireland, 2018, p.9). Moreover, local food provides a channel for tourists who are looking for an authentic experience. In 2018, Failte Ireland published the Food and Drink Strategy 2018-2013 to highlight the need to develop the food and drink experiences that Ireland offers. The report further emphasises the importance of providing tourists with an authentic food experience. However, with the widespread use of the term “authenticity”, its ambiguity and limitations have become exposed (Wang, 1999). Consequently, this paper aims to address the question of authenticity and how the concept relates to local food. A review of literature is undertaken, to clarify the various debates surrounding authenticity and determines that the concept can be segmented into different three strands, namely; objective, constructive and existential. Subsequently, the paper develops an understanding of authenticity in relation to local food tourism. The paper concludes that by understanding the various strands of authenticity tourist stakeholders, food producers and destination marketers can add value to the tourist experience. Furthermore, local food production, can encourage the involvement of residents, strengthening culture and identity and, in some cases, becoming the basis for effective destination marketing (Ferrari and Gilli, 2015). Thus, benefiting the region by attracting more visitors and investment (Sims, 2009). Additionally, by using the three strands of authenticity, different local food products and experiences could be developed appealing to tourists differing perceptions of authenticity