Comparison of consumer attitudes between Cyprus and Latvia: An evaluation of effect of setting on consumer preferences in the water industry

This is the post-print version of the article. The official published version can be obtained from th link below - Copyright @ SpringerModels approaching consumer expectations of their water supplier from a risk perspective suggest that consumers primarily and overwhelmingly want safe drinking water supply. In this study consumer preferences in the water sector are investigated in two contrasting case studies: Cyprus, where there have been significant quantity and continuity of supply issues, and Riga, where there have been water quality issues. While water quality is undoubtedly the main priority of water consumers in Riga, in Cyprus consumers indicate that they prioritise a more reliable service even though many are sufficiently dissatisfied with water quality that they do not drink the tap water. The analysis of consumer attitudes in the two case studies suggests that when water supply is unreliable, reliability takes precedence; once it is reliable quality issues come to the fore.This research was carried out as part of Work Area 6 of the TECHNEAU project, an integrated project funded under FP6 of the European Commission, grant number: 018320

Reduced finite element square techniques (RFE2): towards industrial multiscale fe software

Reduced order modeling techniques proposed by the authors are assessed for an industrial case study of a 3D reinforced composite laminate. Essentially, the main dominant strain micro-structural modes are obtained through standard reduced order modeling techniques applied over snapshots of a representative training strain space. Additionally, a reduced number of integration points is obtained by exactly integrating the main energy modes resulting from the training energy snapshots. The outcome consists of a number of dominant strain modes integrated over a remarkably reduced number of integration points which provide the support to evaluate the constitutive behavior of the micro-structural phases. Results are discussed in terms of the consistency of the multiscale analysis, tunability of the microscopic material parameters and speed up ratios comparing a high fidelity simulation and the multiscale reduced order model

Reduced finite element square techniques (RFE2): towards industrial multiscale fe software

Reduced order modeling techniques proposed by the authors are assessed for an industrial case study of a 3D reinforced composite laminate. Essentially, the main dominant strain micro-structural modes are obtained through standard reduced order modeling techniques applied over snapshots of a representative training strain space. Additionally, a reduced number of integration points is obtained by exactly integrating the main energy modes resulting from the training energy snapshots. The outcome consists of a number of dominant strain modes integrated over a remarkably reduced number of integration points which provide the support to evaluate the constitutive behavior of the micro-structural phases. Results are discussed in terms of the consistency of the multiscale analysis, tunability of the microscopic material parameters and speed up ratios comparing a high fidelity simulation and the multiscale reduced order model

Reduced finite element square techniques (RFE2): towards industrial multiscale fe software

Reduced order modeling techniques proposed by the authors are assessed for an industrial case study of a 3D reinforced composite laminate. Essentially, the main dominant strain micro-structural modes are obtained through standard reduced order modeling techniques applied over snapshots of a representative training strain space. Additionally, a reduced number of integration points is obtained by exactly integrating the main energy modes resulting from the training energy snapshots. The outcome consists of a number of dominant strain modes integrated over a remarkably reduced number of integration points which provide the support to evaluate the constitutive behavior of the micro-structural phases. Results are discussed in terms of the consistency of the multiscale analysis, tunability of the microscopic material parameters and speed up ratios comparing a high fidelity simulation and the multiscale reduced order model

Reduced finite element square techniques (RFE2): towards industrial multiscale fe software

Reduced order modeling techniques proposed by the authors are assessed for an industrial case study of a 3D reinforced composite laminate. Essentially, the main dominant strain micro-structural modes are obtained through standard reduced order modeling techniques applied over snapshots of a representative training strain space. Additionally, a reduced number of integration points is obtained by exactly integrating the main energy modes resulting from the training energy snapshots. The outcome consists of a number of dominant strain modes integrated over a remarkably reduced number of integration points which provide the support to evaluate the constitutive behavior of the micro-structural phases. Results are discussed in terms of the consistency of the multiscale analysis, tunability of the microscopic material parameters and speed up ratios comparing a high fidelity simulation and the multiscale reduced order model

Consumer trust and confidence: Some recent ideas in the literature

This is a post-print version of the article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - © IWA Publishing 2008This paper reflects on two recent debates in the consumer literature on trust that have implications for consumer relations in the water industry. The first concerns an important yet seldom made distinction between trust and confidence. The second concerns when and how trust is related to acceptance of, for example, new tariffs or new technologies, and it challenges the conventional view that trust is usually a precursor of acceptance. New conceptual models addressing these debates are described and their implications for future water-related consumer research are discussed as are potential implications for industry relationships with consumers

Reduced finite element square techniques (RFE2): towards industrial multiscale fe software

Reduced order modeling techniques proposed by the authors are assessed for an industrial case study of a 3D reinforced composite laminate. Essentially, the main dominant strain micro-structural modes are obtained through standard reduced order modeling techniques applied over snapshots of a representative training strain space. Additionally, a reduced number of integration points is obtained by exactly integrating the main energy modes resulting from the training energy snapshots. The outcome consists of a number of dominant strain modes integrated over a remarkably reduced number of integration points which provide the support to evaluate the constitutive behavior of the micro-structural phases. Results are discussed in terms of the consistency of the multiscale analysis, tunability of the microscopic material parameters and speed up ratios comparing a high fidelity simulation and the multiscale reduced order model

Reduced finite element square techniques (RFE2): towards industrial multiscale fe software

Reduced order modeling techniques proposed by the authors are assessed for an industrial case study of a 3D reinforced composite laminate. Essentially, the main dominant strain micro-structural modes are obtained through standard reduced order modeling techniques applied over snapshots of a representative training strain space. Additionally, a reduced number of integration points is obtained by exactly integrating the main energy modes resulting from the training energy snapshots. The outcome consists of a number of dominant strain modes integrated over a remarkably reduced number of integration points which provide the support to evaluate the constitutive behavior of the micro-structural phases. Results are discussed in terms of the consistency of the multiscale analysis, tunability of the microscopic material parameters and speed up ratios comparing a high fidelity simulation and the multiscale reduced order model

A randomised control trial and cost-consequence analysis to examine the effects of a print-based intervention supported by internet tools on the physical activity of UK cancer survivors

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a print-based intervention supported by Internet tools at improving physical activity in cancer survivors compared with a standard letter recommendation. Prediagnosis physical activity and self-efficacy were hypothesised to predict physical activity improvement. Study design: Waiting list randomised control trial and cost-consequence analysis. Methods: Adult cancer survivors who could become physically active without prior medical approval were randomised to receive either a print-based intervention supported by Internet tools (intervention, n - 104) or a standard letter recommendation (control, n - 103). Physical activity was assessed at 12 weeks with maintenance assessed at 24 weeks in the intervention arm. The number needed to treat was calculated, and a cost-consequence analysis completed. Results: Participants in receipt of a print-based intervention supported by Internet tools improved their physical activity by 36.9% over 12 weeks compared with 9.1% in the control arm. Physical activity was maintained at 24 weeks in the intervention arm. A total of 6.29 cancer survivors needed to receive the intervention for one cancer survivor to improve their physical activity over a standard letter recommendation. Intervention delivery cost £8.19 per person. Prediagnosis physical activity and self-efficacy did not predict physical activity improvement. Conclusion: A print-based intervention supported by Internet tools offers a promising low-cost means to intervene to improve physical activity in cancer survivors