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Increased global competition has augmented the importance of total productive maintenance (TPM) in obtaining and maintaining a competitive advantage. More and more organizations are seeking proactive tools such as TPM to enhance their competitive position. The paper focuses on gaining insights into the impact of TPM on the performance of the organization. There is support for a positive correlation between TPM and business performance. There is also a positive correlation between TPM and business performance shown by all the six general constructs of corporate planning, top management leadership, human resource focus, process focus, total quality management focus and information system focus, and the three specific constructs of TPM strategies, TPM teams and TPM process focus. Clearly, this indicates the need for TPM to be an integrated effort for the entire organization. In addition, experienced and large TPM firms fare better in terms of business performance while there are no differences in the performance of manufacturing and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the biodiesel production from Calophyllum inophyllum -palm mixed oil. The C. inophyllum--palm biodiesel (C. inophyllum palm oil methyl ester, CPME) is first produced by mixing the crude oils at an equal ratio of 50:50 vol%, followed by degumming, acid-catalyzed esterification, purification, and, last, alkaline-catalyzed transesterification. With this systematic procedure, the acid value of the CPME is 0.4 mg KOH/g, resulting in a significant enhancement of oxidation stability (114.21 h). The results indicate that the fatty acid methyl ester composition of the CPME may be the reason for its larger higher heating value (39.4 MJ/kg) and lower kinematic viscosity (4.15 mm²/s). In short, CPME satisfied the ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards as a promising alternative fuel in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of material properties is one of the key issues in composite materials research. The mechanical properties of composite materials depend on diverse factors such as configuration of the laminates, constituent materials used and production method adopted. Conventional testing approach tends to be time-consuming, expensive and destructive. As an alternative, a rapid, inexpensive, hybrid and non-destructive evaluation approach which utilises experimental modal analysis and finite element analysis is proposed. Experimental modal data which consist of natural frequencies and mode shapes of an orthotropic composite plate are utilised for correlation purpose with its finite element model. This finite element model of the composite plate is continuously updated and achieves less than 5% in difference of natural frequencies and over 70% in modal assurance criterion. Material properties such as Young's moduli, in-plane shear modulus and Poisson ratio of the composite plate are then successfully determined using the well-correlated FE model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure of the duplex stainless steel piping system in oil and gas industry can have disastrous effects. In this study, a novel method of failure analysis of flow-induced vibration problem of in-serviced duplex stainless steel piping system is proposed. The proposed non-destructive technique is able to determine a suitable operating condition for continuous operation without failure. The technique relies on the combined operation of operational modal analysis, operating deflection shape analysis and linear elastic finite element analysis. The effect of different operating conditions for two distinct valve opening cases (i.e. fully opened and partially opened) on the dynamic stress is examined, and they are utilised for forecasting purpose in failure analysis. The result shows that maximum operating conditions are 360 and 400 mmscfd for fully opened and partially opened flow control valves, respectively. Beyond this limit, the piping system most likely will fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of recirculating the flue gas on the performance of a multi-cyclones unit as particulate collector in an actual plant scale was studied. The existing multi-cyclones unit was modified by connecting a recirculation duct between the inlet and outlet gas stream of the multi-cyclones attached with an external induced (ID) fan. The particulate samplings were done following the U.S. EPA method at boiler outlet (before multi-cyclones), stack (after multi-cyclones) and recirculation duct. Result shows that the amount of recirculated particulates increases with ID fan suction power. The collection efficiency increased slightly from 68% (0% or without recirculation) to 74% (at 11% recirculation) and dropped to 67% (at 17% recirculation). Moreover, the amount of the fine particulate size fraction emitted able to be reduced one fold at 11% recirculation flow rate. However, high amount of recirculated particulates results in re-entrainment of particulates into the outlet of the multi-cyclones, hence, results in increase of particulate emission in the stack. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: The position of the conus medullaris is considered abnormal if it ends below lumbar vertebrae three (L3) at birth. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the position of the conus in post-mortem foetuses, to investigate the timing of normal ascent. Methods: The position of the conus in 84 post-mortem foetuses (mean gestation 26.3 weeks; range 14-41 weeks) was identified using 3D MRI datasets. A numerical scale was used for vertebral levels, from 1 (S2) to 15 (T12). Results: There was significant ascent of the conus medullaris with increasing gestation. At 20 weeks gestation, an estimated 84.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 72.9, 93.2%) of foetuses have a conus position of L4/5 or higher, but only 22.8% (95% CI 11.7, 34.9%) at L3 or higher. By 26 weeks, an estimated 50.7% (95% CI 34.1, 67.5) will have reached L3, and 94.8% (95% CI 87.0, 98.5%) reach L3 by 40 weeks. Conclusion: There is regular ascent of the conus throughout foetal life. Although growth for each individual foetus may be non-linear, most foetuses have a conus level within the normal adult range by 33 weeks gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a high-conversion gain, low-power, folded CMOS mixer for ZigBee application in 2.4 GHz of userbandwidth. The proposed mixer adapts current reuse technique to increase the conversion gain while substantiallyreducing the DC power dissipation. The current from LO stage is reused at the transconductance stage to reduce thepower consumption. This mixer is verified in 0.13 µm standard CMOS technology. The simulation result exhibits ahigh-conversion gain performance (CG) of 10 dB, 1 dB compression point (P1 dB) of -13.43 dBm, third-order interceptpoint (IIP3) of -4.3 dBm, and a noise figure of 16.67 dB. The circuit draws 675 µA current from the 1.2 V of supplyvoltage headroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much is being written today about the changing nature of the American workforce. This article summarizes 10 of these changes: (a) global competition; (b) the changing skills of work; (c) the declining impact of unions; (d) the altered human composition of the workforce; (e) the effects of continuous improvement, downsizing, and reengineering; (f) the growing use of part-time employees; (g) the widening income gap; (h) lessened employer and employee loyalty and commitment; (i) early retirement programs; and (j) telecommunications and virtual employees. Rather than just identifying and documenting these trends, this article discusses the ethical implications of such movements. In this article, employee relations ethics is defined as "treating employees properly, with respect and dignity." The term employee relations ethics is used both individually and collectively to analyze the negative human results from a moral rather than an economic perspective. The age-old clash between bottom-line mentality (economics) versus higher order thinking (ethics) is revisited with a focus on employees, not owners (old theory) or customers (new theory). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a 'new' theory of management for the new millennium. Organization theory; Employee relations; Ethics; Human resource management; Industrial relations; Management values.

Proposes a method of driving micro gas sensors to get reproducible behavior under different ambient conditions. Proportional pattern of temperature modulation with alternating high and low power-heating pulses; Sensitivity of sensor conductance to changes in ambient temperature.