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Fragmentation can inhibit joint goals and performance measures. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the level of fragmentation between public, private and third sectors in a hybrid organization's performance management systems and the effects of this fragmentation to propose hypotheses and new research methods for future studies.

The inductive research design was based on a mixed method approach. As empirical data, a survey, interviews and documents were used in this case study examining a hybrid organization called Welfare Alliance.

The results showed low-level fragmentation in the performance management system of the hybrid. Although the level of fragmentation was low-level, it affected the hybrid's ability to implement joint performance goals and measures. Performance management practices suffered as a consequence.

As a theoretical contribution to research addressing performance management in hybrids, the study proposes new concepts and theoretical hypotheses concerning fragmented performance management systems in hybrids. These theoretical hypotheses propose how performance goals and measures can become fragmented because they isolate service production units and activities from each other. The proposed hypotheses for future studies also attempt to provide explanations for how fragmentation can spread from one management function to another (i.e. from goal setting to performance measurement).

This paper presents the results of mean unit weight of chips and their time to ignition measured on a test stand specially designed for this purpose. In addition, the temperature of chips in the cutting area and the morphology of chips produced in HSM milling (as a temperature indicator in the cutting area) are investigated. Also, different fractions of chips produced in the dry milling of Mg alloys AZ31 and AZ91HP by a PCD end mill are examined. Finally, the paper presents conclusions and recommendations with regard to safety and efficiency of dry milling processes for the aforementioned magnesium alloys.

Milling can be used as a finishing operation, particularly when using PCD end mills. The application of this mill type isparticularly important when producing different machine and device components, especially in the aircraft industry. What can occur in dry machining operations is self-ignition. It is therefore justified to investigate chip temperature in the cutting zone, to classify produced chip fractions and to determine their mass. Safe ranges of technological parameters can be additionally determined based on metallographic analysis of chip edge partial-melting.

The experimental results helped determine the effect of technological parameters of milling on chip temperature in the cutting zone, chip mass and fragmentation and chip morphology images.

The results reported in this work are innovative in both cognitive and practical aspect. The authors are convinced that this work can contribute to overcoming the mistrust of industrial practitioners toward dry milling of Mg alloys, and also with respect to the application of relatively higher cutting speeds in dry milling of these alloys than it is common practice in industry today. The study investigates the problem of safety in dry milling of Mg alloys. The study was motivated by the milling process itself and the formation of broken chip, which causes a significant change in the character of heat transfer.

The paper presents a method for multi-criteria safety assessment in dry milling operations. Safe and effective parameter ranges are defined with respect to chip temperature in the cutting zone, fraction number and chip mass.

In the existing BPR methodologies there exists a big division in business analysis techniques due to the black and white approach used in most cases. In some of them, cost is the central issue, in others generic management or the successful use of IT. As a result business analysis techniques are directed towards this central issue ignoring any other means of analysis. Agent relationship morphism analysis (ARMA) is a BRP methodology that applies different analysis techniques from various disciplines in different perspectives. These techniques are influenced from organizational theories, IS development and existing work in BPR giving business analysis a more holistic approach. The main focus of business analysis in ARMA is the analysis of the business models with a view of developing solutions for the subsequent stage of redesign. The emphasis is on why the operations and processes of the organization are performed the way they are performed. The aim is to develop solutions that enhance the levels of efficiency and effectiveness in these operations and processes. The dimensions of improvement include service, quality, timeliness or cost.

The fast growing concern for maintaining integrity of the environment has built up development of environmentally‐adapted lubricants. Because of their toxicity, most of the traditional lubricating additives cannot be used in this kind of lubricant. The purpose of this paper is to find a borate ester derivative which can be used as a multifunctional additive in rapeseed oils (RSO).

A borated S‐2‐hydroxypropyl N, N‐dibutyl dithiocarbamate (BDTC) was synthesized and characterized. Its tribological properties in rapeseed oil as multifunctional additive were evaluated, using a four‐ball tribometer and compared with one kind of commercial MoDTC. In addition, its thermal stability was identified using TGA and antioxidative ability tested by PDSC. The action mechanism of BDTC was studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer (APCI/MS) analysis.

Results show that BDTC exhibits high thermal stability, possesses comprehensive tribological performance in rapeseed oil, and has evident effect in controlling the oxidation of RSO. Analysis of worn surface indicates that BDTC was decomposed and reacted with metal during the friction process. The lubricating film mainly contains inorganic boron compound (B₂O₃), organic nitrogen derivatives and FeSO₄.

This paper provides a borate ester derivative which possesses excellent tribological properties and can be used as a multifunctional ashless additive in environmentally‐adapted lubricants. Furthermore, an innovative method, APCI/MS, was used to analyze the tribo‐fragmentation behavior of BDTC.

This paper aims to explore the dynamics of entrepreneurial ecosystems with both rural and urban features, as well as the varied system requirements of differing types of entrepreneurs within such an ecosystem.

Using a mixed-methods case study approach, the study examined the Roanoke–Blacksburg region in western Virginia. Researchers conducted quantitative analysis of entrepreneurial metrics and network relationships, as well as qualitative analysis of data collected through entrepreneur surveys and stakeholder interviews.

Findings suggest entrepreneurs of different types faced disparate challenges and uneven access to resources and networks. Innovation-driven “gazelle” enterprises (IDEs) had numerous growth-related resource needs, including angel, venture and scale-up funding; prototyping equipment and facilities; and translational research by local universities. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) required more entrepreneurial education programming, subsidized main street office space and clearer pathways through the government regulatory system. A key finding was also concerned with the different ways by which IDEs and SMEs accessed key resources within the ecosystem, illustrated through social network analysis, and supported through qualitative feedback.

Study findings were limited by a relatively low survey response rate from some entrepreneur demographic segments, particularly minorities.

The study represents an in-depth, multi-methods approach that offers insight into two under-researched areas in the ecosystem literature: the dynamics of urban – rural ecosystems and the varied system requirements of different entrepreneur types. The paper includes three overarching recommendations for policy and practice: improved collection and sharing of regional metrics; differentiated approaches to entrepreneurial support based on entrepreneur type; and enhanced efforts to advance inclusive entrepreneurship.

The purpose of this paper is to present a new simplified local remeshing procedure for the study of discrete crack propagation in finite element (FE) mesh. The proposed technique accounts for the generation and propagation of crack‐like failure within an FE‐model. Beside crack propagation, the technique enables the analysis of fragmentation of initially intact continuum. The capability of modelling fragmentation is essential in various structure‐structure interaction analyses such as projectile impact analysis and ice‐structure interaction analysis.

The procedure combines continuum damage mechanics (CDM), fictitious crack approach and a new local remeshing procedure. In the approach a fictitious crack is replaced by a discrete crack by applying delete‐and‐fill local remeshing. The proposed method is independent of mesh topology unlike the traditional discrete crack approach. The procedure is implemented for 3‐D solid elements in commercial finite element software Abaqus/Explicit using Python scripting. The procedure is completely automated, such that crack initiation and propagation analyses do not require user intervention. A relatively simple constitutive model was implemented strictly for demonstrative purposes.

Well known examples were simulated to verify the applicability of the method. The simulations revealed the capabilities of the method and reasonable correspondence with reference results was obtained. Material fragmentation was successfully simulated in ice‐structure interaction analysis.

The procedure for modelling discrete crack propagation and fragmentation of initially intact quasi‐brittle materials based on local remeshing has not been presented previously. The procedure is well suited for simulation of fragmentation and is implemented in a commercial FE‐software.

This paper aims to explore the impact of domestic market fragmentation on the innovation performance of enterprises and its mechanism from the perspective of market segmentation, a government behavior with Chinese characteristics.

In order to verify the theoretical hypothesis proposed in the previous article, that is, whether domestic market fragmentation can effectively improve the innovation performance of enterprises, this paper bases on the data of listed companies from 2010 to 2016, empirically testing the theoretical hypothesis by constructing a measurement model.

Domestic market fragmentation has a significant inhibitory effect on enterprise innovation performance. Domestic market fragmentation has heterogeneous effects on innovation performance of enterprises and regions. It is undeniable that domestic market fragmentation does have a certain support effect on state-owned enterprises but the support effect is achieved by distorting regional resource allocation and creating an unfair market environment.

Firstly, this paper explores the impact mechanism of domestic market fragmentation on corporate innovation performance from the perspective of market segmentation, a government behavior with Chinese characteristics, so as to expand and enrich the relevant research on enterprise innovation. Secondly, from the perspective of corporate innovation performance, this paper provides new evidence for the “curse effect” of domestic market fragmentation. Thirdly, this paper tries to shake the domestic market fragmentation support theory from the perspective of distortion effect brought by the “hand of support” of domestic market fragmentation.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a gauge for the convergence of the deterministic particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to obtain an optimum upper bound for PSO algorithm and also developing a precise equation for predicting the rock fragmentation, as important aims in surface mines.

In this study, a database including 80 sets of data was collected from 80 blasting events in Shur river dam region, in Iran. The values of maximum charge per delay (W), burden (B), spacing (S), stemming (ST), powder factor (PF), rock mass rating (RMR) and D80, as a standard for evaluating the fragmentation, were measured. To check the performance of the proposed PSO models, artificial neural network was also developed. Accuracy of the developed models was evaluated using several statistical evaluation criteria, such as variance account for, R-square (R²) and root mean square error.

Finding the upper bounds for the difference between the position and the best position of particles in PSO algorithm and also developing a precise equation for predicting the rock fragmentation, as important aims in surface mines.

For the first time, the convergence of the deterministic PSO is studied in this study without using the stagnation or the weak chaotic assumption. The authors also studied application of PSO inpredicting rock fragmentation.

Ethnic conflicts and their links to international human trafficking have recently received a surge in international attention. It appears that ethnic conflicts exacerbate the internal displacement of individuals from networks of family and community, and their access to economic and social safety nets. These same individuals are then vulnerable to being trafficked by the hopes of better economic prospects elsewhere. In this chapter, we empirically examine this link between ethnic fragmentation, conflicts, internally displaced persons, refugees, and international trafficking, making use of a novel dataset of international trafficking. We conduct a direct estimation, which highlights the ultimate impact of ethnic fragmentation and conflict on international trafficking through internal and international displacements.

This paper is concerned with the determination of the transient stress and deformational state of plate‐like discontinua subject to flexural cracking. Such a phenomenon can be easily visualized as the type of fragmentation to floating sea ice impacted by an ice‐breaker or offshore platform. The discrete element method is used to solve the dynamic equilibrium equations for each distinct deformable body and the interaction between bodies. Each body may deform elastically and fracture into further pieces if a brittle failure criterion for flexure is exceeded. The discrete plate element is a hybrid thin‐plate (Kirchhoff) mode lumped at element boundaries with transverse shear deformation computed at element centroids. Errors in computed stresses near point loads and cracks by the current element warrant the use of an improved mixed mode plate element. A three‐dimensional application of the discrete element method is presented for the case of fragmentation of floating sea ice impacting an arctic offshore platform. A semi‐implicit solution scheme is introduced to overcome the stringent explicit time step stability conditions due to stiff members in the discrete element formulation.