Cell, parasitism, and proliferation – Design framework of self-organization for architecture and urban design

In this century of urbanization, cities have become complex systems that face diverse socio-environmental challenges. The task for planners and architects is to find suitable solutions which correspond to these challenges in order to achieve sustainable cities. Significantly, construction is one of the highest carbon-emitting industries, but it is essential for modern life. To date, the mainstream design approach for architecture and urban design has been the rigid and top-down masterplan. This static design approach is implemented for efficiency in this property-led society, and architectural projects see the final moment of the construction as complete. However, the persuade toward sustainable cities led to the requirement for adaptive and flexible architecture and urban design for future dynamic changes. This call for adaptive capacity underlies sustainability and resilience theory. This study's goal is built on the assumption that the city is an organism and treats architecture and urban design as forms of integration. The Japanese Metabolism propositions are unconscious responses to architectural sustainability and include the feature of self-organization. To correspond to the cross-scale system and organic city assumption, the concept of Japanese Metabolism and self-organization was chosen as the fundament to this research. The goal of the study is to develop a self-organization design structure for urban and architecture design based on a review of theories and cases. Buildings and cities can evolve depending on user lifestyles and needs. The alternative offered by this study aims to respond to the vulnerable environment and space requirements of the future

E-Commerce Transaction Mechanisms And Buyer-Supplier Relationship

Information exchange between the buyer and supplier is an important aspect of supply chain management. B2B e-commerce helps firms to share information, maintain relationships, and conduct transactions more efficiently. The choice of B2B e-commerce transactions will influence, and as well as affect, the relationships between exchange parties. Thus, the choice of e-commerce transaction mechanisms has a relational context. An appropriate choice of a transaction mechanism can affect a firm’s strategy, procurement decisions, and performance. It had been argued that e-commerce facilitates both discrete and relational exchanges, and it has a dual impact on business relationships. In this paper, we examine a collection of diverse studies on EDI and e-marketplace from marketing and information systems literatures. We assimilate these findings for managers considering choices on e-commerce transaction mechanisms. We hope that this will provide managers a more consistent understanding of buyer-supplier relationships in the B2B e-commerce context

Optimization and Applications

Proceedings of a workshop devoted to optimization problems, their theory and resolution, and above all applications of them. The topics covered existence and stability of solutions; design, analysis, development and implementation of algorithms; applications in mechanics, telecommunications, medicine, operations research

An international marketing framework for Ford South Africa in Nigeria

Africa is seen as the last investment frontier and according to literature will have a GDP of $1.5 trillion by the year 2016 and a population that is double the size of Europe. The rapid expansion of infrastructure and construction in African countries, such as Mozambique and Zambia has increased the demand for commercial vehicles. This has sparked unparalleled marketing opportunities for automotive manufacturers and the continent is fast attracting major players in this sector. The international marketing literature still lacks detailed studies and research into the marketing deliberations and trades in Africa. Therefore, according literature a greater representation of African culture within the international marketing literature would provide relevance and richness in the global market place and offer greater insight to organisations who are seeking to invest and expand their businesses in Africa. The management issue here is to comprehend the diversity and vastness of this region and putting together all spheres to ensure growth and creating brand loyalty. The key challenge here is for management to be able to grasp and understand not only the various cultures but also the way of doing business in such a vastly different region. It is therefore imperative for Ford Motor Company to fully understand these factors so as to take full advantage associated with entering a market early which is commonly referred as first-mover-advantage. A case in point is when General Motors entered the Chinese automotive industry in 1997 when the Chinese market was relatively small. General Motors’ enthusiasm and commitment back in 1997 was driven by a belief that China would ultimately become an economic powerhouse and emerge as one of the world’s largest automotive markets. By the year 2010 China was one of the world’s biggest automotive markets and General Motors was a dominant force in this market. Africa has all the key elements for the growth and development of a robust automotive market. By studying past experiences and outcomes from empirical studies on international marketing with emphasis on the automotive industry, it will be possible to draw lessons and experience about the potential growth of the automotive sector on the African continent. This study will also be of great significance to other automotive manufacturers and suppliers looking to expand their business and market share across Africa due to the increase of the middle class. Therefore creative strategies and thinking of how to circumvent challenges in the African cultural environment, creativity in managing bureaucracy and due diligence about business and investment opportunities will uncover unprecedented volumes of profitable business that lies untapped on the African continent. Data from the quantitative study suggest that culture, political environment, country-of-origin, competition and country infrastructure in Nigeria, are essential factors to the development of a successful international marketing strategy for Ford South Africa. This study therefore concludes that Ford Motor Company of South Africa can utilize this framework in order to gain greater market share and ultimately success in Nigeria. Recommendations were also made for future research studies that can contribute to the international marketing literature with emphasis on the African market

Extracting Computational Representations of Place with Social Sensing

Place-based GIS are at the forefront of GIScience research and characterized by textual descriptions, human conceptualizations as well as the spatial-semantic relationships among places. The concepts of places are difficult to handle in geographic information science and systems because of their intrinsic vagueness. They arise from the complex interaction of individuals, society, and the environment. The exact delineation of vague regions is challenging as their borders are vague and the membership within a region varies non-monotonically and as a function of context. Consequently, vague regions are difficult to handle computationally, e.g., in spatial analysis, cartography, geographic information retrieval, and GIS workflows in general. The emergence of big data brings new opportunities for us to understand the place semantics from large-scale volunteered geographic information and data streams, such as geotags, texts, activity streams, and GPS trajectories. The term "social sensing" describes such individual-level big geospatial data and the associated analysis methods. In this dissertation, I present a generalizable, data-driven framework that complements classical top-down approaches by extracting the representations of vague cognitive regions and function regions from bottom-up approaches using spatial statistics and machine learning techniques with various social sensing sources. I demonstrate how to derive crisp boundaries for cognitive and functional regions from points of interest data, and show how natural language processing techniques can enrich our understanding of places and form a foundation for the semantic characterization of place types and the generalization of regions. This work makes contributions to the development of computational methodologies for extracting vague cognitive regions and functional regions using data-driven approaches as well as the novel semantic generalization processing technique

Challenges of information systems innovation in developing country contexts: an inquiry into the adoption of institutional repositories in Nigerian universities

Empirical observation persistently shows that information systems (IS) innovation is always hampered by different challenges. The number of failures and incomplete IS innovation reported across the globe, particularly in developing countries justifies this. Using the example of institutional repository (IR), an IS used to promote open access to scientific knowledge produced by universities, this study proposes actionable remedies to challenges of IS innovation in universities in developing countries. This study focuses on IR because little of it exists in universities in developing countries despite the fact that it is a cost effective way for universities to distribute scientific knowledge. IR has also not been a major focus of IS researchers despite its importance in the contemporary global academic landscape. The study therefore aims to develop explanation and solutions to barriers to IR innovation in universities in developing countries. The qualitative interpretive research philosophy was adopted together with the case study research method to conduct three empirical studies. Inductive research approach and unstructured qualitative data collection techniques were also adopted. Study 1 was carried out to assess IR innovation barrier factors at the institutional level. It reveals how globalization trends, transformation of universities and conditions of university libraries constitute IR innovation factors at institutional level. Study 2 was carried out to assess IR innovation barrier factors at the organizational level. It shows how institutional logics, adherence by universities to traditional university management orientations and paradox barrier factors constitute IR innovation factors at the organizational level. Study 3 identifies factors that influence effective tacit knowledge management at the individual level. The factors are namely, privileged information and experiences, mental reflection, planned interactions and dialogues and sustained real-time enactment of IR innovation. The three studies provide a set of theoretical and practical insights that contribute to the IS discipline, IS in developing countries and IR innovation. The contributions show how institutional, organizational and individual level factors influence IR innovation. The study reaches its goal of providing understanding and resolution to IS innovation barriers in universities in developing countries and in contexts that have similar socio-technical characteristics

A Comparative Law Perspective on Intermediaries\u27 Direct Liability in Cloud Computing Context -- A Proposal for China

This dissertation is motivated by two questions: How does the emergence of cloud-computing technology impact major countries’ copyright law regarding the issue of intermediaries’ direct liability? What should Chinese legislature body learn from those countries regarding this issue? Answering the first question lays a foundation for answering the second question. Usually, a cloud-computing intermediary’s specific activity may possess risk of violating a copyright holder’s right of reproduction, right of communication to the public and right of distribution. Comparatively, that intermediary can raise defenses under the exhaustion doctrine and the fair use doctrine. Analysis on these two topics consists of two parts. The first part examines copyright law in major countries or regional organizations such as the U.S., Japan or the European Union. The second part is an analysis of current related Chinese legislation and a proposal for China. This dissertation examines relevant international copyright treaties, major countries’ related legislature documents and related cases. This dissertation offers a thorough legal analysis how cloud-computing technology affects copyright worldwide. The proposal at the end consists of two parts. The first part provides four general legislature advices for China. The second part focuses on how China’s legislature should adjust copyright owner’s exclusive rights and intermediaries’ defense theories to react the impact brought by the cloud-computing technology

The Chinese Grand Canal World Heritage Site: living heritage in the 21st century?

The Chinese Grand Canal, contrived in the late thirteenth century to provide a safe route to the capital Beijing from the south of China for the imperial grain tribute, during the sixteenth century became the main trade artery. This canal consisted of a linear network of linked rivers and lakes, often improved to enable barges to pass and interconnected with sections of canals. In order to pass the undulating topography the watercourses were adapted with sluices of various kinds, and over its existence the main challenge was to negotiate droughts and flooding that often required new courses to be adopted and/or innovative methods in order to preserve water or circumnavigate flood damaged areas. During the twentieth century it had gradually fallen in disuse and became neglected. Yet during the Mao era sections were revived for shipping coal and were re-made sometimes on the course of the old canal, sometimes elsewhere. Other sections were removed and materials quarried for other uses. Remarkably at the same time the concept of the Grand Canal was also celebrated. By the time the Canal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Register in June 2014 there was little left of the historic fabric. In the years running up to this nomination there had been efforts to re-create some of the heritage, with the government focussing on the canal as a tourist destination. When it was finally inscribed the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) expressed concerns about the state of the original fabric and the ‘modern’ heritage created. However, the state government still holds a rose-tinted view of the various issues relating to the condition of the canal, and the propaganda and economic initiatives by the government have made it very difficult to voice criticisms. As a result canal heritage continues to be treated inappropriately with little respect for the final fragments of original fabric that still survive. This thesis aims to identify the values of the Grand Canal through a critical assessment of its historical development, and surveys the various issues relating to the heritage using the Shandong section as a case study and then explores the appropriateness and effectiveness of the current methodologies and approaches, as to whether the canal meets the criteria as a World Heritage Site; whether perhaps other designations would be more suitable; and that perhaps the canal heritage should form the basis for an alternative development methodology, addressing a new agenda regarding sustainability, climate change and mounting health problems

Sustaining export-oriented value chains of farmed seafood in China

This thesis is intended to improve the understanding of China’s evolving export-oriented farmed seafood systems, and in particularly, shrimp and tilapia farming value chains in Southern China. An integrated, systems thinking and interdisciplinary approach in which both top–down and bottom–up approaches were combined. The research moved from system reviews, to field surveys and workshops, and then to improving sustainability by Action Research (AR), in order to form a holistic understanding of sustainability at both national and local scales. In the new millennium, the aquaculture sector has matured, and many factors now slow the growth rate of Chinese aquaculture production, such as increasing culture of high-value species and an emerging trend of extensification. There are been some strategy shifts in the aquaculture industry such as changing from a high production to high profit orientation and from causing environmental damage to ecological remediation. A key conclusion is that high growth rates, regularly used in policy dialogues, are misleading indicators and do not reflect, realistic or sustainable, growth profiles. Although overall Chinese aquaculture production is likely to further increase to meet an increasing and changing market demand, growth rates will decrease further. China already is and will continue to be a fisheries products net importer, however, if fishmeal excluded China will remain as a seafood net exporter. The status and development of four internationally-traded farmed seafood, tilapia, penaeid shrimp, macrobrachium prawns and striped catfish in China were reviewed. China is the largest producer of tilapia, penaeid shrimp and macrobrachium prawns, and striped catfish is not produced in significant quantities due to climate limitations. Meanwhile, China is the largest exporter of tilapia, the second largest exporter in the volume and third in value of shrimp in the world, while macrobrachium prawns mainly support domestic markets. Tilapia and penaeid shrimp were selected for further research. An analysis of tilapia and shrimp farm scale indicators and their relationship to farming system and market orientation, farm intensification and performance was made. Farm area, both land and water area, labour, including paid and unpaid were effective indicators to distinguish farm scale. Small-scale farms had higher land productivity in production terms but no difference in value output term, and they had much lower labour productivity than medium and large-scale farms. Farming systems were also correlated with land and labour productivities. Market orientation was closely linked to farm scale as most farms with an export orientation required registration with CIQ (China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine) and were mainly large-scale. An assessment of local stakeholder sustainability perspectives along value chains revealed that more than 80% shrimp and tilapia farmers didn’t want their children to continue basing their living on aquaculture; because they considered it hard work, high risk and poorly remunerated. Farming was comparative stable with few changes in the five years prior to the survey. Major sustainability factors identified by stakeholders included input costs, profit, water availability & quality and the weather, most of which were outside their control. The measurement of these sustainability factors was firstly proposed by stakeholders and then developed to a set of sustainability indicators (SIs). Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used as evaluate the environmental performance of tilapia, pig and integrated tilapia-pig farming systems in China. Pig farming had higher environment impacts based on most impact categories than tilapia, and integrated farming systems. Sensitivity analysis showed that improvements of 5% and 10% higher feed efficiency, reduction of fishmeal in feed to 1% level and use of EU electricity could significant reduce overall environmental impacts. An action research (AR) approach was used to assess the practice of farm record keeping with farmers which were found to be generally low and a major constraint to improving product traceability increasingly demanded by consumers. Large scale and CIQ farms were more likely to keep records and for them to be detailed and analysed to inform improved management. Farmers’ motivation, ability and capability and background had significant correlation with record keeping practice. Two major dilemmas were identified by the analysis. Easy-to-use farm record-keeping system more suitable for less formally educated farmers was a clear requirement but useful storage and analysis of farm data capacity requires sophisticated management tools such as a computer system. Another dilemma is the need for coercion by regulatory authorities or encouragement through provision of education and training in increasing on-farm record-keeping to a level required for international trade and, increasingly, domestic markets. “Precision aquaculture”, value chain integrated solution, and further social-economic reforms were discussed. Finally, sustainable intensification, diversification, and extensification were proposed as strategies for China to meet the challenges of globalization and the growing demands of export and domestic value chains. In order to enhance sustainability of the sector and provide opportunities for small-scale farmers, the current status and changes of the Chinese social, economic context, food safety and environments issues were discussed. Farmers’ organizations, future consolidation, and land reforms were identified as key to the required changes of farmed seafood value chains