bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Information technology (IT) outsourcing by business process outsourcing/information technology enabled services (BPO/ITES) firms in India
Authors: Patil Shrinivas , Wongsurawat Winai 
Published: January 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to understand the roles various drivers such as cost, strategy and risk play when business process outsourcing/information technology enabled services (BPO/ITES) firms in India outsource their information technology (IT) functions to third-party vendors. If all key drivers associated with IT outsourcing were understood, and such knowledge of those variables was incorporated into the reasons for outsourcing, there would be a greater probability of a successful outcome.Design/methodology/approach– A “hybrid” (quantitative and qualitative) research methodology was used to gain insight into the IT-outsourcing paradigm by BPO/ITES firms in India. A structured questionnaire related to IT-outsourcing activities conducted from 1999 to 2010 was distributed to nine firms. The resulting data were then analyzed. In addition, two Indian BPO/ITES firms that had outsourced their IT to a third-party vendor to cut cost generously granted in-depth information into their IT-outsourcing paradigm and life cycle.Findings– IT outsourcing is perhaps more complicated than other types of outsourcing. Focussing purely on cost is very risky. Practitioners need to take all three drivers – cost, strategy and risk into consideration. Any degradation of services or responsibilities due to IT outsourcing would mean a very unhappy client or even loss of business.Originality/value– BPO/ITES firms in India tend to focus only on cost reduction from IT outsourcing without taking into consideration other equally important drivers such as strategy and risk. This paper counsels a holistic approach toward IT outsourcing for a successful outcome. In addition, an IT-outsourcing framework and guide is proposed for practitioners.
A review on the design and development of turbidimeter
Authors: Mohd Khairi Mohd Taufiq , Ibrahim Sallehuddin , Md Yunus Mohd Amri , Faramarzi Mahdi 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to present a review of the design and development of the turbidimeter for measuring the turbidity level in water. Monitoring the turbidity level of water is important because it is related to public health.

Design/methodology/approach
– A precise and reliable turbidimeter can provide vital data that reveals the water condition level. Several turbidimeter units are discussed briefly. Three types of turbidimeter design – single beam, ratio and modulated four beams – are elaborated with some illustrations of the design concept. Various improvements and innovations for upgrading turbidimeter design are also discussed.

Findings
– This paper elaborated on a new method of estimating the water turbidity level in water samples using an optical tomography system based on the independent component analysis method. The results showed that a tomography-based turbidimeter can measure slight changes in the level of turbidity when the volume of contaminants is changed slightly. The turbidimeter can also provide a profile of the distribution of the turbidity in the water sample.

Originality/value
– A turbidimeter based on the optical tomography concept can be a valuable tool in determining the level of pollution in rivers, sea, etc.
Machine vision method for non-contact measurement of surface roughness of a rotating workpiece
Authors: Kumar B. M. , Ratnam M. M. 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to propose a non-contact method using machine vision for measuring the surface roughness of a rotating workpiece at speeds of up to 4,000 rpm.

Design/methodology/approach
– A commercial digital single-lens-reflex camera with high shutter speed and backlight was used to capture a silhouette of the rotating workpiece profile. The roughness profile was extracted at sub-pixel accuracy from the captured images using the moment invariant method of edge detection. The average (Ra), root-mean square (Rq) and peak-to-valley (Rt) roughness parameters were measured for ten different specimens at spindle speeds of up to 4,000 rpm. The roughness values measured using the proposed machine vision system were verified using the stylus profilometer.

Findings
– The roughness values measured using the proposed method show high correlation (up to 0.997 for Ra) with those determined using the profilometer. The mean differences in Ra, Rq and Rt between the two methods were only 4.66, 3.29 and 3.70 per cent, respectively.

Practical implications
– The proposed method has significant potential for application in the in-process roughness measurement and tool condition monitoring from workpiece profile signature during turning, thus, obviating the need to stop the machine.

Originality/value
– The machine vision method combined with sub-pixel edge detection has not been applied to measure the roughness of a rotating workpiece.
Implementation of high-performance MEMS platinum micro-hotplate
Authors: Samaeifar Fatemeh , Hajghassem Hassan , Afifi Ahmad , Abdollahi Hassan 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– One of the key components of the micro-sensors is MEMS micro-hotplate. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a platinum micro-hotplate with the proper geometry using the analytical model based on the heat transfer analysis to improve both heating efficiency and time constant.

Design/methodology/approach
– This analytical model exhibits that suitable design for the micro-hotplate can be obtained by the appropriate selection of square heater (LH) and tether width (WTe). Based on this model and requirements of routine sample loading, the size of LH and WTe are chosen 200 and 15 μm, respectively. In addition, a simple micro-fabrication process is adopted to form the suspended micro-heater using bulk micromachining technology.

Findings
– The experimental results show that the heating efficiency and heating and cooling time constants are 21.27 K/mW and 2.5 ms and 2.1 ms, respectively, for the temperature variation from 300 to 400 K in the fabricated micro-hotplates which are in closed agreement with the results obtained from the analytical model with errors within 5 per cent.

Originality/value
– Our design based on the analytical model achieves a combination of fast time constant and high heating efficiency that are comparable or superior to the previously published platinum micro-hotplate.
Comfortable textile-based electrode for wearable electrocardiogram
Authors: Haghdoost Fatemeh , Mottaghitalab Vahid , Haghi Akbar Khodaparast 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of the current study is to explore the potential possibility of acceleration in recognition, remedial process of heart disease and continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) signal acquisition. The textile-based ECG electrode is prepared by inkjet printing of activator followed by electroless plating of nickel (Ni) particle.

Design/methodology/approach
– The electrical resistance shows a range of around 0.1 Ω/sq, which sounds quite proper for ECG signal acquisition, as the potential difference according to heart activity on skin surface is in milivolt range. Surface modifications of Ni–phosphorus (P)-plated polyester fiber were studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffractionmethods. The quality of the acquired signal from printed square-shaped sensors in two sizes with areas of 9 and 16 cm2 compared with the standard Ag/Agcl electrode using commercial ECG with the patient in the sitting position.

Findings
– Comparison of these data led to the consideration of small fabric sensor for better performance and the least disturbance regarding homogeneity and attenuation in electric field scattering. Using these types of sensors in textile surface because of flexibility will provide more freedom of action to the user. Wearable ECG can be applied to solve the problems of the aging population, increasing demand for health services and lack of medical expert.

Originality/value
– In the present research, a convenient, inexpensive and reproducible method for the patterning of Ni features on commercial polyester fabric was investigated. Printed designs with high electrical conductivity can be used as a cardiac receiving signals’ sensor.
Heat exchanger design for a thermoelectric module to drive wireless sensors in spindle monitoring
Authors: Yao Xinhua , Li Sheng , Fu Jianzhong 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to study using thermoelectric module to harvest the waste heat from spindle units of machine tools and drive wireless sensors stable, thermal structure design and optimization of the thermoelectric module.

Design/methodology/approach
– In this paper, mesh-free-based method, rather than the standard finite element method, is used to analyze the thermal behavior of the thermoelectric modules with different structure. After that, experiments are done to obtain the real power output performance of those modules and evaluate the performance of driving a wireless sensor with those modules.

Findings
– The paper provides that the difference in geometry structure can cause apparent change in surface temperature of heat-conducting plate, and the optimized thermoelectric module could increase the output voltage by about 7 per cent compared with the one without optimization.

Research limitations/implications
– It is found that the structure changing of the thermoelectric module is not the only way to increase the harvesting power, so a high efficiency power manage system is needed to be studied in the future.

Practical implications
– The paper includes implications for the development of self-powered wireless sensors in the spindle unit for machine tool monitoring.

Originality/value
– The paper develops models of thermoelectric modules with different structures on a rotating spindle, and tests the performance of driving wireless sensors with those thermoelectric modules.
A new method to access information for underground omni-dimensional vibration vector
Authors: Li Jian , Liu Ying , Han Yan , Chen Xianhui 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to propose a new method to achieve omni-directional vibration vector signal acquisition, and use this method to improve the accuracy of the underground explosion point localization.

Design/methodology/approach
– Following an introduction, this paper describes the design principle of a sensor structure, and discusses the rationality of the spherical structure of the sensor through finite element analysis. The sensor prototype is designed according to the above method, and its performance is tested by the sensor calibration experiment. Finally, applications are also discussed.

Findings
– This paper shows that the method for underground omni-directional vibration signal acquisition is reasonable and feasible. The vibration sensor, designed by this method, of which the triaxial dynamic characteristics are consistent, and the three-dimensional vibration information acquired by this sensor can achieve high-precision localization for an underground explosion point.

Originality/value
– The paper describes a new method for omni-directional vibration vector signal acquisition. The vibration sensor is developed based on this method, which has a broad application prospect in the positioning of an underground explosion point, the evaluation of explosive power and other underground projects.
Investigation of Pd/TiO2/Si MIS capacitor as hydrogen sensor
Authors: Shubham Kumar , Khan R.U. , Chakrabarti P. 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to investigate the gas-sensing capability of Pd/TiO2/Si MIS capacitor using capacitance versus gate voltage (C-V) response as a function of hydrogen gas concentration varying from 0.1 to 2 ppm at 300 kHz frequency.

Design/methodology/approach
– The objective is to fabricate a metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) capacitor sensor based on TiO2-thin-film insulator deposited by sol-gel spin-coating process. Gas-sensing signal derived on exposure to hydrogen with concentration varying from 0.1 to 2 ppm at different operating temperatures (room temperature to 1,500°C) was measured as variation in flat-band voltage in C-V characteristics of the MIS capacitor.

Findings
– High sensitivity of the sensor is attributed to the large change of interface state charges because of the large surface-to-volume ratio of the nano-structured TiO2. The values of response time as well as the recovery time have also been estimated and are found to be comparable to that observed in the case of conventional Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) structure.

Research limitations/implications
– The use of Si substrate restricts the performance of gas sensors to 200°C, as the Si substrate begins to show conductive nature.

Originality/value
– This paper deals with an MIS capacitor gas sensor which replaces conventional insulating material by TiO2 and uses a high-quality fabrication procedure for controlled growth of novel surface structure.
Expression profiles of glutathione S‐transferase superfamily in Spodoptera litura tolerated to sublethal doses of chlorpyrifos
Authors: Zhang Ni , Liu Jia , Chen Shu‐Na , Huang Li‐Hua , Feng Qi‐Li , Zheng Si‐Chun 
Published: January 2015

AbstractChlorpyrifos (CPF) is a broad‐spectrum organophosphate insecticide. Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) in insects are a family of detoxification enzymes and they play critical roles in CPF detoxification. Spodoptera litura is one of the most destructive agricultural pests in tropical and subtropical areas in the world. In this study, 37 Slgsts from 46 unique transcripts of gsts in S. litura transcriptome data, including eight previously reported GSTs, were identified and their expression patterns in susceptible and 12‐generation‐CPF‐treated strains were analyzed to understand the roles of these Slgsts in sublethal doses of CPF tolerance. The results indicate that the members of the S. litura GST superfamily could be distinguished into three major groups: one group, including six cytosolic Slgsts (SlGSTe1, SlGSTe3, SlGSTe10, SlGSTe15, SlGSTo2 and SlGSTs5) and two microsomal Slgsts (SlMGST1‐2 and SlMGST1‐3), was directly responsible for CPF induction in both 12‐generation‐treated and susceptible strains; the second group, including three cytosolic Slgsts (SlGSTe13, SlGSTt1 and SlGSTz1) and one microsomal Slgst (SlMGST1‐1), was induced only in the 12‐generation‐treated strain; the third group, including eight cytosolic Slgsts (two epsilon, three delta, one omega, one zeta and one unclassified Slgst), was expressed 1.52–5.15‐fold higher in the 12‐generation‐treated strain than in the susceptible strain.
Volatile Composition and Aroma Activity of Guava Puree Before and After Thermal and Dense Phase Carbon Dioxide Treatments
Authors: Plaza Maria Lourdes , Marshall Maurice R. , Rouseff Russell Lee 
Published: January 2015

AbstractVolatiles from initially frozen, dense phase carbon dioxide (DPCD)‐ and thermally treated guava purees were isolated by solid phase microextraction (SPME), chromatographically separated and identified using a combination of gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), GC‐olfactometry (GC‐O), and GC‐pulsed flame photometric detector (GC‐PFPD, sulfur mode). Fifty‐eight volatiles were identified using GC‐MS consisting of: 6 aldehydes, 2 acids, 15 alcohols, 6 ketones, 21 esters, and 8 terpenes. Eleven volatiles were newly identified in guava puree. Hexanal was the most abundant volatile in all 3 types of guava puree. Ten sulfur compounds were identified using GC‐PFPD of which 3 possessed aroma activity and 3 were not previously reported in guava puree. Both treatments profoundly reduced total sulfur peak areas and produced different peak patterns compared to control. Thermal treatment reduced total sulfur peak area 47.9% compared to a loss of 34.7% with DPCD treatment. Twenty‐six volatiles possessed aroma activity. (Z)‐3‐Hexenyl hexanoate was the major contributor to the aroma of the freshly thawed and DPCD‐treated guava puree. DPCD treatment reduced total MS ion chromatogram (MS TIC) peak area 35% but produced a GC‐O aroma profile very similar to control. Whereas thermal treatment reduced total TIC peak area only 8.7% compared to control but produced a 35% loss in total GC‐O peak intensities.
Effects of Inoculation of Commercial Starter Cultures on the Quality and Histamine Accumulation in Fermented Sausages
Authors: Wang Xinhui , Ren Hongyang , Wang Wei , Zhang Yin , Bai Ting , Li Junxia , Zhu Wenyou 
Published: January 2015

AbstractTo meet the requirements of high‐quality safe products, starter cultures are used to produce fermented sausages. The effects of 3 commercial starter cultures, namely SM‐194, T‐SPX, and SM‐181, on histamine accumulation and quality parameters including microbial quality, pH, water activity, and total volatile base nitrogen, as well as the color and texture properties, were evaluated during the fermentation and ripening of fermented sausages. Although initial counts of Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas were similar in the 4 batches, the growth of these microorganisms was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) in batches SM‐194, T‐SPX, and SM‐181 throughout the fermentation and ripening period. The counts of E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas increased to maximum levels of 3.89, 4.41, and 5.15 log10 colony forming units/g in the control sausages, respectively. At the end of ripening, the levels of histamine were 8.85, 0.32, 7.82, and 3.18 mg/kg for batches C, SM‐194, T‐SPX, and SM‐181, respectively. The results revealed that commercial starter cultures, particularly starter cultures SM‐194 and SM‐181, made a great contribution to histamine reduction. In addition, batches inoculated with starter cultures showed a stronger acidification and lower level of total volatile base nitrogen than the control sample during production (P < 0.05). In conclusion, it seems that the inoculation of commercial starter cultures, particularly starter cultures SM‐194 and SM‐181, contributes to improving microbial quality, hygienic quality and food safety of fermented sausages.
Direct and Simultaneous Quantification of Tannin Mean Degree of Polymerization and Percentage of Galloylation in Grape Seeds Using Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform‐Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Pappas Christos , Kyraleou Maria , Voskidi Eleni , Kotseridis Yorgos , Taranilis Petros A. , Kallithraka Stamatina 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe direct and simultaneous quantitative determination of the mean degree of polymerization (mDP) and the degree of galloylation (%G) in grape seeds were quantified using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and partial least squares (PLS). The results were compared with those obtained using the conventional analysis employing phloroglucinolysis as pretreatment followed by high performance liquid chromatography‐UV and mass spectrometry detection. Infrared spectra were recorded in solid state samples after freeze drying. The 2nd derivative of the 1832 to 1416 and 918 to 739 cm−1 spectral regions for the quantification of mDP, the 2nd derivative of the 1813 to 607 cm−1 spectral region for the degree of %G determination and PLS regression were used. The determination coefficients (R2) of mDP and %G were 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. The corresponding values of the root‐mean‐square error of calibration were found 0.506 and 0.692, the root‐mean‐square error of cross validation 0.811 and 0.921, and the root‐mean‐square error of prediction 0.612 and 0.801. The proposed method in comparison with the conventional method is simpler, less time consuming, more economical, and requires reduced quantities of chemical reagents and fewer sample pretreatment steps. It could be a starting point for the design of more specific models according to the requirements of the wineries.
Molecular and phenotypic characteristics of maturity‐onset diabetes of the young compared with early onset type 2 diabetes in China
Authors: Zhang Manna , Zhou Jiao Jiao , Cui Wenjie , Li Yan , Yang Peng , Chen Xiaoyun , Sheng Chunjun , Li Hong , Qu Shen 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the present study was to investigate the contribution of maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (MODY) genes to the etiology of 14 Chinese MODY families and to assess phenotypic differences between patients with MODY but without a known genetic cause of diabetes (MODYX) and those with early onset type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsThe study included 14 MODY probands from unrelated families and 59 patients (age of onset ≤35 years) diagnosed as early onset T2D. A standard meal test and metabolic studies were performed to characterize the clinical features of all patients. All probands with MODY were analyzed for nucleotide variations in promoters, exons, and exon–intron boundaries of 13 known MODY genes by direct DNA sequencing.ResultsMutations in 13 known MODY genes were not present in the 14 Chinese families and they were classified as MODYX. However, different polymorphisms were identified, with I27L (42.9%; 12/28) and S487N (46.4%; 13/28) of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF1α/MODY3) being two most frequent polymorphisms. Two new polymorphisms, namely T412I and D504H, were detected in carboxyl ester lipase (CEL/MODY8). Compared with patients with early onset T2D, patients with MODYX were diagnosed with diabetes at a younger age (28.3 ± 6.5 vs 24.3 ± 6.5 years; P < 0.05) and had a lower body mass index (BMI; 28.3 ± 6.1 vs 24.1 ± 4.3 kg/m2; P < 0.01) and homeostatic model assessment of β‐cell function (47.6 [22.2–89.4] vs 18.5 [6.5–33.7]; P < 0.05).ConclusionHerein we report on 14 Chinese families with MODYX and describe its phenotype. Compared with early onset T2D, MODYX is characterized by lower BMI and decreased insulin‐secreting capacity.
Case report: Cavitation of mesenteric lymph nodes as the presenting feature of coeliac disease
Authors: Forrest Charlotte E , Masters Vahid , Smith Caroline L , Farshid Gelareh 
Published: January 2015

SummaryCystic cavitation of the lymph nodes associated with hyposplenism is a rare and under‐recognised complication of coeliac disease. This report encompasses the clinical, radiological and pathological features of this condition, while demonstrating the pivotal role radiological imaging plays in achieving a clinical diagnosis.
DNA barcoding largely supports 250 years of classical taxonomy: identifications for Central European bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea partim)
Authors: Schmidt Stefan , Schmid‐Egger Christian , Morinière Jérôme , Haszprunar Gerhard , Hebert Paul D. N. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis study presents DNA barcode records for 4118 specimens representing 561 species of bees belonging to the six families of Apoidea (Andrenidae, Apidae, Colletidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae and Melittidae) found in Central Europe. These records provide fully compliant barcode sequences for 503 of the 571 bee species in the German fauna and partial sequences for 43 more. The barcode results are largely congruent with traditional taxonomy as only five closely allied pairs of species could not be discriminated by barcodes. As well, 90% of the species possessed sufficiently deep sequence divergence to be assigned to a different Barcode Index Number (BIN). In fact, 56 species (11%) were assigned to two or more BINs reflecting the high levels of intraspecific divergence among their component specimens. Fifty other species (9.7%) shared the same Barcode Index Number with one or more species, but most of these species belonged to a distinct barcode cluster within a particular BIN. The barcode data contributed to clarifying the status of nearly half the examined taxonomically problematic species of bees in the German fauna. Based on these results, the role of DNA barcoding as a tool for current and future taxonomic work is discussed.