A review of multi-factor capacity expansion models for manufacturing plants:searching for a holistic decision aid

Investment in capacity expansion remains one of the most critical decisions for a manufacturing organisation with global production facilities. Multiple factors need to be considered making the decision process very complex. The purpose of this paper is to establish the state-of-the-art in multi-factor models for capacity expansion of manufacturing plants within a corporation. The research programme consisting of an extensive literature review and a structured assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the current research is presented. The study found that there is a wealth of mathematical multi-factor models for evaluating capacity expansion decisions however no single contribution captures all the different facets of the problem.

Strategic positioning of manufacturing operations within global supply chains

In global environment, a company has to make many decisions that impact upon its position in global supply chain networks such as outsourcing, offshoring, joint venture, vertical/horizontal integration, etc. All these decisions impact on the company’s strategic position, and hence on competitive space and performance. Therefore, it is important for a company to carefully manage strategic positioning by making careful decisions about the adoption of alternative manufacturing and supply chain activities. Unfortunately, there is no complete process studied in strategic positioning of manufacturing operations within global supply chain. Therefore, the work presented in this paper has investigated leading research and industrial practices to create a formal and rational decision process. An analysis of previous literature, industrial practices, and the resulting decision process are all presented in this paper.

Integrated strategic supply chain positioning for SME's:an empirical study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on an investigation into the selection and evaluation of a suitable strategic positioning methodology for SMEs in Singapore. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology is based on critical review of the literature to identify the potentially most suitable strategic positioning methodology, evaluation and testing of the methodology within the context of SME's in Singapore, and analysis to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology and opportunities for further research. Findings – This paper illustrates a leading integrated strategic positioning decision making process, which has been found to be potentially suitable for SMEs in Singapore, and the process is then applied and evaluated in two industrial case studies. Results in the form of strengths, weaknesses and opportunities are evaluated and discussed in detail, and further research to improve the process has been identified. Practical implications – A practical and integrated strategic supply chain positioning methodology for SMEs to define their own competitive space, among other companies in the manufacturing supply chain, so as to maximize business competitiveness. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the knowledge of the strategic positioning decision process as well as identifies further research to adapt the process for SMEs in Singapore.

A review of research in manufacturing prognostics

With the fast changing global business landscape, manufacturing companies are facing increasing challenge to reduce cost of production, increase equipment utilization and provide innovative products in order to compete with countries with low labour cost and production cost. On of the methods is zero down time. Unfortunately, the current research and industrial solution does not provide user friendly development environment to create “Adaptive microprocessor size with supercomputer performance” solution to reduce downtime. Most of the solutions are PC based computer with off the shelf research software tools which is inadequate for the space constraint manufacturing environment in developed countries. On the other hand, to develop solution for various manufacturing domain will take too much time, there is lacking tools available for rapid or adaptive way of create the solution. Therefore, this research is to understand the needs, trends, gaps of manufacturing prognostics and defines the research potential related to rapid embedded system framework for prognostic.

Clonal composition of human adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas and somatic mutation analyses of the patched (PTCH), Gsα and Gi2α genes

Craniopharyngioma is the most common childhood tumor and thought to arise from embryonic remnants of Rathke's pouch. The paucity of published data on the molecular basis of these tumors prompted us to examine 22 adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas looking for genetic abnormalities. Using the X-linked polymorphic androgen receptor gene as a tool for X-chromosome inactivating analysis, we found that a subset of craniopharyngiomas are monoclonal and therefore are probably due to acquired somatic genetic defects. Thus, we investigated these tumours for mutations within three candidate genes, Gsα, Gi2α and patched (PTCH). Using single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing, the presence of somatic mutations in these genes could not be demonstrated in any tumor. Our data indicate that a subset of craniopharyngiomas are monoclonal and the mutations in the PTCH, Gsα, and Gi2α contribute little if any to cranipharyngioma development.

Are guanxi-type supervisor-subordinate relationships culture-general? An eight-nation test of measurement invariance

Three dimensions of subordinate-supervisor relations (affective attachment, deference to supervisor, and personal-life inclusion) that had been found by Y. Chen, Friedman, Yu, Fang, and Lu to be characteristic of a guanxi relationship between subordinates and their supervisors in China were surveyed in Taiwan, Singapore, and six non-Chinese cultural contexts. The Affective Attachment and Deference subscales demonstrated full metric invariance whereas the Personal-Life Inclusion subscale was found to have partial metric invariance across all eight samples. Structural equation modeling revealed that the affective attachment dimension had a cross-nationally invariant positive relationship to affective organizational commitment and a negative relationship to turnover intention. The deference to the supervisor dimension had invariant positive relationships with both affective and normative organizational commitment. The personal-life inclusion dimension was unrelated to all outcomes. These results indicate the relevance of aspects of guanxi to superior-subordinate relations in non-Chinese cultures. Studies of indigenous concepts can contribute to a broader understanding of organizational behavior. © The Author(s) 2014.

Comparative genomic hybridization analysis of craniopharyngiomas

Object. Craniopharyngioma is the most common childhood brain tumor and is thought to arise from embryonic remnants of the Rathke pouch. Some craniopharyngiomas are monoclonal in origin and hence presumably harbor somatic genetic alterations, although the precise molecular mechanisms involved in craniopharyngioma development are unknown. The goal of this study was to identify genetic alterations in craniopharyngiomas. Methods. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in development of these tumors, the authors analyzed nine adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas by using comparative genomic hybridization. Six tumors (67%) displayed at least one genomic alteration, and three had six or more alterations. Only two tumors displayed a decrease in DNA copy number, and in all others an increase in DNA copy number was noted. Conclusions. The authors conclude that a subset of craniopharyngiomas consists of monoclonal tumors arising from activation of oncogenes located at specific chromosomal loci.

Kinetic study of the pyrolysis of miscanthus and its acid hydrolysis residue by thermogravimetric analysis

The kinetic parameters of the pyrolysis of miscanthus and its acid hydrolysis residue (AHR) were determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The AHR was produced at the University of Limerick by treating miscanthus with 5 wt.% sulphuric acid at 175 °C as representative of a lignocellulosic acid hydrolysis product. For the TGA experiments, 3 to 6 g of sample, milled and sieved to a particle size below 250 μm, were placed in the TGA ceramic crucible. The experiments were carried out under non-isothermal conditions heating the samples from 50 to 900 °C at heating rates of 2.5, 5, 10, 17 and 25 °C/min. The activation energy (EA) of the decomposition process was determined from the TGA data by differential analysis (Friedman) and three isoconversional methods of integral analysis (Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, Ozawa–Flynn–Wall, Vyazovkin). The activation energy ranged from 129 to 156 kJ/mol for miscanthus and from 200 to 376 kJ/mol for AHR increasing with increasing conversion. The reaction model was selected using the non-linear least squares method and the pre-exponential factor was calculated from the Arrhenius approximation. The results showed that the best fitting reaction model was the third order reaction for both feedstocks. The pre-exponential factor was in the range of 5.6 × 1010 to 3.9 × 10+ 13 min− 1 for miscanthus and 2.1 × 1016 to 7.7 × 1025 min− 1 for AHR.

Repeatability of ocular aberration measurements in patients with keratoconus

Purpose: To explore the repeatability of lower-order and higher-order ocular aberrations measured in patients with keratoconus. Methods: The IRX-3 (Imagine Eyes, Paris, France) aberrometer was used to record lower-order and higher-order aberrations in 31 eyes of 31 patients with keratoconus. Four monocular measurements were taken consecutively for each patient. The aberrometry data were analysed up to the 5th Zernike order for a 4-mm pupil diameter. The data were evaluated using repeated-measures anova and Friedman analyses. Repeatability was analysed using within-subject standard deviation (SW) and the repeatability limit (r) calculated as 1.96 ×√2×Sw. Results: Of the 11 aberration terms evaluated, the repeatability of Z (2,0) (mean= 1.36μm; SW=0.09μm; r=0.26μm); Z (2,±2) RMS (mean=1.05μm; SW= 0.09μm; r=0.24μm) and Z (4,0) aberrations (mean=0.34μm; SW=0.09 μm; r=0.24μm) showed the highest variability. In contrast, Z (3,±1) RMS aberrations (mean=0.85μm; SW=0.06μm; r=0.16μm) and Z (4,±2) RMS aberrations (mean=0.40μm; SW=0.07μm; r=0.18μm) showed comparatively better repeatability. Conclusions: The lower-order and higher-order aberrations measured in this group of keratoconic patients showed higher levels of variability compared to previous investigations of visually-normal subjects. These results may be of interest to eyecare practitioners involved in the design and fitting of aberration-controlling contact lenses for patients with keratoconus. © 2011 The College of Optometrists.

Radionuclides, Nd isotopes and biogenic Opal in Atlanic Ocean sediments

Reconstructing past modes of ocean circulation is an essential task in paleoclimatology and paleoceanography. To this end, we combine two sedimentary proxies, Nd isotopes (epsilon-Nd) and the 231Pa/230Th ratio, both of which are not directly involved in the global carbon cycle, but allow the reconstruction of water mass provenance and provide information about the past strength of overturning circulation, respectively. In this study, combined 231Pa/230Th and epsilon-Nd down-core profiles from six Atlantic Ocean sediment cores are presented. The data set is complemented by the two available combined data sets from the literature. From this we derive a comprehensive picture of spatial and temporal patterns and the dynamic changes of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation over the past ~25 ka. Our results provide evidence for a consistent pattern of glacial/stadial advances of Southern Sourced Water along with a northward circulation mode for all cores in the deeper (>3000 m) Atlantic. Results from shallower core sites support an active overturning cell of shoaled Northern Sourced Water during the LGM and the subsequent deglaciation. Furthermore, we report evidence for a short-lived period of intensified AMOC in the early Holocene.

Data compilation on the biological response to ocean acidification: environmental and experimental context of data sets and related literature

The exponential growth of studies on the biological response to ocean acidification over the last few decades has generated a large amount of data. To facilitate data comparison, a data compilation hosted at the data publisher PANGAEA was initiated in 2008 and is updated on a regular basis (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.149999). By January 2015, a total of 581 data sets (over 4 000 000 data points) from 539 papers had been archived. Here we present the developments of this data compilation five years since its first description by Nisumaa et al. (2010). Most of study sites from which data archived are still in the Northern Hemisphere and the number of archived data from studies from the Southern Hemisphere and polar oceans are still relatively low. Data from 60 studies that investigated the response of a mix of organisms or natural communities were all added after 2010, indicating a welcomed shift from the study of individual organisms to communities and ecosystems. The initial imbalance of considerably more data archived on calcification and primary production than on other processes has improved. There is also a clear tendency towards more data archived from multifactorial studies after 2010. For easier and more effective access to ocean acidification data, the ocean acidification community is strongly encouraged to contribute to the data archiving effort, and help develop standard vocabularies describing the variables and define best practices for archiving ocean acidification data.

A evolução do turismo no Seridó: uma análise à luz do modelo de Butler

Tourism is configured as an activity that presents constant movement could boost local development in the economic, sociocultural and human in locations with potential for structuring and such. Because it is a dynamic activity, tourism allows changes in its flow, extending the periods of seasonality. To this end, in view of the aforementioned dynamics, it becomes relevant to the presence of tourism planning, initially starting from the government so that it create laws and standards and develop projects for the management of activities in an orderly way, seeking citizen participation, making essential the presence of actors and agents in local tourism, expanding democracy and knowledge of their place of origin. In this scenario, the Ministry of Tourism is emerging with the National Tourism Plan which incorporates among its actions, the Regionalization Program Guide, adopting a model of regional local management, a participatory manner, through the bodies of governance imposed at the poles, and the shares of public policy in their various departments most responsible for promoting tourism in pole Seridó. This scientific work aims to analyze the pole Seridó, under the theory of tourism area life cycle (TALC) proposed by BUTLER (1980), locating actions for tourism and chronology of the locality applied the proposed process activity. For both the methodology is descriptive and exploratory, qualitative approach, historical, descriptive and narrative level, non-probability sampling, using secondary sources, through documents and other records occurred during the planning processes in the region, in order to have access to information related to the planning process of tourism in Seridó, using as a way to research the data collected the technique of content analysis. As a conclusion of this study it is observed that from the survey in relation to the history of tourism in the region, economic activities of livestock, cotton industry, mining and ceramics industry were responsible for the initiation of tourism in the locality through the flow directed to the same, the insertion of the first hotels and performing traditional events, giving rise to the demand for public policies that aided in directing the activity being, therefore, inserted into the engagement phase, the second phase proposed by BUTLER (1980) model, and the study was terminated with suggestions for the continuation of tourism in the region.

Normalização de eletromiografia de superfície dos músculos respiratórios em sujeitos saudáveis: contração voluntária máxima máxima isométrica versus pressões respiratórias máximas

Aim : To evaluate and to standardize surface electromyography (sEMG) normalization procedures for respiratory muscles by comparing muscle activation during Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC) and Maximal Respiratory Pressures (MIP, MEP and sniff test). Methods: Healthy subjects were evalua ted regarding demographics, spirometry and sEMG during the five maneuvers: sniff test, MIP , MEP and Maximal Voluntary Isometric C ontraction (MVIC) of RA, SCM and SC A . For electrode placement, skin was prepared with abrasion, followed by shaving in the foll owing regions for acquisition of el ectromyographic signals: (1) SC M: lower third of the distance between the mastoid process and t he sternoclavicular joint; (2) SC A : 5 cm to the right from the sternoclavicular joint and at this point, up to 2 cm; and (3 ) RA: the level of umbilicus, 4 cm to the right. In electromyographic variables analysis , the data normality was assessed by Shapiro - Wilk test. Comparisons among studied maneuvers were performed by Friedman Test and Dunn’s post - hoc for multiple comparisons a mong inspiratory maneuvers, and Mann Whitney test for expiratory maneuvers. Subgroups differences between genders were performed by Student's t test or Mann - Whitney test according to data normality. Results: 35 subjects participated in the study, b ut 5 we re excluded (BMI> 25 kg/ m²). Sample consisted of 30 subjects (1 5 women), mean age 27.3±7.43 years, BMI 22.2 ± 1.69 kg/m² and spirometric indices within normal limits. Specific MVIC for SCM, SCA and RA showed the highest RMS. When we grouped sample into gender we found no difference among RMS values for the studied SCM maneuvers, while for SCA, MVIC SCM / SCA was the one with the highest RMS and for RA, MVIC RA in men. Once considering women, MVIC SCM/SCA showed the highest RMS for SCM, SCA and MVIC RA showed t he highest value for RA. Conclusion: MVIC for SCM, SCA and RA muscles showed the highest RMS values. When comparing RMS between the studied groups, there was no significant difference between men and women.

Efeitos da reabilitação vestibular em idosos com vertigem posicional paroxística benigna (VPPB): ensaio clínico controlado e randomizado

Introdução: a Vertigem Posicional Paroxística Benigna (VPPB) é uma das principais causas de tontura em idosos. O tratamento mais empregado para essa afecção é a Manobra de Reposicionamento Canalítico (MRC). Apesar de útil na resolução clínica da sintomatologia vertiginosa e do nistagmo, os pacientes podem continuar demonstrando prejuízo na estabilidade postural após serem submetidos à MRC. Outra opção não farmacológica disponível são os exercícios de Reabilitação Vestibular (RV) que podem ser direcionados à melhora do equilíbrio postural dos idosos, porém há escassez de estudos que avaliem a efetividade da RV no equilíbrio postural de idosos com VPPB. Objetivo: analisar a efetividade da Terapia de Reabilitação Vestibular associada às Manobras de Reposicionamento Canalítico em comparação às Manobras de Reposicionamento Canalítico no tratamento de idosos com Vertigem Posicional Paroxística Benigna (VPPB) crônica. Métodos: participaram do presente ensaio clínico controlado, randomizado e cego 14 idosos de ambos os sexos e idade igual ou superior a 65 anos e com diagnóstico de VPPB crônica. Os idosos foram randomizados em dois grupos, sendo sete (mediana: 69 anos, 65-78) para o grupo experimental e sete (mediana: 73 anos, 65-76) para o grupo controle. Ambos os grupos foram submetidos a Manobras de Reposicionamento Canalítico (MRC) para VPPB e somente o grupo experimental à Terapia de Reabilitação Vestibular (TRV) associada às MRC. Os efeitos da TRV foram mensurados em relação à conversão do teste de Dix-Hallpike de positivo para negativo, recorrência da VPPB, número de manobras para obter a negativação do teste de Dix-Hallpike, sintomatologia da tontura, qualidade de vida e ao equilíbrio estático e dinâmico. Os idosos foram submetidos a uma avaliação inicial (T0), em uma semana (T1), cinco (T5), nove (T9) e treze semanas (T13). Em todas as avaliações o teste de Dix-Hallpike foi realizado com o auxílio do sistema de Videonistagmoscopia (SVNC) da Contronic - Brasil, e em caso positivo, nova MRC foi empregada. As diferenças entre os grupos foram analisadas pelos testes de Mann Whitney e exato de Fisher e para elucidar as diferenças intra-grupo os testes não paramétricos de Friedman e Wilcoxon foram usados. Resultados: nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada na conversão do teste de Dix-Hallpike de positivo para negativo, na recorrência da VPPB e no número de manobras para a negativação do teste de Dix-Hallpike, entre os grupos ao longo do ensaio. Também não foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos na sintomatologia da tontura, qualidade de vida e equilíbrio estático. Contudo, diferenças significativas foram observadas nos aspectos do equilíbrio dinâmico entre os grupos (p< 0,05). Na análise intra-grupo ambos os grupos obtiveram melhora em todas as medidas de desfecho, porém o grupo controle não obteve melhora no equilíbrio dinâmico. Conclusões: a TRV adicional não influenciou na conversão do teste de Dix-Hallpike de positivo para negativo, na recorrência da VPPB, no número de manobras para a negativação do teste de Dix-Hallpike, na redução da sintomatologia da tontura e na qualidade de vida dos idosos com VPPB crônica. Porém, os participantes que receberam a TRV adicional demonstraram melhores resultados no equilíbrio dinâmico do que aqueles que foram submetidos somente às MRC. Os resultados desse estudo deverão repercutir nas estratégias de reabilitação baseadas em evidências nos pacientes idosos com disfunções otoneurológicas.

Resposta clínica periodontal e controle glicêmico em pacientes com e sem diabetes tipo II portadores de periodontite crônica ao tratamento periodontal “full mouth desinfection”

There is a bidirectional association between periodontal disease (PD) and diabetes mellitus, in which diabetes favors the development of PD and PD, if left untreated, can worsen the metabolic control of diabetes. Thus, periodontal disease should be treated to restore periodontal health and reduce the complications of diabetes. Therefore, the objective is assess the effect of full mouth periodontal therapy decontamination (Full Mouth Desinfection - FMD) in diabetic type II patients with chronic periodontitis during 12 months. Thirty-one patients in group one (G1) and 12 in group two (G2) were followed at baseline, 03, 06 09 and 12 months. There following clinical parameters were accessed: probing on bleeding (BOP), visible plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and gingival recession (GR). For diabetic patients, there were also made laboratory tests to evaluate blood parameters: fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin. The results had been analyzed in two ways: all sites in the mouth and another with diseased sites. The Mann-Whitney, Friedman and Wilcoxon tests were used with 5% significance. Intergroup analysis of all sites it is clear that there was no significant difference over time concerning PD, BOP, PI, CAL and RG. However, when evaluating the diseased sites, we observed significant difference for CAL and PD, with higher values in G1. The intragroup analysis for all sites showed a statistically significant reduction at PD, PI and BOP in both groups. Intragroup analysis of periodontal affected sites showed a statistically significant reduction in PD, BOP and CAL in both groups. There was also a statistically significant increase in RG values. There was no significant change concerning glycated hemoglobin and fasting glucose in the G1. Therefore, it can be concluded that there were improvements in periodontal parameters over the 12 months of research, but without changes in glycemic levels of diabetic patients. Thus, periodontal therapy proved effective in maintaining oral health.