bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A non‐destructive testing application solved with A‐χ geometric eddy‐current formulation
Authors: Codecasa Lorenzo , Dular Patrick , Specogna Ruben , Trevisan Francesco 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce a perturbation method for the A‐χ geometric formulation to solve eddy‐current problems and apply it to the feasibility design of a non‐destructive evaluation device suitable to detect long‐longitudinal volumetric flaws in hot steel bars.Design/methodology/approachThe effect of the flaw is accurately and efficiently computed by solving an eddy‐current problem over an hexahedral grid which gives directly the perturbation due to the flaw with respect to the unperturbed configuration.FindingsThe perturbation method, reducing the cancelation error, produces accurate results also for small variations between the solutions obtained in the perturbed and unperturbed configurations. This is especially required when the tool is used as a forward solver for an inverse problem. The method yields also to a considerable speedup: the mesh used in the perturbed problem can in fact be reduced at a small fraction of the initial mesh, considering only a limited region surrounding the flaw in which the mesh can be refined. Moreover, the full three‐dimensional unperturbed problem does not need to be solved, since the source term for computing the perturbation is evaluated by solving a two‐dimensional flawless configuration having revolution symmetry.Originality/valueA perturbation method for the A‐χ geometric formulation to solve eddy‐current problems has been introduced. The advantages of the perturbation method for non‐destructive testing applications have been described.
Experimental validation of a numerical multiphysics technique for electro‐thermo‐mechanical problem
Authors: Delprete Cristiana , Freschi Fabio , Repetto Maurizio , Rosso Carlo 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an electro‐thermo‐structural analysis based on the cell method (CM).Design/methodology/approachCM is useful for solving coupled problems when the same geometrical discretization can be adopted for different phenomena. In this case, the same geometrical structures and operators can be used, leading to a simplification of the numerical model.FindingsIn order to asses the performance of the proposed coupling scheme, results have been compared with values measured on a carbon‐fiber specimen heated by an electric current and with an applied the mechanical load.Originality/valueA new dynamic coupling scheme based on the CM has been proposed and assessed with respect to measurements. A good agreement between model results and measurements has been shown, at least until second order effects appears, like the breaking of some fibers of the specimen or high‐temperature effects on epoxy resin.
Adopting quality management principles to revitalise the facilities maintenance practices at a port
Authors: Fai Pun Kit , Nurse Akil H. 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the total quality management (TQM) philosophy and the quality management principles (QMPs) in facilities management (FM), and presents the findings of a recent FM study at the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT).Design/methodology/approachEmpirical data were acquired via interviews with the FM management and maintenance personnel and questionnaire survey with port employees.FindingsIn Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), many facilities at the port have been operated below optimum ability, and there has been no consistent FM methodology being utilised by PATT. Findings showed that QMPs could be used to revitalise the facilities maintenance practice at PATT. The management philosophy should adhere to the fundamental QMPs where the inspection‐oriented practices would be superseded by prevention‐oriented FM.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research would identify key determinants of the TQM approach in FM and institute the approach to refine the maintenance processes and procedures in port operations in T&T and the Caribbean region.Originality/valueAs facilities projects become more varied and complex in nature, a fresh management paradigm seems imperative. It is anticipated that the use of TQM approach accompanied with the QMPs would broaden the prevention‐oriented FM process and impact management efficiency positively at PATT for years to come.
Environmental quality index (EQI) for industrial ventilation and occupational safety and health evaluation in manufacturing plant
Authors: Leman A.M. , Yusof M.Z.M. , Omar A.R. , Jung W. 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define an environmental quality index (EQI) for a clean manufacturing process. The categorized clean and sustainable manufacturing process in a small and medium enterprise, and the indoor air quality (IAQ) parameter and air pollution in manufacturing were monitored and evaluated using the EQI index.Design/methodology/approachTwo main methods of measurements used are subjective measurements and physical measurements. Questionnaires were used to gauge subjects' level of understanding in issues related to IAQ and to determine types of activities, process and material involved in each working section. Physical measurements and testing methods employed were based on widely used and accepted scientific practice, as described in standards. The Malaysian code of practice on IAQ was also used as a reference.FindingsThe EQI in various workstations were calculated and ranged between four and 16 (i.e. four to 16, from good to unhealthy) depending on the nature of activities taking place in those work stations.Research limitations/implicationsIn this paper, the monitoring of pollutants used a scale of one to five to denote the level of pollution by individual pollutants and assumed those pollutants are additive in the mixture of the EQI. The working environment is important to productivity and has a direct impact on human health.Originality/valueThe paper shows how the EQI will have a significant impact on occupational safety and health in the workplace and how an uncondusive work environment will be a potential health hazard and result in less productivity.
Strategic selecting of public projects using fuzzy real option
Authors: Lee Hyeon‐Lo , Beom Moon Jong , Jin Yoo Wang , Myung Lee Dong 
Published: December 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to apply the real option method with fuzzy logic to value the government‐sponsored projects of advanced technology development for strategic selection in an uncertain competitive environment.Design/methodology/approachFor strategic selection of government‐sponsored industrial R&D projects, in this paper, Carlsson and Fúller's model was adopted which employs fuzzy logic to estimate the benefits and costs calculated from various scenarios and utilizes Black‐Scholes‐Merton model. The model of strategic selection is suggested for government R&D with fuzzy real option valuation (FROV) and the portfolio planning model from GE‐Mckinsey matrix as well.FindingsFROV was found to be more appropriate to measure the strategic value than the traditional financial method (net present value, NPV, etc.). When the NPV is ambiguous in deciding whether to go or not to go, for instance, just below zero NPV and high volatility of expected benefit, FROV can offer the additive value of the project reflecting volatility of benefit due to the volatility.Research limitations/implicationsBased on insufficient practical data, this methodology should be verified with various projects and measuring volatility of pay‐off requires precise analysis. In addition, research opportunities are in the stepwise R&D project with fuzzy compound real option.Originality/valueMany papers on economic analysis of R&D project are focused on NPV or cost‐benefit analysis in the public sector. Several attempts with real option have been conducted in the pharmaceutical field or the aerospace (NASA) industry but are not concerned with the fuzziness of expected benefit. Hence, in this paper, fuzzy logic is added to handle imprecise information on the Black‐Scholes‐Merton model with dividend paying.
A study of the effect of oil price fluctuation on industrial and agricultural products in Iran
Authors: Moradi Mehdi , Salehi Mahdi , Keivanfar Mohammad 
Published: December 2010

PurposeFluctuations of oil price and petroleum products have had different effects on great economic variables. One of these cases would be Dutch Disease in some countries. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of price fluctuation on the amount of industrial and agricultural value added in GDP and the amount of non‐oil GDP in Iran by using counteraction method separately.Design/methodology/approachThe effect of oil volatility and the share of agricultural value added and the share of manufacturing value added in GDPs as well as the share of agricultural and manufacturing value added in non‐oil GDP have been studied by using time‐series estimations method. In all of the cases the Eviews 5 software was used during the period 1979‐2009.FindingsWhile research results support previous studies about the relationship between the agricultural sector and oil revenues in the developing and oil‐exporting countries, the results show a relationship between oil price and the share of manufacturing value added with no‐oil GDP.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper has considered only oil price fluctuation on industrial and agricultural products in Iran. However, Iran has several exporting goods such as gas but the study only considered oil price.Originality/valueSo far, several studies have been conducted in different countries regarding the subject of the study. While Iran is an important oil exporting country, the current research is the first study in Iran which gives more strength to the Iranian economy as well to other oil exporting countries.
Vegetarian diet improves insulin resistance and oxidative stress markers more than conventional diet in subjects with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Kahleova H. , Matoulek M. , Malinska H. , Oliyarnik O. , Kazdova L. , Neskudla T. , Skoch A. , Hajek M. , Hill M. , Kahle M. , Pelikanova T. 
Published: December 2010

Diabet. Med. 28, 549–559 (2011)AbstractAims  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of calorie‐restricted vegetarian and conventional diabetic diets alone and in combination with exercise on insulin resistance, visceral fat and oxidative stress markers in subjects with Type 2 diabetes.Methods  A 24‐week, randomized, open, parallel design was used. Seventy‐four patients with Type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 37), which received a vegetarian diet, or the control group (n = 37), which received a conventional diabetic diet. Both diets were isocaloric, calorie restricted (‐500 kcal/day). All meals during the study were provided. The second 12 weeks of the diet were combined with aerobic exercise. Participants were examined at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks. Primary outcomes were: insulin sensitivity measured by hyperinsulinaemic isoglycaemic clamp; volume of visceral and subcutaneous fat measured by magnetic resonance imaging; and oxidative stress measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Analyses were by intention to treat.Results  Forty‐three per cent of participants in the experimental group and 5% of participants in the control group reduced diabetes medication (P < 0.001). Body weight decreased more in the experimental group than in the control group [–6.2 kg (95% CI –6.6 to –5.3) vs. –3.2 kg (95% CI –3.7 to –2.5); interaction group × time P = 0.001]. An increase in insulin sensitivity was significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group [30% (95% CI 24.5–39) vs. 20% (95% CI 14–25), P = 0.04]. A reduction in both visceral and subcutaneous fat was greater in the experimental group than in the control group (P = 0.007 and P = 0.02, respectively). Plasma adiponectin increased (P = 0.02) and leptin decreased (P = 0.02) in the experimental group, with no change in the control group. Vitamin C, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione increased in the experimental group (P = 0.002, P < 0.001 and P = 0.02, respectively). Differences between groups were greater after the addition of exercise training. Changes in insulin sensitivity and enzymatic oxidative stress markers correlated with changes in visceral fat.Conclusions  A calorie‐restricted vegetarian diet had greater capacity to improve insulin sensitivity compared with a conventional diabetic diet over 24 weeks. The greater loss of visceral fat and improvements in plasma concentrations of adipokines and oxidative stress markers with this diet may be responsible for the reduction of insulin resistance. The addition of exercise training further augmented the improved outcomes with the vegetarian diet.
Retinal microaneurysm count predicts progression and regression of diabetic retinopathy. Post‐hoc results from the DIRECT Programme
Authors: Sjølie A. K. , Klein R. , Porta M. , Orchard T. , Fuller J. , Parving H. H. , Bilous R. , Aldington S. , Chaturvedi N. 
Published: December 2010

Diabet. Med. 28, 345–351 (2011)AbstractObjective  To study the association between baseline retinal microaneurysm score and progression and regression of diabetic retinopathy, and response to treatment with candesartan in people with diabetes.Methods  This was a multicenter randomized clinical trial. The progression analysis included 893 patients with Type 1 diabetes and 526 patients with Type 2 diabetes with retinal microaneurysms only at baseline. For regression, 438 with Type 1 and 216 with Type 2 diabetes qualified. Microaneurysms were scored from yearly retinal photographs according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) protocol. Retinopathy progression and regression was defined as two or more step change on the ETDRS scale from baseline. Patients were normoalbuminuric, and normotensive with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes or treated hypertensive with Type 2 diabetes. They were randomized to treatment with candesartan 32 mg daily or placebo and followed for 4.6 years.Results  A higher microaneurysm score at baseline predicted an increased risk of retinopathy progression (HR per microaneurysm score 1.08, P < 0.0001 in Type 1 diabetes; HR 1.07, P = 0.0174 in Type 2 diabetes) and reduced the likelihood of regression (HR 0.79, P < 0.0001 in Type 1 diabetes; HR 0.85, P = 0.0009 in Type 2 diabetes), all adjusted for baseline variables and treatment. Candesartan reduced the risk of microaneurysm score progression.Conclusions  Microaneurysm counts are important prognostic indicators for worsening of retinopathy, thus microaneurysms are not benign. Treatment with renin‐angiotensin system inhibitors is effective in the early stages and may improve mild diabetic retinopathy. Microaneurysm scores may be useful surrogate endpoints in clinical trials.
Exploring antecedents and consequences of consumer ethnocentrism: evidence from Asian immigrants in the US
Authors: Watchravesringkan Kittichai (Tu) 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe US is a multicultural society due to its growing number of ethnic minorities. These ethnic populations have made intracultural studies more difficult because of the different senses of identity and degrees of acculturation the varied groups possess. The current study examined the impact of perceived ethnicity (Asian vs. Asian American) and acculturation level (low vs. high) on consumer ethnocentrism towards the country of immigration (the US) and its consequences with respect to Asian immigrants, the fastest growing minority in the US. One hundred and eighty‐five responses from Asian immigrants were collected through a convenience sample from a university campus located in the southwest US as well as a snowball sampling technique. Results revealed that perceived ethnicity and acculturation play an important role in influencing Asian immigrants' ethnocentrism towards the US, which in turn affects their attitudes and behavioural intentions towards products made in the US. Implications and future research directions are suggested.
Pharmacological characterization of the cytoprotective effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids in insulin‐secreting BRIN‐BD11 cells
Authors: Dhayal Shalinee , Morgan Noel G 
Published: December 2010

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Free fatty acids are important metabolic fuels for mammalian cells but, recently, it has become clear that they can also fulfil signalling functions, which are independent of their metabolic fate. We are investigating the ability of unsaturated free fatty acids to exert a cytoprotective response during exposure of insulin‐secreting cells to toxic stimuli. The majority of earlier studies have focussed on monounsaturated fatty acids but this has now been extended to define the structural requirements of the cytoprotective effects of polyunsaturated species.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Clonal rat insulin‐secreting cell lines, BRIN‐BD11 or INS‐1, were exposed to fatty acids or their derivatives complexed with BSA and the viability of the cells was analysed by flow cytometry after staining with propidium iodide.KEY RESULTS A variety of polyunsaturated fatty acids with chain lengths between C18–C22 attenuated the cytotoxic actions of the saturated fatty acid, palmitate (C16:0) in BRIN‐BD11 and INS‐1 cells. These effects were dose‐dependent and displayed potencies that were much higher than those achieved with monounsaturated fatty acids. Methyl esters of the polyunsaturates were also effective. The cytoprotective responses were not altered by incubation of cells with inhibitors of cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase enzymes although they were antagonized dose‐dependently by arachidonyltrifluoromethylketone (AACOCF3).CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The results are consistent with the involvement of a specific fatty acid binding site having loose, but defined, structural criteria, in mediating the cytoprotective effects of unsaturated fatty acids. AACOCF3 may be of value in defining this site in molecular terms.
Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, attenuates diabetic nephropathy in non‐insulin‐dependent Otsuka Long‐Evans Tokushima Fatty rats
Authors: Kuno Yoshihiro , Iyoda Masayuki , Shibata Takanori , Hirai Yuki , Akizawa Tadao 
Published: December 2010

BACKGROUND It is well established that the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy is associated with abnormalities of renal nitric oxide (NO) generation. Many of the biological actions of NO are mediated by cGMP, which is rapidly degraded by phosphodiesterases. In this study, we evaluated the renoprotective effects of sildenafil (SIL), an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase‐5, in type 2 diabetic rats.METHODS Male Otsuka Long‐Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes model, and Long‐Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats, a non‐diabetic control, were treated with either SIL (2.5 mg·kg−1 in drinking water) or undosed water for 28 weeks, starting at 30 weeks of age.RESULTS Sildenafil treatment significantly decreased albuminuria, attenuated glomerular hyperfiltration and resulted in a decrease in glomerular hypertrophy, in addition to a reduced glomerulosclerosis score and a dramatic decrease in the number of glomerular and tubulointerstitial proliferating cell nuclear antigen‐positive cells in OLETF rats. This was accompanied by a significant reduction in renal cortical mRNA levels of collagen types I and III. The increased mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2, MMP‐9, tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP)‐1 and TIMP‐2 in the OLETF rats were significantly or partially attenuated by SIL treatment.CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that SIL attenuated diabetic nephropathy due to its potent antiproliferative effects and its regulatory effects on extracellular matrix. This latter effect is thought to be a result of its ability to affect the balance between MMPs and their inhibitors.
Pathology Without Crisis? The Strange Demise of the Anglo-Liberal Growth Model
Authors: Hay Colin 
Published: December 2010

AbstractIn the wake of the deepest and longest recession the UK has experienced since the 1930s, this article examines the origins, sustenance and puncturing of the growth dynamic the UK economy enjoyed between 1992 and 2007. In so doing it seeks to gauge the interventions made to attempt to shore up the growth model and the prospects for the resumption of growth. It argues that the Anglo-liberal growth model is, indeed, fatally flawed and that, in the absence of a new growth model, it is difficult to see how sustained economic growth can be achieved. Yet it also argues that, at present, no alternative growth model is on offer and that it is wrong to infer the likelihood of a paradigm shift in economic thinking from the ‘inter-paradigm’ borrowing used to shore up the old growth model in the midst of the recession. If crises are judged as much by the transformations to which they give rise as by the accumulation of pathologies out of which they crystallize, then what we have experienced to date is not so much a crisis as a catastrophic equilibrium. Though the symptoms to which it has given rise are pregnant with the possibility of crisis, the crisis itself is yet to come.
New Modes of Governance, Political Accountability and Public Reason
Authors: Weale Albert 
Published: December 2010

AbstractNew modes of governance are said to create problems of political accountability. To understand this claim, we need a theory of accountability. Electoral accountability provides authorization and sanction, but it neglects the problems entailed in the requirement to provide explanation and justification. Political accountability in this discursive sense can be understood through the idea of public reason, where this is defined in terms of substantive rationality and an orientation to the public interest. This conceptualization leads in turn to the requirement of replicability and openness in public reasoning. The problem of accountability is one of securing the conditions under which the institutions within which policy deliberation takes place can merit the confidence of citizens in these terms, and the Commission White Paper on European governance is used to illustrate the application of these tests.