An examination of the use of manufacturing technologies and performance implications in US plants with different export intensities

¹ 1. Current address for Cigdem Ataseven is Operations and Supply Chain Management Department, Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44114, USA. In theory, competition improves productivity and performance; trade liberalisation, which increases imports/exports, brings more competition. Using two large-scale survey responses from over 1000 manufacturers collected during two different time periods while US exports were growing in an environment of trade liberalisation, this study examines the effectiveness of technologies, over time, in manufacturing plants with varying export intensities. We find manufacturing technology use increases with exports and exporters report significant gains in plant performance over time. The study considers hard technologies (i.e. technologies involving capital-intensive equipment in manufacturing operations) and soft technologies (i.e. technologies involving planning and administrative components) to understand the distinct dynamic impact of the use of these technologies among plants exporting with varying intensities. Manufacturing plants are categorised into high, medium, and non-exporting based on the plant’s exports as a percent of total output. The results of this study indicates that exporters engage in more skilled use of these technologies than non-exporters. Further, exporters not only have higher skilled use of manufacturing technologies from non-exporters, but they also expand the scope of technologies that they skillfully employ in their operations. We find that over the course of liberalised trade regime, medium exporters get closer to high exporters in their skilled use of manufacturing technologies providing evidence of learning effect from exporting. Finally, higher skilled use of manufacturing technologies by high exporters translates into lower rejects and shorter lead times. However, non-exporters were not able to gain similar benefits from using manufacturing technologies.     

Significance of Biogenic Amines in Foods and Their Reduction Methods

The term ＂biogenic amines＂ defines decarboxylation products such as histamine, putrescine, serotonin, tyramine, phenylethylamine, tryptamine and also aliphatic polyamines. They can be detected in both raw and processed foods. In the recent years, there is a great interest in biogenic amines as they are associated with quality, safety and freshness of some foods, particularly fermented foods. The presence of biogenic amines in foods can also be used as an indicator of hygienic quality. Biogenic amines also cause health hazards due to their toxic effects especially in sensitive individuals. It is therefore important to control and reduce the biogenic amines. The reduction can be brought about by the use of high pressure, irradiation, packaging, additives, starter cultures and by reduction of decarboxylase activity and temperature. This review summarizes the significance, function, occurrence and formation of biogenic amines in different foods and their reduction by different methods.     

Conductive heating and microwave hydrolysis under identical heating profiles for advanced anaerobic digestion of municipal sludge

Microwave (2.45 GHz, 1200 W) and conventional heating (custom pressure vessel) pretreatments were applied to dewatered municipal waste sludge (18% total solids) using identical heating profiles that span a wide range of temperatures (80–160 °C). Fourteen lab-scale semi-continuous digesters were set up to optimize the energy (methane) output and sludge retention time (SRT) requirements of untreated (control) and thermally pretreated anaerobic digesters operated under mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures. Both pretreatment methods indicated that in the pretreatment range of 80–160 °C, temperature was a statistically significant factor (p-value < 0.05) for increasing solubilization of chemical oxygen demand and biopolymers (proteins, sugars, humic acids) of the waste sludge. However, the type of pretreatment method, i.e. microwave versus conventional heating, had no statistically significant effect (p-value >0.05) on sludge solubilization. With the exception of the control digesters at a 5-d SRT, all control and pretreated digesters achieved steady state at all three SRTs, corresponding to volumetric organic loading rates of 1.74–6.96 g chemical oxygen demand/L/d. At an SRT of 5 d, both mesophilic and thermophilic controls stopped producing biogas after 20 d of operation with total volatile fatty acids concentrations exceeding 1818 mg/L at pH <5.64 for mesophilic and 2853 mg/L at pH <7.02 for thermophilic controls, while the pretreated digesters continued producing biogas. Furthermore, relative (to control) organic removal efficiencies dramatically increased as SRT was shortened from 20 to 10 and then 5 d, indicating that the control digesters were challenged as the organic loading rate was increased. Energy analysis showed that, at an elevated temperature of 160 °C, the amount of methane recovered was not enough to compensate for the energy input. Among the digesters with positive net energy productions, control and pretreated digesters at 80 °C were more favorable at an SRT of 10 d.     

Optimization of cable layout designs for large offshore wind farms

Installation of a wind farm exposes several problems such as site selection, placement of wind turbines in the site, and designing of cable infrastructure within the farm. The latter problem, called cable layout design, is the determination of cable connections among turbines and one or more transmitters such that energies generated by turbines will be sent through the cable routes, and eventually gathered at the transmitter(s). This problem is especially important for offshore wind farms where the featured and expensive cables are used. The main objective of the present study is to address the cable layout design problem of offshore wind farms to reduce cable costs in the design using optimization-based approaches. The problem, firstly, is modelled as a mixed integer linear program (MIP) under a set of real-life constraints such as different cable and transmitter types and non-crossing connections between the turbines. Then, a novel mathematical model, which is a modification of the MIP model by imposing several heuristic rules, is proposed to solve the layout problem of large offshore wind farms. Experiments on a set of small- and moderate-sized test instances reveal that the heuristic model, MIP_H, reduces the computer time nearly 55% compared to that of MIP model while the average cable costs generated by the models are close to each other. MIP_H, besides its efficiency, provides more cost-effective layouts compared to MIP model for large-sized real-life examples. Additionally, a comparative study on MIP_H and existing methods in the literature shows that MIP_H is able to solve all instances of the real-life examples providing less cable costs in average.     

Estimation of monthly diffuse nutrient loads for a watershed in Turkey

Diffuse pollution has a complex nature depending on various land‐use activities like agriculture, livestock breeding and forestry. In this study, an alternative methodology is applied for decreasing the spatial uncertainty of diffuse nutrient load estimations. It is applied in the Melen Watershed, Turkey, which is an important watershed from where additional water will be supplied for the megacity Istanbul via interbasin water transfer. Monthly diffuse nutrient loads were estimated for each subwatershed by utilizing remote sensing (RS) and geographical information systems (GIS). Estimated nutrient loads were considerably different in various months due to the temporally irregular fertilizer application and meteorological conditions. Temporal differences were also predicted in the spatial distribution of the nutrient loads. The methodology is applicable in watershed protection studies, especially where necessary etudes should be conducted in the short term and with limited data. Such efforts in identifying and determining the diffuse loads are important for sustainable management of the watershed.     

Methacrylate based side chain liquid crystalline polymers with pendant cholesterol group: Preparation and investigation of electrical conductivity mechanism

Methacrylate based side‐chain liquid crystalline polymers (SCLCP) bearing cholesterol pendant moieties with various lengths of aliphatic spacer were synthesized and their electrical conductivity mechanism was studied for their possible applications in elastic microelectronic devices. All the polymers exhibited liquid crystalline behavior of broken focal‐conic fan texture of smectic phase. The dielectric properties of polymers were investigated by impedance spectroscopic technique in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 15 MHz at room temperature. Alternating current (AC) conductivity ( ) of the liquid crystalline polymeric films was observed to vary with angular frequency, ω as ω^S with s < 2. Detailed conductivity analysis revealed that the conductivity of the polymeric films follows quantum mechanical tunneling and correlated barrier hoping conductivity mechanisms at low frequency regime, whereas it obeys super linear power law and direct current conductivity mechanisms at high frequency region. The investigation of the SCLC polymeric films helped to propose a model system for their possible potential applications. In the light of this study, the SCLC polymers will be employed as the gate insulator for organic field effect transistor applications, such as large area flexible arrays or as other advanced microelectronic devices that have superior performance. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45207.     

Understanding factors affecting e-reverse auction use: An integrative approach

Using electronic-reverse auction (e-reverse auction) offers many advantages to companies such as price reduction, decrease in cycle time, standardization, and transparency in purchasing process. Despite its great advantages, some users do not want to use e-reverse auction technology for the procurement of products or services. This study aims to understand factors affecting e-reverse auction usage in companies by integrating three important theories. Key constructs of technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of planned behavior (TPB), and innovation diffusion theory (IDT) are integrated to explain behavioral intention to use and actual use of e-reverse auction. Using LISREL 8.54, data collected from 156 employees working in the procurement department of companies in 40 different countries were used to test the proposed research model. Results indicated that, 76% of employees’ intention to use e-reverse auction is explained by subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and perceived usefulness. Among them, subjective norms have the strongest effect. Besides, actual use of e-reverse auction is directly predicted by behavioral intention to use. We conclude with managerial implications and recommendations for possible future research.     

Filter life comparison of different levels of nanofiber coated cleanable-surface filter for gas turbine

High-efficiency air filtration is a basic requirement for the most cost-effective operation of high-efficiency gas turbines. The filtration system protects the gas turbine from damaging debris. In gas turbine/dust collector applications, higher efficiency filtration could be achieved with nanofibers, which provide higher equipment protection than traditional media. With a nanofiber performance filter layer, the dust accumulates on the surface of the filtration media rather than within the media and could be cleaned off easily with a back pulse resulting in long filter life and a low-operating pressure drop. In this study five type of gas tribune nanofiber coated corrugated cellulose/synthetic filter media were developed. Nanofiber coating was adjusted for five filtration efficiency level, 50 ≤ E < 60, 60 ≤ E < 70, 70 ≤ E < 85, 85 ≤ E < 95 and 95 ≤ E, pore size and filter-life of the developed media were evaluated. One of the developed nanofiber coated media was also compared with two other commercial nanofiber coated gas tribune filter media, a glass fiber type filter media and a commercial fine fiber gas tribune filter media. It was seen that, with decreasing penetration levels due to nanofiber coating level, initial 30 cycle durations of filter life evaluation could reach about 229.9 to 250.7 min. Highest final cycle duration of 188.7 min belonged to cellulose/synthetic blend corrugated filter media with penetration of 13.66%. Nanofiber based surface filter media was cleaned up better than fine fiber media and final 30 cycle sequences were significantly higher. Surface of the nanofiber coated media was smoother when compared to fine fiber media and during the initial and final cycle test dust could not penetrate inside and could not hang to this smooth surface. So, with back pulse cleaning cake releasing have performed easily. It was also seen that, for higher filter life nanofiber coating should be uniform and robust to back pulse cleaning.     

Are antibacterial component additions in etchants and adhesives effective against Streptococcus Mutans?

The aim was to investigate the antibacterial activity of various acids and adhesives with and without antibacterial components against Streptococcus mutans. The antibacterial activities of 35% phosphoric acid (Ultra-Etch), 37% phosphoric acid with benzalkonium chloride (Etch-37), adhesive with chlorhexidine (Peak Universal Bond) and without any agent (PQ1) were investigated by agar-diffusion test. The inhibition-zones were measured after 48 h of incubation. For the tooth-cavity model test; cylindrical cavities were prepared on occlusal dentin surfaces of human molars and divided into four groups (n = 10 cavity/group). Group 1: Ultra-Etch + Peak Universal Bond, Group 2: Ultra-Etch + PQ1, Group 3: Etch-37 + PQ1 were applied. The fourth group without any agent application served as control. The teeth were immersed in 5.8 × 10⁶ cfu/ml of S. mutans solution to infect the cavities for 72 h before the application of the groups. After 72 h, dentin chips were collected from the cavity walls with burs for bacterial counting. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA, Bonferroni and Dunnett C tests (p < 0.05). Ultra-Etch and Etch-37 performed similar antibacterial activities in agar-diffusion test. Both acids showed better antibacterial activity compared to adhesives (p < 0.05). The antibacterial activity of PQ1 and Peak Universal Bond was observed to be inactivated by light-polymerization. According to the tooth-cavity model; Group I, II, and III demonstrated reduction in bacterial number and there was no significant difference between them. Antibacterial component additions in etchant and adhesive did not show superior antibacterial activity against S. mutans in both in vitro tests.     

Multimodal emotion recognition based on peak frame selection from video

We present a fully automatic multimodal emotion recognition system based on three novel peak frame selection approaches using the video channel. Selection of peak frames (i.e., apex frames) is an important preprocessing step for facial expression recognition as they contain the most relevant information for classification. Two of the three proposed peak frame selection methods (i.e., MAXDIST and DEND-CLUSTER) do not employ any training or prior learning. The third method proposed for peak frame selection (i.e., EIFS) is based on measuring the “distance” of the expressive face from the subspace of neutral facial expression, which requires a prior learning step to model the subspace of neutral face shapes. The audio and video modalities are fused at the decision level. The subject-independent audio-visual emotion recognition system has shown promising results on two databases in two different languages (eNTERFACE and BAUM-1a).