• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2017

In the present research, an available flexural stiffness degradation model was modified and a new comprehensive model called "X-NFSD" was developed. The X-NFSD model is capable of predicting the flexural stiffness degradation of composite specimen at different states of stresses and at room temperature. The model was verified by means of different experimental data for chopped strand mat/epoxy composites under displacement controlled bending loading condition at different displacements and states of stresses. The obtained results provided by the present model are impressively in very good agreement with the experimental data and the mean value of error of 5.4% was achieved.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1737-1744
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• 2012

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pluripotent cytokine which plays roles in inflammation, immune responses and cancer development. It assists macrophages in carrying out functions like phagocytosis, adherence and motility. Of late, MIF is implicated in almost all stages of neoplasia and expression is a feature of most types of cancer. The presence of MIF in almost all tumors and all stages of cancer makes it an interesting candidate for cancer therapy. This review explores the roles of MIF in neoplasia.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.453-474
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• 2015

A hybrid approach of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Swallow Swarm Optimization algorithm (SSO) namely Hybrid Particle Swallow Swarm Optimization algorithm (HPSSO), is presented as a new variant of PSO algorithm for the highly nonlinear dynamic truss shape and size optimization with multiple natural frequency constraints. Experimentally validation of HPSSO on four benchmark trusses results in high performance in comparison to PSO variants and to those of different optimization techniques. The simulation results clearly show a good balance between global and local exploration abilities and consequently results in good optimum solution.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

Quality is distinguished from the other important management indicators, cost and profitability, by the features of its far longer history and of common concern to both manufacturer and customer. We may say from this that quality has a far more human aspect than either cost or profitability. We stress the importance of establishing “quality culture.” But we do not commonly use the terms of “cost culture” or “productivity culture.”In addition, we know from our experiences that improving quality by creative methods can lead to lower cost and higher productivity, although the converse is not necessarily true. In the Maslow's hierarchy of human needs, it is known that the character of human needs changes from extrinsic and material ones at lower levels to intrinsic and mental or spiritual ones at higher levels. We know from our experience that employee satisfaction is closely linked with quality, which is of more human nature and can further be deployed into the detailed elements of quality. The leaders and managers should positively display leadership and respond to the efforts of the subordinates. Without these managerial leadership and efforts, it is almost impossible to provide essential and true customer satisfaction. They are the indispensable elements for business excellence.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 2015

The impact behavior of epoxy-based nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nano tube (CNT), carbon nano fiber (CNF) and mixed contents of these nanoparticles was investigated using Izod impact test. The results showed that while the impact strength of nanocomposites containing 1 wt% of CNT and 1 wt% of CNF increased 19% and 13% respectively, addition of mixed contents of these nanofillers (0.5-0.5 wt%) demonstrated higher improvement (21%) in the impact resistance. The trend of the results is explained on the basis of different fracture mechanisms of nanocomposites. Furthermore, the fracture surface of specimens and the dispersion state of nanoenhancers have been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.705-719
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• 2014

Composite steel-concrete box girders are frequently used in bridge construction for their economic and structural advantages. An integrated metaheuristic based optimization procedure is proposed for discrete size optimization of straight multi-span steel box girders with the objective of minimizing the self-weight of girder. The metaheuristic algorithm of choice is the Cuckoo Search (CS) algorithm. The optimum design of a box girder is characterized by geometry, serviceability and ultimate limit states specified by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Size optimization of a practical design example investigates the efficiency of this optimization approach and leads to around 15% of saving in material.

• Nonlinear Functional Analysis and Applications
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.303-322
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• 2021

The concepts of new classes of mappings are introduced in the spaces which are more general space than the usual metric spaces. The existence and uniqueness of common fixed points and fixed point results are established in the setting of complete complex valued b-metric spaces. An illustration is given by establishing the existence of solution of periodic differential equations in the framework of a complete complex valued b-metric spaces.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.611-619
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• 2023

In the present work, the flutter characteristics of porous nanocomposite cylindrical shells, reinforced with graphene platelets (GPLs) in supersonic airflow, have been investigated. Different distributions for GPLs and porosities have been considered which are named uniform and non-uniform distributions thorough the shell's thickness. The effective material properties have been determined via Halpin-Tsai micromechanical model. The cylindrical shell formulation considering supersonic airflow has been developed in the context of first-order shell and first-order piston theories. The governing equations have been solved using Galerkin's method to find the frequency-pressure plots. It will be seen that the flutter points of the shell are dependent on the both amount and distribution of porosities and GPLs and also shell geometrical parameters.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.221-234
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• 2020

The role of entrepreneurship has become important for the continuous growth (scale-up) of companies in a rapidly changing economic environment. However, research has focused mainly on business-oriented growth that emphasizes efficiency only. However, in the era of the fourth industrial revolution, people have become more important than corporate efficiency. In particular, there are few studies on SMEs. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the characteristics of human - centered organizational culture affects the business ecosystem and firm excellence of SMEs, and how business ecosystem and firm excellence affect the performance of corporations. Therefore, this study focuses on the empathy, enablement, empowerment, and engagement of the corporate culture characteristics of the enterprise and the effects of the independent variables on the business ecosystem and the flower excellence as the parameters and the business ecosystem and company excellence. The main research subjects are the causality analysis that examines the effects on the management performance. The results of the study are as follows. Empathy, enablement, empowerment, engagement have a significant impact on the business ecosystem. In addition, the engagement have a positive effect on firm excellence. The results of empirical studies on the causal relationship between business ecosystem, corporate competence, and company excellence and business performance show that business ecosystem has no statistically significant effect on business performance. Corporate excellence has a significant effect on business performance Respectively. In addition to the above findings, this study can suggest the following implications. First, it is an empirical study of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by utilizing people-oriented entrepreneurship in addition to existing research. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are expected to have lower perceptions of people-oriented management than large corporations or public institutions, but the analysis shows that people-centered entrepreneurship has a significant impact on the business ecosystem. Second, the research results of the serial multiple mediating effect analysis show that the higher the atmosphere of entrepreneurship in a company, the higher the atmosphere of entrepreneurship, and the parameters of business ecosystem and company excellence in the effect of people-oriented entrepreneurship on management performance. It is that the path through which people-oriented entrepreneurship influences management performance was verified by verifying the mediating effect by inputting. Lastly, it is hoped that research on people-oriented entrepreneurship in Korea's SMEs will be activated, providing a theoretical basis for transforming SMEs' business models into innovative types.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.391-396
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biosafety of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in raw salad vegetables at wet markets and supermarkets in Malaysia. A combination of the most probable number-polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) method was applied to detect the presence of V. parahaemolyticus and to enumerate their density in the food samples. The study analyzed 276 samples of common vegetables eaten raw in Malaysia (Wild cosmos=8; Japanese parsley=21; Cabbage=30; Lettuce=16; Indian pennywort=17; Carrot=31; Sweet potato=29; Tomato=38; Cucumber=28; Four-winged bean=26; Long bean=32). The samples were purchased from two supermarkets (A and B) and two wet markets (C and D). The occurrence of V. parahaemolyticus detected was 20.65%, with a higher frequency of V. parahaemolyticus in vegetables obtained from wet markets (Wet market C=27.27%; Wet Market D=32.05%) compared with supermarkets (Supermarket A=1.64%; Supermarket B=16.67%). V. parahaemolyticus was most prevalent in Indian pennywort (41.18%). The density of V. parahaemolyticus in all the samples ranged from <3 up to >2,400 MPN/g, mostly <3 MPN/g concentration. Raw vegetables from wet markets contained higher levels of V. parahaemolyticus compared with supermarkets. Although V. parahaemolyticus was present in raw vegetables, its numbers were low. The results suggest that raw vegetables act as a transmission route for V. parahaemolyticus. This study will be the first biosafety assessment of V. parahaemolyticus in raw vegetables in Malaysia.