bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of the Short Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) in a Forensic High Secure Unit
Authors: Kroppan Erik , Nesset MereteB. , Nonstad Kåre , Pedersen TrulsW. , Almvik Roger , Palmstierna Tom
Published: March 2011

Our objective was to describe and analyze the implementation process of the Short Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability in a forensic high secure unit in Norway. A stepwise implementation procedure was used and an educational package on practical use of the START in the clinic was developed. A questionnaire about START was given to the staff at the end of the first implementation phase and semi-structured qualitative interviews with staff on the content of security decision processes were carried out. Also, a log of the actual number of completed START scorings was made, including the number of ratings and the regularity of these ratings finished within this time frame.

After six months’ implementation the questionnaire showed that 74% of the staff agreed that the evaluations made on the basis of START were interdisciplinary. Seventy-three percent also agreed that START contributed significantly to a more systematic risk assessment and management, and 79% said the START was useful as a tool in risk assessments and treatment planning. Informants from the interview study described how the START structured their clinical judgement. At the same time, the START fulfilled their wish to address both the patients’ strengths and risks. The START continued to be in regular use after the more intensive implementation process.Our results indicate that the implementation of START had led to interdisciplinary security decisions with a broader perspective of the patients’ situation.
A 3 µm difference frequency laser source for probing hydrocarbon plasmas
Authors: van Helden J H , Hancock G , Peverall R , Ritchie G A D
Published: March 2011

The practicality of a compact solid-state laser-based difference frequency generation system is demonstrated as a tool for probing hydrocarbon-based plasmas. The laser light of a cw Nd : YAG operating at 1064 nm and one of two distributed feedback diode lasers operating at 1560 and 1620 nm were mixed in a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal producing mid-infrared radiation at 3.35 and 3.1 µm for the detection of CH4 and C2H6 at the first wavelength and C2H2 and C2H4 at the latter. The radiation was used to probe a rf capacitively coupled CH4 plasma for a matrix of conditions, varying power (<180 W) and pressure (<1 Torr) in both direct absorption spectroscopy and wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) experiments to achieve relatively high sensitivities while retaining accurate spectral information in the form of linewidths. A minimum detectable absorption coefficient αmin of 2 × 10−5 cm−1 was achieved for direct absorption spectroscopy which corresponds to a minimum detectable density for CH4 of 1.7 × 1012 cm−3 and an αmin value of 2 × 10−6 cm−1 was achieved for WMS measurements on C2H2. The depletion of CH4 was measured to increase from 23% at 40 W to 40% at 180 W at a pressure of 0.84 Torr, and the depletion increased to 56% as the pressure decreased to 0.45 Torr.
An atmospheric pressure self-pulsing micro thin-cathode discharge
Authors: Du Beilei , Mohr Sebastian , Luggenhölscher Dirk , Czarnetzki Uwe
Published: March 2011

A micro thin-cathode discharge (μTCD) is a modified micro hollow-cathode discharge (MHCD) where the anode is much thicker than the one in a MHCD, which allows a stable operation at atmospheric pressure. The μTCD was operated at different pressures in argon by a dc voltage. At atmospheric pressure, the μTCD operates in a self-pulsing mode with current peaks with a duration of a few nanoseconds and a current density up to 105 A cm−2, supplied by the charge stored in the capacitance of the discharge device. The plasma emission was observed by an ICCD camera. Both, the voltage–current characteristic and the ICCD image indicate that this self-pulsing is due to a periodic ignition of a spark discharge. The electron density was measured by Stark broadening of the Hβ-line with an admixture of 1% hydrogen. In the periodic spark mode the electron density is of the order of 1016 cm−3. The direct measurement of the discharge current in these kinds of discharges is not possible, since it is driven by the inherent capacitance of the discharge device. Therefore, an electrical model including stray capacitances is set up. The modelled results agree very well with the measured currents and voltages.
Synthesis of Au nanoparticles at the surface and embedded in carbonaceous matrix by 150 keV Ar ion irradiation
Authors: Prakash Jai , Tripathi A , Rigato V , Pivin J C , Tripathi Jalaj , Chae Keun Hwa , Gautam Sanjeev , Kumar P , Asokan K , Avasthi D K
Published: March 2011

We report on synthesis of spherical Au nanoparticles at the surface and embedded in carbonaceous matrix by 150 keV Ar ion irradiation of thin Au film on polyethyleneterepthlate (PET). The pristine and irradiated samples are characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. RBS spectra reveal the sputtering of Au film and interface mixing, increasing with increasing fluence. Surface morphology shows that at the fluence of 5 × 1015 ions cm−2, dewetting of thin Au film begins and partially connected nanostructures are formed whereas, at the higher fluence of 5 × 1016 ions cm−2, isolated spherical Au nanoparticles (45 ± 20 nm) are formed at the surface. Cross-sectional TEM observations also evidence the Au nanoparticles at the surface and mixed metal–polymer region indicating the formation of nanocomposites with small Au nanoparticles. The results are explained by the crater formation, sputtering followed by dewetting of the thin Au film and interdiffusion at the interface, through molten zones due to thermal spike induced by Ar ions.
Growth Promotion of Chinese Cabbage and Arabidopsis by Piriformospora indica Is Not Stimulated by Mycelium-Synthesized Auxin
Authors: Lee Yin-Chen , Johnson Joy Michal , Chien Ching-Te , Sun Chao , Cai Daguang , Lou Binggan , Oelmüller Ralf , Yeh Kai-Wun
Published: March 2011

Piriformospora indica, an endophytic fungus of the order Sebacinales, interacts with the roots of a large variety of plant species. We compared the interaction of this fungus with Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris subsp. chinensis) and Arabidopsis seedlings. The development of shoots and roots of Chinese cabbage seedlings was strongly promoted by P. indica and the fresh weight of the seedlings increased approximately twofold. The strong stimulation of root hair development resulted in a bushy root phenotype. The auxin level in the infected Chinese cabbage roots was twofold higher compared with the uncolonized controls. Three classes of auxin-related genes, which were upregulated by P. indica in Chinese cabbage roots, were isolated from a double-subtractive expressed sequence tag library: genes for proteins related to cell wall acidification, intercellular auxin transport carrier proteins such as AUX1, and auxin signal proteins. Overexpression of B. campestris BcAUX1 in Arabidopsis strongly promoted growth and biomass production of Arabidopsis seedlings and plants; the roots were highly branched but not bushy when compared with colonized Chinese cabbage roots. This suggests that BcAUX1 is a target of P. indica in Chinese cabbage. P. indica also promoted growth of Arabidopsis seedlings but the auxin levels were not higher and auxin genes were not upregulated, implying that auxin signaling is a more important target of P. indica in Chinese cabbage than in Arabidopsis. The fungus also stimulated growth of Arabidopsis aux1 and aux1/axr4 and rhd6 seedlings. Furthermore, a component in an exudate fraction from P. indica but not auxin stimulated growth of Chinese cabbage and Arabidopsis seedlings. We propose that activation of auxin biosynthesis and signaling in the roots might be the cause for the P. indica-mediated growth phenotype in Chinese cabbage.
Remifentanil Preconditioning Reduces Hepatic Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Rats via Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression
Authors: Yang Li-Qun , Tao Kun-Ming , Liu Yan-Tao , Cheung Chi-Wai , Irwin Michael G. , Wong Gordon T. C. , Lv Hao , Song Jian-Gang , Wu Fei-Xiang , Yu Wei-Feng
Published: March 2011

Background

Opioid preconditioning against ischemia reperfusion injury has been well studied in myocardial and neuronal tissues. The objective of this study was to determine whether remifentanil could attenuate hepatic injury and to investigate the mechanisms.

Methods

A rat model of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury and a hepatocyte hypoxia reoxygenation (HR) injury model were used, respectively, in two series of experiments. Remifentanil was administered before ischemia or hypoxia and the experiments were repeated with previous administration of naloxone, L-arginine and N-ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nonselective opioid receptor antagonist, a nitric oxide donor, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, respectively. Serum aminotransferase, cytokines, and hepatic lipid peroxidation were measured. Histopathology examination and apoptotic cell detection were assessed. For the in vitro study, cell viability, intracellular nitric oxide, apoptosis, and NOS expression were evaluated.

Results

Remifentanil and L-arginine pretreatment reduced concentrations of serum aminotransferases and cytokines, decreased the concentrations of hepatic malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase activity, and increased superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide, and inducible NOS expression in vivo. Decreased histologic damage and apoptosis were also seen in these two groups. These changes were prevented by previous administration of N-ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester but not naloxone. There was an increase in inducible NOS protein expression but not endogenous NOS in remifentanil and L-arginine pretreated groups compared with control, naloxone, and N-ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester groups.

Conclusion

Pretreatment with remifentanil can attenuate liver injury both in vivo and in vitro. Inducible NOS but not opioid receptors partly mediate this effect by exhausting reactive oxygen species and attenuating the inflammatory response.
Disruption of the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Can Affect Survival, Bacterial Clearance, and Cytokine Gene Expression during Murine Sepsis
Authors: Guptill Virginia , Cui Xizhong , Khaibullina Alfia , Keller Jason M. , Spornick Nicholas , Mannes Andrew , Iadarola Michael , Quezado Zenaide M. N.
Published: March 2011

Background

Previous studies suggest that the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel has a role in sepsis, but it is unclear whether its effect on survival and immune response is beneficial or harmful.

Methods

We studied the effects of genetic (Trpv1-knockout vs. wild-type [WT] mice) and pharmacologic disruption of TRPV1 with resiniferatoxin (an agonist) or capsazepine (an antagonist) on mortality, bacterial clearance, and cytokine expression during lipopolysaccharide or cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis.

Results

After cecal ligation and puncture, genetic disruption of TRPV1 in Trpv1-knockout versus WT mice was associated with increased mortality risk (hazard ratio, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.23-3.81; P = 0.01). Furthermore, pharmacologic disruption of TRPV1 with intrathecal resiniferatoxin, compared with vehicle, increased mortality risk (hazard ratio, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.05-3.2; P = 0.03) in WT, but not in Trpv1-knockout, mice. After lipopolysaccharide, neither genetic (Trpv1 knockout) nor pharmacologic disruption of TRPV1 with resiniferatoxin had significant effect on survival compared with respective controls. In contrast, after lipopolysaccharide, pharmacologic disruption of TRPV1 with capsazepine, compared with vehicle, increased mortality risk (hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.02-3.61; P = 0.04) in WT animals. Furthermore, after cecal ligation and puncture, increased mortality in resiniferatoxin-treated WT animals was associated with higher blood bacterial count (P = 0.0004) and higher nitrate/nitrite concentrations and down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor α expression (P = 0.004) compared with controls.

Conclusions

Genetic or pharmacologic disruption of TRPV1 can affect mortality, blood bacteria clearance, and cytokine response in sepsis in patterns that may vary according to the sepsis-inducing event and the method of TRPV1 disruption.
Methylophilus glucosoxydans sp. nov., a restricted facultative methylotroph from rice rhizosphere
Authors: Doronina Nina V. , Gogleva Anna A. , Trotsenko Yuri A.
Published: March 2011

Two restricted facultatively methylotrophic strains, designed BT and P, were isolated from rice roots. The isolates were strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, asporogenous, mesophilic, neutrophilic, motile rods that multiplied by binary fission and were able to synthesize indole-3-acetate. The cellular fatty acid profiles of the two strains were dominated by C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 2-OH. The major ubiquinone was Q-8. The predominant phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Cardiolipin (diphosphatidylglycerol) was absent. The two strains assimilated methanol carbon at the level of formaldehyde via the ribulose monophosphate cycle (2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate variant). They lacked α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase. They assimilated ammonium via the glutamate cycle enzymes glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase. The DNA G+C contents of strains BT and P were 52.5 and 51.5 mol% (T
m), respectively. The level of DNA–DNA reassociation between these strains was 78 %, indicating that they belong to one species. Phylogenetic analysis of strain BT based on 16S rRNA and methanol dehydrogenase (mxaF) gene sequences showed a high level of similarity to members of the genus Methylophilus. As the two isolates were clearly distinct from all recognized members of the genus Methylophilus based on phenotypic data and levels of DNA–DNA relatedness (30–46 %), they are considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Methylophilus glucosoxydans sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is BT ( = VKM B-1607T = CCUG 59685T = DSM 5898T).
Identification of the bacterial endosymbionts in leaf nodules of Pavetta (Rubiaceae)
Authors: Lemaire Benny , Van Oevelen Sandra , De Block Petra , Verstraete Brecht , Smets Erik , Prinsen Els , Dessein Steven
Published: March 2011

Three genera in the Rubiaceae (Pavetta, Psychotria and Sericanthe) harbour bacterial endosymbionts within leaf nodules or galls. The present paper identifies the bacterial endophytes in three leaf-nodulating Pavetta species. In order to reveal their identity and assess their phylogenetic position, 16S rRNA, recA and gyrB genes were sequenced from an extensive sampling of Burkholderia strains. This multigene approach results in a robust phylogeny, which places the bacterial endosymbionts of Pavetta at two distinct positions within the genus Burkholderia (class Betaproteobacteria), suggesting that leaf-nodulating endosymbionts within Pavetta have different origins. The endophytes of nodulated Psychotria species were recognized as the closest relatives to the Pavetta endosymbionts. Our results suggest that the endosymbionts of Pavetta represent novel species, which can be classified as ‘Candidatus Burkholderia hispidae’, ‘Candidatus Burkholderia rigidae’ and ‘Candidatus Burkholderia schumannianae’.
Methylobacterium gossipiicola sp. nov., a pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic bacterium isolated from the cotton phyllosphere
Authors: Madhaiyan Munusamy , Poonguzhali Selvaraj , Senthilkumar Murugaiyan , Lee Jung-Sook , Lee Keun-Chul
Published: March 2011

A pink, aerobic, facultatively methylotrophic, motile, Gram-negative rod, designated Gh-105T, was isolated from the phyllosphere of cotton from Coimbatore (Tamilnadu, India). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed clearly that the isolate belonged to the Methylobacterium cluster. Strain Gh-105T was most closely related to Methylobacterium adhaesivum AR27T (99 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Methylobacterium iners 5317S-33T (97.5 %). The isolate grew with C1 compounds such as methanol and dichloromethane, but not with formaldehyde, formate, methylamine, trimethylamine or methane, as sole carbon sources and carried mxaF, which encodes methanol dehydrogenase and supports methylotrophic metabolism. The major fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c and the G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.2 mol%. Physiological and biochemical data and DNA–DNA relatedness with M. adhaesivum KACC 12195T and M. iners KACC 11765T revealed clear phenotypic and genotypic differences. For this reason, we propose that strain Gh-105T ( = CCM 7572T  = NRRL B-51692T) represents the type strain of a novel species, with the name Methylobacterium gossipiicola sp. nov.
Gene orders in the upstream of 16S rRNA genes divide genera of the family Halobacteriaceae into two groups
Authors: Minegishi Hiroaki , Kamekura Masahiro , Kitajima-Ihara Tomomi , Nakasone Kaoru , Echigo Akinobu , Shimane Yasuhiro , Usami Ron , Itoh Takashi , Ihara Kunio
Published: March 2011

In many prokaryotic species, 16S rRNA genes are present in multiple copies, and their sequences in general do not differ significantly owing to concerted evolution. At the time of writing, the genusHaloarculaof the familyHalobacteriaceaecomprises nine species with validly published names, all of which possess two to four highly heterogeneous 16S rRNA genes. Existence of multiple heterogeneous 16S rRNA genes makes it difficult to reconstruct a biological phylogenetic tree using their sequence data. If the orthologous gene is able to be discriminated from paralogous genes, a tree reconstructed from orthologous genes will reflect a simple biological phylogenetic relationship. At present, however, we have no means to distinguish the orthologous rRNA operon from paralogous ones in the members of the familyHalobacteriaceae. In this study, we found that the dihydroorotate oxidase gene,pyrD, was present in the immediate upstream of one 16S rRNA gene in each of ten strains of the familyHalobacteriaceaewhose genome sequences have been determined, and the direction of thepyrDgene was opposite to that of the 16S rRNA genes. In two other strains whose genome sequences have been determined, thepyrDgene was present in far separated positions. We designed PCR primer sets to amplify DNA fragments encompassing a region from the conserved region of thepyrDgene to a conserved region of the tRNA-Ala gene or the 23S rRNA gene to determine the 16S rRNA gene sequences preceded by thepyrDgene, and to see if thepyrDgene is conserved in the immediate upstream of rRNA operon(s) in the type strains of the type species of 28 genera of the familyHalobacteriaceae. Seventeen type strains, including the ten strains mentioned above, gave amplified DNA fragments of approximately 4000 bp, while eleven type strains, including the two strains mentioned above, did not give any PCR products. These eleven strains are members of the Clade I haloarchaea, originally defined by Walshet al.(2004) and expanded by Minegishiet al.(2010). Analysis of contig sequences of three strains belonging to the Clade I haloarchaea also revealed the absence of thepyrDgene in the immediate upstream of any 16S rRNA genes. It may be scientifically sound to hypothesize that during the evolution of members of the familyHalobacteriaceae, apyrDgene transposition event happened in one group and this was followed by subsequent speciation processes in each group, yielding species/genera of the Clade I group and ‘the rest’ of the present familyHalobacteriaceae.
Deletion of the GluA1 AMPA receptor subunit impairs recency-dependent object recognition memory
Authors: Sanderson David J. , Hindley Emma , Smeaton Emily , Denny Nick , Taylor Amy , Barkus Chris , Sprengel Rolf , Seeburg Peter H. , Bannerman David M.
Published: March 2011

Deletion of the GluA1 AMPA receptor subunit impairs short-term spatial recognition memory. It has been suggested that short-term recognition depends upon memory caused by the recent presentation of a stimulus that is independent of contextual–retrieval processes. The aim of the present set of experiments was to test whether the role of GluA1 extends to nonspatial recognition memory. Wild-type and GluA1 knockout mice were tested on the standard object recognition task and a context-independent recognition task that required recency-dependent memory. In a first set of experiments it was found that GluA1 deletion failed to impair performance on either of the object recognition or recency-dependent tasks. However, GluA1 knockout mice displayed increased levels of exploration of the objects in both the sample and test phases compared to controls. In contrast, when the time that GluA1 knockout mice spent exploring the objects was yoked to control mice during the sample phase, it was found that GluA1 deletion now impaired performance on both the object recognition and the recency-dependent tasks. GluA1 deletion failed to impair performance on a context-dependent recognition task regardless of whether object exposure in knockout mice was yoked to controls or not. These results demonstrate that GluA1 is necessary for nonspatial as well as spatial recognition memory and plays an important role in recency-dependent memory processes.
A replication to validate and improve a measurement instrument for Deming's 14 Points
Authors: Fisher Caroline M. , Elrod Cassandra C. , Mehta Rajiv
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The success of implementing Deming's management method depends on the ability of managers to operationally define and measure Deming's 14 Points. Tamimi et al. developed a set of operational measures for these 14 Points. They tested the validity and reliability of their instrument using a sample of firms that were involved in implementing TQM practices from one to five years out from implementation. This paper aims to examine this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, which retested their measurement items, data were collected from over 100 manufacturing and service companies of all sizes across the USA and Canada. The data were analyzed using similar statistical analysis procedures and comparisons were made with the results of Tamimi et al.'s study.

Findings

The results replicated the study by Tamimi et al. and supported their operational definitions with two exceptions. The scales for “Eliminating slogans and targets”, and “Taking action to accomplish the transformation”, were not found to be reliable in either the original or the current study. These two scales need to be modified and new questions are suggested in the paper.

Research limitations/implications

The response rate for this study was high. However, self‐selection to participate and self‐reported responses could lead to some bias in responses.

Originality/value

The resulting operational definitions should prove useful to organizations interested in adopting Deming's management method.
Characterisation of poly(acrylamide)/montmorillonite nanocomposite synthesised by polymerisation induced by UV radiation
Authors: Li H. , Gao D.Y.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use alternative polymerisation methods, i.e. UV irradiation to synthesise poly(acrylamide)/montmorillonite nanocomposite and characterise the composite.

Design/methodology/approach

Polymer/montmorillonite nanocomposite was synthesised by the polymerisation, induced by UV radiation and the structure of the composite was studied by means of FTIR, NMR(13 C, 27Al and 29Si) and X‐ray diffraction.

Findings

The poly(acrylamide)/montmorillonite nanocomposite was synthesised by UV irradiation, and its structures showed that the acrylamide was intercalated in the lamina of montmorillonite in bimolecular layers. FTIR and NMR analyses showed that there was no major chemical change of the polymer chain associated with the intercalation. The interaction between montmorillonite and polymer was mainly related with the van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding, not with the bonding involved with the carbon atoms.

Research limitations/implications

There are few reports on the synthesis and characterisation of polymer/montmorillonite composite prepared with UV radiation.

Practical implications

The alternative synthesis method using UV irradiation can provide a new way for the preparation of montmorillonite/acrylamide nanocomposite for the application in moisture and organic solvent vapour sensors, etc.

Originality/value

This provides a way for the synthesis of polymer/montmorillonite nanocomposite using polymerisation induced by UV radiation, which can be used in the thin membrane preparation for sensor and special application. Characterisation of the material revealed the structure of the nanocomposite, which would be helpful for the study of structure design and property improvement.
The moderating effect of supply chain role on the relationship between supply chain practices and performance
Authors: Cook Lori S. , Heiser Daniel R. , Sengupta Kaushik
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between specific supply chain practices and organizational performance and whether this relationship is moderated by the role that a company assumes in its respective supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses regression analysis and the relative weights method to analyze a set of survey data from respondents within the non‐academic, North American membership of the Institute of Supply Management.

Findings

The results show that the supply chain role for a company makes a difference in terms of the specific supply chain practices that lead to better performance. Further, there is a clear indication that the relative importance of a specific practice varies across the supply chain roles thereby indicating that a general link between practice and performance may be erroneous without considering the specific context of the company concerned.

Research limitations/implications

Supply chain practices are complex constructs. While this study shows the effect of broadly‐accepted supply chain practices on performance, not all possible practices are covered in the study. Additional practices not considered may have an effect on company performance and future research may improve upon the findings by extending the analysis to include an expanded segmentation of supply chain role.

Practical implications

The results of the study serve as a practical guideline for managers that not all practices would be effective for all companies. Managers must look at the role‐specific context of their organization in the supply chain before deciding which practices are likely to be appropriate.

Originality/value

This paper expands the current body of research in the supply chain area by examining the supply chain roles of manufacturer, distributor, retailer and service provider. This is a much broader construct than the more common dyadic treatment of a supply chain consisting only of a customer and supplier, and adds a new contextual dimension to supply chain research. In addition, service provider as a supply chain role has been hardly researched before.
The impacts of product design changes on supply chain risk: a case study
Authors: Lin Yong , Zhou Li
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to address the impact of product design changes on supply chain risk, and to identify the supply chain risk dimensions in the Chinese special‐purpose vehicle (SPV) industry in the context of product design change.

Design/methodology/approach

Case study methodology is adopted to describe the current situation of supply chain risk management in the Chinese SPV industry. Data are mainly collected from in‐depth semi‐structured interviews, and a cause‐effect diagram is used to identify and summarize the internal and external risk dimensions of supply chain risk.

Findings

This paper identifies both the internal and external supply chain risk from the perspective of the focal manufacturer in the SPV supply chain. At the level of the external supply chain, customer‐required design change normally leads to risk in supply, delivery, and policy. Internally for the manufacturer, the risk dimensions are R&D, production, planning, information, and organization. All of these risk dimensions have their respective causes.

Research limitations/implications

The risk identification of product design change in this paper is only meant to lay a foundation; further case studies should focus on the best practices and approaches of risk management and extend them to other industries.

Practical implications

The current identification of the risk dimensions and their respective causes will help both practitioners and researchers to better understand supply chain risk in the context of product design change. The identified risk dimensions and cause‐effect diagram provide practitioners with a risk framework and useful tools to recognize and identify their potential supply chain risks.

Originality/value

This paper shows the “big picture” of supply chain risk from product design changes in the Chinese SPV industry.
Subcritical convection in the presence of Soret effect within a horizontal porous enclosure heated and salted from the short sides
Authors: Er‐Raki M. , Hasnaoui M. , Amahmid A. , Bourich M.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study analytically and numerically the Soret effect on double diffusive natural convection induced in a horizontal Darcy porous layer subject to lateral heat and mass fluxes. The work focuses on the particular situation where the solutal to thermal buoyancy forces ratio, N, is related to the Soret parameter, SP, by the relation. For this particular situation, the rest state is a solution of the problem. The analytical identification of the parallel flow bifurcations counts among the objectives of the study. The effect of the governing parameters on the fluid flow properties and heat and mass transfer characteristics is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Both the Darcy model and the Boussinesq approximation are used for the mathematical formulation of the problem. The geometry under study is a horizontal porous cavity filled with a binary fluid. The problem is solved analytically on the basis of the parallel flow approximation, valid in the case of a shallow cavity. The analytical results are validated numerically using a second‐order finite difference method.

Findings

The main finding is the absence of a supercritical bifurcation for this problem. More precisely, in the studied case, only the subcritical convection was found possible for the parallel flow structure and its threshold was determined analytically versus the governing parameters. It is also shown that the SP‐Le plane can be divided into two parallel flow regions; in one region the flow is counterclockwise while it is clockwise in the other. At sufficiently large values of RT, two solutions of ψ0, termed as “stable” and “unstable” and varying, respectively, as RT1/3 and RT−1 were obtained. The flows corresponding to these solutions are rotating in the same direction with different intensities. An analytical expression is established for the critical Rayleigh number which allows a control of the onset of motion in the system.

Practical implications

The thermodiffusion phenomenon in saturated porous geometries is of practical interest in several natural and technological processes such as the migration of moisture through air contained in fibrous insulations, food processing, contaminant transport in ground water, electrochemical processes, etc.

Originality/value

The study concerns the Soret effect within a system subject to outside mass flux. Only one type of bifurcation (subcritical bifurcation) was found possible for the parallel flow structure in the present configuration instead of two kinds of bifurcations (supercritical and subcritical).
Integral transforms solution for flow development in wavy wall ducts
Authors: Silva Roseane L. , Quaresma João N.N. , Santos Carlos A.C. , Cotta Renato M.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of two‐dimensional laminar flow in the entrance region of wavy wall ducts as obtained from the solution of the steady Navier‐Stokes equations for incompressible flow.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is undertaken by application of the generalized integral transform technique in the solution of the steady Navier‐Stokes equations for incompressible flow. The streamfunction‐only formulation is adopted, and a general filtering solution that adapts to the irregular contour is proposed to enhance the convergence behavior of the eigenfunction expansion.

Findings

A few representative cases are considered more closely in order to report some numerical results illustrating the eigenfunction expansions convergence behavior. The product friction factor‐Reynolds number is also computed and compared against results from discrete methods available in the literature for different Reynolds numbers and amplitudes of the wavy channel.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed methodology is fairly general in the analysis of different channel profiles, though the reported results are limited to the wavy channel configuration. Future work should also extend the analysis to geometries represented in the cylindrical coordinates with longitudinally variable radius.

Practical implications

The error‐controlled converged results provide reliable benchmark results for the validation of numerical results from computational codes that address the solution of the Navier‐Stokes equations in irregular geometries.

Originality/value

Although the hybrid methodology is already known in the literature, the results here presented are original and further challenges application of the integral transform method in the solution of the Navier‐Stokes equations.
Role of knowledge management and analytical CRM in business: data mining based framework
Authors: Ranjan Jayanthi , Bhatnagar Vishal
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to provide a thorough analysis of the concepts of business intelligence (BI), knowledge management (KM) and analytical CRM (aCRM) and to establish a framework for integrating all the three to each other. The paper also seeks to establish a KM and aCRM based framework using data mining (DM) techniques, which helps in the enterprise decision‐making. The objective is to share how KM and aCRM can be integrated into this seamless analytics framework to sustain excellence in decision making using effective data mining techniques and to explore how working on such aCRM system can be effective for enabling organizations delivering complete solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on focused and dedicated study of the literature present on the aCRM, KM and data mining techniques. The paper considered how to develop a strategy and operational framework that would build aCRM on the foundation of existing DM techniques and KM approach to meet the business challenges. Based on this research, a customized, integrated framework, to match the needs of business was designed.

Findings

KM focuses on managing knowledge within the organization and aCRM focuses on gaining analytical information from the customer data. Both KM and aCRM help in the decision making process and understanding. This knowledge is difficult to uncover. Hence, this paper explains the importance of data mining tools and techniques to uncover knowledge by the integration between KM and aCRM. This paper presents an integrated KM and aCRM based framework using DM techniques.

Research limitations/implications

All the firms may not be in favor of adopting KM while implementing aCRM. The KM requires a convalesce of organizational culture, technology innovations, effective work force in culminating knowledge dissemination in all business domains.

Practical implications

The organizations implementing this knowledge enabled aCRM framework would be easily able to convert their business knowledge via the analytical CRM to solve many business issues, such as increase response rates from direct mail, telephone, e‐mail, and internet delivered marketing campaigns, increased sales and increased services. With aCRM, firms can identify their most profitable customers and use this knowledge for promotional schemes for those customers as well as identify future customers with prediction on ROI.

Originality/value

The need for the integration of KM and aCRM is clear. It is written for practitioners who are looking for approaches to improve business performance and maintain high profits for their business by incorporating knowledge‐enabled aCRM in their setup.
Knowledge worker control: understanding via principal and agency theory
Authors: Mitchell Rebecca , Meacheam David
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The growing prominence of knowledge workers in contemporary organisations has led to a considerable amount of research into their role and activities, however, despite this growing interest, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the relationship of knowledge workers to management. This paper aims to respond by investigating the features of knowledge work that impose barriers to traditional managerial control methods and exploring the extent to which alternative approaches to influence are available to knowledge work managers, and the circumstances under which these different approaches are indicated.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilised agency theory to investigate the implications of knowledge asymmetry in principal‐knowledge worker exchanges, and argues against the utility of models of control based on principles of scientific management on which agency models are typically based, towards models of control based on reciprocity and commitment.

Findings

The paper has two main outputs. First, it argues that situations in which knowledge‐based specialists are hired to perform tasks requiring expertise can be viewed as principal‐agent exchanges (Mills) and are therefore open to analysis through an agency theory lens. The second endeavour is to discuss the implications of knowledge asymmetry in principal‐knowledge worker relationships for managerial control and influence, and posit alternative modes of managerial control based on normative influence and valiant rewards. Further, it develops propositions relating to the factors likely to moderate the utility of each managerial influence strategy.

Originality/value

By undertaking this investigation, the paper responds to calls by Frenkelet al.to understand process and dynamics of control in managing knowledge workers. It moves away from models of control based on principles of scientific management on which agency models are typically based, towards models of control based on reciprocity and commitment. It develops testable propositions regarding specific sources of influence in knowledge work and the circumstances under which the employment of these influence strategies is indicated. This responds to calls by authors such as Tampoe; and Lord to develop a detailed understanding of the manner and extent to which influence strategies need to complement specific knowledge worker characteristics.
Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in halal food purchasing
Authors: Shah Alam Syed , Mohamed Sayuti Nazura
Published: March 2011

Purpose

In this study, Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior is used as a theoretical framework with the aim of extending prior research examining halal food purchasing behavior in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected through self‐administered questionnaires. This paper uses multiple regression analysis to identify the factors affecting halal food purchasing behavior of Malaysian consumers.

Findings

The multiple regression analysis results indicate that all factors have positive and significant influence on halal food purchasing intention.

Research limitations/implications

Like other empirical studies, this study is not without its limitations. The sample size itself is relatively small. The study can be strengthened by increasing the sample size and including participants in other geographical areas. This study also considered only three antecedents of halal food purchasing among consumers in Malaysia. As Malaysia is actually trying to play for a bigger role in the halal industry, more research is needed to identify and address problematic aspects of consumption of halal food. Potential correlations between some of the independent variables (e.g. trust, moral obligation, habit, and self‐identity) need to be reported in a future study.

Originality/value

This study contributes to and extends our understanding of the halal food purchasing behavior, identifying the rationales for purchasing of halal foods. From a managerial viewpoint, the findings provide support for investment decisions and for decisions relating to the establishment of Malaysia as a halal hub that address and take the concerns and needs of businesses and Malaysian Government agencies into consideration.
Role of organizational justice in determining work outcomes of national and expatriate academic staff in Malaysia
Authors: Hassan Arif , Hashim Junaidah
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The study aims to analyze the differences between national and expatriate academic staff perception of organizational justice in Malaysian institutions of higher learning. It also explores the role of organizational justice in shaping teaching faculties' attitude (job satisfaction and commitment) and behavioral intention (turnover intention).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of teaching staff belonging to several faculties drawn from four public universities in Malaysia. Sample was divided into two groups – Malaysian nationals with tenure appointments and expatriates with contractual appointments. Data were collected using standardized tools to measure the study variables.

Findings

Except for job satisfaction, where Malaysians recorded significantly higher endorsement compared to expatriates, no significant difference was found between the two groups on perception of distributive, procedural, and interactional aspects of organizational justice, as well as organizational commitment and turnover intention. However, Malaysians demonstrated significantly higher level of job satisfaction compared to expatriates. Different facets of organizational justice predicted work outcomes in the two groups. Whereas interactional and distributive justice promoted expatriates' organizational commitment and/or intention to stay with the organization, it was mainly procedural justice that contributed to local employees' job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions. Distributive justice also predicted turnover intentions of locals.

Practical implications

The study should add to the literature on international human resource management. Organizations that employ expatriates and knowledge workers should benefit from the findings of this study.

Originality/value

Not many empirical studies have been conducted on university academic staffs' perception of organizational justice in an Asian context, as well as how employment practices might influence justice perception and resultant work outcomes of national citizens vs expatriates. This study attempts to fulfill the gap.
Non‐destructive analysis (NDA) of external and internal structures in 3DP
Authors: Gatto Matteo , Harris Russell Anthony
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Three‐dimensional printing (3DP) is an increasingly popular additive manufacturing (AM) process. The structure produced in 3DP comprises of two main elements: an external “shell” and an inner “core”. The variation of this structure and print strategy dictates many factors, such as the final physical properties, the final weight of the part, the total material usage, effects on warpage and the build speed. As such, the accuracy and repeatability of these geometric structures is of importance. The measurement and validation of the actual printed structure is especially challenging due to the nature of the materials system. The purpose of this paper is to present an effective method to analyze the internal structure of a 3DP.

Design/methodology/approach

A dedicated video‐monitoring system has been developed to capture and characterize the 3DP build structure layer‐by‐layer. A significant image‐processing phase involved image calibration, filtering, thresholding and segmentation. The investigation is composed by three substudies. First, the reliability of the developed system was determined by comparing nominal dimensions of a benchmark part with video and contact measurements. The two studies have focused on the “shell” and “core” characterization, respectively.

Findings

A resolution of 508 pixel per inch was determined. From the first studies, benchmark elements of 0.5 mm presented a deviation between 0.29 and 0.44 mm from their normal dimension. The thickness of the external shell was analyzed, in both clear and coloured modes. Dimensions ranged between 1.51 and 1.58 mm for a clear part, and 1.59 and 1.69 mm for the coloured version. A further study resulted in a 3D virtual model of the internal mesh structure, which had been printed at high saturation.

Originality/value

The internal structure of a 3D printed part has been successfully analyzed by in‐process monitoring providing information and data not available through conventional analysis of the final part. This system provides a solution for real‐time non‐destructive analysis, which is currently absent in various forms of AM.
The applicability of cluster theory to Canada's small and medium‐sized apparel companies
Authors: Campaniaris Constantine , Hayes Steve , Jeffrey Michael , Murray Richard
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and map trends in the Canadian apparel industry (in a global context) and, through the application of Porter's models, establish strategies that could be employed by Canadian small and medium enterprizes (SMEs) in response to the move toward trade liberalisation since the phasing out of the multi‐fibre arrangement.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review established trends in the apparel industry both in Canada and globally. Qualitative research in the form of case studies highlighted apparel suppliers' perceptions of Canada's strengths and weaknesses as a business setting and provided preliminary information on possible supplier activities which provide value and competitive advantage. The analysis of the primary data also allowed the development of preliminary questions, answers to which will further enhance the understanding of clusters and their applicability to Canada's apparel SMEs.

Findings

Canada's apparel manufacturing industry is winding down while imports are continuing to grow. At the same time, the Canadian market is not large enough to sustain all the suppliers, thus forcing those who are competitive to export, primarily to the USA, which is Canada's major apparel export destination. The morphology of related and supporting industries to apparel suppliers is changing. The findings suggest that Canada's apparel supply is becoming more of a service and less of a manufacturing industry.

Originality/value

This paper provides an understanding of Canada's position in the global apparel map and ascertains whether competitive cluster strategies exist for the Canadian apparel industry. Furthermore, it sets the stage for further research by identifying knowledge gaps pertaining to the applicability of clusters to the apparel industry and providing data and findings to bridge these gaps.