bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The social shaping of the early business schools in The Netherlands
Authors: van Baalen Peter , Karsten Luchien
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an alternative explanation for the rise of modern management schools at the turn of the twentieth century. It is to be argued that these schools were not just responses of the higher education system to the demand of industrializing companies for a new class of professional managers, like Chandler suggests.

Design/methodology/approach

The historical‐actor approach is applied to explain the rise of academic management schools, prior to the Second World War. Data were collected from the archives of different management schools and professional organizations of the engineers and accountants.

Findings

To legitimize their position in the higher education system, abstraction appeared to be the dominant strategy of the professions. By abstraction they could distinguish themselves from the lay public and other professional groups in the domain of management. At the moment the new professions had a foot in the higher education system the engineers and the accountants contested for the new management domain. Abstraction appeared also the successful strategy of the accountants to distinguish themselves from the engineers and to establish a sound base for the development of the Dutch variant of business economics.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents a full account of the Dutch situation but the findings cannot be generalized to other countries. More comparative research is needed. The rise of management schools is mostly explained as an educational response to an economic demand.

Practical implications

The history of the Dutch business schools may provide researchers and administrators of universities insight into the dynamics of disciplines and into setting up professional schools.

Originality/value

This research is based on original documents from the archives of schools and professional organizations. The main contribution of the paper is that it shows how emancipatory and social status motives mediated between the demand and supply side.
Barnard on leadership development: bridging action and thinking
Authors: Isomura Kazuhito
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore an effective educational method for leadership development.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve the objective of the paper, Chester Barnard's insights on leadership and its development are reviewed: the gap between action and thinking; practitioners' ways of thinking and moral senses; combinations of abilities and qualities for leaders; and an educational method for leaders.

Findings

The paper concludes that when business school students write their own cases and explain them comprehensibly for others who did not experience the situation, they can enhance their abilities to observe and deeply analyze situations and are given opportunities to reflect and share their experiences.

Research limitations/implications

The paper proposes the idea of the educational method, so, in the future it would be possible to show how to implement this method concretely.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that it would be effective to develop an educational method based on practitioners' ways of thinking and sensing.

Originality/value

The paper indicates that practitioners develop their own ways of thinking and sensing that are different from researchers' ways of scientific thinking. Practitioners' ways of thinking and moral senses can be learned in educational institutions by using rich cases including participants' intentions and interpretations.
Using historic mutinies to understand defiance in modern organizations
Authors: Coye Ray W. , Murphy Patrick J. , Spencer Patricia E.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Guided by voice and leadership theory, this paper aims to articulate the underpinnings of upward defiance (competence deficiency; ignorance of concerns; structural gaps between echelons) and to describe the managerial actions that help depose those underpinnings.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes 30 historic narrative accounts of actual mutinies. The journalistic accounts from bygone eras provide unparalleled insight into the basic dynamics of mutiny and provide novel insights into organizational defiance.

Findings

The principal findings show that the underpinnings of mutiny in organizations derive from three foundations: disconnections between authority echelons, modes of addressing member disgruntlement, and the need for management to develop continuous competencies.

Originality/value

The paper goes beyond reports of mutinies in the popular press and lore by applying the findings to modern organizations.
Successful return to work: the role of fairness and workplace‐based strategies
Authors: Gail Hepburn C. , Franche Renée‐Louise , Francis Lori
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Consistent with previous research, the purpose of this paper is to propose that the presence of workplace‐based return‐to‐work strategies would reduce the duration of work disability. Moving beyond existing research, the paper further seeks to propose that these strategies would also enhance mental health and affective commitment among injured workers. In addition, the paper aims to introduce interactional justice – injured workers' perceptions of the interpersonal and informational fairness of the person most responsible for their return‐to‐work process – to the return‐to‐work context, and to hypothesize that these factors would also contribute to the explanation of these outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Within five weeks of their injury, telephone interviews were conducted with 166 workers from the province of Ontario, Canada, who had experienced musculoskeletal lost‐time workplace injuries.

Findings

Multiple regression analyses indicate that certain workplace‐based strategies were associated with days on compensation, self‐reported days absent, and depressive symptoms, but not affective commitment. Further, as hypothesized, interactional justice accounted for additional variance explained in self‐reported days absent, depressive symptoms, and affective commitment. Interactional justice did not explain additional variance in days on compensation.

Practical implications

The findings have implications for employers engaged in return‐to‐work practices and researchers studying return to work. Both should address not only the workplace‐based strategies used, but also the way in which these strategies are implemented.

Originality/value

The paper replicates previous empirical work on return‐to‐work interventions and demonstrates the importance of the presence of workplace‐based strategies in explaining the duration of work disability.
A case study identifying disease risk factor prevalence in government office workers in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Sealey Rebecca M. , Sinclair Wade H. , Pollock Paige , Wright Anne‐Marie
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify health and physical activity status and prevalence of chronic diseases risk factors in a sample of Government office employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative assessment of various health and physical activity measures including blood pressure, BMI, waist‐to‐hip ratio, cholesterol, blood glucose and physical activity in adult male (n=66; age=42 ±9 years) and female (n=262; age=40 ±10 years) Government office employees located in metropolitan, rural and remote areas of central and northern Queensland.

Findings

It was found that 54 per cent of females and 77 per cent of males were classified as overweight or obese, while 38 per cent of all participants did not participate in sufficient weekly physical activity. Metropolitan females reported significantly higher blood glucose levels and diastolic blood pressure but significantly lower waist‐to‐hip ratio than rural and remote females.

Research limitations/implications

There was uneven sampling across geographical locations, however the sample size of each group was largely indicative of the workforce in each location.

Practical implications

There is a large prevalence of chronic disease risk factors in male and female Government office employees working throughout metropolitan, rural and remote areas of central and northern Queensland. Workplace personnel should work to improve the health and physical activity status of employees, as this may have positive effects on workplace participation and productivity.

Originality/value

This study provides insight into the prevalence of chronic disease risk factors in Government office workers undertaking similar work duties across a variety of geographical locations, and provides suggestions for workplace interventions.
Teachers' wellbeing and perceptions of leadership practices
Authors: Konu Anne , Viitanen Elina , Lintonen Tomi
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare teachers' wellbeing in different types of schools (elementary, lower secondary and unified school) and to analyze how gender, type of employment, working hours and time served as a teacher affected teachers' wellbeing and perceptions of questions concerning leadership practices and work organization in school.

Design/methodology/approach

The holistic school wellbeing evaluation tool was used to study the wellbeing of 1,294 Finnish teachers. The questions covered four categories of wellbeing: school conditions, social relationships, means for self‐fulfillment and health status. Quantitative methodology was used for analysis.

Findings

The general picture was that teachers' wellbeing was highest in elementary schools and lowest in lower secondary schools. The wellbeing of a male teacher, a teacher who had fixed‐term employment and a teacher who worked part‐time was higher than that of a female teacher, a permanent teacher and a full‐time teacher. Single questions concerning work organization and leadership practices followed mainly the same lines. Teachers in unified schools had the lowest ratings when questions relating to obtaining help from the principal, or the possibility of receiving further education and equal treatment were asked.

Practical implications

More attention needs to be paid to permanent teachers employed over a long time with regards to enhancing their wellbeing. In the unifying process of schools, equal treatment, obtaining the principal's help for the teachers and the likelihood of updating education are especially important aspects.

Originality/value

The paper presents a theory‐based evaluation of teachers' wellbeing as well as focal points for school development both from the wellbeing and administrative points of view.
Integrating the customer as part of systems integration
Authors: Liinamaa Johanna , Gustafsson Magnus
Published: March 2010

Purpose

It has been argued that systems integration plays a central role when a company supplies complex technical and engineering intensive industrial projects. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of customer integration as part of systems integration in industrial project business.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops the understanding of systems integration based on an empirical study, in two phases, of a global company providing large and complex solutions including demanding strategic and operational efforts, within the power and marine sectors. The paper analyzes the technical and social dimensions and describes how to systematically manage them.

Findings

The social dimension of integration can be achieved by making a direct change in policy towards the six supplier capabilities or integration mechanisms found critical: showing interest in the customer's needs and business requirements; promptly responding to and solving customer needs; having knowledge concerning the latest technical development; having the ability to listen to the customer and to reflect on what has been said; taking responsibility for the delivered installation after handing it over and having logistics competence to guarantee availability of parts.

Practical implications

The benefits of understanding and managing the social dimension, in terms of customer integration, of systems integration properly have a considerable financial impact on the project company's business.

Originality/value

Addressing the social dimension of systems integration is beneficial to a project company's business because the company can decrease its level of risk and uncertainty, and at the same time develop market opportunities by increasing the value of the offerings.
Community‐based protest against construction projects
Authors: Teo M.M.M. , Loosemore M.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the social forces that shape perceptions of risk and sustain community‐based protest against controversial construction projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a thematic story‐telling approach which draws on ethnographic method and theories relating to social contagion, group dynamics and collective action.

Findings

The paper shows how collective action against projects is maintained by a high degree of interconnectivity and relational multiplexity between participating individuals and groups. Other determinants of movement continuity include the protective role of hidden social networks, overlapping protest group memberships, the plurality of protest issues faced and the quality and nature of social ties, experiences and emotions that link activists in collective action over the protest movement's lifetime.

Research limitations/implications

This research extends existing research in protest mobalisation in the social and political domain into the area of protest continuity against controversial projects.

Practical implications

Mismanaged community concerns about controversial projects can escalate into long‐term and sometimes acrimonious protest stand‐offs that have negative implications for the community, firms involved and for industries as a whole. The findings of this paper can help project managers avoid this.

Originality/value

This paper will be of value to project managers involved in managing community perceptions of risk on controversial projects within or outside the construction industry. It explains for the first time how perceptions of risk about major projects are shaped in communities and provides recommendations about how best to communicate with communities to prevent conflict.
Evaluating and prioritizing projects – setting targets
Authors: Henriksen Bjørnar , Christian Røstad Carl
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology aiming to improve the process of prioritizing among projects, focusing on the strategic impacts. The methodology is expected to have a particular relevance for companies operating in a distributed organizational environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology has been developed within the PROMISE project, where ten applications and eight corresponding companies (application owners) represent the cases where the methodology has been developed and tested.

Findings

The paper has documented a need for a methodology that links projects and initiatives to overall the overall company strategies. Through the PROMISE project such a method business effect evaluation methodology (BEEM) is developed. The structure of the method and the process of using it are described.

Originality/value

This paper presents a methodology, BEEM, proven relevant in different contexts when projects and units need to be evaluated, compared, prioritized and coordinated according to strategies and key business drivers. BEEM is also a methodology that could guide projects and units in a distributed organizational environment according to overall strategies. Thus, the methodology might also be used by projects and units to improve the strategic position and/or business development.
Implementing inventory transparency to temporary storage locations
Authors: Kärkkäinen Mikko , Ala‐Risku Timo , Främling Kary , Collin Jari , Holmström Jan
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a tracking based inventory management system in temporary storage locations of a project delivery chain. To describe the use of tracking based inventory information for improved logistics control in equipment delivery and installation.

Design/methodology/approach

A solution design experiment was carried out in 16 temporary storage locations with one original equipment manufacturer and four installation partners.

Findings

It is feasible to implement tracking based inventory management in temporary storage locations. The challenge is to ensure that installation partners adopt the system. The benefit is improved logistics control of equipment delivery and installation for the original equipment manufacturer.

Research limitations/implications

Tracking information is more useful than conventional stock keeping in project delivery. By monitoring the dwell time of delivery items it is possible to identify and resolve problems in project execution.

Practical implications

Inventory management in temporary storage locations help project management, project logistics, and central logistics organizations carry out their work more effectively. Implementation can be based on tracking.

Originality/value

The paper's value lies in empirical tests and evaluation of tracking based inventory management in temporary storage locations.
Using multimedia to effectively engage stakeholders in risk management
Authors: Loosemore Martin
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to discuss how multimedia technology can be used to effectively engage stakeholders in the management of risk in projects and in business.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on research in stakeholder management and multimedia this paper presents a case study of how multimedia technology was used to help a government health department develop a risk management strategy to respond to climate change risk to its infrastructure.

Findings

Multimedia is a highly effective, engaging, and innovative way to capture and harness stakeholders' collective knowledge in managing risks and opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

This research has revealed the practical advantages of using multimedia to engage stakeholders in the risk management process. Future research needs to explore the pedagogical advantages of multimedia in helping organisations develop a risk management culture.

Practical implications

In the increasingly emotional and regulated business environment, effective risk management has become a basic necessity for every organisation, as has the ability to communicate effectively with external stakeholders about risk. The potential costs of poor communication with stakeholders during this process are enormous but the potential benefits of effective consultation are even greater.

Originality/value

This paper will be of value to managers involved in managing risk and opportunity. It demonstrates a new consultative approach to managing risk and opportunity which uses cutting‐edge multimedia technology which complies with current international guidelines, laws and regulations.
Collaborative and cross‐company project management within the automotive industry using the Balanced Scorecard
Authors: Niebecker Klaus , Eager David , Moulton Bruce
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to summarize the scope, methodology, and main findings of a doctoral thesis about cross‐company project management in the automotive industry. The concept of the collaborative project scorecard (CPS) is described and the results of its application to a project are summarized and discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The project adopted an action research approach which included a series of interviews, surveys, workshops, and a case study where the developed project management concept was tested and evaluated in a real project setting.

Findings

The concept of the CPS supports the alignment of project goals with business strategies, improves transparency in networked project organizations with respect to roles, responsibilities, goal achievement, stakeholder identification, and performance assessment. Project goals is not only based on and measured by hard facts but also on soft facts such as trust and employee satisfaction. The balanced choice of common strategic project goals improves the achievement of long‐term strategies in a project partnership.

Practical implications

Difficulties in defining appropriate indicators are identified, and resistance to change can need to be overcome so that every project member has a clear understanding of the concept's benefits. Legal issues (contract) may need to be discussed when the concept is used by a cross‐corporate project team. The method helps the delivery of performance to become more clearly measurable.

Originality/value

The project gives insight into a new cross‐company project management concept that was tested and evaluated in the automotive industry. Furthermore, an information technology (IT) solution is developed and implemented, and advantages and disadvantages of the concept and its IT solution are analysed and recommendation on its application given. The project demonstrates how the Balanced Scorecard can successfully be applied to networked project environments.
Evidence of a mechanism of neural adaptation in the closed loop control of directions
Authors: Olson Byron , Si Jennie
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Using cortical neurons of animals to control external devices allows experimenters a unique opportunity to study the capability of the brain to utilize a new actuator. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ability of unrestrained rats to control a directional task using motor cortical signals.

Design/methodology/approach

In freely moving rats, signals recorded from the motor cortex of the brain enabled the use of a closed loop brain machine interface (BMI) system to replace paddle pressing for a directional task. In this system, ring rates from several (two to ten) motor cortical neurons at several consecutive time points were used as input to a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. The decision‐function value obtained from the SVM was then used to determine which relay should be activated to produce paddle‐pressing signals in the task. All five animals tested were able to use this interface immediately and significant changes in neural activity arise in a single, 45‐min, experimental session. Neural data from three of the subjects were examined for changes from the calibration phase (data used to build the SVM model) to the late cortically controlled phase.

Findings

Detailed analysis shows that neural activity changes significantly from the calibration phase to the cortically controlled phase, furthermore, the decision‐function values arising from these neural signals change to support better performance. By examining which neurons and times are selected by the SVM to have significant impact on the decision‐function value as well as which of these elements change significantly, a mechanism of adaptation begins to emerge in which the SVM properly assigns high importance to dimensions that easily predict the desired output, however, under closed‐loop control, the animal selects a small number of neurons (at most or all times) and chooses to make the firing rates more distinguishable. Video taken of one of the subjects further suggests the nature of the behavioral correlates of these changes.

Practical implications

In the design of practical BMI devices for human patients, one effective strategy might involve creating mappings from multi‐neuron ensembles using state‐of‐the‐art machine learning techniques, but expect that the patients who use the devices will adapt to the devices using single neuron modulation changes.

Originality/value

In the design of practical BMI devices for human patients, one effective strategy might involve creating mappings from multi‐neuron ensembles using state‐of‐the‐art machine learning techniques, but expect that the patients who use the devices will adapt to the devices using single neuron modulation changes. The proposed decentralization approach is interesting for the design of optimization algorithms that can run on computing systems that use principles of self‐organization and have no central control.
A proposed solution for the load balancing problem on heterogeneous clusters based on a delayed neural network
Authors: Marcos Meirelles da Silva João , Kaszkurewicz Eugenius
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the load balancing (LB) problem in clusters of heterogeneous processors using delayed artificial neural networks theory, optimal control theory, and linear matrix inequalities (LMIs).

Design/methodology/approach

Starting with a mathematical model that includes delays and processors with different processing velocities, this model is transformed into a special case of a neural network model known as delayed cellular neural network (DCNN) model. A new energy function is proposed to this delayed neural network special case, assuring convergence conditions through the use of LMIs. Some performance criteria subject to stability conditions to the non‐linear model version are analyzed, and a new LB controller systematic method of synthesis is proposed, using two coupled LMIs – one guaranteeing global convergence and the other guaranteeing performance in a linear region of operation. Simulations and experiments proves the efficiency of this approach, reducing LB time with a viable computational cost for clusters with high number of processors.

Findings

A new approach for the LB problem was proposed based on an special case of a delayed neural network model. Performance criterium can also be imposed over it using a quadratic cost function, giving a possibility to extend the idea to other classes of delayed neural network.

Originality/value

The novelty associated with this paper is the introduction of an approach which the LB problem on an heterogeneous cluster of local processors can be modeled as a delayed neural network and the performance of the LB algorithm can be imposed, at least locally, by a quadratic cost function. Also, the delayed neural network can also be seen as a Persidskii system with delay.
Evolving neuromorphic flight control for a flapping‐wing mechanical insect
Authors: Boddhu Sanjay K. , Gallagher John C.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an approach to employ evolvable hardware concepts, to effectively construct flapping‐wing mechanism controllers for micro robots, with the evolved dynamically complex controllers embedded in a, physically realizable, micro‐scale reconfigurable substrate.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a continuous time recurrent neural network (CTRNN)‐evolvable hardware (a neuromorphic variant of evolvable hardware) framework and methodologies are employed in the process of designing the evolution experiments. CTRNN is selected as the neuromorphic reconfigurable substrate with most efficient Minipop Evolutionary Algorithm, configured to drive the evolution process. The uniqueness of the reconfigurable CTRNN substrate preferred for this study is perceived from its universal dynamics approximation capabilities and prospective to realize the same in small area and low power chips, the properties which are very much a basic requirement for flapping‐wing based micro robot control. A simulated micro mechanical flapping insect model is employed to conduct the feasibility study of evolving neuromorphic controllers using the above‐mentioned methodology.

Findings

It has been demonstrated that the presented neuromorphic evolvable hardware approach can be effectively used to evolve controllers, to produce various flight dynamics like cruising, steering, and altitude gain in a simulated micro mechanical insect. Moreover, an appropriate feasibility is presented, to realize the evolved controllers in small area and lower power chips, with available fabrication techniques and as well as utilizing the complex dynamics nature of CTRNNs to encompass various controls ability in a architecturally static hardware circuit, which are more pertinent to meet the constraints of micro robot construction and control.

Originality/value

The proposed neuromorphic evolvable hardware approach along with its modules intact (CTRNNs and Minipop) can provide a general mechanism to construct/evolve dynamically complex and optimal controllers for flapping‐wing mechanism based micro robots for various environments with least human intervention. Further, the evolved neuromorphic controllers in simulation study can be successfully transferred to its hardware counterpart without sacrificing its anticipated functionality and realized within a predictable area and power ranges.
Chip‐implementation of a self‐tuning nonlinear function control for DC‐DC converters
Authors: Hsu Chun‐Fei , Wang Shuen‐Liang , Li Ming‐Chia , Lin Chih‐Min
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The DC‐DC converters which convert one level of electrical voltage to the desired level are widely used in many electrical peripherals. During the past two decade, many different control laws have been developed. The proportional‐integral (PI) control and sliding‐mode control have been carried out for the DC‐DC converters since they are simple to implement and easy to design. However, its performance using PI control and sliding‐mode control is obviously quite limited. The purpose of this paper is to a self‐tuning nonlinear function control (STNFC) propose for the DC‐DC converters. The adaptation laws of the proposed STNFC system are derived in the sense of Lyapunov function, thus not only the controller parameters can be online tuned itself, but also the system's stability can be guaranteed.

Design/methodology/approach

In general, the accurate mathematical models of the DC‐DC converters are difficult to derive. This paper proposes a model‐free STNFC design method. Since the proposed STNFC uses a simple fuzzy system with three fuzzy rules base to implement the control law, the computational loading of the fuzzy inference mechanism is slight. So the proposed STNFC system is suitable for the real‐time practical applications. The controller parameters of the proposed STNFC system can online tune in the Lyapunov sense, thus the stability of closed‐loop system can be guaranteed.

Findings

The proposed STNFC system is applied to a DC‐DC converter based on a field‐programmable gate array chip. The experimental results are provided to demonstrate the proposed STNFC system can cope with the input voltage and load resistance variations to ensure the stability while providing fast transient response.

Originality/value

The proposed STNFC approach is interesting for the design of an intelligent control scheme. The main contributions of this paper are: the successful development of STNFC system without heavy computational loading. The parameter‐learning algorithm is design based on the Lyapunov stability theorem to guarantee the system stability; the successful applications of the STNFC system to control the forward DC‐DC converter. And, the proposed STNFC methodology can be easily extended to other DC‐DC converters.
A neuro‐computational intelligence analysis of the US retailers' efficiency
Authors: Mostafa Mohamed M.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Understanding efficiency levels is crucial for understanding the competitive structure of a market and/or segments of a market. The purpose of this paper is to assess the market performance of the top retailers in the USA using 2007 operating data. It also aims to benchmark the performance of neuro‐intelligence models against traditional statistical techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses neuro‐intelligence models to classify the relative efficiency of top USA retailers. Accuracy indices derived from the application of a non‐parametric data envelopment analysis approach are used to assess the classification accuracy of the models.

Findings

Results indicate that the neuro‐intelligence models are superior to traditional statistical methods. The paper also shows that the neuro‐intelligence models have a great potential for the classification of retailers' relative efficiency due to their robustness and flexibility of modeling algorithms.

Originality/value

The paper contributes practically and methodologically through the comparison of various parametric and non‐parametric techniques, which results in considerable information for business analysis.
The paradox of gender equality: an entrepreneurial case study from Sweden
Authors: Bourne Kristina A.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Informed by socialist feminist theory, the purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of societal factors such as governmental policies, labor market structure, social norms, and gender ideology on the experiences and practices of women small business owners in Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

Using qualitative data gathered during four months of fieldwork in Sweden, the analysis focuses on the case of Malin Andersson, the founder of a domestic services company, to show how individual situations are intimately connected to the larger social, political, and economic environments.

Findings

The analysis demonstrates how the complexities of gender and class dynamics interact with business endeavors in a capitalist society with a strong social democratic political system. In particular, the paper shows how Malin Andersson's experience of entrepreneurship is at the nexus of many social forces, creating many contradictions and paradoxes to understanding her experience.

Originality/value

The theoretical framework and empirical evidence suggest that paying attention to the socio‐economic‐political context is vital to illuminate the contradictions inherent, but often overlooked, in women's experience of entrepreneurship in different situations.
Notch FCI life under constant amplitude uniaxial loads
Authors: Hammouda M.M.I. , El‐Batanony I.G.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the number of cycles for fatigue crack initiation in notched plates.

Design/methodology/approach

Previously published experimental results for tests with initially uncracked U‐shaped notches of different sizes and geometries are utilized. The present work defines the fatigue initiation period, Ni, as number of loading cycles required for the formation of a through‐thickness Mode I crack at the notch root macroscopically propagating along the plate width. Thus, backward extrapolation of the observed early decreasing fatigue growth rates of the initiated crack at the notch root on the specimen surface to zero surface crack size enables the estimation of Ni.

Findings

A parameter based on the normal strain range and the maximum normal stress acting at the notch root best fitted Ni.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provides an estimation of Ni in 3 mm thick mild steel plates subjected to constant amplitude uniaxial cyclic stresses. Initiated‐but‐non‐propagating cracks possibly found at the notch surface and at the notch root along the plate width are distinguished.

Originality/value

Based on the present analysis, a threshold stress is devised to represent the minimum stress level required for the appearance of a through‐thickness crack at the notch root running along the specimen width. Notched plates simulate many engineering applications particularly in aerospace industry.
Comparison of two‐ and three‐dimensional analyses of interface fracture data obtained from Brazilian disk specimens
Authors: Banks‐Sills Leslie , Konovalov Natalie , Fliesher Adi
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Fracture tests carried out on bimaterial Brazilian disk specimens have been reported elsewhere. Two material pairs are tested in which each of the constituents is linearly elastic, isotropic, and homogeneous. For this material type, the crack fields decouple into in‐plane and out‐of‐plane deformation. Hence, a two‐dimensional approach is taken to analyse the tests. The purpose of this paper is to examine the necessity of using a three‐dimensional approach to predict interface fracture when in‐plane loading is applied.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, the specimens are analysed by means of two‐ and three‐dimensional finite elements. The interaction energy or M‐integral is used to calculate the stress intensity factors.

Findings

The paper shows that the Mode III stress intensity factor KIII is not negligible near the specimen outer surfaces. Nevertheless, a two‐dimensional analysis will be seen to be sufficient to analyse these tests. This has implications for the practical engineer.

Originality/value

The paper offers a comparison between two‐ and three‐dimensional fracture criteria for a crack along the interface between two homogeneous, isotropic, linear elastic materials when in‐plane loading is applied to the body, and assesses the importance of the out‐of‐plane deformation.
Overloading effect on the fatigue threshold stress intensity factor range (ΔKth) as a function of crack length in SUS316
Authors: Hashikura Yasuaki , Takahashi Koji , Miyazaki Yuji , Houjou Keiji , Ando Kotoji
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of overload on the threshold stress intensity factor range (ΔKth) in SUS316.

Design/methodology/approach

The fatigue tests are carried out to determine the resultant threshold stress intensity factor range (ΔKth). The mechanism of the improvement of ΔKth by the tensile overloading is analyzed using the Dugdale model.

Findings

It is clarified that the value of ΔKth increases as increasing the overloading.

Research limitations/implications

The apparent value of ΔKth of stainless steel can be improved by a tensile overload, the fatigue strength of structural members that have a surface crack can be increased by a tensile overload.

Originality/value

As a result, the reliability and safety of structures, such as energy plants, can also be improved.
Analysis software to interpret defects in ultrasonic testing
Authors: Tennakoon T.M.R.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

In ultrasonic A‐scan technique the depth and the size of the defect in the material can be determined from the position and amplitude of the reflected echo on the cathode ray tube screen. However, the main difficulty in ultrasonic testing is the precise recognition of the defect type. The purpose of this paper is to develop analysis software to interpret defects of single‐v butt‐welded mild steel plates in ultrasonic testing.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper establishes a relationship between types of defects in single‐v butt‐welded mild steel plates and the corresponding amplitudes and widths of echo signals, defect positions and beam directions.

Findings

Using this relationship it develops analysis software named “ULTRASL‐1” to predict the type of unknown defects by minimizing the effect of the size and geometry of defect on echo amplitude which is the main limitation in using echo amplitude for identification of defect type.

Research limitations/implications

This paper limits for defects like slag, isolated pore, porosity, lack of inter‐run fusion, lack of side‐wall fusion, crack and lack of penetration in single‐v butt‐welded mild steel plates.

Originality/value

The significance of this work is the introduction of a specialized procedure and a software programme to identify type of defect, so that non‐destructive testing personnel with any level of experience can share the expertise of the best operators in the industry. Hence, it will support to reduce one of the main problems concerning ultrasonic testing, i.e. the difficulties in recognition of defect type.
Micronodular basal cell carcinoma: A distinct subtype? Relationship with nodular and infiltrative basal cell carcinomas
Authors: BETTI Roberto , MENNI Silvano , RADAELLI Giovanni , BOMBONATO Caterina , CROSTI Carlo
Published: March 2010

Micronodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) may be more difficult to eradicate and prone to recurrence than nodular subtype. The aim of the study was to compare anatomical and histological characteristics of the basal cell carcinomas subtypes and the relationship of the micronodular BCC with other subtypes. Primary BCCs (n = 3074) were classified as superficial, nodular, micronodular, morpheic/infiltrative. The location was head/neck, limbs, chest/abdomen, back or genitals. Fifty‐one micronodular BCCs were matched randomly with nodular and infiltrative cases, by age, sex, and tumor site. A modified Clark level was used to classify the tumor depth. Micronodular, nodular and infiltrative BCC were prevalently located in the head/neck (P < 0.0001), while superficial in the other regions (P < 0.0001). The Clark level was comparable between micronodular and infiltrative BCC, while nodular BCC showed a more superficial level than micronodular (P < 0.001) and infiltrative (P < 0.001) BCC. No nodular BCC had level IV and only 37.3% level III, while 92% of both micronodular and infiltrative BCC were level III or IV. The percentage of level IV was 11.8% and 25.5% in micronodular and infiltrative BCC, respectively. In the mid‐face/periauricular region, 95.5% of micronodular and 100% of infiltrative cases of were level III or IV, compared to 50% of nodular BCC (P < 0.001). The Clark level of nodular subtype was higher for BCC of mid‐face/periauricular than other regions (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that micronodular BCC shows intermediate characteristics compared with nodular and infiltrative subtypes but appears to have a specific individuality making it a distinct subtype.
Observation of shear‐wave splitting in the multicomponent node data from Atlantis field, Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Sil Samik , Srivastava Ravi P. , Sen Mrinal K.
Published: March 2010

In 2005, a multicomponent ocean bottom node data set was collected by BP and BHP Billiton in the Atlantis field in the Gulf of Mexico. Our results are based on data from a few sparse nodes with millions of shots that were analysed as common receiver azimuthal gathers. A first‐order look at P‐wave arrivals on a common receiver gather at a constant offset reveals variation of P‐wave arrival time as a function of azimuth indicating the presence of azimuthal anisotropy at the top few layers. This prompted us to investigate shear arrivals on the horizontal component data. After preliminary processing, including a static correction, the data were optimally rotated to radial (R) and transverse (T) components. The R component shows azimuthal variation of traveltime indicating variation of velocity with azimuth; the corresponding T component shows azimuthal variation of amplitude and phase (polarity reversal). The observed shear‐wave (S‐wave) splitting, previously observed azimuthal P‐wave velocity variation and azimuthal P‐wave amplitude variation, all indicate the occurrence of anisotropy in the shallow (just below the seafloor) subsea sediment in the area. From the radial component azimuthal gather, we analysed the PP‐ and PS‐wave amplitude variation for the first few layers and determined corresponding anisotropy parameter and VP/VS values. Since fracture at this depth is not likely to occur, we attribute the observed azimuthal anisotropy to the presence of microcracks and grain boundary orientation due to stress. The evidence of anisotropy is ubiquitous in this data set and thus it argues strongly in favour of considering anisotropy in depth imaging for obtaining realistic subsurface images, at the least.
Sessile serrated adenomas strongly predispose to synchronous serrated polyps in non‐syndromic patients
Authors: Pai Rish K , Hart John , Noffsinger Amy E
Published: March 2010

Pai R K, Hart J & Noffsinger A E (2010) Histopathology56, 581–588

Sessile serrated adenomas strongly predispose to synchronous serrated polyps in non‐syndromic patients

Aims:  To determine the prevalence of various colonic polyps removed during a recent 8‐month period; to determine the interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of serrated polyps; and to determine if harbouring a sessile serrated adenoma (SSA) predisposes to the presence of synchronous polyps with similar histology.

Methods and results:  All polyps resected during an 8‐month period at a single tertiary medical centre were analysed. We also analysed all polyps in patients with an SSA or SSA with dysplasia since 2003. SSAs accounted for 4.3% of colonic polyps removed during an 8‐month period. A review of 276 serrated polyps by two pathologists revealed good interobserver agreement (κ = 0.66). Patients with one SSA were more likely to harbour additional serrated polyps. After removal of the index SSA, 18% of their remaining polyps were SSAs, SSAs with dysplasia, and traditional serrated adenomas, contrasting with the ∼5% prevalence of these polyps in the control population. The hyperplastic polyps in the study population were also twice as likely to occur proximal to the splenic flexure.

Conclusions:  These data indicate that there is a strong colonic mucosal field defect in patients with sporadic SSAs that predispose them to develop additional serrated polyps.
The politics of professional ethics
Authors: Brecher Bob
Published: March 2010

In order to illustrate how terms of reference themselves, such as those announced by ‘professional ethics’, delimit and distort moral consideration I start with an extended discussion of how Just War Theory operates to do this; and go on to discuss ‘the power of naming’ with reference to the British attack on Iraq. Having thus situated my approach to the politics of professional ethics in a broader political context I offer a critique of ‘professional’ ethics in terms of what is left out of the moral picture and how in particular political considerations are sidelined. Finally I argue that ‘codes’ of professional ethics are especially insidious.
Nongenomic Actions of Adrenal Steroids in the Central Nervous System
Authors: Evanson N. K. , Herman J. P. , Sakai R. R. , Krause E. G.
Published: March 2010

Mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that are released by the adrenal cortex in response to stress and hydromineral imbalance. Historically, adrenocorticosteroid actions are attributed to effects on gene transcription. More recently, however, it has become clear that genome‐independent pathways represent an important facet of adrenal steroid actions. These hormones exert nongenomic effects throughout the body, although a significant portion of their actions are specific to the central nervous system. These actions are mediated by a variety of signalling pathways, and lead to physiologically meaningful events in vitro and in vivo. We review the nongenomic effects of adrenal steroids in the central nervous system at the levels of behaviour, neural system activity, individual neurone activity and subcellular signalling activity. A clearer understanding of adrenal steroid activity in the central nervous system will lead to a better ability to treat human disease as well as reduce the side‐effects of the steroid treatments already in use.