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Article
Publication date: 1 February 1981

D.H. Mott

The industrial environment offers many potential applications for image processing, especially in inspection for quality, automatic assembly and the guidance of robotic devices…

Abstract

The industrial environment offers many potential applications for image processing, especially in inspection for quality, automatic assembly and the guidance of robotic devices. But development of an appropriate algorithm may require the testing of very many image processing methods. However, a computer system by British Robotic Systems allows easy and interactive testing.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 1 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1997

Gurpreet Dhillon and Ray Hackney

Argues that by interpreting the semantic content of different actions, it will be possible to draw boundaries between those aspects of a system that can be computerized and those…

1587

Abstract

Argues that by interpreting the semantic content of different actions, it will be possible to draw boundaries between those aspects of a system that can be computerized and those that will best serve the purpose if left alone. This will dissuade systems developers from being caught in the technology trap. The argument is conducted in the context of developing IT‐based medical thesauri for drug use management.

Details

Health Manpower Management, vol. 23 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-2065

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 March 2017

Jiamei Wang and Le Fu Zhang

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of deformation-induced martensite on electrochemical corrosion behaviors of 304 austenitic stainless steel in a simulated…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of deformation-induced martensite on electrochemical corrosion behaviors of 304 austenitic stainless steel in a simulated primary water environment of a pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant with boric acid and lithium hydroxide contaminated with chloride by potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Mott–Schotty curves and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Design/methodology/approach

The effects of deformation-induced martensite transformation on electrochemical corrosion behaviors of 304 austenitic stainless steel was investigated in a simulated primary water environment of a pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant with boric acid and lithium hydroxide contaminated with 0.1 M Cl by potentiodynamic polarization, EIS, Mott–Schotty curves and XPS in this paper.

Findings

The results revealed that the martensitic phase contents increased with the level of cold deformation. The general corrosion current density and the corrosion potential increased and decreased, respectively, with the increase of cold deformation degree. However, the pitting potential decreased as the cold deformation increased up to 20 per cent, then a slight increase was observed at 35 per cent cold working. It was found from Mott–Schottky curves and XPS analysis that as the cold deformation degree increased from 0 to 35 per cent, the doping concentrations of the oxide films increased; however, the film thickness decreased, which indicates that both density and integrity of the films are degraded significantly as the deformation degree increases, and this ultimately contributes to the significant increment of the general corrosion rate and reduction of the pitting corrosion resistance.

Originality/value

The effects of deformation-induced martensite transformation on electrochemical corrosion behaviors of 304 austenitic stainless steel was investigated in a simulated primary water environment of a pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant with boric acid and lithium hydroxide contaminated with 0.1 M Cl by potentiodynamic polarization, EIS, Mott–Schotty curves and XPS in this paper.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 64 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2014

Colette Russell and Joanne Meehan

In the UK, major IT public procurement projects regularly fail at significant cost to the taxpayer. The prevalence of these failures presents scholars with a challenge; to both…

Abstract

In the UK, major IT public procurement projects regularly fail at significant cost to the taxpayer. The prevalence of these failures presents scholars with a challenge; to both understand their genesis and to facilitate learning and prevention. Functional approaches have revealed numerous determinants of failure ranging from procurement specifications to risk escalation, but true and definitive causes remain elusive. However, since failure is not itself an absolute truth, but rather a concept which is reached when support is withdrawn, the survival of a project depends on there being sufficient belief in its legitimacy. We use critical hermeneutic methods and the conceptual lens of legitimacy to reveal powerful legitimating influences that enable and constrain action, but which are not analysed in the retrospective government inquiries that determine lessons learned.

Details

Journal of Public Procurement, vol. 14 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1535-0118

Article
Publication date: 6 October 2020

Natalia D'Souza and Shane Scahill

This study explores nurses' views as to whether they see community pharmacists as “entrepreneurial” and what this might mean for working together in primary care. Pharmacists are…

Abstract

Purpose

This study explores nurses' views as to whether they see community pharmacists as “entrepreneurial” and what this might mean for working together in primary care. Pharmacists are expected to fully integrate with their colleagues – particularly nurses – under the New Zealand health policy. Yet, there is scarce literature that examines multidisciplinary teamwork and integration through an entrepreneurial identity lens. This is particularly important since around the world, including New Zealand, community pharmacies are small businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an exploratory qualitative study. A total of 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses from primary care, nursing professional bodies and academics from nursing schools. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Coding was undertaken through general inductive thematic analysis.

Findings

In total three key themes emerged through analysis: the entrepreneurial profile of the community pharmacist, the lack of entrepreneurship across the profession, and the role identity and value that community pharmacists hold, as viewed by nurses. There appeared to be pockets of entrepreneurship in community pharmacy; nurses did not express a blanket label of entrepreneurship across the whole sector. Nurses also discussed several forms of entrepreneurship including commercial-oriented, clinical and social entrepreneurship. The social entrepreneurship identity of community pharmacists sat most comfortably with nurse participants. Overall, nurses appeared to value community pharmacists but felt that they did not fully understand the roles that this profession took on.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the academic literature by identifying three domains of entrepreneurship relevant to community pharmacy as well as multi-level barriers that will need to be jointly tackled by professional bodies and policy-makers. Improving nurses' and other healthcare professionals' knowledge of community pharmacists' role and expertise is also likely to facilitate better inter-professional integration.

Originality/value

There is scarce literature that attempts to understand how entrepreneurial identity plays out in health organisation and management. This study adds to the knowledge base of factors influencing integration in healthcare.

Details

Journal of Health Organization and Management, vol. 34 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7266

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2005

Hanna K. Kalla

This article's purpose is to explore the multidisciplinary nature of internal communications, and argue that an integrated approach to internal communications is beneficial when…

17985

Abstract

Purpose

This article's purpose is to explore the multidisciplinary nature of internal communications, and argue that an integrated approach to internal communications is beneficial when assessing knowledge sharing in organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

This article presents a review of relevant current literature, and explores the issue through qualitative interview data from a world‐leading multinational companies (MNC).

Findings

The empirical data provide support for the integrated view, and also enhance our understanding of knowledge sharing as an important and strategic function of integrated internal communications.

Originality/value

The integrated perspective here contributes to the understanding of internal communications in two ways. First, it draws from the domains of business, management, corporate, and organisational communication, which together incorporate both practical and theoretical knowledge. Second, it includes all formal and informal communication that take place inside an organisation.

Details

Corporate Communications: An International Journal, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-3289

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 November 2022

Lupeng Liu, Senlin Li, Zhiming Gao, Hang Jia and Wenbin Hu

This paper aims to study the effect of chloride concentration on the properties of passive film formed on Q235 steel in simulated concrete pore solutions.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to study the effect of chloride concentration on the properties of passive film formed on Q235 steel in simulated concrete pore solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

Mott–Schottky analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to study the passive film of Q235 steel in simulated concrete pore solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze the composition of passive film on Q235 steel.

Findings

When the chloride concentration is below the chloride threshold value, open circuit potential (OCP) and Rct gradually increases and donor concentration (ND) remains unchanged with the increasing immersion time. When the chloride concentration exceeds chloride threshold value, OCP and Rct decreases after a temporary increase and ND increases. The linear region of the Mott–Schottky curve lost its linearity. The electrochemical process control step is changed from charge transfer control to oxygen diffusion control. As the chloride concentration increases, the FeO content in the passive film increases and the Fe2O3 content decreases. Chloride can destroy the outer layer of passive film and introduce impurities.

Originality/value

The effects of chloride and immersion time on the change process of passive films on Q235 steel in simulated concrete pore solution were studied using electrochemical methods. The mechanism of chloride destroying passive film was analyzed.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 70 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 November 2015

Yujie Zhang and Amir Poursaee

This paper aims to clarify the semi-conductive behavior of the passive layer formed in concrete environment without and with presence of chloride ions under different loading…

1260

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to clarify the semi-conductive behavior of the passive layer formed in concrete environment without and with presence of chloride ions under different loading conditions. Passivation and depassivation of steel play an essential role in the subsequent stages of the corrosion process. Due to the nature of passive films on metals, they show electrochemical properties of a semi-conductor.

Design/methodology/approach

A C-ring model was proposed in this experiment to induce stress on the specimens. Specimens under different levels of compressive and tensile loadings were exposed to chloride-free and chloride-contaminated solutions and their semi-conductive behavior was investigated using Mott–Schottky technique.

Findings

Irrespective of the type and magnitude of the applied load, the passive film on rebars in simulated concrete pore solution is a highly disordered n-type semi-conductor. In all specimens, the presence of chloride ions decreases the slope of the Mott-Schottky plots, the donor density and the space charge layer thickness, which leads to a thinner passive film. Results indicate that steel specimens immersed in chloride-free pore solution under tensile loadings passivate more rapidly compared to those under compressive loadings. However, the situation in chloride-contaminated solution is different, and steel under tensile stress exhibits more corrosion than steel under compressive stress or under no load.

Originality/value

Reinforced concrete structures inevitably experience variable mechanical loads, and continuous degradation from aggressive environments. Therefore, it is imperative to study the synergic impact of different types of mechanical loadings and exposure to chloride ions on this process. This paper fulfils this need.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 62 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 February 2017

Francisco G. Nunes, Janet E. Anderson, Luis M. Martins and Siri Wiig

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of ownership of community pharmacies on the perception of organizational identity and its relationships with organizational…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of ownership of community pharmacies on the perception of organizational identity and its relationships with organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was carried out on a sample of pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Portugal. The sample comprised 1,369 pharmacists, of whom 51 percent were owner-managers. Measures of pharmacies’ normative (community health oriented) and utilitarian (business oriented) identities, identity strength (clear and unifying), substantive (stockholder focused) and symbolic (society focused) performance were included.

Findings

Both owners and employed pharmacists rated the normative identity of pharmacies higher than the utilitarian identity. Compared with employed pharmacists, owners perceive a lower level of utilitarian identity, the same level of normative identity, and higher levels of identity strength. Normative identity and identity strength predicted symbolic performance. Normative and utilitarian identities and identity strength predicted substantive performance. The relationship between utilitarian identity and substantive performance was significant among owner pharmacists but not among employed pharmacists.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations include the use of perceptive measures and the focus on the individual level of analysis.

Practical implications

In order to improve pharmacies’ performance, pharmacists who manage community pharmacies are challenged to reconcile tensions arising from the co-existence of business and community health identities and from their own agency (self-serving) and stewardship (altruistic) motives.

Originality/value

This study draws on institutional, identity and stewardship theories to understand how pharmacists, owners and employees, view the identity of community pharmacies and how identity relates to organizational performance.

Details

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, vol. 24 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1462-6004

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 August 2019

Xiangyu Lu, Leyuan Zhang, Xingguo Feng, D. Chen and Yu Zuo

Aluminum tripolyphosphate was used as a corrosion inhibitor in a simulated concrete pore solution. For studies of the inhibition mechanism of aluminum tripolyphosphate on the…

Abstract

Purpose

Aluminum tripolyphosphate was used as a corrosion inhibitor in a simulated concrete pore solution. For studies of the inhibition mechanism of aluminum tripolyphosphate on the carbon steel, its influence on the pitting initiation on the carbon steel in a Cl containing pore solution were investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Potentiodynamic polarization curves, Mott–Schottky plots and potentiostatic polarization of the carbon steel in the pore solution with different content of aluminum tripolyphosphate were measured, as well as the optical micrographs of pitting on the carbon steel was observed.

Findings

The metastable pitting potential and the stable pitting potential increased, while the donor density and the flat band potential decreased with the concentration of aluminum tripolyphosphate in solution. Furthermore, the initiation of pitting was suppressed, as well as the transition from metastable to stable pitting was hindered by the aluminum tripolyphosphate. The scale parameter (a), in the extreme distribution of the maximum current peak, could be used to predict the transition from metastable to stable pitting.

Originality/value

The inhibition mechanism of aluminum tripolyphosphate on carbon steel in pore solution was revealed. It suppresses the initiation of pitting and hinders the transition from metastable to stable pitting. Furthermore, a parameter defined as the scale parameter (a) in the extreme distribution of the maximum current peak was introduced to predict the transition from metastable to stable pitting.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 66 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

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