Search results

The effects of reductions in Canadian tariffs on imports from thirty non‐OPEC Third World countries are estimated using quarterly data for the period 1972–79. Estimates of total trade expansion, trade diversion and trade creation are obtained using linear and a log‐linear specification. The results imply that the trade diversion effect is in general and for most commodity groups larger than the trade creation effect.

The purpose of this paper is to give compiled information on previously applied cotton fabric surface modifications. The paper covered most of the modifications done on cotton fabric to improve its properties or to add some functional properties. The paper presented mostly studied research works that brought a significant surface improvement on cotton fabric.

Different previous works on surface modifications of cotton fabrics such as pilling, wrinkle and microbial resistance, hydrophobicity, cationization, flame retardancy and UV-protection characteristics were studied and their methods of modification including the main findings are well reported in this paper.

Several modification treatments on surface modification of cotton fabrics indicated an improvement in the desired properties in which the modification is needed. For instance, the pilling tendency, wrinkling, microbial degradation and UV degradation drawbacks of cotton fabric can be overcome through different modification techniques.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, there are no compressive documents that covered all the portions presented in this review. The author tried to cover the surface modifications done to improve the main properties of cotton fabric.

This paper presents an investigation into the classical problem using an experimental apparatus and applying an artificial neural network (NN) optimisation approach for determining the pressure distribution in a journal bearing at elasto‐hydrodynamic state of lubrication. The experimental system is employed at different working speeds with different surface roughness of shafts for getting pressure distribution. A NN is employed to predict the real data of the system as an optimisation technique. The NN is a radial basis function back propagation network. The NN has a superior performance to follow the desired results of the system and is employed to analyse such systems parameters in practical applications.

Although more frequently alleged by the defence in food and drugs prosecutions than the circumstances probably justify, acts of sabotage by operatives in deliberately introducing foreign bodies—some of them intrinsically dangerous—into foods during processing and packaging are becoming more prevalent. The evidence for an allegation of deliberate malpractice is in most cases circumstantial, but when object or material is thoroughly extraneous to any part of the food processing, it can reasonably be inferred. For example, glass splinters in a bottle of milk or soft drink, are an inseparable hazard of automatic bottling, but glass in a can of corned beef or sausages, in the absence of structural alterations, window breakages, etc., could lead to the suspicion that it had been placed there. Similarly, a hairnet, when all female operatives had resisted successfully the wearing of this headgear, and a sewing needle in bread, apart from the stale confectionery joke of its being used with thread to drag jam through the doughnuts!

The purpose of this paper is to help students understand how companies combine and leverage their existing knowledge capabilities in order to build strategic advantage for the company. The case also throws some light on the opportunities and challenges faced by SME's of emerging markets in going international in turbulent macroeconomic scenarios.

The case has been written for the purpose of teaching and class discussion. Interviews with protagonist provided the primary data and published reports and archives of the company provided the secondary data for the case.

After the class discussion, students will be able to figure out how SME's can best leverage their existing knowledge base, efficiently manage that knowledge base and accurately assess the impact of these knowledge management activities for international expansion.

This is among the first few cases in the area of knowledge management from the perspective of SME's in emerging markets in the fragrance and other allied industries.

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of functional properties of the polysaccharide-based component and their application in developing edible film and coating for the food processing sector.

In this review study, approximately 271 research and review articles focusing on studies related to polysaccharide-based components and their film-forming properties. This article also focused on the application of polysaccharide-based edible film in the food sector.

From the literature reviewed, polysaccharide components and components-based edible film/coating is the biodegradable and eco-friendly packaging of the materials and directly consumed by the consumer with food. It has been reported that the polysaccharide components have excellent properties such as being nontoxic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal and with good nutrients. The polysaccharide-based edible film has lipid and gas barrier properties with excellent transparency and mechanical strength. In various studies, researchers worked on the development of polysaccharide-based edible film and coating by incorporating plant based natural antioxidants. This was primarily done for obtaining improved physical and chemical properties of the edible film and coating. In future, the technology of developing polysaccharide-based edible film and coating could be used for extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of fruits and vegetables at a commercial level. There is more need to understand the role of edible packaging and sustainability in the food and environment sector.

Through this review paper, possible applications of polysaccharide-based components and their function property in the formation of the edible film and their effect on fruits, vegetables and other food products are discussed after detailed studies of literature from thesis and journal article.

The purpose of this paper is to explain how sensory stimuli can influence environments, improve the shopper experience and change the nature of behaviour in ways beyond our consciousness.

This paper reviews research gathered over several years and it considers how significant increases in sales can be achieved by attention to shopper “sightlines” and movement through each retail space; how neuro‐imaging is starting to make sense of our reactions to products; how Virtual Reality can save money and how a well‐designed study is a cost‐effective means of ensuring environments are right for shoppers. The latest sensory approaches are also assessed together with thoughts to ponder for the next decade including a word of caution for all to ensure success does not come at the detriment of our planet.

The current economic gloom need not spell financial disaster for the retail sector. Consumers will simply become more discerning as they spend their limited resources. The savvy retailer will invest in understanding shopper needs and motivations to create an enhanced shopping experience by moving beyond simple POP displays and signage, where “minor plus est”, through to shoppers' sense of sound, sight, smell and touch which will have a clear impact on decision‐making, store choice and spend.

This paper will be of interest to all operating in the retail sector.

In the present age the devising and formulation of standards play a steadily increasing part in the various activities one could describe, however loosely, as having a technical (or technological) aspect or basis; it would be unjust, perhaps, to suggest that to some people the fixing and imposing of standards might seem to be almost an end in itself. While control and controls of almost any kind cannot fail to irritate the individual on occasion, it is, of course, very proper, and indeed inevitable, that they should continue to multiply as modern life grows more complicated; more and more regulation of detail becomes necessary as the machine, using the word in its widest sense, becomes more intricate and thus more liable to be put out of order by minor faults of design or usage.

This study aims to develop a biodegradable linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/starch blends with improved mechanical and flow characteristics and evaluate the probability of using essential oils such as Moringa oleifira and castor oils as green plasticizers and compatibilizers to avoid using harmful chemicals.

Corn starch was blended with LLDPE through the melt blending technique. The corn starch content was varied from 5 to 40 phr in LLDPE. To enhance poor mechanical characteristic of the LLDPE/starch, essential oils such as M. oleifira and castor oils were incorporated into the composites with different concentrations starting from 1 to 7 phr. The essential oils’ effect on mechanical, flow character, thermal stability and electrical properties of the LLDPE/starch was also investigated. The morphology of LLDPE/starch containing essential oils was also investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

The results revealed that increasing the corn starch content had an adverse effect on mechanical and flow characteristics of the composites, whereas incorporation of essential oils had increased the flow and mechanical characteristics of the composites. Also, dielectric measurements revealed that permittivity and dielectric loss increased by increasing oil content. Moreover, the values of the blends containing castor oil are higher compared to that containing M. oleifira. The SEM micrographs illustrated that the presence of essential oils in LLDPE/starch enhanced the distribution and the homogeneity of the composites, and the particle size of starch granules became smaller in LLDPE matrix.

This study aims to introduce green plasticizer and compatibilizer to avoid using harmful chemicals in packaging industry.