bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Welsh‐language provision on party web sites during the 2007 Welsh Assembly election
Authors: Cunliffe Daniel 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of Welsh‐language provision on the web sites of political parties contesting the 2007 Welsh Assembly elections.Design/methodology/approachExpert inspection was carried out on the web sites of 18 of the 19 parties contesting the election. Goal‐directed walkthroughs were conducted on four web sites judged to be making a bilingual provision.FindingsOverall, the Welsh language was highly marginalised. While Welsh‐language elements were identified on ten of the 18 web sites, only four web sites attempted to make a bilingual provision. On three of these, a user intending to interact with the web site through the medium of Welsh would still encounter English language content and/or navigation. Only one web site offered a fully Welsh‐language experience.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper only considers the web sites of political parties and presents only a high level analysis. It does not consider the impact of Welsh‐language provision on the electorate.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to systematically examine Welsh‐language provision on party web sites during elections for the National Assembly for Wales. In contrast to many studies of election‐related internet activity in the UK, it considers a regional election rather than a UK general election.
Perceived resistance, user resistance and managers' performance in the Malaysian port industry
Authors: Daud Norzaidi Mohd , Choy Chong Siong , Intan Salwani Mohamed 
Published: May 2008

PurposeUsing the extended task‐technology fit (TTF) model, this paper attempts to determine whether task‐technology fit, perceived resistance, user resistance and usage influence managers' performance.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted on 150 middle managers from various organisations in Malaysia's port industry.FindingsThe structural equation modelling results reveal that task‐technology fit is significantly related to usage and perceived resistance, and that perceived resistance is a predictor of usage. Usage predicts performance, but not user resistance. There is no relationship between usage and user resistance, and vice versa.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on Malaysia's port industry and concentrates only on the management perspective of intranet usage.Practical implicationsThe results provide insights into how the Malaysian port industry and other organisations of a similar structure could enhance their intranet usage.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to address intranet usage in the port industry, and introduces two importance factors (i.e. perceived resistance and user resistance) that influence managers' task performance.
Low‐cost flight test system for light aircrafts
Authors: Iscold Paulo 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the research efforts of the Center of Aeronautical Studies of the Federal University of Minas Gerais – Brazil to develop a low‐cost flight test data acquisition system for light aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAEs).Design/methodology/approachThe development of this system was based on a microcontroller, chosen in accordance with main requirements of light aircrafts flight tests. The system uses the microcontroller in order to communicate with different kinds of sensors, including a GPS, and organize this information to be sent to a PDA device, which is used to control the acquisition process and storage the data acquired. Details about the development of this system, including firmware algorithm and sensors development, are presented and discussed in the paper.FindingsThe paper presents example results obtained with this system in applications such as performance evaluation and stability and control derivatives estimation problems. Take into account all the aspects of the system and the quality of the results, the main conclusion is that this system can efficiently support the demands of the aerospace industry for light aircraft and UAEs development programs as well as the necessities of the research centers and universities developing aeronautical research and didactic programs.Practical implicationsRecently, results confirm the applicability of this system in order to perform flight tests of aircrafts in accordance with FAR‐Part 23 or CS‐VLA or Light Sport Aircrafts as required by FAA Order 8130.2F and ASTM Designation F2245‐04.Originality/valueThis paper presents details about the construction of a low‐cost data acquisition system for flight tests of light aircrafts. The main advantage of this system is the use of a PDA device in order to control and storage the acquisition, which reduce costs, weight and size of the system and permits its installation in light aircrafts or UAVs.
Proposal of the experimental simulation method for handling qualities evaluation
Authors: Tomczyk Andrzej 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present analysis and primary evaluation of different control laws implemented on experimental indirect (fly‐by‐wire) flight control system designed for perspective general aviation aircraft.Design/methodology/approachThe control law tests have been accomplished on the flight simulation stand equipped with side‐stick, throttle lever and flight instrument display. Every evaluator was caring out 2‐4 five min instrument flights (IR) according to command shown on the screen. PZL‐110 general aviation aircraft properties and seven modes of control system operation were modeled and examined.FindingsResults of evaluation by 45 commercial pilots are analyzed and handling qualities of the small aircraft equipped with the indirect flight control system (fly‐by‐wire) have been examined. In this way, the most convenient control law was chosen for design the user‐friendly, human‐centered, simplified software‐based flight control system.Practical implicationsThe result of research can be implemented on real indirect flight control system dedicated to general aviation aircraft.Originality/valueThis paper presents the practical approach for analysis of handling qualities of general aviation aircraft equipped with indirect flight control system. This kind of works concern to military and transport airplanes are known, however there are no published work in the area of small aircraft so far.
An almost disturbance decoupling solution of the attitude control problem
Authors: Özgür Doruk R. , Kocaoglan Erol 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to derive a robust nonlinear attitude control law intended for practical application.Design/methodology/approachThe method of input/output feedback linearization is utilized for having a linear model and a recently developed almost disturbance decoupling (ADD) approach is adopted for designing a robust satellite attitude control (SAC) system. The kinematics of the satellite is modeled by modified Rodriguez parameters because of their continuous invertibility. The design is simulated on the model of a realistic satellite project (BILSAT‐I), which is developed by the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council.FindingsThe torque requirement of the operation does not exceed the maximum limit provided by the actuator. The square error levels are staying under the boundary of final global attractor, which is one of the important proofs for the successful operation of the generated ADD control law.Originality/valueThe ADD concept is investigated on SAC problem. By that way, simple control structures with known disturbance attenuation capability can be designed.
The robust adaptive attitude control of a certain satellite
Authors: Chen Xin‐long , Yang Di 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the attitude control problem of a certain and big flexible satellite with unmodeled dynamics and unknown bounded disturbances and control input saturation; and to present a design method of robust adaptive controllers (RACs).Design/methodology/approachFirst, using the Lyapunov stability theory, it is shown that the proposed adaptive controller can guarantee the stability of the nonlinear system. Then, the parameters regulation method of the RAC is introduced. Finally, an RAC is designed for the object satellite model consisted of all the error‐source models.FindingsThe simulation results are compared with other results that are derived by using the typical PID controller. It is proved that the designed RAC has some properties of quickly response, high steady‐state precision and strong robustness.Originality/valueThe paper is of value in presenting a design method of RACs aiming at the object satellite with uncertainties and control input saturation.
Study on the application of curing agents in light colored water‐borne epoxy antistatic anticorrosive paint
Authors: Jianyu Han , Zhonghua Chen , Ying Tang , Fei Yu 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the curing mechanisms, anticorrosive properties and protective mechanisms of three kinds of amine curing agents applied in a new kind of light colored water‐borne epoxy antistatic anticorrosive paint.Design/methodology/approachUsing light color‐conductive mica, titanium oxides and environmentally‐friendly anticorrosive pigments in the two‐component water‐borne epoxy system, the light colored water‐borne antistatic anticorrosive paint was prepared. The molecular structure and curing mechanisms of the curing agents was analyzed by Fourier transform infra‐red spectroscopy, and the influence of the curing agents on anticorrosive properties and protective mechanisms was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.FindingsThe paints cured by the modified amine curing agent possessed optimal integrated properties with a coating surface resistivity of 106 Ω and the best anticorrosive performance.Originality/valueA novel light colored water‐borne epoxy antistatic anticorrosive paint cured by the optimal curing agent could be used in corrosion protection for oil tanks to replace the traditional oil‐based antistatic anticorrosive paints.
Collaboration and trust in two organic food chains
Authors: Kottila Marja‐Riitta , Rönni Päivi 
Published: May 2008

PurposeOrganic food offers a good case to study the relationships of actors in the food chain, because of its added value based on production methods, the imbalance of power and the different value systems. The obvious problems identified call for solutions that include more efficient collaboration. This paper attempts to determine the presence of collaboration along the Finnish organic food chain, from the farmers to the multiple retailers. Collaboration is approached by focusing on communication and trust between the actors.Design/methodology/approachA case study with two cases.FindingCollaboration was found only in a few dyadic relationships, not at the chain level. Findings suggest that high frequency of communication is not an indication of collaboration, and is less important than the quality of communication in the creation of trust, the prerequisite for collaboration. Particularly the competence demonstrated as an exchange partner, seemed to hold the key for a trustful relationship. Neither the power imbalance nor the different value systems were insuperable obstacles for trustful and collaborative relationship.Practical implicationsResults encourage small organic suppliers to develop their relationships with mainstream retailers by improving their overall competence as exchange partners. To create trust and collaboration, the actors need to consider the influence of their action not only on the adjacent actors, but on the relationships within the whole organic food chain.Originality/valueThese findings contribute to existing knowledge concerning the nature of relationships along a food chain, and in particular, those of an organic food chain.
Factors affecting the implementation of e‐business strategies
Authors: Pai Jung‐Chi , Yeh Chi‐Hung 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationships between contingency factors and the effectiveness of the implementation of core e‐business strategies and to explore the influences on the implementation process quality for e‐business strategy.Design/methodology/approachTo examine the relationships between the constructs in the research model, data were gathered via a questionnaire survey sent to 650 manufacturing enterprises in Taiwan.FindingsThe survey results indicate that some factors influence the effectiveness of the implementation of core e‐business strategies. The implications of the findings for practice and future research are also examined.Practical implicationsBusiness managers or IS executives of enterprises should consider these environmental, organizational and technological contingency factors while implementing e‐business strategies.Originality/valueNumerous researchers have proposed various studies relating to e‐business strategies. However, these studies focused on developing e‐business planning frameworks and conducting case studies, and little attention has been paid to empirical studies examining the influences of contingency factors on the implementation of e‐business strategies. The results of this study will be of interest to business managers or strategic planners who are initiating or conducting e‐business strategic planning exercises, as well as to researchers in the field of information systems strategic planning and management.
A survey on reverse logistics system of mobile phone industry in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Felix T.S. , Kai Chan Hing 
Published: May 2008

PurposeIt is not surprising that proper implementation of reverse logistics systems can result in better customer loyalty and reduction in operational costs due to reuse or remanufacturing of some parts. This is particularly important for those industries with a short product life cycle, like the mobile phone industry. The major objective of this paper is to present the results of a pilot survey with follow‐up interviews, which was conducted for investigating the practices of reverse logistics in this industry.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was sent to the industrial participants, and follow‐up interviews were conducted with the respondents.FindingsOn the one hand, reverse logistics systems are important to the industry; on the other hand, the low level of importance of reverse logistics relative to the other issues is still a major barrier in realizing reverse logistics systems.Originality/valueIt is not clear what the critical factors are in designing reverse logistics systems for the mobile phone industry. Based on the results, it is interesting to learn how to reach a compromise in dealing with this dilemma.
Governance structure choice in strategic alliances
Authors: Teng Bing‐Sheng , Das T.K. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeStrategic alliances have a variety of governance structures that can be broadly classified as joint ventures, minority equity alliances, and contractual alliances. This paper seeks to empirically examine the roles of four key determinants of governance structure choice, namely, joint R&D and joint marketing objectives, alliance management experience, and international partners.Design/methodology/approachSeveral hypotheses are developed regarding governance structure choice and are tested with data from 765 alliances. A multinomial logistic regression (logit) model is used for statistical analysis, with five control variables.FindingsAll hypotheses are supported, so that the roles of alliance objectives, alliance management experience, and international partners are demonstrated as being significant as determinants of governance structure choice in alliances.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations stem from the data being from a single source, one that also relies on press announcements that may be biased toward larger alliances.Practical implicationsBriefly, alliance managers should find it useful to assess the relative presence of the four determinants of structural choice studied in this investigation in order to make an informed selection of the appropriate governance structure.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the knowledge of the key determinants of governance structure choice in strategic alliances by examining empirically, with a large sample of alliances from various industries, the significant roles of four factors, namely, joint R&D and joint marketing objectives, alliance management experience, and international partners.
Managing local employees: expatriate roles in a subsidiary
Authors: Petison Phallapa , Johri Lalit 
Published: May 2008

PurposeIn order to identify expatriate roles in a subsidiary it is necessary to go beyond those functions which are subservient to the headquarters. This paper sets out to prescribe a new spectrum of development roles with respect to varying capabilities and development needs of local employees.Design/methodology/approachThe roles of expatriates are analyzed based on seven case studies conducted with top automobile manufacturers in Thailand: Toyota Motor Thailand; Hino Motors (Thailand); Honda Automobile (Thailand); Isuzu Motors (Thailand); BMW (Thailand); DaimlerChrysler (Thailand); and Auto Alliance (Thailand).FindingsFour types of expatriate roles – commander, conductor, coach, and connector – are proposed; the roles correspond to the degree of task readiness and managerial capabilities of local employees.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a tool that will help expatriates understand their roles according to the technical skills and managerial capabilities of local employees.Originality/valueThe paper offers practical advice for diagnosing expatriate roles and their training prior to assignment to a subsidiary.
Effect of additives on fat uptake and sensory quality of deep fried foods
Authors: Gowri B.S. , Begum Khyrunnisa , Saraswathi G. , Prakash Jamuna 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of incorporation of selected additives on fat uptake and sensory quality of two traditional deep fried snacks.Design/methodology/approachA wheat‐based snack Diamond cuts, and a rice and gram‐based spicy snack Kodbale, were chosen. The products were prepared by incorporating to the dough, 0.2, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 per cent of 11 different additives like gum acacia, gum Tragacanth, Methylcellulose, Gaur Gum, Pectin, Gum Karaya, Gum Carageenan, Xanthan Gum, Gum Gellan, Seafoam and Beligara. Products were evaluated for sensory attributes and fat uptake was estimated by soxhlet extraction.FindingsResults indicated that average fat uptake in Diamond cuts and Kodbale was 28.00 and 30 per cent, respectively. In Diamond cuts, while addition of additives did not alter fat uptake remarkably, a slight decrease in the case of gum Tragacanth (0.2 per cent) and Gaur Gum and Gum Carageenan (0.75 per cent) was observed. Statistical analysis of sensory attributes revealed only a marginal difference in textural quality of Diamond cuts incorporated with Gaur Gum, Pectin and Beligara. In Kodbale, fat uptake was marginally lowered by the addition of Gaur Gum, gum Tragacanth, Xanthan Gum and Gum Carageenan at 0.75 per cent. No significant differences were observed among the sensory qualities except for marginal differences in textural quality of Kodbale incorporated with Gaur Gum, Gum Carageenan and Beligara. It can be concluded that addition of additives did not influence the fat uptake or sensory quality of fried products studied to a significant extent.Originality/valueSince some of the additives improved textural quality of products and fried products are usually stored and consumed, these additives can probably help in improving the texture of stored products. Further studies in this area would help in confirming this.
Efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in rats fed with high cholesterol diet
Authors: Tong Chow‐Chin , Choong Yew‐Keong , Mohamed Suhaila , Mohamed Mustapha Noordin , Aini Umar Nor 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on the anti‐cholesterol activities of Ganoderma lucidum on Sprague–Dawley white rats.Design/methodology/approachRats were divided into four groups with a sample size of six rats per groups. Different formula diets were given to each group for a period of six months. At regular intervals, blood samples were taken and analysed for the total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) and low density lipoprotein (LDL‐C) levels.FindingsAdministration of hyperlipidemia diet in rats fed with 1 per cent cholesterol diet caused an increase in the TC, TG, as well as LDL‐C level as compared to the control. A decrease of 23.6 per cent in the HDL‐C level was also noted. However, supplementation of the feed with G. lucidum (0.1 per cent) in rats decreased the TC, TG and LDL‐C level significantly (P < 0.05) while further increased the plasma concentration of HDL‐C. In the case of rats fed with diet containing a mixture of 1 per cent cholesterol and 0.1 per cent of Ganoderma, the lipid profile showed much higher readings (p < 0.05) compared to the chol group.Practical implicationsThe possible efficacy of G. lucidum in reducing the deposition of cholesterol in the wall of the blood vessels was indicated.Originality/valueThis article provides useful information to health care providers and consumers.
Breakfast habits and snacks consumed at school among Qatari schoolchildren aged 9‐10 years
Authors: Hassan Abdelmonem S. , Al‐Dosari Sara N. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe objective of this study is to assess breakfast habits and foods mostly consumed as snacks during the school day among fourth grade Qatari schoolchildren.Design/methodology/approachA cross‐sectional survey on a random sample of fourth grade students was carried out using a questionnaire on food frequency, food habits and types of foods consumed in breakfast and during the school day. The study included 259 students, 124 (47.9 per cent) girls and 135 (52.1 per cent) boys aged 9‐10 years.FindingsResults of the study revealed that 91.1 per cent of the boys and 89.5 per cent of the girls ate breakfast daily. Bread and breakfast cereals consumption at breakfast was significantly higher (p = 0.04) among girls (86.3 per cent) compared with boys (76.3 per cent). Cheese and eggs were consumed by 90.7 per cent of the children at breakfast. Sweets and chocolates consumption was significantly higher (p < 0.001) among girls (56.5 per cent) than boys (28.2 per cent). Consumption of bakery items was significantly higher (p = 0.035) among boys (45.9 per cent) compared with girls (33.1 per cent). About 80 per cent of the children consumed potato chips. More boys (80.7 per cent) than girls (48.4 per cent) bought their snacks from school (p < 0.001).Originality/valueThe paper reports some dietary habits among schoolchildren in Qatar that has not been reported before. The paper highlights some positive dietary habits that should be encouraged, e.g. eating breakfast daily, and some negative dietary habits that need to be addressed in nutrition education programs targeting schoolchildren in Qatar, e.g. high consumption of potato chips and low consumption of milk as snacks.