Pilot Case Study Research Articles

Facilitating educational contents of different subjects with context-agnostic educational game: A pilot case study

Educational games are increasingly popular and successful in facilitating various subjects and educational topics. Developing the games are often costly as the developers need to develop specific game content to facilitate each different educational content. One solution to the cost problem is the context-agnostic approach, which allows a game to facilitate educational contents of different subjects or educational topics with zero or minimal modifications to its game content. However, researches on the approach are still scarce, including those aimed at examining real-world applications of the approach. This case study was intended to fill the research gap by examining the application of a context-agnostic educational platformer game in a higher education scenario. The game was used to present educational contents of binary number system and ASCII codes, where both are taught in Informatics Engineering Department. The game was context-agnostic because it was able to flexibly assign educational content elements to various objects in its gameplay. Activity Theory-based Model of Serious Games (ATMSG) was used to guide the design of our educational game. The experiment was conducted with the participation of 60 first-year students of Informatics Engineering Department. The results show that the game can facilitate a more fun and engaging class session for the two educational topics without requiring any changes to the game content. The implication of the results and the implementation complexity of the context-agnostic approach are also discussed.

Cloud-based implementation of white-box model predictive control for a GEOTABS office building: A field test demonstration

Model predictive control (MPC) has been proven in simulations and pilot case studies to be a superior control strategy for large buildings. MPC can utilize the weather and occupancy schedule forecasts, together with the system model, to predict the future thermal behavior of the building and minimize the overall energy use and maximize thermal comfort. However, these advantages come with the cost of increased modeling effort, computational demands, communication infrastructure, and commissioning efforts. Thus a typical approach is to, often rapidly, simplify the building modeling and MPC optimization problem while paying a price of not reaching the full performance potential. It has been shown that by employing accurate physics-based models, MPC performance can be notably increased closer to its theoretical performance bound. However, implementation of such high-fidelity MPC in real buildings remains a challenge, resulting in a lack of successful field test studies. This work presents the methodology and field test demonstration of a computationally efficient implementation of the white-box MPC in an office building in Belgium. The detailed model of the building is based on first-principle physical equations. The deployment and supervision of MPC operation in a practical setting are supported by an automated cloud-based communication infrastructure. The motivating factor behind the cloud-based architecture is its compatibility with a commercially appealing control as a service concept. The building is equipped with a ground source heat pump (GSHP) and thermally activated building structures (TABS), where the combination of both is also known as GEOTABS. From a control perspective, GEOTABS buildings are particularly challenging systems due to large scale, complex heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and slow dynamics with time delays. On the other hand, there is an increased potential for energy savings due to the high thermal mass, which acts as thermal storage. The MPC operation is demonstrated during the challenging transient seasons (switching between heating and cooling), and its performance is compared to a traditional rule-based controller (RBC). We provide a proof of concept of real MPC operation for the most difficult seasons with notable GSHP energy use savings equal to 53.5% and thermal comfort improvement by 36.9%. Other MPC applications found in the literature describe tests for only cooling or only heating, and up to now only for a black-box or a grey-box approach.

Effects of 8-week Pilates training program on hamstring/quadriceps ratio and trunk strength in adolescent baseball players: a pilot case study.

The purpose of this pilot case study is to investigate the effects of Pilates training on hamstring/quadriceps ratio, trunk strength, shoulder strength, and body composition in adolescent baseball players. Eight adolescent baseball players, 15 years of age, participated in Pilates program (supervised training, 50 min per session for three times a week for 8 weeks) using reformer and Cadillac. The intensity of the program was progressively increased by applying beginner level for 1–2 weeks, intermediate level for 3–6 weeks, and advance level for 7–8 weeks. To verify the effect of the Pilates program on hamstring/quadriceps ratio, trunk strength, shoulder strength and body composition, participants performed bioelectrical impedance analysis and isokinetic testing at pre- and posttraining. After the Pilates training, there were significant increases in body weight (P<0.01), left arm muscle mass (P<0.01), and trunk muscle mass (P<0.01). In addition, there were significant increases in left and right knee flexion peak torque (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), right knee extension peak torque (P<0.05), left and right hamstring/quadriceps ratio (both P<0.01), trunk flexion peak torque (P<0.05) and shoulder flexion peak torque (P<0.05) after 8 weeks of training. Therefore, Pilates training increased muscle mass, hamstring/quadriceps ratio, trunk and shoulder strength, suggesting that it may help baseball players do better performance and prevent future injuries in adolescent players.

Hybrid coagulation-flocculation and anaerobic-aerobic biological treatment for industrial textile wastewater: pilot case study

Color is one of the main problems in wastewater and many techniques can be applied to remove it. In the present work, a pilot plant scale investigation was carried out to optimize treatment efficiency in order to reduce the amount of residual adsorbed dye that will be found in the waste sludge. For degradation of textile wastewater (TWW), coagulation–flocculation experiments were performed in a jar test apparatus using FeCl3, Fe(SO4), Al2(SO4)3 and Cu(SO4) as a coagulant agent and three bacteria (Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Bacillus sp. and filamentous bacteria) by means of biodegradation, coagulation–flocculation process and their combination. The color, COD and phenol removal were 81.82%, 76.17% and 35.69% respectively. UV–vis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analysis confirmed the biodegradability of the TWW by post and pre-treatment of the developed bacterial consortium. The textile wastewater phytotoxicity assessment on Sorghum bicolor and Triticum aestivum showed 80% and 60% reduction after post-treatment textile wastewater.

Repeated noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reveals cumulative amplification of pleasant compared to unpleasant scene processing: A single subject pilot study.

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is a major hub of the reward system and has been shown to activate specifically in response to pleasant / rewarding stimuli. Previous studies demonstrate enhanced pleasant cue reactivity after single applications of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the vmPFC. Here we present a pilot case study in which we assess the cumulative impact of multiple consecutive vmPFC-tDCS sessions on the processing of visual emotional stimuli in an event-related MEG recording design. The results point to stable modulation of increased positivity biases (pleasant > unpleasant stimulus signal strength) after excitatory vmPFC stimulation and a reversed pattern (pleasant < unpleasant) after inhibitory stimulation across five consecutive tDCS sessions. Moreover, cumulative effects of these emotional bias modulations were observable for several source-localized spatio-temporal clusters, suggesting an increase in modulatory efficiency by repeated tDCS sessions. This pilot study provides evidence for improvements in the effectiveness and utility of a novel tDCS paradigm in the context of emotional processing.

Sustainable Supply Chain of Enterprises: Value Analysis

An enterprise carrying out operations according to the sustainable development (SD) concept should maximize its business goals without affecting interest groups. It requires not only a rethinking, but also a partial allocation of profit to social goals—used to contribute to and create a positive image of the enterprise and improve its competitiveness—over the long-term. Operations should result in an increase in profit—indirectly—by way of demand. This paper explores the sustainable supply chain (SSC) concept and the interplay of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within business objectives. The concept of SSC-compliant CSR is primarily stressed as an executive, top-down centric role. Businesses and societies at large that foster an SD continuum are considered healthy economies. The SD of enterprises and CSR in business are explored in relation to social investment and considered a viable long-term strategy for doing business. A pilot case study of Poland is carried out as a value analysis of the SSCs of enterprises. The key findings illustrate the benefits and problems of SSCs applied at the enterprise level. The problems of applying the principles of SSC within the enterprise and the connection between its levels of strategy and social value in terms of CSR and entrepreneurial operations are examined. Comparative studies indicate a number of overlapping trends in which positive SSC is cross-functional toward business partners, suppliers, customers, investors, and local communities.

Development of an Effective System for Selecting Construction Materials for Sustainable Residential Housing in Western Australia

Urbanization and living comfort have revolutionized the construction industry. Many techniques and strategies have been used to improve the overall efficiency of construction and to reduce waste during and after the construction activity; some are cost effective and some not. Sustainable construction strategies have addressed these issues by proposing relatively more cost effective and environment-saving solutions. One strategy is to select sustainable construction materials at the building design stage. This article involved a questionnaire survey to collect data about local technical stakeholders’ (architects, designers, engineers, estimators, and managers) awareness of environmental sustainability and current practices for selecting construction materials. A sustainability index (SI) was developed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for the complex statistical analysis. These data were used to develop a decision support system (DSS) using the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) technique, the TOPSIS. The support system was validated by applying it to sustainable roof products in a pilot case study—these materials are frequently used in local markets for residential construction in West Australia. So the main objective was to get insight to local market trends and features involved in construction materials selection. Data analysis was carried out to develop a decision support system to help technical stakeholders in construction materials selection process.

Academic Content as a Toy: A Pilot Case Study on Play as Studyation in Higher Education

Academic Content as a Toy: A Pilot Case Study on Play as Studyation in Higher Education

Differences in the effects of Kenyan, Tanzanian, and Ethiopian coffee intake on interstitial glucose levels measured by FreeStyle Libre: A pilot case study

BackgroundAlthough generally considered part of a healthy diet, coffee consumption has been suspected to be associated with elevated epinephrine levels and increasing insulin resistance.ObjectivesWe studied the effects of the intake of 3 different types of coffee (Tanzanian, Ethiopian, and Kenyan) on postprandial interstitial glucose levels.MethodInterstitial glucose levels were measured every 15 minutes using the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system (Abbott Diabetes Care Ltd, Witney, United Kingdom) in each individual after drinking coffee compared with when not consuming coffee.ResultsUnlike Tanzanian and Ethiopian coffees, Kenyan coffee suppressed the increase of postprandial interstitial glucose levels. Kenyan coffee beans contain less anhydrous caffeine and more chlorogenic acid than Tanzanian and Ethiopian coffee beans. These findings may explain the different effects of these coffee types on postprandial interstitial glucose levels. Furthermore, Kenyan coffee beans inhibited α-glucosidase activity, which may partially explain why Kenyan coffee reduces postprandial interstitial glucose levels.ConclusionsCoffee is widely consumed as a beverage worldwide, and our findings suggest that patients with diabetes mellitus may benefit from drinking Kenyan coffee because of its ability to reduce postprandial interstitial glucose levels. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2020; 81:XXX–XXX)

Comparing the efficacy of apple peels and a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (ipragliflozin) on interstitial glucose levels: A pilot case study

Apple peels contain phlorizin, which can reduce plasma glucose levels in a manner similar to that of inhibitors for sodium-glucose cotransporters. In this study, we examined the influence of a peeled apple, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (ipragliflozin) in combination with a peeled apple, and an unpeeled apple on interstitial glucose in a healthy individual across 3 experiments. For Experiments 1, 2, and 3, the healthy volunteer consumed 327 g peeled Sun Fuji apple, took 50 mg ipragliflozin, and then consumed 327 g peeled Sun Fuji apple, or consumed 370 g unpeeled Sun Fuji apple (peel weight was 43 g), respectively. In each condition, the apple was eaten within a 15-minute period and interstitial glucose levels were measured every 15 minutes for 11.5 hours using FreeStyle Libre (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois). Results showed that neither consumption of the unpeeled apple nor ipragliflozin were able to suppress the rapid or transient increases in postprandial glucose; however, the 2 were found to comparably suppress interstitial glucose during the late phase. On the whole, these findings demonstrate that eating unpeeled apples may be beneficial for plasma glucose management, but ipragliflozin is a superior option because the apple peel's function did not last as long as ipragliflozin. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2020; 81:XXX-XXX).

Estimation of areai reduction factors using daily rainfall data and a geographically centred approach

This paper presents the estimation of geographically centred and probabilistically correct areal reduction factors (ARFs) from daily rainfall data to explain the unique relationship between average design point rainfall and average areal design rainfall estimates at a catchment level in the C5 secondary drainage region in South Africa as a pilot case study. The methodology adopted is based on a modified version of Bell's geographically centred approach. The sample ARF values estimated varied with catchment area, storm duration and return period, hence confirming the probabilistic nature. The derived algorithms also provided improved probabilistic ARF estimates in comparison to the geographically and storm-centred methods currently used in South Africa. At a national level, it is envisaged that the implementation and expansion of the methodology will ultimately contribute towards improved ARF estimations at a catchment level in South Africa. Consequently, the improved ARF estimations will also result in improved design flood estimations.

Staff Under New Market Rules: A Case Study of a Group Home for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Sweden

The Swedish caring services have transformed from a public-operatedto a market-inspired contract system. This pilot case study of a grouphome explores what the shifts of contractor entail for staff ...

A Pilot Case Study of a Student Learning Community

within a university self-access center in Japan. Utilizing a communities of practice conceptual framework (Lave &amp; Wenger, 1991; Wenger, 1998; Wenger-Trayner &amp; Wenger-Trayner, 2015), this study is investigating the dynamics of the learning community and its place within a larger institutional and sociocultural setting. In addition, a key focus of this research is the process of community leadership socialization and succession that takes place over a two-year period. In this summary, the research aims, theoretical foundations, methodological approach, preliminary findings, and future directions of the study are all provided. Through detailed analysis of community dynamics, institutional support, and the leadership succession process, it is hoped that this research will provide insights that can help inform learning community support and guidance within self-access contexts.

Analysis of Factors that Affect Government Digitization: A Pilot Case Study of Pakistan

One of the greatest factors that affects the economic condition of a country is its institutions. In the model of good governance, the primary elements for stronger institution include efficiency, transparency, and accountability; and technology plays a major role in improving these elements. However, there are myriad of challenges when it comes to practical integration of technology in these institutions for efficiency. It is more challenging when a country is developing and one that is already weak economically. It is also important to mention that the challenges of digitization in public sector is not limited to developing countries only. It is equally challenging, even today, in already developed countries to digitally transform their public institutions for improved policymaking and for responsive service delivery. Many factors contribute to the failure of such digitization initiatives, more so within developing countries. And the purpose of this paper is to identify those factors, to measure the significance of each of those factors, and to realize and overcome them. This research considered the case study of Pakistan; however, the results are very likely to match the conditions of other developing regions around the world. Through questionnaires and interviews, valuable feedback was gathered from up to 25 senior government officers that are closely associated with digitization initiatives in public sector. The feedback to the questions were overall unanimous. The results indicate the most significant of factors that affect government digitization in this developing region, including some factors that were not expected.

Digital readiness assessment of Italian SMEs: a case-study research

PurposeGiven the challenges that Industry 4.0 poses, the purpose of this paper is to propose a comprehensive assessment model suitable for evaluating small- and medium-size enterprises’ (SMEs) digital readiness levels, discuss the results of an assessment of 20 manufacturing SMEs using the proposed model and highlight priorities needed to undertake a successful journey towards Industry 4.0.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopts an empirical approach using multiple case studies. Starting with a literature review about maturity and readiness-assessment models for Industry 4.0, the study’s model has been built and validated through two pilot case studies, with the final model used in an extensive case studies research with 20 enterprises.FindingsThe SMEs used in this research present an intermediate readiness level with respect to Industry 4.0. They are aware of the phenomenon, but management is still taking the first steps towards identifying the most appropriate strategy to approach this Fourth Industrial Revolution. Companies need to exploit all opportunities that data availability provides in terms of knowledge creation and decision-making support, in all forms, through investments in people skills and expertise and through an infrastructure that can support data gathering, analysis and sharing.Originality/valueThe Italian industrial landscape comprises mainly SMEs, mostly needing support to understand their path towards Industry 4.0. Therefore, the proposed model specifically focuses on SMEs, given its modularity, ease of understanding and fit to SMEs’ organisational structure. Furthermore, insights from 20 Italian SMEs are examined, and a list of priorities is highlighted.

A Methodology for a Performance Information Model to Support Facility Management

Current facility management practice relies on different systems which require new technologies to integrate and manage information more easily. Building information modeling offers a good opportunity to improve facility information management by providing a unified platform for various data sources rather than an intuitive information interface. Although current research trends reveal that there is a continuously growing interest in facility management aided by building information modeling, an integrated model is still hard to obtain. This paper aims at developing a novel methodology based on building information modeling and facility management systems integration, underpinned by a performance information model. The implementation process of a performance information model is described, including information technologies involved, the data and process requirements, and the building performance assessment methods used. A first pilot case-study has been conducted with regards to surgery rooms in healthcare buildings. The proposal can support condition-based maintenance work schedule, as well as the achievement of organizational, environmental, and technical requirements. Among the practical implications found: Improved technological and environmental performances assessment; better visualization of building condition; improved decision-making process; facilitated maintenance tasks planning and maintenance records management.

Using Video Modeling Package on Improving Workplace Social Skills of Young Adults with Talent Traits and Autism: A Case Study

Stable, positive relationships with colleagues or supervisors are difficult for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to maintain. Little was known in teaching social skills of students with ASD in workplace, not mentioning for those who have ASD as well as talent traits. This pilot case study aimed to use a package of cognitive behavioral training, applied behavior analysis (ABA) guidelines, and secondary-tier generic video modeling to teach workplace social skills to five young adults with ASD and talent traits. The intervention lasted for 8 weeks, with 3 hours of intervention each week. Per ABA guidelines, the authors focused on the talent traits and preferred activities of the participants with ASD, and structured the training to include a reward system and opportunities to practice learned skills in the community. Analysis using nonparametric statistics revealed a significant difference between the means of pretest and posttest scores (Z = 2.032, p < .05) on a curriculum-based assessment. Significant improvements among the participants were noted on their assessments of all five target skills, on the teacher log, and through interviews. This study requires further replication with rigorous design to make causal conclusion.

Other people’s voices: a reflective inquiry into power and voice within the classroom and the implications of researching one’s own practice

Abstract The aim of this pilot case-study was two-fold: to explore the power and voice within small group interactions within a secondary school classroom and to explore the implications of researching one’s own practice as a teacher-researcher. Using Bakhtin’s theories of dialogism, audio recordings of one small group interactions were compared to student independent written work, in order to understand whose voices were used and how. Four main themes were identified: power and authority; positions of submission; silence and the voice of the text. The findings also highlighted how in the midst of teaching we can fail to see these power and identity dynamics; but the time and space of reflective research enables researchers to see beyond the moment and develop the capacity to see their teaching interventions and strategies anew to support the construction of new meaning.

BIM-based life cycle assessment and life cycle costing of an office building in Western Europe

The main aim of this research is to enhance the integration of life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) methodologies with building information modelling (BIM), as existing approaches still have limitations (e.g. interoperability issues, non-editable databases). For that purpose, an automatic LCA/LCC analysis within a BIM-based environment is proposed. A BIM-based environmental and economic life cycle assessment (BIMEELCA) prototype tool was developed by the authors to improve the integration of BIM with LCA and LCC. Moreover, a pilot case study located in the Netherlands was used to validate the work developed in this research, thus demonstrating the usefulness of this approach for the construction industry. This study unveiled the potential of BIM-based simulations for the assessment of the environmental and economic impacts of buildings by integrating semantic information in the model. The work presented in this research is expected to contribute to the development of automatic sustainability simulations, creation of tailor-made BIM objects’ libraries, and use of historical data contained within data-rich models for predictive analyses (i.e. analyses that identify the most suitable solutions based on the data from previous projects).

How Do Rewards and Management Styles Influence the Motivation to Share Knowledge?

How to motivate knowledge sharing is of crucial importance to many companies. This paper analyzes individual knowledge sharing behavior in a self-determination theory (SDT) perspective. The primary aim is to explore what type of motivation predicts knowledge sharing behavior and how this type of motivation is affected by reward structures and management styles in organizations. The paper builds on survey and interview data from a pilot case study and provides statistical evidence of a strong positive relationship between autonomous motivation and knowledge sharing behavior. Furthermore, tangible rewards are found to correlate negatively with autonomous motivation for knowledge sharing. The more employees perceive knowledge sharing to lead to tangible rewards, the less they are autonomously motivated to share. On the other hand, a management style supportive of employees' needs for autonomy is found to promote autonomous motivation for knowledge sharing.