Service recovery innebär företags försök att uppväga kunders negativa reaktioner på ett misslyckande vid leverans av en tjänst. Det här är ett relativt välutforskat ämne, men fokus är nästan uteslutande på kunden och hur den ska hanteras. Kundperspektivet är dock bara en av tre delar som ingår i service recovery. Förutom att göra kunderna nöjda, behöver företag arbeta aktivt med att förbättra processerna samt ge medarbetarna rätt förutsättningar för att hantera misslyckanden och därefter återhämta sig. Det sistnämnda, kallat employee recovery, upplever vi ha blivit bortprioriterat och nonchalerat i en majoritet av tidigare forskning inom service recovery. Den här uppsatsen har därför för avsikt att belysa employee recovery, för att få nöjda och lojala medarbetare. Studien är utförd på två turismföretag i norra Lappland, Icehotel och Björkliden. Vi har använt en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi, där vi genom semistrukturerade intervjuer åskådliggjort hur receptionisterna och deras chefer arbetar med service recovery. 16 intervjuer genomfördes och syftet var att därigenom finna hinder och drivkrafter för employee recovery, dvs. hur medarbetarna stöttas till återhämtning efter att ha hanterat missnöjda kunder. De slutsatser vi dragit, utifrån det empiriska materialet, kan sammanfattas med att hur medarbetare upplever employee recovery framförallt beror på kontexten. Vi vill därför framhäva att generaliserbarheten för slutsatserna är högst begränsad. Receptionisternas bemyndigande, dvs. hur de tillåts ta egna initiativ, förefaller var en stark drivkraft för employee recovery. Icehotel arbetade aktivt med att bemyndiga sin personal, medan Björkliden var betydligt mer restriktiva i detta avseende. Enligt vår studie gynnas employee recovery av att receptionerna på båda företagen leds av en karismatisk och deltagande receptionschef. Dock skiljer sig stöttningen åt mellan företagen, i och med skillnader i den ovan nämnda inställningen till bemyndigande. Stolthet och lojalitet gentemot företagen verkar även det skilja de båda receptionsstaberna åt. På Icehotel ser vi en drivkraft för employee recovery i receptionisternas stolthet över företaget, samtidigt som vi frågar oss om deras utryckta lojalitet främst kan kopplas till receptionschefen som person, snarare än till företaget i sig. I Björkliden framstår receptionisterna förvisso uppleva en viss typ av stolthet, men den tycks framförallt vara relaterad till den naturupplevelse som destinationen kan erbjuda. Däremot brister lojaliteten i andra avseenden, som exempelvis att förbättringar upplevs utföras efter felaktiga prioriteringar. Ytterligare en slutsats är att den främsta motivationsfaktorn för att utföra service recovery är inre belöning. Det här tycker vi sammanfattas bra med studiens titel, som en av receptionisterna utryckte, ”man måste vara egoistisk för att kunna hjälpa andra”.

Prior studies have shown that exposure to uncontrollable stimulation can have a variety of adverse consequences on plasticity. For example, as little as 30 min of uncontrollable shock to the tail disrupts both the capacity for instrumental learning and the recovery of locomotor function following spinal cord injury (SCI). Whereas evidence suggests that the disruption of instrumental learning depends on maladaptive plasticity within spinal cord neurons, it is still unknown whether the disruptive effects of shock on locomotor recovery following SCI reflects a brain or spinally-mediated effect. The present experiments address this research question by determining whether shock exposure induces an alteration within the spinal cord of contused rats and testing the effects of disrupting communication between the spinal cord and brain during shock exposure to see if this manipulation protects animals from the effects of shock on locomotor recovery. Experiment 1 found that contused rats transected prior to shock exposure failed to acquire the instrumental response when tested 24 hours later. In addition, contused animals transected after shock exposure also failed to learn when tested, though this effect was less robust. Given the results of Experiment 1, it is plausible that impaired spinal function is sufficient to explain the effects of shock on locomotor recovery. Experiments 2 and 3 addressed this possibility by manipulating communication between the brain and spinal cord prior to shock exposure. In Experiment 2 intrathecal lidocaine was applied rostral to the injury to temporarily disrupt transmission. In Experiment 3, normal brain function was inhibited with intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital. Interestingly, both manipulations showed that disrupting normal communication between the spinal cord and brain during shock exposure protected animals from the adverse consequences of shock on locomotor recovery. The data suggest that, following SCI, blocking communication between the brain and spinal cord protects animals from the adverse consequences of uncontrollable stimulation.

This research suggests ways of reducing contamination of iodine-126 in iodine-125 and lays out a simpler iodine-125 production technique to increase the yield. By using aluminum irradiation vessels the yield of iodine-125 produced by neutron irradiation of Xe-124 can be doubled compared to using stainless steel vessels. Because of increased yields irradiation times are shorter, the chance of I-126 contamination is reduced. Solidified iodine within the aluminum vessels can be extracted using 0.1 N sodium hydroxide solution, however the solution also reacts with the vessel walls. These impurities in the extracted solution are then removed by distillation that concentrates and purifies the extracted solution. High recovery, ranging from 88 to 96 percent, was typical for the experiments described. Gamma spectroscopic results suggest that the distillate is free from any impurities such as aluminum or sodium ions. Distillation can reduce the extracted solution to at least one third or less of its original volume. The work described here provides the basis for I-125 production at the Texas A&M Nuclear Science Center.

This research suggests ways of reducing contamination of iodine-126 in iodine-125 and lays out a simpler iodine-125 production technique to increase the yield. By using aluminum irradiation vessels the yield of iodine-125 produced by neutron irradiation of Xe-124 can be doubled compared to using stainless steel vessels. Because of increased yields irradiation times are shorter, the chance of I-126 contamination is reduced. Solidified iodine within the aluminum vessels can be extracted using 0.1 N sodium hydroxide solution, however the solution also reacts with the vessel walls. These impurities in the extracted solution are then removed by distillation that concentrates and purifies the extracted solution. High recovery, ranging from 88 to 96 percent, was typical for the experiments described. Gamma spectroscopic results suggest that the distillate is free from any impurities such as aluminum or sodium ions. Distillation can reduce the extracted solution to at least one third or less of its original volume. The work described here provides the basis for I-125 production at the Texas A&M Nuclear Science Center.

Prior studies have shown that exposure to uncontrollable stimulation can have a variety of adverse consequences on plasticity. For example, as little as 30 min of uncontrollable shock to the tail disrupts both the capacity for instrumental learning and the recovery of locomotor function following spinal cord injury (SCI). Whereas evidence suggests that the disruption of instrumental learning depends on maladaptive plasticity within spinal cord neurons, it is still unknown whether the disruptive effects of shock on locomotor recovery following SCI reflects a brain or spinally-mediated effect. The present experiments address this research question by determining whether shock exposure induces an alteration within the spinal cord of contused rats and testing the effects of disrupting communication between the spinal cord and brain during shock exposure to see if this manipulation protects animals from the effects of shock on locomotor recovery. Experiment 1 found that contused rats transected prior to shock exposure failed to acquire the instrumental response when tested 24 hours later. In addition, contused animals transected after shock exposure also failed to learn when tested, though this effect was less robust. Given the results of Experiment 1, it is plausible that impaired spinal function is sufficient to explain the effects of shock on locomotor recovery. Experiments 2 and 3 addressed this possibility by manipulating communication between the brain and spinal cord prior to shock exposure. In Experiment 2 intrathecal lidocaine was applied rostral to the injury to temporarily disrupt transmission. In Experiment 3, normal brain function was inhibited with intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital. Interestingly, both manipulations showed that disrupting normal communication between the spinal cord and brain during shock exposure protected animals from the adverse consequences of shock on locomotor recovery. The data suggest that, following SCI, blocking communication between the brain and spinal cord protects animals from the adverse consequences of uncontrollable stimulation.

Thesis (M.A.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2009. / Thesis advisor: Marc Goldstein. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 29-31). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Current copper deposits contain significant amounts of secondary non-sulphide minerals and newly discovered deposits are increasingly complex. As a result, research into the improvement of sulphide-oxide copper ores processing through the use of mixed collector systems has surged. The flotation of a natural porphyry copper ore with bornite and malachite was investigated via fundamental work with pure minerals and a bench-scale testing regime. The processing of the test ore was problematic due to a mineral assemblage that caused prevalent slime generation. Fundamental adsorption, micro-flotation and Eh-pH tests were conducted on pure minerals to investigate mineral-collector behaviours. PAX and hydroxamate form multiple collector layers on malachite and bornite, with malachite and hydroxamate exhibiting the highest adsorption density. The effective pH range of the collectors was pH 8-10 where the collector species, according to equilibrium species distribution diagrams, were Cu(HXM)2 (aq) and CuEX (s) for hydroxamate and xanthate respectively. A Box-Behnken response surface design was used to determine collector dosages that provide an optimum flotation response for the natural ore. The collectors were: potassium amyl xanthate (PAX), Cytec Promoter 6494 hydroxamate and DETA. The copper recovery, malachite recovery, minor copper recovery and copper grade responses were optimized using JMP statistical software. Indicators of model inadequacies were noted but since the models predicted sensible solutions, inaccurate test ratios and un-modeled effects were hypothesized to be the source of the inadequacies. The model predicted 98 % copper recovery using 202.7g/t PAX, 674.99 g/t hydroxamate and 61.9 g/t DETA. The copper grade model predicted an the overall copper grade of 19% using with 0 g/t PAX, 167 g/t hydroxamate and 101 g/t DETA. / Thesis (Master, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-20 13:07:15.794

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Post-exercise recovery techniques are being used increasingly in elite sport, but scientific study in this area is only emerging. The aim of this study was to collect information on the use and perceived effectiveness of the different recovery techniques used with athletes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Queensland Academy of Sport coaches and other high-performance coaches from seven sports (three team sports and four individual sports). The interview questions sought to examine the coaches’ understanding of recovery, personal experiences, and the modalities and techniques used with their athletes. Interviews lasted an average of 45 minutes and were transcribed for qualitative content analysis and checked for accuracy by the coaches. Triangular consensus was used throughout the coding process to constantly revisit and redefine the open and axial codes that emerged. Three themes emerged: understanding of recovery, recovery modalities used, and monitoring of recovery. Understanding of recovery relates to the coaches’ overall view and general understanding of recovery. Coaches reported that recovery consisted of physical, mental and neural components, and is important to the overall performance, repeated performance, and training of athletes. Coaches gained their recovery knowledge from a variety of sources across their own athlete and coaching pathways. Transferring this knowledge to athletes was perceived as important for enabling athletes to implement and adhere to recovery within their training plans. The recovery modalities used most often were low-intensity activity, stretching, nutrition, massage, contrast water immersion, cryotherapy, sleep and rest. Practicality and accessibility (e.g., time and cost) for the athletes’ daily training environment were key factors influencing use of different recovery modalities. Coaches reported that they applied recovery modalities according to their own past coaching experiences or experiences of other coaches and sport science professionals. It appeared that coaches learn recovery information best by watching and speaking with others, especially other coaches and sports personnel. Factors contributing to use of recovery modalities include convenience and accessibility of a modality. Time restraint was an evident factor. Other factors that seem to contribute to the use of recovery modalities include the awareness of a modality’s existence, perceived modality strength of effect (or negative effect), and the compliance with and attitude of athletes to the modality. The personal experience of a coach using specific recovery modalities also impacted on whether the coach prescribed the modality and encouraged athletes to use the modality. However, it was clear from the study that athletes need to take responsibility for applying the recovery modalities themselves mainly because of logistical reasons. Recovery was monitored most often through informal observation rather than formal investigation. The most common monitoring approaches were coach observation and athlete reporting (diaries and discussions). Some coaches indicated that using a combination of approaches is useful and effective for gaining maximal benefits. Further investigation of monitoring approaches and prioritising them in terms of ease of implementation are needed. In summary, this study provided insight into the use of recovery modalities in elite sport and implications for use by professionals assisting coaches and athletes. In light of the limited research in some areas of recovery, a network could be established to capture the coaches’ learned experiences and information on recovery to share with each other across different sports.

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