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The work described in this article concerns the practice of quality management in the UK textile industry. This part describes the detailed in‐company work, the results of assessments to BS 5750 Part 2 (ISO 9002), and the quantification of a system audit, using conjoint analysis. There was found a distinct lack of good quality management practices in the industry. A technique for rating quality systems was established.

The work described is part of three‐stage project on the practice of quality management in the textile industry. This article is concerned with the results of structured in‐company interviews in 23 organisations. The interview programme examined the background of the company and the “quality manager”, the organisation for quality, quality systems, quality control (including process control) and quality costs. The findings show, in many of the respondents, the absence of quality policies, lack of attention to quality training, and generally poor quality systems. The conclusions are that, in spite of a general increase in awareness of the importance of quality to competitiveness, actual management practices in the textile industry have not changed greatly.

The first stage of a research project concerned with an examination of the practice of quality management in the textile industry is described. It deals with the results of a postal questionnaire survey, which indicate that in some areas quality management in this industry is less well developed than in others. The findings confirm that the implementation of documented quality systems influences performance in other areas of quality management. As might be expected, the larger textile factories and/or companies have the best quality assurance and suggestions are made regarding the improvements necessary in smaller companies.

This study aims to review the literature on graph-theoretic mining methods for node importance in both static and dynamic world city networks, which is correspondingly categorised by graph-theoretic node importance mining on network topologies and transmission mechanisms.

The authors overview the graph-theoretic indicators of node importance: centrality and power. Then, the methods of graph-theoretic node importance mining on network topologies are assessed with node relevance, centrality- and power-based measurements, heterogeneous fusion and other miscellaneous approaches. The latest progress in transmission mechanisms is also reviewed in this study involving network evolution, node immunisation and robustness in dynamics. Finally, the findings are analysed and future directions in this field are suggested.

The method development of node importance mining is driven by complex application-based problems within a transmission mechanism. Fusion measurements, based on centrality and power, are extended by other graph mining techniques in which power has a significant role. In conclusion, the trends of node importance mining focus on power-embedded fusion measurements in the transmission mechanism-based complex applications.

This is the first systematic literature review of node importance from the view of graph-theoretic mining.

Aggressive behaviour is a problem for services providing care for people with intellectual disabilities, affecting the quality of life of the individual and the quality of care provided. Current research trends, which focus on risk factors and mental health problems, are discussed. Other factors that could contribute to aggression in people with intellectual disability (PWID), such as lifestyle and environmental issues are examined. A methodology that would allow for the integration of all these factors, Behavioural Sequence Analysis, is a suitable investigative approach to this problem.

This paper aims to present a systematic review on organizational empowerment (OE) using Peterson and Zimmerman´s model (2004) as a starting point. The aim is to further conceptualize OE, discover how the components in the model influence each other and identify recommendations for future research.

All articles that cited the OE model, published in 2004 by Peterson and Zimmerman, have been systematically reviewed. In total, 37 studies of 410, found in Google Scholar and Web of Science, are included in the review.

The review revealed that intra-, inter- and extra-organizational empowerment affect each other and that evidence for the processes and outcomes on intra-organizational empowerment have increased, but there is limited additional evidence for the other two components.

Literature was searched in two databases, focusing on the OE model. A search using other databases on OE as a broad concept might provide additional sources.

Findings are relevant for professionals, leaders in human service organizations, educators and researchers. Practice can be improved by applying the knowledge; educators can use the results in their program and researchers may use the findings for the further development of OE.

Since the OE model was presented in 2004, no systematic review has been performed. Therefore, this review contributes to the further conceptualization of OE.

This study aims to investigate the prediction of the nonlinear response of three-dimensional-printed polymeric lattice structures with and without structural defects. Unlike metallic structures, the deformation behavior of polymeric components is difficult to quantify through the classical numerical analysis approach as a result of their nonlinear behavior under mechanical loads.

Geometric models of periodic lattice structures were designed via PTC Creo. Imperfections in the form of missing unit cells are introduced in the replica of the lattice structure. The perfect and imperfect lattice structures have the same dimensions – 10 mm × 14 mm × 30 mm (w × h × L). The fused deposition modelling technique is used to fabricate the parts. The fabricated parts were subjected to physical compression tests to provide a measure of their transverse compressibility resistance. The ensuing nonlinear response from the experimental tests is deployed to develop a support vector machine surrogate model.

Results from the surrogate model’s performance, in terms of correlation coefficient, rose to as high as 99.91% for the nonlinear compressive stress with a minimum achieved being 98.51% across the four datasets used. In the case of deflection response, the model accuracy rose to as high as 99.74% while the minimum achieved is 98.56% across the four datasets used.

The developed model facilitates the prediction of the quasi-static response of the structures in the absence and presence of defects without the need for repeated physical experiments. The structure investigated is designed for target applications in hierarchical polymer packaging, and the methodology presents a cost-saving method for data-driven constitutive modelling of polymeric parts.

This paper aims to initiate a conversation within the disaster community about the applicability of “critical reflection” to the professional work of firefighters. “Critical reflection” is a term commonly used within the nursing and teaching professions. Although it has contested meanings, it generally conveys the sense of purposeful enquiry about one's professional conduct, ethics and decision making. Fire fighting labor is no longer blue collar, and firefighters in western fire fighting agencies require increasingly complex capabilities and accountabilities. Could “critical reflection” be added to post‐incident debrief as a core professional capability?

The paper draws on the concept of “critical reflection” as it has been developed within the professional fields of nursing and teaching. It then considers the applicability of and importance of this concept to the professional field of firefighting.

The meanings and applications of “critical reflection” vary, but the inclusion of dialogue about it exists within many nurse and teacher education courses. It can be argued to provide professionals with an opportunity to engage in dialogue about their labor, and thereby scrutinise their professional conduct and the ethical dilemmas of their work.

This paper calls for a paradigmatic shift in the approach taken by educators who work with firefighters. It argues that instructional methods based on rote learning, chalk and talk, and show and tell training are insufficient as a means of developing firefighters capable of responding and adapting to the complex demands implicit within increasingly professionalized firefighting labor. Future firefighters will need to be adaptive, reflective and accountable; able to demonstrate discursive and inquisitive capabilities; and engage in reflected actions both on and off the incident ground.

High originality. This is the first time the intellectual traditions and debates implicit within “critical reflection” have been linked to the work of firefighters.

Algermissen, Virginia, Penny Billings, Sandra Grace, Barbara Guidry, and John Blair. “Subminute Telefacsimile for ILL Document Delivery.” Information Technology and Libraries, I (Sept., 1982), 274–5.