Quality Performance Improvement Research Articles

Effect of precise levelling, tillage and seed sowing methods of pearlmillet based cropping systems on productivity and soil quality in dryland area

Pearlmillet (PM) - Indian mustard (IM) is a major cropping system of dryland areas having some provision for supplemental irrigation either from groundwater or seasonal canal water supplies. In India, quite for some time, the PM-IM cropping system has been showing signs of stress and decline in system productivity and profitability, primarily due to deteriorating soil quality associated with the inability of the PM-IM growers to return any crop residues back to the soil. The objective of research study conducted during 2014−17 could improve the soil quality, productivity of the system and make it more profitable was to find if shift from traditional to an innovative conservation agriculture (CA) farming system. The study was conducted on rainy season PM based four dry winter season crops involving an IM and three legume crops- chickpea (CP), fieldpea (FP) and lentil (L) under two methods of land levelling viz. conventional (CLL) and precision laser-assisted land levelling (PLL), and three tillage and seed sowing (TSS) methods- conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage (ZT) and permanent raised broad bed- furrow (PBBF). The results of PLL and PBBF seed sowing significantly enhanced the soil quality parameters, yield attributing characters, productivity of rainy and winter season crops and of the cropping systems, net returns and water use efficiency (WUE) as compared with the conventional practices. Improvement in soil quality parameters and performance of the cropping systems followed the order: PM-CP > PM-L > PM-FP > PM-IM. Research study showed that TSS method with PBBF with in conjunction PLL can further make this system more productive and economically profitable, uplift soil quality and save resources.

Improved Performances of CVD‐Grown MoS2 Based Phototransistors Enabled by Encapsulation

AbstractMoS2 as a semiconducting 2D material has been a promising candidate for the next generation of optoelectronics due to its atomic thickness, mechanical flexibility, complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor compatibility, and large‐scale manufacturing. However, the poor quality such as low mobility and numerous defects has much affected the corresponding device performances, which has limited their wide applications. Here, an effective strategy is proposed to significantly improve the quality of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD)‐grown monolayer MoS2 by the encapsulation technique with atomic layer deposition Al2O3. Benefiting from the passivation of defects and suppression of charge Coulomb scattering, the mobility can be improved by more than one order of magnitude, reaching up to 62.5 cm2 Vs−1. As a result, the photodetection performances in terms of response time, responsivity, and detectivity are also improved up to 20 ms, 1.1 × 104 A W−1, and 3.1 × 1012 Jones, respectively. The developed encapsulation technique here for the improvement of film quality and device performance can further enable the practical application of large‐scale 2D materials‐based electronics and photodetectors.

Accreditation Policies Implementation to Improve Performance Quality in Madrasah

Accreditation policy is based on the principle that all citizens have the right to obtain a quality education. In order to hold quality education, every educational program should fulfill the standard of accreditation policies Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri. Hence, this research aimed (1) to investigate MTsN accreditation policy, (2) to investigate the implementation of MTsN accreditation policy, (3) to examine the monitoring and evaluation of MTsN accreditation policy, and (4) to examine creative and innovative ideas of the implementation of MTsN accreditation policy. This research employed a qualitative approach with a Case Study method. The results were (1) The MTsN accreditation policy had been formulated in the vision, mission, and objectives of Madrasah, (2) the implementation of MTsN accreditation policy faced a problem of facilities and teachers’ skill in preparing educational administration documents, (3) monitoring and evaluation of MTsN accreditation policy was based on Madrasah Self-Evaluation (EDM), (4) creative and innovative ideas in the implementation of MTsN accreditation policy was based on Madrasah Self-Evaluation (EDM) conducted by the Madrasah Principle and teachers, Madrasah committee, parents, as well as a supervisor.

Wide Bandgap Sb2S3 Solar Cells

AbstractThe wide bandgap Sb2S3 is considered to be one of the most promising absorber layers in single‐junction solar cells and a suitable top‐cell candidate for multi‐junction (tandem) solar cells. However, compared to mature thin‐film technologies, Sb2S3 based thin‐film solar cells are still lagging behind in the power conversion efficiency race, and the highest of just 7.5% has been achieved to date in a sensitized single‐junction structure. Furthermore, to break single junction solar cell based Shockley–Queisser (S–Q) limits, tandem devices with wide bandgap top‐cells and low bandgap bottom‐cells hold a high potential for efficient light conversion. Though matured and desirable bottom‐cell candidates like silicon (Si) are available, the corresponding mature wide bandgap top‐cell candidates are still lacking. Hence, a literature review based on Sb2S3 solar cells is urgently warranted. In this review, the progress and present status of Sb2S3 solar cells are summarized. An emphasis is placed mainly on the improvement of absorber quality and device performance. Moreover, the low‐performance causes and possible overcoming mechanisms are also explained. Last but not least, the potential and feasibility of Sb2S3 in tandem devices are vividly discussed. In the end, several strategies and perspectives for future research are outlined.

A novel approach for evaluating bone mineral density of hips based on Sobel gradient-based map of radiographs utilizing convolutional neural network

Osteoporosis, which is a common disorder associated with low bone mineral density (BMD), is one of the primary reasons for hip fracture. It not only limits mobility, but also makes the patient suffer from pain. Unlike traditional methods, which require both expensive equipment and long scanning times, this study aims to develop a novel technique employing a convolutional neural network (CNN) directly on radiographs of the hips to evaluate BMD. To construct the dataset, X-ray photographs of lower limbs and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) results of the hips of patients were collected. The core of this research is a deep learning-based model that was trained using the pre-processed X-rays images of 510 hips as the input data and the BMD values obtained from DXA as the standard reference. To improve performance quality, the radiographs of the hips were processed with a Sobel algorithm to extract the gradient magnitude maps, and an ensemble artificial neural network which analyses the outputs of CNN models corresponding to three Singh sites and biological parameters was utilized. The superior performance of the proposed method was confirmed by the high correlation coefficient of 0.8075 (p<0.0001) of the BMD measured by DXA in a total of 150 testing cases, with only 0.12 s required for applying the computing configuration to a single X-ray image.

Using ethical leadership to reduce job stress and improve performance quality in the hospitality industry

• Ethical leadership is negatively related to both ethical ambiguity and job stress. • There is a positive relationship between ethical ambiguity and job stress. • There is a negative relationship between job stress and customer-contact employees’ performance quality. • Perceived ethical leadership behaviors positively influence performance quality. Given an increased call for examining ethics in the hospitality industry, this research examines how ethical leadership influences the job stress and performance quality of customer-contact employees in the hospitality industry. Results indicate that customer-contact employees’ views of their supervisor’s use of ethical leadership behaviors is related to lower levels of ethical ambiguity and job stress. Ethical ambiguity is positively associated with job stress, which is negatively associated with customer-contact employees’ performance quality. Perceived ethical leadership behaviors positively influence performance quality. Based on the findings, implications are provided for both theory and management, and directions for future research are offered.

Construction quality process implementation as a source of competitive advantage in small and medium-sized construction projects

It is generally accepted that construction quality process implementation improves construction project performance through the systematic application of quality practices. It is equally established that current quality management systems, particularly compliance management, are essential for Small and medium-enterprises (SMEs) seeking effective completion of road-building infrastructure. Despite the opportunities offered by these quality practices, there are potential pitfalls. As low-cost economies proliferate, South African construction SMEs are under increasing pressure to be more flexible and innovative. The study examines the factors affecting the quality of work produced by construction SMEs through a regulatory road building procedure, namely design, construction, and execution. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 165 SME contractors, designers, and their experience was recorded of construction quality standards and performance improvement on completed work in the public sector in South Africa. A combination of descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyse the data. The empirical findings established that five construction quality process factors affect the quality of road infrastructure projects undertaken by construction SMEs. These factors comprise construction process and design; construction quality management at the site level; the development and implementation of quality procedures and requirements; quality benchmarking issues; continuous improvement and communication. This study is of value to designers/consultants and managers in the construction SME sector as it helps to establish the factors affecting the quality of road infrastructure projects. Managers in analogous environments may also use the results of this study as a benchmark for competitive advantage. The results also provide a guideline for the successful construction quality implementation in small and medium-sized construction projects.&#x0D; Keywords: Construction quality; Continuous improvement; Design; Performance; Quality management.

Adaptive nonlinear robust control of an underactuated micro UAV

In this article, we investigate a robust nonlinear control strategy to solve the trajectory tracking for a micro unmanned aerial vehicle, the quadrotor. The control technique is the computed torque control (CTC), this technique is widely used in the robot manipulators control. The CTC technique needs a strong knowledge of the model. In this regard, the complete dynamic model of the quadrotor has been established by the Euler–Lagrange formalism. After that, a robust nonlinear H∞ controller has been designed to stabilize the system with robustness. The proposed controller takes into account the underactuation characteristic of the quadrotor, so the controller is designed for the actuated degrees of freedom (DOF) with their coupling with the underactuated DOF. For the position tracking, we propose the backstepping controller. In both controllers, nonlinear H∞ and backstepping, the integral action is considered to get a null steady-state error. In order to improve performance quality, the control law has been reinforced by an adaptive action. This last has been performed by the linear parameterization property and the neural networks. The results show efficiency in the parametric uncertainties.

Research on comprehensive evaluation of quality performance of all employees in electronic equipment enterprises based on entropy method and ideal point method

The overall quality evaluation of electronic equipment is helpful to improve product quality and has become an important focus of quality control. Based on the systematic analysis of job characteristics of all employees, sixteen index frames are constructed from four dimensions of knowledge quality, key quality performance, quality reward and punishment and quality innovation. Secondly, the fuzzy value conversion method is designed with the characteristics of the evaluation index value of electronic equipment, the objective weight is determined by the entropy method, and comprehensive evaluation model is also designed by ideal point method. Finally, a case is given to illustrate the implementation process and feasibility of the proposed method, which can provide theoretical and practical guidance for improving quality performance of all employees.

Effects of ozone on post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) performance, health, and maturation in freshwater recirculation aquaculture systems

Steroid hormones accumulate in recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) and may influence the reproductive physiology of farmed fish. Ozone reduces hormone concentrations in freshwater RAS used to rear Atlantic salmon, but its effect on reproductive development is unknown. Accordingly, an 8-month trial was carried out to evaluate the growth, health, and maturation of post-smolt Atlantic salmon (296 ± 4 g initial weight) reared in six replicated freshwater RAS (9.5 m3 total volume) operated with or without ozone (N = 3/treatment). Residual ozone was controlled with an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of 300–320 mV, and mean water temperature was maintained at 14.7 °C. Atlantic salmon growth was generally faster in ozonated RAS. Salmon from RAS with and without ozone weighed 2156 ± 101 and 1810 ± 15 g, respectively, by the end of the study. Caudal, anal, and pelvic fin damage was greater (P < 0.05) for salmon in ozonated RAS early in the trial but improved thereafter. No statistical differences in gill, skin, and skeletal muscle histopathology were observed between treatments at the end of the study. Waterborne estradiol, testosterone, and 11-ketotestosterone levels were periodically lower (P < 0.05) in ozonated RAS, but maturing salmon were more prevalent in these systems. At the end of the trial, percent maturation of salmon populations reared in RAS with and without ozone was 63 ± 7 and 48 ± 1%, respectively; however, maturity appeared to be related to fish size. Improved water quality was observed in ozonated RAS including reduced dissolved copper, iron, and zinc levels, total heterotrophic bacteria counts, and true color, and increased ultraviolet transmittance, which may have supported improved Atlantic salmon growth. Overall, ozone did not inhibit the onset or prevalence of Atlantic salmon maturation, but significant improvements in water quality and salmon growth performance resulted from its use.

Experiences of developing pre-performance routines with recreational pianists

The main approach for improving the performance experience and/or performance quality for musicians has been to find solutions for music performance anxiety. An alternative model is prevention through psychological skills training (PST), which is increasingly being shown to have beneficial effects. Pre-performance routines (PPRs) are a common strategy used in such programs. PPRs are thought to help musicians be “ready to perform,” and that musicians could benefit from a deliberate introduction to PPRs by an instructor. This article reports on the teaching of PPRs to recreational piano pupils in an exploratory action research project designed to introduce a PST approach in regular piano lessons. PPRs were taught for 4 weeks in two action cycles leading up to a performance and were evaluated by teachers and pupils. The findings demonstrate how PPRs can be developed, learned, and implemented and suggest that PPRs function in two ways: to improve concentration and to achieve a sense of calm prior to the performance. Consequent increases in performance confidence and improved performance quality could not be attributed to the PPRs alone as the teaching of routines led to changes in working practice. Implications for future research are discussed.

COVID-19 outcomes in patients waitlisted for kidney transplantation and kidney transplant recipients.

The COVID‐19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to the transplant community. The reduction in transplantation volume during this time is partly due to concerns over potentially increased susceptibility and worsened outcomes of COVID‐19 in immunosuppressed recipients. The consequences of COVID‐19 on patients waitlisted for kidney transplantation, however, have not previously been characterized. We studied 56 waitlisted patients and 80 kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID‐19 between March 13 and May 20, 2020. Despite similar demographics and burden of comorbidities between waitlisted and transplant patients, waitlisted patients were more likely to require hospitalization (82% vs. 65%, P = .03) and were at a higher risk of mortality (34% vs. 16%, P = .02). Intubation was required in one third of hospitalized patients in each group, and portended a very poor prognosis. The vast majority of patients who died were male (84% waitlist, 100% transplant). Multivariate analysis demonstrated waitlist status, age, and male sex were independently associated with mortality. COVID‐19 has had a dramatic impact on waitlisted patients, decreasing their opportunities for transplantation and posing significant mortality risk. Understanding the impact of COVID‐19 on waitlist patients in comparison to transplant recipients may aid centers in weighing the risks and benefits of transplantation in the setting of ongoing COVID‐19.

Morphology Tuning and Its Role in Optimization of Perovskite Films Fabricated from A Novel Nonhalide Lead Source.

Usage of nonhalide lead sources for fabricating perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has recently attracted increasing attention as a promising route toward realizing high quality PSC devices. However, the unique role of nonhalide lead sources in improving perovskite film morphology and PSC performance has largely remained unexplored, impeding broader application of these materials. Here, it is demonstrated that by using a new nonhalide lead source, lead formate (Pb(HCOO)2), good control of perovskite film morphology can be achieved. With the usage of lead formate, PbI2 can nicely border the perovskite grain boundaries (GBs) and form domain “walls” that segregate the individual perovskite crystal domains. The PbI2 at the GBs lead to significant improvement in film quality and device performance through passivating the defects at the perovskite GBs and suppressing lateral carrier diffusion. An impressive carrier lifetime at the microsecond scale (τ 2 = 1714 ns) is achieved, further with an optimal power conversion efficiency of 20.3% for the resulting devices. This work demonstrates a promising and effective method toward fabricating high‐quality perovskites and high‐efficiency PSCs.

Do Export Activities Improve Small Firm Performance? Evidence from Indonesia

"Research Aims: This study investigates the link between involvement in direct export activities and firm performance, with reference to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employed primary data collected from questionnaires administered to 271 exporting SMEs in seven provinces in Jawa-Bali Region. The OLS and GLM regression techniques were employed to estimate the export impact model. Research Findings: The results show that export activities bring the highest performance improvement in product quality, moderate improvement in marketing and networking techniques, total sales, total profit, production technique or technology and worker productivity, and least improvement in domestic sales. SMEs' exports-induced performance improvement is positively affected by firm size, owners' education, the presence of foreign investors, and assistance from central government agencies, negatively affected by years of exporting, and shows an inverted U-shaped relationship with export intensity. Theoretical Contribution/Originality: The discourse of firm internationalization theories should not only focus on pre-export activities, but also post-export activities. Further, the discourse on the relationship between firm performance and degree of internationalization should consider non-linear relationship. Managerial Implications in the Southeast Asian Context: SMEs should keep actively participating in the government's export assistance programs in their post-export stage. Especially, exporting SMEs should maintain and strengthen their relationships central government agencies. In order to maintain and expand their export activities, SMEs may consider partnership with foreign investors. Research Limitations and Implications: Future research may investigate the specific export stimuli and export barriers that SMEs encounter in post-export stage. The scope of the study can be expanded to provincial or country comparison in Southeast Asia, taking into account differences in social and economic characteristics, or specified to a particular province/region or product group/industry. Other definitions of SMEs-such as those based on asset or turnover size-might be attempted. Data accuracy may also be improved through the use of factual (quantitative) data to replace some perceptual data used in the current study. "

IMPLEMENTASI MANAJEMEN MUTU PUSKESMAS TERHADAP KOMITMEN PEGAWAI DALAM MEWUJUDKAN PRODUKTIVITAS KERJA

To guarantee that quality improvement, performance improvement and application of risk management carried out continuously at Public Health Center (Puskesmas), external assessment is required by using established standards, that is through the accreditation mechanism. This study aims to determine the effect quality management of Public Health Center to employee commitment in realizing productivity performance. The recent implementation of Public Health Center accreditation is used as an implementation of Public Health Center quality management with expectations can improve the quality of health services. However, there are several studies say that accreditation has no effect on improving the quality of Public Health Center. The number of samples used was 32 respondents. The data obtained were analyzed using PLS (Partial Least Square) analysis techniques through SmartPLS 3.0 softwere. The results showed that the accreditation of Public Health Center for Individual Health Work Group (Pokja UKP) significantly negative related to organizational commitment, the accreditation of Public Health Center for Individual Health Work Group (Pokja UKP) significantly positive related to performance productivity and then organizational commitment significantly negative related to performance productivity.Keywords: accreditation of Public Health Center (Puskesmas), Individual Health Work Group (Pokja UKP), Employee Commitment, Productivity Performance.

Relationship between quality management practices, performance and maturity quality management, a contingency approach

Quality Management is a key element in the organization that allows for the improvement of operational performance, product quality and organizational performance. Likewise, evidence concluding that not all implementations of quality management system generate positive effects has been found, so it is necessary to introduce contingent variables in the studies that allow an understanding of the different situations that can define which variables are more relevant according to the studied contingency. In this sense Sfreddo et al. (2018) and Sousa and Voss (2002) propose to include the variable of quality maturity level as a contingency variable in order to determine which Quality Management practices (QM practices) are more relevant according to the level of maturity of the organizations, an issue that has been the basis for the development of other models of maturity in other fields of management. The result has demonstrated that the effects of benefits in the operative performance are presented in the levels of high maturity, in changes in the levels below these do not present a significant relation. This will allow the development of the basis for the elaboration of a quality management maturity model.

Cost effectiveness of the quality assurance and performance improvement project for suspected appendicitis study

IntroductionAppendicitis is the most common pediatric emergent surgical condition, with 77,000 American pediatric admissions costing $680 million US annually. Diagnosing appendicitis can be challenging. The prospective Quality Assurance and performance improvement project for suspected aPPEndicitis (QAPPE) study implemented a standardized appendicitis assessment pathway. This current study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of the QAPPE pathway. MethodsQAPPE data (February 2018–January 2019) were compared to retrospective data from the year prior (January–December 2017). Patients aged <18, presenting with suspicion of appendicitis were identified using the emergency department patient database. Patients were excluded if they were transferred from an outside center or if appendicitis was not suspected. Study arms were compared using Student’s t-test and assessed with standard costing techniques. The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) was determined. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses of the model were performed. Effectiveness was assessed by percent of negative appendectomies where alternate diagnosis was made intraoperatively or histologically. Significance was set at p < 0.05. ResultsQAPPE (n = 247) and traditional care (n = 234) patients were compared. Traditional care had higher admission frequency and lower pediatric appendicitis score. Demographics between all included patients and those admitted were similar overall. Patient costs were $3656.32 (95% CI $2407–$5250) Canadian (CAD) for QAPPE and $3823.56 (95% CI $2604–$5451) CAD for traditional care. QAPPE was the dominant strategy in the base model and probabilistic simulation found it favored in 64.7% of model iterations with a willingness to pay of $70,000 CAD. ConclusionUsing the QAPPE pathway to assess patients with suspected appendicitis reduced costs and improved effectiveness of patient care. Level of evidence2.

Music performance anxiety from the challenge and threat perspective: psychophysiological and performance outcomes

BackgroundAlthough many musicians perceive music performance anxiety (MPA) as a significant problem, studies about the psychobiological and performance-related concomitants of MPA are limited. Using the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat as theoretical framework, we aim to investigate whether musicians’ changes in their psychobiological responses and performance quality from a private to a public performance are moderated by their general MPA level. According to the challenge and threat framework, individuals are in a threat state when the perceived demands of a performance situation outweigh the perceived resources, whereas they are in a challenge state when the perceived resources outweigh the perceived demands. The resources-demands differential (resources minus demands) and the cardiovascular challenge-threat index (sum of cardiac output and reverse scored total peripheral resistance) are the main indices of these states. We postulate that the relationship between general MPA level and performance quality is mediated by these challenge and threat measures.MethodsWe will test 100 university music students reporting general MPA levels ranging from low to high. They will perform privately (i.e., without audience) and publicly (i.e., with an audience) on two separate days in counterbalanced order. During each performance session, we will record their cardiovascular and respiratory activity and collect saliva samples and self-reported measures. Measures of primary interest are self-reported anxiety, the resources-demands differential, the cardiovascular challenge-threat index, sigh rate, total respiratory variability, partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide and the salivary biomarkers cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, and alpha-amylase. Both, the participants and anonymous experts will evaluate the performance quality from audio recordings.DiscussionThe results of the planned project are expected to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the psychobiology of MPA and of the processes that influence musicians’ individual reactions to performance situations. We also anticipate the findings of this project to have important implications for the development and implementation of theory-based interventions aimed at managing musicians’ anxiety and improving performance quality. Thanks to the use of multimethod approaches incorporating psychobiology, it might be possible to better assess the progress and success of interventions and ultimately improve musicians’ chance to have a successful professional career.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Changes in Health Care Following COVID-19

Changes in Health Care Following COVID-19

Association for Academic Surgery Presidential Address—Fanning the Burnout Fire: How Our Misconceptions and Good Intentions Could Fail Tomorrow's Surgeons

The issue of burnout among surgical trainees became evident during our work on the FIRST Trial. In studying the issue, we found that burnout symptoms occurred in a relatively large proportion of surgical trainees, and burnout was associated with significant risks of having thoughts of leaving the residency program or having suicidal thoughts. The SECOND Trial seeks to reduce trainee wellbeing and mistreatment by leveraging approaches used in healthcare quality performance improvement (e.g., comparative reports, toolkits, collaboration). Importantly, the epidemic of surgical trainee wellbeing issues have worsened (i.e., fanning the burnout fire) given our misconceptions about generational differences, our delayed adaptations to shifts in healthcare, and even some of our good intentions. However, there are several things we can do to improve the situation: (1) embrace the change that comes with each generation; (2) appreciate, respect, and enjoy our trainees; (3) teach residents constructively, leaving yelling and bullying behind; (4) embrace the concept of wellness for ourselves and each other; (5) provide meaningful feedback and mentorship; and (6) give each other the benefit of the doubt (e.g., principle of charity). Despite these issues, academic surgery remains the best job in the world, and the strength of our profession, leaders, and colleagues will see us through these challenges. The Association for Academic Surgery will help lead the way on these important issues.