Edinburgh Napier University

About: Edinburgh Napier University is a education organization based out in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2665 authors who have published 6859 publications receiving 175272 citations.

Ultrafine particles: mechanisms of lung injury

Abstract: Many ultrafine particles comprised classically of lowtoxicity, lowsolubility materials such as carbon black and titanium dioxide have been found to have greater toxicity than larger, respirable par...

An empirical study of the efficiency of learning boolean functions using a Cartesian Genetic Programming approach

Abstract: A new form of Genetic Programming (GP) called Cartesian Genetic Programming (CGP) is proposed in which programs are represented by linear integer chromosomes in the form of connections and functionalities of a rectangular array of primitive functions. The effectiveness of this approach is investigated for boolean even-parity functions (3,4,5), and the 2-bit multiplier. The minimum number of evaluations required to give a 0.99 probability of evolving a target function is used to measure the efficiency of the new approach. It is found that extremely low populations are most effective. A simple probabilistic hillclimber (PH) is devised which proves to be even more effective. For these boolean functions either method appears to be much more efficient than the GP and Evolutionary Programming (EP) methods reported. The efficacy of the PH suggests that boolean function learning may not be an appropriate problem for testing the effectiveness of GP and EP.

Recycling of Demolished Masonry Rubble as Coarse Aggregate in Concrete: Review

Abstract: The recycling of demolished masonry rubble as coarse aggregate in new concrete represents an interesting possibility at a time when the cost of dumping such material is on the increase. With the number of readily accessible disposal sites around major cities in the world decreasing in recent years and disposal volume and maximum sizes of waste being restricted, the cost of dumping construction and demolition debris has increased substantially over recent years. This cost increase has been further fueled in the United Kingdom and other countries by the introduction of a landfill tax by governments and local authorities for the dumping of such waste. Due to the growing concerns over the environmental impact of aggregate extraction and the continued rise in aggregate demand, it is clear that the building and construction industry is ready to accept recycled and secondary aggregates. This paper provides a review of previous work covering the use of demolished waste, especially crushed brick, as the coarse aggregate in new concrete.

Determinants of growth and profitability in small entrepreneurial firms

Abstract: Using accounts data for a sample of 38 small manufacturing firms located in Tayside Region, this paper investigates the relationship between company characteristics including size, age, location and industry group, and profitability and growth. The trade‐off between the possibly conflicting objectives of profit and growth is considered primarily from the entrepreneurial rather than the managerial standpoint which previous econometric studies of small firm performance have concentrated on. Motivations for undertaking entrepreneurial activity and their possible relationships with profitability and growth are discussed and a number of hypotheses developed. From this perspective it is argued that a firm size measure based on employment is more appropriate than one based on sales or assets which previous studies have used. Firm characteristics are found to be of limited value in explaining profitability. However, larger firms are found to grow faster than smaller, and younger firms are found to grow faster than older. This is also some evidence that growth is stronger in urban than in suburban or rural locations. It is possible that entrepreneurial motivations are an important factor in this regard and it is suggested that future econometric studies of small firm performance take these into account.