Northampton Community College

About: Northampton Community College is a education organization based out in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 3410 authors who have published 4582 publications receiving 130398 citations. The organization is also known as: Northampton County Area Community College.

Characterisation of a polymer-coated fibre Bragg grating sensor for relative humidity sensing

Abstract: This paper presents a detailed study of the characteristics of a polymer-coated fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor for relative humidity (RH) detection. The sensing scheme used in this work builds upon previous research and extends the application of FBGs in chemical sensing by employing a moisture sensitive polymer coating to induce a mechanical strain on the device through volume expansion. The swelling of the polymer coating as a result of the moisture absorption changes the Bragg wavelength of the FBG, thus giving a direct indication of the humidity level. Sensors with different coating thicknesses were evaluated through a series of experiments carried out over a range of values of RH and temperature to investigate various sensing characteristics which include the RH and temperature sensitivity, the time response and the hysteresis effect. All the sensors tested show a linear and reproducible response with a small degree of hysteresis.

Outsourcing: Current and future trends

Abstract: Highlighted are two reasons for outsourcing: cost and focus on the core competencies of the enterprise. Surveying U.S., U.K., and Continental Europe companies concerning current and future outsourcing trends positions outsourcing as a prominent strategic lever. Achieving “best-of-breed” practice is predicted to occur through new technology. Also, human resources and IT outsourcing will become more prominent. The results strongly indicate that partnership alliances and performance-driven contracts will become as important as the current preferred, trusted supplier relationship. Keiretsulike, horizontal linkages will be required to realize scale and competency advantages from future outsourcing arrangements. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Organizational commitment: a critique of the construct and measures

Abstract: Organizational commitment has been at the centre of studies into individual and organizational performance for several decades. During this time, much has happened to the ways in which organizations behave, including the evolution of new forms of employee relations and new psychological contracts. Against a transformational background for organizations, developments in the ways that commitment is measured have been incremental and arguably detached from the broader context of ‘new deals’ for employees. This paper examines classical approaches to defining and measuring organizational commitment and, in the context of strategic human resource management, argues for its continued importance. Classic approaches, however, are criticized on the basis of diminished utility in light of revised employee–organization linkages. Suggestions for improving the relevance of commitment research to contemporary management research and practice are given.