bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manufacturing strategy: Its assessment and practice
Authors: Swamidass Paul M.
Published: October 2002

In recent years, the subject of manufacturing strategy has attracted much attention, yet it is still a relatively unresearched area. Among practitioners, unlike the term “marketing strategy,” the term “manufacturing strategy” does not have instant recognition as to its meaning, purpose, and utility.

For continued progress in the research and practice of manufacturing strategy, there is a real need for practical methods of assessing the manufacturing strategy of businesses. For example, for practitioners, the assessment of manufacturing strategy is essential to the development, fine tuning, revision, and evaluation of manufacturing strategy.

This study presents a method of assessing the manufacturing strategy of businesses. In the process of assessing the manufacturing strategy in thirty‐five manufacturing firms, this study found several problems with the practice of manufacturing strategy and recommends some solutions.

It has been reported by researchers that the task of assessing manufacturing strategy is often hampered by a lack of understanding of the term manufacturing strategy and the absence of explicitly denned manufacturing strategies within most manufacturing firms. Consequently, this study assessed the implied manufacturing strategy in the participating firms using the responses of both chief executives or equivalents and manufacturing managers. To overcome nonuniform understanding of the term among executives, multiple respondents and multiple methods using several direct and indirect questions were employed to get as good a fix on the manufacturing strategies of the firms as possible.

It was found that while chief executives stressed quality, technology, etc., which would contribute to a business level strategy based on product differentiation, manufacturing managers stressed cost, and the keeping of delivery promises. This mismatch of emphasis between the two executives could be a sign of problems in the effective use of the manufacturing function.

A major conclusion of this study is that executives in manufacturing firms are not sufficiently “literate” in matters concerning manufacturing strategy. However, this deficiency could be easily corrected by appropriate training in assessing, formulating, and implementing manufacturing strategy.

The method used in this study for assessing manufacturing strategy could be used by chief executives and manufacturing managers to identify their implied manufacturing strategy, and to detect agreements as well as disagreements between the two. Further, the method used here could be replicated by executives in developing or reviewing the formal manufacturing strategies of their businesses.
Operations related groups (ORGs): A clustering procedure for production/inventory systems
Authors: Ernst Ricardo , Cohen Morris A.
Published: October 2002

Many production/inventory systems contain thousands of stock keeping units (SKUs). In general, it is not computationally (or conceptually) feasible to consider every one of these items individually in the development of control polices and strategies. Our objective here is to develop a methodology for defining groups to support strategic planning for the operations function. Accordingly, such groups should take into consideration all product characteristics which have a significant impact on the particular operations management problem of interest. These characteristics can include many of the attributes which are used in other functional groupings and will most certainly go beyond the cost and volume attributes used in ABC analysis.

The ORG methodology is based on statistical clustering and can utilize a full range of operationally significant item attributes. It considers both statistical measures of discrimination and the operational consequences associated with implementing policies derived on the basis of group membership. The main departure of this analysis from earlier work is: 1) the approach can handle any combination of item attribute information that is important for strategy purposes, 2) management's interest in defining groups on the basis of operational factors can be accommodated, 3) statistical discrimination is considered directly, 4) group definition reflects the performance of management policies which are based (in part) on group membership, and 5) the method can be applied successfully to systems with a large number of SKUs.

The specific application which motivated development of the ORG methodology was an analysis of distribution strategy for the service parts division of a major automobile manufacturer. The manufacturer was interested in developing optimal inventory stocking policies, which took into account the complexities of its multiechelon distribution network, supplier relationships and customer service targets for each market segment. This manufacturer stocked over 300,000 part numbers in an extensive network with approximately 50 distribution centers and thousands of dealer locations (i.e., 1.5 million SKU/ location combinations). The results of this application indicated that the advantage of using operationally relevant data for grouping and for defining generic, group‐based policies for controlling inventory can be substantial. The ORG methodology can be of value to operations managers in industries with a large number of diverse items.
Scheduling random flexible manufacturing systems with dynamic environments
Authors: Hutchison Jim , Khumawala Basheer
Published: October 2002

American designers are designing more flexibility into flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs). However, there has been little research on the scheduling of these more flexible systems. This study adds insights into how these systems should be scheduled and increases our understanding of the influences of routing flexibility.

A few American FMSs use off‐line schemes for scheduling but most use real‐time schemes. This research compares seven real‐time and two off‐line scheduling schemes for a random flexible manufacturing system. The results indicate that full advantage can be taken of these more flexible systems if off‐line schemes are used. The scheme that takes the greatest advantage of increased flexibility is an off‐line scheme that decomposes the scheduling problem. As flexibility increases this scheme is able to schedule more output and reduce the average flow time of parts, and it accomplishes this with little additional computational effort.
A behavioral case study of Just‐in‐Time implementation
Authors: Safayeni Frank , Purdy Lyn
Published: October 2002

A behavioral study of the just‐in‐time (JIT) situation in the circuit pack area of an electronics firm was carried out. The primary focus of the study was to examine how workers perceived JIT in their work area. A total of twelve people were interviewed—eight operators and four supervisors. The results of the study indicated that there had been many positive accomplishments, including the overall positive perception of the participants about JIT. There were, also, problems with the JIT situation, often related to the environment of the circuit pack area. Specifically, participants perceived the performance evaluation system as the most significant problem with JIT; it systematically caused a state of “push” instead of “pull.” Uncooperativeness of operators was noted by the operators themselves as a problem within the circuit pack area. It is concluded that JIT manufacturing increases the need to effectively handle problems in the organization's environment as well as within the sub‐area itself due to the lower levels of inventory. This reduction of inventory increases the interdependence of activities in the organization, thereby necessitating an efficient and effective problem‐handling capability. A discussion of why large functional organizations are less appropriate than smaller product organizations as a JIT environment is presented (e.g., effective problem handling requires increased coordination in the organizational structure, which is usually absent in large functionally designed organizations). To overcome this limitation, an organizational team approach is proposed as a temporary means of dealing with the increased interdependencies.
Orderbook models for priority management: A taxonomy of data structures
Authors: Westbrook Roy
Published: October 2002

In the 1980's a research team from London Business School designed and installed information systems in a number of UK batch manufacturing companies. The companies had little formal manufacturing planning and control (MPC), and the volatile market and complex production situation of each led to a highly rapid response orientation we characterize as priority management. This style was appropriate for the situation of these companies and the systems designed for them were intended to support their approach, not to replace it with a more formal prescriptive system. After initial projects with no preconceived framework, the focus emerged on the appropriate data structure for order progressing — or order‐book model — as the central need of such companies. Orderbook models were then designed for all subsequent companies (17 in total), many of whom still use these models.

The article describes the preconditions for priority management by summarizing the sources of complexity — variety, variation, and volume — found in the collaborating companies. These conditions preclude tight formal planning and control, and require data structures which give vision over the relative merits of different priority choices. The orderbook models, designed to give such vision, are not purely company specific but can be classified into types. The classification scheme has three main dimensions: capacity commitment (make‐to‐stock, etc), product structure/assembly form, and the style of progressing orders through all their different stages. The options within each dimension give a total of 48 possible configurations of orderbook model.

These concepts were developed using action research: practical application came first, and theory was developed by generalizing from the experience. This is a non‐traditional research methodology in operations management (OM), but will in the future be increasingly important if OM research is to meet the needs of practitioners for relevance as well as the needs of the research community for rigor.
A comment on Gerchak and Gupta's “On apportioning costs to customers in centralized continuous review inventory systems”
Authors: Robinson Lawrence W.
Published: October 2002

In their recent article, Gerchak and Gupta discuss four different schemes for allocating joint inventory control costs. They demonstrate the benefits of consolidating inventories and note that allocating costs in proportion to the customers' stand‐alone costs ensured that each customer was always better off as part of the group. Their basis of allocation does not always distribute the benefits of consolidation; some customers may be worse off when new customers join up. This note applies the theory of the core from game theory to find a region of “fair” cost allocations in which no one is worse off after consolidation. The Shapley Value is computed as the center of this region.
Identification of o‐quinone/quinone methide metabolites of quercetin in a cellular in vitro system
Authors: Awad Hanem M. , Boersma Marelle G. , Boeren Sjef , van der Woude Hester , van Zanden Jelmer , van Bladeren Peter J. , Vervoort Jacques , Rietjens Ivonne M.C.M.
Published: October 2002

Formation of quercetin quinone/quinone methide metabolites, reflected by formation of the glutathionyl quercetin adducts as authentic metabolites, was investigated in an in vitro cell model (B16F‐10 melanoma cells). Results of the present study clearly indicate the formation of glutathionyl quercetin adducts in a tyrosinase‐containing melanoma cell line, expected to be representative also for peroxidase‐containing mammalian cells and tissues. The data obtained also support that the adducts are formed intracellular and subsequently excreted into the incubation medium and reveal for the first time evidence for the pro‐oxidative metabolism of quercetin in a cellular in vitro model.
Variant forms of upstream stimulatory factors (USFs) control the promoter activity of hTERT, the human gene encoding the catalytic subunit of telomerase
Authors: Yago Masako , Ohki Rieko , Hatakeyama Shinji , Fujita Toshiro , Ishikawa Fuyuki
Published: October 2002

It is known that Myc regulates the expression of TERT, the telomerase catalytic subunit gene, by binding to E box. Here we show that another E box‐binding protein, upstream stimulatory factor (USF), also regulates TERT expression. Specifically, the N‐terminally truncated form of USF2 is present in telomerase‐negative/resting human lymphocytes, but not in telomerase‐positive/phytohemagglutinin‐activated lymphocytes. In electrophoretic mobility shift assay, both full‐length and truncated USF2s bound to the TERT E box. In a transient expression assay, the truncated USF had a dominant‐negative effect on both exogenous full‐length USF and endogenous positive regulators for activating TERT expression. These results suggest that the differential abundance of truncated USF2 may regulate telomerase activity during lymphocyte activation.
The crystal structure of anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase from the enterobacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum
Authors: Kim Choel , Xuong Nguyen-Huu , Edwards Steven , Madhusudan  , Yee Muh-Ching , Spraggon Glen , E. Mills Stanley
Published: October 2002

The structure of anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase from the enterobacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum has been solved at 2.4 Å in complex with Mn2+‐pyrophosphate, and at 1.9 Å without ligands. The enzyme structure has a novel phosphoribosyltransferase (PRT) fold and displays close homology to the structures of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylases. The enzyme is a homodimer with a monomer of 345 residues. Each monomer consists of two subdomains, α and α/β, which form a cleft containing the active site. The nature of the active site is inferred from the trapped MnPPi complex and detailed knowledge of the active sites of nucleoside phosphorylases. With the anthranilate (An)PRT structure solved, the structures of all the enzymes required for tryptophan biosynthesis are now known.
Identification of prolylcarboxypeptidase as the cell matrix‐associated prekallikrein activator
Authors: Moreira Claudia R , Schmaier Alvin H , Mahdi Fakhri , da Motta Guacyara , Nader Helena B , Shariat-Madar Zia
Published: October 2002

Investigations determined that the cell matrix‐associated prekallikrein (PK) activator is prolylcarboxypeptidase. PK activation on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) matrix is inhibited by antipain (IC50=50 μM) but not anti‐factor XIIa antibody, 3 mM benzamidine, 5 mM iodoacetic acid or iodoacetamide, or 3 mM N‐ethylmaleimide. Corn trypsin inhibitor (IC50=100 nM) or Fmoc‐aminoacylpyrrolidine‐2‐nitrile (IC50=100 μM) blocks matrix‐associated PK activation. Angiotensin II (IC50=100 μM) or bradykinin (IC50=3 mM), but not angiotensin 1–7 or bradykinin 1–5, inhibits matrix‐associated PK activation. ECV304 cell matrix PK activator also is blocked by 100 μM angiotensin II, 1 μM corn trypsin inhibitor, and 50 μM antipain, but not angiotensin 1–7. 1 mM angiotensin II or 300 μM Fmoc‐aminoacylpyrrolidine‐2‐nitrile indirectly blocks plasminogen activation by inhibiting kallikrein formation for single chain urokinase activation. On immunoblot, prolylcarboxypeptidase antigen is associated with HUVEC matrix. These studies indicate that prolylcarboxypeptidase is the matrix PK activator.
Receptor‐mediated modulation of recombinant neuronal class E calcium channels
Authors: Mehrke G , Pereverzev A , Grabsch H , Hescheler J , Schneider T
Published: October 2002

The modulation of a cloned neuronal calcium channel was studied in a human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293). The HEK293 cells were stably transfected with the α
1Ed cDNA, containing the pore forming subunit of a neuronal class E calcium channel. Inward currents of 25±1.9 pA/pF (n=79) were measured with the cloned α
1Ed‐subunit. The application of the peptide hormone somatostatin, carbachol, ATP or adenosine reduced the amplitude of Ca2+ and Ba2+ inward currents and exhibited a slowing of inactivation. This inhibitory effect by somatostatin was significantly impaired after pre‐incubating the transfected cell line with pertussis toxin (PTX). Internal perfusion of the cells with the G‐protein‐inactivating agent GDP‐β‐S or with the permanently activating agent GTP‐γ‐S also attenuated the somatostatin effect. The inhibition indicates that modulation of the α
1Ed‐mediated Ca2+ current involves pertussis toxin‐sensitive G‐proteins. The block of Ca2+ and Ba2+ inward currents by somatostatin is also found in cells expressing a truncated α
1Ed‐subunit which lacks a 129‐bp fragment in the C‐terminus. This fragment corresponds to the major structural difference between two native human α
1E splice variants. As somatostatin inhibits inward currents through both, the cloned α
1Ed‐ and the truncated α
1Ed‐DEL‐subunit, the hormone‐mediated modulation is independent from the presence of the 129‐bp insertion in the C‐terminus.
Detection of ERK activation by a novel monoclonal antibody
Authors: Yung Yuval , Dolginov Yakov , Zhong Yao , Rubinfeld Hadara , Michael Dan , Hanoch Tamar , Roubini Eli , Lando Zeev , Zharhary Dorit , Seger Rony
Published: October 2002

The mitogen‐activated protein kinase, ERK is activated by a dual phosphorylation on threonine and tyrosine residues. Using a synthetic diphospho peptide, we have generated a monoclonal antibody directed to the active ERK. The antibody specifically identified the active doubly phosphorylated, but not the inactive mono‐ or non‐ phosphorylated forms of ERKs. A direct correlation was observed between ERK activity and the intensity in Western blot of mitogen‐activated protein kinases from several species. The antibody was proven suitable for immunofluorescence staining, revealing a transient reactivity with ERKs that were translocated to the nucleus upon stimulation. In conclusion, the antibody can serve as a useful tool in the study of ERK signaling in a wide variety of organisms.
Roles of γ‐carboxylation and a sex hormone‐binding globulin‐like domain in receptor‐binding and in biological activities of Gas6
Authors: Tanabe Kazuyo , Nagata Kyoko , Ohashi Kazumasa , Nakano Toru , Arita Hitoshi , Mizuno Kensaku
Published: October 2002

Gas6 is a ligand for an Axl/Sky receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily and has a structure composed of a Gla domain, four EGF‐like domains and a C‐terminal sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG)‐like domain. When examining the role of each domain in receptor‐binding and biological activities of Gas6, we found that receptor‐binding and mitogenic activities were markedly reduced by inhibiting γ‐carboxylation of the Gla domain, while a Gas6 mutant composed of only an SHBG‐like domain retained both of these activities. Thus, the SHBG‐like domain is apparently an entity indispensable for Gas6 activities, and γ‐carboxylation of the Gla domain has a regulatory role in retaining the activity of native Gas6.
A stability transition at mildly acidic pH in the alpha‐hemolysin (alpha‐toxin) from Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Bortoleto Raquel Kely , Ward Richard J
Published: October 2002

The effects of mildly acidic conditions on the free energy of unfolding (ΔG
u
buff) of the pore‐forming alpha‐hemolysin (αHL) from Staphylococcus aureus were assessed between pH 5.0 and 7.5 by measuring intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, circular dichroism and elution time in size exclusion chromatography during urea denaturation. Decreasing the pH from 7.0 to 5.0 reduced the calculated ΔG
u
buff from 8.9 to 4.2 kcal mol−1, which correlates with an increased rate of pore formation previously observed over the same pH range. It is proposed that the lowered surface pH of biological membranes reduces the stability of αHL thereby modulating the rate of pore formation.
Feedback inhibition of epithelial Na+ channels in Xenopus oocytes does not require G0 or Gi2 proteins
Authors: Hübner M. , Schreiber R. , Boucherot A. , Sanchez-Perez A. , Poronnik P. , Cook D.I. , Kunzelmann K.
Published: October 2002

Regulation of amiloride‐sensitive epithelial Na+ channels (ENaC) is a prerequisite for coordination of electrolyte transport in epithelia. Downregulation of Na+ conductance occurs when the intracellular Na+ concentration is increased during reabsorption of electrolytes, known as feedback inhibition. Recent studies have demonstrated the involvement of αG0 and αGi2 proteins in the feedback control of ENaC in mouse salivary duct cells. In this report, we demonstrate that Na+ feedback inhibition is also present in Xenopus oocytes after expression of rat α,β,γ‐ENaC. Interfering with intracellular αG0 or αGi2 signaling by coexpression of either constitutively active αG0/αGi2 or dominant negative αG0/αGi2 and by coinjecting sense or antisense oligonucleotides for αG0 had no impact on Na+ feedback. Moreover, no evidence for involvement of the intracellular G protein cascade was found in experiments in which a regulator of G protein signaling (RGS3) or β‐adrenergic receptor kinase (βARK) was coexpressed together with α,β,γ‐ENaC. Although some experiments suggest the presence of an intracellular Na+ receptor, we may conclude that Na+ feedback in Xenopus oocytes is different from that described for salivary duct cells in that it does not require G protein signaling.
Cellular organization of pre‐mRNA splicing factors in several tissues. Changes in the uterus by hormone action
Authors: George‐Téllez R. , Segura‐Valdez M.L. , González‐Santos L. , Jiménez‐García L.F.
Published: October 2002

In the mammalian cell nucleus, splicing factors are distributed in nuclear domains known as speckles or splicing factor compartments (SFCs). In cultured cells, these domains are dynamic and reflect transcriptional and splicing activities. We used immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy to monitor whether splicing factors in differentiated cells display similar features. Speckled patterns are observed in rat hepatocytes, β‐cells, bronchial and intestine epithelia and also in three cell types of the uterus. Moreover, the number, distribution and sizes of the speckles vary among them. In addition, we studied variations in the circular form (shape) of speckles in uterine cells that are transcriptionally modified by a hormone action. During proestrus of the estral cycle, speckles are irregular in shape while in diestrus I they are circular. Experimentally, in castrated rats luminal epithelial cells show a pattern where speckles are dramatically rounded, but they recover their irregular shape rapidly after an injection of estradiol. The same results were observed in muscle and gland epithelial cells of the uterus. We concluded that different speckled patterns are present in various cells types in differentiated tissues and that these patterns change in the uterus depending upon the presence or absence of hormones such as estradiol.
Demand chain management: an integrative approach in automotive retailing
Authors: Hines Peter , Silvi Riccardo , Bartolini Monica
Published: October 2002

Recent reviews of the ‘operations management’ (OM) research literature have shown a surprising little shift towards empirical methodologies from traditional modelling solution methods. In addition, there is generally a lack of empirical testing and validation of manufacturing strategies. Coupled to this fact is that empirical work is rarely carried out in an inter‐disciplinary manner, with the complete combination of OM, marketing, strategy, lean thinking and accounting approaches particularly poorly researched. Fully cross‐functional integrative empirical research is required to help support the understanding of the applicability of OM practices within industry. This paper explores such an integration of approaches developed within the ‘lean thinking, strategic cost management, marketing and policy deployment areas’. In order to investigate the approach a single automotive retailer is used as an instrumental case. The results of the study show that the new approach stands up well as an integrative approach that can prove highly beneficial results. However, the pilot work also identified a number of limitations that are the basis of further refinement and testing of the method.
Coordinating two suppliers with offsetting lead time and price performance
Authors: Lau Hon‐Shiang , Lau Amy Hing‐Ling
Published: October 2002

For a variety of reasons, many firms purchase a given inventory item from two or more suppliers. For a situation where two competing suppliers (supplier‐1 and supplier‐2) offer different prices, quality levels and lead‐time performance, we present a decision model and solution procedure for obtaining a lowest‐cost ordering policy; this policy prescribes R∗ (the optimal reorder point), Q∗ (the optimal lot size for each order), and r2∗ (the optimal proportion should be ordered from supplier‐2).

A continuous‐review inventory system with complete backordering is assumed. Our decision model has two parts. The first part uses a minor modification of the classical Hadley‐Whitin single‐supplier continuous review (Q, R) model to determine the optimal ordering policy (i.e., Q∗ and R∗) when only supplier‐1 (or only supplier‐2) is used. In the second part, a new two‐supplier extension of the Hadley‐Whitin‐type cost model developed here is used to determine the optimal policy (i.e., Q∗, R∗ and r2∗) when both suppliers have to be used. From the three optimal policies (one each for “using supplier‐1 only”, “using supplier‐2 only”, and “using both suppliers”), the lowest‐cost policy is identified. Our numerical solutions show that whether one or both of the suppliers should be used and the optimal order‐split proportion depends on the particular combination of the inventory item's many cost and demand parameters (e.g., shortage cost per unit, holding cost per unit per year, standard deviation of lead time, etc.). Our procedure can easily identify the optimal policy for any given combination of those parameters.

Our numerical sensitivity analyses indicate that the coordination of two suppliers is beneficial in a wide variety of situations where the various inventory parameters have intermediate (i.e., neither very high nor very low) values.
Patients’ and relatives’ satisfaction with psychiatric services in a large catchment area in Rome
Authors: Gigantesco Antonella , Picardi Angelo , Chiaia Elvira , Balbi Andrea , Morosini Pierluigi
Published: October 2002

Objective

To assess the satisfaction of patients and their relatives with psychiatric care and to identify variables associated with any dissatisfaction.

Methods

The study was performed in a defined psychiatric catchment area in south Rome, Italy. All eligible patients and relatives who had contacts with services during a predefined period were asked to participate. Satisfaction with psychiatric services was measured with a previously validated questionnaire.

Results

A total of 890 patients were asked to participate in the study and 855 (96%) accepted. Also, 270 relatives were asked to participate and 265 (98%) agreed. The satisfaction with services expressed by outpatients and their relatives was fairly good, with the exception of poor satisfaction with information about treatment and involvement in the treatment programme. The satisfaction of inpatients and their relatives was significantly lower, with the issue of information-giving by staff appearing particularly critical. Among patients, variables associated with dissatisfaction were being an inpatient, having a diagnosis of psychosis, being in contact with services for more than 6 years, and being single. Among relatives, being female and being the relative of an inpatient were associated with dissatisfaction. For both patients and relatives, receiving inpatient care was the strongest predictor of dissatisfaction.

Conclusions

The results suggest that inpatient care, especially for psychotic patients, needs to be improved and that special attention should be devoted to inform adequately and to engage in treatment both patients and their relatives. Lack of information appears to be a crucial determinant of dissatisfaction with psychiatric care among both patients and their relatives.
Tardive dyskinesias and antipsychotics: a review
Authors: Llorca Pierre-Michel , Chereau Isabelle , Bayle Frank-Jean , Lancon Christophe
Published: October 2002

Currently, tardive dyskinesia (TD) remains an important clinical problem. The average prevalence is estimated at 30%. The appearance of antipsychotics has opened new paths. The extrapyramidal profile of these molecules is more favorable than that of conventional neuroleptics. In order to assess their prophylactic as well as curative potential, we reviewed the literature concerning four of these atypical antipsychotics: clozapine, risperidone olanzapine and amisulpride. Clozapine seems to induce fewer cases of TD than the conventional neuroleptics, and has a specific therapeutic effect. However, the risk of agranulocytosis reduces the possibility of utilisation. Risperidone appears to be an effective therapy, but several authors report cases of TD during treatment. Furthermore, larger studies and longer follow-ups are necessary to confirm the efficiency of olanzapine and amisulpride. Further studies and observations are still necessary before drawing any conclusion for these new atypical antipsychotic actions. They are doubtlessly promising, but we cannot ignore the notion of risk–benefit; regular monitoring and listening to the subjective experience of the patients must remain uppermost in the choice of therapy.
Recent findings of the giant squid Architeuthis in northern Spanish waters
Authors: González A.F. , Guerra A. , Rocha F. , Gracia J.
Published: October 2002

There are just a few records of giant squid of the species Architeuthis captured alive. Two living sub-adult females of Architeuthis of 180 and 135 cm mantle length with total weights of 148 and 81 kg respectively, were caught 34 miles offshore in northern Spanish Atlantic waters (43°52.54′N–05°18.4′W) in December 1999 and January 2001. From April 1999 to January 2000 in the same area, another giant squid of 102 kg as well as a single tentacle measuring 5 m, and another tentacle of 2 m long were caught. Another five living specimens were captured and 11 more animals were caught dead during the last 15 years in the same area.
Globalisation and older people: effects of markets and migration
Authors: WILSON GAIL
Published: October 2002

This paper discusses the material aspects of globalisation and the effects of the movements of trade, capital and people around the world on older men and women. While some older people have benefited, most notably where pensions and health care are well developed, the majority of older men and women are among the poor who have not. Free trade, economic restructuring, the globalisation of finance, and the surge in migration, have in most parts of the world tended to produce harmful consequences for older people. These developments have been overseen, and sometimes dictated, by inter-governmental organisations (IGOs) such as the International Monetary Foundation (IMF), the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), while other IGOs with less power have been limited to anti-ageist exhortation. Globalisation transfers resources from the poor to the rich within and between countries. It therefore increases social problems while simultaneously diminishing the freedom and capacity of countries to make social policy. Nonetheless, the effects of globalisation, and particularly its financial dimensions, on a nation's capacity for making social policy can be exaggerated. Political will can combat international economic orthodoxy, but the evident cases are the exception rather than the rule.
Older people in Russia's transitional society: multiple deprivation and coping responses
Authors: TCHERNINA NATALIA V. , TCHERNIN EFIM A.
Published: October 2002

Since 1989 there has been a widespread collapse of public services and income support for older people in the Russian Federation. Pensions have declined in real value and frequently are paid late, the system of collective health care has become less reliable, and the social institutions and services that formerly helped disadvantaged older people overcome isolation and loneliness have almost entirely ceased to function. Most people's personal assets and savings are insufficient for a decent life, and many cannot now afford the medical services and medications that they need. Given the absence of formal or institutional support, older people in Russia have had to develop pragmatic coping mechanisms, most commonly based on informal social networks and diverse income-generating activities, including barter and exchange in the informal ‘grey’ and ‘black’ economies. The household budgets of many pensioners increasingly rely upon their ability to raise income through their labour and the exchange of goods, and the time that they devote to these productive activities is increasing sharply. In comparison with other age groups, older people in Russia own many private apartments, garages, and garden or allotment plots, and they are important factors in the generation of income. These assets are used first and foremost to avert poverty and degradation, and more generally to support the immediate and extended family. The current economic system and the inadequacies of the existing system of social protection perpetuate the distinctive coping strategies.
Broken bodies and singing tongues: gender and voice in the Cambridge, Corpus Christi
College 23 Psychomachia
Authors: Karkov Catherine E.
Published: October 2002

The relationship between the book and the body in the Middle Ages is complex
and has been the focus of much recent attention. At a most basic level the dead,
dismembered, yet living body of the book was united with the bodies of author,
scribe, artist and reader in the act of reading. Medieval readers from the age of
Augustine on left their marks in books in the form of glosses, personal comments,
sketches, signatures, and the traces of kisses, caresses, or of simple
repeated readings that have worn away parts of numerous illustrations. Michael
Camille, in particular, has explored the sensual nature of the relationship
between book and reader in the act of reading. Perhaps nowhere is this union
of bodies so vividly enacted as in the works of the fourth-century Spanish poet
Prudentius, whose poems remained extremely popular for centuries. They were
copied, translated, rearranged and illustrated to suit the needs of a variety of
patrons and readers across medieval Europe.
Lexical learning skills in young children with specific language impairment (SLI)
Authors: Windfuhr Kirsten L. , Faragher Brian , Conti‐Ramsden Gina
Published: October 2002

Twenty‐eight children with specific language impairment (SLI) aged 4;4‐5;10, and 28 children with normal language (NL) aged 2;4‐3;7 were exposed to four novel verbs, and four novel nouns in eight naturalistic play sessions, over 4 weeks. Spontaneous utterances of the novel lexical items in each of the training sessions were recorded and formed the basis of the analyses. The results of the spontaneous production data (across all sessions) revealed that children with NL produced more novel verbs than children with SLI, with a trend for children with SLI to produce more novel nouns. Importantly, children with SLI learned novel verbs at a slower rate than children with NL. Results are discussed in relation to current theories of SLI with particular reference to the SLI critical mass hypothesis.
GRAVITATIONAL INSTANTONS: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Authors: MUKHERJEE S. , PAUL B. C.
Published: October 2002

Recent developments in the semiclassical quantum cosmology have been reviewed. Two processes have been considered in detail: (i) creation of an inflationary universe with a pair of Primordial Black Holes and (ii) the quantum creation of an open inflationary universe. While the first makes use of standard non-singular instanton, the second process has been described by a singular Hawking-Turok (HT) instanton. To examine the efficacy of the techniques and also to check the robustness of the results, the processes have been studied in higher derivative theories, including αR2 and βR3 terms to the Hilbert action. It has been shown that with α > 0, the quadratic term suppresses the production of primordial black holes. For the open universe problem in the higher derivative theory, the parameters needed for the occurrence of the HT instanton are found to be highly constrained. Moreover, the legitimacy of HT instantons remains to be established, although considerable activities in this field have been reported.
High-Ti magnetite in some fine-grained carbonatites and the magmatic implications
Authors: Bailey D. K. , Kearns S.
Published: October 2002

Magnetite is present in most carbonatites, and in the most abundant and best-known form of carbonatite, coarse-grained intrusions, it typically falls in a narrow composition range close to Fe3O4. A fine-grained carbonatite from Zambia contains magnetites with an extraordinary array of compositions (from 18–1% TiO2, 10–2% Al2O3, and 16–4% MgO) outranging previously-reported examples. Zoning trends are from high TiO2 to high Al2O3 and MgO. No signs of exsolution are seen. Checks on similar rocks from Germany, Uganda and Tanzania reveal magnetites with comparable compositions, ranges, and zoning. Magnetites from alkaline and alkaline ultramafic silicate volcanic rocks cover only parts of this array. Magnetite analyses from some other fine-grained carbonatites, reported in the literature, fall in the same composition field, suggesting that this form of carbonatite may be distinctive. The chemistry and zoning would be consonant with rapid high-temperature crystallization in the carbonatite melts, with the lack of exsolution pointing to fast quenching: this contrasts with coarse-grained intrusive carbonatites, in which the magnetite compositions are attributed to slow cooling, with final equilibration at low temperature. In some complexes, both forms of carbonatite, with their different magnetite compositions, are represented.
Distinct functions for signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 and PU.1 in transcriptional activation of Fc γ receptor I promoter
Authors: Aittomäki Saara , Yang Jie , Scott Edward W. , Simon M. Celeste , Silvennoinen Olli
Published: October 2002

The myeloid cell–specific expression and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) induction of Fc γ receptor I (FcγRI) requires cooperation between PU.1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (Stat1) by means of mechanisms that are unknown. We found that PU.1 and Stat1 mediated distinct functions in the activation of FcγRI promoter. The basal activity of the natural FcγRI promoter was strictly dependent on PU.1, and IFN-γ induction required both PU.1 and Stat1. Recruitment of TATA-binding protein (TBP) to the FcγRI promoter did not replace PU.1 in promoter activation, suggesting that TBP is not sufficient for FcγRI activation and that PU.1 mediates additional contacts with basal transcription machinery. In contrast, Stat1 did not interact with basal transcription machinery, but the Stat1-mediated activation of FcγRI promoter critically required CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300. These results define functional cooperativity between PU.1 and Stat1 in FcγRI promoter activation, in which PU.1 appears to serve as a bridging factor with the basal transcription machinery and IFN-γ–mediated induction of transcription occurs through recruitment of CBP/p300 by Stat1.
Analysis of Vλ-Jλ expression in plasma cells from primary (AL) amyloidosis and normal bone marrow identifies 3r(λIII) as a new amyloid-associated germline gene segment
Authors: Perfetti Vittorio , Casarini Simona , Palladini Giovanni , Vignarelli Maurizio Colli , Klersy Catherine , Diegoli Marta , Ascari Edoardo , Merlini Giampaolo
Published: October 2002

Primary (AL) amyloidosis is a plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by extracellular deposition of monoclonal light-chain variable region (V) fragments in the form of amyloid fibrils. Light-chain amyloid is rare, and it is not fully understood why it occurs in only a fraction of patients with a circulating monoclonal component and why it typically associates with λ isotype and λVI family light-chain proteins. To provide insights into these issues, we obtained complete nucleotide sequences of monoclonal Vλ regions from 55 consecutive unselected cases of primary amyloidosis and the results were compared with the light-chain expression profile of polyclonal marrow plasma cells from 3 healthy donors (a total of 264 sequences). We demonstrated that: (1) the λIII family is the most frequently used both in amyloidosis (47%) and in polyclonality (43%); (2) both conditions are characterized by gene restriction; (3) a very skewed repertoire is a feature of amyloidosis, because just 2 germline genes belonging to the λIII and λVI families, namely 3r (22% of cases, λIII) and 6a (20%, λVI), contributed equally to encode 42% of amyloid Vλ regions; (4) these same 2 gene segments have a strong association with amyloidosis if their prevalences are compared with those in polyclonal conditions (3r, 8.3%,P = .024; 6a, 2.3%, P = .0008, χ2 test); (5) the Jλ2/3 segment, encoding the fourth framework region, appears to be slightly overrepresented in AL (83% versus 67%, P = .03), and this might be related to preferential Jλ2/3 rearrangement in amyloid (11 of 12 cases) versus polyclonal 3r light chains (13 of 22 cases). These findings demonstrate that Vλ-Jλ expression is more restricted in plasma cells from amyloidosis than from polyclonal bone marrow and identify 3r as a new disease-associated gene segment. Overusage of just 2 gene segments,3r and 6a, can thus account for the λ light-chain overrepresentation typical of this disorder.
Evidence for the involvement of a hematopoietic progenitor cell in systemic mastocytosis from single-cell analysis of mutations in the c-kit gene
Authors: Yavuz A. Selim , Lipsky Peter E. , Yavuz Sule , Metcalfe Dean D. , Akin Cem
Published: October 2002

Mast cells are derived from multipotential hematopoietic progenitors and are clonally increased in systemic mastocytosis, a disease associated with point mutations of codon 816 (most commonly Asp816Val) of c-kit. To study the lineage relationship and the extent of expansion of cells derived from the mutated clone, we examined the occurrence of the Asp816Val c-kit mutation in genomic DNA of individual sorted peripheral blood T cells, B cells, and monocytes in patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis. The mutation was detected in varying frequencies in the genomic DNA of individual B cells and monocytes and bone marrow mast cells in patients with extensive disease. In B cells, the immunoglobulin repertoire was polyclonal, indicating that the mutation occurred before VH/(D)/JH recombination. These results show that mastocytosis is a disorder of a pluripotential hematopoietic progenitor cell that gives rise to B cells and monocytes in addition to mast cells and that the affected clone shows variable expansion in these lineages in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic mastocytosis.
c-myc proto-oncogene expression in hemophilic synovitis: in vitro studies of the effects of iron and ceramide
Authors: Wen Fei-Qiu , Jabbar Adnan A. , Chen Yi-Xin , Kazarian Tamara , Patel Dharmesh A. , Valentino Leonard A.
Published: October 2002

Hemophilia is a rare congenital bleeding disorder that is due to the deficiency of blood coagulation factor VIII or IX. Recurrent musculoskeletal bleeding is common and bleeding into joints results in a chronic inflammatory condition termed hemophilic synovitis. This destructive process is characterized by hemosiderin deposition in the superficial and deeper layers of the synovial membrane as well as a proliferation of synovial fibroblasts and vascular cells. The hyperplastic synovium and neovascular changes are reminiscent of the histopathologic appearance observed in malignant tissues. Indeed, the benign hyperplastic synovium in patients with hemophilia displays similar invasive and destructive behaviors suggesting the possibility of analogous disturbances in growth control and locally invasive mechanisms. Iron plays a role in malignant cell growth, local invasion, and tumor progression, possibly due to changes in the expression of the proto-oncogene, c-myc. We hypothesized that iron plays a similar role in hemophilic synovitis. To explore this hypothesis, we investigated the in vitro effects of iron on the proliferation of a primary, human synovial fibroblast cell (HSFC) line and the involvement of c-myc in this process. We also examined the role of ceramide, a sphingolipid capable of inducing apoptosis in this model system. HSFC proliferation was increased in a dose-dependent fashion and c-myc expression was enhanced by ferric citrate compared to sodium citrate control. Ceramide prevented both the iron-induced increases in HSFC proliferation andc-myc expression. These results indicate that iron probably plays a role in the proliferative changes observed in hemophilic joint disease and that aberrant expression of c-myc may underlie the iron effects. Furthermore, these results suggest that there may be a therapeutic role for ceramide in reversing these changes.
Adducin in platelets: activation-induced phosphorylation by PKC and proteolysis by calpain
Authors: Gilligan Diana M. , Sarid Rami , Weese Joleen
Published: October 2002

Adducins are a family of cytoskeletal proteins encoded by 3 genes (alpha, beta, and gamma). Platelets express alpha and gamma adducins, in contrast to red blood cells that express alpha and beta adducins. During platelet activation with thrombin, calcium ionophore A23187, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, alpha and gamma adducins were phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) as detected by an antibody specific for a phosphopeptide sequence in the highly conserved carboxy terminus. Platelet activation also led to adducin proteolysis; inhibition by calpeptin suggests that the protease was calpain. The kinase inhibitor staurosporine inhibited PKC phosphorylation of adducin and also inhibited proteolysis of adducin. Experiments with recombinant alpha adducin demonstrated that the PKC-phosphorylated form was proteolyzed at a significantly faster rate than the unphosphorylated form. The concentration of adducin in platelets was estimated at 6 μM, similar to the concentration of capping protein. Fractionation of platelets into high-speed supernatant (cytosol) and pellet (membrane and cytoskeleton) revealed a shift of PKC-phosphorylated adducin to the cytosol during platelet activation. Platelet aggregation detected turbidometrically was decreased in the presence of staurosporine and was completely inhibited by calpeptin. Thrombin-induced changes in morphology were assessed by confocal microscopy with fluorescein phalloidin and were not prevented by staurosporine or calpeptin. Our results suggest that regulation of adducin function by PKC and calpain may play a role in platelet aggregation.