bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Lifeblood knowledge”: dynamic relational capabilities (DRC) and knowledge for firm innovativeness and competitive advantage
Authors: Weissenberger‐Eibl Marion , Schwenk Johann
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the underlying paper is to strengthen and develop the theory around (dynamic) relational capabilities for firm innovativeness and competitive advantage with focus on the resource knowledge. Therefore one objective is the development of a theoretical concept of DRC within the research fields of social system‐theory, relational and capability‐based view. Another goal is the evolvement of the four DRC concerning the interorganizational knowledge transfer between firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical part is based on a literature analysis in strategic management research. The authors propose a theoretical framework – DRC – predicated on social system‐theory, relational and capability‐based view. The discussion concludes by providing management implications for implementation of DRC to practitioners in firms.

Findings

The outcome of this paper contributes to the underlying conceptual work for strategic and knowledge management of firms. In detail a theoretical concept – DRC – for managing knowledge to generate innovativeness and competitiveness is developed. Furthermore, the paper provides some management implications on macro‐, meso‐, and micro‐level of firms to implement them.

Practical implications

For practitioners the paper gives implications for implementing the theoretical considerations.

Originality/value

The concept has proven to be useful in improving the interorganizational knowledge transfer and innovativeness and competitive advantage in firms.
Performance measurement in corporate real estate
Authors: Jordan Michael , McCarty Thomas , Velo Brian
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Most performance measurement systems and scorecards fall short of communicating strategic value because they do not relate the metrics of real estate to the larger objectives of an organization. This paper aims to show that choosing the right business metrics and monitoring them through effective scorecards identifies and amplifies the competitive value that corporate real estate (CRE) creates for its host company.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper identifies the common failures in performance measurement systems and presents a six‐step process for effective scorecarding that is formulated solely on strategic business objectives.

Findings

The paper finds that good performance measurement systems create a direct line of sight between CRE goals and stakeholder interests founded on open, strategic dialogue; refinement to a narrow set of metrics; and commitment to consistent process governance.

Practical implications

The business transparency of a well‐designed performance measurement system helps to prioritize work and clarifies investment and disinvestment decisions.

Originality/value

Leading businesses are increasingly refining the quality of their analytics as the source of competitive advantage. CRE executives who adopt the perspective and process described in this paper can elevate real estate as an integral part of the vision and success of their organizations.
Statistical modeling and probabilistic composition in the prediction of the customer lifetime value
Authors: Parracho Sant'Anna Annibal , Otavio de Araujo Ribeiro Rodrigo
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Data mining registers of transactions allows for benchmarking customer's evaluation strategies. The purpose of this paper is to provide information on the application of different approaches to explore this kind of data.

Design/methodology/approach

Traditionally, heuristics based on variables such as recency, frequency, and monetary (RFM) value of transactions are used to determine the best customers. In this paper, a new form of directly combining the values of these variables is compared to an approach based on fitting a stochastic model. This last model is a mixture of a model for the number of transactions and another for the value spent. The new direct form of evaluation is based on computing the joint probability of maximizing quality indicators.

Findings

Good fit of the different models tested to the series of individual data as well as coherent predictions are registered. Patterns found provide empirical confirmation of results that theoretically should be expected.

Research limitations/implications

These results are valid for a particular supermarkets network in a Brazilian city. The inner consistency of the results, nevertheless, and the coherence of the results obtained with what was expected, encourage application to other places and sectors of activity.

Practical implications

The results obtained show clearly the effectiveness of the approach based on RFM value measurement.

Originality/value

The models studied are applied for the first time for the kind of data treated, where determination of which customers remain active is a problem of special interest.
A new advertising effectiveness model for corporate advertising web sites
Authors: Patsioura Fotini , Vlachopoulou Maro , Manthou Vicky
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an effectiveness conceptual framework to evaluate the overall performance of corporate advertising web sites towards the multiple advertising, promotional and relationship marketing objectives of their establishment. Specifically, communication, feedback and customer support policies are examined in order to identify their contribution in creating or influencing advertising “effects”.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a questionnaire‐based survey of 160 undergraduate and postgraduate students within the department of applied informatics are used to accomplish greater understanding of their perceptions and requirements towards the factors in question.

Findings

Findings reveal significant dimensions of the participants' behaviour based on their actions, activities, preferences and intentions. Also, the outcomes show a great impact of the relationship marketing qualitative factors in question on specific advertising effectiveness indicators.

Research limitations/implications

The stimulus materials are limited to two corporate advertising web sites. Further testing to a wider sample of advertising stimulus of different product categories is required.

Practical implications

Effectiveness measures provide to practitioners a factual demonstration of consumers' use and intended use regarding functions and features incorporated by corporate advertising web sites and enable the optimisation of their execution.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a new conceptual framework to support the contribution and significance of relationship marketing factors on the overall performance of corporate advertising web sites. This should be a useful approach for both academic researcher and practitioners.
Product variety: an auto industry analysis and a benchmarking study
Authors: Felipe Scavarda Luiz , Schaffer Jens , José Scavarda Annibal , da Cunha Reis Augusto , Schleich Heinrich
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a product variety multi‐market study in the auto industry and to conduct a benchmarking analysis of the practical findings against the theoretical ones obtained in a European Community Research Project (Intelligent Logistics for Innovative Product Technologies – ILIPT) that aims to rethink the automotive supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct an exploratory research including an empirical multi‐market study, which embraces many significant passenger car models from a global vehicle manufacturer in relevant automotive markets. To provide a rich dataset, the authors utilize a combination of data collection techniques including interviews, contextual performance data and a detailed analysis of product offerings available from the vehicle manufacturer's regional web sites. This paper also shares the experience of a European Community Research Project benchmarking the results for the automobile industry.

Findings

In this paper, product variety in the auto industry is classified into four general categories. The empirical results suggest that the platform (most aggregated form of variety) follows the same logic worldwide while all the other product variety categories (in particular variants) are restricted in emerging markets and very refined in Europe. The benchmarking shows that the European variety offered exceeds the “appropriate” level of variety considered best in class by the ILIPT project while the emerging countries variety offered is below this level. This fact points to space for improvement in the product variety management of both supply chains.

Originality/value

This is a valuable empirical research study that examines the current behaviour of the auto product variety in significant markets and gives an overview where the variety is created world wide. A benchmarking analysis is also offered, which gives an idea of how far vehicle manufacturers are in terms of providing the “appropriate” level of variety.
Benchmarking in service marketing – a longitudinal analysis of the customer
Authors: Koller Monika , Salzberger Thomas
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the temporal development of the customers' psychological state, described by a multitude of constructs, throughout the whole decision‐making process in a service context in order to derive ideas for customer‐focused benchmarking.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of qualitative and quantitative data contributes to a better understanding of psychological phenomena during purchase decision making. The present longitudinal study investigates the consumers' psychological state during the decision‐making process considering services in tourism industry applying the diary method. Qualitative in‐depth investigation of individual case studies provides further information for interpreting the results of quantitative analyses which aim at measuring constructs such as perceived risk, cognitive dissonance (CD), satisfaction and arousal on a higher level of abstraction.

Findings

Findings show that qualitative and quantitative data not only complement one another but also their interaction provides additional information about the individual consumer decision‐making process. As the longitudinal quantitative analysis shows that CD does not completely dissolve over time and significantly influences the level of satisfaction, complaint behaviour and word‐of‐mouth, additional qualitative data help interpret these findings and derive more effective marketing implications.

Research limitations/implications

Implications for the marketing‐mix of service companies in general and travel agencies in particular are derived. The paper underlines the potential of innovational methodological approaches in marketing research.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a longitudinal mixed‐method approach to collect customer‐focused information relevant for benchmarking purposes of service companies. It contributes to scientific knowledge of decision making in general and CD in particular.
Predicting corporate failure: some empirical evidence from the UK
Authors: Opoku Appiah Kingsley , Abor Joshua
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use relevant financial information of private medium‐sized failed and non‐failed manufacturing firms in the UK, during the period 1994‐2004 to determine whether corporate failure can be predicted by developing a Z‐score model.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple discriminant analysis is used to develop the Z‐score to support the notion that Z‐score is an innovation to overcome the numerous difficulties associated with using single ratios to measure companies' health or risk of failure.

Findings

This paper advances the notion that the net profit margin is superior to the gross profit margin in discriminating between failed and non‐failed UK manufacturing companies in terms of its significant contribution to the Z‐score, though the latter exceeds the former slightly using the univariate analysis.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the area of benchmarking by providing a method to more accurately predict corporate failure.
Methodology for a think tank: the future of military and veterans' health
Authors: Palmer Jane , Ellis Niki
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to argue that the adoption of a “critical futures” approach to management and content of a Think Tank conducted by the Centre for Military and Veterans' Health, Australia, resulted in outcomes conducive to deep level change within the organizations and professional groups involved.

Design/methodology/approach

The Think Tank process focused on challenging mind‐sets and entrenched systemic barriers at all organizational levels through: engagement of leadership throughout the process; broad‐based workshops involving management, professional and operational levels; use of causal layered analysis to encourage critical thinking and ideas development; and use of scenarios to imagine the future.

Findings

At the end of the Think Tank's program, a new framework supporting health services delivery had been envisaged, its components described and the cultural and structural changes needed to make this happen had been identified.

Practical implications

The results of the Think Tank program will provide a basis for action to achieve a preferred future over the next two decades. Such action includes research, horizon scanning, adoption of new technologies, better information collection and management, and training and education programs, and most importantly attitudinal and cultural change. A significant indicator of the impact of the Think Tank is that requests for further work using similar methodologies to move towards the preferred future were quickly received from the military and veterans' sectors.

Originality/value

The Think Tank worked alongside a military command control structure to maximize leverage for change, and to encourage critical and futures‐oriented thinking at all organizational levels. The result has been a comprehensive and strategic vision of the future that went well beyond the outcomes envisaged at the beginning of the process. We are unaware of any other such futures projects which have been conducted in the military and veterans' health sector.
Plastic promises: the disruptive potential of OLEDs and e‐paper for the European display industry
Authors: Forge Simon , Blackman Colin , Lindmark Sven
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The paper aims to explore two developing display technologies, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and e‐paper, with a view to assessing their potential to disrupt existing markets and thereby offer an opportunity for European firms to play a larger role in the Information and communication technologies (ICTs) sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an extensive study including literature review and detailed desk research on the technologies themselves, their potential application and market analysis. Selected interviews with industry representatives were also carried out, which further informed a detailed value chain analysis and assessment of the EU position in these technologies.

Findings

OLEDs and e‐paper have the potential to disrupt current displays market and in so doing they may enable EU companies to enter at selected points in the value chain to compete with the Asian ICT industry.

Originality/value

Although there is a huge literature on the technical aspects of these technologies, speculative market analysis and journalistic assessments, this paper brings all of these facets together in a sophisticated value chain analysis that indicates opportunities for Europe's ICT sector.
Indispensable to sound strategy: trust and confidence in the planner
Authors: Richardson Jacques
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to probe the extent of confidence and trust in oneself, in others, and in the future when devising plans and strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper evokes specific incidents, past and present, marking the bases of confidence sustained, abandoned, or disregarded.

Findings

This paper presents examples of outcomes that may be overlaid on readers' current exercises in planning or scenario development.

Originality/value

This is an example of the continuing value of analyses in retrostrategy: understanding how/why a future‐oriented scheme is succeeding, failing, or having indifferent effect.
Monitoring and controlling design process using control charts and process sigma
Authors: Eldin Adam Hamza Salah
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a means to control the design process in engineering organization that produce engineering deliverables for construction projects. The intended control is to deliver construction packages on time and within budget while controlling productivity of engineers and support staff involved in the design process.

Design/methodology/approach

Control charts have been used to monitor design progress and for auditing business processes, process adjustments and to alert for action to rectify a schedule risk. Management has benefited from control charts to fine‐tune operations ranging from bid proposal processing to final design delivery stages and to identify and prevent employee time waste in addition to tracking and forecasting design performance for efficient resource allocation.

Findings

These techniques helps in controlling development of engineering deliverables on budget and in detecting areas of low performance early enough for suitable corrective actions. Project six‐sigma has also improved as project progress advances; from 0.92 at 10 percent project phase to 1.74 at 90 percent project completion.

Research limitations/implications

Future, research shall cover multi‐discipline project performance and other project management processes, like bidding, design development, design review, and project close‐out.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates means to control design process in organizations dealing with construction projects like oil and gas, petrochemicals and power projects. Delays in the design process may cause adverse impact in downstream projects phases including construction, procurement, start‐up, production, and further affects business strategies and plans. Control charts and six sigma process levels helps delivering design projects within constraints.
ERP implementation through critical success factors' management
Authors: Françoise Olivier , Bourgault Mario , Pellerin Robert
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify practical activities that are essential for managing enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation projects and that answer to the expectations of the widely recognized critical success factors (CSFs).

Design/methodology/approach

This work is based on an extensive literature review on CSF, which has been followed by a Delphi survey with a panel of ERP experts. For each CSF, it obtained a range, validated by experts, of practical actions to perform, supported by the resolution of the problems usually encountered in these areas.

Findings

The work carried out has a practical scope: the principles of the proposed method directly affect all actors in ERP projects and gives them practical results that they can apply immediately. When applied in the framework of the methodology the paper suggests, these actions will result in better oversight over the requirements of each area of expertise. In this way, overall grasp of the project is facilitated, reducing the inherent uncertainties.

Research limitations/implications

Findings may be limited by the small number of respondents, but each one had participated in several implementations. Moreover, no industry sector was specifically targeted; thus, the results apply a priori to most implementations.

Originality/value

This research helps to draw the academic and professional domains together by proposing, for the first time, a way for theoretical findings to be translated into practical actions. These results will allow all actors in an ERP implementation to understand the project imperatives faster and more accurately.
Supply chain and quality management
Authors: Carmignani Gionata
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a research for developing a standard to implement a process management system in a whole supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

To gain this aim, the research has been developed in two parts. The quality management part has the objective to select the reference model to develop the standard. The supply chain management (SCM) part has, instead, the objective to select the drivers and the main processes that the standard have to manage. The evaluation of the results of these parts has permitted to define the proposed standard.

Findings

A modified interpretation of ISO 9001:2000 norm is proposed permitting: to improve the ISO 9001 standard to the general requirements for a whole process approach; to extend and to apply the ISO 9001 concepts, that address quality aspects within a single organization, to a whole supply chain; and to facilitate the introduction of the modern principles and techniques of SCM. Finally, the standard to implement a management system for a whole supply chain is introduced through the identification of the main supply chain processes and drivers.

Research limitations/implications

The standard proposed is a specific for a generic supply chain. Further studies will be necessary to: customize the standard to appropriate productive sectors and validate the appropriate content through real applications.

Practical implications

The standard proposed is a guide line to implement a management system in a supply chain and, for this aim, it can be applied in a generic supply chain.

Originality/value

The standard proposed is an original tool to improve the collaboration and processes integration between the partners into a supply chain and this scope can be the actual value of the presented methodology.
Valuing climate change impacts on Sydney beaches to inform coastal management decisions
Authors: Anning David , Dominey‐Howes Dale , Withycombe Geoff
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the critical need for economic information to inform the selection of coastal management options for the beaches of the Sydney region and to outline the project currently under way to address this information gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The critical need for the current case study is framed through presenting a summary of the threats posed by current climate change projections, the legislative requirements for economic valuation of natural resources, and the role which economics can play in selection of appropriate coastal management options in response to climate change impacts.

Findings

The paper presents the valuation methods that were selected for use in the Sydney Beaches Valuation Project and outlines the rationale behind their selection.

Originality/value

No current, empirical estimates of the economic value of Sydney beaches are available, which means that managers must use estimates from studies which may not reflect the unique characteristics of either the Sydney beaches or the social context. The results of the study, in terms of both unit measures of economic value and lessons learned during the survey design process, will therefore be of great value to coastal managers in the Sydney region. An external link provides details of the mixed mode survey instrument, which can be used to inform the design of other similar studies. Given the critical role of economic appraisal methods in selection of coastal management alternatives, the survey structure is potentially of great use to coastal managers in similarly threatened coastal locations elsewhere.
Modeling, monitoring, and mitigating sea level rise
Authors: Snow Mary M. , Snow Richard K.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss rising sea levels at the global, regional, and community scale and illustrate the necessity for public comprehension and involvement. It also aims to demonstrate geographic information systems (GIS) as an efficient tool for modeling and disseminating information with the expectation that coastal communities will benefit by joining in a process to integrate this knowledge into broad‐based decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

GIS is capable of creating, analyzing, and displaying sea level rise scenarios enabling local officials to address the negative effects of elevated sea levels by allowing them to identify both built and biotic communities that are at risk, assess the situation, and develop mitigation strategies. The paper makes use of a case study of Daytona Beach, Florida, to examine the impacts of storm surge.

Findings

A GIS model, produced for south Florida integrating land use and elevation data to illustrate locations that lie below five feet, reveals that heavily populated urban areas in Miami‐Dade County could be inundated during extreme high tide and storm surge events. The GIS also indicates that much of the Florida Keys has elevations below five feet and is at risk of flooding if sea levels rise at projected rates.

Originality/value

The case study of Daytona Beach, Florida, can be replicated at other coastal locations by using GIS to assimilate spatial data and generate meaningful graphic models to be interpreted by those responsible for minimizing the risks from rising sea levels.
Bringing Web 2.0 to web lectures
Authors: Ketterl Markus , Mertens Robert , Vornberger Oliver
Published: May 2009

Purpose

At many universities, web lectures have become an integral part of the e‐learning portfolio over the last few years. While many aspects of the technology involved, like automatic recording techniques or innovative interfaces for replay, have evolved at a rapid pace, web lecturing has remained independent of other important developments such as Web 2.0. The aim of this paper is to exemplify and discuss the benefits web lecturing can gain from a Web 2.0 perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes an implementation of three Web 2.0 features for the virtPresenter web lecture interface. These are time‐based social footprints, a mechanism for linking to user created bookmarks in a web lecture from external Web 2.0 applications and a special web lecture player that enables users to embed their own web lecture bookmarks in wikis or blogs.

Findings

The paper shows how conceptual and technical obstacles in bringing Web 2.0 features like social footprints to web lectures can be overcome. It also makes evident that linking web lectures in Web 2.0 systems require special adaptations due to the time‐based nature of web lectures. The technical discussion shows that many Web 2.0 features require feedback channels in order to communicate information back to servers (e.g. to understand how the content is used) and that most contemporary media players have to be modified in order to support feedback channels.

Practical implications

The paper shows that web lectures can benefit from Web 2.0 ideas and presents examples how Web 2.0 and web lectures can be brought together.

Originality/value

Web 2.0 is a popular trend that transforms the way in which the internet is used. This paper shows how web lectures can be enriched with Web 2.0 features and how they can be integrated with Web 2.0 systems by discussing three implementation examples.
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN ANTHROPOLOGY: A NATIONAL SURVEY
Authors: Moore James E
Published: May 2009

This section is for brief reports of current research, comments on research as well as in‐depth comments on the profession. Research reports should stress the significance of the work rather than details; commentary should extend beyond the immediacy of the Correspondence columns. As a membership service the section is open to all Association members. All manuscripts are subject to review by editorial consultants. Those accepted will appear in the earliest Anthropology Newsletter when spacing and layout permit. Manuscripts must be typed, double‐spaced, on nonerasable bond and submitted in triplicate; otherwise, they will be returned to the author. Photos and drawings are welcome when appropriate; however, they must be camera ready.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND RESEARCH PROPOSAL CHECKLISTS
Authors: Denham Woodrow W
Published: May 2009

This section is for brief reports of current research, comments on research as well as in‐depth comments on the profession. Research reports should stress the significance of the work rather than details, commentary should extend beyond the immediacy of the Correspondence columns. As a membership service the section is open to all Association members. All manuscripts are subject to review by editorial consultants. Those accepted will appear in the earliest Anthropology Newsletter when spacing and layout permit Manuscripts must be typed, double‐spaced, on non‐erasable bond and submitted in triplicate, otherwise, they will be returned to the author. Photos and drawings are welcome when appropriate; however, they must be camera‐ready.
Severe hypoglycaemia during pregnancy in women with Type 1 diabetes is common and planning pregnancy does not decrease the risk
Authors: Robertson H. , Pearson D. W. M. , Gold A. E.
Published: May 2009

Aims  The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for severe hypoglycaemia (SH) in pregnancy in Type 1 diabetes, including associations with pregnancy planning and glycaemic control.

Methods  Clinical data including details of the pregnancy and its outcome, glycaemic control, frequency of SH and evidence of pregnancy planning were collected prospectively as part of a national audit of 160 pregnancies in women with Type 1 diabetes.

Results  An episode of SH was experienced by 29.4% of women at some point during the pregnancy, with the percentage of women experiencing SH decreasing from 21.9% in the first trimester to 18.1% in trimester 2 and 10.9% in trimester 3. Longer duration of diabetes was associated with increased frequency of SH during pregnancy (r = 0.191, P = 0.012). A greater fall in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) between pre‐pregnancy and the first trimester was not associated with increased risk of SH in trimester 1. Planned pregnancies had better glycaemic control but higher risk of SH in trimester 1 (P = 0.047). Women with pre‐pregnancy retinopathy and current smokers had an increased risk of SH in trimester 3 (P = 0.029, P = 0.033).

Conclusions  SH is common during pregnancy and particularly in the first trimester. Planning pregnancy does not decrease the risk of SH. Improvements in glycaemic control at the start of pregnancy do not appear to increase the risk of SH. Education of women and their partners about the risks of SH and its management is essential when planning pregnancy.
Decreasing amputation rates in patients with diabetes—a population‐based study
Authors: Schofield C. J. , Yu N. , Jain A. S. , Leese G. P.
Published: May 2009

Aims  To assess the changing rate of amputation in patients with diabetes over a 7‐year period.

Methods  All patients undergoing lower extremity amputation in Tayside, Scotland between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2006 were identified. Temporal linkage of cases to the diabetes database was used to ascertain which amputations were in patients with diabetes.

Results  The incidence of major amputations fell from 5.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.8–6.4] to 2.9 (95% CI 1.9–3.8) per 1000 patients with diabetes (P < 0.05). There is a clear linear trend in the adjusted incidence of major amputation (P = 0.023 and 0.027 for age‐ and sex‐adjusted, and duration‐ and sex‐adjusted incidences, respectively). The adjusted incidence of total amputations followed decreased linear regression trend over the whole study period when adjusted for age and sex or diabetes duration and sex (P = 0.002).

Conclusions  There has been a significant reduction in the incidence of major lower extremity amputation in patients with diabetes over the 7‐year period.
Protein kinase C epsilon activation delays neuronal depolarization during cardiac arrest in the euthermic arctic ground squirrel
Authors: Dave Kunjan R. , Anthony DeFazio Richard , Raval Ami P. , Dashkin Oleksandr , Saul Isabel , Iceman Kimberly E. , Perez‐Pinzon Miguel A. , Drew Kelly L.
Published: May 2009

During the pre‐hibernation season, arctic ground squirrels (AGS) can tolerate 8 min of asphyxial cardiac arrest (CA) without detectable brain pathology. Better understanding of the mechanisms regulating innate ischemia tolerance in AGS has the potential to facilitate the development of novel prophylactic agents to induce ischemic tolerance in patients at risk of stroke or CA. We hypothesized that neuroprotection in AGS involves robust maintenance of ion homeostasis similar to anoxia‐tolerant turtles. Ion homeostasis was assessed by monitoring ischemic depolarization (ID) in cerebral cortex during CA in vivo and during oxygen glucose deprivation in vitro in acutely prepared hippocampal slices. In both models, the onset of ID was significantly delayed in AGS compared with rats. The epsilon protein kinase C (εPKC) is a key mediator of neuroprotection and inhibits both Na+/K+‐ATPase and voltage‐gated sodium channels, primary mediators of the collapse of ion homeostasis during ischemia. The selective peptide inhibitor of εPKC (εV1‐2) shortened the time to ID in brain slices from AGS but not in rats despite evidence that εV1‐2 decreased activation of εPKC in brain slices from both rats and AGS. These results support the hypothesis that εPKC activation delays the collapse of ion homeostasis during ischemia in AGS.
The effect of interleukin‐6 and the interleukin‐6 receptor on glucose transport in mouse skeletal muscle
Authors: Gray Stuart R. , Ratkevicius Aivaras , Wackerhage Henning , Coats Paul , Nimmo Myra A.
Published: May 2009

Exercise results in an increase in interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), its receptor (IL‐6R) and skeletal muscle glucose transport. Interleukin‐6 has been found to have equivocal effects on glucose transport, with no studies, to our knowledge, investigating any potential role of IL‐6R. In the present study, we hypothesized that a combined preparation of IL‐6 and soluble IL‐6R (sIL‐6R) would stimulate glucose transport. Mouse soleus muscles were incubated with physiological and supraphysiological concentrations of IL‐6 and a combination of IL‐6 and sIL‐6R. Total and phosphorylated AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Protein Kinase B (PKB/Akt) were also measured by Western blotting. Exposure to both physiological (80 pg ml−1) and supraphysiological IL‐6 (120 ng ml−1) had no effect on glucose transport. At physiological levels, exposure to a combination of IL‐6 and sIL‐6R (32 ng ml−1) resulted in a 1.4‐fold increase (P < 0.05) in basal glucose transport with no change to the phosphorylation of AMPK. Exposure to supraphysiological levels of IL‐6 and sIL‐6R (120 ng ml−1) resulted in an approximately twofold increase (P < 0.05) in basal glucose transport and an increase (P < 0.05) in AMPK phosphorylation. No effect of IL‐6 or sIL‐6R was observed on insulin‐stimulated glucose transport. These findings demonstrate that, while IL‐6 alone does not stimulate glucose transport in mouse soleus muscle, when sIL‐6R is introduced glucose transport is directly stimulated, partly through AMPK‐dependent signalling.
Modeling and experimental analysis of microburr formation considering tool edge radius and tool-tip breakage in microend milling
Authors: Liang Y. C. , Yang K. , Bai Q. S. , Chen J. X. , Wang B.
Published: May 2009

The microburr formation in the microend milling of aluminum alloy Al2024-T6 using tungsten-carbide cutter is investigated in this article. The three-dimensional finite element model is developed to analyze microburr formation in microend-milling process. This model predicts the effects of various tool edge radiuses and tool-tip breakage on the burr formation. The microburr formation is dynamically simulated. The simulation results show that there are three basic types of burrs (entrance burr, top burr, and exit burr) along the feature edges. The burrs formed in microend milling are larger than those formed in conventional milling in certain range. The effect curve of tool edge radius on the top-burr height is obtained. Various tool edge radii are found to have significant influence on the top-burr formation. The salient size effect of microburr morphologies is observed in the experiment and simulation. Experimental verification of the simulation model is carried out in the process of microend milling of aluminum alloy Al2024-T6. The simulation for influence of various tool edge radii (new tool and worn tool) and tool-tip breakage on the exit-burr height has been verified in experiments. Top-burr heights in simulation and experiments have maximum error about 10%. The experimental results also show that the model is suitable for predicting the morphologies and dimensions of microburrs.
Development of an integral optics system for a slim optical mouse in a slim portable electric device
Authors: Woo Do-Kyun , Hane Kazuhiro , Cho Seong-Cheon , Lee Sun-Kyu
Published: May 2009

This paper presents the development of an integral optics system for a slim optical mouse whose operation principle in light propagation is based on total internal refection to prevent image distortion. The slim optical mouse can be applied to a portable electric device which has been becoming thinner and smaller and has a variety of functions for entertainment applications. The integral optics system was designed as a combination of an illumination system with a reflector and refractor, an object system, and a lens system with array multilevel lenses for a slim optical mouse with the thickness of 2.5mm. Fabrications were performed on photo and EB lithography, thermal evaporation by shadowing effect, FAB etching, TMAH etching, and hot embossing. The results show that this system is quite appropriate for a slim optical mouse with the measuring image performance through the lens system and light efficiency traveling to the object plane through the illumination system.
Design and optimization of wafer bonding packaged microelectromechanical systems thermoelectric power generators with heat dissipation path
Authors: Lee Chengkuo , Xie Jin
Published: May 2009

A new concept of microelectromechanical system based thermoelectric power generator (TPG) with unique heat dissipation path is investigated in this study. By using solder based wafer bonding technology, the authors can bond three pieces of wafers to form vacuum packaged TPG. According to the finite element method and analytical modeling results, the output power per area of device is derived as 68.6μW∕cm2 for temperature difference of about 6°C between two ends of thermocouple junctions. It shows that the proposed device concept is an effective and low cost approach to enhance the output voltage.
Molecular dynamics study on various nanometric cutting boundary conditions
Authors: Zhang Z. G. , Fang F. Z. , Hu X. T. , Sun C. K.
Published: May 2009

The molecular dynamics (MD) analysis at the nanometer scale is a powerful tool for understanding the material removal mechanism. In simulating the nanocutting process, various boundary conditions of the workpiece modeling can be applied. The influence of these workpiece boundary conditions (WBCs) to cutting results is systematically studied, including the boundary conditions of only bottom, bottom and cut-in side, bottom and cut-out side, and bottom and both side and full scale WBC or not. The results of the simulation confirm that the boundary condition of bottom and closed cut-out side is best suited to the nanometric cutting process. According to the above-mentioned results of boundary conditions, the MD simulation experiment was carried out with the undeformed chip thickness from 1 to 5 nm. It is indicated that the undeformed chip thickness has strong influence on the cutting, that is, with the deepening of cutting, cutting force becomes stronger, whereas the ratio of the normal force to tangential force becomes less. However the variation of the ratio does not vary much.
Tool wear study in diamond turning of steels
Authors: Dai T. F. , Fang F. Z. , Hu X. T.
Published: May 2009

It is traditionally known that monocrystalline diamond tools cannot be employed to machine steels due to excessive chemical tool wear. In this study, two different materials are preprocessed by turning, grinding, and polishing, respectively, and then are nitrided to gain the compound layer for diamond turning. Tool wears are significantly reduced by two to three orders of magnitudes and the surface roughness are ranged from 4.2 to 20 nm in Ra depending on the elements and qualities of the workpieces. It is also found that Ni, Cu, Si, and Al are beneficial to improve the tool life, while Mn, Cr, and Mo play the negative role.
Development of microfluidic device and system for breast cancer cell fluorescence detection
Authors: He J. H. , Reboud J. , Ji H. M. , Lee C. , Long Y.
Published: May 2009

A biomicrofluidic device and a compact cellular testing system were developed to be used in cancer diagnostics. The device was fabricated by lithography-based microfabrication techniques, followed by two-step etching of deep reactive ion etching, and channels were formed by anodic bonding of Si and Pyrex. The device is based on the capture of cells inside a new meandering weir-type filter design, followed by detection and characterization using specific fluorescent labeling. Breast cancer cells MCF-7 and control cells MCF-10A were flowed through the microfluidic channels, and captured by meandering weir-type filters. 17β-Estradiaol(E2)-BSA (bovine serum albumin)-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) macromolecular complex was found to selectively label MCF-7, potentially serving as a cancer cell detection marker. MCF-7 cells were detected with specific and strong FITC signals after only 4min of contact with the stain. The signals were about seven times stronger than that of a labeling performed on conventional glass slides. These results strongly suggest that this novel design has a potential application to detect cancer cells or other diseased cells without compromising the advantage of high sensitivity of the microfluidic approach.
Framework for adaptive three-dimensional acquisition using structured light vision system
Authors: Wang Peng , Zhang Zimiao , Sun Changku
Published: May 2009

In order to reconstruct the viewable surface of an object completely and accurately using structured light vision system, one of the major problems is to determine the scanning path of structured light sensor before scanning. This article proposes a framework with a four axis motion controlling system that can be used for automatic planning of the structured light sensor scanning path to reconstruct the measured object surface without knowing the object’s surface features. A three-step scanning method is used to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the measured object surface data. The experimental results show that the three-step scanning method works well with the object.
Representation of product model in collaborative design based on semantic web technology
Authors: Feng Xiangzhong
Published: May 2009

During product collaborative design, product models lack enough semantics to express the product data explicitly and formally because of the diversity and heterogeneity of product data as well as the limitation of the existing product model expression. To overcome these weak points, semantic web technology is employed to represent the product model. Ontology is used to describe the product model and web ontology language is used to express product model instances concretely in collaborative design. In this case, collaborative design can be effective in achieving sharing, exchange, reuse, and collaboration of product data based on Internet.
Low temperature plasma-initiated copolymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride
Authors: Yan Da , Yuan Xu-Bo , Ma Gui-Qiu , Sheng Jing
Published: May 2009

In this study we show that the plasma-initiated polymerization can be carried out at ambient temperature and pressure using the dielectric barrier discharge technology. The structure of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) is analyzed by Fourier transform infrared and H1 NMR. The effects of initiation time, postpolymerization time, and polymerization temperature on conversion are also discussed. The results show that SMA exhibits a dominant alternating structure, the conversion increases with increasing initiation time, postpolymerization time, and polymerization temperature, and the plasma-initiated polymerization in this experiment is proven to follow the free radical polymerization mechanism.
Morphological observation and adhesive property measurement on human ovary carcinoma cells by atomic force microscopy
Authors: Han Yimin , Wang Jing , Yan Yongda , Sun Tao , Shen Dong
Published: May 2009

Interaction between cells and extracellular matrix and mechanical properties of cell surfaces are discussed. Using atomic force microscope (AFM), we observed two different kinds of human ovary carcinoma cells (with highly invasive and minimally invasive ability) and their surrounding fibronectin fibrils. The adhesive properties of both cells are investigated using the AFM force-displacement technique. Results show in the following. The shape of cells that adhered to the glass slide is rectangular. Sucker-shape structures exist at both ends of the cell. Around cells with highly invasive ability, there are fewer fibrils and their length is short; however, the surface has a higher adhesion force. The adhesion forces at the middle and end parts of cells with highly invasive ability are about 120−25+20 and 210−35+50nN, respectively. Around cells with minimally invasive ability are more fibrils and their length is long; however, the surface has a smaller adhesion force. The adhesion forces at the middle and end parts of cells with minimally invasive ability are about 75−11+17 and 105−30+25nN, respectively. Moreover, on the surface of both cells, the adhesion force at the end of the cell (similar to acetabulum) is greater than that at the middle of the cell. These conclusions agree well with biological functions and properties of both cells.
Design of a magnetic-assistance superfinish module for freeform machining
Authors: Pa P. S.
Published: May 2009

A new design is investigated for a superfinishing module for freeform machining using magnetic assistance to help discharge dregs from the gap between the electrodes and the workpiece during electrochemical finishing and burnishing. The design of the finishing tool considered in the present study includes an electrode and a burnishing tool. The design of the magnetic-assistance system and the finishing tool are discussed, as well as their effect on the superfinishing processes. The experimental parameters are the initial gap width, the flow rate of electrolyte, the current density, and the pulse period. Different process configurations are also evaluated. Smaller distances between the two magnets or larger magnetic field intensities provide larger magnetic strength, discharge ability, and a better finish. Magnetic assistance can mitigate the difficult problem of dreg discharge associated with high current density, thus enabling a reduction in the finishing time. The average effect of the magnetic assistance was greater than that of pulsed current, while the machining time was not prolonged by the off time. A higher rotational speed of the magnets produced a better finish. The superfinishing module incorporating magnetic assistance in electrochemical finishing and burnishing requires only a short time to make a freeform surface smooth and bright, and eliminates the need for precise traditional polishing.