bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of grey-fuzzy logic technique for parametric optimization of non-traditional machining processes
Authors: Chakraborty Shankar , Das Partha Protim , Kumar Vidyapati 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to exploit the fullest potential and capability of different non-traditional machining (NTM) processes, it is often recommended to operate them at their optimal parametric combinations. There are several mathematical tools and techniques that have been effectively deployed for identifying the optimal parametric mixes for the NTM processes. Amongst them, grey relational analysis (GRA) has become quite popular due to its sound mathematical basis, ease to implement and apprehensiveness for multi-objective optimization of NTM processes.

Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, GRA is integrated with fuzzy logic to present an efficient technique for multi-objective optimization of three NTM processes (i.e. abrasive water-jet machining, electrochemical machining and ultrasonic machining) while identifying their best parametric settings for enhanced machining performance.

Findings
The derived results are validated with respect to technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and analysis of variance is also performed so as to identify the most significant control parameters in the considered NTM processes.

Practical implications
This grey-fuzzy logic approach provides better parametric combinations for all the three NTM processes with respect to the predicted grey-fuzzy relational grades (GFRG). The developed surface plots help the process engineers to investigate the effects of various NTM process parameters on the predicted GFRG values.

Originality/value
The adopted approach can be applied to various machining (both conventional and non-conventional) processes for their parametric optimization for achieving better response values.
Lean Six Sigma journey in a UK higher education institute: a case study
Authors: Antony Jiju , Ghadge Abhijeet , Ashby Stephanie A. , Cudney Elizabeth A. 
Published: December 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the fundamental challenges and critical success factors in the development of a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) initiative within a UK higher education institute (HEI). The paper also illustrates examples of the types of projects completed and share some of the key lessons learned as part of the LSS journey.Design/methodology/approachThe authors have initially carried out an extensive literature review on the application of LSS in higher education to understand the existing body of work carried out by other scholars in the field. This is followed by presenting a case study explaining how a HEI in the UK has embarked on its LSS journey as a process excellence methodology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of core and supporting business processes.FindingsThere has been a clear lack of support and commitment from senior management in the sustainability of LSS within the case study organization. There was a general lack of understanding of the benefits of LSS in the higher education context and there is a lack of knowledge on the use of LSS tools for tackling process efficiency and effectiveness problems across the case study organization. Although a number of LSS projects were executed across finance, administrative, and human resources, as well as IT and library services, no projects were carried out for improving academic processes such as teaching effectiveness.Research limitations/implicationsAs the case study is limited to one higher education institution (HEI), the findings of the study cannot be broadly generalized. Moreover, the paper does not report the findings of any strategic projects as most projects were carried out at the operational level.Originality/valueThis is possibly one of the first studies reporting project examples of LSS in a HEI. The results of the study can also be used to benchmark with similar studies in other HEIs to understand the impact of certain management practices of LSS.
Strategic lean actions for sustainable competitive advantage
Authors: Hallam Cory R.A. , Valerdi Ricardo , Contreras Carolina 
Published: December 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to add to the quality management body of knowledge by solidifying the connection between operational and strategic aspects of lean transformation. Previous research has examined these issues in isolation, demonstrating mixed results in financial and operational efficiencies. The authors show that when operational and strategic changes are jointly considered the likelihood of success for lean transformation increases.Design/methodology/approachThe authors provide a literature review of 109 peer-reviewed papers on lean manufacturing and qualitative analysis of 23 Baldrige award winners (2000-2014) that implemented lean to assess the importance of strategic actions in achieving a sustainable competitive advantage through lean transformation.FindingsThe authors find that lean transformation yields mixed results unless strategic actions are taken by senior management. These strategic actions include but are not limited to knowledge management, human resources, and business growth and can result in performance heterogeneity by improving the output/input ratio of the firm. This performance can then manifest as either doing the same level of business with fewer resources (a profit play) or doing more business with the same resources (a growth play). As specific examples, the authors analyzed Baldrige award winners for evidence of lean strategic action to drive performance gains. The authors suggest further model validation through directed interview and/or survey research.Originality/valueThis paper clarifies the need for jointly implementing lean tools with strategic actions. The findings provide more deliberate strategic actions for organizations wishing to increase the likelihood of success of lean transformation and ultimately improve quality.
Instrument for evaluating IMS and sustainable performance
Authors: Poltronieri Camila Fabricio , Gerolamo Mateus Cecílio , Dias Teresa Cristina Martins , Carpinetti Luiz Cesar Ribeiro 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The number of standards for management systems (MSs) has increased recently. Among the most recognizable ones are ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001. The need for integration has risen due to the development and adoption of more than one MS in the same business, in a process known as integrated management systems (IMS). Some authors have argued that the use of IMS contributes toward sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to present an instrument to assess the integration of different MSs and its effect on sustainable performance.

Design/methodology/approach
A review of IMS, maturity of IMS and sustainability was conducted to build the instrument used in this research. Domingues et al. (2016), Poltronieri et al. (2017), Bernardo et al. (2009) and ISO9001:2015 were used as references pertaining to IMS, whereas Global Reporting Initiative and the research of Delai and Takahashi (2011) were employed for performance issues. All were evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Findings
In the pre-test the order of some questions was changed, some other questions were reformulated and a new classification was created. The evaluation of specialists contributed to reduce the number of questions and make the questionnaire more clear. Cronbach’s α was used to prove the reliability of the questionnaire.

Originality/value
The importance of this study lies in the development of an instrument that helps assess the maturity of the integration of MSs and evaluate sustainable performance.
Exploring the current position of ESD in UK higher education institutions
Authors: Fiselier Evelien S. , Longhurst James W.S. , Gough Georgina K. 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider the position of education for sustainable development in the UK Higher Education (HE) sector with respect to the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and Higher Education Academy (HEA) Guidance for education for sustainable development (ESD).

Design/methodology/approach
By means of a mixed-method approach underpinned by a concurrent triangulation design strategy, this research presents evidence from an online questionnaire survey and in-depth semi-structured interviews.

Findings
Insights are presented from case studies of a group of UK Higher Education Institute (HEIs) which have made significant progress in embedding ESD in the curricula.

Research limitations/implications
Central to this study is an exploration of the ESD integration process of this group including a description of the approaches to integration, the challenges faced and overcome and the critical success factors. It examines the role of a guidance instrument in simplifying and accelerating the ESD curricular integration process. The results of the study show that there is a multitude of integration approaches applied varying in their emphasis.

Practical implications
The main challenge HEIs face is engaging staff that may question the relevance of the ESD concept, and that lack an understanding regarding its implications for their discipline. Critical success factors identified are institution-wide people support, high-level institutional support and funding. The QAA and HEA guidance has successfully supported HEIs in developing their ESD commitments.

Originality/value
The results of this research can support HEIs in developing their own approach to ESD, as they learn from similar UK HE providers, particularly with respect to overcoming barriers and enhancing critical success factors to ESD curricular integration.
The role of international educational and science programs for sustainable development (systemic approach)
Authors: Gagnidze Ineza 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to foster research on an alternative design pattern for educational system (to emphasize symmetric connections with a range of actors) to achieve rapid and cost-effective strong sustainability by forming the clusters and entrepreneurial universities in economy.

Design/methodology/approach
For the preparation of this paper, the authors reviewed the literature on education and science, sustainable development, sustainable science, clusters and systems. Data, reports and surveys (UNESCO, World Bank, World Economic Forum, etc) were analyzed in detail, to create a clear picture related to research topics.

Findings
The role of education and science in solving the problems of sustainable development is critical. The system of education and science fails to meet modern challenges. The authors believe that it is desirable to start working on a different model. For this purpose, they have developed a new approach to connect clusters and alternative design pattern of education and science system for sustainable development.

Originality/value
First, mutually beneficial effective circular system has been improved by offering an alternative design of the educational system to link it to the international educational and scientific programs. Second, the visible and invisible sides of the cluster are presented as a tree-shaped system. Third, invisible and visible connection between branch clusters and an alternative design pattern for educational system have been identified and presented as a system.
Voluntary disclosure of financial information on the internet by large companies in Slovenia
Authors: Dolinšek Tatjana , Lutar-Skerbinjek Andreja 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of the determinants and characteristics of voluntary internet financial disclosures by large companies in Slovenia. With this research, the authors wanted to determine the factors which impact on the differences between companies that use internet financial reporting and those that do not.

Design/methodology/approach
The research was conducted on a sample of large companies in Slovenia (n = 192), which was divided into two groups, depending on whether they use internet financial reporting. A binary logistic regression was undertaken to assess whether voluntary disclosure of financial information on the internet was related to the company’s size, profitability, age, company’s legal form, ownership dispersion and industry sector.

Findings
The research has shown that there is a statistically significant difference between the companies which use or do not use internet financial reporting. The likelihood that the companies will publish the internet financial information is greater in the case of public limited companies, companies that deal with the financial, energy or ICT sectors and companies that have a larger ownership concentration.

Originality/value
This is one of the first studies in Slovenia that was used to determine the factors according to which the companies that use internet financial reporting differentiate from those that do not.
Extraocular sebaceous carcinoma accompanied by invasive squamous cell carcinoma: The first case report and consideration of histogenesis
Authors: Kogame Toshiaki , Ohe Shuichi , Yamazaki Fumikazu , Okamoto Hiroyuki , Kiyohara Takahiro 
Published: December 2017

AbstractA 61‐year‐old man presented with a dome‐shaped nodule, 1.2 cm in size, with a central crater covered by keratinous material near the left lateral malleolus. Histological findings demonstrated a basophilic circular cone in the center, surrounded and sharply demarcated by a broad eosinophilic area. The central conical mass was composed mainly of atypical basaloid cells intermingled with scattered atypical sebaceous cells with scalloped nuclei and microvesicular cytoplasms, suggesting sebaceous carcinoma. The peripheral area consisted of atypical keratinizing squamoid cells without sebaceous cells, suggesting invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Atypical sebaceous cells were positive for adipophilin. Atypical basaloid cells were positive for 34βE12 and CAM5.2. Peripheral squamoid cells were positive for 34βB4 and 34βE12 throughout, and were positive for LHP1 in the superficial layer. We herein describe the first case of extraocular sebaceous carcinoma accompanied by invasive squamous cell carcinoma, which might have arisen from biphasic differentiation of cancer stem cells.
Gut microbiome contributes to impairment of immunity in pulmonary tuberculosis patients by alteration of butyrate and propionate producers
Authors: Maji Abhijit , Misra Richa , Dhakan Darshan B. , Gupta Vipin , Mahato Nitish K. , Saxena Rituja , Mittal Parul , Thukral Nitin , Sharma Eshan , Singh Anoop , Virmani Richa , Gaur Mohita , Singh Harshvardhan , Hasija Yasha , Arora Gunjan , Agrawal Anurag , Chaudhry Anil , Khurana Jitendra P. , Sharma Vineet K. , Lal Rup , Singh Yogendra 
Published: December 2017

SummaryTuberculosis (TB) is primarily associated with decline in immune health status. As gut microbiome (GM) is implicated in the regulation of host immunity and metabolism, here we investigate GM alteration in TB patients by 16S rRNA gene and whole‐genome shotgun sequencing. The study group constituted of patients with pulmonary TB and their healthy household contacts as controls (HCs). Significant alteration of microbial taxonomic and functional capacity was observed in patients with active TB as compared to the HCs. We observed that Prevotella and Bifidobacterium abundance were associated with HCs, whereas butyrate and propionate‐producing bacteria like Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Eubacterium and Phascolarctobacterium were significantly enriched in TB patients. Functional analysis showed reduced biosynthesis of vitamins and amino acids in favour of enriched metabolism of butyrate and propionate in TB subjects. The TB subjects were also investigated during the course of treatment, to analyse the variation of GM. Although perturbation in microbial composition was still evident after a month's administration of anti‐TB drugs, significant changes were observed in metagenome gene pool that pointed towards recovery in functional capacity. Therefore, the findings from this pilot study suggest that microbial dysbiosis may contribute to pathophysiology of TB by enhancing the anti‐inflammatory milieu in the host.
Comammox Nitrospira are abundant ammonia oxidizers in diverse groundwater‐fed rapid sand filter communities
Authors: Fowler Susan Jane , Palomo Alejandro , Dechesne Arnaud , Mines Paul D. , Smets Barth F. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryThe recent discovery of completely nitrifying Nitrospira demands a re‐examination of nitrifying environments to evaluate their contribution to nitrogen cycling. To approach this challenge, tools are needed to detect and quantify comammox Nitrospira. We present primers for the simultaneous quantification and diversity assessement of both comammox Nitrospira clades. The primers cover a wide range of comammox diversity, spanning all available high quality sequences. We applied these primers to 12 groundwater‐fed rapid sand filters, and found comammox Nitrospira to be abundant in all filters. Clade B comammox comprise the majority (∼75%) of comammox abundance in all filters. Nitrosomonadaceae were present in all filters, although at low abundance (mean = 1.8%). Ordination suggests that temperature impacts the structure of nitrifying communities, and in particular that increasing temperature favours Nitrospira. The nitrogen content of the filter material, sulfate concentration and surface ammonium loading rates shape the structure of the comammox guild in the filters. This work provides an assay for simultaneous detection and diversity assessment of clades A and B comammox Nitrospira, expands our current knowledge of comammox Nitrospira diversity and demonstrates a key role for comammox Nitrospira in nitrification in groundwater‐fed biofilters.
Neobodonids are dominant kinetoplastids in the global ocean
Authors: Flegontova Olga , Flegontov Pavel , Malviya Shruti , Poulain Julie , de Vargas Colomban , Bowler Chris , Lukeš Julius , Horák Aleš 
Published: December 2017

SummaryKinetoplastid flagellates comprise basal mostly free‐living bodonids and derived obligatory parasitic trypanosomatids, which belong to the best‐studied protists. Due to their omnipresence in aquatic environments and soil, the bodonids are of ecological significance. Here, we present the first global survey of marine kinetoplastids and compare it with the strikingly different patterns of abundance and diversity in their sister clade, the diplonemids. Based on analysis of 18S rDNA V9 ribotypes obtained from 124 sites sampled during the Tara Oceans expedition, our results show generally low to moderate abundance and diversity of planktonic kinetoplastids. Although we have identified all major kinetoplastid lineages, 98% of kinetoplastid reads are represented by neobodonids, namely specimens of the Neobodo and Rhynchomonas genera, which make up 59% and 18% of all reads, respectively. Most kinetoplastids have small cell size (0.8–5 µm) and tend to be more abundant in the mesopelagic as compared to the euphotic zone. Some of the most abundant operational taxonomic units have distinct geographical distributions, and three novel putatively parasitic neobodonids were identified, along with their potential hosts.
Kinetics of moisture loss during stirring of cheese curds produced from standardised milks of cows on pasture or indoor feeding systems
Authors: Panthi Ram R , Kelly Alan L , Hennessy Deirdre , McAuliffe Stephen , Mateo Maria , O'Donnell Colm , O'Callaghan Donal J , Sheehan Jeremiah J 
Published: December 2017

This study compared the in‐vat moisture loss kinetics under fixed cheesemaking conditions during 75 min of stirring of curds prepared from protein‐standardised milks produced from indoor cows fed total mixed ration (TMR), or outdoor cows fed grass only (GRA) or grass mixed with clover (CLO). Relative curd moisture as a function of time was fitted to different empirical equations, of which a logarithmic function gave the best fit to the experimental data. The moisture loss rate constant (k/min) was found to be similar for curds from protein‐standardised TMR, CLO and GRA milks, showing minimal feed‐induced variations in syneresis.
Post‐political planning and community opposition: asserting and challenging consensus in planning urban regeneration in Newcastle, New South Wales
Authors: Ruming Kristian 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper examines recent urban regeneration plans for inner city Newcastle, in New South Wales, Australia. The focus is on recent plans to rejuvenate the historical commercial centre of the city—the Hunter Street Mall. Recent plans for the city are positioned as post‐political efforts by planning and development agents to limit antagonistic politics and secure consensus around a future planning vision. Core to this new vision is high‐rise development. Formal and technocratic consultation processes are central to efforts to secure consensus and limit conflict. Yet, conflict nevertheless arises as local residents, community groups, and politicians oppose the planning vision pursued by planning and development agents. Debates about the need for regeneration and the form of regeneration surface as central points of contest. Likewise, the material configuration of the city and wider political context frame both post‐political planning efforts and oppositional politics. The paper contributes to a growing body of work by scholars who question the presence of a dominant, overarching post‐political condition. Rather, post‐political efforts emerge as contextual and fluid processes to secure the planning and development objectives of urban elites. As the case study illustrates, such post‐political efforts are rarely unchallenged, as contest and antagonistic politics emerge, allowing citizens to resist the efforts of state and development actors and help shape their cities.
Rat brain CYP2D activity alters in vivo central oxycodone metabolism, levels and resulting analgesia
Authors: McMillan Douglas M. , Miksys Sharon , Tyndale Rachel F. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractOxycodone is metabolized by CYP2D to oxymorphone. Despite oxymorphone being a more potent opioid‐receptor agonist, its contribution to oxycodone analgesia may be minor because of low peripheral production, low blood–brain barrier permeability and central nervous system efflux. CYP2D metabolism within the brain may contribute to variation in central oxycodone and oxymorphone levels, thereby affecting analgesia. Brain CYP2D expression and activity are subject to exogenous regulation; nicotine induces rat brain, but not liver, CYP2D consistent with higher brain CYP2D in smokers. We assessed the role of rat brain CYP2D in orally administered oxycodone metabolism (in vivo brain microdialysis) and analgesia (tail‐flick test) by inhibiting brain CYP2D selectively with intracerebroventricular propranolol (mechanism‐based inhibitor) and inducing brain CYP2D with nicotine. Inhibiting brain CYP2D increased brain oxycodone levels (1.8‐fold; P < 0.03) and analgesia (1.5‐fold AUC0–60; P < 0.001) after oxycodone, while inducing brain CYP2D increased brain oxymorphone levels (4.6‐fold; P < 0.001) and decreased analgesia (0.8‐fold; P < 0.02). Inhibiting the induced brain CYP2D reversed the change in oxycodone levels (1.2‐fold; P > 0.1) and analgesia (1.1‐fold; P > 0.3). Brain, but not plasma, metabolic ratios were affected by pre‐treatments. Peak analgesia was inversely correlated with ex vivo brain (P < 0.003), but not hepatic (P > 0.9), CYP2D activity. Altering brain CYP2D did not affect analgesia from oral oxymorphone (P > 0.9 for AUC0–60 across all groups), which is not a CYP2D substrate. Thus, brain CYP2D metabolism alters local oxycodone levels and response, suggesting that people with increased brain CYP2D activity may have reduced oxycodone response. Factors that alter individual oxycodone response may be useful for optimizing treatment and minimizing abuse liability.