bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interplay of Adaptive Th2 Immunity with Eotaxin‐3/C‐C Chemokine Receptor 3 in Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Authors: Bullock Jennifer Z , Villanueva Joyce M , Blanchard Carine , Filipovich Alexandra H , Putnam Philip E , Collins Margaret H , Risma Kimberly A , Akers Rachel M , Kirby Cassie L , Buckmeier Bridget K , Assa'ad Amal H , Hogan Simon P , Rothenberg Marc E 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:Pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a recently described disorder associated with atopy. Although studies of esophageal tissue suggest that Th2 cytokines and eotaxin‐3 may be crucial in disease pathogenesis, little is known about the systemic immunological phenotypes of children with EE.Objectives:To define the phenotypes of peripheral blood eosinophils and lymphocytes in EE and to examine for correlations between these parameters and tissue eosinophil numbers and disease severity.Patients and Methods:Blood was collected from children with EE, atopic control children without EE, and nonatopic control children without EE. Flow cytometry was used to measure eosinophil expression of chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) and interleukin‐5 receptor‐α (IL‐5Rα), and intracellular lymphocyte expression of IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐13, interferon‐γ, and tumor necrosis factor‐α. Eosinophil numbers and eotaxin‐3 mRNA levels were quantitated in esophageal biopsy specimens.Results:Compared with nonatopic control children, EE patients with active disease had increased peripheral blood eosinophil percentages, mean channel of fluorescence (MCF) of CCR3 on eosinophils, and percentage of CD4+ T cells expressing IL‐5. Notably, these parameters positively correlated with esophageal eosinophil numbers. Eotaxin‐3 tissue expression positively correlated with esophageal eosinophil numbers and peripheral blood eosinophil CCR3 MCF. The percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils, eosinophil CCR3 MCF, and CD4+ T cell expression of IL‐5 were lower in EE patients in disease remission than in patients with active disease.Conclusions:Collectively, these studies demonstrate cooperation between systemic CD4+ Th2‐cell–mediated immunity and an enhanced eosinophil‐CCR3/eotaxin‐3 pathway in EE pathogenesis. Furthermore, the imbalanced Th2 immunity and increased CCR3 expression are reversible with disease remission.
Eco‐friendly corrosion inhibitors: the inhibitive action of Delonix Regia extract for the corrosion of aluminium in acidic media
Authors: Abiola O.K. , Oforka N.C. , Ebenso E.E. , Nwinuka N.M. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo investigate the inhibitive effect of Delonix regia extracts to reduce the corrosion rate of aluminium in acidic media. The study was a trial to find a low cost and environmentally safe inhibitor to reduce the corrosion rate of aluminium.Design/methodology/approachThe inhibition efficiency was evaluated using the hydrogen evolution technique at 30°C. The mechanism of adsorption inhibition and type of adsorption isotherm was characterised from trends of inhibition efficiency and kinetic data.FindingsDelonix regia extracts inhibited the corrosion of aluminium in hydrochloric acid solutions. The inhibition efficiency increased with increasing concentration of the inhibitor but decreased with increase in exposure time. The acid extracts (hydrochloric acid seeds extract (HSE) and hydrochloric acid leaf extract (HLE)) were found to be more effective than the ethanolic extracts (ethanol seeds extract (ASE) and ethanol leaves extract (ALE)) and the inhibition followed the order: HSE (93.6 per cent) > HLE (83.5 per cent) > ASE (63.9 per cent) > ALE (60.4 per cent). The low negative values of ΔGad: −20.14 kJ mol−1 for HSE, −18.08 kJ mol−1 for HLE, −15.96 kJ mol−1 for ASE and −15.12 kJ mol−1 for ALE, as calculated from the Langmuir isotherm, indicated that the inhibitor molecules adsorbed onto aluminium by a physiosorption‐based mechanism. A first‐order type of reaction mechanism was obtained from the kinetic treatment of the H2 gas evolution data.Research limitations/implicationsFurther investigations involving electrochemical studies such as polarization method should shed further light on the mechanistic aspects of the corrosion inhibition.Originality/valueThis paper provides new information on the possible application of Delonix regia as an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor under the specified conditions. This environmentally friendly inhibitor could find possible applications in metal surface anodizing and surface coatings.
Review of materials for adsorption refrigeration technology
Authors: Alghoul M.A. , Sulaiman M.Y. , Azmi B.Z. , Sopian K. , Wahab M.Abd. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeDuring the last 20 years, interest in the closed adsorption heat pump and refrigeration systems has increased steadily. In this paper, consideration is given to aspects of adsorption refrigeration in terms of existing materials used in adsorption refrigeration, heat transfer characteristics of materials, and cost of materials and manufacturing.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a general review of adsorption refrigeration technology.FindingsIn recent years several papers have been published in this area and many aspects of the system have been addressed. Much effort has been devoted to enhance materials properties.Originality/valueThe paper provides information of value to those involved with heat pump and refrigeration systems technology.
Evaluation of bagasse ash as corrosion resisting admixture for carbon steel in concrete
Authors: Ganesan K. , Rajagopal K. , Thangavel K. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeUtilization of industrial and agricultural waste products as cement replacement materials in concrete technology has been an interesting subject of research for economical, environmental, and technical reasons. Portland cement incorporating these cement replacement materials improves corrosion resistance of carbon steel. Sugar cane bagasse is considered as waste in sugar mills and dumped in open space or used as fuel for boilers. The main purpose of the study is to investigate corrosion performance of reinforcing carbon steel in bagasse ash (BA) blended cement concrete and compare it with control concrete.Design/methodology/approachBA is prepared by burning boiler‐fired ash at a controlled temperature of 650°C for 1 h and cooled. The ash is then ground to a fineness of 46 μm as Pozzolanic material and blended in concrete in various cement replacement levels. The corrosion behaviour of carbon steel in BA blended concretes exposed to alternate dry‐wet cycles in 3.0 percent NaCl solution for 18 months was studied using gravimetric weight loss, linear polarization, and electrochemical impedance measurement techniques. The resistance to chloride ion penetration of BA blended concretes after 28 and 90 days and compressive strength of BA blended concrete cubes after 7, 14, 28, and 90 days curing also was evaluated.FindingsThe experimental results indicated that the corrosion rate of reinforcing steel and chloride penetration were significantly reduced, and compressive strength was increased, with the incorporation of BA up to 20 percent replacement in concrete. It was observed also that a relatively good correlation between linear polarization and impedance measurements with respect to corrosion current values on the reinforcing steel within BA blended concretes.Originality/valueBA may be considered as a better substitute than other mineral admixtures for durable concrete structures. The study fulfilled the objective of the investigation and contributes to research on corrosion protection of carbon steel in concrete.
The implications of contemporary cultural diversity for the hospitality curriculum
Authors: Hearns Niamh , Devine Frances , Baum Tom 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis viewpoint paper aims to assess a curriculum response within a specific vocational sector, hospitality, driven by the recent surge in intra EU labour migration and the ensuing increase in workplace cultural diversity.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identifies an appropriate curriculum response by assessing the industry implications and proffering a conceptual model of curriculum response.FindingsThe experience across business sectors, such as hospitality, emphasises the need for training that is geared to meet the needs of both international and indigenous employees and that, critically, intercultural issues represent a significant training gap. It is posited that the curriculum response is multifaceted embracing the need to address course content, learning outcomes, assessment methods and the training needs of educators.Originality/valueThe paper is targeted at academics within applied business education, specifically in those areas of the services sector that have experienced significant labour migration in recent years. It is also of wider value to those involved in curricula design in a vocational context.
Students' perceptions of the effects of term‐time paid employment
Authors: Curtis Susan 
Published: June 2007

PurposeOwing to increasing debts and lack of parental contribution to undergraduates' income, UK students are taking paid employment during term time in order to finance their studies. The aim of this investigation is to explore employed and non‐employed students' perceptions of the impact of this paid employment on the university experience.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 336 undergraduates completed questionnaires about their employment, their perceptions of the effects on academic study, factors affecting the decision to work and factors which may reduce the amount of time spent studying.FindingsResults indicated that almost 59 per cent of students were employed during term time for an average of 15 hours per week. More students perceived that there were benefits to working than perceived disadvantages, but there were some contradictions concerning the adverse effects of working.Research limitation/implicationsThe findings were limited by the location of the sample, as they were from a rural faculty of a large university and are therefore not typical of most UK student populations which are generally in urban locations.Practical implicationsThere is no simple solution to the problem of employed students experiencing adverse effects on their academic studies due to working. The government and other stakeholders need to take responsibility for the current situation.Originality/valueThis study adds to the growing body of international data that reports on the effects of user‐pays approach in higher education. No other study has considered the perceptions of non‐employed students alongside the employed.
Iterative learning‐based laser beam tracker
Authors: Ashraf Suhail , Parkin Robert M. , Muhammad Ejaz 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe development and application of an iterative learning control (ILC) scheme for a tracking problem. The control objective is to achieve accurate tracking of a desired trajectory which is the path taken by a laser beam.Design/methodology/approachIt involves formulating an ILC scheme in two‐dimensional (2D) representation on mathematical model of two degrees of freedom platform. The scheme was tested and fine tuned with the help of simulation results on that model. Subsequently, an experimental setup was prepared by mounting a camera on a six degree of freedom hexapod, M‐850 from Physik Instrumente. The experimental setup was made to track an arbitrarily positioned laser spot on a screen. For this purpose, a simple image processing module was also developed. The underlying algorithm implemented learning and tracking modes.FindingsThe tracking performance of the scheme is impressive. The simulations as well as practical results show that the scheme is robust and simple to implement.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation is the time spent in learning mode before the control function is applied to the system under consideration. This, however, is an inherent aspect in any ILC scheme.Practical implicationsIts application can be in manufacturing processes, robotics, target tracking and even in bio engineering where growth of some specific bacteria population could also be tracked.Originality/valueLittle work, with practical implementations, has been reported in ILC. The authors perceive that this scheme has the potential to simplify a great number of control problems especially in the field of robotics and trajectory tracking.
E‐government success: some principles from a Spanish case study
Authors: Gonzalez Reyes , Gasco Jose , Llopis Juan 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper has as its aim to analyse the evolution and current status of e‐government, trying to deduce a series of basic principles for its success.Design/methodology/approachA case study has served to achieve that aim, but prior to its presentation, a short review of the e‐government literature along with some facts and figures have made it possible to assess the situation of e‐government in various countries around the world, and more precisely in Spain.FindingsE‐government lays emphasis on technology; however, the internal processes through which public administrations (PP.AA) offer their services to citizens need careful reengineering.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough a case study like this one, in which the analysis of e‐government is restricted to the functioning of a tax administration body, may have limitations when it comes to generalising the conclusions drawn, the principles inferred from it can be easily extrapolated to the vast majority of PP.AA.Originality/valueSince, tax administration requires using a large amount of data, it is a key area in the application and study of e‐government. That is why a Spanish public organisation in charge of tax administration has been examined in this paper.
Knowledge management approach in build‐to‐order supply chains
Authors: Chow Harry K.H. , Choy K.L. , Lee W.B. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to survey knowledge management (KM) practices and to examine the applications and technologies adopted when developing the knowledge management system (KMS) in build‐to‐order supply chains (BOSC).Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a literature review of research articles from 1996 to 2007 with keyword indexes to survey the KM practice, KMS technology and its application in BOSC. Such keyword indexes include: BOSC, SCM, KM, KMS, expert system, knowledge‐based system and information system on the Elsevier online database, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, Proquest, Emerald, DOAJ, and Wiley Inter Science. A total of 1,500 articles were found but only 149 articles related to the keywords of KMS application and KM practices within SCM and BOSC.FindingsThe important findings indicate that the KMS application is solely focused on single knowledge problem for enabling individual SC members to attain operational excellence. There is a need for further research into the development of KMS with features of knowledge coordination that cross organizational borders in attaining the BOSC integration.Research limitations/implicationsPerhaps, the limitation of this study was the narrowness of the scope of the paper based on the keywords used for searching.Practical implicationsValidation of the multi‐disciplines of KM practices and KMS applications provides enterprises with useful guidelines for implementing KM‐ and KMS‐related projects within their current BOSC practices.Originality/valueThis paper provides useful knowledge by highlighting the characteristics of KMS technology within BOSC and empirical insights into the relationship between KM and BOSC practices.
Is product liability still a global problem?
Authors: Fairgrieve Duncan , Howells Geraint 
Published: June 2007

PurposeAlmost 20 years ago one of the present authors wrote an article entitled “Product liability: a global problem”. The brief paper seeks to provide a summation of what has happened in the meantime.Design/methodology/approachThe article is a brief discussion of the issues: the first section comments on products liability outside Europe and the final part concludes with an overview of what happened in the UK and Europe.FindingsThe article finds that the EU Directive's approach to strict liability has become the most common influence on law reform around the globe and that there is still much uncertainty in Europe and the USA as to what the law of product liability actually is.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates how, for the foreseeable future, businesses may continue to be most concerned about product liability exposure in the USA.
New uracil derivatives as antioxidants for natural rubber
Authors: Yakout E.M.A. , El‐Sabbagh S.H. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeEvaluation of uracil and/or benzothiazol derivatives as antioxidants in natural rubber mixes.Design/methodology/approachCyanoacetylurea 1, as a precursor, was prepared at a good yield from widely available, low‐cost chemicals. Compound 1 was treated with triethylorthoformate and amine derivatives in one pot reaction affording the target uracil derivative 3. Replacement of the cyano group in 1 by benzothiazol led to obtaining the interesting N‐hydroxy uracils containing benzothiazole moiety 5 at a good yield. Some of the compounds prepared was selected and were evaluated as antioxidants in natural rubber mixes. The rheometric characteristic of the compounded rubber and the physico‐mechanical properties of the vulcanizates were determined.FindingsThe cure rate index, tensile strength and modulus increased while the equilibrium swelling decreased, i.e. compound 5 behaved as a secondary accelerator. The rubber vulcanizates were subjected to thermal oxidative ageing at 90°C for up to seven days. It has been found that uracil and/or benzothiazol derivatives can protect natural rubber vulcanizates against oxidative deterioration.Research limitations/implicationsThe compounds prepareds were difficult to dissolve, they needed solvents with high boiling points, e.g. DMF, DMSO to be dissolved and even then they are not completely dissolved.Practical implicationsUracil and or benzothiazol derivatives have many industrial applications.Originality/valueThe new compounds were prepared from very cheap and widely available chemicals. The compounds synthesised showed good antioxidant behaviour in comparison with the commercial antioxidant (phenyl‐β‐naphthyl amine) industrially used.
Novel light sensitive system derived from tetracyanoquinodimethane and anilines
Authors: Asiri A.M. , Baghaffar G.A. , Ismaiel N.H. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo discover new photochromic molecules suitable for various applications.Design/methodology/approachThe synthesis of the new photochromic Aniline derivatives was accomplished by reaction of tetracyanoquinodimethane and anilines in polar solvents such as dimethylformamide.FindingsA novel photochromic system had been designed and developed. The synthesis and photochromic properties of three aniline derivatives upon irradiation with ultraviolet light were studies in different solvents. The photochromic and thermochromic properties were affected markedly upon changing the solvent polarity. The new materials gave colourless to deep yellow coloration upon irradiation with ultraviolet, rendering them suitable candidates for optical storage media using the region of 700 nm.Practical implicationsA new photochromic system had been developed via a simple method. The new compounds showed photochromic, thermochromic, and solvatochromic properties making them potential candidates for many applications such as photo sensors, optical data storage, thermochromic sensors and heat sensitive materials.Originality/valueThe photochromic system was novel and hence the photochromic molecules were novel.
Grafting copolymerisation of vinyl monomers onto cellulose Egyptian cotton linters
Authors: Mostafa H.Y. , Nada A.M.A. , Elmasry A.M.M. , Mahdi M.E. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose is to focus on improving the water or metal ion uptake of modified cellulose.Design/methodology/approachGrafting copolymerisation of hydrophilic monomers such as acrylamide or hydrophobic monomers as acrylonitrile onto cotton linters was performed.FindingsThe grafting process has two advantages. The first is to replace the hydroxyl group of C6 of the glucose units in the substrate by carboxyl group that attract the metal ions from the solution. The second is to decrease the number of the hydroxyl groups in the cotton linters so that the hydrogen bonding between the cotton linters strands decreases and so the crystallinity index of substrate decreases by introduction of this hydrophilic group so it becomes more chemically active.Research limitations/implicationsPartial substitution of hydroxyl groups of cellulose by more hydrophilic ones via grafting reaction followed by alkaline hydrolysis was performed. The effects of different conditions such as temperature, time, initiator concentration, monomer concentration and kind of substrate were studied. The polymerisation per cent, grafting per cent, the grafting efficiency and the nitrogen per cent of the grafted samples were determined. The molecular structures of cotton linters, grafted cotton linters with acrylamide and its hydrolysis product were studied using infrared spectroscopy, which indicates the fixation of the monomers on the cotton linters. Sodium binding capacity and the metal ion uptake of some metal ions by the product were determined.Originality/valueThe water or metal ion uptake of the modified cellulose was improved.
An experimental investigation of the use of brand extension and co‐branding strategies in the arts
Authors: d'Astous Alain , Colbert François , Fournier Marilyne 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impact of two different extension strategies, namely brand extension and co‐branding, on consumer attitude toward an extension in the context of the arts.Design/methodology/approachAn experiment was conducted in which the type of extension strategy, as well as other variables identified as potentially having an impact on consumer attitudes, were manipulated.FindingsThe results showed that, whatever extension strategy is chosen, the new product should be congruent with the arts organization's activities and should be of low complexity. If these conditions are met, a co‐branding strategy appears to be preferable.Research limitations/implicationsBecause only two arts organizations were analyzed in this study, i.e. museums and symphonic orchestras, future studies should consider other domains of the arts. New products introduced as brand extensions should be simple and congruent with the business activities of the arts organization. If the product is not congruent with the organization's activities, then simple brand extension appears be a better strategy.Originality/valueThis study has examined the extent to which marketing strategies that work for conventional goods and services may succeed in the case of artistic and cultural products. It brings valuable knowledge to managers of arts organizations and marketing researchers with respect to the impact of brand extension strategies in the arts.