Methodology research of competitiveness and sample application for Turkey’s defense industry

Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology to analyze the competitiveness based on the diamond model and constructing a composite index; the secondary aim is to apply this methodology to the national index of Turkey’s defense industry. Design/methodology/approach Instead of providing the results based only on diamond, a composite index study was carried out. The collected variables were distributed using subject-groups under determinants via an expert opinion survey. The variables were analyzed with alternative methods of imputation, normalization and aggregation. Factor analysis (FA) was performed with the aggregated values of each subject to find the years’ clusters. Findings Turkey’s diamond model indicated an improvement in defense industry between 1998-2010. And, FA revealed the clusters as 1998-2000, 2001-2007, 2008-2010. It was found that Turkey had an advantage in demand conditions but needs to give higher importance to factor conditions. In addition, the key provisions were catered to the issues related to government and the defense industry. Research limitations/implications Turkey’s competitiveness structure between 1998-2010 were researched. Originality/value This study provides a qualitative approach of the composite index to the quantitative side of the diamond model.

Quantifying the Aggregation Factor in Carbon Nanotube Dispersions by Absorption Spectroscopy

Absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) wavelength region has been used to quantify the aggregation factor of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in liquid media through a series of controlled experiments. SWCNT bundles are dispersed in selected solvents using a calibrated ultrasonicator, which helps in determining the true amount of energy used in the exfoliation process. We also establish the selectivity of the centrifugation process, under the conditions used, in removing the nanotube aggregates as a function of the sonication time and the dispersion solvent. This study, along with the calibration of the sonication process, is shown to be very important for measuring the true aggregation factor of SWCNTs through a modified approach. We also show that the systematic characterization of SWCNT dispersions by optical spectroscopy significantly contributes to the success of dielectrophoresis (DEP) of nanotubes at predefined on-chip positions. The presence of individually dispersed SWCNTs in the dispersions is substantiated by dielectrophoretic assembly and post-DEP electromechanical measurements.

Clinical Significance of Leech Therapy in Indian Medicine

Traditional Indian medicine—ayurveda—could be the oldest medical system in which leech therapy was adopted for treating specific disease conditions of patients. Some of the indications in which leeches are used are in tumors, hemorrhoids, abscess and boils, skin disorders, ulcers, gout, diseases of the eye, headache, herpes zoster, thrombosis, and wounds. The saliva of the leech consists of anesthetic agents, anticoagulant, antiplatelet aggregation factor, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory substances, and gelatinous substances. Leeches suck the excess blood, reduce the swelling in the tissues, and promote healing by allowing fresh oxygenated blood to reach the area until normal circulation can be restored. Clinical studies have been conducted in different parts of the world to observe the scientific action of leech therapy. Studies with leeches have been carried out to observe the healing of complicated varicose veins, pain reduction in osteoarthritis, and other disorders.

Sub-Index Derivation of Welding Health-Hazard Index (WHI) for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia

Malaysia is a developing nation and the manufacturing sector is the major contributor to the Malaysian economy. In the year 2009, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) contribute to 28,840 establishments which represented 94.2 percent of the total establishments in the manufacturing sector in Malaysia. Welding is a common industrial process in manufacturing sector that has both acute and long term chronic hazards mainly from the inhalable welding fumes. Welding fumes assessment in SMEs welding workplace is essential in order to ensure the minimum level of exposure is maintained as required by the prevailing standards. However, providing concentration or emission information alone is insufficient and meaningless to the workers and company management. There is an urgent need to develop an index which served as a ranking tool in comparing environmental condition at different location and to simplify complex health hazard issues of welding fumes that can be comprehended easily by the workers and company management. Preliminary ideas on the derivation of the sub-index from rating of health effect, mixture hazard, doses and weightage of metal fumes element were outlined in this paper. At the end of this paper, future works regarding aggregation factor and verification of the index were also discussed.

Different Roles for Lactococcal Aggregation Factor and Mucin Binding Protein in Adhesion to Gastrointestinal Mucosa

ABSTRACTAdhesion of bacteria to mucosal surfaces and epithelial cells is one of the key features for the selection of probiotics. In this study, we assessed the adhesion property ofLactococcus lactissubsp.lactisBGKP1 based on its strong autoaggregation phenotype and the presence of the mucin binding protein (MbpL). Genes involved in aggregation (aggL) and possible interaction with mucin (mbpL), present on the same plasmid pKP1, were previously separately cloned in the plasmid pAZIL.In vivoandin vitroexperiments revealed potentially different physiological roles of these two proteins in the process of adherence to the intestine during the passage of the strain through the gastrointestinal tract. We correlated thein vitroandin vivoaggregation of the BGKP1-20 carrying plasmid withaggLto binding to the colonic mucus through nonspecific hydrophobic interactions. The expression of AggL on the bacterial cell surface significantly increased the hydrophobicity of the strain. On the other hand, the presence of AggL in the strain reduced its ability to adhere to the ileum. Moreover, MbpL protein showed an affinity to bind gastric type mucin proteins such as MUC5AC. This protein did not contribute to the binding of the strain to the ileal or colonic part of the intestine. Different potential functions of lactococcal AggL and MbpL proteins in the process of adhesion to the gastrointestinal tract are proposed.