Glass Ceiling Research Articles

Feasibility of Using Lightweight Load-Bearing Panel Systems in Duplex Apartments of Tall Buildings

As an inevitable result of the growing population in recent times, the requirements of housing facilities, land scarcity, and overexploitation of natural resources have created many problems. One solution for the lack of land is to have multi-storey apartment buildings. Hence, over the last few decades, the number of tall buildings has seen an exponential increase. The apartment spread over two floors, is considered upmarket due to the larger floor area. However, one factor that has been a huge obstruction to promoting duplex apartments is the higher cost. In this study, a novel concept is introduced where a proper load-bearing floor is needed only once on two floors. The duplex is double-height, using lightweight concrete panels supporting lightweight concrete floors. Recycled expanded polystyrene (REPS) based light-weight panels are used as the load-bearing walls, and the NERD slab system is introduced for the intermediate floor. The structural performance was assessed using the comparison of two finite element models for duplex and conventional concepts. It was observed that the duplex concept is structurally feasible in comparison with the conventional concept. The study emphasises that an approximately 30% dead load reduction in typical floor levels has occurred due to the lightweight beam slab system in between floors.

A Comparative Model of Thermal Performances Between a Modern and Classic Habitat for A Hot and Humid Tropical Climate: Case of Guinea

The objective of this research is to carry out a comparative study between a classic habitat and a modern habitat in order to understand which of the two is more efficient for a humid tropical area. To do this, a digital modeling of the heat transfer phenomena in the different components of the habitat was highlighted for a habitat made of stabilized earth bricks, a roof made of transparent tiles, false ceilings made of rectangular panels containing phase change material, concrete floor and a classic habitat made from local materials is presented. To show the reliability of this study, we validated our habitat model integrating phase change material through an experimental study carried out by researchers B. ZIVKOVIC and I. FUJII. A study on the temperature distributions at the level of certain components of the habitat done, and the influence of the variation of certain parameters was highlighted to know the thermal behavior of the two habitats. Furthermore, a comparative study was performed between the interior and exterior temperatures of the south walls of habitats incorporating PCM and without PCM, which are the components most exposed to solar radiation whose maximum values are respectively 33°C and 34, 5°C and 33.15°C against 47°C. Keywords: Performances, thermal, bioclimatic, PCM, Tropical climate, Guinea.

‘They Want Our Culture, Not Our Struggle’: Race and Gender Inequalities in Music, Sports, and Hollywood

When it comes time to disagree that White male privilege exists, insisting race and gender equity is already achieved, deniers often point to prominent people of color in sports and entertainment industries. Famous figures like Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce Knowles, Jay-Z, and Lebron James may, with cursory glance, give impression that—even if fields like finance, technology, medicine, law, and politics have glass ceilings—the entertainment field provides a seemingly utopian space where the playing field has already been leveled, and the so-called American Dream of race and gender equality has assumedly arrived. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, from primary and secondary sources, we look beyond token big names to overall patterns in music, professional sports, and film arenas to document how racial and gender inequality continue to stratify entertainment industries. Our analysis demonstrates that women and people of color are conditionally accepted, at best, to entertain, provided they stay in their proverbial place—seldom owning, directing, or taking the lead, and penalized when speaking out about oppression. We end with recommendations on how to shatter glass ceilings, like inclusion riders and Rooney Rule, along with other ways to bring more women and people of color into more powerful positions in these industries.

Unveiling Power Dynamics: Diversity Interpretations, Management Practices, and Inclusion Perceptions in the Workplace

The current diversity management literature highlights a lack of empirical investigations into nuanced diversity characteristics within specific contexts, with a predominant focus on the USA, Europe, and Asia. This article addresses these gaps by exploring the intricate relationship between interpretations of workforce diversity dimensions and ensuing diversity management practices, shaping perceptions of inclusion or exclusion. Workplace diversity is viewed subjectively, influenced by contextual factors like industry and location. A case study was conducted in June 2022 within a Japanese automotive company, gathering qualitative data through techniques such as semi-structured in-depth interviews and non-participant observations were made during two guided visits. AtlasTi was utilized for the analysis of results. Findings reveal that socio-economic differences' interpretation is swayed by power imbalances in labor relationships. Diversity management practices aligned with the dominant group exacerbate inequality among demographic groups, establishing metaphorical «glass ceilings» for minorities and fostering exclusion perceptions. Considering the case study’s limitations, the research contributes to the diversity management discourse, prompting a reevaluation of practices to mitigate unintentional inequality perpetuation in the workplace.

Household-scale digesters in Rwanda: Performance analysis and net-greenhouse gas effect

In view of climate change mitigation, the production of biogas through anaerobic digestion has emerged as a prominent renewable fuel source, also in developing countries. The implementation of household-scale digesters in these regions is instrumental in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 7 of ensuring clean and affordable energy. However, a rigorous quantification of the biogas production and net-greenhouse gas effect of these household digesters, taking into account fuel use, biogas leakage and fertiliser types, is lacking. This study quantified both biogas production and net-greenhouse gas emissions, utilizing Rwanda as a reference region. Through a field survey, biogas measurements, and model simulations, the study revealed that a reference case featuring a fixed dome digester of 4 m3, fed with manure of on average 2 cows produces 0.38 m3 biogas.d−1 which meets 65% of the cooking need of an average family of 4 adults and 2 children. The addition of a toilet to the household-scale digester increased the daily biogas production by 16%. Conversely, the use of a bare soil floor in the cow shed results in a 28% reduction in biogas production, emphasizing the recommendation for a concrete floor. Net-greenhouse gas emissions from a household-scale digester, including an estimated 9% leak percentage, result in a reduction of 2.4 tCO2,eq.year−1 per household compared to wood-only cooking. Besides, using the digestate as a fertiliser further enhances the reduction to a total of 2.5 tCO2,eq.year−1. The main opportunities for minimizing emissions include optimizing temperature, manure flow and reducing leakages, which needs to be considered during design, operation, and policy formulation. In summary, household-scale digesters provide sustainable waste management, renewable energy, and significant greenhouse gas emission reduction, making them a promising technology for decentralized energy solutions in developing regions.

Neoliberal Feminism and Political Leadership: The Representation of Giorgia Meloni and Elly Schlein in Popular Culture

Building on a long tradition of studies on the intertwining of politics and popular culture, the article examines the representation of the two Italian political leaders of the moment, Giorgia Meloni and Elly Schlein, offered by women’s magazines. The study focuses in particular on two interrelated aspects: on the one hand, the extent to which the discursive strategies to talk about the leaders, their personal lives, careers and ideas contribute to strengthen the contemporary hegemony on feminism; on the other hand, the discursive strategies used to represent the leaders through a frame of competition typical of the neoliberalism. Indeed, we refer to the most recent trends in feminism research, contested among post-feminism, neoliberal feminism and celebrity feminism. Within this framework, we examined whether and how female political leaders can become icons of life, style and power in a way that is functional to the neoliberal narrative. The critical discourse analysis conducted on eight Italian women’s magazines over the course of a year makes it possible to highlight some results that contribute to the reflection on neoliberal feminism and female leadership. In particular, leaders are presented through argumentative strategies of genealogism, exceptionalism and compensation: the ways in which magazines justify their position of power refer to family relationships and character qualities, emphasizing the characteristics closest to the neoliberal model and overshadowing all others, including political ideas. Rather, leaders are deradicalized and depoliticized to favour instead a reassuring narrative in which women have broken the glass ceiling. In that way, women’s magazines renounce representing women leaders for their ideas and ideologies, and instead focus on their unique mark of difference: their gender.

The effect of non-removable void generators on the strength of monolithic reinforced concrete floor slabs clamped along the contour

The article presents the results of a numerical experiment to determine the effect of non-removable void generators on the strength of monolithic reinforced concrete floor slabs clamped along the contour. The experimental samples are made in the form of spatial models using volumetric finite element models in the LIRA-CAD software package. The tests were carried out on 4 series of samples, differing in terms of dimensions and reinforcement. Detailed descriptions of the dependencies used and the laws of deformation of materials during the construction of models are given. The values of compressive stresses in concrete and reinforcement, as well as tensile stresses in reinforcement obtained as a result of tests, were subjected to comparative analysis. Based on the conducted experiment, it was found that the use of non-removable voids in a monolithic reinforced concrete slab does not reduce its strength, while reducing concrete consumption by 18.3-23.1%.

Structural and Cognitive Mechanisms of Group Cohesion in Primates.

Group-living creates stresses that, all else equal, naturally lead to group fragmentation, and hence loss of the benefits that group-living provides. How species that live in large stable groups counteract these forces is not well understood. I use comparative data on grooming networks and cognitive abilities in primates to show that living in large, stable groups has involved a series of structural solutions designed to create chains of 'friendship' (friends-of-friends effects), increased investment in bonding behaviours (made possible by dietary adjustments) to ensure that coalitions work effectively, and neuronally expensive cognitive skills of the kind known to underpin social relationships in humans. The first ensures that individuals synchronise their activity cycles; the second allows the stresses created by group-living to be defused; and the third allows a large number of weak ties to be managed. Between them, these create a form of multilevel sociality based on strong versus weak ties similar to that found in human social networks. In primates, these strategies appear successively at quite specific group sizes, suggesting that they are solutions to 'glass ceilings' that would otherwise limit the range of group sizes that animals can live in (and hence the habitats they can occupy). This sequence maps closely onto the grades now known to underpin the Social Brain Hypothesis and the fractal pattern that is known to optimise information flow round networks.

The Strategies of Turkish Female Managers to Break Glass Ceiling

The number of female employees in the business world is increasing daily; however, managerial positions have disadvantages. They are not significantly represented in corporate leadership positions. The fragile and transparent but real barrier that prevents qualified women from advancing to senior management positions has been conceptualised as the glass ceiling in the literature. This study aims to identify and conceptualise Turkish female managers' strategies to break the glass ceiling through the qualitative research method within the framework of elements that create a glass ceiling, such as gender discrimination and gender prejudices in society, organisational culture, some female-specific behavioural faults, personal compromises and encouragers for a career. Content analysis of the interviews conducted with senior female managers was carried out using the MAXQDA software program. As a result of the study, it has been determined that Turkish female managers apply different strategies in three areas: work-life and family balance, professional life, and career path. These are inspiring strategies for women at all management levels, which they can use to advance their career paths. Among these strategies, the approach that the organisation can support will also be a guide for human resources management practitioners, managers and leaders, and organisational structure and culture designers.

Drying Performance and Economic Analysis of a Greenhouse Solar Dryer for Tomatoes

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the drying performance and economic feasibility of a Greenhouse Solar Dryer for Tomatoes. With a focus on small-scale tomato drying, the study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the greenhouse in comparison to traditional sun drying methods. Additionally, the economic analysis sought to determine the investment attractiveness of the greenhouse dryer by considering the initial investment, operational costs, and potential revenue generation. Methodology: The methodology involved conducting drying experiments using the Greenhouse Solar Dryer for Tomatoes under existing weather conditions. The dryer's components include the steel frame, greenhouse plastic cover, and concrete floor. The temperature and relative humidity contributed to the environment inside the greenhouse that facilitated the drying process. Moisture content measurements were taken at regular intervals to assess the drying kinetics and effectiveness of the greenhouse. Economic analysis was conducted to evaluate the project's financial viability, considering initial investment, revenue generation, and operational costs. Findings: The findings revealed that the Greenhouse Solar Dryer outperformed sun drying methods, achieving higher temperatures and faster drying times for tomatoes. Specifically, the greenhouse reached maximum temperatures of 38.4 °C and 45.5 °C on the first and second days, respectively, leading to a moisture content of 14.9% wet basis within 11 hours on the second day. In contrast, sun drying resulted in a significantly higher moisture content of 37.9% at the same time, highlighting the effectiveness of the greenhouse. Economic analysis demonstrated that the project had a payback period of 1.6 years, indicating its attractiveness as an investment opportunity for farmers. Unique Contribution to theory, practice and policy: This study makes a unique contribution to knowledge by providing empirical evidence of the drying performance and economic viability of a Greenhouse Solar Dryer for Tomatoes. By demonstrating the effectiveness of the greenhouse in achieving faster drying times and lower moisture content compared to sun drying methods, the study underscores the potential of solar drying technologies in small-scale agricultural settings. Additionally, the economic analysis offers valuable insights into the financial feasibility of adopting greenhouse dryers, particularly for farmers seeking to enhance their income through value-added tomato products.

The unseen in the glass ceilings: examining women’s career advancement in higher education institutions through a multi-level institutional lens

ABSTRACT As women’s presence in higher education grows, their limited representation in academic leadership roles remains a critical concern. This study investigates the complex institutional barriers hindering women’s advancement into leadership positions. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 37 women in academia, our analysis reveals multifaceted challenges rooted in institutional, organisational, and individual factors. Institutionally, cultural and societal norms, including those influenced by religious traditions, profoundly influence gender dynamics within specific contexts. Organizational factors, such as a predominantly male workforce and entrenched practices, pose significant obstacles to women’s career progression in academic institutions. At a personal level, we introduce the concept of internalisation of subjugation, which captures women academics’ tendency to adopt more masculine practices, echoing observations from traditional leadership models. This research offers valuable insights into the nuanced barriers constraining women’s path to academic leadership. A comprehensive understanding of these challenges is essential for developing targeted strategies and policies to promote gender equality and inclusivity in higher education institutions.

Research on carbon emissions during the construction process of prefabricated buildings based on BIM and LCA

ABSTRACT The goal of double carbon reflects the new goals and requirements of China’s entry into a new development stage. In this regard, the construction industry, as a large producer of carbon emissions, should focus on emission reduction. In the whole life cycle of buildings, the carbon emission intensity in the physicochemical stage is the largest, so we should focus on the carbon emission in the physicochemical stage. Compared with the cast-in-situ concrete floor slab, the bidirectional prestressed precast hollow slab (BPPHS) has the characteristics of environment-friendly under the condition of meeting the building stress, and the manufacturing process of precast floor slab is more standardized, which can give full play to the performance of components. Based on BIM (Building Information Modeling) and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) theory, and in the case of tram transportation, this paper studies the carbon emission of prefabricated hollow floor slab used in prefabricated buildings in the building stage. The research shows that the use of BPPHS reduces the carbon emission of 197,332.81 kg in the whole physicochemical stage, and the emission reduction rate is 46.52% compared with the cast-in-place slab. Compared with the ordinary prefabricated laminated plate, the emission reduction rate reaches 45.40%; The carbon emission sources in the materialization stage of prefabricated buildings are divided into production stage, transportation stage and construction stage. The carbon emission reduction in each stage accounts for 42.29%, 46.18% and 51.08%, respectively, in each stage of cast-in-situ floor slab. Compared with ordinary precast slab, the emission reduction rates of each stage are 34.67%, 53.60% and 47.84%, respectively. The emission reduction potential of BPPHS is very considerable. It can not only promote the development of prefabricated buildings but also have lower carbon than conventional precast slab. The study provides new ideas for reducing building carbon emissions, which will also provide reference for industry entrepreneurs and relevant governments to realize low-carbon economy and sustainable development.

A robustness-oriented procedure for the design of tying reinforcement in precast concrete hollow-core floors

Buildings may be subjected during their service life to extreme events which can trigger progressive collapse. On this front, the role played by tying reinforcement in structural members is crucial for an adequate load redistribution and the avoidance of disproportionate collapse. This work proposes a robustness-oriented procedure for the design of tying reinforcement placed in the hollow-core units and beams of precast concrete buildings, where limited studies are available in scientific literature. In particular, the aim is to provide a simple yet reliable approach for the design of concentrated and distributed ties in precast floors by adopting fundamental input parameters such as the system’s chord rotation capacity and dynamic amplification factor, which are not considered in current design codes. Firstly, a flow-chart of the design procedure is proposed and discussed. Secondly, the input parameters are calculated based on recent analytical approaches - proposed by some of the authors - to optimize the tying reinforcement design. Finally, the efficiency of the design procedure is demonstrated with an application example, and a novel detailing scheme is proposed which is aimed at a significant enhancement of structural robustness. Due to its simplicity, the proposed design procedure is contended to be applicable in robustness assessment and design of building structures with precast concrete hollow-core floors.

The glass ceiling effect in Spanish advertising creative departments

The representation of women in advertising creative departments has been studied worldwide. The findings have shown a low representation that does not favor the emergence of a critical mass of women, who could contribute with alternative visions to make advertising more inclusive. The underrepresentation, above all, occurs in managerial positions where they do not usually reach 35%. This study aims to update and report quantitatively on the phenomenon of the glass ceiling in Spain. In addition, in order to contextualize the level of segregation, these departments are compared with available international data. The results of a content analysis of the credit forms of 839 Spanish campaigns published in 2019 (a sample of 1,311 creatives) revealed gender dynamics, with a balanced starting group of creatives in non-managerial positions (just over 40% are women), but a figure of just 18% of women in managerial roles A higher glass ceiling effect was also found when European and global data were compared. The results analyzed through the perspective of the proportional representation theory (Kanter, 1977a, 1977b, 1987), suggest the need to raise awareness of gender inequalities within creative departments; this would foster the equality demanded by today’s society, of which advertising should not be oblivious.

Physical-Model-Based Assessment of Reduction of Hydraulic Forces Acting on Channel Bed through Advanced Energy Dissipator Design

The hydraulic engineering designers focus on shaping up the flow regime so that the greatest energy dissipation is ensured. On the other hand, the structural designers focus on load bearing capacity and durability of the structural components which may contradict the focus of the hydraulic experts. Such a case may occur when the spillway chute floor slab must be thin due to the limited spaces. Then, the dynamic load acting on the chute floor slab may compromise its long-term operation. The dynamic forces are created by the violent turbulences which may even coincide with the natural frequency of the reinforced concrete floor slab. Therefore, the objective of this paper is a complex approach to small-scale physical model testing which makes use of the latest rapid-prototyping techniques and the particle image velocimetry, and which in the end allows to estimate the magnitude of the dynamic hydraulic forces acting on the channel bed. The newly developed organic-shape energy dissipators play a key role in reducing the kinetic energy of water through its enhances aeration. The proposed method on a small scale can assist favorably the design process of real-scale hydraulic reinforced concrete structures.

Commentary on “Frontiers: Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Empowering Female Entrepreneurs Through Female Mentors”

Mentoring is vital to developing talent. A critical puzzle in designing mentorship programs involves how mentors are matched to mentees: Would mentees benefit more from mentors with a similar or different demographic background? The article [Germann F, Andersen S, Chintagunta P, Vilcassim N (2024) Frontiers: Breaking the glass ceiling: Empowering female entrepreneurs through female mentors. Marketing Sci., 43(2):239–468] highlights that women entrepreneurs benefit more from having women as mentors relative to men as mentors. In this commentary, I highlight how the implications of this paper depend in part on our understanding of the potential mechanisms underlying the benefits of same-gender mentoring relationships for women. I posit that these benefits stem from differences not only in mentors’ provision of psychosocial support but also in their coaching and sponsorship behaviors. By considering these different mechanisms, I propose an alternative implication that involves training mentors to engage in more appropriate coaching and sponsorship behaviors. Thus, I expand the implications of this article from mentor matching to mentor training. I propose that, by learning how effective mentors coach and sponsor women, mentors in cross-gender relationships can be better equipped to help their mentees. History: Catherine Tucker served as the senior editor for this article.

Breaking through the glass ceiling: women on the board as a mechanism for greater environmental transparency

Purpose This research paper aims to examine the influence of greater female participation on the board of directors on the environmental transparency of companies. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the purpose of this study, the authors analyzed the environmental transparency of 412 companies in the energy sector, headquartered in 19 countries, during a four-year period (2016 to 2019). Findings The data reveal that gender diversity has a positive effect on the environmental transparency of companies in developed countries and on the total model. Furthermore, after removing the US companies, the results remained the same, indicating that companies with more women on the board tend to have greater environmental transparency. Regarding corporate governance variables, the results show that companies that have a corporate social responsibility committee tend to have greater environmental transparency, both in emerging countries and in developed countries. Practical implications The findings indicate that if companies aim to have greater environmental transparency, they must encourage female participation on boards, giving them equal opportunities for professional growth. Organizations must deconstruct the ideology that women are fewer valuable members of their boards, which limits their contribution to organizational success. Additionally, regulators can encourage greater female participation on boards through the implementation of quota laws. Originality/value The authors’ evidence indicates that the presence of women on board is an antecedent of greater quality in the dissemination of environmental information. Thus, managers of companies in the energy sector must understand that diversity on the board affects communication with its stakeholders through environmental transparency.

Floor vibration predictions based on train-track-building coupling model

With the objective of rational urban space utilization, the development of elevated metro depots and over-track buildings is progressing rapidly, with a particular focus on addressing the vibrations caused by trains. Unlike traditional metro depots, trains in elevated depots run on concrete floors, which may lead to excessive floor vibrations. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the impact of these vibrations during the design phase. In this paper, a vertical vibration prediction model for trains running on building floors is proposed by integrating the train, track structure, and building structure into a unified system. The train model is conceptualized as a multi-rigid body connected by springs and dampers. The track structure comprises rails, fasteners, and track slabs. The building floor is simplified as a rectangular plate composed of multiple orthogonal structural girders and columns in vertical contact with the floor. To verify the proposed method, field measurements were conducted in an elevated metro depot. The proposed model provided estimates of the vibration transmission with good agreement from track to building floor by comparing with the measured vibrations. The model presented in this paper can be utilized to predict the base vibrations of buildings and further predict the floor vibrations.

“You Need to Listen to the Market!”: Making Decisions Through Senses in China’s Largest Cut-Flower Market

The Dounan flower market can be a “hot and noisy” time and space, which is composed of the engine sound of motor tricycles, the grating of trailers rubbing against the concrete floor, the honks of reversing vehicles, and bargaining, chitchats, provocations, quarrels, and sometimes fighting. A booming market is a market clamoring with noise (auditory sense) and heat (an embodied feeling). In a couple of hours, floral traders deploy their embodied feelings of perception to make decisions on when to close a deal, what is a good price, and how to make bargains. My two ethnographic case studies—“you need to listen to the market” and “feelings of the market” delineate how the senses as a decision-making repertoire inform the everyday economic practices of floral traders in Dounan. At the interface of the sensory and the economic, I explore how rational, economic decisions are embedded into the “irrational,” sensory knowledge. Situated in sensory studies in Asia, this article elaborates the socio-cultural specificities inoculating the sensory knowledge of social agents without ignoring the nuances of how phenomenologically individuals engage in their everyday sensory practices.

Ubiquitous Gait Analysis through Footstep-Induced Floor Vibrations.

Quantitative analysis of human gait is critical for the early discovery, progressive tracking, and rehabilitation of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and cerebral palsy. Gait analysis typically involves estimating gait characteristics, such as spatiotemporal gait parameters and gait health indicators (e.g., step time, length, symmetry, and balance). Traditional methods of gait analysis involve the use of cameras, wearables, and force plates but are limited in operational requirements when applied in daily life, such as direct line-of-sight, carrying devices, and dense deployment. This paper introduces a novel approach for gait analysis by passively sensing floor vibrations generated by human footsteps using vibration sensors mounted on the floor surface. Our approach is low-cost, non-intrusive, and perceived as privacy-friendly, making it suitable for continuous gait health monitoring in daily life. Our algorithm estimates various gait parameters that are used as standard metrics in medical practices, including temporal parameters (step time, stride time, stance time, swing time, double-support time, and single-support time), spatial parameters (step length, width, angle, and stride length), and extracts gait health indicators (cadence/walking speed, left-right symmetry, gait balance, and initial contact types). The main challenge we addressed in this paper is the effect of different floor types on the resultant vibrations. We develop floor-adaptive algorithms to extract features that are generalizable to various practical settings, including homes, hospitals, and eldercare facilities. We evaluate our approach through real-world walking experiments with 20 adults with 12,231 labeled gait cycles across concrete and wooden floors. Our results show 90.5% (RMSE 0.08s), 71.3% (RMSE 0.38m), and 92.3% (RMSPE 7.7%) accuracy in estimating temporal, spatial parameters, and gait health indicators, respectively.