bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiple‐route job shop scheduling with fixed periodic and age‐dependent preventive maintenance to minimize makespan
Authors: Reza Golmakani Hamid , Namazi Ali 
Published: March 2012

PurposeIn many manufacturing systems, machines are subject to preventive maintenance. This paper aims to schedule the operations of jobs and preventive maintenance tasks in such a way that the completion time of jobs and preventive maintenance tasks is minimized.Design/methodology/approachAn heuristic approach based on artificial immune algorithm is proposed for solving the multiple‐route job shop‐scheduling problem subject to fixed periodic and age‐dependent preventive maintenance tasks. Under fixed periodic assumption, the time between two consecutive preventive maintenance tasks is assumed constant. Under age‐dependent assumption, a preventive maintenance task is triggered if the machine operates for a certain amount of time. The goal is to schedule the jobs and preventive maintenance task subject to makespan minimization.FindingsIn addition to presenting mathematical formulation for the multiple‐route job shop‐scheduling problem, this paper proposes a novel approach by which one can tackle the complexity that is raised in scheduling and sequencing the jobs and the preventive maintenance simultaneously and obtain the required schedule in reasonable time.Practical implicationsIntegrating preventive maintenance tasks into the scheduling procedure is vital in many manufacturing systems. Using the proposed approach, one can obtain a schedule that defines the production route through which each part is processed, the time each operation must be started, and when preventive maintenance must be carried out on each machine. This, in turn, results in overall manufacturing cost reduction.Originality/valueUsing the approach proposed in this paper, good solutions, if not optimal, can be obtained for scheduling jobs and preventive maintenance task in one of the most complicated job shop configurations, namely, multiple‐route job shop. Thus, the approach can dominate all other simpler configurations.
Understanding the role of prior product knowledge to information search
Authors: Awasthy Dheeraj , Banerjee Arindam , Banerjee Bibek 
Published: March 2012

PurposeExisting literature offers conflicting evidence on how prior product knowledge influences amount of information search. A majority of these studies are based on variants of cost benefit frameworks where consumers engage in search until the benefits from information search exceed search costs. The purpose of this paper is to develop an expectancy theory‐based framework to model consumers' information search and its antecedents, including motivation to search as an intervening construct.Design/methodology/approachThe framework is tested using data from real consumers engaged in their actual purchase decisions, in an emerging market context, using longitudinal survey research design. The data are analysed using structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized model. The model shows an acceptable fit with X2 (271, 487)=640.252,p< 0.00 and 0.95 CFI.FindingsResults indicate that the relationship between prior product knowledge to information search is mediated by motivation to search. Prior product knowledge influences motivation to search through its influence on the consumer's perceived ability to search and his/her perceived value of additional information. Furthermore, perceived ability to search is the strongest predictor of motivation to search. The parsimony of the proposed framework in providing a simpler account of factors influencing the search process along with its managerial implications is discussed.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that perceived ability to search and perceived value of additional information are two important levers that managers could use for achieving desired results. Furthermore, perceived ability to search is an important mediator, which completely mediates the relationship between prior product knowledge and motivation to search. These findings also provide strong indications about the need to simplify the search process for consumers, especially in the context when novelty is predominantly marketed.Originality/valueThe paper introduces a motivational measure of search in the literature and shows that the motivational measure is indeed the proximal measure to other antecedent constructs compared to a behavioral measure of search. Perceived ability to search and perceived value of additional information are shown as important mediators between prior product knowledge and motivation to search.
Reflections on student‐university interactions for next generation learning
Authors: Wong David H. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the implications of an e‐learning strategy – a strategy that is increasingly employed with greater intensity by many higher education institutions, by re‐examining the value creation process from a service‐dominant logic perspective.Design/methodology/approachA model of student‐faculty and student‐student interactions using interactive Web 2.0 technologies in e‐learning is offered and explained using literature from service‐dominant logic research.FindingsThis perspective fundamentally alters the mindset of higher education institutions that have traditionally devised strategies to deliver value through its products and services. The new focus provided by service‐dominant logic is for higher education institutions to acknowledge that they can only facilitate the value creation process by fostering interactions, constructing learning activities that enable enriching learning experiences and creating structures to support these experiences.Practical implicationsKey challenges for higher education institutions are discussed that include implications for exclusion marketing, perceived value for money, and policy issues.Originality/valueThis paper provides a fresh perspective, and a new line of thinking with regard to how value is co‐created by both faculty and students through a set of experiences within student‐faculty and student‐student interactions. It therefore potentially directs a new path of research in the area.
A survey of safety and health at work in Greece
Authors: Drakopoulos Stavros , Economou Athina , Grimani Katerina 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe subject of occupational safety and health (OSH) is increasingly gaining the interest of policy makers and researchers in European countries given that the economic and social losses from work‐related injuries and diseases are quite substantial. Under this light, this paper aims to present an overview of the Greek legislation framework regarding OSH issues, and the current status of empirical research on the subject in Greece. In addition, the paper seeks to identify the knowledge gaps and methodological shortcomings of the existing literature in order to contribute towards future research in the OSH field in Greece.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted an extensive literature review of numerous publications, reports and institutions' databases.FindingsThe results suggest that empirical up to date research in Greece is rather inadequate, mainly because of the absence of econometric methods to validate the findings. The available Greek databases indicate that while the number of working accidents has decreased over time, the severity seems to be increasing. Males are more prone to accidents, diseases and negative working conditions. Work‐related stress is an aspect of occupational problems that has been the subject of many Greek studies.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the legal framework is quite adequate, there is a need for both prevention strategies and enforcement of the existing safety regulations. Furthermore, a substantial research gap is observed in Greece. Therefore, more systematic research is needed on the determinants of injuries and on their effects on job participation and productivity.Originality/valueThe paper presents a detailed review of the current state of research regarding OSH issues in Greece.
Inhibin B and luteinizing hormone levels in girls aged 6–11 years from NHANES III, 1988–1994
Authors: Sims Emily K. , Addo O. Y. , Gollenberg Audra L. , Himes John H. , Hediger Mary L. , Lee Peter A. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryObjectiveTo evaluate inhibin B and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in a large, representative cross‐sectional sample of US girls and characterize the relationships of these laboratory values with age, clinical signs of puberty and other correlates.DesignCross‐sectional analysis of LH and inhibin B in banked serum from 720 girls aged 6–11 years who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).MeasurementsLevels of inhibin B and LH, race, ethnicity and anthropometric measurements were compared for all girls. Visual assessment of pubertal stage was performed on girls aged 8 years and older. A two‐part model was used to establish normative data and Tobit regression models were used to evaluate associations with participant characteristics. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to identify optimum cut points predictive of puberty onset.ResultsMean hormone levels progressively increased with age. LH levels progressively increased with pubertal stage. Inhibin B levels increased gradually from breast stage I to II, then more sharply to peak at stage III, followed by a plateau at stages IV and V. ROC curves indicated that both hormones were consistent with pubertal onset as indicated by breast stage II.ConclusionsThis study characterizes inhibin B and LH values in a large, representative cross‐sectional sample of US girls. Inhibin B can be a useful tool in combination with other clinical and biochemical parameters to evaluate gonadal function as a reflection of pubertal progression in girls.
Unravelling modifiers of breast and ovarian cancer risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: update on genetic modifiers
Authors: Barnes D. R. , Antoniou A. C. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract. Barnes DR, Antoniou AC (Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK). Unravelling modifiers of breast and ovarian cancer risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: update on genetic modifiers (Review). J Intern Med 2012; 271: 331–343Pathogenic mutations in the tumour suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer increased risks for breast and ovarian cancer and account for approximately 15% of the excess familial risk of breast cancer amongst first‐degree relatives of patients with breast cancer. There is considerable evidence indicating that these risks vary by other genetic and environmental factors clustering in families. In the past few years, based on the availability of genome‐wide association data and samples from large collaborative studies, several common alleles have been found to modify breast or ovarian cancer risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. These common alleles explain a small proportion of the genetic variability in breast or ovarian cancer risk for mutation carriers, suggesting more modifiers remain to be identified. We review the so far identified genetic modifiers of breast and ovarian cancer risk and consider the implications for risk prediction. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers could be some of the first to benefit from clinical applications of common variants identified through genome‐wide association studies. However, to be able to provide more individualized risk estimates, it will be important to understand how the associations vary with different tumour characteristics and their interactions with other genetic and environmental modifiers.
Cognitive changes in topiramate‐treated patients with alcoholism: A 12‐week prospective study in patients recently detoxified
Authors: Likhitsathian Surinporn , Saengcharnchai Pichai , Uttawichai Kanok , Yingwiwattanapong Jatsada , Wittayanookulluk Apisak , Srisurapanont Manit 
Published: March 2012

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the 12‐week cognitive changes in topiramate‐treated patients recently detoxified from alcohol.Methods: Participants were inpatients with DSM‐IV alcohol dependence. All of them were discharged within 14 days after the initiation of topiramate treatment. The topiramate dose range was 50–300 mg/day. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used on day 0, day 29, day 57, and day 85. Differences of the MoCA total and seven subtest scores among four time‐points were compared.Results: Thirty‐eight participants (36 men and two women) had a mean ± SD age of 43.1 ± 8.6 years old. At enrollment, they were abstinent for a mean ± SD of 11.5 ± 5.3 days. Five, one, and three patients dropped out of the study on day 29, day 57, and day 85, respectively. On day 85, the mean ± SD dose of topiramate was 253.1 ± 60.8 mg/day. Alcohol consumption decreased drastically during follow up. At each time‐point, 75%–80% of the participants were continuous abstainers. The mean ± SD MoCA total, language subtest, and delayed recall subtest scores increased significantly from day 0 to day 85, from 22.0 ± 4.7 to 24.7 ± 3.4 (P < 0.01), from 1.1 ± 1.0 to 1.3 ± 1.0 (P = 0.03), and from 2.7 ± 1.7 to 4.1 ± 1.0 (P < 0.01), respectively.Conclusion: Topiramate‐treated patients recently detoxified from alcohol usually have an improvement of their cognitive function, especially in the language and delayed recall domains. This phenomenon may be caused by the greater influence of cognitive recovery associated with decreased drinking as compared with topiramate‐induced cognitive impairment.
Three phases of the Pacific Islands Project (1995–2010)
Authors: Watters David A. K. , Ewing Hamish , McCaig Eddie 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe Pacific Islands Project (PIP), funded by AusAid and managed by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), has progressed through three phases from 1995 to 2010. During this time, it has sent over 520 teams to 11 Pacific Island Countries, providing over 60 000 consultations and some 16 000 procedures. In addition to this delivery of specialist medical and surgical services that were not previously available in‐country, the project has contributed as a partner in capacity building with the Fiji School of Medicine and Ministries of Health of the individual nations. By 2011, Fiji School of Medicine, which began postgraduate specialist training in 1998, had awarded 51 doctors a diploma in surgery (1 year), 20 of whom had completed their Masters in Medicine (4 years). PIP was independently evaluated on completion of every phase, including the bridging Phase III (2006–2010). The project delivered on its design, to deliver services, and also helped build capacity. The relationship established with the RACS throughout the project allowed Pacific Island graduates to access the Rowan Nicks scholarship, and the majority of MMed graduates received International Travel Grants to attend the Annual Scientific Meeting. PIP has been a highly successful partnership in delivering and building specialist medical services. Although AusAid contributed some $20 million over 16 years, the value added from pro bono contributions by Specialist Teams, Specialty Coordinators and the Project Directors amounted to an equivalent amount. With the emergence of Pacific Island‐trained specialists, PIP is ready to move into a new phase where the agendas are set, monitored and managed within the Pacific, and RACS fulfils the role of a service provider. A critical mass of Pacific Island surgeons has been trained, so that sub‐specialization will be an option for the general surgeons of the larger island nations.
Very Low Loss Tangent and High Dielectric Permittivity in Pure‐CaCu3Ti4O12 Ceramics Prepared by a Modified Sol‐Gel Process
Authors: Vangchangyia Somsack , Swatsitang Ekaphan , Thongbai Prasit , Pinitsoontorn Supree , Yamwong Teerapon , Maensiri Santi , Amornkitbamrung Vittaya , Chindaprasirt Prinya 
Published: March 2012

We present a simple strategy to achieve excellent dielectric and nonlinear current–voltage properties for pure–CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics prepared by a modified sol–gel method with different calcining conditions. At 1 kHz and room temperature, the best CCTO ceramic can exhibit a high dielectric constant (ε′) of 9516 with a very low dielectric loss, tan δ ~0.020. The minimum value of tan δ is 0.018 at 2.5 kHz with ε′ ~9433. High breakdown field of 4032 V/cm and nonlinear coefficient of 7.05 were obtained.
Giant Dielectric Constant and Good Temperature Stability in Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12 Ceramics
Authors: Liang Pengfei , Yang Zupei , Chao Xiaolian , Liu Zonghuai 
Published: March 2012

Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12 ceramics were successfully prepared by the conventional solid‐state reaction method. Effects of sintering conditions on microstructure, phase structure, and the dielectric properties of Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12 ceramics were investigated in detail. Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12 ceramics sintered at 1010°C for 25 h exhibited a giant dielectric constant (1.10 × 104) and a relatively low dielectric loss (0.033) around room temperature. The samples showed good temperature stability ( – 9.5%) in the temperature range from −60°C to 125°C at 10 kHz. It was also found that a new dielectric relaxation III appeared at higher temperatures (>200°C). The complex impedance spectroscopy analysis suggested that Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12 ceramics were electrically heterogeneous, and they consisted of semiconducting grains and insulating grain boundaries, which could be modeled to a first approximation on an equivalent circuit based on two parallel RC elements connected in series. The Cu2+/Cu3+ and Ti3+/Ti4+ aliovalences were observed in Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12 ceramics. The giant permittivity phenomenon could be explained by internal barrier layer capacitance (IBLC) effect.
First outbreak of extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase‐producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Norwegian neonatal intensive care unit; associated with contaminated breast milk and resolved by strict cohorting
Authors: Rettedal Siren , Löhr Iren H. , Natås Olav , Giske Christian G. , Sundsfjord Arnfinn , Øymar Knut 
Published: March 2012

Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are vulnerable to nosocomial outbreaks caused by multiresistant Enterobacteriaceae, but no reports of NICU outbreaks of extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL) producing Klebsiella pneumoniae have previously been published from countries with a low level of antimicrobial resistance such as the Scandinavian countries. We describe a clonal outbreak of CTX‐M‐15 ‐producing Klebsiella pneumoniae affecting 58 infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway, during a period of 4 months, 2008–2009. The clone spread widely and rapidly in the NICU, and extensive interventions were required to terminate the outbreak. In contrast to previous outbreaks, only one infant acquired a systemic infection caused by the outbreak strain, probably due to a favourable epidemic strain lacking the most common virulence factors. A probable index case was identified, due to multiple positive breast milk samples collected from the infant's mother before and after the infant's transfer from another hospital. Breast milk samples from 3/18 (17%) mothers of colonized infants were positive for ESBL‐producing K. pneumoniae. Vertical transmission of ESBL‐producing bacteria has been shown previously,&#146;but the possibility of transmission of ESBL‐producing K. pneumoniae through expressed breast milk is reported here for the first time. The increasing occurrence of ESBL‐producing&#146;Enterobacteriaceae should therefore encourage changes in diagnostic routines for bacterial screening of breast milk.
Human mannose‐binding lectin inhibits human cytomegalovirus infection in human embryonic pulmonary fibroblast
Authors: Wu Wei , Chen Yinghu , Qiao Huiju , Tao Ran , Gu Weizhong , Shang Shiqiang 
Published: March 2012

A limited number of drugs have been used for treatment of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), all sharing the similar antiviral mechanism of inhibiting virus replication. This study investigates the anti‐HCMV activities of mannose‐binding lectin (MBL) from blocking virus entry and inhibiting virus spread. Recombinant human MBL was produced in CHO cells and native human MBL was isolated from human serum. A HCMV neutralization test was performed by pre‐treating HCMV with each diluted MBL solution. Then the treated HCMV was inoculated onto the human embryonic pulmonary fibroblasts (HELF), which was followed by HCMV‐DNA detection, PP65 positivity examination and confocal imaging of the infected cells. To test the activity of MBL in inhibiting viral spreading after viral invasion, HCMV growth inhibition test was performed. The infected cells were incubated with each diluted MBL, every 24 h, the supernatant was tested for HCMV‐DNA. After 72 h, cells were collected for HCMV‐DNA and PP65 examination. Then the cytopathic effect was observed and cell viability was measured at the 5 days after infection. HCMV neutralization test revealed 10 μg/mL MBL significantly decreased the HCMV invasion in HELF and the anti‐HCMV activity can be blocked by 20 mg/mL mannan. HCMV growth inhibition test indicated that at 48 h after HCMV invasion, the HCMV‐DNA level in the culture supernatant with 10 μg/mL MBL was lower than the control. After 72 h, both the HCMV‐DNA levels and PP65 positivity in cells incubated with MBL were reduced. This is the first to report on the anti‐HCMV activities of MBL by in vitro studies.
Getting the Right Mix of Capital and Cash Requirements in Prudential Bank Regulation*
Authors: Calomiris Charles W. 
Published: March 2012

Cash reserve requirements are useful as a broadly conceived prudential tool, not just as a narrowly focused means of limiting the risks associated with illiquidity. Indeed, illiquidity risk is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for establishing bank liquidity requirements. The primary means of mitigating the systemic costs of bank illiquidity risk is the creation of an effective lender of last resort (LOLR). But instead of focusing narrowly on bank funding risks when designing liquidity requirements, regulators should consider tradeoffs among capital requirements, liquidity requirements, and LOLR policies for achieving the broader prudential goal of limiting bank default risk.When considering the optimal tradeoff between capital ratios and cash ratios as prudential requirements, five “frictions” are identified that favor the use of one or the other: (1) the adverse‐selection costs of raising equity (which favors the use of cash); (2) the opportunity cost of forgone abnormal profits (or “quasi rents”) from lending (which favors the use of capital); (3) the limited verifiability of loan outcomes (which favors the use of cash); (4) the moral hazard that results from costly or postponed loss recognition, given the incentive for risk shifting in bad states (which favors the use of cash); and (5) the prospect of changes in the risk environment (which favors cash since it creates greater option value for maintaining targeted default risk with lower adjustment costs in the face of changing loan risk or illiquidity risk).When viewed from the perspective of achieving the main prudential goal of controlling default risk at a minimum social cost, capital requirements have some limitations that favor liquidity requirements, and vice versa. And thus the optimal regulatory policy will combine liquidity and capital requirements.