bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deduction of the single-myosin-filament transforms from partially sampled layer lines in the X-ray diffraction pattern from vertebrate striated muscle
Authors: Oshima Kanji , Sugimoto Yasunobu , Wakabayashi Katsuzo
Published: March 2011

A novel method to correct a partial sampling effect, due to the hexagonal filament array of a statistical superlattice form, on the thick (myosin)-filament-based layer lines in X-ray diffraction patterns from higher-vertebrate striated muscle has been developed using the cylindrically averaged difference Patterson function [ΔQ(r, z)]. The method involves cutting off the inter-filament vector peaks that appear in the radial region beyond ∼32 nm on the ΔQ(r, z) map calculated from the observed layer-line intensities, and then deducing the single-myosin-filament transforms by inverse Fourier transformation of the truncated ΔQ(r, z). The accuracy of the cut-off method was tested using a single-myosin-filament model and a hexagonal filament-array model with a size of one superlattice unit cell. The layer-line intensities calculated from the truncated ΔQ(r, z) of the hexagonal filament-array model showed few sampling peaks, the layer lines being effectively coincident with those from the single-filament model except for the intensities close to the meridian. Some residual differences were caused by the face-to-face inter-crossbridge vectors between closest neighboring filaments, which correspond to ∼27.5% of the total number of crossbridge vectors in the truncated ΔQ(r, z) map, but the face-to-face inter-crossbridge vectors contributed mainly to the intensities close to the meridian. Their remnant off-meridional layer-line intensity components did not significantly affect a search for the optimum azimuthal orientation of myosin crossbridges in the resting state of muscle.
Integral business transformation: a global case study
Authors: Pérez la Rotta Alberto , Campos Herrera Laura
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share an integral business transformation approach and to illustrate its application in a real case in the pharmaceutical industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This model has been inspired and developed after years of research, successfully working with different leading organizations in Latin America. Its main pillars are the identification of new rules of success and the awareness of the transformation implications. It links the strategy, the people, and the processes as a system in a new way which will respond better to the challenging and changing conditions of the environment. It allows for the creation of new relationships inside and outside the organization. This facilitates employee/customer engagement, results, and fulfillment as the basis for business sustainability.

Findings

Results indicate that the identification of new rules of success and the re‐articulation of the system implies a transformation of the individuals as well as the organization in a connected way. The capability to do this generates business results.

Practical implications

Leaders must be aware of the implications in their role as context creators in which customer and employee emotional engagement occurs. Leaders also need to rearticulate the human and business system to discover and implement new rules of success as the key success factors for growth.

Originality/value

This is the first time, according to the authors, there is sharing of the application of an integrated approach linking business and emotional issues which lead to performance and fulfillment.
The Genos employee motivation assessment
Authors: Gignac Gilles E. , Palmer Benjamin R.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a new measure of employee motivational fit, namely the Genos employee motivation assessment (GEMA), its predictive validity and use in learning and organizational development activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Within three different organizations, employees completed GEMA via an online web survey system. Correlation analyses were then performed with a series of job performance and employee engagement data.

Findings

Motivational fit (i.e. the degree of alignment between what an individual is motivated by and experiences in their work), within four areas measured by GEMA (namely, role fit, management fit, team fit, and organization fit), were found to be associated with average predictive validity correlation coefficients equal to 0.46, .073, 0.67, and 0.52, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

Statistical analyses at the individual level would be beneficial in future research. Additionally, whether motivational fit can be improved via learning and/or organizational development interventions, and whether such improvement leads to corresponding improvements in performance and engagement remains to be determined.

Practical implications

Intervention initiatives designed to improve motivational fit need to be designed and tested. The findings of this study suggest that successful interventions may result in improvements in job performance and employee engagement.

Originality/value

This paper will be of interest to professionals in recruitment, learning and organizational development interested in the improvement of job performance and employee engagement. This is the first study to examine the validity of GEMA scores and to propose the potential use of motivational fit as an intervention medium to improve these areas.
The dynamic leader revisited: 360‐degree assessments of leadership behaviours in different leadership situations
Authors: Manning Tony , Robertson Bob
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This article aims to describe recent research on leadership behaviour and how this relates to effective performance by those in leadership positions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes forward the work on “dynamic leadership” already undertaken by the authors and described in previous issues of Industrial and Commercial Training.

Findings

The findings summarized in the article provide confirmation for the contingency approach central to the dynamic leader concept. In this respect the dynamic leadership concept represents a challenge to visionary or transformative leadership.

Originality/value

This paper is of relevance to individuals in a range of management and leadership positions, as well as professionals involved in training, developing, coaching and mentoring activities with managers and leaders.
How green are HRM practices, organizational culture, learning and teamwork? A Brazilian study
Authors: Jose Chiappetta Jabbour Charbel
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to analyze the level of greening of HRM practices, organizational culture, learning, and teamwork in Brazilian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The author surveyed 94 Brazilian companies with ISO 14001 certification.

Findings

Contrasting the data, two important conclusions can be drawn. The first one is related to the importance of considering the alignment of the human resource practices systematically in order to put workers in control of environmental management. The second conclusion is about the little formalization of the inclusion of environmental issues in traditional human resource practices, which can later badly affect the good performance observed in the formation of teams, organizational culture, and learning resulting in a negative cycle.

Originality/value

The greening of HRM, organizational culture, learning and teamwork is an emerging topic for scholars and consultants.
Embedding collaboration through standards – part 1
Authors: Hawkins David , Little Bob
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to expand the debate around the catalysts required to develop, promote, implement and maintain effective collaborative practice.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the benefits of business collaboration and partnering, with special reference to the world's first national standard, BS 11000, to address collaborative business relationships.

Findings

Collaborative working is not simply about cutting cost. It offers an alternative and enhanced capability to build new value propositions beyond the capabilities of an individual organisation. The concept of the supply chain is giving way to the concept of a more holistic value chain, value networks and ecosystems. Amid all the changes, one factor remains constant: relationships are a core ingredient for successful business. Staying competitive requires organisations to look beyond their traditional structures and develop both the skills and the processes to meet today's business challenges. It is impractical to rely on individuals and osmosis to deliver collaborative working behaviours. Collaboration must be embedded in the governance and processes of the organisation and reinforced in every aspect of the business through policy, process and systems. The world's first national standard: BS 11000 (collaborative business relationship management) provides a consistent model around which organisations can build more sustainable relationships.

Originality/value

This paper explores the interdependence between operational practices and the behaviours that underpin performance and outcomes.
What drives training in industrial micro‐firms? Evidence from Greece
Authors: Panagiotakopoulos Antonios
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the determinants of training in micro enterprises in the context of Greece in order to understand what stimulates workplace training and learning interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on interview evidence from 14 owners and nine workers of industrial micro enterprises.

Findings

The study reveals that training activities in industrial micro‐firms are significantly affected by the business strategy adopted by micro‐firms, the owner commitment towards employee training and development and the way work is organized.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could be directed at investigating the variables affecting training provision in micro‐firms in the service sector in order to explore the differences that may exist between industrial and service micro‐firms.

Practical implications

The paper argues that a key challenge for policy makers in this area is to facilitate changes in owner attitudes, as well as alter the current institutional framework in order to encourage micro firms to adopt higher value added strategies and consequently improve their training efforts.

Originality/value

The study brings new ideas around the determinants of company training in micro‐enterprises, where there is limited understanding.
Corporate governance and firm value as determinants of CEO compensation in Taiwan
Authors: Lee Shin‐Ping , Chen Hui‐Ju
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships among chief executive officer (CEO) compensation, ownership and firm value. In addition, the determining factors of CEO compensation are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

This model is applied to data of the Taiwan stock market for 1995‐2004. The paper applies a two‐stage least squares regression for the panel data model and implements an F‐test, LM test and Hausman test to determine the best statistical method (that is, ordinary least squares method, fix effects model or random effects method).

Findings

The results offer some important insights that show CEO compensation, CEO ownership and firm value are interdependent. Firm size, board size, firm value, institution ownership and CEO ownership are positively associated with CEO compensation while firm age, research and development expenditure rates and firm risk are negatively associated with CEO compensation.

Practical implications

The on‐going expansion in the scale of the firm depends on managers having specialized knowledge. In particular, managers are responsible for the firm's entire operational conditions and future investment strategy. Providing an incentive compensation package can reduce agency costs between managers and shareholders. These findings also provide Taiwanese listed companies with a lesson, which suggests that the existence of the monitoring system can reduce the need for incentive alignment.

Originality/value

The study relies on data from publicly traded Taiwan firms, covering a ten‐year period. This study uses a simultaneous equation estimation procedure to investigate the relations among CEO compensation, CEO ownership and firm value. Two proxies for effective monitoring – board size and institutional ownership – are used. The paper attempts to discuss the influence on CEO compensation from the existence of the monitoring system.
Adaptation of allocation of resources and attention in response to external shocks
Authors: Blettner Daniela P.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The basic assumption in strategic management is that consistently high performing companies are able to adapt effectively to external shocks. While adaptation of allocation of resources and its constraints have been investigated, it is important to also consider the allocation of attention. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the differences in the patterns in the allocation of resources and attention in a comparative case study with focus on Southwest Airlines. This study illustrates that the comparison of the patterns of allocation of resource and attention is very promising for the explanation of consistent superior performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes Federal Aviation Administration and American Transport Association data in order to determine actual resource allocation. Moreover, textual analysis of annual reports serves as basis for examining the patterns of allocation of attention.

Findings

The results of this paper reveal a striking divergence of allocation of resources and attention (particularly attention to differentiation) for Southwest Airlines – the consistently high performing firm in the US airline industry.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation of the current study is the fact that it is a single industry study. It would be very interesting to replicate this study in other industries.

Practical implications

This study shows the importance of allocation of attention for firm performance. This is particularly relevant for resource intensive industries such as the airline industry where organizational inertia makes it hard to move resources fast. Yet, attention appears to have a great potential for firm performance and can be changed more easily.

Originality/value

Despite great interest in allocation of resources and attention in strategy research, authors rarely combine these two perspectives. Nadkarni and Barr present a notable exception. Yet, the latter authors focus on one specific aspect of adaptation of strategic actions, i.e. the timeliness of response. The present study takes a more comprehensive view of adaptation, e.g. the respective changes in slopes of adaptation.
Creating occupational groups using visual job classification
Authors: Stetz Thomas A. , Button Scott B. , Scott Dustin W.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the use of two innovative job analysis techniques. First, a graphic‐based approach is used to collect job classification data. Second, the results are presented in a graphical representation to decision makers. In addition, the paper examines two concepts, similarity and relatedness, often confused by subject matter experts (SMEs) and decision makers in the context of job classification.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was used. Focus groups of SMEs used a graphic‐based tool to group jobs into occupational clusters based on the concepts of similarity and relatedness. To effectively communicate the results to organizational decision makers a graphic presentation technique was used.

Findings

The paper found that SMEs were highly engaged in the graphical approach. Decision makers were also intrigued by the graphical presentation. In addition, the paper found confusion between the concepts of similarity and relatedness throughout the process. This confusion had important implications for the grouping of jobs into occupational clusters.

Practical implications

The graphic presentation of results highlighted issues around which the agency had been previously struggling. The approach allowed decision makers to examine and understand meaningful data and reach consensus on complex, multi‐faceted issues. The results also showed that people often confuse the similarity and relatedness of jobs, and that this confusion should be taken into consideration when communicating with non‐job analysts.

Originality/value

Job analysis and classification has changed little over the past several decades. This paper applies innovative ideas to job classification which are equally applicable to job analysis offering interesting avenues for future research and practice.
Predicting long‐term business recovery four years after Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Dietch Elizabeth Ann , Corey Christy M.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This study is an empirical examination of the ongoing recovery efforts of surviving businesses in the greater New Orleans area four years after Hurricane Katrina. Factors thought to contribute to long‐term recovery were examined including internal factors (e.g. organizational size), population‐related issues (e.g. loss of customer base), and macro variables (e.g. neighborhood recovery). Problems with population issues were expected to be a primary cause of slow business recovery. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Managers from 186 businesses in the New Orleans area participated in the study by completing a survey. Eligible business needed to exist before Hurricane Katrina and still be operating at the time of data collection which occurred in Spring 2009.

Findings

Results from analysis of variance indicated that managers from organizations performing worse compared to pre‐Katrina levels reported significantly greater problems across the internal, population‐related and macro variables. In regression analysis, only three factors within the population and macro variable areas were significant predictors of organizational performance. As expected, organizational performance was strongly predicted by population‐related issues, especially the loss of customers.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation concerns the cross‐sectional design of the study which focused specifically on surviving businesses. The survivor bias in the data limits the generalizability of the results. Also, observations from businesses in the same neighborhood could be spatially dependent due to the systematic influence of external factors.

Originality/value

This study provides a rare investigation of long‐term business recovery, at the organizational level of analysis, in the wake of a disaster that resulted in one of the most extreme population dislocations in US history.
Relationship marketing and the management of corporate image in the bank‐SME relationship
Authors: Vegholm Fatima
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This study analyzes the nature of relationships between banks and small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) by drawing on the theory of relationship marketing (RM) and the concept of corporate image (CI). More specifically, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between a bank and its SME customers and to examine how the bank's management of customer relationships influences its CI.

Design/methodology/approach

A dyadic approach was adopted in this study. Hence, data were gathered via interviews with three bank managers employed in the same bank. An additional 17 interviews were performed with the case study bank's SME customers.

Findings

This study indicates that the bank's image will be dependent on the way the bankers manage the relationships with their SME customers. The ability of bankers to understand and meet the SMEs' specific needs highly influences their relationships, which subsequently affects the image of the bank as perceived by their SME customers. Hence, CI reflects the SMEs' overall perceptions of how well the bank has been able to manage the relationship.

Originality/value

Although there is a clear theoretical and practical understanding of the importance of RM strategies within banking and the effect of CI on the performance of banks, few studies have taken into consideration the dynamic link between these two concepts and their effect on bank‐SME relationships.
Utility maximization? An expectancy view of entrepreneurial persistence
Authors: Holland Daniel V.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of expectancy and valence in the decision policies of entrepreneurs when choosing whether or not to persist with their current venture.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a conjoint experiment design, 105 entrepreneurs made a series of decisions based on a common set of attributes. The decisions were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling to determine how the attributes were weighed in the decision policies.

Findings

The results indicate that entrepreneurs use expectancy and valences and interestingly, a negative interaction between expectancy and valences in their persistence decision policies.

Practical implications

An understanding of how individuals make decisions may be of great value to entrepreneurs as they consider the decision to persist with a venture in the face of adversity.

Originality/value

Previous research has focused on the decision to start a business. This study adds to the literature by considering the important decision of whether to persist with a business or not. The results provide interesting insights into why and how entrepreneurs choose to persist and contributes to the literature on expectancy theory.
Anti‐consumption of public services: vacci(not)ion for Swine Flu
Authors: Demirbag Kaplan Melike , Cem Kaplan Yusuf
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Anti‐consumption is a new domain of research that deals with why individuals avoid consumption of particular products. To date, research in this area is only confined to the rejection of goods, with no evidence from the services industry. The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent of anti‐consumption behaviour for public health services, by deriving data from Swine Flu vaccination resistance in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employs a factor analysis method based on data collected from 519 individuals.

Findings

Findings suggest that there is a strong anti‐consumption attitude of the Turkish public towards the service, and a major reason for avoidance was moral incompatibility, such that the public believed that the vaccination served the interests of pharmaceutical companies and the government. The findings also reveal that all the factors previously mentioned in the literature may be involved in the anti‐consumption of public health products.

Originality/value

This study suggests that public products, including public health services, are highly subject to anti‐consumption movements, and policies involving such products should also be considered from this perspective in order to provide an increased welfare for the public.
The power of blind spots. What companies don't know, surprises them. What they don't want to know, kills them
Authors: Gilad Benjamin
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Management blindspots kill companies, even if management is smart and lucky. This paper is a case study of a market leader whose management failed to heed a strategic threat and choose a new strategic direction until it was too late. This piece suggests a conceptual approach to creating a strategic early warning process that may be capable of overcoming top executives' blinders.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of research is a detailed case study, combined with a conceptual framework addressing issues of board involvement, managerial span of control and confronting change.

Findings

Traditional mechanisms aimed at early warning fail to address blindspots regarding deep strategic threats to the organization's survival. Strategic fissures in the basic business model can be ignored for a while, and delaying tactics such as diversification can hold off the collapse of the model for years, but eventually, it will kill the organization. Companies need to re‐think their approach to early warning.

Practical implications

Replace traditional early warning processes with a more powerful early warning tool involving selected board members, an early warning team, and a process initiated at a threshold. That may be the only way to overcome top executives' denial mechanisms.

Social implications

Boards should be careful not to interfere with management, but also not to allow “blinders” to kill the organization. Boards can take a more positive and forceful role in debating early warning signs.

Originality/value

Management blindspots in addressing serious strategic threats to a company's business model are a major cause of failure. This paper suggests a mechanism to fighting management blindspots, calling for the first time on Boards to get “down and dirty” with middle management and top executives in a unique way aimed at creating a powerful strategic early warning process.
Interview with Jessica Pryce‐Jones, CEO of iOpener
Authors: by Juliet Norton Interview
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an interview with Jessica Pryce Jones, CEO of iOpener, a human asset management consultancy, who look at raising productivity through the Science of Happiness at Work.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent interviewer

Findings

Jessica Pryce‐Jones founded iOpener to help people to recognise and extend their capabilities. She believes that everyone has the ability to do more: the secret lies in inner momentum and formulating practical solutions.

Practical implications

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

Social implications

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that can have a broader social impact.

Originality/value

Jessica Pryce‐Jones discusses how to drive change in your organization by looking at performance through the lens of happiness at work
Real‐time pressure mapping system
Authors: Bloss Richard
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review an innovative approach to pressure mapping.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a detailed dialog with developer and supplier, Sensor Products, and review of numerous applications of the technology.

Findings

Real‐time pressure mapping adds an entirely new solution to applications where single‐point pressure measurement does not provide the information required.

Practical implications

Researchers and product developers now have available a technology which provides information not previously available in real time. Point pressure measurement is a well‐established technology. Sensor Products moves pressure measurement light years ahead by bringing real‐time pressure mapping technology to the market with its Tactilis® system. The system offers an “electronic skin” which captures records and interprets both pressure distribution and magnitude over the sensor field.

Originality/value

Researchers will learn of an innovative sensor technology, which may solve problems they have had no answer for in the past.
Sensors for interfacing with consumer electronics
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The paper aims to describe the sensors used for interfacing with consumer electronic devices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the types of sensors employed in user‐interface devices such as trackballs, mice, touch pads, touch screens and gesture‐based systems. It concludes with a brief consideration of brain‐computer interface technology.

Findings

It is shown that a diverse range of sensors is used to interface with consumer electronics. They are based on optical, electrical, acoustic and solid‐state (MEMS) technologies. In the longer term, many may ultimately be replaced by sensors that interpret thought by detecting brain waves.

Originality/value

The paper provides a timely review of the sensors used to interface with consumer electronics. These constitute a very large and rapidly growing market.
Machine vision 3D skin texture analysis for detection of melanoma
Authors: Smith L.N. , Smith M.L. , Farooq A.R. , Sun J. , Ding Y. , Warr R.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe innovative machine vision methods that have been employed for the capture and analysis of 3D skin textures; and the resulting potential for assisting with identification of suspicious lesions in the detection of skin cancer.

Design/methodology/approach

A machine vision approach has been employed for analysis of 3D skin textures. This involves an innovative application of photometric stereo for the capture of the textures, and a range of methods for analysing and quantifying them, including statistical methods and neural networks.

Findings

3D skin texture has been identified as a useful indicator of skin cancer. It can be used to improve realism of virtual skin reconstructions in tele‐dermatology. 3D texture features can also be combined with 2D features to obtain a more robust classifier for improving diagnostic accuracy, thereby assisting with the long‐term goal of implementing computer‐aided diagnostics for skin cancer.

Originality/value

The device developed for capturing 3D skin textures is known as the “Skin Analyser”, and as far as the authors know it is unique in the world in being able to recover 3D textures from pigmented lesions in vivo. There currently exist numerous methods for analysing lesions, including manual inspection (using established heuristics commonly known as ABCD rules), dermoscopy and SIAoscopy. The ability to capture and analyse 3D lesion textures complements these existing techniques and forms a valuable additional indicator for assisting with the early detection of dangerous skin cancers such as melanoma.
Vibration measurement system based on position sensitive detector
Authors: Sui Jinxue , Zhang Xia , Yang Li , Zhu Zhilin , Xin Zhang
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Vibration measurement is needed in many industrial production processes, such as equipment monitoring, fault diagnosis, and noise analysis and eliminating and so on. The purpose of this paper is to propose a simple vibration testing system which includes the laser, the string, position sensitive detector (PSD) and the corresponding signal processing circuit.

Design/methodology/approach

PSD is an optical semiconductor sensor that can fast locate the luminous spot position precisely, which means that it can output different electric current according to the luminous spot at different position of its surface. Moreover, the experiment on PSD sensor using different vibration source and frequency had been carried out. Finally, the vibration waveform of the luminous spot on PSD photosurface was obtained.

Findings

According to the experimental results, each kind of vibration parameter with different vibration source, such as vibration frequency and amplitude can be calculated.

Originality/value

The experimental results agreed with the actual parameter, which showed PSD not only had its own good qualities in the position measurement, but also had the unique superiority in the vibration measurement.
Determination of tool nose radii of cutting inserts using machine vision
Authors: Chian G.J. , Ratnam M.M.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The nose radii of cutting inserts are normally measured using a profile projector or toolmaker's microscope. Since only a sector of a circle is available for the measurement using such instruments, the radii determined from these methods are inaccurate. The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative method of determining the nose radii more accurately using machine vision.

Design/methodology/approach

The 2D images of the cutting inserts were captured using a CCD camera with the aid of back lighting. The tool nose center in each digitized image was located based on the tool geometry. The curved nose profile was transformed into a linear profile using polar‐radius transformation. The nose radius was then varied within ten pixels of the nominal radius and the average deviation from a straight line profile in the nose region in the polar‐radius plot was evaluated. The radius corresponding to the minimum average deviation is identified as the most accurate radius value.

Findings

For the 15 simulated images of cutting inserts tested, the error in radii determine by the proposed method varied from −4.9 to 3.7 percent. But, the radii were about 9 to 22 percent higher than those measured using the profile projector on commercially available inserts. The radii measured using the profile projector was closer to the nominal radii with an average deviation of −3.2 percent compared to those measured using the proposed method.

Research limitations/implications

The cutting inserts must be clean and free from dust particles when capturing the images; and the insert must be aligned accurately so that the plane of the nose profile is perpendicular to the optical axis of the CCD camera.

Practical implications

The proposed method can be used to determine the nose radii accurately. If the exact nose radius of an insert is known, the tool path can be programmed precisely to obtain high‐dimensional accuracy in the finished product.

Originality/value

The paper shows how a new method of determining the tool nose radii of cutting inserts more accurately compared to the conventional methods, based on a sector of the nose profile, has been developed.
On‐line print‐defect detecting in an incremental subspace learning framework
Authors: Sun Xiaogang , Zhang Liang , Chen Bin
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel on‐line print‐defect detecting approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed method uses incremental principal component analysis (IPCA) to model a variety pattern with respect to the detected image itself.

Findings

The algorithm is constructed and deployed to a real‐time detecting print‐defect system, and the test results show that the system reduces false alarms dramatically.

Originality/value

The paper describes groundbreaking work which, for the first time in the printing industry, uses IPCA in relation to print‐defect detecting.
Using no‐parameter statistic features for texture image retrieval
Authors: Zhu Xianqiang , Shao Zhenfeng
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the spectrum influence between radon transform and log‐polar transform when rotation and scale effect is eliminated. The average retrieval performance of wavelet and NSCT with different retrieval parameters is also studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors designed a multi‐scale and multi‐orientation texture transform spectrum, as well as rotation‐invariant feature vector and its measurement criteria. Then a new two‐level coarse‐to‐ﬁne rotation and scale‐invariant texture retrieval algorithm based on no‐parameter statistic features was proposed. Experiments on VisTex texture database show that the algorithm proposed in this paper is appropriate for main orientation capturing and detail information description.

Findings

According to the experiments results, it was found that the combination of this two‐level progressive retrieval strategy and multi‐scale analysis method can effectively improve retrieval efficiency compared with traditional algorithms and ensure a high precision as well.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel algorithm for rotation and scale‐invariant texture retrieval.
Micro crack detection of multi‐crystalline silicon solar wafer using machine vision techniques
Authors: Chiou Yih‐Chih , Liu Jian‐Zong , Liang Yu‐Teng
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The detection of invisible micro cracks (μ‐cracks) in multi‐crystalline silicon (mc‐si) solar wafers is difficult because of the wafers' heterogeneously textured backgrounds. The difficulty is twofold. First, invisible μ‐cracks must be visualized to imaging devices. Second, an image processing sequence capable of extracting μ‐cracks from the captured images must be developed. The purpose of this paper is to reveal invisible μ‐cracks that lie beneath the surface of mc‐si solar wafers.

Design/methodology/approach

To solve the problems, the authors first set up a near infrared (NIR) imaging system to capture images of interior μ‐cracks. After being able to see the invisible μ‐cracks, a region‐growing flaw detection algorithm was then developed to extract μ‐cracks from the captured images.

Findings

The experimental results showed that the proposed μ‐cracks inspection system is effective in detecting μ‐cracks. In addition, the system can also be used for the inspection of silicon solar wafers for stain, pinhole, inclusion and macro cracks. The overall accuracy of the defect detection system is 99.85 percent.

Research limitations/implications

At present, the developed prototype system can detect μ‐crack down to 13.4 μm. The inspection resolution is high but the speed is low. However, the limitation on inspection speed can easily be lifted by choosing a higher resolution NIR camera.

Practical implications

Generally, this paper is a great reference for researchers who are interested in developing automatic optical inspection systems for inspecting solar wafer for invisible μ‐cracks.

Originality/value

The research described in this paper makes a step toward developing an effective while low‐cost approach for revealing invisible μ‐crack of mc‐si solar wafers. The advantages provided by the proposed system include excellent crack detection sensitivity, capability of detecting hidden subsurface μ‐cracks, and low cost.
An automatic inspection and control method for a biological reagent production system with image processing techniques
Authors: Lin Chern‐Sheng , Su Yung‐Yen , Shei Hung‐Jung , Tien Chuen‐Lin , Lu An‐Tsung
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an automatic inspection and control method for a reagent rapid test strip production system, with image processing techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

Fluorescence, color arrangement and combination matching with the database were used to identify the responses of biochemicals. The position accuracy and insufflation consistency between the control line and test line on a reagent rapid test strip will be analyzed from the image after series processing.

Findings

The system can identify failed products and regulate production conditions to insure that the quality standard is maintained. The idea edges of the control line and test line are the boundary at which a significant change occurs in the surface reflectance and illumination of the viewer. But the change of the real boundary of the test line may be insufficient for identification.

Research limitations/implications

As the illumination of biological reagent images cannot be measured precisely in the production process, and the intensity of the background light source is difficult to control, there are always significant errors in the production process. If the environment at sampling could be precisely controlled, the accuracy of the system could be enhanced.

Originality/value

This study developed software architecture for a biological reagent production and inspection system. Future studies will focus on the implementation of testing, and improvement of the system, so that it can be applied to medical systems for the benefit of all patients.
Theoretical and experimental studies on liquid refractive index sensor based on bundle fiber
Authors: Harun S.W. , Yang H.Z. , Ahmad H.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate, theoretically and experimentally the performance of liquid refractive index sensor (LRIS).

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed LRIS is based on the intensity modulation and a bundle fiber. The mathematical model is used to study the effect of inclination angle on performance of the sensor.

Findings

The theoretical result shows that the highest sensitivity can be achieved by using a probe inclined with angle 20° which is almost 13 times higher than that of 0° inclination. In the experiment, three different liquids: isopropyl alcohol, water and methanol are used to investigate the sensor response. Both theoretical and experimental results show that the peak power and the location of the displacement curve changes with refractive index. The sensitivities are obtained at 0.11/mm and 0.04/mm for the sensors with 10° and 0° inclination angles, respectively.

Originality/value

In this paper, a simple LRIS is proposed using a bundle fiber as a probe at various inclination angles.
System development and application of Taylor Kriging metamodeling
Authors: Liu Heping , Chen Yanli , Strickland Fred L. , Dai Ran , Qi Bing
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an application software interpolation system based on Taylor Kriging (TK) metamodeling, and apply the developed software system to addressing some engineering interpolation problems.

Design/methodology/approach

TK is a novel Kriging model where Taylor expansion is used to identify the base functions of drift function in Kriging. The paper explains the methodology of TK, illustrates the development of software, and reports the results of two case studies by comparing TK with several regression methods.

Findings

TK has the advantage of interpolation accuracy, and the developed Kriging software system is useful and can be conveniently manipulated by users.

Practical implications

The developed software system can benefit practical engineering applications that need accurate interpolations under limited observations.

Originality/value

This paper develops an application software interpolation system based on a novel TK metamodel, and the practical engineering applications show that it can provide accurate interpolations under limited observations.
A robust data mining approach for formulation of geotechnical engineering systems
Authors: Hossein Alavi Amir , Hossein Gandomi Amir
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The complexity of analysis of geotechnical behavior is due to multivariable dependencies of soil and rock responses. In order to cope with this complex behavior, traditional forms of engineering design solutions are reasonably simplified. Incorporating simplifying assumptions into the development of the traditional models may lead to very large errors. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate capabilities of promising variants of genetic programming (GP), namely linear genetic programming (LGP), gene expression programming (GEP), and multi‐expression programming (MEP) by applying them to the formulation of several complex geotechnical engineering problems.

Design/methodology/approach

LGP, GEP, and MEP are new variants of GP that make a clear distinction between the genotype and the phenotype of an individual. Compared with the traditional GP, the LGP, GEP, and MEP techniques are more compatible with computer architectures. This results in a significant speedup in their execution. These methods have a great ability to directly capture the knowledge contained in the experimental data without making assumptions about the underlying rules governing the system. This is one of their major advantages over most of the traditional constitutive modeling methods.

Findings

In order to demonstrate the simulation capabilities of LGP, GEP, and MEP, they were applied to the prediction of: relative crest settlement of concrete‐faced rockfill dams; slope stability; settlement around tunnels; and soil liquefaction. The results are compared with those obtained by other models presented in the literature and found to be more accurate. LGP has the best overall behavior for the analysis of the considered problems in comparison with GEP and MEP. The simple and straightforward constitutive models developed using LGP, GEP and MEP provide valuable analysis tools accessible to practicing engineers.

Originality/value

The LGP, GEP, and MEP approaches overcome the shortcomings of different methods previously presented in the literature for the analysis of geotechnical engineering systems. Contrary to artificial neural networks and many other soft computing tools, LGP, GEP, and MEP provide prediction equations that can readily be used for routine design practice. The constitutive models derived using these methods can efficiently be incorporated into the finite element or finite difference analyses as material models. They may also be used as a quick check on solutions developed by more time consuming and in‐depth deterministic analyses.
Wavelet basis finite element solution of structural dynamics problems
Authors: Gopikrishna K. , Shrikhande Manish
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new hierarchical finite element formulation for approximation in time.

Design/methodology/approach

The present approach using wavelets as basis functions provides a global control over the solution error as the equation of motion is satisfied for the entire duration in the weighted integral sense. This approach reduces the semi‐discrete system of equations in time to be solved to a single algebraic problem, in contrast to step‐by‐step time integration methods, where a sequence of algebraic problems are to be solved to compute the solution.

Findings

The proposed formulation has been validated for both inertial and wave propagation types of problems. The stability and accuracy characteristics of the proposed formulation has been examined and is found to be energy conserving.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new hierarchical finite element formulation for the solution of structural dynamics problems. This formulation uses wavelets as the analyzing basis for the desired transient solution. It is found to be very well behaved in solution of wave‐propagation problems.