1,284 research outputs found
SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES AND CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS IN KOTIPIZZA, MYYRMÄKI
No full textThe thesis investigates the sustainability that Kotipizza Vantaa Myyrmäki implements and the extent to which customers consider these activities in their dining choices. In Finland, the restaurant business integrates sustainability to be one of the most prominent topics, as responsible food production and curbing food waste is in high demand. This study addresses this particular void through the study of a single restaurant and the examination of how such practices impact consumers’ attitudes and behaviours in terms of satisfaction and loyalty.
The primary focus of this research is to determine the sustainability practices of the selected Kotipizza Myyrmäki and evaluate their influence on customers’ attitudes and behaviours. The research process was approached methodologically. The management of the restaurant was interviewed to understand the operational activities in the restaurant, and on-site observations allowed to analyse how sustainability was communicated to the customers. The findings show that consumers are partly aware that Kotipizza Myyrmäki promotes environmental protection, although the exact practical measures are not always known. The data suggests that Myyrmäki Kotipizza's customers are positively impressed by the sustainability initiatives. This provides justification for the company to expand messages about their sustainable initiatives and strengthen the importance of sustainability in their service model.
Keywords: sustainability, consumer perceptions, restaurant industry, Kotipizza Myyrmäki, customer loyalty, environmental responsibility
Politik Islam atau Islam politik?
No full textTema politik Islam selalu ramai untuk dibicarakan, apalagi di negeri mayoritas Muslim seperti Indonesia. Berikut adalah wawancara dengan Dr. Saiful Mujani, November 1995
Layered LaSrGa3O7-based oxide-ion conductors: cooperative transport mechanisms and flexible structures
No full textNovel melilite-type gallium-oxides are attracting attention as promising new
oxide-ion conductors with potential use in clean energy devices such as solid
oxide fuel cells. Here, an atomic-scale investigation of the LaSrGa3O7-based
system using advanced simulation techniques provides valuable insights into
the defect chemistry and oxide ion conduction mechanisms, and includes comparison
with the available experimental data. The simulation model reproduces
the observed complex structure composed of layers of corner-sharing GaO4
tetrahedra. A major finding is the first indication that oxide-ion conduction in
La1.54Sr0.46Ga3O7.27 occurs through an interstitialcy or cooperative-type mechanism
involving the concerted knock-on motion of interstitial and lattice oxide
ions. A key feature for the transport mechanism and high ionic conductivity
is the intrinsic flexibility of the structure, which allows considerable local
relaxation and changes in Ga coordination
Feeling the strain:enhancing ionic transport in olivine phosphate cathodes for Li- and Na-ion batteries through strain effects
No full textOlivine-type phosphates LiFePO4 and NaFePO4 are among the most widely studied cathode materials for rechargeable batteries. To improve their rate behaviour for future electronic and vehicle applications, it is vital that the Li+ and Na+ conductivities be enhanced. In this study, atomistic simulation methods (including molecular dynamics) are used to investigate the effect of lattice strain on ion transport and defect formation in olivine-type LiFePO4 and NaFePO4, as these properties are directly related to their intercalation behaviour. The results suggest that lattice strain can have a remarkable effect on the rate performance of cathode materials, with a major increase in the ionic conductivity and decrease in blocking defects at room temperature. Such understanding is important for the future optimization of high-rate cathodes for rechargeable batteries, and is relevant to the growing interest in developing thin film solid-state batteries
FlexIQ: a Flexible Interactive Querying Framework by Exploiting the Skyline Operator
No full textAbstract not availableMd. Saiful Islam, Chengfei Liu, Rui Zho
Oxide-ion and proton conducting electrolyte materials for clean energy applications: structural and mechanistic features
No full textThis critical review presents an overview of the various classes of oxide materials exhibiting fast oxide-ion or proton conductivity for use as solid electrolytes in clean energy applications such as solid oxide fuel cells. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between structural and mechanistic features of the crystalline materials and their ion conduction properties. After describing well-established classes such as fluorite- and perovskite-based oxides, new materials and structure-types are presented. These include a variety of molybdate, gallate, apatite silicate/germanate and niobate systems, many of which contain flexible structural networks, and exhibit different defect properties and transport mechanisms to the conventional materials. It is concluded that the rich chemistry of these important systems provides diverse possibilities for developing superior ionic conductors for use as solid electrolytes in fuel cells and related applications. In most cases, a greater atomic-level understanding of the structures, defects and conduction mechanisms is achieved through a combination of experimental and computational technique
Lattice strain effects on doping, hydration and proton transport in scheelite-type electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells
No full textLattice strain is considered a promising approach to modulate the structural and functional properties of oxide materials. In this study we investigate the effect of lattice strain on doping, hydration and proton transport for the family of scheelite-type proton conductors using both atomistic and DFT computational methods. The results suggest that tensile strain improves the dopant solubility and proton uptake of the material. The anisotropic proton pathways change from being within the a-b plane to being in the a-c plane. However, the predicted reduction in the migration barrier suggests that improvements in ionic conductivity due to lattice strain effects will be limited, in contrast with the work on oxide ion conduction. Such results are rationalized in terms of structural changes and differences in migration steps between oxide ions and protonic species.</p
Islamic Economics: A Survey of the Literature
No full textA central thesis of this paper is that social science is the study of human experience, and hence strongly conditioned by history. Modern Western political, economic and social structures have emerged as a consequence of the repudiation of religion, and are based on secular principles. Many of these are inimical to Islamic principles, and cannot be adapted to an Islamic society. Muslim societies achieved freedom from colonial rule in the first half of the twentieth century and sought to construct institutions in conformity with Islam. The development of Islamic economics is part of this process of transition away from Western colonial institutions. This paper focuses on the contrasts between Western economic theories and Islamic approaches to organization of economic affairs. Neoclassical theory is centered around the acquisitive instinct of humans, and makes competition the driving force of economic analysis. Islamic approaches foster cooperation and encourage generosity as the fundamental principle for handling economic affairs. Human beings have potential for good and evil, and are free to choose between the two; their behavior is not subject to mathematical laws postulated by neoclassical economic theory. The main message of Islam is that we must strive to achieve the potential for good both at the individual and at the social level. Behavior in the economic realm is also governed by this goal. Islamic law (Shari’ah) provides the framework for all activity within an Islamic society. In the economic domain, Islamic law regulates both methods by which money may be earned and also the ways it may be spent. Acquisition of wealth is permissible only in ways which are just to all parties concerned; exploitation, arbitrary taxation, and individual profit resulting in social harm is not permissible in Islamic law. This puts numerous restrictions on business practices utilized to make profits. For example, polluting the environment, or selling products which lead to moral corruption would not be permissible in Islamic law. Wealth which has been acquired becomes private property, which is both a trust and a test according to Islamic concepts. The “trust” aspect means that property must be used in ways beneficial to the individual and society. The “test” aspect means that those who have more than they need should take care of those who are in need. Ways in which acquired wealth can be spent is also subject to Islamic law. People are expected to strive to be self-sufficient and not ask from others. Thus striving to acquire wealth and spending it on personal and family needs is encouraged by Islamic law. Islam does not preach austerity and encourages a comfortable standard of living. At the same time, it strongly discourages spending on idle desires, luxuries, and ostentation. There is also a strong encouragement to spend what is beyond ones needs on social welfare. These fundamental principles for acquiring wealth, using property (acquired wealth), and spending it impact on all realms of economic activity. Since these are substantially different from Western ideas in all three areas, there are substantial contrasts between Western economic institutions and Islamic ones. The paper traces out these differences in many realms of economic activity. The primary objective of an Islamic state is to provide justice, and Islamic public finance is concerned with tracing the concrete implications of this abstraction in the economic realm. Western financial institutions have the acquisition and multiplication of wealth as their prime objective. Since acquisition of wealth can only be a means to an end, these institutions require modification in an Islamic society. Similarly, Islamic imperatives for social welfare require construction of certain uniquely Islamic types of institutions which do not have counterparts in the West. The paper discusses these issues in some detail.Islamic Economics, Neoclassical Economics
- …
