bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Digraph‐based reliability assessment of a tribo‐pair
Authors: Sharma B. , Gandhi O.P. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeMost of the mechanical systems consist of common tribo components such as gear, bearing, seal, pump, etc. During operation, the failure of such a component may lead to failure of the system or any other components depending on the system structure or its connections. The transformation of functional quantities or parameters within and various components make these vulnerable to failures and breakdowns. The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the reliability of a tribo‐pair during operation based on the operational parameters which takes into account the deviation in functional objective and considers the component structure explicitly.Design/methodology/approachFailure representation using digraph models have mainly been limited to chemical systems and processes but have been applied to a limited extent to mechanical systems. Researchers have considered the operating parameters such as pressure, temperature; feed rate, flow, etc. as the input/output operational parameter for failure cause identification of tribo mechanical system. However, these are not true in case of components like gear, bearing, etc. Therefore, this methodology has been refined in this paper, and is extended to a tribo‐pair by considering its functions along with operating parameters for reliability assessment. The tribo‐pair considered for the development of model is a gear pair, which is a common and important example of mechanical components.FindingsUnderstanding of the failure modes helps the designer in identifying the root cause of failure and the operational parameters whose increase/decrease affects the functional objective. Consideration of the input and output parameters and their interrelations are used to develop input‐output model of a gear pair called gear pair model. This requires consideration of the input and output parameters, which are based on the gear pair functionality. These parameters have been identified. Four input parameters; five output parameters and one condition monitoring parameter are considered to model the gear pair. In addition to input and output parameters condition monitoring parameters are also considered to develop the gear pair model.Originality/valueReliability assessment of a tribo‐pair during operation will help the practicing engineers to take corrective action and minimize the occurrence of undesired failure symptom during operation. The decrease in possibility of undesired failure symptom will enhance the reliability of mechanical system.
Teaching HE students with emotional and behavioural difficulties
Authors: Taylor M.J. , Baskett M. , Duffy S. , Wren C. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of the types of adjustments appropriate to university teaching practices for students with emotional and behavioural difficulties in the UK higher education (HE) sector.Design/methodology/approachA case study in a UK university was undertaken over a two‐year period.FindingsA variety of types of adjustments may be necessary for UK university students with emotional and behavioural difficulties including adjustments to pastoral care, teaching and assessment.Research limitations/implicationsThe case study focussed on only three students with emotional and behavioural difficulties. However, given that the number of students entering UK universities with such difficulties is increasing, the results of this research can hopefully inform the teaching of future students.Practical implicationsThis paper addresses what UK university teaching staff may need to do to support students with emotional and behavioural difficulties.Originality/valueAlthough research has been conducted into the teaching of individuals with emotional and behavioural difficulties in schools, little if any research has been undertaken regarding teaching such students at university level.
Hopping mobility concept for search and rescue robots
Authors: Dubowsky Steven , Kesner Samuel , Plante Jean‐Sébastien , Boston Penelope 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to present recent work demonstrating the feasibility of Microbots' mobility in rough terrain. Microbots are a new search and rescue concept based on the deployment of teams of small spherical mobile robots. In this concept, hundreds to thousands of cm‐scale, sub‐kilogram Microbots are released over a search site such as collapsed building rubble or caves. Microbots use hopping, bouncing, and rolling to infiltrate subterranean spaces in search of possible survivors.Design/methodology/approachThe feasibility of the Microbot mobility concept is evaluated through laboratory prototypes and mobility simulations.FindingsExperimental studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) to generate autonomous hops. High‐efficiency hydrogen fuel cells were shown to be able to power DEAs. Simulation results show that Microbots of proper diameter and hop height can successfully traverse very rough terrains.Research limitations/implicationsThe implication of this research is that small hopping robots are appropriate for certain search and rescue missions. The limitation of the research to date is that issues of control, path planning, and communication have not yet been addressed.Practical implicationsKey technologies of the Microbot mobility, that use high‐energy‐density micro fuel cells combined with low cost and lightweight DEAs, are feasible. These technologies have the potential to make a significant impact on the search and rescue robots.Originality/valueThese results suggest that a team of Microbots‐based DEAs and micro fuel cells can be a useful and effective tool for search and rescue operations.
The robust construction of a generalized Voronoi graph (GVG) using partial range data for guide robots
Authors: Ahn Sunghwan , Lett Doh Nakju , Kyun Chung Wan , Yep Nam Sang 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe research to enable a robust navigation of guide robots in erratic environments with partial sensor information.Design/methodology/approachTwo techniques were developed. One is a robust node discrimination method by using an adaptive sensor matching method. The other is a robot navigation technique with partial sensor information.FindingsA successful navigation was implemented in erratic environments using partial sensor information.Originality/valueFirst robot navigation is addressed along the generalized Voronoi graph (GVG) with partial sensor information. A solution is also provided for a phantom node detection problem, which is one of the main defects in GVG navigation.
New public management and social work in Sweden and England
Authors: Berg Elisabeth E.B. , Barry Jim J.J. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the issues for middle‐level social work managers arising from the development of the new public management, with its emphasis on the intensification of work, the measurement of performance in service delivery, and cost efficiencies. This is commonly thought to have affected those working in human services such as social work adversely. This paper explores the nature of these consequences, from the point of view of those centrally placed in its implementation.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology adopted in this paper is designed to acknowledge and explore the perceptions of middle‐level social work managers as they contribute to the social construction of the new public management. This is accomplished through in‐depth interviews with a sample of their number in Sweden and England.FindingsThe findings reveal that social work managers are not only comfortable dealing with budgets but also enjoy the autonomy this affords them in their relationship with their subordinates. The findings also reveal that they appreciate the benefits of the more generalised knowledges of management, used in their work with junior colleagues, who they attempted to lead rather than manage and who they respected as colleagues. This has further implications: the possibility of new career opportunities for these predominantly women managers.Originality/valueThe managers in social work see the knowledges gained from their position as managers as transferable to other areas of the public and private sectors, thereby opening up new career opportunities. They were also found to enjoy dealing with budget issues, contrary to earlier studies.
Using g alternatives to reduce subgroup differences when predicting US public‐sector performance
Authors: Manley Gregory G. , Benavidez Juan 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to bring attention to the issues of validity and subgroup differences of selection devices currently being used in the public sector.Design/methodology/approachAn attempt is made to identify unfair hiring practices, particularly important within the public sector, as this area of employment is characterized by a unique set of circumstances. Among them, economic constraints, the social burden to ensure fair treatment among applicants and incumbents, and an increasingly higher expectation of quality service among customers in the public sector. This paper also explores the effectiveness of two strategies for reducing subgroup differences while maintaining or increasing criterion‐related validity.FindingsThe findings of this study are important and answer some central questions. First, g and job knowledge were the best individual predictors of overall performance criteria; second, the g, alternative, and full models all significantly predicted the performance criteria, with the alternative model predicting more variance than the g model; third, the alternative model had more incremental validity over the g model than the g model had over the alternative model; the alternative model also produced less subgroup differences for Black–White comparisons than the g model. The Native American‐White differences were larger for the alternative model compared to the g model, but these differences are considered small effects and were non‐significant in the statistical sense. The Hispanic‐White differences were also somewhat larger for the alternative model when compared to the g model; however, this result is probably unreliable due to a very small Hispanic sample size and is a small effect. Thus, the alternative model will predict performance well for similar public sector samples while producing generally smaller subgroup differences.Originality/valueThere is little extant published research examining the validity and ethnic group score differences of alternate predictors used in the US public sector and the current effort seeks to provide empirical evidence to fill this void.
Managing diversity in organisations
Authors: Alexandra Beauregard T. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on a seminar sponsored by the Academy of Management's Gender in Management Special Interest Group, which comprised discussions on aspects of diversity policy, initiatives, and programme development within Bank of Scotland, National Australia Group UK, and BBC Scotland, and also academic and industry presentations.Design/methodology/approachThe report is based upon observations, notes and discussions on a range of issues relating to diversity in organisations.FindingsThe seminar highlighted practitioner perspectives of diversity management – both for staff development and for the development of a customer base in the case of banks, by actively encouraging business from female entrepreneurs and by aiming to make mainstream financial products appropriate for both female and male customers.Originality/valueThis report brings together a number of interesting and important themes linked to improvements in female recruitment and development.
SME ERP system sourcing strategies: a case study
Authors: Sledgianowski Deb , Tafti Mohammed H.A. , Kierstead Jim 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify ERP system sourcing strategies available to SMEs and to provide insights from a case study of the practices applied and decisions made by an SME in using a hybrid of sourcing resources to implement the successful conversion of their legacy ERP system to a new information technology (IT) environment.Design/methodology/approachThis research is a case study utilizing various data sources including face‐to‐face interviews, informal conversations, and e‐mails with members of the case company. Company software applications and documents were examined and employees were observed in action. The analysis compares characteristics of the client‐vendor relationship of the case company with findings from relevant outsourcing literature.FindingsThis case study identified, among others, the following practices that were critical to the case company in their outsourcing endeavors: attending networking events for SMEs, obtaining formal contract for ownership of intellectual property, utilizing local vendor contact point for communication with offshore contact point, and utilizing vendor's skill‐set for specialized resources.Practical implicationsThis case study relates practice with theory, providing a reference for both academia and practitioners.Originality/valueThe decision making and practices described in this paper provide insights that may be useful to organizations considering IT software implementations. ERP systems are increasingly more affordable for SMEs and offshore outsourcing is becoming more accessible; therefore, SMEs considering these options may benefit from Kanebridge's experience.
Location, location: the geography of industry clusters
Authors: Schiele Holger 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the implications of regional‐sectoral agglomerations – clusters – for the strategic management of firms. Concentration of firms along a single value chain is a common phenomenon in modern economies, but has seldom been reflected in the realm of strategic management.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws back on Porter's cluster model and the innovative milieu approach. A case‐study methodology consisting of a combination of action research and semi‐structured interviews is applied to four cases, illustrating the managerial implications of firm membership in industry clusters.FindingsThe existence of regional‐sectoral clusters has a substantial impact on the strategic position of firms. An assumption underlying most current strategic management thinking, namely that spatial factors are not relevant, must be challenged. The paper illustrates options for firms located within as well as outside clusters.Research limitations/implicationsThis research does not prove the cluster theory, but rather illustrates a part of it requiring further clarification: its application to management issues. Future research should substantiate the findings on a broad empirical scale.Practical implicationsThe paper alerts managers to the necessity of considering their company's entire value‐creating system from a geographical perspective. Several common strategic decisions may be viewed differently if a cluster perspective is taken: decisions regarding location, such as locating in a cluster in new countries; sourcing decisions, such as re‐evaluating global sourcing; marketing and innovation issues, such as linking up with the most competitive market globally rather than avoiding it; or portfolio decisions, such as divesting of firms not located in clusters.Originality/valueThe paper is highly thought‐provoking as it challenges a common assumption, namely the “death of distance” argument. The cluster approach demonstrates that proximity matters fundamentally affects a firm's profitability and ultimately its chances of survival. Applying the cluster approach to corporate management provides a new set of explanations, for example for firms that continue to underperform, even after successive management changes. On the other hand, taking advantage of clusters could be a source of strength for firms which have largely remained untapped up to now. In particular, this paper provides a real‐life case account, illustrating the relevance of clusters, as well as options for managers.
Cauchy theater phenomenon in diagonal method and test principle of finite positional differences
Authors: Zhu Wujia , Lin Yi , Gong Ningsheng , Du Guoping 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe paper's purpose is to show a class of well‐used methods in set theory is invalid.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual approach is taken.FindingsBased on the concept of Cauchy theater introduced elsewhere, it is proven that the argument employing the diagonal method for the fact that the set of all real numbers R={x|r(x)}, where r(x)=df “x is a real number” has an uncountable cardinality, is not valid. The diagonal method has appeared in naive and modern axiomatic set theories.Originality/valuePoint out more paradoxes in the methodology of mathematics.
Mathematical system of potential infinities (IV) – set theoretic foundation
Authors: Zhu Wujia , Lin Yi , Du Guoping , Gong Ningsheng 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThis paper is the fourth part of the effort to resolve the following two problems that urgently need an answer: how can an appropriate theoretical foundation be chosen for modern mathematics and computer science? And, under what interpretations can modern mathematics and the theory of computer science be kept as completely as possible?Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a conceptual discussion.FindingsThe paper lays out the set theoretical foundation for the mathematical system of potential infinities.Originality/valueThis work is the non‐logical axiomatic part of the mathematical system of potential infinities: the axiomatic set theoretic system. At the end, the problem of consistency of this axiomatic set theory is discussed.
Consumer's value for informational role of agent in service industry
Authors: Trivedi Minakshi , Morgan Michael S. , Kaushik Desai Kalpesh 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the informational role played by an intermediary in the service industry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper used survey and choice data collected from agents and customers, respectively, in the hotel industry.FindingsThe paper shows that informational role of agents in choice varies from mere facilitation of the transaction (e.g. making reservation) to a more active role involving accurate predictions about attributes that consumers will perceive important, more realistic performance evaluation of choice options and providing information about experience attributes. The results also show how an agent's role depends on customer's prior knowledge about the choice options, the goal underlying service consumption (e.g. business vs vacation travel), benefits sought by the consumer and the agent's perception about a long term relationship with the consumer. Finally, the results also reveal a unique pattern of differences between agents and consumers in the perceived importance and performance ratings of various features of the service.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited to agents in the hotel industry. The hypotheses should be tested on other service agent industries such as airlines and restaurants. Future research should consider other alternative sources of information that consumers may use, such as printed material.Originality/valueThe unique nature of the data set – that is, information from the agent as well as the consumer on the same transaction – offers a great opportunity to study the two different points of view and test some hypothesis regarding the degree to which the players understand each other.
School supervision and evaluation in China: the Shanghai perspective
Authors: Chi‐kin Lee John , Ding Daoyong , Song Huan 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss recent developments in school developmental supervisory evaluation in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai in the Chinese Mainland.Design/methodology/approachThe main research approach is qualitative, using documentary analysis and interviews of an inspector, principals and teachers from two primary schools.FindingsThere were perceived positive and negative impacts of school supervision and evaluation.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the implications for fostering a shared school‐government community of school supervision and evaluation, promoting a dynamic approach for addressing contextual differences as well as achieving better coherence among educational reform, supervision and evaluation policies.
Geometrical, electrical and stability properties of thick‐film and LTCC microcapacitors
Authors: Miś Edward , Dziedzic Andrzej , Piasecki Tomasz , Kita Jarosław , Moos Ralf 
Published: May 2008

PurposeCapacitors are frequently used in electronic circuits. Thick‐film technology allows fabrication of such components in the case of small‐ and medium‐capacitance values. They can also be manufactured in LTCC structures. The paper seeks to investigate the electrical properties of thick‐film and LTCC capacitors for as‐fired and long‐term thermally aged test structures in a wide frequency and temperature range.Design/methodology/approachSandwich and interdigitated planar capacitors were fabricated on alumina or LTCC substrates using standard screen printing and laser shaping. Various dielectric inks and electrodes materials were used. The crystalline phases in thick‐film dielectric films were identified.FindingsPlanar and sandwich LTCC and thick‐film capacitors were designed and fabricated. Different technology variations were tested. X‐ray analysis indicated that both used commercial compositions, compatible with LTCC substrates are based on barium and titatium compounds. The difference in their dielectric constants probably are related with kind of crystalline phases, presented in these compositions and crystalline phase/glass ratio.Originality/valueThis paper presents results of investigations made on thick‐film and LTCC microcapacitors.
The UK's faster payment project: avoiding a bonanza for cybercrime fraudsters
Authors: Fisher Jonathan 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the increased exposure to cyber crime which would result if one‐day cheque clearance were introduced in the UK.Design/methodology/approachThis paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the UK and US cheque‐clearance systems, examines the enhanced vulnerability to fraud occasioned by a one‐day cheque clearance system and considers the resulting evidential difficulties encountered in US cheque fraud prosecutions. The paper then anticipates the UK experience and examines recent cyber‐crime cases in the UK. Finally the paper explores the possibility of biometric fingerprint authorisation as a prevention strategy.FindingsThe introduction of one‐day cheque clearance in the USA heralded an increase in cyber‐crime banking fraud and a reduction of the ability of the prosecuting authorities to bring cases to court because of the paucity of documentary evidence. The same pattern of activity would be likely to occur if one‐day cheque clearance were to be introduced in the UK. Banks should lobby for the replacement of cheque banking with biometric fingerprint authorisation of electronic banking transactions as the best way forward.Practical implicationsThis paper indicates the most pragmatic way forward for banks targeted by this type of cyber‐crime and warns the legal profession of the evidential difficulties in US prosecutions.Originality/valueThis paper is of value to legal practitioners, academics, students and financial market professionals with interests in banking, fraud, and cyber‐crime.