bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An ALE‐FEM approach to the thermomechanics of solidification processes with application to the prediction of pipe shrinkage
Authors: Bellet Michel , Jaouen Olivier , Poitrault Isabelle
Published: February 2005

Purpose

The present paper addresses the computer modelling of pipe formation in metal castings.

Design/methodology/approach

As a preliminary, a brief review of the current state‐of‐the‐art in pipe shrinkage computation is presented. Then, in first part, the constitutive equations that have to be considered in thermomechanical computations are presented, followed by the main lines of the mechanical finite element resolution. A detailed presentation of an original arbitrary Lagrangian‐Eulerian (ALE) formulation is given, explaining the connection between the Lagrangian and the quasi Eulerian zones, and the treatment of free surfaces.

Findings

Whereas most existing methods are based on thermal considerations only, it is demonstrated in the current paper that this typical evolution of the free surface, originated by shrinkage at solidification front and compensating feeding liquid flow, can be effectively approached by a thermomechanical finite element analysis.

Research limitations/implications

Future work should deal with the following points: identification of thermo‐physical and rheological data, automatic and adaptive mesh refinement, calculation of the coupled deformation of mold components, development of a two‐phase solid/liquid formulation.

Practical implications

An example of industrial application is given. The proposed method has been implemented in the commercial software THERCAST® dedicated to casting simulation.

Originality/value

The proposed numerical methods provide a comprehensive approach, capable of modelling concurrently all the main phenomena participating in pipe formation.
Maximum possible induced flow rates in open‐ended vertical eccentric annuli with uniform heat flux
Authors: Mokheimer Esmail M.A. , El‐Shaarawi Maged
Published: February 2005

Purpose

Obtaining the maximum possible flow rates that can be induced by free convection in open‐ended vertical eccentric annuli under fundamental thermal boundary conditions of the fourth kind (heating or cooling one of the annulus walls with a uniform heat flux while keeping the other wall at ambient temperature). Obtaining the maximum possible flow rates that can be induced by free convection in open‐ended vertical eccentric annuli under fundamental thermal boundary conditions of the fourth kind (heating or cooling one of the annulus walls with a uniform heat flux while keeping the other wall at ambient temperature).

Design/methodology/approach

The fully‐developed laminar free convection momentum equation has been solved numerically using an analytical solution of the governing energy equation.

Findings

Results are presented to show the effect of the annulus radius ratio and the dimensionless eccentricity on the induced flow rate, the total heat absorbed by the fluid, and the fully developed Nusselt numbers on the two boundaries of the annulus for a fluid of Prandtl number 0.7.

Practical implications

Applications of the obtained results can be of value in the heat‐exchanger industry, in cooling of underground electric cables, and in cooling small vertical electric motors and generators.

Originality/value

The paper presents a solution that is not available in the literature for the problem of fully developed free convection in open‐ended vertical eccentric annular channels under thermal boundary conditions of the fourth kind. Also presents the maximum possible induced flow rates, the total heat absorbed by the fluid, and the Nusselt numbers on the two boundaries of the annulus. The effects of N and E (the radius ratio and eccentricity, respectively) on these results are presented. Such results are very much needed for design purposes of heat transfer equipment.
Models for predicting quality of building projects
Authors: Yean Yng Ling Florence
Published: February 2005

Purpose

The objectives of this paper are to: find out whether design‐bid‐build (DBB) or design‐build (DB) procurement method gives better quality building; identify variables that significantly affect quality scores of DBB and DB projects; and construct models to predict quality scores of DB and DBB projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design was based on a structured questionnaire and data on quality performance and factors that may affect quality of a building project were collected by postal survey and face‐to‐face interviews.

Findings

There was no significant difference between the quality scores of DB and DBB projects. To ensure that buildings procured through DBB have high quality, owners should adopt the following practices: engage experienced consultants; short‐list bidders and select contractors based on a combination of price and ability. To obtain high quality DB buildings, owners should engage architects to prepare the scheme design and not to set the budget too early. For both types of projects, owners should allow contractors to propose changes to the contract with a view to improving its quality.

Research limitations/implications

As there is no significant difference in quality of DBB and DB projects, the argument that DB projects produce lower quality buildings is demolished.

Practical implications

The practical implication is that owners play an important part in ensuring that they obtain buildings of high quality.

Originality/value

Building owners and consultants can use the two models to predict quality scores of DBB and DB projects and take specific actions to improve the quality of their projects if necessary.
Factors affecting ICT diffusion
Authors: Peansupap Vachara , Walker Derek
Published: February 2005

Purpose

To address the critical issue of how best to adopt and diffuse information and communication technology (ICT) into organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

During April and May 2002, a survey of ICT diffusion of ICT users from three construction organisations was conducted.

Findings

Results from an earlier phase of this study indicated that 11 factors influence ICT diffusion. The aim of this paper is to report on phase 2 study results within three construction organisations based on the 11 factors found to influence ICT diffusion. Semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with five to six ICT users and an implementer for each of the case study companies.

Originality/value

Three factors were found to have a weak influence on ICT diffusion, while eight have a strong influence. These influencing factors may be grouped into four interrelated categories: management, individual, technology, and work environment. Their inter‐relationship should be coherently and comprehensively addressed.
Analysis of factors that drive brief development in construction
Authors: Othman Ayman A.E. , Hassan Tarek M. , Pasquire Christine L.
Published: February 2005

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the factors that drive changes to the construction project brief and the background to those factors. The founding argument, that incorporating these changes is paramount for achieving client satisfaction, introduces the concept of dynamic brief development (DBP), which permits changes throughout the project life cycle. The understanding and attitude of the major construction project stakeholders towards DBP are investigated along with identifying the originators of brief development and the value and risk sources.

Design/methodology/approach

A threefold method was used comprising a comprehensive questionnaire survey followed by structured interviews. The results of these were further investigated though a brainstorming session with major construction project stakeholders. A total population of 266,434 units for the survey was identified, reduced to a random stratified sample of 530. The response rate was 49.2 per cent and the responses were analysed using a weighted relative importance index. A total of 88 interviews were carried out and 12 client organisations participated in the brainstorming session.

Findings

The findings lead to the conclusion that there is a need to set out a detailed brief development management system that incorporates both value management and risk management. This system should enable the appropriate project participant to make informed decisions at the right time for the benefit of the client. The system must facilitate feedback to both client organisations and construction professionals to enable lessons to be learned. Understanding the relationship between the factors that drive brief development and the various project team members will facilitate managing brief development in a way that increases client satisfaction and enhances the performance of the project.

Originality/value

The paper identifies deficiencies in current practices and techniques and presents a system which overcomes them.
Metrics for innovation: guidelines for developing a customized suite of innovation metrics
Authors: Muller Amy , Välikangas Liisa , Merlyn Paul
Published: February 2005

Purpose

During the past year, the authors have built a framework for a suite of metrics that senior managers can customize to track and promote innovation success in their companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Senior executives can use the suite of metrics to assess their company's innovativeness over time and hence combat the insidious strategy decay that often afflicts a company's business.

Findings

The framework combines three views on innovation – resource, capability, and leadership – providing the perspective to develop a suite of metrics for assessing and developing a company's capacity for innovation.

Research limitations/implications

The optimal selection of metrics and the optimal value or “sweet spot” of any particular metric will vary from company to company.

Practical implications

As more firms develop strategic innovation metrics and a database that validates their relevance, top managers will learn to assess and guide a company's innovation capability more effectively.

Originality/value

This is the first strategic guideline for building a customizable system of innovation metrics.
Improving the creativity of MBA students
Authors: Pinard Mary C. , Allio Robert J.
Published: February 2005

Purpose

Describes how The F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College features creativity as one of the early and essential components of its innovative two‐year MBA program.

Design/methodology/approach

Article reports on the indicators that the program is a success.

Findings

For corporations seeking creativity in new hires, MBA graduates who have completed the “Creativity stream” offer increased confidence in their ability to express themselves creatively; willingness to accept ambiguity and the uncertainty of process as part of discovery; openness to alternatives ways of seeing a problem, solution, or scenario; and renewed trust in themselves and their potential as creative thinkers.

Research limitations/implications

Employer survey results suggest that there is a link between Babson MBAs’ success at producing more and better creative solutions on the job and their exposure to creative process in the “Creativity stream”.

Practical implications

There is only limited evidence that arts experiences as part of corporate creativity training are noticeably beneficial, but Unilever's management contends that such training leads to changed perceptions and better decisions.

Originality/value

Creativity training can help employees and their managers develop new approaches to resolving corporate challenges.
Integrating qualitative and quantitative techniques in network analysis
Authors: Coviello Nicole E.
Published: February 2005

Purpose

This article introduces a method for assessing network dynamics over time. It integrates a qualitative approach to data collection with a bifocal approach to data analysis, i.e. where data are interpreted with two lenses: qualitative and quantitative.

Design/methodology/approach

The dynamics of an entrepreneurial firm's network are analyzed by combining: content and event analysis of case data and network maps with the use of UCINET 6, a software package developed for social network analysis.

Findings

In illustrating the bifocal approach, steps related to data collection, preparation and analysis are discussed. The findings show how the bifocal approach captures change in both a network's structure and its interactions, through a firm's life‐stages.

Research limitations/implications

The primary limitation of the approach is that reliance on UCINET 6 statistics oversimplifies network analysis. Thus, optimal use of the approach is best achieved when the structural patterns generated by UCINET 6 are balanced by qualitative analysis of the interactional dimensions of the network on a longitudinal basis. Future research opportunities include cross‐network analysis and examination of the networks of lead entrepreneurs in comparison with one another, over time.

Practical implications

The bifocal approach allows examination of network power shifts and identification of opportunities for strategic action and relationship management.

Originality/value

This article shows that the application of the bifocal approach facilitates a more meaningful analysis of networks than does a purely qualitative approach. It allows for time‐based examination of whole systems of organizations and scrutiny of dimensions pertaining to both network structure and the interactions and relationships between individual actors.
A qualitative approach to investigating online strategic decision making
Authors: Weischedel Birgit , Matear Sheelagh , Deans Kenneth R.
Published: February 2005

Purpose

Companies operating on the internet need appropriate metrics to make strategic marketing decisions. This paper applies established qualitative research methods to the online environment to evaluate how web managers generate and incorporate web metrics to inform strategic marketing decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Initial theories were developed using a comprehensive literature review as well as exploratory interviews with New Zealand companies. Applying a mixed methodology, the exploratory research used interviews to assess current practice within the industry, refine the research questions and set up the research design. An in‐depth case study in the USA evaluated best practices and highlighted issues that affect the use of web metrics. The main data collection utilized case studies to generate the in‐depth information necessary for theory building.

Findings

The exploratory results showed that companies currently measure web site performance and consumer behaviour online but are still uncertain how best to use those metrics to inform strategic marketing decisions. The in‐depth case study showed how web metrics can be used when sufficient resources are available and measuring performance is a priority. Owing to the initially recognized low level of web metrics use, the main research was expanded purposively to selected participants who make greater use of web metrics.

Originality/value

This paper applies traditional qualitative research methods to the online environment. Analysis of the case studies and continued research will address the research gap and provide recommendations to web managers as well as attempt to illustrate best practices, solutions to issues and industry benchmarks.
Fieldwork and data collection in qualitative marketing research
Authors: Alam Ian
Published: February 2005

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a systematic and rigorous process of data collection and fieldwork in qualitative research using four empirical studies of customer interactions in new product development (NPD) as examples. The intention is to dispel a misconception that the qualitative research lacks objectivity and methodological robustness.

Design/methodology/approach

To collect data for all the four studies a preliminary process of conducting fieldwork was first developed from the extant literature. This preliminary framework was applied in the first study and subsequently revised twice in the second and third study by incorporating necessary changes and additions. Finally, the framework was tested and further refined in the fourth study.

Findings

The findings from these four empirical qualitative studies have demonstrated that a theory generating idiographic research such as field interviews could be carried out systematically. These findings also provide a basis for proposing a structured framework for data collection.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based only on business‐to‐business NPD. Therefore, to increase the applicability of the results more studies are needed in other business and marketing fields.

Practical implications

The results offer an in‐depth look at specific research activities that can be carried out for efficient idea generation work and the overall NPD efforts.

Originality/value

The framework reported in this paper allows for an iterative data collection process from multiple respondents and from multiple sources. This method of data collection is a key issue because product managers tend to interact with the customers and other partners repeatedly and throughout the NPD process. Thus the product managers would find this framework useful for research involving NPD and customer interactions.
Simulation performance in the optimisation of the supply chain
Authors: Manzini Riccardo , Ferrari Emilio , Gamberi Mauro , Persona Alessandro , Regattieri Alberto
Published: February 2005

Purpose

Recently, material flows have been viewed as an integral part of the overall manufacturing system and a critical factor in SCM. Static approaches and theoretical models are ineffective in considering all variables and constraints involved in complex instances: these often require a lot of computing time and present poor flexibility in terms of model changes. VIS approach is a valid way to support design and management decisions in order to achieve the integrated optimisation of the whole chain, but literature does not discuss difficulties and time required in applying it, or its related costs.

Design/methodology/approach

Discrete/continuous hybrid simulation tools are used in order to model and simulate several operating conditions in combination with different system configurations.

Findings

The discussion of the industrial cases shows the importance of simulation in supporting decisions concerning the design and management of supply chains in their great complexity and in a stochastic competitive and extended context.

Originality/value

The paper deals with five significant industrial cases, which are simulated in collaboration with important enterprises and belong to different industrial sectors, in order to obtain an original quantitative analysis of time and costs resulting from a simulation optimisation based on the introduction of a set of innovative performance indices.
An object‐based knowledge integration system for product development
Authors: Lee C.K.M. , Lau H.C.W. , Yu K.M.
Published: February 2005

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to study how knowledge‐based systems are applied in an industrial environment. This paper attempts to propose a system, object‐based knowledge integration system (OBKIS) which supports the early stages of product development.

Design/methodology/approach

This proposed system characterizes the “dynamic” information exchange capability through its distinct features to include executable tasks within product information script that is being utilized in various functional groups, thereby introducing the action items to be carried out in relevant areas. To achieve the “dynamic” information exchange capability, object technology, which is favorable to the creation of inter‐related modularized data objects, is incorporated into the product information script to facilitate the active information interchange process. The universal extensible markup language (XML) is also adopted to facilitate data exchange between the database and the knowledge base in order to make real time data and knowledge available throughout the enterprise.

Findings

Further research on developing the well‐structured XML schema is needed in order to provide a well‐understood syntax and self‐defined mark‐up language to suit particular needs of product data exchange. For verification and measurement, it is suggested that one should evaluate the system in terms of data reliability, transformation accuracy and effectiveness for improving product design process.

Practical implications

The implications of these for information flows and management of product data during product development are discussed. In order to validate the feasibility of the proposed system, a prototype is developed for a local company so as to provide linking between the system design concept and system implementation in a practical environment.

Originality/value

The significance of this research is that a new product data schema for the initial phase of product development is formulated and the proposed system supports invoking various behaviors for the same message and overriding the pre‐defined inherited operation such that a flexible correlation can be formulated in the iterative product design process.
Workload balance of cells in designing of multiple cellular manufacturing systems
Authors: Al Kattan Ibrahim
Published: February 2005

Purpose

This paper presents a new method of resource optimization through workload balance in designing of multiple cellular manufacturing (MCM) systems for flow‐shop environments. The application of a step‐by‐step structured approach to design MCM cells more efficiently and generate smooth flow shop type with better resource utilization.

Design/methodology/approach

An industrial application case with 31 products carried on 12 workstations is presented to explore the step‐by‐step of designing and analyzing the results of alternative cellular manufacturing and balancing the workload.

Findings

MCM designs have become an important approach for batch production in the last decade, and their layout provides a dominant flow structure for the production scheduling. The flow shop nature of MCM adds a simplifying structure to the complexity of planning and scheduling. This method will generate many alternative designs and configurations of MCM in the form of highly flexible manufacturing systems. These alternatives could be better a choice for resource optimization in the industrial application.

Originality/value

Together with the associated costs, each proposed solution for the MCM could help to design and build efficient and highly flexible systems. Special emphasis will be devoted to the workload balance of workstations, machines, material‐handling equipment and WIP with the utilization of the resources in the production system. This method is practical, experiential and participates. A program using C language will be written to test the proposed algorithm for randomly generated input data.
Combining optimisation and simulation for steel production scheduling
Authors: Appelqvist Patrik , Lehtonen Juha‐Matti
Published: February 2005

Purpose

Scheduling problems in steel plants tend to be difficult and require complex algorithms due to many constraints. An approach is presented where only the main constraints are included in the scheduling algorithm. The schedule is validated using a discrete‐event simulation model that includes additional detail.

Design/methodology/approach

The combined approach is utilised for production scheduling in a steel mill in Finland. Operational performance of the steel mill is measured before and after software installation. The paper presents the scheduling environment, the software application and the resulting increase of production.

Findings

Case experiences indicate that combining optimisation techniques with simulation is beneficial. The optimisation can be kept simpler as validation with a simulation model increases the credibility and accuracy of the resulting schedule. During software development and testing, the simulation model offered a testing environment for the optimisation algorithm.

Practical implications

The case implementation was a success that increased production without making trade‐offs with other production goals. Company management estimate the productivity increase directly caused by the project to be worth €2,500,000 annually.

Originality/value

The paper presents a successful application of simulation for schedule validation in a complex and demanding environment.
Implicit Memory, Age, and Time of Day
Authors: May Cynthia P. , Hasher Lynn , Foong Natalie
Published: February 2005

Memory retrieval can occur by at least two routes: a deliberate one, as when one attempts to retrieve an event or fact, and an unintentional one, as when one's behavior is triggered by the past without one's knowledge or awareness. We assessed the efficacy of these retrieval systems as a function of circadian arousal and time of day. Evening-type younger adults and morning-type older adults were tested at either peak (morning for old; evening for young) or off-peak times on implicit and explicit stem completion (Experiment 1) or on implicit category generation (Experiment 2). Results for explicit stem-cued recall replicated better performance for each age group at its peak time. In stark contrast, implicit performance was better at off-peak than at peak times of day, raising the possibility that the processes that serve explicit and implicit retrieval are on different circadian schedules, and highlighting the need to consider individual differences in circadian arousal when assessing either memory system.
When High-Powered People Fail
Authors: Beilock Sian L. , Carr Thomas H.
Published: February 2005

We examined the relation between pressure-induced performance decrements, or “choking under pressure,” in mathematical problem solving and individual differences in working memory capacity. In cognitively based academic skills such as math, pressure is thought to harm performance by reducing the working memory capacity available for skill execution. Results demonstrated that only individuals high in working memory capacity were harmed by performance pressure, and, furthermore, these skill decrements were limited to math problems with the highest demands on working memory capacity. These findings suggest that performance pressure harms individuals most qualified to succeed by consuming the working memory capacity that they rely on for their superior performance.
Coordination of Voluntary and Stimulus-Driven Attentional Control in Human Cortex
Authors: Serences John T. , Shomstein Sarah , Leber Andrew B. , Golay Xavier , Egeth Howard E. , Yantis Steven
Published: February 2005

Visual attention may be voluntarily directed to particular locations or features (voluntary control), or it may be captured by salient stimuli, such as the abrupt appearance of a new perceptual object (stimulus-driven control). Most often, however, the deployment of attention is the result of a dynamic interplay between voluntary attentional control settings (e.g., based on prior knowledge about a target's location or color) and the degree to which stimuli in the visual scene match these voluntary control settings. Consequently, nontarget items in the scene that share a defining feature with the target of visual search can capture attention, a phenomenon termed contingent attentional capture. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to show that attentional capture by target-colored distractors is accompanied by increased cortical activity in corresponding regions of retinotopically organized visual cortex. Concurrent activation in the temporo-parietal junction and ventral frontal cortex suggests that these regions coordinate voluntary and stimulus-driven attentional control settings to determine which stimuli effectively compete for attention.
Who Sees Trees Before Forest?
Authors: Yovel Iftah , Revelle William , Mineka Susan
Published: February 2005

It has been suggested that individuals with obsessive-compulsive personalities tend to focus on small local details in their surroundings, whereas histrionic individuals are characterized by more global information processing. Using the global-local hierarchical-letters paradigm, we were able to provide support for the first but not the second hypothesis. Measures related to obsessive-compulsive personality disorder were associated with excessive visual attention to small details of the hierarchical letters. Specifically, the obsessive-compulsive cognitive style was associated with local interference, which reflects the effects of distraction by to-be-ignored small details on identification of global information.
The Role of Dimensional Distinctiveness in Children's and Adults' Artifact Categorization
Authors: Hammer Rubi , Diesendruck Gil
Published: February 2005

There are conflicting results as to whether preschool children categorize artifacts on the basis of physical or functional similarity. The present study investigated the effect of the relative distinctiveness of these dimensions in children's categorization. In a physical-distinctive condition, preschool children and adults were initially asked to categorize computer-animated artifacts whose physical appearances were more distinctive than their functions. In a function-distinctive condition, the functional dimension of objects was more distinctive than their physical appearances. Both conditions included a second stage of categorization in which both dimensions were equally distinctive. Participants in a control condition performed only this stage of categorization. Adults in all conditions and stages consistently categorized by functional similarity. In contrast, children's categorization was affected by the relative distinctiveness of the dimensions. Children may not have a priori specific beliefs about how to categorize novel artifacts, and thus may be more susceptible to contextual factors.
Evaluation of tolerance to Pierce's disease and Botrytis in transgenic plants of Vitis vinifera L. expressing the pear PGIP gene
Authors: AGÜERO CECILIA B. , URATSU SANDRA L. , GREVE CARL , POWELL ANN L. T. , LABAVITCH JOHN M. , MEREDITH CAROLE P. , DANDEKAR ABHAYA M.
Published: February 2005

Polygalacturonase‐inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are plant cell‐wall proteins that specifically inhibit fungal endo‐polygalacturonases (PGs) that contribute to the aggressive decomposition of susceptible plant tissues. The inhibition of fungal PGs by PGIPs suggests that PGIPs have a role in plant tolerance to fungal infections and this has been observed in transgenic plants expressing PGIPs. Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of Pierce's disease (PD) in grapevines, has genes that encode cell‐wall‐degrading enzymes, including a putative PG. Therefore, we hypothesized that PGIP expression could confer tolerance against this bacterium as well as against the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. To test this hypothesis, Vitis vinifera cvs. ‘Thompson Seedless’ and ‘Chardonnay’ were transformed to express pear fruit PGIP‐encoding gene (pPGIP) under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter. Substantial pear PGIP (pPGIP) activity was found in crude extracts from leaves and in xylem exudate of transgenic lines obtained from independent transformation events, but not in untransformed controls. pPGIP activity was detected in xylem exudate of untransformed scions grafted on to transgenic rootstocks expressing pPGIP. Leaves of transgenic plants infected with B. cinerea had reduced rates of lesion expansion. The development of PD was delayed in some transgenic lines with increased pPGIP activity. PD‐tolerant transgenic lines had reduced leaf scorching, lower Xylella titres and better re‐growth after pruning than the untransformed controls.
Lineage‐specific regions in Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000
Authors: JOARDAR VINITA , LINDEBERG MAGDALEN , SCHNEIDER DAVID J. , COLLMER ALAN , BUELL C. ROBIN
Published: February 2005

Comparative analyses of the chromosome of Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 with the finished, complete genomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, an animal pathogen, and the non‐pathogenic soil inhabitant Pseudomonas putida KT2440 revealed a high degree of sequence conservation in genes involved in ‘housekeeping functions’. However, divergence is present among these three fluorescent pseudomonads, yielding ‘suites’ of species‐specific genes that may provide the genetic basis for adaptation to an ecological niche and lifestyle. For DC3000, 1053 genes located on the chromosome were specific to DC3000 and not present in PAO1 or KT2440. The majority of these DC3000‐specific genes either lack a known function or are mobile genetic elements. However, these genes do share features among themselves such as association with regions of atypical trinucleotides, unusual G+C content and localization within large tracts of DC3000‐specific sequence, suggestive of lateral gene transfer events. Indeed, a comparison of syntenic blocks among these three complete Pseudomonas genomes revealed that a substantial portion (533) of the DC3000‐specific chromosomal genes (1053) were located in lineage‐specific regions (defined as being larger than 2 kb and enriched in mobile genetic elements and/or genes specific to DC3000 in this three‐way comparison). A large proportion of mobile genetic elements (199 of 318 genes; 63%), which are highly enriched in DC3000, were present within such regions. Similarly, most of the genes encoding type III secretion system virulence effectors were located in lineage‐specific regions. Consistent with the plasticity of the DC3000 genome, a putative chromosomal inversion mediated by identical copies of ISPsy6 involving 2838 kb (44%) of the DC3000 genome was detected. These data suggest that a substantial portion of the differentiation of DC3000, a plant pathogen, from an animal pathogen and a soil inhabitant has involved transfer of a large number of novel genes coupled with amplification of mobile genetic elements.
Analysis of outcome following allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation for myeloma using myeloablative conditioning – evidence for a superior outcome using melphalan combined with total body irradiation
Authors: Hunter H. M. , Peggs K. , Powles R. , Rahemtulla A. , Mahendra P. , Cavenagh J. , Littlewood T. , Potter M. , Hunter A. , Pagliuca A. , Williams C. D. , Cook G. , Towlson K. , Marks David I. , Russell N. H. ,   on behalf of the Clinical Trials Committee of the British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BSBMT)
Published: February 2005

We have undertaken a retrospective multicentre analysis of 139 patients (median age 44·4 years) undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for multiple myeloma using myeloablative conditioning. The majority of patients received total body irradiation (TBI) combined with either melphalan (56·9%) or cyclophosphamide (28·5%). Overall, transplant‐related mortality (TRM) was 37·9% at 1 year and was not significantly different for patients receiving melphalan/TBI compared with cyclophosphamide/TBI. The overall complete remission (CR) rate, including patients in CR at the time of transplant, was greater for patients receiving melphalan/TBI (64·7%) compared with cyclophosphamide/TBI (47·2%)(P = 0·085). A significantly higher proportion of patients with continuing disease at the time of transplant achieved CR post‐transplant following melphalan/TBI conditioning compared with cyclophosphamide/TBI (52·9% and 33·4% respectively, P = 0·009). Relapse/progression rates at 5 years were significantly lower for melphalan/TBI (36·7%) compared with cyclophosphamide/TBI (80·8%, P < 0·0001) and remained significant in multivariate analysis. This resulted in an overall survival at 5 years of 44·1% and 28·1% for melphalan/TBI and cyclophosphamide/TBI, respectively (P = 0·059). These results demonstrate that the type of conditioning for sibling allogeneic HSCT for myeloma has a major effect on transplant outcome.
Detection of adenovirus‐specific T cells in children with adenovirus infection after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Feuchtinger Tobias , Lücke Julia , Hamprecht Klaus , Richard Celine , Handgretinger Rupert , Schumm Michael , Greil Johann , Bock Thomas , Niethammer Dietrich , Lang Peter
Published: February 2005

Human adenovirus (ADV) infection is an important complication post allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), especially in children, with significant morbidity and mortality despite new antiviral treatment strategies. Although the control of infection seems to require T cells, characterization of ADV‐specific T cells post‐SCT has not been reported to date. Therefore, we prospectively studied the occurrence of ADV‐specific T cells in children with (n = 21) and without (n = 25) ADV‐infection postallogeneic SCT and in healthy donors (n = 53). ADV‐associated mortality occurred in seven of 21 children. After stimulation ex vivo with ADV‐lysate, interferon‐γ‐secreting T cells were analysed by flow cytometry. All the patients with ADV‐associated mortality had no specific T cells, although reconstitution of absolute lymphocyte counts exceeded 0·3 × 109/l within 30 d post‐transplant. Patients who cleared ADV infection had significantly higher frequencies (mean ± standard deviation, 0·56 ± 0·5%) of ADV‐specific T cells until day 200 post‐SCT, than patients without ADV‐infection (0·12 ± 0·1%). These data suggest that ADV‐specific T‐cell reconstitution is protective against life‐threatening ADV‐infections postallogeneic SCT.
5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furfural modifies intracellular sickle haemoglobin and inhibits sickling of red blood cells†,‡
Authors: Abdulmalik Osheiza , Safo Martin K. , Chen Qiukan , Yang Jisheng , Brugnara Carlo , Ohene‐Frempong Kwaku , Abraham Donald J. , Asakura Toshio
Published: February 2005

In an attempt to find new types of anti‐sickling agents that specifically bind to intracellular sickle haemoglobin (HbS) without inhibition by plasma and tissue proteins or other undesirable consequences, we identified 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furfural (5HMF), a naturally occurring aromatic aldehyde, as an agent that fulfils this criterion. Preliminary studies in vitro showed that 5HMF forms a high‐affinity Schiff‐base adduct with HbS and inhibits red cell sickling by allosterically shifting oxygen equilibrium curves towards the left. Further studies with transgenic (Tg) sickle mice showed that orally administered 5HMF was rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract without being destroyed, traversed the red blood cell membrane and specifically bound with, and modified, HbS molecules at levels as high as 90%. Pretreatment of Tg sickle mice with 5HMF inhibited the formation of sickle cells and significantly prolonged survival time under severe hypoxia, compared with untreated mice, which died within 15 min because of sickling‐dependent pulmonary sequestration. These results indicate the feasibility of 5HMF as an attractive potential candidate for therapy of sickle cell disease.
Individual time within target range in patients treated with vitamin K antagonists: main determinant of quality of anticoagulation and predictor of clinical outcome. a retrospective study of 2300 consecutive patients with venous thromboembolism
Authors: Veeger Nic J. G. M. , Piersma‐Wichers Margriet , Tijssen Jan G. P. , Hillege Hans L. , van der Meer Jan
Published: February 2005

The efficacy and safety of vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are related to the actual level of anticoagulation (given as the international normalized ratio, INR). It is often difficult to maintain an optimal INR over time. We assessed the clinical impact of the individual time spent within INR target range (ITTR) in 2304 consecutive patients with venous thromboembolism. Annual incidences of recurrent thromboembolism and major bleeding were 6·2% and 2·8% respectively. The relative risk (RR) of thromboembolism was 4·5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3·1–6·6, P < 0·001] at INR < 2·0, for major bleeding it was 6·4 (2·5–16·1, P < 0·001) at INR > 5·0, compared with INR 2·0–3·0. Patients with ITTR < 45% were at higher risk than those with ITTR > 65% (RR 2·8, 1·9–4·3, P < 0·001), while no difference was demonstrated comparing ITTR 45–65% and ITTR > 65% (RR 1·2, 0·7–1·8, P = 0·54). Annual incidences of recurrent thromboembolism were 16·0%, 4·9% and 4·6% at ITTR < 45%, 45–60% and >65% respectively. For major bleeding these were 8·7%, 2·1% and 1·9% respectively. ITTR < 37% during the first 30 treatment days was highly predictive for the total treatment time ITTR < 45% (RR 24·2, 13·5–43·1, P < 0·001). In conclusion, ITTR can be used to identify patients on VKA at risk of recurrent thromboembolism or major bleeding. Since the 30‐d ITTR is highly predictive for total treatment ITTR, these patients can be identified soon after start of treatment.
Significance of the CC chemokine RANTES in patients with haematological malignancy: results from a prospective observational study
Authors: Ellis Michael , Al‐Ramadi Basel , Hedström Ulla , Frampton Chris , Alizadeh Hussain , Kristensen Jorgen
Published: February 2005

Regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) serum concentrations were explored in a prospective observational study of haematological‐malignancy patients undergoing chemotherapy. During systemic inflammatory response syndrome/sepsis or severe sepsis/septic shock mean concentrations were 3394 or 2939 pg/ml, respectively, significantly lower than those prior to fever (6031 pg/ml) (P < 0·01) or at bone‐marrow recovery (6433 pg/ml, P < 0·001). Levels during febrile‐bacteraemia were lower compared with febrile‐non‐bacteraemia (3022 pg/ml vs. 5111 pg/ml, respectively, P < 0·01). Sixty‐three of 67 infection episodes resolved despite low RANTES concentrations, suggesting RANTES is not a prerequisite for recovering from most infection events. However, in four patients dying from septic shock associated with aspergillosis, candidosis, pneumonia or infectious colitis, RANTES concentrations were persistently and extremely low (1629 pg/ml), compared with four matched patients who recovered (6780 pg/ml). RANTES concentrations were highly correlated to platelet counts [median correlation coefficient 0·82 (inter‐quartile range, 0·72–0·89)]. RANTES concentrations rose 4·5 d before platelet counts (P < 0·001), suggesting an additional extra‐platelet source for RANTES. A nested mixed model regression analysis demonstrated that platelet level was the only independent variable associated with RANTES concentration (P < 0·001) among steroids, haematopoietic‐colony‐stimulating‐factor, recombinant‐human‐interleukin‐11, sepsis status, and neutropenia. A significant ‘hypo‐RANTES’ serum environment occurs following chemotherapy, is driven by thrombocytopenia, but does not affect the ability of most patients to recover from infection.
Patterns of nitrogen and sulfur accumulation and retention in ombrotrophic bogs, eastern Canada
Authors: Moore Tim , Blodau Christian , Turunen Jukka , Roulet Nigel , Richard Pierre J. H.
Published: February 2005

Nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) play important roles in peatlands, through their influence on plant production and peat decomposition rates and on redox reactions, respectively, and peatlands contain substantial stores of these two elements. Using peat N and S concentrations and dry bulk density and 210Pb dating, we determined the rates of N and S accumulation over the past 150 years in hummock and hollow profiles from 23 ombrotrophic bogs in eastern Canada. Concentrations of N and S averaged 0.80% and 0.18%, respectively, generally increased with depth in the profile and there was a weak but significant correlation between N and S concentrations. Rates of N and S accumulation over the past 50–150 years ranged from 0.5 to 4.8 g N m−2 yr−1 and from 0.1 to 0.9 g S m−2 yr−1. There were significant but weak correlations between C, N and S accumulation rates over 50‐, 100‐ and 150‐year periods. Over the last 50 years, rates of S accumulation showed little differentiation between hummocks and hollows, whereas the pattern for N accumulation was more variable (hummock minus hollow rate ranged from −1 to +1.5 g N m−2 yr−1), with hummocks generally having a larger N accumulation rate, correlated with the rate of carbon (C) accumulation. There was a modest but significant positive correlation between 50‐year rates of N accumulation and wet atmospheric deposition of N measured between 1990 and 1996, with accumulation rates about four times that of wet deposition. The difference between deposition and accumulation of N is attributed to organic N deposition, dry deposition and N2 fixation. A weaker, but still significant, correlation was observed between 50‐year S accumulation and 1990–1996 wet atmospheric S deposition, with about 75% of the deposited S accumulating in the peat. A laboratory experiment with peat cores exposed to varying water table position and simulated N and S deposition, showed that on average 87% and 98% of the deposited NH4+ and NO3−, respectively, and 58% of the deposited S were retained in the vegetation and unsaturated zone of the cores, supporting the results from the field study.
Increased rainfall variability and reduced rainfall amount decreases soil CO2flux in a grassland ecosystem
Authors: Harper Christopher W. , Blair John M. , Fay Philip A. , Knapp Alan K. , Carlisle Jonathan D.
Published: February 2005

Predicted climate changes in the US Central Plains include altered precipitation regimes with increased occurrence of growing season droughts and higher frequencies of extreme rainfall events. Changes in the amounts and timing of rainfall events will likely affect ecosystem processes, including those that control C cycling and storage. Soil carbon dioxide (CO2) flux is an important component of C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, and is strongly influenced by climate. While many studies have assessed the influence of soil water content on soil CO2flux, few have included experimental manipulation of rainfall amounts in intact ecosystems, and we know of no studies that have explicitly addressed the influence of the timing of rainfall events. In order to determine the responses of soil CO2flux to altered rainfall timing and amounts, we manipulated rainfall inputs to plots of native tallgrass prairie (Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA) over four growing seasons (1998–2001). Specifically, we altered the amounts and/or timing of growing season rainfall in a factorial combination that included two levels of rainfall amount (100% or 70% of naturally occurring rainfall quantity) and two temporal patterns of rain events (ambient timing or a 50% increase in length of dry intervals between events). The size of individual rain events in the altered timing treatment was adjusted so that the quantity of total growing season rainfall in the ambient and altered timing treatments was the same (i.e. fewer, but larger rainfall events characterized the altered timing treatment). Seasonal mean soil CO2flux decreased by 8% under reduced rainfall amounts, by 13% under altered rainfall timing, and by 20% when both were combined (P<0.01). These changes in soil CO2flux were consistent with observed changes in plant productivity, which was also reduced by both reduced rainfall quantity and altered rainfall timing. Soil CO2flux was related to both soil temperature and soil water content in regression analyses; together they explained as much as 64% of the variability in CO2flux across dates under ambient rainfall timing, but only 38–48% of the variability under altered rainfall timing, suggesting that other factors (e.g. substrate availability, plant or microbial stress) may limit CO2flux under a climate regime that includes fewer, larger rainfall events. An analysis of the temperature sensitivity of soil CO2flux indicated that temperature had a reduced effect (lower correlation and lowerQ10values) under the reduced quantity and altered timing treatments. Recognition that changes in the timing of rainfall events may be as, or more, important than changes in rainfall amount in affecting soil CO2flux and other components of the carbon cycle highlights the complex nature of ecosystem responses to climate change in North American grasslands.