Standard Mode Of Operation Research Articles

A study of out‐sourcing versus in‐sourcing tasks within a project value chain

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate a case of in‐sourcing a key resource verses using the standard mode of operation of utilizing an established out‐sourcing firm. The studied organisation is a large telecommunication firm in North America. The aim of the paper is to illustrate how a new approach to the organisational procurement decision making process to facilitate competitive advantage was influenced by simplicity rather than simple cost reduction.Design/methodology/approachSingle illustrative case study testing the usefulness of the composite out‐sourcing decision framework decision making framework together with a clear focus on total value adding elements of service delivery.FindingsThe analysis that in‐sourcing critical tasks or processes are advantageous to the case study organization as well as to the smaller internal department that it directly impacts.Research limitations/implicationsWhen undertaking business projects or programs of projects, there are many cases where business processes may be outsourced or sub‐contracted. While out‐sourcing does, and will in the future, play a large role in cost reduction and giving the buying firm the ability to focus on core competencies, there is still the niche market to in‐source critical tasks and retain critical resources. Decisions need to be based on value contribution rather than simple cost reduction.Originality/valueThis paper's value has been to illustrate some frameworks, tools and techniques used to explain how a particular insourcing/outsourcing decision was undertaken in a business project context and it explains the rationale behind decisions being made.

Role of memory errors in quantum repeaters

We investigate the influence of memory errors in the quantum repeater scheme for long-range quantum communication. We show that the communication distance is limited in standard operation mode due to memory errors resulting from unavoidable waiting times for classical signals. We show how to overcome these limitations by (i) improving local memory and (ii) introducing two operational modes of the quantum repeater. In both operational modes, the repeater is run blindly, i.e., without waiting for classical signals to arrive. In the first scheme, entanglement purification protocols based on one-way classical communication are used allowing to communicate over arbitrary distances. However, the error thresholds for noise in local control operations are very stringent. The second scheme makes use of entanglement purification protocols with two-way classical communication and inherits the favorable error thresholds of the repeater run in standard mode. One can increase the possible communication distance by an order of magnitude with reasonable overhead in physical resources. We outline the architecture of a quantum repeater that can possibly ensure intercontinental quantum communication.

Single-element objective lens for soft x-ray differential interference contrast microscopy

High-resolution soft x-ray differential interference contrast (DIC) imaging was demonstrated through the use of a single-element objective, the XOR pattern, in a full-field soft x-ray microscope. DIC images of the magnetic domains in a 59 nm thick amorphous Gd25Fe75 layer were obtained and magnetic phase contributions were directly imaged. With its elemental, chemical, and magnetic specificity, compatibility with various sample environments, and ease of implementation, we expect this soft x-ray DIC technique to become one of the standard modes of operation for existing full-field soft x-ray microscopes.

The effect of radiation damage on optical CCDs operating in time-delay integration mode

Time-delay integration (TDI) mode or strip chart recording mode is a standard mode of operation of charge-coupled devices (CCDs), which record data whilst either the instrument or the object of interest is in motion. In this paper we examine the effects that radiation damage has on the centroiding accuracy of objects tracked by optical CCDs. Radiation damage not only affects the shape of objects being tracked as a result of charge trapping or charge release but also affects the intensity of the object being tracked, which in turn might affect the error in any photometric measurements. This effect may be exacerbated if filters are being used in any of the photometric measurements, since radiation interacting with the filter glass will alter the optical transmission properties of the glass. In this paper we also present a description of the apparatus used to synchronise the projection and translation of sources of light onto a CCD with the charge transfer rate of the device. The facility and measurement technique described in this paper will provide the University of Leicester, Space Research Centre with a dedicated optical CCD test facility to support future space and ground-based instrument development programmes involving optical CCDs. This paper is aimed at supporting the contribution of the UK to the European Space Agency's (ESA) Gaia programme. This paper will determine whether radiation effects place intrinsic limits on the centroiding accuracy and photometric efficiency achievable with optical CCDs operating in TDI mode.

The Experience of 196 Cases of Gastric Carcinoma Operation

目的 探讨胃癌淋巴结廓清及手术方式的选择.方法回顾196例经腹胃癌切除患者的临床资料.结果胃癌根治D2或D2+清除155例,其中淋巴结转移105例,姑息切除41例,全胃切除,食管空肠Roux-y吻合95例,胃大部切除101例,联合胰体、尾部、脾切除2例,胃癌根治术后死因中肝转移18例,肺转移8例,骨转移2例,肾衰4例.结论胃体以上近端胃癌行全胃切除D2或D2+清除为标准方式.胃窦癌可行胃大部分切除,但廓清淋巴结需包括1、7、8、9组和第12组,整个清扫面应于大小网膜外。

Deformations and Displacements of the LHC Superconducting Dipoles Induced by Standard and Non-Standard Operational Modes

A full-scale and fully-instrumented working model of the LHC lattice cell has been tested at CERN between March and December 2002. Aside of the current, pressure and temperature sensors controlled by an industrial supervision system, a novel device has been set to monitor magnet positions with respect to the surrounding cryostat. The series of operating modes to test cryogenics, current leads and quench recovery electronics offered the chance to investigate potentially harmful deformations of the superconducting structure. In this paper, we present a survey of displacements and deformations experienced by the LHC cell magnets during thermal cycles, current ramps and resistive transitions. Although the system complexity prevented from complete modeling, a preliminary phenomena explanation is given.

Nitrogen analysis in high- k stack layers: a challenge

In order to increase performance in advanced MOS devices, alternative gate insulators with high electrical permittivity are investigated to replace SiO 2. Recent developments include the presence of nitrogen in or around the HfO 2 stack. It is thus important to be able to acquire knowledge of the depth distribution of the nitrogen in the layers with enough accuracy. This remains a real challenge for SIMS due to varying matrices in which the nitrogen is distributed. We first present results obtained with Xe and Cs profiling. We determined the “best to use” clusters in order to retrieve the maximum information of the data. In the second part, we investigate some less standard operational mode of SIMS profiling. For instance, it has also long been considered that the detection of MCs + clusters suffers from less matrix effect and could thus be advantageous for this kind of analysis, where the Cs surface concentration is reduced by the use of Xe–Cs co-sputtering. We also introduce a new method in order to increase the sensitivity to nitrogen by using a “carbon-based” flooding and using the CN − cluster detection.

The São Luís 30 MHz coherent scatter ionospheric radar: System description and initial results

A new 30 MHz coherent scatter ionospheric radar has been operating at the equatorial station at São Luís (2.33°S, 44°W, dip latitude 1.3°S), Brazil, since December 2000. This VHF radar has a peak power of only 8 kW but uses long coded pulses and a high PRF with coherent integration to achieve good sensitivity. Two side‐by‐side square antenna arrays composed of 16 5‐element Yagi antennas directed vertically are used for transmission and reception. This radar measures the backscattered signals from E and F region ionospheric irregularities. In the standard operational mode, the irregularity intensity, as well as the vertical and zonal velocities using Doppler analysis and interferometry, respectively, are determined. We initially present a brief description of the radar system, signal characteristics and data processing, followed by some of the initial observations. Electrojet echoes ranged from about 94 to 108 km in altitude with the strongest echoes coming from about 104 km and with an uplift to about 110 km occurring in the late afternoon. Echoes from the valley region (150 km echoes) were strong, quasi‐periodic with periods of about 10 to 15 minutes, and had the necklace shape observed at others sites. F region bottom‐type, bottomside, and topside (plumes) spread F layers were observed at night. The large‐scale topside F region plumes, moving eastward and upward, reached altitudes of about 1,400 km and were preceded by bottom‐type layers around 400 km altitude that were moving westward. The characteristics of the echoes were similar to those observed by the JULIA radar at Jicamaca, Peru. However, some differences in the behavior of the echoes between the two sites were noted.

Selecting the Advanced Encryption Standard

The USA National Institute of Standards and Technology selected the Advanced Encryption Standard, a new standard symmetric key encryption algorithm, from 15 qualifying algorithms. NIST has also made efforts to update and extend their standard cryptographic modes of operation.

40 Gbit/s standard-mode wavelength conversion in all-active MZI with very fast response

The results of all-optical wavelength conversion, using an all-active semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), are presented. For the first time, to the authors' knowledge, operation at 40 Gbit/s with an all-active MZI employed in the simple standard mode of operation, is demonstrated with zero power penalty. The very fast response of the device leads to format preservation and negligible patterning effects.

Plasma Production and Heating with ICRF in the Gamma 10 Tandem Mirror

Three ICRF sources (RF1, RF2 and RF3) are used for the plasma production and heating in the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror. The initial plasma in a standard mode of operation is produced by using RF1 and RF2 with near fundamental ion cyclotron frequencies. Under the present experimental conditions, an eigenmode which has a fundamental radial structure is only excited and the density is clamped so as to satisfy the boundary conditions in the axial direction. When RF3 with a frequency range of high harmonic fast waves is applied, several eigenmodes with different radial structures can be excited and the density clamping is released. Two different frequencies are used in the RF3 system; one is 63 MHz which corresponds to the 10th harmonic ion cyclotron frequency near the midplane of the central cell and the other is 41.5 MHz. The density increase due to the excitation of the high harmonic fast waves are observed in both cases. It is observed the high energy ions are produced due to the higher harmonic resonance.

Observations of the Crab Nebula with the HEGRA system of IACTs in convergent mode using a topological trigger

Routine observations of the Crab Nebula for a total of about 250 h, performed with the HEGRA stereoscopic system of five imaging atmospheric Čerenkov telescopes in the standard operational mode, have proven the energy threshold of the system to be 500 GeV for small zenith angles ( θ⩽20°). A topological trigger applied along with the convergent observational mode allows to reduce noticeably the energy threshold of the system down to 350 GeV. Here we present the relevant Monte Carlo simulations as well as the analysis results of 15 h Crab Nebula data taken in such an observational mode. From the Crab Nebula data, the final energy threshold was found to be 350 GeV. The estimated γ-ray flux from the Crab Nebula above 350 GeV is (8.1±0.1 stat±0.2 syst)×10 −11 ph cm −2 s −1, which is consistent with recent measurements reported by the STACEE, CELESTE, CAT, and Whipple groups.

VMI: What are you losing if you let your customer place orders?

Managing the order-delivery processes between organizations is a key issue in supply chain management. Despite the increasing application of just-in-time (JIT), lean and agile practices and new information systems that increase the visibility in supply chains, a lot of problems still remain. Surveys among European companies indicate that no signifi cant improvements have taken place in delivery performance during last decade. Vendor managed inventory (VMI) is a recent alternative for the order-delivery process. The fundamental change is that the ordering phase of the process is abolished, and the supplier is given both authority and responsibility to take care of the entire replenishment process. Despite of its advantages VMI has not yet become a standard mode of operation in companies. In this paper the benefits of VMI are analyzed from the viewpoint of managing the replenishment process of the entire product range, not the viewpoint of a single stock keeping unit. A time-based analysis method is developed for measuring the benefits of VMI in different situations. The hypothesis explored that by taking the whole product range viewpoint the advantages of VMI are more readily identified. The hypothesis is tested by using real-life demand data from three different grocery supply chains.

The use of infra-red light-modulated temperature in DSC created by pulse-width modulation

Infra-red light, generated by diodes, is applied to produce a sinusoidal temperature modulation in the standard heat-flux DSC of TA instruments. The temperature of the sample and reference are controlled by both, the original temperature controller of the instrument, and by the radiant energy generated by two high-power infra-red light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This allows for isothermal or quasi-isothermal experimentation in the standard mode of operation of the calorimeter. The additional infra-red irradiation is provided only for temperature modulation. The radiant energy transferred to the specimens is controlled by pulse-width modulation (PWM) which provides a high linearity in the temperature modulation program. This feature enables to obtain any arbitrary temperature profile with the limits of frequency set by the calorimeter response and speed of the computer. Simple electronics and a computer algorithm for the PWM control are described. The method was tested in the melting range of indium and by measurement of the heat capacity of sapphire (Al 2O 3) and polystyrene. The problem of frequency correction arising from a wide frequency range is analyzed and discussed.

External representation of argumentation in CSCL and the management of cognitive load

Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments, particularly environments where students share external representations, are discussed as an interesting area for the application of cognitive load theory (CLT). CSCL environments share a number of characteristics that will induce considerable cognitive load. This article reflects on the characteristics of CSCL environments and external representations and the research opportunities they offer to CLT. We argue that CLT can contribute to our understanding of CSCL by pinpointing situations in which high levels of cognitive load are generated. CLT also raises a number of particular issues: from a CLT point of view studying of worked out external representations may lead to better learning outcomes than (co)-construction which is the standard mode of operation in CSCL. The ontology and specificity of the representational scheme used are crucial factors, as they define what can be expressed and how much room for interpretation is left in the representation. CLT may help identify mismatches between representational schemes and execution of (sub)tasks. CLT has lead to a number of recommendations on the integration of diagrammatic and textual information. We relate this to discussion and chat facilities in CSCL and describe how these can be more firmly anchored in the external representation.

A medium-frequency interferometer for studying auroral radio emissions

An interferometer for use between 2.5 and 3.0 MHz has recently been developed for the purpose of studying auroral radio emissions. The instrument consists of an array of 17 antennas, associated electronics for amplitude and phase measurements, and computer hardware for instrument control and data recording. In its standard operational mode, the instrument sweeps from 2.5 to 3.0 MHz in 1 kHz steps every 1.5 s. The intensity of the received signal and the phase at each antenna is measured for each 1-kHz-wide bin. These data can be used to produce spectrograms showing the intensity of the received signal versus frequency and time and for determining the direction of arrival for any signal in the instrument bandwidth.

Optical layout of a beamline for photoemission microscopy

An optical layout for performing photoemission microscopy using synchrotron light from the storage ring Elettra is described. The microscope, property of the Technical University of Clausthal, was installed on an existing monochromator and the light is deflected and focused by two toroidal mirrors. A light spot of ∼30 µm diameter and a photon energy range from 45 to 160 eV has been achieved. The light illuminates the sample in the microscope at grazing incidence and chemical contrast is observed in photoemission. Apart from the standard photoemission mode of operation with synchrotron radiation, surface NEXAFS spectra from microspot areas can be measured, and an example is shown. Images can also be obtained with variable kinetic energies (and therefore variable surface sensitivity) of the secondary electrons while working in NEXAFS mode. The obliquely incident soft X-rays cause shadows due to topography on the surface, which allows an estimate of the height of features. Three-dimensional islands give rise to Fresnel diffraction and many fringes may be visible. This effect and its consequences for chemical imaging are discussed.

Application of chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) for dismantling of nuclear facilities

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) has developed the first product of COIL (the maximum output power : 1.5kW in the standard operation mode) for industry in the world, and the maximum output power successfully reached to 10kW in the demonstration commercial equipment constructed in KHI in October, 1996. Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) is of great advantage to application to the dismantling of the components, considering low transmission loss in optical fibers due to the wave length of 1.315 μ m, high quality beam due to the low pressure gas laser medium, high power emission possibility based on its chemical reaction, and large energy absorption on material due to the short wave length. This paper describes the feature of COIL and cutting performance of stainless steel by COIL, and application of COIL for dismantling of nuclear facilities.

The long-wavelength neutron spin-echo spectrometer IN15 at the Institut Laue-Langevin

A new ultra-high resolution neutron spin-echo spectrometer at the ILL (Grenoble) extends the time range for measurements of the intermediate scattering function S( Q, t) far beyond what has previously been possible. The spectrometer design is traditional, utilizing long neutron wavelengths (8–25 Å) and large, homogeneous precession coils to reach Fourier times approaching the microsecond. The standard operational mode is currently functional, providing a Fourier time range of 0.03–180 ns, and a momentum transfer between 0.01 and 0.2 Å −1. The other two operational modes (neutron optical focusing and time of flight) are also discussed.

Selective SC-filters with low passive sensitivity

A standard mode of operation of the universal switch-capacitor (SC) filter is modified so that very selective elliptic-function filters can be realised with a reduced number of external resistors and very low passive sensitivity.