bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early versus late Gamma Knife radiosurgery following transsphenoidal resection for nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas: a matched cohort study
Authors: Pomeraniec I. Jonathan , Dallapiazza Robert F. , Xu Zhiyuan , Jane John A. , Sheehan Jason P.
Published: October 2015

OBJECT

Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is frequently employed to treat residual or recurrent nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas. There is no consensus as to whether GKRS should be used early after surgery or if radiosurgery should be withheld until there is evidence of radiographic progression of tumor.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of patients with nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas who underwent transsphenoidal surgery followed by GKRS between 1996 and 2013 at the University of Virginia Health System. Patients were stratified based on the interval between resection and radiosurgery. Operative results and imaging and clinical outcomes were compared across groups following early (≤ 6 months) or late (> 6 months) radiosurgery.

RESULTS

Sixty-four patients met the study criteria and were grouped based on early (n = 32) or late (n = 32) GKRS following transsphenoidal resection. There was a greater risk of tumor progression after GKRS in the late radiosurgical group (p = 0.027) over a median radiographic follow-up period of 68.5 months. Furthermore, there was a significantly higher occurrence of post-GKRS endocrinopathy in the late radiosurgical cohort (p = 0.041). Seventeen percent of patients without endocrinopathy in the early cohort developed new endocrinopathies during the follow-up period versus 64% in the late cohort (p = 0.036). This difference was primarily due to a significantly higher rate of tumor growth during the observation period of the late treatment cohort (p = 0.014). Of these patients with completely new endocrinopathies, radiation-associated pituitary insufficiency developed in 1 of 2 patients in the early group and in 3 of 7 (42.9%) patients in the late group.

CONCLUSIONS

Early treatment with GKRS appears to decrease the rate of radiographic and symptomatic progression of subtotally resected nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas compared with late GKRS treatment after a period of expectant management. Delaying radiosurgery may place the patient at increased risk for adenoma progression and endocrinopathy.
Use of subtransverse process polyester bands in pediatric spine surgery: a case series of 4 patients with a minimum of 12 months’ follow-up
Authors: Strickland Ben A. , Sayama Christina , Briceño Valentina , Lam Sandi K. , Luerssen Thomas G. , Jea Andrew
Published: October 2015

OBJECT

In a previous study, the authors reported on their experience with the use of sublaminar polyester bands as part of segmental spinal constructs. However, the risk of neurological complications with sublaminar passage of instrumentation, such as spinal cord injury, limits the use of this technique. The present study reports the novel use of subtransverse process polyester bands in posterior instrumented spinal fusions of the thoracic and lumbar spines and sacrum or ilium in 4 patients.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the demographic and procedural data of patients who had undergone posterior instrumented fusion using subtransverse process polyester bands.

RESULTS

Four patients, ranging in age from 11 to 22 years, underwent posterior instrumented fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis (3 patients) and thoracic hyperkyphosis (1 patient). There were 3 instances of transverse process fracture, with application and tensioning of the polyester band in 1 patient. Importantly, there was no instance of spinal cord injury with subtransverse process passage of the polyester band. The lessons learned from this technique are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has shown the “Eleghia” technique of passing subtransverse process bands to be a technically straightforward and neurologically safe method of spinal fixation. Pedicle screws, laminar/pedicle/transverse process hooks, and sublaminar metal wires/bands have been incorporated into posterior spinal constructs; they have been widely reported and used in the thoracic and lumbar spines and sacrum or ilium with varying success. This report demonstrates the promising results of hybrid posterior spinal constructs that include the Eleghia technique of passing subtransverse process polyester bands. This technique incorporates technical ease with minimal risk of neurological injury and biomechanical stability.
Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring during endoscopic endonasal surgery for pediatric skull base tumors
Authors: Elangovan Cheran , Singh Supriya Palwinder , Gardner Paul , Snyderman Carl , Tyler-Kabara Elizabeth C. , Habeych Miguel , Crammond Donald , Balzer Jeffrey , Thirumala Parthasarathy D.
Published: October 2015

OBJECT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) using electromyography (EMG), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) to predict and/or prevent postoperative neurological deficits in pediatric patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) for skull base tumors.

METHODS

All consecutive pediatric patients with skull base tumors who underwent EES with at least 1 modality of IONM (BAEP, SSEP, and/or EMG) at our institution between 1999 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Staged procedures and repeat procedures were identified and analyzed separately. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of significant free-run EMG activity, the prevalence of cranial nerve (CN) deficits and the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 129 patients underwent 159 procedures; 6 patients had a total of 9 CN deficits. The incidences of CN deficits based on the total number of nerves monitored in the groups with and without significant free-run EMG activity were 9% and 1.5%, respectively. The incidences of CN deficits in the groups with 1 staged and more than 1 staged EES were 1.5% and 29%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive values (with 95% confidence intervals) of significant EMG to detect CN deficits in repeat procedures were 0.55 (0.22–0.84), 0.86 (0.79–0.9), and 0.97 (0.92–0.99), respectively. Two patients had significant changes in their BAEPs that were reversible with an increase in mean arterial pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

IONM can be applied effectively and reliably during EES in children. EMG monitoring is specific for detecting CN deficits and can be an effective guide for dissecting these procedures. Triggered EMG should be elicited intraoperatively to check the integrity of the CNs during and after tumor resection. Given the anatomical complexity of pediatric EES and the unique challenges encountered, multimodal IONM can be a valuable adjunct to these procedures.
Self-Re-Interpretations (Of the Trace): From Restricted to General Substitutability
Authors: Poutiainen Hannu
Published: October 2015

This article elaborates on Christopher Norris's claim that certain aspects of Derrida's work are amenable to formalisation in modal-logical terms. Norris contends that any adequate analysis of the logic behind Derrida's work must provide an account of the notions of possibility, necessity, and necessary possibility, particularly as they are related to Derrida's notion of iterability. This article examines the further hypothesis that Derrida's understanding of modality, according to which possibilities must be accounted for even if they are never realised, might even better be described in terms of possible worlds. In possible-worlds semantics, the conceptual meaning of a statement is constituted by the set of alternative contexts in which that statement is true. This article argues, however, that possible-worlds semantics would be unthinkable without the experience that one referent can be substituted for another. The possibility of this experience is best described in Derridean terms. Read through Derrida's thought of the trace, the properly semantic substitutions (of names in view of a thing and of things in view of a concept) may come to be seen as dependent on the substitution of the thing for itself; on what Derrida calls ‘the substitution of the unique for the unique’.
TheVigilof Philosophy: Derrida on Anachrony
Authors: Cross Donald
Published: October 2015

This paper orchestrates various moments in which Derrida makes recourse to the notion of anachrony – in analyses of khōra and demiurgic creation in the Timaeus and of the trace in Husserl – in order to describe a structural law according to which philosophy attempts to determine some ‘thing’ with the very categories that it makes possible and that are therefore structurally derivative, both too early and too late, in a word, anachronous.
Salix transect of Europe: latitudinal patterns in willow diversity from Greece to arctic Norway
Authors: Cronk Quentin , Ruzzier Enrico , Belyaeva Irina , Percy Diana
Published: October 2015

Willows (Salix spp.) are ecosystem "foundation species" that are hosts to large numbers of associated insects. Determining their patterns of distribution across Europe is therefore of interest for understanding the spatial distribution of associated fauna. The aim of this study was to record species composition at multiple sites on a long latitudinal gradient (megatransect) across Europe as a baseline for the future detailed analysis of insect fauna at these sites. In this way we used willow stands as comparable mesocosms in which to study floristic and faunistic changes with latitude across Europe.

To determine spatial patterning of an ecologically important group on a latitudinal gradient across Europe, we sampled willows at the stand level in 42 sites, approximately 100 km apart, from the Aegean (38.8°N) to the Arctic Ocean (70.6°N), but at a similar longitude (21.2 to 26.1°E). The sites were predominantly lowland (elevations 1 to 556 metres amsl, median = 95 m) and wet (associated with rivers, lakes, drainage ditches or wet meadows). The median number of willow taxa (species and hybrids) per stand was four, and varied from one to nine. There is a progressive increase in willow diversity from south to north with the median number of taxa per stand in southern Europe being three, and in northern Europe six. A total of 20 willow species were recorded, along with 12 hybrids. The most widespread willow in the transect was Salix alba L. (occurring in 20 sites out of 42) followed by S. triandra L. (15 sites), S. caprea L., S. phylicifolia L. (14 sites) and S. myrsinifolia Salisb., Salix ×fragilis L. (13 sites). Voucher specimens from this study are deposited in the herbaria of the Natural History Museum (BM) and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (K). These samples provide a "snapshot" of willow diversity along a latitudinal gradient and an indication of the geographically changing taxonomic diversity that is presented to willow-feeding herbivores across Europe. It is anticipated that further papers will examine the insect fauna collected from these sites as part of this study.
À chacun sa toise. Enjeux de taille et conformité d’âge à l’aube de l’adolescence
Authors: Tersigni Simona
Published: October 2015

Cet article situe les matériaux ethnographiques d’une enquête récente sur la sortie de l’enfance en continuité avec une socio-histoire des dispositifs médicaux. Inventés au xix e   siècle pour mesurer et surveiller des groupes humains jugés instables (les « colonisés », les « arriérés », les « gens du voyage »…), ces dispositifs anthropométriques ont nourri la normalisation du « bien grandir » des enfants par étapes. Aujourd’hui, les traces incorporées de tels procédés se manifestent dans les auto-mensurations des enfants et adolescents. S’ils acceptent de quantifier et comparer au quotidien leurs changements de taille, c’est pour renégocier leur statut et leurs capacités d’agir vis-à-vis de soi et d’autrui.
Quand poussent les poils des garçons
Authors: Julien Marie-Pierre
Published: October 2015

Si le symbolisme de la pilosité a longtemps mobilisé anthropologues et psychanalystes, les recherches récentes ont porté plus d’attention aux pratiques liées à la pilosité et aux normes dont elles sont porteuses. Cet article étudie la pilosité chez les garçons entre 9 et 13 ans en Lorraine et en Alsace. Il analyse les techniques du corps qui y sont liées, explore la catégorisation d’âge et de genre qu’elles engagent, ainsi que les discussions et négociations à la fois entre pairs et avec les adultes qu’elles provoquent.
Ordres et désordres des âges dans les familles transnationales roms
Authors: Sarcinelli Alice Sophie
Published: October 2015

À partir d’une étude ethnographique, cet article interroge les processus et l’expérience du grandir telle qu’elle est perçue et vécue dans un réseau de familles transnationales roms installées dans un campement situé aux portes de Milan (Italie). Les normes, les ordres et les désordres des âges sont abordés en même temps que l’expérience corporelle et émotionnelle des acteurs, à la lumière des rapports intergénérationnels et du processus migratoire.
Grandir aujourd’hui en Himalaya indien. Des rituels au secours d’une nouvelle adolescence
Authors: Bindi Serena
Published: October 2015

Dans la région du Garhwal, en Inde du Nord, de nombreuses jeunes filles dont l’âge se situe entre la puberté et le mariage sont aujourd’hui des « sujets à soigner ». Considérées comme des victimes de possessions néfastes, elles sont soumises à des rituels de soin assimilables à des exorcismes. Tout en s’inscrivant dans les débats contemporains sur les interprétations de la possession féminine et des rituels d’exorcisme ainsi que sur les récents changements concernant la phase de l’« adolescence » en Inde, cet article montre que les rituels de soin des adolescentes au Garhwal sont essentiellement un lieu de production genrée du sujet féminin adolescent et de son corps.
L’enfant dans ses territoires. Grandir avec les montagnes
Authors: de La Soudière Martin
Published: October 2015

Le rapport de l’enfant à l’espace a intéressé les psychologues, beaucoup moins les ethnologues. Pourtant, à partir de ses lieux et de ses territoires, on peut mesurer l’importance de ceux qui, successivement, l’ont « fait grandir ». Nous sommes dans les Pyrénées, en compagnie d’un jeune citadin (l’auteur) confronté à la montagne, été après été, de ses 8-9 ans à la fin de son adolescence. Avec ses frères et sœurs, il s’enhardit, des collines entourant leur maison de vacances familiale jusqu’aux aux sommets de la « haute » montagne qu’il escalade, non sans peur ni appréhension. La géographie : un lieu pour un rite d’initiation.
Exil, nom féminin
Authors: Alexakis Dimitris
Published: October 2015

Résumé Partir/rentrer dans un nouvel alphabet
Ulysse : ne rentre pas
Authors: Rabau Sophie
Published: October 2015

Résumé Ô mythe de l’heureux retour grec, dégonfle-toi !
L’essentiel n’est pas ce qu’on a fait des musulmans mais ce qu’ils font de ce qu’on a fait d’eux
Authors: Casanova Vincent , Wahnich Sophie
Published: October 2015

Résumé De l’Islam, de l’islam, du monde arabe, de la Tunisie, et des parcours singuliers qui les traversent. Entretien avec Fethi Benslama.
Quel•le écologiste êtes-vous ?
Authors: Easterman-Ulmann Rachel
Published: October 2015

Résumé Votre nature enfin révélée
L’agentivité des plantes
Authors: Brunon Hervé
Published: October 2015

Résumé Cultiver notre jardin : Mignon allons voir si la rose...
Un happening en sucre glace
Authors: Potte-Bonneville Mathieu
Published: October 2015

Résumé Autour d’une pirouette lacanienne
From a Medical Problem to a Health Experience: How Nursing Students Think in Clinical Situations
Authors: Boyer Louise , Tardif Jacques , Lefebvre Hélène
Published: October 2015

Background:

Nursing clinical judgment (NCJ) is a core competency that must be developed in nursing education. The objective of this study is to explore the development of NCJ among undergraduate nursing students, according to teachers and preceptors.

Method:

The collaborative group, composed of three educators, three nurse preceptors, and one researcher, analyzed six situations in which students in the program were assessed for NCJ.

Results:

Key learnings and development indicators were identified for each of the three levels of NCJ development. Reasoning process, type of relationships with patients and their families, perception of the nursing role, and reflection are parameters of NCJ that exert a mutual influence and evolve from one level to the next.

Conclusion:

Knowing this evolution can help educators to plan the curriculum, select effective teaching methods, and provide feedback that will support NCJ development. For students, these developmental markers support self-evaluation with a view to self-regulation. [
J Nurs Educ.
2015;54(11):625–632.]
Exploring Unplanned Curriculum Drift
Authors: Woods Andrew
Published: October 2015

Background:

This study explored the opportunities for quality enhancement in teaching and learning by examining unplanned curriculum drift in an undergraduate nursing course. Curriculum drift is defined here as a process whereby the learning experiences associated with a curriculum do not match the specific syllabus, vision, or intentions associated with attaining desired outcomes for nursing students.

Method:

Staff involved in the implementation of a new innovative Bachelor of Nursing curriculum at an Australian regional university were surveyed to explore their perceptions and knowledge of key philosophical and pedagogical concepts associated with a planned curriculum. A constructivist case study approach was used to explore curriculum drift.

Results:

Survey responses revealed that staff actions were inconsistent with their interpretations of concepts underlying the proposed curriculum.

Conclusion:

It is proposed that the discrepancy is a contributing factor in curricular drift, where the potential to achieve desired learning outcomes associated with innovative curricula is compromised by a drift to preinnovative or unplanned states. [
J Nurs Educ.
2015;54(11):641–644.]
Change Management Revised
Authors: Erne Rainer
Published: October 2015

This chapter introduces three theses: Firstly, that current change management models revolve around the question how predefined change intentions can be effectively implemented. Secondly, that this current scope of change management neglects the fact that a considerable number of change management initiatives in organizations are either unnecessary or not feasible or both. Thirdly, that the scope of change management has to be extended towards selecting effective and feasible change initiatives. These three theses call for an alternative scope statement for change management as well as for a revised model of change management. Both aspects of the revised notion of change management will be explicated in the chapter to follow, corroborated by a case study of a religious congregation.
Current Approaches in Change Management
Authors: Altındağ Erkut
Published: October 2015

This book review includes modern management techniques which take part in the concept of Change Management and its applications in detail. Companies which want to be afloat in a dynamic market and grow by getting strong should be adopted to change and use it as a strategic attack. Therefore, to include some modern management techniques which are proven in terms of popularity and safety in management understanding of a country can provide huge advantages and create a high added value. The main subject is that every company adopts an appropriate management model according to its own organization and employee structure and apply theoretical phenomenon in a successful way. There are quite few companies which are successful in this scope while there are many which are trying to succeed. Companies which want to be among this minority should decrease their resistance against change and should be open to innovations. In this chapter, you are going to read specific clues and tactics for the companies which want to be adopted change.
Management as a Limit to Organizational Change
Authors: King David R.
Published: October 2015

Acquisitions inherently involve change, but the success of desired change varies. This reflects the inherent difficulty of organizational change and attempts to maintain a fit with an organization's environment. A possible limitation to successful change is that the managers responsible for it face conflicting demands. This chapter develops multiple ways that acquisition circumstances and involved managers can limit organizational change. For example, middle managers can have information about organizational challenges but not the authority to direct change, while top managers have the authority but face implementation constraints. Acquisitions may also offer a solution to these challenges through the reconfiguration of a firm's management to increase management perspectives and to update organizational identities. Implications for management research and practice are discussed.
The Power of Three
Authors: Riemann Ute
Published: October 2015

The idea behind this chapter paper is that transformation projects can support can be better supported in terms of organizational change, process changes and IT system landscape changes with the application of a blended methodology of project management, organizational change management and Design Thinking. In other words: the proposal is that organizational change management and Design Thinking shall be an integral part of project management.
Organizational Learning to Managing Change
Authors: Şimşit Zeynep Tuğçe , Günay Noyan Sebla , Vayvay Özalp
Published: October 2015

Nowadays, in our fast moving business world companies have to adapt changes as fast as it is possible to gain advantages among their rivals. At this point, managerial processes become vital for every company and every sector to survive. Firms' adaptation to changing environmental conditions is one of the most important topics in every century. For that reason, companies use several techniques to adapt their processes to changing conditions for gaining advantages in their market. Organizational learning is not a new concept although its importance significantly increased nowadays. This chapter aims to present a research about effects of organizational learning on managing change. For this purpose, organizational learning as a key player of continuous improvement and its key dimensions will be drawn out through this chapter. The result of this chapter will be a set of tools which describe approaches for implementing learning management to get efficient change management.
Organizations as Social Networks
Authors: Blomme Robert J. , Morsch Jan
Published: October 2015

This chapter examines the role of the change manager in implementing compliance rules and codes of conduct within organizations. Various lines of enquiry from sociology and constructivist psychology are used to develop a perspective on organizations and organizational change. The role of the change manager is then discussed based on this perspective. In developing this perspective, various insights are offered that can be used by compliance officers and managers responsible for implementing rules and codes of conduct in order to reflect on their own actions. The chapter argues that equivocality and legitimacy are important conditions for successful implementation. The chapter also suggests that the implementation of rules and codes of conduct is not an activity generic to an organization, but a set of interventions generally specifically targeted at the individual, with the group serving as a point of leverage for change.
Reducing the Negative Effects of Psychological Contract Breach during Management-Imposed Change
Authors: De Ruiter Melanie , Blomme Robert J. , Schalk René
Published: October 2015

Employees' experiences of psychological contract breach (PCB) contribute substantially to the failure of change initiatives. Consequently, if organizational leaders want to successfully implement change efforts, it is imperative that they attend to these negative perceptions. Managers can provide different types of support to employees who have experienced PCB. However, during management-imposed change, direct managers at the mid-level of the organization face a number of challenges that may impede their ability or willingness to provide this support. Existing approaches to managing top-down change initiatives offer recommendations regarding leadership, communication and interpersonal and informational justice. Yet, by failing to consider the negative effect middle managers' competing roles have on their inclination or ability to address employee experiences of PCB, these suggestions are limited in scope. Drawing upon the literature on trickle-down effects, it is suggested that senior managers play an important, albeit indirect role in reducing the negative effects of PCB.
Strategic Human Resource Management in Facilitating Organizational Change
Authors: Çolakoğlu Saba , Chung Yun , Tarhan Ayşe Buyçe
Published: October 2015

This chapter reviews strategic human resource management (SHRM) theory and research and draws actionable implications for facilitating organizational change based on the main theoretical tenets of SHRM. Specifically, based on arguments related to achieving internal fit among mutually supportive HR practices and achieving external fit through aligning HR systems with an organization's context, it is argued that organizations can design strategically-anchored HR systems that emphasize, elicit, reward, and reinforce employee behaviors required by change initiatives. Integrating these SHRM arguments with well-established models of change management, this chapter establishes possible links between these two important areas of research. The chapter concludes with providing organizational examples that illustrate SHRM principles and different ways in which they can be applied to different forms of change management initiatives.
Leadership in Change Management
Authors: Zel Uğur
Published: October 2015

Change is a must for all kinds of organizations. However, most of the change initiatives fail to achieve the desired outcomes. This paradigm makes the change process more complex and frightening in our mindsets. When you make a search at “amazon.com” for the books published (only in English) on “change management” you will see that there are more than 90,000 books on this subject. Are these books not enough to help “managers” learn how to manage change? Of course, we have enough information about how to manage change. However, it is more important to know how to “lead” change. This may be the major reason that most of the organizations fail in change process. This chapter mainly focuses on leader's roles in change process and gives behavioral directions related with “transition” which effects the success of a change effort more in organizations. The things which should be planned and executed by leaders are examined and formatted with a process based approach.
Internal Communication Failure in Times of Change
Authors: Richet Jean-Loup
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this chapter is to explore internal communication failure that occurs during changes related to total quality management implementation. The author undertook a review of the literature on internal communication during such organizational change, with particular focus on failure factors. The chapter's contribution is to highlight the complexity of internal communication and provide best practices for practitioners. This literature review synthesized key research on internal communication strategies and provides an interesting reference base for academics and practitioners with an interest in communication in times of change.
Workforce Localisation and Change Management
Authors: Dedousis Evangelos-Vagelis , Rutter Richard Nathan
Published: October 2015

Providing employment opportunities for a predominantly young workforce has been a major issue of concern for governments in the GCC countries. As a result governments have become the choice and dominant employer but now there is the realisation that the public sector has reached saturation point and can no longer absorb any significant number of nationals. On the other hand, there is potential for employment in the private sector where the vast majority of foreigners are employed. Thus, workforce localisation is considered an issue of national importance given the predominantly young workforce in the GCC region and difficulties young nationals started facing looking for employment. This study discusses the experiences of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman in implementing workforce localisation programs. The findings are discussed under main themes and key issues. For its most part workforce localisation refers to entry-level positions offering nationals the prospect of rising in the organisational hierarchy and eventually replacing expatriate personnel. At the same time, foreign employees work side by side with their local counterparts although on substantially different terms and conditions. Local and foreign employees are put on different career paths resulting in workforce segmentation as local employees enjoy the benefits of a core segment and acquire company-specific skills while foreigners are mostly hired to perform specific tasks, have higher labour mobility, and provide labour flexibility to the organisation. Managing human resources effectively within such a context presents significant challenges.
Role of Strategic Change Management in Emerging Markets
Authors: Amoako George Kofi , Adjaison Geoffrey Kwasi , Osei-Bonsu Noble
Published: October 2015

Undoubtedly, the competitive business environment arising from current global economic challenges and the rapid technological advancement among other pertinent issues, pose a serious challenge for businesses especially, those within emerging market enclaves. This situation necessitates proactive measures, innovation as well as strategic approaches to change management in a bid to salvage most of these businesses from collapsing. This research aims at examining the role played by strategic change management in emerging markets from the Ghanaian perspective. In view of this, the study reviewed related literature from electronic books, articles and reports on areas such as emerging markets, strategic management and change management practices. Observations from this research include highlights of the significant challenges faced by businesses in emerging markets due to difficulty in obtaining critical resources and the fast-growing competitive global business environment. It was also discovered that strategic Change management is a very important practice used over the years to enhance the achievement of organisational goals. However, many industries in emerging markets may find it difficult to maximize such measures due to numerous reasons and myths about change. There is therefore the need for the adoption of strategic change practices to enhance the success of businesses and promote competitiveness in the midst of the global economic challenges. In addition, the authors recommend exploration of further research in other interest areas that have relevance for emerging markets.
Design and Fluid Structure Interaction Analysis of a Micro-Channel as Fluid Sensor
Authors: Sharma Vandana , Shimi S.L. , Khan Saleem , Arya Sandeep
Published: October 2015

In this proposed work, the design and analysis of a flow sensor to be integrated into a micro-channel is presented. A finite element analysis is carried out to simulate fluid-structure interaction and estimate cantilever deflection under different fluidic flows at constant flow rate. The design of device is based on the determination of geometrical dimensions. A mathematical analysis describing the fluid mechanics and their interaction with the beam is also proposed. The mathematical model is done using finite-element analysis, and a complete formulation for design analysis is determined. Finite element method based Comsol Multiphysics simulations are used to optimize the design in order to determine the fluid velocities after interaction with the free end of the micro-cantilever beam. The device is successfully designed for sensing different fluids.
Enhancement of Productivity and Overall Equipment Efficiency Using Time and Motion Study Technique - A Review
Authors: Nallusamy S. , Muthamizhmaran S.
Published: October 2015

The manufacturing industries have incredible contribution in the global economic growth and it has wide acknowledgment in the area of poverty mitigation. The manufacturing sector is also considered as one of the significant economic contributor in the Asian sub-continent for the past 100 years. Enhancement of productivity is an important factor for manufacturing industries to survive and to attain breakthroughs. By using time and motion study as tool, non-value added activities can be recognized and eliminated thereby productivity can be improved. Time and motion study is a tool to establish standard time for the processes including cycle time from observation with the allowance and rating factors. The main aim of the research is for systematic observation; process chart and stopwatch time study as research methodology. The article concludes that the successful application of motion and time study in industrial organizations is dependent on the training of the individuals who apply it. This article is also highlights enhancement of the Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) of the autoclave process through the implementation of time and motion studies.
Analysis and Ranking of Critical Supply Chain Risk Factors in Small & Medium Scale Industries Using QFD
Authors: Nallusamy S. , Ambedkar P.
Published: October 2015

The small scale sector is a symptom of India’s socio-economic development model and has met with the country’s long term expectations in terms of contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), industrial base, employment and exports. This sector forms a major part of Indian industrial base. Small and Medium scale industries contribute about 10% of total GDP. The Small and Medium Scale Industries (SMSI) are supported by the government and financial institutions like Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation (TIIC), State Bank of India (SBI) etc., in terms of technical and financial assistance. Even then Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) are lagging in infrastructure, skilled labour. In order to analyse the various risk factors in SMSI, the survey was conducted in 20 small and medium scale industries who are supplying their product to many Tier 1 companies and leading automobile companies of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in India. This paper brings out most critical supply chain risk factors exist in every business processes inside and outside the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is used to prioritize supply chain risk factors and also the SMSI owners and managers are advised to focus from the highest ranking critical factors to improve their technical and financial performance.
Model of Environmental Problems Priority Arising from the Use of Environmental and Natural Resources in Construction Material Sectors of Thailand
Authors: Sutthichaimethee Pruethsan , Tanoamchard Wanvicechanee , Sawangwong Pichan , Pachana Pumipat , Witit-Anun Nirun
Published: October 2015

The factors used to calculate the Forward Linkage, Backward Linkage and Real Benefit are the Total Environmental Costs. The highest total environmental cost was Iron and Steel that needs to be resolved immediately because it uses natural resources over the carrying capacity, higher environmental cost than standard, and contributes low real benefit. Iron and Steel, secondary steel products and non-residential building construction need to be monitored closely because they are able to link to other production sectors more than other production sectors, and they have high environmental cost. To design the sustainable development strategy of the country, therefore, need to use the information in this research to support the decision.
Clinical Performance of Moldable Bioceramics for Bone Regeneration in Maxillofacial Surgery
Authors: Guy Daculsi , Miramond Thomas , Borget Pascal , Morineau Claire , Elodie Seris
Published: October 2015

There are numerous clinical indications for bone grafts. The ideal graft material should favor bone apposition and growth while simultaneously being degraded by body fluids and cells. Ultimately, the material should be replaced by mature bone tissue within a healing period of weeks. Because autologous and allogenic bone grafts fulfill some of these requirements, these biological materials are routinely used by clinicians. However, biological materials have intrinsic limitations. Harvesting autologous bone requires a second surgical site, which can cause complications, the material is limited in quantity, and it may lead to immunogenic rejection or transfer certain pathogens and viruses [1-3]. For these reasons, researchers and clinicians have developed synthetic bone substitutes. Our approach has focused on composite biomaterials that combine bioceramics with hydrogels to replace and regenerate bone tissue in osseous defects.
The Effect of Nitrogen Doping on the Elastic Properties of Silicene
Authors: Chibisova Mary A. , Chibisov Andrey N.
Published: October 2015

This paper deals with the elastic properties of pure and nitrogen-doped silicene using density functional theory. During the compression (tension) from –2 to 2 GPa of pure and nitrogen-doped silicene, the corresponding values for the bulk modulus are obtained. It is found that the doping of the silicene structure with nitrogen has practically no effect on the value of its bulk modulus. However, the Young's modulus is increased of about 1.25 times.
Dose Characteristics of Multilayer Chitosan-Metal-Dielectric Nanostructures for Electronic Nanolithography
Authors: Voznesenskiy Sergey , Nepomnyaschiy Aleksandr
Published: October 2015

This paper presents the results of the study of chitosan-metal nanofilms for the formation of submicron structures on glass substrates by electron lithography. The dependence of their basic lithographic characteristics from the selection of the metal for intermediate layer is obtained.
Surface Irregularities and Magnetism in Amorphous Metal Foils on Fe Basis
Authors: Tkachev V.V. , Kraynova G.S. , Polyansky D.A. , Plotnikov V.S. , Dubinets A.V.
Published: October 2015

This paper presents the study results of morphology contact and free surface at amorphous metal foils (Fe7Co71Ni12(SiB)10, Fe70Ni10(SiB)10, Fe60Co30(SiB)10) and their analysis of the elemental composition. Using spectral methods of research was allowed to make a comparative analysis size and anisotropy of distribution topological inhomogeneities. A parallel study of spinning foils by Mossbauer spectroscopy and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) possible to determine the magnetic state of the samples.
Computer Simulation of the Equilibrium Morphology of Zirconia Nanocrystals
Authors: Chibisov Andrey N.
Published: October 2015

The paper presents the theoretical calculations of the structure and morphology of ZrO2nanocrystals. The equilibrium morphology shapes of tetragonal and cubic nanocrystals were determined. It was shown that the equilibrium morphology was determined by an appropriate set of faces of tetragonal and cubic phases of zirconium oxide.
Structure and Optical Properties of Porous Silicon Formed on Silicon Substrates Treated with Compression Plasma Flow
Authors: Bozhenko Mikhail Victorovich , Chusovitin Evgeniy Anatolievich , Galkin Nikolay Gennadievich , Pustovalov Evgeny Vladislavovich , Tkachev Vladimir Vadimovich , Nepomnyaschiy Aleksandr Vladimirovich , Mararov Vsevolod Vladimirovich , Astashinsky Valentin Mironovich , Kuzmitsky Aleksey Mikhailovich
Published: October 2015

Porous silicon layers were formed on the silicon substrates treated with compression plasma flow. Pores density and lateral size on substrates treated with plasma is by 25% more than that on untreated substrates. The intensity of the PL of the PS layers, formed on the plasma treated substrates (PT PS), is twice more than that of the PS layers, formed on untreated substrates. Three month exposure of normal PS and PT PS layers to the air leads to the PL intensity increase by 3 and 5.7 times, respectively, as well as to the peak position shifting towards long wavelength region by 3.1 nm, in the case of PT PS layer. The PL intensity increase is attributable to the reduction of the dangling bond density as a result of passivation by oxygen.
Modeling of Structures Nanocrystalline and Amorphous Alloys
Authors: Dubinets Aleksandr , Pustovalov Evgeny , Modin Evgeny B. , Fedorets Aleksandr N. , Tkachev Vladimir , Plotnikov Vladimir
Published: October 2015

In this paper discusses and demonstrates the possibility of modeling materials with amorphous and nanocrystalline structure using random close packing of atoms and nanoclusters models. Concordance structure of the real models alloys was evaluated by the radial distribution function obtained as a result of calculations, and in its modeled structures estimation. Modeling structure of the amorphous matrix and the spatial distribution of nanoclusters in two-component amorphous alloys with composition Fe80B20carried out by Ishikawa method. For modeling structure multicomponent amorphous metal alloys we developed correlation-spectral model of the amorphous matrix and nanoclusters. At modeling passing electron wave through the sample used a layered approach, and for the "visualization" imaging we modeled optical schemes of high-resolution electron microscopes.
Inhibitor-Containing Composite Coatings on Mg Alloys: Corrosion Mechanism and Self-Healing Protection
Authors: Gnedenkov Andrey S. , Sinebryukhov Sergey L. , Mashtalyar Dmitry V. , Gnedenkov Sergey V.
Published: October 2015

The way of self-healing coating formation at the surface of magnesium alloys by means of plasma electrolytic oxidation method (PEO) with subsequent filling of the obtained layer with inhibitor has been suggested. The electrochemical properties of such coatings have been described in details. The obtained experimental results indicate that the protective properties of the samples with inhibitor-containing coating were increased (IC = 8.6×10–8 A/cm2) in comparison with the samples without coating (5.3×10–5 A/cm2) and the base coating obtained by plasma electrolytic oxidation method (PEO) (3.4×10–7 A/cm2). The local scanning electrochemical methods of surface investigation, notably Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique (SVET) and Scanning Ion-Selective Electrode Technique (SIET) were used for determining the kinetics and mechanism of the self-healing process. The treatment by the solution containing 8-hydroxyquinoline, which inhibits the corrosion process, enables one to increase the protective properties of the composite coating in 30 times in the corrosion-active environment in comparison with the base PEO-coating and avert the intensive destruction of the material.
Identifying hydro-meteorological events from precipitation extremes indices and other sources over northern Namibia, Cuvelai Basin
Authors: Persendt Frans C. , Gomez Christopher , Zawar-Reza Peyman
Published: October 2015

Worldwide, more than 40% of all natural hazards and about half of all deaths are the result of flood disasters. In northern Namibia flood disasters have increased dramatically over the past half-century, along with associated economic losses and fatalities. There is a growing concern to identify these extreme precipitation events that result in many hydro-meteorological disasters. This study presents an up to date and broad analysis of the trends of hydrometeorological events using extreme daily precipitation indices, daily precipitation data from the Grootfontein rainfall station (1917–present), regionally averaged climatologies from the gauged gridded Climate Research Unit (CRU) product, archived disasters by global disaster databases, published disaster events in literature as well as events listed by Mendelsohn, Jarvis and Robertson (2013) for the data-sparse Cuvelai river basin (CRB). The listed events that have many missing data gaps were used to reference and validate results obtained from other sources in this study. A suite of ten climate change extreme precipitation indices derived from daily precipitation data (Grootfontein rainfall station), were calculated and analysed. The results in this study highlighted years that had major hydro-meteorological events during periods where no data are available. Furthermore, the results underlined decrease in both the annual precipitation as well as the annual total wet days of precipitation, whilst it found increases in the longest annual dry spell indicating more extreme dry seasons. These findings can help to improve flood risk management policies by providing timely information on historic hydro-meteorological hazard events that are essential for early warning and forecasting.
Supply chain relationships between first and second tier suppliers in South African automotive supply chains: A focus on trust
Authors: Tolmay Aletta S. , Badenhorst-Weiss Johanna A.
Published: October 2015

Background: The automotive industry is characterised by a network of long term collaborative agreements between component suppliers and assemblers. For collaboration to be successful trust between the supply chain partners is vital. Although many variables influence the efficiency of collaborative relationships, the human behaviour issues related to culture and trust are often much more difficult to solve. Trust is singled out in this article as a contributor to value in the supply chain relationships. Increased trust leads to more confidence resulting in better collaboration.Objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore collaborative relationships between first and second tier suppliers (component manufacturers) in automotive supply chains in South Africa and the role of trust in the relationship value.Method: This quantitative study had been conducted amongst members of the National Association for Automobile Component and Allied Manufacturers of South Africa (NAACAM), who are suppliers to the large automotive assemblers. The research utilised closed ended questions to obtain the perceptions of managers in automotive component manufacture regarding trust and relationship value with their best suppliers.Results: With a linear regression model it was found that there is a high degree of trust in the collaborative relationships between first and second tier suppliers of components in the automotive industry in South Africa.Conclusion: The automotive industry is one of the most successful industries in South Africa. They compete globally and apply best practices, particularly those in supply chain management. The industry is characterised by networks of collaborative relationships on different levels. These relationships seem to be successful as they are based on trust.