Multinational enterprises and technological effort by local firms:a case study of the Malaysian electronics and electrical industry

It is often assumed that foreign MNEs are the driving force behind technological development in developing economies but it has become evident in recent years that the actions of MNEs in isolation from the domestic economy. The study, therefore, examines the determinants of local firms' decisions to undertake technological effort, not only in isolation, but also in the context of linkages between domestic firms and MNEs. There is evidence that linkages between MNEs and local firms are important in explaining technological effort by local firms but direct technological assistance from MNEs does not seem to play a major role in fostering increased technological effort by local firms.

Modelling and improving maintenance decisions:Having foresight with simulation and artificial intelligence

Machine breakdowns are one of the main sources of disruption and throughput fluctuation in highly automated production facilities. One element in reducing this disruption is ensuring that the maintenance team responds correctly to machine failures. It is, however, difficult to determine the current practice employed by the maintenance team, let alone suggest improvements to it. 'Knowledge based improvement' is a methodology that aims to address this issue, by (a) eliciting knowledge on current practice, (b) evaluating that practice and (c) looking for improvements. The methodology, based on visual interactive simulation and artificial intelligence methods, and its application to a Ford engine assembly facility are described. Copyright © 2002 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

Knowledge based improvement:simulation and artificial intelligence for identifying and improving human decision-making in an operations systems

The performance of most operations systems is significantly affected by the interaction of human decision-makers. A methodology, based on the use of visual interactive simulation (VIS) and artificial intelligence (AI), is described that aims to identify and improve human decision-making in operations systems. The methodology, known as 'knowledge-based improvement' (KBI), elicits knowledge from a decision-maker via a VIS and then uses AI methods to represent decision-making. By linking the VIS and AI representation, it is possible to predict the performance of the operations system under different decision-making strategies and to search for improved strategies. The KBI methodology is applied to the decision-making surrounding unplanned maintenance operations at a Ford Motor Company engine assembly plant.

Evaluating the performance of a EuroDivisia index using artificial intelligence techniques

We compare two methods in order to predict inflation rates in Europe. One method uses a standard back propagation neural network and the other uses an evolutionary approach, where the network weights and the network architecture is evolved. Results indicate that back propagation produces superior results. However, the evolving network still produces reasonable results with the advantage that the experimental set-up is minimal. Also of interest is the fact that the Divisia measure of money is superior as a predictive tool over simple sum.

Evaluating the performance of a EuroDivisia index using artificial intelligence techniques

This paper compares two methods to predict in°ation rates in Europe. One method uses a standard back propagation neural network and the other uses an evolutionary approach, where the network weights and the network architecture are evolved. Results indicate that back propagation produces superior results. However, the evolving network still produces reasonable results with the advantage that the experimental set-up is minimal. Also of interest is the fact that the Divisia measure of money is superior as a predictive tool over simple sum.

Gravity spun polycaprolactone fibers for applications in vascular tissue engineering:proliferation and function of human vascular endothelial cells

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers produced by wet spinning from solutions in acetone under low-shear (gravity-flow) conditions resulted in fiber strength of 8 MPa and stiffness of 0.08 Gpa. Cold drawing to an extension of 500% resulted in an increase in fiber strength to 43 MPa and stiffness to 0.3 GPa. The growth rate of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) (seeded at a density of 5 × 104 cells/mL) on as-spun fibers was consistently lower than that measured on tissue culture plastic (TCP) beyond day 2. Cell proliferation was similar on gelatin-coated fibers and TCP over 7 days and higher by a factor of 1.9 on 500% cold-drawn PCL fibers relative to TCP up to 4 days. Cell growth on PCL fibers exceeded that on Dacron monofilament by at least a factor of 3.7 at 9 days. Scanning electron microscopy revealed formation of a cell layer on samples of cold-drawn and gelatin-coated fibers after 24 hours in culture. Similar levels of ICAM-1 expression by HUVECs attached to PCL fibers and TCP were measured using RT-PCR and flow cytometry, indicative of low levels of immune activation. Retention of a specific function of HUVECs attached to PCL fibers was demonstrated by measuring their immune response to lipopolysaccharide. Levels of ICAM-1 expression increased by approximately 11% in cells attached to PCL fibers and TCP. The high fiber compliance, favorable endothelial cell proliferation rates, and retention of an important immune response of attached HUVECS support the use of gravity spun PCL fibers for three-dimensional scaffold production in vascular tissue engineering. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Surface wave techniques for the study of engineering structures and materials

A wire drive pulse echo method of measuring the spectrum of solid bodies described. Using an 's' plane representation, a general analysis of the transient response of such solids has been carried out. This was used for the study of the stepped amplitude transient of high order modes of disks and for the case where there are two adjacent resonant frequencies. The techniques developed have been applied to the measurenent of the elasticities of refractory materials at high temperatures. In the experimental study of the high order in-plane resonances of thin disks it was found that the energy travelled at the edge of the disk and this initiated the work on one dimensional Rayleigh waves.Their properties were established for the straight edge condition by following an analysis similar to that of the two dimensional case. Experiments were then carried out on the velocity dispersion of various circuits including the disk and a hole in a large plate - the negative curvature condition.Theoretical analysis established the phase and group velocities for these cases and experimental tests on aluminium and glass gave good agreement with theory. At high frequencies all velocities approach that of the one dimensional Rayleigh waves. When applied to crack detection it was observed that a signal burst travelling round a disk showed an anomalous amplitude effect. In certain cases the signal which travelled the greater distance had the greater amplitude.An experiment was designed to investigate the phenanenon and it was established that the energy travelled in two nodes with different velocities.It was found by analysis that as well as the Rayleigh surface wave on the edge, a seoond node travelling at about the shear velocity was excited and the calculated results gave reasonable agreement with the experiments.

A detailed study of the mechanical and electrical aspects of microparticle impact phenomena

An experimental and theoretical study of the impact behaviour of charged microparticles in a high voltage vacuum gap has been carried out to investigate under controlled conditions the role of low velocity microparticles (ζ 500 ms-1) in initiating electrical breakdown in such gaps. This has involved developing a unique (UHV) low-velocity source of micron-sized charged particles to study the underlying mechanical and electrical aspects of micro-particle impact on a range of target materials e.g. Pb, Ti, C, stainless-steel and mica etc., having atomically clean or oxidised surfaces. Argon-ion etching and electron-beam heating has been used for in-situ surface treatment and ellipsometry for characterising the target surfaces. An associated sphere/plane theoretical model has been developed for detailed analysis of the many complex electrical (in-flight in-field emission, M.I.M. tunnelling and ohmic conduction) and mechanical (impact dynamics, deformation and heating) phenomena that are involved when a microparticle closely approaches and impacts on a plane target. In each instance the influence of parameters such as particle radius, particle/target impact velocity, surface field, surface condition and material has been determined.

Studies on the thermal decomposition behaviour, kinetics and electrical conductivity of the non-isothermal decomposition of pyridine mono carboxylic acids and some of their transition metal complexes

The thesis is divided into four chapters. They are: introduction, experimental, results and discussion about the free ligands and results and discussion about the complexes. The First Chapter, the introductory chapter, is a general introduction to the study of solid state reactions. The Second Chapter is devoted to the materials and experimental methods that have been used for carrying out tile experiments. TIle Third Chapter is concerned with the characterisations of free ligands (Picolinic acid, nicotinic acid, and isonicotinic acid) by using elemental analysis, IR spectra, X-ray diffraction, and mass spectra. Additionally, the thermal behaviour of free ligands in air has been studied by means of thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The behaviour of thermal decomposition of the three free ligands was not identical Finally, a computer program has been used for kinetic evaluation of non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry data according to a composite and single heating rate methods in comparison with the methods due to Ozawa and Kissinger methods. The most probable reaction mechanism for the free ligands was the Avrami-Erofeev equation (A) that described the solid-state nucleation-growth mechanism. The activation parameters of the decomposition reaction for free ligands were calculated and the results of different methods of data analysis were compared and discussed. The Fourth Chapter, the final chapter, deals with the preparation of cobalt, nickel, and copper with mono-pyridine carboxylic acids in aqueous solution. The prepared complexes have been characterised by analyses, IR spectra, X-ray diffraction, magnetic moments, and electronic spectra. The stoichiometry of these compounds was ML2x(H20), (where M = metal ion, L = organic ligand and x = water molecule). The environments of cobalt, nickel, and copper nicotinates and the environments of cobalt and nickel picolinates were octahedral, whereas the environment of copper picolinate [Cu(PA)2] was tetragonal. However, the environments of cobalt, nickel, and copper isonicotinates were polymeric octahedral structures. The morphological changes that occurred throughout the decomposition were followed by SEM observation. TG, DTG, and DSC measurements have studied the thermal behaviour of the prepared complexes in air. During the degradation processes of the hydrated complexes, the crystallisation water molecules were lost in one or two steps. This was also followed by loss of organic ligands and the metal oxides remained. Comparison between the DTG temperatures of the first and second steps of the dehydration suggested that the water of crystallisation was more strongly bonded with anion in Ni(II) complexes than in the complexes of Co(II) and Cu(II). The intermediate products of decomposition were not identified. The most probable reaction mechanism for the prepared complexes was also Avrami-Erofeev equation (A) characteristic of solid-state nucleation-growth mechanism. The tempemture dependence of conductivity using direct current was determined for cobalt, nickel, Cl.nd copper isonicotinates. An activation energy (ΔΕ), the activation energy (ΔΕ ) were calculated.The ternperature and frequency dependence of conductivity, the frequency dependence of dielectric constant, and the dielectric loss for nickel isonicotinate were determined by using altemating current. The value of s paralneter and the value of'density of state [N(Ef)] were calculated. Keyword Thermal decomposition, kinetic, electrical conduclion, pyridine rnono~ carboxylic acid, cOlnplex, transition metal compJex.

The synthesis, characterisation and electrical conductivity of poly(styrene-co-acetylene)

A novel metathesis catalyst for the polymerisation of acetylene has been developed. The polyacetylene produced by this new catalyst has been characterised by infra-red and NMR spectroscopy. The conductivity of the pristine material has been studied as a function of temperature, pressure and frequency. The effect on the conductivity of doping the material has also been investigated. The new metathesis catalyst has been incorporated into an anionic-to-metathesis transformation reaction. This novel reaction has been used to prepare samples of poly(styrene-co-acetylene). The copolymer has been characterised using U.V./Visible, NMR, infra-red spectroscopy and the surface morphology looked at using scanning electron microscopy. GPC was also used to give some idea of the molecular weights of the materials prepared. The conductivity of the copolymer has been studied as a function of temperature, pressure and frequency. The effect of doping on the conductivity the material has also been investigated. The conductivity results obtained from both materials have been used to try and gain an insight into the mechanism of the conduction processes occurring within the materials. An attempt has also been made to synthesise polyacetylene oligomers (polyenes) by modifying the Ziegler/Natta type catalysts commonly used to synthesise polyacetylene. The polyenes were characterised using U.V./Visible and infra-red spectroscopy together with GPC and GCMS.

Preparation and electrical properties of graphene nanosheet/Al2O3 composites

Fully dense graphene nanosheet(GNS)/Al2O3 composites with homogeneously distributed GNSs of thicknesses ranging from 2.5 to 20 nm have been fabricated from ball milled expanded graphite and Al2O3 by spark plasma sintering. The percolation threshold of electrical conductivity of the as-prepared GNS/Al2O3 composites is around 3 vol.%, and this new composite outperforms most of carbon nanotube/Al2O3 composites in electrical conductivity. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity indicated that the as-prepared composites behaved as a semimetal in a temperature range from 2 to 300 K.

Summary of the 7th international workshop on Models@run.time

The Models@run.time (MRT) workshop series offers a discussion forum for the rising need to leverage modeling techniques for the software of the future. The main goals are to explore the benefits of models@run.time and to foster collaboration and cross-fertilization between different research communities like for example like model-driven engineering (e.g. MODELS), self-adaptive/autonomous systems communities (e.g., SEAMS and ICAC), the control theory community and the artificial intelligence community. © 2012 Authors.

Public policy and electrical-grid sector innovation

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the manner in which technological innovation in the European electrical-grid sector has developed by focusing, in particular, on the effect of public policy on innovation. To achieve this aim, this paper highlights how technological innovation and development progressed from the 1960s to the 1980s, and contrasts this period with the deregulated/privatization environment. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a series of in-depth multiple company case studies of grid companies, some of their suppliers and other actors in their broader business network. Empirical data were collected through 55 interviews. Findings – The authors find that a phase of mutual collaboration was encouraged in the first period, which led to strong technological innovation with a focus on product quality and the development of functionality. Buyers played a pivotal role in the development of products and posed technical requirements. In contrast, the current role of the buyer has transformed principally into one of evaluating competing bids for specific projects. Today, buyers face increasing pressure to substantially lower CO2 emissions and transform the energy grid system. These goals are difficult to achieve without a new way of thinking about innovation. Research limitations/implications – Models to achieve innovation must not only focus on individual research projects; instead, the innovation should be factored into normal business dealings in the supply chain. Practical implications – We propose that policymakers and regulators need to: accommodate for innovation and address the collaborative elements of innovation when developing policies and regulations. Furthermore, regulators have the option of either developing a strategic vision for the electrical-grid network or incorporating sustainability into the evaluation of electrical grids and, thus, consumers’ willingness to pay. Originality/value – This paper makes a distinctive contribution in the area of innovation for electrical grids. Our paper shows how innovation and the development of new technology for electrical grids changed over time. Furthermore, this paper describes the energy sector in terms of a business network comprising the different actors involved in innovation and development and, thus, their role in the energy supply chain.

The impact of phase conjugation on the nonlinear-Shannon limit:the difference between optical and electrical phase conjugation

We show that optical and electrical phase conjugation enable effective nonlinear compensation, The impact of polarization mode dispersion and finite processing bandwidth on the ultimate limits are also considered.