bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and Characterization of an 18-Kilodalton, VAMP-Like Protein in Suspension-Cultured Carrot Cells
Authors: Gasparian Marine , Pusterla Michele , Baldan Barbara , Downey Patrick M. , Rossetto Ornella , de Laureto Patrizia Polverino , Filippini Francesco , Terzi Mario , Schiavo Fiorella Lo
Published: July 2002

Polyclonal antibodies raised against rat vesicle associated membrane protein-2 (VAMP-2) recognized, in carrot (Daucus carota) microsomes, two major polypeptides of 18 and 30 kD, respectively. A biochemical separation of intracellular membranes by a sucrose density gradient co-localized the two polypeptides as resident in light, dense microsomes, corresponding to the endoplasmic reticulum-enriched fractions. Purification of coated vesicles allowed us to distinguish the subcellular location of the 18-kD polypeptide from that of 30 kD. The 18-kD polypeptide is present in the non-clathrin-coated vesicle peak. Like other VAMPs, the carrot 18-kD polypeptide is proteolyzed by tetanus toxin after separation of coatomers. Amino acid sequence analysis of peptides obtained by digestion of the 18-kD carrot polypeptide with the endoproteinase Asp-N confirms it to be a member of the VAMP family, as is suggested by its molecular weight, vesicular localization, and toxin-induced cleavage.
StGCPRP, a Potato Gene Strongly Expressed in Stomatal Guard Cells, Defines a Novel Type of Repetitive Proline-Rich Proteins
Authors: Menke Ulrich , Renault Nathalie , Mueller-Roeber Bernd
Published: July 2002

Guard cells represent a highly differentiated cell type within the epidermis of plant leaves and stems. They respond to many endogenous and environmental signals and thereby modify the size of the stomatal pore they surround. We identified a novel gene that is highly expressed in guard cells of potato (Solanum tuberosum). It encodes a repetitive proline (Pro)-rich protein of 54 kD (491 amino acids) and was named StGCPRP (S. tuberosum guard cell Pro-rich protein). StGCPRP has a bipartite structure. The C-terminal part of StGCPRP contains a high percentage (46%) of Pro residues organized in distinct repetitive sequence motifs, whereas its extended N terminus is essentially free of Pros. StGCPRP represents the first member of a novel class of hybrid Pro-rich proteins that we designated NHyPRPs. In young but not in mature leaves, StGCPRP transcripts were also present at high levels in mesophyll cells (in addition to guard cells), indicating developmental regulation of StGCPRPgene expression. In addition, StGCPRP expression is regulated by environmental factors, as shown by a decrease inStGCPRP transcript levels under drought stress. Two proteins similar to StGCPRP were found to be encoded by the Arabidopsis genome, indicating that NHyPRPs are more widely distributed in higher plants.
Transgenic Tobacco and Arabidopsis Plants Expressing the Two Multifunctional Sorghum Cytochrome P450 Enzymes, CYP79A1 and CYP71E1, Are Cyanogenic and Accumulate Metabolites Derived from Intermediates in Dhurrin Biosynthesis
Authors: Bak Søren , Olsen Carl Erik , Halkier Barbara Ann , Møller Birger Lindberg
Published: July 2002

Novel cyanogenic plants have been generated by the simultaneous expression of the two multifunctional sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP79A1 and CYP71E1 in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi) and Arabidopsis under the regulation of the constitutive 35S promoter. CYP79A1 and CYP71E1 catalyze the conversion of the parent amino acid tyrosine to p-hydroxymandelonitrile, the aglycone of the cyanogenic glucoside dhurrin. CYP79A1 catalyzes the conversion of tyrosine to p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime and CYP71E1, the subsequent conversion top-hydroxymandelonitrile.p-Hydroxymandelonitrile is labile and dissociates intop-hydroxybenzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide, the same products released from dhurrin upon cell disruption as a result of pest or herbivore attack. In transgenic plants expressing CYP79A1 as well as CYP71E1, the activity of CYP79A1 is higher than that of CYP71E1, resulting in the accumulation of severalp-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime-derived products in the addition to those derived from p-hydroxymandelonitrile. Transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants expressing only CYP79A1 accumulate the same p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime-derived products as transgenic plants expressing both sorghum cytochrome P450 enzymes. In addition, the transgenic CYP79A1 Arabidopsis plants accumulate large amounts ofp-hydroxybenzylglucosinolate. In transgenic Arabidopsis expressing CYP71E1, this enzyme and the enzymes of the pre-existing glucosinolate pathway compete for thep-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime as substrate, resulting in the formation of small amounts ofp-hydroxybenzylglucosinolate. Cyanogenic glucosides are phytoanticipins, and the present study demonstrates the feasibility of expressing cyanogenic compounds in new plant species by gene transfer technology to improve pest and disease resistance.
Dephosphorylation of Photosystem II Reaction Center Proteins in Plant Photosynthetic Membranes as an Immediate Response to Abrupt Elevation of Temperature
Authors: Rokka Anne , Aro Eva-Mari , Herrmann Reinhold G. , Andersson Bertil , Vener Alexander V.
Published: July 2002

Kinetic studies of protein dephosphorylation in photosynthetic thylakoid membranes revealed specifically accelerated dephosphorylation of photosystem II (PSII) core proteins at elevated temperatures. Raising the temperature from 22°C to 42°C resulted in a more than 10-fold increase in the dephosphorylation rates of the PSII reaction center proteins D1 and D2 and of the chlorophyll abinding protein CP43 in isolated spinach (Spinacia oleracea) thylakoids. In contrast the dephosphorylation rates of the light harvesting protein complex and the 9-kD protein of the PSII (PsbH) were accelerated only 2- to 3-fold. The use of a phospho-threonine antibody to measure in vivo phosphorylation levels in spinach leaves revealed a more than 20-fold acceleration in D1, D2, and CP43 dephosphorylation induced by abrupt elevation of temperature, but no increase in light harvesting protein complex dephosphorylation. This rapid dephosphorylation is catalyzed by a PSII-specific, intrinsic membrane protein phosphatase. Phosphatase assays, using intact thylakoids, solubilized membranes, and the isolated enzyme, revealed that the temperature-induced lateral migration of PSII to the stroma-exposed thylakoids only partially contributed to the rapid increase in the dephosphorylation rate. Significant activation of the phosphatase coincided with the temperature-induced release of TLP40 from the membrane into thylakoid lumen. TLP40 is a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, which acts as a regulatory subunit of the membrane phosphatase. Thus dissociation of TLP40 caused by an abrupt elevation in temperature and activation of the membrane protein phosphatase are suggested to trigger accelerated repair of photodamaged PSII and to operate as possible early signals initiating other heat shock responses in chloroplasts.
Effect of Climate Conditions and Plant Developmental Stage on the Stability of Antibodies Expressed in Transgenic Tobacco
Authors: Stevens Lucas H. , Stoopen Geert M. , Elbers Ingrid J.W. , Molthoff Jos W. , Bakker Hans A.C. , Lommen Arjen , Bosch Dirk , Jordi Wilco
Published: July 2002

Plants are regarded as a promising system for the production of heterologous proteins. However, little is known about the influence of plant physiology and plant development on the yield and quality of the heterologous proteins produced in plants. To investigate this, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Samsun NN) was transformed with a single construct that contained behind constitutive promotors the light- and heavy-chain genes of a mouse antibody. The in planta stability of the antibody was analyzed in transgenic plants that were grown under high and low irradiation at 15°C and 25°C. High-light conditions favored the production of biomass, of total soluble protein, and of antibody. The plants grown at 25°C developed faster and contained less antibody per amount of leaf tissue than the plants grown at 15°C. Both endogenous protein and antibody content showed a strong decline during leaf development. The heavy chains of the antibody underwent in planta degradation via relatively stable fragments. In vitro incubations of purified plantibody with leaf extracts of wild-type tobacco indicated the involvement of acidic proteases. It is interesting that the same antibody produced by mouse hybridoma cells exhibited higher stability in this in vitro assay. This may be explained by the assumption that the plant type ofN-glycosylation contributes less to the stability of the antibody than the mouse-type of N-glycosylation. The results of this study indicate that proteolytic degradation during plant development can be an important factor affecting yield and homogeneity of heterologous protein produced by transgenic plants.
Sequence Haplotypes Revealed by Sequence-Tagged Site Fine Mapping of theRor1Gene in the Centromeric Region of Barley Chromosome 1H
Authors: Collins Nicholas C. , Lahaye Thomas , Peterhänsel Christoph , Freialdenhoven Andreas , Corbitt Margaret , Schulze-Lefert Paul
Published: July 2002

We describe the development of polymerase chain reaction-based, sequence-tagged site (STS) markers for fine mapping of the barley (Hordeum vulgare) Ror1 gene required for broad-spectrum resistance to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei). After locatingRor1 to the centromeric region of barley chromosome 1H using a combined amplified fragment length polymorphism/restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) approach, sequences of RFLP probes from this chromosome region of barley and corresponding genome regions from the related grass species oat (Avena spp.), wheat, and Triticum monococcum were used to develop STS markers. Primers based on the RFLP probe sequences were used to polymerase chain reaction-amplify and directly sequence homologous DNA stretches from each of four parents that were used for mapping. Over 28,000 bp from 22 markers were compared. In addition to one insertion/deletion of at least 2.0 kb, 79 small unique sequence polymorphisms were observed, including 65 single nucleotide substitutions, two dinucleotide substitutions, 11 insertion/deletions, and one 5-bp/10-bp exchange. The frequency of polymorphism between any two barley lines ranged from 0.9 to 3.0 kb, and was greatest for comparisons involving an Ethiopian landrace. Haplotype structure was observed in the marker sequences over distances of several hundred basepairs. Polymorphisms in 16 STSs were used to generate genetic markers, scored by restriction enzyme digestion or by direct sequencing. Over 2,300 segregants from three populations were used in Ror1 linkage analysis, mappingRor1 to a 0.2- to 0.5-cM marker interval. We discuss the implications of sequence haplotypes and STS markers for the generation of high-density maps in cereals.
Transgenic Manipulation of the Metabolism of Polyamines in Poplar Cells
Authors: Bhatnagar Pratiksha , Glasheen Bernadette M. , Bains Suneet K. , Long Stephanie L. , Minocha Rakesh , Walter Christian , Minocha Subhash C.
Published: July 2002

The metabolism of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) has become the target of genetic manipulation because of their significance in plant development and possibly stress tolerance. We studied the polyamine metabolism in non-transgenic (NT) and transgenic cells of poplar (Populus nigra ×maximowiczii) expressing a mouse Orn decarboxylase (odc) cDNA. The transgenic cells showed elevated levels of mouse ODC enzyme activity, severalfold higher amounts of putrescine, a small increase in spermidine, and a small reduction in spermine as compared with NT cells. The conversion of labeled ornithine (Orn) into putrescine was significantly higher in the transgenic than the NT cells. Whereas exogenously supplied Orn caused an increase in cellular putrescine in both cell lines, arginine at high concentrations was inhibitory to putrescine accumulation. The addition of urea and glutamine had no effect on polyamines in either of the cell lines. Inhibition of glutamine synthetase by methionine sulfoximine led to a substantial reduction in putrescine and spermidine in both cell lines. The results show that: (a) Transgenic expression of a heterologousodc gene can be used to modulate putrescine metabolism in plant cells, (b) accumulation of putrescine in high amounts does not affect the native arginine decarboxylase activity, (c) Orn biosynthesis occurs primarily from glutamine/glutamate and not from catabolic breakdown of arginine, (d) Orn biosynthesis may become a limiting factor for putrescine production in the odc transgenic cells, and (e) assimilation of nitrogen into glutamine keeps pace with an increased demand for its use for putrescine production.
Sequence and Analysis of the Tomato JOINTLESSLocus
Authors: Mao Long , Begum Dilara , Goff Stephen A. , Wing Rod A.
Published: July 2002

A 119-kb bacterial artificial chromosome from theJOINTLESS locus on the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) chromosome 11 contained 15 putative genes. Repetitive sequences in this region include onecopia-like LTR retrotransposon, 13 simple sequence repeats, three copies of a novel type III foldback transposon, and four putative short DNA repeats. Database searches showed that the foldback transposon and the short DNA repeats seemed to be associated preferably with genes. The predicted tomato genes were compared with the complete Arabidopsis genome. Eleven out of 15 tomato open reading frames were found to be colinear with segments on five Arabidopsis bacterial artificial chromosome/P1-derived artificial chromosome clones. The synteny patterns, however, did not reveal duplicated segments in Arabidopsis, where over half of the genome is duplicated. Our analysis indicated that the microsynteny between the tomato and Arabidopsis genomes was still conserved at a very small scale but was complicated by the large number of gene families in the Arabidopsis genome.
Transcriptional Responses in the Hemiparasitic PlantTriphysaria versicolor to Host Plant Signals,
Authors: Matvienko Marta , Torres Manuel J. , Yoder John I.
Published: July 2002

Parasitic plants in the Scrophulariaceae use chemicals released by host plant roots to signal developmental processes critical for heterotrophy. Haustoria, parasitic plant structures that attach to and invade host roots, develop on roots of the hemiparasitic plantTriphysaria versicolor within a few hours of exposure to either maize (Zea mays) root exudate or purified haustoria-inducing factors. We prepared a normalized, subtractive cDNA library enriched for transcripts differentially abundant in T. versicolor root tips treated with the allelopathic quinone 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone (DMBQ). Northern analyses estimated that about 10% of the cDNAs represent transcripts strongly up-regulated in roots exposed to DMBQ. Northern and reverse northern analyses demonstrated that most DMBQ-responsive messages were similarly up-regulated in T. versicolor roots exposed to maize root exudates. From the cDNA sequences we assembled a unigene set of 137 distinct transcripts and assigned functions by homology comparisons. Many of the proteins encoded by the transcripts are predicted to function in quinone detoxification, whereas others are more likely associated with haustorium development. The identification of genes transcriptionally regulated by haustorium-inducing factors provides a framework for dissecting genetic pathways recruited by parasitic plants during the transition to heterotrophic growth.
Computer modelling and chemical kinetics of the cure of aerospace resin systems
Authors: Hamerton I. , Howlin B.J.
Published: July 2002

The authors are experienced researchers in the selection, evaluation and simulation of polymeric matrix resins for advanced composites. This article reviews the current state‐of‐the‐art in cure monitoring techniques and the application of modern computational methods to determine the kinetics of cure in commonly used aerospace systems. Extensive reference is made to primary sources and conclusions drawn about the possible future developments that may evolve in this area of interest.
Reduced fat products – Consumer perceptions and preferences
Authors: Hamilton Jennifer , Knox Barbara , Hill Desmond , Parr Heather
Published: July 2002

Dietary guidelines consistently advocate the reduction of fat in the diet and the food industry has responded by introducing a vast range of reduced fat foods on to the market. However, reduced fat diets are difficult for people to maintain. Nutrition education is at a critical crossroads, such that consumers have received the message to reduce fat in the diet, but are unable or unwilling to comply with this information so that overall health status can be improved. Better understanding of the factors that influence fat intake will help to explain why dietary change is so difficult to sustain. Sensory studies and focus group discussions were conducted with consumers to assess their perceptions, acceptance and preferences for reduced fat products. The results implied that consumers associate reduced fat foods with inferior sensory properties and perceive them with a degree of scepticism and mistrust.
Sustainable waste management in the food and drink industry
Authors: Bates Margaret P. , Phillips Paul S.
Published: July 2002

In moving towards sustainable wastes management, the UK Government has adopted a wastes hierarchy. This hierarchy sets out clearly the priorities for sustainable resource use and wastes management: it ought to be the guiding principle of private and public policy, with the emphasis placed strongly on reducing the amount of raw material used. The House of Commons Environment, Transport & Regional Affairs Committee has noted a pressing need to promote wastes minimisation within industrial and commercial sectors and has recommended the introduction of penalties and incentives to encourage industrial wastes minimisation. Despite this, in the food and retailing sector only around 25 per cent of companies were found to operate wastes minimisation programmes. This paper aims to demonstrate the benefits of wastes minimisation, in both financial and environmental terms, for the food and drink sector. Large multiprocess food and drink companies have found they can make annual savings of greater than one per cent of turnover by implementing wastes minimisation strategies.
A Model for Designing Objective‐oriented Training Evaluations
Authors: McClelland Sam
Published: July 2002

Suggests that course evaluations are an often overlooked part of
training, and that instructional designers and other HRD professionals
often choose to use standardized forms in an attempt to obtain feedback
on how well a course was presented and received. Points out that, though
standardized evaluations present some value, they do not provide the
levels of detailed information required to measure – quantitatively as
well as qualitatively – the overall success of the programme. Presents a
model which emphasizes development of course evaluations linked to the
objectives the training is designed to attain. Discusses competence – as
well as behaviourally based objectives – along with the need to make
objectives realistic and attainable. Concludes by highlighting the
necessity to use custom‐designed evaluations, tied to course objectives
as a means not only for measuring functional and/or behavioural
improvements but also as a means for modifying the course as future
needs arise.
Beyond the quick fix: how to manage more effectively in the heart of change
Authors: Skilling Donald
Published: July 2002

Seeks to help managers and human resource practitioners understand better why many change efforts (business process re‐engineering, total quality management) often end in failure. Outlines an approach that can result in more change success. Explores the human side of change with a primary focus on the psychological reorientation that organizations and their people go through as they come to terms with change in their environments. The reorientation involves three key phases ‐ endings, in‐between times and new beginnings. Discusses each of these phases and their corresponding activities. Presents recommendations for effectively moving through each of the three phases and for achieving overall change success.
Prevalence and reasons for university library usage
Authors: Jiao Qun G. , Onwuegbuzie Anthony J.
Published: July 2002

Reports on a study of 522 university students, undertaken to determine how often they used their library and why, as well as to develop a general profile of college student library users. Descriptive statistics revealed that the majority of students used the library at least once a week. Obtaining a book or an article for a course paper was the most common reason cited for library use, followed by studying for a test, and then using the computerized indexes and online facilities. A setwise multiple regression analysis reveals that students who used the libraries most tended to be older, male, those who did not speak English as their native language, who lived the nearest to the academic library, who preferred to study alone, and who had the lowest levels of library anxiety. In addition, these students tended to visit the library to study for a test, to read current newspapers, to read their own textbook, to use computerized indexes and online facilities, or to meet friends. Discusses the implications of these findings and makes recommendations for future research.
Technical, economic and consumer barriers to the consumption of reduced fat bakery products
Authors: McEwan Jean A. , Sharp Terry M.
Published: July 2002

Qualitative research with both consumers and industry representatives, in this MAFF‐funded project, allowed assessment of current barriers to the production and consumption of reduced fat bakery products. In addressing the way forward, there were four key areas where barriers existed: consumer attitudes, product quality (technical), economic and legislative issues. These must be tackled if reduced fat bakery products are to succeed in the marketplace.
EU‐funded project on the elderly
Authors: Martin Caroline A.
Published: July 2002

On 1 February 2000 the project HealthSense (“Healthy eating: how changes in sensory physiology, sensory psychology and socio‐cognitive factors influence food choice”) was launched. This is a multi‐disciplinary, cross‐cultural project funded by the Fifth Framework of the European Union, a programme that has been conceived, among other tasks, to improve the quality of life for European citizens. The project involves 24 participating centres from ten European countries. There are currently over 100 scientists of varying disciplines working on the project which comprises eight individual working groups or work packages. Each participating centre will work for the duration of the project (36 months) within a particular work package that has specific objectives, all of which are necessary as parts of the overall objective. The overriding objective of the project is to provide voice‐of‐the‐older‐consumer information which will enable policy makers, R&D and consumer groups who support the elderly to provide foods appreciated by older people.
Process improvement by poka‐yoke
Authors: Fisher Michael
Published: July 2002

Outlines the concept of poka‐yoke (as developed by Shigeo Shingo) as a quality methodology, and contrasts it with statistical process control. Highlights the inherent simplicity and the breadth of coverage, and the way it can be used to underpin a policy of zero defect manufacturing.
Investigating the link between strategy and HRD
Authors: Luoma Mikko
Published: July 2002

This article is a theoretical presentation of human resource development (HRD) within the context of strategic management. It represents a single component view of human resource management (HRM) by concentrating on developing human assets only. According to this view, HRM is too complex and multidimensional an entity to be handled as a set of people‐related activities in relation to strategy. The article presents conceptions of strategic HRD based on earlier theory, and deduces three distinct logics, labelled as need‐driven, opportunity‐driven, and capability‐driven approaches to HRD. These approaches are summarized in an integrated framework which is suggested as an illustration of the full potential of HRD’s contribution to the business success. Accounts of organizations adopting the approaches are presented.
Supervisor and manager styles in handling discipline and grievance
Authors: Hook Caroline M. , Rollinson Derek J. , Foot Margaret , Handley Janet
Published: July 2002

Presents the first of two reports which research into the handling styles of supervisors and managers when dealing with disciplinary and grievance situations. Compares the handling styles that they use when dealing with discipline and grievance situations and finds that differences exist in the styles used for the two types of issue. The less serious disciplinary cases seem to attract a fairly prescriptive autocratic style, whereas those which are potentially more serious to the organization tend to be handled with less prescriptive approaches that involve the employee to a greater extent, and it is this approach which theory suggests is more likely to bring about the desired change in the behaviour of the employee. With the exception of cases which pose some threat to managerial authority, the general pattern that emerges for grievances is that they tend to be explored in a less prescriptive way. Describes the research methodology and sets the scene for a further research report.
Line managers as career developers: rhetoric or reality?
Authors: Yarnall Jane
Published: July 2002

Following a critical review of current literature on the role of line managers in career development, the article reports on research which examined the extent to which employee participation in voluntary career activities is affected by differing levels of management support. Using data from 281 service company employees, this longitudinal study investigated the relationship between three variables ‐ management attitudes towards career development, management support for voluntary career development interventions and employee career satisfaction ‐ in relation to participation in a career programme. The results revealed that, counter to that predicted by the literature, high levels of management support did not encourage greater participation by employees, while negative management attitudes did. Career satisfaction was also shown to be significantly correlated to both management support and management attitudes. The consequences for practitioners designing and implementing career development programmes are highlighted.
ISR 2000 – remote operation dominates high tech presentations
Authors: Wane Sam
Published: July 2002

Reports on the 31st International Symposium on Robotics, May 14‐17, 2000, Montreal, Canada. Teleoperation and automated remote operation dominated a high technology conference which included many new developments for the application of robotic technology.
A systematic approach to develop a force control system for robotic drilling
Authors: Alici Gürsel
Published: July 2002

As the application range of present day industrial robots is expanded beyond pick‐and‐place operations, spray painting and spot welding, there is an increasing need for the control of contact forces between the manipulator end point and environment. One important force control task is robotic drilling in hazardous environments. This paper addresses the analysis and characterisation of forcecontrolled robotic drilling, generation of a control strategy in the light of specifications obtained from the characterisation of this task, and the completion of a drilling operation with robot manipulator under contact force control. The experimental results demonstrate that a robot manipulator can perform drilling if enough contact thrust‐force is provided between a workpiece and drill, and is controlled properly. It follows that the analysis and characterisation of a task, especially investigation of the dynamic interactions between the tool carried by a manipulator and a workpiece, strategy generation, and controller design proceed simultaneously in order to develop a force control system for a specific task.
Intellectual capital: future competitive advantage for facility management
Authors: McLennan Peter
Published: July 2002

In the office sector, facility management serves two divergent concerns: the needs of the customer as the facility owner/investor and the needs of the customer as the facility user. This places FM in a potentially powerful position. It should exploit its intellectual capital, realising the unique strategic value of the FM knowledge base, linking, as it does, the knowledge of physical facility performance with the knowledge of business objectives, operations and support services. The generic knowledge chain that links these two divergent areas of concern is described, highlighting the critical importance of the business brief, the operational brief and the design brief in the future exploitation of the facility knowledge base.
Accurate computation of design derivatives for plates and shells under transient dynamic loads
Authors: Dutta A. , Ramakrishnan C.V.
Published: July 2002

Design sensitivities of plates and shells under transient dynamic loads with constraints on displacements and stresses are likely to be highly erroneous if proper care is not taken in selecting appropriate finite element mesh and time step size to be used in the analysis. An accurate value of design derivative is assured if an optimal mesh coupled with a reasonably fine time step size is used. The optimal mesh can be obtained iteratively and a number of examples are solved to demonstrate the importance of controlling discretization errors in space and time.
The Avril Robarts Learning Resource Centre: Liverpool John Moores University
Authors: Revill Don
Published: July 2002

Describes the second new learning resource centre in Liverpool John Moores University. It provides 5,500sq. m. on four floors giving 200 PC places and a further 500 study seats. Discusses the problems faced in choosing an appropriate site. Compares the physical arrangement with the “ideal‐type” of a converged service represented by the Aldham Robarts Learning Resource Centre. Gives floor plans.
Computational electromagnetics in Poland: a review
Authors: Sykulski J.K. , Krawczyk A. , Wiak S.
Published: July 2002

The paper presents a historical review, the state of the art and recent advances in the field of computational electromagnetics at leading universities and research institutes in Poland. Contributions made by Polish scientists to the development of fundamental electromagnetism, as well as to computational methods, are emphasized, and some conclusions are drawn regarding expected future developments.
Approximation of the objective function: multiquadrics versus neural networks
Authors: Ebner Th. , Magele Ch. , Brandstätter B.R. , Luschin M. , Alotto P.G.
Published: July 2002

Global optimization in electrical engineering using stochastic methods requires usually a large amount of CPU time to locate the optimum, if the objective function is calculated either with the finite element method (FEM) or the boundary element method (BEM). One approach to reduce the number of FEM or BEM calls using neural networks and another one using multiquadric functions have been introduced recently. This paper compares the efficiency of both methods, which are applied to a couple of test problems and the results are discussed.
Frank H. George Research Award – Highly Commended Paper
Authors: Bergandi Donato
Published: July 2002

Considers that in ecosystem, landscape and global ecology, an energetics reading of ecological systems is an expression of a cybernetic, systemic and holistic approach. In ecosystem ecology, the Odumian paradigm emphasizes the concept of emergence, but it has not been accompanied by the creation of a method that fully respects the complexity of the objects studied. In landscape ecology, although the emergentist, multi‐level, triadic methodology of J.K. Feibleman and D.T. Campbell has gained acceptance, the importance of emergent properties is still undervalued. In global ecology, the Gaia hypothesis is an expression of an organicist metaphor, while the emergentist terminology used is incongruent with the underlying physicalist cybernetics. More generally, an analytico‐additional methodology and the reduction of the properties of ecosystems to the laws of physical chemistry render purely formal any assertion about the emergentist and holistic nature of the ecological systems studied.
Danger of development of a global catastrophe and the need for new information concepts
Authors: Gorsky Yu M. , Razumov V.I. , Teslinov A.G.
Published: July 2002

Discusses the conjecture that mankind is moving towards global crises and catastrophes because of the lack of strategies and policies to deal with information. Sees the need for new concepts in information as paramount. Outlines how a transition to noospheric thinking may be a way to the survival of human civilisation. Presents new concepts in information that are backed by a mathematical methodology.
New simple method to measure polymer surface tension
Authors: Hansen Charles M.
Published: July 2002

Surface tensions of polymers can be accurately determined by observing whether droplets of liquids spontaneously spread or not. The polymer surface tension will be higher than the surface tension of a liquid which spreads, and lower than that of a liquid which remains as a droplet.
The role of the head of department in managing performance in UK universities
Authors: Jackson Michael P.
Published: July 2002

The increasing scrutiny of universities has led to increasing pressure on heads of department to deliver increased performance. This paper presents 14 case studies from UK institutions examining in detail and in context how heads of department manage performance. It establishes that heads of department have often struggled due to a lack of options and possibilities to influence performance and a lack of management training to help them achieve it. The paper concludes that the real problem facing universities in this area arises from the fact that the change in role of head of department has not been thought through but has been a reaction to external pressure, leading to ambiguity and confusion.
Numerical study of periodically turbulent flow and heat transfer in a channel with transverse fin arrays
Authors: Yuan Z.X.
Published: July 2002

A numerical study has been conducted for the characteristics of the periodically fully developed turbulent flow and heat transfer in a channel with transverse opposite‐positioned fins. The Reynolds number range is 2 × 104 to 7 × 104. K‐ε model and wall function method were adopted during the calculation. The influence of the thermal boundary condition of the fin to the heat transfer has been verified. For the studied configuration the prominent feature that differs from the similar laminar heat transfer is the phenomenon of secondary peak of the Nusselt number distribution. Assessment of heat transfer enhancement under the constraint of the same pump power reveals that the effect of the configuration of the relative fin height, e/H, equal to 0.1 is superior to those of e/H equal to 0.15 and 0.2. Comparing with the results of the channel with rod disturbances, the studied configuration possesses nearly the same heat transfer enhancement effect. Transient simulations to cases with big fin have also been conducted to assure the validity of the steady algorithm.
Continuous professional development: emerging trends in the UK
Authors: Shaw Malcolm , Green Howard
Published: July 2002

This article considers current developments in aspects of continuous professional development (CPD) in the UK, focussing particularly on areas which relate to the development and delivery of an appropriate curriculum. It questions the appropriateness of the traditional concept of continuous professional development in the context of the newly emerging notion of lifelong learning. Some of the major national initiatives and imperatives for change are identified and a range of the typical emerging responses and reactions of Higher Education Institutions are itemised and briefly described. The article was originally prepared for a seminar in Hungary. It will allow the current processes, perspectives and aspirations for continuous professional development in Hungary to be compared against the UK model to assist in the identification and transfer of appropriate practice into the Hungarian context. In so doing it provides a base from which other institutions and professions might consider the development of CPD and lifelong learning.
A profile of the information technology executive
Authors: Coghlan Liz , Hurley Margaret
Published: July 2002

Describes a survey, undertaken by the Nolan Norton Institute in mid‐1995, of Australia’s senior IT (information technology) ranks. The objective of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the continent’s senior IT executives. The results show a grim reality for many of the region’s chief information officers. Australian IT executives are striving for recognition. Compared to their overseas counterparts, they rank lower in their respective organizations, do not report directly to their chief executive officers and are not members of their executive committees. Given these factors, the “senior executive” label seen as most descriptive of the role may be a bit of wishful thinking. Concludes that Australian IT executives’ roles are evolving from a traditional project‐oriented focus to a strategic decision‐making responsibility. IT executives would like to see their role in the organization elevated, giving them more “clout”, stature and visibility, as has increasingly been the case in North America and the UK. Once these issues have been addressed, the Australian IT executive can concentrate on building the management practices and focusing on strategic goals.
Corporate system security: towards an integrated management approach
Authors: Ngo Higgins Huong
Published: July 2002

This paper discusses an integrated security approach that engages multiple functional levels in an organization from the Board and management to IT staff and individual users. The discussion presents security issues at the policy setting level and important control implementations at the gateway interface, internal network, and corporate files. As this approach involves multiple layers, the security environment can be strengthened. This discussion can be used as a guideline for corporate security management, as the components for a security audit, and as an internal communication to enhance corporate security awareness. The comprehensive view presented in this discussion is beneficial to managers, auditors, controllers, and consultants who work on security issues.
Welcome to the communication age
Authors: Thornburg David D.
Published: July 2002

The passing of the information age is announced and explained, and
we are welcomed to its successor and paradigm for the immediate future,
the communication age. The vital importance of the communication age to
K‐12 education is outlined. Special notice is made of the emerging
wide‐bandwidth Internet technology, which allows transmission of
“libraries per second”, and which forces changes on both
education and business. Will education remain misengaged with attempts
to come to grips with the information age, or will it move ahead with
the challenges and freedom available through the communication age, with
the Internet an integral part of the curriculum?
Business use of the Internet
Authors: Feher Annamaria , Towell Elizabeth
Published: July 2002

Examines current and planned practices and the major benefits of communication‐intensive information system applications. The Internet, once a government‐controlled, tax‐supported endeavor, is no longer restricted to noncommercial traffic. Contends that business use of the Internet has grown rapidly over the last several years, yet information technology managers still struggle to evaluate the contribution of this new technology in their organizations. Surveys were sent to a random selection of 500 companies to analyze current use and impact of the Internet in a business setting. Reports on the variety of expected values to be derived from use of the Internet indicated by respondents.
Task performance using the library and Internet to acquire business intelligence
Authors: Christensen Edward W. , Bailey James R.
Published: July 2002

The Internet is increasingly being used as a potential library substitute for a wide variety of business information tasks. However, little comparative research exists on the impact of such uses on task performance. This study examined performance differences (perceived, actual, and temporal) for a strategic business information acquisition experimental task when subjects used a library or the Internet. It was found that task performance decreased and time to completion increased when using the Internet as compared to the library. This paradox of performance enhancement expectations and actual outsomes when using the Internet may be temporal or idiosyncratic, or it may signal that our assumptions about traditional and electronic repositories are invalid. In any case, it is imperative that research on task performance continues to be done in order to ascertain the viability of this repository for information tasks. Implications of these findings and avenues of future research are discussed.
Enhancing the quality of low bit‐rate real‐time Internet communication services
Authors: Foo Siu Cheung Hui Schubert , Wai Yip See
Published: July 2002

The Internet environment, with its packet‐switched network and lack of resource reservation mechanisms, has made the delivery of low bit‐rate real‐time communication services particularly difficult and challenging. The high potential transmission delay and data packet loss under varying network conditions will lead to unpleasant and unintelligible audio and jerky video play‐out. The Internet TCP/IP protocol suite can be extended with new mechanisms in an attempt to tackle such problems. In this research, an integrated transmission mechanism that incorporates a number of existing techniques to enhance the quality and deliver “acceptable” real‐time services is proposed. These techniques include the use of data compression, data buffering, dynamic rate control, packet lost replacement, silence deletion and virtual video play‐out mechanism. The proposed transmission mechanism is designed as a generic communication system so that it can be used in different systems and conditions. This approach has been successfully implemented and demonstrated using three separate systems that include the Internet Phone, WebVideo and video‐conferencing tool.
Implementing international qualitative research: techniques and obstacles
Authors: Zimmerman Alan S. , Szenberg Michael
Published: July 2002

While it is well accepted that good research is essential to developing the most effective international marketing strategies, until recently many warned that using qualitative techniques was fraught with pitfalls. However, no study had been completed which describes the use of various qualitative techniques in specific markets. This preliminary study, based on interviews with 39 experienced market research managers, shows that most qualitative techniques are used in nearly every one of the 17 countries included. International researchers interviewed are well aware of the cultural problems they may face in completing international qualitative research. These cluster around relations with the in‐country research firm, reactions of respondents and interpretation of data. In this study, they offer specific strategies they use to overcome these problems: patience and sensitivity in developing working relationships with the local firm and meeting the needs of respondents and first‐hand in‐country experience.
Application of knowledge management for hazard analysis in the Australian dairy industry
Authors: Soliman Fawzy
Published: July 2002

Generic performance measures have emerged as appropriate tools for assessing the performance of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). These measures provide information for staffing decisions and budgetary development in the food manufacturing industry. They are also used to configure variations for costing, pricing, packaging and other functions. The HACCP performance measures have become powerful tools in the management of modern food manufacturers, in particular the dairy industry. The majority of decisions and rules used for assessing the performance of the HACCP method are too complex to capture in the form of a traditional programming language. Conventional information systems automate simple and rigid bookkeeping functions but knowledge management tools automate complex decision making and processes requiring judgement, and therefore are appropriate for automating the people‐based knowledge of the HACCP performance assessment method. A new technique is presented to automate the HACCP performance assessment method using knowledge processing.
Procuring electronic information: new business models in the context of the supply chain
Authors: Ball David , Wright Susan
Published: July 2002

Examines the information value chain and some of its concepts, first for printed information and second for electronic information. Discusses the procurement process and, in the light of the analysis made earlier in the paper, evaluates the various emerging models for procuring electronic information.
Detection of early gene expression changes during activation of human primary lymphocytes by in vitro synthesis of proteins from polysome‐associated mRNAs
Authors: Miyamoto Suzanne , Qin Jun , Safer Brian
Published: July 2002

The rapid increase in protein synthesis during the mitogenic stimulation of human peripheral blood lymphocyte is the result of global and specific translational control mechanisms. To study some of these mechanisms, we examined the in vitro translatability of mRNAs associated with the polyribosome fraction. Polyribosome fractions were isolated from lymphocytes after activation with ionomycin and the phorbol ester PMA. The associated PAmRNAs were translated in the presence of mRNA‐depleted rabbit reticulocyte lysate and [35S]Met, and the protein products were analyzed by SDS–PAGE and autoradiography. There was little synthesis of protein from the PAmRNAs isolated from unactivated T cells, but the PAmRNAs isolated from activated T cells showed a rapid increase in translatability. Translation of the PAmRNAs was sensitive to edeine and m7GTP, suggesting their cap‐dependent translation. With activation, the majority of proteins showed increasing in vitro translation, but two proteins, p72 and p33, were found to have increased synthesis within 30 min, which decreased in 1 h. Transcription inhibitors were used to ascertain if regulation of their expression was transcriptional or translational. To identify these proteins, we used biotinylated lysine during the in vitro translation reaction, and we extracted the biotinylated protein by using streptavidin magnetic beads. The protein product was analyzed by mass spectrometry. p33 was identified as a prohibitin‐like protein (BAP37), but the identification of p72 was not found in the databases. The distinct up‐regulation and down‐regulation of their protein expression suggest their tightly controlled regulation during early T cell activation.