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Collaborative contract and contract theory
No full textTheory of contract law has difficulties in covering collaborative contracts, because it focuses on adversarial relationships, complete contracts and disputes in courts. Whereas, economic contract theories are not litigation-oriented but focus mostly on explaining how governance structures are chosen and how to safeguard from opportunistic behaviour. Relational contract theory, which sees contract as a relationship, is often applied for collaborative contracts. However, traditional old-fashioned contract law is based on freedom of contract, which allows contracting parties to create their own contracts and build their own framework for collaboration within their private autonomy. These practices of private governance can be called contracting. In this chapter, we argue that the freedom of contract could be used more effectively, were path-dependency and traditional mindset not constraining contract designers. One of the path-dependent constraints is that contracts are still too often written for potential disputes in courts, even when they could be written for the contracting parties to coordinate their collaboration. Practice-oriented and multidisciplinary proactive contracting approaches contracts from ex ante as tools for collaboration between contracting parties. Proactive contracting also approaches contract as a lifecycle process. Like relational contract theory, the proactive contract approach contributes to designing framework for collaboration in business and maintaining the relationship. To develop to a recognized framework theory, proactive contracting needs more interdisciplinary empirical research.Peer reviewe
How do omnichannel customer experiences affect customer engagement? : Theory and empirical validation
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)To clarify the effect of the omnichannel customer experience (OCX) on customer engagement, this article empirically analyzes how OCX affects direct and indirect customer engagement intentions. Using data from two surveys (Study 1n = 312; Study 2n = 822) of U.S. omnichannel retail customers, the empirical findings demonstrate that the positive relationship between OCX and a measure of direct customer engagement (i.e., repurchase intentions) depends on the stage of the customer–retailer relationship. Customers’ novelty-seeking and time-consciousness traits strengthen the positive relationship of OCX with indirect measures of customer engagement (i.e., influence, feedback, and referral intentions). The findings caution against oversimplistic assumptions about how customer experiences create value in omnichannel retailing. To boost customers’ repurchase intentions, omnichannel retailers should employ different OCX strategies in different relationship stages. In addition, they can benefit from targeting customers who exhibit high inherent novelty seeking and time consciousness.Peer reviewe
Exploring HR-professionals perceptions of a skills-based approach in talent management - A qualitative study of Finnish HR-professionals
No full textContinuous skill development is essential for companies and individuals to remain competitive in an increasingly complex labor market. The increasing need for reskilling, up-skilling, and lifelong learning requires organizations to adopt more effective approaches for identifying, assessing, and utilizing competencies. This thesis explores the ways in which various Finnish HR-professionals conceptualize the idea of a skills-based approach in talent management, including how they perceive its impact on current organizational talent practices, and what benefits and challenges they anticipate in its implementation. Ten semi-structured interviews with ten participating HR-professionals were conducted as a method of this qualitative study. Thematic analysis was used for analyzing the data.
The data analysis revealed six major themes that can be grouped into two general categories. Firstly, HR-professionals conceptualize the skills-based approach as an opportunity to redefine work beyond traditional job titles, emphasizing the importance of competency mapping and continuous learning. Secondly, they identify both benefits and challenges in implementing this approach to current talent management practices, such as enhanced employee engagement, improved collaboration across teams, and the necessity for ongoing skills development. These findings highlight both the benefits and challenges associated with implementing a skills-based approach in talent management.
According to the findings, HR-professionals perceive that the skills-based approach holds promise for enhanced organizational flexibility and improved talent management practices. Nonetheless, issues such as lack of understanding what skills are needed, continuous learning demands to stay effective in the labor market, and challenge in integrating the approach with current organizational talent strategies were frequently brought to light.
In conclusion, these findings provide valuable insights for Finnish organizations considering the adoption of a skills-based approach as part of talent management. While the approach offers significant transformative potential, addressing these key challenges is crucial for its successful implementation
Calibration improvements expand filterscope diagnostic use
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).The filterscope diagnostic on DIII-D utilizes photomultiplier tubes to measure visible light emission from the plasma. The system has undergone a substantial upgrade since previous attempts to cross-calibrate the filterscope with other spectroscopic diagnostics were unsuccessful. The optics now utilize a dichroic mirror to initially split the light at nearly 99% transmission or reflectance for light below or above 550 nm. This allows the system to measure Dα emission without degrading visible light emission from the plasma for wavelengths below 550 nm (to measure Dβ, Dγ, W-I, C-III, etc.). Additional optimization of the optical components and calibration techniques reduce the error in the signal up to 10% in some channels compared to previous methods. Cross-calibration measurements with two other high resolution spectroscopic diagnostics now show excellent agreement for the first time. This expands the capabilities of the filterscope system allowing measurement of divertor detachment, emission profiles, edge-localized mode behavior, and plasma-wall interactions. It also enables direct comparisons against calculations from boundary plasma simulations. These were not possible before.Peer reviewe
Hölder regularity for degenerate parabolic double-phase equations
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)We prove that bounded weak solutions to degenerate parabolic double-phase equations of p-Laplace type are locally Hölder continuous. The proof is based on phase analysis and methods for the p-Laplace equation. In particular, the phase analysis determines whether the double-phase equation is locally similar to the p-Laplace or the q-Laplace equation.Peer reviewe
Locating activation sites of TMS with opposite current directions using probabilistic modelling and biophysical axon models
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 The AuthorsBackground: Motor responses evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) using posterior–anterior (PA) and anterior–posterior (AP) current directions have distinct latencies and thresholds. However, the underlying reasons for these differences remain unclear. Objective: To quantify the differences in activation sites between PA- and AP-TMS. Methods: Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from five hand and arm muscles in nine healthy participants using both PA- and AP-TMS. Active motor thresholds were determined at 11 magnetic coil positions on the scalp. Probabilistic modelling was used to combine the measured threshold data with calculated electric field data from individual MRI-based models. This approach constructed 70 probability distributions of the activation site, dependent on the muscle and TMS direction. Results: Modelling indicated that both PA- and AP-TMS more likely activated structures in white matter than in grey matter. PA-TMS activation sites were primarily in the white or grey matter in the precentral gyrus, while the AP-TMS activations were deeper and more posterior and lateral, likely within white matter under the postcentral and/or precentral gyri. Tractography and biophysical axon models provided a potential explanation on the location of activation sites: AP-TMS may activate the bends of white matter axons farther from M1 than PA-TMS, such that the conduction velocity along the neural tract could potentially explain the longer MEP latency of AP-TMS. The differences in activation sites among the five hand and arm muscles were small. Conclusion: While a direct experimental confirmation of the activation sites is still needed, the results suggest that electric field analysis combined with tractography and biophysical axon modelling could be a useful computational tool for analysing and optimizing TMS.Peer reviewe
Dyed with spices - exploring the potential of natural dyes in textiles
No full textThis material study examined natural dyeing and the use of spices as colorants. Natural dyeing has a long tradition, and the roots of spice dyeing can be traced back to ancient India. As environmental awareness increases, natural and sustainable dyeing techniques are drawing growing interest as alternatives to synthetic dyes. Using spices and other natural materials in dyeing offers a way to reduce the use of chemical dyes, which may be harmful to both the environment and human health. India’s craft traditions where dyeing has been an integral part of culture and livelihood for centuries—provide valuable insights into natural dyeing methods. This study explored how these traditional dyeing techniques could be applied to the coloring of contemporary textile materials.
The aim of the research was to make natural dyeing more approachable and accessible by using spices commonly available in grocery stores as dyes. A practical approach and the use of familiar materials helped lower the threshold for engaging with traditional dyeing techniques and enabled experimentation without specialized tools or hard-to-find materials. The study sought to promote the adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly dyeing methods by demonstrating how everyday, easily available food products can serve as ecological alternatives to synthetic dyes.
The study was conducted as an experimental material investigation, focusing on the suitability of three different spices, turmeric, paprika, and cinnamon, for natural dyeing. Dyeing experiments were carried out on four different textile fibers: cotton, hemp, silk, and wool. This made it possible to compare how different fiber materials respond to spice-based dyes. The effect of mordanting was also examined. Three different mordanting methods were used: no mordant, alum mordant, and soy milk mordant. This allowed for an evaluation of the role of mordanting in dye adhesion and color vibrancy. Additionally, the dyeing trials were divided into two cooking temperature groups (60°C and 80–90°C) to assess the impact of temperature on dyeing results. All combinations of dye, fiber type, mordanting method, and cooking temperature were systematically documented and clearly tabulated. The diverse approach enabled the study of several variables affecting the outcome.
The dyeing results showed that the properties of the spices used significantly influenced the success of the dyeing. Turmeric produced the strongest and most even tones across all fiber types, while paprika resulted in weaker and more uneven coloration than expected. Cinnamon proved to be a surprisingly effective natural dye, yielding soft, natural brown tones. Of the mordanting methods, samples mordanted with soy milk dyed almost as lightly as the unmordanted ones, whereas alum mordanting slightly enhanced the color depth. Wool absorbed color most intensely with all spices, demonstrating the generally better dye uptake of animal fibers compared to plant-based fibers. Differences in the composition of the dye baths and the unevenness of mordanting also affected the visual quality of the dyeing results, but at the same time offered opportunities to create unique and aesthetically interesting surfaces.
The study showed that dyeing with spices presents an interesting and ecological alternative for textile coloration. Although the results varied depending on the spice used, the fiber material, and the mordanting method, a diverse palette of natural hues was achieved without synthetic chemicals. It would be interesting to continue this research by studying the dyeing properties of other spices and comparing the color performance of spices from different manufacturers. If spice dyeing were to be more widely adopted in the textile industry, it would also be beneficial to investigate the wash, light, and abrasion fastness of the dyed textiles.Tämä materiaalitutkimus tarkasteli luonnonvärjäystä ja mausteiden käyttöä väriaineina. Luonnonvärjäyksellä oli pitkä perinne, ja maustevärjäyksen juuret ulottuivat muinaiseen Intiaan. Luonnonmukainen ja kestävä värjäystekniikka herätti yhä enemmän kiinnostusta synteettisten väriaineiden vaihtoehtona, erityisesti ympäristötietoisuuden lisääntyessä. Mausteiden ja muiden luonnonmateriaalien käyttö värjäyksessä tarjosi mahdollisuuden vähentää kemiallisten väriaineiden käyttöä, jotka saattoivat olla haitallisia ympäristölle ja terveydelle. Intian käsityöperinteet, joissa värjäys oli ollut olennainen osa kulttuuria ja elinkeinoja vuosisatojen ajan, tarjosivat arvokasta tietoa luonnonvärjäysmenetelmistä. Tässä materiaalitutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin näiden perinteisten värjäysmenetelmien soveltamista nykyajan tekstiilimateriaalien värjäykseen.
Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tehdä luonnonvärjäyksestä helposti lähestyttävää ja saavutettavaa hyödyntämällä yleisesti ruokakaupoissa saatavilla olevia mausteita väriaineina. Käytännönläheinen lähestymistapa ja tuttujen materiaalien rajaus madalsivat kynnystä tutustua perinteisiin värjäystekniikoihin ja loivat mahdollisuuksia kokeiluihin ilman erikoisvälineitä tai vaikeasti hankittavia värjäysmateriaaleja. Tutkimus pyrki edistämään kestävien ja ympäristöystävällisten värjäysmenetelmien yleistymistä tuomalla esiin, kuinka arkipäiväiset ja helposti saatavat elintarvikkeet saattoivat toimia ekologisina vaihtoehtoina synteettisille väriaineille.
Tutkimus toteutettiin kokeellisena materiaalitutkimuksena, jossa tarkasteltiin kolmen eri mausteen, eli kurkuman, paprikan ja kanelin, soveltuvuutta luonnonvärjäykseen. Värjäyskokeet suoritettiin neljälle erilaiselle tekstiilikuidulle: puuvillalle, hampulle, silkille ja villalle. Näin pystyttiin vertailemaan, kuinka eri kuitumateriaalit reagoivat maustepohjaisiin väriaineisiin. Värjäyksen vaikutuksia tutkittiin myös puretuksen näkökulmasta. Kokeissa käytettiin kolmea eri puretustapaa: ilman puretusta, alunapuretus sekä soijamaidolla tapahtuva puretus. Näin pystyttiin arvioimaan puretuksen roolia värin tarttuvuudessa ja sävyjen kirkkaudessa. Lisäksi värjäyskokeet jaettiin kahteen eri keittolämpötilaan (60 °C ja 80–90 °C), jotta saatiin tietoa lämpötilan vaikutuksesta värjäystulokseen. Kaikki yhdistelmät väriaineesta, tekstiilikuidusta, puretustavasta ja keittolämpötilasta dokumentoitiin systemaattisesti ja taulukoitiin selkeästi. Tutkimuksen monipuolinen lähestymistapa mahdollisti useiden eri muuttujien vaikutuksen tarkastelun.
Värjäystulokset osoittivat, että käytettyjen mausteiden ominaisuudet vaikuttivat värjäyksen onnistumiseen. Kurkuma tuotti voimakkaimmat ja tasaisimmat sävyt kaikilla kuitumateriaaleilla, kun taas paprika jäi värikylläisyydeltään odotettua heikommaksi ja epätasaisemmaksi. Kaneli osoittautui yllättävän tehokkaaksi luonnonväriaineeksi, tuottaen pehmeitä ja luonnollisia ruskean sävyjä. Puretustavoista soijamaidolla puretetut tilkut värjäytyivät lähes yhtä vaaleasti kuin purettamattomat, kun taas alunapuretus lisäsi hieman värien syvyyttä. Villakuitu värjäytyi voimakkaimmin kaikilla mausteilla, mikä osoitti eläinkuitujen yleisesti paremman värinottokyvyn kasvikuituihin verrattuna. Värjäysliemien koostumukselliset erot ja puretuksen epätasaisuus vaikuttivat osaltaan värjäystulosten visuaaliseen laatuun, mutta toisaalta tarjosivat mahdollisuuksia ainutlaatuisten ja esteettisesti kiinnostavien pintojen luomiseen.
Tutkimus osoitti, että mausteilla värjääminen tarjoaa kiinnostavan ja ekologisen vaihtoehdon tekstiilien värjäykseen. Vaikka värjäystulokset vaihtelivat käytetyn mausteen, kuitumateriaalin ja puretustavan mukaan, saavutettiin monipuolinen valikoima luonnollisia sävyjä ilman synteettisiä kemikaaleja. Tutkimusta olisi kiinnostavaa jatkaa tutkimalla muiden mausteiden värjääviä ominaisuuksia ja vertailla eri maustevalmistajien mausteiden värjäävyyttä. Mikäli mausteilla värjäämistä haluttaisiin lähteä laajemmin hyödyntämään tekstiiliteollisuudessa, olisi hyödyllistä tutkia myös värjättyjen tekstiiilien pesun-, valon- ja kulutuksenkestoa.Peer reviewe
Degradation of openness? A comparative study on the evolution of open source in software and large language models
No full textThis thesis explores how the enablers and challenges of open source phenomenon in the context of large language models (LLMs) differ to those that influenced the evolution of open-source software (OSS). While open source is well-established in OSS, its application within the rapidly evolving field of generative AI and LLMs remains underexplored. The concept of open source was examined through re-sources, processes, phenomena, and technical requirements.
Using inductive approach, empirical data was gathered with semi-structured interviews with 16 experts ranging from developers, researchers, open-source com-munity members, and legal professionals.
The findings reaffirm key enablers of open source, such as collaboration and re-source accessibility, but highlight that resource intensity, the opaque nature of LLMs, legal uncertainties, and commercial pressures constrain openness. Consequently, the concept of open source requires adaptation to fit the unique context of LLMs, leading to the introduction of Open Source LLMs (OLLMs), a concept evolving in response to legal, technological, and market dynamics.
For managers, the study emphasizes the need of sustainable business models in LLM development, identifying four dominant approaches: selling access, selling closed models, creating ecosystems, or offering services. Openness can serve as a strategic tool, balancing proprietary interests with the benefits of releasing, guided by a framework that aligns openness levels with user needs. The study’s theoretical contribution includes the OLLM concept and a framework for understanding the evolution of both OSS and LLMs. It also highlights that, given the unique challenges, openness in LLMs may reinforce existing power structures rather than create a more inclusive and participatory environment
Toward Equitable ArtScience Collaborations: Synthesizing Performance Art and Social Psychology for Social Change
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2024 ISAST.The article proposes a novel model for ArtScience collaborations that is based on more equal roles. With better power balance, artists and scientists can together create projects that truly synthesize their fields. Additionally, it is suggested that these collaborations can significantly contribute to social change through socially engaged research. The article focuses on the transformative potential of the collaboration process itself. The presented case study is the authors’ collaboration in creating hybrids of participatory performance art and social psychology experiments. It contributes new methodological approaches to the expanding field of ArtScience collaborations.Peer reviewe