Hitsaavan tuotannon kehittäminen pyöräkuormainkaivureita valmistavassa yrityksessä

Diplomityössä käsitellään pyöräkuormainkaivureita valmistavan yrityksen konepajatuotannon kehittämistä aihiovalmistuksen, hitsauksen ja koneistuksen osalta. Pääpaino kehittämistoimissa on hitsauksessa. Lähtökohtana tuotannonkehittämisen tarpeelle ovat tuotannon kasvu, kustannustehokkuuden lisääminen sekä pula ammattitaitoisesta työvoimasta. Diplomityössä selvitetään yrityksen vanhan konekannan päivittämismahdollisuuksia ja säästöjen hakemista tehokkaampia valmistusmenetelmiä käyttöönottamalla. Pohjatyönä tulevaisuuden tuotannon tehostamiselle selvitettiin nykyiset valmistuskustannukset. Työajankäytön historiatiedot löytyivät yrityksen tietojärjestelmästä, joita tarkennettiinkentältä kerätyin tiedoin. Myös koneiden käyttökustannukset tuntihinnat eri työvaiheille. selvitettiin ja näin saatiin määritettyä Lännen Tractors Oy:lle löytyi hitsaavassa tuotannossa kehitystoimenpiteitä, mitkä tekemällä voidaan tuotantoa tehostaa ilman investointeja. Tuotannon kehittäminen jaettiin kahteen vaiheeseen: 1. vaihe, missä ei investoida vaan keskitytään nykyisten menetelmien kehittämiseen ja vanhojen koneiden tehokkaampaan hyödyntämiseen ja 2.vaihe, missä tarkastellaan mahdollisten investointien kannattavuutta sekä selvitetään alihankinnan mandollisuutta. Tuotannon tehostamisen 1. vaiheen toimenpiteillä saadaan hitsauskustannuksia pienennettyä jopa 20 %. 2. vaiheen oman tuotannon tehostamiseksi koneistuksen eri tehtiin investointilaskelmat robottihitsaussolun ja vaihtoehtojen takaisinmaksuajasta sekä sisäisestä korkokannasta. Uuden robottihitsaussolun takaisinmaksuaika on n. 3 vuotta. Näiden laskelmien perusteella mahdollisuudet valmistaa komponentteja taloudellisesti. investoinneilla voidaan pyöräkuormainkaivureiden saavuttaa hitsattuja

Using software metrics to increase efficiency in product creation

Opinnäytetyö etsii korrelaatiota ohjelmistomittauksella saavutettujen tulosten ja ohjelmasta löytyneiden virheiden väliltä. Työssä käytetään koeryhmänä jo olemassaolevia ohjelmistoja. Työ tutkii olisiko ohjelmistomittareita käyttämällä ollut mahdollista paikallistaa ohjelmistojen ongelmakohdat ja näin saada arvokasta tietoa ohjelmistokehitykseen. Mittausta voitaisiin käyttää resurssien parempaan kohdentamiseen koodikatselmuksissa, koodi-integraatiossa, systeemitestauksessa ja aikataulutuksessa. Mittaamisen avulla nämä tehtävät saisivat enemmän tietoa resurssien kohdistamiseen. Koeryhmänä käytetään erilaisia ohjelmistotuotteita. Yhteistä näille kaikille tuotteille on niiden peräkkäiset julkaisut. Uutta julkaisua tehtäessä, edellistä julkaisua käytetään pohjana, jonka päällekehitetään uutta lähdekoodia. Tämän takia ohjelmistomittauksessa pitää pystyä erottelemaan edellisen julkaisun lähdekoodi uudesta lähdekoodista. Työssä käytettävät ohjelmistomittarit ovat yleisiä ja ohjelmistotekniikassalaajasti käytettyjä mittaamaan erilaisia lähdekoodin ominaisuuksia, joiden arvellaan vaikuttavan virhealttiuteen. Tämän työn tarkoitus on tutkia näiden ohjelmistomittareiden käytettävyyttä koeryhmänä toimivissa ohjelmistoympäristöissä. Käytännön osuus työstä onnistui löytämään korrelaation joidenkinohjelmistomittareiden ja virheiden väliltä, samalla kuin toiset ohjelmistomittarit eivät antaneet vakuuttavia tuloksia. Ohjelmistomittareita käyttämällä näyttää olevan mahdollista tunnistaa virhealttiit kohdat ohjelmasta ja siten parantaa ohjelmistokehityksen tehokkuutta. Ohjelmistomittareiden käyttö tuotekehityksessäon perusteltavaa ja niiden avulla mahdollisesti pystyttäisiin vaikuttamaan ohjelmiston laatuun tulevissa julkaisuissa.

Division of labor in insect societies : genetic components and physiological regulation

The shift from solitary to social organisms constitutes one of the major transitions in evolution. The highest level of sociality is found in social insects (ants, termites and some species of bees and wasps). Division of labor is central to the organization of insect societies and is thought to be at the root of their ecological success. There are two main levels of division of labor in social insect colonies. The first relates to reproduction and involves the coexistence of queen and worker castes: while reproduction is usually monopolized by one or several queens, functionally sterile workers perform all the tasks to maintain the colony, such as nest building, foraging or brood care. The second level of division of labor, relating to such non-reproductive duties, is characterized by the performance of different tasks or roles by different groups of workers. This PhD aims to better understand the mechanisms underlying division of labor in insect societies, by investigating how genes and physiology influence caste determination and worker behavior in ants. In the first axis of this PhD, we studied the nature of genetic effects on division of labor. We used the Argentine ant Linepithema humile to conduct controlled crosses in the laboratory, which revealed the existence of non-additive genetic effects, such as parent-of-origin and genetic compatibility effects, on caste determination and worker behavior. In the second axis, we focused on the physiological regulation of division of labor. Using Pogonomyrmex seed- harvester ants, we performed experimental manipulation of hibernation, hormonal treatments, gene expression analyses and protein quantification to identify the physiological pathways regulating maternal effects on caste determination. Finally, comparing gene expression between nurses and foragers allowed us to reveal the association between vitellogenin and worker behavior in Pogonomyrmex ants. This PhD provides important insights into the role of genes and physiology in the regulation of division of labor in social insect colonies, helping to better understand the organization, evolution and ecological success of insect societies. - L'une des principales transitions évolutives est le passage de la vie solitaire à la vie sociale. La socialité atteint son paroxysme chez les insectes sociaux que sont les fourmis, les termites et certaines espèces d'abeilles et de guêpes. La division du travail est la clé de voûte de l'organisation de ces sociétés d'insectes et la raison principale de leur succès écologique. La division du travail s'effectue à deux niveaux dans les colonies d'insectes sociaux. Le premier niveau concerne la reproduction et implique la coexistence de deux castes : les reines et les ouvrières. Tandis que la reproduction est le plus souvent monopolisée par une ou plusieurs reines, les ouvrières stériles effectuent les tâches nécessaires au bon fonctionnement de la colonie, telles que la construction du nid, la recherche de nourriture ou le soin au couvain. Le second niveau de division du travail, qui concerne les tâches autres que la reproduction, implique la réalisation de différents travaux par différents groupes d'ouvrières. Le but de ce doctorat est de mieux comprendre les mécanismes sous-jacents de la division du travail dans les sociétés d'insectes en étudiant comment les gènes et la physiologie influencent la détermination de la caste et le comportement des ouvrières chez les fourmis. Dans le premier axe de ce doctorat, nous avons étudié la nature des influences génétiques sur la division du travail. Nous avons utilisé la fourmi d'Argentine, Linepithema humile, pour effectuer des croisements contrôlés en laboratoire. Cette méthode nous a permis de révéler l'existence d'influences génétiques non additives, telles que des influences dépendantes de l'origine parentale ou des effets de compatibilité génétique, sur la détermination de la caste et le comportement des ouvrières. Dans le second axe, nous nous sommes intéressés à la régulation physiologique de la division du travail. Nous avons utilisé des fourmis moissonneuses du genre Pogonomyrmex pour effectuer des hibernations artificieHes, des traitements hormonaux, des analyses d'expression de gènes et des mesures de vitellogénine, ce qui nous a permis d'identifier les mécanismes physiologiques régulant les effets maternels sur la détermination de la caste. Enfin, la comparaison d'expression de gènes entre nourrices et fourrageuses suggère un rôle de la vitellogénine dans la régulation du comportement des ouvrières chez les fourmis moissonneuses. En détaillant les influences des gènes et de la physiologie dans la régulation de la division du travail dans les colonies d'insectes sociaux, ce doctorat fournit d'importantes informations permettant de mieux comprendre l'organisation, l'évolution et le succès écologique des sociétés d'insectes.

Genomic determinants of the efficiency of internal ribosomal entry sites of viral and cellular origin

Variation in cellular gene expression levels has been shown to be inherited. Expression is controlled at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) are used by viruses to bypass inhibition of cap-dependent translation, and by eukaryotic cells to control translation under conditions when protein synthesis is inhibited. We aimed at identifying genomic determinants of variability in IRES-mediated translation of viral [Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)] and cellular IRES [X-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis (XIAP) and c-myc]. Bicistronic lentiviral constructs expressing two fluorescent reporters were used to transduce laboratory and B lymphoblastoid cell lines [15 CEPH pedigrees (n = 205) and 50 unrelated individuals]. IRES efficiency varied according to cell type and among individuals. Control of IRES activity has a significant genetic component (h(2) of 0.47 and 0.36 for EMCV and XIAP, respectively). Quantitative linkage analysis identified a suggestive locus (LOD 2.35) on chromosome 18q21.2, and genome-wide association analysis revealed of a cluster of SNPs on chromosome 3, intronic to the FHIT gene, marginally associated (P = 5.9E-7) with XIAP IRES function. This study illustrates the in vitro generation of intermediate phenotypes by using cell lines for the evaluation of genetic determinants of control of elements such as IRES.

Guideline adaptation: an approach to enhance efficiency in guideline development and improve utilisation.

BACKGROUND: Developing and updating high-quality guidelines requires substantial time and resources. To reduce duplication of effort and enhance efficiency, we developed a process for guideline adaptation and assessed initial perceptions of its feasibility and usefulness. METHODS: Based on preliminary developments and empirical studies, a series of meetings with guideline experts were organised to define a process for guideline adaptation (ADAPTE) and to develop a manual and a toolkit made available on a website (http://www.adapte.org). Potential users, guideline developers and implementers, were invited to register and to complete a questionnaire evaluating their perception about the proposed process. RESULTS: The ADAPTE process consists of three phases (set-up, adaptation, finalisation), 9 modules and 24 steps. The adaptation phase involves identifying specific clinical questions, searching for, retrieving and assessing available guidelines, and preparing the draft adapted guideline. Among 330 registered individuals (46 countries), 144 completed the questionnaire. A majority found the ADAPTE process clear (78%), comprehensive (69%) and feasible (60%), and the manual useful (79%). However, 21% found the ADAPTE process complex. 44% feared that they will not find appropriate and high-quality source guidelines. DISCUSSION: A comprehensive framework for guideline adaptation has been developed to meet the challenges of timely guideline development and implementation. The ADAPTE process generated important interest among guideline developers and implementers. The majority perceived the ADAPTE process to be feasible, useful and leading to improved methodological rigour and guideline quality. However, some de novo development might be needed if no high quality guideline exists for a given topic.

Market efficiency and calendar anomalies in the Russian stock market

Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on tarkastella esiintyykö Venäjän osakemarkkinoilla kalenterianomalioita. Tutkimus keskittyy Halloween-, kuukausi-, kuunvaihde-, viikonpäivä- ja juhlapäiväanomalioiden tarkasteluun. Tutkimusaineistona käytetään RTS (Russian Trading System) indeksiä. Tarkasteluaika alkaa 1. syyskuuta 1995 ja loppuu 31. joulukuuta 2005. Havaintojen kokonaismäärä on 2584. Tutkimusmenetelmänä käytetään pienimmän neliösumman menetelmää (OLS). Tutkimustulokset osoittavat, että Venäjän osakemarkkinoilla esiintyy Halloween-, kuunvaihde- ja viikonpäiväanomalioita. Sen sijaan kuukausi- ja juhlapäiväanomalioita ei tulosten mukaanesiinny Venäjän osakemarkkinoilla. Tulokset osoittavat lisäksi, että suurin osaanomalioista on merkittävämpiä nykyään kuin Venäjän osakemarkkinoiden ensimmäisinä vuosina. Näiden tulosten perusteella voidaan todeta, että Venäjän osakemarkkinat eivät ole vielä tehokkaat.

Testing Weak-Form Efficiency of the Chinese Stock Market

Tämän tutkielman tavoitteena on tarkastella Kiinan osakemarkkinoiden tehokkuutta ja random walk -hypoteesin voimassaoloa. Tavoitteena on myös selvittää esiintyykö viikonpäiväanomalia Kiinan osakemarkkinoilla. Tutkimusaineistona käytetään Shanghain osakepörssin A-sarjan,B-sarjan ja yhdistelmä-sarjan ja Shenzhenin yhdistelmä-sarjan indeksien päivittäisiä logaritmisoituja tuottoja ajalta 21.2.1992-30.12.2005 sekä Shenzhenin osakepörssin A-sarjan ja B-sarjan indeksien päivittäisiä logaritmisoituja tuottoja ajalta 5.10.1992-30.12.2005. Tutkimusmenetelminä käytetään neljä tilastollista menetelmää, mukaan lukien autokorrelaatiotestiä, epäparametrista runs-testiä, varianssisuhdetestiä sekä Augmented Dickey-Fullerin yksikköjuuritestiä. Viikonpäiväanomalian esiintymistä tutkitaan käyttämällä pienimmän neliösumman menetelmää (OLS). Testejä tehdään sekä koko aineistolla että kolmella erillisellä ajanjaksolla. Tämän tutkielman empiiriset tulokset tukevat aikaisempia tutkimuksia Kiinan osakemarkkinoiden tehottomuudesta. Lukuun ottamatta yksikköjuuritestien saatuja tuloksia, autokorrelaatio-, runs- ja varianssisuhdetestien perusteella random walk-hypoteesi hylättiin molempien Kiinan osakemarkkinoiden kohdalla. Tutkimustulokset osoittavat, että molemmilla osakepörssillä B-sarjan indeksien käyttäytyminenon ollut huomattavasti enemmän random walk -hypoteesin vastainen kuin A-sarjan indeksit. Paitsi B-sarjan markkinat, molempien Kiinan osakemarkkinoiden tehokkuus näytti myös paranevan vuoden 2001 markkinabuumin jälkeen. Tutkimustulokset osoittavat myös viikonpäiväanomalian esiintyvän Shanghain osakepörssillä, muttei kuitenkaan Shenzhenin osakepörssillä koko tarkasteluajanjaksolla.

Efficiency of coronary artery disease screening guidelines in asymptomatic and atypical chest pain type 2 diabetic patients

RESUME Objectifs. Évaluer la prévalence de maladie coronarienne chez les patients diabétiques de type 2 asymptomatiques ou avec angor atypique selon les recommandations américaines de l'American Diabetes Association et de l'American College of Cardiology. Méthodes. Cent cinquante-quatre patients diabétiques de type 2 asymptomatiques ou avec angor atypique et présentant au minimum 2 facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaires additionnels ont été dépistés par échocardiographie de stress (71%, n=109), scintigraphie myocardique de perfusion (26%, n=40) ou l'association des 2 examens (3%, n=5). Résultats. L'échocardiographie de stress s'est révélée positive chez 16 patients (14%) et 14 ont eu une coronarographie révélant des sténoses significatives chez 12 (86%). La scintigraphie myocardique de perfusion était positive chez 16 patients (36%). Huit patients ont eu une coronarographie et 4 (50%) présentaient des sténoses significatives. Au total, 31 patients (20%) ont montré des signes d'ischémie lors de l'examen non-invasif et 15 (10%) ont présenté des sténoses significatives à la coronarographie. Les facteurs prédictifs indépendants de la maladie coronarienne étaient le tabagisme (OR 6.5, p=0.05), la microalbuminurie (OR 3.9, p=0.03), ainsi que les souffles fémoraux (OR 17.1, p=0.008). Conclusions. En suivant les recommandations américaines, un patient sur cinq présentait une ischémie lors des examens non-invasifs, tandis que 1 sur 10 avait des sténoses significatives à la coronarographie. L'analyse multivariée suggère que des marqueurs des complications micro- et macro-vasculaires en combinaison avec des facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire classiques pourraient améliorer le pouvoir diagnostic de ces recommandations. SUMMARY Aims. We evaluated the prevalence of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic and atypical chest pain type 2 diabetic patients according to the American Diabetes Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines. Methods. Asymptomatic or atypical chest pain type 2 diabetic patients (n=154), with at least two additional cardiovascular risk factors, were screened for coronary artery disease using stress echocardiography (71%, n=109), myocardial perfusion imaging (26%, n=40) or both (3%, n=5). Results. Stress echocardiography was positive in 16 patients (14%) and 14 had a coronary angiography, revealing significant stenoses in 12 (86%). Myocardial perfusion imaging was positive in 16 patients (36%). Eight patients underwent angiography and 4 (50%) presented significant stenoses. Overall, 31 patients (20%) demonstrated signs of ischemia on non-invasive tests and 15 (10%) presented significant stenoses on coronary angiography. Independent predictors of coronary artery disease were smoking (OR 6.5, p=0.05), microalbuminuria (OR 3.9, p=0.03) and femoral murmur (OR 17.1, p=0.008). Conclusions. Following the guidelines, one in five diabetic patient presented ischemia on noninvasive tests, while one in ten presented significant coronary stenoses. Multivariate analysis suggests that adding markers of micro- and macro-vascular complications to classical cardiovascular risk factors may enhance the diagnostic efficiency of the guidelines.

The Influence of Process Conditions on the Deresination Efficiency in Mechanical Pulp Washing

The aim of this thesis was to produce information for the estimation of the flow balance of wood resin in mechanical pulping and to demonstrate the possibilities for improving the efficiency of deresination in practice. It was observed that chemical changes in wood resin take place only during peroxide bleaching, a significant amount of water dispersed wood resin is retained in the pulp mat during dewatering and the amount of wood resin in the solid phase of the process filtrates is very small. On the basis of this information there exist three parameters related to behaviour of wood resin that determine the flow balance in the process: 1. The liberation of wood resin to the pulp water phase 2. Theretention of water dispersed wood resin in dewatering 3. The proportion of wood resin degraded in the peroxide bleaching The effect of different factors on these parameters was evaluated with the help of laboratory studies and a literature survey. Also, information related to the values of these parameters in existing processes was obtained in mill measurements. With the help of this information, it was possible to evaluate the deresination efficiency and the effect of different factors on this efficiency in a pulping plant that produced low-freeness mechanical pulp. This evaluation showed that the wood resin content of mechanical pulp can be significantly decreased if there exists, in the process, a peroxide bleaching and subsequent washing stage. In the case of an optimal process configuration, as high as a 85 percent deresination efficiency seems to be possible with a water usage level of 8 m3/o.d.t.

Supply chain integration: studies on linking customer responsiveness and operational efficiency in logistics policy planning

Abstract The research problem in the thesis deals with improving the responsiveness and efficiency of logistics service processes between a supplier and its customers. The improvement can be sought by customizing the services and increasing the coordination of activities between the different parties in the supply chain. It is argued that to achieve coordination the parties have to have connections on several levels. In the framework employed in this research, three contexts are conceptualized at which the linkages can be planned: 1) the service policy context, 2) the process coordination context, and 3) the relationship management context. The service policy context consists of the planning methods by which a supplier analyzes its customers' logistics requirements and matches them with its own operational environment and efficiency requirements. The main conclusion related to the service policy context is that it is important to have a balanced selection of both customer-related and supplier-related factors in the analysis. This way, while the operational efficiency is planned a sufficient level of service for the most important customers is assured. This kind of policy planning involves taking multiple variables into the analysis, and there is a need to develop better tools for this purpose. Some new approaches to deal with this are presented in the thesis.The process coordination context and the relationship management context deal with the issues of how the implementation of the planned service policies can be facilitated in an inter-organizational environment. Process coordination includes typically such mechanisms as control rules, standard procedures and programs, but inhighly demanding circumstances more integrative coordination mechanisms may be necessary. In the thesis the coordination problems in third-party logistics relationship are used as an example of such an environment. Relationship management deals with issues of how separate companies organize their relationships to improve the coordination of their common processes. The main implication related to logistics planning is that by integrating further at the relationship level, companies can facilitate the use of the most efficient coordination mechanisms and thereby improve the implementation of the selected logistics service policies. In the thesis, a case of a logistics outsourcing relationship is used to demonstrate the need to address the relationship issues between the service provider andthe service buyer before the outsourcing can be done.The dissertation consists of eight research articles and a summarizing report. The principal emphasis in the articles is on the service policy planning context, which is the main theme of six articles. Coordination and relationship issues are specifically addressed in two of the papers.

Dynamics of Appropriability - Finding a Balance between Efficiency and Strength in the Appropriability Regime

Building and sustaining competitive advantage through the creation of market imperfections is challenging in a constantly changing business environment - particularly since the sources of such advantages are increasingly knowledge-based. Facilitated by improved networks and communication, knowledge spills over to competitors more easily than before,thus creating an appropriability problem: the inability of an innovating firm to utilize its innovations commercially. Consequently, as the importance of intellectual assets increases, their protection also calls for new approaches. Companies have various means of protection at their disposal, and by taking advantage of them they can make intangibles more non-transferable and prevent, or at leastdelay, imitation of their most crucial intellectual assets. However, creating barriers against imitation has another side to it, and the transfer of knowledge in situations requiring knowledge sharing may be unintentionally obstructed. Theaim of this thesis is to increase understanding of how firms can balance knowledge protection and sharing so as to benefit most from their knowledge assets. Thus, knowledge protection is approached through an examination of the appropriability regime of a firm, i.e., the combination of available and effective means ofprotecting innovations, their profitability, and the increased rents due to R&D. A further aim is to provide a broader understanding of the formation and structure of the appropriability regime. The study consists of two parts. The first part introduces the research topic and the overall results of the study, and the second part consists of six complementary research publications covering various appropriability issues. The thesis contributes to the existing literature in several ways. Although there is a wide range of prior research on appropriability issues, a lot of it is restricted either to the study of individual appropriability mechanisms, or to comparing certain features of them. These approaches are combined, and the relevant theoretical concepts are clarified and developed. In addition, the thesis provides empirical evidence of the formation of the appropriability regime, which is consequently presented as an adaptive process. Thus, a framework is provided that better corresponds to the complex reality of the current business environment.

Effect of water velocity on the uptake of polychlorinatedd biphenyls (PCBs) by silicone rubber (SR) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) passive samplers: an assessment of the efficiency of performance reference compounds (PRCs) in river-like flow conditions

One aim of this study is to determine the impact of water velocity on the uptake of indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (iPCBs) by silicone rubber (SR) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) passive samplers. A second aim is to assess the efficiency of performance reference compounds (PRCs) to correct for the impact of water velocity. SR and LDPE samplers were spiked with 11 or 12 PRCs and exposed for 6 weeks to four different velocities (in the range of 1.6 to 37.7 cm s−1) in river-like flow conditions using a channel system supplied with river water. A relationship between velocity and the uptakewas found for each iPCB and enables to determine expected changes in the uptake due to velocity variations. For both samplers, velocity increases from 2 to 10 cm s−1, 30 cm s−1 (interpolated data) and 100 cm s−1 (extrapolated data) lead to increases of the uptake which do not exceed a factor of 2, 3 and 4.5, respectively. Results also showed that the influence of velocity decreased with increasing the octanol-water coefficient partition (log Kow) of iPCBs when SR is used whereas the opposite effect was observed for LDPE. Time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of iPCBs in water were calculated from iPCB uptake and PRC release. These calculations were performed using either a single PRC or all the PRCs. The efficiency of PRCs to correct the impact of velocity was assessed by comparing the TWA concentrations obtained at the four tested velocities. For SR, a good agreement was found among the four TWA concentrations with both methods (average RSD b 10%). Also for LDPE, PRCs offered a good correction of the impact of water velocity (average RSD of about 10 to 20%). These results contribute to the process of acceptance of passive sampling in routine regulatory monitoring programs.

Justice and Court Administrations, Their Workings and Efficiency in Switzerland : Aspects of Sentencing And Its Outcome In Swiss Cantons

The comparison of the operations of the administration of justice among cantons shows on one side large differences in the three major types of sentencing, in the use of pre-trial detention and the unsuspended prison sanction. When combined, one finds however very weak relationships when considering absolute, percentage or weighted results. On the other side, the outcome of these different policies is much paradoxical as there are no differences when comparing recidivism rates among cantons, despite strong differences in the use of pre-trial detention and the sentencing with prison sanctions. The paradoxical outcome of crime policies in terms of recidivism - e.g. the absence of differences of the outcome based on sanctions in the domain of less severe delinquency - suggests the need for more empirically informed crime policies. The role of justice administrators could be to participate in the dissemination of those findings as well as the dissemination of best practices among cantons with regard to outcomes and the use of resources - especially with consideration to the use of the prison sanction as it is the most costly and the most inefficient of all sanctions. Furthermore, the observance of the principle of equality before the law would be most likely be promoted.