bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diesel engine application on AEW&C turboprop effectiveness‐cost assessment
Authors: Di Meo Giovanni Antonio , Chiesa Sergio , Fioriti Marco , Viola Nicole
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to perform a technical and economical analysis on the conversion of a regional turboprop platform for Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) missions by supposing installation of supplementary diesel turbo‐charged engines.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem has been approached by considering all issues related to conversion to AEW&C platform. Class II methods have been used for weight and drag estimations. Flight performances have been evaluated by using standard equations of flight mechanics. Costs have been evaluated by using a model developed by the authors.

Findings

As far as performances are concerned, it is possible to increase aircraft service ceiling of about 4,400 ft by installing auxiliary diesel engines in separate wing‐nacelles. The low specific fuel consumption (SFC) of diesel engines balances the reduction of mission endurance caused by the aerodynamic drag increment (i.e. additional drag of AEW radar antenna and new nacelles). The proposed solution is shown to have the best Effectiveness‐Cost performance in comparison with other AEW&C aircraft‐systems.

Practical implications

To convert regional turboprops to AEW&C platform by employing turbocharged diesel engines could be an interesting future perspective for aerospace companies interested in creating a new AEW&C market segment.

Originality/value

The proposed solution gives the possibility to reduce operating costs in the AEW&C mission field. The issue is actual due to typical high operating costs of AEW&C missions.
Co‐innovation: convergenomics, collaboration, and co‐creation for organizational values
Authors: Lee Sang M. , Olson David L. , Trimi Silvana
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present a macro view of the evolution of innovation for value creation, from the closed to collaborative, open, and now co‐innovation. It reviews several mega trends that have dramatically changed the dynamic nature of the global market place and also several new forces that have made innovation imperative for organizational value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a conceptual overview of co‐innovation through some of its basic elements such as convergence revolution, collaboration, and co‐creation with stakeholders.

Findings

Co‐innovation is a new innovation paradigm where new ideas and approaches from various internal and external sources are integrated in a platform to generate new organizational and shared values. The core of co‐innovation includes engagement, co‐creation, and compelling experience for value creation. Thus, the practices of co‐innovative organizations are difficult to imitate by competition.

Practical implications

Innovation is imperative for organizational survival in today's turbulent global market. This conceptual paper presents many real‐world examples of co‐innovative firms' strategies that can provide new insights for follower organizations.

Social implications

Innovation is a universal strategy for every organization, be it a firm, non‐profit organization, or even a government agency. The new innovation approaches suggested in the paper can contribute to social reforms such as creating shared value for all stakeholders.

Originality/value

This is an original paper that presents a broad‐stroke direction and vision for new organizational strategies for innovation.
Re‐examining green purchase behaviour and the green consumer profile: new evidences
Authors: Akehurst Gary , Afonso Carolina , Martins Gonçalves Helena
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to re‐examine the determinants of ecologically conscious consumer behaviour (ECCB) by analysing the green consumer profile (socio‐demographic and psychographic variables), building on the work of Straughan and Roberts. Moreover, the study explores the determinants of effective green purchase behaviour (GPB) considering ECCB and green purchase intention (GPI) previously evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a quantitative study based on an online survey. Data collection was implemented in two different phases: in the first phase ECCB, GPI and profiling variables were measured. One month later, the same respondents evaluated their effective GPB. Through path analysis the effects of ECCB and GPI on GPB were measured.

Findings

The results show that psychographic variables, with emphasis on perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE) and altruism, are more relevant than socio‐demographics in explaining ECCB. The consumers with higher ECCB have shown higher green purchase intention (GPI). ECCB has a positive impact on GBP, higher than GPI, which in turn mediates that relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.

Practical implications

The paper provides evidence that whenever ecological consciousness is high, the gap between GPI and GPB is less evident, which provides clear evidence that an understanding of green consumer profiles and behaviour can enable organizations to respond better to new management challenges.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive understanding about the green consumer profile and behaviour, including the effect of GPI on GPB, and which contribute to the coordination of future marketing strategies to target this segment.
Effects of an intervention in the workplace food environment
Authors: Mendes Gorgulho Bartira , Nogueira Previdelli Agatha , Lobo Marchioni Dirce Maria
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of an intervention to reduce the energy density of meals in the workplace food environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted on a cosmetics manufacturer that employed 243 people, and was divided into three phases: diagnostic evaluation; development and testing of modifications to the energy density of the preparations; and evaluation of the results obtained. To evaluate the menus, the Meal Quality Index was used. This index consists of five components ranging from 0 to 20 points: “Adequacy of availability of vegetable and fruit”, “Carbohydrate availability”, “Total fat availability”, “Saturated fat availability” and “Menu variability”. The Kruskal‐Wallis test was used to evaluate differences in phases 1 and 3.

Findings

The classification, according to the scores for the Meal Quality Index, showed that there was an improvement in the menus, with a decrease in inadequate menus from 31 per cent to 5 per cent and in menus needing improvement from 44 per cent to 29 per cent.

Originality/value

Changes that are relatively simple to implement and reproduce regarding meal production may contribute towards controlling the obesity epidemic, through discouraging the obesogenic environment, especially among captive healthy customers such as workers who use the food services in their workplaces.
Healthy diets for preventing or delaying bone loss during adulthood
Authors: Anderson John J.B.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Healthy diets need to be coupled with an active lifestyle and other healthy behaviors to achieve and maintain bone health across the life cycle. The purpose of this paper is to focus on several nutrients that aid skeletal development in early life and help promote healthy bone and prevent or delay osteoporosis in late life in both males and females.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a brief review of recent findings linking diet and bone health.

Findings

Skeletons of both females and males benefit from reasonably sufficient intakes of calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, and other bone‐related nutrients and phytochemicals, but excessive amounts, especially via supplements, may not help bone and they may even have adverse effects, such as promoting arterial calcification.

Research limitations/implications

Trials are needed to establish with certainty that calcium intakes beyond the recommended intakes do not protect against hip and vertebral fractures and may contribute to arterial calcification.

Originality/value

Maintaining bone health, especially late in life, helps prevent or delay hip fractures, devastating events that are life threatening, especially in women, but excessive calcium may not be healthful.
Becoming an entrepreneur: researching the role of mentors in identity construction
Authors: Rigg Clare , O'Dwyer Breda
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical discussion of a developing epistemology and methodology for a qualitative study of participants of enterprise education in south‐west Ireland, run collaboratively between third level academics, a regional development agency, and entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

The perspective taken is social constructionist, drawing on ideas from identity theory and social learning theory. A discursive approach to entrepreneurship suggests that an entrepreneurial aspect of human identity (as with other aspects) is emergent and relational, developed through dialogue with family, customers, employees, suppliers, competitors and others. In the education programme, aspiring entrepreneurs’ exposure to and close engagement with a network of national and international mentors, coupled with their engagement in risk taking, can be understood through the notion of becoming, through and in relation to others.

Findings

The mentor network in the education programme is conceptualised as a community of practice that provides induction for nascent entrepreneurs for stimulating their learning of how to be, their acquisition of status and identify, and not simply their development of practical skills.

Practical implications

The immediate practical implication is that greatest insight would be achieved by a longitudinal study that follows nascent entrepreneurs from start to completion of an education intervention and takes an ethnographic approach.

Originality/value

Findings and the proposed methodology will be of value to those designing and researching entrepreneurship education, where outcomes are desired that go beyond knowledge acquisition.
Develop.evaluate.embed.sustain: enterprise education for keeps
Authors: Harte Victoria , Stewart Jim
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the proposal that curriculum designed for and about enterprise education can be sustained via a cyclical model of evaluation. Such an approach takes into consideration an important aspect of enterprise education which is “context”, a significant aspect overtly linked to the differing subject disciplines offering such curriculum.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of this research project was driven by the authors’ suggestion that to evaluate the impact of enterprise education pedagogy different factors to those that are currently prescribed need to be taken into consideration. Current evaluation practice is to take a global, generic approach, often utilising quantitative techniques, but the authors argue that evaluation of enterprise education should consider local, contextual factors only – key contextual factors being subject discipline, along with the lecturer's own context, teaching and learning materials and implicit and explicit notions of enterprise education. The research utilised two different modules and approaches to evaluation: first, a questionnaire designed using module materials such as learning descriptor and module outcomes which produced quantitative data that could be linked directly to the module learning and teaching inputs as well as lecturer's approach; and second, a focus group‐type approach undertaken with students on a completely separate and distinct module returning qualitative data, The former module was explicitly enterprise education and the latter module had a very implicit nature in relation to enterprise education. The students for the latter module were not aware of the enterprise connotation of the module.

Findings

The authors’ notion that contextual evaluation has real value was upheld in each case. Both lecturers used the data collected to improve and make productive changes to their module content and teaching and learning materials for the following cohorts of students.

Practical implications

It is the authors’ belief that contextual evaluation offers enterprise education pedagogy the opportunity to be evaluated in a more useful and practical forum, with results not only illustrating the impact on students but also on the module content and how this has been instrumental in the students’ progress.

Originality/value

Those wishing to embed and sustain enterprise education by keeping the topic up to date on an annual basis will find this case study useful and, upon request, may have access to the evaluation methods used by the authors.
Neural network design and evaluation for classifying library indicators using personal opinion of expert
Authors: Papavlasopoulos Sozon , Poulos Marios
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Over the past decades scientific advances have inspired major technological innovations in academic libraries. Academic libraries have transformed into information centers of new quality, becoming thus an integral part of an academic institution's teaching and research curriculum. Assessing a library's functions and services has become an imperative need. The scope of this study, therefore, is to define a theoretical model for the combination of all individual assessment indicators into one single number‐indicator.

Design/methodology/approach

The Monte Carlo technique is suggested in order to deal with the problems of the objectivity expert's decision and the collection of a large number of indicators. The methodology used is articulated into four stages: the normalization of single values; the setting of the indicator weighting according to the expert's opinion; the construction of a well‐fitted neural network; and the training and testing procedure of the neural network.

Findings

The proposed method solves problems related to the normalization of measured data linked with significant relevant properties of the library services evaluation.

Originality/value

The practice of using a neural network in evaluating library services as introduced by this paper is characterized as novel.
Library performance management in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: de Carvalho Frederico A. , José Jorge Marcelino , Filgueiras Jorge Marina , Russo Mariza , Oliveira de Sá Nysia
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This paper intends to illustrate an application of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to assess library performance from an efficiency standpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

DEA modeling was applied to a convenience sample of 37 libraries affiliated to a federal university in Rio de Janeiro. Data were collected from the university's managerial database and refer to three inputs – number of employees, area and number of volumes – and four outputs – consultations, loans, enrolments and (user) traffic. Markovian analysis of transitions between efficient and inefficient states along time allowed a long‐term distribution between those states to be computed.

Findings

The retained DEA model provides a list of estimated scores that quantify efficiency status for each library unit and from which both rankings and operation plans can be determined for each unit to assist managers in their quest for library efficiency. In fact, (re)allocative measures, expressed as operation plans, indicate that, for each unit, some input(s) may be decreased and nonetheless some output(s) will increase. Those indicators may also be used to further or avoid either promised or planned changes.

Originality/value

As long as the efficiency principle is accepted the paper provides a three‐step procedure whereby any set of library units may be simultaneously assessed and ranked in relative terms and a set of quantitative operation plans may be used to (re)direct inefficient units toward efficiency. Whenever historical (e.g. annual) data are available, more adequate long‐term efficiency profiles will be computed, as well as some (e.g. yearly) durations relating to time spent in or before visiting (in)efficiency states. This model, combining short‐ and long‐term assessment, may be seen as a novelty contributed by the paper.
Understanding the impact of generational issues in the workplace
Authors: Bennett James , Pitt Michael , Price Samantha
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Now there are four generations of people sharing the workspace, each group brings different views, expectations, desires, dreams, values and ideas about work and life. This paper will examine how four generations work together in different ways and explores organisational strategies for managing the transition of knowledge through the generations. The factors of team working, mentoring and the design of the physical and virtual workplace are considered.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an examination of the workplace using a literature review. The content reviewed explores the characteristics of each generation, their cultural values and identity and the method to incorporate this into strategy, workplace design and workplace productivity.

Findings

The results of the paper demonstrate that it is vital for organisations to actively facilitate the transition of knowledge which is currently taking place within the multi‐generational workplace. The findings demonstrate that the changing pattern of work and life dictate that organisations have to adapt their culture to meet the demands and expectations of new generations in the workplace.

Research limitations/implications

The paper does not look at workplace scenarios as a possible method of testing the theories suggested.

Practical implications

By understanding the make up of the workforces, facilities can be adapted to take advantage of employee characteristics which may lead to productivity improvement.

Originality/value

The link between the transition of knowledge and the management and design of facility space is made. Embracing workplace styles of flexible work locations, informal and fluid use of space, space for mentoring and team work, fun, open collaborative spaces, plug and play technological environments and non‐hierarchical organisational structures are just a few of the strategies which will have to be implemented in order to attract and retain high performance individuals.
The consumption values and consumer innovativeness on convergence products
Authors: Hur Won‐Moo , Yoo Jeong‐Ju , Chung Te‐Lin
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of consumption values and the moderating role of consumer innovativeness for intentions to purchase convergence home robots.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 506 participants in South Korea, where convergence home robots with a combination of multiple functions have rapidly penetrated the marketplace. A hierarchical moderated regression model was employed in order to analyze the data.

Findings

The results show that functional, epistemic, and emotional values are important factors affecting intentions to purchase convergence home robots. In addition, consumers' innovativeness shows a moderating effect on the relationship between emotional value and purchase intentions. This result showed that the effect of emotional value has a greater influence on purchase intentions for the high consumer innovativeness group than for the low consumer innovativeness group.

Practical implications

Marketers should focus not only on functional value, but also on the hedonic value represented by the emotional value, as well as the epistemic value that convergence home robots provide, especially to innovative consumers in the marketplace. Consumer innovativeness is a useful variable to divide value‐based segments in convergence products.

Originality/value

As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the convergence of technology has shifted people's lifestyles. However, it was not until a few years ago that convergence products were investigated. It is necessary for researchers to understand the factors influencing intentions to purchase convergence products, as well as the consumption value and consumer innovativeness that consumers place on these products in order to accurately direct marketing efforts. This paper contributes to that understanding.
Difficulties and benefits of integrated management systems
Authors: Simon Alexandra , Karapetrovic Stanislav , Casadesús Martí
Published: May 2012

Purpose

In recent years, the number of management systems (MSs) has sharply increased. These MSs can be certified with, for example, the quality standard ISO 9001 or the environmental standard ISO 14001 and they can subsequently be integrated into one single, jointly managed system. The main purpose of this research is to study the relationships between the level of system integration, on one hand, and the difficulties encountered in the integration process, as well as the related benefits, on the other.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study derive from a survey carried out in 76 organizations registered to, at a minimum, both ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2008 standards for quality and environmental MSs. A descriptive and an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) are provided. Additionally, structural equation modelling (SEM) is applied to the responses of these organizations to a mailed survey.

Findings

From the results, the paper proposes a model of the difficulties related to systems integration that have an effect on the level of integration of several specific items of the MSs involved. A model related to the effect of the integration level on the benefits is also provided.

Originality/value

The study provides an original contribution to the understanding of how difficulties and benefits of MSs integration relate to the level of integration achieved in the participating companies.
The IDS Project: promoting library excellence through community and technology
Authors: Oberlander Cyril , Rivenburgh Edwin
Published: May 2012

Purpose

– This paper aims to report on the IDS Project, a volunteer-driven library cooperative known for its technological innovations, to describe how the project has evolved, and to review some of the technological innovations it has spawned and the benefits those innovations have brought to both members and non-members.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use a case study approach to highlight some of the major accomplishments of the IDS Project.

Findings

– Although the IDS Project is typically known for its technological innovations, those innovations are really an outward manifestation of the community of trust and mutual support that members have carefully nurtured from the project
'
s beginning.

Originality/value

– Readers will gain an understanding of the IDS Project, how its community of trust and support contribute to its ongoing successes, and how that trust and support might be scaled up to benefit the entire resource sharing community.
NILDE reloaded: a new system open to international interlibrary loan
Authors: Mangiaracina Silvana , Tugnoli Alessandro
Published: May 2012

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present new concepts and features introduced in NILDE 4.0, an online ILL and document supply request system designed for and used by more than 700 Italian libraries and research institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use a case study approach based on their professional experience at the NILDE Administrator library, the CNR Research Area Library of Bologna.

Findings

– New concepts and features include, among others, a multilingual user interface, a Z39.50 link to national catalogues and union catalogues, a ranking algorithm to assist libraries in balancing their ILL borrowing and lending volumes with partner libraries, a single sign-on user authentication and authorisation system, and a bibliographic citation management system. Future development plans include the ability to create library groups; although this functionality is already built into the new system architecture, it has not yet been implemented by the community.

Originality/value

– The authors have published previously on earlier versions of the NILDE software; this paper presents an overview of the recently released version 4.0.
Interlending trending: a look ahead from atop the data pile
Authors: Massie Dennis
Published: May 2012

Purpose

– This paper seeks to explore five forces likely to significantly affect interlending operations in the near term: the transition from print to electronic resources; management of legacy print collections; mass digitization projects; competition from other information providers; and copyright.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author uses data from authoritative sources to illustrate the effects these forces are having and will continue to have on libraries and ILL operations.

Findings

– The author predicts that most libraries will be slow to divest themselves of print monographs on a large scale; libraries will continue to build new offsite storage facilities but put more thought into their contents; increased discoverability of digitized texts and greater copyright restrictions will drive users to print; librarians will make gray areas of copyright law work for them instead of against them; publishers, librarians, authors, lawyers, and scholars will find a responsible and fair solution to providing digital access to “orphan” works; and ILL will persist as a core operation for nearly all libraries.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a unique look at forces that are shaping the future of global ILL activities.
Obtaining the moisture content of printed circuit boards from capacitance measurements
Authors: Thomas Owen , Wickham Martin , Hunt Chris
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present work on the incorporation of capacitors into printed circuit boards (PCB) as a method to measure moisture content and follow moisture diffusion under ground planes.

Design/methodology/approach

PCBs were manufactured of FR‐4 incorporating different arrangements and sizes of capacitors formed between the tracks on adjacent layers of the PCB. The boards were placed in an 85°C and 85 per cent relative humidity (RH) environment to absorb moisture before baking at temperatures of 80, 110 or 125°C with the capacitance periodically measured. The effect of ground planes with different densities of plated and non‐plated through holes (PTH) has been studied by placing capacitors between ground planes.

Findings

Parallel plate capacitors embedded within a PCB showed a 10 per cent capacitance increase going from a dry state to being saturated with moisture in an 85°C and 85 per cent RH environment. The slow ingression of moisture under the capacitance planes meant that the measured capacitance change did not reflect the moisture content of the remainder of the board well. Capacitor plates with slots for the moisture to penetrate were also investigated, with the increase in capacitance found to show good correlation with the increase in board mass. In investigating moisture under ground planes, either by decreasing the hole density or by plating the holes, the time for moisture to diffuse out of the board was found to increase due to the lower exposed area on the PCB.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates a method that can be applied to PCB manufacturing to assess the moisture content of a board prior to reflow.
Main aspects concerning PCB manufacturing optimization
Authors: Mircea Ancău
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the main features concerning the optimization of printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication by improving the manufacturing process productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The author explored two different approaches to increase the manufacturing process productivity of PCBs. The first approach involved optimization of the PCB manufacturing process as a whole. The second approach was based on increasing the process productivity at the operational level.

Findings

To reduce the total manufacturing time, two heuristic algorithms for solving flowshop scheduling problems were designed. These algorithms were used for the computation of an optimal PCB manufacturing schedule. The case study shows both mono‐ and bi‐criteria optimization of the PCBs manufacturing.

Research limitations/implications

While the input data used in the case study were based on random numbers, the mathematical considerations drew only the main directions for manufacturing process optimization.

Originality/value

The paper shows two original heuristic algorithms for solving the flowshop scheduling problem, with high performance according to the best heuristics in the field. Besides their performances, these algorithms have the advantage of simplicity and ease of implementation on a computer. Using these algorithms, the optimal schedule for the PCB manufacturing process was calculated. For the case of the bi‐criteria optimization, the study of points which belong to the Pareto‐optimal set are presented.
A short introduction to graphene and its potential interconnect applications
Authors: Goosey Martin
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an introductory overview of graphene, its properties and potential for use in interconnection applications.

Design/methodology/approach

This short paper has been written to provide those working on interconnect applications in the PCB and semiconductor sectors with an introductory overview of graphene and its properties. This has been achieved through a review of the published literature.

Findings

Graphene has unique properties that make it of interest for potential use in interconnection applications and, in the last few years, some workers have begun to demonstrate the possibilities for this novel material.

Research limitations/implications

This is a short introductory paper and only gives a limited overview of graphene, its properties and applications. It is based on information published in the literature and, while some examples are cited, it does not represent a comprehensive review.

Originality/value

The paper seeks to give an overview of what graphene is and how its unique properties offer potential for interconnection related applications. References provide the opportunity to investigate the properties of this material in more detail.
Corporate social responsibility management in Uganda
Authors: Katamba David , Tushabomwe Kazooba Charles , Babiiha Mpisi Sulayman , Marvin Nkiko Cedric , Nabatanzi‐Muyimba Annet. K. , Hensley Kekaramu Jean
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how business enterprises in Uganda manage their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigations focused on a limited number of management facets. Using a cross‐sectional survey design, the researchers collected data through both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. These included semi‐structured interviews with managers of selected enterprises, as well as non‐participant observation of CSR activities and projects.

Findings

The findings show unbalanced engagement in CSR for business managers in Uganda. Managers are largely motivated towards CSR by external factors such as attracting and retaining customers, enhancing reputation and operational efficiencies to achieve competitive advantage, rather than internal factors such as CSR policies, employee welfare and CSR reporting. Another significant finding is that the responsibility to initiate, administer, and monitor CSR activities is largely vested in middle‐level managers. These factors pose many challenges to CSR implementation amongst managers in Uganda.

Originality/value

This study was a follow‐up of a baseline survey, “CSR in Uganda: perceptions, approaches, and needs of companies”, which was conducted earlier by the lead researcher. The value of this paper is that it provides an in‐depth insight into the status of CSR management in Uganda, which in turn will help both the public and private sectors to identify potential gaps, weaknesses and/or needs for improvement. In the long run, this will improve the image, development impact and performance of CSR undertakings for the benefit of all stakeholders in Uganda.
The non‐monotonic effect of real wages on labour productivity
Authors: Foon Tang Chor
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The aim of this study is to empirically investigate the effect of real wages on labour productivity in Malaysia's manufacturing sector using annual data from 1980 to 2009.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the Johansen cointegration test to examine the presence of long‐run equilibrium relationship between labour productivity and real wages in Malaysia. In addition, the Granger causality test within the vector error‐correction model (VECM) is used to ascertain the direction of causality between the variables of interest.

Findings

The Johansen test suggests that real wages and labour productivity are cointegrated. Moreover, labour productivity and real wages have a quadratic relationship (i.e. inverted U‐shaped curve) instead of linear relationship. Hence, the effect of real wages on labour productivity is non‐monotonic. Furthermore, the Granger causality test indicates that real wages and labour productivity are bilateral causality in nature.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to the labour productivity in the manufacturing sector only.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that the effect of real wages on labour productivity is non‐monotonic; hence increase in real wages alone does not always enhance labour productivity. Thus, other incentives should be offered to stimulate long‐term labour productivity growth in Malaysia.
Optimal shape design with field subdomains modeled by Thévenin equivalent conditions
Authors: Di Barba Paolo , Savini Antonio
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a method, reducing the order of the analysis problem, to help the solution of optimal shape design problems in electricity and magnetism.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed method, the background of which relies on the generalized Thévenin theorem, exploits a principle of field diakoptics.

Findings

After assessing the proposed method on a benchmark of inverse magnetostatics, the shape optimisation of the stress‐control ring in a power transformer is considered as the case study.

Originality/value

The proposed method makes it possible to reduce the cost of an optimisation procedure, when the direct problem is solved by means of finite‐element analysis.
Magnetic field mitigation by means of passive loop: technical optimization
Authors: Canova Aldo , Fabio Freschi , Giaccone Luca , Guerrisi Alessandra , Repetto Maurizio
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an approach to design passive loop systems in order to reach good performances.

Design/methodology/approach

The optimization has been performed by means of the MATLAB optimization toolbox “Gatool” which solves the optimization problems with a genetic algorithm.

Findings

Several configurations have been analyzed by varying the number of loops from 2 to 15, whose geometry has been chosen by the genetic algorithm. Considering a five loops configuration, along the reference path it is possible to obtain a shielding factor almost constant and equal to 3.5.

Originality/value

The optimized configurations have been compared with a practical employed layout composed of 17 closed loops placed above and around the junction zone. The shielding factors obtained by the six loops configuration are comparable with the ones of the practical layout.
Space mapping methodology for defect recognition in eddy current testing – type NDT
Authors: Putek Piotr , Crevecoeur Guillaume , Slodička Marian , van Keer Roger , Van de Wiele Ben , Dupré Luc
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve an inverse problem of structure recognition arising in eddy current testing (ECT) – type NDT. For this purpose, the space mapping (SM) technique with an extraction based on the Gauss‐Newton algorithm with Tikhonov regularization is applied.

Design/methodology/approach

The aim is to have a computationally fast recognition procedure of defects since the monitoring results in a large amount of data points that need to be analyzed by 3D eddy current model. According to the SM optimization, the finite element method (FEM) is used as a fine model, while the model based on an integral method such as the volume integral method (VIM) serves as a coarse model. This approach, being an example of a two‐level optimization method, allows shifting the optimization load from a time consuming and accurate model to the less precise but faster coarse surrogate.

Findings

The application of this method enables shortening of the evaluation time that is required to provide the proper parameter estimation of surface defects.

Research limitations/implications

In this work only the specific kinds of surface defects were considered. Therefore, the reconstruction of arbitrary shapes of defects when using real measurement data from ECT system can be treated in further research.

Originality/value

The paper investigated the eddy current inverse problem. According to aggressive space mapping method, a suitable coarse model is needed. In this case, for the purpose of 3D defect reconstruction, the reduced VIM approach was applied. From a practical view point, the authors demonstrated that the two‐level inversion procedures allow saving of up to 50 percent CPU time in comparison with the optimization by means of regularized Gauss‐Newton algorithm in the same FE model.
Problem formulation and analysis for optimal energy management in multisources systems: W effect
Authors: Warkozek Ghaith , Ploix Stéphane , Wurtz Frédéric , Jacomino Mireille , Delinchant Benoit
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a problematic phenomenon that can occur when managing multi electrical sources systems by optimization.

Design/methodology/approach

The energy management problem is formulated as a linear optimisation problem. Two approaches are developed and applied to detect the possible existence of equivalents solutions. The first is based on Dulmage‐Mendelsohn (DM) decomposition. With this method the structure of the optimisation problem is analysed. The second approach is a numeric approach; the detection of equivalents solutions is made by the formulation of new optimisation problem and the objective function of this problem is to maximise the distance between two equivalents solutions.

Findings

The numeric approach is more efficient than the structural approach. In some cases, applying DM decomposition may not be sufficient to detect the risk of W effect. This is because DM decomposition does not take the value of variable's coefficient into consideration, which is important to determine the degrees of freedom in the set of variables.

Originality/value

Multi sources systems are widely used, especially in buildings where renewable energies have good potential application. The linear formulation of the management problem may induce an existence of equivalent command strategies. The detection approach presented in this paper shows that some solutions are better than others from an applicabability point of view. They will not exhaust rapidly the storage system. This approach can be implemented in virtual sources plant to avoid solutions with this so‐called W effect.
Clustering analysis of railway driving missions with niching
Authors: Jaafar Amine , Sareni Bruno , Roboam Xavier
Published: May 2012

Purpose

A wide number of applications requires classifying or grouping data into a set of categories or clusters. The most popular clustering techniques to achieve this objective are K‐means clustering and hierarchical clustering. However, both of these methods necessitate the a priori setting of the cluster number. The purpose of this paper is to present a clustering method based on the use of a niching genetic algorithm to overcome this problem.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach aims at finding the best compromise between the inter‐cluster distance maximization and the intra‐cluster distance minimization through the silhouette index optimization. It is capable of investigating in parallel multiple cluster configurations without requiring any assumption about the cluster number.

Findings

The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated on 2D benchmarks with non‐overlapping and overlapping clusters.

Originality/value

The proposed approach is also applied to the clustering analysis of railway driving profiles in the context of hybrid supply design. Such a method can help designers to identify different system configurations in compliance with the corresponding clusters: it may guide suppliers towards “market segmentation”, not only fulfilling economic constraints but also technical design objectives.
Inverse source problem for thermal fields
Authors: Marinova Iliana , Mateev Valentin
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an inverse approach for 3D thermal sources determination.

Design/methodology/approach

The developed approach is based on the Green's function for Poison's equation. Forward and inverse couple electromagnetic‐thermal field problems are formulated. Finite elements models are built and applied. Thermal field data are acquired by thermo vision camera. The thermal field sources are determined inside of the investigated inaccessible volume object using modeled and measured data with the developed approach.

Findings

The presented method and implemented examples demonstrate the possibilities of the developed approach for inverse source problem solution and determination of thermal field distributions of electrical devices.

Originality/value

The proposed inverse method uses the Green's function for Poison's equation for solution of thermal field problem taking into account the couple electromagnetic‐thermal problems. Proposed inverse method is very fast, accurate and can be used in many practical activities for electrical current determination and visualization in inaccessible regions only by measured external thermal field. Thermal field data needed for the method are easily acquired by thermo vision camera.
Optimization of a permanent magnet needle actuator
Authors: Yatchev Ivan , Rudnicki Marek , Hinov Krastyo , Gueorgiev Vultchan
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve the optimization problem for a permanent magnet linear actuator with moving magnet for driving a needle in a knitting machine. The optimization is carried out with respect to the maximal average force along the stroke.

Design/methodology/approach

The optimization factors are the dimensions of the permanent magnet and the pole length. For obtaining the objective function for each parameter combination, the static force‐stroke characteristic is computed. Three‐dimensional finite element analysis is employed for obtaining the electromagnetic force. The objective function is then approximated by secondary models on the basis of design of experiment. The optimization is carried out using sequential linear programming.

Findings

Optimal solution to the problem has been obtained and the force‐stroke characteristic of the optimal actuator is given.

Originality/value

The proposed approach employs sequential linear programming with move limits using trust region concept, 3D finite element analysis, design of experiments and secondary models for optimization of a permanent magnet linear actuator for individual needle driving in a knitting machine.
Data errors influence on the robustness of problem solutions
Authors: Dimitrova Stancheva Rumena , Ilieva Iatcheva Ilona
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the rate of discrepancy between the group of expected project results and the group of corresponding results realized preliminarily at the design stage.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors formulate and solve the problem to determine the values of two assemblies of independent variables guaranteeing the project with the best (X→*) and as well this one with the worst (X→**) tolerance field of the expected Zx realization. The problem is formulated as an optimization one in nonlinear mathematical programming and it is solved by applying the flexible tolerance method.

Findings

By the use of basic relations in statistical science an expression of standard deviation σZx of Zx is found and proposed. The limits in which are expected to be change in the deviations between the main project results and the corresponding ones of the implemented design, mathematically defined previous to its realization.

Research limitations/implications

The accent is put on the cases when the device characteristics are presented as polynomials, obtained on the bases of the design of experiments (DOE) and the response surface methodology. An arbitrary technical characteristic Zx=Z(x→) is presented.

Practical implications

A researcher could confine numerically the tolerance field between project results and expected realized ones in the whole investigated region.

Originality/value

The paper is characterized by an original approach and a new expression of standard deviation is proposed which will be of interest to designers.
TiO2‐SiO2 inorganic barrier composites: from synthesis to application
Authors: Siwińska‐Stefańska K. , Ciesielczyk F. , Kołodziejczak‐Radzimska A. , Paukszta D. , Sójka‐Ledakowicz J. , Jesionowski T.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a method of synthesis of TiO2‐SiO2 oxide composites characterised by spherically shaped particles with sizes in the micrometric ranges, which can be applied as a new generation of textile/TiO2‐SiO2 composites with barrier properties against UV radiation. Synthesis and characterisation of TiO2‐SiO2 oxide composites with a high degree of dispersion were performed, and their influence on the barrier properties of textile fabrics was investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The precipitation was performed with the use of solutions of titanium sulphate and sodium silicate as the precipitating agent, which are cheap alternatives to organic precursors of Ti and Si. The reaction was conducted in an emulsion system, where cyclohexane was used as the organic phase and non‐ionic surfactants NP3 and NP6 as emulsifiers were applied.

Findings

The direction of substrate supply, concentration of the reagents and their ratio and other conditions of precipitation process were found to significantly affect the physicochemical parameters of the pigments obtained. A possibility is provided of manufacturing a new generation of textile/TiO2‐SiO2 composites with barrier properties against UV radiation.

Research limitations/implications

Titanium sulphate, sodium silicate, cyclohexane as the organic phase, and non‐ionic surfactants NP3 and NP6 as emulsifiers, were used.

Practical implications

Synthesis of a new generation of textile/TiO2‐SiO2 composites with barrier properties against UV radiation has been performed. Textile fabrics modified with hybrid composites demonstrated high absorption of UV radiation over the full wavelength range.

Originality/value

Determination of optimum conditions of TiO2‐SiO2 oxide composites precipitation to obtain products with desired physicochemical, dispersive and structural properties. Development of nano‐structural textile composites with barrier properties, protecting against UV radiation.