Distributed ledger technology in supply chains: a transaction cost perspective

With the emergence of distributed ledger technology (DLT), numerous practitioners and researchers have proclaimed its beneficial impact on supply chain transactions in the future. However, the vast majority of DLT initiatives are discontinued after a short period. With the full potential of DLT laying far down the road, especially managers in supply chain management (SCM) seek for short-term cost-saving effects of DLT in order to achieve long-term benefits of DLT in the future. However, the extant research has bypassed grounding long-term as well as short-term effects of DLT on supply chain transaction with empirical data. We address this shortcoming, following an abductive research approach and combining empirical data from a multiple case study design with the corresponding literature. Our study reveals that the effects of DLT on supply chain transactions are two-sided. We found six effects of DLT solutions that have a cost-reducing or cost avoidance impact on supply chain transactions. In addition, we found two effects that change the power distribution between buyers and suppliers in transactions and a single effect that reduces the dependency of supply chain transactions on third parties. While cost-reducing and avoidance as well as dependency-reducing effects are positive effects, the change in power distribution might come with disadvantages. With these findings, the paper provides the first empirical evidence of the impact of DLT on supply chain transactions, which will enable managers to improve their assessment of DLT usage in supply chains.     

An industrial case study on variability handling in large enterprise software systems

ContextEnterprise software systems (e.g., enterprise resource planning software) are often deployed in different contexts (e.g., different organizations or different business units or branches of one organization). However, even though organizations, business units or branches have the same or similar business goals, they may differ in how they achieve these goals. Thus, many enterprise software systems are subject to variability and adapted depending on the context in which they are used.ObjectiveOur goal is to provide a snapshot of variability in large scale enterprise software systems. We aim at understanding the types of variability that occur in large industrial enterprise software systems. Furthermore, we aim at identifying how variability is handled in such systems.MethodWe performed an exploratory case study in two large software organizations, involving two large enterprise software systems. Data were collected through interviews and document analysis. Data were analyzed following a grounded theory approach.ResultsWe identified seven types of variability (e.g., functionality, infrastructure) and eight mechanisms to handle variability (e.g., add-ons, code switches).ConclusionsWe provide generic types for classifying variability in enterprise software systems, and reusable mechanisms for handling such variability. Some variability types and handling mechanisms for enterprise software systems found in the real world extend existing concepts and theories. Others confirm findings from previous research literature on variability in software in general and are therefore not specific to enterprise software systems. Our findings also offer a theoretical foundation for describing variability handling in practice. Future work needs to provide more evaluations of the theoretical foundations, and refine variability handling mechanisms into more detailed practices.     

Sustainability of ride-hailing services in China’s mobility market: A simulation model of socio-technical system transition

As a symbol of sharing economy, ride-hailing services have spread to Asia, where various forms of services have been established according to the existing socio-technical regimes, including legal, policy, and environmental concerns. China, in particular, has accepted ride-hailing services by revising existing institutions. This study analyzes China’s acceptance of ride-hailing services in the socio-technical system context set up for legacy services. Simulation modeling, combined with transition theory and an agent-based model, is used to analyze the data. This study calculates consumer disutility based on mobility market share, reflecting consumer preference, and predicts the sustainability of ride-hailing services. The simulation results conclude that legalization and socio-technical context are of importance for sustainable mobility.     

基于滑模的运载器主动段俯仰通道姿控系统设计

与传统比例-积分-微分（PID）控制方法相比，滑模控制（SMC）方法可以比较容易地将不确定性纳入控制器设计中，从而增强系统的鲁棒性。探索了SMC技术在运载器主动段姿态控制中的工程应用，首先通过分析基于趋近律的SMC系统，提出了降低不连续切换项系数的需求，然后研究了基于干扰上界的SMC方法。三通道小偏差仿真结果验证了两种方法的控制效果，表明第2种控制器的鲁棒性更好，稳态误差小，同时发动机喷管摆角需求较小。     

“These devices have not been made for older people's needs” – Older adults' perceptions of digital technologies in Finland and Ireland

This article examines how older adults use and perceive digital technologies in Finland and Ireland. These two countries are at different stages regarding two important global trends – demographic ageing and digitalization. Finland, being the fastest ageing society in Europe, is also one of the leaders in implementing digital technologies in social and health care services. In contrast, Ireland is a demographically younger and less digitalized society. Drawing on focus group discussions on the usage of digital technologies, conducted with older adults in both countries, we analyse how digital technologies are adopted and viewed by older generations. The analyses showed that older adults associate digitalization with both advantages and drawbacks. To encapsulate these two contrasting aspects, we developed the term Janus-faced conceptions of technology. This concept encapsulates how the successful adoption of digital technology facilitates everyday activities whereas the inability to utilise technologies results in feelings of alienation and being out-of-touch. The digital divide was found to occur not only between generations but also between different socioeconomic groups of older adults.     

Predictors of job seekers’ self-disclosure on social media

Social media-based screening is a well-known practice to both recruiters and job seekers. Little is known, however, about how job seekers present themselves on social media, i.e. ‘self-disclosure’, for employment purposes. This study builds on the theories of hyperpersonal computer-mediated communication, self-efficacy and social exchange to examine job seekers’ professional online image concerns, social media self-efficacy, and perceptions of social media effectiveness in the job search as predictors of inappropriate and career-oriented self-disclosures on these media. Findings from a sample of 3374 Italian respondents showed that career-oriented self-disclosure was predicted by all three factors, whereas inappropriate self-disclosure was only predicted by social media self-efficacy. Furthermore, the relationship between professional online image concerns and inappropriate self-disclosure was moderated by age, education and work experience, but not by gender. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.     

Rate equation theory for the hydrogenation kinetics of Mg-based materials

A uniform solid product layer normally assumed in the shrinking-core model cannot predict the kinetic transition behavior of the H₂ adsorption reactions. In this study, the concept of a uniform solid product layer has been replaced by that of the inward growth of solid products on the solid surface. A rate equation is established to calculate the inward growth of the solid product and was implemented into the shrinking-core model to calculate the H₂ adsorption kinetics for various shapes of Mg-based materials. The prediction accuracy of the developed model is verified from the detailed experimental data. To account for the external gas diffusion around the particle and the intraparticle gas diffusion, an analytical equation is derived using the Thiele modulus method. This model can be used to analyze various kinetic aspects and to analyze the effect of change in the particle microstructure on intraparticle diffusion.     

The effect of charge on the dihydrogen storage capacity of Sc2–C6H6

The effect of charge on the dihydrogen storage capacity of Sc₂–C₆H₆ has been investigated at B3LYP-D3/6-311G(d,p) level. The neutral system Sc₂–C₆H₆ can store 8H₂ with gravimetric density of 8.76 wt %, and one H₂ dissociates and bonds atomically on the scandium atom. The adsorption of 8H₂ on Sc₂–C₆H₆ is energetically favorable below 155 K. The atom-centered density matrix propagation (ADMP) molecular dynamics simulations show that Sc₂–C₆H₆ can adsorb 3H₂ within 1000 fs at 300K. Compared with Sc₂–C₆H₆, the charged systems can adsorb more hydrogen molecules with higher gravimetric density, and all the H₂ are adsorbed in the molecular form. The gravimetric densities of Sc₂–C₆H₆⁺ and Sc₂–C₆H₆²⁺ are 9.75 and 10.71 wt%. Moreover, the maximum adsorption of charged systems are favorable in wider temperature range. Most importantly, the ADMP-MD simulations indicate that Sc₂–C₆H₆²⁺ can adsorb 6 hydrogen molecules within 1000 fs at 300K. It can be found that the gravimetric density (6.72 wt%) of Sc₂–C₆H₆²⁺ still exceeds the target of US Department of Energy (DOE) under ambient conditions.     

Bond characteristics,vibrational spectrum and optimized microwave dielectric properties of chemically substituted NdNbO4

Coordination chemistry, bond state and vibrational spectrum of co-substituted microwave dielectric NdNb_1-x(Zr_0.5W_0.5)_xO₄ ceramics (x = 0.01∼0.05) were investigated. Raman spectra and XRD refinement showed a solid solution was formed. The compressed and elongated chemical bonds are responsible for the variations of crystal parameters and cell volume. Calculated chemical bond parameters indicated bond covalency, lattice energy and Nb-site bond energy act on the fluctuations of the permittivity, quality factor and temperature coefficient, respectively. Meanwhile, the infrared vibrational spectrum is fitted to quantify the contributions of observed IR mode to the intrinsic loss. Compact ceramic possesses excellent properties: ε_r ∼ 19.2, Q × f ∼ 55282 GHz and τ_f ∼ -11.36 ppm/°C with x = 0.04, at 1250°C.