Innovation in the Construction and Property Management Industries

Purpose – The purpose of this practice paper is to examine how the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme has been employed to introduce change and deliver business benefit in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach – The paper begins with an introduction to the KTP scheme and its context within the University of Gloucestershire which serves as an introduction to three case studies, each one covering a 21‐24 month time span. The cases draw their empirical material from the experience of managing the KTPs, interviews, meeting minutes, board papers and final reports. Findings – All three case studies have been successful in the introduction of new thinking or new ways of working in different areas of business. In one case study, a new marketing strategy was developed and implemented; in another, a new consultancy capability has been developed and embedded in the company; and in the third, new information systems were introduced to support corporate growth. Originality/value – The value of the case studies lies in their originality and the paper highlights the value of the KTP scheme as a catalyst for the introduction of new ideas and initiatives in three different sectors of the construction industry. The paper also illustrates how academics can work productively in a commercial environment with industry partner

Innovation in the Construction and Property Management Industries

Purpose – The purpose of this practice paper is to examine how the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme has been employed to introduce change and deliver business benefit in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach – The paper begins with an introduction to the KTP scheme and its context within the University of Gloucestershire which serves as an introduction to three case studies, each one covering a 21‐24 month time span. The cases draw their empirical material from the experience of managing the KTPs, interviews, meeting minutes, board papers and final reports. Findings – All three case studies have been successful in the introduction of new thinking or new ways of working in different areas of business. In one case study, a new marketing strategy was developed and implemented; in another, a new consultancy capability has been developed and embedded in the company; and in the third, new information systems were introduced to support corporate growth. Originality/value – The value of the case studies lies in their originality and the paper highlights the value of the KTP scheme as a catalyst for the introduction of new ideas and initiatives in three different sectors of the construction industry. The paper also illustrates how academics can work productively in a commercial environment with industry partner

Minimally invasive insertion of reference electrodes into commercial lithium-ion pouch cells

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of EPSRC UK and Jaguar Land Rover Ltd for this work.Two procedures to introduce a lithium metal reference electrode into commercially manufactured lithium-ion pouch cells (Kokam SLPB 533459H4) are described and compared. By introducing a stable reference potential, the individual behavior of the positive and negative electrodes can be studied in operando under normal cycling. Unmodified cells and half-cells made from harvested electrode material were cycled under identical conditions to the modified cells to compare capacity degradation during cycling and thus validate each modification procedure for degradation testing. A configuration that did not affect the performance of the cell over 20 cycles was successfully developed.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Influence of Role Model and Self-Efficacy on Entrepreneurial Intention among Undergraduates of the University of Ibadan

Self-employment is taking centre-stage among university undergraduates as white collar jobs are hard to come by after graduation. Empowering students for self-employment has therefore become imperative. This study aims to investigate two predictors of entrepreneurial intention: role model and self-efficacy among undergraduate students of the University of Ibadan. Cross-sectional survey design using three instruments: Role Model Scale, Self-efficacy Scale and Entrepreneurial Intention Scale were used to collect data from 200 conveniently sampled undergraduates (male: 105; female: 95). Data were analyzed using zero-order correlation, t-test of independent samples, and standard multiple regressions analysis. The results showed a significant positive correlation between entrepreneurial intention and role model. Male students reported higher entrepreneurial intention than their female counterparts. Furthermore, role model and self-efficacy jointly predicted entrepreneurial intention. Finally, role model independently predicted entrepreneurial intention. However, self-efficacy did not independently predict entrepreneurial intention among the undergraduates. The study concluded that role model, self-efficacy and gender tend to be influential factors in entrepreneurial intentions among undergraduates of the University of Ibadan. The study recommended that the university authority should intensify courses on entrepreneurship and invite seasoned entrepreneurs to come and give lectures on entrepreneurship to prepare students for careers after graduation. &nbsp

RELIGIOSITY AND COPING SELF-EFFICACY AS PREDICTORS OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS DIVORCE AMONG MARRIED COUPLES IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Divorce has a pervasive effect on married people's lives as it affects them physically, psychologically and spiritually. Studies have shown that divorce rates remain intractable in our modern society. This study, therefore, investigated how religiosity and coping self-efficacy affect attitudes towards divorce among married couples in Ibadan, Nigeria.  An ex-post facto research design using a cross-sectional survey was adopted. A purposive sampling technique was used to select six communities in Ibadan North Local Government in Oyo State. Data was collected using a-structured questionnaire comprising demographic variables, religiosity (α=0.96), coping self-efficacy (α =0.98) and attitude towards divorce (α =0.70). Data were analyzed using a t-test for independent mean and multiple regressions at a p<0.05 level of significance. The results showed that coping self-efficacy significantly influenced attitude toward divorce t(293) =-5.6, p< 0.05). Also, religiosity and coping self-efficacy jointly predicted attitude towards divorce [R2 =0.12, F (2, 293) = 20.24, p < 0.05]. Furthermore, coping self-efficacy independently predicted attitude toward divorce (β= - 0.36, p < 0.05). However, religiosity did not significantly predict attitude towards divorce (β=0.04, p > 0.05). The study recommends that marriage councillors and clergymen should be actively involved in developing coping self-efficacy among potential couples and dissuades them from a negative attitude toward divorce

INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION AMONG MINISTERS OF GOD IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Emotional exhaustion occurs when there is intense demand in workplace. The rate at which Ministers of God exhibit emotional exhaustion has been on the increased over the years. This study investigates the influence of personality traits, church-related stress, gender and age on emotional exhaustion among Ministers of God in Lagos, Nigeria. The study adopted ex-post facto research design using three instruments: Big Five Personality Scale, Church-related Stress Scale, and Emotional Exhaustion Scale to conveniently sample 202 (Males 167, Female 35) Ministers of God. Three hypotheses were tested using standard multiple regressions and t-test of independent sample mean at level of significance. The result revealed that personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, openness, neuroticism and conscientiousness) and church-related stress jointly predicted emotional exhaustion among Ministers of God in Lagos. Also, agreeableness, neuroticism  and church-relatedstress  independently predict emotional exhaustion among Ministers of God. However, gender and age did not influence emotional exhaustion among Ministers of God. The study concludes that personality traits and church-related stress are excellent predictors of emotional exhaustion among Ministers of God in the study population. It is recommended that Ministers of God should develop effective coping and problem solving techniques so as to manage both marital affairs and church activities to reduce emotional exhaustion

RELIGIOSITY AND COPING SELF-EFFICACY AS PREDICTORS OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS DIVORCE AMONG MARRIED COUPLES IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Divorce has a pervasive effect on married people's lives as it affects them physically, psychologically and spiritually. Studies have shown that divorce rates remain intractable in our modern society. This study, therefore, investigated how religiosity and coping self-efficacy affect attitudes towards divorce among married couples in Ibadan, Nigeria.  An ex-post facto research design using a cross-sectional survey was adopted. A purposive sampling technique was used to select six communities in Ibadan North Local Government in Oyo State. Data was collected using a-structured questionnaire comprising demographic variables, religiosity (α=0.96), coping self-efficacy (α =0.98) and attitude towards divorce (α =0.70). Data were analyzed using a t-test for independent mean and multiple regressions at a p<0.05 level of significance. The results showed that coping self-efficacy significantly influenced attitude toward divorce t(293) =-5.6, p< 0.05). Also, religiosity and coping self-efficacy jointly predicted attitude towards divorce [R2 =0.12, F (2, 293) = 20.24, p < 0.05]. Furthermore, coping self-efficacy independently predicted attitude toward divorce (β= - 0.36, p < 0.05). However, religiosity did not significantly predict attitude towards divorce (β=0.04, p > 0.05). The study recommends that marriage councillors and clergymen should be actively involved in developing coping self-efficacy among potential couples and dissuades them from a negative attitude toward divorce

Measurements of methane and nitrous oxide in human breath and the development of UK scale emissions

Exhaled human breath can contain small, elevated concentrations of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), both of which contribute to global warming. These emissions from humans are not well understood and are rarely quantified in global greenhouse gas inventories. This study investigated emissions of CH4 and N2O in human breath from 104 volunteers in the UK population, to better understand what drives these emissions and to quantify national-scale estimates. A total of 328 breath samples were collected, and age, sex, dietary preference, and smoking habits were recorded for every participant. The percentage of methane producers (MPs) identified in this study was 31%. The percentage of MPs was higher in older age groups with 25% of people under the age of 30 classified as MPs compared to 40% in the 30+ age group. Females (38%) were more likely to be MPs than males (25%), though overall concentrations emitted from both MP groups were similar. All participants were found to emit N2O in breath, though none of the factors investigated explained the differences in emissions. Dietary preference was not found to affect CH4 or N2O emissions from breath in this study. We estimate a total emission of 1.04 (0.86–1.40) Gg of CH4 and 0.069 (0.066–0.072) Gg of N2O in human breath annually in the UK, the equivalent of 53.9 (47.8–60.0) Gg of CO2. In terms of magnitude, these values are approximately 0.05% and 0.1% of the total emissions of CH4 and N2O reported in the UK national greenhouse gas inventories

Growth or decline in the Church of England during the decade of Evangelism: did the Churchmanship of the Bishop matter?

The Decade of Evangelism occupied the attention of the Church of England throughout the 1990s. The present study employs the statistics routinely published by the Church of England in order to assess two matters: the extent to which these statistics suggest that the 43 individual dioceses finished the decade in a stronger or weaker position than they had entered it and the extent to which, according to these statistics, the performance of dioceses led by bishops shaped in the Evangelical tradition differed from the performance of dioceses led by bishops shaped in the Catholic tradition. The data demonstrated that the majority of dioceses were performing less effectively at the end of the decade than at the beginning, in terms of a range of membership statistics, and that the rate of decline varied considerably from one diocese to another. The only exception to the trend was provided by the diocese of London, which experienced some growth. The data also demonstrated that little depended on the churchmanship of the diocesan bishop in shaping diocesan outcomes on the performance indicators employed in the study