Showing papers by "University of Huddersfield published in 1996"

Copper-Catalyzed Oxidation of Alcohols to Aldehydes and Ketones: An Efficient, Aerobic Alternative

Abstract: An efficient, copper-based catalyst has been discovered that oxidizes a wide range of alcohols into aldehydes and ketones under mild conditions. This catalytic system utilizes oxygen or air as the ultimate, stoichiometric oxidant, producing water as the only by-product.

The Natural History of Low Back Pain in Adolescents

Abstract: Study Design: A 5-year longitudinal interview and questionnaire-based survey of back pain in adolescents. Objectives: To determine the natural history of back pain during adolescence in boys and girls, and to explore the influence of sports participation and lumbar flexibility. Summary of Background Data: Previous data on low back pain and flexibility in adolescents have come largely from cross-sectional studies with differing definitions and age groups. A longitudinal study would offer a more detailed description of aspects of the natural history of back pain. Methods: A cohort of 216 11-year-old children was given a structured questionnaire about back pain. Follow-up evaluation was annual for 4 more years. Lumbar sagittal mobility was measured in first and last years. Life-table analysis was the chosen statistical method. Results: Annual incidence rose from 11.8% at age 12+ to 21.5% at 15+ years. Lifetime prevalence rose from 11.6% at age 11+ to 50.4% at age 15+ years. Experience of back pain was frequently forgotten. Recurrent pain was common, usually manifesting as such rather than as progression from a single episode; few children required treatment. Back pain was more common in boys than girls, especially by age 15 years. There was a positive link between sports and back pain only for boys. Severity and flexibility were not related to sex, treatment, or sport. Conclusions: Back pain in adolescents is common; it increases with age and is recurrent, but in general does not deteriorate with time. Much of the symptomatology may be considered a normal life experience, probably unrelated to adult disabling trouble.

Do attitudes and beliefs influence work loss due to low back trouble

Abstract: Recent evidence indicates that the influence of psychosocial factors on low back disability is as great as, if not greater than, ergonomic aspects; negative attitudes and beliefs are likely to be related to absenteeism To measure workers attitudes and beliefs about low-back trouble, pain, work and activity five questionnaires were used Two new instruments (Back Beliefs Questionnaire and Psychosocial Aspects of Work questionnaire) were developed and tested The attitudes and beliefs were measured among workers in a biscuit manufacturing factory, and the responses related to absenteeism Workers who had taken in excess of one week's absence due to low-back trouble had significantly more negative attitudes and beliefs when compared with workers who had taken shorter absence (or indeed those reporting no history of back trouble) A subset of the psychosocial parameters accounted for 32% of the variance in absence Interventions designed to reduce negative attitudes and promote positive beliefs may help to reduce detrimental, inappropriate longer-term absenteeism due to low-back trouble

GF(2/sup m/) multiplication and division over the dual basis

Abstract: In this paper an algorithm for GF(2/sup m/) multiplication/division is presented and a new, more generalized definition of duality is proposed. From these the bit-serial Berlekamp multiplier is derived and shown to be a specific case of a more general class of multipliers. Furthermore, it is shown that hardware efficient, bit-parallel dual basis multipliers can also be designed. These multipliers have a regular structure, are easily extended to different GF(2/sup m/) and hence suitable for VLSI implementations. As in the bit-serial case these bit-parallel multipliers can also be hardwired to carry out constant multiplication. These constant multipliers have reduced hardware requirements and are also simple to design. In addition, the multiplication/division algorithm also allows a bit-serial systolic finite field divider to be designed. This divider is modular, independent of the defining irreducible polynomial for the field, easily expanded to different GF(2/sup m/) and its longest delay path is independent of m.

Defining environmental performance indicators: an integrated framework

Abstract: Environmental performance indicators are becoming increasingly important at the company level. This is due, in part, to stakeholders demanding environmental improvements and proof that these have been made. The need for an integrated framework for environmental performance indicators is considered; the indicators fall into four categories: the state of the environment; corporate environmental policy; environmental management systems; and the products and processes of the company as evaluated by an ecobalance improvement. The state of the environment evaluates the company's relative contribution to the national and European environmental impact and hence the companies' own impact compared with the reference document Europe's Environment: Statistical Compendium for the Dobris Assessment. Corporate environmental policy is the basis of the framework and 21 key aims are suggested to ensure that comprehensive statements are produced and that all significant environmental initiatives undertaken by the company receive recognition. The environmental management system indicators are divided into qualitative and quantitative economic indicators and quantitative non-economic indicators to evaluate environmental performance. The ecobalance tool is used to evaluate the environmental performance of the company's products and processes.

A neural network model of rainfall-runoff using radial basis functions

Abstract: In modelling rainfall-runoff and flows in drainage systems it can be advantageous to adopt a neural network (NN). Unfortunately traditional NN learning procedures such as back-propagation can be very slow and expensive to carry out. However, if radial basis function (RBF) networks are adopted with radial centres fixed by a suitable data clustering technique then good results may be obtained very much more rapidly. RBF networks are here shown to be very effective in modelling runoff for a large rainfall database and to give broadly comparable results to those obtained by fine-tuning the much slower back-propagation procedure. The specific model is based on the assumption that runoff depends on time, rainfall intensity I, the rate of change of I and the integral of I.

Occupational risk factors for the first-onset and subsequent course of low back trouble. A study of serving police officers.

Abstract: Study Design: A survey of occupational risks for low back trouble in two police forces discordant for one known physical stressor (wearing body armor weighing approximately 8.5 kg). Objectives: To determine the hazard for first-onset and subsequent course of low back trouble associated with occupational physical and psychosocial stressors. Summary of Background Data: Various occupational physical stressors have been associated with the prevalence of back pain, but their relationship with first-onset low back trouble is uncertain. Psychosocial factors reportedly are important determinants of chronicity. Methods: Anamnestic data on low back trouble were collected from representative random samples of exposed and control forces, along with variables describing exposure to occupational physical stressors and sports pursuits. Psychometric tests were administered. Results: Occupational risk factors for first-onset low back trouble were determined from lifetables based on officers with no previous back pain history. Survival time to first-onset was affected adversely by wearing body armor and, less so, by vehicular exposure and sports participation. The proportion with persistent (chronic) trouble did not depend on length of exposure since onset, but longer service was associated with recurrent episodes. Chronicity was related to distress and blaming police work. Work loss was associated with blaming work and wearing body armor. Changing to lighter duties after development of low back trouble occurred rarely. Conclusions: Exposure to occupational physical stress seems detrimental; it reduced survival time to first-onset of low back trouble. Recurrence was associated with time since onset, but persistent trouble was not. Sports participation was a risk if occupational hazards were high.

Relation between heel position and the distribution of forefoot plantar pressures and skin callosities in rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between the position of the rearfoot and the distribution of forefoot plantar pressures and skin callosities in rheumatoid arthritis. METHOD: Plantar pressures and callosity patterns were measured in 102 rheumatoid arthritis patients (120 feet with normal heel alignment and 84 feet with valgus heel alignment measured by goniometry) and in 42 (84 feet) age matched healthy adults. Peak pressures (kPa) were measured across the metatarsal heads in-shoe using an FScan system and the distribution of plantar callosities was visually mapped for each foot. RESULTS: Peak pressures were significantly greater at all but the first metatarsal head in the rheumatoid normal heel alignment and healthy adult groups than in the rheumatoid valgus heel group. The feet of both the rheumatoid normal heel group and the healthy adult group behaved the same, the highest peak pressures registering on the central metatarsal heads. However, only in the rheumatoid group were plantar callosities found at these sites. In the rheumatoid valgus heel group, lateral metatarsal heads were frequently non-weightbearing, producing gross loading patterns with a dominant medial distribution. Peak pressures were shifted to the medial fore-foot accompanied by a higher prevalence of callosities. The results, however, failed to establish clearly an association between peak pressures and callus formation. CONCLUSIONS: In rheumatoid arthritis there is an important interrelation between the rearfoot position and forefoot pressure sites.

Strategic and competitive success: towards a model of the comprehensively competent organization

Abstract: Draws together a number of themes from mainstream strategy literature and synthesizes them into a new model of the comprehensively competent organization. Argues that it is a key role of the strategic leader to ensure that his/her organization possesses a wide range of generic competences (to an appropriate degree in each case) in order that the organization can develop and sustain more specific competences in learning, change management and product/service competitive competency. These “layers of competence” are illustrated in the form of an integrated web. While it is content competences which ultimately produce successful competitive outcomes, other competences in learning and change management are needed to support this. The competence implications of modern environments are discussed and, towards the end of the article, the generic competence argument is applied to the literature on business failure.

UK supermarket location assessment

Abstract: States that the choice of a store’s location is considered to be the single most important decision a retail organization has to make, and that location is seen as a critical factor of success. Reviews the literature on store location models and how grocery retailers in the UK assess store location sites in terms of site potential and the location models that they apply to these potential sites. Also develops and highlights issues of the use of existing store location models to geographical areas of Eastern and Central Europe.

An Introduction To Artificial Intelligence

Abstract: KNOWLEDGE IN AI Overview Introduction Representing Knowledge Metrics for Assessing Knowledge Representation Schemes Logic Representations Procedural Representation Network Representations Structured Representations General Knowledge The Frame Problem Knowledge Elicitation Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading REASONING Overview What is Reasoning? Forward and Backward Reasoning Reasoning with Uncertainty Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading SEARCH Introduction Exhaustive Search and Simple Pruning Heuristic Search Knowledge-Rich Search Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading MACHINE LEARNING Overview Why Do We Want Machine Learning? How Machines Learn Deductive Learning Inductive Learning Explanation-Based Learning Example: Query-by-Browsing Summary Recommended Further Reading GAME PLAYING Overview Introduction Characteristics of Game Playing Standard Games Non-Zero-Sum Games and Simultaneous Play The Adversary is Life! Probability Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading EXPERT SYSTEMS Overview What Are Expert Systems? Uses of Expert Systems Architecture of an Expert System Examples of Four Expert Systems Building an Expert System Limitations of Expert Systems Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading NATURAL LANGUAGE UNDERSTANDING Overview What is Natural Language Understanding? Why Do We Need Natural Language Understanding? Why Is Natural Language Understanding Difficult? An Early Attempt at Natural Language Understanding: SHRDLU How Does Natural Language Understanding Work? Syntactic Analysis Semantic Analysis Pragmatic Analysis Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading Solution to SHRDLU Problem COMPUTER VISION Overview Introduction Digitization and Signal Processing Edge Detection Region Detection Reconstructing Objects Identifying Objects Multiple Images Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading PLANNING AND ROBOTICS Overview Introduction Global Planning Local Planning Limbs, Legs, and Eyes Practical Robotics Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading AGENTS Overview Software Agents Co-operating Agents and Distributed AI Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading MODELS OF THE MIND Overview Introduction What is the Human Mind? Production System Models Connectionist Models of Cognition Summary Exercises Recommended Further Reading Notes EPILOGUE: PHILOSOPHICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL ISSUES Overview Intelligent Machines or Engineering Tools? What Is Intelligence? Computational Argument vs. Searle's Chinese Room Who Is Responsible? Morals and Emotions Social Implications Summary Recommended Further Reading

Child protection, family support and social work: a critical appraisal of the Department of Health research studies in child protection

Abstract: This paper provides a critical appraisal of the Department of Health Research Studies in Child Protection and their recommendations for policy and practice. It argues that there are a number of conceptual and methodological problems and a failure to thoroughly articulate and represent the tensions and complexities of child protection work, particularly at the point of allegation and initial referral. In the process it fails to fully appreciate the significance of risk in the current social and political climate, the way front-line professionals, particularly social workers, are held to account and the nature of the responsibilities they carry. As a consequence, the paper suggests that attempts to shift the balance of policy and practice from narrowly defined child protection to family support for children in need may be far more difficult than the research suggests.

UK capital budgeting practices: some additional survey evidence

Abstract: Probably more surveys have been undertaken on the use of capital budgeting techniques than on any other accounting and finance topic. Despite the many surveys a number of issues remain unresolved. The surveys have consisted of a sample of either very large or very small companies and observations relating to the impact of company size have been derived from comparing the responses from different surveys undertaken at different points in time. The aim of this paper is to provide additional empirical evidence relating to some of the unresolved issues and to examine the impact of company size on the use of financial appraisal techniques. In particular, the paper concentrates on the treatment of inflation, the appraisal of advanced manufacturing technologies and examines whether the empirical evidence supports the claim that many companies use excessive discount rates.

Child protection decision‐making

Abstract: The effects of interagency collaboration on risk assessment in child protection practice were analysed in respect of the decision-making processes in child death inquiries. Universal features in the assessment of risk as identified in psychological literature were applied; in particular, the concepts of ‘groupthink’, the ‘certainty effect’ and ‘group polarization’. It is suggested that case conference decisions are inherently more risky than those taken by professionals with individual responsibility because of the way in which cases are framed in terms of losses.

Early Retirement Decisions and How They Affect Later Quality of Life

Abstract: Older workers are often placed in an unenviable position in the face of stereotypes which define them as increasingly marginal in the work force, and view retirement in terms of status loss and disengagement. Yet voluntary early retirement schemes have been a recent feature of work organisations of all types in Britain, Western Europe and North America. The nature of the decision-making processes of those involved in such schemes has not been widely researched and such studies as have been conducted have not drawn on the existing framework of decision analysis. This paper reports the findings of two linked studies into the early retirement decisions of men working in Britain for a large multinational company in the manufacturing sector. The first investigated the factors deemed to be important for a group of men at the point of decision whilst the second investigated both the factors deemed to be important and the quality of life of a group of men who had taken the decision to retire early between 18 months and 3 years previously. Both studies indicated that the decision-making process is complex and cannot be reduced to single-factors like health or financial status. The most important factor in the quality of life of early retirees was the matching of expectations of further work at the point of decision. The studies illustrated the utility of a decision analysis approach to the study of early retirement.

Stereoselective dioxygenase-catalysed benzylic hydroxylation at prochiral methylene groups in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiopure vicinal aminoindanols

Abstract: Enantiopure benzylic alcohols containing two stereogenic centres in a cis -relationship result from stereoselective monohydroxylation of achiral 2-substituted indans in cultures of Pseudomonas putida UV4 and are used in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of both cis - and trans -aminoindanol enantiomers.

The Reliability, Validity, and Evaluation of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination in Podiatry (Chiropody).

Abstract: The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), initially developed for use in undergraduate medical training, has been adapted for use for the assessment of clinical skills in podiatry (chiropody) students. The introduction of this system of examination was accompanied by a 12‐month evaluation programme where issues of validity, repeatability, and stability of student performance over time were considered. The evaluation programme revealed relatively low levels of repeatability, high levels of construct and criterion validity, and good stability, of performance over time. Participating students were also surveyed for their level of acceptance of this format of clinical examination. Students demonstrated an overwhelming acceptance and support of the OSCE.

Supervisor and manager styles in handling discipline and grievance: Part one - comparing styles in handling discipline and grievance

Abstract: Presents the first of two reports which research into the handling styles of supervisors and managers when dealing with disciplinary and grievance situations. Compares the handling styles that they use when dealing with discipline and grievance situations and finds that differences exist in the styles used for the two types of issue. The less serious disciplinary cases seem to attract a fairly prescriptive autocratic style, whereas those which are potentially more serious to the organization tend to be handled with less prescriptive approaches that involve the employee to a greater extent, and it is this approach which theory suggests is more likely to bring about the desired change in the behaviour of the employee. With the exception of cases which pose some threat to managerial authority, the general pattern that emerges for grievances is that they tend to be explored in a less prescriptive way. Describes the research methodology and sets the scene for a further research report.

Hierarchical Crossover in Genetic Algorithms

Abstract: This paper identifies the limitations of conventional crossover in genetic algorithms when operating on two chromosomes of differing lengths. To address these problems, the concept of a Semantic Hierarchy (i.e. tree of meaning) of a genotype within a genetic algorithm is introduced. With this in mind, a new form of crossover operator known as Hierarchical Crossover is presented, capable of performing crossover with genotypes of different sizes, while still being functionally equivalent to standard, single-point crossover (or uniform crossover). Various aspects and advantages of this method are discussed. Finally, an example of some results produced by an implementation is shown.

Finite field inversion over the dual basis

Abstract: In this transaction brief we consider the design of dual basis inversion circuits for GF(2/sup m/). Two architectures are presented-one bit-serial and one bit-parallel-both of which are based on Fermat's theorem. Finite field inverters based on Fermat's theorem have previously been presented which operate over the normal basis and the polynomial basis. However there are two advantages to be gained by forcing inversion circuits to operate over the dual basis. First, these inversion circuits can be utilized in circuits using hardware efficient dual basis multipliers without any extra basis converters. And second, the inversion circuits themselves can take advantage of dual basis multipliers, thus reducing their own hardware levels. As both these approaches require squaring in a finite field to take place, a theorem is presented which allows circuits to be easily designed to carry out squaring over the dual basis.

Low back pain in children and adolescents: to treat or not?

Abstract: Recent cohort data has shown that low back pain is a common symptom in adolescents that, by the age of 16, approaches the level found in adults. The symptoms are frequently recurrent, but are not usually associated with disability. Spells are frequently forgotten, and medical attention is not generally sought. Although the possibility of serious spinal pathology must be considered, the majority of adolescent back trouble may be considered a normal life experience. The efficacy of treatment for non-specific back pain in this age group is undetermined, but the similarities with adult symptoms suggests that management should follow current clinical guidelines for adults (early activation and advice stressing the benign nature of the problem). Persisting root pain may best respond to chemonucleolysis. There is no evidence that treatment or lifestyle changes at this age will reduce symptoms in adult life, but inappropriate medical attention may have detrimental psychosocial consequences.

TQM in Healthcare

Abstract: Many managers in hea lthcare organizations wou ld reject the usefulness of total quality management (TQM)concepts tothemselves, and would strongly argue that the modern philosophy ofTQM is more applicab le to the private sector than the public sector. and to manufacturing rather than service industries. They would also attempt to debate that the concept of the customer is not very suitable to healthcare provision since patients do not necessarily enjoy going to hospitals and their req ui rements (treatment) are not by choice, but rather an urgent need. They would argue that satisfying th is basic need is often all that matters to those seeking healthcare.

The use of action learning in British higher education

Abstract: Asks to what extent have institutions which educate managers adopted action learning (AL) as part of their approach? Presents a preliminary description of the present state of AL in British higher education. Identifies the universities providing validated courses leading to a qualification, and highlights marked differences in the extent to which higher education courses rely on AL; i.e. less than one‐third of the identified courses use AL essentially on its own as a learning method; the remainder use AL, typically learning sets, but only in addition to workshops and other taught components. Provides systematic data on the use of learning diaries and how AL sets are organized in the courses examined and how they function.

Marketing and Professional Services: the Case of Consultancy Engineering

Abstract: Professional services suffer from a dearth of literature on marketing, especially in New Zealand. Like other professioal services, consulting engineers have expressed particular concern on how to adapt to the present competitive environment. A survey of New Zealand consulting engineers indicated that the use of marketing techniques within consulting engineering practices is uncoordinated in nature and there is disagreement as to the most efective method of attracting clientele. The lack of coordination of marketing techniques is best illustrated by the majority of consulting engineering practices competing on price, while actually perceiving service quality as the most important method for success. Within consulting engineering practices, marketing is becoming a legitimate management function. However, evidence can be seen to illustrate that the ‘trappings' of marketing prevail rather than the ‘substance’ which is needed to have the customer-driven orientation fundamental to the implementation of the mark...