Showing papers by "Nottingham Trent University published in 2004"
TL;DR: The paper reviews emerging patterns in supply chain integration and explores the relationship between the emerging patterns and attainment of competitive objectives and validate the proposed conceptual model and lend credence to current thinking that supply chain Integration is a vital tool for competitive advantage.
504 citations
TL;DR: In this article, short, wide pillars on slightly rough surfaces are shown to produce super-hydrophobic surfaces (see Figure) where neither the pillars nor the slight roughness suffice alone.
Abstract: Super-hydrophobicity can be achieved on relatively smooth surfaces. Short, wide pillars on slightly rough surfaces are shown to produce super-hydrophobic surfaces (see Figure) where neither the pillars nor the slight roughness suffice alone. This use of two length scales to create super-hydrophobic surfaces directly mimics the mechanism used by some plants including the lotus.
497 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the evidence for changes in hydrological and hydrochemical processes associated with peat drainage and proposed a more process-based approach within peatland ecosystems.
Abstract: Peatlands have been subject to artificial drainage for centuries. This drainage has been in response to agricultural demand, forestry, horticultural and energy properties of peat and alleviation of flood risk. However, the are several environmental problems associated with drainage of peatlands. This paper describes the nature of these problems and examines the evidence for changes in hydrological and hydrochemical processes associated with these changes. Traditional black-box water balance approaches demonstrate little about wetland dynamics and therefore the science of catchment response to peat drainage is poorly understood. It is crucial that a more process-based approach be adopted within peatland ecosystems. The environmental problems associated with peat drainage have led, in part, to a recent reversal in attitudes to peatlands and we have seen a move towards wetland restoration. However, a detailed understanding of hydrological, hydrochemical and ecological process-interactions will be fundamental if we are to adequately restore degraded peatlands, preserve those that are still intact and understand the impacts of such management actions at the catchment scale.
490 citations
TL;DR: Adolescent gamers were significantly more likely to be male, significantly less likely to gender swap their characters, and significantly morelikely to sacrifice their education or work and favourite aspects of game play.
475 citations
TL;DR: Key dimensions of implementation of ERP system within a large manufacturing organisation are examined and core issues to confront in successful implementation of enterprise information system are identified.
436 citations
TL;DR: An online questionnaire survey was used to examine basic demographic factors of online computer game players who played the popular online game Everquest, and showed that 81% of online game players were male, and that the mean age of players was 27.9 years of age.
Abstract: Despite the growing popularity of online game playing, there has been no primary survey of its players. Therefore, an online questionnaire survey was used to examine basic demographic factors of online computer game players who played the popular online game Everquest (i.e., gender, age, marital status, nationality, education level, occupation). The survey also examined playing frequency (i.e., amount of time spent playing the game a week), playing history (i.e., how long they had been playing the game, who they played the game with, whether they had ever gender swapped their game character), the favorite and least favorite aspects of playing the game, and what they sacrifice (if anything) to play the game. Results showed that 81% of online game players were male, and that the mean age of players was 27.9 years of age. For many players, the social aspects of the game were the most important factor in playing. A small minority of players appear to play excessively (over 80 h a week), and results suggest th...
436 citations
TL;DR: A logic-driven clustering in which prototypes are formed and evaluated in a sequential manner that considers an inverse similarity problem and shows how the relevance of the prototypes translates into their granularity.
Abstract: We introduce a logic-driven clustering in which prototypes are formed and evaluated in a sequential manner. The way of revealing a structure in data is realized by maximizing a certain performance index (objective function) that takes into consideration an overall level of matching (to be maximized) and a similarity level between the prototypes (the component to be minimized). The prototypes identified in the process come with the optimal weight vector that serves to indicate the significance of the individual features (coordinates) in the data grouping represented by the prototype. Since the topologies of these groupings are in general quite diverse the optimal weight vectors are reflecting the anisotropy of the feature space, i.e., they show some local ranking of features in the data space. Having found the prototypes we consider an inverse similarity problem and show how the relevance of the prototypes translates into their granularity.
433 citations
TL;DR: In this article, Griffiths et al. developed a psychometric instrument (the Exercise Addiction Inventory, EAI) capable of identifying people at risk from exercise addiction, which is a short form inventory that would be quick and simple to administer.
Abstract: Many attempts have been made to define and measure problem exercising but there has not been any successful attempt to produce a psychometrically sound assessment instrument. The aim of the present study was to develop a psychometric instrument (the Exercise Addiction Inventory, EAI) capable of identifying people at risk from exercise addiction. The intention was to develop a short form inventory that would be quick and simple to administer. The EAI was operationalised using the components of behavioural addiction proposed by Griffiths (Griffiths, M.D. (1996). Behavioural addiction: an issue for everybody? Journal of Workplace Learning, 8(3), 19–25). The study presents the psychometric properties of the EAI, which are manifested in very good internal reliability, content validity, concurrent validity, and construct validity. It is concluded that the EAI could be a valid and reliable instrument capable of quickly and easily identifying individuals at risk from exercise addiction.
386 citations
TL;DR: Hypofrontality is not a well‐replicated finding in schizophrenia either at rest or under conditions of task activation.
Abstract: The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com '--Copyright Blackwell Publishing
336 citations
TL;DR: The relationship between perturbations to contact angles on a rough or textured surface and the super-hydrophobic enhancement of the equilibrium contact angle is discussed theoretically and quantitatively predicts a "sticky"surface for Wenzel-type surfaces and a "slippy" surface for Cassie-Baxter- type surfaces.
Abstract: The relationship between perturbations to contact angles on a rough or textured surface and the super-hydrophobic enhancement of the equilibrium contact angle is discussed theoretically. Two models are considered. In the first (Wenzel) case, the super-hydrophobic surface has a very high contact angle and the droplet completely contacts the surface upon which it rests. In the second (Cassie-Baxter) case, the super-hydrophobic surface has a very high contact angle, but the droplet bridges across surface protrusions. The theoretical treatment emphasizes the concept of contact-angle amplification or attenuation and distinguishes between the increases in contact angles due to roughening or texturing surfaces and perturbations to the resulting contact angles. The theory is applied to predicting contact-angle hysteresis on rough surfaces from the hysteresis observable on smooth surfaces and is therefore relevant to predicting roll-off angles for droplets on tilted surfaces. The theory quantitatively predicts a "sticky" surface for Wenzel-type surfaces and a "slippy" surface for Cassie-Baxter-type surfaces.
335 citations
TL;DR: One of the main overall findings was the importance of a high degree of realism, which included a rapid absorption rate, character development, the ability to customize the game, and multiplayer features.
Abstract: There is little doubt that video game playing is a psychological and social phenomenon. This paper outlines the main structural characteristics of video game playing (i.e., those characteristics that either induce gaming in the first place or are inducements to continue gaming irrespective of the individual's psychological, physiological, or socio-economic status). This online study is the first ever to assess what structural characteristics (if any) are important to a group of self-selected video game players (n = 382). The main variables examined were sound, graphics, background and setting, duration of game, rate of play, advancement rate, use of humor, control options, game dynamics, winning and losing features, character development, brand assurance, and multi-player features. Although there were many major gender differences, one of the main overall findings was the importance of a high degree of realism (i.e., realistic sound, graphics, and setting). Other important characteristics included a rapid...
TL;DR: The major development in this field has been carried out over the last one and half decades as mentioned in this paper, and significant progress has been made in the development of synthetic methods, application to engineering polymers, and the investigation of major engineering properties.
TL;DR: The presence of Ent.
TL;DR: The objective is to study the growth, thermotolerance and biofilm formation of the emergent pathogen Enterobacter sakazakii in infant formula milk (IFM).
Abstract: Aims: To study the growth, thermotolerance and biofilm formation of the emergent pathogen Enterobacter sakazakii in infant formula milk (IFM).
Methods and Results: The temperature range, death kinetics and biofilm formation of E. sakazakii were determined using impedance microbiology and conventional methods. In IFM the organism grew as low as 6°C and optimally at 37–43°C. In faecal coliform tests, 23% of strains (n = 70) produced gas from lauryl sulphate broth (LSB) at 44°C after 48 h incubation. Three strains failed to grow in LSB at any of the temperatures. The D-value of cells suspended in IFM was determined between 54 and 62°C. The resultant z-value was 5·7°C. The organism was able to adhere and grow on latex, polycarbonate, silicon and to a lesser extent stainless steel.
Conclusions: Enterobacter sakazakii was able to grow at refrigeration temperatures and on infant-feeding equipment. The thermotolerance of the organism was similar to other Enterobacteriaceae and should be killed during standard pasteurization treatment.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Enterobacter sakazakii has been associated with infant meningitis through consumption of contaminated IFM. Enterobacter sakazakii is able to grow in IFM during storage at refrigeration temperatures and attach to infant-feeding equipment, which may become reservoirs of infection.
TL;DR: A comparative analysis of the evolution of the technical efficiency of commercial banks in India and Pakistan during 1988-1998, a period characterized by farreaching changes in the banking industry brought about by financial liberalization is provided in this article.
Abstract: This paper provides a comparative analysis of the evolution of the technical efficiency of commercial banks in India and Pakistan during 1988–1998, a period characterized by far-reaching changes in the banking industry brought about by financial liberalization. Data Envelopment Analysis is applied to two alternative input–output specifications to measure technical efficiency, and to decompose technical efficiency into its two components, pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency. The consistency of the estimated efficiency scores are checked by examining their relationship with three traditional non-frontier measures of bank performance. In addition, the relationship between bank size and technical efficiency is examined. It is found that the overall technical efficiency of the banking industry of both countries improved gradually over the years, especially after 1995. Unlike public sector banks in India, public sector banks in Pakistan witnessed improvement in scale efficiency only. It is also found that banks are relatively more efficient in generating earning assets than in generating income. This is attributed to the presence of high non-performing loans. In addition, it is found that the gap between the pure technical efficiency of different size groups has declined over the years.
TL;DR: In this work, a model system of spreading droplets of a nonvolatile liquid on surfaces having lithographically produced pillars is used to show that superwetting also modifies the dynamics of spreading.
Abstract: Roughening a hydrophobic surface enhances its nonwetting properties into superhydrophobicity. For liquids other than water, roughness can induce a complete rollup of a droplet. However, topographic effects can also enhance partial wetting by a given liquid into complete wetting to create superwetting. In this work, a model system of spreading droplets of a nonvolatile liquid on surfaces having lithographically produced pillars is used to show that superwetting also modifies the dynamics of spreading. The edge speed-dynamic contact angle relation is shown to obey a simple power law, and such power laws are shown to apply to naturally occurring surfaces.
TL;DR: Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is an electrophoretic technique that allows ionized analyte molecules to be separated on the basis of their mobilities in the gas phase as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is an electrophoretic technique that allows ionised analyte molecules to be separated on the basis of their mobilities in the gas phase. The technique has found widespread application as a detector, most noticeably for chemical warfare agents on the battlefield and for explosives and narcotics at ports and airports. The application of IMS to structural studies of small molecules has also been recognised since the advent of the technique in the 1970s. The coupling of IMS with electrospray (ESI) and MALDI ion sources has opened up exciting possibilities for the study of the conformations and structures of a wide range of biomolecules in the gas-phase, including proteins, peptides and oligonucletoides. This tutorial review discusses the principles, instrumentation and applications of IMS for the elucidation of molecular structural characteristics.
TL;DR: Investigation of the effect of H( 2)O(2) on extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein Kinase (p38 MAPK) and protein kinase B (PKB) activation in undifferentiated and differentiated SH-SY5Y cells has shown that H(2).
TL;DR: To optimize immunotherapy strategies, correction of immune-activating signals, eradication of inhibitory factors, and the evasion from newly developed immunoresistant tumor phenotypes need to be simultaneously considered.
Abstract: Tumor escape is one major obstacle that has to be addressed prior to designing and delivering successful immunotherapy. There is compelling evidence to support the notion that immunogenic tumors, in murine models and cancer patients, can be rejected by the immune system under optimum conditions for activating adaptive and nonadaptive antitumor immune responses. Despite this capability, a large number of tumors continue to grow and evade recognition and/or destruction by the immune system. The limited success in current immunotherapeutic strategies may be due to a variety of reasons: failure of effector cells to compete with the growing tumor burden, production of humoral factors by tumors that locally block cytotoxicity, antigen/MHC loss, T-cell dysfunction, production of suppressor T cells—to name but a few causes for therapeutic ineffectiveness for the particular malignancy being treated. To optimize immunotherapy strategies, correction of immune-activating signals, eradication of inhibitory factors, and the evasion from newly developed immunoresistant tumor phenotypes need to be simultaneously considered.
TL;DR: The view of the function of tissue transglutaminase in wound repair under normal and pathological situations is described and its potential as a strategic therapeutic target in the development of new treatments to improve wound healing and prevent scarring is highlighted.
Abstract: A complex series of events involving inflammation, cell migration and proliferation, ECM stabilisation and remodelling, neovascularisation and apoptosis are crucial to the tissue response to injury. Wound healing involves the dynamic interactions of multiple cells types with components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and growth factors. Impaired wound healing as a consequence of aging, injury or disease may lead to serious disabilities and poor quality of life. Abnormal wound healing may also lead to inflammatory and fibrotic conditions (such as renal and pulmonary fibrosis). Therefore identification of the molecular events underlying wound repair is essential to develop new effective treatments in support to patients and the wound care sector. Recent advances in the understating of the physiological functions of tissue transglutaminase a multi functional protein cross-linking enzyme which stabilises tissues have demonstrated that its biological activities interrelate with wound healing phases at multiple levels. This review describes our view of the function of tissue transglutaminase in wound repair under normal and pathological situations and highlights its potential as a strategic therapeutic target in the development of new treatments to improve wound healing and prevent scarring.
TL;DR: The new chromogenic medium (Druggan-Forsythe-Iversen agar, DFI) enables the detection of Ent.
TL;DR: In this article, a technique for the production of large areas of high aspect-ratio patterns and describe their use as model super-hydrophobic systems is presented. But this technique requires the use of photoresist patterns without micromoulding.
Abstract: In this work we present a reliable technique for the production of large areas of high aspect-ratio patterns and describe their use as model super-hydrophobic systems. The high thickness and straight sidewalls possible with SU-8 were used to generate dense patterns of small pillars. These photoresist patterns could be used directly, without the need for micromoulding. A method is given allowing resist thickness to be varied over a wide range and a bottom antireflective layer was used to simplify patterning on reflective substrates. This patterning technique allows rapid testing of wetting theories, as pattern size and depth can be varied simply and samples can be produced in sufficient numbers for laboratory use. We show how the static contact angle of water varies with pattern height for one sample-pattern and how static and dynamic contact angles vary with dimension using high aspect-ratio patterns.
TL;DR: The authors investigated the attitudes and beliefs of 291 science students at a large university in the UK about plagiarism involving the Internet and found that students from seven undergraduate classes, ranging from seven different disciplines, were concerned with plagiarism.
Abstract: This study investigated the attitudes and beliefs of 291 science students at a large university in the UK about plagiarism involving the Internet. Students from seven undergraduate classes, ranging...
TL;DR: It is concluded that online research methods can be a useful way of examining the psychosocial aspects of video game playing.
Abstract: The paper outlines the advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet to collect data concerning both online and offline gamers. Drawing from experience of a number of studies carried out online by the authors and by reviewing the available literature, the authors discuss the main issues concerning data collected from video game players. The paper examines a number of areas, including recruiting and utilizing participants, validity, suitable methods of data collection (i.e., questionnaire studies, online tests, participant observation, online interviews), and ethical issues. It is concluded that online research methods can be a useful way of examining the psychosocial aspects of video game playing.
TL;DR: Roughhening or texturing surfaces provide super-liquid repellent or film forming properties without alteration of the surface chemistry as mentioned in this paper, and can be either "sticky" or "slippy" to liquids.
Abstract: Roughening or texturing surfaces provides super-liquid repellent or film forming properties without alteration of the surface chemistry. These surfaces are easy to produce, can amplify wetting properties and can be either “sticky” or “slippy” to liquids. Their use as water-repellent coatings is established, but their potential for use in microfluidics and sensor applications remains largely unfulfilled. This article explains several key ideas and suggests why there may be potential for analytical applications.
TL;DR: A systematic study of the effect of amino acids and small peptide oligomers on silica formation from aqueous solution shows that all amino acid functional groups in proteins that are accessible to silica during the stages of formation from orthosilicic acid through to the final material have a role to play in determining the physical nature and structure of the material that forms.
Abstract: In order to understand the role that proteins play in the generation of well regulated biosilica structures we need to understand the contribution of the components, singly and in combination. To this end we have performed a systematic study of the effect of amino acids and small peptide oligomers on silica formation from aqueous solution. Silicas produced from a potassium silicon catecholate salt at
ca. pH 7 in the presence of the amino acids (Gly, Arg, Asn, Gln, Glx, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Pro, Ala, Lys) at a 2 Si : 1 amino acid molar ratio have shown that these amino acids affect the kinetics of small oligomer formation, the growth of aggregate structures and the morphology and surface properties of the silicas produced. The effects seen during the early stages of oligomer formation carry through to the properties of the particles and aggregates produced after extended periods of reaction. The behaviour of the amino acids relates to the pI and hydrophobicity of the individual amino acids. The presence of the nitrogen containing amino acids generates larger particles and the presence of amino acids containing hydroxyl and hydrophobic groups generates silicas with smaller particles than are produced for silicas produced in the absence of amino acids. An extensive study of the effect of the number of lysine and glycine units per peptide was also performed (for lysine, 1–5 and
ca. 150 and for glycine, 1,4,5). Increasing the number of glycine units per additive molecule had little effect on the kinetics, aggregation, sample morphology, surface area and porosity of the silicas produced. A distinct relationship between the number of lysine units per additive molecule and an increased rate of oligomer formation, aggregate growth and a reduction in silica surface area and broadening of pore sizes was observed. A distinct change over in behaviour, particularly in regard to the porosity characteristics of the silica produced was noted for between (lys)
3 and (lys)
4 as well as this being the smallest size of peptide that was incorporated into the siliceous material formed. Aggregation was observed to accelerate exponentially over the full range of lysine oligomers used. Consecutive sequences of the same amino acid residues were shown to produce effects much larger than the sum of the effects of the individual residues, and at extremes mediate macroscopic morphological changes. The consequences of these findings for biosilicification are discussed. It is clear that all amino acid functional groups in proteins that are accessible to silica during the stages of formation from orthosilicic acid through to the final material have a role to play in determining the physical nature and structure of the material that forms.
TL;DR: The use of the protein-crosslinking enzymes transglutaminases, as biocatalysts in the processing of wool textiles offers a variety of exciting and realistic possibilities, which include reducing the propensity of wool fabric to shrink and maintaining or increasing fabric strength.
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TL;DR: The authors assesses the impact of profound changes that have taken place in the higher education sector on academic staff in the UK and finds that the views of staff are far from homogeneous and not universally pessimistic.
Abstract: This article assesses the impact of the profound changes that have taken place in the higher education sector on academic staff in the UK. The perceptions of staff about their work and employment are examined through evidence provided by a recent large-scale survey. The discussion draws on a labour process perspective. The article finds that the views of staff are far from homogeneous and not universally pessimistic. However, in general the morale and satisfaction of many teaching staff have been eroded by work intensification and that of research staff by the considerable insecurity created by casualised employment. Nonetheless resistance and resilience continues despite the commodifying pressures, and 'traditional' values remain strong.
TL;DR: The authors found a clear relationship between video game playing and gambling in adolescents, with problem gamblers being significantly more likely than non-problem gamblers or non-gamblers to spend excessive amounts of time playing video games.
Abstract: Video games and gambling often contain very similar elements with both providing intermittent rewards and elements of randomness. Furthermore, at a psychological and behavioral level, slot machine gambling, video lottery terminal (VLT) gambling and video game playing share many of the same features. Despite the similarities between video game playing and gambling there have been very few studies that have specifically examined video game playing in relation to gambling behavior. This study inquired about the nature of adolescent video game playing, gambling activities, and associated factors. A questionnaire was completed by 996 (549 females, 441 males, 6 unspecified) participants from grades 7–11, who ranged in age from 10–17 years. Overall, the results of the study found a clear relationship between video game playing and gambling in adolescents, with problem gamblers being significantly more likely than non-problem gamblers or non-gamblers to spend excessive amounts of time playing video games...