bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Service productivity as mutual learning
Authors: Grönroos Christian , Ojasalo Katri
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the mutual learning implications for service productivity of the characteristics of service and service production.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a conceptual paper. The starting point is, first of all, that productivity as a management concept should help a firm to manage its economic profit, and secondly, that service organizations are open systems, where the customers participate as co-producers and are exposed to the firm’s production resources and processes. Unlike in manufacturing, to understand productivity in service organizations as a means of managing profit, cost effects and revenue effects of changes in the productions system cannot be separated. Due to the interaction between customers and the firm’s resources during service production, dialogical collaboration between them develops. This enables mutual learning.

Findings

– Given the social dynamics in service production processes, four learning processes that influence service productivity are identified. Two processes enhance the organizations’s internal efficiency (cost savings), and two enhance its external effectiveness (perceived quality, revenue generation); two are organization-driven, two are customer-driven.

Research limitations/implications

– The mutual learning model demonstrates how the service provider by learning from the dynamics of service encounters in many ways can manage the productivity of the organizations’s processes. It shows that learning enables improvement of service productivity through effects enhancing both internal efficiency and external effectiveness.

Originality/value

– In a productivity context, learning has not earlier been studied as a mutual learning phenomenon.
Samsung’s journey to excellence in quality
Authors: Shin Wan Seon , Kim Chongman
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate Samsung’s strategic efforts in achieving excellence in quality.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study divides Samsung’s activities into five distinctive areas: quality leadership, motivating employees, methodologies, preemptive priorities and key activities in the field management. Case studies will be explored based on the chronological analysis of the above five subjects, and a comprehensive roadmap toward excellence will also be suggested.

Findings

– This study has found that Samsung has used diverse concepts to excel in improving quality and profitability simultaneously. The company’s approaches are divided into five categories and positioned according to their possible contributions to excellence. One of the key findings of this paper is the concept of “the line of redundancy” which adopts parallel systems. For example, its parallel systems such as dual sourcing and 120 per cent human resource management have contributed to Samsung’s quality.

Practical implications

– The result of this study will help managers implement innovative initiatives for achieving excellence through quality management.

Originality/value

– Samsung has improved the quality dramatically and many companies want to learn Samsung’s way. This paper investigated how Samsung developed the quality system in the past decades and suggests some findings.
Campus sustainability initiatives and performance: do they correlate?
Authors: Lang Tim
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test the hypothesis that there are correlations between campus sustainability initiatives and environmental performance, as measured by resource consumption and waste generation performance metrics. Institutions of higher education would like to imply that their campus sustainability initiatives are good proxies for their environmental performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using data reported through the Association for the Advancement in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (AASHE STARS) framework, a series of univariate multiple linear regression models were constructed to test for correlations between energy, greenhouse gas (GHG), water and waste performance metrics, and credit points awarded to institutions for various campus sustainability initiatives.

Findings

– There are very limited correlations between institutional environmental performance and adoption of campus sustainability initiatives, be they targeted operational or coordination and planning best practices, or curricular, co-curricular or research activities. Conversely, there are strong correlations between environmental performance and campus characteristics, namely, institution type and climate zone.

Practical implications

– Institutional decision makers should not assume that implementing best practices given credit by AASHE STARS will lead to improved environmental performance. Those assessing institutional sustainability should be wary of institutions who cite initiatives to imply a certain level of environmental performance or performance improvement.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper to use data reported through the AASHE STARS framework to assess correlations between campus initiatives and environmental performance. It extends beyond previous research by considering energy, water and waste performance metrics in addition to GHG emissions, and it considers campus sustainability initiatives in addition to campus characteristics.
Using sustainability themes and multidisciplinary approaches to enhance STEM education
Authors: Rogers Michael , Pfaff Thomas , Hamilton Jason , Erkan Ali
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on the Multidisciplinary Sustainability Education Project (MSEP) as a framework using sustainability-themed education modules to introduce students to the need for multidisciplinary approaches to solving twenty-first-century problems while retaining traditional course strengths and content.

Design/methodology/approach

– The MSEP uses sustainability-themed education models and a multidisciplinary approach to link courses across disciplines. Modules are identified by an overarching question with activities designed to address the overarching question from course-specific perspectives, resulting in students writing short technical reports summarizing their results. Students then read and evaluate technical reports from other classes, and complete a summary activity designed to connect perspectives from different disciplines.

Findings

– The multi-method assessment identified no loss or gain in discipline-specific learning; increased understanding about the characteristics of twenty-first-century problems, in particular those related to sustainability; and increased students
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favorable perceptions of introductory calculus. Assessment of increased understanding of how different disciplines can work together to understand complex problems was difficult to measure due to limitations of a project-developed assessment instrument.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to undergraduate sustainability education by describing a framework for connecting courses using sustainability-themed modules. By implementing an asynchronous manner where courses use materials from the project Web site and contribute materials to the Web site after implementing a module, it is easy to incorporate a module into existing courses, any educational institution’s existing structure and across institutions. The framework’s flexible design allows new courses from any discipline to connect to a module, allowing for multidisciplinary connections to grow over time.
Sustainability and action research in universities
Authors: Wooltorton Sandra , Wilkinson Anne , Horwitz Pierre , Bahn Sue , Redmond Janice , Dooley Julian
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Academic approaches to the challenge of enhancing sustainability in research in university contexts illustrate that universities are affected by the very same values and socio-ecological issues they set out to address, making transformation difficult at every level. A theoretical and practical framework designed to facilitate cultural transformation is therefore necessary for conceptualising the problem and delineating possible strategies to enhance sustainability in research. Organisational change is also required, possibly on a university-by-university basis, where cross-institutional learning may be possible with personal behaviours that enhance collaboration across disciplinary and administrative divides.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper contends that action research, in particular, community action research (CAR), offers the best approach to this task because it focusses on learning and change, and these are both essential to cultural transformation. A case study from a university in Western Australia is used to demonstrate this approach.

Findings

– The case study analysis shows some evidence for the presence of knowledge for organisational transformation, and that future monitoring cycles will be needed to detect the extent of the change.

Originality/value

– The paper introduces CAR as an approach to advance the change for sustainability in higher education and discusses some of the implications for universities who are looking to incorporate sustainability as a major part of their culture.
Developing students’ energy literacy in higher education
Authors: Cotton Debby R E , Miller Wendy , Winter Jennie , Bailey Ian , Sterling Stephen
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate students’ energy literacy at a UK university, and recommends ways in which it can be enhanced using a behaviour change model. Developing students’ energy literacy is a key part of the “greening” agenda, yet little is known about how students develop their ideas about energy use and energy saving at a university.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research utilised a mixed-methods approach including an online survey (with 1,136 responses) and focus groups.

Findings

– The research identified strengths and weaknesses in students’ energy literacy, and noted the relative influence of formal and informal curricula. The potential for aligning these curricula is highlighted through the 4Es model of enable, engage, exemplify and encourage.

Research limitations/implications

– The research involved a single instrumental case-study site. The wider applicability of the findings should therefore be tested further in other institutions.

Practical implications

– The research suggests ways in which universities might better support their students in making more sustainable energy-related behaviour choices, and it indicates the importance of knowledge as well as attitudes.

Social implications

– The research may have implications for the energy-saving behaviours of individuals in the wider society.

Originality/value

– Attempts to reduce energy use in higher education are widely seen in campus operations. This research provides an indication of the potential for enhancing energy-saving through different forms of curricula.
Terrorism or not terrorism? Whose money are we looking for?
Authors: Tofangsaz Hamed
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the counter-terrorism financing regime provides a solid platform for a better understanding of who should be considered terrorists or what forms terrorism, terrorist acts and terrorist groups, the financing of which is the subject matter. In the absence of an internationally agreed definition of terrorism, the question which needs to be posed is whether there is a clear and common understanding of what constitutes terrorism, terrorist acts and terrorist groups, the financing of which needs to be stopped. That is, from a criminal law perspective, whether the Terrorist Financing Convention, as the backbone of the counter-terrorist financing regime, clarifies what types of conduct, by who, in what circumstances and when, against whom (targets or victims) and with what intention or motivation should be considered terrorism?

Design/methodology/approach

– It will be explained how and why it has been difficult to reach an agreement on the definition of terrorism. The endeavour of the drafters of the Terrorist Financing Convention and others involved in countering terrorist financing to establish a general definition of terrorism will be examined.

Findings

– The record of attempts to define the elements of terrorism proves that it is hardly possible to reach an agreement on a generic definition of terrorism because the concept of terrorism is elusive and subject to various understandings. Even the definition provided by the Terrorist Financing Convention, is not convincing.

Originality/value

– With regard to the findings, this paper calls for further research on the legal consequences of the implementation of the terrorist financing-counter measures, while the scope of terrorism, terrorist acts and terrorist organizations have been left vague.
Old horizons of organised-white collar crime
Authors: Dobovšek Bojan , Slak Boštjan
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show the interconnectivity between the economic sphere, governance and organised crime and to shed light on the role of white-collar crime and show that constant redefining of the term “organised crime” has certain downfalls.

Design/methodology/approach

– Methods of analysis and examination of relevant domestic and foreign primary and secondary resources and legal acts are used. The paper is theoretical in nature, as review of literature was the main method used for our argumentation.

Findings

– The term and phenomena of organised crime have now long enjoyed the attention of many researchers, institutions, policymakers and others. And yet, in this quest for unification, proper definition and classification, it seems that we have somewhat strayed from that original idea of what organised crime represented in the period when this term was first coined. Unfortunately, by doing so, we failed to include the most dangerous forms of behaviour, i.e. (some, not all!) white-collar crime, which falls within the scope of organised crime.

Practical implications

– Despite the fact that ideas presented in this paper belong to the old masters of criminology, they have lately been slightly forgotten. The paper is therefore useful to those who are interested in seeing how original ideas about the nature of organised crime are applicable today.

Originality/value

– The paper provides an insight into the somewhat overlooked scholarship of those who deal with organised crime and white-collar crime.
Corporate governance as a mechanism for the deterrence of economic crimes in the Commonwealth Caribbean
Authors: Ffolkes-Goldson Suzanne Cecile
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for good corporate governance (CG) as one of the mechanisms to combat corporate misconduct and, by extension, to encourage economic growth and development, with special emphasis on Jamaica, which not only has seen the greatest financial sector meltdown in the region, but has also seen the greatest response to the need for CG initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

– For the past 20 years, CG has been at the forefront of discussions, legislation and moral suasion regarding corporate transparency and accountability, especially in the wake of spectacular scandals from the Maxwell debacle in the United Kingdom (1992), to Enron in the USA (2001), to the world economic crisis (2008). Codes have been adopted and legislation drafted to meet the concerns regarding corporate abuse, which have not only had an impact on the corporations and their shareholders, but also on a wider group of stakeholders, which includes, in some cases, the countries in which they operate. Not only have these scandals rocked the developed world, but corporate misconduct has taken an especially debilitating toll on developing economies, such as those found in the Commonwealth Caribbean. The cost of corporate misconduct in the region has included government bailouts, loss of jobs and loss of confidence in the markets. These, in turn, have had some negative impact on the development of many of the countries, which includes slow, stagnant or negative economic growth.

Findings

– The attention to CG in the Commonwealth Caribbean has grown tremendously in the past 10 years by the introduction of codes and legislation with a focus on transparency and accountability in accordance with international standards. The challenge now appears to be the need to link these initiatives with the anti-corruption project. This may be best achieved through the acknowledgment of the need for the private sector to play a greater role in the prevention of corruption through CG initiatives. Put another way, there may be need for an increased focus on the demand side of bribery and corruption rather than simply on the supply side. Finally, the development of emerging economies relies heavily on the stemming of corruption and mismanagement both in the public sector and the private sector.

Originality/value

– The original value of this paper is the development of CG principles in the region.
Becoming someone new: identity theft behaviors by high school students
Authors: Marcum Catherine D. , Higgins George E , Ricketts Melissa L. , Wolfe Scott E
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to contribute to the gap in the literature by investigating the identity theft behaviors of adolescents under the age of 18 and the predictors of these behaviors. To better understand the predictors of hacking behaviors in young people, two criminological theories, general theory of crime and social learning theory, are utilized.

Design/methodology/approach

– A rural county in western North Carolina was chosen to participate in the study. Principals of four high schools in this county agreed to participate. All 9th through 12th graders were recruited for the study. Those who were given parental permission to participate and gave their own assent were given a survey.

Findings

– Results indicated that low self-control and deviant peer association were in fact associated with identity theft behaviors of juveniles.

Originality/value

– The literature is scant, if even existent, on research that investigates the identity theft offending behaviors of juveniles.
Performance enhancement for piezoresistive microaccelerometer by geometrical design: a focused review
Authors: Liu Yan , Wang Hai , Qin Hongbo , Xie Yongqiang
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide a focused review on the geometrical designs for performance enhancement of piezoresistive microaccelerometers.

Design/methodology/approach

– By analyzing working principle and conventional geometries, the improved research proposals are sorted into three groups in terms of their anticipated objectives, including sensitivity, resonant frequency and cross-axis sensitivity. Accessible methods are outlined and their merits and demerits are described.

Findings

– Novel geometries obviously enhance the performance of accelerometers, and the efficacy can be further elevated by newer materials and fabrication processes.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper mainly focused on the improved geometrical designs for sensitivity, resonant frequency and cross-axis sensitivity. Other performance parameters or design schemes are not included in this paper.

Originality/value

– This paper generalizes the available geometries and methods for the enhancement of sensitivity, resonant frequency and cross-axis sensitivity in piezoresistive accelerometers design.
Kalman filter-based yaw angle estimation by fusing inertial and magnetic sensing: a case study using low cost sensors
Authors: Neto Pedro , Mendes Nuno , Moreira A. Paulo
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to achieve reliable estimation of yaw angles by fusing data from low-cost inertial and magnetic sensing.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, yaw angle is estimated by fusing inertial and magnetic sensing from a digital compass and a gyroscope, respectively. A Kalman filter estimates the error produced by the gyroscope.

Findings

– Drift effect produced by the gyroscope is significantly reduced and, at the same time, the system has the ability to react quickly to orientation changes. The system combines the best of each sensor, the stability of the magnetic sensor and the fast response of the inertial sensor.

Research limitations/implications

– The system does not present a stable behavior in the presence of large vibrations. Considerable calibration efforts are needed.

Practical implications

– Today, most of human–robot interaction technologies need to have the ability to estimate orientation, especially yaw angle, from small-sized and low-cost sensors.

Originality/value

– Existing methods for inertial and magnetic sensor fusion are combined to achieve reliable estimation of yaw angle. Experimental tests in a human–robot interaction scenario show the performance of the system.
Bringing them back to spend more: student foodservice experiences to satisfy their taste buds
Authors: Ali Faizan , Ryu Kisang
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to examine student’s foodservice experience and its effect on satisfaction, dining frequency and expenditures.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 674 samples collected at a large Malaysian private university were used for data analysis. Structural equation modelling based on partial least squares method was conducted.

Findings

– Results confirm that student foodservice experience significantly influences satisfaction, dining frequency and dining expenditure. Furthermore, four first-order constructs (product component, service component, price component and healthy component) are also validated on the designated second-order construct (customer foodservice experience).

Research limitations/implications

– These findings indicate that on-campus foodservice operators should focus on student experience and satisfaction to increase visits and expenditures.

Originality/value

– This study would enable on-campus foodservice operators to have a better understanding of various dimensions of foodservice experience which will lead to students’ satisfaction and encourage the development of their visits and expenditure.
Consumer socialisation agency within three-generational Vietnamese families
Authors: Aleti Torgeir , Brennan Linda , Parker Lukas
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish how consumer knowledge is transferred among family members in multi-generational families, based on the consumer socialisation theory. Understanding how consumers learn about consumption and are socialised as consumers is critical to developing marketing strategies throughout the family lifecycle. Central to current conceptions of consumer socialisation is the idea that individuals make decisions as outcomes of previous socialisation processes. However, socialisation takes place in the meso-level social setting and there is need to understand how these meso-systems interact when it comes to consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a social system design and dyadic analysis, the authors tested knowledge transfer and consumer socialisation agency in multi-generation families in Vietnam, yielding a sample size of 654 individuals and 218 families.

Findings

– The authors demonstrate the role of consumer socialisation agency on consumer knowledge transfer between people within families. The study illustrates that where knowledge is limited, family-related services and household products will be jointly considered within the family.

Research limitations/implications

– This study was undertaken within a single country setting, but the technique and findings have wider implications for collectivist family decision-making in other settings. The limitations of cross-sectional research are acknowledged; the method specifically overcomes issues with self-reported measures by collecting data from multiple people within the social system.

Practical implications

– Our findings suggest that consumer knowledge and learning is bi-directionally transferred through consumer socialisation agency. In complex new market situations, marketers can target the social system and ensure that knowledge will be transferred between members.

Originality/value

– Social system design and dyadic analysis have not previously been used to examine meso-level consumption settings. The results provide unique understanding of consumer learning in social settings.
Interpretation of female images in advertising among Chinese adolescents
Authors: Ng Yu Leung , Chan Kara
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to examine how Chinese adolescent girls and boys interpret female images in gendered advertisements based on Tobinet al.’s (2010) gender self-socialization model (GSSM).

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 48 Hong Kong adolescents studying in high schools or university year one participated in a focus group study. Four advertisements with different types of female images were presented. Interviewees were asked to discuss the appearance, the personality and the work and family life of the female characters in the advertisements. Interviewers then asked them to select the one most closely representing their ideal female image.

Findings

– Most of the interviewees chose an urban sophisticate as the character closest to their ideal female image. Female interviewees identified with the urban sophisticate and aspired to the cultured nurturer image. However, they rejected the strong woman and the “flower vase” female images.

Research limitations/implications

– The generalizability of the findings was limited because of the small sample size and non-probability sampling.

Practical implications

– When targeting adolescents, advertisers should consider using female images displaying a personality that is neither too strong nor too weak.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to investigate how Hong Kong adolescents interpret female images from gendered advertisements. This study also clarifies the gender concepts to explain how adolescents perceive gendered advertisements.
Effect of the Back Surface Reflector and Passivated Rear Contacts With PERT Solar Cells
Authors: Sahouane Nordine , Zerga Abdellatif , Oussama Zeggai
Published: June 2015

We use Silvaco software (atlas tcad) simulation to investigate the effect of dielectric layer deposed on rear surface of solar cells passivated emitter and rear totally diffused (PERT). For an improved performance for this solar cell, several physical factors must be considered, such as the light trapping behavior, and the resulting passivation performance and rear surface recombination currents were investigated. Particular consideration will be given to the back surface reflector (BSR) impact on reflection surface, interface passivation, and on the I–V characteristics. Numerical simulations show that using a layer of two dielectrics (SiNx/SiO2) with optical indices and thickness optimized in combination with contacts located (optimized metallization fraction f) at the rear surface allow for energy conversion efficiencies of 21.26% compared to a single layer of dielectric SiN 21.01%.
High-Definition Metrology Enabled Surface Variation Control by Cutting Load Balancing1
Authors: Nguyen Hai Trong , Wang Hui , Tai Bruce L. , Ren Jie , Jack Hu S. , Shih Albert
Published: June 2015

This paper presents a method to reduce surface variation in face milling processes based on high-definition metrology (HDM) measurements. Our previous research has found and established the relations between surface variation patterns, cutting forces, and process variables. Based on the findings, this paper compares potential machining methods and finds that the approaches of varying feed rate and lateral cutter path planning are most feasible for surface variation control. By combining the two approaches, an algorithm is developed to reduce cutting force variation along the feed direction and circumferential direction, respectively, thereby reducing the surface variation. The varying feed method can effectively eliminate the surface variation along the feed direction, while the optimal cutter path approach balances the cutting loads on the cutter and contributes to reducing cutting force variation along feed direction. Case studies were conducted based on a cutting experiment to demonstrate that the proposed method can improve the surface flatness by 25%. The cutter path adjustment algorithm was also implemented in an automotive engine plant leading to 15–25% improvement in surface flatness.
Optimal Proportional–Integral–Derivative Control of Time-Delay Systems Using the Differential Quadrature Method
Authors: Dong Wei , Ding Ye , Zhu Xiangyang , Ding Han
Published: June 2015

This paper presents an accurate and computationally efficient time-domain design method for the proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control of first-order and second-order plants in the presence of discrete time delays. As time delays would generally deteriorate the achievable performance of the PID controllers, their effects should be thoroughly considered in the controller design and parameter tuning process. This paper is thereby motivated to propose a time-domain semi-analytical method for the parameter tuning and stability analysis of PID controllers of the time-delay systems. To facilitate this development, the transfer functions of the investigated plants associated with the PID controllers are first rewritten as linear periodic delayed differential equations (DDEs) in state-space form. Then, the differential quadrature method (DQM) is adopted to estimate the time derivative of the state-space function at each sampling grid point within a duration of the time delay by the weighted linear sum of the function values over the whole sampling grid points. In this way, the DDEs in the time-delay duration are discretized as a series of algebraic equations, and the transition matrix can be obtained by combining these discretized algebraic equations. Thereafter, the stability boundary can be determined and the optimal control gains are obtained by minimizing the largest absolute eigenvalue of the transition matrix. As the minimum problems are commonly solved by the gradient descent approaches, the analytical form of the gradient of the largest absolute eigenvalue of transition matrix with respect to the control gains is explicitly presented. Finally, extensive numeric examples are provided, and the proposed DQM is proven to be an accurate and computationally efficient way to tune the optimal control gains and estimate the stability region in the control gain space.
Dynamic Motion Planning and Adaptive Tracking Control for a Class of Two-Wheeled Autonomous Vehicle With an Underactuated Pendular Suspension
Authors: Yue Ming , Sun Xiaojie , Li Nan , An Cong
Published: June 2015

This paper investigates a dynamic motion planning approach and an adaptive tracking control scheme for a class of two-wheeled autonomous vehicle with an underactuated pendular suspension subject to nonholonomic constraint. Compared with the wheeled inverted pendulum system, this kind of two-wheeled pendular suspension (WPS) vehicle is more suitable for autonomous exploration in the complex unstructured environment. By Lagrange principle, a four-independent-coordinate dynamic model, which can describe the multivariate, nonlinear, and underactuated characteristics of the system, is first proposed. Besides, a reduced order dynamic is developed in the following so as to tackle the nonholonomic problem, and then the three-independent-coordinate reduced order dynamic is divided into an actuated part constituted by the rotational subsystem, and an underactuated part combined by the longitudinal and the swing angle subsystems. The sliding mode control (SMC) technique is utilized to construct the controller; especially, a composite sliding mode surface is proposed which can realize the velocity tracking and oscillation suppression for pendular suspension simultaneously. Furthermore, the adaptive mechanism is employed to update the true values of the inaccessible physical parameters which can enhance the adaptability of the WPS vehicle in unstructured environment. In addition, a dynamic motion planning method is presented, by aid of which the vehicle can track an arbitrary trajectory in Cartesian coordinate. The simulation results show the effectiveness and merits of the proposed control approaches.
The Implications of Tolerance Optimization on Compressor Blade Design
Authors: Dow Eric A. , Wang Qiqi
Published: June 2015

Geometric variability increases performance variability and degrades the mean performance of turbomachinery compressor blades. These detrimental effects can be reduced by using robust optimization to design the blade geometry or by imposing stricter manufacturing tolerances. This paper presents a novel computational framework for optimizing compressor blade manufacturing tolerances and incorporates this framework into existing robust geometry design frameworks. Optimizations of an exit guide vane geometry are conducted. When the design is optimized to improve performance at a single operating point, the optimal geometry is found to depend on the manufacturing tolerances due to a switch in the dominant loss mechanism. Including multiple operating points in the optimization avoids this switch so that the geometry and tolerance optimization problems are decoupled.
Coaching and Coach Education in Sweden
Authors: Hedberg Marie
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this article is to describe the status of coaching and coach education in Sweden. The Swedish Sport Movement can be traced to the distinctive cultural and political characteristics that exist in Sweden and in other Scandinavian countries. The typical Swedish coach has been described as a collectivist, having a high work ethic and believing strongly in the importance of the group (Birkinshaw & Crainer, 2002). They build their coaching on what are traditionally considered female values, have a high-risk tolerance and there is often a lack of hierarchy in the coach-athlete relationship. Most coaching is done on a voluntary basis and the different Sport federations design and deliver coach education. There is no standard or uniform coach education regarding content, structure and costs. In addition, the quality of coach education in Sweden has not been assessed. Although many coaches recognize the importance of learning from other coaches, research has found that coaches in Sweden are seldom prepared to reflect and to think critically (Fahlström, Glemne, Hageskog, Kenttä, & Linnér, 2013; Hedberg, 2014).
Ascites and other incidental findings revealing undiagnosed systemic rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Szeto Matthew Chak Hin , Disney Benjamin , Perkins Philip , Wood Gordon
Published: June 2015

We describe a case of a 43-year-old man presenting to the gastroenterology outpatient department with exudative ascites. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy, pericardial effusion and pleural effusion were detected on further imaging. Further clinical examination revealed subcutaneous nodules on the left arm, which were confirmed to be rheumatoid nodules on histology. Inflammatory markers were elevated with positive serology for rheumatoid factor and anticyclic citrullinated protein antibody. Our investigations excluded tuberculosis, pancreatitis and malignancy in the patient. Following review by a rheumatologist, a diagnosis of systemic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was made. Pleuritis and pericarditis are well recognised as extra-articular manifestation of RA. Ascites, however, is rarely recognised as a manifestation of RA. Our literature search revealed two other cases of ascites due to RA disease activity, and both patients had long-standing known RA. This case adds to the discussion on whether ascites and peritonitis should be classified as extra-articular manifestations of RA.
Spontaneous rupture of unscarred uterus in a primigravida with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes
Authors: Mourad Wael Sayed , Bersano Debbra J , Greenspan Peter B , Harper Diane Medved
Published: June 2015

Intrapartum uterine rupture is a true obstetrical emergency. Uterine rupture is associated with severe maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. It is rare in the unscarred uterus of a primigravida. A 23-year-old primigravida with an unscarred uterus was admitted with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes at 36+4 weeks of gestation. Abnormal fetal heart monitoring, associated with acute onset of severe abdominopelvic pain, developed on admission. Rupture occurred prior to onset of regular uterine contractions and in the absence of any interventional oxytocin. The neonate had evidence of severe acidosis despite emergency caesarean delivery. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for uterine rupture, even in the unlikely setting of a primigravida with an unscarred uterus.
Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the maxilla
Authors: Pathak Jigna , Patel Shilpa , Iyer Janaki Subramanian , Mohanty Neeta
Published: June 2015

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a distinctive aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma. We present a case of a 60-year-old man with tender swelling in the right cheek region for 6 months and continuous unilateral nasal discharge for 2 months. Extraoral examination revealed an ovoid, well-defined swelling from the right infraorbital rim to the angle of the mouth superoinferiorly and the right lateral wall of the nose to preauricular region anteroposteriorly. Intraorally, an ulceroproliferative growth from right upper gingivobuccal sulcus to mid palatine raphe with bicortical expansion was evident. CT revealed a hypodense mass obliterating the right maxillary sinus. Histopathology showed closely packed basaloid cells, with hyperchromatic palisading nuclei, arranged in a solid pattern with a lobular configuration. Prominent areas of comedo necrosis and keratin pearl formation were seen. These features suggested BSCC. The patient underwent surgical excision with adjuvant radiation but was lost to follow-up after 6 months of radiation therapy.
Necrotising pyomyositis complicating intramuscular antipsychotic administration
Authors: Tan Eugene M , Marcelin Jasmine R , Sohail Rizwan , Ramar Kannan
Published: June 2015

A 26-year-old woman with paranoid schizophrenia was admitted to the medical intensive care unit with septic shock requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. The source of septic shock was not identified despite obtaining CT of the chest/abdomen/pelvis, bronchoalveolar lavage and microbiological results for tracheal secretions, blood, urine and cervix. An indium-111 tagged white cell count scan was subsequently performed, revealing increased right anterior deltoid uptake. Owing to serial increases (up to 1310 U/L) in serum creatine kinase and a history of local intramuscular paliperidone injections for management of schizophrenia, surgical exploration was performed and identified necrotising skeletal muscle inflammation and extensive fat necrosis with an organising abscess, consistent with pyomyositis. A gram stain of purulent fluid revealed gram-positive cocci, but no organisms grew in culture. The patient recovered after 10 days of daptomycin and 7 weeks of wound care. Paliperidone injections were discontinued and oral risperidone was initiated.
Comparable efficacy with entecavir monotherapy and tenofovir–entecavir combination in chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Baqai Sumbella , Proudfoot James , Xu Ronghui , Kane Steve , Clark Margaret , Gish Robert
Published: June 2015

Objectives

The long-term goal for chronic hepatitis B patients is to maintain viral suppression in order to reduce disease progression risk. Because patients with previous treatment failure may have multiple viral resistance mutations, finding effective therapy is challenging. Because recent studies have shown that the combination of entecavir and tenofovir is effective in achieving virological response in many patients with prior treatment failure and multiple drug resistance mutations, we compared outcomes with this combination versus monotherapy.

Methods

With a retrospective chart review we compared results in 35 patients with previous treatment failure treated with the entecavir-tenofovir combination to results in patients treated with entecavir monotherapy.

Results

Although combination therapy resulted in significantly faster achievement of DNA negativity compared to entecavir monotherapy, the modest ten-week advantage is unlikely to be important for most patients since entecavir resistance develops extremely slowly. Significantly more patients on combination therapy experienced viral breakthroughs, most of which were attributed to non-adherence due to difficulties with the combination regimen.

Conclusions

Our findings of reasonably comparable efficacy over time in the combination and monotherapy arms combined with the increased costs and compliance issues related to combination therapy weigh in favor of entecavir monotherapy in patients with previous treatment failure. However, because our study was a retrospective analysis of a small patient population, it will be important to confirm these findings with a randomised, controlled trial that compares these treatment approaches in treatment-experienced patients.
Hydromechanical behaviour of expansive soils with different suctions and suction histories
Authors: Zhang Junran , Sun De’an , Zhou Annan , Jiang Tong
Published: June 2015

This paper presents a number of experimental results of suction-controlled triaxial tests on a compacted weakly expansive soil with different suctions and suction histories. In terms of suction control methods, the high suction level (from 3.29 to 38 MPa) was realized by the vapor equilibrium technique and the low suction level (from 0 to 800 kPa) was controlled by the axis translation technique. Results of the triaxial tests indicate that the specimen with higher suction shows higher strength and lower contractive and higher dilative volumetric strains, and the average skeleton stress ratio (q/p′) at failure decreases with increasing suction in the high suction range (3.29∼38 MPa). Given that suction during shearing is constant (e.g., 200 kPa), the specimen dried to a higher suction and the history shows higher strength and lower contractive volumetric strain. Experimental results also show that high pre-applied suction (i.e., the maximum suction in the history) can lead to peak strength, post-peak softening, and shear dilation. Three different methods (pressure plate, filter paper, and vapor equilibrium) were employed to study the soil-water retention behaviour of the unsaturated expansive soil. Test results indicate that by combining these three different methods, it is possible to determine the SWCC in the entire suction range (0∼367 MPa). Test results of the expansive soil also show that the void ratio keeps decreasing with increasing suction in the entire suction range.
Is It FPT to Cover Points with Tours on Minimum Number of Bends (Errata)?
Authors: Estivill-Castro Vladimir
Published: June 2015

Recent communication by Minghui Jiang has brought to my attention that I overlooked faults in the arguments built while collaborating closely with my PhD student Apichat Heednacram and his co-supervisor Francis Suraweera. These errors unfortunately also escaped the scrutiny of peer-reviews and the formal process of examination. Some results in Apichat's dissertation that were published in this journal (and other outlets) are actually incorrect.

In particular, we had reported an FPT-algorithms for the k-Bends Traveling Salesman Problem in ℜ2 and some variants that result from adding constraints to the line-segments that constitute the tour. While the reduction rules to kernelize the problem produce reduced instances, a solution of the kernel instance does not lead directly to a solution of the original instance.
Aggregate-MAX Top-k Nearest Neighbor Searching in the L1 Plane
Authors: Wang Haitao
Published: June 2015

We study the aggregate/group top-k nearest neighbor searching for the Max operator in the plane, where the distances are measured by the L1 metric. Let P be a set of n points in the plane. Given a query set Q of m points, for each point p ∈ P, the aggregate-max distance from p to Q is defined to be the maximum distance from p to all points in Q. Given Q and an integer k with 1 ≤ k ≤ n, the query asks for the k points of P that have the smallest aggregate-max distances to Q. We build a data structure of O(n) size in O(n log n) time, such that each query can be answered in O(m+k log n) time and the k points are reported in sorted order by their aggregate-max distances to Q. Alternatively, we build a data structure of O(n log n) size in O(n log2 n) time that can answer each query in O(m + k + log3 n) time.
Bone Grafts for Scaphoid Nonunion: An Overview
Authors: Hovius Steven E.R. , de Jong Tim
Published: June 2015

The scaphoid is the most common fractured bone in the wrist. Despite adequate non-surgical treatment, around 10% to 15% of these fractures will not heal. Untreated scaphoid non-union can cause a scaphoid non-union advance collapse (SNAC), this is a progressive deformity and can cause degenerative changes in the wrist. Surgery is focused on achieving consolidation, pain reduction and a good position of the scaphoid while preventing osteoarthritis in the long-term. Surgery consists of reduction and fixation of the scaphoid with a non-vascularized or vascularized bone graft. An overview of the most used vascularized and non-vascularized bone grafts and their indications are presented.
Radiographic Assessment of the Robert and Lateral Views in Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthrosis
Authors: Oheb Jonathan , Lansinger Yuri , Jansen Joshua A. , Nguyen Jimmy Q. , Porembski Margaret A. , Rayan Ghazi M.
Published: June 2015

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Robert view in assessing trapeziometacarpal arthrosis and to compare the accuracy of the Robert and lateral views in staging trapeziometacarpal (TM) joint arthrosis.

Methods: Patient demographics were obtained. Four participating raters reviewed 62 randomly selected thumb x-rays of patients presenting with thumb TM joint pain. Lateral and Robert-hyperpronation views were assessed using an analysis of 13 criteria.

Results: X-rays of 62 thumbs for 58 patients were evaluated. The average patients' age was 64 (47-87) and 51 (80%) were females. The majority of X-rays evaluated fell into stage 3. Stage 2 was the second most common level of arthritis encountered and the least was stage 1. More osteophytes were encountered in the trapezium than metacarpal on both the Robert and lateral views. The Robert view was superior in detecting osteophytes on the trapezium than the lateral view. Osteophyte size varied from 1.7 to 2 mm. The lateral view displayed 61 cases with dorsal metacarpal subluxation (98%). The Robert view displayed 48 cases (77%) with radial metacarpal subluxation and 9 cases (15%) with ulnar metacarpal subluxation. Thumb metacarpal adduction deformity was encountered on the lateral view in 20 cases (32%) whereas on the Robert view it was encountered in 14 cases (23%). Subchondral sclerosis was encountered on the Robert view in 56 thumbs (90%) while it was seen on the lateral view in 52 thumbs (84%). Pantrapezial arthritis involving the STT joint was encountered equally in 16 cases (26%) on the Robert view and the lateral views. The study found a moderate level of interrater reliability on both the lateral and Robert views. With the exception of osteophytes encountered on the trapezium versus the metacarpal, there were no other statistically significant findings.

Conclusions: This study confirms that each of the Robert and lateral views offer unique information and combining both views enhances the ability to assess radiographic disease severity, and should be the recommended set of X-rays for assessing TM osteoarthrosis.