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This study aims at proposing a hybrid model for early cost prediction of a construction project. Early cost prediction for a construction project is the basic approach to procure a project within a predefined budget. However, most of the projects routinely face the impact of cost overruns. Furthermore, conventional and manual cost computing techniques are hectic, time-consuming and error-prone. To deal with such challenges, soft computing techniques such as artificial neural networks (ANNs), fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms are applied in construction management. Each technique has its own constraints not only in terms of efficiency but also in terms of feasibility, practicability, reliability and environmental impacts. However, appropriate combination of the techniques improves the model owing to their inherent nature.

This paper proposes a hybrid model by combining machine learning (ML) techniques with ANN to accurately predict the cost of pile foundations. The parameters contributing toward the cost of pile foundations were collected from five different projects in India. Out of 180 collected data entries, 176 entries were finally used after data cleaning. About 70% of the final data were used for building the model and the remaining 30% were used for validation.

The proposed model is capable of predicting the pile foundation costs with an accuracy of 97.42%.

Although various cost estimation techniques are available, appropriate use and combination of various ML techniques aid in improving the prediction accuracy. The proposed model will be a value addition to cost estimation of pile foundations.

The purpose of this paper is to focus on predicting the pressure drop in fluidized dense phase pneumatic conveying of fine particles through pipelines by modelling the solids friction factor in terms of non-dimensional parameters using experimental data of definite pipeline configuration. Finally, the model is to be tested for a different pipeline configuration.

Solids friction factor has been expressed in terms of certain non-dimensional parameters such as density ratio, solids loading ratio and mean particle diameter to pipe diameter ratio, and a certain number of coefficients and exponents. Experimental data of five conveying materials (two types of fly ash, two types of alumina and one type of cement meal) for a pipeline configuration of diameter 53 mm and length 173 m and another conveying material EPS dust for two pipeline configurations (69-mm diameter, 168-m long; 105-mm diameter, 168-m long) have been used to calculate the unknown coefficients or exponents of the mathematical model for solids friction factor.

The developed model gives the best results in predicting the pressure drop for the pipelines that are less than 173-m long, but the model shows a large error for the pipelines more than 173-m long.

Current research will be helpful for the researchers to model the process of pneumatic conveying through long distances.

The method will be helpful in conveying powder materials through long distances in cement or brick industry, alumina industry.

Fly ash piles over at the nearby places of thermal power plants. Pneumatic conveying is the best method for transporting the fly ash from the location of power plants to the nearby brick industries or cement industries.

Solid friction factor has been presented in terms of four non-dimensional parameters and evaluated the accuracy in predicting the pressure drop for two different pipeline configurations.

This paper aims to explain the relationships among employees’ positive psychological capital (PPC) (hope, self-efficacy, resilience and optimism), job satisfaction (JS) and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) in deluxe hotels. This study also seeks to analyze the effect of JS on the employees’ OCBs. In an era of global competition when the speed of change is increasing, companies’ competitiveness depends on how well they adapt. To respond flexibly to changes, knowing how to use intangible resources is crucial.

This study was administered to 324 deluxe hotel employees using a self-administered questionnaire. Following Anderson and Gerbing’s (1988) two-step approach, confirmatory factor analysis was first undertaken to assess the overall fit of the three-factor model, structural equation model which was used to examine the hypothesized relationships between the constructs.

The findings showed that employees’ hope and optimism among PPC have a significant effect on their JS; their hope and resilience affect OCBs. Employees’ satisfaction was positively associated with their OCBs.

It was verified that PPC was an important performance factor that could improve hotel employees’ attitudes and organization’s effectiveness. Employees with high PPC were high in satisfaction with job, positively helped coworkers or superiors, and had high possibility of doing devotional action for organization. Accordingly, there will be a need of forming favorable working atmosphere so that employees can perform job with positive psychology, and of seeking diverse support programs such as counseling program or leisure activity.

Most previous studies have examined PPC mainly in general industries; however, this study focused on hotels as a hospitality industry. This study will have significance as the initial research of having considered that the hotel employees’ PPC formation has significant influence upon the JS and OCBs. It is predicted that positive psychology of hotel employees in a job situation leads to various efforts to develop their organization and their own development, thereby creating performance and strengthening management power.

Chemical reaction effects are added to the governing equation. This paper aims to get the solution by converting the partial differential equation into an ordinary differential equation and solve using a perturbation scheme and applying the boundary conditions.

In this paper, the authors discussed the chemical reaction effects of heat and mass transfer on megnato hydro dynamics free convective rotating flow of a visco-elastic incompressible electrically conducting fluid past a vertical porous plate through a porous medium with suction and heat source. The authors analyze the effect of time dependent fluctuating suction on a visco-elastic fluid flow.

Using variable parameters of the fluid, the velocity, temperature and concentration of the fluid are analyzed through graphs.

The velocity profile reduces by increasing the values of thermal Grashof number (G_r), mass Grashof number (G_c) and the magnetic parameter (M). On the other hand, the velocity profile gets increased by increasing the permeability parameter (K). The temperature profile decreases by raising the value of Prandtl number (P_r) and frequency of oscillation parameter (ω). However, the source parameter (S) has the opposite effect on the temperature profile. The concentration profile reduces in all points by raising the chemical reaction parameter K_l, Schmidt number S_c, frequency of oscillation ω and the time t.

This case describes the talent management practices of Kaivalya Education Foundation (KEF), a social sector organization that works in the domain of school education. The two year Gandhi Fellowship (GF) program run by KEF takes urban youth from the best graduate colleges in the country and creates a cadre of change leaders that will work to bring about social change in the nation. The GFs undertake a rigorous, hands-on journey through the two years that is transformational in many ways.

The purpose of this paper is to increase the awareness of the implications of language translation for accounting standard setting, education and research, and to work towards a critical research agenda.

The paper is based on a selective review of recent intercultural accounting research and literature on translation in accounting, of developments in accounting standard setting and on selected insights from translation studies.

Translation is not a simple technical, but a socio-cultural, subjective and ideological process. In contrast to the translation turn in other disciplines, however, most qualitative and critical accounting research neglects translation as a methodological and epistemological consideration and as a research opportunity.

The paper proposes themes for a research agenda on translation in accounting.

The paper identifies opportunities for further and deeper investigations of translation in accounting regulation, education and research. Particular emphasis is given to the implication of translation in accounting research that is grounded in interpretivist and constructivist paradigms, where translation is inextricably linked with data analysis and interpretation and may inadvertently reproduce cultural hegemonies.

The purpose of this paper is to examine some of the challenges authors from post-colonial contexts face in writing and doing research in management and organisation studies.

This paper is based on a self-reflection and also draws upon concepts from post and decolonial conceptual approaches.

It identifies three challenges namely, limitations or research question as what is feasible; translation and truth production; poor writing and weak theoretical contribution. It suggests three jugaad fixes to deal with these challenges namely, innovation and flexibility in method use with argumentation; translate, but late with theorising in the vernacular, and incorporating context into problematisation.

It draws attention to the different needs of authors from post-colonial contexts.

It could possibly help authors from post-colonial contexts and reviewers better navigate academic publishing and research.

It could help in authors from post-colonial contexts attempt more publishing.

This paper draws attention to the different constraints and limitations faced by authors from post-colonial contexts in pursuing academic writing.

The purpose of this paper is to increase security using persuasive cued click points (PCCP) techniques and to make a system to provide security from the malware, key loggers and attacks.

The work methodology comprises two major phases. In phase one, the PCCP take place with the registration and login process done. It also includes text-based password which hides the character of password to protect from shoulder surfing attack. In phase two, the work includes background services which protect from key loggers.

Secure password persuasive cued click point (SPPCCP) is a module that facilitates authentication for the desktop-based applications and provides a single-machine licensing functionality. SPPCCP comprises little functionality to thwart attackers, such as persuasive click points with password protection. The techniques to protect against malware such as resist from debuggers and also to the key loggers that run on desktop computers. In this, Spearman rank correlation is used for detection of key loggers. There are functionalities used to secure desktop applications such as time constraint and user selection.

The contribution of this paper is to provide knowledge in the field of security. It makes the graphical password more secure and useful. The intention behind this research was to increase the security level up to 60-80 per cent. It is also used for prevention of shoulder surfing problem till 80 per cent; this research is also operated on key loggers, and SPPCCP finds the key loggers and removes it from the system. It also decrypts the data of database by encrypting it by SHA-512 algorithm and reduces the average login time up to 20-30 per cent; it will make a smaller view port of 33.5 × 33.5 pixel square to have more choice to select the password, thereby decreasing the probability of hotspot area up to 18-20 per cent.

The notion of deeper experiences of Hindu devotees inspired by divine images and sacred places has roots in the historical past, going back to the Vedic period (ca. 2500 BCE), where we find rich literature on performances, rituals and merits of pilgrimages. Considered the bridge between human beings and divinities, the experiences received are the resultant ‘blissful fruit’ (phala) that helps the spiritual healing of pilgrims through awakening conscience and understanding the manifested meanings, symbolism, purposes and gains. This system can be viewed concerning the ‘texts’ (the mythology, ancient text and related narratives) and the ‘context’ (contemporality and living tradition). These rules and performances have regional perspectives of distinctions, but they also carry the sense of universality, i.e. locality (sthānic) and universality (sarvavyāpika) interfaces. The devout Hindus reflect their experiences in conception, perception, reception and co-sharedness – altogether making the wholistic network of belief systems, i.e. the religious wholes in Hindu society. This chapter deals with four aspects: the historical and cultural contexts, the meanings and merits received, the motives and the journey and interfacing experiences. The study is based on the experiential and questionnaire-based exposition and interviews of pilgrims at nine holy places during 2015–2019 on various festive occasions and is illustrated with ancient texts and treatises. The sacred cities included are Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gaya, Ayodhya, Vindhyachal, Ganga Sagar, Chitrakut, Mathura Vrindavana and Bodh Gaya.

This study aims to examine the influence of organizational citizenship behavior’s sub-constructs including altruism, civic virtue, sportsmanship, conscientiousness and courtesy on knowledge sharing behavior (KSB). It also pays attention to the effects of group emotional climate on the relationship between organizational citizenship behavior and knowledge sharing.

This research was conducted based on the quantitative research strategy by applying structural equation modeling. Using a random sampling method, this research surveyed 116 participants and analyzed the data via partial least equation modeling.

The results claim that altruism, conscientiousness and civic virtue have a significant effect on KSB, while the relationship between courtesy and sportsmanship with KSB were not significant. Furthermore, the findings depict that positive and negative workgroup emotional climate would impede or enhance KSB among people with a high level of altruism, conscientiousness and civic virtue.

Given the importance of knowledge sharing in the today knowledge economy, by comprehending the influence of group organizational citizenship behavior’s sub-constructs on knowledge sharing, managers would improve organizational knowledge sharing by developing a culture encouraging altruism, conscientiousness and civic virtue as a substitute for incentive pay. Moreover, promoting an emotionally supportive climate fosters knowledge sharing within people.

This study makes three distinct additions to the knowledge sharing literature. First, although there are little studies that investigate the relationship between organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) and KS, a few of them examine the effects of OCB’s sub-constructs on KS behavior. Second, this is one of the first studies that examined the moderating role of workgroup emotional climate regarding knowledge sharing. Finally, examining the effect of OCB’s sub-constructs on KS in an Iranian public sector would contribute to the literature by broadening the examination of the constructs in a different context.