73 research outputs found
Benchmarking logistics facilities: a rating model to assess building quality and functionality
No full textPurpose: Logistics real estate has been experiencing a recent rebirth led by the growth of retailing and e-commerce. Although these sectors are looking for facilities matching their logistics needs, the identification of the most suitable building becomes a challenging task. To date, from both the practitioner’s and academic perspectives there is a lack of models for assessing the quality of logistics facilities together with functionality (i.e. whether a warehouse is suitable for hosting a given logistics activity). The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by developing a rating model for assessing the quality and functionality of logistics facilities.
Design/methodology/approach: A three-pronged methodology was adopted. First, a Systematic Literature Network Analysis (SLNA) was carried out to identify the relevant features that must be taken into consideration when assessing logistics real estate. Second, a Delphi method involving experts in the field was used to fine-tune the list of features that emerged from the SLNA process and to evaluate the importance of each feature from a company perspective. The rating model was developed and validated through pilot tests on 27 logistics facilities.
Findings: The rating model is divided into four sections: location, technical specifications, external spaces and internal areas. As an output, the model determines the building quality and main functionality, together with a gap analysis to detect the weakest emerging elements.
Originality/value: This research fills an identified research gap in the logistics real estate literature. Specifically, it offers a quantitative and shared evaluation method, which can be used to estimate building quality and functionality, thus extending the scope of the previous assessment methods available
A framework for assessing the quality and functionality of logistics buildings
No full textLogistics real estate has been experiencing a recent rebirth also driven by industries such as e-commerce and retailing, searching for warehouses and cross-docking facilities compliant with their logistics needs. In order to identify the top class logistics buildings, the need has emerged for measuring both the quality (e.g. architectural and equipment features) and functionality (e.g. compliancy with logistics requirements) of warehouses. Literature reports examples of assessment models related to industrial buildings from a sustainability perspective (e.g. LEED, BREEAM certifications), but the measurement of their functionality and quality has been scarcely addressed so far. The present paper aims to fill this gap by developing an original model to assess logistics buildings, by identifying, structuring and rating the most relevant features of a warehouse. The proposed model assesses the degree of functionality and quality level of two types of logistics buildings: warehouses and cross-dock platforms. A three-phase methodology was adopted. First, a literature review on logistics real estate was performed to list significant warehouse features. Second, both structured interviews with experts and a Delphi method were used to adjust the list, and to evaluate the importance of each feature. As a result, a model was developed, structured into four sections, each divided into sub-sections. Each sub-section presents multiple-choice questions with response items. The significance of each section/item is described by the weights defined by experts, and the overall rating determines the quality level of the logistics building under assessment. Finally, the rating model was validated by pilot tests on a panel of existing warehouses and cross-dock platforms
The Era of Innovation for Sustainability-Oriented Logistics: A Systematic Literature Review of European Studies
No full textDental implants with locking taper connection versus screwed connection: microbiologic and scanning electron microscope study
No full textThe aim of this study is to carry out an analysis of the Fixture-Abutment Interfaces (FAI), comparing different connection systems, to evaluate the role of geometric discrepancy, which is present between the abutment and the fixture, in favoring the permeability to bacterial colonization. Two types of commercially available FAI were studied, 16 screwed FAI (Sweden-Martina Italia) (4 of Ø 3.8 mm diameter, 4 of Ø 4.7 mm diameter, 4 of Ø 5.7 mm diameter and 4 of Ø 6.7 mm diameter) and 4 FAI (Bicon) (Ø 3.5mm diameter). The assays were carried out in vitro, placing the different dental implants in contact with broth culture of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes to test the infiltration inside the FAI. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was carried out to evaluate the gap at the fixture-abutment interface. In all the locking taper FAI and in the screwed FAI with a diameter of 3.8 mm there was no trace of bacterial infiltration of the species examined. In the screwed FAI with a diameter of 4.7 mm, 5.7 mm and 6.7 mm there was an increasing level of bacterial infiltration in relationship to the diameter. Therefore, this paper shows that there exists an important correlation between the diameter of the screwed implant and the permeability to microbic infiltration that is directly proportional to the diameter of the implant
Vocal Emotional Expression in Parkinson’s Disease: Roles of Sex and Emotions
No full textIntroduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) commonly causes speech impairments, including difficulties in expressing emotions through voice. Method: The objective of this study was to investigate gendered vocal expressions of fear, anger, sadness, and happiness for mild to moderate PD. Prosodic features (related to fundamental frequency (F0), intensity (I), speech rate, articulation rate, and number and duration of pauses) and acoustic correlates of voice quality (CPPS, jitter, shimmer, and HNR) were collected from 14 patients with PD (mean age = 69.93; SD = 7.12; 8 males, 6 females) and 13 healthy controls (HC) (mean age = 68.13; SD = 8.27; 5 males, 8 females) matched for age, sex, and years of education. The utterances were extracted from four emotional and one neutral text. The neutral utterance and the emotional utterances were compared. Intra-sex comparison (female with PD vs. female HC and male with PD vs. male HC) and inter-sex comparison (female vs. male both for patients with PD and for HC), were performed with the Mann-Whitney test. A Mann-Whitney test was also used to compare the different emotional conditions, considering sex and PD diagnosis as well. Results: No significant intra-sex differences were found for the neutral speech, but inter-sex differences emerged. Regarding emotional speech, females with PD featured lower MaxF0 than female HCs for happiness and higher intensity variability (SD I) for sadness. Utterances by females with PD had lower CPPS than utterances by HCs for anger and fear. Utterances by males with PD had lower minimum intensity (MinI) than utterances by male HCs when expressing fear. Conclusions: Emotional vocal expression in individuals with PD was found to be impaired and showed sex differences. These findings have the potential to significantly impact the quality of life of PD patients
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