bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase II Study of Gefitinib Readministration in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Previous Response to Gefitinib
Authors: Asahina Hajime , Oizumi Satoshi , Inoue Akira , Kinoshita Ichiro , Ishida Takashi , Fujita Yuka , Sukoh Noriaki , Harada Masao , Maemondo Makoto , Saijo Yasuo , Dosaka-Akita Hirotoshi , Isobe Hiroshi , Nukiwa Toshihiro , Nishimura Masaharu ,   on behalf of the Hokkaido Lung Cancer Clinical Study Group
Published: April 2011

Objective: Salvage treatment for acquired resistance to gefitinib has yet to be developed. We conducted the first prospective phase II study of gefitinib readministration in previous gefitinib responders. Methods: Gefitinib (250 mg/day) was readministered to patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who had achieved objective response to initial gefitinib and subsequently received cytotoxic chemotherapy after disease progression with initial gefitinib. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate with gefitinib readministration. Secondary endpoints were disease control rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), quality of life, and toxicity. Changes in lung cancer-related symptoms were evaluated using the seven-item lung cancer subscale of the questionnaire. Results: Sixteen patients were enrolled between February 2005 and January 2008. Most had received ≧3 regimens of chemotherapy. Response and disease-control rates for all patients were 0 and 44%. Median PFS and OS were 2.5 and 14.7 months, respectively. Four of 7 patients with stable disease experienced a long duration (≧6 months) of disease control without severe toxicity. Symptom improvement was observed in 2 of 12 patients (17%) for whom quality of life was evaluable. Conclusion: Gefitinib represents a useful therapeutic option for selected previous gefitinib responders.
Screening for Cognitive Dysfunction in Corticobasal Syndrome: Utility of Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination
Authors: Mathew Robert , Bak Thomas H. , Hodges John R.
Published: April 2011

Introduction: The motor features of corticobasal syndrome (CBS) are well recognized but the fact that many, if not all, affected patients develop cognitive impairment is still underrecognized. The dementia of CBS overlaps most with a language variant of frontotemporal dementia: progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA). The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) in the evaluation of CBS and to document similarities and differences between CBS and PNFA. Materials and Methods: Patients with well-defined CBS or PNFA from two tertiary referral centers were selected along with matched controls. Results: Twenty-one patients with CBS, 23 patients with PNFA and 47 age- and education- matched controls were included. Both CBS and PNFA groups showed substantial impairment on the ACE-R (f = 17.3–80.2, p < 0.001) and were significantly impaired in all domains (p < 0.001). The only significant difference between CBS and PNFA was in the visuospatial domain (p < 0.009), being worse in CBS. Using a cutoff of 88/89 out of 100, 90% of CBS and 82.6% of PNFA patients were impaired. At this cutoff of 88/89, ACE-R in CBS had sensitivity and specificity values of 91 and 98%, respectively.
Association Between Obesity, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein ≥2 mg/L, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis
Authors: Blaha Michael J. , Rivera Juan J. , Budoff Matthew J. , Blankstein Ron , Agatston Arthur , O'Leary Daniel H. , Cushman Mary , Lakoski Susan , Criqui Michael H. , Szklo Moyses , Blumenthal Roger S. , Nasir Khurram
Published: April 2011

Objective—

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels are closely associated with abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) trial has encouraged using hsCRP ≥2 mg/L to guide statin therapy; however, the association of hsCRP and atherosclerosis, independent of obesity, remains unknown.

Methods and Results—

We studied 6760 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Participants were stratified into 4 groups: nonobese/low hsCRP, nonobese/high hsCRP, obese/low hsCRP, and obese/high hsCRP. Using multivariable logistic and robust linear regression, we described the association with subclinical atherosclerosis, using coronary artery calcium (CAC) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Mean body mass index was 28.3±5.5 kg/m
2
, and median hsCRP was 1.9 mg/L (0.84 to 4.26). High hsCRP, in the absence of obesity, was not associated with CAC and was mildly associated with cIMT. Obesity was strongly associated with CAC and cIMT independently of hsCRP. When obesity and high hsCRP were both present, there was no evidence of multiplicative interaction. Similar associations were seen among 2083 JUPITER-eligible individuals.

Conclusion—

High hsCRP, as defined by JUPITER, was not associated with CAC and was mildly associated with cIMT in the absence of obesity. In contrast, obesity was associated with both measures of subclinical atherosclerosis independently of hsCRP status.
Common Variants in the Periostin Gene Influence Development of Atherosclerosis in Young Persons
Authors: Hixson James E. , Shimmin Lawrence C. , Montasser May E. , Kim Do-Kyun , Zhong Yu , Ibarguen Heladio , Follis Jack , Malcom Gray , Strong Jack , Howard Tim , Langefeld Carl , Liu Yongmei , Rotter Jerome I. , Johnson Craig , Herrington David
Published: April 2011

Objective—

We investigated the influence of genetic variants (rare and common) in the gene encoding periostin (
POSTN
) on atherosclerosis as measured in arterial specimens from the Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) study.

Methods and Results—

A comprehensive survey of common
POSTN
variants (87 single-nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) in PDAY subjects (n=2527) identified numerous SNPs associated with raised lesions in abdominal aorta and with fatty streaks in thoracic aorta. These SNPs belonged to a small number of correlation bins that spanned the entire locus. To examine effects of rare variants, we resequenced
POSTN
functional regions in PDAY cases with raised lesions (n=291) and controls with no raised lesions (n=294). However, we found no significant associations with case-control status for carriers of
POSTN
rare variants using the weighted-sum method for rare variant analysis.

Conclusion—

We identified common variants in
POSTN
that are associated with arterial lesions in young persons from the PDAY study. This finding strongly supports a role for periostin in atherogenesis, as suggested by recent proteomics analysis that found abundant expression of periostin in atherosclerotic lesions. Genetic variation may influence atherosclerosis via periostin's known involvement in multiple relevant pathways, including angiogenesis, vascular remodeling, and stimulation of migration and differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells.
Repeated Remote Ischemic Postconditioning Protects Against Adverse Left Ventricular Remodeling and Improves Survival in a Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Wei Meng , Xin Ping , Li Shuai , Tao Jianping , Li Yapeng , Li Jing , Liu Mingya , Li Jingbo , Zhu Wei , Redington Andrew N.
Published: April 2011

Rationale:

Remote ischemic conditioning induced by repeated episodes of transient limb ischemia is a clinically applicable method for protecting the heart against injury at the time of reperfusion.

Objective:

To assess the effect of chronic, repeated, remote conditioning on infarct size and long-term remodeling after myocardial infarction.

Methods and Results:

Rats with ischemia/reperfusion injury received different protocols of remote limb conditioning. While a single early episode of remote ischemic conditioning during coronary occlusion (perconditioning) resulted in a decrease in infarct size on both day 4 and day 28, when it was repeated (postconditioning) intermittently (every 3 days) and intensively (every day), it was not associated with a further decrease in infarct size. However, the protection against adverse remodeling offered by a single episode of limb perconditioning was further enhanced by repeated remote postconditioning therapy in a dose-dependent manner. In separate experiments there was a dose-dependent improvement in survival at 84 days by Kaplan–Meier analysis.

Conclusions:

Whereas a single early episode of remote perconditioning reduces infarct size, repeated remote postconditioning further reduces adverse LV remodeling and improves survival in a dose-dependent fashion. These data may have clinical implications for the treatment of patients with evolving myocardial infarction.
SIRT1 Acts as a Modulator of Neointima Formation Following Vascular Injury in Mice
Authors: Li Li , Zhang Hui-Na , Chen Hou-Zao , Gao Peng , Zhu Li-Hua , Li Hong-Liang , Lv Xiang , Zhang Qing-Jun , Zhang Ran , Wang Zhao , She Zhi-Gang , Zhang Ran , Wei Yu-Sheng , Du Guan-Hua , Liu De-Pei , Liang Chih-Chuan
Published: April 2011

Rationale:

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration are crucial events involved in the pathophysiology of vascular diseases. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a class III histone deacetylase (HDAC), has been reported to have the function of antiatherosclerosis, but its role in neointima formation remains unknown.

Objective:

The present study was designed to investigate the role of SIRT1 in the regulation of neointima formation and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods and Results:

A decrease in SIRT1 expression was observed following carotid artery ligation. smooth muscle cell (SMC)–specific human SIRT1 transgenic (Tg) mice were generated. SIRT1 overexpression substantially inhibited neointima formation after carotid artery ligation or carotid artery wire injury. In the intima of injured carotid arteries, VSMC proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)–positive cells) was significantly reduced. SIRT1 overexpression markedly inhibited VSMC proliferation and migration and induced cell cycle arrest at G1/S transition in vitro. Accordingly, SIRT1 overexpression decreased the induction of cyclin D1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression by treatment with serum and TNF-α, respectively, whereas RNAi knockdown of SIRT1 resulted in the opposite effect. Decreased cyclin D1 and MMP-9 expression/activity were also observed in injured carotid arteries from SMC-SIRT1 Tg mice. Furthermore, 2 targets of SIRT1, c-Fos and c-Jun, were involved in the downregulation of cyclin D1 and MMP-9 expression.

Conclusions:

Our findings demonstrate the inhibitory effect of SIRT1 on the VSMC proliferation and migration that underlie neointima formation and implicate SIRT1 as a potential target for intervention in vascular diseases.
Glial Cells Drive Preconditioning-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Protection
Authors: Gesuete Raffaella , Orsini Franca , Zanier Elisa R. , Albani Diego , Deli Maria A. , Bazzoni Gianfranco , De Simoni Maria-Grazia
Published: April 2011

Background and Purpose—

The cerebrovascular contribution to ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been scarcely explored. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we investigated the involvement of the blood-brain barrier and the role of its cellular components.

Methods—

Seven-minute occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery, used as in vivo IPC stimulus 4 days before permanent occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery, significantly reduced brain infarct size (8.45±0.7 versus 13.61±0.08 mm
3
measured 7 days after injury) and preserved blood-brain barrier function (Evans blue leakage, 0.54±0.1 versus 0.89±0.1 ng/mg). Assessment of neuronal, endothelial, and glial gene expression revealed that IPC specifically increased glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA, thus showing selective astrocyte activation in IPC-protected mice.

Results—

The blood-brain barrier was modeled by coculturing murine primary brain microvessel endothelial and astroglial cells. One-hour oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), delivered 24 hours before a 5-hour OGD, acted as an IPC stimulus, significantly attenuating the reduction in transendothelial electric resistance (199.17±11.7 versus 97.72±3.4 Ωcm
2
) and the increase in permeability coefficients for sodium fluorescein (0.98±0.11×10
−3
versus 1.8±0.36×10
−3
cm/min) and albumin (0.12±0.01×10
−3
versus 0.29±0.07×10
−3
cm/min) induced by severe OGD. IPC also prevented the 5-hour OGD–induced disorganization of the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and claudin-5. IPC on glial (but not endothelial) cells alone preserved transendothelial electric resistance, permeability coefficients, and ZO-1 localization after 5 hours of OGD. Astrocyte metabolic inhibition by fluorocitrate abolished IPC protection, confirming the critical role of astrocytes. IPC significantly increased glial fibrillary acidic protein, interleukin-6, vascular endothelial growth factor-a, and ciliary neurotrophic factor gene expression after OGD in glial cells, indicating that multiple pathways mediate the glial contribution to IPC.

Conclusions—

Our data show that the blood-brain barrier can be directly preconditioned and that astrocytes are major mediators of IPC protection.
Theoretical Concepts from Self Psychology Applied to Animal Hoarding1
Authors: Brown Sue-Ellen
Published: April 2011

Self psychology provides a theoretical framework for understanding the psychology of the animal hoarder. The following ideas from self psychology can be applied to animal hoarders and their animals to gain insight into the nature of the bond between them: 1) animals can serve a crucial selfobject function, such as cohesion, for hoarders, regardless of the actual, objective reality of the state of the animals; 2) the concept of archaic vs. mature selfobject functioning elucidates how hoarders are stuck in self-centered, archaic forms of relating with little empathic capacity; 3) the merger selfobject relationship allows hoarders to see animals as being one with them; and 4) disavowal and the vertical split explain how hoarders can live with animal suffering and be apparently oblivious to it. Similarities between self psychology and attachment theory are discussed.
News and Views Introduction of a National Electronic Patient Record in The Netherlands: Some Legal Issues
Authors: Gevers Sjef , Ploem Corrette
Published: April 2011

The electronic patient record (EPR) is a major technological development within the healthcare sector. Many hospitals across Europe already use institution-based electronic patient records, which allow not only for electronic exchange of patient data within the hospital, but potentially also for sharing medical data with external healthcare providers, involved in the patient’s care, such as general practitioners or pharmacists. In this article, we discuss the attempt made by the Dutch government to introduce a nationwide electronic patient record (n-EPR). Describing and analyzing the new legislation that is currently being developed to establish the infrastructure for the n-EPR and the related legal issues, we conclude that the introduction of a n-EPR give rise to some substantial concerns. These vary from technical and quality issues such as the reliability of patient data and sufficient standardization and interoperability of the systems used, to issues in the field of data security and confidentiality. For a successful introduction of the n-EPR within the healthcare sector, a condicio sine qua non is that the related legislation provides sufficient safeguards and clarity with respect to the responsibilities and liabilities of its main users: the healthcare professionals.
Marginalized Particle Filtering Framework for Tuning of Ensemble Filters
Authors: Šmídl Václav , Hofman Radek
Published: April 2011

Marginalized particle filtering (MPF), also known as Rao-Blackwellized particle filtering, has been recently developed as a hybrid method combining analytical filters with particle filters. This paper investigates the prospects of this approach in environmental modeling where the key concerns are nonlinearity, high-dimensionality, and computational cost. In the formulation herein, exact marginalization in the MPF is replaced by approximate marginalization, yielding a framework for creation of new hybrid filters. In particular, the authors propose to use the MPF framework for online tuning of nuisance parameters of ensemble filters. Conditional independence–based simplification of the MPF algorithm is proposed for computational reasons and its close relation to previously published methods is discussed. The strength of the framework is demonstrated on the joint estimation of the inflation factor, the measurement error variance, and the length scale parameter of covariance localization. It is shown that accurate estimation can be achieved with a moderate number of particles. Moreover, this result was achieved with naively chosen proposal densities, leaving space for further improvements.
Processing of No-release Variants in Connected Speech
Authors: LoCasto Paul C. , Connine Cynthia M.
Published: April 2011

The cross modal repetition priming paradigm was used to investigate how potential lexically ambiguous no-release variants are processed. In particular we focus on segmental regularities that affect the variant’s frequency of occurrence (voicing of the critical segment) and phonological context in which the variant occurs (status of the following word-initial segment). Primes consisted of carrier words ending in a segment likely (voiced; e.g., BAND) or unlikely (voiceless; PLANT) to be produced in no-release form followed by a consonant or vowel onset context word. Each carrier word had an embedded lexical competitor (embedded word) formed by the segments prior to its final consonant (e.g., plan in plant). Productions of these embedded words (true embedded word) were also used as primes. Both true embedded words (Experiments 1a—1c) and carrier words (Experiments 2a—2c) were used as visual targets. The results are discussed in terms of the contribution of probabilistic speech events to theories of spoken word recognition and lexical competition.
Acquisition of Initial /s/-stop and stop-/s/ Sequences in Greek
Authors: Syrika Asimina , Nicolaidis Katerina , Edwards Jan , Beckman Mary E.
Published: April 2011

Previous work on children’s acquisition of complex sequences points to a tendency for affricates to be acquired before clusters, but there is no clear evidence of a difference in order of acquisition between clusters with /s/ that violate the Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP), such as /s/ followed by stop in onset position, and other clusters that obey the SSP. One problem with studies that have compared the acquisition of SSP-obeying and SSP-violating clusters is that the component sounds in the two types of sequences were different. This paper examines the acquisition of initial /s/-stop and stop-/s/ sequences by sixty Greek children aged 2 through 5 years. Results showed greater accuracy for the /s/-stop relative to the stop-/s/ sequences, but no difference in accuracy between /ts/, which is usually analyzed as an affricate in Greek, and the other stop-/s/ sequences. Moreover, errors for the /s/-stop sequences and /ts/ primarily involved stop substitutions, whereas errors for /ps/ and /ks/ were more variable and often involved fricative substitutions, a pattern which may have a perceptual explanation. Finally, /ts/ showed a distinct temporal pattern relative to the stop-/s/ clusters /ps/ and /ks/, similar to what has been reported for productions of Greek adults.
An Examination of a Group Curriculum for Parents of Young Children With Disruptive Behavior
Authors: Forehand Rex L. , Merchant Mary Jane , Parent Justin , Long Nicholas , Linnea Kate , Baer Julie
Published: April 2011

This study examined effectiveness of a Group Curriculum (GC) for parents of 3- to 6- year-old children with disruptive behavior. The curriculum is based on the book Parenting the Strong-Willed Child. A total of 39 parents were randomly assigned to the GC condition or a wait-list control condition. Assessments occurred at baseline, postintervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 2-month follow-up. Findings indicated that the GC condition was associated with lower levels of child problem behavior and improved parenting at postintervention relative to the control condition. Parents were also satisfied with the intervention. Uncontrolled 2-month follow-up data suggested that changes were maintained from postintervention to follow-up for all outcome measures.
Issue ownership as a determinant of negative campaigning
Authors: Elmelund-Præstekær Christian
Published: April 2011

Existing studies on the determinants of negative campaigning conclude that context matters as the degree of positive and negative campaigning vary according to factors such as proximity to election day, poll standing, incumbency status, and the size of the ‘war chest’. The present article discusses whether not only the context, but also the content of campaigns needs to be considered when analysing why and when political parties go negative. The article argues that parties enjoying ownership of campaign issues tend to employ a more positive rhetorical style than parties with less ownership. Using four Danish election campaigns as cases, this proposition is empirically supported: the degree of issue ownership is positively correlated with a positive campaign tone, controlling for a range of traditional contextual factors. The new content factor does not outperform the usual contextual suspects, but it adds nuance to the general understanding of the determinants of negativity.
Differential Response to a School-Based Program for Young Children With ASD
Authors: Sandall Susan R. , Ashmun Julie W. , Schwartz Ilene S. , Davis Carol Ann , Williams Penny , Leon-Guerrero RinaMarie , Boulware Gusty-Lee , McBride Bonnie J.
Published: April 2011

Differential outcome and differential response to research-based interventions are challenging issues for researchers, teachers, and families of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this article, the authors present information on responders to an early education program, Project DATA (Developmentally Appropriate Treatment for Autism), designed for children with ASD. Using case study methods, the authors identified six themes that were associated with optimal responders. The themes include the following: responders made continual progress, their challenging behaviors served clear functions, teachers were able to identify motivators, responders became sociable, they learned efficiently in group arrangements, and they generalized new skills. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for individualizing intervention approaches within the context of comprehensive treatment models.
Asset tangibility, industry representation and the cross section of equity returns
Authors: Docherty Paul , Chan Howard , Easton Steve
Published: April 2011

Recent theory relates expected returns and covariant risk to the investment decisions of a firm across certain stages of the business cycle. Using the Australian accounting environment that provides a wider scope for the capitalisation of intangible assets compared with the United States, this paper tests the relationship between asset tangibility and returns within the Fama and MacBeth (1973) framework. A relationship is found to exist between asset tangibility and the cross-section of equity returns. This relationship is most evident in the materials industry, which is characterised by irreversible, firm-specific assets. These results persist after controlling for firm characteristics that Fama and French (1992) show are related to returns, although the effect is largely driven by microcap stocks.
Market-to-revenue multiples in public and private capital markets
Authors: Armstrong Christopher S , Davila Antonio , Foster George , Hand John RM
Published: April 2011

The behavior and determinants of market-to-revenue ratios in public and private capital markets is examined. Three samples are analysed: (1) all publicly traded stocks listed at some time on the New York Stock Exchange/American Stock Exchange/National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System in the 1980—2004 period; (2) sample of over 300 so-called ‘internet companies’ in the 1996—2004 period; and (3) over 5500 privately held venture capital-backed companies in the 1992—2004 period. Both company size and the most recent revenue growth rate are found to explain significant variation across companies in their market-to-revenue multiples — smaller companies and companies with higher recent revenue growth rates have higher multiples. We also document how the capital market appears to use a broad-based information set when setting market-to-revenue multiples for companies with negative revenue growth rates — transitory revenue growth components appear to be identified (in a probabilistic sense) by the capital market. Contrary to much anecdotal comment, we present evidence that the capital market behaved directionally along the lines predicted by capital market theory in the pricing of internet stocks in the 1996—2004 period.
A review on the molecular dynamics simulation of machining at the atomic scale
Authors: Komanduri R , Raff L M
Published: April 2011

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, like other simulation techniques, such as the finite difference method (FDM), or the finite element method (FEM) can play a significant role in addressing a number of machining problems at the atomic scale. It may be noted that atomic simulations are providing new data and exciting insights into various manufacturing processes and tribological phenomenon that cannot be obtained readily in any other way—theory, or experiment. In this paper, the principles of MD simulation, relative advantages and current limitations, and its application to a range of machining problems are reviewed. Machining problems addressed include: (a) the mechanics of nanometric cutting of non-ferrous materials, such as copper and aluminium; (b) the mechanics of nanometric cutting of semiconductor materials, such as silicon and germanium; (c) the effect of various process parameters, including rake angle, edge radius and depth of cut on cutting and thrust forces, specific force ratio, energy, and subsurface deformation of the machined surface; the objective is the development of a process that is more efficient and effective in minimizing the surface or subsurface damage; (d) modelling of the exit failures in various work materials which cause burr formation in machining; (e) simulation of work materials with known defect structure, such as voids, grain boundaries, second phase particles; shape, size and density of these defects can be varied using MD simulation as well as statistical mechanical or Monte Carlo approaches; (f) nanometric cutting of nanostructures; (g) investigation of the nanometric cutting of work materials of known crystallographic orientation; (h) relative hardness of the tool material with respect to the work material in cutting; a range of hardness values from the tool being softer than the work material to the tool being several times harder than the work material is considered; and (i) the tool wear in nanometric cutting of iron with a diamond tool. The nature of deformation in the work material ahead of the tool, subsurface deformation, nature of variation of the forces and their ratio, and specific energy with cutting conditions are investigated by this method.
Effects of stiffness and damping coefficients of the spindle bearing on the dynamics of the cylindrical plunge grinding process
Authors: Ahn Y , Kim D-H , Choi S-H , Han D-C
Published: April 2011

This paper presents a multi-degree analysis of self-excited vibrations of a grinding system including the spindle and the workpiece rotational effects. A dynamic analysis was carried out for an external cylindrical plunge grinding process. Governing equations were derived by applying a finite element method to the rotor structure of the spindle and workpiece, and the grinding force was modelled using empirical equations. By computerizing this model, the displacement of the workpiece and grinding force were simulated with machining time. The simulation predicts the effects of the stiffness and damping coefficients of the spindle bearing on the displacement and grinding force. The effects on the chatter growth rate are also presented.
Assisting design for manufacture using the data model driven approach
Authors: Borja V , Bell R , Harding J A
Published: April 2011

The data model driven approach argues that computer aided engineering systems should be based on information data models in order to properly support the concurrent design of products. These models are the foundation for database representations of products and factories, and enable information sharing across unlinked software applications that address different stages of the product life cycle. This paper presents a product data model capable of capturing product life cycle information, and in particular its utilization for representing manufacturing information is described. A manufacturing data model that depicts the capabilities of manufacturing cells in terms of their processes and resources is also introduced. The potential benefits of using these data models to support design for manufacture are shown through a case study. The case study includes implementation of the models, their utilization representing a product and three manufacturing facilities, and demonstrates their value in the redesign of a component.
Selecting next-generation manufacturing paradigms—an analytic hierarchy process based criticality analysis
Authors: Alvi A U , Labib A W
Published: April 2011

In the future, manufacturing will be driven by increased competition, sophisticated customer demands and rapid advances in technology. It is therefore necessary to define methodologies for manufacturing that are capable of identifying the driving forces of change and coping with the resultant changes. In this paper, a survey has identified the present trends in manufacturing. Some manufacturing paradigms that have been proposed by researchers have then been investigated. The characteristics and enabling methodologies of these paradigms have been discussed. The criteria that justify a suitable manufacturing paradigm for the twenty-first century have been represented in a hierarchy model based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). This decision tool was used to identify the paradigm with the highest ranking for future implementation. In the last section of the paper, a sensitivity analysis has been carried out to observe the effects of varying the priorities of different criteria.
Total quality management versus business process re-engineering: A question of degree
Authors: Williams A , Davidson J , Waterworth S , Partington R
Published: April 2011

An increasing number of manufacturing organizations are placing direct emphasis on operations improvement as a means of achieving competitive success. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), however, generally lack the resources in capital, time and expertise to implement business process re-engineering (BPR), as has been advocated by a number of authors.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of continuous improvement (CI) versus BPR approaches to operational change. Change implies risk, and SMEs naturally require a means for establishing levels of uncertainty and net return. Equally, the performance measures adopted by these two (respectively, bottom-up and top-down) approaches differ significantly and normally defy direct comparison.

A dynamic systems simulation is developed from a case study within the plastics industry and is used to evaluate the implementation of either varying levels of improvement or natural processes in the case of BPR. Although it is an industry-specific model, the approach raises several implications. Of specific interest is the trade-off between performance improvement and cost, time frame and risk. Attention is also focused on evaluation of the threshold at which the two philosophies overlap and the point at which companies may make the transition between the two philosophies.

The paper goes on to evaluate the decrease in the return of investment (ROI), as improvements impinge on other stages within the process, creating up- and downstream bottlenecks. It also evaluates the level of a single ‘natural process’, as a means of costing BPR implementation. The paper concludes with the definition of ROI curves, which are intended to inform SMEs in the selection of appropriate improvement strategies.
Analytical modelling of the milling process geometry based on the true tooth trajectory
Authors: Li X P , Li H Z
Published: April 2011

A new approach for modelling the milling process geometry is presented. The main geometrical parameters are modelled on the basis of the true tooth trajectory of a trochoid. A simulation study using the model has been conducted to investigate the effects of the feed, cutter diameter and number of teeth on the process geometry parameters.
Evaluation of grinding fluids in the grinding of a martensitic valve steel with CBN and alumina abrasives
Authors: da Silva E J , Bianchi E C , de Oliveira J F G , de Aguiar P R
Published: April 2011

In this paper the performances of different cutting fluids and grinding wheel types were analysed in the grinding of SAE HVN-3 workpieces. The resulting residual stress, wheel wear and roughness were evaluated. The influence of the cutting fluid jet velocity vj was also analysed. As a conclusion, the lubrication ability seems to be the governing factor in the cutting fluid performance. The use of CBN wheels can significantly reduce the thermal damage in grinding, leading to compressive residual stresses. The CBN wheel and the cutting oil give an optimum combination for performing this grinding operation.
Automatic gravure print feature determination at production speeds
Authors: Brown N , Jackson M R , Parkin R M
Published: April 2011

This paper describes the development of a non-contact system for measuring the colour of printed material at web speeds, in addition to gravure-printed dot feature recognition. The system proposed uses a non-contact spectrophotometer based on a holographic grating, in conjunction with a conventional monochrome area scan camera, from which colour spectral data are extracted, while a xenon flash is used to illuminate colour samples. Dot features are captured by a magnification lens, in conjunction with a progressive scan camera. Software and hardware details of the system are given, together with the underlying mathematics for colour space conversion and measurement. Conversion equations from X, Y, Z chromaticity coordinates to the RGB system are presented, and also equations to convert from the L* a* b* colour space to X, Y, Z chromaticity coordinates. Experimental results are presented whereby the non-contact spectral system is shown to perform to a colour tolerance exceeding that of conventional colour video systems, and where performance of the dot feature system is comparable with traditional static examination methods using a microscope.
Comparison between an experimental study and a numerical model of the dynamic behaviour of machine-tool slideways
Authors: Persianoff R , Ray P , Vidal O
Published: April 2011

In this note work is presented that is used to obtain a numerical model of slideways. A numerical method is used for dynamic phenomenon processing with contact and friction problems. Then, an experimental study was carried out on a real slideway. This allows not only the law of friction to be obtained but also the behaviour of such a mechanism to be described in terms of various influences. These data are highly useful when validating models which include this kind of behaviour. Moreover, as this work is quoted in the context of high-speed machining, an opportunity is provided to increase the dynamic performance of these slideways by revealing their weak points. The machine-tool has a feature that takes into account the experimental law of friction which evolves according to the pressure of contact and the speed of sliding. For the real system considered, the results show good correlation between the numerical and experimental data.
Bayesian approach to measurement scheme analysis in multistation machining systems
Authors: Djurdjanovic D , Ni J
Published: April 2011

Different measurement schemes in multistation machining systems carry different amounts of information about the root causes of dimensional machining errors. The choice of a measurement strategy in a multistation machining system is therefore crucial for subsequent successful identification of the machining error root causes. Recent advances in the linear state-space modelling of dimensional errors in multistation machining processes facilitate a formal and systematic characterization of measurement schemes. In this paper, the stream-of-variation methodology is employed to characterize various measurement schemes quantitatively in multistation machining systems using the Bayesian approach in statistics. Application of these methods is demonstrated in the characterization of measurement schemes in the machining process used for machining of an automotive cylinder head.
Development of a structured approach to assessing practice in product development collaborations
Authors: Farrukh C , Fraser P , Gregory M
Published: April 2011

Collaborative new product development is recognized as an increasingly important industrial activity. This paper reviews the development of practical techniques for the assessment of product development collaboration practices. The paper then describes their application within four companies currently involved in product development company collaborations. The techniques are a collaboration maturity grid to assess overall collaborative competence and a life cycle scenario tool for the examination of a specific collaborative project. It is proposed that these tools, embodied in a workbook, provide a means whereby manufacturing companies can assess and improve the effectiveness of the collaborative activities critical to their business. The tools assist in identifying risk, required contingency plans and areas for improvement of skills or transfer of good practice.
An optimized strategy for automatic optical scanning of objects in reverse engineering
Authors: Martins F A R , García-Bermejo J G , Zalama E , Perán J R
Published: April 2011

The paper reports on a methodology for complete automation of the process of scanning the surface of an unknown object through the utilization of optical range sensors. An incremental model representing object surface and workspace occupancy is used to define an optimization strategy for selecting the best scanning viewpoints and generate adaptive collision-free scanning trajectories. The optimization strategy proposed attempts to select the viewpoints that maximize the knowledge of the object taking into account the status of the current model and the constraints associated with the range sensor and positioning system. One of the novel aspects of this work is the fact that viewpoint selection and scanning path definition are performed automatically on the basis of a simple volumetric model in situations where potential collisions may arise. The ability to control the quality of acquired data and the reduction in global scanning trajectories when compared with manual scanning operations are other important aspects. The proposed approach is sufficiently general to be used in different scanning system configurations.
Investigation into the phenomenological aspects of the grinding process
Authors: Dabrowski L , Marciniak L
Published: April 2011

The results of an investigation have been presented in this paper and the conclusions are that the cutting surface of the grinding wheel could be considered as a surface of one element of a tribological pair. Evolution of the tribological process was effectively conducted as based on ground material subjected to fragmentation by one tribological element. It indicates the importance of having a mechanism for approaching surface irregularities of the tribological couple elements which are displaced mutually during grinding. This creates an indirect link between this concept and elementary tribological criteria according to a relation between the average immersion depth h (μm) of the top of surface roughness and the counter-surface to the radius r (μm) of this top. It is consequently related to the maximum roughness height Rt (μm) or average roughness height Rz (μm) of the cutting wheel surface, the average grain size a (μm) and the average distance Lav (mm) between grains in the grinding wheel respectively. It has been concluded in the experimental research that the grinding forces Ft (N) and Fn (N) and the energy-intensity material removal rate KE (mm3J) are dependent on cutting wheel surface roughness parameters.
Linking tool paths generated with different offset distances for edge quality enhancement in planar milling
Authors: Chu C-H , Dornfeld D
Published: April 2011

Edge quality can be effectively enhanced in planar milling by preventing the tool from exiting the work part. This is achieved by planning of tool paths offset from the part edges with appropriate distances. Two consecutive edges may require different offset distances to avoid the tool exit occurring around the joined vertex. Linking such tool paths is problematic and has not been studied. This paper presents a systematic approach to solving this problem. All geometric configurations of consecutive offset edges are recognized, simplified and classified into four groups. Corresponding algorithms consisting of three basic geometric operations (connect, trim, and extend) are developed for each group. The extra paths added in the linking process are analysed and the results show that they do not induce unfavourable end conditions such as sharp turns, overextended paths or introduction of unexpected tool exits. This work overcomes the deficiency of previous studies and completes the tool path planning for enhancement of machining edge quality.
Micromilling strategies: Optimization issues
Authors: Dimov S , Pham D T , Ivanov A , Popov K , Fansen K
Published: April 2011

Micromilling is one of the technologies widely used to manufacture microstructures and tooling inserts for microinjection moulding and hot embossing. A number of manufacturing constraints remain that limit the application of this technology. One of these constraints is that the existing machining strategies are not appropriate for the manufacture of features that are common in micro parts. This paper discusses an approach for optimizing these strategies. The aim is to provide users of computer aided manufacturing (CAM) systems with tools enabling them to generate cutter paths that take into account the specific conditions arising during micromilling. The paper studies the advantages and disadvantages of using different machining strategies for micromilling and then verifies their capabilities experimentally. Also, an approach is proposed for storing and re-using expert knowledge about micromachining strategies associated with different feature types.
A genetic algorithm based solution to optimum tolerance synthesis of mechanical assemblies with alternate manufacturing processes—benchmarking with the exhaustive search method using the Lagrange multiplier
Authors: Singh P K , Jain S C , Jain P K
Published: April 2011

Product development process involves tolerance specification on the individual component dimensions. The impact of tolerance specification on manufacturing cost has drawn the attention of product designers towards the economical tolerance synthesis using various optimization techniques. Simultaneous selection of manufacturing processes (machines) from among the alternatives for producing a toleranced feature has also been considered. The solution surface for such a problem becomes a combinatorial and multimodal function involving several local minima. In this paper a genetic algorithm based solution to this advanced tolerancing problem has been reported. The proposed algorithm is quite simple and straightforward and automatically takes care of the process selection constraints. The application of the new approach has been demonstrated with the help of a few case studies involving both linear and non-linear assemblies. Results obtained using this approach are almost similar to those obtained in closed form using the exhaustive search method based on the Lagrange multiplier. The study establishes the fact that the genetic algorithm is a promising optimization tool, which can be applied to complex tolerance synthesis problems, such as those involving interrelated dimension chains, complex cost functions and complex stack-up conditions, where traditional optimization techniques are not applicable.
Electric barrier driving mechanism with a jaw clutch
Authors: Yang S X
Published: April 2011

Electric barriers are widely used, e.g. at road toll stations. Sometimes they accidentially hit an entering vehicle, damaging the vehicles and possibly injuring the drivers. These accidents can be avoided by providing the driving mechanism with a clutch. Then, if the barrier arm is going to hit a vehicle, further downward movement stops and the arm automatically returns to the vertical position, thus keeping the barrier in position and ensuring the safety of the users.
Turning assisted with deep cold rolling—a cost efficient hybrid process for workpiece surface quality enhancement
Authors: Axinte D A , Gindy N
Published: April 2011

The paper reports on a hybrid manufacturing process that performs turning and deep cold rolling simultaneously on the same machine tool. An indexable insert turning tool on which the shank was manufactured to embed a commercially available deep cold rolling system was employed to perform simultaneously the two processes. As the design of the hybrid tool sets the cutting insert ahead of the rolling ball, turning followed by deep cold rolling are performed on the path. Workpiece surface roughness/integrity analysis showed that significant surface quality enhancement could be obtained using the new hybrid manufacturing process. The paramount advantage of ‘fusing’ turning and deep cold rolling resides in the considerable savings of manufacturing costs and times along with an increased process integration.
Shape modification using genetic algorithms
Authors: Case K , Graham I , Wood R
Published: April 2011

This paper describes research into the use of a genetic algorithm within a computer aided design tool. The genetic algorithm allows the evolution of shape aspects of designs against a subjective rating carried out by the designer. Shapes considered by the designer to contain pleasing characteristics are used to generate subsequent generations of different, but related, shapes. A genetic data structure made up of chromosomes is briefly described along with the methods used to evolve new generations of objects using reproduction methods involving crossover of chromosomes and the chance of mutation. Examples are given where the technique is used to generate ‘animal sculptures’, product concepts and a variety of concepts for seating.