Development of a stakeholder identification and analysis method for human factors integration in work system design interventions – Change Agent Infrastructure

In any work system design intervention—for example, a physical workplace re-design, a work process change, or an equipment upgrade—it is often emphasized how important it is to involve stakeholders in the process of analysis and design, to gain their perspectives as input to the development, and ensure their future acceptance of the solution. While the users of an artifact or workplace are most often regarded as being the most important stakeholders in a design intervention, in a work-system context there may be additional influential stakeholders who influence and negotiate the design intervention's outcomes, resource allocation, requirements, and implementation. Literature shows that it is uncommon for empirical ergonomics and human factors (EHF) research to apply and report the use of any structured stakeholder identification method at all, leading to ad-hoc selections of whom to consider important. Conversely, other research fields offer a plethora of stakeholder identification and analysis methods, few of which seem to have been adopted in the EHF context. This article presents the development of a structured method for identification, classification, and qualitative analysis of stakeholders in EHF-related work system design intervention. It describes the method's EHF-related theoretical underpinnings, lessons learned from four use cases, and the incremental development of the method that has resulted in the current method procedure and visualization aids. The method, called Change Agent Infrastructure (abbreviated CHAI), has a mainly macroergonomic purpose, set on increasing the understanding of sociotechnical interactions that create the conditions for work system design intervention, and facilitating participative efforts.     

Reverse iodine transfer polymerization of vinyl acetate and vinyl benzoate: synthesis and characterization of homo‐ and copolymers

Homo‐ and copolymers of vinyl esters including vinyl acetate (VAc) and vinyl benzoate (VBz) were synthesized via the reverse iodine transfer radical polymerization technique. Polymerization was carried out in the presence of iodine as the in situ generator of the transfer agent and 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) as the initiator at 70 °C. Reverse iodine transfer radical homopolymerization of VAc and VBz led to conversions of 76 and 57%, number‐average molecular weights of 8266 and 9814 g mol^?1 and molecular weight distributions of 1.58 and 1.49, respectively. The microstructure of the synthesized polymers was investigated in detail using gel permeation chromatography, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and distortionless enhancement of polarization transfer (135° decoupler pulse) techniques. Relatively narrow molecular weight distribution and controlled and predictable trend of molecular weight versus conversion were observed for the synthesized polymers, showing that reverse iodine transfer radical homo‐ and copolymerization of VAc and VBz proceeded with controlled characteristics. Results of molecular weight and its distribution along with the ¹H NMR spectra recorded for homo‐ and copolymers indicated that side reactions can occur during the course of polymerization with a significant contribution when VAc, even in a small amount, was present in the reaction mixture. This can result in polymer chains with aldehyde dead end and broadening of the molecular weight distribution. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Harnessing adaptive capacity to close the pandora’s box of open innovation

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on how companies deploy structural properties of adaptive capacity (multiplexity, redundancy and loose coupling) to cope with the phenomenon of internal challenges of Open Innovation (OI) implementation, i.e. organisational and cultural changes. We developed a single case study, which offered significant findings. First, the multiplexity of relationships in OI settings helps to face the challenges of organisational and cultural changes by triggering trust formation and interaction. Second, redundancy has twofold elements: institutional logics redundancy triggers cultural change challenges which can be overcome through management practices and communications; task redundancy facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration, thus helping to deal with organisational change challenges. Finally, loose coupling in OI settings facilitates social interconnectedness among members through management practices, helping to face organisational and cultural change challenges. We provide managerial and theoretical implication to deal with the challenges of OI in relation to both organisational and cultural changes.     

Evaluating of air flow movements and thermal comfort in a model room with Euler equation: Two dimensional study

This paper presents the results of a study that consists of estimating the temperature distribution and air flow movement in a model room with a numerical model based on the Euler equations. Numerical results obtained for two scenarios of ventilation and heating are compared with the predictions of a Navier–Stokes model, as well as with experimental results. A comparison of the local thermal comfort indices PMV and PPD obtained experimentally and numerically is also presented. Results show that the Euler model is capable of properly estimating the temperature distribution, the air movement and the comfort indices in the room. Furthermore, the use of Euler equations allows a reduction of computational time in the order of 30% compared to the Navier–Stokes modeling.     

An investigation into the effects of lime on compressive and shear strength characteristics of fiber-reinforced clays

To meet the ever-increasing construction demands around the world during recent years,reinforcement and stabilization methods have been widely used by geotechnical engineers to improve the performances and behavior of fine-grained soils.Although lime stabilization increases the compressive strength of soils,it reduces the soil ductility at the same time.Recent research shows that random fiber inclusion modifies the brittleness of soils.In the current research,the effects of lime and polypropylene(PP) fiber additions on such characteristics as compressive and shear strengths,failure strain,secant modulus of elasticity(E_(50)) and shear strength parameters of mixtures were investigated.Kaolinite was treated with 1%,3% and 5% lime by dry weight of soil and reinforced with 0.1% monovalent PP fibers with the length of 6 mm.Samples were prepared at optimum conditions and cured at 35℃ for 1 d,7 d and28 d at 90% relative humidity and subsequently subjected to uniaxial and triaxial compression tests(UCT and TCT) under cell pressures of 25 kPa,50 kPa and 100 kPa.Results showed that inclusion of random PP fibers to clay-lime mixtures increases both compressive and shear strengths as well as the ductility.Lime content and curing period were found to be the most influential factors.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) analysis showed that lime addition and the formation of cementitious compounds bind soil particles and increase soil/fiber interactions at interface,leading to enhanced shear strength.The more ductile the stabilized and reinforced composition,the less the cracks in roads and waste landfill covers.     

The influence of heterogeneous meninges on the brain mechanics under primary blast loading

In the modeling of brain mechanics subjected to primary blast waves, there is currently no consensus on how many biological components to be used in the brain–meninges–skull complex, and what type of constitutive models to be adopted. The objective of this study is to determine the role of layered meninges in damping the dynamic response of the brain under primary blast loadings. A composite structures composed of eight solid relevant layers (including the pia, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), dura maters) with different mechanical properties are constructed to mimic the heterogeneous human head. A hyper-viscoelastic material model is developed to better represent the mechanical response of the brain tissue over a large strain/high frequency range applicable for blast scenarios. The effect of meninges on the brain response is examined. Results show that heterogeneous composite structures of the head have a major influence on the intracranial pressure, maximum shear stress, and maximum principal strain in the brain, which is associated with traumatic brain injuries. The meninges serving as protective layers are revealed by mitigating the dynamic response of the brain. In addition, appreciable changes of the pressure and maximum shear stress are observed on the material interfaces between layers of tissues. This may be attributed to the alternation of shock wave speed caused by the impedance mismatch.     

PIG Ion Source with Permanent Magnets: Model Based Anode Current Return Circuit

Ion sources are widely used in fusion technologies. A new high voltage pulsed power supply for use in penning ion gauge ion sources is proposed in this paper. To use discharge current, a diode-capacitor bank is included. The power supply is composed of 3 stages. A fast switching transistor is used as a single switch which is trigged by a pulse generator. A transformer is used to level up the voltage up to 2?kV without power loss. It is also used to isolate input and high voltage output. Also; the proposed high voltage power supply implementation uses a diode-capacitor bank whose capacitors are charged during plasma discharge. This system structure gives compactness and easiness to implement the total system which in combination with inexpensive commercially available components, makes the unit versatile and inexpensive.     

Preparation and Study of Oral Galenic Forms by Dispersing into Eudragit/Matrix a Polyacryloyl-Acetylsalicylic Anhyride

Oral galenic forms able to control the drug release in stomach are prepared and studied in this paper. A branched polymer is dispersed in a biocompatible polymer as Eudragit. A Polyanhydride is chosen for this branched polymer and it is obtained by reacting the anhydride with the drug and then polymerizing this branched monomer. The process of release of drug is studied by using in vitro tests with synthetic gastric liquid. The process is proved to be controlled by transient diffusion of the liquid into and the drug out of the galenic form, with contant diffusivities . A simple mathematical model is thus able to describe both these matter transfers. Moreover, the branched pulymer itself exhibits a retardancy in the release of drug which is also controlled by diffusion. This retardancy can be of interest, especially in case of accident when the galenic form is broken in the patient's mouth and chewed.