bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching about the World: Two Case Studies
Authors: Lo Joe Tin-Yau , Merryfield Merry , Po Sum-Cho
Published: October 2006

In response to the challenges of globalization, scholars and educators have been calling forth the infusion of global education into school curricula in order to enable children to adapt to the dynamic and changing contexts, as well as to live in an increasingly interdependent and culturally diverse world. However, there is a paucity of research literature in the area of intraregional and intercultural comparative studies on teachers' instructional decisions and practices in Hong Kong's global classrooms. This article aims to fill the vacuum in this area of study and shed light on the uniqueness and commonness of the two case-study schools – one local school and one international school. It is expected that the article can yield conceptual and practical lessons for the study of teachers' instructional decisions and practices in the global classrooms in school contexts with different cultures.
Components of a vision assisted constrained autonomous satellite formation flying control system
Authors: Lincoln N. K. , Veres S. M.
Published: October 2006

This paper examines a complete solution to autonomous formation flying of satellites where problems of position, velocity and attitude estimation, data fusion across the cluster, constrained actuators, fuel efficient manoeuvres and robustness are all considered. The joint problem of inaccurate state estimation combined with low thrust is addressed through the use of Kalman filter and an LP‐solvable constrained predictive controller. Attitude control is ensured by a globally stable quaternion‐based adaptive feedback controller. Calibration of control signals for translational force actuation is introduced. Options of solutions are analysed and the complete system and its system parts are illustrated in realistic simulations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Schizophrenic‐like neurocognitive deficits in children and adolescents with 22q11 deletion syndrome
Authors: Lewandowski Kathryn Eve , Shashi Vandana , Berry Peggy M. , Kwapil Thomas R.
Published: October 2006

22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11DS) is the most common genetic microdeletion syndrome affecting humans. The syndrome is associated with general cognitive impairments and specific deficits in visual‐spatial ability, non‐verbal reasoning, and planning skills. 22q11DS is also associated with behavioral and psychiatric abnormalities, including a markedly elevated risk for schizophrenia. Research findings indicate that people with schizophrenia, as well as those identified as schizoptypic, show specific cognitive deficits in the areas of sustained attention, executive functioning, and verbal working memory. The present study examined such schizophrenic‐like cognitive deficits in children and adolescents with 22q11DS (n = 26) and controls (n = 25) using a cross‐sectional design. As hypothesized, 22q11DS participants exhibited deficits in intelligence, achievement, sustained attention, executive functioning, and verbal working memory compared to controls. Furthermore, deficits in attention and executive functioning were more pronounced in the 22q11DS sample relative to general cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that the same pattern of neuropsychological impairment seen in patients with schizophrenia is present in non‐psychotic children identified as at‐risk for the development of schizophrenia based on a known genetic risk marker. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Debugging high‐performance component‐based applications
Authors: Wilde Torsten , Kohl James A.
Published: October 2006

Component frameworks for high‐performance computing (HPC) have special requirements that distinguish them from general component frameworks and other traditional/monolithic codes. HPC component‐based applications have a crucial need for correct, high‐performance execution across a variety of open‐source and proprietary component compositions, potentially incorporating several different programming languages. This paper targets the unique challenges associated with debugging HPC component‐based applications in the Common Component Architecture (CCA). We propose to take advantage of the well‐defined code separation created by component interfaces or ‘ports’ by logging port method invocations and capturing the corresponding data arguments. This approach makes it possible to find and isolate faulty components, simulate their invocation for specific debugging analyses, check data argument validity and boundaries, and create inputs for black‐box testing. Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance modeling of component assemblies
Authors: Trebon Nick , Morris Allen , Ray Jaideep , Shende Sameer , Malony A. D.
Published: October 2006

A parallel component environment places constraints on performance measurement and modeling. For instance, it must be possible to instrument the application without access to the source code. In addition, a component may admit multiple implementations, based on the choice of algorithm, data structure, parallelization strategy, etc., posing the user with the problem of having to choose the ‘correct’ implementation and achieve an optimal (fastest) component assembly. Under the assumption that an empirical performance model exists for each implementation of each component, simply choosing the optimal implementation of each component does not guarantee an optimal component assembly since components interact with each other. An optimal solution may be obtained by evaluating the performance of all of the possible realizations of a component assembly given the components and all of their implementations, but the exponential complexity renders the approach unfeasible as the number of components and their implementations rise. This paper describes a non‐intrusive, coarse‐grained performance monitoring system that allows the user to gather performance data through the use of proxies. In addition, a simple optimization library that identifies a nearly optimal configuration is proposed. Finally, some experimental results are presented that illustrate the measurement and optimization strategies. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GridASP: an ASP framework for Grid utility computing
Authors: Ogawa Hirotaka , Itoh Satoshi , Sonoda Tetsuya , Sekiguchi Satoshi
Published: October 2006

One of the greatest evolutions brought about by Grid technology is ‘Grid utility computing’, which utilizes various kinds of IT resources and applications across multiple organizations and enterprises, and integrates them into a comprehensive and valuable service. Since 2004, we proposed and have been developing the GridASP framework, which realizes Grid‐enabled application service providers (ASPs) in order to realize Grid utility computing. GridASP can bind application providers, resource providers, and service providers together and provide application execution services with security and anonymity to enterprise/science users. In this article, we report the conceptual idea of GridASP and the detail of the framework now being developed. Information on GridASP can be found at http://www.gridasp.org. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A distance geometry heuristic for expanding the range of geometries sampled during conformational search
Authors: Izrailev Sergei , Zhu Fangqiang , Agrafiotis Dimitris K.
Published: October 2006

A recent study of crystal structures of protein–ligand complexes has shown that bioactive conformations tend to be more extended than random ones (Diller and Merz, J. Comput. Aid. Mol. Des. 2002, 16, 105–112). Existing conformational sampling techniques produce molecular conformations with a distribution of geometric sizes that may not cover that of the bioactive conformations. Here, we describe a simple heuristic for biasing the conformational search toward more extended or compact conformations, while maintaining excellent sampling. The method uses a boosting strategy to generate a series of conformations, each of which is at least as extended (or compact) as the previous one. We demonstrate that this method significantly expands the range of geometric sizes generated during the search and thus increases the efficiency of sampling bioactive conformations. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2006
Seasonal march and its spatial difference of rainfall in the Philippines
Authors: Akasaka I. , Morishima W. , Mikami T.
Published: October 2006

On the basis of the pentad rainfall data averaged from 1961 to 2000, the seasonal march of rainfall in the Philippines is analyzed in this study. The relation to the atmospheric circulation at the 850 hPa level is also discussed.

To investigate the temporal and spatial features of rainfall, the Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis was applied to rainfall data. The result showed two dominant modes in the seasonal march of rainfall. The first mode reveals the increase of rainfall amount in the entire Philippines during summer monsoon while the second mode represents the contrast between the west and east coasts in the seasonal march of rainfall. The rainy season starts simultaneously over the entire west coast in the middle of May and withdraws gradually from northern stations around November. And on the east coast, the rainfall amount increases in autumn and winter rather than in summer. These regional differences between west and east coasts are considered to correspond to the seasonal change of Asian summer monsoon and orographic effect.

The seasonal march of rainfall in the Philippines is characterized by the sudden change of atmospheric circulation around the Philippines. Particularly, the onset and peak of rainy season on the west coast are influenced by the eastward shift of the subtropical high and the evolution of the monsoon trough with southwesterly, respectively. The increase of rainfall on the east coast is related with the weakened monsoon trough around early September. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society
The eastern Mediterranean teleconnection pattern: identification and definition
Authors: Hatzaki M. , Flocas H. A. , Asimakopoulos D. N. , Maheras P.
Published: October 2006

In this study, an attempt is made to investigate possible teleconnection patterns of atmospheric circulation, centered over eastern Mediterranean (EM) with the aid of gridded NCEP/NCAR daily values of geopotential heights for the period 1958–2003. For this purpose, two approaches have been used: correlation analysis and rotated principal component analysis (PCA) on a seasonal and monthly basis. A teleconnection pattern between the EM and northeastern Atlantic was identified at 500 and 300 hPa in winter, which will be referred to as the Eastern Mediterranean Pattern (EMP), appearing as an independent mode of the upper circulation. The pattern also exists in autumn but is substantially weakened with its dipole centers being shifted eastwards. Significant monthly variations were found in the location, strength and structure of the pattern. The employment of a standardized index demonstrated that the negative phase of the EMP prevails throughout the year with the maximum frequency at wintertime. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society
Determination of 6‐gingerol in ginger (Zingiber officinale) using high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography
Authors: Rai Sujay , Mukherjee Kakali , Mal Mainak , Wahile Atul , Saha Bishnu Pada , Mukherjee Pulok K.
Published: October 2006

A sensitive and accurate High‐Performance TLC (HPTLC) method has been developed to determine the quantity of 6‐gingerol in rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (family: Zingiberaceae), commonly known as ginger. Methanol extracts of rhizomes from three different sources were used for HPTLC, n‐hexane, and diethyl ether (40 : 60 v/v) as the mobile phase. The Rf of 6‐gingerol was found to be 0.40. The calibration plot was linear in the range of 250–1200 ng of 6‐gingerol and the correlation coefficient of 0.9997 was indicative of good linear dependence of peak area on concentration. The mean quantity of 6‐gingerol was found to be 60.44 ± 2.53 mg/g of ginger extract. The method permits reliable quantification of 6‐gingerol and good resolution and separation of 6‐gingerol from other constituents of ginger. To study the accuracy and precision of the method, recovery studies were performed by the method of standard addition. Recovery values from 99.79 to 99.84% showed the excellent reliability and reproducibility of the method. The proposed HPTLC method for quantitative monitoring of 6‐gingerol in ginger can be used for routine quality testing of ginger extracts.
Acoustic characteristics of Ni–Nb–Zr–H glassy alloys by ultrasonic shear waves
Authors: Fukuhara Mikio , Kawashima Asahi , Yamaura Shinichi , Inoue Akihisa
Published: October 2006

The propagation characteristics of shear horizontally polarized (SH) waves passing through (Ni42Nb28Zr30)100–x Hx (x = 0–15.2) glassy alloys were investigated as a function of hydrogen content. With an increase in hydrogen content, the propagation time and main frequency of the receiving waves show increase and decrease, respectively, indicating expan‐ sion in average atomic distance which comes from solution of hydrogen. In sharp contrast to crystalline alloys, the decrease in damping ratio and the delay in phase with increasing hydrogen suggest a strong settlement of hydrogen into four‐coordination sites surrounded tetrahedrally by four Zr atoms and the resulting increase in dynamic elasticity, respectively. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Constructive algorithm for dynamic observer error linearizationviaintegrators: single output case
Authors: T. Yu Kyung , Back Juhoon , H. Seo Jin
Published: October 2006

Dynamic observer error linearization which has been introduced recently is a new framework for observer design. Although this approach unifies several existing results on the problem and extends the class of systems that can be transformed into an observable linear system with an injection term of known signals, constructive algorithms to check the applicability are not available yet. In this paper, a constructive algorithm is proposed to solve the problem under some restrictions on the system structure and on the auxiliary dynamics introduced in the problem. The algorithm is constructive in the sense that the components of the transformation can be obtained step‐by‐step. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes of relaxation dynamics of a hydrogen-bonded glass former after removal of the hydrogen bonds
Authors: Grzybowska K. , Pawlus S. , Mierzwa M. , Paluch M. , Ngai K. L.
Published: October 2006

Dielectric relaxation spectra of two closely related glass formers, dipropylene glycol [H–(C3H6O)2–OH] and dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether [CH3–O–(C3H6O)2–CH3], were measured at ambient and elevated pressures in the supercooled and the glassy states are presented. Hydrogen bonds formed in dipropylene glycol are removed when its ends are replaced by two methyl groups to become dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether. In the process, the primary relaxation, the excess wing, and the resolved secondary relaxation of dipropylene glycol are all modified when the structure is transformed to become dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether. The modifications include the pressure and temperature dependences of these relaxation processes and their interrelations. Thus, by comparing the dielectric spectra of these two closely related glass formers at ambient and elevated pressures, the differences in the relaxation dynamics and properties in the presence and absence of hydrogen bonding are identified.
Scaling fields and pressure mixing in the Widom-Rowlinson model
Authors: Ren Ruichao , O’Keeffe C. J. , Orkoulas G.
Published: October 2006

We address the issues of scaling fields and of pressure mixing in the penetrable sphere model. This model has an exact symmetry locus from which analytical results may be derived. Based on exact results, we demonstrate that the scaling fields are analytic functions of temperature and chemical potential only. We conclude that there is no pressure mixing in this model. Our findings are in accord with numerical simulations for the same model.
Large area, dense silicon nanowire array chemical sensors
Authors: Talin A. Alec , Hunter Luke L. , Léonard François , Rokad Bhavin
Published: October 2006

The authors present a simple top-down approach based on nanoimprint lithography to create dense arrays of silicon nanowires over large areas. Metallic contacts to the nanowires and a bottom gate allow the operation of the array as a field-effect transistor with very large on/off ratios. When exposed to ammonia gas or cyclohexane solutions containing nitrobenzene or phenol, the threshold voltage of the field-effect transistor is shifted, a signature of charge transfer between the analytes and the nanowires. The threshold voltage shift is proportional to the Hammett parameter and the concentration of the nitrobenzene and phenol analytes.
Controlled magnetic anisotropy of SrRuO3 thin films grown on nominally exact SrTiO3(001) substrates
Authors: Herranz G. , Sánchez F. , Dix N. , Hrabovsky D. , Infante I. C. , Fontcuberta J. , García-Cuenca M. V. , Ferrater C. , Varela M.
Published: October 2006

Ferromagnetic SrRuO3 films with controlled in-plane magnetic anisotropy have been deposited on nominally exact (miscut <0.1°) SrTiO3(001) substrates. Films grown on as-received substrates display in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy whereas films grown on treated TiO2-terminated surfaces are magnetically biaxial. It is found that the in-plane magnetic anisotropy is intimately linked to the in-plane crystallographic texture: whereas the former films are single domain, the latter are twinned. The authors show that the different textures are determined by the growth mechanisms, step flow or layer by layer, which in turn are critically determined by the substrate surface conditions.
Observation of ferroelectric domain patterns in nanocrystalline BaTiO3 ceramics
Authors: Deng Xiangyun , Wang Xiaohui , Chen Liangliang , Wen Hai , Li Longtu
Published: October 2006

Scanning nonlinear dielectric microscopy measurements revealed temperature-dependent variations in contrast, which was attributed to domain rearrangements in 20nm BaTiO3 ceramics. The experiment result showed the presence of a-c 90° nanoferroelectric domains in 20nm BaTiO3 ceramics from 25to290°C; furthermore the piezoresponse hysteresis loops showed that the 20nm BaTiO3 ceramics were switchable and ferroelectricity was retained at the high temperature of 290°C, demonstrating the existence of nanoferroelectric domains and the ferroelectric phase still retained above Curie temperature in 20nm BaTiO3 ceramics, which confirmed the diffused phase transition character in nanograin BaTiO3 ceramics.
An arsenic metallochaperone for an arsenic detoxification pump
Authors: Lin Yung-Feng , Walmsley Adrian R. , Rosen Barry P.
Published: October 2006

Environmental arsenic is a world-wide health issue, making it imperative for us to understand mechanisms of metalloid uptake and detoxification. The predominant intracellular form is the highly mephitic arsenite, which is detoxified by removal from cytosol. What prevents arsenite toxicity as it diffuses through cytosol to efflux systems? Although intracellular copper is regulated by metallochaperones, no chaperones involved in conferring resistance to other metals have been identified. In this article, we report identification of an arsenic chaperone, ArsD, encoded by the
arsRDABC
operon of
Escherichia coli
. ArsD transfers trivalent metalloids to ArsA, the catalytic subunit of an As(III)/Sb(III) efflux pump. Interaction with ArsD increases the affinity of ArsA for arsenite, thus increasing its ATPase activity at lower concentrations of arsenite and enhancing the rate of arsenite extrusion. Cells are consequently resistant to environmental concentrations of arsenic. This report of an arsenic chaperone suggests that cells regulate the intracellular concentration of arsenite to prevent toxicity.
Visual saliency and texture segregation without feature gradient
Authors: Ben-Shahar Ohad
Published: October 2006

A central notion in the study of texture segregation is that of feature gradient (or feature contrast). In orientation-based texture segregation, orientation gradients have indeed played a fundamental role in explaining behavioral results. Here, however, we show that general, smoothly varying, orientation-defined textures (ODTs) exhibit striking perceptual singularities that are completely unpredictable from orientation gradients. These singularities defy not only popular texture segregation theories but also virtually all computational segmentation methods, and they confound previous behavioral studies with smoothly varying ODTs. We provide psychophysical evidence that perceptual singularities in smooth ODTs are salient visual features consistent across observers and with significant effect on the perception and segregation of oriented textures. We further show that, although orientation gradients cannot predict them, perceptual singularities in smooth ODTs emerge directly from, and can be spatially localized by, two ODT curvatures. Given the traditional role of feature gradients in early vision, the significance of these findings extends well beyond orientation-based texture segregation to issues ranging from curve integration and fragment grouping, through the perception of 3D shape, to the functional organization of the primary visual cortex.
Methionine catabolism in
Arabidopsis
cells is initiated by a γ-cleavage process and leads to
S
-methylcysteine and isoleucine syntheses
Authors: Rébeillé Fabrice , Jabrin Samuel , Bligny Richard , Loizeau Karen , Gambonnet Bernadette , Van Wilder Valérie , Douce Roland , Ravanel Stéphane
Published: October 2006

Despite recent progress in elucidating the regulation of methionine (Met) synthesis, little is known about the catabolism of this amino acid in plants. In this article, we present several lines of evidence indicating that the cleavage of Met catalyzed by Met γ-lyase is the first step in this process. First, we cloned an
Arabidopsis
cDNA coding a functional Met γ-lyase (AtMGL), a cytosolic enzyme catalyzing the conversion of Met into methanethiol, α-ketobutyrate, and ammonia. AtMGL is present in all of the
Arabidopsis
organs and tissues analyzed, except in quiescent dry mature seeds, thus suggesting that AtMGL is involved in the regulation of Met homeostasis in various situations. Also, we demonstrated that the expression of AtMGL was induced in
Arabidopsis
cells in response to high Met levels, probably to bypass the elevated
K
m
of the enzyme for Met. Second, [
13
C]-NMR profiling of
Arabidopsis
cells fed with [
13
C]Met allowed us to identify labeled
S
-adenosylmethionine,
S
-methylmethionine,
S
-methylcysteine (SMC), and isoleucine (Ile). The unexpected production of SMC and Ile was directly associated to the function of Met γ-lyase. Indeed, we showed that part of the methanethiol produced during Met cleavage could react with an activated form of serine to produce SMC. The second product of Met cleavage, α-ketobutyrate, entered the pathway of Ile synthesis in plastids. Together, these data indicate that Met catabolism in
Arabidopsis
cells is initiated by a γ-cleavage process and can result in the formation of the essential amino acid Ile and a potential storage form for sulfide or methyl groups, SMC.
The complete genome of
Rhodococcus
sp. RHA1 provides insights into a catabolic powerhouse
Authors: McLeod Michael P. , Warren René L. , Hsiao William W. L. , Araki Naoto , Myhre Matthew , Fernandes Clinton , Miyazawa Daisuke , Wong Wendy , Lillquist Anita L. , Wang Dennis , Dosanjh Manisha , Hara Hirofumi , Petrescu Anca , Morin Ryan D. , Yang George , Stott Jeff M. , Schein Jacqueline E. , Shin Heesun , Smailus Duane , Siddiqui Asim S. , Marra Marco A. , Jones Steven J. M. , Holt Robert , Brinkman Fiona S. L. , Miyauchi Keisuke , Fukuda Masao , Davies Julian E. , Mohn William W. , Eltis Lindsay D.
Published: October 2006

Rhodococcus
sp. RHA1 (RHA1) is a potent polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading soil actinomycete that catabolizes a wide range of compounds and represents a genus of considerable industrial interest. RHA1 has one of the largest bacterial genomes sequenced to date, comprising 9,702,737 bp (67% G+C) arranged in a linear chromosome and three linear plasmids. A targeted insertion methodology was developed to determine the telomeric sequences. RHA1's 9,145 predicted protein-encoding genes are exceptionally rich in oxygenases (203) and ligases (192). Many of the oxygenases occur in the numerous pathways predicted to degrade aromatic compounds (
30
) or steroids (
4
). RHA1 also contains 24 nonribosomal peptide synthase genes, six of which exceed 25 kbp, and seven polyketide synthase genes, providing evidence that rhodococci harbor an extensive secondary metabolism. Among sequenced genomes, RHA1 is most similar to those of nocardial and mycobacterial strains. The genome contains few recent gene duplications. Moreover, three different analyses indicate that RHA1 has acquired fewer genes by recent horizontal transfer than most bacteria characterized to date and far fewer than
Burkholderia xenovorans
LB400, whose genome size and catabolic versatility rival those of RHA1. RHA1 and LB400 thus appear to demonstrate that ecologically similar bacteria can evolve large genomes by different means. Overall, RHA1 appears to have evolved to simultaneously catabolize a diverse range of plant-derived compounds in an O
2
-rich environment. In addition to establishing RHA1 as an important model for studying actinomycete physiology, this study provides critical insights that facilitate the exploitation of these industrially important microorganisms.
The core chain of circles of Maskit’s embedding for once-punctured torus groups
Authors: Scorza Irene
Published: October 2006

In this paper, we describe the limit set

Λ
n

\Lambda _n

of a sequence of manifolds

N
n

N_n

in the boundary of Maskit’s embedding of the once-punctured torus. We prove that

Λ
n

\Lambda _n

contains a chain of tangent circles

{

C

n
,
j

}

\{C_{n,j}\}

that are described from the end invariants of the manifold. In particular, we give estimates in terms of

n
n

of the radii

r

n
,
j

r_{n,j}

of the circles and prove that

r

n
,
j

r_{n,j}

decrease when

n
n

tends to infinity. We then apply these results to McShane’s identity, to obtain an estimate of the width of the limit set in terms of

n
n

.
APDB: a web server to evaluate the accuracy of sequence alignments using structural information
Authors: Armougom Fabrice , Poirot Olivier , Moretti Sébastien , Higgins Desmond G. , Bucher Phillip , Keduas Vladimir , Notredame Cedric
Published: October 2006

Summary: The APDB webserver uses structural information to evaluate the alignment of sequences with known structures. It returns a score correlated to the overall alignment accuracy as well as a local evaluation. Any sequence alignment can be analyzed with APDB provided it includes at least two proteins with known structures. Sequences without a known structure are simply ignored and do not contribute to the scoring procedure.

Availability: APDB is part of the T-Coffee suite of tools for alignment analysis, it is available on . A standalone version of the package is also available as a freeware open source from the same address.

Contact:  cedric.notredame@europe.com
Food hazard characteristics and risk reduction behaviour
Authors: McCarthy Mary , Brennan Mary , Ritson Christopher , de Boer Martine
Published: October 2006

Purpose

This article aims to explore the risk characteristics associated with food hazards on the island of Ireland and to assess how the public deal with perceived risks.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative investigation involving 12 focus groups was conducted on the island of Ireland. Content analysis was undertaken, with the assistance of the qualitative software tool QSR N6.

Findings

Four hazard categories (lifestyle, (bio)technological, microbiological and farm orientated production) were identified and the risk characteristics and risk relieving strategies associated with these hazards were explored. The risk perceptions of respondents were consistent with those defined by the psychometric paradigm. The risk characteristics of knowledge, control, dread, harm to health, freedom of choice, ease to identify were all mentioned, but their importance differed greatly depending on the hazards. For example, in the case of lifestyle hazards, personalisation of the risk, and thus dread, occurred when the individual had a health scare, while with microbiological hazards, knowledge and familiarity resulted in increased confidence in ability to cope with the hazard in the home. The media was noted as having an influential role in individual risk assessment. Finally, changing lifestyles were seen as contributing to increasing the level of exposure to food risks among the population. Further investigation into the sources and consequences of these changing lifestyles is required to guide future food policy.

Research limitations/implications

The number of focus group conducted and the qualitative nature of the research limits the degree to which generalised conclusions can be drawn.

Originality/value

These results provide a deeper qualitative understanding of risk perception issues.
Experimental study of effects of oil additives into coefficient of friction in journal bearings at different temperatures
Authors: Durak Ertuğrul , Kurbanoğlu Cahit , Fatih Tunay Recai
Published: October 2006

Purpose

In this study, an attempt is made to show the linkage between the oil additive and journal bearing the running conditions such as temperature, load, speed, etc. in effecting lubricating. It is well known that öne of the roles of additives is to form protective layer to reduce friction coeffıcient in lubricated contacts.

Design/methodology/approach

The tests were performed at three different loads, and eight speeds. The tests were carried out for three different commercial additives that are concentration ratio of 3 per cent.

Findings

The test results of the experimental coeffıcient of friction were graphically presented. The highest reduction in the friction coeffıcient was obtained at high temperature (100°C) in the tests than room temperature (25°C) tests.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, effects of commercial oil additives on the friction coefficîent in the journal bearing under statically loaded have been studied experimentally at 25 and 100°C temperatures.

Practical implications

Lubricating oils find applications in engines, industrial uses, greases and automotive transmissions. The majör uses of these oils are in engines (55 per cent), industry (27 per cent), processes (9 per cent), greases (5 per cent) and automotive transmissions (4 per cent). Lubricants perform a variety of functions in automotive application. One of the important functions is to reduce friction and wear in movîng machinery.

Originality/value

Generally, by adding additives to engine oil the lower friction coeffıcient were observed comparison engine oil both at 25 and 100°C temperatures. But, the smallest friction coefficient was obtained in the tests at 100°C comparison with the tests at 25°C in the additive addition to engine oil tests.
Journal bearings optimization for mass balancing systems used in internal combustion engines
Authors: Morais Ludovico , Andrade Ferreira Luís
Published: October 2006

Purpose

To provide an optimization methodology for the journal bearings of mass balancing systems, that consists in a sensibility analysis of the journal bearings design parameters in the journal bearing operating parameters, as well as the comparison and selection of the journal bearing materials and the selection of the lubrication grooves suitable.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology followed comprehends three steps. The first step is the one by one variation of the journal bearing design parameters (radial clearance, journal bearing diameter and journal bearing length) to analyse, independently, their influence on the journal bearing operating parameters (minimum film thickness, maximum pressure and power loss). The second step is the analysis and comparison of the metallic materials that can be used in the journal bearings. The third step is the selection of the lubrication groove.

Findings

Applying this methodology it is shown that increasing the radial clearance the minimum film thickness increases and the maximum pressure and the power loss decrease, increasing the journal bearing length the minimum film thickness and the power loss increase and the maximum pressure decreases, at last, increasing the journal bearing diameter the minimum film thickness, the maximum pressure and the power loss increase. The materials that should be used are the white metals (Babbitts). And the journal bearing lubrication grooves should be circumferential.

Practical implications

This method gives the user the possibility to eliminate potential failures of the journal bearings, or simply to make a sensibility study of the influence of the journal bearing design parameters in the operating ones.

Originality/value

This paper provides a simple and objective methodology to make a sensibility analysis of the influence of the journal bearing design parameters in the operating parameters, as well as select the journal bearing materials and lubrication grooves.
Microstructural and wear characterization of SiC reinforced Al2O3 · TiO2 plasma coating
Authors: Yilmaz Ramazan
Published: October 2006

Purpose

The aim of this study is to present an experimental research on a Al2O3 · TiO2 plasma coating on AISI 316 stainless steel substrate with and without SiC particulate reinforcement to show how SiC particulate effect on the hardness, wear resistance and microstructure of the coating.

Design/methodology/approach

The main objective of the paper is to investigate the effect of SiC particulate on the coating properties such as hardness, wear resistance and microstructure. Achieving of this purpose, harness and sliding test, surface roughness measurements were carried out. In addition to that parallel work on microstructural examination by optical microscope were also conducted. Owing to SiC particulate is harder than Al2O3 · TiO2 plasma coating, it influence hardness and tribological behavior and result in increasing in hardness values and wear resistance of the coating reinforced with SiC particulate compare with unreinforced Al2O3 · TiO2 plasma coating.

Findings

This study provides experimental results about the Al2O3 · TiO2 plasma coating with and without SiCp reinforcement. The obtained experimental results indicate that SiCp in the coating is influence hardness, wear resistance and microstructure of the coating and make them much harder and having wear resistance. This result is consisted with the values obtained previous studies that is available in literature.

Research limitations/implications

SEM or TEM studies may be needed for better understanding of wear mechanism. Various percentage of SiC particulate in the coating can be used in the further researches and provide more detailed information about effecting on SiCp reinforcement of the coating.

Practical implications

The results show that SiCp reinforcement contribute increasing in hardness and wear resistance of the coating. Those compositions of the coating can easily used in related industrial applications.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils some useful information about SiCp Al2O3 · TiO2 plasma coating and offers practical help to students, related academicians and researchers in the industry.
Driving harmony: philosophy of Toyota Motor Thailand
Authors: Petison Phallapa , Johri Lalit M.
Published: October 2006

Purpose

To describe how Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) is using local Thai employees instead of the traditional Japanese workforce, and why.

Design/methodology/approach

In‐depth interviews with Thai and Japanese employees, suppliers and dealers of TMT; and Imai Hiroshi, architect of the philosophy.

Findings

A total of seven initiatives were discovered in which people played important roles in bringing the company into the community.

Practical implications

For building and harnessing local advantages, multi‐national companies have to bridge cultural, knowledge and skill gaps between local and expatriate employees. The actions of these companies have to demonstrate long‐term commitment to host countries.

Originality/value

CEOs of multi‐national companies, particularly Asian subsidiaries, can learn how to build and harness local advantages for global competitiveness.
Control and automatica trade fairs May 2006
Authors: Braggins Don
Published: October 2006

Purpose

To report on innovations in machine vision at two important international exhibitions held in Germany in May 2006.

Design/methodology/approach

The exhibitions were each visited and innovations sought and reported.

Findings

Many of the innovations were in the field of 3D image capture and processing.

Originality/value

All of the reported innovations are new and will be of interest outside Germany.
Jaguar uses adaptive MIG welding to join C‐pillars to an aluminium roof section in a new sports car
Authors: Mortimer John
Published: October 2006

Purpose

To describe how Jaguar Cars in the UK is making use of a robot‐based intelligent adaptive metal inert gas (MIG) welding process incorporating laser diode measurement of the gap in the joint between the aluminium C‐pillars and the aluminium roof structure of its new XK sports car that is being built in the company's plant in Castle Bromwich, UK.

Design/methodology/approach

Describes the sensor technology that is used to guide the robot in order to undertake the MIG welding path.

Findings

The use of MIG welding in this particular application is essential if a perfect surface is to be achieved in a critical area of the car body before the aluminium body shell enters the paint shop. The introduction of MIG welding in this particularly exposed region of the car's body shell has proved to be a challenging experience for a wide range of engineers at jaguar cars in the UK, from manufacturing engineers through to process engineers and metallurgists, and others. The MIG welding of cosmetic aluminium skin panels is the result of considerable research work on the part of Jaguar engineers and the company's suppliers, as well as staff at Warwick University. This work is likely to continue in order to achieve a complete understanding of the entire production process, as well as to reduce cycle times and improve overall product performance, both to the benefit of the manufacturer and the end‐user – the customer.

Practical implications

It is likely that arising out of development work into new MIG welding techniques and processes, new standards will be used throughout the Ford organization, including other companies that form the Premier Automotive Group. Aston Martin, Land Rover Volvo could all benefit from the technologies developed at Jaguar Cars.

Originality/value

This is the first time that Jaguar Cars has used an ABB 2400‐16 robot in conjunction with a laser diode sensor to measure the true position of a seam prior to welding, allowing the robot's path to be optimised for each individual vehicle. This paper provides a unique insight into the development of a root‐based intelligent adaptive MIG welding process to produce a perfectly finished body shell.
The spiritual worker
Authors: Marques Joan F.
Published: October 2006

Purpose

To describe ways in which non‐managerial workers could contribute toward establishing spirituality at work.

Design/methodology/approach

The subject scope is spirituality at work. The methods are literature review, and two qualitative (phenomenological) studies. The approach to the topic is defining the phenomenon; examining internal, integrated and external drivers; presentation of the ripple effect.

Findings

Finds that spirituality at work is an inside‐out approach; workers at different levels can help establish spirit at work. Some workplaces are just not susceptible toward a spiritual mindset.

Research limitations/implications

The studies reviewed, although in‐depth, applied to a small sample, which makes generalization riskier. Although interrater reliability was successfully applied in the first phenomenological study, there may be some bias in this approach, because the researcher is the instrument. Suggestions for future research: applying a quantitative study on a broader sample of workers in diverse work environments to detect their opinion about how they could establish spirit at work; elaborating on possible linkages between workers' emotional intelligence and the establishment of spirituality at work.

Practical implications

That workers may reflect on the various aspects of the ripple effect and actually try with enhanced energy to apply this approach.

Originality/value

The viewpoint of spirituality at work, established by workers at non‐managerial levels is new. This paper is valuable for all members of the corporate world, particularly those who consider workplace spirituality only possible with management involvement.
Advanced manufacturing simulation
Authors: Ujvari Sandor , Hilmola Olli‐Pekka
Published: October 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the complex nature of automated guided vehicle (AGV) simulation model building, and especially how system modelling details affect the end results. This is an important issue in all of the transportation simulation systems, since they are service‐based by their nature, and additional inefficiencies create unanticipated performance downgrading.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a simulation approach, and simulated systems are based on a real‐life case study and on well accepted hypothetical simulation example.

Findings

Simulation system boundaries are often neglected in the model building, and especially interface to inbound (and possibly outbound) material flow should be considered carefully; based on these research results, AGV investments are seen in an entirely different light, as system boundary is enlarged to contain more realistically interacting elements. Similar system boundary issues were found from the case study: interface with overhead gantry did not provide near optimal performance. The case study also revealed that high speed of AGVs is not necessarily worth additional investment; constraints exist in safety, acceleration and ability to turn in corners.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on the simulation work and, to see the real implications, real‐life implementations on policy level are needed.

Practical implications

Results of this research provide more insights for manufacturing unit investments, and especially in the scope of automated transportation system use. Also changes in manufacturing flow management issues, after investing in, for example, AGV systems, are different from in less‐automated manufacturing units.

Originality/value

This research work provides more insights to simulation research work, especially from the perspective of transportation systems. Also implications arising from case study are unique as being compared to previous research in the field.
Optimal replacement of systems subject to shocks and random threshold failure
Authors: Rangan Alagar , Thyagarajan Dimple , Sarada Y
Published: October 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to generalize Yeh and Zhang's 2004 random threshold failure model for deteriorating systems.

Design/methodology/approach

An N‐policy was adopted by which the system was replaced after the Nth failure.

Findings

The model was found to have practical applications in warranty cost analysis.

Originality/value

By identifying the instance of a shock as the failure of the system and the threshold times as the warranty period offered and changing the definition of lethal shock (system failure in this case) as the occurrence of a shock within a threshold period in our generalized model, one can study the renewing warranty cost analysis.
Higher vocational education in China
Authors: Durden G.R. , Yang G.
Published: October 2006

Purpose

This paper addresses the increasingly important economy of China and its associated higher vocational education and training (HVE) system. More specifically, the paper aims to present the findings of a critical review of recent developments in the HVE system in Liaoning province.

Design/methodology/approach

As part of this review, specific problems faced by Liaoning provincial and central government agencies in meeting the labour market needs of an economy in transition are explicated, as are current constraints in the implementation of the ongoing reform of the HVE system vis‐à‐vis economic reform. Predominantly secondary data sources were used to conduct the review and one of the authors was directly involved in their compilation. The review period was 1997‐2003, which represented the time span between the enactment of the central government's vocational education law and the most current point in time for which statistics on HVE were then available.

Findings

Preliminary findings provide evidence to support the view that the Liaoning HVE system has made a small but significant positive contribution to the growth and development of the provincial economy over the period. Equally, however, the findings identified a number of constraints to the effective operation of the HVE system which could serve to limit continued economic growth. These constraints exist in the form of a low degree of market orientation; an insufficiency of resources both intellectual and physical, stemming from a chronic lack of financial investment; a relatively low level of overall cost effectiveness and a poor image in terms of the perceptions of the population at large as to the value of HVE as a tertiary education pathway. It is the authors' view that the constraints identified within the Liaoning HVE system exist as a general set of constraints within the overall Chinese HVE system.

Research limitations/implications

Understanding the nature of any labour market is a challenging and complex process and the authors are conscious that their preliminary review is deficient in a number of key areas. Firstly, further work is required to better understand the range and relative importance of the strategic drivers of economic and HVE reform in Liaoning province and China generally. Secondly, little has been said regarding the impact of the on‐going state owned enterprises reforms on the performance of the Liaoning HVE system, notwithstanding the fact that the underlying cost effectiveness imperative is greatly affected by these reforms.

Originality/value

Internationally, the Chinese economy is seen as a major driver of growth in the global economy. In light of this it is the authors' view that the findings of this preliminary review provide a better understanding of the issues relating to its continued development, specifically as they relate to reform of the labour market and associated HVE system.