A fine balance: specialized questioning techniques and their use in conservation

Conservationists measuring noncompliance with rules about the exploitation of natural resources often need to ask sensitive questions. However, respondents can introduce bias through distorting their answers to direct questions, due to social norms and/or the risk of legal sanctions. Specialized Questioning Techniques (SQTs) are often a more suitable approach to counteracting respondent bias, as they encourage honest answering by protecting respondent’s privacy by design. This study aims to provide a complete overview of the main SQTs, as well as about their most recent advances.We performed a scoping review of existing SQTs, starting from those covered in Nuno and St. John (2015). We included techniques that have never been explained to conservationists before, and/or that were invented after 2015, or which had advanced and improved since Nuno and St. John (2015).Our review identified 9 different broad types of SQTs, defined according to their practical implementation. We found 18 new versions of the randomized response technique, the unmatched count technique, the item sum technique, the triangular model and the crosswise model. We also discuss endorsement experiments and the ballot box method, which have not been covered in a review for the benefit of conservationists. Finally, we found four new SQTs: the parallel model, the pair method, the list method and the person count technique. Each technique is explained with real, or hypothetical, examples and discussed in its advantages and limitations.SQTs have undergone an impressive development over the last few years, and many different techniques are available to elicit sensitive behaviors with implications for conservation. This research offers a summary to conservationists and practitioners who want to understand SQTs and integrate them in their work, which should be a priority for those studying sensitive behaviors with implications for conservation.

The political predicament of the pan-democrats in Hong Kong under Chinese rule

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to make sense of the slow and frustrating process of democratization in Hong Kong through understanding the pan-democrats’ struggle for realizing universal suffrage. It aims to offer possible explanations for the current political impasse between Hong Kong and mainland China over the issue of universal suffrage. Design/methodology/approach This paper seeks to construct a triangular model of institutional constraint, clashing visions of democracy and mutual political distrust for understanding the pan-democrats’ struggle for realizing universal suffrage in Hong Kong since the 1980s, the nature of current political predicament they found themselves in and the current political impasse between the pan-democrats and Beijing. Findings The dilemma facing Hong Kong’s pan-democrats and Beijing’s leadership is attributed to the institutional constraints of Basic Law on Hong Kong’s system of governance, the clashing visions of Beijing-led Chinese-style democracy and Western-style liberal democracy as advocated by the pan-democrats and the mutual political distrust between the two parties. The findings suggest that this triangular model will remain relevant in understanding the political predicament of the pan-democrats under Chinese rule and the political impasse between Hong Kong and mainland China over universal suffrage for the coming decades. Originality/value This paper provides a new interpretation of the current political impasse between Hong Kong and mainland China over the issue of universal suffrage. It offers new insights into the nature of current political predicament the pan-democrats found themselves in amidst their fight for realizing universal suffrage since the 1980s by constructing a triangular model of institutional constraints, clashing visions of democracy and mutual political distrust.

Design Modification of Additive Manufacturing Parts Using Texture Information of 3D Model

Additive manufacturing (AM) has been commonly used for the prototyping of three-dimensional (3D) models. The input model of the AM technology is a triangular model representing the surface shape of an object. The design features on a triangular model are generally not clear as the vertices are irregularly distributed. If design modification is necessary, it is difficult to segment and extract the meshes from the model. The objective of this study is to propose a method for extracting the design features on an object model by using the texture information. A 3D color model including a triangular model representing the object shape and a texture map describing the object texture is employed. The 3D model is generated by using a set of object images captured from different views surrounding the object. A texture mapping algorithm is then employed to generate the texture map corresponding to the 3D model. With both meshes and texture displayed in a texture mode, a region extraction technique is employed to extract the design features. All parts separated can then be fabricated with an AM machine, and assembled for checking the feasibility of design modification. Several products are employed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technique.

What are the determinants of European hotel room design 2030?

Purpose The purpose of this research paper is to identify determinants influencing hotel room design now and in the future to offer hotel owners, hotel investors, architects and other partners involved in hotel planning, a framework regarding hotel room design 2030. Based both on theoretical foundations and empirical findings, guidelines for an innovative future hotel room design are evolved and represented by a triangular model. Design/methodology/approach A detailed analysis of basic and topic-related hotel management literature as well as of promising best practices of leading international hotel companies is supplemented by the evaluation of 27 expert interviews with hoteliers of varying hotel conceptions in Germany, Austria and Spain. Findings The paper presents qualitative as well as quantitative results of the applied methodology and leads to the emergence of a triangular model for an innovative future hotel room design approach. Research limitations/implications Safety and security aspects (both physical and virtual) as well as sustainability as a limiting factor have not been further discussed within the model construction so far. Practical implications The theoretical findings and the emergent framework may be customized to the determining factors and specific needs of individual hotels, hotel consortia or hotel chains to meet the needs of hotel room design 2030. Originality/value This research paper offers guidelines beyond design aspects by considering target group priorities, technological innovation and economical aspects.

An Expeditious Methodology to Assess the Effects of Intermittent Generation on Power Systems

This paper proposes an expeditious methodology that provides hourly assessments of the effect of intermittent wind and solar power generation on the electrical quantities characterizing power systems. Currents are measured via circuit breakers to confirm the correct sizing of devices based on their rated currents. Nodal voltage magnitudes are assessed for compliance with limits imposed by regulatory authorities, whereas the active power produced by hydroelectrical generators is assessed for reserve energy. The proposed methodology leverages a fuzzy extended deterministic optimal power flow that uses in power balance equations the average hourly values of active power generated by wind and solar sources as well as hourly energy load. The power grid is modeled at the substation level to directly obtain power flow through circuit breakers. Uncertainties in power system electrical quantities are assessed for an optimal solution using a Taylor series associated with deviations from the average values of the active power produced by the wind and solar sources. These deviations are represented using a fuzzy triangular model reflecting the approximations of the probability density functions of these powers. The methodology takes into account a subjective investigation that focuses on the qualitative characteristic of these energy sources’ behaviors.