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Shockwaves are mechanical pressure pulses generated in liquids and gases. Based on the principles of acoustics, shockwavescan propagate through fluids such as water. At interfaces of materials with different acoustic impedances, mechanical energy is dissipated, and disintegration of biological tissue can be achieved. Physical properties as well as technical requirements for shockwave generation by electrohydraulic, electromagnetic or piezoelectric energy conversion have been reported in the literature. The use of electrohydraulic shockwaves for food treatment is an emerging food processing technology, where a lack of scientific and technical knowledge has limited further advancements in process and equipment design. In scientific literature, single aspects required for process description are available, e.g., in metallurgy, mining, air purification or particle accelerators, but their combination toward a combined model is required to characterize underlying mechanisms of action. In food, most of the studies have focused on shockwave technology for treatment of meat cuts with the purpose of reducing aging time, softening of tissue and improving its tenderness. Other applications of the shockwave technology could expand to biological inactivation, targeted texture modifications and improving extractive and refining processes in agriculture industries. Total processing costs are estimated in a range of a few Euros per ton of product. Despite being a promising alternative to existing processes used for these purposes, the application of shockwave in the food industry is limited to date to research on pilot-scale prototypes.
In this paper, we introduce a framework to identify domain specific use cases for smart glasses in the domain of logistics services. We further present and evaluate our framework through its application in a single case study in a wholesale warehouse. We contribute to theory and practice by presenting an approach to identify, define and describe application scenarios for the adoption of smart glasses in the logistics domain, and by enriching the current body of knowledge on digitalization, service support systems and wearables. Therefore, our research falls into line with the second topic. We directly address current challenges in logistics, one of Germany’s major economic sectors, regarding the implementation of new or advanced services with smart glasses. The presented case study is embedded in the digitalization project Glasshouse. The processes of two logistics services providers are the main research subjects in this project. In contrast to this, we focus on a third logistic service provider in this paper, to evaluate the transferability of our findings.
This chapter examines the integration of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) into identity-based brand management by focusing on Dove’s brand management as a case study. The Dove “Real Beauty” campaign highlights the potential for brands to address gender equality and female empowerment by aligning with pro-female and feminist principles. A narrative literature review shows how the components of identity-based brand management have been observed in scholarly discussions. Despite mixed responses and criticisms, Dove initiated important conversations around beauty standards and gender equality. The chapter emphasizes the need for authenticity, sensitivity, and continuous improvement in integrating SDG 5 into brand management while acknowledging the potential risks and limitations of consumerist therapy and false hopes. Future research could therefore explore diverse brands, industries, and cultural contexts, as well as the role of intersectionality in identity-based brand management.
This chapter presents the mechanism of the enhancement of freezing by means of ultrasound (US). It has been demonstrated that the effects of US are a rather complex issue. In theory, ultrasound creates cavitation bubbles throughout the volume of the product, which promotes nucleation of the ice and crushes the crystals already present in food. They can also enhance convective heat transfer to the cooling media, thereby accelerating freezing. Moreover, it has been shown that ultrasound reduces the degree of supercooling before nucleation in frozen food. Additionally, numerous experimental studies indicate that ultrasound assisted freezing is a good method to achieve homogenous crystallizations, reduce the deteriorating effect of freezing on food, and thus improve quality after thawing.
The mineralization of soil organic nitrogen (N) and crop residues can significantly contribute to the N supply of vegetable crops. However, short-term mineralization dynamics are difficult to predict. On the other hand, fast-growing crops like spinach are highly sensitive to N shortage. Therefore, in situ soil columns have been tested to estimate the actual N supply via mineralization in field-grown spinach. In ten fertilization trials covered soil columns (20 cm in diameter) were driven into the soil to a depth of 30 cm at the start of the cultivation. Eight columns were repeated in three blocks within a total trial area of 0.10 to 0.25 ha. Net N mineralization was derived by subtracting the soil mineral N concentration (Nmin) in the upper 30 cm before installation from the concentration inside the columns at harvest. For comparison, a balance sheet was calculated for spinach plots receiving no N fertilization (zero plots) as well as fertilized plots and used as a proxy for net N mineralization. In this approach the initial Nmin concentration in the upper 30 cm of the soil, the N supply via irrigation, and fertilization as well as the total aboveground N uptake by spinach and the Nmin residue were considered. By using soil columns, N mineralization was determined with a mean coefficient of variation of 18%. A higher spatial variability of up to 43% was observed when spinach was grown as a second crop. The average net N mineralization rate ranged between 2 kg ha‑1 week‑1 (0-30 cm) in winter-grown spinach and 3-7 kg ha‑1 week‑1 (0-30 cm) in the other seasons. Nitrogen mineralization measured by the soil columns was qualitatively confirmed with the data obtained by the balance sheet. Soil columns enable repeated samplings during the spinach cultivation. In this way, top dressing rates can be adjusted to the actual N supply.
Spinach is a nitrogen (N)-demanding crop characterized by a shallow root architecture. Especially in the first weeks after sowing, significant N uptake is limited to the uppermost few centimetres of the soil. However, base fertilization is usually based on the soil mineral N (Nmin) concentration in the upper 30 cm. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine whether the soil sample depth for calculating the base N fertilization can be reduced to the 0-15 cm layer. In seven field trials, conducted during spring, summer and autumn seasons, either a low or high base fertilization dose was applied at sowing. Until top dressing, soil samples were frequently taken in the upper 0-15 and 15-30 cm layers to determine the average Nmin concentration in each layer. Top dressing was applied when the first true leaves had unfurled. With this fertilizer application, the total N supply was aligned between both treatments based on the Nmin concentration in the upper 30 cm of the soil. Aboveground fresh and dry masses were determined after reaching a fresh mass yield of 15-20 t ha‑1 and related to the mean Nmin concentration in the first 3 to 4 weeks of cultivation between sowing and top dressing. It was shown that the Nmin concentration in the upper 0-15 cm of the soil highly reflects the base fertilization rate. By contrast, the Nmin concentration in the 15-30 cm layer remained unaffected. However, the Nmin concentration of both top soil layers can affect fresh and dry mass yield at harvest. Therefore, the entire 0-30 cm soil layer should be considered when calculating the base N fertilization rate in field-grown spinach. Measurements revealed that spinach fresh and dry masses were increased until the N availability of between 54 and 59 kg ha‑1 (0-30 cm) was reached at the seedlings stage, respectively.
Work–life balance is one of the challenges of a globalized world. The study described in this chapter aimed to identify the factors influencing the work–life balance of working mothers. Additionally, we will describe differences and similarities between the well-being and working styles of German and US-American working mothers. It is particularly difficult for mothers to be successful, because to do so, they must master the double burden of work and family. In this study, 320 working mothers were surveyed, 142 in Germany and 178 in the USA. It was found that the cultural concepts of work–life balance of these working mothers are comparable. Furthermore, differences in working styles were identified: US-Americans valued both well-being and work–life balance more strongly than Germans. In both cultures, younger mothers felt more burdened by work than older mothers. This may indicate that competences are learned with an increasing age, enabling a more successful mastery of challenges, even though an increasing age usually has a negative effect on health. The number of children, family status and education did not influence work–life balance. These findings are further discussed in this chapter.
Thirty years ago, the Fourth King of Bhutan famously proclaimed that ―Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product, thereby setting Bhutan on a holistic development path. Following this historic declaration, Bhutan developed a Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index and screening tool to evaluate all new policies, proclaiming that:
―Gross National Happiness measures the quality of a country in more holistic way [than GNP] and believes that the beneficial development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occur side by side to complement and reinforce each other.
In July 2011, 68 nations joined Bhutan in co-sponsoring its UN General Assembly resolution on ―Happiness: Towards a Holistic Approach to Development.
Keynes’ Grandchildren and Easterlin’s Paradox. What Is Keeping Us from Reducing Our Working Hours?
(2019)
In 1930 Keynes famously predicted that 100 years later-i.e. in 2030-the “economic problem” would be solved and we would be living in an “age of leisure and of abundance” working only 3 h a day. In the same text, Keynes stated that there are absolute and relative needs (“in the sense that we feel them only if their satisfaction lifts us above, makes us feel superior to, our fellows”), but he thought that relative needs are of minor importance. Richard Easterlin’s work, on the other hand, suggests that relative needs are pervasive and that wellbeing depends much more on one’s relative income than Keynes once thought.
It will be argued in this text that Richard Easterlin’s findings, in spite of proving Keynes off the mark in his understatement of relative needs, strengthens the case for working time reductions: the larger the proportion of goods subject to the relative-income effect, the greater are the benefits of working fewer hours. Perhaps the main explanation for why we are still sticking to the 40-h work-week is that the Easterlin paradox has not been widely understood yet.
Hedonism
(2009)
Health Telematics Europe
(2011)
The adoption and use of information technology (IT) in health care is influenced by many factors and depends on legal and cultural constraints prevailing in a country. While Europe is constantly coalescing on a political basis, health care is a sector still dominated by national legislation. Consequently, different types of national health care systems have existed throughout Europe for decades which now build the framework for the use of information and communication technology (ICT) by health care provider organizations. The following paragraphs will, therefore, provide a concise overview of the different types of national health care systems in Europe and will characterize the countries with regard to key indicators.
Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship : Examining IT4Sustainability as Business Development Path
(2022)
There is an increasing interest within the field of Information Systems as well as political agendas to identify the potential of digital technologies to promote sustainable development. Nonetheless, sustainable entrepreneurship and digital entrepreneurship are widely treated separately within the literature, suggesting that there is little understanding of how entrepreneurs could employ digital technologies to promote sustainable development. Based on an empirical, qualitative research approach, relying on Grounded Theory methodology, this paper identifies characteristics of sustainable digital entrepreneurs. An investigation of the manifestations of the sustainable digital orientation reveals a rather diffuse understanding of the relation and potential synergy effects. In response to this gap, the paper presents examples on how sustainable digital entrepreneurs employ digital and disruptive technologies to tackle sustainability challenges (IT4Sustainability development path), including information and communication technology, such as digital platforms, artificial intelligence, or drone technology. The presented approaches range from second-mover approaches associated with low digital maturity limited to the business level to the development of new business models facilitating the sustainable transition of whole sectors. These insights are summarized in an IT4Sustainability maturity model, which presents different starting points for entrepreneurs. Relevant theoretical, practical, and policy implications are discussed, especially concerning the education on IT4Sustainability, including Corporate Digital Responsibility.