New factory layout simulation and immersive VR-experience preview – case Logset Oy

The decision to build new manufacturing facility is one of the most important decisions for company as it requires a lot of resources. Uncertainty of the future will make the decision even harder for the management board. However, development in technology, regarding 3D-simulation software, Virtual reality applications and accessible computing power have made 3D modeling and simulation viable solution for factory planning. Therefore, 3D-simulation and Virtual reality are used in this research as methods to give valuable data and insight for the forest machines manufacturing case company’s decision makers. Visual Components 4.2-software is used in this research to model 3D-simulations. Results contain one assembly line simulation for harvester, one assembly line simulation for forwarder and two layouts to test partially combined assembly line performance. Assembly line simulations are made to build 3D-model of harvester and forwarder and assembly line simulation layouts are given to project researcher as a reference model as this thesis is part of a bigger research project. Harvester and forwarder are built from 3D-models provided by the case company following current assembly process steps. Two partially combined assembly line layouts are made to estimate performance metrics of the new factory, focusing on output volumes, cycle times and lead times of harvester and forwarder. 3D-simulation model for partially combined layout is run to estimate yearly production, showing output volume, mean cycle time and mean lead time for both machines in a different manufacturing scenarios. Results show basic performance metrics of the new factory and simulation can be viewed using Virtual reality-glasses by using Visual experience software, developed by Visual Components. First 3D-simulation model for partially combined assembly line revealed the problem areas and bottlenecks of the assembly lines. Second model is used to show how balancing assembly line and improvements in the manufacturing process can improve the performance of the factory. Results demonstrate that 3D modeling and simulation are advantageous methods for factory planning and Virtual reality can be used as a complementary method for visualization creating more immersive experience

Detection of gaseous nerve agent simulants with broadband photoacoustic spectroscopy

While recent high-profile assassination attempts have once again brought nerve agents (NAs) into the spotlight, the current portfolio of NA sensors lack a sufficient combination of high performance and field-deployability. Here, we report a novel optical sensor for the detection of gaseous NAs with a potential to fill this gap. The technique is based on Fourier transform spectroscopy with a supercontinuum (SC) light source and cantilever-enhanced photoacoustic detection providing fast multi-species gas sensing with high sensitivity and selectivity in a sample volume of 7 ml, which becomes advantageous when analysing limited NA samples in the field. We study the fundamental C–H stretch bands of four known NA simulants and achieve detection limits of 64–530 ppb in one minute and recovery times of a few minutes. In the near future, the technique has significant potential to improve through the development of more powerful SC sources further in the mid-infrared region.Peer reviewe

Taylorism on steroids or enabling autonomy? A systematic review of algorithmic management

The use of algorithmic management systems is rapidly changing organizational models and practices, as millions of workers in multiple sectors worldwide are managed by computer software. Despite receiving increasing academic interest, little summarizing literature exist on the ways algorithmic systems are used in management. This article aims to fill this gap by systematically reviewing and qualitatively analyzing 172 articles on the topic. Our research contributes to the existent algorithmic management literature in three ways. First, we provide a descriptive overview of algorithmic management as a field of research. Second, we identify and synthesize the discussion on the key concepts of the topic, namely how algorithmic management: (1) simultaneously restrains and enables workers’ autonomy—yet income dependency and other factors force inflexible work practices; (2) creates a complex, digital version of Taylorism; and (3) creates new and changes existing organizational power structures. Third, as our main theoretical contribution, we create the framework of Algorithmic Management Grid that demonstrates the ways in which organizations use algorithmic systems in management. The Algorithmic Management Grid illustrates how, in both novel and traditional organizational models, algorithmic management may be used with emphasis either on controlling or enabling workers. Based on the reviewed literature, we claim that so far, companies have mostly utilized algorithmic systems in a controlling manner, neglecting the technology’s enabling potential in organizing.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

The global burden of injury: Incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years and time trends from the global burden of disease study 2013

Background The Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), Injuries, and Risk Factors study used the disabilityadjusted life year (DALY) to quantify the burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. This paper provides an overview of injury estimates from the 2013 update of GBD, with detailed information on incidence, mortality, DALYs and rates of change from 1990 to 2013 for 26 causes of injury, globally, by region and by country. Methods Injury mortality was estimated using the extensive GBD mortality database, corrections for illdefined cause of death and the cause of death ensemble modelling tool. Morbidity estimation was based on inpatient and outpatient data sets, 26 cause-of-injury and 47 nature-of-injury categories, and seven follow-up studies with patient-reported long-term outcome measures. Results In 2013, 973 million (uncertainty interval (UI) 942 to 993) people sustained injuries that warranted some type of healthcare and 4.8 million (UI 4.5 to 5.1) people died from injuries. Between 1990 and 2013 the global age-standardised injury DALY rate decreased by 31% (UI 26% to 35%). The rate of decline in DALY rates was significant for 22 cause-of-injury categories, including all the major injuries. Conclusions Injuries continue to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed and developing world. The decline in rates for almost all injuries is so prominent that it warrants a general statement that the world is becoming a safer place to live in. However, the patterns vary widely by cause, age, sex, region and time and there are still large improvements that need to be made

Climate change and the Baltic Sea : How to be prepared in a sustainable way

Climate change and its effects are a growing concern, not only for the most affected countries but for the planet Earth itself. Climate and global environmental changes have been widely discussed, controversial and researched topics over the last decade. We need to take account more than just one factor for the overall effects on a complex subject like the Baltic Sea. There are many different changes the Earth has gone through and will be going through in modern times and the future. The Baltic Sea is a unique brackish water sea with low resistance and resilience to continuously increasing stress from multiple factors. The economy, energy production, agriculture, environmental changes, large drainage basin with a human population around 85 million, varying environmental policies, climate, and long-term natural changes all affect the condition of the sea. The overall effects of human actions vary from preserving and giving longevity to the sea to destroying all life and contaminating the sea. It is exceedingly important to have ethically working laws, to enforce them, and a fair division for all surrounding countries and related companies, organizations and partners. Mankind has proven to be able to achieve both end results. The main point of this thesis is how to anticipate and prepare for the issues brought about by the effects of climate change on the Baltic sea area. In this thesis I analyze the effects of natural, environmental and manmade changes. I studied evidence of how the changes impact the Baltic sea and provide insight on the current status and what is needed in the future. I will shortly go through some effects of agricultural and economic aspects as well as planetary changes. I will compare how things are done in the surrounding countries to the Baltic Sea to other continents and countries. I researched the climate change topic as I based my study on factual evidence. The responsibilities of the surrounding countries are often critical in impact and are planned through organizations, politicians, scientists, other specialists and partners. The actions of an individual play a critical role on the overall effects on the health of the Baltic Sea. It is important to know at least the basic effects of actions and how they affect the sea. New research about climate issues and earth changes are crucial in trying to solve what actions need to be taken and how to prepare. Ecological energy, products and living are important trends around the world which affect the current conditions and how to prepare in the future. The results I found about climate change conflict with the accepted norm. I placed focus on factual evidence and considered both viewpoints on the issues. Research about energy production led me to see how the future is planned to be in cooperation with surrounding countries of the Baltic Sea. Research and technology advances regarding climate issues are still lacking, but in some fields, actions have already been taken.Ilmaston muutos ja sen vaikutukset ovat kasvava huolenaihe. Vaikutuspiiriin ei kuulu vain eniten kärsivät maat, vaan koko Maapallo. Historiassa ilmasto ja maan muutokset ovat paljon kiistelty, puhuttu ja tutkittu aihealue. Kokonaisuuden laajista vaikutuksista Itämereen on otettava huomioon muitakin tekijöitä kuin ilmastonmuutos. Itämeri on ainutlaatuinen murtomeri. Sen vastustuskyky ja resilienssi on alhainen pitkäaikaisiin ja monipuolisiin stressitekijöihin. Ekonomia, energian tuotanto, maanviljelys, ympäristön muutokset, valtava valuma-alue, ympärysmaiden vaihteleva ympäristöpolitiikka, ilmasto, ja pitkän aikavälin luonnolliset muutokset kuten magneettikentän vaihtelut ja mannerlaattojen liikkeet vaikuttavat meren terveyteen. Ihmistoimintojen kokonaisvaikutukset voivat antaa merelle joko pitkäikäisyyttä ja suojelua tai pahimmillaan aiheuttaa meren täysivaltaisen tuhoamisen ja saastumisen. On hyvin tärkeää ylläpitää eettisiä ja toimivia lakeja sekä varmistaa niiden täytäntöönpanoa kaikissa ympärysvaltioissa, yrityksissä, organisaatioissa ja muilla yhteistyökumppaneilla. Taakan jako tasaisesti ja reilusti on myös erittäin tärkeää. Tässä opinnäytetyössä käydään läpi, kuinka ennakoida ja valmistautua tuleviin ilmastouhkiin ja Maan muutoksiin Itämeressä. Käyn läpi keskitetysti ympäristön, luonnollisten, ihmislähtöisten muutoksista sekä vaihtelevien tietojen ja faktojen vaikutukset. Puhun lyhyesti maatalouden, planetaaristen muutoksien, ja ekonomian vaikutuksista. Tutkin merien suojelua ja hallintaa muissa maissa, organisaatioissa ja maanosissa. Ympäröivien maiden vastuut ovat usein vaikutukseltaan kriittisiä toiminnan suhteen, ja ne suunnitellaan organisaatioiden, poliitikkojen, tiedemiesten sekä muiden asiantuntijoiden ja yhteistyökumppanien kanssa. Yksilön teot vaikuttavat suuresti Itämeren tilan kokonaisterveyteen. On tärkeää tietää yksittäistekojen perusperiaatteet ja miten ne vaikuttavat mereen. Uudet tutkimukset ilmasto-ongelmista ja Maan muutoksista ovat tärkeitä selvittäessä, miten toimia ja varautua. Ekologinen energia, tuotteet ja asuminen on tärkeä trendi ympäri maailmaa, joka vaikuttaa olosuhteiden nykytilaan ja siihen, miten valmistautua tulevaisuudessa. Tulokset ilmastonmuutoksesta ovat hyväksytyn normin vastaisia. Kuitenkin keskityn faktoihin ja käyn läpi useamman näkökulman liittyen ongelmiin. Tutkimuksessani energian tuotannosta selvitin tulevaisuuden keinoja ja kuinka kyseisiä keinoja tullaan käyttämään eri maissa. Tutkimukset ja teknologia ilmasto-ongelmiin on tällä hetkellä vielä vajavaista, mutta kehitystä ja valmistautumista löytyy tietyillä osa-alueilla

Taylorism on steroids or enabling autonomy? A systematic review of algorithmic management

The use of algorithmic management systems is rapidly changing organizational models and practices, as millions of workers in multiple sectors worldwide are managed by computer software. Despite receiving increasing academic interest, little summarizing literature exist on the ways algorithmic systems are used in management. This article aims to fill this gap by systematically reviewing and qualitatively analyzing 172 articles on the topic. Our research contributes to the existent algorithmic management literature in three ways. First, we provide a descriptive overview of algorithmic management as a field of research. Second, we identify and synthesize the discussion on the key concepts of the topic, namely how algorithmic management: (1) simultaneously restrains and enables workers’ autonomy—yet income dependency and other factors force inflexible work practices; (2) creates a complex, digital version of Taylorism; and (3) creates new and changes existing organizational power structures. Third, as our main theoretical contribution, we create the framework of Algorithmic Management Grid that demonstrates the ways in which organizations use algorithmic systems in management. The Algorithmic Management Grid illustrates how, in both novel and traditional organizational models, algorithmic management may be used with emphasis either on controlling or enabling workers. Based on the reviewed literature, we claim that so far, companies have mostly utilized algorithmic systems in a controlling manner, neglecting the technology’s enabling potential in organizing.peerReviewe

Evolution of strategy narration and leadership work in the digital era

This paper examines the evolution of strategy narration, contributing to ongoing discussions in this field. Our empirical data, gathered from a large Finnish co-operative bank, cover three decades. According to our findings, digitalisation has brought about an epoch change in strategy narration, as top management has strongly adopted digital media in their leadership work, which has replaced ‘traditional’ face-to-face strategy meetings and public presentations by gatherings on digital platforms, including webcasting, intranet and Skype. This has brought about a leadership vacuum, and left organisational members long for their superiors to ‘exercise’ some traditional leadership practices, such as caring and presence, both calling for face-to-face interaction. Thus, leadership roles, in terms of human-to-human interaction, seem to still be desired, and digitalisation has not entirely replaced the importance of the presence of an embodied leader. In our data, the leaders did not resort to intentional fabrication of alternative facts in the post-truth sense, but rather fantasising in the sense that strategising always involves fictional narration without a reference to historical facts as it relates to forthcoming events. Due to this, the post-truth framework of alternative facts and intentional truth bending does not entirely fit in describing strategy narration in business context. However, increasingly digital plurivocal narration with several participants is likely to result in multiple organisational ‘truths’. Therefore, dealing with such ambiguity and the exercise of leadership power requires leaders’ awareness of the flux of quickly evolving digital organisational storytelling.peerReviewe

One-carbon and energy metabolism in major depression compared to chronic depression in adolescent outpatients: A metabolomic pilot study

Abstract Background While considered less severe than major depressive disorder (MDD), chronic depression has a devastating effect on people's lives. Metabolic alterations related to chronicity are still widely unknown. We investigated metabolic alterations in patients with depression and compared the episodic and chronic forms. Methods The study participants comprised 76 adolescent outpatients (33 MDD, 43 chronic depression). Patients’ serum samples were analyzed with targeted metabolite analysis, yielding results for 102 metabolites associated, for example, with amino acid, energy, lipid, and one-carbon metabolism. Results After controlling for background factors, the chronic depression group had higher levels of choline (Cohen's d = 0.52 and unadjusted 95% confidence interval [0.05, 0.98]), glutamine (d = 0.42 [-0.04, 0.88]), glycine (d = 0.41 [-0.04, 0.87]), glycine betaine (d = 0.48 [0.02, 0.94]), guanidinoacetic acid (d = 0.23 [-0.23, 0.68]), octanoylcarnitine (d = 0.60 [0.13, 1.06]), phosphoethanolamine (d = 0.34 [-0.12, 0.79]) and succinate (d = 0.61 [0.14, 1.07]), and lower levels of glutamate (d = -0.66 [-1.12, -0.18]) when compared to the MDD group, although these differences did not remain after correction for multiple testing. Limitations The sample size was small for targeted metabolomic analysis, and the study did not include a healthy control group. Conclusions These preliminary results indicate putative differences in one-carbon metabolism and energy metabolism between chronic depression and MDD, possibly due to long-term chronic stress. Metabolic profiles appear to have the potential firstly to identify and distinguish different types of depression, and secondly to help in personalizing treatments in the future.Peer reviewe

The associations between metabolic profiles and sexual and physical abuse in depressed adolescent psychiatric outpatients : an exploratory pilot study

Background: Sexual and physical abuse have been associated with long-term systemic alterations such as low-grade inflammation and changes in brain morphology that may be reflected in the metabolome. However, data on the metabolic consequences of sexual and physical abuse remain scarce. Objective: This pilot study sought to investigate changes in the metabolite profile related to sexual and physical abuse in depressed adolescent psychiatric outpatients. Method: The study included 76 patients aged 14-18 years, whose serum samples were analysed with a targeted metabolite profiling methodology. We estimated the associations between metabolite concentrations and the Trauma and Distress Scale (TADS) Sexual and Physical Abuse factor scores using three linear regression models (one unadjusted and two adjusted) per metabolite and trauma type pair. Additional variables in the two adjusted models were 1) the lifestyle indicators body mass index, tobacco use, and alcohol use, and 2) depression scores and the chronicity of depression. Results: TADS Sexual Abuse scores associated positively with homogentisic acid, as well as cystathionine, and negatively with choline in linear regression analysis, whereas TADS Physical Abuse scores associated negatively with AMP, choline, gamma-glutamyl cysteine and succinate, and positively with D-glucuronic acid. Conclusions: This pilot study did not include a healthy control group for comparison and the cohort was relatively small. Nevertheless, we observed alterations in metabolites related to one-carbon metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation in depressed patients with a history of sexual or physical abuse.Peer reviewe