Abstracts of Selected Articles ECONOMICS HEVEArios.lgm.gov.my/cms/documentstorage/com.tms.cms.document.Docum… · Abstracts of Selected Articles Compiled by ... Foreign Direct Investments

No. 2/2011

Abstracts of Selected Articles

Compiled by Library, UPP

Malaysian Rubber Board

May 2011

ECONOMICS

Foreign Direct Investments .......................................................................................... 1

NR & SR Production ................................................................................................... 1

Rubber Industry - India ................................................................................................ 1

Rubber Industry - Malaysia ......................................................................................... 2

Rubber Prices ............................................................................................................... 2

Tyre Industry ................................................................................................................ 3

HEVEA

Clones-Protein Differential Expression ...................................................................... 3

Drought Stress .............................................................................................................. 4

Fertilizers ..................................................................................................................... 4

Genetically Modified Rubber ...................................................................................... 5

Hydroxynitrile Lyase ................................................................................................... 5

Lactificer Cells-Identification ...................................................................................... 5

Natural Rubber – Alternatives ..................................................................................... 5

Rubber Biosynthesis .................................................................................................... 6

Rubber Seeds – Metabolism ........................................................................................ 7

Tapping Systems – Thailand ........................................................................................ 7

LATEX CHEMISTRY & TECHNOLOGY

Glycolipids .................................................................................................................. 7

Latex Allergy ............................................................................................................... 8

Latex Industry-Impact of Climate Change .................................................................. 8

Latex Films .................................................................................................................. 8

RUBBER CHEMISTRY & TECHNOLOGY

Carbon Dioxide Emissions .......................................................................................... 9

EPDM/NR Blends ........................................................................................................ 9

Friction ......................................................................................................................... 10

Peptisers ....................................................................................................................... 10

Polymer Composites .................................................................................................... 10

Rubber Reinforcement ................................................................................................. 11

Rubber Recycling......................................................................................................... 11

TPO Roofing Membrane.............................................................................................. 11

No. 2/2011


ii

TYRES

Design .......................................................................................................................... 12

Innovation .................................................................................................................... 12

Radial Tyres ................................................................................................................ 12

OTHERS

Biotechnology .............................................................................................................. 13

Furniture Industry - Canada ......................................................................................... 13

Innovation – Lead-User Research ................................................................................ 13

Leadership .................................................................................................................... 14

Management ................................................................................................................. 14

Mentoring ..................................................................................................................... 15

Fauziah A. Rahman

Chief Librarian

UPP

30st

May 2011

mailto:[email protected]

No. 2/2011


iii

REQUISITION FORM

TO : CHIEF LIBRARIAN

LIBRARY

RRIM, 260 JALAN AMPANG

FROM :

UNIT :

EXT. :

REQUEST FOR PHOTOCOPY (Please cite document number)

Please arrange for photocopy of the following article/s:

Comments and suggestions about this issue are welcome

No. 2/2011


1

ECONOMICS

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS

Sharifah Zohra Jabeen.

Malaysian scene : big FDI inflow boosts energy

Rubb. Asia 2011 25(2) p. 89-90 (1)

Various measures and initiatives are undertaken by the Malaysian Government to

ensure that the country maintains its magnetism as a preferred investment destination and

remains on track to achieve a developed and high-income economy by 2020.

NR & SR PRODUCTION

Anon.

Rubber trends

Rubb. Chem. Review XL(3) p. 15 (2)

The production of natural rubber (NR) in the country during September 2010

increased to 77,500 tonnes compared to 74,300 tonnes during September 2009. The

cumulative production during the first half of 2010-11 was 375,250 tonnes compared to

348,625 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year, registering a growth

of 7.6 per cent, due to favourable weather conditions. The production estimated for

October 2010 was 82,000 tonnes.

RUBBER INDUSTRY – INDIA

Abraham, K.

India rubber industry : excellent growth over the years

Rubb. Asia (India Rubber Expo Special) 2011 p. 51-52 (3)

The history of rubber cultivation in India from colonial times up to the present is

described.

Venugopal, P.

Guiding growth plans

Polym. & Tyres Asia 2011 2(2) p. 68-69 (4)

India‘s Rubber Board, the federal government institution the oversea the overall

development of the rubber industry, has a new person at its helm. Sheela Thomas, an

officer belonging to the country‘s elite administrative service, has taken over as its

Chairperson. She is working on policies to rejuvenate and further develop the plantation

sector to face the challenges of the global market place. As she gets down to address the

issues facing NR production and decline in production amid soaring demand and prices.

No. 2/2011


2

RUBBER INDUSTRY-MALAYSIA

Anon.

Malaysia : The return of ―rubber planting‖ focus

The Rubb. Int. Mag. 2011 13(5) p. 20-21 (5)

In the past two decades, Malaysia has faded away from rubber planting, and

rather focuses on the palm oil production as well as developing the downstream of rubber

products. However, with the recent skyrocketing price of rubber, Malaysia repositions

and returns to rubber plantation again in a hope to gain advantage from this lucrative

market.

RUBBER PRICES

Anon.

Futures for price discovery

Polymers & Tyre Asia 1(6) p. 45, 50 (6)

Indian tyre manufacturers are still wary of the futures market in rubber and their

sceptism has become stronger with rising prices and high duties on imports. But Anil

Mishra, CEO of Ahmadabad-based National Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd,

the pioneer in electronic commodity trade, says many tyre makers are realizing futures‘

advantages.

Anon.

Natural rubber prices upswing for how long?

Rubb. Chem. Review XL(3) p. 25-28 (7)

The upward trends in natural rubber prices in recent times with record breaking

values continue to be a hot issue. The trend is being watched with bated breath by the

suppliers and consumers alike for contrasting reasons. Experts and stakeholders of the

industry unanimously rule out a major slide and are of the view that prices are likely to

stay high till the next few years with intermittent dips.

Nayar, K. S.

Rubber prices spike punctures industry

Polymer & Tyre Asia 1(6) p. 42-43,47-49 (8)

The scorching rubber prices are grievously hurting the Indian and international

tyre industry. Prices have gone up by nearly next 7-3 years, the projected rubber shortage

is about 500,000 tonnes. Sourcing rubber pricing of tyres have become great challenges,

both for the producers and consumers.

No. 2/2011


3

TYRE INDUSTRY

Abraham, K.

World tyre industry : an exciting phase of development


Tyre is a high technology product, an amalgam of several otherwise incompatible

materials like natural rubber, synthetic rubber, steel, nylon, carbon black, rubber

chemicals etc. It absorbs shock, rolls freely, distorts in shape while cornering, braking

and crossing obstacles, yet regains the shape quickly, provides road grip and offers

driving comfort. Tyre making needs multidisciplinary technology involving physics,

chemistry, engineering, metallurgy, textile technology and polymer science. The global

tyre market in 2009 was worth around US$100 billion with the car tyre output around

260 million and truck tyre production around 12 million units.

Anon.

Fighting uphill task

Polymer & Tyre Asia (10)

India‘s tyre industry is going through testing times. Amid ballooning prices of

raw materials, particularly rubber, it is trying to cater to the demand of the surging auto

industry by expanding production capacities. It is still awaiting Government decision on

regular rubber imports and even moved the court for redressal of grievances, says Rajiv

Budhraja, Director General Automotive Tyre Manufactures‘ Association (ATMA).

Taylor, P.

It‘s fantasy that rules tyre business

Rubb. Asia 25(2) p. 25-26 (11)

For those of us capable of thinking back a few decades, it was the abiding fear of

the larger tyre makers that their first fitment customers, the car manufacturers, would

start marketing their own brands of tyres, thus undermining the more profitable

replacement market. It is common knowledge that first fitment or original equipment

tyres, as they are more commonly known here in Europe, are sold at very sharp prices in

expectation that the owner of the new vehicle will eventually replace them like for like.

Well, that is the theory.

HEVEA

CLONES-PROTEIN DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION

Li, H.L., et al

Protein differential expression in the latex from Hevea brasiliensis between self-rooting

juvenile clones and donor clones

No. 2/2011


4

Acta Physiol. Plant p. 1-7 (12) To better understand molecular mechanism underlying the difference between

self-rooting juvenile clones and donor clones, a proteomic approach was used to profile

protein changes in the latex between self-rooting juvenile clones and donor clones. Total

soluble proteins were extracted from latex in self-rooting juvenile clones and donor

clones. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to identify proteins that

were differentially expressed in self-rooting juvenile clones and donor clones and image

analysis was used to determine which proteins were up- or down-regulated.

DROUGHT STRESS

Chen, J-W., et al

Gas exchange and hydraulics in seedlings of Hevea brasiliensis during water stress and

recovery

Tree Physiology p. 1-10 (13)

The response of plants to drought has received significant attention, but far less

attention has been given to the dynamic response of plants during recovery from drought.

Photosynthetic performance and hydraulic capacity were monitored in seedlings of Hevea

brasiliensis under water stress and during recovery following rewatering. Leaf water

relation, gas exchange rate and hydraulic conductivity decreased gradually after water

stress fell below a threshold, whereas instantaneous water use efficiency and osmolytes

increased significantly.

FERTILIZERS

Chen, B., et al.

Development and implementation of site-specific fertilizer recommendation model based

on nutrient balance for rubber plantation

Agronomy Journal 103(2) p. 469-471 (14)

Fertilization is one of the key inputs to ensure healthy growth of rubber trees

[Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Müll. Arg.] and maintain the nutrient balance of a

rubber plantation. The main objective of this study was to develop and implement a

nutrient balance based model to recommend fertilizer for individual rubber trees. We

reviewed the theory of nutrient balance, then developed a model to integrate with

geographic information system technology, and subsequently provided a detailed

description of aboveground nutrient consumption (used for tree growth and latex

production) and soil-supplied nutrient estimation, which was the key step in the model.

No. 2/2011


5

GENETICALLY MODIFIED RUBBER

Venugopal, G.

NR shortage : India to pursue GM rubber

Rubb. Asia 25(2) p. 57-60 (15)

Concerned ove the growing demand-supply gap in natural rubber, the government

of India has given the go-ahead to the Indian Rubber Board to conduct field trials of GM

rubber. But in view of the opposition in some quarters to the introduction of GM rubber,

the Government has clarified that commercial cultivation of GM rubber will be

undertaken only if the field trials give positive results and after evolving a consensus on

the issue.

HYDROXYNITRILE LYASE

Cui, F-C.; Pan, X-L.; Liu, J-Y.

Catalytic mechanism of Hydroxynitrile Lyase from Hevea brasiliensis : a theoretical

investigation

J. Phys. Chem. 114 p. 9622-9628 (16)

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the hybrid functional B3LYP

have been performed to investigate the catalytic mechanism of hydroxynitrile lyase from

Hevea brasiliensis (Hb-HNL). This enzyme catalyzes the cleavage of acetone

cyanohydrin to hydrocyanic acid plus acetone. Two models (A and B) of the active site

consisting of 105 and 155 atoms, respectively, were constructed on the basis of the

crystal structure. Good consistency between the two models provides a verification of the

proposed mechanism.

LATICIFER CELLS--IDENTIFICATION

Tan, D.; Sun, X.; Zhang, J.;

Histochemical and immunohistochemical identification of laticifer cells in callus cultures

derived from anthers of Hevea brasiliensis

Plant Cell. Rep. p. 1-8 (17)

Laticifer are highly specialized cells present in over 20 plant families. They are

well defined in planta. In vitro development of laticifers was also observed in some

plants, but uncertain in the callus cultures of rubber tree, one of the most economically

important latex producing plants.

No. 2/2011


6

NATURAL RUBBER – ALTERNATIVES

Anon.

Concerns over future

Polymer & Asia 1(6) p. 60,64 (18)

The demand to find alternatives to Hevea brasiliensis grown in South East Asia is

mounting amid soaring natural rubber prices, voracious demand from China and India

and growing unpredictability of supplies of the critical raw material for the tyre industry.

Jan van Beilin of Universite de Lausanne (Switzerland), a key organiser of the just

concluded European Union-based Production and Exploitation of Alternative Rubber and

Latex Sourcesn (PEARLS) conference held in Montpellier, France, says it is imperative

to study alternative sources of natural rubber.

Chakravarthy, S.N.

Natural Rubber – Alternate possibilities

Rubb. Chem. Review XXXX(3) p. 29-33 (19)

Natural ruber, obtained almost exclusively from the Para rubber tree (Hevea

brasiliensis), is a unique biopolymer of strategic importance that, in many of its most

significant applications, cannot be replaced by synthetic rubber alternatives. Several

pressing motives lead to the search for alternative sources of natural rubber. Natural

rubber has unique properties and as such it cannot be replaced in the manufacture of

rubber products.

Finlay, M.R.

Search for alternatives

Polymer & Tyre Asia 1(6) p.62,66 (20)

Rising rubber prices only steeled the determination of researchers and policy-

makers to look at alternatives to Hevea brasiliensis grown in South East Asia, source of

80% of the world production of natural rubber. Uncertainties of bioterrorism, South

American Leaf Blight that could wipe out plantations and climate change that has already

led to cut in production, point to the need to develop alternatives. As distinguished

historian Mark R Finlay says many uncertainties remain. Finding alternative crops

requires a complex suite of science, technology, capital, and markets.

RUBBER BIOSYNTHESIS

Chiang, C.K. et al.

Unraveling the mystery of natural rubber biosynthesis. Pt.l:

Rubber Chemical Technology 2011 84 (21)

Monitoring the growth of in vitro natural rubberwas accomplished by high

resolution size exclusion chromatography,SEC. Washed rubber particles isolated from H.

brasiliensis latex, containing the rubber transferase enzyme, were used to catalyze the

polymerization of synthetic isopentenyl pyrophosphate monomer in the presence of

farnesyl pyrophosphate initiator. The high-resolution SEC was able to detect the

No. 2/2011


7

formation of new rubber. Changes in the low molecular weight fraction were also

detected. Gravimetric analysis revealed 30% mass gain after the in vitro synthesis. The

overall gel content was found to be reduced, which further supported the formation of

new rubber. This is the first report that utilizes high-resolution SEC to monitor the in

vitro NR growth without the use of radio labeling.

RUBBER SEEDS – METABOLISM

Silva Bonome, L.T., et al

Metabolism of carbohydrates during the development of seeds of the Brazilian rubber

tree [Hevea brasiliensis (willd. Ex Adr. De Juss) Muell.-Arg.]

Acta Physiol Plant 33 p. 211-219 (22)

This work aimed at the assessment of the metabolism of carbohydrate during the

development of the seeds of Brazilian rubber trees. The enzymatic activity of the acid

invertase, neutral invertase and sucrose synthase (SuSy) and the levels of total soluble

sugars (TSS), reducing sugars (RS) and sucrose were evaluated separately in each part of

the fruit and seed—pericarp, seed coat, embryo and endosperm—on different days after

the pollination (DAP).

TAPPING SYSTEMS– THAILAND

Chantuma, P., et al.

An Innovative tapping system, the double cut alternative, to improve the yield of Hevea

brasiliensis in Thai rubber plantations

Field Crops Research p. 1-7 (23)

In Thailand, the continuous decrease in the size of rubber plantations has led to

the general adoption of intensive tapping systems which may lead to over harvesting,

high rates of tapping panel dryness (TPD), short life-cycles of the plantations, and low

labour productivity. In Thailand, farmers use a half-spiral downward tapping systems

(S/2) or a one third-spiral (S/3) with a tapping frequency of once two days (d2) or more.

To increase productivity, it is difficult to reduced tapping frequencies, even with ethylene

stimulation, as this would result in days without work for tappers. The purpose of this

study was to characterise the behaviour of the Hevea latex yield under the double cut

alternative tapping system (DCA).

LATEX CHEMISTRY & TECHNOLOGY

GLYCOLIPIDS

Liengprayoon, S., et al.

Glycolipid composition of Hevea brasiliensis

Phytochemistry p. 1-12 (24)

No. 2/2011


8

Glycolipids of fresh latex from three clones of Hevea brasiliensis were

characterized and quantified HPLC/ESI-MS. Their fatty acyl and sterol components were

further confirmed by GC/MS after saponification. The four detected glycolipid classes

were steryl glucosides (SG), esterified steryl glucosides (ESG), monogalactosyl

diacylglycerols (MGDG) and digalactosyl diacylglycerols (DGDG). Sterols in SG, EGS

and total latex unsaponifiable were stigmaterol, ᵦ-sitosterol and ∆5-avenaterol. The latter

was found instead of fucosterol formerly described.

LATEX ALLERGY

Ott, H., et al.

Microarrays of recombinant Hevea brasiliensis proteins : a novel tool for the component-

resolved diagnosis of natural rubber latex allergy

J. Investig. Allergol. Clin. Immunol 2010 20(2) p. 128-138 (25)

The panel of microarrayed allergen components was shown to represent a

comprehensive repertoire of clinically relevant NRL proteins. NRL-specific lgE

recognition patterns and sensitization rates determined by microarray analysis were

similar to those obtained by conventional FEIA. The diagnostic sensitivity rates of

combined single-component data were not significantly different for the respective

recombinant test system, whereas the sensitivity level of extract-based FEIA analysis was

markedly higher.

LATEX INDUSTRY – IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Ouseph, T.

Centrifuged latex industry : Climate change a major challenge


Centrifuged latex has several applications in processes such as dipping, foaming,

moulding and extrusion. Loss of tapping days as well as fall in output consequent on

climate change is the present challenge to the latex industry.

LATEX FILMS

Hill, D.

Latex film forming : its all complex and hard to understand

Rubb. Asia 2011 25(3) p. 57-59 (27) Latex film forming – it is fundamental to the whole area of latex dipping. But how

much of the process of film forming is understood? The answer it seems is both ―a lot‖

and ―very little‖. If you carry out a literature search on polymer latex film forming, you

will find a mass of publications researching the fundamentals of the process, many

equations describing the force acting on latex particles during film forming and several

competing theories proposed and debated. But when I look at the factories, on the dipping

No. 2/2011


9

lines, in the process control and development laboratories, I have found very little

understanding of what exactly happens when that wet film of latex converts to a

continuous, strong film of the elastomer.

Hill, D.

Nanotechnology has potential applications in latex dipping

Rubb. Asia 25(2) p. 29-31 (28)

The use of nano-fillers in rubber latex is a subject of considerable potential which

as yet does not appear to have been realized outside of a few specific instances. It is an

area of the technology to be watched with interest over the next few years.

RUBBER CHEMISTRY & TECHNOLOGY

CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS

Anon.

India has miles to go

Polymer & Tyre Asia 1(6) p. 22 & 26 (29)

The market for all kinds of vehicles is also booming with latest statistics showing

sales going up 17.81% to 1,221,981 units in November as against 1,037,232 in the same

month last year. The high growth in demand is leading to massive rates of greenhouse gas

emissions because India‘s transportation sector alone accounts for 7% of the country‘s

GHG emissions by 2020.

EPDM / NBR BLENDS

Manoj, K.C., et al.

Transport of aromatic hydrocarbons through EPDM / NBR blends

J. of Elastomer and Plastics 43(1) p. 65-84 (30)

The effect of blend ratio on the cure and transport characteristics of EPDM/NBR

blends has been investigated. Cure studies showed that the maximum torque values

increased with increase of the percentage of NBR in the blend system. As the percentage

of NBR in the blends increased, the penetrant transport has been found to be decreased.

The experimental observations have been correlated with the morphology of the blends;

attested by SEM photographs. The equilibrium sorption with respect to the nature of

penetrant has been observed to follow the order: benzene > toluene > xylene for a given

blend ratio. A minor deviation from Fickian trend has been observed for the mechanism

of transport. The experimental observations have been compared with the existing

theoretical models.

No. 2/2011


10

FRICTION

Smith, R.H.

Measuring rubber friction forces individually

Rubb. World 243(4) P. 20-23 (31)

The current de facto standard engineering equation for elastomeric friction

calculations – formulated for practical application to sliding tires in 1966 - incorporates

three dynamic rubber friction forces: (1) Adhesion; (2) a hysteretic force arising from

bulk deformation of rubber in contact with a macroscopically rough surface; and (3)

physical wear of the rubber, or cohesion loss. The existence of a fourth basic rubber

friction force, surface deformation hysteresis, or microhysteresis generated by adhesive

interaction of the eleastomer‘s surface with the microroughness of the contacted material,

had been posited in 1965.

PEPTISERS

Majumdar, S.

Chemistry of peptizers in elatomers

The Rubb. Int. 2011 13(5) p. 39-46 (32)

Use of peptizer in rubber began with the use of higher volume of NR for higher

level of production in the industry. Since the viscosity range of NR is higher, may fall

between 80-120 (ML 1+4 @100°C) or higher, higher productivity was found extreamly

difficult unless the mixing time was reduced considerably and hence the use of peptising

chemicals.

POLYMER COMPOSITES

Poompradub, S., et al.

Improving oxidation stability and mechanical properties of natural rubber vulcanizates

filled with calcium carbonate modified by gallic acid

Polym. Bull. 66 p. 967-977 (33)

A novel technique to modify the surface of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)

nanoparticles, used as antioxidant and reinforcing filler, by gallic acid is disclosed. The

new properties of the modified CaCO3 could make it more useful and practical for the

rubber industry. Thermal gravimetric (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,

and transmission electron microscopy analyses showed that the gallic acid was bound

onto the surface of CaCO3.

No. 2/2011


11

RUBBER REINFORCEMENT

Le, H.H., et al.

Time-dependent reinforcement effect of nanoclay in rubber nanocomposites

J. Material Sci. 46 p. 1685-1696 (34)

The time-dependent reinforcement of rubber–clay composites was characterized

by means of stress relaxation experiments combined with a new evaluation method based

on the two-component model. The total reinforcement effect of clay in rubber composites

was considered as the sum of several stress components, which are originated by different

networks. By means of this new experimental strategy a structural characterization of the

stress relaxation behavior was performed by taking into account the effect of the degree

of clay dispersion.

RUBBER RECYCLING

Fereira, C.A.; Serrano, C.L.R.; Kuyven, P.S.

Use of analysis of variance and linear regression as prediction tool for mechanical

performance of SBR

Plastics, Rubber and Composites 40(1) p. 40-45 (35)

Statistical methodology analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression were

applied to predict the mechanical performance of the styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)

containing a residue of the elastomer originated from shoe sole cuttings. A basic

formulation was developed to which three different contents of SBR residue were added.

Compositions were also prepared with three different concentrations of silica to compare

the performance of the filler, as well as to verify the existence of any interaction between

the components. Using of ANOVA have permitted the validation of the results of the

mechanical properties stress rupture, elongation and tearing resistance. Linear regression

analysis demonstrated that silica and SBR residue concentrations have an effect on the

mechanical properties and this relationship can be expressed through behaviour models,

which can be represented graphically. It was possible to predict a mechanical behaviour

model including intermediate concentrations not experimentally measured within the

observed limits of the sample.

TPO ROOFING MEMBRANE

Sangrungsri, P.

TPO roofing membrane: Supreme innovation for buildings

The Rubb. Int. Mag. 2011 13(5) p. 20-21 (36)

No. 2/2011


12

TPO Roofing Membrane is a water-resistant material widely used in Europe, the

US and China. It can be variedly used in both houses and factories‘ structures, such as

roof deck, terrace and wall. The material is resistant against the changing temperature and

has a high elasticity of 400%. It can reflect heat and UV, thereby saving energy up to

80%.

TYRES

DESIGN

Krishnan, RNK.

Design for competitive advantage

Polymers & Tyre Asia 1(6) p. 96 (37)

Design has played a fundamental role in the success of the world‘s leading

companies. Research has shown that most firm now use design to improve their brand

strength and product and service offerings. Whether it is a consumer product company or

tyre manufacturer, it makes good commercial sense in spending money on building a

world-class design team.

INNOVATION

Anon.

Innovative to survive

Polym. & Tyre Asia 2011 2(2) p. 20-21, 25 (38)

There are three challenges that the tyre industry will face in the coming five

years: Cost, electronics and regulations, says Marc Junio, General Director of the

Goodyear Innivation Centre in Luxenbourg, the company‘s largest R&D centre in Europe

and the second worldwide after the one at its Akron headquarters. He believes that the

pnuematic tyres as we knowof it today might continue to stay that way for a while, but it

RADIAL TYRES

Majumdar, S.

Development of radial tyres

Rubb. Chem. Review XXXX(3) p. 35-50 (39)

The basic concept of radial ply structure, as innovated by Micheline Company,

was aimed at separating as far as practically possible some basic factor of the cushioning

effect, much better than that of a bias trye. The design which should reflect the better

spring effect influencing comfort and better ground contact.

No. 2/2011


13

OTHERS

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Meyer, H-P.

Sustainability and Biotechnology

Organic Process Research & Develoment 2011 15 (1) p. 180 – 188 (40)

Granted, biofuels annd biobased bulk chemicals are low hanging fruits

(technically speaking), but the economic and ecological impact of biotechnology is

estimated to be more effective with higher-value and more complex molecules. The

―buzzworld― biotechnology has led to different priorities, often without considering long-

term socio-economic costs. Even so, biotechnology holds some very promising solutions

to some of our problems with benign synthesis, smart products, and waste recycling. The

commercial potential of biotechnology us huge, a colossal 1000 billion U.S. dollars, or

about an order of magnitude more than today! In order not to dissappoint investors and tx

prayers, however, we need to develop our tools further, especially for complex molecules

for various applications.

FURNITURE INDUSTRY – CANADA

Anon.

Potential for Malaysian furniture in the Canadian market

Maskayu 2011 2 p. 24-27 (41)

The Canadian furniture industry comprises household furniture including

mattresses (37%), office and institutional furniture (44%), wooden kitchen cabinets and

counter tops, (16%) and blinds and shades (3%). The industry is made up of a number of

sub-sectors: furniture and related product manufacturing. Products included in furniture

and product related manufacturing are wooden, metal, contrast, office, household,

kitchen, upholstrered (sofas & armchairs), living room, dining room, non-upholstered

seats (chairs), bedroom, beds, wardrobes, outdoor, ready-to-assemble furniture, seat parts

and parts of furniture.

INNOVATION – LEAD-USER RESEARCH

Eisenberg, Ivy.

Lead – user research for breakthrough Innovation

Research Technology Management 2011 p. 50-58 (42)

No. 2/2011


14

The best companies often work closely with their customers to uncover needs and

wants that can be translated into new or improved product or service offering. The lead-

user research method goes a step further, looking not only to the typical customer, but to

those users whose needs and preferences lead the market. These lead users, as they

called, will modify products or use them in unforeseen ways to meet their needs. The

lead-user research method was developed as a systematic way to mine the insights and

innovations of these lead users. Since it was pioneered in late 1990s., the lead-user

method has evolved and grown. This paper offers an update on the use of the method and

on adaptions to increase its efficiency using online search and communities as well as an

overview of lessons learned from experiences on more 20 lead-user projects.

LEADERSHIP

Anon.

Language of leadership

Polym. & Tyre Asia 2011 2(2) p. 48-49 (43)

If you aspire to be a CEO, who delivers stunning corporate results, but fears a

withering of leadership qualities within, there is a solution. You can unleash the most

pivotal quality to be a leader and win folowers. Cutting-edge research in neuroscience

and psychology has unveiled that ‗body language‗ is a crucial factor for building

effective leadership. Executive coach Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD, reveals in an exclusive

interview how body language enhances or undermines the capacity to lead.

Hill, L.A.; Lineback, K.

Are you a good boss – or a great one?

Harvard Business Review 2011 p. 124 – 131 (44)

The whole question of how managers grow and advance is one we‘ve studied,

through about, and lived with for years. As a professor working with high potentials

MBAs, and executives from around the globe, Linda meets people who want to

contribute to their organization and build fulfilling carreers. As an executive, Kent has

worked with managers at all levels of both private and public organizations. All our

experience brings us to a simple but troubling observation: Most bosses reach a certain

level of profiency and stop there – short of what they could and should be.

MANAGEMENT

Dattner, B.; Hogan, R.

Can you handle failure?

Harvard Business Review (45)

In the workplace this phenomenon is particularly evident when it comes to

underperformance and failure. An outcome than an employee regards as satisfactory may

be seen by his boss as entirely unacceptable. When a project is an uniquivocal flop,

collegues disagree over the reasons why. These reactions, and their effecy on workplace

No. 2/2011


15

relationships, often become more problematic than the original event. As a result, how

people respond to negative feedback is of great importance to managers and

organizations is a major determinant of career success.

Edmondson, A.C.

Strategies for learning from failure

Harvard Business Review p. 48-56 (46)

The wisdom of learning from failure is incontrovertible. Yet organization that do

it well are extraordinarily rare. This gap is not due to a lack of commitment to learning.

Managers in the vast majority of enterprises that I have studied over the past 20 years –

pharmaceutical, financial services, product design, telecommunications, and

constructions, and construction companies; hospitals, and NASA‘s space shuttle program,

among others-gunuinely wanted to help their organizations learn from failures to improve

future performance. In some cases they and their teams had devoted many hours to after-

action reviews, postmoterms, and the like. But time after time I saw taht these

painstaking efforts led to no real change. The reason: Those managers were thinking

about failure the wrong way.

Gino, F.; Pisano, G.P.

Why leaders don‗t learn from success

Harvard Business Review 2011 p. 68-74 (47)

In this article we argue that success can breed failure by hindering learning at both

the individual and the organizational level. We all know that learning from failure is one

of the most important capacities for people and companies to develop. Yet surprisingly,

learning from success can present even greater challenges – and identify approaches for

overcoming them – we will draw from our research and from the work of other scholars

in the field of behavioral decision making, and focus on three interrelated impediments to

learning.

MENTORING

Emelo, R.

Creating a new mindset : guidelines for mentorship in today‘s workplace

T+D 2011 p. 44-49 (48)

Mentoring has proven again and again to be an effective workforce development

tool. A 2009 study by Triple Creek looked at the impact of e-mentoring (specifically

―open mentoring―) on productivity and effectiveness. Eight-eight percent of open

mentoring users agreed taht their productivity increased due to mentoring, and 97 percent

of users who spent at least one hour per month on mentoring were satisfied with their

experience. Participants rated ―expanding my network,― ―interpersonal effectiveness,―

and ―confidence in role― as the top three areas in which they improved the most as a

result of mentoring.

No. 2/2011


16

Documents

Abstracts of Selected Articles ECONOMICS HEVEArios.lgm.gov.my/cms/documentstorage/com.tms.cms.document.Docum… · Abstracts of Selected Articles Compiled by ... Foreign Direct Investments