This research paper delineates and analyzes the relationship between production and operations management and the development of society. An attempt is made to take the reader…
Abstract
This research paper delineates and analyzes the relationship between production and operations management and the development of society. An attempt is made to take the reader into a historical journey whereby events and contributions to the field are not only listed and described but also analyzed with regard to their impact on societal development through time.
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Jack A. Fuller and Ali H. Mansour
The focus of this research paper is to briefly trace the historical development of Operations Management (OM) and Operations Research (OR). The problems and challenges resulting…
Abstract
The focus of this research paper is to briefly trace the historical development of Operations Management (OM) and Operations Research (OR). The problems and challenges resulting from the convergence between the two fields in recent years are evaluated and some recommendations are offered to both OM and OR academicians and practitioners.
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Maisa Mohamed Ali Mansour, Rushdya Rabee Ali Hassan, Salwa Moustafa Amer Mahmoud and Youssif Mohamed Akl
This paper aims to identify the most common fungal species that grow on paper manuscripts and cause bio-deterioration. It also detects the impact of additive materials on fungal…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the most common fungal species that grow on paper manuscripts and cause bio-deterioration. It also detects the impact of additive materials on fungal degrading and builds a wide database. Thus, it helps conservators understand this phenomenon.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 15 samples were collected from different paper manuscripts suffering from fungi. The achievement of the study objectives depends on using a variety of analyzes, such as a microbiological study, which indicated that three main fungi grew on the paper samples. Then, a digital microscope and an environmental scanning electron microscope were used to detect the effect of fungi on paper fibers. Fourier transform infrared microscopy was used to identify the binding medium and the X-ray diffraction method was used to measure the crystallinity index of cellulose of the paper samples.
Findings
Arabic gum was used as a binder medium with the samples. Aspergillus Niger, Aspergillus Fumigatus and Aspergillus Clavatus were the most common fungal species that grew on the Qur’an papers under investigation. They also caused much common damage to the paper samples. The results of the analyzes also showed that the highest crystallinity index of cellulose was in the samples that contained the lowest rate of fungal growth.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the relationship between fungal degradation and the multi-component nature of paper manuscripts. It builds a wide database that correlates the composition and the degradation of the Qur’an papers.
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Mohamed A. Saad, Fatma Metwaly, Sarah Yahia Gad, Khaled Mansour Mansour and Marwa A. Ali
The paper aims to use the Trilobal® polyester (Y cross-section) for producing fabrics suitable for fencing suits and evaluating their various properties.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to use the Trilobal® polyester (Y cross-section) for producing fabrics suitable for fencing suits and evaluating their various properties.
Design/methodology/approach
Double weave structure was chosen to produce the samples by using six different face structures and two back structures divided into two groups according to the back structures. They were evaluated by their physical and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, puncture resistance, air permeability and humidity properties in horizontal and vertical wicking, drying rate and water vapor transmission.
Findings
Fencing sport recently is one of the most growing sports in the world, which necessitates special requirements and properties of fencing suit, either mechanical properties, which allow the easily and freely movement for the athlete, or the comfort properties that save the player’s effort and energy for a long time to improve his performance.
Originality/value
ANOVA test analysis showed highly significant results in some properties comparing back and face structures of the double weave fabric high correlation coefficient were found between packing density factor of produced fabric and the weft material types. The final results showed the produced sample that weaved with plain 1/1 for back structure and warp rib 2/2 for face structure achieved the best results, followed by the produced sample weaved with plain 1/1 for back structure and weft rib 2/2 for face structure compared with the other produced samples.
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Stuti Saxena and Tariq Ali Said Mansour Al-Tamimi
The study aims to underscore the initiatives taken by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in spearheading their drive towards creating “smart” cities.
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to underscore the initiatives taken by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in spearheading their drive towards creating “smart” cities.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a qualitative approach by invoking documentary analysis supplemented by responses provided by 13 interviewees from public and private sector.
Findings
All the six GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) are keen on building upon their infrastructure to push their “smart city” agenda which would go a long way in furthering the economic diversification objective of their region besides improving the quality of public services.
Originality/value
Hitherto, research has been focused on appreciating the “smart city” initiatives of developed countries; this study seeks to build upon the literature on “smart cities” by contextualizing the research setting in the developing countries. Second, the study shows that with the ongoing oil prices crisis in the GCC, the “smart city” initiatives of the countries are conceived as possible avenues of economic diversification and competitiveness.
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M.A. Mansour, Sameh Elsayed Ahmed and Ali J. Chamkha
This paper aims to investigate the entropy generation due to magnetohydrodynamic natural convection flow and heat transfer in a porous enclosure filled with Cu-water nanofluid in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the entropy generation due to magnetohydrodynamic natural convection flow and heat transfer in a porous enclosure filled with Cu-water nanofluid in the presence of viscous dissipation effect. The left and right walls of the cavity are thermally insulated. There are heated and cold parts, and these are placed on the bottom and top wall, respectively, whereas the remaining parts are thermally insulated.
Design/methodology/approach
The finite volume method is used to solve the dimensionless partial differential equations governing the problem. A comparison with previously published woks is presented and is found to be in an excellent agreement.
Findings
The minimization of entropy generation and local heat transfer according to different values of the governing parameters are presented in details. It is found that the presence of magnetic field has negative effects on the local entropy generation because of heat transfer and the local total entropy generation. Also, the increase in the heated part length leads to a decrease in the local Nusselt number.
Originality/value
This problem is original, as it has not been considered previously.
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Lioua Kolsi, A.M. Rashad, Nirmalendu Biswas, M.A. Mansour, Taha Salah, Aboulbaba Eladeb and Taher Armaghani
This paper aims to explore, through a numerical study, buoyant convective phenomena in a porous cavity containing a hybrid nanofluid, taking into account the local thermal…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore, through a numerical study, buoyant convective phenomena in a porous cavity containing a hybrid nanofluid, taking into account the local thermal nonequilibrium (LTNE) approach. The cavity contains a solid block in the shape of a cross (+). It will be helpful to develop and optimize the thermal systems with intricate geometries under LTNE conditions for a variety of applications.
Design/methodology/approach
To attain the objective, the system governing partial differential equations (PDEs), expressed as functions of the current function and temperature, and are solved numerically by the finite difference approach. The authors carefully examine the heat transfer rates and dynamics of the micropolar hybrid nanofluid by presenting fluid flow contours, isotherms of the liquid and solid phases, as well as contours of streamlines, isotherms and concentration of the fluid. Key parameters analyzed include heated length (B = 0.1–0.5), porosity (ε = 0.1–0.9), heat absorption/generation (Q = 0–8), length wave (λ = 1–3) and the interphase heat transfer coefficient (H* = 0.05–10). The equations specific to the flow of a micropolar fluid are converted into classical Navier–Stokes equations by increasing the porosity and pore size.
Findings
The results showed that the shape, strength and position of the fluid circulation are dictated by the size of the inner obstacle (B) as well as the effective length of the heating wall. The lower value of obstruction size, as well as heating wall length, leads to a higher rate of heat transfer. Heat transfer is much higher for the higher amount of heat absorption instead of heat generation (Q). The higher porosity values lead to lesser fluid resistance, which leads to a superior heat transfer from the hot source to the cold walls. The surface waviness of 4 leads to superior heat transfer related to any other waviness.
Research limitations/implications
This work can be further investigated by looking at thermal performance in the existence of various-shaped obstructions, curvature effects, orientations, boundary conditions and other variables. Numerical simulations or experimental studies in different multiphysical contexts can be used to achieve this.
Practical implications
Many technical fields, including heat exchanging unit, crystallization processes, microelectronic units, energy storage processes, mixing devices, food processing, air conditioning systems and many more, can benefit from the geometric configurations investigated in this study.
Originality/value
This work numerically explores the behavior of micropolar nanofluids (a mixture of copper, aluminum oxide and water) within a porous inclined enclosure with corrugated walls, containing a solid insert in the shape of a cross in the center, under the oriented magnetic field, by applying the nonlocal thermal equilibrium model. It analyzes in detail the heat transfer rates and dynamics of the micropolar nanoliquid by presenting the flow patterns, the temperature of liquid and solid phases, as well as the variations in the flow, thermal and concentration fields of the fluid.
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Mokhtar Ali Amrani, Mansour Alhomdi, Badiea Aswaidy M, Atef M. Ghaleb, Mohyeddine Al-Qubati and Mutahar Shameeri
This study provides a unique integrated diagnosis system to investigate the causes of low productivity, profitability, machinery health conditions and wear severity of medium-size…
Abstract
Purpose
This study provides a unique integrated diagnosis system to investigate the causes of low productivity, profitability, machinery health conditions and wear severity of medium-size biscuit industry assets in Taiz, Yemen.
Design/methodology/approach
The evaluation is based on an integrating of the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and oil-based maintenance (OBM) approaches. The data are collected using the company's operational records, interviews and observations, while the used lubricating oil samples are also collected from production lines' machineries. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to study the wear debris particle features and wear mechanism. Different other analysis tools such as fishbone, 5 whys and Pareto charts are also used to investigate the root causes and plausible recovery solutions of machinery failures.
Findings
This study demonstrated that a large proportion of machinery failures and production loss are of management concerns. Also, this study inferred that the analysis of wear debris is unique and informative for determining machinery wear severity and useful life. Finally, the current conditions of production lines are clarified and suggestions to use a mixed preventive/predictive maintenance management approach are also elucidated.
Originality/value
This work implemented an integrated OEE/OBM diagnostic maintenance system to investigate the root causes of low productivity and machine failures in real production lines and suggested robust decisions on the maintenance duties.
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Hamed Kord-Varkaneh, Ammar Salehi-Sahlabadi, Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, Somaye Fatahi, Ehsan Ghaedi, Ali Nazari, Maryam Seyfishahpar and Jamal Rahmani
The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all published randomized controlled trials with the aim to determine and quantify the anti-hyperglycemic effects of…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all published randomized controlled trials with the aim to determine and quantify the anti-hyperglycemic effects of glutamine (Gln) in acute and chronic clinical settings.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a comprehensive search of all randomized clinical trials performed up to December 2018, to identify those investigating the impact of Gln supplementation on fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) via ISI Web of Science, Cochrane library PubMed and SCOPUS databases. A meta-analysis of eligible studies was conducted using random effects model to estimate the pooled effect size. Fractional polynomial modeling was used to explore the dose–response relationships between Gln supplementation and diabetic indices.
Findings
The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that of Gln supplementation had a significant effect on FBS (weighted mean difference (WMD): –2.868 mg/dl, 95 per cent CI: –5.467, –0.269, p = 0.031). However, the authors failed to observe that Gln supplementation affected insulin levels (WMD: 1.06 units, 95 per cent CI: –1.13, 3.26, p = 0.34) and HOMA-IR (WMD: 0.001 units, 95 per cent CI: –2.031, 2.029, p = 0.999). Subgroup analyses showed that the highest decrease in FBS levels was observed when the duration of intervention was less than two weeks (WMD: –4.064 mg/dl, 95 per cent CI: –7.428, –0.700, p = 0.01) and when Gln was applied via infusion (WMD: –5.334 mg/dl, 95 per cent CI: –10.48, 0.17, p = 0.04).
Originality/value
The results from this meta-analysis show that Gln supplementation did not have a significant effect on insulin levels and HOMA-IR. However, it did significantly reduce the levels of FBS, obtaining a higher effect when the duration of the intervention period was less than two weeks.
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Stuti Saxena and Tariq Ali Said Mansour Al-Tamimi
The purpose of this paper is to underline the significance of invoking Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in Omani Banks. Opportunities and challenges are also…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to underline the significance of invoking Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in Omani Banks. Opportunities and challenges are also being discussed in the case study.
Design/methodology/approach
Four Omani banks representative of local, international, Islamic and specialized banks are being studied in terms of their social networking presence on Facebook and their e-banking facilities. Also, impetus is laid upon the aggregation of internal data and vast amounts of semi-structured external data from public sources, including social media.
Findings
The case study shows that Big Data analytics and IoT technologies may be utilized by the Omani banks for facilitating them in “forecasting” and “nowcasting”. Besides, customers may be better managed with better and efficient services. However, there are challenges in tapping these technologies such as security, infrastructure, regulatory norms, etc.
Practical implications
Banks in Oman need to appreciate the utility of Big Data and IoT technologies, and for this, a robust IT infrastructure should be institutionalized.
Originality/value
The case study is a major step in integrating Big Data and IoT technologies in Omani banks across four variants of national, international, Islamic and specialized banks. This is the first study where such integration has been emphasized in the Omani banking sector.