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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the prominent cognitive biases that influence Lean practices in organisations that have a multi-cultural work environment which will aid the organisational managers and academics in enhancing the understanding of the human thought process and mitigate them suitably. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study was conducted in organisations that were previously committed to Lean practices and had a multi-cultural work environment. This research was conducted on five companies based on 99 in-depth semi-structured interviews and seven process observations that sought to establish the system-wide cognitive biases present in a multi-cultural Lean environment. Findings The novel findings indicate that nine new biases influence Lean implementation and practices in a multi-cultural environment. This study also found strong connectivity between Lean practices and 45 previously identified biases that could affect positively or negatively the lean methodologies and their implementation. Biases were resilient enough that their influence on Lean in multi-cultural workplaces, even with transient populations, did not demonstrate cultural differentiation. Research limitations/implications Like any qualitative research, constructivism and narrative analyses are subjected to understanding based on knowledge gained on the subject, and data may have been interpreted differently. Constructivist co-recreation of process scenarios based result limitations is therefore acknowledged. The interactive participation in exploring the knowledge sought after and interaction that could have a probable influence on the participant need to be acknowledged. However, the research design, multiple methods of data collection, generalisation based on data collection and analysis methods limit the effects of these and findings are reliable to a greater extent. Practical implications The results can provide an enhanced understanding of biases and insights into a new managerial approach to take remedial steps on biases’ influence on Lean practices that can result in improved productivity and well-being from a business process perspective. Understanding and mitigating the prominent biases can aid Lean manufacturing processes and support decision makers and line managers in improving lean methodologies’ effectiveness and productivity. The biases can be negated and used to implement decisions with ease. The influence of biases and the model could be used as a basis to counter implementation barriers. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that connects the cognitive perspectives of Lean business processes in a multi-cultural environment to identify the cognitive biases that influence Lean practices in organisations that were previously committed to Lean practices. The novel findings indicate that nine new biases and 45 previously identified biases influence Lean implementation and practices in a multi-cultural environment. The second novelty of this study shows the connection between cognitive biases, Lean implementation and practices in multi-cultural business processes.

Background Desmoid tumours are benign fibromatous tumours arising from dysregulated myofibroblast proliferation within musculoaponeurotic structures. They can occur sporadically but more commonly are associated with genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (Sakorafas et al. in Surg Oncol 16(2):131–142, 2007) (FAP). Mutations in either the Wnt, β-catenin or APC genes are ‘key’ triggers for the development of these tumours (Howard and Pollock in Oncol Ther 4(1):57–72, 2016). Classically, these tumours do not metastasise; however, they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to their infiltrative pattern and/or local invasion. Historically, surgical resection was the cornerstone of treatment. There remains paucity of data regarding outcomes following the surgical management of abdominal desmoid tumours in terms of success, recurrence and morbidity. Objectives The aim of this review was to assess the current evidence for surgical management of abdominal desmoid tumours in terms of success, recurrence and morbidity. Methods A systematic search of articles in PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library databases was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for the period from January 2000 to November 2020. Results Twenty-three studies were included, of which, 749 patients had surgical resection (696 for primary and 53 for recurrent desmoids), 243 patients (18.8%) were medically managed and 353 patients (27.3%) underwent surveillance. Median follow-up was 51.4 months (range 1–372). Six-hundred and ninety-six of the 749 resections (92.9%) underwent primary desmoid resection, with the remaining 53 (7.1%) undergoing resection for recurrence. One-hundred and two surgically managed patients (19%) developed a (re)recurrence, with mesenteric involvement the commonest site for recurrence (55%). When comparing recurrence post-surgery to progression following medical therapy, there was a trend towards better outcomes with surgery, with 25% of surgical patients having a recurrence versus 50.5% having progression with medical therapy [OR 0.40 (95% CI 0.06–2.70), p = 0.35]. Major morbidity following surgery was 4.4% (n = 33) with 2% (n = 14) mortality within 30 days of resection. Conclusion The management of desmoids has considerable heterogeneity. Surgical resection for abdominal desmoids remains a valid treatment option in highly selective cases where negative margins can be obtained, with low major morbidity and/or mortality.

Purpose This study aims to highlight the system-wide potential relationships between forms of human bias, selected Lean tools and types of waste in a manufacturing process. Design/methodology/approach A longitudinal single-site ethnographic case study using digital processing to make a material receiving process Lean was adopted. An inherent knowledge process with internal stakeholders in a stimulated situation alongside process requirements was performed to achieve quality data collection. The results of the narrative analysis and process observation, combined with a literature review identified widely used Lean tools, wastes and biases that produced a model for the relationships. Findings The study established the relationships between bias, Lean tools and wastes which enabled 97.6% error reduction, improved on-time accounting and eliminated three working hours per day. These savings resulted in seven employees being redeployed to new areas with delivery time for products reduced by seven days. Research limitations/implications The single site case study with a supporting literature survey underpinning the model would benefit from testing the model in application to different industries and locations. Practical implications Application of the model can identify potential relationships between a group of human biases, 25 Lean tools and 10 types of wastes in Lean manufacturing processes that support decision makers and line managers in productivity improvement. The model can be used to identify potential relationships between forms of human biases, Lean tools and types of wastes in Lean manufacturing processes and take suitable remedial actions. The influence of biases and the model could be used as a basis to counter implementation barriers and reduce system-wide wastes. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that connects the cognitive perspectives of Lean business processes with waste production and human biases. As part of the process, a relationship model is derived.

This datasheet on Isatis tinctoria covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Uses, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

An exploratory investigation of hydration levels of fishers aboard three working fishing vessels in New Zealand waters identified that crew hypo-hydration was common. The opportunity to collect this data occurred in the context of ergonomics work to discover opportunities to reduce musculoskeletal injury rates for fishers. Hydration was considered worthy of inclusion in this exploratory work following anecdotal suggestion that urinary tract and kidney infections were perhaps common in crew. Whilst dehydration-related health problems and detrimental effects on worker performance are well understood, the international literature revealed no previous hydration evaluation specific to fishing crews. Dehydration research has however been reported from forestry, mining and manual labour industries with knowledge that can be applied to the maritime work environment. Hydration (urine specific gravity) was measured with a manual refractometer from crew volunteering to participate, and findings shared with participants. On-vessel crew education regarding hydration practices and factors that may contribute to improved hydration allowed some crew to improve their hydration status, whilst others became more dehydrated during the five week trip. The hypo-hydration finding is concerning as trawler crew work rotating shifts for 7 days per week for periods of up to 6 weeks at sea with potential for dehydration-related health and safety impacts, and productivity loss.

This study explores barriers to the uptake of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) using the case of Ireland, a country which lags well behind the adoption rates of neighbouring countries with EVs representing a market share of just 0.7% of new vehicles in 2017. The article investigates the mismatch between early aspirations, policy and infrastructure interventions and the outcomes achieved, presenting findings from semi-structured interviews with policy-makers and car dealership representatives. These point to progress being limited by a lack of sustained promotion and awareness-raising around EVs, an over-reliance on fiscal instruments and weaknesses in an incentive regime that has remained static throughout, despite limited results and progressively poorer CO2 reductions in proportion to policy costs. The study also identifies a steep rise in used diesel vehicle imports from the UK market following the Brexit vote as potentially further impairing Ireland’s progress on transport decarbonisation. Moreover, it is suggested that EV policy has been weakened by the avoidance of clear signals over the future of diesel vehicles, even as this has been called into question internationally. The case is seen to present important lessons on the need to maintain responsive national EV policies as the development of plug-in technologies progresses.

PURPOSE Acoustic coupling baths, nominally composed of degassed water, play important roles during transcranial focused ultrasound surgery. However, this large water bolus also degrades the quality of intraoperative magnetic resonance (MR) guidance imaging. In this study, we test the feasibility of using dilute, aqueous magnetite nanoparticle suspensions to suppress these image degradations while preserving acoustic compatibility. We examine the effects of these suspensions on metrics of image quality and acoustic compatibility for two types of transcranial focused ultrasound insonation regimes: low-duty cycle histotripsy procedures and high-duty cycle thermal ablation procedures. METHODS Magnetic resonance guidance imaging was used to monitor thermal ablations of in vitro gel targets using a coupling bath composed of various concentrations of aqueous, suspended, magnetite nanoparticles in a clinical transcranial transducer under stationary and flowing conditions. Thermal deposition was monitored using MR thermometry simultaneous to insonation. Then, using normal degassed water as a coupling bath, various concentrations of aqueous, suspended, magnetite nanoparticles were placed at the center of this same transducer and insonated using high-duty cycle pulsing parameters. Passive cavitation detectors recorded cavitation emissions, which were then used to estimate the relative number of cavitation events per insonation (cavitation duty cycle) and the cavitation dose estimates of each nanoparticle concentration. Finally, the nanoparticle mixtures were exposed to low-duty cycle, histotripsy pulses. Passive cavitation detectors monitored cavitation emissions, which were used to estimate cavitation threshold pressures. RESULTS The nanoparticles reduced the MR signal of the coupling bath by 90% in T2- and T2*-weighted images and also removed almost all imaging artifacts caused by coupling bath motion. The coupling baths caused

There is a significant body of knowledge linking lean tools to waste reduction. This research considered system-wide relationships that enabled lean tools to aid waste reduction in industrial processes in a multicultural workplace environment in organisations that previously committed to Lean practices. Ten categories of waste prevalent in industry were categorised into manufacturing, non-manufacturing and well-being. Seven case studies from five companies were conducted which sought to establish the relationship between lean tools and waste in their processes. The study was based on interviews that highlighted the positive and negative impacts that lean tools have on waste. The study generally found a strong connectivity between lean tools and manufacturing waste reduction. However, the key performance indicators (KPIs) tool increased non-manufacturing waste and six lean tools increased well-being waste. Additionally, the findings indicate that some tools can be counter-productive to waste reduction in an industrial system when non-manufacturing and well-being are taken into account. Lean tools were resilient enough that implementation in multicultural workplaces, even with transient populations, did not influence waste generation.

The theories of Henri Lefebvre on the Production of Space have been influential to our understanding of the ontology of space. This paper complements work which draws on Lefebvre but extends its benefit for planning research through a dialogue with the philosophy of Jacques Rancière. Specifically, the paper formulates a novel investigative framework for examining the micropolitics of the production of space by integrating the work of these philosophers. The analytical benefits of this approach for planning research are illustrated through its application to a case study of community gardening in Dublin, Ireland.

This chapter considers the overall importance of understanding and assimilating values when undertaking projects concerned with designing for sustainable futures, in particular when working in large transdisciplinary teams. Examples are drawn from two projects of varying size in New Zealand. The specific roles of a human factors and ergonomics (HFE) professional in transdisciplinary work are also outlined using one of these examples and Hollnagel’s five Nitty Gritty first principles. An additional value for the discipline of HFE is proposed in the form of a commitment to democracy.

An attract-and-kill approach based on pellets from soybean or palm stearin fats blended with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. sensu lato and the aggregation pheromone sordidin (Cosmolure®) was tested against the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The viability of B. bassiana conidia, blended with hydrogenated oil and exposed for up to 150 min to heating at 50 °C, was not affected and the aggregation pheromone did not undergo any decomposition. Conidial viability in pellets decreased by 50% after an average of 15.1 and 9.1 days at 25 and 40 °C, respectively, when packaged in polypropylene bags. Active packaging (hermetic bag + O2/moisture-absorbing sachet) increased the shelf lives almost 10 and 6 times at 25 and 40 °C, respectively. In olfactometer bioassays, fat pellets amended with pheromone (sordidin, 1% wt/vol) were highly attractive to C. sordidus adults for up to 15 days, after which the pheromone release rate had decreased by about 90% and pellets were no longer attractive. Pellets with pheromone and conidia were as attractive to C. sordidus as banana rhizomes, and considerably more attractive than pieces of pseudostem. In no-choice experiments conducted in boxes, survival of insects exposed to fungus-impregnated pellets was affected by fat type (soybean fat vs. palm stearin) and bioassay temperature (25 vs. 30 °C), with results favoring soybean fat pellets at the higher temperature (96.9% of mortality after 18 days and ST50 of 7.7 days). However, mortality levels were low (21.7% for soybean fat pellets) or very low (1–5% for palm stearin pellets) in choice experiments carried out at 25 °C when fungus-impregnated pellets were applied before or after exposure of pseudostem residues to insects, respectively. The potential of this delivery system to manage C. sordidus populations and other insect pests (including those with cryptic habits) is discussed.

In recent years, electroacoustic theorists have drawn attention to the experiences and interpretations of listeners; well-known examples include the writings of Stephane Roy, Luke Windsor, Christiane Ten Hoopen and Denis Smalley. During the same period, relatively little has been said about the methods and techniques employed by composers during the creation of their works. This article starts by considering some of the reasons why methods have been overlooked within the existing body of literature. It goes on to discuss the existing software tool developed at the University of Sheffield, and explains how this software documents the process chain and affords an interaction with the compositional process. The software is then contextualized within a proposed research project, which aims to further develop the software tools, and deliver a series of complete compositional traces by a number of composers, offering these for compilation and comparison. It finishes by proposing ways in which compositional methods might be identified and analysed. © 2013 Intellect Ltd Article.

Experiments on two isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (IMI 389521 and IMI 386243) investigated whether modifying the solid-substrate phase of mass-production, namely the par-boiling, water and washing regimes of the rice substrate, affected conidial yield and germination. Germination was assessed on progressively drier media (0.987, 0.978 and 0.968 a w ); the effects were also studied before and after a period of short-term cool storage. There was little difference in conidial yield between treatments and/or isolates. The only significant difference was IMI 389521 on unwashed then par-boiled rice with 600 ml water/kg rice, which yielded more conidia than IMI 386243 on unwashed and not par-boiled rice. There were significant treatment effects on the germination of both isolates. In particular, the germination of conidia produced on rice that had been washed under running tap-water for 5 min and not par-boiled, was lower than all other treatments, for both isolates. Highest conidial germination for IMI 389521 was from the unwashed then par-boiled rice with 600 ml water/kg, at 96%; highest germination for IMI 386243 was from the unwashed and not par-boiled rice, at 72%. As the growth media was made progressively drier there was no change in the germination levels of IMI 389521, for any of the rice treatments. In contrast, germination of two treatments of IMI 386243, namely washed under running tap-water for 5 min and not par-boiled, and unwashed then par-boiled with 300 ml water/kg, fell significantly (by 29 and 35%, respectively). After 8-weeks storage at 5 °C, germination had fallen significantly for three of the four treatments of IMI 386243 and for one treatment of IMI 389521; the effect was greatest for IMI 386243 produced on unwashed and not par-boiled rice, with a 62% loss in germination. Inherent differences between isolates and limitations of the methodology are discussed.

The coconut palm is an important crop in the sub arid coastal plain of Dhofar, Oman, for the high demand for its nut water and its use as ornamental plant. Damage of coconut fruits by the eriophyid mite Aceria guerreronis Keifer was first reported in that region in the late 1980s, but background information about the ecology of the pest in Oman was missing. Four surveys were conducted in different seasons from 2008 to 2009, to assess the distribution and prevalence of the coconut mite and its damage as well as the presence of natural enemies. Infestation by the coconut mite was conspicuous on most (99.7 %) palm trees, with 82.5 % damaged fruits. The average (±SE) density of coconut mites per fruit was 750 ± 56; this level of infestation led to the incidence of over 25 % of surface damage on more than half of the fruits. The mite appeared more abundant at the end of the cold season through the summer. No significant differences were observed between infestation levels on local varieties, hybrids and on dwarf varieties. Neoseiulus paspalivorus (De Leon), Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai) and Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) were the predatory mites found under the bracts of over 30 % of the coconut fruits and on 68 % of the coconut trees. Considering all sampling dates and all varieties together, average (± SE) phytoseiid density was 1.4 ± 1.19 per fruit. Other mites found in the same habitat as A. guerreronis included the tarsonemids Steneotarsonemus furcatus De Leon and Nasutitarsonemus omani Lofego & Moraes. The pathogenic fungus Hirsutella thompsonii Fisher was rarely found infecting the coconut mite in Dhofar. Other fungal pathogens, namely Cordyceps sp. and Simplicillium sp., were more prevalent.

This paper is the result of a desire to include social factors alongside environmental and economic considerations in Life Cycle Assessment studies for the construction sector. We describe a specific search for a method to include injurious impact for construction Life Cycle Assessment studies, by evaluating a range of methods and data sources. A simple case study using selected Accident Compensation Corporation information illustrates that data relating to injury could provide a compelling evidence to cause changes in construction supply chains, and could provide an economic motive to pursue further research in this area. The paper concludes that limitations notwithstanding, the suggested approach could be useful as a fast and cheap high level tool that can accelerate the discussions and research agenda that will bring about the inclusion of social metrics in construction sector supply chain management and declarations.

Objective: To determine personal and workplace factors associated with quad bike loss of control events (LCEs) on New Zealand farms. Methods: Rural community databases were used to sample 130 farme ...

Abstract A systematic programme of surveys for entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) was done in Chile between 2006 and 2008. The survey spanned the principal ecosystems of mainland Chile as well as a number of islands, and covered a wide range of habitats including the Atacama Desert, Andean Altiplano, temperate rainforests and subpolar territory. Nearly 1400 soil samples were collected, of which 7% were positive for EPN. Of 101 EPN isolates obtained, 94 were Steinernema spp. and seven were Heterorhabditis sp. Of the 94 Steinernema isolates, 39 were identified as Steinernema feltiae, the remainder being distributed between two new species, S. unicornum (52 records) and S. australe (three records). The Heterorhabditis isolates, all designated as Heterorhabditis sp.1, are referred to herein as H. cf. safricana. Steinernema feltiae and S. unicornum were collected predominately in the south of Chile and were obtained from a range of habitats, including forests, open grassland, montane soils and coastal zones; neither species was recovered from the far north of the country (viz., desert soils in the Norte Grande region). Steinernema australe was found in only three soil samples, all from humid, cool, coastal localities in the south. Heterorhabditis cf. safricana was recovered from the northern regions, with most isolates found in or on the periphery of the Atacama Desert; they were not recovered from cooler, more humid regions of southern Chile. Molecular information indicated there were two subgroups of both S. unicornum and S. feltiae, with a geographical, intraspecific split of subgroups between the most southerly and the more central survey zones. All isolates were collected by ex situ baiting with waxmoth larvae and the natural hosts are unknown.

Abstract A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema australe n. sp., was isolated from a soil sample taken close to the beach on Isla Magdalena, an island in the Pacific Ocean, 2 km from mainland Chile. Morphologically the new species belongs to the glaseri-group and is characterised by morphometrics of the infective juvenile which has a very long body of 1316 (1162-1484) μm, excretory pore located far posterior to the anterior extremity (110 (95-125) μm), exceptionally long tail of 103 (92-114) μm, H% = 51 (42-61), E% = 107 (94-122) and a ratio = 35 (31-38). The first generation male has 72 (55-78) μm long spicules, a 45 (36-51) μm long gubernaculum and SW% = 172 (118-196). The first generation female can be recognised by well developed double epiptygmata, the lack of a prominent postanal swelling, a mucron on the tail tip and (in 60% of individuals) one to two subsidiary mucrons. Sequences of the ITS and D2D3 regions of the ribosomal DNA confirm that S. australe n. sp. is a valid species.

Diabroticina is a speciose subtribe of New World Chrysomelidae (Subfamily Galerucinae: Tribe Luperini) that includes pests such as corn rootworms, cucumber beetles and bean leaf beetles (e.g. Diabrotica, Acalymma, Cerotoma species). The evolution and spread of pesticide resistance, the European invasion of Diabrotica v. virgifera LeConte, and possible development of resistance due to the large-scale deployment of Diabrotica-active Bt maize in North America have generated a sense of urgency in developing biological control options against Diabroticina pests. In the present study, we review available knowledge on biological control options, including 290 publications on natural enemy–Diabroticina associations in the New World. Several natural enemy species or groups appear to be promising candidates for control strategies with different ecological rationales. We propose that future research should pursue: (1) development of inundative biological control products, particularly mass-produced entomopa...

As part of a research programme designed to identify biological agents for the control of sheep scab, the pathogenicity of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae to Psoroptes mites in the presence of sheepskin and wool was examined in the laboratory. No inhibitory effects of skin and wool were observed and high levels of infection were recorded. Subsequently the pathogenicity of formulations of both M. anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana to Psoroptes ovis was studied in vivo. For this, 36 batches of 20 adult female Psoroptes mites were confined in 25 mm diameter chambers which were attached to the backs of 6 scab-naive sheep. In some treatments, mites were exposed to the fungal pathogens for 48 h in vitro prior to being placed on the host, while other treatments involved mites with no prior exposure placed directly onto the skin of a host treated with a fungal pathogen. After 48 h on the host, mites were removed, incubated individually and all fungal infections were recorded. Fungal infection was observed in all treatments, except untreated controls. However, B. bassiana infected a significantly greater number of mites than M. anisopliae with all the formulations examined. Infection rates were highest when mites were exposed to dry conidia (>90%) and lowest with M. anisopliae in diatomaceous earth. Overall, the infection rate was not affected by whether or not the mites were given prior exposure to the conidia, before being placed on the sheep. The results demonstrate that Psoroptes mites can become infected by entomopathogenic fungi on the skin of sheep and provides a first demonstration of the potential of this technology for the control of sheep scab.

Slip, trip and fall (STF) incidents, particularly falls from a height, are a leading cause of injury in the New Zealand residential construction industry. The most common origins of falls from a height in this sector are ladders, scaffolding and roofs, while slipping is the most frequent fall initiating event category. The study aimed to provide detailed information on construction industry STF risk factors for high-risk tasks, work equipment and environments, as identified from an earlier analysis of STF claims data, together with information to be used in the development of interventions to reduce STF risk in New Zealand residential construction. The study involved the use of both incident-centred and incident-independent methods of investigation, including detailed follow-up investigations of incidents and observations and interviews with workers on construction sites, to provide data on a wide range of risk factors. A large number of risk factors for residential construction STFs were identified, including factors related to the work environment, tasks and the use and availability of appropriate height work equipment. The different methods of investigation produced complementary information on factors related to equipment design and work organization, which underlie some of the site conditions and work practices identified as key risk factors for residential construction STFs. A conceptual systems model of residential construction STF risk is presented.