Law as a regulator: steering waste management by steering itself through its relationship with the environment

Since 1995, the member states of the European Union (E.U.) have been legally obliged to reduce biodegradable municipal waste, with a final target of 35% of 1995 levels by 2020 and, in doing so, increase the recycling rate to 50%. In 2015, the E.U. has agreed to aim for a recycling rate of 65% by 2030. For the E.U, and the United Kingdom, the achievement of these targets form part of the policies of the waste hierarchy, the zero waste economy and the circular economy. While it is recognised in the literature that there is a link between these concepts, it is not clear how they are connected and how they can be exploited to change human behaviour. The aim of this thesis is to develop a conceptualisation, using Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory, of the relationship between the waste hierarchy, the zero waste economy and circular economy in terms of the social factors – law, economics, politics, etc. ‐ that influence behaviour. The proposed conceptualisation moves away from the notion of waste as a material substance discarded by human beings into the environment; instead, waste is a shared understanding of the transfer of material substances between human beings. Thus, in my reading of Luhmann’s theory, waste is the unusable by‐product of systems and it can only be made usable by external reference to other systems in the social environment. Therefore, my thesis is that the legal system steers the waste management process by steering itself through its relationship with the environment, with steering mediated by organisations, such as households, courts, government departments, local authorities and businesses. Through an encounter between Luhmann’s theory and Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler’s libertarian paternalism or nudge theory, I argue that organisational decision‐making creates the context or, in Sunstein and Thaler’s words, choice architecture that nudges human beings towards certain behaviour. In turn, it is the choices made by human beings that influence organisational decision‐making. My thesis is demonstrated using the following minicase studies: (a) the development of international environmental law principles; (b)the definition of “discarding” by the European Court of Justice as distinct from the ordinary understanding of discarding; (c) the provision of household waste collection services in England; and (d) the creation of food waste by retailers and the legal jurisdiction of bin‐diving in the context of freeganism

Acceptance and Use of the \u27Digital Measures\u27 System in an Organized Anarchy

The literature reveals that researchers have examined the adoption of different types of systems, both voluntary and mandatory, by different groups of individuals affiliated with different types of organizations. Adoption studies may exhibit the following characteristics: a) the research participants are drawn from multiple levels of the organization’s hierarchy, and b) the research participants attach similar interpretations regarding the adoption of the information system. It is not inconceivable that individuals within the same group attach different interpretations of voluntariness to the same information system. This may be applicable in Colleges and Universities in which faculty, in particular, comprise an “organized anarchy”. Taking the case of “Activity Insight”, a commercially-available software product (hereafter referred to as Digital Measures) meant for employees in colleges and universities to report their activities. This study provides a scenario for research on whether interpretations regarding voluntariness may result in findings that stray from the norm

Effect of dual task training and single task training in improving balance and dual task performance of individuals with diabetic neuropathy - An Experimental study.

OBJECTIVE : Balance impairment is one of the major problems in individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy as a result of loss of sensory feedback from the periphery. Concentrating on cognitive aspect of balance which involvesattentional capacity can improve the balance and daily task performance. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of dual task training and single task training in improving balance and dual task performance of individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. STUDY DESIGN : Two groups Pre test – Post test experimental study design. PARTICIPANTS : Twenty individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both the sexes who met the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly assigned into two groups, dual task training group and single task training group each contain ten subjects. INTERVENTIONS : single task training group treated with standing and walking balance exercises and dual task training group treated with standing and walking balance exercises in addition to cognitive task that is counting numbers in backwards by 2s done concurrently and these exercises done for thirty minutes a day five days per week for four weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES : Balance is measured by sharpen Romberg test (eyes closed) and single leg stance test (eyes opened and eyes closed, right leg and left leg) and dual task performance is measured by timed up and go test-dual task. RESULTS : At baseline subjects in both groups were closely similar. After the intervention both groups showed statistically significant differences on sharpen Romberg test, single leg stance test and timed up and go test. By comparing the mean value and percentage of improvement, dual task training group showed significant improvement than the single task group in both outcome measurements. CONCLUSION : This study revealed that there is significant improvement of dual task training group in improving balance and dual task performance

Organizational Engagement with Supply Chain Integration: Achieving a Tangible Strategy

Although supply chain management and supply chain integration have become topics found within today’s organization as well as topics for researchers from various disciplines, little research has been completed concerning the linkage between business strategy, supply chain strategy, and the resulting decision which an organization makes to enter into an integration initiative. This paper discusses the experience of one organization in formulating a supply chain strategy consistent with its business strategy. The paper concludes with key elements driving the supply chain which emerge from this linkage, a framework for determining the importance of the supply chain to the organization, and a discussion of the benefits gained from creating a tangible incarnation, an enactment, of the firm’s strategy

Enabling Context-Based Learning with KPortal Webspace Technology

Recognizing the importance of context-based learning and the general lack of technology applications in the design and development of the ideal and formal curricula, this paper describes an experimental system at a large public university. The authors describe the creation of a contextual environment for introducing concepts related to information security to undergraduate business students using the KPortal (Knowledge Portals) webspace technology that supports dynamic content gathered from various sources automatically. The KPortal webspace rated highly on the various attributes of effective contexts and the characteristics of technologies that enable context-based learning. The flexibility provided by the webspace permitted the authors to develop adaptable environments in which the students could connect well with rather abstract concepts. The overall intervention was designed to examine if a limited portion of the course could be supported by technology and next phases of the research will broaden its use to semester-length curriculum

Re-examining the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT): Towards a Revised Theoretical Model

Based on a critical review of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), this study first formalized an alternative theoretical model for explaining the acceptance and use of information system (IS) and information technology (IT) innovations. The revised theoretical model was then empirically examined using a combination of meta-analysis and structural equation modelling (MASEM) techniques. The meta-analysis was based on 1600 observations on 21 relationships coded from 162 prior studies on IS/IT acceptance and use. The SEM analysis showed that attitude: was central to behavioural intentions and usage behaviours, partially mediated the effects of exogenous constructs on behavioural intentions, and had a direct influence on usage behaviours. A number of implications for theory and practice are derived based on the findings

International Journal of Chemical and Physical Sciences Binary Phase Diagramand Thin Film Coatings of Bimetallic Oxides using Bis(N-isopropylsalicylaldimine)M(II) M = Co, Ni and Zn as a Single Source Precursor for Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition Binary

Abstract The metal Schiff base complexes of bis(N-isopropylsalicylaldimine)coblt(II), bis(N-isopropylsalicylaldimine)nickel(II) and bis (N-isopropylsalicylaldimine

The Genetics of Inherited Cholestatic Disorders in Neonates and Infants: Evolving Challenges

Many inherited conditions cause cholestasis in the neonate or infant. Next-generation sequencing methods can facilitate a prompt diagnosis in some of these cases; application of these methods in patients with liver diseases of unknown cause has also uncovered novel gene-disease associations and improved our understanding of physiological bile secretion and flow. By helping to define the molecular basis of certain cholestatic disorders, these methods have also identified new targets for therapy as well patient subgroups more likely to benefit from specific therapies. At the same time, sequencing methods have presented new diagnostic challenges, such as the interpretation of single heterozygous genetic variants. This article discusses those challenges in the context of neonatal and infantile cholestasis, focusing on difficulties in predicting variant pathogenicity, the possibility of other causal variants not identified by the genetic screen used, and phenotypic variability among patients with variants in the same genes. A prospective, observational study performed between 2010–2013, which sequenced six important genes (ATP8B1, ABCB11, ABCB4, NPC1, NPC2 and SLC25A13) in an international cohort of 222 patients with infantile liver disease, is given as an example of potential benefits and challenges that clinicians could face having received a complex genetic result. Further studies including large cohorts of patients with paediatric liver disease are needed to clarify the spectrum of phenotypes associated with, as well as appropriate clinical response to, single heterozygous variants in cholestasis-associated genes

Multidisciplinary design of a more electric regional aircraft including certification constraints

The use of electrified on-board systems is increasingly more required to reduce aircraft complexity, polluting emissions, and its life cycle cost. However, the more and all-electric aircraft configurations are still uncommon in the civil aviation context and their certifiability has yet to be proven in some aircraft segments. The aim of the present paper is to define a multidisciplinary design problem which includes some disciplines pertaining to the certification domain. In particular, the study is focused on the preliminary design of a 19 passengers small regional turboprop aircraft. Different on-board systems architectures with increasing electrification levels are considered. These architectures imply the use of bleedless technologies including electrified ice protection and environmental control systems. The use of electric actuators for secondary surfaces and landing gear are also considered. The aircraft design, which includes aerodynamic, structural, systems and propulsion domains, is then assessed by some certification disciplines. In particular, minimum performance, external noise and safety assessments are included in the workflow giving some insights on the aircraft certifiability. The results show a reduction of 3% of MTOM and 3% of fuel mass depending on the systems architecture selected. From the certification side, the design has proven to be certifiable and the margins with the certification constraint can be controlled to improve the overall design

A meta-analysis of the factors associated with s-commerce intention: Hofstede's cultural dimensions as moderators

Purpose: In recent years, the proliferation of social commerce (s-commerce) has attracted many researchers to investigate the drivers of individuals' intentions. However, the empirical results reported in these studies were fragmented and inconsistent. This has led various meta-analyses to synthesize these findings, but without including a large number of s-commerce studies. In addition, investigating meta-analytically the effects of moderators such as the six dimensions of Hofstede's national culture is still lacking. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on nine theories and models, this meta-analysis aims to summarize the findings reported in 109 s-commerce studies published between 2011 and 2021 and to examine the moderating role of national culture. The correlation coefficient (r) has been used as the main effect size for this study. Based on the random-effects method, the CMA V3 software has been employed to calculate the weighted mean effect sizes. Findings: The meta-analysis results showed that all the 11 hypothesized direct relationships are positive and significant. The moderator results also revealed that five out of six cultural dimensions significantly moderate the examined associations. Originality/value: This research serves to enrich the existing s-commerce literature by addressing contradictory and mixed results reported in the empirical studies. This study is one of the first of its kind to investigate the role of Hofstede's six cultural dimensions as moderators in the field of s-commerce using the meta-analytic techniques