Communication using signs: an empirical study of a manufacturing information system using Stamper’s OS ladder

This paper investigates information exchange during a longitudinal study of a manufacturing information system in a multinational subsidiary where the researcher had the status of a temporary employee. During this study there was a gradual realization that the main locus of interaction was the cell information board. It was here that people gathered to assimilate digital information sources and transform these into “acts”. The paper seeks to answer the following research question: how does Stamper’s Organisational Semiotic (OS) Ladder stand up to empirical investigation on a manufacturing shop floor? The work makes a contribution by examining a manufacturing information system as a form of symbolic action using empirical data accumulated over two years. The conclusion of the study is that Stamper’s OS Ladder requires to be modified based on the evidence of the study. Furthermore, it challenges the IT artefact turn in the IS literature and argues that we should view information systems first and foremost as a service to human activity

Edith Stein and the problem of empathy: insights for responsible innovation

This paper argues that the concept of empathy can provide a rich philosophical source for the nascent area of Responsible Innovation (RI). The lens through which this study looks at RI is that of phenomenology. The research question addressed is: What are the implications of Edith Stein’s phenomenology of empathy for Responsible Innovation? The paper makes two contributions. It adds a new voice, that of the philosopher Edith Stein, to the debate on innovation and in particular the emerging area of RI. Second it proposes a synthesis of the innovation and empathy literature to facilitate dialogue between philosophers and both management academics and practitioners. One of the main arguments of the paper is that the concept of empathy can inform the quest to understand and explain what is meant by von Schomberg’s definition of RI as a process of mutual responsivity of actors

2D nanostructures for water purification: graphene and beyond

Owing to their atomically thin structure, large surface area and mechanical strength, 2D nanoporous\ud materials are considered to be suitable alternatives for existing desalination and water purification membrane\ud materials. Recent progress in the development of nanoporous graphene based materials has generated\ud enormous potential for water purification technologies. Progress in the development of nanoporous\ud graphene and graphene oxide (GO) membranes, the mechanism of graphene molecular sieve action,\ud structural design, hydrophilic nature, mechanical strength and antifouling properties and the principal\ud challenges associated with nanopore generation are discussed in detail. Subsequently, the recent applications\ud and performance of newly developed 2D materials such as 2D boron nitride (BN) nanosheets,\ud graphyne, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), tungsten chalcogenides (WS2) and titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) are\ud highlighted. In addition, the challenges affecting 2D nanostructures for water purification are highlighted\ud and their applications in the water purification industry are discussed. Though only a few 2D materials\ud have been explored so far for water treatment applications, this emerging field of research is set to attract\ud a great deal of attention in the near future

An effective method for the preparation of high temperature stable anatase TiO2 photocatalysts

An efficient, rapid and straightforward method for the preparation of nitrogen and fluorine (N, F) codoped high temperature stable anatase using a microwave pre-treatment is reported. Using a single source, ammonium fluoride (NH4F) for both nitrogen and fluorine, effective doping of the precursor titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) was possible. These samples were characterised for their structural and optical properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform IR (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. In terms of the anatase to rutile transition enhancement using a novel microwave assisted technique, the sample prepared in a composition of 1:8 TiO2: NH4F at 1200 °C was seen to be most effective, having stable anatase present at 57.1 % compared to undoped TiO2 being 100 % rutile from 900 °C. This method involves the production of ammonium oxofluorotitanates (NH4TiOF3) at low temperatures. The inclusion of these intermediates greatly reduces the particle size growth and delays the anatase to rutile transition. The photocatalytic activity of these materials was studied by analysing the degradation of an organic dye, rhodamine 6G as a model system and the rate constant was calculated by pseudo-first-order kinetics. These results showed that the doped sample (0.0225 min-1) was three times more active than the undoped sample (0.0076 min-1) and over seven times faster than the commercial TiO2 photocatalyst standard Degussa P-25 calcined at 1200 °C (0.0030 min-1). The formation of intermediate compounds, oxofluorotitanates, was identified as the major reason for a delay in the anatase to rutile transition

Improved high temperature stability of anatase TiO2 photocatalysts by N,F,P co-doping

Among the three commonly occurring phases (anatase, rutile, and brookite) of TiO2, the anatase form is reported\ud to be the best photocatalyst due to the improved charge-carrier mobility and the greater number of surface\ud hydroxyl groups. The anatase to rutile transition in titania photocatalysts usually occurs at a temperature between\ud 500 °C to 700 °C. Development of a high temperature stable (above 1000 °C) anatase phase is important\ud for various environmental applications (e.g. self-cleaning ceramic tiles, anti-microbial sanitary wares, etc.). In\ud this study, the use of ammonium hexafluorophosphate as a single source dopant (method A) and urea,\ud trifluoroacetic acid and phosphoric acid as multiple sources (method B) was undertaken to improving its high\ud temperature stability. Method A was seen to produce a more stable anatase phase, with 68% anatase present at\ud 1100 °C, compared to method B which showed 100% rutile at 900 °C. Kinetic analysis shows a marked increase\ud in the photocatalytic degradation of a model dye using materials calcined at 1100 °C for method A\ud (0.042 min−1) compared to that for method B (0.005 min−1) and the commercial photocatalyst Evonik-\ud Degussa AEROXIDE® (0.031 min−1) at 1100 °C. XPS results showed that, the only dopant detected at high temperatures\ud is phosphorus in its P5+ form. The incorporation of phosphorus has proved to be an effective method in\ud stabilising the anatase phase at high temperature. The current investigation also showed that a single source precursor\ud is more favourable to obtain high temperature stable anatase phase photocatalysts

More than just a game: the role of simulation in the teaching of product design and entrepreneurship to mechanical engineering students

The purpose of this work is to contribute to the debate on the best pedagogical approach to developing undergraduate mechanical engineering skills to meet the requirements of contemporary complex working environments. The paper provides an example of using student-entrepreneur collaboration in the teaching of modules to Mechanical Engineering final year students. Problem-based learning (PBL) is one of the most significant recent innovations in the area of education for the professions. This work proposes to make an original contribution by simulating a real-life entrepreneur interaction for the students. The current literature largely confines simulation-based learning to computer applications such as games. However, this paper argues that role-playing by students interfacing with technology start-ups can also be regarded as “simulation” in a wider sense. Consequently the paper proposes the concept of simulation-action learning (SAL) as an enhancement of PBL and to distinguish it from computer simulation

An effective method for the preparation of high temperature stable anatase TiO2 photocatalysts

tAn efficient, rapid and straightforward method for the preparation of nitrogen and fluorine (N, F) codopedhigh temperature stable anatase using a microwave pre-treatment is reported. Using a single source,ammonium fluoride (NH4F) for both nitrogen and fluorine, effective doping of the precursor titaniumisopropoxide (TTIP) was possible. These samples were characterised for their structural and opticalproperties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform IR (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and UV–visspectroscopy. In terms of the anatase to rutile transition enhancement using a novel microwave assistedtechnique, the sample prepared in a composition of 1:8 TiO2: NH4F at 1200◦C was seen to be most effec-tive, having stable anatase present at 57.1% compared to undoped TiO2being 100% rutile from 900◦C. Thismethod involves the production of ammonium oxofluorotitanates (NH4TiOF3) at low temperatures. Theinclusion of these intermediates greatly reduces the particle size growth and delays the anatase to rutiletransition. The photocatalytic activity of these materials was studied by analysing the degradation of anorganic dye, rhodamine 6G as a model system and the rate constant was calculated by pseudo-first-orderkinetics. These results showed that the doped sample (0.0225 min−1) was three times more active thanthe undoped sample (0.0076 min−1) and over seven times faster than the commercial TiO2photocatalyststandard Degussa P-25 calcined at 1200◦C (0.0030 min−1). The formation of intermediate compounds,oxofluorotitanates, was identified as the major reason for a delay in the anatase to rutile transition

Real-time monitoring of a hybrid precast and in-situ concrete flat slab system

This paper presents a scheme developed for instrumentation and monitoring of the structural performance of a hybrid precast and in-situ concrete flat slab system employed in an educational building. The system contains a precast plate flooring slab, which is composed of a thin reinforced concrete plate incorporating a steel lattice girder and all reinforcement required by design. A top mat of reinforcement is placed on site, as well as reinforcing stitching bars across the precast slab joints to ensure shear transfer and two way bending action. The concrete topping is then placed on site. Preliminary data obtained from the instrumented building are discussed. Continuous monitoring of the data will allow long term effects, such as creep, to also be monitored and compared with design guidelines

Identification and quality assessment of high nature value (HNV) farmland in the North-West of Ireland

High Nature Value (HNV) farmland is farmland that is managed at low intensity and\ud which supports a high diversity of flora and fauna. HNV farmland has been\ud acknowledged as being essential to the conservation of biodiversity in Europe. In\ud recent years, as agricultural support payments have progressively incorporated\ud measures to support farmland biodiversity, the identification and enhancement of\ud HNV farmland has become increasingly important. To date methods of identifying\ud HNV farmland have been highly variable amongst E.U. Member States or even\ud within countries. Additionally, methods of measuring the quality of HNV regions\ud have been limited and have had variable successes. This provides the incentive for\ud this study which examined the habitat composition of 60 farms in the Counties\ud Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim in the north-west of Ireland. This data was used to aid the\ud identification of HNV farmland in Ireland and development of HNV grassland\ud quality assessment.\ud The first part of this study works towards developing a nature value index for\ud pastoral farmland in a Northern Atlantic biogeographic region. Using data from 30\ud farms, a simple 10 point nature value index was developed following a five step\ud statistical process. The benefit of this index is that it is based on three easily\ud measured variables i.e. (i) proportion of improved agricultural grassland on a farm,\ud (ii) stocking density and (iii) length of linear habitats per hectare on a farm. These\ud values are combined to assign a nature value score to a farm. This score has the\ud potential to be used as an identification tool for HNV farmland and could also be\ud used to inform targeting of agri-environment supports and monitoring of the success\ud (or failures) of measures within such schemes.\ud The second part of this study aims to increase the understanding of the farm types\ud that are associated with HNV landscapes. Using farm biodiversity values and farm\ud management values, four distinct farm types within a HNV landscape have been\ud identified. These farm types represent the gradient of management intensities in a\ud HNV landscape. This information can be used to inform the development of future\ud agri-environment schemes and highlights those areas which may benefit from\ud targeted supports to enhance and maintain biodiversity levels.\ud The final section of this study examines the vegetation groupings associated with\ud HNV farmland and investigates the potential of assessing the floristic quality of\ud fields in HNV landscapes. Four primary vegetation groups associated with HNV\ud farmland were identified and described using cluster analysis and indicator species\ud analysis. Additionally, a measure of the quality of fields within this landscape was\ud developed based on HNV grassland indicator species. This measure of quality was\ud found to relate to the nature value index developed in part one of this study. The use\ud of the quality score in combination with the nature value index provides a holistic\ud measure of the biodiversity value of HNV farmland in pastoral regions. These\ud measures have the potential to be used as part of targeted agri-environmental\ud schemes

The effects that building information modelling may have on the role of quantity surveyors

The rationale behind the chosen research topic is the advancement of information technology in the construction industry in recent years and a mandate introduced into public works contracts in the United Kingdom in 2016, requiring Level 2 BIM to be used on all public works contracts. This research study aims to examine the affects that Building Information Modelling may have on the role of Quantity Surveyors. The methodology adopted to carry out the research was a number of semi-structured interviews with Quantity Surveyor working in industry. A qualitative method of analysis was be used to analyse the data collected, the results of which were analysed against the data in the Literature Review. The interview participants were Quantity Surveyors whom had various levels of experience with BIM.\ud The main findings were that the role of the QSs would change in terms of the method that QSs adopt to quantify materials. Measurement procedure may move away from measuring lines on 2D drawing and towards quantifying items that are modelled in a 3D environment. The time spent measuring will be reduced, as well as the number of assumptions that QSs need to make. Re-works due to design errors and variations may become less common, but will most likely still occur due to clients changing their minds. The QSs role as a cost manager will still always persist. The QSs, in time, can offer enhanced service to the design team, by becoming more active in the design phase. The quick estimates are likely to result in changes to the design pre-contract becoming a much more intense occurrence. Buildings will be designed to cost