bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Error significance analysis and compensation for HPKMs
Authors: Eastwood Sara , Webb Philip
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a novel error‐ranking methodology and two compensation strategies for hybrid parallel kinematic machines (HPKMs).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper outlines an error analysis methodology developed for HPKMs and applies the technique to a typical industrial HPKM. Based on the results of this, two compensation strategies are developed and implemented, for both mass‐induced and thermal errors.

Findings

The paper demonstrates and quantifies the performance improvements possible with appropriate error compensation strategies.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a novel and generic methodology for error source analysis and describes two fully implemented compensation strategies which result in a significantly improved level of system performance.
A CORBA‐based cooperative mobile robot system
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Cao Qixin , Zhang Lei , Lo Charles
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a distributed multiple mobile robot system that provides a collaborative control and simulation environment.

Design/methodology/approach

A CORBA‐based cooperative system is designed to implement a robotic layered cooperative mechanism. The mechanism has three layers: mission, transport and execution. In order to realize a flexible and effective communication in the cooperative mechanism, an extended robot event service (federated event service) is proposed to improve the cooperative system's real time performance.

Findings

Experimentation has proved the validity and effectiveness of the system. The federated event service's latency is approximately 9 percent less than the standard event service latency when the CPU is determined.

Practical implications

The robotic modularized system includes the map‐building, path‐planning, robot task‐planning, simulation and actual robot control function modules, and uses CORBA to integrate the whole system. It is easy to implement a layered cooperative mechanism for multiple mobile robots. Given the problem on multiple robots cooperation latency, a useful extended robot event service is proposed.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on the distributed functional modular architecture, and the multiple robots cooperative layered mechanism. In the mechanism, an extended robot event service (federated event service) is proposed to reduce the cooperative system's real time latency. The conducted experiment validates the proposed system with a good performance for multiple mobile robots' cooperation.
A review of CAD‐based robot path planning for spray painting
Authors: Chen Heping , Fuhlbrigge Thomas , Li Xiongzi
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Paint path planning for industrial robots is critical for uniform paint distribution, process cycle time and material waste, etc. However, paint path planning is still a costly and time‐consuming process. Currently paint path planning has always caused a bottle‐neck for manufacturing automation because typical manual teaching methods are tedious, error‐prone and skill‐dependent. Hence, it is essential to develop automated tool path‐planning methods to replace manual paint path planning. The purpose of this paper is to review the existing automated tool path‐planning methods, and investigate their advantages and disadvantages.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a review of automated tool path‐planning methods, to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of the current technologies.

Findings

Paint path planning is a very complicated task considering complex parts, paint process requirements and complicated spraying tools. There are some research and development efforts in this area. Based on the review of the methods used for paint path planning and simulation, the paper concludes that: the tessellated CAD model formats have many advantages in paint path planning and paint deposition simulation. However, the tessellated CAD model formats lack edge and connection information. Hence, it may not be suitable for some applications requiring edge following, such as welding. For the spray gun model, more complicated models, such as 2D models, should be used for both path planning and paint distribution simulation. Paint path generation methods should be able to generate a paint path for complex automotive parts without assumptions, such as presupposing a part with a continuous surface.

Practical implications

The paper makes possible automated path generation for spray‐painting process using industrial robots such that the path‐planning time can be reduced, the product quality improved, etc.

Originality/value

The paper provides a useful review of current paint path‐planning methodologies based on the CAD models of parts.
An application of mobile robotics for olfactory monitoring of hazardous industrial sites
Authors: Distante Cosimo , Indiveri Giovanni , Reina Giulio
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a mobile robot with an olfactory capability for hazardous site survey. Possible applications include detection of gas leaks and dangerous substances along predefined paths, inspection of pipes in factories, and mine sweeping.

Design/methodology/approach

The mobile sentry is equipped with a transducer array of tin oxide chemical sensors, compliant with the standard interface IEEE 1451, which provides odour‐sensing capability, and uses differential drive and spring‐suspended odometric trackballs to move and localize in the environment. The monitoring strategy comprises two stages. First, a path learning operation is performed where the vehicle is remotely controlled through some potential critical locations of the environment, such as valves, pressure vessels, and pipelines. Then, the robot automatically tracks the prerecorded trajectory, while serving as an electronic watch by providing a real‐time olfactory map of the environment. Laboratory experiments are described to validate the approach and assess the performance of the proposed system.

Findings

The approach was shown to be effective in experimental trials where the robot was able to detect multiple odour sources and differentiate between sources very close to one another.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of the methodology is that it has been specifically designed for odour detection along a well‐defined path in a highly structured environment, such as that expected in the industrial field. The problem of detection of leakages outside the search path is not addressed here.

Practical implications

This mobile robot can be of great value to detect hazardous fluid leakages in chemical warehouses and industrial sites, thus increasing the safety level for human operators.

Originality/value

The paper describes a mobile robotic system, which employs an odour‐sensing capability to perform automated monitoring of hazardous industrial sites. A dynamic model of the mobile nose is also discussed and it is shown that it well describes the behaviour of the system.
Cooperative robotic assistant with drill‐by‐wire end‐effector for spinal fusion surgery
Authors: Lee Jongwon , Hwang Inwook , Kim Keehoon , Choi Seungmoon , Kyun Chung Wan , Soo Kim Young
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a surgical robot for spinal fusion and its control framework that provides higher operation accuracy, greater flexibility of robot position control, and improved ergonomics.

Design/methodology/approach

A human‐guided robot for the spinal fusion surgery has been developed with a dexterous end‐effector that is capable of high‐speed drilling for cortical layer gimleting and tele‐operated insertion of screws into the vertebrae. The end‐effector is position‐controlled by a five degrees‐of‐freedom robot body that has a kinematically closed structure to withstand strong reaction force occurring in the surgery. The robot also allows the surgeon to control cooperatively the position and orientation of the end‐effector in order to provide maximum flexibility in exploiting his or her expertise. Also incorporated for improved safety is a “drill‐by‐wire” mechanism wherein a screw is tele‐drilled by the surgeon in a mechanically decoupled master/slave system. Finally, a torque‐rendering algorithm that adds synthetic open‐loop high‐frequency components on feedback torque increases the realism of tele‐drilling in the screw‐by‐wire mechanism.

Findings

Experimental results indicated that this assistive robot for spinal fusion performs drilling tasks within the static regulation errors less than 0.1 μm for position control and less than 0.05° for orientation control. The users of the tele‐drilling reported subjectively that they experienced torque feedback similar to that of direct screw insertion.

Research limitations/implications

Although the robotic surgery system itself has been developed, integration with surgery planning and tracking systems is ongoing. Thus, the screw insertion accuracy of a whole surgery system with the assistive robot is to be investigated in the near future.

Originality/value

The paper arguably pioneers the dexterous end‐effector appropriately designed for spinal fusion, the cooperative robot position‐control algorithm, the screw‐by‐wire mechanism for indirect screw insertion, and the torque‐rendering algorithm for more realistic torque feedback. In particular, the system has the potential of circumventing the screw‐loosening problem, a common defect in the conventional surgeon‐operated or robot‐assisted spinal fusion surgery.
Programming‐by‐demonstration in the coworker scenario for SMEs
Authors: Norberto Pires J. , Veiga Germano , Araújo Ricardo
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report a collection of developments that enable users to program industrial robots using speech, several device interfaces, force control and code generation techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

The reported system is explained in detail and a few practical examples are given that demonstrate its usefulness for small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), where robots and humans need to cooperate to achieve a common goal (coworker scenario). The paper also explores the user interface software adapted for use by non‐experts.

Findings

The programming‐by‐demonstration (PbD) system presented proved to be very efficient with the task of programming entirely new features to an industrial robotic system. The system uses a speech interface for user command, and a force‐controlled guiding system for teaching the robot the details about the task being programmed. With only a small set of implemented robot instructions it was fairly easy to teach the robot system a new task, generate the robot code and execute it immediately.

Research limitations/implications

Although a particular robot controller was used, the system is in many aspects general, since the options adopted are mainly based on standards. It can obviously be implemented with other robot controllers without significant changes. In fact, most of the features were ported to run with Motoman robots with success.

Practical implications

It is important to stress that the robot program built in this section was obtained without writing a single line of code, but instead just by moving the robot to the desired positions and adding the required robot instructions using speech. Even the upload task of the obtained module to the robot controller is commanded by speech, along with its execution/termination. Consequently, teaching the robotic system a new feature is accessible for any type of user with only minor training.

Originality/value

This type of PbD systems will constitute a major advantage for SMEs, since most of those companies do not have the necessary engineering resources to make changes or add new functionalities to their robotic manufacturing systems. Even at the system integrator level these systems are very useful for avoiding the need for specific knowledge about all the controllers with which they work: complexity is hidden beyond the speech interfaces and portable interface devices, with specific and user‐friendly APIs making the connection between the programmer and the system.
Design and validation of a novel actuator with adaptable compliance for application in human‐like robotics
Authors: Gonzalez Rodriguez Antonio , Eduardo Nava Rodriguez Nestor , Gaspar Gonzalez Rodriguez Angel
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel actuator with adaptable compliance for robotic applications.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve limb actuation similar to that of human muscles, a novel actuator with adaptable compliance is proposed. Three principal design paradigms currently exist in the development of artificial muscles that have been adopted at several research centres, universities and commercial organizations around the world. The first approach consists of using compliant actuator systems such as pneumatic actuators. The second approach undertakes the development of electroactive polymers that deform when a voltage is applied. The third approach involves electromechanical devices typically comprising an electrical actuator and an elastic element in combination. The proposed actuator extends on the third approach. It comprises an electrical DC motor in serial configuration and a novel elastic device exhibiting variable stiffness.

Findings

The novel elastic device complements the mechanical structure of the device, enabling adaptation to the dynamic effects of external forces.

Practical implications

Several applications for the actuator with adaptable compliance have been identified in the field of human‐like robotics.

Originality/value

Prototypic experimentation has successfully demonstrated the variable stiffness of the device.
ERP implementation at SMEs: analysis of five Canadian cases
Authors: Snider Brent , da Silveira Giovani J.C. , Balakrishnan Jaydeep
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the critical success factors (CSFs) of enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementation in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

Five case studies of Canadian SMEs were conducted. They included interviewing individuals from five roles at each organization and gathering project documents. Following an evaluation of each project's success (within‐case analysis), cross‐case analysis was conducted to elicit influential and distinctive factors.

Findings

Factors were identified that appeared to explain variation between successful and unsuccessful implementations at SMEs, besides factors that appeared to be innovative or counter‐intuitive in light of the established literature.

Research limitations/implications

The study reinforces the need for more research that is focused on SMEs. All cases were of Canadian SMEs with either a manufacturing or distribution focus, potentially limiting the generalizability of findings to other industries or countries.

Practical implications

By identifying relevant CSFs for SMEs, managers can better prioritize implementation efforts and resources to maximize success of ERP implementations.

Originality/value

The paper appears to be one of the first studies to focus on the CSFs of ERP implementation at SMEs.
A theoretical review of flexibility, agility and responsiveness in the operations management literature
Authors: Santos Bernardes Ednilson , Hanna Mark D.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the often overlapping use of the related terms flexibility, agility and responsiveness in the operations management literature to clarify differences between the terms.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the notion of the ladder of abstraction, a conceptual differentiation between the three terms is proposed.

Findings

Based on the most common associations of the terms in the literature, the paper proposes a hierarchical interrelationship between the terms in that: flexibility is most commonly associated with the inherent property of systems which allows them to change within pre‐established parameters; agility is predominantly used to describe an approach to organizing that provides for rapid system reconfiguration in the face of unforeseeable changes; and responsiveness commonly refers to a system behavior involving timely purposeful change in the presence of modulating stimuli.

Practical implications

As managers of manufacturing firms strive to improve the performance of their organizations in a highly competitive environment, the paper provides a useful enhanced understanding of the relative roles that flexibility, agility and responsiveness play in their operations strategies. This in turn will enable them to better focus their competitive strategies and investments.

Originality/value

While confusion between the meanings of these terms has been noted by others, the paper is believed to be the first to consider the three terms together and thereby propose a differentiation between them.
Lean transformation in the pure service environment: the case of the call service centre
Authors: Piercy Niall , Rich Nick
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Service businesses are struggling with customer demands for better quality service and managerial demands for cost reduction. There is evidence to suggest that service businesses are in practice failing on both these counts, seeing increased costs and reductions in service quality. The application of lean production approaches to the service context has been suggested as a means to resolve these problems, reducing costs and improving quality. Despite the validation of lean approaches in the product‐service context, the application of lean approaches in the pure service environment remains largely untested. The purpose of this paper is to assess the suitability of lean production methodologies in the pure service context.

Design/methodology/approach

Three financial service companies in the UK were followed through a common programme of lean transformation. The improvements observed in each company were recorded. The change programme is evaluated to determine the “leanness” of the initiatives. The suitability of lean for the service context is discussed.

Findings

The paper's findings highlight significant improvements in quality and cost positions with minimal investment through adoption of lean tools in the pure service context. The paper proposes the suitability of basic lean methodologies such as value understanding, process mapping and problem solving for the pure service context.

Originality/value

The lean approach is well established in the manufacturing sector and certain product‐service contexts. Evidence on lean in pure service environments is very limited. The paper addresses this shortcoming.
Obstacles to supply chain integration of the performance management process in buyer‐supplier dyads
Authors: Forslund Helena , Jonsson Patrik
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain to what degree supplier relationship obstacles and operational tool obstacles hinder supply chain integration of the performance management (PM) process.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a hypothetical‐deductive study, where the results are based on a survey of 257 purchasing managers in nine manufacturing industries in Sweden.

Findings

Supplier relationship obstacles (lack of trust, different goals and priorities and lack of parallel communication structure) were found to significantly hinder PM process integration the most, which is in accordance with previous studies. The operational tool obstacles (manual performance data management and non‐standardized performance metrics) were seen on an overall level to hinder PM process integration. However, the hypothesis that non‐standardized performance metrics hinder PM process integration was not verified, which does not accord with previous studies.

Research limitations/implications

The use of single informants in data collection presents a limitation of the study.

Practical implications

Contrary to previous studies, the paper has applied a broader, quantitative survey methodology, and hence provides deeper knowledge about the impact of obstacles on PM process integration. It identifies critical obstacles which are important for industry to overcome.

Originality/value

Most previous studies of supply chain PM are either case‐ or experience‐based. Here, hypotheses are tested on empirical data and general results presented regarding lack of supplier relationships and operational tools as obstacles for supply chain integration of PM.
Geographic and income anatomy of international exports
Authors: Nissan Edward , Niroomand Farhang
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the levels of extensive (wider set of goods) and intensive (larger quantities of each good) margins for 126 countries grouped by income and development hierarchies.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of variance and the coefficient of variation were used to find similarities and differences between and within the groups of countries.

Findings

Results show that the extensive margin accounts for a large share of exports of rich countries.

Originality/value

This paper highlights export margins (extensive and intensive) for groups of countries.
On the stability of endogenous growth models
Authors: Gomes Orlando
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present three modified versions of the simple AK endogenous growth model.

Design/methodology/approach

Such frameworks stress the role of consumers' sentiment, the impact of fiscal policy and the effect of non‐optimal investment decisions made by firms. In all the cases, today's decisions take into consideration the economic performance of the previous period; in the first case, households react pro‐cyclically to the output path; in the second case, a counter‐cyclical fiscal policy is considered; and in the third case, firms adopt a pro‐cyclical behavior concerning investment choices.

Findings

The author studies the stability properties of the three models and concludes that, on each one of them, a saddle‐path stable equilibrium exists.

Originality/value

The paper accentuates the relevance of the reaction of the economic agents relatively to the business cycle. By assuming that the behavior of consumers, government and firms is a behavior of reaction to economic fluctuations, we find interesting and relevant results in what concerns the conventional intertemporal optimization growth model.
China's exchange rate policy and the United States' trade deficits
Authors: Soofi Abdol S.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to critically examine China's exchange rate policy debate and discuss Chinese financial and capital control reform of recent years. Furthermore, using the empirical results based on a regional general equilibrium model, alternative methods are suggested of addressing American concerns about China's role in contributing towards global financial stability and American trade deficits with China.

Design/methodology/approach

Regional general equilibrium input‐output model.

Findings

Sino‐American debate on exchange rate policy is a matter of difference of opinion in sequencing of policies China has adopted to reduce capital account control and make her exchange rate regime more flexible. Using the final demand elasticity of exports it is observed that Chinese expansionary fiscal stimuli do have powerful effects in inducing additional exports for the United States and other Chinese trading partners.

Research limitations/implications

The model does not include rest‐of‐the‐world economies.

Practical implications:

The results imply viable alternatives to renminbi/dollar appreciation policy in dealing with US‐China persistent trade deficit.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a new, empirical‐based policy recommendation in dealing with the US trade deficit with China.
Output‐inflation and unemployment‐inflation trade‐offs under inflation targeting
Authors: Ferreira de Mendonça Helder
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This article aims to analyze if the adoption of inflation targeting in Brazil contributed to an improvement in the conduction of monetary policy capable of increasing credibility and reducing inflation without an increase in the sacrifice rate.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the Brazilian experience, this article estimates, through GMM and VAR methods, the offsetting effects of a monetary policy change on the output‐inflation and unemployment‐inflation trade‐offs.

Findings

The findings denote that the disinflationary process implemented in Brazil, after the adoption of inflation targeting, is not associated with the emergence of the above‐mentioned trade‐offs. Furthermore, the development of credibility in the conduction of monetary policy is an important element responsible for the achievement of this result.

Practical implications

Development of credibility is an important strategy for improving the conduction of the monetary policy.

Originality/value

The results of the paper give some new insights about the conduction of monetary policy for developing countries, which have adopted inflation targeting.
How do we explain the capital structure of SMEs in sub‐Saharan Africa?
Authors: Abor Joshua , Biekpe Nicholas
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of capital structure decisions of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. The issue is very relevant considering that SMEs have been noted as important contributors to the growth of the Ghanaian economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression model is used to estimate the relationship between the firm level characteristics and capital structure measured by long‐term debt and short‐term debt ratios.

Findings

The results of the study suggest that variables such as firm's age, size, asset structure, profitability, and growth affect the capital structure of Ghanaian SMEs. Short‐term debt is found to represent an important financing source for SMEs in Ghana.

Originality/value

The findings of this study have important implications for policy makers and entrepreneurs of SMEs in Ghana.
Oil prices and competitiveness: time series evidence from six oil‐producing countries
Authors: Jahan‐Parvar Mohammad R. , Mohammadi Hassan
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the potential loss of competitiveness due to higher oil prices through the monetary channel in a group of six oil producing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A dynamic time series methodology, Dynamic Simultaneous Equations, is applied to Vector Autoregressive Moving Average model with exogenous variables.

Findings

Mixed evidence was found of loss of competitiveness due to high oil prices in the sample.

Practical implications

Findings are useful both for academic researchers in international finance or development economics. Policy makers will find the results useful for implementing stabilization or neutralization policies.

Originality/value

The empirical work extends earlier research in several directions including extension to six oil‐producing countries, use of data over the flexible exchange rate period, and a more suitable technique, which estimates the model in a dynamic setting.
Using professional forums to assess historians' e‐resource needs
Authors: Anderson Jill E.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This article seeks to suggest that pedagogical forums published in two major professional associations' publications can contribute to the literature on collection for academic historians.

Design/methodology/approach

The author surveys the literature on historians' information needs and surveys articles published in the pedagogical forums for what they reveal about historians' use of electronic resources.

Findings

The forums provide useful bibliographic information regarding e‐resources for faculty and collection officers alike; additionally, they provide a useful starting point for discussions of desired learning outcomes, leading to better support for teaching/curricular needs.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are limited to academic historians and are also skewed toward US historians, since more articles on e‐resources appeared in the forum dedicated to US‐historical pedagogy than in the forum encompassing historians of all areas.

Practical implications

Similar research could be done on pedagogical forums in other academic fields.

Originality/value

This paper examines a field's pedagogical methodology to draw conclusions about collections management for that field.
Collection analysis to enhance funding for research materials
Authors: Culbertson Michael , Wilde Michelle
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the use of the WorldCat Collection Analysis tool and other measurements to analyze the strengths of collections supporting doctoral programs in a Carnegie Class 1 research university in order to enhance budgetary support for these collections.

Design/methodology/approach

In 2006 the Colorado State University (CSU) Libraries were asked to assess the library's support of doctoral programs in 12 key discipline areas. Peer institutions were selected and permission was obtained to access relevant statistics from their collection at the Libraries using the Collection Analysis tool, and relevant metrics for analyzing journal holdings. Use of the metrics for analysis of monograph and journal holdings and comparison of holdings between institutions is examined.

Findings

This case study analyzes how results obtained through use of the Collection Analysis tool and measurements of journal holdings were integrated with results from the broader analysis to achieve a valid comparison between strengths of collections. The authors then look at how this analysis was translated into requests for additional funding for access to materials that would support doctoral level research.

Originality/value

This paper shows how currently available tools for collection management can be used to educate a university community about the budgetary requirements of building graduate research level collections and to make a case for increased funding to support these collections.
2008 Poetry Publication Showcase: selected titles
Authors: Romanos Michael
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an annotated bibliography of the new poetry volumes from the Poet's House 2008 Poetry Showcase.

Design/methodology/approach

The titles were selected from the Poet's House 2008 Poetry Showcase as titles that are both challenging and accessible.

Findings

This list provides the librarian and reader with a guide to collection development in poetry.

Originality/value

This is one of the few lists of its kind showcasing contemporary poetry.
Meeting collection development needs in resource poor settings: the University of Zambia Medical Library experience
Authors: Wamunyima Kanyengo Christine
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to take stock of the current state of information resources and approaches used to meet collection development needs at the University of Zambia Medical Library.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study methodological approach accompanied by a review of the literature, annual reports and official documents was used

Findings

The findings indicate that the UNZA Medical Library has not had adequate funding since the early 1980s and its collection cannot meet the information needs of its users without the support of other organizations.

Practical implications

Dwindling financial resources are a scenario that is common to libraries all over the world but more pronounced in Sub‐Saharan Africa, where libraries have seen major reductions in their funding levels over time. The library has devised alternative strategies, other than funding from the parent institution, for meeting its collection development requirements.

Originality/value

Lessons learned over time and best practices that can be of use to other libraries that are facing funding problems are highlighted.
How to make a dollar out of fifteen cents: tips for electronic collection development
Authors: Price Apryl C.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide tips for electronic collection development for libraries with a meager budget.

Design/methodology/approach

The information provided in this article is based on research on electronic collection development practices and the author's experience with electronic resources at small and large university libraries.

Findings

There are many useful electronic resources available for free because of the open access movement. Old ideas such as consortia and negotiating still help to keep costs at a manageable level for libraries.

Practical implications

Libraries will be able to maintain or reduce the costs they are spending on electronic resources, but still retain sources that fulfill their collection needs.

Originality/value

This paper combines new and old ideas and resources for electronic collection development into a short and easy‐to‐follow source.
Wind ensemble literature in the music library: a core bibliography
Authors: Stock Matt
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The paper seeks to provide a selective bibliography for librarians responsible for music collections and resources pertaining to the history and literature of the wind ensemble, an area frequently underrepresented in our collections.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of resources of value to music students and faculty are described to enable librarians and students to make selections appropriate for their needs. The works are divided into two sections: history and literature, and scores.

Findings

Information is provided about each work, including publisher.

Originality/value

This paper offers practical suggestions for librarians responsible for music collections.
Why existing customers are so valuable
Authors: Bishop Derek
Published: January 2009

Purpose

In the current economic climate, attracting new customers is becoming even more challenging and so businesses should now be looking within their business to understand the behavior of their existing customers.

Design/methodology/approach

Customer Service and Outsourcing Specialist Derek Bishop explains why it is crucial to explore the reasons why customers leave organizations and in doing so take their business elsewhere.

Findings

The paper suggests different ways in which to look at an organizations customer service, and in doing so, evaluate an existing customers needs and behavior.

Originality/value

The paper looks at why customers leave organizations, and in fixing these reasons it is likely to cost far less than attracting new customers.
Terahertz imaging: a report on progress
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide details of recent developments in terahertz (THz) imaging technology and its applications.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first discusses the properties, perceived imaging uses and sources of THz radiation. It then describes passive and active imaging systems through reference to commercial products and their applications. Finally, it considers future prospects and key technological developments.

Findings

This paper shows that the commercialisation of passive and active imaging systems has been gradual but uses are emerging in a range of security, material testing and healthcare applications. Market development has been hindered in part by the high cost of systems and certain technological and operational limitations. Research which aims to overcome these problems is widespread and much involves the development of improved sources and detectors.

Originality/value

The paper provides a detailed insight into the present state of THz imaging technology and its applications and identifies and describes critical technological developments.
Driver assistance systems aim to halve traffic accidents
Authors: Connolly Christine
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal how technology is being applied to augment drivers' skills and improve road safety throughout Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with a description of the European Commission's car safety initiatives, and why they are necessary. Then three driver‐assistance systems are examined in detail: adaptive cruise control, lane departure and lane‐changing systems, and driver vigilance monitoring.

Findings

Radar, lidar, and imaging sensors are being used and sometimes fused to build highly intelligent driver assistance equipment. The response of the system is crucial to its acceptance and success: false alarms or over‐violent actuation would lead to rejection. Neither must the system encourage over‐confidence. It is estimated that drowsiness detection could prevent 30 per cent of fatal motorway crashes.

Originality/value

The paper alerts engineers and drivers to a long‐term Europe‐wide project to develop and deploy driver assistance technologies.
Analysis of microscopic images
Authors: Connolly Christine
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate technologies improving image quality and understanding in life‐science microscopy.

Design/methodology/approach

The new technique of high‐content analysis is described, along with the equipment available from various manufacturers. Advances in fluorescence imaging and confocal microscopy are then addressed. The paper concludes by reporting a powerful 3D visualisation package, and equipment for networked viewing of high‐resolution microscopy images.

Findings

High‐content analysis has developed rapidly in the last four or five years, due largely to improvements in the software interface. Automation and powerful software acquire and manage vast quantities of data, allowing scientists experiment afresh on archived images. Improvements in laser scanning techniques and the emergence of microLED arrays assist microscopy imaging of live cells, whilst techniques giving high‐spectral discrimination improve image understanding.

Originality/value

The paper describes how image‐processing technologies are assisting the work of cell biologists. Stresses the importance of software and hardware design to user uptake, which is relevant for all engineers.
Al alloy weld pool control of welding robot with passive vision
Authors: Kong Meng , Chen Shanben
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe work aimed to control the Al alloy welding penetration through the passive vision for welding robot.

Design/methodology/approach

First a passive vision system was established. The system can capture the Al alloy welding image. Based on the analysis of the characteristic of the welding image, the composite edge detectors were developed to recognize the shape of the weld seam and the weld pool. To realize the automatic control of the Al alloy‐weld process, the relation between the welding parameter and the quality of the weld appearance was established through the random welding experiment. The wire feed was chosen with PID controller adjusting the wire feed rate according to the weld gap variation.

Findings

This paper finds that the passive vision system can be captured the clear weld seam and weld pool image simultaneously. the method of composite edge detectors can be effectively and accurately recognize the weld seam edges. The wire feed rate controller ensured the welding robot to adjust the wire feed rate according to the gap variation.

Research limitations/implications

This system has been applied to the industrial welding robot production.

Originality/value

The weld seam and weld pool image can be simultaneously captured by the passive vision system. The composite edge detectors have been developed for the passive vision method. The controller has been set up for Al alloy welding process based on the neural network.
Self powered wireless sensors for condition monitoring applications
Authors: Owen Thomas H. , Kestermann Stefan , Torah Russel , Beeby Stephen P.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of using kinetic energy harvesting to power wireless condition monitoring sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

The system presented duty cycles its operation depending upon the energy being harvested. The harvested energy is stored on a supercapacitor and the system samples sufficient vibration data to enable an FFT to be performed at the receiver.

Findings

The results of this study show it is perfectly feasible to power practical wireless condition monitoring sensors entirely from the vibrations of the machines being monitored.

Originality/value

Energy harvesting techniques can be used to power wireless sensors in a range of applications. Removing the need for a battery power supply presents obvious environmental benefits and avoids the need to periodically replace batteries.
Embedded system based optical tomography: the concentration profile
Authors: Abdul Rahim Ruzairi , Kok Thiam Chiam , Pusppanathan Jaysuman , Shaan‐Li Susiapan Yvette
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to view the flow concentration of the flowing material in a pipeline conveyor.

Design/methodology/approach

Optical tomography provides a method to view the cross sectional image of flowing materials in a pipeline conveyor. Important flow information such as flow concentration profile, flow velocity and mass flow rate can be obtained without the need to invade the process vessel. The utilization of powerful computer together with expensive data acquisition system (DAQ) as the processing device in optical tomography systems has always been a norm. However, the advancements in silicon fabrication technology nowadays allow the fabrication of powerful digital signal processors (DSP) at reasonable cost. This allows the technology to be applied in optical tomography system to reduce or even eliminate the need of personal computer and the DAQ. The DSP system was customized to control the data acquisition of 16 × 16 optical sensors (arranged in orthogonal projection) and 23 × 23 optical sensors (arranged in rectilinear projections). The data collected were used to reconstruct the cross sectional image of flowing materials inside the pipeline. In the developed system, the accuracy of the image reconstruction was increased by 12.5 per cent by using new hybrid image reconstruction algorithm.

Findings

The results proved that the data acquisition and image reconstruction algorithm is capable of acquiring accurate data to reconstruct cross sectional images with only little error compared to the expected measurements.

Originality/value

The DSP system was customized to control the data acquisition of 16 × 16 optical sensors (arranged in orthogonal projection) and 23 × 23 optical sensors (arranged in rectilinear projections).
Wireless collection and data fusion method of strain signal in civil engineering structures
Authors: Yu Yan , Ou Jinping
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a wireless strain sensor system which will allow easier collection of accurate strain signals in civil engineering structures. The sensor system is developed by integrating with resistance strain gauge, and the data fusion method is proposed based on batch estimation theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The principle of resistance strain gauge is discussed and the project of wireless acquisition system of strain signal is given. Wireless strain sensor is integrated with modularization method. Based on batch estimation theory, the data fusion method of strain signal is described. The experiment of wireless strain sensor system is finished on a typical concrete beam structure, the measure data processed by using the data fusion method and the arithmetic average value method is compared and analyzed.

Findings

The research result shows that the wireless strain sensor can be installed easily and thus is applied compatibly to local monitoring in civil engineering. The strain signal processed by the data fusion method is more accurate than the one processed by the arithmetic average value method, and thus the proposed data fusion method is fit for processing such slowly‐changing signals as strain.

Originality/value

In this paper, the innovation is shown from two views: one is applying wireless technique to collect strain signals; another is that data fusion with wide application can make measurements more precise and reliable by eliminating uncertain value than using the arithmetic average value method. In general, the developed wireless sensor system and the proposed data fusion method are fit for local monitoring.
Development of colorimetric sensor instrument for quantitative analysis of methyl parathion
Authors: Sharma Amit Kumar , Gaur M.S. , Sharma Pradeep , Tiwari R.K. , Bhadoria Seema
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a sensitive and cost effective colorimetric sensor for detection of methyl parathion (MP) using simple circuitry. A simple and sensitive concept of colorimetric sensor instrument represents a rapidly expanding field of sensor techniques to monitor MP neurotoxins is described within certain conditions of producing color in samples. The variation of intensity of color with concentration provides discrimination between different concentrations of MP. The colorimetric instrument displays well‐defined signals towards hydrolyzed samples of MP.

Design/methodology/approach

The principle of light intensity measurement has been applied to measure various concentrations of MP based on Lambert‐Beer theory. This device and its processes are useful for quantitative analysis of MP. The detection limits were found within a range of 0.1‐1.5 ppm.

Findings

The experiments from sophisticated analytical techniques are costly and time‐consuming processes that validate the proposed system.

Practical implications

This paper's original proposition of using quantification of MP with colorimetric sensor instrument obtained promising results.

Originality/value

The colorimetric sensor instrument provides a new method for quantification of MP in unknown samples within detection limits.
Exploring women's academic careers in cross‐national perspective
Authors: Le Feuvre Nicky
Published: January 2009

Purpose

In recent years, several countries and/or higher education institutions have adopted equal opportunity policies to promote women's access to the upper levels of the academic career structure. The purpose of this paper is to argue that there is no universal solution to the glass ceiling that women face within academia. Insofar as the feminisation process evolves according to a variety of models, according to national and occupational context, the solutions adopted in one context may prove to be ineffective elsewhere.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of the different models of occupational feminisation is based on a secondary analysis of the sociological literature on the subject, combined with recent data on women's access to academic positions in France and Germany.

Findings

Although there are similarities in the structure of the academic labour market across countries and in the rate of feminisation of the most prestigious academic positions, the precise mechanisms through which women gain access to an academic career vary significantly from one national context to another. This cross‐national variation would tend to suggest that there will also be variation when it comes to defining the most effective policy measures for increasing women's access to the upper echelons of the academic hierarchy. Indeed, different models of gender equality in academia may lead to very different results with regard to existing gender relations.

Originality/value

The paper uses the available sociological literature on the feminisation process to examine how different measures adopted to promote women's access to the highest echelons of the academic career structure may have different effects on the reproduction and/or transformation of the dominant sex/gender system.