bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Personalised information services using a hybrid recommendation method based on usage frequency
Authors: Kim Yong , Gyo Chung Min 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to describe a personal recommendation service (PRS) involving an innovative hybrid recommendation method suitable for deployment in a large‐scale multimedia user environment.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed hybrid method partitions content and user into segments and executes association rule mining, collaborative filtering, and contents popularity algorithms over various combinations of content partitions and user groups. The process results in recommended content for end‐users based on the linear combination of candidate data sets.FindingsThis study reveals that: the use of usage frequency is an effective way to analyse user's behaviour patterns and their selection of content; the partitioning of content and users into meaningful groups and the identification of optimal parameter values of constituent recommendation methods, yields successful results in the implementation; the hybrid method performs better than any constituent methods in most evaluation metrics.Practical implicationsThe PRS system serves as a useful reference for electronic libraries or information centres considering the development of personalised information services.Originality/valueThe PRS system is designed and implemented to work efficiently in the large‐scale multimedia user environment. It can also be applied to small and medium‐scale environments or mobile platforms.
Regeneration of friction pairs in internal combustion engines by the metal cladding materials
Authors: Padgurskas Juozas 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to investigate the regularities and longevity of the recovering without takedown of the friction pairs in internal combustion engines using the lubricants with metal cladding materials (MCM).Design/methodology/approachRecovering of friction pairs of internal combustion engines by MCM was investigated using field experiments. Four automobiles were investigated. The wear of those details was evaluated according to the compression in the cylinders. The influence of MCM on the amount of toxic materials (carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons) in the exhaust gas was evaluated after measurements with a gas analyser.FindingsUsing MCM can recover on average 60 per cent of lost compression ΔPm. MCM decreases compression dispersion among separate cylinders of the engine. Compression of recovered engine cylinders decreases according to logarithmic function. Increment of cylinders' compression ΔPd decreased on average 40‐50 per cent after 10,000 km car run. The recovering of the details of a cylinder‐piston group with MCM decreases the emission of toxic exhaust gas to the environment.Research limitations/implicationsNo laboratory investigations of MCM regeneration of friction pairs were performed which could evaluate the influence of different factors on the regeneration quality.Practical implicationsInvestigations on the use of MCM for recovering the cylinder‐piston details of engines show the expedience in using such materials during periodic technical service of engines when the lubricants are changed.Originality/valueInvestigations of regenerating engines by MCM using field experiments were performed for the first time.
Performance of hydrodynamic lubrication journal bearing with a slippage surface
Authors: Wu Chengwei 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to propose a design idea for an infinite journal bearing with the optimized slip zone on the bearing sleeve surface.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is to use finite element analysis and the quadratic programming algorithm to study the performance of the journal bearing with a slip zone on the sleeve surface. The fluid film pressure and slip velocity can be obtained in one solution step.FindingsA journal bearing with a slip zone on the sleeve surface produces many different advantages over the traditional journal bearing. Even in a parallel sliding gap there is still a considerable large load support, but a very low friction drag. The effect of the enhancement of such a slip wedge on the journal bearing performance is much greater at a small eccentricity ratio than at a large eccentricity ratio. Numerical analyses indicate that the location and size of the slip zone greatly affect the journal performance. When the eccentricity ratio ϵ=0.8, the maximum load support is increased by ∼19 per cent and surface friction coefficients reduced by ∼35 per cent and ∼42 per cent at shaft and sleeve surfaces, respectively.Originality/valueThe paper shows how the present concept can be used to design not only a journal bearing but also a thrust bearing with a slip wedge.
Analysis of effects of oil additive into friction coefficient variations on journal bearing using artificial neural network
Authors: Durak Ertuğrul , Salman Özlem , Kurbanoğlu Cahit 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of a lubricant with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)‐based additive on the friction behaviour in a steadily loaded journal bearing using an experimental and artificial neural network approach.Design/methodology/approachThe collected experimental data, such as pressure variations, are employed as training and testing data for artificial neural networks (ANNs). A feed forward back propagation algorithm is used to update the weight of the network during the training.FindingsAn artificial neural network predictor has superior performance for modelling journal bearing systems under different lubricant conditions.Research limitations/implicationsA feed forward back propagation algorithm is used as a training algorithm for the proposed neural networks. Various training algorithms can be used to train the proposed network. Various lubricants and concentration ratio of the different additives can be investigated.Practical implicationsThe simulation results suggest that the artificial neural predictor would be used as a predictor for possible experimental applications, especially different lubrication conditions on the modelling journal bearing system.Originality/valueThe paper discusses a new modelling scheme known as ANNs. A neural network predictor has been employed to analyze the effects of a lubricant with a PTFE‐based additive on the friction behaviour in a steadily loaded journal bearing under different operating conditions.
Synergistic lubricating effects of ZDDP with a heterocyclic compound
Authors: Wan Yong 
Published: October 2008

PurposeIn response to a plea to eliminate zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) in engine oil, or at least reduce it to 0.05 per cent, unfortunately no new antiwear additives to reduce ZDDP have been found until now. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to resolve these problems by designing a novel benzothiazole compound and using it as a performance‐enhancing agent for ZDDP.Design/methodology/approachA benzothiazole derivative containing dialkyldithiocarbamate (BSD) was synthesized. The antiwear and load‐carrying properties of the additive and their synergistic effects with ZDDP were evaluated by a four‐ball tester.FindingsThe additive BSD possessed good load‐carrying capacity, and exhibits good synergistic antiwear and load‐carrying properties with ZDDP. The tribo‐chemical mechanism was also proposed.Originality/valueThe paper provides a good ashless additive which has good antiwear properties, and fulfils an identified resources need, which can offer practical help in industrial applications and also to an individual starting out on an academic career.
Influence of lubricant type in gear scuffing
Authors: Martins R. , Cardoso N. , Seabra J. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the scuffing load‐carrying capacity of three gear oils: a standard mineral lubricant containing extreme pressure and anti‐wear additives (M0) and two biodegradable saturated esters containing low toxicity additives (E1 and E2).Design/methodology/approachFour‐ball wear tests were performed, according to standard ASTM D4172. Results from the wear scar diameter and from ferrographic analysis of the test oil samples are presented and related to the lubricant properties. The physical, chemical and biodegradability properties of the lubricants are presented and compared.FZG gear scuffing tests were performed, according to standard DIN 51535, in order to evaluate the scuffing load‐carrying capacity of the two oils. Two reference tests were performed, A20/16.6/90 and A10/16.6/90.FindingsTest results include scuffing load stage, maximum oil bath temperature, pinion weight loss and surface roughness measurement of the teeth flanks.Originality/valueThe paper provides information on the scuffing load‐carrying capacity of three gear oils.
Droughts and big baths of Australian agricultural firms
Authors: Kent Pamela , Monem Reza , Cuffe Glenn 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether Australian agricultural firms display big bath behaviour during droughts by recognising extraordinary and abnormal losses. It is hypothesised that Australian agricultural firms are more likely to report big bath losses in drought years than in non‐drought years and, in a given drought year, agricultural firms are more likely to report big bath losses than firms in other industries.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyse 405 firm‐years data for agricultural firms over 1980‐1995. For comparison, they also analyse matched‐pair samples of 17 and 30 non‐agricultural firms for the drought years of 1983 and 1995, and matched‐pair samples of 19 non‐agricultural firms for the non‐drought years of 1986 and 1990, respectively. Both univariate and multivariate analyses are used to test the hypotheses.FindingsIt is found that agricultural firms are more likely to take big baths in drought years than in non‐drought years. Further, in a given drought year, agricultural firms are more likely to take big baths than non‐agricultural firms. Further analyses of sales, profitability, and extraordinary and abnormal items support the idea that big baths reflect managerial opportunism rather than the economic consequences of droughts.Originality/valuePrevious studies have not investigated the impact of natural calamities like flood and drought on accounting choices. This paper makes an original contribution to the accounting literature by documenting evidence on the extent to which an act of nature, over which management has little or no control, can influence accounting choices.
Does pre‐deal research reduce IPO underpricing?
Authors: Wang Kun 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine differences in underpricing for initial public offerings (IPOs) brought to market in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States. It intends to determine whether IPO pricing accuracy in Hong Kong is facilitated by the development and dissemination of pre‐deal research.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines a broad sample of initial public offerings made between 2000 and 2004. The author conducts univariate and multivariate tests to assess the relationship between IPO underpricing and the dissemination of pre‐deal research.FindingsThe author finds that Hong Kong issues experience significantly less underpricing than issues listed in Singapore and the United States. The underpricing of Singapore IPOs, on average, is not significantly different from that of US new listings. Furthermore, the author finds underpricing experienced by Hong Kong issues after adoption of the 40‐day post‐IPO quiet period is significantly higher than underpricing in the pre‐regulation period.Research limitations/implicationsThe results may not be generalizable to different countries. They do, however, appear to be robust in the three markets throughout the five‐year sample period.Practical limitations/implicationsTo the extent that pre‐deal research can enhance IPO pricing accuracy, the overall finding should be useful to regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore as they continue to evaluate the extent to which pre‐deal research should be allowed and other IPO related policy making.Originality/valueThe paper extends the IPO underpricing literature in a new direction and also documents a significant economic benefit to IPOs related to pre‐deal research.
The relative ability of earnings and cash flow data in forecasting future cash flows
Authors: Farshadfar Shadi , Ng Chew , Brimble Mark 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relative predictive ability of earnings, cash flow from operations as reported in the cash flow statement, and two traditional measures of cash flows (i.e. earnings plus depreciation and amortisation expense, and working capital from operations) in forecasting future cash flows for Australian companies. Further, an empirical investigation of the extent to which firm size, as a contextual factor, influences the predictability of earnings and cash flow from operations is presented.Design/methodology/approachThe authors' sample includes 323 companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange between 1992 and 2004 (3,512 firm‐years). They employ the ordinary least squares and fixed‐effects approaches to estimate their regression models. To evaluate the forecasting performance of the regression models, both within‐sample and out‐of‐sample forecasting tests are employed.FindingsThe authors provide evidence that reported cash flow from operations has more power in predicting future cash flows than earnings and traditional cash flow measures. Further, the predictability of both earnings and cash flow from operations significantly increases with firm size. However, the superiority of cash flow from operations to earnings in predicting future cash flows is robust across small, medium and large firms.Originality/valueThe authors' results, in terms of firm size, imply that the users of accounting information should be cautious in assessing the utility of earnings and cash flow measures in forecasting future cash flows as firm size decreases.
Is social Europe dead?
Authors: Gennard John 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this editorial is to examine whether the social dimension of the single European market (SEM) has stalled or come to an end.Design/methodology/approachThis editorial outlines the existing minimum standards in SEM, the processes whereby they have/are established, and reviews the progress on the revision of the working time and European Works Council (EWC) Directive.FindingsThe absence of proposals from the EU Commission other than on temporary and agency workers since 2002 has the EU wide trade union bodies, especially the ETUC to argue that EU member states' government continue to have a higher priority for the economic Europe (for example, labour market flexibility) than the social Europe (the establishment of workers' rights). This view has been enforced in that the EU Commission has been tardy in its revision of the working time and the EWC Directives. In the summer of 2008, the commission brought forward a series of measures aimed at stressing the social dimension of the SEM. These included a revised EWC Directive but they are unlikely to continue trade unions in Europe that EU member state government give as much priority to the social Europe as well as the economic Europe.Originality/valueThe editorial offers insights into the priority given to the social Europe relative to the economic Europe.
A multidimensional approach to employee participation and the association with social identification in organizations
Authors: Joensson Thomas 
Published: October 2008

PurposeEmployee participation is often suggested to improve employees' relations to the organization. A multidimensional perspective on employee participation may heighten its specificity. The purpose of the present paper is to investigate the relationships between multiple dimensions of employee participation and social identification.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies questionnaire data from 166 hospital employees, i.e. nurses, physicians and medical secretaries, in a cross‐sectional design. Hierarchical regression analyses were applied to investigate the hypothesized associations.FindingsThe results showed that individual influence on proximal (i.e. work‐related) issues predicted organizational identification. The relevance of proximal issues and psychological involvement in relation to direct participation were suggested to explain why this particular dimension of participation is directly associated with organizational identification. The result qualifies the theoretical notion that participation symbolically signals inclusion and status in the organization.Research limitations/implicationsThe result emphasizing participation in decisions about work issues may be limited to the highly meaningful patient work in the health care context. Future studies are to establish if the findings may be generalised to other contexts.Originality/valueThe originality of the study lies in the applied combination of participation dimensions, the inclusion of organizational identity at different social foci, and the application of social identity as a theoretically well‐grounded concept of employees' relations to their organization.
Hard law, soft edge? Information, consultation and partnership
Authors: Doherty Michael 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess whether the transposition of the EU directive on informing and consulting employees is likely to enhance voice and participation rights of Irish employees.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a literature based critique assessing the reasons for the “voice gaps” the evidence suggests exist in Irish workplaces and analysing the implications of the legal changes brought in by the information and consultation legislation.FindingsThe paper argues that the transposition of the EU directive provided a unique opportunity to bolster voice mechanisms in Irish workplaces and “plug” some of the gaps identified in the literature. However, the paper argues this opportunity has been largely squandered, as a result of the Irish Goversment's minimalist approach to “hard” regulation of information and consultation rights in the transposing legislation.Research limitations/implicationsThe EU directive is perhaps of most relevance to those interested in the employment relations in the Anglo‐Saxon countries (Ireland and the UK). The findings relate, in particular, to those countries. The paper considers the implications of the transposition, too, in terms of the role of the social partners in promoting voice at work.Practical implicationsEncouraging and developing employee voice arrangements is of great interest to academics and practitioners alike. The paper suggests ways in which legal changes can be used to further these objectives.Originality/valueThe paper assesses the likely public policy outcomes of a specific transposition process.
The challenge of connecting and co‐ordinating the learning agenda
Authors: Perrett Robert , Martínez Lucio Miguel 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to illustrate how innovative trade union strategies are emerging around the learning agenda and how these are being used to extend union strategies within the workplace and the community. However, it also shows how such strategies can be confronted with difficulties particularly when they are located in fixed spaces leaving them unable to develop or become sustainable once these spaces are challenged or closed due to inconsistent state and employer support.Design/methodology/approachAn in depth case study approach was adopted for the research, using predominantly semi‐structured interviews with a wide range of individuals over an 18 month period.FindingsThe paper suggests that although unions are increasingly pushing forward their learning agenda and developing workplace and community learning centres, which undoubtedly generate benefits for all stakeholders, their learning strategies are often fixed into specific, closed locations and spaces, finding it difficult to develop once these spaces are challenged or closed due to restructuring and organisational change.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper does not suggest that this case is representative of all learning initiatives but it does seem that learning as a part of the inclusion and union renewal agenda is not clearly co‐ordinated in terms of their social, spatial and employment position.Originality/valueThis paper represents new empirical research presented at a time when learning initiatives as well as community initiatives are high on government's agenda particularly as they are encouraging “the third sector” to play an increasing role in providing public services. Similarly, the paper addresses issues of ethnicity, migration and learning, again a topic high on government agendas.
Well paid but undervalued and overworked
Authors: Forstenlechner Ingo , Lettice Fiona 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine what motivates junior lawyers to join a “Top 5” law firm, to understand their job and career expectations and whether or not these are being met during their employment in the firm.Design/methodology/approachA survey was delivered to 300 lawyers, out of which 144 valid responses were collected. For the analysis, responses were clustered to identify emerging themes. Interviews were also conducted with randomly selected junior lawyers to clarify emerging topics and deepen understanding of the issues raised.FindingsKey motives for young lawyers to join a law firm were money and improved career options. These expectations were generally met. However, once working, these lawyers were disappointed by a lack of interaction with and appreciation from partners, high pressure to bill more, long working hours and poor work/life balance, a lack of interesting work, and a lack of international secondments.Research limitations/implicationsThe research reported in this paper is based on a case study of one of the top five law firms in the world, which is considered to be a leader in many areas of law practice. It cannot be assumed to be representative of the culture, policies and practices of many other firms operating in this sector.Practical implicationsThe findings have been used within the case study organisation to improve junior lawyer motivation and could also be used by comparable organisations to improve the retention of junior lawyers.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this paper is the insight gained into the job and career motivations and expectations of junior lawyers. Additional insight is gained by exploring expectations prior to joining the firm and which of these could be fulfilled and which were disappointed during employment with the firm.